The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(144)

“Morning Julie,” Hank nodded when he saw her, pushing his glasses up his nose as they had a habit of always slipping down his face.

Julie smiled at him, “G'morning Hank. Did I get a response back yet?”

“Sure did! Let me go find it for you, I put it in the back so I wouldn't lose it,” he told her and disappeared through a wooden doorframe into the back of the building.

A few minutes later, he came back holding a piece of paper in his hand, and read it out loud to her.

Relief poured through her veins as she heard the good news. The doctor would accept her as a bride, and had sent some money for her travels, there was enough to get to Oregon by train, where the rest of the money for the trip would be waiting for her to finish the rest of her trip to California.

Excited, she told him to send the man a response and let him know she was coming. She went home to pack the few bits of clothing she had left, and say goodbye to her family. She knew they would be surprised, as she hadn't warned her parents of her plan, but they were planning her wedding to the rancher she didn't want to marry, and she was of an age where they couldn't force her to marry him.

She was vaguely worried they'd marry her seventeen year old sister off to him if she left, but she decided she'd tell her sister how to find her if she needed to leave home. Hopefully the good doctor wouldn't turn down family, and with young, strong men around, finding her sister a husband if needed wouldn't be that hard... she hoped.

When she got home she packed. She would miss her horse. She'd had it since it was a baby and wished she could bring it with her. Instead, she told one of her younger sisters to take good care of it, and it was her’s now. Feeling herself tear up, she tried to be strong.

Now she just had to break the news to her parents.

“Momma?” Julie called out to the barn, trying to find her mom. She was due any day now with the newest baby, but it didn't stop her mom from working all day long. Julie didn't want to be like that. She loved children and wanted a few, but she wanted to enjoy her life too, not work from sun up to sundown and never get to stop and actually enjoy looking at the stars or the blue skies.

“Yes Julie, I'm in here honey.” Her mom was mucking out a stall, one of their cows was about to give birth and her mother was preparing the labor stall.

“Momma, I have something to tell you,” Julie started to say when her mom stopped and leaned on the pitchfork.

“You're leaving us,” Her mom asked her bluntly.

Julie was surprised, “How did you know?”

“There's no secrets in this town Julie, and Hank has a big mouth. Your Poppa and I knew you were talking to a man in California to be his bride. I'm assuming you two came to an agreement?” her mom asked her.

“Yes, we did. I'll be leaving in the morning,” Julie told her, “You're not mad?”

“Julie, honey we love you, but you leaving gives us more food to feed the rest of the mouths we have, and the new ones to come. I wish you the best of luck, and hope you send me letters and telegrams sometimes, but I want you happy and want more for you than struggling to find enough food to eat.” Her mom set the pitch fork down and hugged her daughter, then stiffened.

“Are you okay mom?” Julie asked her when she realized her mom wasn't hugging her back after a minute.

“My water just broke, I guess your new brother or sister has decided to make its arrival before you leave so you can meet them. Go get your father.” Her mom hobbled back to the house leaving Julie to locate her dad.

Chapter 2

Traveling Alone

Julie sat on the train and looked out the window watching the scenery pass by. The greenness of the trees and beautiful crystal blue water left her in awe. She'd never been on a train before, but she was enjoying herself.

She'd been given enough money for first class tickets, but she hadn't needed something that fancy, and instead had gotten coach and saved some of the money. When she reached Oregon she planned on adding a few things to her wardrobe so she wouldn't appear to be so penniless and threadbare when she arrived to her husband-to-be in California.

She clutched the telegram to her chest. He had described himself. Dark hair, blue eyes, tall in stature. She was excited, it would be a nice contrast to her short self. She had long blond hair, that when she wore it down went to her waist and green eyes.

Her dresses from back home weren't exactly fancy, and she looked like a dirt poor woman compared to most of the women on the train she was riding with. It had made her decide she needed to get at least one or two generic dresses from a store before finishing her trip so she could at least walk off the train and look a little less farm-girl like.

Having made the decision to do this, she was hoping she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life. How did she know he wouldn't hurt her? Once she was his wife, he could do anything he wanted to her, she would think a doctor would be an honorable guy, but you never knew.

Trying to force herself not to be scared, she went to sleep early in the evening and was woken up the next morning when they arrived in Oregon. Just three more days and she'd be in California. The evening train would leave tonight, giving her the day to go shopping at the small town they stopped in.

She got off the train and they pulled her luggage and stored it for the train when it arrived tonight. She went into the small town and tried to pick up a few essentials and a couple of dresses.