“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Daddy said Miss Hilda is going to take care of Will and me ‘cause he can’t. Him and Mr. Fred will be busy taking care of the wagon and oxes and horses and stuff like that.”
Ulla didn’t bother to correct her pronunciation of oxen because she was busy wondering what Cord and the couple were talking about, but didn’t want to eavesdrop. Cord and his friends deserved their privacy. She removed the white boots and put Becky’s old shoes on her feet. “Now that we have the boots picked out, let’s go over here and find you some dresses and socks and underwear and maybe a ribbon for your hair. I bet you’d like one, wouldn’t you?”
“I wanted to put a ribbon in my hair today, but Miss Hilda said I’d lose it, so she used this piece of leather. I want to wear ribbons like Kathleen does.”
“Is Kathleen a friend of yours?”
Becky nodded. “She come to our wagon and took me for a walk. She’s a big girl, but she liked me.”
Ulla was beginning to wonder why the child hadn’t mentioned her mother. She wanted to ask, but didn’t want to upset the little girl. “What’s your favorite color, Becky?”
“I like red.”
“You know what? I like red, too. Do you like any other color?”
“Blue. Daddy says it looks pretty with my eyes.”
“I believe your daddy is right.” She pulled out a dress made of medium blue wool. “How do you like this? It will make your eyes sparkle. And I have a blue ribbon that matches it. I’ll give you one for your hair.”
By the time they had all the clothes chosen that Ulla thought the little girl would need for the trip, she glanced up and saw that Cord, with Will still on his shoulders, had gone outside with the couple. There was nothing she could do, but go ahead and pick out clothes she thought would fit the little boy.
~ * ~
Though he felt a mixture of surprise and irritation, Cord tried to stay calm. When they got out of the store, he turned to the Lawsons. “Now, what is so important that you had to come into town to talk to me?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Masters come out to the camp and talked to us after you left.”
When he said nothing else, Cord prodded. “And what did they talk to you about?”
Hilda put her hands on her hips and looked directly at him. “Fred will take all day to tell you, so I’m gonna do the talking. I don’t like looking after your young’uns and Fred ain’t excited about having to work on your wagon on this trip you say is around two thousand miles long and will take five or maybe six months. We’re too old for that.”
Cord’s eyes narrowed. “But I told you all of this and you agreed to go with us before we left Georgia.”
“I know that, but the Masters have found jobs here in Independence and they said they was sure we could get hired, too. We’re going to do it ‘cause we think it’ll be a lot easier than going west in that bumpy old wagon you expect us to ride in,” Fred said.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me this before we came this far?”
“We didn’t know it would be so hard,” Hilda said. “Your young’uns are more of a handful than I thought they’d be and I ain’t never been one to want to look after squalling brats.”
Cord was fuming, but he held it back. “Then return the money I gave you to go with me and get your belongings out of my wagon. I don’t want you anywhere around the wagon when I get back to camp.”
She looked at her husband.
He was trembling, but finally said, “We done spent the money.”
“How could you have spent two hundred and fifty dollars?”
Fred looked at his wife and she looked away.
Cord knew they were lying and he grew angrier. “Then maybe I should ask the sheriff to hold you until you’re able to pay me back.”
Hilda looked scared. “No. I ain’t told Fred, but I hid some of the money so he wouldn’t spend it on rotgut. I’ll give that to you.” She started to scratch in her bag.
“You don’t have to do that, Hilda,” Fred whispered.
“Shut-up, Fred. We don’t want to go to jail, do we?”
He shook his head.
She handed Cord about a hundred and seventy-five dollars. “That’s all that’s left. Fred’s been spending some and I’ve bought a few things. I ain’t got no more money and we done took our belongings out of your wagon.”
Cord put the money in his pocket. “None of my supplies better be missing when I get back. If they are, I’ll still have you arrested.”
Again Hilda put her hands on her hips. “We ain’t thieves and we didn’t take nothing that belongs to you. We just got our stuff and left.”
“Then keep going. I want you out of my sight.”
~ * ~
The bell rang when he came back inside the store and Ulla looked up. Cord was headed toward them with an upset look on his face. The couple who had showed up to talk with him had not returned with him.
“May I speak with you a minute, Miss Wingate?”
“Of course.”
He took Will from his shoulders, sat him on the floor and glanced at his daughter. “Becky, why don’t you take your brother over there to the counter and look at those jars of candy? You can pick out one to buy.”
Her eyes lit up. “Thank you, Daddy. Come on, Will.” She took his hand and he toddled off with her.
Cord turned to Ulla. “I have a problem and I’m not sure what I can do about it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The couple that came in here were the people who had agreed to go on this trip to Oregon with the children and me. Now they’ve decided they don’t want to go.” She waited and he went on. “Without them, there’s no way I’ll be able to go. I can’t manage the travel and looking after the children by myself.”
“I don’t mean to butt into your business, Mr. Dermott, but what about your wife? Can’t she mind them or is she…?”
He interrupted her. “I don’t have a wife, Miss Wingate. She died over six months ago.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
He didn’t acknowledge her statement and changed the subject. When he spoke, it was as if he were thinking aloud. “Is there any way I can cancel the order for my supplies? I’ll need the money to live on until I can find someone willing to make the journey west with us. If I can’t find someone, I’ll have to find a job and see if I can sell my wagon. Until then, I guess the children and I’ll have to live in it.”
It was as if Ulla’s muddled plan suddenly became clear. She knew what she had to do, but she had to make sure she could pull it off. “Mr. Dermott, I happen to know a woman who I think would be willing to make the trip with you. She wants to leave town because her family has all died and she doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to find happiness here.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Who is this woman?”
“I’ll be glad to introduce you after I talk things over with her. Could you meet me at closing time? I’m sure I could have an answer for you by then.”
“I can, but may I ask you one thing?” When she nodded, he asked, “How old is this woman?”
Maybe she had been wrong. This idea might not be the right one after all. He could only want a woman for his own pleasure. But if this were so, why did he have the middle-aged couple that came in the store set to go with them? “Does it matter what she looks like?”
“Not to me, but the wagon master would never allow a young single woman to travel with me unless she was my wife. He insists on families on his train. He says that way there is no conflict with the single men and boys trying to win a woman’s favors. Of course, if she is older, he wouldn’t object.”
Ulla nodded. “I understand what you’re saying, Mr. Dermott. May I ask you something else?”
“Of course.”
“How badly do you want to leave on this wagon train?”
“I’d do anything, Miss Wingate, as long as it isn’t illegal.” He chuckled. “I’d even marry the woman, if that’s w
hat it takes.”
Ulla raised an eyebrow. “That’s good to know, Mr. Dermott. So let’s plan our meeting. Would it be all right with you if I meet you at the café down the street at a little past seven this evening? That’s the time the store closes.”
“That sounds good.”
“If you need to bring the children, it will be fine with me.”
“Thank you. I’ll see if I can get one of the women at the camp to watch them, but if I can’t, I’ll bring them.”
“That sounds good. I’m sure I’ll have an answer for you by then.”
“I appreciate that, more than you can know.”
“Daddy,” Becky came running. Will was toddling behind her. “I picked out a candy. Can Will get one, too?”
“I guess he can.” He took two pennies from his pocket and handed them to Ulla, then said to Becky, “Let Miss Wingate get whatever you two want. Then we need to head back out to the camp.”
“All right, Daddy.” Becky looked up at Ulla. “I wish you would come with us. You’re nicer than Miss Hilda.”
Ulla smiled at the child, but only said, “Thank you. Now, show me which candy you want.”
Watching the man and his children walk out the door, Ulla couldn’t help the feeling that she was watching her future go with them. Or was she only dreaming?
Shaking her head, she turned toward the stock room and called for Wilbur.
He came running. “Yes, Miss Ulla.”
“I need to go to the bank… will you watch the store until I get back?”
“I sure will. Is there anything special I need to know?”
“Only if Claudine or Colton come in, tell them they don’t have to work because you have everything under control.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Good. I don’t want them here this afternoon.” She smiled at him. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back. I have an errand I need to run and it may take a while.”
“That won’t be a problem. You know if we get busy, I know how to shuffle people around.”
She laughed. “I sure do. Thank you for your help, Wilbur.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
Ulla put on her hat, grabbed some of the money out of the cash box and headed to the bank. She was happy to find that Mr. Roberson was in and not busy. The teller ushered her directly to his office.
“I’m surprised to see you again today, Ulla.”
“I didn’t know who else to turn to, Papa Stuart, but I thought you’d be able to help me.”
“Then please have a seat and tell me about it.”
“I overheard a conversation between my cousin and the man who is visiting the family. I now know for sure that my uncle is trying to run the business into the ground. He wants it for himself and as soon as I pull out, he plans to use the money he’s taken, to open it again. I don’t know if he’ll do it here or if he’ll go somewhere else to open up, but I’m sure he’ll make money, just like he’s doing now. Only next time he’ll not have to take it off the top.”
“What do you plan to do about it, Ulla?”
“I’ve made the decision to sign the store over to him.”
He looked startled. “I don’t understand.”
“I have several reasons for my decision, so let me explain. First of all, they’re pushing me to marry Colton Blackwell and that’s so he’ll be able to claim my money. Blackwell and my cousin Claudine are romantically involved and I overheard them say I was being used only as a way to get the money my father left me.”
“Are you positive about this or could you be mistaken?”
“I’m not mistaken, Papa Stuart, and yes I’m sure. As I said, I overheard them planning the whole thing.”
“So you think by giving up the store, you’ll be able to keep your money.”
“Yes.” When he asked how, she went on. “There’s a plan forming in my mind that I’m pretty sure will work. If it does, it’ll change everything that’s been going on and it’ll definitely change my life.”
“Is this plan dangerous, Ulla?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. If I tell you what it is, will you help me?”
“I’ll do anything I can to assist you, as long as I think it’s going to be good for you.”
“I’ve decided to leave on the wagon train that is heading out of town in the next few days. I’ve found someone who needs a woman to watch his children and I know I’ll be able to do that because I love children. I hate to do this to your bank, but I’m going to take my money with me. I’d leave it here, but I’m not sure there’ll be a bank where we’re going and there’d be no way you could transfer it to me.”
He looked thoughtful. “The money is no problem, but what about this man? Is he a good person? Is his wife along? I’m sorry to ask so many questions, but my concern is for you.”
“I know that. He seems to be a good man. He brought his children in the store today for clothes for the trip. He seemed to be a very attentive father. His wife is dead and he had a middle-aged couple going with him to look after the children, but they’ve changed their minds and he’s looking for someone to go in their place.”
“A trip on one of those wagon trains is hard, Ulla. I’m not sure a city girl like you will be able to handle it. Especially with a stranger and his children.”
“I’m aware of that. That’s why I’m going to ask another couple to take a wagon and go along.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a couple in mind?”
“Yes I do. Pete and Ivy Nettleton.”
He smiled. “That’s a good choice. They’re really fine people and they deserve a fresh start.”
“I believe that, too, but I have to ask them first. They may turn me down.”
“I doubt that.” He drummed his fingers on his desk. “Is there anything else you can tell me about this man whose children you’ll be attending?”
“His name is Cord Dermott and the children are Becky, age six and Will, close to two. Other than the fact that I may have to marry Mr. Dermott so the wagon master will let me go, that’s about everything I know about him.”
Stuart looked startled. “Marry?”
She laughed. “Yes, marry. And believe it or not, I’d rather marry Cord Dermott, though I’ve only met him twice, than to marry Colton Blackwell, who I’ve known for several months.”
“Marriage is a huge step, Ulla. Are you sure you want to consider such a step?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“What if you do marry him and find you’ve made a huge mistake?”
“I don’t think he’s that kind of man. He seems only interested in his children.”
“And he doesn’t have a wife?”
“No. She died and he wants to start a new life in the west. He hasn’t said, but I think he must have loved her very much and is making this move to get over her death.”
“It seems you’ve spent some time thinking about this.”
“I have. I know deep down it’s the best answer for all of us.”
Stuart nodded. “I know there’s no way I can change your mind, is there?”
“No, Papa Stuart. I’ve decided that if Mr. Dermott thinks I’ll be a good woman to care for his children, then I’m going to do it.”
“If you’re that sure, I think you could be right. That’s why I’m agreeing to help you with your plan. I’ll make sure your money is put in a strong safe box for you, if you think the cash will be safe. I’ll also help you in any other way I can.”
“I appreciate that. And don’t worry about anyone taking advantage of me or my money. I don’t plan to let anyone know I have the money with me. I won’t put it in my trunk or any other obvious place. I’ll hide it in a barrel with the bacon or something like that so nobody will suspect it’s there.”
“I see your ingenuity is showing and I’m sure your money will be safe.”
“You’re a wonderful man. I understand why you and Father were such good friends and I appreciate your help.”
For a moment, she thought about what the banker had said. She then sighed. “Papa Stuart, Wilbur Clark has been a faithful employee at the store for a long time. He has a family and if the store closes, he will be out of a job. Do you know anywhere he might find something to do that would be more secure?”
“You trust him?”
“Absolutely. In fact, he’s in charge, since nobody is working in the store except the two of us today.”
“Then tell him to come see me. I have a teller who is getting ready to move away. I’m going to need a good honest man.”
“He’ll make you a good employee. You won’t regret hiring him.” Ulla stood. “Thank you for everything.”
“I’ll have your money ready for you whenever you need it, Ulla. If there’s anything else I can do to help you, please let me know.”
She smiled at him. “There’s one more thing I want to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“If I have to marry Mr. Dermott, will you come to my wedding and give me away?”
He bit his lip and whispered in a cracking voice, “If you marry this man, I’d be honored to do that.”
She knew he had tears in his eyes when he escorted her to the door, but she didn’t let him see she’d noticed.
Chapter Four
Ulla knocked on the door of the shack at the edge of town and couldn’t help noticing the startled look on Ivy Nettleton’s face. Of course she’d expected the woman to be surprised to see her on the front porch. She gave Ivy a big smile. “I’m sorry to barge in on you like this, Ivy, but I need to speak with you and your husband about an important matter.”
“Pete’s in the back chopping wood. I’ll get him.” She looked as if she didn’t know what to do, but she muttered, “Would you like to come in?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Ulla stepped inside and followed Ivy to the kitchen. She took a seat at the rickety wooden table.
In a minute Pete came through the door. His son was at his heels. “Miss Wingate, I was busting up some wood for the preacher. He said he’d pay me and I planned to bring most of it to you to pay on our bill.”
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