Trail of Golden Dreams (29 page)

A smile pulled at
Josie’s lips, and she whispered so no one in the other room could hear. 
“I have them.  The nuggets are safe and sound.  We did it,
Grey.  We found the gold.  Are you happy?”  She gazed into his
eyes with a look of devotion he’d never seen before.

Taking her hand,
he replied, “Yes, I’m happy.  But I’d have been happy, even if we’d lost
the gold, or never found it at all.”

She tilted her
head.  “I don’t understand.  You’ve gone through so much to find
those nuggets so you can bring Rusty home and buy a ranch.  I thought
you’d be more excited.  Now you can make your dreams come true.  You
can start a new life with your brother.”

Behind her smile,
he sensed a hint of sadness.  “Josie, don’t you know by now how I feel
about you?”

She waited, not
responding.  He could see she held her breath.  “My dreams have
already come true,” he told her.  “I
do
want to start a new life,
with you.”

Her eyes
sparked.  “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I love
you.  Do you love me?”

Her eyes twinkled
bluer than the brightest stars in the sky, and her face glowed when she
answered, “Yes!  I do love you, Grey.”

“Good.  I
sure was hoping it wasn’t one sided.”  He pulled her by the waist onto the
bed and kissed her deeply.  When their lips parted he said, “Josie, did I
really see your ma at the falls?  Or was it my imagination?”

She stretched out
beside his long frame on the single bed and placed her head on his chest. 
“You saw her, Grey.  And my pa appeared to me, too, when you were
unconscious by the stream.”  She sat up and fastened her gaze on him again.
“I made peace with him.  He and my mama are at peace together.”

He nodded and
smiled, and she fit herself back into his good shoulder—the place he hoped
she’d always call home.  And no more words were needed.

****

They were married
in the Loretto Chapel once he’d recuperated.  Though neither was Catholic,
the sisters had granted them permission and given their blessing for the union
to take place there.  Afterwards, the couple walked to the telegraph
office in the plaza and Grey penned a message to send to Rusty in Boston. 

 Rusty,

I have finally
secured enough money to bring you home.  I am married now.  Her name
is Josie and she is as anxious to see you as I am.  We are leaving for a
honeymoon trip to San Francisco, California.  My bride has always wanted
to see the ocean and I intend to show it to her.  When we return, I will
send for you. 

Your loyal
brother, Grey Paladin

“Oh, Grey!” she
cried, clinging to his arm.  “I can’t wait to meet your brother and for
all of us to be a family.  You must be so excited to be sending this
telegram. Five long years you’ve waited for this moment.”

He handed the note
to the telegraph operator.  “It doesn’t seem real, somehow.  There
were times I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. For the first time in years,
I do believe we’ll be together once more.  It’s a mighty good day.”

“It certainly
is.” 

Grey paid the
operator, tipped his black Stetson, picked up their new carpetbags from off the
floor, and they stepped outside.  She felt so proud to be the woman on his
arm.  Josie Paladin.  It would take some getting used to her new
name, but she’d wear it like a badge of honor for the rest of her life. 

On the way to the
train depot, they stopped by Zack Stamp’s to say goodbye to Traveler and
Lightning.  He’d generously agreed to stable them while they were in
California, for a minor fee, of course.  Doc Swann had offered to keep
them as well, but Grey had thought the competition for his mare would test
their friendship.  Besides, Zack handled horses for a living.  Grey
was confident they’d be well cared for.

Josie felt like
such a lady as they walked to the station.  Grey had wanted her to buy
some new clothes, including her wedding outfit and clothes for their
trip.  Since they were leaving on the train soon after saying their vows,
she’d decided to choose a tailored traveling suit to wear for their
wedding.  Made by Mrs. Lindstrom, the owner of the millinery shop on the
plaza, it fit her perfectly.

Mrs. Lindstrom had
sewn an exquisite long skirt and a jacket that buttoned down the front and
narrowed at the waist. A small hat with a curvy brim completed the outfit, and
all the pieces were cornflower blue, Grey’s favorite color, because they were
the color of Josie’s eyes.  Though she’d never worn one before, the bustle
underneath gave her a full, curvy silhouette and was the fashion for women
travelers—so Mrs. Lindstrom had informed her. 

“You look
beautiful, Mrs. Paladin,” Grey said, as they neared the train stop. “Have I
told you that already today?”

“You have, but I
never tire of your compliments, Mr. Paladin.  You’re mighty handsome
yourself.”  He wore a white shirt, a black vest, dark trousers and a black
jacket that came to his knees, as well as his cowboy boots and hat.  She
couldn’t imagine a more handsome man in the entire west.

“Are you ready for
our long trip?” he asked.  “It’s over a thousand miles to San Francisco,
you know.”

“I’m so nervous
I’m about to jump out of my skin.”

“Why?” he
chuckled.

“I’ve never been
on a train before.  I don’t know what to expect.”

“Neither do I,” he
admitted.  “It’ll be an adventure for both of us.”

“You’re an
adventurous man,” she said, grinning.

“Especially with
you.  He winked and then pretended to frown.  “It should be one hell
of an adventure trying to have a wedding night tonight on the train.” 

She teased him
with a gentle elbow to the rib.  “Mrs. Lindstrom told me she’s taken the
train west once.  It has sleeping rooms, but they cost extra.” Not wanting
Grey to think she expected a sleeping room, she hadn’t mentioned them
before.  The honeymoon to San Francisco was already enough.  When
he’d suggested taking the trip, she’d reminded him that those funds could be
used to buy a larger ranch than he’d planned, once Rusty came back from the
east.  She hadn’t wanted to take advantage of his generosity, but Grey had
insisted. 

“I want you to see
the ocean,” he’d told her.  “Just like you’ve always dreamed.”

She smiled from
the inside out.  What a lucky woman she was to be married to Grey Paladin!

They stopped in
front of a small building made of board and bat siding.  “Is this the
train depot?” she asked, confused by its exterior.

“It’s more of a
coach supply house, I was told.  The spur runs from Lamy to here. 
Guess the town couldn’t afford a genuine depot.”

She shrugged, and
they stepped up to the window.

“Two tickets to
San Francisco,” Grey said, pulling some greenbacks from his inside jacket
pocket.  They’d traded in the nuggets for cash money and put the bulk of
it in the bank for when they returned.  Even though he hadn’t decided
where they’d settle, they’d be coming back for the animals, so after discussing
it together, they both decided it would be safer to keep their money in the
bank than carry it on them.

“Yes sir,” the
train employee said.

Grey handed over
the cash and said, “Is there a sleeping room available on this train?”

“I’ll check,
sir.”  The man perused a logbook.

Josie’s mouth
dropped. “Are you sure?” she whispered.

He nodded and
winked again.  “I’d pay a hundred dollars to get you alone tonight,” he
said, not bothering to whisper.  “We just got married,” he told the man in
the window. She felt herself heating from embarrassment.

“I understand,”
the man smiled.  “I do have one, sir.  It will be…”

Grey cut him
off.  “Whatever it costs, we’ll take it for both nights.  And we can
eat on the train, is that correct?”

“Yes sir. The
meals, I’m told, are limited, but tolerable.”  He handed Grey the tickets
and wished them a safe journey.  “The train is due in fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you and
Adios
.”
Grey tipped his hat, and they took a seat on a bench in the shade of the tin
roof with the carpetbags at their feet.  “It won’t be long now,” he told
Josie.  She snuggled against his arm.  This was the beginning of a
new life for both of them.  She was still eager to see the ocean, but that
dream had been somewhat eclipsed by the new dream of finding a place to settle
with her husband and setting up their home, and someday starting a
family. 

Separately, a
Mexican man and an older couple arrived at the coach house and purchased
tickets.  Grey nodded a welcome to the couple, and he and Josie moved down
so the woman could take a seat on the bench.

“Grey,” Josie
whispered, “have you been giving any thought to where we might want to buy our
ranch?”

“I’ve been
thinking about that for five years, darlin’.”  He took her hand and
squeezed. 

“Maybe there’s
land in California,” she offered.

“Maybe.  Not
around San Francisco though.  It’s a big city, you know.”

“Yes, I
know.  Are you going to like it there?  You prefer quiet open
spaces.  Maybe there will be too much city noise for you.”

“Ah, I think I can
take a little noise for one week.  We have a whole lifetime of open space
ahead of us, though I don’t know how quiet it’ll be once we start making
babies.  A house full of children can become pretty loud.”  He
chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose.

“A house
full?  How many children are you wanting, Grey?”  They hadn’t
discussed their preferences when it came to children.  She wasn’t ready
for one child yet, let alone a house full.  They’d just gotten married!

He must have seen
her gulp, because he laughed and said, “I’m teasing, honey.  I do want
children someday, but not right away.  A couple will do when the time’s
right.  A boy and a girl would be nice.  What about you?  How
many kids would you like?”

She smiled and
repeated, “A boy and a girl will do.”

They heard the
whistle blow, and she glanced down the tracks.  “The train’s
coming!”  They stood, and he picked up the carpetbags. She wrung her
hands. A tingle of anticipation moved across her shoulders. 

When the train
chugged to a stop, steam blasted up through the chimney pipe and the conductor
appeared outside on the small deck on the back car, which had a railing around
it.  He came down a set of steps and greeted the travelers.  “Welcome
aboard the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, folks.  Watch your step
as you board.  Please have your tickets ready.  All aboard!” he
shouted.

When Grey handed
him their tickets, he said, “We paid for a sleeping room.”

“Please see the
porter inside, and he’ll show you to your room.”  When the porter opened
the door to the private space, Josie gasped.  The inside was paneled in
wood, the floor was carpeted, and a day couch upholstered in sturdy fabric was
positioned where they could sit and watch the passing view out the large
window.  Behind another door, enclosed in a separate space, was a small
sink and toilet. 

Grey gazed
around.  “This is nice,” he told the porter, “but where do we sleep?”

When the porter
demonstrated how the day couch folded out and turned into a bed large enough
for two, both of them chuckled. She was amazed to find a mattress, linens and
pillows all hidden inside.

“Will this do,
sir?” asked the porter.

Grey pushed on the
mattress, which seemed springy under his touch.  “Yep.  It’ll do just
fine,” he assured the man, sliding a wicked grin Josie’s way.

“The dining car is
the last one on the end,” the porter informed them before leaving them to their
privacy.  When the door was closed and they were alone, Josie smacked
Grey’s arm playfully.  “You’re a devil!  I think you enjoy
embarrassing me.”

“That’s not all
I’m going to enjoy tonight,” he said, swatting her bottom.

* * * *

For two days they
luxuriated in the comfort of their private accommodations and enjoyed the
forever changing scenery that rolled past the window. They only left their love
nest for meals in the dining car, moments that afforded them time to talk about
bringing Rusty home and their future as a family.  As the train slowed and
pulled into the San Francisco depot, the conductor walked down the aisles,
ringing a bell shouting, “San Francisco stop!  Prepare to disembark!”

Josie’s legs felt
like jelly as they stepped off the train into the station swarming with
travelers. The noise and commotion only became louder once they went out into
the street.  Horse hooves clipped down the streets pulling carriages and
wagons.  Streetcars rumbled, bells dinged, and people bustled here and
there like ants to and from an anthill.

“What do we do
now?” she asked Grey, clutching his arm, feeling both thrilled and scared of
the city at the same time.

“We find a
hotel.  Let’s get on that trolley bus.”   He pointed at the
funny red car on tracks, which was stationed near the depot.

“Imagine this!”
she exclaimed.  “A bus that rides on railroad tracks!”

They jumped on
moments before it lurched and started down the road.  Grey spoke to the
driver, who looked friendly.  “Can you tell me where we can find a nice
hotel?”  He motioned toward Josie.  “We’re here in California on our
honeymoon.”

“Congratulations,”
said the bearded, heavyset man.  He didn’t hesitate with his
suggestion.  “I’d go to the Palace Hotel if I were you, mister. The
building is so large it sits on three acres, and the exterior looks imposing,
but I hear it’s reasonable in price. Your lady will love it.  It’s a few
blocks ahead.  We’ll be stopping almost outside its doors.”

Josie and Grey
beamed at one another.  “Thank you,” Grey told the man.

When they gazed
upon the massive seven story brick and stone building, she shook her
head.  “We can’t afford this place.  This is for kings and queens.”