by Emily Woods
“How long will you stay in America?” she asked her hostess as they rode up the elevator to the top floor. The lurching caused her stomach to heave, but she kept a smile pasted on her face.
“Oh, I have no idea. I may travel the land or simply stay in New York for months on end. At some point, I will return to Italy, but then I may just find myself off on another adventure to an entirely different continent!”
Elise felt quite certain that the woman would be happy to have her along, and casually mentioned that she hoped to do the same one day.
“Then you should! Ask your loving papa to send you on such a trip after you've had your fill of Western life.”
The rest of the evening passed in merry chatter, but by the end, Elise realized that she would not be able to endure the company of this woman for too long after all. She was entirely superficial and only concerned with worldly pleasures. Elise found she longed for something simpler after all. Perhaps God had allowed her this time with Mrs. Galiano to prepare her heart for what lay in store in Great Falls. Whatever the reason, she enjoyed her one evening with her generous hostess, but then cheerfully made her way to the train station the next morning to purchase a ticket.
Since her train wouldn't depart for over an hour, she sent a telegram to her cousin relaying her arrival time and spent the afternoon having tea at the hotel.
Filled with rich food and well-rested after a long sleep in a luxurious bed, Elise boarded the train and waved good-bye to her new friend.
“Write to me here and let me know how you're getting on!” Mrs. Galiano called out to her. “I would love to hear all about your escapades along the way!”
As a final act of motherly affection, the older lady had tipped one of the conductors generously to keep a vigilant eye on Elise. Also, she promised another handsome sum if no harm came to her along the trip. The conductor's eyes glowed, and he accepted the charge of caring for Elise from there to Great Falls, promising to stay with her the entire way.
Finally, the train pulled out of the station and Elise settled back against the padded headrest, weariness coming over her once again. Even though the day spent with Mrs. Galiano had been wonderful, she was exhausted from keeping up with the woman. In many ways, she was looking forward to the five days it would take to cross the country. She could take the time to prepare herself mentally and spiritually.
Please God, she prayed, let me find peace and happiness there, and if it is Your will, let me return to my family in a year or two without having to become part of the DeLuca family.
She was sure that peace would have come if only she'd been entirely truthful with her cousin from the beginning. In any case, she resolved to tell her the whole truth at the earliest opportunity, as soon as she arrived if possible.
With this thought easing her conscience, she fell into a light slumber and so passed away the rest of the afternoon.
Chapter 4
“You and Luke can go get her at the station tomorrow,” Marge said to John. “You are the only two I trust to go without proposing to her on the way back.”
Luke gave a little laugh. “I think that's safe to say. I'd be in big trouble if I even looked at her sideways.” He sent a grin in Kate's direction, which she returned with a pretend scowl.
“That's right, mister,” she joked. “Your looking days are over.”
“They certainly are,” he returned with feeling. Love so strong that it was tangible hovered between them, and John almost left the room.
The four of them were keeping Kate company in her bedroom after dinner, playing cards and chatting about the new arrival.
“I wonder what she thinks about our country,” Kate mused. “It has to be vastly different from Italy.”
“Land is land,” John responded rather gruffly. “There are mountains, trees, and lakes in her country too.”
The other three looked at him in surprise. “Something bothering you there, John?” Marge asked mildly.
He'd already expressed his concerns a few weeks back, so he felt there was no point in saying anything else, especially now that she was practically here. “I just worry that she will be unhappy,” he mumbled. “It's hard for a woman out here in the West.”
Marge and Kate looked at him askance. “And you know this because of all your experience being a woman?” Kate asked him, a note of teasing in her voice.
Too late, he realized how ridiculous he sounded. Instead of trying to justify his comment, he merely shrugged.
“It's true that some women aren't cut out for a rougher way of life,” Luke put in. “And we'll soon find out what kind of woman she is. In any case, I'm glad to have someone here with Katie who knows about babies and all that. Makes me feel a little more comfortable about leaving here every morning.”
Kate was now in her seventh month of pregnancy, as her protruding tummy declared. She was still quite slight, a fact which made her pregnant belly even more noticeable.
“Time for a bit more dessert, I think,” Marge declared, standing up and shaking out her skirts. “Anyone going to refuse another piece of pie?”
Both men shook their heads, but Kate declined. “I think the baby is taking up all the room inside me for food,” she joked. “And I'm feeling a bit weary. Is it okay if I go to sleep now?”
No one would refuse her, so the three of them left to partake of the pie, but it didn't taste quite as delicious. Each person's mind was occupied with thoughts of the fragile-looking woman in the other room.
“Did you hear Maddie's comment today?” Marge asked. “She said Kate looks smaller than before. I know she's just a child, but it made me think. I really don't think Kate's eating enough, do you?”
Luke shook his head. “Maybe Elizabetta will have some ideas about how to increase her appetite. Let's tell her about Kate when we pick her up. She might want to stop by the store before we come here.”
Marge agreed, but John didn't join in the conversation. He wanted to express his concern, but he didn't feel like he could add much. However, that night, Kate and Elise were the focus of his prayers. He prayed that God would help Kate be well, and he also sent up a tentative prayer on Elizabetta's behalf, but it was more of a prayer against any havoc she might cause.
In the end, he prayed that God's will would be done, but in his heart, he knew he wanted his own will to be done, which was that Elizabetta would leave soon after she arrived and that Kate's baby would be delivered with no complications.
Anything else was too hard to fathom.
Elise placed one hand on her hat, which she knew was entirely too fussy for a cross-country journey, but she couldn't talk herself out of the soft black velvet piece adorned with deep red silk flowers. A few white feathers also jutted out from behind the flowers. The hat had been designed with her current dress in mind. The crimson creation flowed out around her and there were panels of black sewn into the pleats of the skirt. A white lace collar finished off the dress, making the hat and dress match to perfection.
Descending like a queen from the train, Elise looked around for anyone who might be searching for her. However, only a few travelers got off and were immediately greeted by their loved ones. She alone was without an escort.
When it became apparent that whoever was picking her up was late, she set about finding her trunk. It was easy enough to locate since it was the largest and most elaborate in the small collection of luggage being unloaded from the belly of the train.
“Would you mind terribly moving this one for me?” she asked a porter in lightly accented English. Her governess had spoken nothing else to her and her siblings from the time they were three years old and deemed ready to be out of the nursery. Her parents had strongly advocated an English education, saying it was the only superior thing about the northern country.
The man she addressed gaped for a split second and then jumped to do her bidding. “Where to, miss?” he asked politely.
“I am not sure, but I should think somewhere more easy to bring to the street?
”
Quickly, the porter called over a friend and between the two of them, they moved the trunk to the middle of the platform where neither she nor it could be missed.
“Graz—uh, thank you so much,” she said to them and began to fish around in her purse for a coin. Mrs. Galiano had helped her change her lira into American dollars, but she hadn't quite figured out the exchange rate. When the two men's faces lit up with delight, she realized she must have over-tipped them, but it couldn't be helped now.
“Please let us know if there's anything else, miss,” they said, bowing a little as they retreated. “Anything at all.”
The sun was hot for April, but since she had no parasol, she endured it. In fact, she lifted her face to allow the rays better access and soothe her tattered nerves. Why were they late? Almost everyone else from her train had left either on their own or with loved ones.
“Miss Romano?” a deep voice enquired. “Are you Miss Elizabetta Romano?”
She squinted against the sunlight and raised a hand to shade her eyes. Before her appeared two very tall and very handsome men. They were quite a contrast, one with light eyes and hair and the other almost dark enough to be from her country. The one with light eyes smiled kindly, but the other seemed a lot less pleased to see her. “Yes, I am she. But please, call me Elise. Are you here to bring me to my cousin's home?”
“Uh, yes, we are. I'm Luke, Kate's husband, and this is John, the foreman at the ranch.”
She held out her hand graciously, but Luke merely stared at it. Finally, he gave her fingers a little tug and she dropped her hand. Of course the traditions were a little different here. She should have remembered.
The man name John approached, but his countenance was much less open that Luke's. In fact, he was almost scowling at her.
“Bit hot for that kind of gear,” he said, pointedly looking at her clothing. “And our wind might take your hat for a ride. Best to secure it somehow.”
Insufferable man, she thought. He hadn't even introduced himself and already he was insulting her.
“I will care for my hat if you kindly will care for my trunk?” she replied coolly. “Thank you so much.” She hadn't spoken in this way to anyone for quite some time, but it was quite clear to her that this man didn't approve of her for some reason. It seemed that her manner of dress had put him off somewhat, but there was nothing she could do about that now.
“The ride back to the ranch is about two hours,” Luke informed her almost apologetically. “So, I was thinking that you might like to walk around a bit. And, uh, well, my wife, your, uh, cousin that is, she hasn't been eating much lately and has been feeling kind of poorly. We were wondering if you wanted to look around at the store for something to help that?”
Luke's English was different from her governess's, largely because of the accent. She noticed that he drew out some words whereas Ms. Martin had spoken in a clipped and brisk manner. The American pronunciation was preferable to her. She found it warm and soothing.
“I would like that, yes. I will look for some tea. Also, she should be eating very small meals, yes? And not too much meat. It stays in the stomach for very long.”
Luke and John both stared at her as though mesmerized. She wasn't sure if they were able to understand her or if there was another cause for their momentary silence, but before she could ask, Luke replied.
“Yes, well, you can talk to her about that kind of thing. The store's this way.”
She was about to pick up her skirts because the road was very dusty, but then she noticed that other women weren't doing that. Perhaps there was no point. Trying to fit in, she decided to just walk along normally behind Luke.
John came up alongside her. “So you're a midwife then? How long have you been doing that?” Again his eyes were skeptical and his mouth was in a hard line.
“Mid—pardon, but I am not sure of this word.”
Eyes narrowing, he tried to explain, but his voice showed some irritation. “You know, delivering babies and taking care of the mothers.”
“Oh! I see. The word is very different in Italian.” She understood his meaning now, but struggled with what to say. Did he believe that she was an ostetricia? She wasn't aware that she had implied such a thing in her letter. She'd only said she had quite a lot of experience with babies and had seen many being born. In that instant, she understood the confusion. Perhaps her poor English led them to believe she intended these words to mean it was her profession.
As much as she wanted to be truthful, there was something in this man's demeanor that challenged her and words of confirmation leaped from her lips. “Of course. I will take very good care of my cousin. She will want for nothing.”
Luke turned around and beckoned to her. They had reached the store he mentioned, and she followed him inside, her heart tripping in her chest. Why in the world had she said such a thing? She would have to clarify her experience to this man before the idea was taken even further. Perhaps she could find a way out of her lie on the way home.
“Mint tea is best for the stomach and ginger too,” she informed Luke. “Is there any here?”
“Uh, mint? Probably. I don’t know about ginger.” He went away to talk to the proprietor and left her standing in the aisle.
John appeared at her side with another question. “So, how many babies have you delivered?”
“Oh!” She raised a hand to her chest in a dramatic gesture. “You startled me. Well, I have not ever counted them, so I am not so sure I can tell you.” That was an outright lie. She had five younger brothers and sisters and had been near her mother's room when they were born. However, the only one she'd actually seen born was the youngest. That happened because the doctor couldn't reach them due to the weather and a neighbor had been called over. She, along with the neighbor, had helped bring her little brother into the world. It had actually been a rather frightening experience for her, especially given that she'd only been seventeen at the time. She hoped that Kate would be a long time in delivering her baby so that a doctor could be summoned to take care of the actual childbirth. She hadn't lied when she'd said she had experience taking care of babies. Her mother had been so weak after giving birth that Elise had taken over most of his care.
“Is peppermint okay?” Luke asked, waving a box in front of her face. “It's all they have?”
Elise started a little but then gave him a warm smile. “Peppermint is from the same family, only is a little stronger. And ginger?”
He shook his head. “No, but he has fresh ginger. Does that work?”
After a moment, she decided that she could do something with that and agreed.
She followed Luke to the counter and stood near him while he paid. As she'd hoped, John refrained from peppering her with questions unless they were alone. So then, she would do her best to make sure that they were never alone, at least, not until she could undo all the lies she'd told. At that point, she hoped to be friends with him. He seemed like a fine, upstanding man, loyal to his friends, and honest as well. It also didn't escape her notice that his eyes were particularly alluring, not that it mattered. She did not come here for romance.
Chapter 5
The ride back was long but beautiful. The mountains were taller and more majestic than those back home, and she couldn't stop leaning back to gaze up at them. As she'd been warned, the wind was strong, and she nearly did lose her hat once or twice.
“I can see that I must dress differently for life out here,” she commented with a smile. Again she was grateful that Luke was driving the wagon, and that John rode beside them on his horse. Apparently, they'd been late because they’d gone to the store and gotten supplies. The cart was full of staples such as rice and flour, but she didn’t spot her favorite food. “You don't buy any pasta?” she asked after surveying the contents of the wagon bed. “No matter. I can make pasta so easy with just flour, egg, and oil. It is better to have homemade. You have these things, yes?”
“Yes, we do. Sometimes, Marge co
oks macaroni and cheese for us as a treat, but it's not very filling,” Luke admitted. When he saw her face, he quickly added, “But it tastes really good!”
Her expression changed from mildly offended to surprised. “I look forward to trying this dish from Marge. She is a kind person to take Kate and her little daughter into her home.”
“That she is,” John added. “And honest as the day is long.”
Elise couldn't quite understand the expression, but she understood the implication.
“Honesty is very important. Without it, we cannot trust each other.” Stabs of guilt and hypocrisy pricked her skin. Although she believed the concept with all her heart, her own actions spoke to the contrary. “People may tell a small lie for some reason, but we should try to be most honest.”
The answer didn't seem to sit well with John, but Luke nodded. “It's hard to tell someone they look good when they don't or to say something tastes good when it doesn't, but those kind of lies help make peace. Sometimes, a person's feelings are more important.”
“And their safety,” she murmured.
“What's that?” John asked, straining forward a little.
She hadn't meant to say that out loud and merely shook her head. Now John was even more suspicious of her. Hopefully, once she was at the ranch she would straighten out all these misunderstandings. The lying was hurting her heart, and maybe she could blame her lack of understanding on her poor English. That would be another lie, but she promised herself it would be her last.
John kept sneaking little glances Elise's direction, but each time, the knot in his stomach grew. What was it about this woman that made him so suspicious? Before she'd arrived, he'd been prepared to dislike her, but now he was downright mistrustful. First of all, she didn't look like any kind of midwife he'd ever known. Her beautiful clothing and stylish hat were a testament to her wealth, and when he asked her the simplest question, she was evasive. He didn't believe for one minute that she was a midwife, so then why was she here?