Laura smiled and wiped her hands on a damp dish towel. “Thank you, Mrs. Cutler, Mrs. Fugard. That’s mighty obliging of you. I would like to get one of Mrs. Wilson’s donuts before they’re all gone. Wouldn’t you, Ruth?”
Mrs. Fugard sniffed as she took the apron Ruth had removed. Laura handed hers to Mrs. Cutler, and they stepped away from the washing station toward the group of men and women milling around the school yard.
“Laura,” Hank called as he stepped forward. “Would you please introduce me to your friend? I believe I’ve met all the ladies of the House except her.”
His request took Laura by surprise. Not that he wanted to be introduced to Ruth, but how his interest in another woman made her feel. She realized she’d sort of assumed Hank the barber was kind of hers. The thought that he might be attracted to Ruth settled in her stomach like a burnt cup of coffee.
“Of course,” Laura said, taking Ruth by the hand and drawing her toward the group Hank was standing in front of. “Mrs. Ruth Naylor, I’d like you to meet Mr. Hank Johnson. Mr. Johnson, this is Mrs. Ruth Naylor.”
Hank tipped his hat and smiled. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Likewise, I’m sure.” Ruth’s cheeks turned a pleasing shade of pink.
Laura swallowed, unease settling in her belly. She smoothed the front of her dress.
“Hank, my friend, how about you introducing both of these ladies to me?” The voice was that of Red Dickerson who had briefly made himself known to Laura at the barbershop the other day. He’d mentioned he would get an introduction at that time. Seems he was fulfilling that desire.
Red filled out his tan canvas trousers well. That his legs were strong was evident by the width of his thighs. He had on a dark green cotton shirt that stretched a bit across his chest. Just like most of the men, there was a holster, with a revolver, belted around his waist, and a cowboy hat on his head.
Hank turned, and Laura noted just a bit of a frown on his lips. It vanished in a moment, so maybe she was mistaken. Soon, the names were all exchanged, and Hank was smiling again.
“You mentioned the other day you worked on the Bent Arrow Ranch. Is that very far from town?” Laura asked.
“Not far. Spread starts a few miles south of here. Might be getting a name change soon though. Seems Mr. Mader, the owner, is in the midst of selling the place. His wife wants to move to Denver. They have a son and daughter who both live there. Son never wanted to ranch. He’s some businessman there.”
Then, they were surrounded by a large group of men. Each one wanted to be introduced, but also wanting to know about the ranch being sold. Many of the men Laura already knew. She was doing their laundry. Others were introduced to both ladies.
The men were varying in looks and age. Some were quite young, barely needing to shave. Others had gray at the temples or in their mustaches. They milled around, vying for attention.
The press of bodies surrounding Laura caused her palms to sweat. She rubbed them on her skirts trying to keep a pleasant expression on her face. Ruth seemed to be enjoying the attention. Laura needed to get out from the center of the crowd.
“Laura.” It was Hank’s voice. “I think Mark needs you. Come with me.”
She jerked her head up, trying to see over the heads of the men. Where was her son? He needed her. Hank took hold of her hand and led her out of the group of men. They walked to the other side of the partially completed building. A number of children were playing there.
It looked to Laura as if they were playing blind man’s bluff. Mark was in the middle of the pack, laughing and running.
“I don’t think he needs me.” She looked at Hank.
“Oh, I suppose not.” He grinned down at her. “Maybe it was Mark’s mother who needed a bit of help getting away from a herd of pestering men.” He hadn’t let go of her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Then, he released it. “Just wanted you to be comfortable. You seemed flusterated just now. Like you needed to get out of there.”
Laura smiled up at him. “I did. Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
~~~~~
Hank was stropping his razor when the shop door opened, and McIlroy stepped in. Placing the blade on a folded towel on the counter, Hank said, “You finally come to get yourself presentable, McIlroy?”
The blacksmith nodded. “Yep, you think it’s about time?”
Hank was glad he’d set the blade down, or he would have dropped it. He’d been teasing the shaggy blacksmith for years about getting his hair and beard under control. Hank thought McIlroy just hacked at both when he wanted to shorten the mess.
“Past time, if you ask me. Come on. Have a seat.” Hank waved a hand at his barber chair. “What brought this fine thought to your head? Cain’t be me. I’ve been bird-dogging you for months to darken my door.”
“Gonna be doing some courting.”
Hank’s hands paused as he began brushing McIlroy’s hair. He swallowed. “Who you plannin’ on courting?”
“Mrs. Ashburn. She’s got Dunc and Lil-Pen and is partnering with Almeda Wilson and Mrs. Basking in the cafe and bakery.”
Something eased in Hank. He didn’t want to think of Laura Duffle being courted by someone. Maybe he’d talk with Pastor Noah about it. Then again, it might be early days yet. It was a major consideration. He needed to be sure not to make any hasty decisions.
The women had only been here about six weeks. Hank had heard that Sheriff Riverby was interested in that little spitfire Myra Hope. His new deputy, Dak Levine, was openly courting Cora Sepal. Both women, as well as Chloe Ashburn, had children. That was the major stumbling block to Hank. He wasn’t sure he wanted a ready-made family. Seemed like a lot of work to him. He just didn’t know if it was worth it.
Sure, having a woman had definite advantages, chief among them were sharing a bed and the activities participated in there. Children normally followed in time. Taking on one or more children already living seemed a bit much to ask of a man.
Several of the women had only one child, but Mrs. Ashburn had two, and Mrs. Basking had four. Hank nearly shuddered at the thought of four children. Laura had the two boys. They were cute, and she was closer to his age than Mrs. Basking who he’d heard was in her middle thirties. Hank, being thirty-one, didn’t think he wanted to marry an older woman. Besides, Mrs. Basking seemed to be the managing sort. She appeared to be the leader of the House. Hank might not be the most aggressive or motivated, but he wanted to be the head of his household.
“You’re not very talkative today, Hank. You feelin’ under the weather?” McIlroy asked.
Hank chuckled. “No, just concentrating on taming the beast that’s springing forth from your head. All this hair I’m cutting off is going to fill my wastebasket.”
Soon, Hank was sweeping up black clippings as McIlroy left the shop. When the floor was clean, he walked to the back of the shop and stood looking out the window in the door, and watched as Laura Duffle took laundry off the line, folding each piece, and laying it in the basket.
CHAPTER FOUR
Summer turned to autumn. In September, Birdie Pullman met and married rancher Harvey Hayes in the space of four days, becoming a mother to his three children. Esther Fuller suddenly married and left Stones Creek with Trapper Ted who she had known as a child.
Ruth came to stand next to Laura who was hanging clothing on the line. With most of the children in school, Ruth’s child care duties had dwindled. She only had four little ones so consequently more time on her hands. Soon, there would be even fewer when Myra married Sheriff Newt, and Cora married Deputy Dak in early November. McIlroy had proposed to Chloe at the same time Newt had proposed to Myra. When all the weddings were over there would only be one House child and Almeda’s baby boy for her to tend most of the time.
“Once Myra and Cora are married, I could move the cleaning jobs to the late afternoons. Blanche and Chloe are both home by then,” Ruth said.
Laura pinned another pair of pants on the line. “Chloe
will be leaving in December when she and McIlroy get married. I don’t like you thinking of working at night. Being in the buildings alone, and walking through town in the dark to get home.”
“I don’t either, but what else can I do? I’m not making enough with only the four children and will make even less when I only have two, Blanche’s John and Almeda’s baby, Abraham.” Ruth twisted a shirt in her hands even though it didn’t need more wringing. “I don’t want to work at night either. I already feel like I’m being watched.”
“Do you have an idea as to whom? Do you think it’s the King Gang? Do you think they are after you or one of the children?”
In late August Sheriff Riverby had warned the ladies to take care because a new outlaw gang was in the area. They were known as the King Gang and attacked when and where they wanted. It was the same gang who had kidnapped Chloe so many years ago, holding her for many years before abandoning her when she was about to give birth to Lil-Pen. Nugget Nate had had one of his Callings. Along with his wife, Penny, he had found Chloe nearly out of food for herself and Duncan, and in labor. After she’d given birth, they’d taken her and the children to Sanctuary Place. Chloe, Duncan and Lil-Pen had lived there until they moved to Stones Creek.
Ruth realized she had panicked her friend. “It’s nothing really. More a product of my past. You know my story. That man.” She never called her rapist by any other name. “He had been watching me for several months. I was young and oblivious to everything. When he attacked me, he told me he’d been watching me for a long time. Now, I notice. Notice things that aren’t even there. I can’t not notice. I’m always thinking someone is watching me. Even when there aren’t any men around.”
Ruth had been raped and left pregnant by a prominent businessman. Her family didn’t believe her and kicked her out. Nate had found her and taken her to Sanctuary Place where she had given birth to her daughter Kathryn who was now eleven.
Laura wrapped an arm around Ruth’s shoulders. “Ruth, don’t discount your feelings. Woman’s intuition, it’s real.”
Ruth just nodded. She did feel as though she was being watched. Sometimes she felt like more than one set of eyes were on her. It was silly really. Who would be watching her?
Five of the eight ladies who had come to Stones Creek were now married or would be soon. That left three: herself, Laura, and Blanche. None of them had beaus. Well, Laura seemed to have caught the eye of the barber, but he hadn’t made any moves to get permission to court her.
None of the women were required to marry, but they needed to find a way to support themselves until they did, or in case they didn’t. Since the area was vastly lacking in available females, no one thought there would be a need for long term employment.
“Have you figured out when you have these feelings the most?” Laura asked.
“Well, when I’m on the porch some or in the yard with the children. At least during the summer. Not so much now, but we are inside more with the weather colder. When I’m out on Main Street. At church.” Ruth gave a harsh laugh. “Seems it’s any time I’m where men might be, or at least where I can be seen by men.”
“That’s not much help in pinning it down.”
“No.”
~~~~~
The children of Sanctuary House were running and playing with the rest of the Stones Creek and surrounding ranches’ children after worship service on Sunday. There was some shoving going on, too, but not enough yet for the adults to get involved.
It was warm for mid-November and sunny. The adults were chatting about the double wedding that had been held the week before. Two ladies of Sanctuary House had been married. Cora Sepal had married Deputy Dak Levine, and Myra Hope had wed Sheriff Newt Riverby. There were jokes made of the two lawmen getting handcuffed and jailed by the women.
Laura came out of the church after speaking briefly to Pastor Noah Preston. He was one of the four men charged with approving the men who wanted to court the House ladies. Laura was somewhat disappointed that no man had requested permission to court her. She glanced at Hank Johnson who was talking with several other men. He turned his head and looked at her, then he touched his hat and went back to paying attention to Arty Massot, the town’s very busy carpenter. He was building houses and furnishings as fast as he could. He was nearly finished with Ben Cutler’s residence.
Once they moved in, hopefully sometime in December, Chloe Ashburn and McIlroy, the blacksmith, would be getting married. That would leave only Laura, Ruth Naylor, and Blanche Basking, and their children living in the house. With winter fast approaching, it was doubtful more ladies would be coming from Sanctuary Place in Iowa to join them.
“Ma’am.”
Laura turned at the male voice addressing her. “Hello, Mr. Dickerson. How are you this fine day?” Laura smiled up at him. He was about average in height, and she came up to about his chin. Broad shouldered with a stubble beard, he had on a black cowboy hat and gray duster coat under which black boots peeked.
“Mighty fine, Mrs. Duffle. Saw you standing here and thought I’d bring you a bit of news. I believe I mentioned, at the school, raising that Mr. Mader was selling the Bent Arrow Ranch. Well, the sale is complete. It’s now Hawk’s Wing Ranch, and I’ve been promoted to foreman.”
Laura could tell he was proud of his promotion, as well he should be. He looked to be in his early thirties. “Congratulations, Mr. Dickerson. That’s a notable achievement.”
“Thank you. I believe you’re right.”
A slight grin pulled at Laura’s lips. Seems Mr. Dickerson had a bit of a pride issue. But then, most men did it seemed to her. The thought sobered her. She was exhibiting some pride herself with her judgmental attitude.
“Mama, are we leaving soon? I’m hungry.” Mark pulled on her skirt to get her attention.
“Who’s this?” Mr. Dickerson asked. He knelt down, so he was about eye level with Mark.
“I’m Mark, and I’m seven and three quarters. My birthday is in Febury. I’m gonna be eight then.”
“Well, eight-years-old, huh. You looking for a job as a cowboy? I just might be hiring in Febury.”
Mark looked up at his mother, excitement at the idea sparkling in his eyes. “Can I be a cowboy after I turn eight, Mama?”
“I think you might need to wait just a bit longer than that.”
Mark turned back to Mr. Dickerson, disappointment evident on his face. “Mama says I gotta wait. You think I’ll be ready when I’m nine?”
“Might be, but we’ll defer to your mother on that. Just know, when the time comes, you’ll have a job if you want one.” He stood and tipped his hat to Laura. “Ma’am, it’s been a pleasure chatting with you. Hope we have the chance again real soon.” With that, the new foreman of the Hawk’s Wing Ranch turned and moseyed over to his horse, untied the reins, and mounting, headed out of town at a canter.
“Well, he certainly singled you out, Laura.” Ruth placed a hand on Laura’s back as she spoke.
“What do you mean?”
“He came out of the church, walked right up to you, had his conversation, mounted and left town without speaking with anyone else. Pretty pointed declaration I’d say.”
Laura barely kept her jaw from dropping open. Red Dickerson interested in her? She’d only spoken with him two other times since she’d moved to town. Then again, he had made a point of talking with her at the school raising. That might not really count as just about every man in a ten-mile radius had spoken with her and the other House ladies. But, if what Ruth said was true, he had made a point to speak with her and tell her about his promotion to foreman. Maybe it was his way of indicating interest in courting her.
Laura tipped her head down and to the side just a smidgen. She could observe Hank without it being noticeable to anyone else. His focus was on the dust settling from the passage of a horse heading out of town.
CHAPTER FIVE
Laura kept busy with laundry for Hank and the other men who wanted her services. Every day she had a bat
ch of towels to wash for the barber and several loads for the single men of the town and surrounding ranches. Those who thought to save a few coins by wearing their clothing far too long to be cleaned with only one wash and rinse found the charge to receive their clothing back was far more than bringing it to her sooner.
Laura was enjoying her job and the freedom of having money she earned herself. She was her own boss and felt secure in her capability of supporting herself and her sons. But it was hard work, and she was tired by the end of the day.
Only a month into her business, she had been able to purchase the laundry tubs needed, freeing up the House’s tubs to be used when the ladies wanted to use them. Laura’s next goal was to purchase a kettle to place over her fire to heat the water, so the one she used would go back to being only for House activities.
Maybe one day she’d have a place so she could do the washing inside. Then she’d have a stove and a copper boiler. The thought excited her, but ultimately, one of those new-fangled rotary laundry machines with a mechanical ringer was her goal. Laura was going to be saving whatever she could to attain her goals.
Daily, she opened the back door to Hank’s shop and took the basket filled with face and bath towels. Most days, face towels far outnumbered the larger ones. Toward the end of the week, and especially on Mondays, the number of bath towels increased with the number of men who came to bathe in Hanks large tubs on Saturday. Laura often shook her head at the grime left on the towels after they wiped supposedly clean bodies.
Doing the towels first allowed her to return them quickly since they didn’t need ironing. She would fold them into the basket straight from the line once they were dry and set the basket just inside the door. Hank paid her weekly. He was the only customer who was given his laundry back before she was paid.
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