Chapter One
Jane stepped off thetrain in Fort Worth, scanning the busy streets for familiar faces.The Texas sun was relentless as she shielded her eyes with her hat.Her brown hair kept getting caught by the wind and blowing behind her.She knew she should have put her hair up instead of letting it flow.
“Jane!”Deborah called out and they embraced, months of separation dissolving in their reunion.“It’s so good to see you!”
“Deborah, I’ve missed you all so much,” Jane said.“Is it just you?”she looked around for more of her sisters, but there didn’t appear to be any more waiting for her.
“The others are waiting at Susan’s house.She’s Elizabeth Tandy’s sister, and that’s where you’ll stay until you find a husband.There are so many unattached cowboys around here.It won’t take you long to find someone to love,” Deborah said, guiding her sister toward the waiting carriage and setting off for Susan’s house.
It was a thirty-minute drive out of Fort Worth to Susan’s house, and the sisters talked nonstop along the way.Finally, the house came into view.“Welcome home, Jane,” Amy said, embracing her youngest sister.“We wanted to all wait for you at the train station, but there are just too many of us, so we’ve gathered here to welcome you home.”
Imogene hurried toward Jane, and Jane smiled happily.“It’s so good to see you!”
“You too!You need to meet Susan and she’ll show you your room, but all of us are here and ready to catch up when you are.”
The next few hours passed too quickly for Jane, who watched her sisters leave one by one as they had to cook for their new husbands.She’d had to stay behind and not attend the matchmaking dance a few months before because she was considered too young to marry until she was eighteen.Of course, that was Mrs.Jackson’s rule.Women married much younger as a rule, but their matron was always worried about her girls.
The next evening, Faith and her husband Kane held a party in Jane’s honor.Lanterns cast a warm glow over friends who welcomed Jane into their community.
Kane introduced Jane around: “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present my sister-in-law, Jane Brown.”Guests tipped their hats and expressed their delight at having her join their community.
Amidst the festivity, Brenda led Jane toward a man whose laughter rose above the din.“Jane, meet Anthony Fennel.He’s our telegraph operator,” she said, introducing her to a young man with an infectious grin and eyes that sparkled with mischief.“Anthony, this is my sister Jane, just arrived from the orphanage.”
“Ah, Miss Brown, welcome!”Anthony exclaimed.“Fort Worth is a better place for your presence.Tonight, I am at your service.”
Jane offered a tentative smile.“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr.Fennel.”
“Please, call me Anthony,” he chuckled.“Telegraphy is full of dots and dashes, much like life, don’t you think?”
“Umm...no?”Jane had no idea what the man was talking about, but she was willing to listen.
