A Husband for Margaret(3)
“Watch Charles so he doesn’t run off,” he told Doug and Bob. With the travel bag in one hand, he scooped a still sleepy Ben into his arm and motioned down the aisle. “Go.”
The boys turned and, probably because they were eager to be off the train, actually walked in single file to get off.
Well, here goes nothing, Joseph thought as he followed them down the aisle.
Chapter Two
Margaret’s heart beat refused to slow down as people were quickly coming off the train. Paul would be among them...unless he decided not to come at the last minute. And if he did that... She didn’t want to think about it. Finding a husband had been hard enough without something like that happening. No. She would be positive. Paul would be coming off that train. She’d marry him, and they’d start a life together. They’d have children and grow old with their grandchildren coming to visit. The plan was simple. There wasn’t anything that was going to mess it up.
She took a deep breath as the station filled up with a sea of unfamiliar faces. “I didn’t realize it got this busy,” she whispered to Jessica.
Jessica shrugged. “Me neither. My pa once said that it was the hub of railroad activity, but I thought he was exaggerating.”
“I’m bored. When is he going to get over here?” Margaret’s thirteen-year-old sister asked.
Margaret glanced at her parents. “Why did we have to bring her?”
Her mother sighed. “This young man you’re going to marry should meet everyone in the family.”
“But all she’s done since we left the house is complain,” Margaret said.
“Your sister has a point,” her father told Charlotte. “This is a big day for Margaret. Be good.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes but stopped whining.
Jessica nudged Margaret in the side. “Maybe that’s him. He looks like he’s searching for someone.”
Margaret turned her attention to a good looking man holding a child. “No. Paul doesn’t have any children.” Her gaze swept the room. A part of her got dizzy from the swarm of people buzzing around them.
To her surprise, a boy ran over to her. “Are you Margaret Williams?”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Uh...yes. Do I know your parents?” She didn’t recall ever seeing him before. Not that she made it a habit of being around children.
The boy waved to someone in the crowd. “Pa! She’s over here!”
Her eyes grew wide. Pa? She’s over here? Whatever did that mean? Paul made it clear that he had no children. So who was this child and why did he pick her out? She glanced at Jessica who looked equally uncertain about this.
The man holding a child saw the boy and motioned to two children before heading in their direction. As soon as he reached them, he said, “Doug, I told you to stay with me.”
“Sorry, Pa,” he replied, appearing to be appropriately contrite. “I saw the blue dress and hat. It’s her.”
A knot twisted in Margaret’s stomach. This couldn’t be Paul. He decided not to come. She just knew it! Even her parents and sister seemed apprehensive about this.
The man focused on Margaret and offered a smile. “Pardon me, but are you Margaret Williams?”
“Well...” She took in the four boys who stared at her with a mixture of hope and curiosity. The knot grew tighter. Just what did this man and these kids want with her?
“Yes, she is,” Jessica finally said.
The statement startled Margaret so she gave a slight jerk. Clearing her throat, she added, “Yes.” She took a deep breath. Something wasn’t right. Did Paul lie to her? “I’m her.”
“My name is Joseph Connealy. I’m Paul’s older brother. You see, Paul was going to come but-”
Oh great. Here it came. Margaret braced herself for whatever excuse he’d give her.
“Paul’s horse got spooked and he fell off.” He glanced at the children. “I’d rather not go into detail, but we had to bury him two weeks ago.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in, and when they finally did, her countenance fell. So Paul couldn’t come, even if he wanted to. She supposed she should feel better. It wasn’t like Paul rejected her or anything. He died. There was no way he could come now.
Joseph cleared his throat.
Breaking out of her thoughts, she directed her attention to him.
“Anyway, my wife passed away a year ago, and I knew Paul was coming out to meet you so I thought maybe you’d be willing to marry me instead.”
The first thing she did was lower her gaze to the children. There were four of them—if she counted right—and they were all staring at her with wide smiles on their faces. She couldn’t be sure, but it seemed as if they had rehearsed this moment.