by Savanna Sage
The older woman shook her head sadly. “I hope I may see you again, dear Miss Emily. I have family here and I am not rugged enough to leave New York and go to Colorado. But I will help you pack now and send a message to my brother to pick you up and take you safely to the train station. Your mother would never forgive me if I did not make sure you are safe.”
~ ~ ~
Joseph studied the mercantile he and his partners had pooled all of their earnings to rent and stock. It was beautiful.
They had miner’s cloth hats and Sticking Tommies — candlesticks that could be stuck into walls or attached to hats — and lunch buckets, tools of all sorts. Anything a miner might need — and they knew because they’d been miners. Still were. They were still each taking turns and working one day a week at the mine, hoping that one day there might still be gold to be found.
But they were concentrating on the store now. This store that had everything one might need.
Except enough customers.
Joseph caught Robert’s eye. His friend said, “McMurphy’s Mercantile is doing just fine. Too fine.”
Their competitors had been in business for the past two years. Its success — and Uriah’s words — had been one of the reasons the three of them had decided to go into the mercantile business three months ago. Unfortunately, their Miner’s Own Mercantile was not having the success of the other store.
Yet, he reminded himself.
The door opened and the two turned toward the sound, hopefully.
It was not the hoped for customer, but their own personal angel.
Ruth Easterwood, the pastor’s wife, was the only woman who regularly passed through their doors, since they specialized in equipment for miners. She felt sorry for them and always brought them something good to eat.
“Evening, Mrs. Easterwood,” Joseph said with a smile.
Robert echoed his sentiments.
The pleasantly plump matron smiled brightly at them and began her conversation the same way she always did, by saying, “You poor men, living alone. I brought you my special Lemon Cream Cake to help cheer you up. It’s been known to bring grown men to their knees.”
Robert reached beneath the counter and pulled out a washed plate, the one she’d brought her special Honey Cake over on last week, and exchanged it for the one she currently held. He sniffed. “This smells divine, Mrs. Easterwood. I declare, you are the best cook in this county.”
The woman giggled. “Oh, stop it.”
“Really, you are,” Joseph added. And she truly was.
“When are you boys going to get hitched? You can’t continue living above the store, just the three of you. You need to build homes and start families.”
“We need more customers for that, Mrs. Easterwood,” Joseph admitted. “Right now, we’re saving boarding house money by living above the store.”
“Well, you’re good with people, Joseph. Surely that ought to count for something.”
“Not all people, Mrs. Easterwood,” Robert said with a wink. “Just men. Joseph was raised with brothers, no sisters, and he doesn’t know what to do with women.”
“Why, you’re just fine around me,” she said.
“Because I consider you as my replacement mother,” Joseph said. “The woman who loves me unconditionally and brings me cakes.”
“Besides,” Robert went on, teasing now, “Joseph is somewhat disreputable. Did you know he used to be a boxer?”
“No!” Mrs. Easterwood looked shocked — and a little intrigued. “Truly? Fisticuffs?”
Joseph nodded. “I was good at it, too.”
“Well, if things go badly in the store, perhaps you can go back to that.”
Joseph laughed. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.” They weren’t going to make the mortgage payment on this place with his boxing. And that payment was coming due soon.
She patted their arms. “Don’t give up hope, gentlemen. Pray and the Lord will provide for you as you need.”
“Thank you,” Joseph said, touched by her faith, both in the Lord and in them.
After she left, they began to clean up, preparing to close the store.
He spotted their third partner walking past the window. A moment later, Henry walked in and, knowing their unasked question, he shook his head as he entered. No gold found today, either.
Henry flipped the sign to CLOSED, locked the door, turned to them, and exhaled deeply.
Thomas said, “We’ve got to do something to bring in more money or we’re going to lose our store.”
Joseph nodded his agreement. “We’d better start working two days each in the mine and thinking of other ideas.”
Henry said, “Maybe old Uriah was wrong.”
Thomas shrugged. “The McMurphys seem to be doing all right.”
“If I never hear the name of McMurphy again,” Joseph said, “it will be too soon.”
~ ~ ~
“I'd like to offer you a permanent position with our family,” Mr. Dawson said. “You have been of immeasurable help to my wife as we traveled. You may take a few moments to mull this over.”
Emily did not need even one moment to make this decision. She had spent the last week during this train ride hoping to wrangle the couple's five rowdy, noisy, unruly children.
She smiled sweetly. “I feel truly honored, Mr. Dawson, but I have not seen my brother in four years. I must visit with him before committing myself to anything else.”
Mrs. Dawson looked crestfallen. “My husband will pay you generously for your time.”
As the train began to slow, jostling them in their seats, Mr. Dawson nodded in agreement, almost smugly. “Generously.”
Emily did not want to offend the Dawsons. She may even find it necessary to take the position in the future, though she would do everything in her power to make it not necessary.
The train jostled and slowed and jostled again.
“Thank you for the kind offer.”
Mr. Dawson said, “If you change your mind, look us up. We’ll be staying at the fancy hotel.”
Three of their boys wrestled their way between the seats and fell into Emily.
Oh, no. She would never be so destitute she would have to accept the meanies very generous offer.
Dear God, please let her never be that destitute.