“Nice to meet you Mrs. Coolidge,” she responded, taken aback by the woman’s enthusiasm. “But I was expecting to meet Miss Dunham.”
“Oh, well, plans changed. I tried to send word but was told you were already headed this way. Anyway, Miss Kingsley wired ahead and informed me of your situation. She’d asked me to look out for you if at all possible, and of course, being the kind person that I am, I would never turn down someone in need.” She looped her arm in Emma-Jean’s.
Miss Kingsley from the Canton boardinghouse had mentioned Mrs. Coolidge, her acquaintance in Texas. But had also said, she’d never gotten a response back, and had arranged for Miss Dunham to pick her up.
Mrs. Coolidge must have sensed Emma-Jean’s concerns.
“You are Miss Emma-Jean Aldridge from Kansas, right?” the woman asked, furrowing her brows.
“Yes…sorry. I’m just surprised, is all. Miss Kingsley never mentioned you’d responded.”
“I see. Well, I was away and by the time I’d received the message, you were already on your way. So I contacted Miss Dunham at the boardinghouse and informed her that I would be picking you up instead. But no need to worry your pretty little head about it. You’re in good hands. I’m here now and you’re more than welcome to stay in our home as long as you like,” she said, patting Emma-Jean’s arm.
“Yes. I recall Miss Freeman saying you had children. I’m really good with them so perhaps I can help attend to their needs during my stay,” Emma-Jean said eagerly, happy to be able to earn her keep.
“No, no. My boys are older so you won’t be helping them that way.”
Emma-Jean thought that to be odd. She’d expected to be looking after children.
“Oh. When Miss Freeman had mentioned you had children, I just assumed…well, you were looking for more of a caretaker.”
“Yes. I can see how that’s possible. Miss Freeman has never met my children, we’ve only had casual conversations about them. I don’t think I ever mentioned their ages. Anyway, you’re very kind to offer your assistance. I’m sure you’ll be able to help out with other things.”
Emma-Jean smiled politely, not wanting to appear ungrateful. Although she wasn’t sure how she felt about the arrangements. Ma had always warned her to never take the easy way out because the price to pay would come much later and was often not worth it. But since she was in a new place, and didn’t know anyone, she’d consider this her blessing and remain optimistic. Besides, Miss Freeman had been very kind and generous. She’d gone out of her way to make sure Emma-Jean had a place to stay when she arrived in Texas. If she’d thought her staying with the Coolidge family would be a good arrangement, it probably was.
“Thank you very much for your big-heartedness Mrs. Coolidge. I won’t stay long, and I promise to pay you back every cent of what I owe you.”
“Nonsense. You will visit as long as you like. And who knows, you may even find yourself on an extended stay,” she said, laying a hand on Emma-Jean’s shoulder and smiling.
“Thank you, ma’am. But I already have plans, you see.”
“I understand but let’s just see what happens.”
Emma-Jean wanted to tell her under no circumstances would she be staying longer. As soon as she located Gracie’s uncle and found work, she’d be leaving. But Mrs. Coolidge seemed wrapped up in her own thinking, so for now she’d just keep her thoughts to herself.
During the ride to Mrs. Coolidge’s home, Emma-Jean pondered over their earlier conversation. She’d never worked in a house with all adults before. What could she possibly be doing? Certainly, she’d be expected to do something other than cook and clean for grown folks. When she’d voiced her concerns to Mrs. Coolidge, she’d simply said reassuringly, “the situation will benefit everyone involved. Don’t worry.”
The truth was, she didn’t know what to think but at least Miss Freeman had vouched for the family. And as a backup, she could always contact Miss Dunham, the lady who owned the boardinghouse. For now, that would have to be enough.
Mrs. Coolidge’s home was a large ranch that almost looked abandoned. And to think three men lived here. Surely the inside would be in much better shape than the outside.
“Do you have horses?”
“Yes, they’re around back. But I have stable hands that tend to them. I only need you for the inside of the house.”
“I see.”
Before they could get up the three creaking stairs, the front door opened. A man stood at the door wearing a wide grin.
“That’s my son Sam.”
Emma-Jean bowed slightly. “Nice to meet you.”
Before she could raise her head, another man had emerged, taking his place in front of Sam. “That’s Joe.”
“Hi, Joe.” She barely got the words out when another man appeared.
He was taller than the other two and had easily pushed them off to the side. “I’m Brett.”
“Hello.”
“He’s my oldest boy,” said Mrs. Coolidge, patting him on the back.
They were only just in the house before Mrs. Coolidge started dictating chores.
“Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m., lunch at noon, and dinner no later than 5:30 p.m. The boys prefer to eat early. You’ll be responsible for all three meals, laundry, cleaning, and helping out wherever else you’re needed. I’ll give you Sundays off but you’ll still be expected to cook dinner even then. Are you getting everything?”
“Yes, I am. But I just want to remind you, I won’t be staying long. You see I came to get a job as a schoolmarm.”
“Shoot, Ma. You promised,” Brett, the eldest son said, stomping his foot.
Emma-Jean’s gaze darted from the man to Mrs. Coolidge.
“Shush,” she said, turning to her eldest son and then back to Emma-Jean.
“I heard you the first time but I still expect certain things of you while you’re here.”
Emma-Jean rested a hand on her stomach, hoping to ease the fluttering feeling inside that was making her nauseous. Maybe she was reading too much into it, but it seemed as if Mrs. Coolidge had become a different person—less friendly and more demanding. But since she didn’t want any handouts, she’d be happy to do chores.
“Claretha!” Mrs. Coolidge yelled.
“Yeah, Ma,” a girl’s voice called down from above. A few seconds later, she appeared on the stairs.
“This is Emma-Jean. She’ll be staying in your room. Remember, I told you.”
The girl stood chewing on a piece of licorice and twirling a strand of hair. Emma-Jean thought it strange that the woman hadn’t mentioned having a daughter but had gone on and on about her three sons.
“Yes, Ma.”
“Take her up and show her where she can put her things. Emma-Jean, as soon as you’re settled in and washed up, come down and prepare dinner. You can start your other chores in the morning.”
Emma-Jean nodded before following Claretha’s lead upstairs. They hadn’t gotten completely out of sight before the three brothers downstairs, began to argue with their mother.
“Hush, she’ll hear you.”
The loud chatter turned into aggressive bickering. Emma-Jean’s heart skipped a beat and she was certain the fuss was over her.
“Close the door, Claretha,” Mrs. Coolidge yelled from downstairs.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Doing as she was told, Claretha closed the door, then showed Emma-Jean where she could place her belongings.
“That’s all your stuff?”
“Umm…yeah. I didn’t have much.”
“Oh. I guess you don’t need a lot for what you’ll be doing, which is everything if she and her sons have their way,” Claretha babbled, opening up a chest and flopping down on the bed. “You can put your things in there.”
“She and her sons?” Emma thought it was strange to refer to her ma and brothers that way.
“Oh, she’s not my real ma. She’s my step-ma and they’re her sons, not my pa’s. She married my pa after my ma died. Now I’m stuck her
e with them. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?”
Emma-Jean was sure the girl was telling her way more than her step-ma had wanted her to, but she thought it was better to know than not know.
“Is there a place where I can wash up?”
“Down the hall on the right. You’ll need to go warm your own water unless you want me to do it.”
“Thanks, but I’d better get acquainted with everything if I’m going to be staying, even if only for a short while.”
Emma-Jean walked along the hallway but she could still hear the voices below and eased to the edge of the stairs to listen in.
“I’m the oldest, so I should be able to have her.”
“Age ain’t got nothing to do with it. You done had one wife, now it’s my turn.” Joe pounded his hand against something.
“Ma. You promised,” Brett said.
“But I saw her first, so she should be my wife,” Sam, the youngest son whined.
The tapping at her shoulder startled Emma-Jean. She turned quickly to see Claretha standing behind her.
“What ya doing?”
The conversation downstairs ceased and Emma-Jean rushed into the room with Claretha following closely behind her.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that, you know.”
She’d gathered that much. Emma-Jean sat on the side of the bed filled with sadness. She hadn’t traveled this far to Heartsbridge, Texas only to have her dreams shattered. Had Miss Kingsley known about this arrangement?
“Why’d you come here for a husband?”
“I didn’t. I came here to work as a schoolmarm and to find someone.”
“Well, if she has anything to do with it, you’ll be married to one of them real soon” Claretha nodded toward the closed door. “She told my pa before he left for work, that my stepbrothers need help. If she didn’t step in soon, she’d never have any grandbabies.”
Emma-Jean’s heart sunk to her stomach. Why was the world filled with so many people concerned with their own needs? This was exactly the reason why she didn’t want offspring of her own.
“I can help you leave if you have somewhere else to go,” Claretha’s sympathetic voice whispered.
Emma-Jean, nearly in tears, turned to her. “Why?”
“Because, I don’t want to be here either and as soon as I turn eighteen in two more years, I’m leaving too.” Claretha looked at the floor. “Anyway, I feel sorry for anyone who marries them. They’re nothing but lazy pigs.”
Just then the door opened, making Emma-Jean and Claretha jump. “Enough chitter-chatter. Dinner needs to be cooked. The boys are hungry,” Mrs. Coolidge said, clapping her hands together.
Emma-Jean rose and smoothed out her dress, considering whether to just pick up her bag and walk out the door before remembering her dilemma. Instead, she swallowed hard, put on her best fake smile and walked past Mrs. Coolidge. She grimaced at the thought of her thinking she could pawn her off on one of her sons.
After dinner, she’d see who was really the fool.
Anywhere but Here
Claretha had secretly offered to take Emma-Jean to Cissie’s boardinghouse. She waited until everyone had taken shelter in their rooms. Then when she was certain they wouldn’t be heard, Emma-Jean followed her to the stables and they’d taken one of the horses.
“Are you sure you won’t get into trouble?”
“Don’t really care,” Claretha said, opening one of the stable doors. “Besides, I do it all the time. I told you, I can’t stand it here. She won’t do me anything because of my pa. He won’t allow it.”
Claretha mounted the horse first and then Emma-Jean. “Well, okay.”
Emma-Jean was glad to be getting out of here. She’d only been here five hours and had already fixed dinner and prepared lunches for the next day. Then she’d dusted and boiled water for baths. But even before dinner could be started, she’d cleaned what seemed to be a week’s worth of dishes.
“If you don’t mind me asking, is your pa around?”
“Sometimes, but mostly he’s off traveling. He’s a salesman.”
“And your stepbrothers, they don’t work?”
“Not unless you consider chewing working.”
Emma-Jean and Claretha burst into laughter at the same time.
“How far do we have to go? I’m not sure I want you traveling back by yourself. It’ll be dark by then.”
“Not far. We’re going to the boardinghouse next to the stagecoach station. And I won’t be coming back. Not tonight.”
After thirty minutes, they’d stopped in downtown Heartsbridge. “We’re here.” Emma-Jean followed Claretha’s gaze to the door of a boardinghouse.
“This is it?”
“Yep and don’t worry. Miss Dunham is nice. She told me when I’m older I can come work with her. She said happier times lie in the future for me, and I believe her.”
Emma-Jean wasn’t sure what to think about the place. So far, what she’d experienced of Texas wasn’t much different from Kansas.
From the outside, even the boardinghouse resembled the one she’d last stayed in. She stood off to the side, observing the locals interact, waiting patiently for Claretha to tie up the mare. Staggering behind, she took in a few breaths to calm herself as Claretha knocked.
Nerves were getting the better of her. “Please let things be different here,” Emma-Jean whispered, wiping her sweaty palms on her dress.
Seconds later, a redhead with green eyes cracked the door before opening it fully. Placing a hand to her waist, her gaze landed on Claretha first, and then shifted to Emma-Jean.
She raised a brow, giving Claretha a good stare down before rolling her eyes and exhaling a deep breath. Clearly, she was exasperated with her.
“Haven’t we had this discussion before?” Miss Dunham stepped back, giving them full access to the entrance.
“Sorry.”
“I don’t think you are but tell me, what’s going on?” Disapproval was evident in her acknowledgement.
“This is Emma-Jean. She needs somewhere to stay.”
Emma-Jean’s gaze fell to the timepiece around Miss Dunham’s neck. Was she seeing things or was it actually vibrating?
She hadn’t realized Miss Dunham was holding out her hand until she cleared her throat and placed the timepiece inside her dress.
“Oh, hello,” she said, shifting the sack she was carrying to return the gesture. “Miss Freeman from Kansas said you may be able to help me when I got to Heartsbridge.”
“Hmm…I see staying with Mrs. Coolidge didn’t work out so well. I had my doubts when she sent word that she’d be fetching you from the station.” She cupped Emma-Jean’s hand in her own. “Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. You’re a very pretty young lady.”
The compliment had gone right over Emma-Jean’s head. Although Miss Dunham seemed nice, she really needed to make her intentions clear. She wasn’t up for being matched with anyone and wherever she stayed would only be temporary.
“Ma’am, I won’t be staying long. I promise. Just till I find a job. I’m more than willing to work in exchange for shelter and food since I don’t have money to pay with. But I’m not interested in being somebody’s wife. And if you have a son, I’m sure your son is a fine man but—”
Miss Dunham raised a hand. “Wait, slow down.”
Turning away, she covered her mouth to hide her snickering while raising a finger. “Don’t mind me. Mrs. Coolidge just tickles my fancy sometimes. I should have known something was up when she sent word saying you would be taking shelter with her.”
She pressed a fist to her lip before exchanging a bemused look with Claretha. “Your step-ma went to town on this poor girl.”
Miss Dunham took the lead as they strolled down a hallway into the main living area. “I tell you, she’s determined to find wives for those boys of hers. And as pretty as you are, I can imagine what it was like for you being there. Poor thing. Anyway, it looks like you’ve found your way to the right place, thanks to Claretha’s l
ack of obedience,” she said expressively, while again, tugging at the timepiece nestled in her cleavage.
Emma-Jean winced at the thought, recalling how they’d been making bids on her. Even being there for such a short time had been a lot to deal with. Mrs. Coolidge may not have had small children but she was certainly looking for someone to take care of her sons who acted like young children.
Miss Dunham took a seat on the couch across from Emma-Jean and Claretha. She pursed her lips together and rubbed her chin. “Anyway, I see why you’re ranting. Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll give you a room for tonight and we can discuss your future plans in the morning. How does that sound?”
“Thank you, ma’am. Do you need me to do anything?”
“No, I’m sure you’ve already done enough. Let’s just get you settled in.” Miss Dunham rose and the girls did the same, following her to one of the upstairs rooms. She pulled a set of keys out of her pocket and unlocked the door.
“You can stay here. The bathroom is down the hall, and if you’re hungry, let me know. I’ll bring you some warm water. Otherwise, sleep as long as you like.” She placed a gentle hand on Emma-Jean’s arm. “After your trip and the day you’ve had, I bet you could use some good rest. Here.”
Emma-Jean accepted the key. She was exhausted and her legs felt as if they would give out any minute. “Are you sure you don’t need me to do anything?”
“Other than clean yourself up and rest, no. In the meantime, I’m going to have a talk with this one about sneaking out.” Miss Dunham looked over at Claretha who’d shied away, giving the wall her attention.
“Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you, ma’am. And thank you as well,” Emma-Jean said, pulling Claretha into a tight embrace.
She watched as they walked away. Once they were out of sight, she closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a deep breath of relief.
“Just a little faith goes a long way,” she reminded herself, before falling face down on to the bed. Within seconds, she’d dozed off.
Emma-Jean woke up to the sound of knocking. “Yes,” she said, rubbing her barely opened eyes. Miss Dunham walked in.
Timeless Honor (Timeless Hearts #7) Page 2