Hazel's Tribulations

by Lisa Prysock

  “Joshua,” Prudence croaked as Wade transferred her hand to Joshua’s arm, “how good it is to see you again.”

  Joshua Stanton’s blue eyes greeted her with warmth, his sincere smile betraying the depth of his fondness for Prudence White. “Prudy, ‘tis very good to see you again. Welcome to Silver Aspen.”

  “Thank you, and where is my niece?” she asked before taking another step while surveying the household lined up on the front porch, the line consisting of wranglers, household help, guests, and the family. Even Sable and Mac found a spot amongst them.

  “I’m right here, Aunt Prudy.” Ambrosia stepped forward from beside Mia with blue sparkling eyes and blond hair like her father. She curtseyed before embracing her maternal relation, the skirt of her long magenta gown brushing the porch. “How I’ve missed you!”

  “And I you, dear girl! Do my eyes deceive me? Can it be you’ve grown this much in just five short years?” Prudy trembled from the embrace and then stood still to take in the changes in her niece. “Clearly, I must visit more often; though I never imagined my travels to take place in January. I find it preferable to being cooped up indoors for the winter, and now that we have trains, ‘tis easier to travel than ever before. I still imagined you at eight years of age and this high, like when you and your father left Virginia. Here you have gone and turned into a grown lady when I wasn’t looking.”

  “Do come inside out of the cold.” Mia stepped forward and clasped Aunt Prudence’s gloved hands. “We have hot tea, coffee, and an apple pie our Fern baked. It’s still warm, right out of the oven.”

  “You must be Lady Stanton, Mia, Joshua’s new wife,” Prudy commented as they began to cross the porch and enter the main hallway of the ranch.

  Soon they were settled around the dining room table while a fire blazed in the fireplace to keep the cabin warm. Joshua asked about her journey while Fern sliced large pieces of apple pie, and Miss Flora poured tea and coffee.

  When they were all served, Prudence spoke, looking directly at Mia. “Now, I must confess directly and at once, rest assured I did not travel all this way to speak endlessly of Joshua’s former wife, my dearly departed sister, Isabelle. First of all, you should know that we weren’t close being more than fifteen years apart. While I do love and miss her greatly, I am happy for Joshua and my niece to have found such a gem in all I have heard about his new wife. Furthermore, I had to see for myself the wonderful transformation Lady Stanton has wrought in our Ambrosia. I could tell from the letters she sent that my niece has blossomed into quite the young lady. Therefore, I know the new Mrs. Stanton, or rather, Lady Stanton I should say, is most beneficial for your family.”

  This statement took them all by surprise and Hazel found herself instantly approving of Aunt Prudence White. By the end of that January week, it was cold and snowy enough to employ good use of the cutter and two sleighs for sleigh rides. Lady Hazel particularly looked forward to these because she loved to hear the bells jingle on the horses and feel the sleigh glide over snowy lanes and meadows.

  Wade and Patrick offered sleigh rides every afternoon when the chores were done for the day. Aunt Prudy and Fern declined to accompany them in either of the sleighs, but everyone else bundled up and enjoyed the winter fun.

  In addition to sleigh rides and winter walks, Ambrosia finally convinced Hazel to try ice skating on the pond with her and Frankie. She’d been shaky on ice skates, but it had been more fun than she’d expected. They also built a snowman one afternoon. Fern always had hot cocoa waiting for them in the kitchen after these outings. They’d huddle around the massive fireplace hearth, sipping their mugs of steaming cocoa and singing songs and hymns while warming up. Little by little, Wyoming was growing on Hazel, but she deigned to admit it.

  On one such occasion filled with jolliness and merriment, Lady Hazel stepped out of the front door and off the front porch to join a sleigh ride excursion, only to slip on the ice and land on her back side.

  “That’s the way of grace and poise,” Cousin Alfie teased from his seat in one of the sleighs while she lay on the ice moaning.

  Thankfully, she wore her thick black coat with the brown fur trim around the neckline and sleeves. The fur on the sleeves and her fur muff had cushioned her wrists and hands. Her elbows were cushioned by the thick black wool of the coat. Other parts of her body did not feel quite so well, and she was dazed as well as embarrassed.

  “Lady Hazel, are you all right?” Uncle Charles asked, true concern emanating from his voice where he sat beside Miss Flora in the second sleigh, having witnessed the whole incident.

  Hazel groaned and then slowly rolled to one side. Pushing against her body weight with her upper arm, she sat up. “Thank you for asking, Uncle Charles. I think ‘tis only my pride that is wounded.”

  Wade, watching his step on the icy patch, carefully stepped to her side to assist. He extended a hand to help her up, but when she looked up, she saw the smirk written on his face. Did he think she’d deserved to fall on the ice? She reached into the snow and scooped together the biggest snowball she could manage to make, but she wasn’t sure if Alfred deserved it or Wade. Since Wade was helping her up, she chose the latter.

  “Not one word, Wade Jefferson!” she snapped, accepting his hand as he pulled her upright. She continued shaping the snowball before taking another step, making sure it was round and packed well.

  “Did I say anything?” Wade joked, keeping an eye on the snowball she was forming. He also appeared as if he was trying to sound offended at her remark as she winged the snowball at Cousin Alfie as hard as she could manage.

  The snowball bounced off Alfie’s shoulder, but they all heard the impact.

  “Ouch! You pack a mean snowball, Hazel,” her cousin sputtered indignantly. “I suppose I deserved that one.” He brushed the remaining snow off his coat and resumed a conversation with Miss Ambrosia, speaking in low tones as if he was planning a playful revenge.

  “You needn’t speak a word,” Hazel said when she turned to see Wade holding his arms out after her warning, ignoring Cousin Alfred’s intentions for the moment. “That smirk says it all, and if you’re not careful, I’ll make another of those for you.”

  Shaking his head and laughing, he responded, “Warning duly noted.” Then he led her to the sleigh, offering her the front seat beside him. It wasn’t the first time he’d offered her that same spot, and she truly wondered why he bothered, except he knew she loved the sound of the bells on the horses.

  “I should have brought my ice skates,” Alfie chuckled. “Hazel could’ve borrowed them and skated to the sleigh.” Alfie’s comment drew a fit of giggles from Ambrosia.

  Wade reached down to tuck the fur blankets around Hazel once she was seated, but she only pushed his help away, snatching the covers from his hands. This only made his grin grow wider as he waited while she tucked the blankets in place herself. Behind her, she heard a giggling Ambrosia as Mr. Jefferson walked around the sleigh to the driver’s seat, picking up the reins once he was settled inside.

  “Who’s in the cutter?” Joshua asked. Hazel imagined he was having a hard time turning around to look over his shoulder for all of the blankets Mia had piled around them.

  “Do stop laughing, Miss Ambrosia,” Mia said from her spot in the sleigh where she nestled against Joshua.

  “I’m trying, but Uncle Alfie is so amused by his cousin,” Ambrosia admitted. “I cannot be blamed or held accountable for my laughter.”

  Alfred rose to the occasion. “I accept all the blame.”

  “Patrick and Frankie are in the cutter,” Wade called back to Joshua. “Everyone ready?”

  “If Hazel is done skating, I think so,” Alfie answered for the large party, causing more chuckles.

  Hazel rolled her eyes. “Alfie, I’m going to tell Fern to give your pie to Mac and Sable this evening.”

  Ambrosia, who still couldn’t stop giggling, punched Alfie in the other arm playfully. “Hush, you’ll get me in trouble.”

&nb
sp; “You wouldn’t dare give my pie to those creatures!” Alfie sounded genuinely concerned. “And now both of my arms are wounded.”

  “Watch me!” Hazel warned.

  “What about Henry and Edward?” Wade asked.

  “They’re going in the cutter when Patrick and Frankie return,” Mia called out. “All the seats are taken.”

  “All right then, here we go!” Wade snapped the reins and the beautiful team of horses with all of their jingle bells jingling began to glide forward.

  Since Hazel continued to make up excuses about going to church on Sundays, it seemed to her that the good Lord had brought church to her. Ambrosia’s Aunt Prudy, her deceased mother’s sister, was vigorous about sharing her faith in both word and deed. Esther Louise managed to exhibit the Christian lifestyle and her faith as well, without saying much of anything. She was a shining beacon of light and peace in the midst of Hazel’s suffering. She never complained, always retained her composure, kept her hands busy, pitched in with the household chores, and had a cheerful and gracious demeanor.

  “Do you like Cheyenne?” Miss Flora asked as they stitched their various projects one evening after a generous amount of sleigh riding and a delicious dinner of beef stew and yeast rolls. The men were in the barn tending the evening chores or somewhere about the property bringing armfuls of wood to the fireplaces, splitting a few more logs, hauling water inside from the well, or any number of other tasks. Except for Uncle Charles and Cousin Alfred; they lingered in the dining room waiting for the others to return.

  “Very much so,” Esther nodded, “but I didn’t always. After our parents were killed by Indians, it took me some time to forgive and to come to appreciate the city named for the tribe who’d taken the lives of our parents.”

  Hazel, stunned to discover Wade was an orphan, stopped stitching the floral design on the pillowcase in her hand. No wonder he wanted to build and open an orphanage someday. His sister looked so peaceful, a light shining from her face that appeared almost naturally radiant. She didn’t wear the bright pink lip balm that Hazel wore made from wax and pomegranates, or the new blushing powders Hazel used to accent her cheekbones.

  Though their parents were taken from them at young ages, Esther and Wade were both loving, humble souls with a kind of acceptance of the hardships of life and quiet strength. Nor did his sister wear fancy dresses trimmed in expensive fabrics such as silk or satin. Instead, she wore plain calico work dresses with starched white aprons. She didn’t own hats with veils or fine trimmings such as those she and Mia wore. No, simple linen bonnets suited her, all made from matching calico fabric, tied beneath her chin by more of the same fabric fashioned into ribbons. Two of Esther’s three work dresses had lovely but simple bustles, and they were all clean and pressed. She’d noticed his sister had worn a nicer one to church made from a chintz fabric, but Hazel had opted to skip the service again.

  Hazel considered how smart Mia always looked in her long-sleeved gabardine gray gown or her dark purple one. Mia often wore a thick wool skirt in burgundy or light brown paired with a simple long-sleeved white blouse with lace trim and a satin waistband. Even Mia had tempered her wardrobe for Wyoming, sprinkling into it a selection of calico and gingham day dresses.

  “What is it that you’re knitting?” Mia inquired, pausing from her work to fidget with her buttons as they observed the clicking needles Esther held in her hands.

  “Socks,” Esther replied. “My thirtieth pair of socks for veteran soldiers who are no longer able to work or support themselves since the Great War.”

  “An excellent cause, indeed,” Miss Flora commented.

  “What are you working on, Aunt Prudy?” Ambrosia asked, leaning over to inspect her aunt’s handiwork.

  “I’m making a quilt for a missionary going to a remote region of Canada.” Aunt Prudence held up the four square patch she’d finished moments before and then added it to the stack in her sewing basket.

  Ambrosia tilted her head to one side as she appeared lost in thought while admiring her aunt’s stitching. “Can you show me how to do that? I’d like to make a quilt for a needy family in Belle.”

  “And if you start now, you might be done in time for this coming Christmas,” her aunt explained. “Quilts of this nature take a long time and much patience.”

  “I always finish what I start,” Ambrosia nodded. “Father makes me.” Then she gave Aunt Prudy a wide grin. “Always finish what you start, he says.”

  “’Tis excellent advice. Listen to your father,” her aunt replied as she reached for the next set of squares to stitch together. “Pull up a chair and I’ll show you my humble and simple technique.”

  “I see you’ve finished your wedding sampler, Lady Stanton. It’s very beautiful.” Esther commented, her needles still clicking. “What project are you beginning now?”

  “I’m making an infant gown,” Mia answered, causing everyone in the room to pause and stare in wonder at the smile on her face.

  “No, you didn’t say what I think you did, did you?” Fern’s eyes were wide with joy.

  Mia nodded, a coy grin curving on her lips as she paused from her stitching to fidget with the buttons on her sleeve at the wrist. “I did.”

  “A baby?” Ambrosia stopped sliding a chair toward her aunt.

  “Yes, a baby.” Mia smiled, still fidgeting with her buttons. “He, or she, will be arriving in about eight months if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Does Joshua know yet?” Hazel asked, wondering why she hadn’t bothered to ask her cousin about her projects or pay much attention to anyone else. She should’ve known before the others, but chiding herself, she realized she’d neglected her cousin except when it suited her needs.

  “He does.” Mia nodded again as she returned to stitching a seam on the little mint green baby garment in her hands. “He is very happy from what I can tell. Don’t say a word though since Father and Alfie don’t know. I wasn’t supposed to say anything yet. It’s too early, but I’m terrible at keeping secrets.”

  “And glad we are of it.” Aunt Prudy smiled approvingly. “How happy I am for all of you.”

  “I’m so delighted at this news.” Miss Flora beamed.

  “As am I.” Esther Louise smiled. “Truly, a baby is a wonderful gift from heaven.”

  “Indeed,” Fern agreed, sipping more of her tea.

  “I’m finally going to have a little brother or a sister.” Ambrosia twirled about the room with glee before settling into the chair she’d placed beside her aunt.

  Hazel finally found her tongue. “I’m very happy for you, Cousin Mia. I’ll make something for the baby, too.”

  “Thank you, Hazel. I can’t wait to see what you decide to make for our baby,” Mia replied. It was then Hazel realized her cousin was positively glowing. If only she could stop herself from pining away for Charles, or sulking about being in Wyoming. She should pay more heed to those around her.

  Then the front door opened out in the hall and with it, a gust of wind and snow blew inside. They felt the gust even in the spacious, but cozy sitting room. A moment later, Wade joined them after he’d stomped the snow off of his feet, and hung his coat and hat on one of the hooks near the door. Behind him, Joshua, Esther’s fiancé Jack, and the other wranglers came inside and filed into the sitting room.

  “Mr. Jefferson,” Prudence began with a cheeky tone once they were all settled, “I’ll have you know I met the nicest fellow in town the other day.”

  “I didn’t know you went into Belle,” Wade responded as he settled into a spot on the parlor bench near the fire and began warming his hands.

  “I did indeed. I wanted to have a look at the town and do a bit of shopping. I also mailed a letter, and while I did, ran into a Mr. and Mrs. Chad Smythe. He found out I was a guest at Silver Aspen and remembers you. He also asked me to thank you for the generous meals you provided for his large family. The man had seven children, all of them waiting in the wagon. He said it was kind of you to share your quilts the night
of the blizzard when you slept in the wagon at the livery because there weren’t any other rooms to be had at the hotels. Those children would’ve been very uncomfortable on the floor of the hotel drawing room he’d said, with few blankets to keep them warm.”

  Hazel’s mouth dropped open. Wade had slept in the livery on that cold and freezing night with all of those winds howling about? She could have shared a space in her room with him had she known, except for the fact she realized he’d been too much of a gentleman to risk her reputation. Then she pondered the Smythe family, remembering all of those children. Wade had shared his quilts?

  “’Twas Lady Stanton who’d supplied me with the extra quilts to be honest.” Wade attempted to be gracious and in his meekness, tried to deflect the attention to Mia.

  “I’m glad those quilts were put to good use,” Mia remarked. “You did the right thing, Wade Jefferson.”

  Esther Louise beamed at him proudly. “My brother has always been like that, kind and caring of other folks in need.”

  “In any case, I told Mr. and Mrs. Smythe I’d pass along their thanks and warm greeting to you. You’re something of a hero in their eyes all the same.” Aunt Prudy turned her attention back to her niece and the quilting project while Hazel silently pondered the sacrifices Wade had made on the night of the blizzard and how he’d kept her safe. She nearly shivered to think what might’ve happened had she not listened to his advice to wait the storm out in Belle.

  Chapter 12

  * * *

  Surely He hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgression; He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6