[2016] Widow Finds Love

by Christian Michael

  Four hours later she woke to find her house blessedly quiet. She tiptoed downstairs to see that everyone had cleaned up. She was thankful all over again to have Steve’s parents close by. All she wanted right now was to grab something quick to eat, take a long, hot bath, and go back to bed. Rummaging through the icebox, Stacey found more deserts than she could count. Did everyone think that sweets would cure the ache in her heart, the emptiness in her soul? She was going to be a mother and the man she’d loved, the man who’d exclaimed over their baby news just two weeks ago had left her too early.

  Her heart was impossibly bruised and her spirit was crushed. Looking around her kitchen memories flooded her mind. Steve carrying her across the threshold after their wedding. Meals that she and Steve had eaten together, their first anniversary. The day Steve had brought her a vase full of tiger lilies, her favorite flower along with a box of chocolates just to say he was sorry about a stupid fight they’d had. A deep sigh rumbled through her as she crumpled to the floor, sobs racking her body once again.

  Morning dawned bright and beautiful, but Stacey couldn’t appreciate it. She hated every new day with a vengeance, except for the child growing in her womb. That beautiful reminder of the man she loved was enough to keep her going. It wasn’t, however, enough to keep her in their home. Without him it was empty and void of the life she’d dreamed of spending there.

  A week after Steve’s funeral, Stacey sat at the kitchen nook looking through the paper. She kept them since before Steve’s wake, knowing she’d need to have them. She’d had her mind made up for a while about not living in their house. When he’d passed she knew right then it’d be impossible. What she didn’t know was where she planned on going. She scanned the recent events in the paper, reading about the record amounts of gold people were scouring from California. She wondered what it’d be like there, to live day to day, hoping to strike it rich. Always a sucker for the classifieds, Stacey came upon an open letter that read:

  Dear Prospective Women,

  My name is Mark Hamilton and I’m thirty years old. I moved to California last year after hearing about James Marshal’s find at Sutter’s Mill. What I didn’t realize at the time, was that hunting for gold becomes a lonely prospect without anyone to share that life with you. The number of marriageable women in California is slim to none, leaving me with little hope of meeting a woman with whom I can settle down and start a family.

  I’m writing in hopes that there might be a woman back east who’d be willing to correspond with me to see if God might have something bigger in mind for us. If you’d like to write me back, you can reach me at Mark Hamilton. 5406 S. Stillwater Crossing, Stillwater, California 95584

  I look forward to hearing from you,

  Blessing,

  Mark Hamilton

  Instantly Stacey felt as if there was a kindred spirit in Mark. He sounded like a man who would cherish his wife and subsequent children and all Stacey wanted was to love her child in hopes of making Steve proud. Grabbing a pen and paper, Stacey wrote a letter herself to Mark.

  February 1850

  Dear Mr. Hamilton,

  I was so incredibly touched by your words. You seem to be a man of solid faith who will no doubt love and cherish the woman God brings you. She is a blessed woman for sure. I hope the prospect of gold has turned out well for you! I’m sure there are several men that won’t be so lucky.

  Having just lost my husband a few weeks ago, I am especially thankful that there are still men out there such as yourself. I hope that whomever God sends you, she will be everything you hoped for in a wife and life mate.

  Thankful,

  Stacey Denton

  Chapter Two: Foundational Friendships

  Mark picked up his first stack of letters a month after posting his open letter in the newspapers back east. He’d expected a few responses, but the massive bag of letter he’d received was astonishing. Carrying it to his pretty bay, Pegasus, he strapped the bag on and headed home. Three hours later he strapped Pegasus’ reins to a pole and brushed her down. Pouring an extra scoop of feed into her trough, Mark undid her tack and hung it up. Assured she was well bedded for the night, he headed inside with his bag of letters.

  He was almost thankful another response wouldn’t be needed right away. It’d take him at least a week to read through this many letters, let alone write responses to the ones he set aside. That first night he got through ten letters, finding the women amazing. They wrote from every facet of life. One woman from New Jersey was finishing up college with a degree in nursing. Another woman was a librarian. Still another was just graduating from high school.

  Mark was overwhelmed with the diversity of the women he heard from. Some were easily set aside as Mark knew deep down the women who wrote just weren’t for him. Some were plausible, but none so far had reached the all-important “keep” pile. The next letter he opened made him smile. The woman, one Stacey Denton, didn’t seem to be replying to the ad necessarily, but rather wrote just to tell him she appreciated his outlook on marriage and such. Setting it aside in the respond pile, Mark continued to read. Later that night he responded to Stacey’s letter, having only set hers aside for a response so far.

  March 1850

  Dear Miss Denton,

  I was so pleased to get your letter. I must admit that the response to my advertisement for a wife brought more replies than I had imagined. Your response made me smile, which I thank you for. It is not often I find anyone really who appreciates my point of view on a subject.

  I hope life is finding you well and hope we can correspond again soon. I certainly have no doubt that your husband is a lucky and blessed man to have a woman such as you in his life.

  Thank you for the sweet response.

  Mark Hamilton

  A month later Mark got another letter from Stacey, one he was actually looking forward to.

  April 1850

  Dear Mr. Hamilton

  I am so glad that my words brought a smile to your face. Unfortunately, my husband is no longer with me. He passed away in February. He was sharing the news of our first child when a stagecoach hit him. He later died of his injuries.

  I find it impossible to remain at our home and have been staying at a hotel in town for several weeks now. I hope to find a new place to settle soon. Moving seems nice as there’s so much of the United States to see now. I pray God shows me where I’m to go as raising this soon to come baby will be quite an adventure on my own.

  I hope summer will be a welcomed sight for you.

  Blessings,

  Stacey

  Mark didn’t know what to say now. Here was a woman who intrigued him and he felt a pang of guilt knowing of his own interest when her husband had passed scarcely two months prior. Still, she deserved a reply.

  May 1850

  Dearest Mrs. Denton,

  Forgive me for being so callous. I am eternally sorry for the loss of your husband. I hope that your baby is a comfort in your grief.

  There is certainly plenty of the U.S. to see if you have means to travel. So far I’m sorry to say that you’re the only woman I’ve written since placing my ad. Although there seems to be plenty of single women back east, I find them all too young, too immature, too banal, or just too opposite of my own personality.

  Have you ever seen a working ranch before? I’d guess that the city doesn’t provide much chance for that. If you’d be willing, I’d love to have you come out here. I know it will be a rough trip in your condition, however, I’d be willing to pay for a doctor to accompany you as well if you’d prefer. I have the means to care for you while you’re here. Whether that’s two weeks or twenty years, I’d greatly enjoy your friendship and company.

  Thankful for your letters,

  Mark

  ***

  Stacey sat on her hotel room bed and smiled down at the paper in her hands. Over the last months she’d grown fond of hearing from Mark Hamilton. His letters always came with a proverbial smile and she found herself
looking forward to them more and more, despite the same waiting period.

  She read through the letter twice to be sure she’d read it correctly. Her heart jumped at the prospect. There was a pulling in her heart. She too had clung to Mark’s friendship during these last months as she’d grieved over Steve’s loss. She knew her mother-in-law wouldn’t understand her need to escape the vast curtain of memories she’d had in their old house, but the move was necessary. Stacey spent a week praying about whether or not to accept Mark’s invitation to come out to California. With an overwhelming sense of peace about it, she wrote him back.

  June 1850

  Dear Mark,

  I hope this letter finds you well. I had to read your letter twice to make sure I wasn’t missing a punch line somewhere. Your friendship has meant the world to me over these last months as I grieved for my loss. I am already packing my essentials and would love nothing more than to come and see California and your ranch. What do you raise there, or are you a crop farmer?

  I would greatly appreciate hiring a doctor to accompany me as I know the trip may be rough and I will be less than a month from meeting my baby when I arrive, God forbid anything should happen beforehand.

  I’m already anxious to get going and will be leaving as soon as I can hire a doctor to take the trip with me. Please don’t write again as I would hate to miss your letter. I will see you soon my friend!

  Already on my way,

  Stacey

  It took Stacey nearly a week to find a doctor who was willing to go along with her. A young man who was just out of college, Glenn Dickerson, was quiet and studious. He was also a gentleman, helping Stacey onto the ship as it rocked gently in the waves of the East River. Docked in the Southside Seaport, the SS Mary Elizabeth, was the ship that was leaving the soonest.

  “It looks mighty nice,” Glenn said as he helped Stacey into her berth.

  “That it does,” she smiled. “Your berth is right next door, Glenn.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Denton.”

  “Stacey, please. And thank you for coming with me. I feel much more comfortable making this trip because you’re with me.”

  “You would have gone with or without me, ma’am.”

  “Probably,” Stacey grinned. “But the truth is I’m very glad to have you here with me. Let’s hope neither of us has a wicked aversion to the open sea.”

  “There’s that,” Glenn smiled. Careful not to eat heavy those first few weeks, neither Stacey nor Glenn suffered the mal de mer.

  “You need to start eating more,” Glenn said one afternoon when it was clear neither of them would get seasick.

  “Working on it right now,” Stacey said, smiling around a huge bread basket. “The captain has been wonderful, saving the extras people don’t want for me. Personally I think he’s a little perturbed to have a pregnant woman aboard.”

  “I wouldn’t doubt it. Most men are petrified of a pregnant woman, too afraid she’ll run shrieking up and down the corridors if she goes into labor. Little do they know how well a woman is capable of handling labor and delivery, in most cases anyways.”

  “I hope I’m as prepared for my time as I’d like to be.”

  “You’ll do just fine Mrs. Denton, don’t worry.”

  “If we’re going to be on this ship for the next three and a half months I suppose we should be friends. Call me Stacey, please.”

  “Alright, Stacey.”

  That three and a half months passed quickly as Stacey’s pregnancy continued. By late October, the SS Mary was making port in San Francisco Bay. “We made it,” Stacey said, beaming back at Glenn, who looked just as thrilled to finally be stepping onto dry land. When Stacey swayed, he caught her.

  “Careful Stacey,” Glenn smiled. “We got so used to our sea legs, I assume it’ll take us a day or two to get our land legs back.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “Did your friend say what he looked like by chance?” Glenn asked. Stacey joined him in looking over all the people who seemed to be bustling about.

  “Tall and lanky. Dark brown hair that’s sort of shaggy. He’s a cow rancher so I assume he’ll be in jeans and cowboy boots, probably a hat.”

  “Looking around, just about everyone looks like that. The men anyway.”

  “Mrs. Denton?” a strong voice called to their left.

  Stacey turned her head and felt her stomach flutter with movement and something else she didn’t want to name. During the voyage, she’d come to grips with losing Steve and cried out most of her grief. She had no doubt that when the baby came she’d feel waves of it again, for the loss of her family and what could have been. Still, she was a woman and knew attraction when it hit her. Mark, with his dark, brooding face and crystal clear blue eyes was definitely an attraction. Then he smiled and Stacey knew that making it to California was the easy part in all of this. Keeping herself from falling in love with her friend was going to prove harder than she’d thought.

  “Mark,” Stacey smiled. Reaching her hands out, she allowed her friend to pull her up the planks to solid, California land.

  “Welcome to the 31st state in the Union.”

  “The captain told us that California had joined the United States not too long ago. September, right?”

  “Right,” he smiled. “It seems Mexico was anxious to let us go after the treaty was signed. I thought we might stay in town tonight, let you and doctor Dickerson catch your breath. If that suits you, we can leave first thing in the morning after you’ve eaten.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Stacey smiled. Taking Mark’s offered arm, she hurried along the streets to the hotel he’d rented rooms at.

  “I’ve got three rooms lined together all on the second floor. We can get some refreshments at the hotel kitchen if that suits you.”

  “I’d like that,” Stacey smiled. “I am rather famished.”

  “In your delicate condition I’m surprised to see your appetite so well intact. I’ve always heard that women close to delivery find themselves less than starving.”

  “Actually,” Glenn cut in. “It’s quite common for women to feel even hungrier during their last trimester. Their body is preparing for a marathon and will need to energy food gives them. Provided, of course, that they choose nutritious options. Eating bread all day long isn’t going to give a woman the energy she needs. Stacey will need fats, proteins and fresh vegetables and fruit coming into this last month.”

  “She’ll have all she needs to bring this precious child into the world.”

  Chapter Three: Delicate Decisions

  It took them nearly five hours to get everything packed up and make it back to Mark’s ranch. The guest bedroom he’d put in worked perfectly for Stacey. With Glenn staying there as well, there was no chance of sordid gossip.

  The last month of Stacey’s pregnancy flew by as the three friends grew to know each other much better. Stacey did light house work while she crocheted essential items for the baby. She sewed cloth diapers and worked on a winter coat for her little one. Blankets were also plentiful and as her time drew nearer Mark seemed extra protective, all but forbidding her to lift a finger around the house.

  Early during a November morning Stacey felt the first of her labor pains ripple through her body. Not entirely sure it was true labor she waited a while before waking Glenn. She set coffee up to brew, pulled out a bunch of finger foods like cheese and crackers, and finally when she could no longer stand the pain on her own, she woke Glenn with a gentle tap on his shoulder.

  “Stacey?” he asked, sitting up with a yawn.

  “I think it’s time.”

  “Having contractions?”

  “Lots of them. I’ve been having them since very early and they’re getting stronger and closer together.”

  “Alright. Why don’t we start getting everything ready? Do you want to wake Mark?”

  “I’d feel more comfortable if you did.”

  “Right. You get something cold to drink and I’ll be back in a
few minutes.”

  Stacey poured herself a glass of cold milk from the icebox and sat down at the kitchen table, breathing slowly through a contraction. When Mark hurried over to her, she smiled, reassuring him she was fine. “We need to get everything ready for when the baby comes,” Glenn said. “I need a pair of scissors, sharp ones if possible. I need blankets, rags, a bit of string an old pan if you have one.”

  “I think he’s more scared than I am,” Stacey grinned as Mark flew around trying to get everything Glenn had mentioned.

  The contractions grew much stronger as Stacey went through transition. She rocked back and forth, holding onto Mark, Glenn, or a doorway as she moaned her way through the work part of labor. On a cry of pain, Stacey groaned that she needed to push. Only then did Glenn check her to see that she was fully dilated. With swift direction from Glenn, Stacey pushed four hard pushes and delivered herself of a sweet faced baby girl. With tears in her eyes, Stacey named her little girl Stephanie Amelia Denton. After the baby was separated from her and everything cleaned up, Stacey changed into a nightgown and spent time alone nursing her new little girl.

  “Your daddy would have been over the moon for you,” she said as tears fell from her eyes. Once the baby was nursed and sleeping, Stacey cuddled down by her brand new daughter and slept as well, whisking away a solid six hours.

  When Stephanie woke to nurse again Glenn knocked on her door to ask how she was. “I’m good,” Stacey smiled. “She’s doing wonderful. I’ve never been so elated.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Glenn smiled. “I plan on staying through your six weeks of post-partum care and then I’ll be heading back to New York.”

  “I appreciate you staying with me that long.”

  “It’s not a problem,” Glenn assured her. “When you’re done in here I think Mark’s chomping at the bit to see her.”

  Stacey came out of her bedroom with Stephanie in her arms and felt that same level of attraction for her friend. When his pretty blue eyes met hers she was almost sure he’d felt the same thing. She wasn’t an expert of body language, but his eyes seemed to say that he was definitely attracted.