“May I help you?”
“We’d like some candy.” Linnea walked toward the candy display she saw on the right side of the counter. Jamie couldn’t quite see the selection so she picked him up so he could see the jars of candy better.
She recognized peppermint sticks, lemon drops, butterscotch discs, and molasses Black Jack sticks. Now her mouth was watering too. She’d hadn’t had a sweet treat since leaving Chicago.
“Three each,” Linnea told the woman while holding up three fingers, then slowly pointing to four different jars of candy. That would give a variety of candy for the three of them to share once Elof was done talking with the sheriff.
They were exiting the store when Elof left the sheriff’s office and started walking toward them. Elof held up his hand, indicating to wait there for him.
“What kind of candy did you get, Jamie?” The boy lifted one shoulder as if he didn’t care what kind. Most children would have opened the paper sack and started eating a piece by now, but Jamie wasn’t in the mood.
Elof opened the bag and peered in side. “Necco Wafers? How’d you know those are my favorite candies?”
Linnea spoke up since Jamie didn’t comment. “I’d never had them until coming to America. They were one of Mrs. Eklund’s favorite candies. There was always a bowl of them on her library table.”
Linnea felt a twinge of loss, remembering the older woman digging through to find her favorite flavors of wafers, lime, lemon, and orange. Linnea loved the chocolate and the white cinnamon wafers so those flavors were always leftover in the bowl.
“I get dibs on the licorice wafers,” Elof teased Jamie as he peeled the waxed paper off the end of the roll. He thumbed the first wafer available and held it out to Jamie. “It’s an orange. Want it?”
Jamie took the offered wafer and stuck it in his mouth.
“Suck on it a bit instead of biting down on it. It’ll last longer.”
Elof held the roll out to Linnea. Instead of taking the next one, she wiggled out the white wafer two behind the lime wafer.
“Ah, you have favorites too. Jamie, please sit on the bench for a minute while I talk to Linnea.”
They walked a few steps away then Linnea quietly asked, “Did you find out anything about George?”
“Not from the sheriff. He suggested talking to Pastor Norton, who married you, and the bank to see if George had an account there.”
“What happens if neither place has any information on George?”
“Then you have to decide what’s best to do for you and Jamie.”
She looked at Jamie slumped on the bench staring out a nothing. He was pale, skinny and lost in grief.
Linnea nodded, knowing the enormity of her decision and how it would affect both of them forever.
Pastor Norton shook his head. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Meyer. I only met your husband for a moment to make arrangements before he met you at the train. Then I conducted your marriage ceremony and you left.”
The Sweetwater Springs community had no knowledge of George, nor did he have any money in the bank. At least there were no outstanding bills she had to pay as there had been in Morgan’s Crossing.
Linnea took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Elof was leaving on the afternoon train. Should she and Jamie travel with Elof, or find a place to stay in the Sweetwater Springs area? If any letters or telegrams came for George, they would arrive in Sweetwater Springs first before traveling to Morgan’s Crossing. But there might never be any correspondence coming in if there wasn’t any family left.
“Thank you, Reverend Norton,” Linnea shook the man’s hand, hating to see the worry and pity in his eyes.
“Let’s go over to the depot to sit and talk, Linnea.” Elof ushered her out the door then took her left hand and set it in the crook of his elbow.
Elof sat down on a bench outside the depot, pulled Jamie between his legs, and wrapped his arms around him. Jamie leaned his head against Elof’s broad shoulder and wrapped his arms around Elof’s left arm.
Linnea stood watching them. How can I pull Jamie away from Elof when the boy seeks him out for comfort? Then she looked at Elof and realized he was growing as attached to Jamie as she was.
Did Elof want to keep the boy? Another thought chilled Linnea. With or without her?
“The train is due in about an hour, Linnea.”
She nodded, too choked to speak, thinking he was about to say goodbye.
“Unless you want to stay here, I’d be happy to escort you and Jamie to Kansas.”
“And then what?” she blurted out without thinking.
“I don’t have a job or a home to offer you more than being your travel companion. Perhaps a church in Clear Creek could give you help. Or, Nolan said there is a Swedish settlement nearby so I could take you there.”
“Do you think I should wait here, in case...?”
“We can give the post master a forwarding address for you in case there’s a letter for you or Mr. Meyer. I told the fort to forward any mail for me to Nolan Clancy in Clear Creek. I suggest you use the same address.”
He was clearly pushing them to travel to Kansas and she was more than willing to take his help at this point.
“Yes we’d appreciate your help traveling on the train. Jamie depends on you,” as do I.
“I want to raise Jamie, and I’d like to do it among friends and countrymen.”
“And I hope I qualify as both to you,” Elof sincerely offered back to Linnea.
Relief flooded her chest, knowing she wasn’t going to be alone as she found a new home for him and Jamie.
“What about the horses?” That was the final decision she had to make.
“Jamie would adjust better if Curly traveled with us. And I’d like to buy the gelding if you want to sell him. But wait until you’re settled in Kansas before you make that decision.
“I already checked with the depot master. There’s always a livestock car along for traveling horses.”
“Thank you. Then the four of us would appreciate traveling with you to Kansas.”
Elof gave Jamie a squeeze, causing the boy to look up to him.
“You, Mor, and the horses are going to ride on the train with me.”
“The horses get to ride in the car with us?” Jamie looked confused instead of worried though.
“No, they’ll be in the livestock car, but you’ll have to water and feed Curly and Clem with me every day.”
“Is it a long ways? It took Pa and me a long time to get here.”
Jamie still remembered their travels to the Montana Territory and he’s already traveling again.
“Did you travel from Columbus, Ohio?” Elof probably asked that because of the studio name on the photograph.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Well this will be a shorter trip. The depot agent said its four days to Kansas.”
Four more days to enjoy Elof’s company and help, and then what?
They’d both be more attached to the man Jamie had been calling Far.
Chapter 5
“See the white steeple on the church? My friend Nolan said that was the first thing we’d see of Clear Creek.” Elof held Jamie on his lap, pointing to the steeple in the distance.
“Now look ahead, Jamie. The sign reads ‘Clear Creek’. We’re at our destination.”
Jamie plastered his face to the windowpane trying to take it all in, as was Linnea when Elof glanced at her.
Elof was looking forward to getting to Clear Creek because he’d be with his friend again. To Linnea it was another destination she didn’t know anything about. And Jamie? He was still a grieving child, but he seemed to feel comfortable with the two of them now.
The town didn’t seem to have many streets, although it could be misleading. But then with no trees in town, you could see between the buildings and houses to the next street. What a stark contrast between the forested Sweetwater Springs and this town sitting in the middle of the green prairie.
The church and parsonage seemed to be the west boundary of town with the school next to it. The depot was about a half block south of the business district, which he guessed was about two blocks long.
“I bet the nice three-story building on the east end of Main Street is a hotel.” Linnea craned her neck one way then another to see the buildings as they slowed in front of the depot platform.
“I’m guessing the Clancy Café is on the block somewhere between here and the hotel. I’ll ask for directions if Nolan isn’t on the platform to meet us.”
The train ground to a halt and people began to stand, gathering their belongings to depart from the car. Elof stood up and set Jamie on the floor so he could reach for the bags on the overhead shelf.
Linnea continued to sit and stare out the window; watching people on the platform meet the arriving passengers. What must Linnea be thinking? Probably wondering if this was her new permanent home or just another faltered stop in her endless American journey.
“Time to get off, Linnea. I’ll get the bags so you keep hold of Jamie.” Elof said as he moved into the aisle so she and Jamie could walk in front of him.
“Watch your step, Ma’am,” the conductor said as he took her hand to help her reach the ground.
“Thank you, sir,” Linnea answered, before taking a deep breath and stepping down.
Elof scanned the people on the platform and found Nolan, his hand in the air as a signal he’d seen Elof.
“I see Nolan standing by the depot. Follow me,” he called over his shoulder to Linnea. It was so good to see his friend again.
“Welcome to Clear Creek, Elof!” Nolan slapped his back since Elof’s hands were still carrying their carpetbags.
“Good to finally be here!” Elof dropped the bags on the ground so he could shake Nolan’s hand. “You look different without your uniform on and a wife by your side.” Elof couldn’t help teasing Nolan because he did look happy.
“You remember Holly, Sergeant Brandt’s daughter?” Nolan asked as he side-hugged the Indian woman beside him.
“I remember a pretty little girl with long black braids. Nice to see you again, Mrs. Clancy. I was honored to mark your father’s grave,” Elof remarked as he shook the woman’s hand. Instead of a shy girl, she was now a confident woman.
“Thank you so much for doing so,” Holly took a deep breath before continuing. “You don’t realize how peaceful my soul feels now.”
Elof felt Jamie’s arm snake around his pant leg and he automatically laid a hand on the boy’s head.
“Did you marry and have a family since I saw you last year?” Nolan asked watching as he and Jamie interacted.
Before answering Elof looked around to find Linnea standing a few feet away from them. He reached out his hand indicating for her to join the group.
“Linnea, please meet my friends, Nolan and Holly Clancy.” Nolan and Holly offered their hands in greeting.
Linnea murmured a stilted “Hello, nice to meet you.”
“This is the widowed Mrs. Linnea Meyer and her husband’s son, Jamie. I’ll tell you their story later. Mrs. Meyer is a recent immigrant from Sweden and traveled with me since you wrote there were Swedish settlements in the area. She needs to find a new home for the two of them.”
“Nuh uh. There’s three of us.” Jamie corrected him. They had worked on numbers, both in English and Swedish on their train ride, so Jamie knew they made “three people.”
Nolan lifted his eyebrow in question to what it meant, but Elof ignored it for now. Some things were better discussed without a young boy listening in.
“Besides our trunks we need to unload two horses out of the livestock car.”
“You brought horses all the way from Montana Territory with you?” Holly asked this question.
“Yep. Curly and Clem,” Jamie proudly proclaimed.
“Another explanation for later?” Nolan asked low out of the corner of his mouth and Elof nodded to confirm. He needed a few hours with Nolan—without Linnea and Jamie by his side—to talk about the situation he got into and ask for his advice. It was becoming more complicated now that they arrived.
Nolan leaned over and gently poked Jamie in the tummy. “Are you hungry? My wife won a contest for the best biscuits in Sweetwater Springs last year. She has some leftover biscuits from lunch at our café.”
“They are so good with hot sausage gravy. And I have cherry pie for dessert.” Holly talked directly to Jamie.
Elof was glad Nolan and Holly included Jamie in their conversation. This couple would help Linnea and Jamie adjust to their new situation.
“Rania and Hilda were having a late lunch in the café when we left. See if they are still around to talk to Linnea,” Nolan said to Holly before turning to talk to Linnea.
“You can meet two Swedish sisters right now. Holly will take you to the café while Elof and I take care of the horses and baggage.”
Linnea’s face brightened hearing there were women who spoke Swedish in town. She and Jamie followed Holly, leaving Elof and Nolan to look after their belongings.
“So? How’d you end up with a woman, a boy, and two horses?” Nolan asked as he started walking to the livestock car.
“I was at the cemetery with Brandt’s cross and Mrs. Meyer drove a wagon into the cemetery. Her husband—of eight days—had burned to death trying to fight a fire the boy, and a cow, started in the barn that morning.”
“Oh my word. What a gruesome situation for them to see. Was she there to bury the body by herself?”
“Their landlord was along, but he wasn’t much help. The teamster who had taken the marker and me to the cemetery helped me dig the grave and bury the body. When we were done their landlord demanded the widow and boy leave the farm by evening.”
Nolan shook his head in disgust and Elof’s shoulders stiffened thinking of that day.
“The teamster was kind enough to travel to the farm and we loaded up what few possessions they had. We sold their milk cow, wagon and team in Morgan’s Crossing, and then rode with the teamster to Sweetwater Springs so we could get on the train.”
“But you didn’t sell the two extra horses?”
“Curly is Jamie’s pony and Linnea thought it would help if he could keep it. Clem is a nice gelding and I said I’d buy the horse if Linnea wants to eventually sell it.”
Nolan talked to the man opening the door on the livestock car. “My friend has a pony and horse to get off here.”
Within a few minutes, they were walking the horses over to the livery for water and hay. The horses had a place to board but now he needed to find housing for him and the Meyers.
“Don’t worry about where the widow and boy can stay. As soon as Pastor Reagan’s wife hears there’s ‘strays’ in town, she’ll be over to collect them.”
“How old is the couple? Would they mind a young boy living in their house?” Elof worried how Jamie would settle in a stranger’s home.
“The pastor’s wife is an Irish immigrant who raised six boys and whoever else came to live with them. Don’t worry, Kaitlyn Reagan will do those two the most good of anyone in town.”
“Is there a boarding house I could rent a room? The hotel looked a little expensive for long term.”
“I’ll take you over to Donovan’s Boarding House to see if they have room. But you’re welcome to stay with us a few days until you figure out what to do. We live with my grandparents, but they can’t manage the stairs anymore and sleep in the dining room. So we have an extra room upstairs you can use.”
“Thanks. I’ll take you up on that if it won’t be an inconvenience for the older couple.”
“Gramps and Grandma are set in their ways but would enjoy someone new to talk to, for a few days.”
As they walked back to the depot for their baggage, Elof had a chance to look at the businesses along the way. Taylor’s Mercantile had a nice display in their windows. They also walked by a barbershop, dress store and the marshal’s office.
“There’s our café.
It was closed and in dire shape when we arrived last December,” Nolan pointed out the café across the street, sporting a newly painted front.
Next to the café was a nice, two-story building with the sign above the door proclaiming “Lyle Elison, Attorney-at-law”. It looked like a full apartment above the lawyer’s office, where the café had a false front.
The business on the other side of the café had a sign saying “meat, eggs, cream”, which would be handy for the café.
“Adolph Bjorklund runs the butcher shop next to us. I better warn you, Mrs. Reagan will be matching Mrs. Meyer up with him because he’s a Swedish bachelor.”
Elof tightened his jaw at Nolan’s suggestion. Why? Linnea needed a husband. Why should that bother him? Because he didn’t like the idea of Jamie calling another man Far? Or Linnea calling another man her husband?
“Shepard and Sons Saddlery Shop is run by Reuben and Gabe Shepard. The block ends with Kiowa Jones’ blacksmith shop. You need to talk to Kiowa about work, so I’ll introduce you later.”
“Then Mack Reagan, one of the pastor’s sons, is building the new block of buildings on the other end of Main Street. The city council is determined to bring new businesses to town.”
The town looked progressive and a good place to start a new life. He could do about anything anywhere and get by, but Linnea and Jamie were constantly on his mind. Would Clear Creek be their new home too?
Laughter and Swedish chatter greeted Elof’s ears as they walked into the café. That’s the first laugh he’d heard out of Linnea.
“Välkommen till Kansas, Mr. Lundahl. Glad to hear some more Swedes are going to settle in our community.” Two women with almost matching faces sat at a table with Linnea. Which one greeted him?
“Elof, I’d like you to meet Rania Wilerson and her twin Hilda Wilerson. They married brothers Jacob and Noah and both ranch north of here,” Nolan introduced the women. Elof guessed they were in their late thirties and could be good company for Linnea.
“Nice to meet you ladies.” Holly was sitting with the women but Elof didn’t see Jamie in the dining room. Why wasn’t he with Linnea, and why was he worried about her son?
Montana Sky: Elof's Mission (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Grooms with Honor Book 0) Page 4