by Annie Boone
New Beginnings
A Cutter’s Creek Story
By Annie Boone
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
A Lily Blooms
Cutter’s Creek – The Red Chapel
Copyright 2016, Annie Boone.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written approval by the author, except for short excerpts used in a book review.
All characters, places, events, businesses, or references to historical facts are fictitious and products of the author’s imagination. Any references to actual people, places, or events are purely incidental.
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Chapter One
Boston, 1880
The little blonde-haired girl ran through the flowers, stopping from time to time to pick some for her bouquet. Her light blue cotton dress blew in the breeze as she twirled and jumped around without a care in the world. Her long curls flew behind her as she frolicked in the sunshine.
Audrey could hear her daughter’s laughter above all the other noises in the park. It rang out like a beacon of hope and happiness. At least that’s what she felt about Daisy’s contagious hoots of joy. She was thankful that her situation was still a secret from the girl. She’d find out soon enough, but she was still trying to figure out how to help her understand all the changes they’d been through over the past year.
Every time she looked at her daughter she was amazed at how much she looked like her father. Sam’s eyes always seemed like the color of the sky at sunset when the darkness was almost ready to take over the light of the sun. Daisy’s eyes were that same dark blue.
If she didn’t know better, she’d think there was no way this child could belong to her. She looked so much like Sam. Her own hair was light red and she had freckles from her Irish heritage. It seemed like her daughter had inherited nothing from her. Well, except for her laugh. My laugh was carefree and joyful once, she thought. Before.
She gave herself a mental shake. She couldn’t fall into that black hole of despair again. There were decisions to be made and lives to be rebuilt. She was the one responsible to move things forward and she intended to do that.
“Daisy! Come along now! We need to go!” she called.
Daisy looked up and waved, but Audrey could see her disappointment. It was clear she wanted to stay and play, but she started the walk to her mother.
“Here, Mama,” Daisy said when she reached Audrey. She held out a wilted bouquet of mismatched wild flowers and Audrey took them carefully. “I hope you love them.”
“I do love them. They’re beautiful, just like you. Thank you, my love!”
Her heart filled with delight at the gesture. What she loved more than the flowers, was her daughter’s sweet and carefree spirit.
“Bye, Bethany! Bye Mellie! See you tomorrow!” yelled Daisy as she waved to her friends. The girls waved back and returned to their games.
The girl never met a stranger. She knew that one day she would become more guarded, but until then she’d watch her little one make a host of friends. She knew that her natural friendliness would serve her well, especially in the coming months.
She held out her hand to Daisy and the two started the short journey home. Daisy skipped while Audrey tried to keep up.
“Mother! We’re back!” called Audrey when they reached home.
“Grammy! Were back!” Daisy shouted at the same time.
They walked into the kitchen to find Kathleen kneading bread on the countertop. Sweat was beading on her forehead, but she had a big smile on her face.
“Grammy, you can have some of the flowers I got for Mama, if you want,” said Daisy with sweetness oozing from her voice.
Audrey smiled and shook her head at the personality change in her daughter. As soon as she was inside, Daisy turned into an obedient darling. When she was under the cloudless sky she was a free spirit.
“Thank you, dear,” said Kathleen. “Let’s put them all together. Find a glass and put them in some water. They’ll perk back up.”
“What can I help with, Mother?” asked Audrey.
“Nothing, right now. I’m almost finished with this. We’ll have it for supper with the soup,” said Kathleen.
“Sounds delicious. I’m going to send Daisy for a short nap. When I come back, we need to have a serious conversation,” said Audrey.
“All right. I don’t think I want to, but I know it’s probably time,” said Kathleen. She looked at Audrey anxiously.
“Let me go upstairs and get her settled. I’ll be back in a minute or two.”
Audrey walked past her mother and reached a hand to her shoulder. She squeezed it and continued on to get Daisy snuggled in for an afternoon nap.
Kathleen Riley had been Audrey’s rock. She couldn’t ask for a better mother or friend. When her father died of a heart attack, she and Sam had just married. It was a shock to lose him at such a young age. She was most surprised at how well her mother rebounded from the loss.
“Life goes on. We accept God’s plan and rely on Him to see us through.” This had been Kathleen’s refrain. She never wavered from it even through her grief. Her faith was inspiring.
Kathleen and Graham Riley had come to America from Dublin, Ireland when Kathleen was expecting their first child. Audrey had been born about four months after they landed in Ellis Island. Later the little family moved to Boston. Graham chose Boston because so many other Irish immigrants were already established there. They found a nice little walk up and that’s where Audrey grew up and made some of her best friends. Audrey’s memories of that neighborhood were precious.
Her father’s woodworking business had done well and they moved to a bigger place when Audrey was fourteen. A townhouse with a front porch. It’s what her mother had always wanted. Just like they’d had in Dublin, she often reminisced.
When she was fifteen, she briefly met Sam Norris. From that day forward she thought of almost nothing but him. She fell in love with him a little bit more every day. He didn’t know she was alive until she almost knocked him over one day when she was running late for school. She was embarrassed and he was smitten. From that moment on, they were a couple.
Yes, good memories, thought Audrey. Now it’s time to figure out our next move. Three generations of Riley women need to find their way.
Kathleen was waiting on her at the kitchen table. A grim but determined look told Audrey that she had an ally. But she already knew that. Her mother had always been her strongest supporter.
Chapter Two
“I went to the bank this morning, Mother,” Audrey starte
d. “My account isn’t looking good.”
“Well, what are the details?” replied Kathleen. She poured tea for Audrey and herself, adding milk to both.
“It turns out that the house is mortgaged. I thought Sam had bought it outright, but apparently he didn’t. And he kept the information about the loan a secret from me. I can’t believe he didn’t tell me.”
“He was probably embarrassed. I imagine he didn’t want you to know just how terrible his parents are,” said Kathleen.
“I just can’t believe those people. To this day, I’m in shock. They don’t like immigrants? Isn’t almost all of America made up of immigrants?” Audrey was starting to get angry. She took a few deep breaths to calm down.
“Have your tea, dear,” said Kathleen. “That will make it all better.”
Audrey smiled at her mother’s words that were meant to comfort. These same words had been a part of her mother’s repertoire as far back as she could remember. She looked up at her mother and took a sip from the delicate English porcelain cup.
“So, anyway, I can’t pay the mortgage. We’re going to have to move, but I don’t know where we can go. Since most of my savings are gone, I don’t know what to do. I’m so angry at Sam and I feel guilty about that.”
“He had no way to know that he would be injured, Audrey. Be reasonable. He believed he’d have plenty of money to pay for the house and all would be well. It didn’t work out that way, but I believe his intentions were good. You should think so, too,” said Kathleen.
She had loved her son-in-law dearly and Audrey knew she would defend him no matter what. She liked that.
The fact remained that the little bit of money his company gave them to help care for him after the accident was almost gone. They’d spent it on hospitals and doctors and Sam had died, anyway. Weren’t they supposed to save him? she thought.
She tried to refocus. The way she found herself in this place practically penniless didn’t matter now. All that mattered was that she needed a plan.
“So, Mother, we’ve got to figure this out pretty fast. I don’t know how much time we’ll have before we have to move, but I’d rather move out before the bank kicks us out.”
Kathleen nodded, her forehead creased in thought. “I believe I gave you my ideas already. The Matrimonial Times issue I bought is still where you tossed it aside. I think that’s the best idea so far.”
“No, I can get a job. I could probably work in a shop or something,” said Audrey.
“Those jobs will never pay enough to support all three of us. I’m sorry I can’t do more to help, but you know my financial situation. It’s worse than yours. I do have to live with you, after all, don’t I?”
“We’re a sad pair, aren’t we, Mother? Two women who had very smart men who left them with no money.”
“At least look through the paper, Audrey. I found some adverts that sounded quite nice. I think a move to a new place with mountains or prairies would be wonderful. A new beginning for all three of us.”
Audrey looked at her mother grimly. “You know I’m not ready for another husband. I may never be ready. As mad at Sam as I am, I loved him with all my heart. Still do.”
“You’ll change your mind. I know you will.” She got up and went to get the newspaper with the men who had placed ads for brides. “Here. I’ve circled some that I think would be perfect for you.”
Audrey sighed in exasperation, but took the paper from her mother. She thumbed through with minimal interest. “Here’s one from Montana. His name is Caleb. Nice Biblical name.”
“I remember him. He sounded like he’s just looking for someone to help raise his daughter. I don’t think he’s interested in really having a wife. That won’t be a good match for you.”
“Sounds perfect for me. That must be why you didn’t circle him. Widower seeking a wife to help with 7 year old daughter. Be welcomed by large family and lovely town of Cutter’s Creek, Montana. I think this is the one I’m going to write to. If you’re insisting that I do this, then I’m going to choose the one that sounds good to me.”
“Oh please, Audrey. That one doesn’t sound right to me. You’ll be sorry if you choose a man who is still grieving over his dead wife. Sounds like that’s what’s going on there. You don’t want that.”
“Mother, I agreed to do this, but I don’t want to. I’m doing it only to make sure we’re taken care of. I don’t care if this man doesn’t pay attention to me. In fact, that makes this the perfect set up. If I have to do this, I think this Caleb is the best place to start. I just hope I’m not too late.”
Kathleen shook her head in disbelief and disapproval. Audrey didn’t even notice. She was busy gathering all the things she’d need to write a letter to Mr. Caleb Jefferson of Cutter’s Creek, Montana.
Chapter Three
Cutter’s Creek, 1880
The house was quiet. Deathly quiet. Since Susannah’s funeral, he’d associated the quiet with death. Once all the people had gone back to their lives, he and Beatrice had been left to figure out how to be a family of two. He’d remember the emptiness until the day he joined Susannah in Heaven.
Today was Sunday. He should be in church, but he hadn’t been to a service in over six years. He felt the conviction to be with his extended family in the Lord’s house, but so far his resistance had won. His mother stopped asking, but she told him that one day something would happen to bring him back. He hoped that something would be a joyful event, not something like the devastating one that had driven him away.
Janine would be there any minute to drop Beatrice off. Even though he didn’t attend services at the red chapel in town, he made sure his daughter did. His sister was faithful to get Beatrice to and from the church every Sunday.
Janine. He smiled when he thought of her. She was the breath of fresh air in his family. He loved all of his six siblings, but Janine was his favorite. They were the youngest and they were twins.
She’d been after him to get married again. “You need love in your life,” she’d said.
“Hogwash,” he’d said.
“Beatrice needs a mother, not just an aunt who can’t do everything a mother would do,” she’d said. He’d had no response for this argument.
Her last reason stuck in his mind. He could see that Beatrice longed for a mother. She didn’t remember Susannah, but she asked questions. He did his best to answer them, but those answers were painful. Getting a new wife, wouldn’t take that pain away.
The rumble of a wagon pulled him from his troubling thoughts. He went to the door to welcome his daughter and found Janine walking beside her. Beatrice looked like she’d been crying and Janine had a determined look on her face. He had no idea what was about to happen so he had no defense for it. This was exactly as Janine wanted.
“Beatrice, honey. Is something wrong?” he asked when the two stepped onto the front porch.
“No, it’s fine now, Pa. Auntie Janine helped already,” the little girl replied.
“Why don’t you go to your room and take a little nap. We’ll have a snack when you wake up,” he said.
Beatrice nodded glumly and left the room. He looked at Janine with raised eyebrows.
“She’s the only girl in her Sunday Bible class who doesn’t have a mother. One of the little boys made fun of her and she got upset,” said Janine. She walked into the main room and sat down. Caleb could tell he was going to get more than the facts of the event.
“Which kid was it? I’ll speak to his parents,” Caleb demanded.
“That’s probably the least of the concern. Her feelings will heal, but she’ll still be a girl without a mother.”
Caleb hung his head. He knew she was right, but his heart couldn’t grasp the idea of being married to anyone but Susannah. They had been so in love. If he could even find someone who would agree to a marriage of convenience, he’d feel wrong about it.
“I know your angle and you know I can’t do it, Janine,” said Caleb.
“That’s pretty sel
fish. I’m surprised at you. I thought after all this time you’d come to your senses. You’re living—no, you’re only existing—in the past. Would Susannah be happy to see her daughter so lonely for a mother?”
“I’m doing the best I can!” Caleb exclaimed. He was standing in front of Janine with clenched fists at his sides.
“No, you’re not. I’m sorry to be so blunt with you, but you can’t go on like this. Neither can Beatrice. She needs a woman’s influence in this house. Frankly, so do you.”
“Me? I don’t know what you mean, but I know for certain that I’m just fine without a ‘woman’s influence’ as you call it.”
“You don’t have to marry anyone from Cutter’s Creek. You’ve got that stack of letters from all over and you haven’t opened even one of them,” scolded Janine.
“I don’t want to have a wife from anywhere,” he replied.
“Just read them. See if any of the women strike your fancy.”
He cut her a scathing look. She smiled and reached out to him.
“You owe it to Beatrice and yourself. You also owe it to me. I went to all the trouble to put the ad in the paper and I even paid for it! The least you could do is read some of that mountain of letters from women who want to be your wife.”
“All right, I’ll do it. If the ones I look at are terrible, I’m not doing any more,” he answered. Scuffing his boot on the floor, he looked down for a moment. “Hey, Janine, I appreciate all you do to help with Beatrice. I know it’s not easy to try to raise her and your own children, too.”
“You’re welcome. You know I love her like she was my own. I will always do anything I can for you and for her.”
She stood and went to him. He pulled her in with a warm hug, and they stood for a long moment with their arms around each other. Then he released her with a look of dread on his face.
“I suppose I better go check on her. Hopefully she’ll still be napping and I’ll have a minute to think about what I’m going to say,” he said.