by Danni Roan
Rock watched the steady pace of the metal and wood contraption as it crunched across the frozen ground and came to a halt at the general store.
Sucking in a deep breath of cold, crisp air Rock made his way to his horse and turned toward home.
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Chapter 3
“Mind your step my dear,” Mr. Williams said as he hurried around the automobile to help Mrs. Farrow down. “We wouldn’t want you to slip and damage one of your lovely ankles,” he said with a grin.
Rock rode past shaking his head. Mr. Williams had a reputation around town of loving the finer things in life. He’d spent years spoiling his only child until losing her to a lowly shepherd. Now he seemed determined to lavish as much expense on his new friend Mrs. Farrow as he could.
“I don’t think I’d like that Jasper,” Ruth Farrow spoke, “not one bit,” she finished taking his hand and stepping onto the boardwalk. “I’ve only come to town today to look for gifts for the little ones. Not that I expect this establishment to have much. Now back in Pittsburg, I would have my choice of stores to pick from.”
“The trials of small town living,” Mr. Williams agreed with a shake of his that made his jowls wobble slightly.
“Well we must make sacrifices for our children and Lucinda does love Sasha and Toby.” Mr. Farrow’s soft smile proved that she had a soft spot for them as well.
“Perhaps you’ll be kind enough to advise me on items to procure for the impending arrival of my grandson or granddaughter,” Mr. Williams suggested opening the door of the mercantile with a little jingle.
“Good morning Mr. Williams, Mrs. Farrow,” the warm inviting tones of Mr. Bentley filled the store.
“Good morning,” Mrs. Farrow greeted in return. “I was wondering if we might look at your catalogues,” she said hurrying to the counter a gleam in her eye.
“Looking for gifts for the grandchildren,” Mr. Williams said jutting out his chest with pride. “Need to be prepared when that little one arrives you know.”
“The baby isn’t even due until the spring,” Mrs. Bentley bustled from the back room her arms full of small flour sacks.
“Never too early to begin,” Mr. Williams chided, waggling a finger importantly.
Mrs. Bentley grinned placing the flour sacks on the counter then reaching under the counter for a thick catalogue.
“Well I’m sure Mrs. Farrow will have some lovely suggestions for you Jasper,” the shop keeper said retrieving her sacks and moving out into the main part of the store.
“Mighty cold day to be out and about,” Mr. Bentley commented absently.
“Yes, what terrible weather,” Mrs. Farrow said shrugging in her heavy coat. “Oh look at this Jasper. What a beautiful bassinet.”
“Do you think Janine will need one of those?” Mr. Williams asked leaning over to gaze at the page. “What if Bruno already has one for her, or maybe he’s making it for her.”
“You can always have one at your home for when they come to visit,” Mrs. Farrow argued.
“You’re a wonder Ruth, you really are,” Jasper enthused with a bright smile.
Mr. Bentley looked at his wife as he entered the room from behind a curtain. He knew that the older couple were keeping company, but was still surprised to hear them call each other by their Christian names. For Biders Clump it was almost scandalous, but who was going to argue with two grown adults?
“I’ll order one!” Mr. Williams announced grinning from ear to ear and thumping the counter with a beefy hand.
Soon he and Mrs. Farrow had placed orders for nearly a dozen items, including a new fangled sling shot for Toby.
As they bustled out of the store chatting excitedly Mrs. Bentley looked at her husband.
“Bob, I hope that order for the sling shot goes missing. I know Toby has been so much better since his uncle married Lucinda, but I don’t think it wise to tempt the boy.”
Bob Bentley wrapped an arm around his wife. “Have a little faith my darling, perhaps Toby really has changed his ways.”
Mrs. Bentley raised shocked brown eyes to her husband. “I just hope it isn’t our windows that prove you wrong,” she said kissing him on the cheek.
Chapter 4
“Janine, why are you cleaning the spare room again?” Bruno asked as he watched his wife fluff the quilt and plump the pillows. Their new house wasn’t overly large, but it was nice having a couple of extra rooms especially with a little one on the way.
“You just never know when someone will drop by,” Janine said turning her bright smile on him.
Bruno grinned, his blue eyes bright with affection. He’d loved the spoiled little rich girl her entire life, and when he’d finally had the opportunity to rescue her from some very bad men, he’d won her heart.
“Ever since Nanny taught you to use a broom you’ve gone plum cleaning crazy,” Bruno teased grabbing her by the elbow and spinning her in to his arms.
“Well Nanny said that with a baby on the way it’s better to keep up with things a little at a time,” Janine explained leaning in to Bruno and ruffling his dark hair before kissing him.
Bruno had changed her life so much since she’d married him. As a child she’d considered him a pest, always following her and telling her he was going to marry her someday. Now, he was the man of her dreams and had opened her eyes to the idea of doing things on her own.
Janine loved her father but he had done everything for her. She had never needed to lift a finger for herself and as wonderful as that sounded it meant that she had never developed confidence in anything but her good looks. She didn’t even know she was capable of doing things herself until Bruno.
Bruno had shown her that she could do so much if she just tried.
“You’re the one who convinced me I was able to do things like this,” Janine mused snuggling into Bruno’s embrace.
“But you don’t have to do them anymore if you don’t want to,” Bruno said burying his face in her coppery locks. “We could hire a house keeper, or a cook, or even someone to help when the baby comes.”
Janine leaned back studying Bruno’s face. “I like doing for myself,” she said simply, thinking the offer over. “Maybe once the baby comes it would be nice to have someone stay, but I don’t need full time help like Mrs. Nelson, or Nanny.”
“Your wish is my desire,” Bruno crooned pulling Janine even closer.
A heavy knock on the door interrupted Bruno’s intentions and with a quick peck on the lips he turned and headed for the door, Janine on his heels.
“Hello?” Bruno queried as he pulled the door open.
“I don’t mean to be no trouble,” a large black woman spoke. “I’m just lookin’ for the way to town.”
Behind her a large mule stood his blinkered bridle trailing as he waited in the yard.
“Oh, it’s not far to town at all,” Janine offered stepping around Bruno, “but it is terribly cold outside. Won’t you come in for a cup of tea?”
The woman looked back over her shoulder at the mule who slowly twitched his ears.
“No ma’am, I’m just goin’ in ta town to fetch a few supplies then get back to my youngins.”
“Oh, all right,” Janine smiled. “I’m Janine Sparak and this is my husband Bruno,” she introduced each of them. “Are you new to Biders Clump?”
“Just passin’ through,” the woman said preparing to turn.
“I’m sorry,” Janine spoke once more, “I didn’t catch your name.”
“Agnes Ratner, ma’am,” the older woman declared turning and making her way toward the mule.
“Mrs. Ratner,” Bruno interjected stepping out into the cold, “let me show you the direction to town.”
The woman turned her dark eyes studying the young man, and then nodded.
A moment later she was turning the mule along the well worn track to Biders Clump. The road had been widened, hard packed and nearly covered in tiny flecks of pink granite from when a crew of men had come to quarry the substance on Bruno�
��s land.
“You can’t miss it,” Bruno called after the departing mule, “just keep following the road.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like that before,” Janine commented as Bruno walked back into the house.
“You mean a woman of color?” Bruno asked. “You know my granddaddy married a woman from the islands.”
“Yes, I know.” Janine said, “that’s not what I mean. She seemed so stand-offish.”
“I imagine wherever she came from it was best to keep to yourself.” Bruno said pulling Janine back into his arms and picking up where he had left off.
***
Agnes trotted the mule along the well worn trail. She’d hesitated to knock on the door of the fancy little house, but she didn’t know her way and needed supplies. She was worried but didn’t like for it to show.
Surely Noah would catch up with them if they just waited long enough. It had already been nearly five months with no sign of him and barely any word.
A tremor of worry quivered in her stomach, but she put the dark thoughts aside. She hadn’t loved her man when she’d married him, but a matter of convenience had created a deep and lasting bond. She couldn’t imagine starting this new life without him, and her heart ached to see him again.
When they had decided to leave the heart of Dixie, Agnes had been relieved, if nervous. Leaving what you know, even if it isn’t good, is scary and starting out on her own with the children had been almost more than she could bear.
Noah had sold everything they owned to buy the wagon and mules, but still they had needed to borrow to supply themselves for a better future.
They had decided they wanted more for their children, a brighter future with opportunities that other children had. Hearing of the opportunities in the west, it had been logical to organize for a new start.
The debt, however, had meant that Noah would have to stay behind working in the cotton mill until the bill was paid.
Agnes jingled the few coins she had in the pocket of her heavy coat and prayed that Noah would find them soon. Her heart ached for him even as she pushed the feelings deep inside. She had to be strong now; she had to see that her children were fed and safe. The Good Lord would have to see Noah safely to them.
The first few buildings of the town came into view and Agnes slowed her mule taking in the lay of the land.
She passed a small tidy restaurant on her right, its large sign declaring it the Grist Mill, and further down the line, she noted the bank around the corner from the main drag.
A boarding house advertised its services across the street and further to the left closer to the General Store a stone building labeled Sheriff stood, somber and quiet.
A few people scurried along the board walks hurrying to get out of the cold, but for the most part the town was quiet.
Agnes pulled up in front of the mercantile, took one last look around her and slipped to the ground.
Straightening her coat and smoothing her skirt Agnes lifted her chin and opened the door walking boldly into the neat store full from top to bottom with everything a body could need.
“Hello,” a woman with a mop of coal black hair said turning on the ladder she was using to dust the top shelves.
“Good afternoon,” Agnes said waiting to see what came next.
“Do you need help or can you look around on your own?” the woman asked. “I’m just finishing this shelf.”
Agnes looked around her seeing several items she needed. “I can help myself,” she declared heading for the shelf the tightness in her shoulders and chest easing just a bit.
Behind her she could hear the woman finishing her task and climbing back down the ladder.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said. “I know I’m terribly rude, but I didn’t want to have to climb back up when I was nearly finished. I’m Mrs. Bentley, how can I help you?” she added with as smile.
“It’s no problem,” Agnes said. “I’m just in for a few supplies.” She hefted a sack of corn meal, one of flour, and a tin of baking soda.
“Are you new to Biders Clump?” Mrs. Bentley asked taking the items and carrying them to the counter.
Agnes blinked at the woman. Every single person she’d met so far, near or around this town, had asked the same question. Was it so common for folks to simply stop and stay here?
“We’re just passin’ through,” she answered hesitantly. “Probably ride out the worst of the bad weather here though.”
“Well you picked a good place for it,” Mrs. Bentley smiled. “But I’ll tell you now it’s going to be a hard winter. Why you should have seen the fuzzy caterpillar I saw this fall, he was more brown than black for sure. It doesn’t bode well you know when they get like that. Means we’ll have a lot of snow.”
Agnes nodded, she’d heard similar things on predicting the length and depth of a winter before.
“I hope you have enough blankets and things, are you staying in town or are you camped somewhere?”
Agnes studied the chatty woman. She seemed friendly enough.
“My children and I have a little camp. A fella rode out that way this morning and said we’d be allowed to stay.”
“Good, good,” Mrs. Bentley said slipping the items into an old burlap sack. “Well if you need anything you let us know. Bob and me we keep an ear out for news. And if it gets too terrible out there I think the Sparaks have their old house up for rent.”
“Thank you,” Agnes said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Chapter 5
Rock couldn’t stop thinking about the family camped in the hollow along the edge of the Adams’ place. It had been three days since he’d come upon them, and since then he’d worried over them every day. So many things could go wrong out on the range.
“I’m riding east today,” he spoke up over breakfast before the first rays of light had pierced the sky.”
“Alright,” Billings said wondering about Rock’s sudden decision but not saying anything.
“Reckon I’ll head north then,” Williams spoke up as well. “You head west Bill and I’ll let Cam worry about the rest.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Billings offered finishing his flapjacks. “Mind the weather,” he added heading for the door. “My lumbago’s saying it’s gonna get worse.”
Rock chuckled as he stepped out the door into the crisp, new fallen snow. Someone had built a snowman, snow woman, and snow baby up at the house and he grinned at the silly antics of the Royals.
He’d worried over Cameron Royal marrying Quil, but the man had been honorable and had lived up to his agreements in every way. The fact that he loved Quil completely and had turned the ranch around had made Rock and the other men admire him even more.
Pushing his hat down over his eyes, Rock squinted into the distance toward a little grove of evergreens trying to pick out Rafe and Sara Dixon’s place, but only a puff of smoke marked the place.
It had come as no surprise to Rock when Rafe and Sara had eloped in public at the Valentine’s dance. He’d seen Sara, the youngest of the Adams’ girls slipping into the woods a time or two to meet Rafe, but that wasn’t any of his business, and he’d kept the knowledge to himself.
Walking to the corral he shook out a loop and dallied a line over the head of one of the bigger horses in the pen. As much as he admired the stock the ranch owned, he was too big by far for most of them, so a few heavier cow horses had been brought on board.
Fifteen minutes later he was saddled and trotting down the lane. Perhaps on his way home he’d stop in with Harlan and Maud on the other side of the line where what had once been two ranches became one with their union.
Yes, changes had come to Biders Clump in recent years, but for the most part they were good ones.
Rock had just made the turn toward the hills when the sound of a galloping horse caught his attention and he pulled rein to see who was hightailing it down the road.
“Howdy Rock,” Francis called pulling his horse to a stop. “Where yo
u headed today?”
Rock grinned at the young man known in town as Francis but whose given name was Lame Antelope. The young man had boldly walked miles to deliver a message to Sheriff Pike only a few weeks ago and was now working for Doc Walker in town.”
“Francis,” Rock greeted. “What brings you out this way?”
“Doc send me with medicine for the baby’s teeth,” the young man said grinning. “I am happy to be out of town for a little time.”
Rock grinned. With the weather they’d been having few folks were out and about if they didn’t have to be, and he could understand the young brave feeling the need to get out and stretch his legs.
“You headed back to town now?” Rock asked.
“I think I will ride with you for a spell,” Francis said pulling his long mane of hair from under his collar. He’d taken to wearing his hair in a long tail, tied up with a raw hide band, since he’d started working for Doc Walker. The look suited him.
“You’re welcome to come along,” Rock encouraged. “I’m riding out to check on some folks camped on the edge of the ranch then I’ll see if I can find Herman and his brood.”
Francis smiled, his white teeth gleaming in his bronzed skin. “It will be a good ride.”
***
Agnes looked up from the fire where the cornbread was baking in a heavy dutch oven, to see the man from a few days ago heading her way.
He was a mighty big man, strapping and then some, but he sat a horse well and seemed comfortable in his own skin.
Her Noah was a big man too, though he ran more to lean rather than bulk. Noah’s father had been a field hand known for his strength and endurance and had passed much of that on to his son.
“Morning,” the big man tipped his hat politely making Agnes’s eyebrows rise. “I thought I’d check in and see how you were doing.” He twisted in his saddle gesturing at his companion. “This here is Francis, Doc Walkers assistant.”