Hope

eat it on the road.”
Hope broke off a large hunk of cheese. “Here’s your appetizer.”
“Thank you. I’ll eat it before I harness the oxen.”
“I’ll get a head start on collecting firewood in the area since it looks like rain today.” Hope jumped down from the wagon. “See you at lunch.”
While Daniel led the oxen that day, he thought about how he might talk Hope into marrying him—in name only—once they'd reached Fort Laramie so he could continue with the train. If only she had as strong a need to get to Oregon as he did. Anna had mentioned to him that Hope had no family, so it didn’t matter to her where she ended up. His dear wife had just died, and he knew he wasn’t ready to court and romance Hope—it was just too soon.
He wondered what Hope’s plan was once she'd arrived in Oregon. Where would she go? She couldn’t homestead alone. Who’d work the land?
The train stopped along a river where the pioneers could fish before it grew dark. They needed the nourishment of fresh meat. Daniel had caught a big salmon which he cleaned, and Hope cooked. While they ate, Daniel thought he’d find a few things out about Hope.
“Anna told me you were an orphan?”
“A carriage accident killed my parents, my two sisters and my brother. I survived.”
Daniel stabbed himself another piece of fish. “How did you survive when the others didn't?”
“I was an infant and in my mother’s arms. She threw her body over me.”
Daniel stopped chewing and stared at her. “Goodness. I guess you were meant to be.”
“People at the orphanage always told me that God has a purpose for me. I haven’t yet figured out what it is though.”
‘You’ve been a big help to me,” he said. “What will you do when we reach Oregon?”
Hope sighed. “I don’t know for sure. Anna and Walter offered to take me in until I could figure it out. I'd hate to barge in on them, especially once their daughter arrived. They’d have their hands full with her, their son-in-law, and baby.”
Daniel set his plate down and slid closer to her along the log on which they sat. “I have a proposition to make you.”
Hope looked up at him expectantly.
“My father's in Oregon, on a hundred and sixty acres of land. He’s dying, and I’m doing my best to get to him before he does. The homestead will be mine as I’m his only son. My mother died along the trip to Oregon six years ago.” He hesitated as he tried to find the right words for his offer.
“I’m listening,” Hope said.
“If Shank throws me off the train, I’ll never get to my father in time. I’m willing to marry you at Fort Laramie.” When he saw Hope shake her head, he said, “Now, wait! Hear me out. It will be a marriage in name only, and when we get to Oregon, I’ll start the annulment process, but in the meantime, I’ll grant you twenty acres and build you a home.”
He watched Hope play with the food on her plate, waiting for her to answer. Finally, she spoke. “I’m sorry, Daniel, but I can’t marry you.” She set her plate down and folded her hands in her lap. “I came to Independence as Callum’s mail-order bride. We married the minute I stepped off the stagecoach. We never consummated our marriage, and I regretted marrying him because he was a mean person. I didn’t know he was an outlaw until he was dead.
“I felt trapped in a loveless marriage and I’ll not subject myself to that again.”
Daniel rubbed his temples. “I understand. I haven’t had time to grieve Nancy properly. I’m not ready to remarry either. Do you think Shank will allow us to continue as we are now?”
“If he does, I’ll continue doing the chores for you and sleeping in my tent by Anna and Walter. I don’t see how he can object as it’s all proper.”
“I’ll speak to him tomorrow,” Daniel said as he stood. “I’ll see to the animals.”
Hope picked up the metal plates. “And I’ll wash up these dishes and head over to my tent.”
Daniel approached Wesley Shank early the following morning before the train moved.
“Would it be possible to continue the plan we have in place now, with Hope and myself until we reach Oregon? Marriage is a big step, and it’s too soon for either of us, seeing as we’ve just lost our spouses.”
Wesley shook his head. “One of my strictest rules is not to allow things like this. It’s too easy for a setup like this to get out of hand. The devil works overtime on situations like yours. No, you’ll marry or leave the train.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Shank, I lead the team all day while she walks and picks up firewood. We don’t even talk to each other. She cooks and prepares my meals, eats with me, finishes the chores, and then sleeps in a tent by the Cummings’. We can be friends, but that’s about all. There is no romance, and there will be no romance.”
“If I break the rules for you, I’d have to do it for everyone. I have several people in similar situations on the train. You two aren’t the only ones to have lost spouses… No, I can’t do it. It’s marry at Fort Laramie, or you must to leave the train.”
“Thank you, sir,” Daniel said. He walked back to hitch his oxen to the wagon. Now, what would he do?
Daniel had once been close to God as he and his parents had always gone to church. He’d believed and prayed for years, but Nancy had been a different religion, and they’d drifted from going to church altogether and praying. After Nancy died, he had no desire