Laura: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides 5

by Rachel Wesson

  “Could you help me with my buttons please?”

  “Of course I can.” Mrs. H started opening the top button.

  Laura tried her best to hold still when the other woman touched her, but she couldn’t help flinching.

  “Nobody is going to hurt you anymore. You listen to me now. You are safe here, girl. No way is Miss Mary or Mr. Davy going to let anyone at you. Even if they did, and they won’t, nobody is going to get past me.”

  Laura swallowed hard. She desperately wanted to believe the housekeeper, but she hadn’t seen the mark yet. She also didn’t know anything about her other than she was an orphan. An unwanted child. And adult.

  “Miss Mary told me a little about what you went through at the orphanage. I never heard anything so stupid in my life. Your hair is beautiful. God made you the way you are. Nobody else had anything to do with it.” Mrs. H undressed Laura as she spoke. She eased the bandage gently off her arm. “You best let Miss Emer have a look at that wound. It looks clean enough, but I’m no doctor.”

  “You have a woman doctor?” Despite her vow of silence, Laura’s curiosity won.

  “No, girl, this is Colorado. We aren’t that advanced. Not yet anyway. Miss Emer, she’s a nurse. A mighty good one, too. She came to Clover Springs about eighteen months ago, looking for Miss Sorcha. They’re sisters, but guess you knew that already.”

  “Sorcha found her sister? So she did exist. Mother Superior wasn’t being nasty.”

  “From what I know of that woman, she is never anything but nasty. Yes, Miss Emer and Miss Sorcha found each other. They look alike, too, but guess you haven’t met Miss Emer yet.”

  “Did Sorcha find her mother, too?”

  “Yes, Miss Laura.” Something in the housekeeper’s tone made Laura look at her. She caught the look of distaste on the housekeeper’s face. Was that because of Sorcha’s mother or because she had just noticed the mark? Laura tried to cover her chest with her arm.

  “Don’t think you should be getting that arm wet, Miss Laura. Now let me wash your hair. You might want to wait for Miss Sorcha to tell you about her mother. It’s not a nice story.”

  The distaste hadn’t been aimed at her, but at the woman who had abandoned Sorcha. Laura hoped her friend hadn’t been badly hurt meeting the woman after all those years.

  “Miss Laura, your hair is the nicest color I ever saw.”

  Laura didn’t believe her. She was just being nice. She got into the bath gingerly, the older woman helping her. It took a little while but, eventually, Laura relaxed. The combination of hot water and Mrs. H’s soothing fingers as she massaged her hair was too good. She lay in the water with her eyes closed.

  “Come on now, Miss Laura, you best get out before you catch a chill. I don’t want Miss Mary to think I’ve mistreated you.”

  Mrs. H dried her off as if she was a baby. She didn’t say anything, but Laura could feel her warmth and caring. It was a balm to her soul. She spent ages brushing out Laura’s long hair before winding it up in a cloth.

  “Now you will be able to rest without worrying about your wet hair.” Mrs. H moved about the room, picking up the dirty clothes. “I bet you feel a lot better now. Would you like something to eat or do you want to have a rest first?”

  “I’m very tired. Would it be okay if I lay down for a while?”

  “You do whatever you want, Miss Laura. Nobody here is going to tell you what to do,” Mrs. H said gently, her eyes full of concern. Laura didn’t see any sign of condemnation. It surprised her, given the woman must have seen the mark.

  “What about the bath?”

  “Leave that be. Later, Aaron or Samuel will help me empty it. They are my boys.” Mrs. H moved nearer the bed to help Laura pull the quilt back. “You close your eyes and rest. You look like you haven’t had a good night sleep in a long time.”

  “Not since I met Johnny.” Laura clamped her hand over her mouth. Why had she mentioned his name?

  “You shut your eyes and rest now. Don’t worry about Johnny or anyone else.” Mrs. H plumped up the pillows as Laura got into bed. She lay back. The housekeeper pushed some stray hair out of her eyes before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Rest easy, child. You are safe here.”

  The door to the room closed behind the housekeeper, leaving Laura lying in the bed, her fingers touching the spot where Mrs. H had kissed her. She couldn’t ever remember anyone being so kind or tender with her. Closing her eyes, she sank into a dreamless sleep.

  Chapter 16

  “Where’s Laura, Mrs. H?”

  Mrs. Higgins closed the kitchen door behind her. “She’s sleeping, Miss Mary. You leave her be now. That child’s been through the wars.”

  “Child? She’s almost the same age as me, Mrs. H,” Sorcha protested.

  “Did she tell you anything, Mrs. H? Why is she so sad?” Mary asked in a quivering voice.

  Paul knew he shouldn’t be listening to their conversation, but they seemed to have forgotten he was at the table. He kept his coffee cup in his hand, despite it being empty. He didn’t want to move in case they noticed him.

  “She told me nothing and she won’t tell you anything either if you keep at her. She needs some peace and quiet. Miss Sorcha, you best ask Miss Emer to call out to see her. She might need to bring the doctor, too.”

  “The doctor?” Both women responded as Paul jumped up.

  “What’s wrong with Miss Murphy?”

  The women registered him with a look before switching their attention back to Mrs. H.

  “Miss Laura was shot. I’ve seen enough bullet wounds to recognize one when I see it. It looks clean to me, but I would feel better if Miss Emer or Doc examined her.”

  “Shot?” Sorcha and Mary exchanged glances before turning back to Mrs. H.

  “I’ll go now and bring the doc back with me.” Paul put his coffee cup on the table. “Excuse me, ladies.”

  “There is no rush, Paul. She’s sleeping now and she needs rest more than anything. You have another piece of pie and then you can go home. My Aaron is going into town later. He can ask the doc to call out.”

  Paul sat back down, but he didn’t take any more pie. He couldn’t stomach it. Who would shoot a woman, especially one who looked as beautiful as Miss Murphy?

  “Poor Laura. Why didn’t I write to her sooner and get her to come to Clover Springs?” Mary stood up, wringing her hands.

  “Sit down, Mary. Laura wouldn’t have come. You know she thought we were crazy to become mail order brides. Whatever happened to Laura wasn’t your fault,” Sorcha said in a comforting tone.

  “But she’s our friend. We should have done something,” Mary said, her voice quivering as her eyes filled with tears.

  “You can’t change the past, Miss Mary. No point in crying tears over what’s happened. Today is the only day that matters. We don’t know what the future brings, so no point in worrying about anything other than today.” Mrs. H started banging pots around. “Miss Laura needs sleep and nourishment. I’m going to make her some chicken soup. That will help put meat on her bones. She’s too skinny. Looks like she hasn’t eaten properly in a long time.”

  Sorcha stood up. “I best get back, too. Nandita is due to bring Meggie and Jenny back later today. She said she’d bring dinner, too, but I might make some apple pies.”

  “I will drop you home, Mrs. Petersen.” Paul stood up again. “Thank you for the pie, Mrs. H.”

  “Mary, I will call back tomorrow. Tell Laura I said goodbye.” Sorcha picked up her shawl. “Thank you, Mrs. H. You are exactly what Laura needs.”

  Chapter 17

  Laura lay on the bed trying to muster the courage to get dressed and go downstairs. She knew Mary wouldn’t be happy unless she was told every detail, but she couldn’t talk about it now. Maybe not ever. A knock on the door caused her stomach to turn over. She sat up, staring at the door.

  Her shoulders sagged with relief and she sank back onto the bed as Mrs. H walked in.

  “Good evening, Miss Laur
a. Are you decent? The doc came to check you. Miss Emer wasn’t available.”

  Laura snuggled further under the covers. She didn’t want a man touching her, even if he was a doctor. The door opened, admitting the housekeeper and an old, grey-haired gentleman with a handlebar moustache and a long beard.

  “Would you like me to stay with you, Miss Laura, while the doc examines you?”

  “I’m fine, Mrs. H. I don’t need to see anyone.”

  “You may think you are fine, but I won’t be happy until I check you out, young lady. Mrs. H tells me you’ve been shot. I’d like to check the wound, please.” The doctor had a kind voice, but Laura still looked to Mrs. H for help.

  Mrs. H smiled reassuringly, but Laura couldn’t smile back. She didn’t want anyone else examining her. The doctor would have questions.

  “Miss Laura, stop looking so nervous. The doc is a kind old man. He isn’t going to poke around in your business. He’s just going to check that wound. You can trust him, okay?”

  “Of course you can trust me. Now, let me see the wound. There’s a good girl.” The doctor ahhed and ummed over the wound, making Laura move her arm this way and that. “No swelling and the wound itself looks clean. Whoever looked after you did a fine job, Miss Murphy. You still need to rest the arm, but you should recover fully in time.”

  Laura waited for the questions, but none came. The doctor rinsed his hands in the bowl and picked up his bag.

  “Thank you. Doctor, I have a little money. Mrs. H, could you get my bag please?”

  “My bill has been paid, Miss Murphy. You rest a while and then you need to start exercising the arm. Gently at first, don’t try carrying any heavy pots just yet.”

  The doctor looked at her steadily for a couple of seconds. “I noticed the bruising and other marks.”

  Laura’s cheeks grew warm as she looked away. The doctor continued talking, his voice gentle.

  “If you want a more thorough examination, you come to my office in town. You don’t have to tell me anything about you or how you came to be shot, but if you ever need my services, please don’t be afraid. There is nothing you can tell me that would shock these old ears.” With that, he patted the bed and walked out the door, leaving Laura staring after him. Was everyone in Clover Springs so nice and accommodating?

  Chapter 18

  Laura concentrated on standing up. Her legs were shaking and she didn’t want to fall back onto the bed.

  “Is anyone else here?”

  “Only Miss Mary and Cathy.”

  “Who is Cathy?”

  “Miss Mary’s baby. Didn’t you know she had a little girl? She is the cutest little thing you ever saw.” Mrs. H bustled around the room. “Now, do you want some help getting dressed?”

  Laura didn’t answer the somewhat rhetorical question, given Mrs. H had already started helping her. It was nice to be looked after by someone who didn’t seem to want anything back in return. She enjoyed having her hair brushed; it was a totally new feeling to be so relaxed in someone else’s company.

  “Did you like your soup? You have to eat more or your bones will continue to poke out. Miss Mary can afford it, you know. There isn’t any shortage of food here. She told me what it was like for you girls in the orphanage.”

  “The soup was lovely, thank you. I was just too tired to eat much.”

  “Well, I hope you are hungry now. I got bacon and eggs and some biscuits waiting downstairs.”

  Laura wasn’t hungry, but she didn’t want to disappoint the woman who had been so kind to her. She agreed to eat a little. Mrs. H chattered the whole way down the stairs and into the kitchen. There, they found Mary sitting at the table with Cathy.

  “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Laura tried her best to keep her tone positive. Seeing the baby brought back memories of her own loss. She held a hand over her stomach. Johnny had lost at cards that night, too. His punishment had ended in her losing their first child. He’d been happy she wasn’t pregnant any longer. Having children with you isn’t part of my plan. She shivered. His voice, inside her head, was so loud it was as if he were in the room with her.

  “Thank you, Laura. You look much better already.” Mary’s concerned eyes showed she was lying, but Laura knew her friend was just trying to make her feel at home. “Mrs. H has cooked up a huge breakfast.”

  Laura sat at the table.

  “Would you like to hold Cathy?”

  “Maybe later,” Laura replied, hardening her heart to the look on Mary’s face. She had to protect herself. She wasn’t ready to hold a baby, especially one as gorgeous as this little one.

  She wasn’t going to stay in Clover Springs and didn’t want to make any attachments. Although she had slept better last night because she felt safe and secure, she knew it wouldn’t last. The women would want to know her story, and once they did, she’d be sent away. It was best she leave first.

  Desperate to change the subject, she thanked the housekeeper. “Thank you, Mrs. H. It looks like a feast.”

  Laura stared at the heaping plate in front of her, thinking of how many children the food in front of her would feed. As if reading her mind, Mary spoke.

  “I was the same when I first arrived. I couldn’t believe the amount of food Mrs. H prepared for every meal. The men work hard and need their energy. You need it, too, Laura. I, on the other hand, could do with losing a few pounds.”

  “Don’t you start that again, Miss Mary. You are feeding your baby and need all the nourishment I can provide.”

  “Yes, Ma!” Mary quipped, making Laura smile. These two women enjoyed a special relationship. Something she’d never had. She couldn’t understand why, but with women, her relationships always followed the same pattern. They either shunned her or made fun of her. Nobody, apart from Wilma, just wanted to be her friend. Mary and Sorcha did. Yes, and then they left too.

  Not liking the direction her thoughts were taking, she picked up a fork to start eating. Then she heard noises outside. The door opened and suddenly the room was full of men. Laura tried her best to shrink into the seat, hoping against hope nobody would notice her.

  “Laura, this is Davy, my husband. The other men are Mrs. H’s boys, Aaron and Samuel. You remember Paul Kelley. He drove you from the station.”

  Laura forced a smile as she greeted the men.

  “Sit down, boys, and eat up before breakfast gets cold. The coffee is strong, just how you like it.” Mrs. H smiled at each of the men as she laid a plate full of food in front of them.

  Laura played with the food on her plate as the conversation went on around her. She could see everyone got on very well together. There were no awkward silences. If the men noticed she wasn’t talking, they didn’t comment. Only after they had finished eating and were ready to leave did they speak to her directly.

  “Nice to meet you, Ma’am. Mary told me a lot about you,” Davy said before smiling over at his wife.

  The room swam as she struggled to get out of her seat. She tried to breathe, but couldn’t. Her heart was beating too fast, making her feel dizzy.

  “Sit down, Miss Laura. You’ve gone a funny color. Drink some water.” Paul held her elbow as he guided her back into the seat. The other men disappeared from the room as Mrs. H ushered everyone out the door. She could hear Cathy fussing on Mary’s lap, but she couldn’t seem to focus her eyes.

  “You feeling a little better?” the low velvety voice asked.

  Laura moaned with shame. What must they think of me?

  “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just sit and drink your water. You have nothing to be sorry for,” Paul said.

  He was still holding her arm, but she didn’t mind. He wasn’t a bit like Johnny. He had a serene gentleness about him. Instinctively she thought he wouldn’t hurt anyone, but she had been wrong about men before. She pulled her arm away from him, ignoring his reaction. If he had any ideas about her, he best get rid of them now. There was no future for her with any man. Not now, not ever.
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  Paul didn’t comment on the fact that she had taken her arm away. He was too angry at the man or men who had caused her to react so violently to a simple statement. Davy Sullivan wouldn’t hurt a fly. But this lady wasn’t to know that. The feeling that she had suffered a great deal grew.

  “I should be getting back to work.”

  “Yes, of course. Please don’t let me keep you. I’m fine now. Just overtired from the journey.”

  Her hair fell across her eyes as she muttered her apology. He resisted the urge to push it back. Not only would it be inappropriate for him to touch her, but given her fragile state, he would probably scare her.

  “Why don’t you go back to bed, Miss Murphy? It’s a long journey from Boston and the seats on the train are so hard. They make your…” Embarrassed at where the conversation was going, Paul took a deep breath. “What I meant to say was the air here in Clover Springs is cleaner. Most people say they feel really tired the first few days.”

  Laura stared up at him, assessing him quietly, although her eyes showed a hint of amusement. He stared back, not flinching from her gaze. A small smile played around her lips, but then it was gone.

  He couldn’t wait for the day when her whole face lit up from smiling. He was going to do everything in his power to make that happen. He didn’t know what it would take. It would be a challenge, but one he was going to enjoy.

  Time to go. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Miss Murphy.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Kelley.”

  Chapter 19

  Paul threw the blankets back. It was pointless trying to sleep. His mind was too busy. Dressing quickly, he decided to do some work in the barn. In his spare time, he liked to work with wood. His pa had started him whittling little pieces when he was a boy. He always said he had a gift for seeing something in a piece of wood. Working with his hands helped him to relax.