by Annie Lane
“We’ll need to send a train ticket forthwith and a few extra dollars for the lengthy trip. I’ll arrange for her to leave Seattle in just over a fortnight’s time. That should allow two weeks for the letter to arrive at the orphanage and a few days to gather her belongings before she makes her way to Helena. If memory serves me correctly, the train arrives just before church on Sunday, but that won’t be a bother, I’ll just have Henry and Gabe represent me and I’ll collect the girl myself. By the time we make it back to town, your father will be done with his morning tea and the preacher can perform the service while the congregation is still gathered.”
Louise couldn’t have been happier with the plan. The timing was perfect. Charlotte would also be in attendance at church. What good fortune!
“I’ll write back tomorrow with a ticket included. Think of it as my treat and I won’t hear another word about it.” She smiled so wide it crinkled her cheeks up on each side of her face. “Beth will be here in no time at all and ... why, good afternoon Earl. How lovely to see you.”
“You too, Ma’am.” Earl pulled this horse to a halt and jumped down from the front. He lifted Junior’s heavy book bag off his son’s shoulder and then swung it up into the back of the wagon. “How’s Gabe fairing these days? Hear he’s workin’ himself into the ground lately. Don’t get to see too much of him anymore.”
The smile she supplied was anything but innocent but Earl was too bust ruffling up his son’s hair to notice. “He’s going to work himself into the ground if he’s not careful. Not home for supper near often enough for my liking, but other than that he’s doing extremely well. I’ll pass on your regards.”
“Thanks Louise, glad to hear it. Actually, speaking of supper ... you don’t happen to have one of your famous beef stews on hand by any chance? I got caught out in the paddocks today and the cupboards are pretty bare. Thomas is back on board but I sure could do with a second set of hands around the place come cookin’ time. I’m the first to admit I’m falling behind a little on the domestic front. Can’t even remember which month I last changed the bed linen.”
Feeling defensive all of a sudden, Junior piped in with, “You do a great job all on your own, Pa. Why you beatin’ yourself up?”
“Thanks, boy, mighty good of ya to say.”
Junior nodded and grinned, totally pleased with himself at his father’s approval, until he glanced back at Louise and found her scowling at him. “I can’t say I agree with you there, young Junior,” said Louise, in a voice that ensured she wasn’t in the slightest bit impressed.
For their plan to work, Earl needed to feel like things could fall apart at any moment. That way, by the time Beth arrived in just a few short weeks, he’d be convinced he couldn’t survive without her.
“In fact I say a woman’s touch might be just what you need. Yes. I think the time’s come. Taking a wife might be the answer to all your problems.”
Earl laughed out loud, amused somewhat by the notion. “I need a woman in my life like I need a slicker in the middle of July.” He chuckled some more for a moment or two. “Now, you got any of that tasty stew left or not?”
Chapter 9
Alice watched Beth situate her embroidered reticule in the luggage rack above her head and then carefully slide the small travel case containing Mrs. Fredrick’s wedding dress in behind it. She leaned through the open window and handed her new friend an old romance novel she’d read many times before. It was one of her favorites.
Alice smiled with a cheeky glint in her eye when she noticed Beth scan the cover. Things weren’t nearly as conservative back in Texas as they were in here Seattle, and from what Alice could gather — from the long walks the two girls took down by the lake and the days spent wandering the park – Beth was about as innocent as they came and perhaps she could use a little encouragement.
Beth blushed and bit her lip as she leaned further out the window but Alice’s words soon soothed her worried mind. “Try and relax, you’ll be fine. I’ve heard it comes naturally. Besides, the moment Earl Mason lays eyes on you he’ll fall so deeply in love that he won’t see straight for days.”
A loud whistle suddenly blew and an elderly gentleman — hunched slightly and frowning from the mountain of bags he’d just loaded into the cargo crate — waved a red flag, and the train slowly chugged forward. Beth reached out her arm and held Alice’s hand tightly in hers. “Farewell my friend, I’m so very pleased to have met you.”
Alice nodded and her eyes filled with tears. “Please keep in touch. And say hello to Charlotte for me, I feel like I know her so well after all you’ve told me.”
“I will do just that,” said Beth. Her fingers slipped away from Alice’s and the two women waved to each other. “I promise I’ll write soon.”
“Farewell.”
“Take care of yourself...” Beth’s voice was only a murmur as the train finally found its stride and Alice disappeared from view, lost in the swirling mass of buildings racing past and a thick cloud of white steam, until she was nothing more than a pinprick off in the distance.
The train cleared the city in no time at all and then made its ascent over the mountains. It travelled on, and on, and on, until Beth thought there must be no land left in the country to cross.
For days on end the scenery held her captive, however, and she could hardly force her eyes away from the window. The height and exquisite autumn leaves, the majestic width of the river, and the scent of the fresh clean air all whooshing past her face set her to wondering what the future might hold. This land was going to be her home soon enough and although she was tired, and sore and irritable from lack of sleep, the excitement that bubbled up inside her couldn’t be contained and she giggled into her hand.
“Next stop Helena,” said the conductor, tipping his hat as he walked down the aisle. He stopped right near Beth’s seat and checked a watch fob hanging from his waistcoat. “Twenty minutes left aboard to gather your luggage. May I offer you some assistance?”
“Why, yes, thank you.” Beth straightened herself in the seat and raked her fingers though her hair, embarrassed to have been caught laughing all alone. The poor man must think her a right fool. Her neck was stiff and her muscles were seized from being cramped for such a long time so she wasn’t about to refuse the kind offer, “Would you mind handing me my bags, they’re just up above.”
“Certainly Ma’am.” The conductor stretched up and yanked the cases from the rack. “There you go. We’ll be pulling in just before eight o’clock. I’m sure you’re exhausted after such a journey, if you’re hungry I’d be glad to point you in the direction of a local tea-house.”
“Oh, that’s very good of you, but I’ll be heading off straight away. I’m sure I’ll have a chance to freshen up once I get to Conrad.” Beth offered a small smile at the elderly man and her heart did a strange fluttery thing. “Well I certainly hope I get the chance. I’m getting married this morning and if a bride can’t look beautiful on her wedding, then I don’t know what the world’s coming to?”
“Congratulations!” The conductor smiled and tipped his hat again. “My wife always tells me I got a real knack for readin’ people. If you like, I’ll give your young man the once over on the station and give ya my thoughts. I can pick a crook a mile off.”
“I’m sure he’s no crook, besides the man I’m to marry won’t be there to pick me up. A lovely lady by the name of Louise will be collecting me from the platform and then we’ll travel straight on to the church.”
Beth’s belly filled with something she could only pass off as pre-wedding nerves. She wasn’t exactly getting cold feet, but she wanted the day to be perfect and she hoped with all her heart that Earl would welcome her with open arms. She wanted to look beautiful for him too and dreamed of making him the proudest man in all of Conrad. “Why my wedding dress is right there in that case. It’s only borrowed of course, but it’s just about the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
The conductor smiled as he walked off do
wn the aisle, shaking his head. “Don’t look in the mirror much now do ya?”
Chapter 10
“As I live and breathe...”
Beth turned at the sound of the woman’s voice. Her eyes flew open when two chubby arms surrounded her so suddenly they nearly knocked the life clean out of her. Her feet lifted right up off the platform. Louise hugged Beth as tight as she could. She couldn’t help it. She was stunned by the girl’s natural beauty and the instant tenderness she felt in her company.
Elizabeth Edwards was just perfect for Earl and she couldn’t wait for the two to meet. What wasn’t to love about her? The magnificence of her flowing red hair or the elegance of her posture. The idea of Earl taking a bride so spectacular warmed Louise’s entire body. She could feel it trickle all the way down into her fingers and toes. “If you aren’t the finest thing to grace my presence then I’ll give the game away. I’m Louise Calhoun. It’s my pleasure to finally meet you.”
“I’m so very happy to be here, Mrs. Calhoun. I can’t thank you enough for helping young Junior with everything. I already feel like a mother to him and the fact that you’re so invested in his livelihood is beyond words.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now let’s make a start on our long ride home. If I’ve timed it just right we should arrive back in town somewhere between Preacher Bill’s interminable sermon and the morning tea the church ladies have organized. I know I’ll probably go to purgatory for saying so, but trust me ... after the trip you’ve just had, I’m doing you a favor by keeping you away from both.”
Beth smiled and followed the woman down onto the street. A stunning black horse was tied to a hitching post over to the left and Beth gushed over its splendor, stroking its long nose and pushing its mane back out of its eyes. “If you don’t mind me asking Mrs. Calhoun ... how’s Charlotte faring?”
“You’ll call me Louise, do you hear me?”
“Yes, Louise.”
“Good. Now we’ve got that straight, I’ll tell you for certain that Mrs. Ackerman is fitting in right well. In fact, she’s been assigned the charge of making a relish for the Thanksgiving Day Bazaar, which I’ll have you know is quite the prestige around these parts. They don’t hand out the honor lightly and the competition is expected to be fierce.”
“Now settle back and enjoy the fresh air. We can spend the next few hours getting to know each other like lifelong friends.”
“Yes, Louise. That sounds like a grand plan.”
As Beth climbed up into the front of the cart, fixing herself as best she could and resting her weary bones against the padded seat, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace in the nice woman’s company. She wondered then if Earl and Junior were already waiting for her at the church and whether or not she’d find just as much peace with them?
Her new life. Her new love. Her new family.
She could only hope.
Chapter 11
The preacher sighed as he stood at the podium, looking out across his lifeless congregation.
While his sermon was close to being done with, he couldn’t shake the feeling that not one of his parishioners could recite a single word he’d said if summoned to do so — on account of the fact that none of them were actually listening. The same doe-eyed faces stared back at him week after week. He should have been used to it but he never learned his lesson.
Henry and Gabe Calhoun were sitting in the very back row without Louise for some strange reason, and Gabe hadn’t stopped yawning the entire service.
Charlotte and Thomas Ackerman were seated right in front of them, wearing their Sunday best and looking about as pleased with themselves as any two people might be. Though something told him they weren’t paying an ounce of attention either. He’d caught them glancing sideways at each other on more than one occasion when they thought no one else was watching, instead of focusing their eyes toward God’s holy altar.
Mabel Clay sat quietly by herself on the opposite side of the church, the absolute picture of saintliness, but she wasn’t fooling anyone. She only attended church for appearance sake. The Holy word rolled straight over her like water from a duck’s back, not sticking anywhere near long enough to make a difference to her unpleasant character.
Doc Lawson, along with his tribe of children, all six of them in fact, little Sophie curled up right there on her father’s lap, filled the first two pews in their entirety.
Zeke and Aunty Dawn sat behind them. It seemed the two had become firm friends since the Lawson’s arrival in town five years ago and they always managed to sit together for service. While they were usually the Preacher’s most assiduous followers, today it seemed they too were no different to anyone else and fought to keep their eyes open. The sun was pouring through the stained glass windows and Zeke’s head kept bowing and bobbling and bouncing around on his shoulders like he was one of those silly penny arcade games at the State Fair.
“And so the Lord said, ‘We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose and …’”
Junior suddenly shifted in his seat, knocking his Bible to the floor with an echoing thud that bounced around and off and through each of the planked walls. Heads turned from all directions, surreptitiously glad for the distraction.
Earl nudged Junior’s side and furrowed his brow, annoyed with his son’s restlessness. He’d been like that for days. Earl wasn’t sure what it was that’d set the ants in his son’s pants on fire but it was getting on his nerves. On more than one occasion Junior had started a sentence only to finish it a moment later, with “Uh ... never mind Pa, it doesn’t matter anyway.” And then his face would break out in sweat and his hands would worry together so hard that Earl feared he might crack his own knuckle with the constant motion of it.
“What’s got into you?” whispered Earl. He leaned down into Junior’s ear so as not to draw more attention. “Either keep still or I’ll give you something to squirm about.”
“Yes Pa, but ... but... uh, you see...”
Earl clenched his teeth. “What?”
“Uh ... never mind Pa, it doesn’t matter anyway.”
“You’re pushing me today, boy. Don’t know what’s got your long-john’s into such a twist but I’m getting to the bottom of it just as soon as church lets out.”
“Yep, you certainly will, Pa ... you certainly will.”
Earl frowned again, but this time it was more out of confusion than anything else. What was that supposed to mean? He decided it best to just leave the boy with his rambling thoughts and pretend to return his concentration back to the Preacher’s insufferable blathering.
“And with the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, let it be among you and remain with you always. Amen.”
Earl sighed with gratitude, right along with everyone else, and as a united front they all murmured, “Amen.”
“I bid you all a fond farewell to love and serve the Lord. Now, get on outta here and go be productive citizens. I’ve got a wedding to prepare for.”
Mabel gasped.
A wedding?
She sat up so straight in her seat that the entire pew shook with the force of it. Her head spun back and forth so fast that her scandalous eyes couldn’t keep up with the motion and she felt a little dizzy as a result. She scoured the congregation for any sign as to who might be getting married.
There’d been no word of a wedding about town, which was mighty odd, and a little disappointing if the truth be known. Was she letting her standards slip? But the inquisitive faces of those seated around her simply confirmed her suspicions.
There hadn’t been talk of it at all!
It seemed no one else was aware of the impending nuptials either, and every one of Conrad’s residents — the ones in attendance at least — wore the same shocked expressions on their faces.
Charlotte and Thomas swiveled slightly and glanced at Earl, who simply shrugged by way of a response and when Junio
r clambered out of the seat to chase after the Lawson kids — who were now scrambling and scuttling as fast as they could down the aisle, headed for the playground over behind the yard — he near broke his arm right off at the socket trying to snatch the back of the boy’s britches.
But Junior was fast and the last thing Earl heard before he lost sight of him was, ‘Hey, Solomon! Wait for me.’
Chapter 12
As the rows of townsfolk casually filtered outside the church and mingled around the garden, four distinct groups broke off. Some of the children ran off toward the mounting piles of fallen leaves — marching and rolling, all the while flinging handfuls up into the air, while others were squabbling about what games they should play. All the women hurried to find a shady spot on the grass, finding some relief from the midday sun under a huge oak tree still covered in leaves.
They set about chattering like a brood of hens in anticipation of the impending nuptials and the men cringed — not nearly as interested — and headed for the hall instead, where they’d spend their time drinking cups of well-earned tea, eating shortbread biscuits and discussing matters of far more importance, like stock prices and grain harvests and fencing options in preparation for a winter that would surely arrive before they saw it coming.
Just as the final cup was poured, Earl and Thomas stepped outside. “Can’t see myself ever gettin’ used to this twaddle,” said Thomas.
Earl loosened his tie as the pair wandered into the fresh air and relaxed a little over by the side gate. “Nope, don’t think ya ever will. I know you’re trying your hardest, but if small talk ain’t ya thing then I reckon ya ought to just quit tryin’.”