I never knew mine although I have witnessed the tenderness that mothers give their children. You have a face that tells me you are tender and loving. I want to get to know you so we will already be friends when you arrive here in Kansas.
Very truly yours,
B I L L Y
William Cameron Stuart
P.S. I had my good friend Jeff write this out for me because I don’t write so good. I hope that won’t make you think less of me.
Barbara had never gotten a letter before and really didn't quite understand what Billy was saying to her, but the fact that he had written and said such nice things about her made her feel she should write back. And his honesty at the end of the letter touched her heart.
Mother Evangeline had made sure she learned her letters well and had even used her to transcribe important documents during her time at the convent orphanage. She had also learned her numbers, at least well enough that she did not get cheated when she went shopping. Not all the girls had caught on right away how important numbers really were. But she had helped them so now most of the girls that were going with her to Kansas could at least read and cipher.
Sister had praised her not only for learning so quickly but for being so generous in helping others. But it only made sense to her to help. So many people had helped her along the way.
“Dear Billy,” she replied,
Thank you for your nice letter.
You did not send a photo, so I cannot tell anything about you from what you look like, but you sound like a very nice man. I look forward to meeting you.
Yours truly,
Barbara
Barbara Juliana McKevitt
~~~
Most of the other girls had gotten letters from potential suitors, as well. All were excited to be able to respond, and chatted about the possibility of a future as wives and mothers.
Until Father Flanagan had written, most of them had had little to look forward to beyond possible factory jobs or working as a scullery maid at some of the finer houses in town. Most knew, if they weren’t careful and lucky, they were likely to end up back in the tenements from which they’d come. This opportunity was a potential future of which none had dared dream.
Barbara's excitement was tempered by leaving her sister and niece behind, but she was overjoyed at the recent improvements to Emily’s health. It was as if her soul had slipped away from her for awhile and had now returned.
Emilene was a beautiful baby. Barbara had made sure to keep an eye on mother and daughter and stepped in whenever her sister seemed to be in her other world.
Emilene was more than a year old now, and had progressed from crawling to trying to stand and walk. Despite his crudeness, Barbara’s bully of a stepfather had been a handsome man in his own way, and Emilene carried the best traits of both her parents in her looks.
Fortunately, she seemed to have taken after her mother for personality and behavior. Knowing how short was the time before they would be leaving, Barbara was spending extra time with her niece and praying that her sister would continue to grow stronger.
With only two weeks left before they were to get on the train, Barbara was surprised to get another letter from Billy.
I just want you to know how much I'm looking forward to meeting you. I hope we can get to know each other well, and maybe have a future together.
This time he enclosed a picture. It was hard to tell how tall he was, but he seemed to have a compact frame and a very cheerful rounded face with medium colored hair and twinkling eyes. Of course, he was just dressed like all the rest of the cowboys, but there was something to him that appealed to her. She found herself looking forward to meeting him.
CHAPTER 20 – Measles
Emily was the one who found the wrapped bundle set at the top of the stairs, during Clara’s wedding. It was a newborn and had a severe rash, which Emily discovered when she bathed the child.
She recognized it as measles from when her sister had had them. No one knew why she hadn't broken out as well, but Barbara had caught them from the little boys next door. By the time the outbreak in her apartment building had ended, she had been the only one not to fall prey to the disease. Even one or two adults who had not had them as a child broke out in spots.
Mr. Henderson had had rather a hard time with breathing for a while but he eventually recovered as did everyone else she knew. She finished bathing the infant and swaddled it before calling over softly to Sister Anne, who had volunteered to stay behind.
“Don't come near me!” she said, causing Sister to stop in her tracks. “This child has measles and we don't want to infect anyone else if we can avoid it.”
Sister nodded decisively.
“You are absolutely correct. Why don't you stay where you are until I've had a chance to prepare a room for you and the child. Have you had measles?”
Emily shook her head. “Almost everyone in my building caught them, but I seem to have been immune.”
“Well just because you didn't catch them the first time doesn't mean you might not get them now. Although I have not heard of people getting them twice. I recall having measles as a child, but I don't want to come in contact with you and then expose others to the risk. So we're going to treat this with a bit of isolation. Will you be all right with that?”
Emily smiled her gentle smile. She had rather suspected that would be the case.
Sister Anne quickly arranged for a small cubicle to be cleaned and prepared for Emily and the baby.
Sister Teresa Rose, who had left the reception early to let Sister Anne enjoy some of the supper, arrived to relieve her, but was warned to stay back.
As Sister Anne explained, Sister Teresa Rosa watched as Emily tried to get the infant to accept a bottle, placing a few drops of liquid on its lips and rubbing.
“You have the honor of naming the child, Emily,” commented Sister Anne.
“I rather think Rufus would be appropriate,” she said slyly.
“Rufus?”
“Why yes, for his red coloring.”
Startled, Sister Teresa Rose laughed aloud, joined swiftly by chuckles from the other two women.
Here was an Emily she had never met, one with a sense of humor. Was she finally going to be restored to herself fully? Oh how wonderful.
The measles progressed rapidly. Emily had finally gotten Rufus to suckle and he was given plenty of fluids and bathed in calamine to reduce his discomfort, but he had been dehydrated and half-starved when he arrived and was too weak to survive the ailment. He did not live more than a day despite Emily’s careful nursing.
Emily was devastated, but also aware that her own stomach was already breaking out in a rash. This must be a rather virulent strain, she thought. She recalled the time between exposure and outbreak was usually a bit longer, but she rapidly became quite ill as well.
Sister Teresa Rose agreed. Although the rash looked like measles, its initial location, more consistent with chicken pox, and the rapid development, seemed to indicate something else. She sent for the doctor.
~~~
Emily adamantly refused to allow Barbara to see her first few days of her illness. She would rather her sister spend the time with Emilene and didn’t want to take a chance of passing along the disease. She only allowed Judith to take care of her under condition she remain in the infirmary and not contact either Barbara or Emilene.
Barbara continued to spend a great deal of time with her niece who was otherwise thriving in the company of the other toddlers in the Nursery. She was starting to walk now and had to be watched closely when not restrained in her crib.
~~~
Doctor Anderson was startled when he examine Emily. She seemed to be wasting away before his eyes. He concluded that the trauma to her body and mind had reduced her defenses against illness, although all the usual remedies were being applied. But as far as he could see this was just a severe case of measles attacking a weakened person. He shook his head and said a prayer as he left the room.
/> Now Emily requested that Barbara be allowed to visit. Looking at her, Judith understood and had Barbara sent for.
Emily ask Judith to stay in the room, “because I feel you are my sister, too.” she explained before turning her gaze.
“Barbara, I know you had decided not to go on this adventure until you understood it would give you the opportunity to make a new home for all of us. Now it seems that I may not be able to join you later. You know, I might have chosen not to go anyway, as the life of quiet contemplation—when not being besieged with noisy orphans—appeals to me strongly. I cannot say that I had a vocation as a child but you know how much I've always loved the nuns.”
She smiled beatifically at Barbara.
“But that is not the important thing I brought you in to talk about. You know I made Sister Evangeline Emily's godmother. I did not mean that to be a slight to you, as I wanted to reserve for you the position of her actual mother, were anything to happen to me. And, in fact, that has come to pass. Therefore I ask that you bring Emilene with you to Kansas and treat her as your own daughter, much as you always have.”
Shifting her gaze, Emily continued.
“Judith, I know you will help my sister in any way you can because that is your nature. I hope that each of you meets someone to love you the way Papa loved Mama before he was killed. I do remember what a happy family is and I hope you both can find that in the future.”
By now tears were streaming down everyone's face.
“Please be sure Emily knows how much I love her and that I will be watching down on her.”
As she talked, her breathe became progressively more labored and she was now gasping for air. But she held up her arms first to Judith and then to Barbara for a farewell hug.
Spying Mother Evangeline and Sister Teresa Rose standing at the doorway, she beckoned to them.
“I cannot thank you enough for everything you've done for me sisters. Please give me your blessing before I go.” Tears streaming, each woman did so.
Father Michael came in a moment later.
“Emily, I understand you sent for me?”
“Yes, Father,” she smiled up at him. “I wish to request you anoint me with the sacrament of the Prayers for the Sick.”
Aware of the gravity of the situation, he had already prepared himself and was wearing the ritual garb. He annointed her with holy water and sacred oils saying the blessings over her and she breathed her last.
The weight of grief filled the room as sobs rent the air.
~~~
A private ceremony was held for Emily the next day and she was buried in a corner of the Sisters’ plot by their mutual agreement. Until she was gone, no one had realized how much a part of the fabric of the place Emily had become in her brief time with them, and how her mere presence had provided a sense of peace and love as she went quietly about her duties.
~~~
Sister Teresa Rose was absolutely devastated at losing Emily. She blamed herself.
Barbara did her best to console the forlorn sister, saying over and over again that she had been exposed from the time she picked up the infant and that no one understood why she had never caught the measles as a youngster.
“It's hard to believe she was only thirteen years old, she was so mature. But I never knew until the end that she had such a wonderful sense of humor!” cried Sister
Barbara lit up. “Oh! She had come back to us at the end! She did have a terrific sense of humor and a great sense of fun. I have been mourning the loss of my sister for two years now and you have given her back to me. She may not be with me anymore physically, but at least I can hold her in my memory again.”
And the two women wept on each other’s shoulders. Amazingly, Emily's and Sister’s precautions had prevented any further cases of measles in the orphanage, and certainly none of the babies had been exposed. Mother Evangeline also had to remind Sister Teresa Rose that she had done her very best and had nearly succumbed to exhaustion herself.
“You are no good to us if you if you are unwell.”
CHAPTER 21 – The Train
The traveling party boarded the train having made copious farewells and with promises to write. Barbara reminded her girls to practice their letters with care so they too could send missives.
For more than one of the girls, this adventure had created a hope beyond what any of them had ever dreamed of in life. The train ride would have been considered tedious, by many people, but for most of the Mercy group, several of whom had never been more than four blocks from Saint Francis their entire lives, everything was brand new, even the shabby, rundown shanties as they left town.
And the further they travelled, the more new things they saw. Fields and houses widespread and not crammed together; cows, horses in fields or pulling buggies or drays, sheep, and goats; and then the hills and mountains. They also passed through many cities and by nightfall passed out from exhaustion in their seats. Even the adventure of sleeping upright in a train was something to be treasured.
Although after several days of travel, some of the inconveniences had become painfully obvious to all, nonetheless, their excitement at all the new things bombarding their senses, continued to buoy their spirits and fuel their hopes.
And, finally, they were there.
CHAPTER 22 – Kansas
The men crowded around the platform, anxious to catch a glimpse of the women traveling west to be with them as brides.
“Over there!” cried Jeff, as he saw a group of young women descend from one of the cars.
As the men hustled forward, the women gained the platform and one turned back to receive something from another. She turned around as the men approached, holding a bundle in her arms.
Billy, drawn by her thick, richly colored hair, went straight toward her. He stared at her in awe, taking in the baby in her arms and the calm expression of the woman holding it. This was the woman from the photograph. His Barbara.
She looked up into his eyes.
He was a small man, but she was even smaller and, oh, so beautiful.
“You look just like the Virgin Mary,” he said softly and worshipfully. “You are even more beautiful than your picture.
“I'm Billy,” he added shyly.
“How do you do, Billy. Yes, I'm Barbara. And this is my niece, Emilene.”
He reached out his hand ever so gently.
“May I touch her?” he asked reverently.
At her nod, he gently stroked a finger along the rosy cheek of the sleeping child. Emilene’s eyes fluttered open and gazed at him, then smiled, cooed, and dropped back off to sleep.
Barbara had been watching his hand, but now looked up. Sensing her gaze he lifted his eyes, falling into the soft depths of hers.
“I would be most honored if you would allow me the pleasure of escorting you to the wagon.”
Barbara nodded and smiled shyly as she allowed him to cup her elbow, his other hand grasping her carpetbag.
Father Flanagan and Mother Evangeline were catching up on family news as they watched their two groups mingle and meet for the first time.
“Our nephew Frederick just presented our parents with their fifth great-grandson shortly before we left.”
“What are they calling him?”
“Pius Aloysius.”
Her brother rolled his eyes. “Poor lad hasn’t a chance. They’ll be giving him to the church at every opportunity.”
“He’ll either end up like you or run off to the gold fields like Ignatius.”
They both laughed; then Father Flanagan confided, “That’s actually where I got the idea, you know. Ignatius wrote to tell me he’d gotten a mail order bride and it worked out splendidly after they got used to each other.”
“When did this happen and why haven’t I heard?” sputtered his sister.
“Well, he made me swear on my honor our parents wouldn’t get word of it until he was ready to break the news to them. They are now expecting a wee one and Iggy thought he might be abl
e to share the news of his marriage that way, so he said I might mention to you in confidence how he happened to acquire a bride.”
She looked thoughtful for a moment and then gave her head a decided nod. “You two have always been thick as thieves. He still hasn’t written me since he left home. And I’m never sure any of my letters reach him, he’s moved about so.”
“Well I think he’s staying put now. He’s homesteading in Texas.
“That’s two of you in the west now!”
“The country’s growing, Amelia, and city crowds are not for all.
“And I think we’ve given our youngsters enough time to get to know one another for now. Shall we gather the luggage and take your young ladies to their new home?”
Most of the young folk had already congregated, cowboys spiriting the bags and boxes into the wagon, which had been outfitted with benches.
~~~
It was all so strange, the wide open spaces, the towering trees, the ranch buildings. There were no tall narrow buildings crowding the streets, no traffic of people and carriages and carts, covered wagons and drays and other equipages racing along to the hazard of any pedestrians and other vehicles and horses.
And the smells were so different. Not the animal waste; that stayed the same. But there was no overlying odor of rotten garbage. The breeze held a hint of green smells and flowers and even cooking, but not the spoiled smells so often coming from the tenements. These were mouth-watering aromas of meats and pies.
It wasn't the same kind of noise, either. No yelling and screaming or shrill sounds of mother's calling their children. Except for the very youngest, the children all seemed to be helping with chores around the ranch.
Reverend Peterson had made arrangements for lodging at the Tri Brand. A dance was planned for Saturday night to give other young men in town the opportunity to meet the young ladies, as well, and to introduce them to the rest of the townsfolk.
The rancher, Charles Barnett, and his beautiful wife Mary, had made them all feel at home. It had been decided that the women should stay together at first, so the men had vacated their bunkhouse and set up tents in the next field so they could all get to know one another and not feel so strange and alone. Mother Evangeline had been invited to stay at the ranch house so she’d be near her charges.
Mail Order Barbara (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies Book 14) Page 7