The Spinster (Emerson Pass Historicals Book 2)

by Tess Thompson

  “For now, we’ll focus on repairing the barn and getting that bull to do his job,” Josephine said briskly.

  Nora giggled as she wiped away her tears.

  “We’re not sure how that’s done,” Shannon said. “Dad didn’t tell us anything about…how all that works.”

  “Poppy’s coming home soon from her apprenticeship with the veterinarian,” Josephine said. “Perhaps she’ll have some ideas for us.”

  “Mrs. Cassidy, will you allow me to come out tomorrow?” I asked. “Even if you were to sell the farm, you’ll get more for it with a good roof on the barn.”

  She looked up at me with tired eyes. “I can’t turn down the offer, and I thank you kindly.”

  Josephine

  Phillip went out to inspect the barn. We left shortly thereafter, worried about keeping Oz and Willie out in the cold for too long. Phillip had promised to return at first light. I planned on sending him with some staples, such as flour and lard.

  With Phillip driving the horses, I had time to think. Phillip couldn’t repair that roof on his own. The twins would have to help. Viktor and Isak Olofsson might be able to spare some time as well as the Cole brothers, Noah and Roman. All the old gang from our first year at the school were as bonded as a group of people could be, having survived the day that Louisa Kellam’s father had come for Mama. She’d taught us that we were stronger as a team. We proved her right that day when we jumped and hog-tied him before he could finish choking Mama. I shivered, remembering. I could still see the roster of that first class in my mind. Mama, known as Miss Cooper to us then, had called out to us from it every morning.

  Class of 1910, Emerson Pass, Colorado

  Teacher: Miss Cooper

  Martha Johnson, Age 16

  Elsa Johnson, Age 14

  Josephine Barnes, Age 13

  Poppy Depaul, Age 13

  Isak Olofsson, Age 11

  Alma Cassidy, Age 10

  Theo Barnes, Age 9

  Flynn Barnes, Age 9

  Louisa Kellam, Age 9

  Viktor Olofsson, Age 9

  Noah Cole, Age 8

  Shannon Cassidy, Age 8

  Roman Cole, Age 7

  Nora Cassidy, Age 6

  Willa Cole, Age 6

  Cymbeline Barnes, Age 6

  Things were different now. Most of us were grown. Three had fought in the war. Martha and Elsa were married now with babies of their own. Alma would soon be home from nursing school. I’d opened our library. Poppy was studying under a veterinarian so she could come home and be of help to the farmers and townspeople with beloved pets. Before she went away to finishing school, Louisa had assisted her adoptive mother with church duties. The Cole brothers and their uncle had opened a café in town.

  I could still see how we’d looked back then, however, just by closing my eyes. What a scared little bunch we’d been. Papa’s dream to have a school to educate us had come true. It still made me proud to think of what he and Mama had built together. But now some of our gang were in trouble, and we needed to come to their aid.

  “I can hear your mind turning,” Phillip said.

  “I was thinking about that barn. You’ll need a village of men. With some help, you can finish it within a few days. By yourself, it could take weeks.”

  “True enough.”

  “I don’t want you up there on your own in the middle of winter. You could slip and fall. Break your neck.”

  “You care about my neck?”

  “Perhaps a little.” I glanced up at him. What a neck it was, thick and strong, albeit covered with a scarf at the moment. I had it memorized. More than once I’d wondered what it would feel like to trace the area from his ear to the base of his throat with my fingertips.

  The snow had stopped and the world was in the quiet, still state that came afterward.

  “I was thinking about the first year we were all at school together,” I said, changing the subject. “All the boys from that year will want to help with the barn. I’m going to organize the women, too. We’ll raise money and get them a milk cow.”

  “How?”

  “By throwing a Christmas party at the house. With cakes and dancing and punch.”

  “How does that raise money?” he asked.

  “Because we’ll have a donation jar. Placed somewhere discreetly so as not to be gauche. In the invitations I’ll say it’s for the Cassidy family during their time of need and encourage them to donate what they can. I’ll ask Papa to match the total at the end of the night.”

  The afternoon had dimmed, but we were close to home. I could see the lights from our house.

  Without my prompting, he easily steered the horses into our driveway. “Dancing, huh?”

  “Yes, do you like to dance?” I asked.

  “Depends on who my partner is. If it were you, for example, I should like it very much.”

  “I’ll save you at least one.”

  He laughed. “Only one?”

  “Or two. I’ll probably be very busy running the party.”

  “Would you rather do that than enjoy yourself? Being useful, as you say.”

  I thought for a moment. “I never think about it that way. Before this, there was never anyone I cared to dance with.”

  “Before this? Does that mean before me?”

  I flushed despite the coolness of the air on my cheeks. “Yes, that’s what it means.”

  Our merry bells and stomping of the horses’ hooves stole the quiet as we slid over the slick tracks toward home.

  “We went out to the Cassidys’ farm today,” I said at dinner.

  “And?” Mama asked.

  “They’re not well. Actually, it’s worse than I thought,” I said. “I should’ve done a better job of seeing what was happening out there.” I shared with them what we’d learned of their plight, including Mrs. Cassidy’s idea that they return to Ireland.

  “With Alma away at nursing college, the younger girls have been doing all the chores by themselves. Despite their efforts, the farm’s falling into disrepair. They’ve not enough to eat. The girls look gaunt and exhausted.”

  “I had no idea they’d lost that many cows,” Papa said. “We’ve not been good neighbors or friends. I should’ve been over there to see them.”

  “I’m ashamed,” Mama said. “Moira’s always been private. I’m sure asking for help didn’t feel like something she could do.”

  “Speaking of help, Phillip’s offered to work out there for them, starting with the barn.” I smiled at him from across the table. My hero with the pure heart smiled back at me.

  “How thoughtful of you, Phillip,” Mama said.

  “I can help,” Cymbeline said.

  “You have school, darling,” Papa said. “But I appreciate the sentiment.”

  “Flynn and I can help,” Theo said. “We’re at a standstill on what we can do at the lodge and ski area until the snow melts.”

  “Certainly. We’ll go with you tomorrow,” Flynn said.

  “I thought Viktor and Isak might be of help too,” I said.

  “They’ll be willing to help without question,” Theo said. “We’d all do anything for the Cassidys. We all go back a ways now, don’t we?”

  “I wish we’d known sooner,” Flynn said. “I hate thinking about them feeling alone out there. That’s what community is for.”

  “Not every place is like this,” Phillip said. “I wouldn’t have believed it to be true until I came here and saw it with my own eyes.”

  “Indeed. This was my intention when I dreamt of the future here.” Papa beamed at us from his place at the head of the table. “I’ll rest easy knowing we passed that value on to you children, which you, in turn, will pass on to yours.”

  “What can I do?” Fiona asked. “I’d like to help too.”

  “I have an idea of what you and the rest of the women in our group can do,” I said. “Throw a party.” I presented my idea for a gathering to raise money for the Cassidys. “We’ll have it here at the house.
Desserts and punch and dancing. We’ll invite all our old schoolmates and whomever else we’d like, with a gentle suggestion that whatever they can spare would be appreciated, no matter how small.”

  “Li Wu will be back from school in a few days,” Fiona said. “He and I could play the music for dancing.”

  “Splendid idea,” Papa said. “What a treat for everyone to hear him play.”

  “And you, too, Fiona,” I said. There would be much merriment with the two of them playing together.

  “To make a dance floor, we’ll have to move furniture around in the parlor,” Mama said.

  Our parlor was at the back of the house. Other than Fiona, who practiced at the piano in the formal room, none of us spent much time there. However, whenever we had a party or other grand occasion, we had it in there. We’d never had a dance before, but why not? I could already imagine the couples twirling to the music.

  “We’ll put the desserts on a table here in the dining room,” Mama said. “And the sitting room can be for anyone who wants to talk quietly.”

  We all started chiming in on ideas for the gathering, excited to have a plan to help the Cassidys. I agreed to handwrite the invitations and deliver them at church this coming Sunday.

  “I’d like to go out and see Moira tomorrow,” Mama said. “I’ll have Lizzie put a basket of food together.”

  Phillip

  There were five of us that morning to repair the roof of the barn. The Olofsson brothers, strong as a pair of oxen, had readily agreed to come. We started by assessing the damage. The trusses had not been strong enough to support a roof heavy with snow and had splintered or broken in half, which had caused the roof to collapse. After determining what we needed, Flynn and I took the cargo sleigh out to the mill and purchased thick pieces of fir to replace the broken ones. We also made an order for shingles and plywood, which we would come for the next day.

  When we returned, Josephine and Quinn had come and gone with sandwiches and thermoses of hot tea for our lunch. We ate on the covered front porch of the farmhouse sprawled out on low-slung chairs and the porch swing. I’d just finished my second sandwich when Shannon came out from the house.

  “I can’t thank you boys enough,” Shannon said. She had an apron on over a faded dress. Her curls were swept back in a messy bun at the nape of her neck.

  The men all ripped off their hats and jumped to their feet.

  Flynn stared at her for a second longer than was polite. “Shannon, you’ve changed since the last time we saw you.”

  “I know, I look awful. This place has robbed me of my youth.” She smiled and gestured toward the barn. “I’ve practically turned into my father. All bones.”

  “My brother simply meant that you were a girl the last time we saw you,” Theo said.

  “Yes, that,” Flynn said.

  “It’s wonderful to see you all,” Shannon said. “Doesn’t it seem so long ago we were all students together?”

  “It does,” Isak said. “A lot’s transpired since then.”

  “Again, thank you for your hard work. I’ve been despairing of late. Mam’s talking about returning to Ireland. Nora and I can’t bear to think of leaving our sister and all our friends. Whatever you can do to help us stay here—I’ll be indebted for life.”

  “We’ll do whatever we can,” Flynn said.

  “And you must ask for whatever you need,” Theo said. “Our families are forever united. Don’t forget that, all right?”

  “I won’t make that mistake again,” Shannon said.

  “Did Josephine tell you about the party?” Flynn asked.

  “Yes.” Shannon’s eyes sparkled. “Something to look forward to, even though I have nothing to wear.”

  “You could wear what you have on,” Flynn said. “You look fine to me.”

  She flushed and gave him a shy smile. “Flynn Barnes, have you become charming in your older years?”

  “Haven’t I always been charming?” He grinned, still staring at her.

  “I seem to recall an incident with a frog in my lunch pail.”

  “That wasn’t me, I swear,” Flynn said.

  “It was definitely him,” Theo said.

  “We’ll have to settle this later,” Shannon said. “I’ve housework to do. Good luck this afternoon. Please don’t hesitate to knock if you need anything.” She bobbed her head, then slid back into the house.

  “I can’t believe that’s little Shannon Cassidy,” Flynn said, shaking his head. “All grown up.”

  Isak nudged Flynn’s shoulder. “You might’ve been a little obvious.”

  “Nah, I’m charming. Didn’t you hear her say that?” Flynn asked.

  We all laughed as we traipsed down the stairs and headed back to work.

  In the late afternoon, we called it a day, all of us wanting to get home before dark. The Olofsson brothers left together in their sleigh for town. I was about to take off with the twins when horses appeared on the horizon.

  “It’s Josephine,” Flynn said.

  “Who wants to bet it’s not one of us that she’s come for?” Theo said.

  “I’ll take that bet,” Flynn said.

  “She’s teaching me how to drive,” I said, sheepishly.

  “Sure, that’s the reason,” Flynn said.

  “Enjoy your drive,” Theo said.

  They got into their sleigh and were off, passing Josephine in the driveway.

  She came to a halt in front of me. “I thought you might fancy a drive. It’s such a lovely afternoon.”

  “You know my answer will always be yes,” I said as I climbed in beside her.

  The sun was low in the sky, making gold streaks between the trees as we set off down the driveway.

  “Let’s go home through the meadow,” she said.

  “Sure.”

  We chatted for a few minutes about the barn and our progress. I made her laugh by describing Flynn’s reaction to Shannon.

  “Do you think they could be a love match?” she asked, sounding incredulous.

  “Why not? She’d be lucky to have a fine man like your brother.” All her money problems would be over, but I didn’t say it out loud for fear of offending her.

  “Flynn recently claimed he’s going to be a bachelor all his life,” she said.

  “Men have been known to change their minds.”

  We came upon a grove of aspens, white against the blue backdrop. “Nature’s sculptures,” I murmured.

  “Aren’t they, though?”

  We continued to travel across the meadow until we came to the bank of a creek. I turned the horses so that we trotted along the edge of the water. The frozen creek was icy blue.

  “Do stop for a moment, won’t you?” Josephine asked. “It’s such a peaceful scene. One of my favorites on the property. I always thought a cottage would be just right here by the creek.”

  I tugged on the reins and called out to the horses to stop. The snow-covered meadow spread out in front of us in one direction. Across the water, the landscape changed to a thick forest. In the distance, over the meadow, smoke rose from the Barnes home.

  Josephine pointed into the forest. “Our friends the Coles live through there. They own the café in town.”

  I’d seen the young men hustling around the café through the windows as I walked by one day. The Coles were dark-skinned men who would not have been able to own a business in the white parts of New York City. But here, things were different. Although most of the town appeared to be of European descent, it seemed no one here cared that the Coles didn’t look like them. There was the Wu family, too. Mrs. Wu and her granddaughter, Fai, seemed as comfortable in the Barneses’ household as Lizzie and Jasper. Josephine had told me that Lord Barnes had sent Li Wu to music school. I’d wanted to ask Josephine about both families, but hadn’t wanted to seem as if I disaproved.

  “This is one of my favorite spots, no matter what time of year. This is one of the deepest and widest parts of the creek that runs through our property. In the
summer, we swim there. As you can see, it’s frozen over now.”

  “I hope you haven’t brought our skates,” I said.

  She laughed and tugged on her scarf, exposing a small portion of her neck. “It’s not safe to skate here. The ice is unpredictable because of the depth of the water. It can crack and break. Falling under the ice is most likely death.”

  I shivered. “You won’t have to tell me twice. That sounds horrid. Do the children know not to go near?”

  She turned from the scenery to look me. “Yes, they know. Mama and Papa forbid them to walk on it, and even Cymbeline obeys.”

  The sun had lowered farther, casting a gold tinge over the snow. Above, the sky had turned the dark blue of winter twilight.

  Her eyes sparkled as she watched me.

  I moved closer to her and brushed my thumb on the inward curve of her cheekbone. “This light becomes you, beautiful Josephine.”

  She blinked but didn’t move. “Phillip?”

  “Yes?”

  “Have you ever kissed anyone before?”

  Startled by the question, my gaze slid toward the creek before coming back to her. “One time.” A nurse before I left for the war had kissed me, surprising me so thoroughly that I’d just stood there like an oak tree for a few seconds before turning on my heel and running away as fast as I could. She was not to my liking. Too loud and brash and smelled sour. The woman sitting next to me now smelled nice. Very nice.

  “Who was she?” Josephine asked.

  I hesitated for a second in an attempt to decipher her tone. Would she think ill of me if I confessed to a kiss with a woman I didn’t know? However, I’d committed to telling her the truth and shouldn’t stop now. She’d forgiven my intrusion into her privacy by reading the letters. This would be a minor offense. “I never knew her name. I met her right before I shipped out. I was out with a few of the boys I’d trained with. She and several of her friends had joined us at a bar, and we all carried on until the sun rose.” I grimaced, remembering how we’d spilled out into the street, blinking in the morning light. She’d thrown herself into my arms and kissed me, then wished me luck. “She told me I should have a kiss before going overseas and possibly dying. I guess she decided that was her responsibility. She had breath that smelled of onions.”