by Danni Roan
“At least the kids are making some friends at school,” George said the checker game all but forgotten. “Georgie seems to be getting on well with Billy Stanley. I don’t know if I should be happy or terrified.”
Byron’s laugh snapped George out of his musing and he smiled getting back into the game. “I think as long as he don’t team up with Toby it might be safe,” the hostler chimed.
George chuckled, thinking about the boys of Biders Clump who seemed to have a knack for causing mayhem in the town. “Toby is doing pretty good nowadays,” he grinned. “Since Willem married Lucinda, and she’s got the boy studying Botany, Toby isn’t in nearly as much trouble anymore.”
“Botany?”
“Grady taught me that word,” George grinned. “It means the study of plants and the like.”
Byron nodded. “Billy and Toby haven’t been in any real scrapes lately,” Byron sighed, “matter of fact the town’s been downright quiet lately.”
“I hope you ain’t complainin’ about that,” George gaped. “We don’t need any more excitement in these parts. We’ve had a bank robbery, a stampede, a blizzard, and a half dozen other things.”
“Like that little school teacher who couldn’t handle a horse and just wandered around on the plains for a half a day?” Byron asked with a bark of laughter.
“Yes, just like that. “ Good thing Rock was able to help Miss Bigsby out,” he grinned knowingly.
“You mean Mrs. Rock now,” Byron laughed.
“There does seem to be a rash of weddings in Biders Clump,” George grinned feeling a flicker of joy. It was something to see people getting on with life even in sad times. “Folks keep Pastor Dalton busy for sure.”
“Grampa?” a boy’s voice echoed into the interior of the livery stable and George stood hurrying from the little office at the front of the big barn to see his older grandson waiting for him.
“What’s wrong?” George asked his dark eyes worried.
“Nothing” Mark said. “Grandma wants you to come and help me and Georgie bring in wood.”
“Oh, all right,” George grinned ruffling the boy’s dark-hair. “I’ll come back to finish the game tomorrow Byron,” he called over his shoulder taking his grandson’s hand and heading toward the boarding house.
“Grandpa, do you think Pa will come down to dinner tonight?” the six-year-old asked as they stepped onto the boardwalk. “I haven’t seen him in two days. Don’t he love us anymore?”
George Olson’s heart constricted in his chest as sorrow threatened to overwhelm him. “Mark,” he said, kneeling before the boy and meeting his gaze. “You’re pa loves you. He brought you here for me and your grandmother to help look out for you when he felt he couldn’t for a spell. He needs a little time to adjust to the loss of your ma, but he still loves you.”
Mark looked into George’s brown eyes, his face serious as he pondered the words. “I miss Ma,” he said quietly, “but I haven’t left my family.”
Chapter 4
Ellery Olson crept along the hall of his old home guided more by memory than the pale moonlight filtering through the window at the end of the hall.
On silent feet he stopped, peering in the door of the room at the top of the stairs where his two girls slept. The room was pretty, carefully decorated in a feminine floral wallpaper of green with large yellow cabbage roses on it. He knew Alyssa must love the space, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask her. His mother was better suited to seeing to the needs of his intelligent, and practical eldest child.
Little Sophie rolled over in the white crib near the door and Ellery held his breath not wanting the babe to wake. She was the most beautiful baby in the world and with her mother’s warm, rich, expressive green eyes.
Turning away, the lean man moved to the room along the hall pausing to watch his boys sleeping. Mark was getting so big and had so many questions, and Georgie, well Georgie was loud, loveable, and imaginative. The boy had inherited that spark that Alice had. A brightness of spirit that seemed to pull everyone into a special glow when they were near.
Ellery closed his eyes, resting his head against the doorjamb as a lump rose in his throat once more. As much as he loved his children, he wasn’t the man they needed right now, and it was easier to stay away instead of seeing his Alice in every aspect of them. He was broken, shattered, and incapable of facing his own children. Even the way they laughed, the joyful exclamation of a new discovery, the soft light in their dark green eyes reminded him of what he had lost, filling him with fear and dread.
Turning away Ellery made his way down the stairs to the front door where he let himself out into the dark silence of a cool spring night and a blissful silence that stifled everything else.
The town of Biders Clump was peaceful in the light of a big moon. No lamps spilled golden light into the street and not a single soul seemed to stir. The quiet washed over Ellery as he headed down the street peering into shop windows as he tried to recall happier days.
At thirty-six Ellery had been away from the tiny town at the foot of the Rockies for a long time. He had traveled east to apprentice as a cabinetmaker and had married his boss’s daughter. They had been happy and though they had found a few times to visit his home, it was usually his parents who traveled to see them, especially when a new grandchild was born.
Now it seemed that he was struggling to reconnect with the folks he had left behind so many years ago even though he loved them and knew they wanted the best for him and his children. Deep inside he could feel that he was damaged, disconnected from the rest of the world by grief and fear.
Over the past few weeks he had heard his mother fussing about the fact that he didn’t come to meals, or reminded the children that he loved them, but he needed a little time to rest. His heart sagged at the memory, but he couldn’t seem to pull himself out of the darkness his soul had slipped into.
A stray cat trotted across the boardwalk, a mouse locked in its jaws and Ellery admitted that loss and depression had as firm a grip on him as the cat had on the dead mouse. The only difference was that he still had a chance. He lived, he breathed, and he even ate the meals his mother left for him on the stove each night. It just didn’t seem worth the fight.
“Perhaps when the weather warms,” the dark-haired man mused, “I’ll snap out of it and be worth something again.”
***
“I don’t know George, it don’t sound like a good idea,” Byron said scratching his whiskers as George leaned over the checkerboard again. “It could go terrible wrong.”
George poked a finger at the paper in front of him and nodded. “I know it could, but I can’t think of anything else to do. Something needs to happen for all of us. Polly is plumb wore out worrying. The children are starting to think their pa don’t love ‘em anymore, and well, I’m weary. Between them young’uns, things getting busier at the Boarding House, and Ellery practically a hermit, we need some help.”
“I know George,” Byron nodded. “It’s been three months and he’s still keepin’ himself locked in that room most days. I’ve seen him outside all of three times since he arrived.”
“If nothin’ else, it would mean we have someone else to help with the children, and it sounds like this person is qualified.”
“It does,” Byron agreed looking down at the paper, “but I don’t think this is what the ad is about.”
“Well it won’t hurt to write and see will it,” George’s voice was sharp, defensive.
“I reckon it couldn’t hurt to write and see,” the old hostler agreed giving in to his friend. “You and Polly can’t be expected to raise them children on your own, and even with Grady and Becky around; they have a life of their own.”
Chapter 5
“Ernie, you can’t be serious?” Mrs. Barker said scowling at the young woman who stood before her. “You don’t know anything about that town, or those people. You can take a job right here at home.”
“Rose I know you mean well, and you’ve been a ble
ssing to me since I finished my job as governess to Mr. Richards, but you’re not reading between the lines. There’s more to this offer than meets the eye.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Rose Barker said. “Folks lie all the time. What if you get out there and they don’t need you, or have changed their mind?”
“Well then I’ll have seen something more of our country,” Ernestine Haven said lifting her pert nose in the air. “I’m thirty years old already,” she continued brushing her dark hair from her face. “I’ve had two very good jobs but no real adventure. “ I want to see what comes of this. I can always change my mind you know.”
“I wish you would,” Rose snapped, “but if you’re determined, I’ll help you pack.” The older woman shook her head. It wasn’t like Ernie to fly off so far away. She’d only worked in their home state of Iowa, and to go so far west seemed excessive. Still she loved the girl as if she were her own and would help her in any way she could.
“Thank you,” Ernie said hugging the buxom older woman who ran the boarding house where she now lived. “I have a feeling that this is what I’m truly meant to do,” she added releasing her friend and turning to study the letter one more time. “I can’t explain it, but there’s something unspoken in these words. There is a need far greater than I can understand.”
Dear Miss Haven,
My name is George Olson and my grandchildren have recently come to live with my wife and me in Biders Clump.
Their ma died ya see and their Pa ain’t up to lookin’ after them. Me and Polly Esther are getting up in age, and we believe that a governess might be just the thing to help us all along. We run the boarding house in town and can provide you with room, board, and a small salary.
I saw your advertisement in a paper one of our guests left and felt that perhaps the situation might work out right for all of us.
Please let us know if you can come to Biders Clump and we will make arrangements. Do hurry if you can.
Respectfully Yours,
Mr. George Olson.
It hadn’t been the simple straightforward letter that had tugged at Ernie’s heart; no, it was something between the words that remained unsaid. A silent plea for help that went further than the call for someone to tend young children. It was the call of a wounded heart and she heard it clearly.
“I’m coming Mr. Olson,” Ernie sighed pressing the letter to her heart. “I’ll do what I can.”
***
“I hope this don’t blow up in your face,” Bryon said with a grimace as George explained what he had done.
“It’s done,” George snapped slapping his knee. “So you can stop making that horrible face.”
“I ain’t making that face for you,” Bryon growled as the sound of a horse’s hooves drifted into the office. “That’s Chip comin’.”
“Chip,” George said, “I’m leavin’. The boarding house is bustlin’ and I have chores.”
“Coward,” Bryon said as George headed for the door at a quick pace. “You’d better get at and tell Polly about your letter as well,” he yelled after the boarding-house keeper. “She might not be happy to share her home with another woman.”
“Good morning, George,” A young woman with dark curls called grinning down from the back of a big brown and white pinto. “Headed home so soon?” she laughed as the horse laid his ears back and rolled his eyes at George. “Aaron and I were just out for a ride,” she looked down at the little boy sitting in front of her on the saddle, his small hands twisted in the horse’s mane.
“Howdy Jill, Aaron,” George nodded. “I’m headed home,” he continued keeping his distance. Chip was notorious for his mean spirit and aggressive attitude toward people even if the beast did love Jill and Aaron with a fierce loyalty. “You keep that beast of yours over there while I leave,” he added. “Polly don’t need to be sewing my back pockets on again with everything else she has to do at home.”
“Pocket’s?” Byron stepped from the office and glared at the big horse. “You get too close and she’ll be sewing your fingers on if you ain’t careful.”
Jill Nelson threw back her head as dark curls danced around her face, and her bright eyes sparkled. “I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” she smiled, swinging her three-year-old son to the ground. “Why Chip wouldn’t hurt a fly,” she giggled. The younger Mrs. Nelson knew how terrible Chip could be, but to her and her son he was gentle as a lamb.
“No, Chip would hurt a whole lot more than a fly,” Byron protested. “I reckon that’s why your husband kept him so long. As a Marshall having a horse as dangerous as this one would be a real help in times of danger.”
“Chip has played his part in capturing a few bad men,” Jill admitted. “Ty told me several stories. I remember all too well the last real outlaw he brought in,” she added. “After all, I was there.”
“Maybe that Cayuse is a good watch dog, but it ain’t much fun when your own horse treats you as bad as he does anyone else,” George said with a shake of his head. “I’d better get on home,” he finished turning and heading down the street as Jill stepped down from the saddle to join her son.
“C’mon Chip,” Aaron said gesturing for the horse to follow as Bryon ducked back into the safety of his office watching in wonder when the cantankerous critter followed the boy like some sort of overgrown puppy.
“Confounded beast,” Byron grumbled only to see Jill laughing at him. “Tywyn will be in later,” she smiled following her son and the ornery horse. “He’ll fetch Chip, but I’ll put him in a stall since he doesn’t like you.”
“Doesn’t like me? The only people that demon horse likes is you and your boy,” Byron finished by slamming the door.
***
“Is that you George?” Polly called as the back door opened. “I thought you’d be with Byron a bit longer. Did you win the checkers game?”
“No, Jill and Aaron came to town and neither me nor Byron wanted to be in the stable with Chip around.”
Polly chuckled. The house was quiet with the children at school and little Sophia was sleeping sweetly in a basket in the office.
“That horse is a terror,” she laughed, “but Ty always knows his wife and son are safe with the brute. Nothin’ will get past Chip.”
“True enough,” George chuckled. “Just look at what it did to that auto-mobile of Jasper Williams when he splashed the boy with mud.”
Polly grinned, she’d heard the tale a few times and couldn’t help but smile. Chip had torn a part of the contraption right off.
“You got any cookies?” George asked slipping into a chair wearily. “I thought we could talk.”
Polly turned from the sink where she had been peeling potatoes her blue eyes wide. “What’s wrong George? Did something happen?”
“No, no,” George assured still staring at the table. “Just had a few things to tell you.”
Polly looked at George a bevy of suspicions filling her mind, but she pulled the old tin from beside the stove and took out some cookies. The tin didn’t stay full as long anymore with so many children in the house, but each week she tried to make a batch of cookies or other treats.
Placing the cookies on a plate and setting it on the table Polly turned back and gathered cups filling them with coffee before taking a seat.
George didn’t look upset, or sad, but she could tell there was something on his mind. Ever since she had received the letter from Ellery earlier that winter, she couldn’t help but fear something else bad was going to happen. Each night she prayed for the safety of all her loved ones, yet the nagging feeling persisted.
“Now I don’t want you to be mad,” George said as Polly poured cream into her cup. “I sent for a governess for Ell’s kids.” George blurted his eyes fixed on his wife’s face so intently he didn’t see the cream pooling on the table as she lost focus on her cup.
“You did what?” Polly whispered, too shocked to speak any louder.
“Polly! The cream!” George yelped grabbing the pit
cher from her hands and setting it on the table while Polly grabbed a dish towel, sopping up the mess.
“George, what did you do?” Polly chided as she tossed the dishcloth in the sink without care.
“Now honey I asked you not to get mad,” George said taking his dark eyes imploring. “You know it’s hard on both of us having four children in the house. Yes, I know you love having them here and all, but what about when the house gets busy again? The summer trains will be running soon, and so many folks come out to see the wonders of the area that we’ll be swamped.”
“But George,” Polly tried only to be cut off again.
“Becky can’t be expected to work late everyday helping out with little Sophia. Grady needs her at home after school as well, and as much as she loves the kids, she’ll be just as busy as we are keeping up with folks comin’ and goin’ around here. Besides what if she over tires herself, and she may have a bad spell again.”
“But why a governess?” Polly said trying to push her annoyance away. It wasn’t often that her George did something without talking it over first, so he must have a good reason for it, but it chafed to think he felt she wasn’t able to look after her own grandchildren.
“There was this here advertisement you see,” George hedged. “A woman that had been workin’ as a governess and now was looking for a change. I wrote to her and she sent references and the like. She can have room and board here just like Becky did at the start, and we’ll pay her a bit extra until Ellery is more himself again.”
Polly gazed into her husband’s brown eyes seeing the doubt, worry, and care in their depths and nodded. “I wish you would have talked to me first,” she admitted feeling hurt, “but I think you’re right. A woman like that can help them with their homework, or take them on outings when we’re busy. Someone like Rock’s Miss Bigsby who is old enough to know how to care for children but not so busy they get left out.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about it earlier,” George said reaching out and taking his wife’s hand. “I knew you’d balk though, so I went around you. I hope you understand.”