Rescuing Mistletoe Millie

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  Millie nodded. “If it’s what Pa wanted, I’ll go.” She grabbed an old satchel from under the bed and threw in the few clothes she had. An old picture. And her mother’s Bible.” That’s about it. I can go now.”

  They loaded up the wagon when Millie stopped the sheriff. “Blue Dan, my mule. Someone has to take care of him.”

  “I’ll catch him and bring him to town. We can board him at the livery.”

  Millie stared at him, her eyes blurry with tears. “I don’t have money to board him. Really not any to feed him.”

  The sheriff looked at Dean. “Your pa’s horse and saddle paid for it.”

  Millie eyed him suspiciously. “That seems like a lot of money for that horse.” A cold gust of wind blew down upon them. Millie shivered and nodded. “All right, bring him along. I’d appreciate it.”

  Dean was in the wagon seat and Mrs. Clark in the wagon with Millie. The sheriff soon had Blue Dan and was following along with the mule in tow.

  Millie looked at her worn clothes. A pair of old trousers that Pa had handed down to her held up by a piece of rope. And she wore one of his flannel shirts. She could still smell the faint aroma of tobacco from the days when her father had the money to buy pipe tobacco and smoked it in the cabin.

  As the air grew colder, Millie began to wonder what she would do. She already felt like an outsider, and with her clothes and the way she looked, she wouldn’t fit in with the town’s people. That was why she’d stopped going with her pa to get supplies.

  When she was little, it hadn’t mattered, but once she reached thirteen, she saw the looks the people gave each other. It was as if she were some oddity to be pitied and kept away from.

  Now, they were taking her to live in town. She’d have to sneak away, get old Blue Dan, and ride back to the cabin. That was all there was to it.

  Chapter 3

  Dean wondered what they were going to do with Millie. As far as finding her a husband, he figured they’d have to dig through the dirt and worn clothes to find the girl first. He still couldn’t tell how old she was.

  Right now, she’d scare away any man he could think of. Marriage was out of the question. He prayed that Joan could do a miracle and turn her into a proper girl. With those pigtails and floppy hat, Millie looked like she was maybe fifteen.

  What had her father been thinking? She was just a kid. But then, her pa probably knew it would be too dangerous for Millie to live on her own, and marrying her off was the only option. Some folks did that to young girls. Dean didn’t agree with it, but it was a hard world, and people had to survive.

  Finally, he pulled the wagon up in front of the boarding house. It was a two-story house painted white with yellow trim. Dean thought it was perfect for Millie. He helped her down and then Mrs. Clark.

  Millie looked at them. “I’m sorry how I look.”

  Mrs. Clark took her by the arm and walked her to the porch. “Don’t you worry a thing about that. I have some clothes that will fit you, and then we’ll go shopping at Nan’s Dress Shop.”

  Dean watched them walk into the house. “Well, what do you think, Sheriff?”

  “I think you might be surprised.”

  Dean turned to stare at him. “Oh yeah?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I think underneath that dirt and old clothes is a beautiful young woman.”

  “Woman? She doesn’t look a day over fifteen.”

  The sheriff grinned at him. “Yeah, well, we’ll see. I need to take this old mule over to the livery and get him some food. I think Mitch has a pasture he can turn him out in after we fatten up a bit.”

  Dean grinned. “Blue Dan, what a name for a mule.”

  “Yeah, I think he deserves a good life. I’ll pay his keep. Might bring comfort to Millie.”

  With his conscience pricked, Dean nodded. “Good idea. I better get to my store. Jacob will wonder what I’ve been doing. Not to mention his parents will want him home for supper.”

  Dean left the boarding house and walked to the store. The wind was howling like a mad wolf and threatened to dump snow on the town. If so, there’d be people needing oil for lamps and wood for their stoves.”

  ***

  Millie followed Mrs. Clark into the house. It was bright and clean and freshly painted. Much like the house in her dreams, and the one she could never have in the old cabin. Just inside the door, the warmth from the fireplace warmed her.

  That is until she saw the other boarders stare at her.

  Mrs. Clark put an arm around her shoulders. “This is Millie Carson. She’s going to be staying with us.”

  A young woman rose and came over and took her hand. “I’m Wilma Sorenson. I do hope we can be friends.”

  Another woman, older and with lips turned down into a perpetual frown, managed to make a smile of sorts. She didn’t get up but nodded. “I’m Verna Blake. I think it would be good to get a warm bath. I’ll get Henry to warm up some water for you.” She went to the kitchen, and Millie heard the woman holler commands to someone.

  Mrs. Clark patted Millie’s shoulders. “Verna is a bit loud and has the personality of a general, but she means well and will give her life for any of her friends. That she took on herself to get the bathwater for you, tells me she’s accepted you as a friend.”

  Millie smiled. “Thank you. You’re being so kind.”

  “Let me show you to your room.” Mrs. Clark led her down the hall to the last room at the back of the house. She opened the door.

  Millie stood and looked in awe. If she had ever designed a room, this is what it would have looked like. The bed was covered in a quilt with yellow flowers, while the room was painted in white with yellow trim. So bright and airy. But warm. It was near the fireplace and a vent that let in warm air.

  Never had Millie felt so at peace. She turned to Mrs. Clark. “It’s beautiful. Just as I have dreamed.” She ran to the window. “The curtains. Yellow with white flowers. Did you make them?”

  Mrs. Clark nodded. “I’m afraid after my husband’s passing, I have had more than enough time on my hands.”

  Millie put a finger on the lamp. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll have Henry bring up the tub and then fill it with water.” She rushed to a cabinet and took out some soap and towels. “The soap has the faint scent of verbena. I hope you like it.”

  “Oh, I don’t know what to say. I feel like I’m in a palace.” She looked at her. “Mrs. Clark, who is Henry?”

  “He’s a man that lives out back in the barn. He helps around the house for his room and board. All the boarders in the house are women. I am so happy to have you, dear. I do hope you will be happy and enjoy your stay.”

  Millie lost some of her joy at the thought. “Mrs. Clark, how long did my Pa’s money pay for me to stay?”

  “Now, now. First, you call me Joan. I’m getting rid of the widow Clark title and want to be called by my name. Second, you are not to worry about money. This is a small room, and it is yours as long as you want it.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t accept charity. What can I do to help pay my way?” Millie knew her pa’s horse couldn’t be worth more than a month or two at the most.

  “Let me see, can you cook?”

  Millie nodded.

  “Then you help me in the kitchen. That will be worth the cost of this room.”

  Millie knew that was still not enough to pay her keep, but she’d look around to see what other things she could do. “Thank you, Joan. You have made a horrible day more pleasant.

  A man, who must be Henry, dragged in a big tub. “Have it filled for you in a minute.” And he was out of the room before Millie could introduce herself.

  Joan shrugged. “That was Henry. No one knows how old he is or where he came from. He showed up one day and asked for work. That was right after my husband passed away. Sometimes, he may not look like it, but I think Henry is an angel. He helps me with all the heavy work. I couldn’t go on without him.”

  Millie couldn’t
tell how old the man was. His whiskers had gray in them, but his eyes were blue and bright as suns. “I think I will like him.”

  “Everyone does. Like I said, some of us think he’s an angel.” Joan went to the door. “I’m going to my room to see what clothes I might have to fit you. We can take them in because I think I’m a bit larger than you. I’ll be right back.”

  Millie didn’t want to sit on her bed or in the comfortable chair by the window. She was too dirty and didn’t want to spoil the room. She walked the floor and waited.

  Within minutes, Henry had dumped in the water. “Do you think that’s enough?”

  Millie looked. Any more water and the tub would overflow. “Plenty, thank you.” She shut the door and was just about to take off her clothes when there was a knock.

  She opened to see Wilma standing with some clothes. “These should fit you. I caught Joan looking through hers and convinced her that you would want clothes from a younger woman. I hope you like them. When you’re done, call me, and I can help you fix your hair.”

  “Thank you, Wilma.” Millie took the clothes. She needed to grieve her pa, but she felt as if she was living in a dream.

  After closing the door and locking it, she rid herself of her dirty clothes and got into the tub and soaked the dirt away. It had been years since Millie had such a wonderful bath. The verbena soap added such a lovely aroma that she didn’t want to get out.

  As she sank down where the water came to her chin, she thought about her father. He was a good man. Always thinking of her and trying his best to provide for her. His life hadn’t turned out at all as he’d thought.

  On cold nights, they’d sit together, and he’d tell her about how he dreamed of having a big ranch filled with choice cattle. He’d wanted to raise beautiful horses and have a lot of children. But after Millie was born, her mother couldn’t have anymore.

  She often felt bad as if she’d done something to her mother and caused the disappointment. But her father would hug her and tell her that the Lord blessed him with one child and that she was so wonderful, he didn’t need anymore.

  Then mother died when she was but seven. Father tried to carry on, but each year they sold off more cattle until they were about gone, and he started selling off land. Finally, they were down to a couple cows, her pa’s horse, and Blue Dan.

  Yet, she’d been happy. Shed’ thought Pa was too. The last year he’d slowed down until a couple of months ago, he took to laying in bed more and more. She worried about him, but he wouldn’t go to the doctor.

  Now, he was gone, and she was alone. The darkness of belonging to know one was just dawning on her. Tears dripped into the water as she let her sorrow out. She glanced at Mother’s Bible that she’d set on the table near her bed. She’d have to spend time with the Lord. He promised to never leave her.

  Finally, the water cooled enough to where it became uncomfortable. She climbed out and dried off, feeling for the first time in a long time like a woman. She was twenty-one years old. It was time she looked for a husband.

  Pa had been telling her she needed to think about finding a man. Yet, when Millie looked at herself, she didn’t like to think about what kind of man she could get. Then again, she could read and write. Mother had seen to her education and bought some books when they had money.

  Millie had read them all over and over. Then she turned her attention to the Bible and filled herself with the life-giving words.

  She picked up Wilma’s clothes. They were beautiful, and she almost thought against putting them on. Yet, she was curious as to how she would look. After getting them on and hoping she had everything on correctly, she opened her door.

  “Wilma?”

  From down the hall, she heard a door shut and saw Wilma coming toward her with brush and comb and mirror in hand. “I’m coming.”

  Wilma entered her room and smiled. “Oh, Millie, you’re gorgeous. Wait until I fix that hair of yours. It’s such a pretty color. I wish mine was blond, instead of the mousy brown that no one notices.”

  “I think yours is pretty, Wilma.” Millie sat in the chair that Wilma had pointed to.

  “Oh, you just wait and see what I do with your hair.” She started brushing and combing. “You have some tangles all right., but I’ll get them out. I might have to get some of my secret potion to untangle some of these, but usually, the boar’s brush gets them out.”

  After an hour of working, Wilma looked at her. “Now, what should we do with your hair, well, seeing it is so late, I’ll just put it up in a quick bun. Then when you go to bed, take it down.” She pulled out a section. “Look at the lovely blond coloring. You’re beautiful, Millie. Before long, we’re going to have to beat the men away from you.”

  “I doubt that.” Millie laughed, but after she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t recognize herself. “My, what a difference the clothes and hair make.”

  Wilma nodded. “Tomorrow, I’ll help you with your face too. You are a pretty woman. Let’s go eat. I heard Joan setting the table.”

  Millie put a hand to her face. “Oh, I forgot to help her.”

  “No, no. Don’t you worry. Joan said we were to treat you special today. You’ve had a traumatic time with losing your father. Let’s go downstairs, and I’ll introduce you to the rest of the women.”

  Millie followed her to the large room. There was a long table, and Wilma set Millie down in the middle.

  Wilma smiled and sat beside her. “This is my regular chair. That one will be yours as no one sat in it. Some of the ladies are very particular about where they sit, so it’s best to pick a chair and sit in it regularly.”

  Soon, the women came into the dining room and took their seats at the table. Velma sat across from Millie. Another lady, a bit older and with a deeper frown, sat beside her.

  Velma patted the woman’s hand. “This is my sister, Verna. That woman down from her is Cassiopeia.”

  Cassiopeia smiled. “You can call me Cassie. You’re such a pretty little thing. I’m glad you’re with us, Millie.”

  “Thank you.” Millie was beginning to feel the clouds of loneliness leave her.

  Verna pointed to a woman at the end of the table. “That is Angel Tremaine.” Verma nodded at the other end of the table, and of course, you know Joan. Right now, that is all of us.”

  Millie nodded at Angel. “Thank you for introducing everyone. I’m Millie Carson. Millicent is my proper name, but I’ve always gone by Millie.”

  “Mistletoe Millie, isn’t it?” Angel had a curl wrapped around her finger and a bit of a sneer on her lips.

  Millie looked at her. “I suppose that is what people have called me. I collect mistletoe down in the trees by the creek, and my father would sell it.”

  “That’s right. Tom sold me some from time to time.” Angel tossed her head so that her hair swung in the light. “I liked your father. He was a nice man.”

  Verna glared at her. “Really, Angel. Why don’t you try and at least act more like the heavenly side for a change?” Verna turned from her and looked at Millie. “Don’t you pay her any mind. Her parents must have named her to try and prevent her from going in the wrong direction. Apparently, that wasn’t successful.”

  Joan tapped her glass with a fork. “Ladies, let’s not get into an argument and give Millie the wrong impression of us. We are most thankful to have you with us, Millie. I hope you enjoy dinner.”

  “I’m sure I will. It smells delicious.” The truth was Millie was dying to dig into the stew that Joan had made. It had been some time since she’d eaten a proper meal.

  Joan bowed her head and said a prayer over the meal.

  Millie felt peace cover her as the woman thanked the Lord for the meal and for bringing Millie to them.

  Millie tried to control her eagerness for the meal. It was delicious with the rolls and butter. Oh, Millie couldn’t remember when she’d had any. Not to mention real meat that wasn’t from a scrawny squirrel.

  She ate until she thought she’d burst, a
nd then Joan came out with a peach cobbler.

  “I had a bumper crop of peaches from my orchard this year, so I was able to can plenty of peaches. I hope you like it, Millie.”

  “Oh, it’s wonderful. The entire meal has been wonderful.” Millie took a bite of cobbler and truly had to wonder if she hadn’t died and gone to heaven instead of her father. She should be sadder than sad, but instead, she was warm and well-fed.

  Maybe it was the prayer that Joan had said. In fact, she’d asked that Millie would be comforted it. Well, with this dinner and the new clothes and sweet room, Millie felt more than comforted.

  Finally, dinner was over, and Millie didn’t think she could even move. That and she was about to fall asleep.

  Joan started taking the dishes into the kitchen, and Millie began to help her. “No, Millie, you go on in the den and sit down with the other ladies. Some are crocheting and knitting. There are books to read. Or you can talk.”

  “I should help you.”

  “No, not today. After a week, you can begin to help if you’d like. You’re such a dear.” Joan started to turn away but stopped and turned back. “Be aware that Angel is not always the most pleasant of company. And Verna and Velma can be a bit odd and cantankerous. Wilma is more your age. I’d suggest you sit next to her.”

  Millie nodded, but she didn’t have a chance to worry because as soon as she entered the den, Wilma took her arm and led her to a divan next to a bookshelf.

  “Do you like to read?”

  Millie nodded. “Mostly, the Bible. I haven’t had any other books to read.”

  “Oh, I have a treat for you. I just finished reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I think you’ll enjoy it.” Wilma went to the bookshelf and pulled out a book and handed it to her. “Read it, and then we can talk about the story.”

  Excitement traveled through Millie as she held the book. A real novel. She’d seen one in the store once, but it cost too much for her to even consider. But just holding it had been like the promise of reading about old friends and discovering their story. It was like holding an adventure in her hands.