“I’m sorry, but there is no ‘him’ unless you are referring to the Grand. If that’s the case, then you need to see Mr. Augustine Raines,” she answered, her gaze assessing him from head to toe. “I am the owner of this dress shop. I’m Elizabeth Hamilton. If you have something to be mended, please take it to the front desk of the hotel for a ticket.”
Hamilton. Hamilton. Wally thought quickly. There was a Steven Hamilton listed among the names of the dead miners if I remember right.
“I’m here on other business, Miss Hamilton,” Wally said, weighing his next words carefully. He couldn’t remember if there’d been mention of a Hamilton widow. “Are you by chance related to one of the miners killed in the accident this spring by the name of Steven Hamilton?”
Elizabeth took a step closer. Her alarmed eyes peered at him through a glistening of memories. “Yes, I am Steven Hamilton’s widow. And who are you?”
“First, let me say that I am sorry for your loss, Mrs. Hamilton.” Wally nodded. “My name is Jack Daniels. I was hired by one of the miner’s family to find out if there were any belongings of their son. They’ve sent me to retrieve them.”
“Which family, Mr. Daniels?” Elizabeth asked, seeming to relax slightly as she moved across the floor, pausing near one of the dresses displayed in the window.
“The Baldwins out of Ohio,” Wally said, praying she would have some information he could grasp onto. “Their son’s name was Thomas, Thomas Baldwin. His family hadn’t heard from him in many years, and then saw his name listed in a newspaper article about the explosion. You can imagine how devastated they were when they read about the death of their son in the paper. They sent me to gather any information I could.”
Judging by the startled look in her eyes, Wally guessed that Mrs. Hamilton had known his brother. That knowledge sent a multitude of questions through his head. How well did Mrs. Hamilton know his brother? Why would she have a look of disbelief on her face? Had his brother not been liked in Blessings Valley? Why did everyone he’d talked with so far look like a dog about to turn tail and run away when he mentioned why he was in Blessings Valley?
“I’m sure they were, Mr. Daniels. And I’m sorry for their loss, as many lives were changed that day. Unfortunately, I’m not the person you need to talk to.” Elizabeth turned away. “Good luck in your quest. Good day to you, sir.”
Then she disappeared back into the room she’d walked out of. She’d unceremoniously left him standing there without waiting for him to respond or ask who he should be talking to. At least he knew there was someone in town he needed to talk to about Thomas, but who? He was beginning to think he could be in Blessings Valley a bit longer then first planned.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hamilton,” he called out as the bell jingled his departure.
Walking several feet from the dressmaker’s, the hairs on the back of Wally’s neck prickled, and he turned around. Watching him from shadows behind the window stood Mrs. Hamilton and a man standing very close to her.
“What did he want, Elizabeth?” Auggie Raines asked, wrapping an arm around Elizabeth’s waist.
“He was asking about Thomas.” Elizabeth swallowed a shaky breath. “He said he was sent here by Thomas’s family.”
“Thomas didn’t have any family,” Auggie stated, pulling Elizabeth closer to him.
“That’s what he and Vera always said, but what if he did, after all?” Elizabeth wondered aloud. “And if so, why wouldn’t he tell anyone about them? And with Vera’s delicate condition, I’m sure finding out Thomas has a family somewhere could be both a blessing and a curse.”
“I suspect they had a falling out of some sort,” Auggie offered. “Lord knows, it does happen.”
Elizabeth looked up at her betrothed, seeing the shadows of his past surface. “Yes, but comparing your family to Thomas’s family is something different. If the Baldwins knew about Vera and the accident, wouldn’t they have been here for the funeral and for Vera?”
“I suppose you’re right, my dear,” Auggie agreed, giving Elizabeth a quick kiss on the cheek before going back into the hotel through the sewing room. “Don’t work too late tonight, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth moved closer to the window, watching Mr. Jack Daniels make his way up the main street. Something was blowing in the wind, and she prayed it was something good.
The iron glided over the white cotton shirt, but Vera’s mind wasn’t on the task at hand. It was on the handsome stranger from this morning who evoked a flood of curiosity through her.
Mostly it was that itch of familiarity at the back of her mind. Yet, she knew that was impossible. She didn’t know the so-called Jack Daniels, not before today that was.
And then there was Thomas. How would he feel, knowing another man had invaded her thoughts? And after only a brief meeting. Betrayed? Happy? Indifferent?
How would she feel if it were she who’d gone to Heaven instead of Thomas? She’d want him to go on with his life. And if he found love again, then what? Would she, could she be happy for him?
“Vera, are you going to iron or scorch that shirt?” Mollie asked, coming in the back door with a basket full of dry clothes in her arms.
“What? Oh, no!” Vera exclaimed, pulling the iron off the shirt in the nick of time. “I’m sorry, Mollie. I don’t know where my mind was. I just feel so scattered today.”
“I’m just glad I walked in when I did.” Mollie set the basket down then rubbed and stretched her lower back. “Now, put that ironing away. We need to have a talk.”
Vera set the iron aside then placed her hand on her stomach the same time her baby kicked the bottom out of it. Mollie was going to have to let her go. Between her pregnancy and her mind wandering, Vera couldn’t do what was required of her any longer. Mollie was about to say her services were no longer required. She just knew it.
Her mind wandering was all Jack Daniel’s fault! Not her baby’s.
“It won’t happen again. I’ll be more careful from now on,” Vera all but begged. “Please, Mollie.”
“Vera, sit down before you faint,” Mollie strongly suggested, guiding her to one of the chairs. “It’s been a long day for both of us. Especially you.
“You are here every day shortly before daybreak. You refuse to leave until it is almost too dark for you to be walking home alone. I’m afraid you’ll make yourself sick, and that wouldn’t be good for your baby,” Mollie said, concern etched on her face and in her words.
“But I’m almost done, and I promised Mr. Daniels—” Vera began, her head taking a spin before plopping down in the chair. “Oh!”
“See, you have to take it easy,” Mollie chastised. “Vera, why don’t we both call it a day?”
“Both of us?” Vera asked as the sudden spinning slowed down. “Are you sure you can close down so early? It’s a little after noon. People are having lunch. What will they think if they walk by and see that Nana’s is closed?”
“I don’t care what they think,” Mollie said, heading out the back door. “Now, gather your things and go home, Vera. I don’t want to see you again until after eight tomorrow morning.”
Vera nodded slowly, getting up from the chair. Breathing deeply, she walked to the front and grabbed her lunch bag from under the counter. She watched as Mollie locked the front doors and replaced the open sign with the closed one.
“See you in the morning, Vera,” Mollie said from behind her as she walked into the back room. “Tomorrow, we’ll talk about cutting your hours here. Then we’ll work something out so that you can work at home.”
“Thank you, Mollie,” Vera whispered, wiping away the tears trailing down her cheeks. “I don’t deserve your kindness after all this. I don’t understand what is happening to me anymore.”
Mollie laughed out loud. “You are carrying a baby. That little one demands more of you then you think. We will make it work, Vera, don’t you worry about that.”
Vera hugged her friend tightly. “Thank you again. I’ll see you in the morning then,”
she said, walking out the back door and down the few steps.
Turning toward the row houses, she made her way home along the edge of town.
4
Passing Nana’s Laundry, Wally paused for a moment then turned back around. He might as well see if his laundry was ready. Maybe he’d see that sweet young woman from this morning and convince her to have dinner with him. He wouldn’t mind some female companionship over a good meal.
If he was going to be in Blessings Valley for a while, which it seemed like he was, he wouldn’t mind getting to know her.
His heart filled with disappointment seeing the closed sign hanging in the window. Peering through the pane, Wally thought it odd that a laundry would be closed in the middle of the day. Maybe there was an errand to be done. Or supplies to be purchased. Upon deeper inspection through the shadows, he felt it unlikely the laundry would be reopening today; there wasn’t any indication that he could see of it. He’d have to wait until tomorrow if he didn’t lose his nerve to ask the young woman out.
Walking back toward Millie’s Café, Wally caught a glimpse of the young lady he’d wanted to see pass hurriedly behind the building. Making a snap decision, he followed her until where their paths met on the trail leading to the church.
“Hello,” Wally said, sweeping his hat from his head.
“Oh, hello, Mr. Daniels,” she said, startled by him. “I didn’t see you coming along the path. I wasn’t paying attention again, I’m afraid.”
“Are you on lunch break?” Wally asked, realizing it sounded like an accusation. “I had stopped by the laundry, but it is closed.”
“Yes. Mollie decided we both needed a bit of a rest. We’ve been working long hours for the past week,” she offered, clutching a sack in one hand and a small beaded bag in the other.
“May I walk with you—” Wally searched his brain for her name then realized he didn’t know it. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“No, you don’t.” She squinted up at him, apprehension in her eye. “My name is Vera.”
“Vera, I’m Wa—” He caught himself before giving away his true identity. “I was wondering if my clothes were ready. That’s why I was stopping at the laundry, you see.”
I sound like a bumbling idiot! Get it together, Baldwin.
“So you said,” Vera acknowledged, waiting a moment then turning back to the path leading to the church. “I really must be going. Since you only dropped them off this morning and we closed for the day, your items will be ready tomorrow, Mr. Daniels.”
“Please call me Jack,” Wally offered, stepping up next to her. He slowed his pace to match hers—one step for her every two.
Vera gazed up at him. She was assessing him and didn’t try to hide it one bit. Was she trying to decide what kind of a man he was? Was she thinking she may have to call for help? Or was she just—what?
“Mr. Daniels, Jack, while I am sure your company is desired by many ladies,” she began, shading her eyes from the afternoon sun, “I am not interested or take kindly to being pounced upon by a stranger. I lost my husband this past spring. I’m not at all interested in finding someone to replace him if that’s what you have on your mind. If not, I apologize for the assumption.”
Wally tried to keep a straight face. He liked this woman named Vera—very much. Too much. Too quickly. He didn’t know anything about her, except that she was a widow and most likely still grieving for her husband if he wasn’t wrong in his limited knowledge on the subject. To pursue her now would feel disrespectful, especially since she made it perfectly clear she wasn’t interested. He’d have to find another way to get to know her.
“Not my intentions at all, Vera. However, I’d like to ask you where the cemetery is; I haven’t thought to ask anyone until now.” Wally regrouped quickly, settling his mind back on business and why he was in Blessings Valley—for now.
“It is behind the church just up ahead,” Vera answered, pointing toward the steeple gleaming in the afternoon sun.
“Thank you.” Wally nodded, taking the path toward the church while Vera veered off in the direction of a group of row houses.
He stood for a moment, watching her walk away. Sooner or later, he was going to find out what her story was. In this case, it would have to be later as he had a job to do.
Continuing along the path, Wally paused in front of the church. The sun reflected brightly on the windows as if they were colored mirrors. When he looked up, the edge of the cross above the door gave the appearance of burning as it caught the sun’s orange rays.
Brimstone and fire, Wally thought, as he continued around to the back where Vera said the Blessings Valley cemetery was located.
Taking a chance on being seen, Vera looked over her shoulder as Jack turned the corner to the cemetery. She’d wanted to go and talk to Thomas; now she’d have to wait. She didn’t want to run into Jack, or anyone else for that matter, as she poured her heart out to her late husband about her situation.
What if she lost her position at Nana’s, even though Mollie assured her it wouldn’t happen? How would she and the baby survive with no money for food? Vera wouldn’t be able to supply the milk needed for her precious little one if there was no food. She couldn’t take what little the other widows had from them—even if they were all kindred sisters.
“Hi, Vera.” Standing at the bottom of her porch stoop, her neighbor Stella’s soft northern accent brought Vera out of her sad thoughts. “Is everything all right?”
“Hi, Stella,” Vera said as the tears fell down her cheeks. “I wish I could say they were.”
“What can I do?” Stella asked, concern flashing in her eyes as they sat upon the stoop of Vera’s row house.
“Nothing, I’m afraid,” Vera whispered nervously through the tears. “One day, though, I may just need someone to cry with.”
“You know you always have that,” Stella reassured her as she stood up. “We all need someone to cry with once in a while.”
“Some more than others, I’m afraid.” Vera stood, wiping away the tears with the palm of her hand.
“It’s the baby, isn’t it?” Stella asked softly. “Your emotions are all over the place, aren’t they?”
“How did you know?” Vera thought she’d find pity in Stella’s eyes when all she found there was a great deal of compassion.
“We all figured it out when you started to waddle a bit like a duck,” Stella teased, a bit of a smile on her face. “My sister was a fountain of tears if a leaf blew across the yard. It’ll pass after a time. At least until you start nesting.”
“I do not waddle!” Vera protested, then burst out laughing. “I guess I do at that. I can feel it more and more each day. And what is nesting?”
“Nesting is what a soon-to-be mother does as the time for birthing nears,” Stella answered, a grin on her face. “If I remember right, Mary had a burst of energy for a few days. That’s when she began getting things ready for the baby, and then all of a sudden, I was an auntie for the first time.
“If you need something, anything, we are all here to help you. Don’t ever forget that, Vera.” Stella hugged her gently. “Now, I must go. I’ll be back before nightfall. So, if you need me, be sure to come knocking on my door. You have to remember that you aren’t alone, Vera. You have all of us.”
“Thank you, Stella,” Vera said, feeling the despair in her heart lift slightly. Sighing deeply, she went into her small row house. It was one of the smaller houses, and she remembered Thomas saying it was all they’d ever need for the two of them.
She supposed he was correct. It would be the right size for her and the baby with its one large room upstairs. It would be many months, maybe years, before she’d need something larger. By that time, she should have some sense of her future here in Blessings Valley.
What kind of a future could she have in this small, close-knit community? Would she spend the rest of her life working at Nana’s as her child grew into a young adult? What kind of a life would that be f
or a child without a father or blood family to grow with and lean on?
“Guess I’m going to have to learn how to fish, hunt, and throw a baseball,” Vera mused out loud as she walked into her home. “After all, if you’re a boy, you’ll need to learn these things.”
Placing her sack lunch on the table, she pulled out the sandwich and unwrapped it. Next came the apple she’d managed to save. Sitting down, she took a bite out of the buttered bread and chewed slowly.
She needed to talk to Thomas. If Jack Daniels was still at the cemetery, well, she’d just have to ignore him. Her conversation was with her husband. The guidance she sought was from him.
Between Thomas and God, Vera would find the answers before her baby came.
Wally searched the cemetery, reading the names on the headstones until he’d found the one he’d been looking for in the back.
THOMAS CHARLES BALDWIN
b 1867 d 1892
The block letters chiseled into the rough stone marked the end of his brother’s life and his final resting place. So much time wasted. Gone forever. Never to be again.
Overcome with grief, Wally sank to his knees. Head hung, he prayed for his brother’s soul.
So many unanswered questions that now lay with his brother’s body. At least Wally could tell their mother where her son was buried. That he had a proper headstone.
Wally’s quest was far from over. There were still answers to be found. He’d turn every stone over until he was satisfied all the questions were answered.
“All right, Thomas,” Wally said as he wiped away tears with the back of his hand. “What secrets do you have that I need to know, brother? Why didn’t you come back home when I know you heard Mother’s cries as you rode away?”
Wally stood as a shadow cast over the tombstone. Turning, his gaze met the eyes of a woman who looked to have a gentle soul.
“Did you know Thomas?” she asked, a bible clutched firmly in her hands.
Vera (Widows of Blessings Valley Book 2) Page 3