Finding Home (Book 1 Of The Finding Love Series.)

One

Dolly Hill couldn't help but smile as she saw the small town of Drystone. She had been on the same stage for almost three weeks and was ready to get off. She knew she must of looked array. Her black hair was tied back in a messy braid and her cotton dress was wrinkled. She began to fuss over herself as the older man in the seat across from her said," You look beautiful, dear. Stop fussing with yourself." Dolly just gave him an unconvinced look as she dusted off her skirts. The older man chuckled and said," Just like my wife. Where are you from?" Dolly fidgeted with her fingers as she looked out the window, she smiled as she thought of her home. She looked back to older man and said,"I'm from a very small mining town in Virginia. It never really had a name, but we called it Backfill. Which is the rock waste or leftover rock from mining, my mama always said we were Virginia's leftover people. We had so many people from different countries, my Papa was from Italy and my Mama was from Mexico." The man smiled at the young girl as they began entering town. He looked out the looking for his wife as he said," Well, Darlin', I hope you have a good stay here in Drystone. I hope I see you around but I hope you don't mind but the second I get off this here stage, I'm gonna find my wife." Dolly couldn't help but smile in adoration at him. She hope her soon to husband would learn to love her the way this man loved his wife. As soon as the stage stopped he practically jumped out and took an older, little woman into his arms. She grabbed her small satchel and stepped off the stage with the help of the driver. The driver handed her her small suitcase and she quickly thank him as she looked around. A few men were standing around but none of them looked like the picture Silas sent her father. She frowned as she stood there holding her suitcase close as she sat on a nearby bench. She a heard a loud galloping traveling to her ears and looked in the direction it was coming from. She looked to see a black and white spotted horse running wildly towards the stage station. She watched as the man's hat went flying off and saw that it was Silas. She couldn't help but blush as he yelled," Dolly? Is there a Dolly Ricci?" She stood from the bench and waved to him she watched as he blew out a relieved breath. She walked over towards him as he hopped off his horse out of breath. He smiled and held out his hand as he said," I'm Silas Dove. It's nice to finally meet you." Dolly smiled and shook his hand. He saw her suitcase and quickly grabbed it, surprised by how light it was. Dolly blush grew as she said," Dolly Ricci. It's nice to meet you too." Silas Dove was a very handsome man. She had no idea why he would need a mail order bride. Silas grabbed the horse's reigns and said," Well Miss. Dolly, I'd like to buy you some lunch, so we can talk and get to one another. There's a cafe beside the general store, the best peach pies you've ever tasted." Dolly's stomach growled at the thought of peach pie. Silas smiled and began walking her through town. Nodding to a few people who pass by. Dolly looked up and found his hat that had flew off. She walked ahead of him and grabbed his dusty grey cowboy hat. She gently dusted it off and waited on him to catch up to her. She smiled and and stood on her too toes to place the hat on top of his head. Silas chuckled and thanked her before continuing their walk. Silas lead her to small unmarked building and tied the horse to a nearby post before leading her inside. She couldn't help quietly moan at the smells escaping the kitchen. Silas pulled out a chair for her and she gave him an odd confused look. His scrunched in confusion as she said,"The men usually sit first." Silas gently reached out to her forearm and gently pulled her into the chair. Dolly couldn't help but blush in embarrassment as he sat across from her. She crossed her hands in her lap as Silas said," Well around here the men sit last. How was your trip?" Dolly just shrugged as a young girl came over and placed two tin cups of coffee down with another small cup of cream before leaving again. She watched as Silas picked up the mug, not adding cream, before taking a long sip. She needed to remember he took his coffee black. She slowly took her mug adding alot of cream before taking a small sip. She couldn't help grimace at the taste. Dolly never truly liked coffee and she always thought it reminded her of how dirt would taste. He saw her grimace and slowly put the mug down. Dolly smiled and it said," It was very long. I'm just glad I'm here." Silas nodded as the same young girl came over and put down two heaping plates of biscuits and gravy. Dolly smiled giving her a small 'thank you' before the girl walked away. Silas began cutting his biscuit and said," I don't want you to be angry but I didn't ask you here to be wife so to speak." Dolly sat up lightly in her seat and gave him an odd look, waiting on him to continue. Silas set his utensils down and said," I lost my wife, Mary, l in childbirth almost five years ago. Now my kids are getting older and they don't know how to read or write. My oldest, my daughter, Zoe. She'll be ten in November and she acts more like a little boy than a little girl. She'd rather play in mud and shoot cans than play with the dolls I buy her, she needs a woman in her life. My son, Luke, he's wilder than any other five year old I've ever seen but he's a good kid." Dolly just nodded in understanding as she took another sip of her coffee. Dolly arms guarded her middle as she said," I understand. I'll try my hardest to help raise them and you don't need to worry about your little girl, I was the same way. I suspect my Papa told you why he was selling me off." Silas just nodded as he looked her over. He frowned and noticed how she guarded herself, almost like she was scared. Silas nodded and said," He did in a way. I don't know how it happened and I don't care. I'll help you raise them and give them everything they need. I'll provide for you and be a good husband, I promise." Dolly smiled as she looked to him. He was good man. She knew her father was disappointed in her for her actions and that's why he wanted to sell her off as soon as he could, but she knew her father would make sure she going to a good man. And he did. Dolly teared up as she said," Thank you. I will try my hardest to be a good wife and a good mother to your children."