Frontier Want Ad Bride

by Lyn Cote

Asa and Judith rose with the congregation. His wife joined the singing. Asa still held Lily, who wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re safe,” he whispered in the little girl’s ear. She gazed into his eyes, trusting.

  Cannon fire tried to disrupt his mind, interrupt the words being sung. Lily sighed and relaxed against him, muting the past. Asa glanced at Judith beside him, her sweet soprano voice charming him. An old scripture came to him, something about God setting the solitary man into a family. Then the war, the faces of men who hadn’t come home to their families, streamed through his mind.

  The old guilt roared through him, and he heard nothing but gunfire. He felt the walls closing in on him. He edged out of the rear pew and walked outside. The sunshine bathed his face, and he dragged in air.

  Lily clung to him and then patted the back of his neck. “Don’t worry,” she murmured. “Don’t worry.”

  He shut his eyes, willing away memories, the rush of battle, the screams of men and horses falling.

  *

  Her attention on the leader of the singing, Judith felt Asa leave with Lily. Had she missed something? Was Lily upset? Should she go after them or stay? Others had glanced at Asa as he left. If she went out, too, that would only garner more attention. And her husband hated attention. That much she knew. She began praying as she tried to go on singing. The song ended and another started.

  More people were beginning to glance over their shoulders, no doubt wondering where Asa had gone and why. What had just been discussed caused more notice. Usually if a parent escorted a child out, others accepted the child needed discipline or a moment to regain control. But Lily was never a trouble in church.

  Judith decided she must go and bring him back in if possible. Otherwise, gossip and speculation would run rampant after the service. But what had caused Asa to leave? Praying with each step, Judith slipped from the pew and left the church as quietly as she could. She glanced around the school yard, bound by the forest on three sides and the river to the west.

  At first she couldn’t see them. Then movement in the shade of the trees caught her eye. But she had trouble believing what she was seeing.

  Asa sat on the rope swing under one of the outstretched branches of an ancient oak. Lily faced him and rested against his chest, her arms wrapped around his neck. Judith watched the swing move gently back and forth, creaking wood and rope. Lily was humming along with the hymn wafting out of the open school windows while Asa gazed into the trees to the river beyond.

  The sight of the big man holding the little child halted Judith. Yet drew her like an arrow released from a bow. The man of few words, her husband, holding and swinging Lily.

  She started toward them, loath to disturb the peaceful interlude. But knowing she must. “Asa, Lily, we need to go back inside,” she murmured, holding out her hand. “Mr. Whitmore will begin preaching soon.”

  Lily lifted her head. And sighed. “We got to go in, Mr. Brant. Thanks for swinging me. It’s too big for me to be on alone.”

  Asa rose.

  The impulse to hurry to him and throw her arms around his neck, as Lily had, nearly overwhelmed Judith. But this was not the time or place. She kept herself firmly in control.

  Asa let Lily cling to his hand as they came abreast of her. Judith then walked on the other side of Lily, holding her hand. Judith led them inside to their pew. People smiled and nodded, obviously assuming that Lily had gone to the necessary or had wanted soothing after her scare this week.

  Willing to let them assume whatever they wished, Judith sat down and smiled at Colton. Would she ever forget the sight of her husband gently swinging Lily? No, never. And that triggered another ache. The thought of losing the children even to family twisted around her lungs, tight and painful. I don’t want them to leave us.

  Though Judith tried to give her attention to Noah Whitmore’s sermon, her mind wandered. She kept trying to let go and trust that God would do what was best for the children, Asa and her. But trusting God was often the hardest task required of a Christian. And coming to Pepin had not changed that.

  But then another scripture came to mind. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” She had decided to love Asa Brant, love her husband, and now to trust God with the children’s future. Nothing could stop her loving and trusting. With this, peace filtered through her.

  At the end of the service, her father, sitting on the other side of Emma, rose. “Preacher, I’d like to say something.”

  “Certainly, Mr. Jones. First let me introduce you. For those of you who haven’t met him, this is Mr. Dan Jones, the father of our new schoolteacher, Miss Emma Jones, and Asa Brant’s wife, Mrs. Judith Brant. Welcome, Mr. Jones.”

  Dan nodded to Noah. “I just want to thank all of you for welcoming my daughters to your town. As soon as I stepped off the steamboat, I was welcomed. I’m living at Levi’s shop. My Judith and her husband wanted me to live with them, of course, but I felt I shouldn’t intrude on the newlyweds.”

  People smiled at this.

  “Anyway, thanks for welcoming me, and if I can ever do you a help, just let me know.” Dan bowed his head and sat down.

  Then Noah led them in a closing prayer, and Lavina Caruthers led them in singing the doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”

  Asa moved to the aisle and waited for Judith and Emma to precede him as they wended their way out of the school. When they reached the bright, sunny day outside, Judith felt the summer heat enfold them.

  Emma claimed her hand and leaned to whisper in her ear, “I received another letter from Mr. Chandler.”

  Judith turned to her sister. “What did he say?” she whispered in response.

  Emma’s guarded look told Judith she didn’t want to be overheard.

  “Come see me tomorrow,” was all Emma said.

  Judith nodded and then turned to the sheriff’s wife, Rachel, the town’s baker. The woman had brought a box of cookies for Colton and Lily.

  “I know thee bakes, too, but I just had to do something,” Rachel said in her Quaker way, her large gray eyes serious. “I hate it when adults don’t think of children’s feelings.” She glanced toward her stepson, Jacque.

  Judith accepted the box tied with string. “Thank you.”

  “That Smith causing a scene right in town.” Rachel shook her head.

  “I’m just grateful for your husband’s assistance in this.”

  “Don’t thee worry.” Rachel nodded once decisively, just as the sheriff had. “My husband won’t let anybody hurt those children.”

  Judith thanked her and then let Asa draw her away toward home. The morning had stirred her emotions, but now she could go home, and there would be peace there. She glanced at her silent husband. Sometimes too much peace. But Lily was skipping and singing. And then tomorrow she’d return here to find out if Mason Chandler was ever coming back.

  *

  The next day, Judith knocked on her sister’s door at the back of the schoolhouse. Asa had walked her and the children to town, but had stopped to visit Dan and Levi.

  Emma opened her door and immediately gathered Judith into a welcoming hug. “Sister.” They stood a moment, close and warm, together as they had been all their lives.

  “I’m so glad you came early,” Emma said, drawing her inside. “I am going to help out at the store soon, and Mrs. Ashford is expecting me for lunch.”

  Judith glanced around, and her prediction of how Emma would soon have the spare room decorated had proved true. Bunches of wild daisies hung upside down high on one wall, drying for future use. An embroidered pillow sat on the rocking chair. A half-crocheted doily with its hook and ball of white thread sat on the table.

  Emma lifted a folded letter from the mantel. And offered it to Judith, who waved it away. “What does Mason Chandler write?”

  “His father has passed.”

  Judith expected Emma to announce this news in a more positive tone. Now Mason should return. “And?”

  “And
now—” Emma grimaced “—he has something else to do before returning.”

  “I see.” Judith folded her hands in her lap.

  “I don’t think this has anything to do with me,” Emma said, setting the letter back on the mantel. “And it’s not unreasonable for him to have legal matters, such as property to take care of, after a death.”

  “That’s true.” Judith tried to keep her expression and tone bland. Whatever her sister decided to do about her absent prospective husband was none of her business.

  Emma chuckled. “You are one in a million, sister. Anybody else would be giving me advice right and left.”

  Judith lifted her shoulders. “Emma, you always land on your feet.”

  “Yes.” Emma gazed around at her quarters. “I’m happy here.”

  Judith felt the identical phrase rise in her to be spoken. But was she happy here? Her heart squeezed tight. Would Asa ever let her in, open up to her?

  Emma was watching her.

  “I’m fine.” But Judith knew she’d said the words too fast.

  Emma nodded, obviously deciding not to pursue this topic.

  Relief relaxed Judith.

  Soon the sisters were walking arm in arm into town.

  An unexpected sight halted them.

  Smith’s wife had tied up the wagon and team in front of Ashford’s store. She appeared to be waiting for something. Was Smith in the store? The sisters weren’t the only ones watching her. Two people were out sweeping their porches, and Mr. Ashford was standing just inside his door, staring at her. Judith couldn’t see the woman’s face, hidden by her poke bonnet.

  Then a steamboat whistle sounded.

  The woman leaped from her seat on the wagon and hurried down to the dock, a small satchel in hand.

  The boat docked.

  Their father walked out of his lean-to and down to the dock, carrying his tray of goods. The Smith woman boarded the boat.

  A few passengers bought items from their father. Then the steamboat whistled again and headed out southward into the current, the paddle wheel turning.

  “What was that all about?” Emma murmured.

  Judith gazed at the team and wagon abandoned at the store. Then stared at the receding steamboat, dumbfounded.

  The store door flapped open and closed. “Well, what do you think that was all about?” Mrs. Ashford, still in her apron, appeared on the store porch beside her husband.

  “Looks to me like Smith lost a wife,” the storekeeper said laconically.

  “Serves him right,” Mrs. Ashford said.

  “Now, Katherine, we’re not to judge,” Mr. Ashford said the words but did not sound like he meant them.

  “Humph.” Mrs. Ashford flounced back inside the store.

  Judith agreed with both the Ashfords. What they’d witnessed proved difficult to interpret any other way. If it were true, if Smith had lost his wife, she didn’t like to think how Smith would react. He’d lost the children and now a wife? And he had a temper, too, a bad one.

  Emma sighed. “Poor woman.” She kissed Judith’s cheek. “I’m due in the store, sister.”

  Judith pressed her cheek against Emma’s and then walked across Main Street to Levi’s, where Asa and the children were visiting.

  Her father was returning from the dock, carrying his tray back toward the store. As they passed each other, he greeted her with cheer but went straight to Ashford, money in hand.

  Judith sighed. Emma was right, as usual. Her father looked happy, more like himself a decade ago. A new place, new people, a new purpose had all enlivened him, and she could only be grateful.

  “You ready?” Asa asked, turning toward her.

  Though his words were terse, she heard the concern behind them. Of course he’d witnessed Mrs. Smith leaving town, too. And he, too, would worry about Smith’s reaction. “Yes, husband, I’m ready to go home.”

  “We’ll be ready tomorrow morning,” Levi said to Asa. “I’ll spread the word.” Levi bowed slightly to Judith. “Asa says it’s safe to take down the sandbag levee.”

  Judith turned to view the wide, flat, sky-blue river. “Yes, the Mississippi appears to have calmed down.”

  Asa touched her shoulder gently, prompting her to go. With farewells, the four of them turned toward home.

  “That was Mrs. Smith,” Lily said to Judith. “The woman who got on the boat.”

  So the children had observed Mrs. Smith leaving. “Yes, I’m afraid it was,” Judith agreed and then pointed skyward, changing topic. “Do you see the osprey over the river?” She successfully distracted the girl as they watched the large, light-colored bird hunting for food.

  But Colton’s face drew down into worried lines, his forehead creasing. She could imagine that he was still thinking about Smith and perhaps how the man would react to losing a wife, as was she.

  As they walked out of town, Asa leaned close to her ear and whispered, “He’ll be like a wounded bear.”

  Judith nodded in reply, but kept up a conversation with Lily about the different wildflowers along the track out of town—white yarrow, daisies and pink-tipped clover humming with bees.

  Mr. Smith had been bested by Asa in front of the town, and now his wife had left him for all the town to see. Judith walked closer to Asa, grateful for his protection. Asa was right. “He’ll be like a wounded bear.” A creature no one dared challenge.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, Asa left Judith and Lily above the store, busy helping Mrs. Ashford make rhubarb pies. Emma was manning the store. Mr. Ashford and Colton followed Asa to Levi’s, where the men of the town were gathered. The barkeep was joking and the men were laughing at something he’d said. Turning, the man caught sight of Asa, snapped to attention and saluted crisply.

  Before he could stop himself, Asa returned the salute.

  “We’re ready, captain,” the barkeep said, grinning.

  Asa burned with irritation at his slip and tried to distract the others with words. “Taking the levee down will be easier than putting it up.” It had been decided that they would store the sandbags behind the shops on the high side of the street and cover them with a tarp. One never knew when they might come in handy, and as long as the burlap stayed relatively dry, they would last long enough to be used again before rotting.

  A few men had brought carts and wheelbarrows, and soon the sandbag levee was coming down, bag by bag. Asa organized the men into three groups: one that dismantled the levee, one that carted the bags, and one that helped unload and then stack the sandbags against the rising bluff behind town.

  In the midst of this labor, Smith arrived in town. Recognizing him, every man paused as if ordered to.

  In turn, Smith obviously did not want to talk to them, but what could he do? He approached them, scowling.

  Asa felt a tiny bit sorry for the man.

  But Smith soon blotted that out. “I’m looking for ma wife. I sent her in for supplies. You seen her?”

  The men fell silent, and all looked to Asa.

  He did not want to talk to this man. He glanced at Ashford, hoping he would, but the storekeeper had his mouth clapped shut, glaring at Smith.

  “Your wife got on a boat yesterday,” Asa said, keeping his tone neutral.

  Smith weathered this as if he’d expected it. “Goin’ north or south?” Smith demanded.

  Asa was not going to say. If the wife left him, she probably had good reason to. He shrugged. “You’d know better than me.”

  Smith muttered curses under his breath. “Where’s my team and wagon?” he snapped.

  Levi came forward. “I took care of them last night. Your wagon is back of the saloon, and the horses are hobbled, grazing by the river.” He motioned farther south.

  Without thanking Levi, Smith swung away and headed toward the riverbank. Soon he passed them, leading his horses up Main Street toward the saloon at the end of town.

  The men worked silently now. All watched Smith, looking over their shoulders or with sideways glanc
es. As they continued ferrying the sandbags away from the river, the only sounds were the creaks of carts and wheelbarrows.

  Finally Smith had hitched his team and, without a backward glance, drove out of town. Asa and the rest of them could not take their attention from the man’s back till he disappeared around the bend into the surrounding forest.

  In an unconscious reflex, Asa glanced toward the windows above the store, where Judith was. Sudden fear hitched in his chest. He didn’t know what had transpired in the Smiths’ marriage to make the wife leave him. But Asa knew that he was not the husband a woman like Judith deserved. Would he suffer the same fate as Smith? Would Judith one day say she’d had enough of his solitary ways?

  Then he saw Judith looking down out the upstairs window. She raised a hand tentatively.

  He waved, too. No, Judith would never go back on her vow. She would stay with him no matter what. But why couldn’t he break through, break free of the invisible ropes that tied him, kept him from reaching for her, letting her know what she was coming to mean to him?

  *

  Nearly two weeks passed, and all the crops were planted. Standing at the edge of her garden with Lily, Judith couldn’t help herself. She whooped.

  From the barn Asa came running, Colton behind him. “What’s wrong?” he called out.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” She turned to them, pressed a hand to her mouth, embarrassed. “Nothing bad is happening. I was just…excited.” She gestured toward her garden. The past weeks had been warm and bright, perfect for growing. “My lettuce is high enough to begin to harvest. We’ll have fresh salad today with supper.”

  “See, Colton?” Lily said, pointing toward the rows of green lettuce.

  Asa paused beside Judith. “Sounds good. Real good.”

  This from Asa was praise indeed.

  “I can’t wait,” Judith continued, trying to prolong this spark of response from Asa, “for the rest of the vegetables to begin to produce. I’m tired of dried and canned vegetables. They are nothing like fresh.”

  “After the rain stopped, everything dried up fine. I got my crops, and Mason Chandler’s, in easy.” Asa nodded with satisfaction. “Corn’s up to my ankles.”