In the morning, sunlight streamed through the bedroom window, casting light across the bed and over my face. My eyes opened and I stretched languidly like a cat. Only a shallow indentation remained in the spot next to me where Jesse had fallen asleep late in the night. Gathering the quilt around my body, I got up to peek out the window.
Great puffy white clouds hung suspended in the blue sky. Birds twittered from the stout branches of Zerelda’s favorite coffee bean tree, and golden blossoms on the forsythia bushes danced with an errant breeze. The scent of ham and biscuits reached me, and my stomach reminded me I hadn’t eaten dinner.
Jesse strolled into the bedroom wearing a white cotton shirt and brown vest over dark pants. His clothes showed no sign of wear, making him look like a prosperous landowner headed for town. He leaned over the bed and gave me a lingering kiss. When he pulled away, I sighed. “Good morning, husband.”
“Good morning, wife,” he responded with a smile. “Ma and Charlotte are cooking us a breakfast that I swear would beat anything served in a high-class hotel. Are you rested enough to get up?”
My cheeks burned when I remembered what had passed between us during the night. I should indeed be tired, but instead, my body filled with an airy dose of happiness. I stretched again. “Yes. I’ll get dressed and help them with breakfast.”
Jesse put his hand on my bare arm. “Ma says this morning you are not to lift a finger. She and Charlotte will take care of everything. I’ll wait for you in the kitchen.” He touched my cheek and grinned.
I jumped out of bed and picked up clothes scattered haphazardly on the floor. Another whiff of food and my stomach rumbled again. Both Zerelda and her former slave, Charlotte, were skilled in the kitchen, so I knew a feast awaited me. I wiggled into my chemise and drawers easily enough, but hooking the corset took more time. A new blue flowered dress looked festive enough to wear for my first day as a wife, so I put it on, smoothed the skirt, and glanced into the mirror.
The glass reflected wide blue eyes and a tangled mass of hair. I pulled my curls up into a sedate bun and secured it with ivory pins, allowing a few strands to wisp around my face. Then I pinched my cheeks, took a deep breath, and walked to the kitchen.
There were two plates on a table that held a small pitcher filled with yellow daffodils. Jesse pulled out a chair for me with a flourish as though we were at a fine restaurant. I blushed and sat down. He took his place beside me.
Charlotte carried in a tray with steaming biscuits, ham, and a pot of thick, hot gravy. She poured coffee into our cups, then grinned. “Miz Zerelda says you are to have breakfast alone. Call out if you need anything else.”
I reached for the cup. “This looks wonderful. Thank you, Charlotte.”
We filled our plates and emptied them almost as fast. Jesse heaped his plate with a second helping of food and drowned it in gravy. When he’d eaten every bite, he lifted his coffee cup.
“A toast to my beautiful wife. May we always be as happy as we are today.”
I clinked my cup against his, resisting the urge to suggest we return to our bed.
The next few days flew by faster than I could have imagined. We walked trails near the farm, held hands without a second thought over who might see us, and talked about the times we’d shared and our dreams for the future. Jesse’s steps were light as he moved along the path.
“We have no ties and can go wherever we want. Doesn’t that sound like a fine life?”
“The idea of visiting new places is appealing,” I admitted. “The boarding house kept us so busy, we could seldom ever leave it. I’ve only been on a train three times in my life.”
He laughed and ran his fingers down a strand of my hair, making me shiver in spite of the warm sunlight.
“There’s a world of things to see, and I hope to show you much of it. Going from one place to another is something I’ve always enjoyed. Never the same view twice.”
“Yes, that does sound wonderful. Yet at some point”—my cheeks grew warm— “we might have children to think of. Will we settle somewhere then?”
“Ah, Zee. Let’s worry about that when the time comes. Now we should just enjoy being together.”
He kissed my hand, and I forgot the silly notion. Jesse tickled me and I dashed away from him, giggling like I hadn’t done since childhood.
Yet too soon, the morning arrived when we were to depart. My bags were packed, but I dreaded the long ride to Texas without my new husband beside me.
Jesse had the buggy hitched and Reuben sat in the driver’s seat, dangling the reins from his hand while Jesse loaded my bags. His bay mare stood nearby, saddled, and waiting.
Eight-year-old Archie, Jesse’s youngest half-brother, played a tuneless melody for us on a wooden flute Jesse had given him. The other children hooted and erupted in laughter at his attempts. The child’s crestfallen face prompted me to whisper in his ear. “That’s beautiful, Archie. Thank you for such a sweet tune.”
His small chest expanded with pride and I hugged him, before saying good-bye to the other children and Reuben. Then I kissed Zerelda’s cheek. “There aren’t words enough to thank you for all you’ve done for us.”
She patted my arm. “I ask you both to take care. Stay far away from anyone who means you harm.”
Jesse nodded and kissed his mother, agreeing dutifully to what she asked. From the look on his face, I suspected this must have been a frequent exchange between them. He helped me into the buggy, and then handed me a small stack of paper currency that he’d pulled from his bulging coat pocket.
“This should be enough for your ticket and anything you may need until I join you. Remember though, when you make your purchase, use a name—any name you want except your own. Then send a telegram to Susie and let her know when you’ll arrive. She’ll meet the train and take you to her house. It won’t be long before I join you.”
I clung to his hand, unwilling to have him leave me.
“How long will we stay in Texas?”
“For a while, I think. Even a month in Texas wouldn’t be enough to show you everything. We’ll spend some time with Alan and Susie before heading to Galveston. Just wait until you see the coast.” Jesse winked. “Did you hear my little sister is teaching school now? Imagine Susie running a classroom!”
He laughed out loud at the notion, and I knew he’d find a dozen ways to devil her over it. Jesse went to his horse and lifted himself into the saddle. Leaning his weight into the stirrups, he touched his hat once to me before digging in his heels to send the horse galloping off toward the woods. His mount lifted like a bird over the split-rail fence and disappeared from my view.
Reuben stared after him. I touched his arm, and he clucked to the horse.
“This will be the longest train trip I’ve ever taken,” I said. “I hope I don’t get off at the wrong city.”
“Ask the porter to help you. He can let you know whenever you need to switch to another train and when it’s your final stop.”
“I hadn’t thought about changing trains. Thank you, Reuben. That’s good for me to know.”
My stomach fluttered over the thought of traveling so far away, but I couldn’t stop smiling. I had once thought my life dull. Now it seemed anything could happen.
The depot bustled with passengers strolling the platform near the train. I hugged Reuben and carried my bag to the clerk. Then, with eyes downcast, I bought the ticket.
“Passage to Texas for Mrs. Edgar Warren, please.” I used the first name that came to my mind, waiting for the clerk to eye me with suspicion and call for the sheriff. But he only took my money and passed the ticket along to me with a few dollars’ change. After I sent Susie a telegram, I boarded the train and nodded politely at the other passengers, until I found my seat. The air in the car was heavy and warm with the pungent odor of many bodies in a small space. I leaned back and heard the whistle blow. The scent of dark smoke and coal-powered steam reached the car.
My hands smoothed wrinkles from my skirt before I opened the painted folding fan my sister Lucy had given me as a wedding gift. The vigorous fanning did little more than move stagnant air around and muss my hair as the train clacked along.
I put down the fan and let my eyelids drift together. Train travel soothed me like a lullaby. Throughout the trip, I dozed off and on, letting thoughts float through my dreams like pleasant ghosts.
The porter woke me when we arrived in Sherman. The scene outside surprised me. I thought the town would be small, but there were men in suit coats strolling on the train platform while women lifted parasols to shade them from the afternoon sun. Houses stood beyond the depot and the road was congested with wagons and buggies. I stepped from the train and looked one way then the other until a woman’s voice caught my attention.
“Hello! I’m over here.”
Susie waved a gloved hand at me.
I lifted my bag with both hands and weaved my way toward her to avoid jostling anyone else.
Even though it had been more than two years since I’d seen her, Susie hadn’t changed a bit. Her blue eyes sparkled, and her dark-blonde hair gleamed in the sun. I dropped my bag and she pulled me into a hug. Then she stepped back and tilted her head to study my face.
“You’ve never looked better. Marriage to my scamp of a brother must agree with you.”
My cheeks flushed and I smiled. “Yes, I suppose it does.” Susie took my arm, and we moved with the crowd’s flow. She waved at a few of the ladies we passed, and they nodded. “Quite a few of our friends from Missouri have settled here,” she said. “Texas is a friendly place for those who fought for the South.”
“I thought Sherman would be a quiet little town.”
“It used to be, before wheat and cotton buyers flooded the area. When we first arrived, the people still struggled under the government’s idea of forcing southerners back into the Union. But look at us now.” She pointed at a construction site where men were pounding boards. “See over there? The town can barely keep up with building enough places for everyone to stay.”
I recalled Susie’s marriage in 1870 to Alan Parmer, one of Frank’s former comrades under Quantrill. Not long after their wedding, the couple had relocated to Sherman, Texas, where Alan got a job managing the Stone Land and Cattle Company. Jesse had told me he and Frank made frequent visits to see the Parmers and other former rebel fighters who preferred a looser interpretation of how Reconstruction ought to look.
When we reached Susie’s tidily whitewashed home, an idea struck me. I decided to test it out on her.
“Has Jesse ever spoken to you of moving to Texas?”
Susie frowned and pursed her lips.
“I know my brother enjoys spending time here, but he’s never mentioned staying. I’m not sure if he’d be eager to leave Missouri, where he knows every creek and valley like the back of his hand.”
She opened the front door. I stepped inside, and my gaze was immediately drawn to a large Confederate flag hanging over the fireplace. It dominated the room like a prized centerpiece.
Susie noticed my open-mouthed expression and laughed. “Alan is quite proud of that flag. It went through several skirmishes with him and Frank when they fought under William Quantrill.”
“At home, we must be careful of such displays, lest authorities claim we were violating the Oath of Allegiance.”
Susie nodded. “You’ll find there’s not much worry over the oath here.” She pulled off her gloves. “You must be exhausted after your trip. Let’s get you settled into a room.”