by Carré White
I dragged her with me, seeing a house in the distance, although it looked rundown and inhospitable. The boys had disappeared in this direction. “How old are you, Annie?”
“None of your cotton-pickin’ business.”
“Her manners are dreadful.”
Hannah followed, although reluctantly. “I really don’t want to do this, Louisa. I…let’s not go there.”
“I’ll handle it. You won’t have to talk at all.” Determination had gotten the better of me, and I had resolved to have a talk with Mr. Montgomery regarding his ill-behaved children. “It’s one thing to run around feral; it’s quite another to try to disable a wagon.”
A road led to the house, while a horse was in the paddock. A wagon waited to the side. There was someone home, but the structure looked abandoned. The windows were cloudy, either from filth or cheap glass, and someone had discarded trash, empty jars, newspapers, and broken crates in the yard. Bits of wagons had been strewn across the grass: wheels, axles, broken framework, and an upside down canoe.
I marched right to the front door, noticing empty whiskey bottles amongst the debris and dragging the reluctant girl with me. Knocking on the wood, I waited.
“He won’t answer.”
“Why not?” I glanced at her dirty face.
“He’s been drinkin’.”
“Does he do that often?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
I eyed her. “You look so thin, honey. When was the last time you had food?”
“None of your business.” She crossed lean arms over her chest.
Hannah stood at the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to come any closer. “We should go, Louisa. I have a bad feeling about this. We shouldn’t bother people who plainly don’t want to be bothered.” She glanced at her feet, noting the trash.
“Mr. Montgomery!” I yelled, banging on the door. “Come out here this minute!”
“Louisa!”
“He’s drunk. He won’t hear me unless I’m loud.” I glanced around, spying a steel crow bar. Releasing the grip I had on Annie, I snatched the item from the porch. I had expected the little girl to run away, but she remained by my side, her eyes wide.
“Are you gonna beat my Pa with that?” She seemed genuinely concerned.
“Oh, goodness, no. I only want to get his attention.”
“That might not be such a good idea, lady.”
“Well, we’ll just see about that.” I swung, hitting the door with a loud bang. “Mr. Montgomery! I know you’re in there!” The metal struck repeatedly, small dents appearing in the wood. “Mr. Montgomery!” I’d been about to strike again, when the door suddenly swung inward, revealing a bleary-eyed man, who wore stained denim pants and a rumpled tow shirt. “Oh!”
“Who in the Sam Hill are you, woman?” His eyes had narrowed into angry, bloodshot slits.
“I…I’m Louisa Hoffman. Your children tried to disable our wagon.”
He glanced at the crowbar in my hand, snatching it from me. I was truly frightened now, realizing that I had acted rashly. I had no idea what this person was capable of. His dark hair was unruly; thick strands fell over his forehead. A pale, unshaven face glared menacingly.
“Get off my property!” he growled.
“Your boys threw a spoke in our wheel! They’re running amok and terrorizing the neighborhood, sir. We could’ve been injured.”
“Louisa, I think we should go.” Hannah’s hand was in her pocket. “I have a revolver, sir. If you so much as lift that crowbar at my sister, I’ll use it.”
His attention was on her. “Who are you?”
“I’m Hannah Hoffman Weaver, sir. I live down the road. My husband is Nathan Weaver.”
“I know him.” He threw the crowbar into the grass, pointing a finger in my face. “Get off my porch.”
“Fine. You’re indescribably rude, sir.” I picked up my skirts, eyeing him with distain. “These children need clean clothes and shoes. They could use a good meal as well.”
“I don’t care a continental. Now git outta here!”
The conversation was over, and I turned on my heel, marching down the steps. “What a horrible man.” I’d spoken loudly, wanting him to hear. “What ill-mannered children.”
“Let’s just go, please.” Hannah took my arm, murmuring, “I never want to come back here again.”
I sensed we were being watched, and I glanced over my shoulder, as Mr. Montgomery and his daughter stood on the front porch. They were a sorry-looking lot, bedraggled, and thin. The oddest sensation went down my backbone, pricking with awareness. I wasn’t worried over my safety anymore, which was strange. I was more concerned about them, even though he had been the most disagreeable person I had ever met. I couldn’t help wondering what they would eat for supper. Was there any food at all?
Once seated in the wagon, Hannah took the reins. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“I can’t believe it either.”
“He looked so…sorry.”
“That whole family is sorry. What’s the matter with them?”
“Nathan would know more. I hope I’m not in trouble for bothering Mr. Montgomery.”
“Why would you be? His children tried to hurt us. They could’ve spooked the horse. We could have had an accident and died.”
“I know. I’ll talk to him about it.”
Twenty minutes later, we were in the kitchen of Hannah’s farmhouse. Salt and pepper shakers stood in the center of the table with a basket of freshly baked bread. Maria held the baby, rocking her back and forth, shifting from foot to foot.
“You did what?” Nathan sat, with his hand around a cup of tea. “Say that again.”
“It was Louisa’s idea.”
“Those children tried to sabotage our wagon.”
“That’s a serious accusation.”
“Yes, it is,” I said. “What they tried to pull was very serious indeed. We could have been killed, had the horse taken off.”
“Montgomery’s had a rough time of it lately. His wife, Abigail died about a year ago. He’s been down and out.”
“Those kids are running around without shoes, and they look like they’re half-starved.”
“I don’t think it’s wise to go messin’ in somebody else’s, business, Louisa. I know you’re concerned about the children, but it’s another man’s family.”
“You and Hannah keep saying that. I understand I shouldn’t be sticking my nose in other’s affairs, but, once I get the school up and running, I want to see those kids attending and learning something. Everyone should know how to read and write.”
“They might already know how to do that,” said Nathan. “They might be learned for all we know. I’d say, leave it be. If you poke your nose in there, you might end up regretting it. Please, don’t stir up a hornet’s nest of trouble in the neighborhood.”
“Fine, but if I see those kids again running around half-naked and starved, I won’t turn a blind eye. You might be able to do that, but I can’t.”
He gave me a look, his expression irritated and exasperated.
Chapter Two
“Oh, something’s very strange,” said Maria. Her accent was thick, as she was Hispanic.
I had my hands full of carrots, having just pulled them out of the ground. “What is?”
“We’re missing eggs.”
“Missing eggs? Did they break? The cat might’ve been up to mischief.” My sister’s cat had more than likely gotten into the henhouse again. “Cottonball is such a nuisance.”
“No, no eggs broke, Ms. Hoffman. They’re missing.”
“Well, it’s like the ham in the smokehouse last week. It grew legs as well.”
“I’ll speak to Mr. Weaver. We might have to put a lock on everything.” She shook her head. “What’s happening here? Now we have to watch our back. There’s a thief on the farm.”
I sat on my heels, my mind turning over. “I wonder…”
“What?”
“When are these t
hings missing?”
“I don’t know. I count the eggs yesterday, and this morning five are gone.”
“So, the thief strikes at night?”
“Or the morning.”
“Maybe, if we get up early and look out the window, we’ll see who it is.”
“I suppose. But, a lock would solve this problem even better. Then we don’t miss sleep.”
“But I want to know who it is.” I had a strong suspicion I knew exactly who was stealing from us. “I bet it’s those Montgomery children. The poor things must be starving.”
Maria shrugged. “I don’t know, Ms. Hoffman.”
“That’s fine. Don’t worry about it. I’ll keep an eye out.”
From a window on the second floor, a baby cried. “I go see about Letty. She needs to be changed.”
“I’m going to pull out the rest of these carrots. They’re good-sized. I’ll be in shortly.”
“Yes, Ms. Hoffman.”
Hannah and Nathan had gone to town a while ago. I helped wherever I could, doing laundry, cooking, and tending to Letty, but I knew I would have to find a place of my own soon. The schoolhouse was in the process of being built, and, once it was complete, I would rent a room in Denver City. I had been hired as a teacher by the local claim club, although they were more interested in the business of mining than educating the children of the area. I had successfully lobbied for the position, and, being one of the few college educated women in the territory, I had been hired. The school wouldn’t be ready until the beginning of September, and I had plenty of time to prepare, knowing I would be teaching several grades all in one room. I relished the challenge, feeling twinges of excitement at the prospect of shaping young minds.
After Nathan and Hannah returned, Maria told them about the missing eggs. Nathan had muttered, “I have to lock the henhouse? I might as well chain the blasted barn too.” He’d thrust fingers through his hair. “If someone’s on the property, wouldn’t George have barked? What good is that guard dog?”
“I’m going to get up early to find out who’s been doing this. Then we won’t have to guess anymore.”
“Maybe you miscounted. Maybe there were just five less than you remembered.”
Hannah held Letty; the baby was over her shoulder. “I wonder if it’s the Montgomery children.”
“That’s exactly what I think.”
“We don’t know that for sure. I’ll speak with Jerry. Maybe he’s seen something. Perhaps he woke up last night starvin’ and made himself an omelet.” Nathan laughed, clearly finding that thought amusing.
“I’ll handle this,” I said. “I’m going to find the culprit. I’ll report back to you, as soon as I have a visual confirmation.”
A deep sigh escaped Hannah. “Oh, dear. I know you too well. You’re a mad woman once you set your sights on a worthy cause. Those poor Montgomery children have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into.”
“Please don’t jump to conclusions. It might not be them. It could be a coyote or a vulture or somethin’,” said Nathan. “I’d urge caution, ladies. I’m not in the mood to deal with an irate neighbor.”
“I’m only going to observe. I’ll not say or do anything. When I report back to you on the findings, you can decide for yourself.” I left the room, but stopped in the hallway, wondering if they would say something else about the situation.
“That sister of yours.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“I thought you were spirited. I thought Paulina had fire. That’s nothin’ compared to Ms. Louisa Hoffman. I pity the fool who crosses her path and steps on her toes.”
“Oh, Nathan, she means well. It’s a shame that children are starving in our own backyard.”
“They won’t be starvin’ for long.”
“What do you mean?”
“Can’t you see where this is going?”
“No.”
“She’ll make those rascals her pet project. I predict in two weeks they’ll be all cleaned up, shiny-haired, and bursting at the gut from having eaten so much they can’t stand anymore.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Yeah? Just wait and see. I really need to put my thinkin’ cap on and find a suitable husband for her.”
“How do you propose to do that?”
“I’ll hang a “husband wanted” sign at the post office.
Laughter filled the room. “Oh, my goodness.”
“A woman that smart needs a man to rein her in, otherwise she’s liable to start a riot.”
“You’re being ridiculous now.”
“The sooner she gets herself a man and baby, the sooner she’ll settle and mind her own business, instead of stirring up a heap of trouble.”
Nathan was far more astute than I had given him credit for. Everything he had said was right on the money. I had every intention of taking care of those children, with or without Mr. Montgomery’s permission. I would ignore his other remarks about needing a husband. I had resolved never to marry again. Once had been enough.
Early in the morning, before anyone had even thought about stirring, I donned a robe, tying the sash securely. I stepped into slippers, leaving the bedroom, while tiptoeing down the hallway to the stairs. My plan was to glance out the kitchen window, which had a view of the henhouse. The bottom few steps creaked, and I hesitated, wondering if I had disturbed anyone. George ambled over, his nails clicking on the wood floor. He sniffed my foot.
“Hello, boy,” I whispered. “It’s just me.”
In the kitchen, I approached the window, noting that it had been left open a crack for air. The nights had yet to cool down substantially, as the days were still quite warm. I stared at the henhouse, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn’t long, though, that movement caught my eye.
“Oh, there you are, you little scamps!”
The shapes of three children materialized. One opened the door, while the others stayed behind, watching, as if on the lookout. I recognized Annie; the little girl was shorter than her brothers. Within seconds, they stole eggs, holding them in their hands, while running behind the barn. I wasn’t able to see them, so I hurried down the hallway to the parlor, glancing out the front window. One of the boys went into the smokehouse, returning moments later with a rather large chunk of meat.
“Nathan’s going to tan your hide for this,” I murmured.
George remained by my side, seemingly oblivious that there were strangers on the property. Perhaps, if I let him out, he would stir up a fuss? But, knowing that the children were hungry, I couldn't bring myself to do such a thing. Having my suspicions confirmed, I returned to bed, tossing and turning another hour or two before I heard the sound of crying. The baby wanted to be fed.
Giving up on sleep, I dressed quickly, securing my hair in a bun. Hannah was in the kitchen, with Letty, who was nursing. I poured myself a cup of tea and joined her at the table.
“It’s the Montgomery children. I saw them with my own eyes.”
She looked resigned. “Just what Nathan and I suspected.”
“What will you do?”
“Put a lock on everything. Nathan’s going to town later. He’ll see what he can find.”
“Then the children will have nothing to eat.”
“Well, they can’t run around stealing from people. Nathan will have to talk to Pastor Bailey about it.”
“What can he do? I’ve never seen the Montgomery’s in church.”
“If they’re starving, people need to step in and help them. It’s the Christian thing to do. We can’t let those poor kids go on without food. It’s not right.”
“Exactly.”
“This one kept me up half the night.” Although tired, she gazed at her daughter with affection. “Oh, Louisa, if anyone had told me that I would be so happy, especially after Frank died, I never would’ve believed them.”
“You’ve been through enough tragedy, Hannah. I hope your life is wonderful from here on out. You deserve to feel the
way you do.”
“I know life can’t be perfect. People aren’t perfect. Children aren’t perfect. I strive to make my family happy, and that makes me happy. That’s all I can ask for.”
“I’ll be out of your hair soon enough. When the school is finished, I’ll find a place in town.”
“I’m not talking about you, Louisa. I don't mind you being here.”
“Your husband wants to marry me off.”
Her mouth fell open. “Were you listening to our conversation?”
“I heard a little.”
“You busybody.”
“I am. I’m sorry.” I grinned, not being able to help myself. “I’ll try to keep out of trouble, but it’s not always easy.”
She laughed, “I can’t help feeling you’re planning something. Whatever it is, I don't think Nathan will be happy about it.”
“I might have an idea or two.”
“The sooner you’re situated in the schoolroom, the better. If you don’t intend to remarry, then a career that keeps you busy is a wise idea.”
“I shall never marry again. I won’t be lied to by a man, if I can help it.”
“Not all men are like Henry was. There was something…strange about him.”
“It angers me that I was mislead for so long. I didn’t even suspect a thing. And it wasn’t only Henry. His mother was just as culpable. I’ve never met a more deceptive family.” I whispered, “What a pack of liars.”
“They were trying to protect their reputation. They used you for that purpose.”
“I don't care one wit about the Claytons. They can go to blazes and take their reputations with them. I’ve now lost all my acquaintances because of that horrid affair. I was the victim, and I ended up with the blame.” My arms crossed over my chest, while my heart pounded with indignation.
“It wasn’t fair what happened. I agree with you on that score, but don’t let it cloud your judgment on a future husband. Just because Henry Clayton was a lying, deceiving lecher, doesn’t mean all men are like that.”
I gave her a doubtful look. “Good for them.”
“There are some eligible bachelors in town. I met a few after Frank died, although Nathan wasn’t too happy about it.” She smiled. “That was the night I realized I was hopelessly in love with him.”