by Zina Abbott
Beth stood in the doorway and surveyed the addition. A single small window to her right faced the back of the property. The room was furnished with a bed and mattress, a dressing table and a captain’s chair with a cushion. Val or Luther had moved Hazel’s chest to the foot of the bed. A rug Beth didn’t recognize covered most of the floor. Beth realized with the stove on the other side of the wall, the room would stay comfortably warm all winter.
“It’s a right nice room, Val. It means a lot to me for Hazel to have a nice place of her own until she and Luther marry.”
Val responded with a quick kiss on the cheek as he turned Beth away from the room and closed the door. He set the lamp on the kitchen table and checked the fire to make sure it had caught.
“You hungry, Beth?”
“No.”
Val looked toward the front window. “I hope this storm doesn’t drop too much snow. We have a lot of guests who still have a ways to go to get back to Bridgeport. Hopefully, Barbara and her family won’t have trouble getting home tomorrow.”
Beth reached her hand up and gently turned Val’s face until he looked at her. “Reckon it will all work out. Luther and the others at the ranch will be there to help.”
“Edwin and Rosamond will be upset if they have trouble making it back to the train. Hopefully, it will be clear by Monday. Are you looking forward to going into town to file your sole trader papers after we see them onto the stage?”
Beth smiled. She hadn’t expected Val to be nervous. “Ain’t thinkin’ on that right now, Val. Reckon Monday’s soon enough.”
“I guess Josh will be all right at the ranch with the men.” Val chuckled. “That dog of his—I thought for sure he was going to jump up on the tables and help himself to the food. Glad someone finally locked him in the bunkhouse.” Val looked down at the top of Beth’s dress and sighed. “Why did Hazel have to sew on so many buttons?”
“You start at the top and I’ll start at the bottom.”
Val drank in Beth’s face with his eyes. “I love you, Beth. I’ve waited so long for this.”
Beth wrapped her arms around Val’s neck and whispered in his ear. “I love you, too. Right now, we got a long night ahead with no else one around. Ain’t always goin’ to be like that. I figured you’d be fixin’ to try out the bed, see if you like it all right.”
Val chuckled as he began to unfasten Beth’s buttons. “As long as you’re in it, I will like any bed just fine.”
ROBINSON CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Christmas Eve Day 1884
CHAPTER 18
Beth fought back a wave of light-headedness. “Hazel, you all packed to go? This bread’s about ready to come out of the oven.”
Hazel stood looking out the front window of the sitting area. “Surely am. Bethie, you know how come Luther’s come with the wagon? I thought we was takin’ ours to go up to the ranch.”
“Reckon it’s got somethin’ to do with the girl standin’ at the window,” Beth mumbled as she walked over to join Hazel looking out the window. Peering outside, she could see the wagon drawn by two horses pull into the yard with Josh’s dog, Buddy, acting as the welcoming committee. “He’s got runners on. Guess the snow last night was deep enough it’s time to change out the wheels on the wagon we’re usin’, too.”
Luther maneuvered the wagon on skies as close as possible to the porch before he dismounted, He gave Buddy, whose tail wagged so hard it beat the side of his ribs with each swing, a scratch behind the ears as he called out a greeting to Josh. “You ready to go, Josh?”
Hazel quickly slipped into her coat and stepped out on the porch in time to hear Josh’s reply. “Sure am. I already brought up enough firewood for the house and my bunkhouse when we get back and there’s two buckets of snow melting in the house plus a bucket for me.”
Luther grinned at him. “Great! Go grab your gear. Figured I’d take you all up to the ranch house in this so you won’t need to worry about getting the wagon stuck on the way. I can bring you back in the morning to take care of the horse and the chickens.”
Josh offered his usual cheerful smile. “Sure thing, Mr. Caldwell. I’ll make one last check on the animals and be ready to go.” Josh looked down at the dog, who had trotted over to join him. He reached down and patted the mutt’s head, then looked back up as he implored, “Can Buddy come, too?”
“Sure. But he’ll have to ride up front with us. Beth will have both our necks if he gets into any food she’s bringing.”
Luther stepped on the front stoop and stomped his feet to knock off the snow stuck to them. He turned to Hazel. “Hi, sweetheart. You and Beth about ready to go?” He wrapped an arm around Hazel and drew her close for a quick kiss. At the sound of footsteps, he popped his eyes open only to see Beth had joined them on the porch. Preferring to not hear a jibe from his sister-in-law if it could be avoided, he quickly broke off the kiss.
Hazel could stand the suspense no longer. “What’s in the crate, Luther?”
Beth scowled at her sister. “Ain’t none of your business, Hazel. It’s Christmas.”
Luther laughed and shook his head. “No, this isn’t a Christmas present from me. It’s addressed to you, Hazel, care of Beth Dodd on Robinson Creek. You see, while you ladies were lazing around this morning, I went into Bridgeport to…well, you don’t need to know why I went into Bridgeport. The postmaster caught me and asked if I could bring it out to you instead of waiting for you or Beth to come pick it up. I guess he thought it might be something you bought for Christmas.” Luther stepped back to the wagon and lifted out a large parcel heavily wrapped in thick paper and tied with several crossed strands of string. “This came for you as well as the crate. It’s from a Mr. Bates in Ohio.”
Hazel clapped her hands to her mouth and she danced in circles on the porch for several seconds. Then she reached out to take the parcel. “It’s here! Had no notion if it would come afore Christmas or later next year.”
Beth studied her sister, a look of concern on her face. “How come Judge Bates is shippin’ you things from Ohio, Hazel? What have you gone and done?”
Her parcel held with one arm, Hazel grabbed Beth by the wrist and pulled her back into the house. She rushed to the settee in the sitting area and began to pull on the strings. “Now, don’t get all discomfited, Bethie. Remember when I wired Judge Bates to send some money out to an account in Bridgeport?”
Beth nodded. “I still ain’t too pleased about that.”
Hazel ignored her. “I asked him to buy me some other things, too, seein’ as how I didn’t see nothin’ that would do here in Bridgeport.”
Beth look of concern changed into a frown. “What you done, Hazel? I told you there ain’t no need you fritterin’ away your money. Best you save it for somethin’ that will last.”
Hazel stamped her foot and jammed her fists against the sides of her waist as she turned to her sister. “I heard you, Bethie. But I ain’t plannin’ on gettin’ no homestead like you, seein’ as how I ain’t twenty-one yet and plan to be married by the time I get that old. I got to plan my life for me. Now, loan me Pa’s old huntin’ knife so I don’t have to go huntin’ up Ma’s old sewin’ scissors.”
Grudgingly, Beth hiked up her skirt high enough to reach for the knife she kept strapped to her leg and handed it to Hazel. “Cut that string careful so we can use it again.”
Hazel gave her sister a scorching glance before she turned to work on the string. “I wasn’t born yesterday, Bethie.” Hazel squealed with delight as the twine fell away and she unwrapped the paper to reveal a bundle of fabric. “Look, Bethie, ain’t that the most beautiful length of white satin you ever seen?” As she lifted the end, she exclaimed with excitement, “Oh, look! His wife must of helped him pick it out. Ain’t this the prettiest lace? And, what’s in this paper?” Hazel unwrapped the brown paper. She quickly scrambled to not drop its contents.”Oh, Bethie, there must be three dozen white mother of pearl buttons here.”
Beth scooted the bundle of fabric over and sat down. Hazel lo
oked over at her with concern. “Bethie, you all right? You look a mite puny.”
“Just need to sit a spell. This for what I figure it’s for?”
Hazel eyes glittered. “It’s for my weddin’ dress. Luther didn’t ask me yet when I sent off for it, but I expected I’d need it afore the year was out, only there wasn’t nothin’ local I seen I liked. It didn’t make a lick of sense to me to fight you over tryin’ to order somethin’ in through the local dry goods. I figured Pa would think it’s fittin’ me usin’ his money for a weddin’ dress, and I reckon Judge Bates agreed. Don’t you, Bethie?”
Beth nodded. “Reckon so. You deserve the best weddin’ dress money can buy, Hazel.”
Hazel giggled. “You mean the best I can make. Seein’ as how you made Luther promise to wait until my birthday, reckon I got five-and-a-half months to put it together.”
Both women turned at the sound of the thud on the floor just inside the door. Luther looked up from the oversized crate he had hauled in from the wagon and shook his head. “What have you got in here, Hazel? Feels like it must be made of lead.”
Hazel clapped her hands. “I know what it’s got to be. Oh, Luther, quick. Open it up for me, please.”
Beth called from where she was sitting. “Close the door, Luther, and shove it to the side. Hazel, best you take your dry goods and put them in your chest so they don’t get no packin’ dust on them.”
Curious, Luther looked at Hazel. “Dry goods? What was in the parcel, Hazel?”
“You’ll know soon enough, Luther Caldwell.” Hazel gathered up the bundle loosely wrapped in paper and disappeared into her room.
By the time she returned, Luther had the top of the crate opened. He shook his head. “I’ll try to lift it out so I don’t have to break down the entire crate. Let’s get some of this packing out first. It should make good fire-starter.”
“Then don’t go shovin’ it next to the stove,” Beth called from her perch on the settee. “Don’t need my house goin’ up in flames while we’re at the ranch for Christmas dinner.”
Hazel handed the envelope on top to Beth before she worked with Luther to unpack the crate. Luther glanced over at Hazel and chuckled. “You’re going to be picking straw out of your gown for the next three days, Hazel.”
Bending over, Hazel grabbed another armload of packing. “Ain’t worried none about that. Just help me get this out, please, Luther.”
The two had the crate emptied enough to see whatever was inside was covered by a burlap fabric. Luther could feel down far enough to realize whatever was on top was attached to some kind of tabletop. He reached down on both sides and lifted while Hazel helped hold the crate down. As Luther fought to free the bottom from the top edge of the crate, Beth rose and helped Hazel tip the wooden box away.
Hazel called out as she stepped over to help balance the bottom. “Don’t drop it, Luther. Won’t do me no good if it gets broke.”
“I got it, Hazel, as long as you stay out of my way.” Luther gently set it down on the floor. He took a deep breath and shook his head. “What on earth did you buy, Hazel?”
“Help me get this here cover off and I’d be right proud to show you.”
Luther used his knife to slit the end of the twine holding the cover together. Using his fingers, he pulled the large stitches free from the burlap. When done, he slid the cover down to the floor and stood back with his hands on his hips.
Hazel bounced on her toes and clapped her hands. “Ain’t that something’? I told Judge Bates to get the best there was.”
Beth stepped forward to get a close look. She turned to her sister. “A sewin’ machine? A treadle sewing machine? You spent your money on a sewin’ machine?”
Hazel drew herself up to her full height and answered defensively. “Ain’t no call to get all uppity, Bethie. I ain’t got no use for land like you do and I don’t want to be no sole trader like you. What I want is a sewin’ machine. Look.” Hazel grabbed up the envelope that came with the machine and tore it open. After she read it, she shoved the paper in Beth’s face. “See? Judge Bates done just like I told him. The bill of sale’s in my name and I’m livin’ in California now and I bought that machine before I married. No matter what happens, I got it to help me make clothes for my family or to earn my way, and no one can sell it out from under me like Jim Dodd did with your chickens back in Ohio. See, Bethie? I been listenin’ to you.”
Bewildered, Luther spread his hands. “Hazel, I hope you don’t think I’d try to take your sewing machine away and sell it. I’d never do that to you.”
Beth grumbled. “That’s what Pa said about Jim Dodd and my chickens. Only because Pa married me off to him before I was of age, Jim Dodd sold my chickens off and kept the money. In Ohio, I didn’t have no say about it.”
Hazel placed her hand on Luther’s arm. “It ain’t you I worry about, Luther; it’s Edwin. I seen how he was schemin’ to get his hands on Beth’s land. But, if somethin’ was to happen to you and I couldn’t stay at the ranch no more, I druther get me a small house in town and set up a sewin’ shop to make my way. Now, I can.”
Mollified, Luther grinned and shook his head. “No, Hazel, even if something were to happen to me, you would always have a place at the Caldwell Ranch, especially once we have little Luther Caldwell babies running around. But, if the sewing machine bought in your name makes you happy, then I’m happy you have it.” Luther stopped and sighed as a thought struck. “I guess this means in a few months I’m going to have to lug this thing up to the ranch house.”
Hazel plastered her most charming smile on her face and batted her eyelashes as she patted Luther’s cheek. “Only if you want me livin’ up there with you.”
BIG MEADOWS, CALIFORNIA – CHRISTMAS EVE DAY 1884
CHAPTER 19
In the Caldwell Ranch kitchen, Beth finished peeling the last of the potatoes to be boiled for mashed potatoes. Yearning for a nap, she felt grateful she had been able to complete this task while sitting down. She spoke to Louisa who stood next to the stove checking a pot of carrot chunks she was cooking. “That water for the potatoes boilin’ yet?”
Louisa turned. “Yes, it just started to bubble.” She stopped and studied Beth. “Beth, are you feeling well? You look like you could use a nap.”
Hazel turned from where she was entertaining Sophie Anne who was tied to a chair as she crumbled an old biscuit she was attempting to eat. “Bethie’s been gettin’ tired most afternoons, lately.”
Louisa reached for the board that held the cut potatoes. “Let me get these in the pot and keep an eye of them, Beth. Why don’t you go up to your room to rest? It will be awhile before we need to mash these and put the rolls in to bake.”
“I’m fine, just feelin’ a mite puny. I ain’t afraid to say I’m almighty thankful Gus is cookin’ the meat for tonight. Lately, I can’t abide the smell of meat cookin’.”
Louisa raised her eyebrows. “Really? You had no problem being around Gus cooking meat all those months you worked for him up in Lundy.”
Hazel turned to her sister, a puzzled look on her face. “Bethie, that ain’t like you. The only other time I recall you havin’ a problem bein’ around cooked meat…” Hazel inhaled and broke into a smile at the thought occurred to her. “Bethie, are you fixin’ to have a baby?”
Louisa broke out into a smile. “Well, that would explain you being tired. Are you sick in the morning, too?”
Beth grumbled. “Ain’t sure why they call it mornin’ sickness. I plumb got the sickness all day. Probably be this way a spell.”
Hazel rushed over to Beth and squeezed her tightly. “Oh, Bethie, I’m so happy for you. I figured Val would get a baby on you, but didn’t reckon it’d be this quick.”
“Only takes one time. Reckon it must have happened sometime that first night.”
Hazel gasped. She straightened up and inhaled as she clapped her hands over her mouth.
“Sometime that first night? You mean you done it more than once?” Hazel’s e
yes bounced back and forth between the two women. She took a step back as she realized both Beth and Louisa stared at her as if she had grown three heads. “What?”
“Yes, Hazel. It bein’ our weddin’ night, we took full advantage of bein’ alone with no shivaree goin’ on. Won’t be long until you’ll have your weddin’ night and you’ll figure it out.”
Hazel wrinkled her forehead. “Bethie, with our ma gone, you’ll tell me what I need to know, won’t you? All except the obvious, me bein’ raised on the same farm you was.”
“I surely will. Don’t want it turnin’ out for you like it was between me and Jim Dodd. It won’t be no church woman facts of life talk like we would have got from Ma. I’ll pass on what you need to know so if Luther ain’t got it figured out how to make it worth your time, you can teach him.”
“Is that why you went to talk to Miss Flora the last time you were up in Lundy, Beth?”
Beth jerked her head toward Louisa. “Who told you I went to see Miss Flora?”
Louisa broke out in peals of laughter. “Oh, Beth. By the end of the day, everyone in Lundy knew you went to the Blue Feather bearing a gift. You cannot believe the speculation that went on in that town about why you went to see Flora.”
“Who’s Miss Flora?”
Beth snapped at Hazel. “Ain’t no one you need to worry about. She ain’t in these parts no more.”
“I know the Blue Feather was a brothel, Bethie. Did Miss Flora work there like Louisa used to?”
“Where you hear about Louisa and the Blue Feather?”
“Louisa told me. She said you helped her get away so she could keep Sophie Anne. Ain’t that so, Louisa?” At Louisa’s nod, Hazel continued. “That’s how she met Gus, when you took her to his chop shop to work. I’m right proud of you doin’ that, Bethie.”
Beth sighed in resignation. Her little sister had grown up, after all.