Hannah: Bride of Iowa
By P. A. Estelle
Copyright 2015 Penny Estelle
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
Publishers Note: This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events
are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real
people, places, or events is coincidental.
Hannah
Bride of Iowa
For what little good it did, she wrapped the threadbare shawl tighter and crossed her arms to ward off some of the cold wind. The few baskets of corn and sweet potatoes she was able to glean from the neighbor’s fields wouldn’t last long.
She climbed up onto the weathered bench of the buckboard. “Whenever you’ve a mind, Sal.” The old mule took one slow step and then another. Maddie Peters didn’t care. She was in no hurry to get home. If it weren’t for her mother, Maddie would never set foot in that house again.
It was mid-October. The sun was setting earlier and the nights were getting cold. She grabbed some strands of hair that had escaped the rawhide string, which she kept tied at the nape of her neck. Maddie’s brown, waist-length hair used to be the envy of all the young girls in Little Valley, New York. Soft curls cascaded down her back, glistening in the sun. But now, due only to the smidgen of pride she had left, Maddie still ran a brush through her dirty hair and tied it back.
What difference did it make? Everybody looked at her family with pity or scorn, so why even try? A tear escaped down her cheek as her thoughts to slip back to happier times.
Six years ago, when Maddie was twelve, her family owned a small farm that produced twenty acres of corn. They also had a milk cow and would buy and butcher two hogs every year. Maddie and her parents would weed the fields and pick the corn. Often times, her father would go help out at other farms to bring in more money while she and her mother worked the fields.
It was hard but her father also knew how to enjoy life. He played a guitar and if he wasn’t too tired he would strum a few tunes after supper. Pa taught Maddie how to play and there were many times she would entertain while her folks danced around the living area. For the small amount they owned, it was enough and their house was bursting with love.
Pa never allowed Maddie to stay home from school. “School is too important, sweet girl,” he’d say. “You need to be a heap smarter than your pa!”
During the corn harvest in the fall of 1886, Pa was at the Hanson’s farm helping with their crop. Maddie and her ma had worked in their cornfield, picking what they could until it was time to get supper ready. Pa would be home in a few hours, and was sure to bellow, “I’m hungrier than a bear right out of a winter’s sleep!”
Maddie was outside getting wood for the stove when a wagon came thundering down the dirt road hell bent for leather.
“Whoa!” The wagon, slinging dirt everywhere skidded to a stop. It was Toby, one of the Hanson boys. “Maddie,” he yelled jumping to the ground, “it’s your pa. He done collapsed out in the field. My pa hauled him to Doc Winters!”
Maddie dropped the wood. “Ma! Ma!” She screamed, running to the house and flung the door wide.
Her mother stood there holding a rag in her hand. “Land sakes, what is all this caterwauling out here?”
“It’s Pa! He’s at Doc Winters.”
Always this side of calm, Ma put on her coat and gave instructions. “Maddie, you stay here and get supper going. Toby, if you would be so kind to fetch me to see my husband.”
“Yes, Ma.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
It was late that night before her folks got home. Pa was laying in the back of the wagon and her ma was driving. Maddie ran outside, relieved they were finally home. She jumped in the back kneeling by her father. “Pa, are you okay? What happened?”
He smiled weakly. “I’m fine, sweet girl. You know the good Lord don’t want someone as ornery as I am up there. At least not yet.”
“Don’t you be blasphemous, Jonathan Peters. He may just take you on principal.
Maddie, help me get him inside. He needs bed rest,” her mother said.
Maddie, surprised at her ma’s sharp tone, glanced her way. She saw worry in her ma’s eyes a prick of fear slammed through her. They couldn’t have known this was the beginning of the end.
When word got out about Jonathan Peter’s situation, many families from Little Valley hurried to help. The corn was picked and was able to be sold. Maddie’s pa insisted on being out in the fields with his neighbors and the exertion took its toll on his recovery. That’s when her ma put her foot down. She and Maddie took care of milking the cow and feeding the hogs. Maddie even got her first lesson in butchering. The stories she relayed to Pa had him laughing and Maddie was sure he was improving.
Early spring found Pa harrowing the field, getting ready for planting. He seemed back to his old self. The color in his cheeks and the sparkle in his eyes had returned. He worked hard, played his guitar, and laughed with his family.
After church, in late June, there was to be a social. New families had moved into the area and it was time for everybody to get together and break bread. After the service, a table was set up in the middle of the road where dishes were set. Emma had made chicken and noodles to share.
The Reverend stood and introduced Mr. and Mrs. Simms and their twin toddlers, Jenny and Julie. Next was Mrs. Wilks. She was a widow who came to stay with her son, Tim, and daughter-in-law, Lauri. With a new baby, the young couple was thrilled to have her.
Last came a single man who worked odd jobs around the small town. Jeb Slueter was his name. His clothes were old but clean, his hair, black and neat. He had brown, dull eyes. He smiled at everybody and claimed he wanted to make a new start. He’d lost his wife to pneumonia in upper New York and just couldn’t stay there without her any longer. Many of the town’s women wiped a tear from their eyes at his sad story.
The social had to be cut short for some of the farmers who lived a ways from town when the wind picked up and cloud gathered. The Peters hurried to load their things in the wagon. By the time they reached the house, the sky had opened up. Maddie and her ma just reached the house when hail started falling.
“Jonathan, get in here. You will catch your death!” Her mother called.
“I’m just going to check the corn!” he yelled back. “I won’t be long.”
“Jonathan, it will be there tomorrow. Please!”
Her ma’s words fell on deaf ears. That was the last time Maddie saw her pa alive. She was fifteen years old.
That hailstorm damaged acres and acres of crops throughout its path. Some families lost their entire crop while others weren’t even affected. In the case of her family’s place, half their acreage was salvageable.
“Praise the Lord you didn’t lose everything.”
“The good Lord was looking out for you.”
“Keep your faith strong and all will be okay.”
The town’s people were just trying to be helpful and Maddie nodded politely, but inside she was screaming, “Shut up! My pa is dead!”
It had been four months since Pa’s funeral. Heartbroken, Maddie turned to her ma for comfort, but it was like Emma Peters had died that night also. Maddie would cry in her ma’s arms, but it was as if a stranger patted her head, saying nothing.
As the days passed, it was Maddie who was in the fields as the sun rose picking corn, only taking time to milk the cow, feed the few animals that
were left, and try to get her mom to eat when she could get her out of bed. Her clothes were ripped and dirty, her hands cut, and scabs dotted her arms. She had to take care of the farm and her ma. She had no time to take care of herself.
One night during supper there came a knock at the door. “It’s a bit late for company,” Maddie said not expecting a response.
On the other side of the door stood Jeb Sleuter, hat in hand.
“Miss Peters.”
“It’s Mr. Sleuter, right?”
“Yes, Miss. I’m begging your pardon for the lateness of the call, but I was wondering if I couldn’t speak with your ma?”
Maddie about jumped out of her skin hearing her ma’s voice. “Who is it, girl?”
“It’s Mr. Sleuter, from town.”
“Where are your manners? Ask him in.”
Stunned, Maddie opened the door wider. “Please come in, Mr. Sleuter.” When she shut the door against the cold, Maddie asked if he would like to sit down.
“No thank you. Let me get right to it. I know you both are having a bad time of things out here alone. I was wondering if ya’ll might need some help.”
Maddie looked to her ma. For the first time, there was a glint of life in the old lady’s eyes. She felt a moment of apprehension.
“Mr. Sleuter—” she started but her ma cut her short.
“We have no money to pay you for your kind offer, sir.”
“I was thinking maybe my help in exchange for a place to sleep...and food.”
Maddie gasped and Jeb Sleuter was quick to put her mind at ease. “I could bunk down in your barn.”
* * * *
“Ma, why are you doing this?”
“We’ve been over this, Maddie. Jeb has helped us these last few months. We need a man around here.” Emma put on her bonnet and turned to face Maddie. “If marrying him will keep a roof over our heads, then I’ll do just that.”
“When he first came here he was helpful. Maybe the first week! He’s lazy Ma and no good.”
There was a quiet knock on the door. Emma went to answer it, but Maddie grabbed her arm. “Pa doesn’t deserve this!”
Emma’s backhand connected with her daughter’s cheek. Shocked, Maddie brought her hand up to her face. She could not remember her mother ever striking her.
“Oh Maddie, I’m…”
Angry tears filled Maddie’s green eyes. “I won’t go!” She threw open the door and ran out, pushing her soon to be step-father out of the way.
* * *
Distant thunder brought Maddie back to the present. She could smell the rain. She needed to get these few bushels of corn and sweet potatoes home and check on her ma. Ma had been sick the last few weeks with a nagging, raspy cough but refused to go see the doctor.
In the two years Jeb had been married to Ma, their farm had practically fallen to ruin. He never worked in the fields. This year there was no corn at all. He did buy a few more hogs and the only money that came in was from the sale of those pigs.
Her ma was a shell of a woman now. She was afraid of her own shadow. Maddie knew Jeb would take this corn and turn it into liquor. She had seen bruises on her ma’s arms and when asked how they got there, the only answer Maddie got was a blank stare.
It was raining by the time old Sal finally got them home. She unhitched the mule and bedded her down in the barn. Maddie ran to the house and threw open the door. It was dark with only one lantern lit. Shivering, she went to peek into her ma’s bedroom and didn’t see her there. Turning back Maddie found her ma had collapsed next to the table.
“Ma!” The old woman was burning up. It was cold in the house with no fire in the hearth. “I’m going to get some wood and start a fire.” Jeb was nowhere around.
“No,” Emma wheezed. She clutched her daughter’s hand. “Maddie, forgive me. I’m sorry.”
“Lie still, Ma. I need to warm you up.”
But Emma held on with a strength Maddie didn’t know she still possessed. “I’m going to meet up with your pa tonight. I’m tired and I’m ready to meet my maker.” Her glassy eyes cleared. “You heed my words, gal. In my chest is my old brown dress.” Emma’s breathing was forced. “In my pocket is money I’ve been putting away. You take that and get out of this house. We’ve got family in Hartstown, Pennsylvania. They’ll take you in.”
“I’m not leaving here. You can come with me.”
Her ma stroked her cheek. “I love you so, but I wronged you something fierce. I thought I was doing right by you by marrying Jeb. Please forgive me.” Her ma’s eyes shut.
“Ma!” Tears ran down Maddie’s face. “Please, don’t leave me.”
The front door banged open and a drunken Jeb staggered in.
“Get some wood.” Maddie sobbed. “We need to make a fire.”
Jeb stood there, teetering back and forth. “She’s used up, already good as dead.” He stumbled backwards and leered at his step-daughter. “But you’re still passable purty.”
Maddie got up, backing away. “You disgusting pig. Stay away from me.”
He lunged at her, knocking her to the ground and falling on top of her. Foul breath assaulted her senses. “Come on, Maddie girl.” He slobbered down her neck. “You’ll plumb like what I…”
A grunt exploded from his mouth and his bloodshot eyes seemed to look right through her. Maddie pushed him off, scrambling away. Ma was on her hands and knees gasping for breath, a bloody butcher knife in one hand.
Emma crawled to the body of her dead husband and checked his pockets, pulling out all the money he had. “Maddie, Maddie, fetch that money…from…from my chest. Hurry.”
The girl hurried to do as she was bid. The money in hand, Maddie found her mom lying on her back, a sickening rattle in her chest. “Please, Ma. Don’t leave me. I love you.” Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.
“I love you, my sweet girl.” Slowly, Emma’s hand traveled up to grasp her daughter’s. Paper money wadded in a ball. “Take this and get yourself out of here.”
Maddie put her head on her ma’s stomach, sobbing. “I can’t do this alone.”
There was no answer. Emma’s breathing was shallow and the rattling in her chest grew louder. Maddie lay on the floor next to her ma, whispering words of comfort as the only person she had in the world took her last breath.
Chapter TWO
The next morning Maddie dragged her ma to the stand of oak trees where Pa had been buried. It took most of the day to dig a hole big enough for her ma’s final resting place. Once the last shovel of dirt was in place, Maddie laid down and cried her heart out. How could God do this? How will she survive?
It was late afternoon when she got to her feet; her face streaked with dirt and her fingernails chipped and ragged. She dragged herself back to the house. Jeb still lay there, blood staining the wooden floor. Maddie barely gave him a second look.
She pumped some water into a bowl and washed her hands and face, inhaling at the stinging of her torn flesh. She hurt and wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep all the heartache away, but she had too much to do.
Maddie went to her ma’s room and grabbed the family’s carpetbag. She folded and packed the only three dresses she owned that were still nice enough to be seen in in public. She also took under clothes and her only nightgown. She then pumped more water and washed her hair and cleaned herself as best she could.
She took her ma’s ivory brush and comb set that had once belonged to her grandmother. She ripped at the tangles in her hair, tears springing to her eyes. When she was done, her light brown hair laid in soft waves down her back.
The sun was setting. Maddie sat at the table eating leftover hard rolls with cheese and pork. Her glance landed on Jeb and in that instant she decided just what needed to be done with the dead man.
She went to the barn and let the pigs and the cow loose then hitched Sal to the wagon. After loading her bag, she dragged Jeb’s body out of the house. Taking a piece of rope, she tied one end to the back of the wagon and the othe
r end around Jeb’s feet. She climbed up on the buckboard and when she looked at the house, a wave of emotion swept through her. Her heart physically hurt. “I love this old farm. Nobody will make this a home like we did.”
She jumped off the wagon and ran back into the house. She brought out her pa’s guitar and watched as fire started bouncing around in her home, licking the walls. When the whole house was in flames, Maddie wiped her eyes and said, “Whenever you’ve a mind Sal.”
* * * *
The sun was just peeking over the horizon. Using her foot, she shoved Jeb’s body down the small, muddy bank and into the Connewango River, watching him submerge and disappear. Maddie thought she would feel some kind of redemption seeing the man go under, but all she felt was indifference. Would God send her to Hell for doing this? Even that thought meant nothing. Maddie could not remember ever being this tired — emotionally and physically.
She sat for a while, making sure Jeb body didn’t surface. Her head sprang up when Sal moved. She must have dozed off as the sun was higher in the sky. “Let’s get this over with, Sal.”
The town of Jamestown was alive with activity. Businesses were opening for the day and proprietors performed the jobs of washing windows and sweeping the walkways. Maddie marveled at the bustling that was going on around her. The town had two hotels, complete with dining facilities; a newspaper; saloon; an attorney; a mercantile; a doctor’s office; a bank and many other unmarked buildings.
Making her way to the far west side of the town, she came upon a small train depot. A thin, balding man with wire-rimmed glasses stood behind the counter. After several minutes, Maddie cleared her throat to get the man’s attention.
“Can I help you?” The little man’s tone was one of annoyance.
“I need a ticket that would get me as close as possible to Hartstown, Pennsylvania.”
The man looked down his pointy nose at her and asked, “Just one?”
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