Cora: Bride of South Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 40) by Susan Horsnell
Book: Cora: Bride of South Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 40) by Susan Horsnell
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Authors: Susan Horsnell
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Family Life, tragedy, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Bachelor, South Dakota, ranch, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, Decision, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Forty In Series, Political Ally, Grandfather Age
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boy deposited her trunk on the floor at the end of the bed. She slipped him a coin, thanked him and locked the door after he’d left. The hour was late, exhaustion settled and she prepared herself for bed. It was soft, she’d be sleeping on a cloud again tonight.
***
Cora’s head twisted and turned as she made her way back to Union Depot the following morning. Chicago by night had been daunting, by daylight it was overwhelming. People pushed and shoved at each other, anxious to get to their destinations. Roads were choked with vehicles of one type or another. She was pleased to have had the chance to visit the vibrant city but equally glad to be leaving. It wasn’t disappointing when she entered the station and boarded the train. She had no qualms about putting this city behind her.
The journey from Chicago to Sioux City, her destination, was to take almost a day. This time Peter had booked her into a First Class carriage, a cot would not be needed.
Finding her seat, she rested her head against the cool window. She peered out at the countryside as the train sped towards its destination. The view was no different from previous days. Lush green farmland, gently rolling hills and an occasional mountain off in the distance. Trees and bushes set the landscape alive with their brilliant fall colors ranging from the palest yellows through to rich gold, bright oranges and dazzling reds. Against the backdrop of green fields, the effect was stunning.
Cora loved the wide open spaces, farmhouses dotted here and there, cattle grazing, horses running free. She hoped with all her heart that her wish to marry a rancher would come true.
***
Cora glanced along the platform from the top step of the carriage. She was tired, dusty, hungry and irritable. She was fed up with trains and wanted Millie to spirit her away to where she could indulge in a long, hot bath, fill her belly and fall into a deep sleep.
“Cora!” Millie’s squeal was unmistakable.
Cora watched her friend dash towards her and she stepped onto the platform. Millie wrapped her in her long arms.
The girls bounced in circles, tears dripped from their cheeks.
“I missed you,” Cora cried while holding on tightly to her best friend.
“Cora, darling. It’s so good to see you. I was worried about you travelling such a long distance by yourself.” Millie’s mum, Linda said, as she stepped forward.
The girls stepped apart and Linda folded Cora into her arms. She placed kisses on each of her cheeks before releasing her.
“Where’s your luggage, sweetheart?” Millie’s dad, Gus, asked.
Cora glanced around and pointed. “They’re unloading down there.”
The family set off to retrieve Cora’s trunk. Millie and Cora, arm in arm.
“I’m so glad I’m here, Millie. I have so much to tell you.”
“Papa said Peter helped you get away. He made Papa promise not to tell your father you were here but I’m scared he’ll guess.”
“So you haven’t heard from my father?” Cora dreaded the thought of her father coming after her. Dragging her back to Lawrence and forcing her to marry Ernest.
“Not a word. Papa said it was odd. He expected your father to turn up here before you or at the very least contact him and demand to know where you were.”
“Father was desperate for me to marry to further his political career but, Peter found something that could destroy father and he is going to warn him to leave me alone.”
“Do you think he will leave you alone?” Millie asked.
“Maybe.” Cora couldn’t shake the feeling of doom that caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. She worried that all was not as it seemed.
“Come on. Forget about your father. We’re going to have so much fun.” Millie held Cora’s hand tightly.
The girls approached the Reynold’s carriage, acknowledged the waiting driver and jumped inside.
Gus
***
Cora’s head twisted and turned as she made her way back to Union Depot the following morning. Chicago by night had been daunting, by daylight it was overwhelming. People pushed and shoved at each other, anxious to get to their destinations. Roads were choked with vehicles of one type or another. She was pleased to have had the chance to visit the vibrant city but equally glad to be leaving. It wasn’t disappointing when she entered the station and boarded the train. She had no qualms about putting this city behind her.
The journey from Chicago to Sioux City, her destination, was to take almost a day. This time Peter had booked her into a First Class carriage, a cot would not be needed.
Finding her seat, she rested her head against the cool window. She peered out at the countryside as the train sped towards its destination. The view was no different from previous days. Lush green farmland, gently rolling hills and an occasional mountain off in the distance. Trees and bushes set the landscape alive with their brilliant fall colors ranging from the palest yellows through to rich gold, bright oranges and dazzling reds. Against the backdrop of green fields, the effect was stunning.
Cora loved the wide open spaces, farmhouses dotted here and there, cattle grazing, horses running free. She hoped with all her heart that her wish to marry a rancher would come true.
***
Cora glanced along the platform from the top step of the carriage. She was tired, dusty, hungry and irritable. She was fed up with trains and wanted Millie to spirit her away to where she could indulge in a long, hot bath, fill her belly and fall into a deep sleep.
“Cora!” Millie’s squeal was unmistakable.
Cora watched her friend dash towards her and she stepped onto the platform. Millie wrapped her in her long arms.
The girls bounced in circles, tears dripped from their cheeks.
“I missed you,” Cora cried while holding on tightly to her best friend.
“Cora, darling. It’s so good to see you. I was worried about you travelling such a long distance by yourself.” Millie’s mum, Linda said, as she stepped forward.
The girls stepped apart and Linda folded Cora into her arms. She placed kisses on each of her cheeks before releasing her.
“Where’s your luggage, sweetheart?” Millie’s dad, Gus, asked.
Cora glanced around and pointed. “They’re unloading down there.”
The family set off to retrieve Cora’s trunk. Millie and Cora, arm in arm.
“I’m so glad I’m here, Millie. I have so much to tell you.”
“Papa said Peter helped you get away. He made Papa promise not to tell your father you were here but I’m scared he’ll guess.”
“So you haven’t heard from my father?” Cora dreaded the thought of her father coming after her. Dragging her back to Lawrence and forcing her to marry Ernest.
“Not a word. Papa said it was odd. He expected your father to turn up here before you or at the very least contact him and demand to know where you were.”
“Father was desperate for me to marry to further his political career but, Peter found something that could destroy father and he is going to warn him to leave me alone.”
“Do you think he will leave you alone?” Millie asked.
“Maybe.” Cora couldn’t shake the feeling of doom that caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. She worried that all was not as it seemed.
“Come on. Forget about your father. We’re going to have so much fun.” Millie held Cora’s hand tightly.
The girls approached the Reynold’s carriage, acknowledged the waiting driver and jumped inside.
Gus
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