Ulla's Courage

by Agnes Alexander

  “I’m not here because of your bill at the store, Pete, and please call me Ulla.”

  He looked stunned. “Then why…?”

  “I need your help and if you’ll have a seat, I’ll explain why I barged in without an invitation.”

  Pete glanced at Ivy, but she only gave him a puzzled look.

  “You ain’t gonna send my pa back to jail because of …”

  “Joe,” his mother interrupted. “Why don’t you go on back outside and start stacking the wood your father has split?”

  “I’ve already stacked it, Ma.”

  “It’ll be fine if Joe stays in here. This concerns him, too.” She looked at Joe. “And to answer your question, young man, I am not here to send your father back to jail. I’m sure he’ll never have to go to jail again.”

  Joe grinned. “I’m glad.”

  “Would you like some coffee, Miss Wingate?” Ivy asked, because she didn’t seem to know anything else to say.

  “That would be nice.” Ulla noticed the good smelling soup that was on the stove and added, “I haven’t had much to eat today.”

  Ivy looked as if she still didn’t know what to say, so she simply poured Ulla a cup of coffee. She set one in front of Pete, too.

  “The wife was about to call us in to eat dinner, Miss Wingate. Would you like a bowl of her soup? It’s awfully good.”

  Ulla smiled. “Yes, I would like a bowl. It smells wonderful and I was afraid you wouldn’t ask me to join you. But there’s only one thing I insist on.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

  “I want you to drop the Miss Wingate and start calling me Ulla.”

  He nodded. “Then, Ivy will you please serve Miss Ulla a bowl of soup?”

  “Of course.” Ivy grabbed a bowl from the shelf on the wall, filled it and set it before Ulla.

  Ulla took a deep breath. “I don’t want to eat alone. Why don’t you have your meal and we’ll talk while we eat? And you can drop the Miss, Pete. It’s just to be Ulla.”

  In a matter of minutes, the four of them were gathered around the table eating. It took a little while, but when they finally relaxed, Ulla told them why she had come to visit.

  The three of them stared at her. Finally, Pete said, “So, what you’re saying is if my family and I will join this wagon train and agree to help you and this Dermott fellow get to Oregon or wherever he’s going, you’ll arrange for the wagon and all the supplies we’ll need for the journey.”

  “Yes, Pete. That’s exactly what I’m saying. You’ve been doing odd jobs since you’ve been home, I know you have some experience with working with your hands on wagons and such. That will be a big help to Mr. Dermott. Ivy is a wonderful mother and cook, so she’ll be able to help me mind the children and fix the meals while you men take care of the work you need to do.”

  “It sounds like a dream come true.” Ivy had tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe you’d do this for us, Ulla.”

  “Me either.” Pete’s eyes had the look of a man who trusted very few people and he wasn’t about to get into something he didn’t understand. “Why would you want to help us this way?”

  “I’m actually being selfish and doing this for myself. You’ll be helping me more than I’ll be helping you.”

  Pete looked at Ivy. “Do you believe what she’s saying?”

  “Yes. I trust Ulla. She’s one of the few people who was nice to me while you were away.”

  He looked back at Ulla. “If Ivy trusts you, I’ll trust you, too. If you’re really serious about this, tell us what do we need to do to get ready to go?”

  “The train is leaving on Friday, so you’ll need to go through your things and see what you want to take. Try to keep it to a minimum. There isn’t a lot of room after the supplies are put aboard. You’ll be carrying about a thousand pounds of food and merchandise. I only plan to take about four changes of clothes and one trunk with things that belonged to my mother and father.”

  “Should I bring some of my tools?”

  She nodded. “That will be good. I’m meeting with Mr. Dermott tonight and I’ll arrange for you to meet him. You can discuss what you have and compare it with his items. That way you won’t have duplicates of some things and not enough of another.”

  “That sounds good.”

  Ivy butted in. “I’ve been teaching Joe some writing and reading lessons. Will there be room for some books?”

  “Absolutely. I’d like for you to teach Becky, too.”

  “Who’s Becky?” Joe asked.

  “She’s the little girl I’ll be looking after. She’s six. How old are you, Joe?”

  “I’ll be seven on my birthday.”

  “Then you should get along fine.”

  He didn’t answer that remark, but he did ask, “Can I bring my dog?”

  Ulla smiled. “The trip might be hard on him, but I don’t see why he can’t come along and try to make it with the rest of us.”

  Joe broke out in a big smile and jumped up. “I’m going to go tell…”

  “Wait a minute,” Ulla said. “My aunt and uncle don’t know I’m leaving, so I don’t want you to tell anyone that you’re going on this trip. They might try to stop us.”

  His face fell. “I can’t even tell Springer?”

  “Springer’s his dog, Ulla,” Ivy said.

  “Well, now, I’m sorry I stopped you. I don’t see why you can’t tell Springer. I don’t think he’ll tell anyone, do you?”

  “I’ll tell him not to.”

  “Then go tell your dog, but be sure to warn him that this is a family secret.”

  “I will. Thank you, ma’am.” Joe ran out.

  Ulla turned back to Ivy and Pete. “The only other thing I can think of is that you need to come into the store and let me fit Joe, and the both of you with a couple of pairs of boots. There’s a lot of walking on this trip and it’s recommended that everyone have two or three pair. We’ll also need to get a few different kinds of clothes.”

  Pete frowned. “Ulla, this seems a lot like charity to me.”

  “Say that to me when we’re a few hundred miles from here and you’ve repaired a couple of broken axles, shot half dozen rattlesnakes and wondered if we’d ever reach Oregon alive.”

  He kind of smiled. “You expect it to be that bad?”

  “I’ve heard a lot of stories that run in that vein. I’ve also heard that when the goal is reached, some families thought they’d died and gone to heaven. I’m hoping for the latter.”

  “I only have one more question,” Ivy said.

  “What is it?”

  “I spent a lot of time this spring putting up berry jams and peach preserves. Would it be possible to take them?”

  “Ivy, if you don’t take them, I’m not going,” Ulla said.

  They all laughed, then Pete promised Ivy and Joe would be at the store early the next morning to check out the boots. “She knows my size and can get whatever I need.”

  Ulla didn’t insist he come to the store. She knew since his return he’d avoided going into town unless absolutely necessary. Because of the way he was treated, she certainly understood why.

  ~ * ~

  Ulla remembered Wilbur telling her a week or so ago that the delivery man from the livery told him they had a converted wagon someone ordered, but it had never been picked up and he wanted to sell it. He’d asked Wilbur to let them know if someone came into the store wanting to buy one. She hoped they hadn’t already sold it. She crossed her fingers and headed to the livery to see if it was still available.

  The wagon had not been sold and it didn’t take Ulla long to strike a bargain that was agreeable between the two of them. Hershel seemed relieved to get rid of the wagon and Ulla was delighted to have a wagon for the Nettleton family to travel to Oregon.

  Back at the store she went inside to ask Wilbur if he’d mind staying late to help her pull the supplies to fill it. He was finishing up with a customer and turned as she came in.

  “You
look pleased with yourself, Miss Ulla.”

  “I am very pleased, Wilbur. Everything is working out, but I still need your help.”

  “Sure. Whatever you want me to do, you know I will.”

  “Could you start pulling supplies to fill a last minute wagon before you go home?”

  “Sure. What and how many are going in this one?”

  “Three adults.”

  “It shouldn’t take me too long to get the order together. Will we be delivering it?”

  “It’s to go in the wagon the livery stable had for sale. We’ll get it packed before it goes out to the camp.”

  He frowned. “If you don’t mind me asking, Miss Ulla, what are you up to?”

  She laughed. “I don’t mind at all, Wilbur. I think it’s time I told you about my plans anyway.”

  When she finished, he looked at her with disbelief. “I can’t say as I blame you, Miss Ulla, but I’m not sure I want to continue working here with you gone.”

  “There’s one other thing. Mr. Roberson at the bank has an opening for a teller. I recommended you and he said to tell you to come by and talk with him.”

  He looked stunned. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. Why don’t you go talk with him before the bank closes? It doesn’t look like we’re going to be bothered by anyone in my uncle’s family and you’ll have plenty of time.”

  “What about the order for the Nettletons?”

  “You can come back and start on it before closing time.”

  “Miss Ulla, you’re a wonderful woman. Your father would be very proud of you.”

  She blushed. “Thank you, Wilbur. That means a lot to me.”

  “I mean it.”

  “I know you do. Now, get out of here before you make me cry.”

  Thirty minutes later, Wilbur returned with a big grin on his face and Ulla knew he’d been successful in getting the job, but at the moment she had a customer and couldn’t say anything to him. She only smiled and nodded.

  Wilbur returned the nod and headed into the stock room.

  She finished with her customer and planned to call Wilbur back into the front so she could congratulate him, but she didn’t get a chance. Two emigrants came and she guessed they came for additional items they’d decided they wanted or something they’d forgotten. Ulla decided she’d try to get to know them. After all, if she was going to be traveling with the group, she needed to make some friends.

  “Hello, ladies. I’m Ulla Wingate. How can I help you?”

  “Hello, Ulla. I’m Naomi Guggenheim and this is my friend, Charlene Mahoney.”

  “It’s nice to meet you both. If you don’t think I’m being too nosy, could I ask why you’re headed to Oregon?”

  “Well, dear,” Naomi said, “my husband is a doctor and he’s been reading about the west. He decided he wasn’t doing as much good in his medical practice in Pittsburg as he could in a rural area like Oregon. He’s sure the folks out there need somebody to take care of their ailments.”

  “I think that’s wonderful. Your husband must be a good man. Do you have children?”

  Naomi laughed. “I agree he is a good man and yes, we have a set of twin boys. Esau and Ezra. They just turned eight and are all excited to be going on this adventure with us. I also have two teenagers. Eli is almost seventeen and Esther is fifteen.”

  “The twins are how we became such good friends,” Charlene said. “My son, Carney, who is seven, has become friends with Naomi’s younger sons. I also have a daughter, Kathleen. She’s thirteen. So far, Esther and the little Dermott girl are the only ones on the train she’s become friends with. Most of the other girls are either much older than she is or think they’re too grown up to be her friend. Also she’s a little shy.”

  “I remember helping Mr. Dermott gather clothes for his children. I thought they were wonderful.”

  “They are. I’m just not so sure the people going with them will be much of a help to him. When he’s not around, the woman doesn’t seem to care if the children are clean and well fed. Also, she doesn’t want to be friends with any of the other women at the camp. I figure you should be friends with everyone. It’s a long trip and we’re all going to have to depend on each other.” Naomi fingered the box of handkerchiefs on the counter.

  “She’s right, you know,” Charlene put in. “Of course, everyone on the train that’s met us thinks it’s strange that we’ve become such good friends. You see, Naomi is Jewish and I’m an Irish Catholic, but when you start out on a trip like we’re about to attempt, we think you need to be friends with everybody on the train.”

  “I agree and if you’ll let me, I’d like to be your friend here in town. I’ll make the third wheel on this friendship wheel of yours. I’m a Protestant.”

  Naomi laughed. “Then, Ulla, we’re going to invite you to be our friend right now.”

  “I accept. Now, what can I get for my two new friends?”

  “My husband wanted me to get some more bandages and ointments. He’s afraid he’ll run out if there are many accidents on this trip. I also think I’ll take one of these lovely handkerchiefs. A lady needs a few pretty things, even going on a trip like this and I don’t think the one with the blue flowers will take up much room, do you?”

  Ulla laughed. “You’re right. It won’t take up any room.”

  “Then I’ll take one, too,” Charlene said. “I want the one with the pink roses.”

  Ulla nodded and decided she’d get the one with the yellow roses for herself and the one with the daisy design for Becky. If things went as she expected them to, she’d find something little and easy to carry for Will and his father later.

  ~ * ~

  Ulla closed the store at six because there was no more business. She then spent a little while helping Wilbur gather items for the Nettleton wagon. At six-thirty, she said it was time for them to go home. “I’m sure your wife will appreciate you getting home at a decent hour.”

  “Thank you, Miss Ulla. I can hardly wait to tell her about my new job.”

  “I know she’ll be delighted.”

  “She sure will, and we owe it all to you.”

  “Stop giving me all the credit. If Mr. Roberson hadn’t liked you, he wouldn’t have hired you. Now, let’s get home.”

  “I’m not going to argue with you.”

  They locked the store and headed out.

  Ulla walked quickly down the street and up the front steps to the house she once called home. It didn’t feel like home now. It was just the house where she lived. The inside of the house was quiet and this seemed unusual. On a normal day, her aunt Vida would meet her and start asking why Ulla had left the story early. She went into the kitchen and saw Vida standing at the window, eating peaches from one of the crystal bowls that Ulla’s mother had cherished and Vida used for serving food just to irritate her niece. Today she ignored her aunt’s actions.

  “Where is everyone?”

  Vida’s lip looked as if she were going to snarl, but Ulla knew this was a normal expression when her aunt wasn’t in a good mood. “Alton’s still in the bed. He had a rough day. Claudine and Colton went to visit the mayor’s daughter. They’re all getting to be good friends and they’re helping her plan her birthday party. I’m sure they would’ve taken you if they’d known you were coming home early.”

  “That’s fine. I’m too tired to go anyway. Besides, I’m hungry for more than a light sandwich. That’s what the mayor’s wife always serves when they have company. ” She noticed there was nothing cooking.

  Vida must have seen her glance at the stove. “I didn’t cook any supper since Alton didn’t feel like eating. You need to either find something to hold you until breakfast, or go to town and get something to eat at the café.”

  “The café serves good hot food and that sounds good. I think I’ll go change clothes and go into town.”

  “Suit yourself.” Vida turned and went out of the room with the bowl still in her hand.

  After taking a fast sponge
bath, Ulla put on her green striped dress with short sleeves trimmed in white lace. She combed her hair and decided to put part of it on top of her head and let the rest flow down her back. She’d been told she looked pretty when she wore it this way and she wanted to look pretty tonight.

  As she went out the front door, Ulla couldn’t help smiling to herself. She was glad she didn’t have to come up with some excuse for why she was going into town to eat. She just hoped she wouldn’t have to come up with some excuse for why she was in the café if someone recognized her and asked why she was there. Maybe she’d say both her aunt and uncle were sick. That should work.

  ~ * ~

  Cord Dermott was sitting at a table on the side of the café when she opened the door and stepped inside. He stood and smiled as she approached. “Good evening, Miss Wingate.” He held a chair for her.

  She was sure his eyes lit up when he looked at her. Maybe he did like her hair down.

  Slipping into the chair, she said, “I’m sorry if I’m late. It takes a little longer to close the store when you’re working alone.”

  “That’s no problem. I was early.” He sat facing her. “They said the special was fried chicken, green beans, potatoes and corn. I decided I’d have a steak because I don’t figure I’ll get many good beef steaks if I’m able to leave with the wagon train.”

  “Then you should order a steak, but the chicken special sounds good to me. Aunt Vida can’t fry chicken very well and I’ve loved it since I was a child. My mother was an expert at it.”

  “Then you must order it.”

  “I see you’re drinking coffee. I think I’d like tea to drink tonight.”

  The waitress walked up and he ordered for both of them, adding, “Please bring the lady a cup of tea while we wait for our food.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  When they were alone again, he looked into her eyes and asked, “Well, are you going to keep me waiting all night to find out what you have to tell me?”

  “I’m not sure where to begin.” He said nothing, but kept looking at her. She wondered if she had been wrong about him thinking she looked pretty. Maybe he was only interested in the news she had for him. She took a deep breath and switched her mind from his enchanting gray-blue eyes. “There’s a couple with one child within a year or so of your daughter’s age. They want to go west and they’re willing to work hard and follow instructions if someone will let their wagon go along with theirs. The man has some experience working on wagons and such and I’m sure he’d be able to fix anything that goes wrong with yours. The woman is a mother and I’m sure she’d be willing to help with your children when needed.”