by Danni Roan
“But she started it!”
“Go,” Hester pointed to the side of the house where she had just been kissing Mr. Payton.
“Beverly, brush out that spill then fill this bucket.” She offered the small pail she still held in her hand. I’ll have Mrs. August draw a bath, and we’ll try to get you cleaned up then you can go to your room and think about your behavior.”
“I hate you!” Beverly spat tossing her brush on the floor and storming away.
Cecil watched as his charges marched off in different direction, both obviously miserable, and then turned back to Hester. “Don’t you think you were being a little harsh?” His words fell like millstones, dragging Hester’s hearts to the depths of despair.
“No,” she said, her voice shaky. “I do not think I was too harsh. They were behaving horribly and they both need to take responsibility for their actions.”
“They’re only children.”
“Children grow into adults. If adults won’t guide them what will they ever become?”
“They need understanding,” Cecil insisted growing irritated at the conversation. “Those two have been through enough in their young lives. They don’t need more harsh treatment.”
“Harsh treatment?” Hester’s eyes grew wide. “Harsh treatment is letting them believe that anything they do is right and good. If we don’t teach them now life, or even worse, death will.”
The young woman’s heart seemed to crumble in her breast as her temper rose. Turning on her heel she hurried away toward the front of the house, leaving Mr. Payton standing there to clean up the mess.
Hester dashed the tears from her eyes. The man had just promised he wanted to be more than a friend. He had kissed her, and now he had turned on her. Hadn’t he said he would support her and stand behind her? How could she trust someone who changed with the wind?
She was so angry she barely slowed as she walked through the front door stomping her way up the stairs. If he didn’t trust her judgment with the children, how would he ever truly love and trust her as anything more. As her heart crumbled into a million pieces, Hester realized that she could not live with a man who didn’t trust her.
Hot tears streaming down her face as Hester shoved her few items of clothing into her old bag, never stopping to change out of her paint stained dress. “Uncle Hyke,” she shouted as she walked back out onto the front porch, bag in hand. “Uncle Hyke!”
“What’s wrong?” Hyke came skidding around the corner of the house, a goat in tow. “Hester, what’s wrong?”
“I’m leaving,” she barked. “I’m, I’m leaving,” she stammered, hot tears pouring down her face. “Please take me to town, and I’ll stay at the boarding house tonight then catch the train tomorrow.”
“Where will you go?” the old man asked. “There’s nothing for us in the big city.”
Hester felt her shoulders sag as all of the hopes and dreams that has sprung to life only moments ago evaporated. “Just take me to town,” she sobbed. “I’ll figure everything else out later.”
***
"Looks like trouble in paradise,” George Olson commented as Hyke drove toward the boarding house. “I think you might have got your wires crossed this time Polly.”
Polly set her mending back into the basket by her rocking chair, looking up at the tear stained face of Miss Johnson. “It will work out as it should,” she said, her tone knowing.
George rose from his chair moving to greet Hyke as he pulled the horse and wagon to a stop.
“Hyke,” George greeted. “What can we do for you?”
“I’d like a room,” Hester stated, her voice thick with emotion, as she stood prompting George to help her down from the wagon. “I’ll also need a train schedule.”
George helped the young woman up the stairs of the front porch, casting a worried glance at his wife.
“Come along with me Hester,” Polly said rising and opening the door. “I’ll have Becky make up a room for you while we have tea.”
Hester sniffed, nodding and following Polly down the hall to the familiar kitchen.
“All finished with your work at the Rally place?” Polly asked as she filled a heavy black kettle with water. “It’s a big place and a big job.”
“I’m finished.” Hester sniped, her voice sharp.
“Them children are going to miss you,” Polly added, turning to look at Hester who had collapsed into tears.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” Polly urged taking a seat across from the younger woman, who had paint on her face, hands and dress. “You’ll feel better if you do.”
As Hester poured her heart out to Polly, the kettle slowly came to a boil, a soothing familiar sound, providing a strange shrill comfort in a time of need.
Chapter 26
“Uncle Cecil, where’s Hester going?” Jonas walked into the parlor, scrubbing at his paint stained hands with a rag.
“What do you mean where is Hester going? I thought she went to her room.” Cecil’s heart ached and his stomach squirmed with doubt over his earlier behavior.
“Nope, she and Hyke just took the wagon.”
Cecil raced to the front of the house watching as the pair trotted down the now familiar road toward Biders Clump.
“Hester,” the name drifted from his lips like a prayer, and Cecil’s heart plunged.
“Did we make Hester go away,” Jonas looked up at his uncle, his eyes filling with tears. “I don’t want Hester to go. She’s the only one who ever let us do anything.”
“It’s my fault,” Beverly ran out to join them, throwing herself into her uncle’s arms. “I told her I hated her, but I don’t. I love Hester, make her come back. Please Uncle Cecil, make her come back.”
Cecil pulled the children to him, squatting and wrapping them in his arms. “It isn’t your fault that Hester left,” he sighed. “It’s mine. I said something I shouldn’t have. I should have trusted her.”
“Tell her you’re sorry,” Jonas urged. “Please, tell her you’re sorry and bring her back.”
Cecil hugged the children tighter as their tears fell onto his shirt. “I’ll try,” he said. “I’ll try.”
“Hurry,” Beverly urged stepping back and taking her brother’s hand. “We’ll be good. We promise.”
“Promise,” Jonas added, crossing his heart.
Where is your uncle going?” Mrs. August asked following the commotion onto the porch.
“He’s going to get Hyke and Hester back,” Jonas said. “We love Hester and want her back.”
“Hyke?” Mrs. August laid her hand against the high collar of her dress gazing out across the lane where Cecil Payton was striding out of sight.
“Come inside children,” she urged. “We’ll have to trust this to your uncle and providence.”
“What’s providence?” Jonas asked following the housekeeper into their new home.
“I think she means God,” Beverly whispered scooping up the cat that walked toward her curiously. “Maybe that means we need to pray for Hester to come back.”
Jonas nodded as they walked into the kitchen and Mrs. August told them to take a seat while she absently prepared a snack.
“You go first,” Jonas said closing his eyes and folding his hands. “I’ll say the Amen.”
Mrs. August turned from the stove where she was preparing to make tea, a bright tear filling her dark eyes. Oh, how things had changed in this new, unusual place.
***
Cecil kicked himself mentally once more as he hurried toward the town of Biders Clump, if he kept to his current pace he might even make it to town before dark. Why had he been such an idiot? He shouldn’t have argued with Hester. He was as childish as Jonas and Beverly. They were children, and as a grown man, he should have had more sense. Now the woman he loved was gone and he might never get her back.
He hadn’t expected to fall in love with the woman in charge of his two unruly wards, and yet now that he had, he seemed determined to ruin everything. The sobs of Jonas and B
everly urged him to move faster, and he was soon jogging in hopes of catching Hester before she boarded the next train to nowhere.
The sound of approaching horses, made Cecil pick up the pace. Perhaps he could borrow a ride.
“Cecil? Is that you?” George Olson came into sight riding a old bay and leading a leggy chestnut.
“George, what are you doing out here?” Cecil asked, confused by the tiny caravan.
“Comin’ to fetch you. Here take this horse and get to town. The horse is all warmed up and the fastest one Byron has. So move, or do you want to let that little girl get away?”
“No sir!” Cecil jumped for the saddle swinging up and galloping away in one smooth motion. Behind him George Olson chuckled patting his placid mare. “Well that’s done. The rest is up to him.”
George turned his horse for home, letting the old mare pick her pace and hoping he wouldn’t be too late to see how things turned out. Polly might have faith that two young folks would figure it out on their own, but George believed a little push in the right direction never hurt.
The sun was warm on his back as the old boardinghouse owner listened to the sound of a mountain blue bird trilling its happy song. He loved Wyoming and all the secrets the mountains had to whisper. Sometimes he wondered what was in store for the vast reaches of his home and hoped that its future would be full of hope, love, and faith.
Pushing his hat up on his head at a rakish angle, George started to sing some of his favorite songs, his G flat voice making the birds sing louder.
***
Cecil threw himself out of the saddle letting the horse loose as he rushed for the boardinghouse door. “Hester,” he called striding down the hall. “Hester are you here?” his heart clenched. Had the train already gone? Was he too late? His chest hurt as he rushed into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” Hester rose from the table meeting Cecil’s intense gaze. “Are the children all right?” A fear she had never felt before zipped through her, stealing her breath.
“They miss you,” Cecil said stripping his hat from his head. “They want you to come home.”
Hester turned away as tears prickled at her eyes once more, not even noticing when Polly slipped out of the room.
“I can’t do that,” Hester refused to look at the man who had broken her heart.
“Hester, I’m sorry,” Cecil felt his hope melting. “It’s all my fault. I was a fool. I should have just listened to you.” He turned running his hands through his hair. “I told you I would do whatever you thought best then turned on you. I was wrong.”
Hester twisted, seeing the anguish in Cecil’s eyes. “I don’t want you to say that just because the children want me back.”
“I’m not,” Cecil met her eyes for the first time, realizing the only thing that would do here was the truth. “Hester, I’m just a simple man. I’ve spent most of my life on my own always looking for what’s over the next hill. My brother was the one with ambition, a man who was driven to make something with his life. I was totally unprepared for being guardian to Bev and Jonas. I can’t promise I’ll always agree with you, or that I won’t make mistakes, or upset you. All I can do is tell you that somewhere between you cleaning the fireplace in New York, and moving into a rundown house on the outskirts of a tiny town, I fell in love with you, and I want to love you for the rest of my life.”
Cecil shook his head, the words sounding crazy in his ears. Romance, love, forever, was supposed to take time. Couples were supposed to court, spend time together, get to know each other, but he had never met a more honest soul than Hester Johnson. She had given him hope. She had given him a plan that would give him and the children a chance to find happiness.
“You love me?” Hester’s eye sparkled. “How is that possible?”
Cecil took her shoulders, squeezing them gently, “It just happened. You’re just what I needed Hester. God brought you to me when I was losing my way.”
Hester smiled searching his face. “I love you too,” she finally spoke. “I thought I was crazy. Romance, love, all of it is supposed to be something different, but this is how I feel. I don’t want to argue, Cecil. I want us to work together, to be a balance for the children and a hope for their future.”
“I want the same thing,” Cecil insisted. “And I want you to be with me all the way. I don’t know what the future will hold. I can’t promise to never have trials or troubles, all I can do is give you my heart and promise to stand by your side.”
Hester nodded, letting all the pain from only a moment earlier slip away as Cecil wrapped her in his arms. “I want that too,” she sighed as his lips met hers.
Chapter 27
“Looks like we’ll be having that wedding after all,” George grinned taking Polly’s hand as they watched Hyke drive the wagon with Cecil and Hester back toward the Rally house.
“I knew they’d come around,” Polly replied. “Love has a way of finding its way if you give it a chance.”
George grinned happy to see another couple pull it together in the tiny town he called home.
“What do you think happens next?”
“Oh, there’s more romance to come,” Polly’s voice was soft. “Life is full of love, loss, hope, and adventure, if we give it a chance.”
George wrapped an arm around Polly’s waist pulling her close as they watched the wagon disappear down the street. “You’re a hopeless old romantic,” He said, pressing a sweet kiss into her cheek.
Epilogue
“You’re sure about this?” Hyke peered down at his niece as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “You know if you change your mind, I’m on your side?”
Hester giggled, shaking her head. “I have no doubts,” she said. “I love Cecil and he loves me. I know we’ll have our share of conflict and trouble, but I have never wanted anything more than I want to be his wife.”
Hyke’s bright smile sparkled in his eyes. “Then I’m happy.”
Hester smoothed the beautiful dress Cecil had bought her for her wedding day, rising up on tiptoes to kiss her uncle. “I think it’s time,” she added urging Hyke forward.
Together, Hyke and Hester walked down the aisle to a waiting trio. Cecil surrounded by Beverly in a soft pink dress, and Jonas in a stiff black suit, grinned at her.
The tiny church near the grove of trees had been decorated by their new friends in Biders Clump, but Hester couldn’t have told who was present as her eyes locked onto the hazel gaze of her beloved.
The brief service seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye, and soon Pastor Dalton was pronouncing them Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Payton.
As the couple walked quickly up the middle of the church to the cheers of friends and neighbors, Hester couldn’t believe that her accepting a difficult job, in a house with a bad reputation could have led to this.
“Are you happy?” Cecil asked as they burst out into a bright spring day.
“I’m very happy,” Hester smiled, her eyes filled with love. “I feel like we’re starting something new today, and that tomorrow is as bright as the sun in the sky.”
A small hand slipped into hers, and she looked down at a smiling Beverly.
“Do we call you Aunt Hester now?” Jonas asked as he took his uncle’s hand. “Does this mean we get to keep you forever?”
Hester laughed, all the joy, hope, and wonder in her heart bubbling over.
“Yes, Jonas, you can call me aunt and keep me forever.”
The boy cheered, releasing his uncle’s hand and running to grasp his sister’s. “Come on,” he chortled, “Everyone will be waiting at the boardinghouse for us. I heard Mr. Rupert even made a special cake!”
Hester felt Cecil wrap his arm around her waist, pulling her tight as they watched the children race down the street to join their friends.
“I never saw this coming,” Cecil mused. “I can hardly believe it. Ouch!”
Hester laughed as she pinched his side.
“What did you do that for?” Cecil scowled
down at the woman in his arms.
“I just wanted you to be sure you weren’t dreaming,” Hester smiled.
Cecil spun his new wife into his arms lowering his face and kissing her soundly in the middle of the street, the sound of happy town’s folks passing them by as his whole life started once more.
With eyes only for each other, the new couple didn’t see Hyke Johnson pause in the doorway of the now empty church and kiss Mrs. August.
The End