by Montana West
They walked excitedly toward the agency, which wasn’t that far from where they were. They found a tall, thin woman who frowned at them.
“What is it you want?” Mary wondered at her rudeness.
“Ma’am, my name is Mary Stewart and these are my siblings, Patrick and Helen.”
“What can I do for you?” The woman didn’t even invite them to sit.
“I saw your advertisement about sending young women to the West as Mail Order Brides, and I’m interested.”
“I see, and how old are you, Mary?”
“Sixteen years old, ma’am.”
“Would you leave these children behind when you go or do you want to carry them along?”
“Our parents died about a month ago and we have no one else. They are hardworking children, and I know they won’t be any trouble.”
The woman shook her head. “The men I represent would never accept a woman who goes to them with children. You’ll notice I mentioned that the woman should never have been married before, so they won’t even take young widows. I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”
Mary nodded, a defeated look entering her eyes. “I understand. Thank you for your time, ma’am.”
“Wait,” the woman called out as Mary turned to leave. “If you can leave the children with someone, then I can send you to a man out in the West. In fact, I have about three men who want wives immediately, so you can be on a train out west as early as tomorrow.”
Mary didn’t even think twice. “I’m sorry, Patrick and Helen are more important to me than finding a husband in the West. They’re my responsibility, and I could never leave them behind. I love them too much to do that.”
The woman had a slight sneer on her face. “Suit yourself, but just know that no man would ever take someone with such responsibilities as yours. The best thing you can do for yourself is find someone to mind those two.”
“Thank you, but no thanks,” Mary said firmly and herded her siblings out of the small office.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Mary, it’s finally happening for us!” Patrick was excited as they sat on the platform waiting for the train to arrive. “We are finally leaving New York forever.”
“I’m just happy that we don’t have to play cat and mouse games with Mister Winters and Mister Tongs ever again,” she agreed. She couldn’t believe that in just a short time, they would board a train that would take them all the way to Reunion, Nebraska, where she was going to be someone’s wife. As Patrick had said, better be a godly man’s wife than end up as the mistress of another.
After being sent away by the first agency, Mary had been in despair. But then Patrick came up with another suggestion. “You heard the woman; she said no one will want you if you have us.”
“And my stand is that I’d rather suffer here in New York than leave you and Helen behind.”
“Mary, listen to me. You can go to another agency, but then don’t tell them about us. After they find a man out there and he invites you over, then we will travel with you. Once we get to wherever it is, you can then let the man know about us.”
“Won’t that be deceitful? What if the man won’t welcome us to his home?”
“Then we shall find work on a farm. I know that we can find something to do out there, Mary. If worse comes to worst, then we’ll go and live in the forest.”
“Patrick, you’re now being very funny. How would we survive in the forest?”
“We’ll eat wild fruit and hunt like our ancestors used to long, long ago. That is certainly better than what is happening out here.”
Mary had followed his suggestion, which was the reason they were now waiting for a train out west. She had found another agency, and the manager had been more pleasant.
“I’m Samantha Wood, the owner of this agency. I started it for young ladies like you who want to go out west and be brides to good men. Are you sure that you’re sixteen?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, to confirm, I’ll need your birth certificate. Unfortunately, your parents are dead or else I would have asked for a confirmation from them.”
“If my parents had still been alive, they would never let me do this,” Mary responded sadly. “It’s because I’m desperate that I want to go and become someone’s wife.”
Samantha looked at her with a slight frown. “What is going on in your life, Mary? Please tell me, and then I’ll see how best to help you.”
“Apparently, at the time of his death, my father owed so much money to almost everyone and we’ve lost everything. Those who were my father’s so-called friends have been coming to the house and want me to compromise my virtue.”
“Don’t ever do that,” Samantha was horrified. “I’ll find you a man immediately. Give me one or two days.” She didn’t even insist that Mary produce her birth certificate.
When Mary went back the next day, after once again evading Lawrence and Peter, she found Samantha waiting for her. “Look, there’s a man in Reunion, Nebraska who wants a wife urgently. Apparently, he is twenty-four years old and if he doesn’t marry in two weeks’ time, he’ll lose his inheritance. His name is Daniel Silverstein.”
“I’ll go. I’m even ready to leave right now.”
“Too much pressure, huh?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then I’ll send you to him. He’s even sent more money than you need because he wants his bride-to-be to travel first class and be very comfortable.”
Mary could barely sit still after that, and when Samantha handed her an introduction letter and enough fare for her travel, she immediately ran home to tell her brother and sister who were waiting.
“We have to leave tonight, because Mister Lawrence might just come and break down the door. He was so angry this morning when I escaped from him.”
And now here they were, waiting for the train that would take them to their new life in the West. Though she tried to remain calm, Mary was anxious just in case anyone had been following them. Immediately after the train arrived, she pushed her siblings in and joined them.
They had taken third class tickets so the money would be enough, and still had a reasonable amount left over.
CHAPTER SIX
Mary and the two children stepped off the train when it got to Nebraska. It was early afternoon and they were exhausted but happy to be far from their tormentors in New York.
“Do you know what Daniel Silverstein looks like?” Patrick asked his sister, looking around him. Helen stood close to Mary, as if afraid that she would be snatched away in the melee at the station.
She shook her head. “I’ve no idea, but what we’ll do is wait until the station clears up, and the person remaining will probably be the man we’re looking for. I just hope he agrees to keep us all.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Patrick scratched his ear. “We’re here now. How will he know if we have arrived?”
“Missus Wood sent him a telegram to tell him I was on the way. She didn’t know about you, so he’s probably looking for a woman who is alone.”
The station cleared quickly, and soon there were just a few people left. A tall man walked toward them. Mary’s heart began to pound. Could this be her groom after all? He was handsome, but there was a hardness around his lips and she felt slightly afraid.
“Are you Mary Stewart? Mrs. Wood sent me a telegram so I would look out for a sixteen-year-old, but she didn’t tell me anything about any children also.”
“Yes, sir. My name is Mary Stewart and these are my siblings. I couldn’t leave them in New York because we have no one.”
His lips tightened and he looked angry. “This is exactly why agencies and newspapers can’t be trusted. Mrs. Wood made me believe that you were a single girl traveling alone. I don’t want to take on responsibilities that I’m not prepared for.”
“Please, sir.” Mary reached out a hand and touched his arm. He stared pointedly at it and she hastily withdrew. “We’re hard working and will not give you any trouble at a
ll. It’s just that I was so desperate, and couldn’t leave my brother and sister behind.”
“I didn’t want a woman with dependents because they’re more trouble than they are worth. You’re on your own now.”
“Sir, we will work on your farm even for free, just as long as you give us a place to stay and some food. We won’t be any trouble, I promise you.”
“I’m sorry.” He turned around and walked away.
The three of them walked to an empty bench and sat down. They had light luggage since they had decided to leave everything else behind since they didn’t know where they were headed.
“Mary, what will happen to us now?” Helen’s voice trembled slightly. “I’m hungry.”
“God will take care of us,” Mary said, trying not to show her siblings how dejected she was. “He takes care of the orphans in their trouble, and He won’t abandon us.”
“Helen, I think I have a small piece of cake left,” Pat dug into his pocket and took out a wrapped package. “Here you go.”
Mary leaned back and closed her eyes tiredly. She felt completely drained, but somehow there was hope in her heart. She didn’t have to fear every knock that sounded at the door, or cringe at every footfall on the porch. That life was far behind, and after they’d rested for a while, they would walk to the sheriff’s office and ask for help.
“Why, hello there.” She heard Pat say. She quickly opened her eyes to find a small girl of about two years old smiling at him. He held out a hand and she came to him. “What’s your name, and what are you doing here?”
“Whose child is that, Pat?”
“I don’t know. She just appeared from nowhere, Mary.” The child looked at the three of them and when Mary finally held out her arms, she toddled over to her.
“You’re such a beautiful baby, where did you come from?” Mary looked at the nearly empty station now. “Pat, walk along the platform from one end to the other and see if you can see anyone who is looking for this child. She has to belong to someone.”
Patrick went around three times, but each time he returned shaking his head. “I’ve asked and asked, and as you can see, the station is almost empty. It’s as if this child came from nowhere.”
“We have to find out who she is. Someone must be anxiously looking for her.”
“Mary, do you think her mother or father will come back?”
“I don’t know, Pat. Let’s wait for about an hour, and if no one comes, we can then go and find the sheriff or a policeman or something.” Mary looked down at the small blond head that was nestled at her bosom. The child was fast asleep.
***
Joram looked at the sleeping woman and wanted to cry. This wasn’t the Sarah he’d last seen three years ago when he’d visited her and her husband in Linton. Then, she’d been full of life and very healthy, unlike the almost skeletal woman he had brought to hospital from the train station.
Just a few days ago, he had received a letter from Sarah, informing him that Mark had died and she was coming to him. He had sent a telegram and told her to come as soon as she could, and she’d sent a telegram back telling him when she would be arriving.
She had arrived on an earlier train and by the time he got to the station, two trains had gone by and his sister was lying on one of the benches unconscious. He picked her up along with her carpetbag and carried her to his buggy, rushing her to hospital where the doctor said she was suffering from a serious bout of malaria and cholera.
Joram frowned when he recalled what the doctor had asked him as Sarah was being admitted. “You say she’s your sister; was she traveling alone?”
“I believe so, why?”
“I don’t think this young lady was alone. She keeps calling out the name of Amanda, yet you say her name is Sarah.”
“Yes, Sarah Brooke Collins. Her husband is dead and I don’t know of anyone called Amanda.”
“Well, when she wakes up we shall find out because she seems quite agitated as she is calling out that name.”
Who was Amanda, and why had his sister been calling out her name? He wondered. Or maybe she was just delirious and had been calling out the name of a friend or neighbor back in Linton.
Sarah began stirring and after a few moments, she opened her eyes. “Where am I?” she asked weakly.
“You’re in the hospital, Sarah. You need to rest, but the doctor says you’ll be fine.”
She nodded slightly. “Where’s Amanda?”
“Who’s Amanda?” But Joram found that he was talking to himself because she had drifted off once again. Maybe Sarah had traveled with a friend named Amanda, but when he found her lying unconscious on the bench, there was no one with her.
He would find out more when she woke up.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Mary’s hands were tired from carrying the sleeping child. When one hour had elapsed at the station, she had beckoned a porter and asked him to show them the sheriff’s office. By good luck, the sheriff was still in.
“Young lady, you look like you’re carrying a very heavy load.” Martin Clay looked at the disheveled children. “Take a seat before you collapse.”
“Thank you, this child is really heavy.”
“So what can I do for you?”
“My name is Mary Stewart and these are my siblings, Patrick and Helen. We arrived from New York on the train. I was coming to be married to Mister Daniel Silverstein.”
“Oh, I see, so he didn’t show up to pick you up from the station?”
“No sir, he came, but,” she sighed, not knowing how to explain their situation to the sheriff. He had kind eyes, and she prayed that he would take care of them.
“I’ve seen this happen before, some young studs send for brides from the East and when the poor women get here, they are rejected. Thankfully, there are a number of men who are still looking for wives, so you should be all right. But you look too young to have a baby.” He pointed at the sleeping child.
“Sir, this little one isn’t mine. While we were seated at the station wondering what to do after being abandoned by Mister Silverstein, this child came up to us. We’ve searched all over the station to find out who she belongs to. We didn’t find anyone who claimed her, so we decided to come and bring her to you, so you could tell us what we can do.”
“And you say you didn’t see who had this child?”
“No, sir,”
“That is so strange.” Martin scratched his beard. “Who would just abandon a child at the train station? Or maybe she strayed from a parent who was on the train and got left behind.”
“I don’t know. We didn’t notice the child until the station was clearing up.”
“It’s a good thing that reckless man abandoned you at the station, because the Lord led this poor child to you. Now, you have responsibility for her until I can find out who she belongs to.”
“Sir, we have nowhere to stay. How can I take care of this child?”
Martin smiled kindly and Mary knew that it would all be all right. “My dear, there’s no way I’d also abandon you. What I’ll do for tonight, since you’re very tired, is that I’ll take you to my sister who runs an inn. She’ll put you up for tonight as we think about what to do. I know Maggie will give you a bed and some hot food to eat. Let me just get the buggy so I can drive you over. It’s a walking distance from here, but you four look extremely tired, and I don’t want to put any more burdens on you.”
“You’re very kind, sir.”
“Out here in Reunion, we look out for each other, so you’ve came to the right place. Even though that pup abandoned you, just be sure that in a few days’ time, you’ll have found someone to marry you. Most of the people in Reunion are kind souls, and when they hear that you rescued this child, they will want to help you as much as possible. Wait here.”
***
Sarah woke up and opened her eyes slowly. She could tell that it was nighttime because of the gas lamp in the room. She looked over to the sleeping man and sighed inwardly. Her brothe
r looked troubled even in sleep and she didn’t want to disturb him.
They hadn’t seen each other for three years, and she regretted that she was the one who stopped communicating with him. She had wanted to tell him about the birth of her daughter. Then she gave a small cry. Where was Amanda?
“Sarah, what’s wrong?”
“My baby, where’s Amanda?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Joram.” She clutched his hand, a look of terror on her face. “Where is Amanda?”
“Who’s Amanda?”
“My two-year-old daughter.”
“What did you say, Sarah? A daughter? I had no idea that you had a child!”
“I had her when I got off the train. She was sleeping but I was so tired, so I put her down on the bench next to me.”
“Sarah, when I got to the station, I found you alone and unconscious. There was no child beside you, and since I saw how poorly you looked, I immediately brought you to the hospital.”
“No,” Sarah moaned and a nurse rushed in. “Please, find my little girl. Go Joram, find my little girl!”
“I promise that I’ll find her,” Joram said with false confidence. He’d had no idea that he had a niece, and he wondered where he would even begin looking for her.
On his way out of the ward, he asked the nurse to take care of Sarah for him. “Please keep her calm, let me find Sheriff Martin and tell him what’s happening.”
The sheriff wasn’t in and neither were any of his deputies. The office was locked, so Joram rushed to the train station to see if he could find out if the child had been seen by anyone. Why hadn’t Sarah told him about her daughter all this time? They had been apart for three years, but that wasn’t reason enough for her to have kept something like the birth of a child from him. Amanda was his niece, for crying out loud, what would he do if he never found the child? Sarah was already in a terrible way from the loss of her husband. She would go to pieces completely if she also lost her child.
He sat down on one of the benches at the station. “Dear Lord, You see and know all that happens in our lives. Sarah never mentioned that she had a baby, and so I wasn’t even aware of her existence. Please forgive me for being negligent, and help me find this little girl. Please, Lord, lead me to find my niece, in Jesus’ name, amen.”