by Clay, Verna
Meeting the child's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hankerson, a couple from a neighboring town and bound for the same wagon train as Hallie, was an unexpected bonus; they turned out to be delightful people.
Hallie yawned and glanced out the stagecoach window at Cooper riding alongside on his beautiful mare. Before her eyes closed, an unguarded thought escaped. What a magnificent man on a magnificent horse. She sighed and felt safe for the first time in weeks.
The slowing of the coach awakened Hallie and she realized she must have slept for quite some time because the sun was much lower on the horizon. Sammy, Timmy's newfound friend, had moved from his father's lap to sit beside Timmy, and the boys thumbed through a book about the Wild West, mesmerized by drawings of cowboys, Indians, horses, herds of buffalo, mountains, and other scenes the artist had encountered during his own journey west.
She glanced at Mrs. Hankerson, a pretty, full-figured, dark-haired woman, who said, "I was wondering when we'd take a break. I feel like every bone in my body has jarred loose."
Hallie nodded her agreement and stretched her aching neck. The stagecoach came to a complete halt and Cooper opened her door. "Let me assist you out."
While Mr. Hankerson helped his wife and son out the other door, Hallie accepted Cooper's extended hand. It felt warm and calloused and sent a frisson of awareness up her arm. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she quickly withdrew her hand and stepped aside. Timmy jumped down behind her. The Hankersons rounded the coach and Mr. Hankerson turned to his son. "Sammy, I think we'd best head off into the bushes and take care of business." He looked at Hallie, "Would you like me to take Timmy with us?"
Hallie looked at Timmy. "Do you need to relieve yourself, son?"
"Yes, Ma."
"Okay, go with Mr. Hankerson."
After the boys left, Mrs. Hankerson sidled up to Hallie and whispered in her ear. "I don't know about you, but I think I'm going to wet my knickers."
Hallie looked at her sympathetically. "I know exactly what you mean," she whispered back. She glanced at Cooper to see him watching them and felt her face glow pink.
He cleared his throat and pointed. "Uh, ladies, see that tree over yonder? If you'd like to visit it, I'll make sure no one walks in that direction. And here, I have a blanket you can hold up for privacy." He took the couple of steps to his horse and untied a roll fastened to the back of his saddle.
Cooper's consideration of the needs of her bladder made Hallie want to throw her arms around him in gratefulness. Throw your arms around Cooper! Hallie Wells, what's gotten into you? You watch the direction of your thoughts!
After everyone had regrouped, the driver yelled, "All aboard! We'll reach St. Louis just after nightfall."
Relieved that the bumpy journey was almost over, Hallie settled back inside the coach and thought about the next leg of her adventure. Timmy must have been thinking the same thing, because he said, "Ma, I can't wait to ride on the steamboat!" Sammy caught his enthusiasm and agreed. "Oh, yeah! Let's see if we can find a picture of a boat in the book."
Hallie smiled and smoothed Timmy's tousled hair. He huddled next to his new friend and poured over their book again. Hallie glanced across at Mr. and Mrs. Hankerson. "I'm so happy we're traveling on the same wagon train and steamboat. And please, you must call me Hallie."
Mrs. Hankerson reached to pat her husband's hand. "And you must call us by our first names, as well—Lydia and Emmett."
"Have either of you been on a steamboat before?" Hallie asked.
Lydia replied, "I haven't, but Emmett has." She giggled. "Before he met me, he was a little wild."
Glancing back at the short, thin man, probably in his mid thirties, with rosy cheeks and an already receding hairline, Hallie found that impossible to believe.
Emmett smiled and admitted, "As a young pup, while sowing my wild oats, so to speak, I had a fondness for the cards and found myself gambling on riverboats often." He laughed. "But I was never very good at bluffing. After losing my hard-earned ranch wages one time too many, it cured me of the seamy side of life."
"Goodness, do you suppose they'll have card games and a saloon aboard our steamboat?" Hallie asked with incredulity.
"It's a possibility, but we'll just avoid that part of the boat. Besides, you said Mr. Jerome is escorting you. He's a formidable looking cowboy so no one will bother you. Even in my wild days I wouldn't have wanted to tangle with him."
Hallie glanced at Lydia. She could read the question in the woman's eyes about her relationship with Cooper, and she felt embarrassed. It was highly unorthodox for a woman to travel in the company of a man who wasn't her husband. Hallie had been so concerned about finding someone to drive her oxen that she hadn't even considered the speculations that would surely occur.
Not wanting to bring up the topic of her husband's death in front of Timmy, when he seemed so happy at the moment, she made a mental note to later clarify her strictly business relationship with Cooper Jerome for her newfound friends.
Chapter 5: No Room at the Inn
After dusk, the stagecoach unloaded its passengers at the Brandon Hotel in St. Louis. The weather had turned chilly and Hallie pulled her wrap tightly around her. Buttoning Timmy's jacket, she supposed they would spend the night at the hotel; that is, if accommodations were available. She sighed. There was so much about her journey that depended on circumstances at any given moment. Her ordered life no longer existed. Mentally and physically she squared her shoulders, hoping the action would strengthen her resolve. Being a timid woman, she had allowed Thomas to structure their lives. Of course, with his physical limitation, she had done her best to relieve the load of running their farm, but that in no way prepared her for the unforeseen happenings that were now part and parcel of her daily existence.
The opening of the stagecoach door interrupted her reverie and once again she grasped Cooper's extended hand so he could help her down. Timmy hopped the short distance to the ground, his eyes wide with curiosity. Emmett opened the other door and assisted Lydia and Sammy. Hallie heard the drivers yelling instructions and within a short time her trunk, as well as the Hankersons' trunk, was lowered to the ground.
Cooper suggested, "Hallie, why don't you and Tim wait in the portico while I see if I can secure a room and find bellboys to haul your trunk."
Hallie nodded and reached for Timmy's hand, drawing him up the steps and to a corner of the immense enclosed porch. This hotel seemed huge in comparison to the one in Jebson and Timmy's eyes rounded as he watched the comings and goings of cowboys with low slung, holstered revolvers, sophisticated women on the arms of business type men, and even women with rouged cheeks and fancy hats, enter and exit the hotel. Hallie felt overwhelmed herself.
Holding tightly to her son's hand, Lydia was guided by her husband to stand beside Hallie. She leaned toward Hallie and whispered loudly, "This shore ain't my little town of River Bend Grove."
Hallie smiled at her new friend. "And it's not Jebson either."
The women giggled and Emmett laughed along with them. He teased, "Lydia, I'll be right back. Don't start any trouble while I'm gone." He ruffled his son's hair and winked at his wife.
Hallie watched him enter the hotel and laughed nervously. "What if there aren't any rooms? Do you suppose we'll have to sleep in the stable?" She was only half kidding, but when she saw the startled look on Lydia's face, she wished she'd kept her remark to herself.
* * *
Cooper stared at the hotel clerk and refused to back down. "Surely, there's got to be something available."
"Sir, as I've explained, this is the season for travelers making their way to the westward trails and we're always full up."
Cooper pushed his Stetson back and rubbed his forehead. He already had a headache and this yokel was making it worse. He glanced sideways and saw Mr. Hankerson enter the hotel. Sighing, he reached into his pocket and pushed a shiny coin toward the clerk. "Will this find us a room?"
The clerk slipped his hand over the coin and smile
d, "Yes, I believe it will."
Cooper slipped another coin his way. "And how about this one for the man who just entered?"
The odious little man, who’d attempted to hide the bald spot directly on top of his head by slicking wiry gray hair over it, quirked a sidewinder grin at his double fortune, and surreptitiously palmed the coin off the counter.
Cooper motioned Mr. Hankerson over. "I was just informed that there are only two rooms left. How's that for luck?" As he watched relief wash over his traveling companion's face, he knew his coin had been well spent.
"That's terrific. I didn't want to return to my wife and son and tell them we'd be sleeping in the alley," he joked.
After they paid for their rooms and secured their keys, Mr. Hankerson turned to Cooper. "Please call me Emmett. May I call you Cooper?"
"Not a problem." Bouncing Hallie's key in his hand, he added, "Guess I'll give this to Mrs. Wells and then head on over to the stable to spend the night with my horse." There, that should keep this guy from getting the wrong impression.
Emmett made a waving motion. "Lead the way back to the ladies, sir."
The relief on Hallie's face when Cooper handed her the key made him feel like a hero. He said, "I'll see you and Tim in the morning—say, about eight. By that time, I'll have a buckboard hired to drive us to the dock." He glanced at Emmett. "Would you like to ride with us? There'll be plenty of room for everyone and the trunks."
"That's very kind, Cooper. And please, let me pay for the buckboard."
"That's not necessary."
Emmett laughed and repeated Cooper's earlier words, "The last two rooms in the hotel, huh? That was fortuitous timing, wouldn't you say? No, I'll reimburse you for the buckboard. We'll meet you out front at eight."
Cooper realized the ladies and children were glancing between the two of them with questioning looks. He turned to Hallie. "Well, ma'am, I'll see you in the morning."
He started to turn away, but her small hand on his elbow stopped him. With pretty pink cheeks, she asked, "Where will you be staying the night, Cooper?"
He grinned, "With my horse, ma'am. Sweet Pea gets right lonely when I'm not around." He laughed and descended the porch steps.
Chapter 6: All Aboard!
As planned, Hallie and Timmy were waiting at the front of the hotel at eight the next morning. So far, they hadn't seen the Hankersons.
The night before, Hallie had ordered dinner from the hotel dining room sent to their room. She knew Timmy had to be famished, as was she, and they relished a meal of beef stew with chunks of potatoes and carrots poured over a bed of rice, with large squares of cornbread, and for dessert, apple pie. Having saved back some of the cornbread she now unwrapped it and handed it to Timmy.
"Here, son; eat this until we can get a decent meal."
"Ma, I think you should have it. You didn't eat as much as me last night."
Timmy's thoughtfulness touched her heart; he had his father's same kindness. Longing for her dead husband clutched Hallie's emotions and caused her to blink rapidly to stop tears from falling. "No, honey, I want you to have it."
Timmy accepted the square but broke it in half. "Ma, you eat half. Okay? I wouldn't feel right eating it all myself." He handed her his offering. Hallie ruffled his hair and quickly ate her meager breakfast.
While they waited for Cooper she asked, "Son, I've been meaning to ask you about your attitude yesterday with Daisy. What was that all about? You two seemed to be friends up until then."
Timmy blushed and turned his head. "Aw, Ma, she said…she said we was gonna get married someday."
"What? Why would she think that?"
Timmy shuffled his feet. "She told me she had a dream 'bout it and it was so real she knew it was true."
Hallie stifled a smile. "Well, I'm glad you told me. Now I understand your attitude." Glancing up, she noticed Cooper heading toward them. She pointed, changing the subject. "Look, there's Mr. Jerome."
Timmy appeared relieved to drop the subject of Daisy's dream and waved at Cooper as he pulled the buckboard into the closest opening. Hallie waved also and wondered if Cooper had eaten. She felt guilty for not saving more cornbread. Perhaps they would have time to eat in the hotel dining room.
Hallie heard her name being called from the porch and turned around.
Lydia waved and called again, "Hallie, hello!"
Holding his father's hand, Sammy jumped up and down with excitement and shouted, "Hey, Timmy, we're gettin' on a boat today!"
Emmett grinned at his son, lifted him onto his shoulders, grasped his wife's elbow, and led her in Hallie's direction. Cooper reached her first, carrying a large sack. Wonderful smells wafted from the bag and Hallie's stomach growled.
He handed the sack to her and smiled. "Sure hope ya'll are hungry. I found a little diner and had the cook bag some breakfast. There should be enough for the Hankersons, too."
Timmy grinned. "Oh, yeah! Thank you, Mr. Jerome."
Hallie also thanked him and accepted the paper bag. When her hand brushed Cooper's, tingling shot up her arm. She opened the bag, feigning interest so he couldn't see the affect his touch had had on her.
Hallie, what's the matter with you? You should be ashamed of yourself.
The Hankersons stepped next to her and while Emmett and Cooper convened, she reached into the sack and began handing out huge fluffy biscuits, thick slices of bacon, and boiled eggs to the children.
Timmy and Sammy gobbled their food while the men loaded the trunks again. Soon, the buckboard was ready for departure.
The adults ate the remaining food until their expressions evidenced full bellies. Cooper said playfully, "I believe Oregon is calling our names. Shall we answer the call?"
* * *
Cooper lifted Hallie into the bed of the wagon and then Emmett lifted his wife and Sammy. In an exaggerated gesture, Cooper swung Timmy up beside his mother and the boy laughed freely, the sound bringing remembrances of his own son's laughter. He swallowed the lump in his throat and glanced at Hallie to see her watching him pensively.
Suppressing painful memories, he unhitched the horses and swung into the driver's seat beside Emmett. "We're about two miles from the wharf. After I drop ya'll off, I'll return the wagon to the stable and retrieve Sweet Pea."
Emmett nodded. "We sure appreciate your hospitality in allowing us to ride with you."
"The way I figure it, we’ll be on this journey for a long time, and it won't be an easy one. I've traveled quite a bit in my life and the best way to get from one place to another is with folks watchin' each other's backs. There are some mean hombres in this world."
"You got that right. When I was a reckless young man, I almost got myself killed more than once. If Lydia hadn't come along and changed my wicked ways, I'd probably be dead by now."
Cooper chuckled, but didn't comment. Emmett, a short, thin man who looked more like an accountant than a farmer, seemed the least likely to be reckless. Of course, looks could be deceiving. Some of the meanest men Cooper had occasioned across during his own reckless days hadn't looked mean at all, and some of the meanest looking had been upstanding and righteous.
Cooper turned his attention back to the mules pulling their buckboard. The hard-packed road, already teaming with travelers in every mode of transport and pedestrians crisscrossing from one side to the other, required all of his attention. What with this being the traveling season for folks headed west, St. Louis was filled to overflowing. He sure hoped prices for supplies and a wagon wouldn't be sky high in Westport. Although Hallie had a hefty sum from the sale of her property, her money wouldn't go far if she wasn't prudent.
* * *
With Timmy sitting next to Hallie on their trunk and Lydia and Sammy across from her on their own trunk, they all stared wide-eyed at the bustling city. The pungent odors of fish and murky river hailed the approach of the dock even before Cooper turned the corner bringing their destination into view.
Timmy stood and cried, "Look, Ma! Is that
our boat?"
In bold writing the word Mirabella was painted across the paddlebox and across the pilot house. "It sure is," Hallie exclaimed. "Timmy, sit down before you fall off the wagon."
Timmy and Sammy fidgeted excitedly as Cooper pulled the buckboard to the first open space and jumped off the wagon. "You ladies and boys wait here while Emmett and I check out the situation; see how they want us to load up."
Hallie patted her reticule. "Would you like our tickets now?"
"No, keep them until I get more information."
Hallie watched Cooper and Emmett walk toward the dock and offered a silent prayer of thankfulness that Cooper had agreed to help her. If she'd been forced to find her own way to Westport, the congestion and confusion of St. Louis would have been simply overwhelming. She'd only been to the city a handful of times in her entire life.
Born and raised south of St. Louis in an area known as Muddy Creek Valley, at the age of eighteen she'd married twenty-year-old Thomas and they'd lived with her parents while saving to buy their own place. Timmy was born in Muddy Creek Valley just a few years later. The sudden deaths of her parents in an influenza epidemic shortly thereafter had forced her and her younger sister to sell their childhood home to pay their parents' creditors. The remaining money was split between the women, with Lilah promptly leaving for New Orleans, and Hallie and Thomas purchasing their farm in Jebson.
Though Hallie and Thomas had urged Lilah to come live with them, she'd refused, insisting she was old enough to care for herself. After her move, she'd sent a letter praising New Orleans. Hallie wrote regularly, but Lilah only responded occasionally with short notes. That's how things had been for the past eight years. It had been six months since Lilah's last correspondence, which was an added worry for Hallie. Before leaving Jebson, Hallie had written her sister of Thomas's death and her intent to continue onward to Oregon.