Oregon Trail Boxed Set by Hutton Callie

Author:Hutton, Callie [Hutton, Callie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2019-07-04T16:00:00+00:00

2

A light tap sounded on Angel’s bedroom door as she closed the last trunk. Her eyes stung from all the tears she’d shed since yesterday. Sadness had turned to anger as she’d packed her clothes. If she could think of one other choice, she’d tell Sylvia she could go be a bride to a stranger with five children.

In reality, Angel had no choice. The newspaper this morning had carried a front page story about her father’s bank disaster. It wouldn’t take long for the invitations to cease and her friends to stop calling.

She whipped the door open. Sylvia stood in the doorway, having given up her mourning clothes for a brand new pale yellow and brown outfit.

“Here.” Sylvia shoved a packet into Angel’s hands. “These are the letters that were sent to the agency for you, or rather for me as you, from Mr. Hale. They will tell you a little bit about the man and the life you’re going to.”

Her stepmother had the grace to look embarrassed when Angel didn’t take it from her.

“You’ll also see your tickets in there, and a bit of traveling money. You are to leave by train this afternoon. When you reach St. Joseph, Missouri, you will take a stagecoach the rest of the way.”

When Angel still didn’t reach for the letters, she grew impatient. “Take them, Angelina. As I told you yesterday, there is no other choice.”

Angel took the papers from her hand. They felt heavy. Sylvia made a move to leave, then hesitated and turned back. “I’m sorry we couldn’t stay together, and believe me when I tell you I wish there was another way. I’ve never had to make these kinds of decisions before. I really do hope it all works out for you.”

She cupped Angel’s chin in her hands. “You’re a strong woman, Angelina. Much stronger than me.” Sylvia leaned in and gave her a kiss on her cheek. With skirts swishing, she hurried down the hall.

Angel walked to the window, and pushed the curtain aside. The last person in her life hurried down the path to the coach her sister had sent. Daisy followed behind, sniffing into a handkerchief.

She spread her fingers on the glass, as if to touch Sylvia. Would she ever see her again? Not likely. She cursed the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Dear God, how am I going to handle this?

With sweaty hands, she picked up a black straw bonnet and tied it snugly under her chin. One last look around the room she’d slept in every night of her life, and she was ready to go. With the packet of letters from her future husband in one hand, and an already soggy handkerchief in the other, she left.

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