Cooking Up Christmas (Christmas Mail-Order Angels)

by Teresa Ives Lilly

  Brenda sat at a small table bent over, rubbing her feet. “Even with help, it was more work today than I’ve ever had to do before. Now that everyone knows there is a good cook at the eatery, it will be busier every day.”

  Henrietta stretched. Her back muscles ached. Cooking for ten boarders was so much easier than cooking for an endless number of hungry men.

  Lord, can I do this every day?

  “Benjamin is waiting out front for you.” Brenda nodded toward the door. “I could tell he enjoyed your food. Guess he’ll be even more anxious to marry you now.”

  Henrietta’s head snapped up. She hadn’t thought about Benjamin all day, or her pending marriage. There were still so many unanswered questions.

  “Do you have any idea where Benjamin lives?” Her voice lowered.

  Brenda shook her head. “He and his pa have a claim a mile or two outside of town. As long as I’ve known, they’ve lived there, but I’ve never seen it.”

  “Hmm.” Henrietta’s shoulders slumped. She moved toward the door and stepped into the restaurant. Benjamin looked up and smiled. She couldn’t help but take a deep breath. His smile caused her heart to beat a bit faster.

  “Thank you for waiting.”

  “I promised to walk you home.” He held her elbow gently and guided her toward the front door. “Will you work this late every day?”

  “Not if I can help it,” she answered with a smile. “I need to get more organized and make a better menu plan so I can have a larger quantity of food pre-made each day.”

  “By the way, your food was very tasty.” Benjamin gave her arm a slight squeeze. Her face warmed with pleasure.

  “Thank you. I love to cook, but I’m not sure I love to cook that much in one day. Being this kind of cook could turn out to be much harder than I imagined.”

  Benjamin stopped and turned her toward him. His eyes seemed to be searching her face.

  “If it’s too hard, you don’t have to work. I have enough money to provide you with your basic needs before we get married. I only suggested you for the job because your letter mentioned you wanted to own a restaurant. I should have realized, owning a restaurant and cooking for dozens of unkempt men was totally different.”

  “It’s not too hard. It will just take some getting used to. I’m happy to be working and even happier to be in charge. It’s almost like I own the place.” She turned around and took several quick steps, then slowed, waiting for him to catch up. In seconds he jogged up beside her.

  “If you’re sure.” His voice still sounded unsure.

  “I’m very sure. But our relationship is important too. We need time to get to know one another. I’d like to see where you live, where we will live. Your letter said something about a shanty and a mine?”

  “Pa lives in the shanty now, but that’s not where you and I will live. I have other plans for us.”

  Henrietta eyed him from the corner of her eye. “Is there anything I can do to help with the plans?”

  “Not just yet. Don’t worry though. I’ll leave the decorating up to you. I’ll just choose the place, if that’s all right with you. I do know this town pretty well.”

  Henrietta’s head nodded vigorously.

  “Please trust me.” Benjamin’s voice dropped low, but Henrietta could hear the longing in it.

  “I do trust you. I was wrong to question you before and I’ve promised God to let you lead.”

  “Thank you.”

  Just then a gust of wind blew down the street and almost pulled the shawl out of Henrietta’s hands. She clasped it tighter. Her teeth chattered slightly.

  “You need warmer clothes.” Benjamin noted.

  “Yes. I planned to purchase some first thing tomorrow. The eatery will just have to wait for me to get there.”

  “Do you have enough money to buy clothes?”

  Henrietta glanced away. “Some. I’ll pick out the warmest things I can find with what I have.”

  “No, you pick out whatever you need and put it on my account.” Benjamin’s voice turned insistent.

  “You already paid to bring me here. I can’t ask you to purchase clothing for me as well.”

  “If we had married that first day like some of the other couples did, you would already be my wife and there would be no question about whether I should purchase your clothes or not.”

  “Yes, but we didn’t. The layers of clothing a woman needs can be expensive. I planned to purchase some men’s undergarments to keep me warm.”

  When she realized she had spoken those words out loud, she slapped a hand over her mouth in embarrassment.

  Benjamin laughed. “That will be interesting to see, once we are married of course.”

  Henrietta’s cheeks flushed bright red.

  “Until then, I want you to purchase appropriate clothing and put it on my account.”

  Henrietta swallowed any further argument and nodded. She didn’t want to bring up the concept of money again. It seemed to be the only thing they were at odds over. She would purchase the minimal amount of items she needed for now.

  “Even if we are not going to live at your claim, I would love to see it and meet your father.”

  Benjamin hesitated. “Uhm. Sure. Sunday, I can drive you out there. I need to take some supplies in the wagon. You can ride along.”

  “Won’t we go to church on Sunday?”

  “Most often. But if you want to go to the mine, we won’t have time for church as well.”

  Henrietta’s eyes brightened. She could hardly wait to snuggle up next to her husband-to-be and go meet his father.

  Chapter 9

  Henrietta was overjoyed to sleep in a bit longer on Sunday morning. The last few days working at the Angel Vale Eatery had taken a toll on her muscles and feet. When the morning sun tried to peek through the small window in the room at the old mill, she slipped the quilt over her head and fell back to sleep. An hour later she pulled herself out of bed and decided to dress in one of the new items she had bought. It was a good thing the mercantile had thought to provide some pre-made dresses with the new brides in town. She slipped a blue and white Calico dress over her head and smoothed it down. The fabric reminded her of the Blue Willow tea set her grandmother had owned. The dress would do for church on other Sundays, but today she wanted to look nice when she accompanied Benjamin to his claim.

  The concept of mining was of no interest to her. Henrietta thought it sounded like hard, dull work for the small amount of money most of the men who visited the eatery had to show for all their work.

  I wonder if Benjamin will ever give up mining and get a real job. I could use more help at the eatery, but it would be too embarrassing to offer my future husband a job?

  Henrietta ran a brush through her long blonde hair and then sat on the cot and read from her Bible until it was time to meet Benjamin outside. At the time they agreed upon, she pulled her thin shawl off the back of an old cane chair and slipped it around her shoulders.

  I hope it doesn’t start to snow for another month. Even if I did purchase a few things on Benjamin’s account, I can’t see spending his hard earned money on a winter coat. I’d like to purchase it myself with the money I earn.

  She made her way down the stairs and out the front door. She was pleased to see Benjamin standing beside a wagon waiting for her.

  “Good morning, Benjamin.” Her eyes lowered slightly.

  “Good morning.” His eyes took in her lovely form beneath the fitted dress. “You look very nice. It’s fairly cold but I think it will warm up as we travel. I’ve got a warm brick for your feet and I brought along an extra quilt.”

  Henrietta sighed. “Thank you for being so considerate. I wasn’t sure my shawl would be warm enough.”

  Benjamin moved closer and placed his hand on the shawl’s fringe. “It’s lovely, but not practical. You need a winter coat. Monday morning we will order you one from the catalogue. I doubt they have many coats for women in stock at the general store. This town hasn’t had to c
ater to women much before you brides came to town.”

  Henrietta hadn’t thought of that. At least if she ordered it, she wouldn’t have to pay until it arrived. She might have time to save enough money.

  “Are you ready to go?” Benjamin interrupted her musings.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re sure you want to go see my claim? It isn’t much to look at and there’s only an old shanty there.”

  “Will your father be there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, I would love to go. I’m anxious to meet him. Are you sure we shouldn’t just plan to live there once we’re married? I hate to cause any more expense than I already have.”

  Henrietta noted Benjamin clench his fists. “Let’s not ruin the day by discussing money. If anything costs too much, I will let you know.”

  Henrietta bowed her head in response and allowed Benjamin to lift her onto the wagon seat. She was grateful for the warm brick beneath her feet and the thick quilt.

  *****

  It was a pleasant drive to the claim. Henrietta enjoyed the crisp air, but Benjamin frowned when he noted her nose turning red.

  “I‘m glad you found a few dresses but you need warmer clothes. Winter will be here before you know it.”

  Henrietta huddled further down into the quilt. “I’m cozy and the hot brick is keeping my feet warm.”

  “It will be much colder when we head back later.”

  Henrietta tilted her head and gave a coy smile. “I’ll just have to snuggle closer to you.”

  Benjamin enjoyed the thought her comment brought to his mind, but he shook the image away. It was his responsibility to take care of Henrietta now. “Tomorrow, we order you some winter things.”

  As the wagon made it’s way around a bend, Benjamin began to slow the horse. Henrietta sat up straight, her eyes glancing from side to side. About five hundred feet ahead of them, jammed against the side of a hill, a small building stood. It wasn’t very large and looked to be in need of repairs. Any semblance of what might have at one time been a quaint, small building was gone. The whitewash was almost all chipped off and the small porch in front was crooked and had some obvious loose boards.

  When Henrietta gasped, Benjamin sensed her shock. “Now you understand why we can’t live here. That is the shanty I’ve spent the last several years in. My father’s whole focus has been on mining. As you know, the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil.” Benjamin sighed heavily. “That evil overtook him about a year after we got to our claim. Finding gold is all he cares about, so don’t expect him to welcome you.”

  *****

  Henrietta could not believe her eyes. The building was slanted, had several holes in the roof and was in dire need of paint. She gulped. Although he said they would not live at the shanty, she had to wonder where he expected her to live. A man who was used to this type of environment might not understand the delicate nature and needs of a woman. She tried to push those thoughts aside. She focused on the lovely trees that surrounded the area.

  Benjamin called out, “Whoa,” and the horses stopped. Henrietta waited for him to step down and come around to her side of the wagon. When he held out his hand, she placed her trembling one in his.

  “We can turn around and go back to town,” Benjamin whispered. Henrietta shook her head.

  “I want to meet my soon to be father-in-law.”

  Chapter 10

  Benjamin’s heart filled with pride. When faced with the reality of the kind of life he had lived, Henrietta had behaved graciously.

  He patted her hand as he led her toward the shanty. He could feel her trembling. He was concerned.

  “Are you very cold?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Just nervous.”

  “Nothing to be nervous about.”

  Benjamin stopped outside the shanty door and knocked and at the same time called out, “Pa, you here?” When he heard the mumbled response from inside, he turned back to Henrietta.

  “I didn’t want to bring you here. I don’t want you to think I would ever let you live in a place like this. My father’s whole interest is in mining, not housekeeping.”

  Henrietta tried to lift her lips in a smile.

  “We will only stay a few minutes.” Benjamin pushed open the door and led her into a dark room.

  *****

  The smell that assaulted their nostrils when he opened the door was horrific. Henrietta’s feet didn’t want to move. She was afraid to step into the dark room that could house such a terrible odor.

  Lord, what have I gotten myself into?

  She moved slowly, clenching Benjamin’s hand.

  When they were in the middle of the room, they both stood still, allowing their eyes time to adjust to the dark. Henrietta scanned the room, but with no windows, there was no light and she was unable to make out most of the room. The smell was much worse inside. She held her hand over her mouth and prayed she would not be ill.

  “Pa?” Benjamin called again. Henrietta thought the tone of his voice had changed. He sounded concerned. A faint voice came from the back side of the building in answer.

  “I’m here, son. In the bed.”

  “Stay right here, Henrietta,” Benjamin insisted. He dropped her hand and moved away. She could hear him stumble a few times.

  After several minutes, Benjamin reappeared with a small kerosene lamp in his hand. It was covered in soot and gave off very little light. Her eyes had adjusted somewhat so she could make out the look of concern on his face.

  “Pa’s very sick.”

  “Can we get him to a doctor?”

  Benjamin shook his head. “There isn’t a real one in town. But, if I get him somewhere warm and clean, I’ll be able to nurse him. This place is too open to the weather.”

  “Of course. What can I do to help?”

  Benjamin ran a hand through his hair. “Go outside and wait for me. It will only take a few minutes for me to get him into the wagon. He’s pretty thin. Looks like he has been sick for a while.”

  “I thought you lived here with him. Wouldn’t you have noticed if he were ill?”

  Benjamin didn’t answer. He had already disappeared.

  Henrietta moved toward the door. When she stepped outside, she took a huge gulp of clean air. She wondered if the stench in the shanty was what caused Benjamin’s pa to get sick, or was the smell from him being sick?

  Seconds later, Benjamin swept by, carrying his father like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. He placed the man gently in the back of the wagon.

  Henrietta rushed over, grabbed the quilt from the seat and handed it to Benjamin. He tried to push it back saying, “You’ll be cold.”

  “It doesn’t matter about me. We need to keep him warm.” She glanced over the edge of the wagon and nearly gasped. The man was emaciated. She glared at Benjamin.

  “Your father doesn’t look like he has eaten in weeks.” Her voice was laced with accusations.

  Benjamin’s shoulders dropped. “I haven’t been here in over a month.”

  Henrietta could hear remorse in his voice.

  “I thought you lived here.”

  Benjamin shook his head, moved around the wagon and lifted her up onto the seat. He then clambered up on the driver’s side, picked up the reins and gave them a snap.

  Henrietta waited for an explanation, but Benjamin was silent all the way to town.

  *****

  Benjamin pushed the horses as fast as he dared. He could feel Henrietta’s curious gaze, but he didn’t want to face her. He had hoped she would believe he lived in the shanty with his father, but now she was aware he didn’t. He was going to have to explain things to her sooner than he wanted.

  He tried to come up with a plausible solution to tell her. Just for a while longer, until she got to know him better. He was so afraid once she knew about his money, everything would change and she would grasp onto him for the sake of the gold.

  Several scenarios ran through his mind and he f
inally lit on one he felt he could speak, without actually telling a lie.

  “Henrietta, I should have told you right off that I didn’t live with Pa anymore. His obsession with gold grew overbearing, I didn’t feel safe around him. He thought I was stealing nuggets from him. So I took rooms over the eatery and wanted it to be a surprise for you, after we were married. But now that pa is sick…”

  Henrietta seemed mollified. “I’m sorry that surprise had to be ruined, but I’m glad to know where we will be living. It’s been a bit of a worry for me. Is that where we will take him?” Her head nodded in the direction of the old man in the wagon.

  “Yes. The room above the kitchen of the eatery is the warmest place in town. It will be good for him.”

  “If you can get him up the stairs, I will run into the eatery and heat up some soup. It won’t take long. Do you think he is well enough to eat anything more than that?”

  “If he responds well to the soup, we can try some bread tomorrow.”

  Henrietta stood beside the wagon and watched Benjamin lift the thin man over his shoulder again. He turned and moved toward the back of the building. She had seen the stairs back there, and had wondered about the rooms above the eatery.

  “I’ll bring up the soup as soon as it’s ready.”

  “Thank you. I’m sorry.”

  She waved her head. “There is nothing to be sorry for. I’m sorry your father is so sick. We will get him well.”

  Benjamin climbed the stairs slowly. His father moaned with each step. Benjamin could feel the heat radiating from the man’s body. He had seen many miners come down with fever before. Not many survived.

  Chapter 11

  The next few days kept Benjamin and Henrietta busy. She worked all day and Benjamin cared for his father. Whenever she could steal a few moments, she carried a bowl of soup or porridge up to tempt the older man with. It was slowly beginning to help.