by Danni Roan
The older woman sniffed casting a glance at the young man who stepped forward.
“Pleased to meet you Mrs. Olson,” the man grinned. “You might not remember me, but I passed through your town a while ago. I’m Cecil Payton. I seem to have inherited a house somewhere here in Biders Clump and have brought my wards to take possession.”
Beverly pressed close to Hester, not sure what was expected of her. Jonas had hurried back outside with the boy Georgie who was fascinated by Hebbie. She couldn’t help but feel out of place in the pretty, if quaint home.
“Don’t worry,” Hester assured. “You’ll see, everything will be fine.”
Behind them the men arrived with the rest of their baggage and Hester could hear them carrying the heavy items up stairs.
“Would it be possible for us to wash up?” Hester asked trying to be heard past Cecil’s shoulders.
“Sure,” a girl of about twelve stepped out of the room on the other side of the hall startling both Hester and Beverly. I hear there’s a real bathroom upstairs. Follow me,” she offered eyeing Beverly’s pretty dress. “I’m Alyssa,” she offered, clearly expecting an introduction.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Alyssa,” Hester offered falling in behind the girl. “I’m Hester Johnson and this is Beverly Payton.”
“Hello,” Beverly offered shyly as the trio marched up the stairs.
“Are you in school?” Alyssa asked Beverly, making Hester smile. This move west was already looking like it was a good one. Having friends their own age would go a long way to helping the children adjust to a different kind of life.
A few minutes later, after washing her hands and face, Hester headed back down stairs toward what smelled like a delicious meal, leaving Alyssa and Beverly to become better acquainted. At the bottom of the stairs she peered out the door, Hester could see that Jonas and Georgie were still exchanging information on their respective pets. She smiled, following the hall back toward the kitchen and lifting a silent prayer of thanks that the children might finally have friends.
A strange peace seemed to settle over Hester’s shoulders, like a comfortable old blanket on a cold day, and she smiled. Something told her that things would work out here in Wyoming.
“Miss Johnson,” Cecil stopped her forward progress placing a hand on her arm. “I wanted to thank you for all you have done on the journey so far.” The man’s eyes were kind and full of excitement. “I feel more like myself than I have in ages and I have you to thank for that.”
“Me? I don’t think I did that much,” Hester caught a glimpse of Mrs. August's harsh look and grew quiet.
“You gave me the idea,” Cecil said. “Thank you.”
For a long moment Hester stood there looking at Cecil who seemed more confident than she had ever seen him. His bright smile and laughing eyes were full of life.
“Mr. Payton,” Mrs. August called. “Diner is being served.”
Chapter 12
The large kitchen and dining area were full of guests as Polly Esther and a young woman with ginger colored hair hurried to place dishes on the tables.
Hester was pleased to see that Alyssa knew her way around the kitchen and was helpful as well. It was good to see the whole family working together to make their guest comfortable.
“Tea or coffee?” a woman in her early thirties asked. “I’m Ernie, Ellery’s wife. I don’t always help out, but we have a full house tonight.” She lifted dark eyes looking around the dining area at the guests assembled.
“Tea please,” Hester replied leaning away so that Ernie could fill her cup. Already she felt more welcome and comfortable in this busy boarding house than she had at the fine home in the city.
“Will you be staying long?” Ernie asked filling Hester’s cup.
“No, I believe Mr. Payton intends to go to his new house tomorrow.”
“New house?” the dark-haired woman asked. “I haven’t heard of any new buildings in Biders Clump.”
“I don’t believe it’s new, only new to Mr. Payton and the children. I think it’s called the Rally house.”
“The Rally House!” George Olson’s voice rose, blasting along the table and bringing silence. “Why no one has lived in that old place in nearly fifteen years. You won’t want to go there.”
“I assure you, Mr. Olson, I do want to go there.” Cecil spoke. “It is the house I have inherited and hope to make into a home for my niece and nephew.”
George scratched his head and sighed. “You’ll have your work cut out for you then.”
“George, leave Mr. Payton alone,” Polly chided gently as she took her seat at the table. “I’m sure he’ll figure it all out whenever he sees the old house.”
“Is it haunted?” Jonas asked his eyes full of excitement. “We’ll chase the old ghosts right out of it.”
“There is no such thing as ghosts,” Mrs. August said. She looked even more ridged and stiff than she had upon arrival. “Now eat your dinner, and we’ll get ready for bed.” The housekeeper shot a glance at Hester, clearly indicating that she should have taken charge in this area already. “We’ve had a very long journey, and the sooner we are settled the better.”
Hester listened to the conversations around her as the family chatted about the day’s events, and Cecil quietly inquired about the Rally House. As confident as she had been only moments earlier she felt a sense of worry creeping up her spine. If the house were truly run down, or unsafe, would they all return to the city once more?
Hester was certain that Mrs. August would love nothing more than to hurry back to the fancy brown stone, but deep in her soul Hester knew that this fresh start was what they all needed.
As the meal wound down and coffee and cookies were served, she kept an eye on the children. Another boy closer in age to Jonas had joined the table, as well as a little girl of about three. Jonas was already busy boasting of all the things he wanted to do with the other children, and Beverly was carrying on a quiet conversation with Alyssa. If all went well, the children could be settled and start school in good order. It was Hester’s hope that they would make friends and learn to do things for themselves. Perhaps she was setting herself up to work right out of a job, but wasn’t it more important that she instilled a sense of purpose and ability into Beverly and Jonas than to be there caregiver indefinitely?
Hester knew all too well how quickly life’s circumstance could change turning your whole world upside down. It was important to her that the children learn to become self sufficient, good citizens, who contributed to the well being of their hometown, state, and country. Hard times came to everyone, but it was how they faced them that made the measure of a man or woman.
Hester’s eyes drifted to Mr. Payton, who was chatting with Ellery and noted how his handsome face glowed. He belonged among people like this, not the high society business types of the big city. His dark eyes shone with ambition as he tried to coax out details on what might be needed at the Rally House.
“I plan on farming,” he said offering the other young man a smile. “I’ll need help, but a small farm, with a few cows and chickens could provide nicely for us. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and hope to teach Jonas as well.”
He turned to look at the boy who yawned wide, barely able to keep his eyes open.
“I think for now, it’s time for Jonas to go to bed,” Hester said. “Thank you for a lovely meal, Mrs. Olson. Children thank our hosts and come along.”
The children, too tired to argue quickly said their good-byes, promising to see the others again in the morning, as Hester stood.
“Ernie would you mind showing them to their rooms,” Polly asked. “I believe everything is ready.”
“Thank you,” Hester turned to the other woman. “I assume I’ll be staying in with the children.”
Polly looked at George who looked at Cecil in turn. “If that’s what you wish,” she finally said. “I thought you’d be staying in with your husband instead.”
Hester felt the
blush burn her face as she shook her head. “I’m sorry for the confusion,” she muttered. “I’m only the governess.”
Cecil held back a smile at the obvious embarrassment on Hester’s face. She was a very pretty woman, and he could see how the mistake had been made.
“Thank you Hester,” he finally managed. “Please see to the children, and I’ll explain the rest.”
Hester felt a wave of relief wash over here as her uncle chuckled, but she quickly took the children by the hand and hurried after Ernie. Life certainly wasn’t dull with the Paytons.
Chapter 13
“Are we going to our new home today?” Beverly asked rising and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The girl had chatted into the night about Alyssa and that people seemed friendly in Biders Clump.
“We are,” Hester replied giving Jonas a little shake. The boy hadn’t stopped talking about Mark and Georgie, and little Mitch, Georgie’s dog. He was convinced that once they settled into their new home, he would be allowed to have another pet and had implored Hester to talk to his uncle as soon as possible.
“Get dressed and washed up, so we can head down for breakfast.” Hester straightened the beds out of habit as she shooed the children into their clothing and out the door. She was nervous, excited, and happy about the prospect of a new start in this strange town. The fact that she had no idea what to expect next was a little disconcerting, though. What would the house be like? Based on what Mr. Olson said at the table last night no one had lived there for many years. Pausing in her work, Hester wondered about Mr. Payton, and how he would feel if the house were terrible. Would he decide it was better to return to the city? Hester’s heart sagged at the thought. This was the adventure of a lifetime. She had traveled to the Wild West with a handsome man and his two young wards. She wanted to see what came next.
Walking to the mirror, Hester smoothed her hair and dressed in her best. She didn’t want to make Mr. Payton feel ashamed by appearing unkempt, and she knew that Mrs. August would have harsh words for her if she didn’t appear ready for the day. Glancing at her single suitcase, Hester wished for her old clothes, the simple calico dresses that were soft from wear. Walking to the suitcase, she snapped the lid shut on her old attire. This was a new start. There was no point in looking back.
The sound of running feet told her that the children were on their way downstairs, and Hester hurried after them. They really needed to learn some restraint. On the other hand wasn’t she nearly as excited?
***
“Good morning,” Polly Esther called over her shoulder. “Please have a seat. It’s just you and the family now,” she added. “Most folks caught the morning train headed further west.”
“I’m sorry, are we late?” Hester asked as the children took seats, looking around them curiously.
“No, not at all.” The older woman smiled at the children. “Alyssa, Mark, and Georgie are at school,” she offered. “I’m sure once you start attending, you’ll become good friends.”
“School?” Jonas looked at his sister, his dark eyes wide. “We never went to school before. We had a woman to teach us.”
“What’s it like at school?” Beverly asked, her voice quivering. “What if I’m behind because we’ve been through so many nurses, nannies, and governesses that our education is all broken up?”
Hester reached over smoothing the girl’s rose-gold hair. “I’m sure it will be wonderful,” she assured. “I attended school in New York, and it was fine.
“It won’t matter where you are in your learnin’,” Polly said placing a stack of pancakes before them. “Mr. Gatlin is a wonderful teacher, and all the grades are in one room, so if you’re struggling with something you can join the children at the same level and move up as you need to.”
Beverly looked between Hester and Polly offering a weak smile. “Thank you,” she finally managed as Hester began serving her two charges.
“Where is everyone else?” she asked. “I mean Mr. Payton and my uncle?”
“Your uncle is helping George load up the buckboard. He’ll take you all out to the Rally house this morning.” Polly paused staring out the window for a long moment, before bringing the plate of bacon to the table as well. “I hope you’ll be alright out there,” she mused. “Old Mr. Rally built the place for a mail-order bride who left him at the altar. He just walked away after that. We didn’t even know that someone else had purchased the place.”
“Is it in terrible condition?” Hester asked, visions of a collapsing roof, gaping windows, and rodents making her shiver.
Polly filled a teakettle bringing it to the table as well then moved to the icebox to retrieve milk for the children. “I don’t rightly know,” she admitted, placing two glasses of milk down and taking a seat. “It’s been a long time since anyone has really bothered to look at the place. It’s a pace out of town, but Mr. Rally was a man of means, and I believe he built it well. Trouble is it’s up the mountain a bit, and the weather is sure to have had some effect on it.”
“What’s a mail-order bride?” Jonas asked pouring raspberry syrup on his stack of pancakes.
To Hester’s surprise, Polly Esther chuckled. “I’ll tell you a story,” the old woman said leaning in to meet the boy’s eyes.
“I like stories,” Beverly encouraged cutting into the fluffy delight on her plate.
“A goodly while ago,” Polly began, “after the War Between the States, a number of women found themselves without men folks to help and care for them. Now a woman is able to do a powerful amount all on her own, but having a partner to help and care brings many benefits with it. A fella can say the same. Out west here there were a passel of men about and hardly any women to speak of. These men, ranchers, farmers, shopkeepers and the like, were lonely.” The old woman grinned a wicked gleam entering her bright blue eyes. “They were sick of their own cooking too.”
Jonas and Beverly both laughed and Hester couldn’t help but smile. Although what Polly said was true, she knew far too many women who were terrible cooks.
“Well a few folks came up with the notion of matching up women from the East with men from the West. These were called match makers or bride agents. They had the men run ads in news papers or magazines seeking brides. Women could write to those gentlemen, and if they seemed to suit, they would meet up. Some of the match makers, I heard tell of one in Pelican Rapids who would have the women come to them and after meeting and getting to know the candidate, they would match them to someone they felt was a good fit.”
“Like when father used to match horses for the carriage,” Beverly blurted, blushing brightly. “I don’t mean people are like horses, but father said that some animals can’t get along.”
“Right you are,” Polly smiled, smacking the table with her hand and reaching for the teapot and a cup. “You see a marriage is a little like a team of horses, each person has to do their part. If both don’t pull equally they won’t get very far.”
“But what about love,” Beverly asked, emboldened by Polly’s response. “Didn’t they want love?”
“For most, love wasn’t what they were looking for, though I suspect many longed for it. They wanted companionship, a safe home, a family. The good word says ‘it’s not good for man to be alone,' so they set out to pair up and see what was to come.”
“Are there still mail-order brides?” Jonas asked grabbing his glass of milk in both hands. “Seems like an easy way to get married.”
Polly laughed as she lifted her tea cup and pinned the boy with her blue gaze. “There may be a few out there yet,” she smiled. “A load of orphans and the like may still contact an agency, but the practice is all but gone now.
“Not all of them could have worked out though,” Beverly spoke sadly. “I mean Mr. Rally’s bride didn’t marry him. She left him at the altar with that big house and everything.”
“No, not all of them worked. Some men and women both were liars and cheats. Others couldn’t go through with marrying a stranger I guess.”
>
“When I marry it will be for love,” Beverly sighed softly, her eyes full of a dreamy light.
“I’m never going to marry,” Jonas pronounced. “Girls are dumb.”
Beverly opened her mouth, a retort fresh on her lips, but Hester stopped her with a soft touch.
“We’ll see,” Hester grinned. “Maybe in time you’ll change your mind.”
“Are you finally up and about,” Mrs. August snapped as she bustled into the kitchen. “The men are almost ready to go.”