“If you look up, you can see the ranch house and buildings.”
In a picturesque valley the large house sprawled as if it had started smaller with several additions. Now there’d be six children and two adults so it needed to be large. She was glad it was one story. No stairs for children or adults to tumble down. A gentle slope led to a creek along one side, but not too close.
Two children played in front of the house. They must have seen the wagon because they ran to the house then back to the yard. Two dogs barked and wriggled in excitement as they approached the wagon.
The barking waked Regina. She sat up and peered around. She pointed at the dogs. “Dog goes woof woof.”
“Yes, dear, there are two dogs going woof. Come here to Mama. We’re at our new home and you’ll have other children to play with you.”
She pulled her daughter to her lap. How she loved her precious girl. She prayed the other children would be kind to Regina. If they were, her daughter would benefit from siblings.
Soon a number of adults and children swarmed into view. Men came from the barn and another building. An older woman who held a baby stood on the porch. A small girl who must be Martha clung to an older one who must be Cindy. Both waited with the woman.
Greg pulled in front of the house and set the brake. Her husband started to climb down but she put her hand on his arm.
She spoke quietly. “Greg, before you give the children their surprises, would you let me get Regina’s doll from the black trunk?”
He must have figured out why. “Sure, if it’s near the top I’ll get it for you.”
“It’s the very top thing under the tray.” She yanked a blanket from the perambulator. “You can wrap it in this until we have all the dolls and children together.”
“Let me get you into the house and then I can bring in the surprises.” He took Regina and held her with one arm while he helped Victoria from the wagon.
The men walked over to stand by the children.
Greg took a deep breath and acted as if he wished this part was over. “Everyone, this is Victoria, my new wife and your new mother. Children, she’s your nice surprise. The little girl here is Regina and she’s eighteen months old.”
He led her a few steps closer to the porch. “Victoria, this is Mrs. Jennings who was kind enough to come help with the children today. This is Miguel Dominguez, my foreman. Next to him is Kansas Kramer, who’s saved us from starving. Sonny Dorfman is the newest ranch hand. You can figure the children’s names.”
“I’m pleased to meet each of you.”
Cindy crossed her arms. “We thought you would bring us something to play with or wear, something nice.”
“Perhaps we did but only to good children.” He gave Regina to Victoria.
Cindy glared at Victoria. “We don’t need another baby. I don’t need a new mother. I’m old enough to take care of myself.”
This is what happens when you don’t prepare children. “I’m happy to know that, Cindy. I suspect I will have plenty to do without looking after you. I do hope we can be friends. Since I don’t know anyone, I need a friend.”
Cindy stamped her foot, turned, and went into the house. Greg said nothing to his eldest daughter. Was this normal behavior for Cindy?
Mrs. Jennings gave Hattie to Greg. “Congratulations on your marriage. I left supper for you. Not much but I didn’t want your wife to have to cook for this bunch her first evening here. I need to get home now. You know, I’m not a spring chicken and these children flat wore me out.”
Greg appeared concerned. “Would you like one of my men to drive you home and help you into your house?”
“I’ll manage just fine on my own.”
Victoria walked up to the other woman. “Thank you, Mrs. Jennings. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
The woman was already edging toward a buggy. “It’s only stew and cornbread but there’s enough to fill up this crowd. Good luck to you, Missus Hardy.” She climbed into the rig, clicked the reins, and drove off.
Martha tugged on Greg’s britches. “I was good but Hattie was naughty. She cried a lot. Mrs. Jennings said Hattie was going to drive her to ’straction.”
The three ranch hands unloaded the luggage and then the perambulator. She set Regina inside it. Her daughter got on her knees and looked at the other children as Victoria pushed the buggy into the house. She parked Regina in the kitchen.
“Greg, I think Hattie could sit or lie down in here, too.”
“Great, then I’ll bring in the packages.” He deposited Hattie by Regina.
The girls looked at one another. Regina laughed and patted Hattie’s arm. Hattie appeared puzzled and then laughed with Regina.
Frankie came up and looked inside. “What’s that thing?”
“It’s a… a baby buggy.” She decided perambulator was too hard for him to say.
He gripped the sides. “Can I ride in it?”
She pretended to look him up and down. “You don’t look like a baby to me, Frankie. This is a baby buggy but I’ll bet you’re a big boy.”
He straightened his shoulders and puffed out his chest. “I am, I am a big boy. Not as big as Sid but he’s my big brother. I’m bigger than Mattie and Hattie.”
Victoria nodded as if still considering. “I wasn’t sure you were big enough for the surprise we have for you but now I see you are.”
Sid hopped on one foot then the other. “What is it? What do we get? We don’t ever get surprises except at Christmas and on our birthdays. This is the first time we got one for no reason.”
“I hope you’ll enjoy the one you get today. It’s not exactly for no reason. Getting a new mother is a special occasion—like a birthday.”
Sid stilled and stood by Frankie. “Do we have to call you Mama?”
“No, but you can if you wish. If you don’t want to call me Mama, you can call me Victoria.”
Greg came in carrying the parcels including one wrapped in a blanket. “Are there any children here who would like a surprise?”
The boys yelled “Me” in unison.
Martha tugged on Greg’s britches leg again. “Me and Hattie would. I bet Cindy would too.” She looked toward where Victoria thought the bedrooms would be. “She’s been mean and grumpy again all day.”
“Why don’t you go tell her if she wants her surprise she needs to come in here? We’ll wait until you get back to open the surprises.”
She appeared hesitant to leave. “Promise you’ll wait?”
He put his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
Mattie ran toward the back of the house. Soon she was back accompanied by Cindy. The older girl’s eyes were red and she’d obviously been crying. Cindy ignored Victoria. She sat at the table.
Greg set the boy’s packages in front of them. Then he passed out the dolls. Regina’s wasn’t new but she didn’t know the difference and was happy. Even Cindy smiled when she saw her doll and the book.
Sid held his box of toy soldiers. “Can I go to my room?”
Greg nodded. “Your mother and I will be in the parlor. One of us will call you for supper.”
Cindy and the boys left but Martha stayed to talk to Hattie and Regina. Greg pushed the buggy into the parlor. Victoria changed each baby’s diaper and set her on the floor. Regina and Hattie appeared content to sit and play with Martha.
Victoria smiled at her daughter. “I’m glad Regina has someone to play with. She’s never been around other children.”
Greg leaned forward in his chair and spoke softly, “You over being mad at me?”
She met his gaze. “No, but I’m pleased you have nice children. I do worry about Cindy.”
He gave a dismissive wave and leaned back in his chair. “Cindy will come around and the others are happy you’re here.”
Victoria wasn’t convinced. “She’s upset about something. I wonder what it can be. It might be as simple as wishing her mother was here instead of me. But, Martha said she’d been upset before I cam
e. Does she have friends over from school?”
He gave a slight shrug. “There is no school.”
How could that be? “You said there was a church. Surely Ordinary has a school.”
“Yes, but she’d have to ride a horse alone to get there. She’s not good enough on a horse to do that yet. I was hoping you’d teach the kids. I have the books.”
Victoria contemplated that news for a few seconds. “So Sid hasn’t gone to school either?”
“A couple of months last fall are all. Cora drove them in the wagon until she was too near her time for Hattie. When she did she either visited one of her friends in town or came home and then went back for the children. It ruins the day as far as getting anything done.”
“I can understand how it would. But, I know how to drive a buggy and I could take them. Why don’t I teach them here for the rest of this school year and then they can go to school in the fall if we decide they should. Frankie can learn to read if he wants to.”
One more thing she hadn’t counted on doing.
Chapter Four
At home in Atlanta, Victoria had a routine. Here, she had no clue what to do when. She recognized that she’d be really busy. She woke early Tuesday when she heard her daughter cry. She slipped from bed and hurried to the girls’ room. Regina shared a room with Hattie and Martha.
Regina’s crying woke Hattie, who joined the wailing even louder.
She comforted both girls as she picked up Hattie and put her in the bed with Regina. She laid both girls on their stomachs. “There, darlings, see, everything is all right.”
She patted Regina’s back. “You don’t need to be afraid, Regina. This is our new home. You’re safe here.”
She massaged Hattie’s back. “Do you like having a sister almost your size? I hope so. You can play with each other and with Martha.”
Martha sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. “Those babies woke me again. Hattie cries so much I never get to sleep good like I used to.”
Victoria tucked her in and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry, dear. We’ll have to arrange something better for you.”
“I could sleep with Cindy?”
“No, I don’t think that would work. Cindy is old enough that she needs her own private place. Your father and I will think of something. Go back to sleep and have sweet dreams.”
When Victoria turned toward the door, Cindy stood watching. “I heard Hattie cry so I came to see about her. Papa never hears her.”
“What a good sister you are, Cindy. Now that I’m here, you won’t have to take care of Hattie so often. I will appreciate your help sometimes.”
“I wasn’t helping you, I was helping Hattie.”
“Whatever the reason, thank you.”
Cindy whirled and went to her room.
Victoria sighed. She wished she knew how to gain Cindy’s trust and friendship. Whatever bothered the girl wasn’t just having a stepmother. She had no idea how to learn what was making the girl ‘mean and grumpy’ as Martha said.
The time was early but she was wide awake now. She went back to the room she shared with her husband and dressed. Being back in the bedroom reminded her of their coming together last night. Greg had been gentle and especially sweet. At least she didn’t have to dread being with him.
By the time she got coffee and breakfast prepared, the men would be ready to start their day’s work.
Coffee was ready when Greg came into the kitchen. “You should have waked me.”
She poured each of them a mug of coffee. “Regina was frightened and cried and woke Hattie and Martha.”
He sipped his and exhaled. “Ahh, great coffee.”
She mixed biscuit dough. “Do the men come in now or do they do chores first?”
“We eat first. When you get the meat and biscuits cooking I’ll ring the dinner bell for them. Better warn you we have big appetites. But, unless we’re working around the barn we don’t come in for lunch.”
She rolled out the dough. “Do you eat bacon or steaks or ham?”
“If you cook bacon, cook up some sausage or ham too. We can each eat a steak or several slices of ham. I like potatoes sliced and fried with chopped onions. Several eggs each.”
“I’d better start the potatoes and onions first.”
“I’ll bring up some from the cellar. You get to work on the meat.” He opened the door to a descending stairway. He lit a lantern that hung on the wall by the door before he went to the cellar.”
She was grateful the cellar access wasn’t a ladder. In Atlanta she’d known a family whose root cellar was almost a pit. Greg must have huge reserves of food.
Later at breakfast, she served the children. “You children look cheerful this morning.” Martha’s hair needed brushing, Frankie’s shirt was buttoned wrong, but everyone except Cindy smiled.
Regina had to eat while kneeling on a chair. Hattie sat in a high chair. Victoria wished there was a second high chair, but this appeared to work.
“Before we eat, please wait while we have the blessing. Greg, would you lead us?”
He stared at her but bowed his head. His grace was short. When she looked up, the ranch hands wore surprised expressions.
Sid held his fork. “Now can we eat?”
She smiled at him. “You may.” She concentrated on making certain the two youngest ate a sufficient amount of food.
Greg and the three ranch hands ate as if they’d been starving for a week.
After they’d cleaned their plates, Greg pushed back from the table. “Everyone through with breakfast?”
She caught Regina and put the little girl back on her chair. “Eat everything on your plate, young lady. You too, Martha.”
Kansas stood. “That was a mighty fine meal, Mrs. Hardy. Sure nice to eat something I didn’t have to cook.”
Sonny smiled. “Best meal I’ve had since I left home.”
Miguel patted his stomach. “Sí, this was muy bueno. Kansas and Greg tried to feed us but the food,” he shook his head, “the food was not good.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, gentlemen.” She turned to Greg. “Will you be here for lunch?”
“Miguel and I will for sure because we’ll be working with the horses. Kansas and Sonny are checking fence today. Depends on where they are at mealtime whether they come in or not.”
Once the men had gone, she was overwhelmed with the tasks before her. She set Cindy washing dishes and Sid drying them. Cindy still wasn’t speaking to her other than to answer questions with the least words possible.
Friends in Atlanta had mentioned troubled teens and Cindy was nearly a teen. Victoria didn’t believe she had been troublesome at that age, but then there was a war raging. She was concerned for her family and herself. Perhaps the way Cindy was acting was normal for twelve. Whether it was or not, Victoria intended to discover the reason.
She took Hattie and Regina to their room to play while she straightened the bedrooms. In what she thought of as the nursery, a large enamel slop jar with a lid held their soiled diapers. She needed to do laundry as soon as possible.
Martha came in to play with the two girls. “I’m good at taking care of Hattie. Most of the time she cries, though. I don’t know why.”
“Maybe she’s getting new teeth. That makes babies cry because their mouth hurts.”
“Let me look.” She rushed to Hattie.
“Martha, wait, dear. She’s happy now so let her play. I see you have a big girl bed. Why don’t you help me straighten it?”
Cindy came to the door. “Mattie, she’s tricking you to get you to do chores.”
Martha appeared unsure and looked from Cindy to Victoria.
“Cindy, there’s no trick. Your sister and I are doing this together while we talk.”
“I can make my own bed without help or talking with anyone. First, I have to gather the eggs. Sid and Frankie are milking the cows.” She turned and stomped down the hall.
Martha stared after her sister. “She’s been like that
for over a week. I don’t know why she’s so mean to everyone.”
“Sometimes girls that age have trouble because they’re not little girls any longer but they’re not grownup either. Maybe Cindy doesn’t know why things are changing with her and now with your family.”
The little girl paused and wore a wistful expression. “I sure do miss Mama.” She hugged Victoria. “Since she went to be an angel, I’m glad you came.”
“Thank you, dear. I know you’ll never forget her. Should I call you Mattie instead of Martha?”
“I’d like that.” Mattie tugged on Victoria’s skirt. “Can I call you Mama?”
“I love for you to call me Mama.” She kissed the girl’s cheek. “Now, how would you like for me to brush your hair?”
When the bedrooms were tidy—they still needed a good cleaning—she prepared lunch for the children and her. The youngest three took a nap. Frankie and Sid only rested because they insisted they were ‘too big’ for a nap. She smiled when both boys quickly fell asleep.
Victoria would have loved a nap but she had too much to accomplish before the men returned this evening. She wanted to unpack her trunks and find places for the contents. The clothes she’d brought were simple except for a couple of better dresses.
A ranch wife needed easily-cared-for dresses. Fortunately, she’d owned sturdy boots and had worn them on the train. She found places for her clothes in the chest and wardrobe.
She set the little paintings of her parents in their ornate frames on the chest. The photo of Paul she’d save for Regina eventually. For now, she left it in the trunk’s tray. Jewelry from her mother and grandmother and any given her by Paul she stored in a case she slid into a drawer.
With a sense of a small victory, she imagined her in-laws’ anger when they realized they’d lost the jewelry. The Bailey pieces had been given to her as a gift—not as a loan—by Paul. She’d hand them down to Regina some day.
She’d not been able to bring as many of her keepsakes from parents as she would have liked. At least she’d managed to bring a few and one quilt her mother had made and one her grandmother had made. She left them rolled in the trunk she left at the foot of the bed she and Greg shared.
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