by Zina Abbott
Catherine spend the balance of the days she waited to leave her aunt’s house keeping it clean, which, with no furniture to speak of, was an easy task. She also worked in the garden. She had only planted a small garden, saving some of the seed she had harvested from the previous growing season to take with her to Colorado. She didn’t know if that high in the mountains she could grow the same plants she was accustomed to growing on the Kansas plains, but she would try.
It wasn’t for the sake of her cousin she cared for the house or planted a vegetable garden she would never harvest except for a few early salad greens and radishes; it was for the sake of the new family who were moving in late in the planting season. It was a matter of personal pride, that no matter what life threw her way, she would honor the home her aunt had welcomed her and her sister to until it was no longer hers to live in.
When she wasn’t busy with tasks around the house, making sure all her belongings were in the best condition, and re-reading Harold’s letters, she played with Sunny. The kitten had proven to be a blessing. It entertained her, distracted her from her grief, and gave her a positive outlook on life.
Two weeks after she mailed her letters to the Colorado Bridal Agency, she received what she had hoped for. Inside were not one ticket, but two—one for Andrea Dalton. She also received enough travel and incidentals money only for her. Mrs. Millard had said in her letter accompanying the tickets and money she took a chance on Andrea since she was Catherine’s friend, but she wouldn’t advance the travel money each contracted groom advanced towards a potential bride until Andrea had arrived and signed her contract.
Although Catherine’s wardrobe was not new, she felt it was sufficient. She made no plans to buy a new travel dress. She used some of it to buy food she needed for her to live off of until it was time to go to the Simpson’s house. She bought an inexpensive valise. The rest she planned to save to put towards her new home.
What worried Catherine was she had not seen Andrea at church the past two Sundays. She had to tell her there was a train ticket to Colorado for her, and they would leave on the last Monday in June. She suspected Mr. Dalton had been upset over her being gone so long the day they took the time for her to write her letter to Mrs. Millard. If he kept Andrea away from church the rest of the month of June, Catherine wasn’t sure what she would do. Would the pastor come with her that last Sunday night to sneak Andrea away from her house so she could catch the train?
On the appointed day, Pastor Simpson and two men from the church came to the house to load up Catherine’s trunk, packing barrel, valise and her. When she climbed into the wagon with the large wicker picnic basket, and he heard the sounds of a complaining Sunny coming from within, he raised an eyebrow at Catherine. They both looked down at the claws of the paw that had poked its way between the woven wicker. “What do you have in there? Is it what I think?”
Catherine turned to her pastor and smiled. “This has been my life-saver. It has gotten me through the doubts and fears of what lies ahead for me. It’s a kitten named Sunny. It was abandoned, just like me. Like me, we are going to a new home in Colorado.”
The Pastor Simpson laughed and shook his head. “You have never been abandoned, Catherine. The Lord is mindful of you. I just hope they will let you on the train with that kitten, for we have no need of another cat at our house.”
Catherine realized then she had not yet written and told the two men about Sunny. She shrugged it off, telling herself they would find out soon enough once she and Sunny arrived in Jubilee Springs.
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CHAPTER 7
~o0o~
The last Sunday in June, Catherine sighed with relief when she turned to look behind her and watched Andrea Dalton enter the church. It was her last Sunday attending Pastor Simpson’s little country church. She hoped it would be Andrea’s last Sunday too—for a good reason.
After the services were over, Catherine smiled and waved to well-wishers as she hurried over to Andrea. She grabbed Andrea’s arm to be sure she had her attention and pulled her off to the side so they would not be overheard. “I don’t care how you do it, Andrea, but you get yourself and whatever you want to bring with you to town first thing in the morning. You can leave the horse and pony cart at the livery and let your pa worry about it. Lizett Millard from the bridal agency said she has you matched up with at least two possible men to consider for husbands and she wants you there as part of the first group of brides to arrive in Jubilee Springs.”
Catherine watched as Andrea nearly collapsed with relief. Something told her the situation at the Dalton house might be more desperate for Andrea than what anyone suspected. Now was the time to assure her friend she had a future away from her pa and his ranch. “She sent your ticket with mine. Our train that will take us to Denver leaves at nine o’clock. Make sure you’re there in plenty of time.”
That Monday morning, Pastor Simpson along with another church member he had recruited, drove Andrea to the rail station and helped her make arrangements to get her trunk and barrel in the baggage car while she waited out of the way with her valise and the wicker basket holding Sunny. Mindful of the pastor’s warning that the railroad would not approve of pets in the passenger car, but would expect her to crate Sunny up to travel with her baggage, she did her best to not draw the attention of the rail personnel.
Catherine exhaled with relief as she watched Andrea rush towards her from the direction of the livery. All she carried with her was one valise, a fabric tow sack and a quilt folded and draped over her forearm. Catherine wondered if that was all Andrea owned, or only what she could get away carrying since she was running away. Catherine sent up a quick prayer that the woman’s father was already out working on the ranch by the time Andrea left, and he wouldn’t discover her missing until much later in the day—long enough for the train to be far away from Ellsworth. She waved at Andrea, motioning her to come over and join her on her bench.
“Hello, Andrea. I’m so happy you could get away.”
“Why are you talking so quietly? All the men are out riding fence, so no one should have followed me in town, least of all my pa.”
“Because I’ve got a kitten in this wicker hamper. Its name is Sunny. I don’t want it to wake up and cause a ruckus. I have to try to sneak him on the train with us before the conductor knows he’s here, because I can’t bear to crate Sunny up to ride with the baggage.”
Andrea’s eyes widened with surprise. “A kitten? I didn’t know you have a kitten.”
“I’ve only had it a few weeks. He was abandoned at the house right after the Sunday you wrote your letter. With all the changes in my life, Sunny has been such a comfort to me. I couldn’t leave the poor little thing behind to starve or be mistreated.”
“Couldn’t you have found a new home for the kitty?”
Catherine sighed. “Perhaps I should have. I’ll admit, I didn’t even try. It’s selfish of me, I suppose, but I just couldn’t bear to leave the kitten behind, not even with you coming as my friend.”
Andrea offered one of her shy smiles before her eyes dipped in embarrassment. “I’m happy you consider me your friend, Cat. I’m so grateful you are helping me like this.”
“Andrea, I’m happy to. Look at all the people helping me. It’s the least I can do to help someone else. Here, let me show you your ticket. Pastor Simpson will let us know when we can board.”
An expression of panic filled Andrea’s face. “The pastor knows I’m going?”
Catherine sought to reassure her. “Yes, and don’t worry. He said he won’t lie, but he sees no reason to tell your father or anyone else where you are going. I think he is of the opinion the two of us going on this venture together is good for both of us.”
Andrea nodded. She looked around, obviously worried. “I just hope my pa doesn’t figure out too soon I’m gone and try to come after me. I didn’t tell him where I’m going. I just left a quick note telling him I love him, bu
t had to leave. Still, I worry he’ll ask around and find out enough he’ll know where to come looking for me.”
Catherine stared at her friend in dismay. “That may be one bad thing about you coming with me, Andrea. Several people know I signed up with a bridal agency in Colorado and I’m going to a mountain town to marry a miner. If your pa figures out we are traveling together…well, let’s just hope you are married before he finds you. He won’t be able to do anything about it then.”
Just as Andrea nodded, Catherine looked up to see Pastor Simpson approaching. He motioned to the two women to follow him. Catherine turned to Andrea. “Come on. It’s time to board the train. You’ll be all right, Andrea. We’ll make it.”
Catherine handed both tickets to the pastor who handed them to the conductor and kept the man distracted as the two women boarded the train. Catherine led Andrea to a seat in the back and slid in next to the window. She planned to have Andrea help block the view to the kitten. Soon the whistle blew, and the wheels began to grind as the train moved out of the station. She waved to Pastor Simpson who waved back to her. Her sigh of relief that they had gotten away from Ellsworth without the conductor discovering the kitten or Mr. Dalton finding Andrea was not as loud as Andrea’s sigh of relief, but just as heartfelt.
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DENVER, COLORADO – end JUNE 1881
CHAPTER 8
~o0o~
Other than the train ride she barely recalled that had taken her and Caroline to Ellsworth, Kansas to live with her aunt, this was Catherine’s first trip on a train. In spite of the noise, dust and ash, she enjoyed looking out at the countryside. She found, though, during the times Sunny was awake, her time was focused on keeping him content, and, more importantly, quiet.
Unfortunately, the conductor had discovered the presence of the kitten a little over an hour west of Ellsworth. He had threatened to put both Catherine and Sunny off the train at the next station. It had taken all the charm Catherine could summon from within her, plus assurances from the passengers close to them to convince the conductor the kitten was no bother. He let her continue with Sunny, but warned when his shift was over and a new man came on to replace him, they may not be so lucky.
Catherine had come well-prepared to care for Sunny. She had used some of her expense money to buy a piece of oiled cloth which she cut in sections. One she kept in the bottom of the hamper so the kitten’s urine did not leak through. When a rag was wet, she sealed it in one of the quart canning jars she had brought along. She had milk and fed the kitten some of the scraps from her own meals. When they stopped at a station to eat, she and Andrea took turns staying outside of the restaurant to mind Sunny while the other went in for food. As they grew closer to Denver, Catherine realized Andrea had run out of her own money. She felt paying for her friend’s meals in exchange for her help with Sunny was well worth the expense.
Catherine wished she could assure Andrea all would work out for her. Andrea often looked out the windows. At times Catherine could tell she was merely enjoying the view. Other times, the expression of fear on Andrea’s face led Catherine to guess she feared her father may come after her and try to stop the train to take her back home.
Once they arrived in Denver, Catherine realized they were not the only women on the train destined to be brides for the men up in Jubilee Springs. As Mrs. Lizett Millard gathered her group of ladies around her, Catherine realized the very well dressed woman who had been reading a book on house management was also a bride. A fourth woman joined them.
Catherine was immediately impressed with Lizett Millard. Catherine guessed her to be about the same age she was. Mrs. Millard appeared to be full of confidence and so sophisticated. Her lilac dress and the white hat with a small plume perched on top of her chestnut hair gown were no doubt the height of fashion and set off her brown eyes. Catherine quickly felt at ease in Mrs. Millard’s presence.
First the matchmaker made arrangements to be sure everyone’s luggage was picked up to be transported to her house. Catherine thought between her trunk and packing barrel she had brought quite a bit with her, but another woman brought even more trunks.
All the brides squeezed into a Hansom carriage for the ride to Lizett Millard’s home. Catherine was grateful Sunny had chosen this time to take a catnap, for she was able to enjoy seeing the metropolis of Denver as they drove towards Mrs. Millard’s business and, what Catherine later learned, was also her home. Her aunt had owned a very nice home in Ellsworth, but it didn’t come near to the size and beauty of the dove gray house with white gingerbread trim that housed the Colorado Bridal Agency. Even the flowers out front were beautiful, although Catherine’s discerning eye noticed they had run wild and needed some care.
Once inside, Catherine and Andrea were shown to a room with a double size bed on a beautiful wrought iron frame. Grateful Andrea remained with her so she could help with the kitten, she waved good-by to the other two women. She had already come to the conclusion traveling with a kitten was a challenging task. She wondered what would happen when Mrs. Millard realized that she had the extra “passenger” along for the trip to Jubilee Springs.
Sunny chose that moment to wake up. In response to his scratching against the wicker to signal her he wanted out, she opened the picnic basket-turned-kitty carrier and lifted him down to the floor. Realizing they were in a strange place, Sunny stopped in his tracks and craned his neck to search his surroundings, no doubt looking for signs of danger. Not wishing the kitten to feel afraid, Catherine spoke to it in soothing tones. She then distracted the kitten by digging out of her valise a length of yarn she had brought and trailing over the dark red Persian rug next to the bed.
I’ll have to roll this carpet up so Sunny does not accidentally mess on it.
Soon the kitten tired. It hopped on the bed and curled in a ball next to the outside pillow. Catherine laughed as she gave her pet one last stroke across its head and down the tail to where it was tucked beneath paws. She turned to her friend. “I guess this is my side of the bed. You don’t mind, do you, Andrea? It will mean you sleep practically next to the wall.”
Andrea smiled and shook her head.
Aurelia poked her head into the room and announced. “Your turn, Cat. Lizett wants to see you in her office downstairs, and after you, she’ll see Andrea. It’s just down the stairs and to the right. She said to walk right in.”
Confident Andrea would keep an eye on the sleeping kitten, Catherine followed Aurelia’s directions and quickly found the office.
From behind a desk that seems to almost swallow her, Mrs. Millard rose to her feet and motioned Catherine to a seat. Catherine smiled at the woman responsible for providing her with a bright future. Without her business and her efforts to match her up to the potential grooms who would be the right match for her, she never would have found Harold.
“Welcome, Catherine. I hope you don’t mind me calling you by your first name. I prefer to address my brides by their first names, so I hope you will be comfortable calling me Lizett.”
Catherine’s smile widened at the invitation. “Thank you. I’d like that. Although, most of my friends call me Cat for short.”
“Wonderful. We got that out of the way.” The woman stopped to shuffle through piles of paper on her desk. “Here we are. You are from Ellsworth, and I matched you up with two men from Jubilee Springs, Harold Calloway and Aaron Brinks. How has your correspondence with these two men been going? Did both of them continue to write?”
“Yes, although I will admit I found I had more to write about with Harold—I mean, Mr. Calloway. Mr. Brinks is very nice, please don’t get me wrong. However, I did not feel we had as much in common. With Harold, though…” Catherine could not hold back from offering a sigh and a smile. “He and I seemed to connect with each other through our writing. I really think Sunny and I will end up with him.”
“Sunny?” Puzzled, Lizett studied Catherine for a second before she returned to shuf
fling through a stack of papers. I don’t recall you stating you have a child with you, and I didn’t see anyone with you when you rode here with the rest of us. Is this Sunny someone you intend to send for later?”
Catherine smiled as she shook her head. “No, Sunny came with me. Sunny is a kitten I have been keeping in an old picnic hamper while I have been traveling. Sunny was sleeping while we were in the carriage which is why you didn’t know I had the kitten with me.”
“A kitten? How on earth did you travel on the train with a kitten?”
Catherine bit the side of her lip and dipped her head. “I’m afraid I resorted to a little subterfuge. Most of the time I was able to sneak Sunny on, and by the time the conductor found out I had a pet with me, it was too late to do anything about it. One time, though, I resorted to bribery. Fortunately, that conductor had a weakness for pastries and dried fruit, so he turned a blind eye to letting me board with Sunny. And a few times, some parents seemed grateful we had the kitten along to distract their children from being bored and cranky.”
Lizett rolled her eyes. “If you say so. I am curious though. Whatever possessed you to bring a cat? If you want a cat, I’m sure they have some up in Jubilee Springs already.”
Catherine swallowed as she searched for the words to explain to Lizett why Sunny was so important to her. “Sunny wasn’t just any kitten. I was feeling very abandoned—cast adrift, you might say, as if no one cared if I lived or died. Then Sunny showed up in my yard. Actually, it was my late aunt’s yard, the one to the house I was being forced to move out of. The kitten had been dropped off and abandoned also. Knowing we were experiencing the same thing, I felt such a bond to it. I promised that kitten I would not turn my back on it. I had to bring it with me.” She finished weakly. “Andrea helped me care for Sunny so we disturbed the other passengers as little as possible.”