Shaun and Jon Read Free Page A

and to a place of
rest.”
    Sarah
hadn’t thought about that. They were supposed to be getting married, not
burying someone.
    “Thank
you, sir.”
    Sarah
headed out of the baggage compartment and down the galley following the other passengers as they got off the train.
    The
sun shone in her eyes and not even the brim of her hat could shield them as she
stepped down on the platform. She squinted while seeing the outline of not one, but two men standing side by side, both
holding bunches of flowers. Purple and yellow buds; flowers of which she’d
never seen growing back East.
    She
looked first to the one on the left and then the right. One of them had to be
Jon. Both men were dark haired, tall and equally handsome. She smiled as the
one wearing the dark hat approached her.
    “Sarah?”
he asked.
    “Yes,
I’m hoping you’re Jon.”
    “Yes,
and welcome to Montana, to Grantsville. These are for you.”
    He
held out the flowers to her. She put down her bag, took them, and put the tight
buds under her nose. They smelled refreshing after inhaling the soot-filled air
of the train for so long.
    “Thank
you,” she said. She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek that she’d
hoped was the proper behavior. He smelled of sandalwood soap with just a touch
of dust, which made her smile.
    “And
did your cousin not travel with you?” he asked.
    She
glanced over at the other man who stood patiently waiting with the flowers in
his hand looking in the train windows.
    “She
did. And I take it that the man standing over there is her intended,” said
Sarah.
    “Yep,
that’s Shaun.”
    Sarah
swallowed. “I’m not sure how I’ll break the news to him, but my cousin Nina
passed away on the journey.”
    “Dear
lord,” said Jon, quickly removing his hat and lowering his head.
    “She’s
had a cold and wasn’t feeling well. I suppose we should have postponed our journey, but she was insistent that we not
break our word to you and Shaun.”
    Jon
put his arm around her as a tear ran down her cheek.
    “There there , don’t you cry. I think we should inform Shaun
of the terrible news straight away.”
    He
carried Sarah’s bag and they walked over to the other man, who had the bluest
eyes she’d ever seen. In fact, both he and Jon could easily pass as brothers.
    “Shaun,
this is Sarah.”
    He
removed his hat, took her hand, and shook it.
    “We
have some terrible news for you,” said Jon.
    “Don’t
tell me my bride got cold feet,” he said.
    Jon
put his hand on his friend’s back. “Shaun, Nina passed away on the journey to Montana.”
    “It
can’t be true,” said Shaun.
    Sarah
grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “It is true, I’m afraid. She’d been poorly
but insisted on traveling.”
    “She
seemed so wonderful. I mean in the letters she wrote. Quite a lady.”
    “ Oh she was that and a whole lot more.”
    “And
where is she?”
    “They
laid her out in the mail carriage and the train master says he can assist in
taking her body to a place of rest,” said Sarah.
    “Then
that’s what we must do. She was going to be my wife and therefore it will be my responsibility to see that she’s given a
proper send off and burial.”
    Sarah
led the two men back on the train and through to the luggage area. She and Nina
had shared a trunk filling it with things like clothes and some pots that she’d had from her previous marriage.
    The
train master smiled when he saw her again.
    “Sir,
these two gentlemen will take custody of my cousin’s body.” She’d almost choked
over the words.
    The
three of them walked over to where Nina was laid.
    “Is
it okay if I take a look at her?” asked Shaun.
    Sarah
nodded.
    Both
men removed their hats as Shaun carefully peeled away the sheet from Nina’s
face.
    Her
cousin actually looked at peace now.
    “She
was a beautiful woman,” said Shaun.
    “She
sure was,” added Jon.
    Sarah
smiled. These two were special gentleman. Her cousin was anything but fair of
face, but the fact