Chapter Two
That evening, Edwin pulled the buggy up in front of the mill-turned-lodgings. His boss had let him borrow the rig. Mr. Leman was being generous. Edwin hoped that meant he approved of the potential marriage, and that he wanted a foreman who was settled and domestic.
He tied the horse between two others at the hitching rail, and as he approached the door, a couple came out. He recognized the man—he had seen him around town. One of the prospective brides walked with him, holding on to his elbow and smiling. Edwin hoped Isabella was in a smiling mood. They were both nervous, but they ought to be able to overcome that.
He knocked at the door, and another woman opened it.
“Come right in, sir. May I ask for whom you’re calling?”
“Isabella Johnston,” Edwin said.
“I’ll go and tell her you’re here.”
Edwin took his place on a bench in the entry. Two other men were waiting and making small talk. Edwin felt the way he had years ago, when he’d had to wait at the doctor’s office while his mother had an appointment. As an eight-year-old, just being where sick people went and fearing that his mother would get bad news in the examining room had kept him keyed up. Now his stomach did a little shuffling. He hoped he’d be able to eat tonight.
A moment later, the unmistakable rustling of skirts preceded a woman’s entrance. All three men leaped to their feet.
Not Isabella.
She walked over to one of the other men and said, “Good evening. I’m ready to go.”
While the two made their way out the front door, Edwin sat down again, a bit let down. The young man on the bench opposite smiled sheepishly.
“This is a bit nerve-racking.”
“Just a little,” Edwin said.
The door to the interior of the building opened again, and this time Isabella came through. She looked so lovely, Edwin’s heart about burst his rib cage with its pounding. She’d looked fine when he set her down off the wagon that afternoon, but now she looked better than fine.
Her light brown hair was combed and puffed and curled a little, in wisps around her sweet face. Her blue eyes peeped at him, then hid beneath her lowered lashes. Her skirt hung full and swishy, in a green bell shape, and she held a black woolen garment over one arm. Edwin jumped up and walked over to her.
“Good evening, M—Isabella. You look nice.”
She looked up at him then and gave him the smile he was craving. “Thank you. So do you.”
Edwin was glad he’d taken extra care with his washing and shaving and had put on his best shirt and pants. He reached for her outerwear. “May I help you?”
“Thank you.” She turned slightly to make it easier for him to drape the long coat over her shoulders, slipping her arms into the sleeves. The other man who was waiting winked at him behind Isabella’s back.
She didn’t bother to button the coat, but it pleased him to see a red knitted scarf hanging down from beneath the collar. These New England ladies understood about cold, snowy winters, and they knew how to dress for the weather. Something inside him cheered. Isabella would be warm, despite the cold mountain winter, if he provided the fuel for the stove. If they got a stove. And a house.
“Where are we eating?” she asked.
“There’s a place that opened up in town, the Angel Vale Eatery. They serve plain food, but it’s plentiful and … well, it’s the only place in town.”
Isabella laughed, and his stomach tingled.
“Let’s go, then.” She took his arm.
Edwin shot the man still waiting a grin and led her out the front door.
“It’s not too chilly tonight.” He took her to the buggy. “Uh, Mr. Leman let me use his rig.”
“That was kind of him. He owns the ranch where you work?”
“Yes.” Edwin handed her up onto the buggy seat, untied the horse, and climbed in after her. He was glad they didn’t have to walk to the restaurant. The hitch in his gait didn’t bother him much anymore, but on the first outing with a lady … well, he was just glad. He snapped the reins, and the horse stepped out smartly.
“Some of us ladies were talking this evening,” Isabella said, and he turned toward her, eager to catch every word. “We have a large stove in the common room at the mill, and once we’re settled, we thought those who stay there a while could cook our meals and eat there. And we might be able to have gentlemen callers in for a meal.”
“That might be handy.” Edwin tried not to frown. He wasn’t sure how long Isabella would want to stay at the lodgings. He had hoped she would marry him right away, but he had no house to present to her. He wondered if he’d find out about the job soon. Mr. Leman knew Isabella had arrived, and Tom had told the men he’d be leaving the ranch by the end of the year. Was he at the top of the list, or was Mr. Leman considering another man for the foreman’s post?
He felt he should say something about it to Isabella. It was only fair. He cleared his throat. “I, uh, don’t know about the foreman’s job yet. I was hoping I’d hear before you got here, but uh …” He shook his head.
“When will you know?”
“I’m not sure. The foreman we’ve got might be staying on until Christmas week. I … I hope Mr. Leman will say something about it before then.”
She nodded soberly. “If he doesn’t promote you, what would you do?”
“Well, I guess I’d stay on. But …”
“But we wouldn’t have a house.”
“That’s about the size of it. And, there’s … complications.” He pulled up before the rustic little building that housed the restaurant. It seemed to be a popular place tonight, and no wonder.
“Edwin,” Isabella said gently, “I couldn’t marry a man who was still living in the bunkhouse.”
“Right.”
That about summed it up.
“I, uh … the preacher will only be here a couple of days. But he’ll be back the first week of November.”
Isabella nodded. “Perhaps you’ll know by then.”
“I sure hope so.”
They kept up a quiet conversation during a supper that consisted mainly of noodles with just a suggestion of meat and vegetables interspersed. Edwin couldn’t think of much to say. His eagerness had fled. The way things sounded, they wouldn’t be getting married for at least six weeks or so. After a while, Isabella’s sparkle faded too. Her words hung between them like a thick curtain. No house, no wedding.
###
Isabella spent the next day strolling about Angel Vale and getting acquainted with the little town. The few businesses would meet the most basic of needs—a mercantile, a livery stable, a barbershop, a blacksmith, the Eatery. At one end of the street was a small jail. She avoided looking directly at the rustic Gold Nugget saloon. The jewelry store surprised her—Isabella supposed that was where placer miners could have their gold weighed. A few structures dotted the mountainside above, and she learned from the clerk in the mercantile that those marked mines. A bunkhouse, a stamp mill.
When she returned to the lodgings, a few of the women were bustling about, preparing for their weddings and getting ready to move to their new homes. Isabella found, however, that several were in her situation, waiting a while before proceeding with the marriage. Like her, many of them hesitated to commit their lives to men they hardly knew, especially if he couldn’t assure the bride he was financially secure.
One of the young women was already seeking employment in Angel Vale. How many female workers could the little town support, Isabella wondered. Could she earn a living here if things didn’t go well with Edwin? She didn’t have enough money to take her back to Maine. She had used most of the money from Henry’s last catch to live on until she boarded the train. Her remaining funds might take care of her for a month at most. She gazed at the limited selection of dry goods in Underwood’s Mercantile store window and turned back toward the lodgings.
The fire in the large common room stove felt good, and Isabella sat down near it after hanging up
her coat. This room was used as kitchen, dining room, and lounge. With its high ceiling and board walls, it would be hard to heat in winter. She hoped she wouldn’t be living here then.
Someone knocked at the outer door, and she rose to answer the summons. A small man wearing a very large hat stood on the doorstep. “I’m looking for Mrs. Johnston.”
“I am Isabella Johnston.”
He grinned at her, revealing a gap where one of his teeth was missing. “Then this is for you, ma’am.” He thrust a folded piece of paper into her hand, touched a finger to his hat brim, and turned to walk away.
“Wait.” Isabella hurried a few steps after him. He turned and looked at her.
“Who are you?”
The smile returned. “I’m Bronc, Adams, ma’am. From the Bar L. I was coming in town for feed, and Ed Gray asked me to bring you that.”
“Oh. Well, thank you.”
He nodded and turned away.
Her heart pounding, Isabella hurried back inside. Was Edwin sending news that he didn’t think they were suitable after all? Or that he’d been turned down for the promotion and couldn’t marry her?
She sat down at the table in the big room and gingerly unfolded the paper.
Dear Isabella,
Seems odd to write you a letter, now that you’re here. Mr. Leman is giving me a half day off tomorrow. He says I may bring you out to see the ranch if you wish. I thought maybe we could get a horse for you at the livery. You did say last night that you could ride a horse. I’ll come by at 9 in the morning. I hope this is agreeable to you.
Yrs truly,
Edwin
Isabella let out a pent-up breath. This wasn’t so bad. She had been silly to anticipate the worst. The intensity of her relief told her how much she wanted this match to work. She liked Edwin. In his three letters, he had expressed his desire for a home and family, and a faith that they could have a good life together with God’s help. She didn’t want to lose that. She only wished he was prepared. She couldn’t help it that the timing of their arrival was bad for him.
Her beloved Henry had married her with the understanding that they would rent a small cottage until he earned enough with his fishing to buy them a house of their own. Isabella had accepted that blithely. That was how young couples started out, if their families weren’t rich. They worked hard and saved for what they wanted.
But she hadn’t counted on the sea taking it all from her. Not only her husband was lost, but the one thing he owned that was worth any money—his fishing boat. He had left her nearly penniless, with only the small savings account they had begun, and it wasn’t much.
She read the note again. Riding a horse from the livery? Not a buggy. She donned her coat and flew out the door.
The livery was next to the blacksmith’s shop. Isabella entered the dim barn and looked around. Only one of the ten stalls had a horse standing inside.
“Hello?” she called.
A man in overalls ambled through the back door with a pitchfork in his hand. “Help you, ma’am?”
“Yes, I was wondering if you have a sidesaddle for people who rent horses from you.”
“No, ma’am, that’s one thing I don’t own. I guess with all the ladies coming to Angel Vale, I maybe ought to order one.”
Disappointed, she said simply, “Thank you.”
“Some of the gals are riding astride,” he said. “It’s not ideal, but out here, the ladies make do.”
“I see.” Isabella nodded and turned away. Would her skirts cover her legs and allow her to ride modestly?
She would find out tomorrow, because she was not about to turn down this chance to get to know Edwin better and see the ranch where he worked. Maybe this evening she could let out the hem on one of her woolen skirts. Even a couple more inches of length would help preserve her dignity when she mounted that horse.
###
Edwin pulled up before the boxy lodging house the next morning. He got down from the buggy, tied the horse up, and helped down the woman who had accompanied him. Together they walked to the door.
He knocked, and Isabella opened it. Her eyes widened when she saw his companion.
“Good morning,” Edwin said. “This is Mrs. Leman, my boss’s wife.”
“H-hello.” Isabella held out her gloved hand to the older woman.
“Good morning. I hope you don’t mind—when I heard Gray was coming into town, I asked him to bring me so that I can spend the morning doing some errands and visiting, while you get a look at the Bar L.”
“Not at all. I’m pleased to meet you.” Isabella’s eyes slid past them to where he had hitched the horse.
“I brought the buggy for Mrs. Leman,” Edwin said quickly. “I hope that’s all right.”
“It’s fine. Rather a relief, in fact.” Isabella smiled ruefully at the rancher’s wife. “I’m told the livery stable has no sidesaddles.”
“My dear, you must use mine if you and Gray want to take a ride about the ranch. He knows where I keep it.”
“That’s very kind of you, ma’am. Thank you.”
Isabella’s shoulders relaxed, and her smile was so genuine that Edwin realized he had nearly made a mistake. Riding astride probably seemed scandalous to the lady from New England, especially starting out from the livery stable on Main Street, in full view of untold miners, cowboys, and merchants. He would have to remember to thank Mrs. Leman privately later on.
At the ranch, he put the buggy away and took out two saddlehorses he had corralled earlier. Isabella stepped up to make friends with her mount, a calm dun mare he occasionally rode during his working hours.
“We call her Goldie,” Edwin said. When he brought Mrs. Leman’s saddle from the barn, Isabella reached for it.
“I can do that. Go get your own gear.”
He hesitated, then decided to let her have her way. It would give him a chance to see if she was confident around horses. By the time he brought his own saddle and bridle from the barn, she was tying the cinch straps on the sidesaddle.
“She’s nicely behaved so far.” Isabella smiled eagerly at him. “It’s been a while since I rode a horse. My father didn’t keep one, but my grandfather did. My cousins and I always rode when we went to visit.”
Edwin smiled. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about her falling off the horse. Goldie should give her a pleasant ride. When Isabella mounted, he checked the length of the stirrup leather for her and then limped to his horse and swung into the saddle. As he gathered the reins, he noted that Isabella was watching him. He swallowed hard. “Does it bother you that I limp?”
She chuckled and bent over to tug her hem lower over her ankle. “Does it bother you that I’m showing my petticoats and stockings?”
“No, ma’am. But a man with a gimpy leg …”
“You forewarned me in your first letter,” she said gently.
It was true. Edwin had felt it only honest to present himself with all his faults exposed before she made the arduous trip across the continent.
“How did it happen?” she asked.
“I was roping a steer, and he turned around and charged my horse. Weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. My horse jumped back and stumbled. Fell over on me. I tried to jump clear, but I wasn’t fast enough.”
“Sounds painful.”
He nodded. “I was out of the saddle for better’n two months.”
“Does it still pain you?” she asked.
“Not much. It’s been five years now. Sometimes, if a storm’s coming, it gets achey.” He smiled. “I’ll probably have the rheumatiz when I’m old, but it’s mostly all right. Riding doesn’t bother me as much as walking.” He pulled in a deep breath and looked toward the horizon. “So, you want to see the ranch? We can ride out to where the stream comes down out of the hills. Real pretty out there, by the waterfall. And on the way back, we can go past the foreman’s cabin, just so’s you can get a look at it.”
Riding beside Isabella on horseback was completely different from riding besi
de her on a buggy seat. He felt more in his element, more comfortable, here on the ranch. Isabella held her own, though she seemed a little timid the first time the horses broke into a lope. Soon they were charging up a long hill, and at the crest, he drew his paint gelding to a halt. Isabella and Goldie moved up beside him.
Edwin pointed toward the western horizon. “That’s Bar L land, as far as the stream, and that way as far as the foothills.” He swept a hand southward to indicate the landmarks for her.
“That’s a lot of acreage,” Isabella said.
“You need it out here for cattle. Can’t run too many animals on it, or they overgraze.” Off to the right, a herd of about a hundred cows and young stock was feeding on the grass. Edwin nodded toward the silver ribbon of water below. “Race you to the stream.”
“You’re on!”
Isabella dug her heel into Goldie’s side, but Edwin knew his horse was faster than the dun. He purposely didn’t let the paint get too far ahead.
When they reached the bank, he pulled his horse in. Isabella slowed Goldie and trotted over beside him.
“Something tells me that race was fixed.”
“What?” He arched his eyebrows. “I won.”
“Yes, I know. But you could have left me in a cloud of dust.” She laughed. “Should we let them have a drink?”
They watered the horses, and then led them upstream along the bank, so that Isabella could see the cascade and the angel rock.
“It’s lovely,” she said.
Edwin smiled, satisfied. They mounted and headed back toward the ranch house. When they reached the path to the foreman’s cabin, nestled in the trees, Edwin led her down it until they were within ten yards of the building.
“That’s where Tom, the foreman, lives. He’s probably out on the range right now.
“Looks like a snug little house,” Isabella said.
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