by Emma Ashwood
Ruth gently smiled at her mother as she placed her books in the trunk, already wondering how she would close it. She had already filled one huge trunk and was now thinking she might need another. She had no idea why she had packed so much when she wasn’t sure of the possible outcome of her journey, but she was hopeful everything would turn out fine.
In his letters, Caleb Mason sounded like a very kind man, unlike David. To be honest, she had to admit that she couldn't wait to meet him. It came as a surprise to her that liking Caleb had come instantly and naturally.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she recalled how she would wait the weeks between letters, sitting on pins and tenterhooks. Oh, how she had wished then that a faster means of exchanging letters would be invented. His letters were worn and a little wrinkled at the edges from where she had held them, reading them over and over again. They became her bedtime reading, every night by the light of her lantern before she fell asleep. She would fold them back into their envelopes and place them under her pillow. There were nights when she dreamt of Caleb and his ranch. Caleb's face was usually in the shadows because she had no knowledge of how he looked but she always saw the wide expanse of land filled with animals. She wasn't a country girl, but she couldn’t wait for the adventure of milking cows, churning butter and collecting eggs from under broody hens.
It had seemed like a joke at first when she responded to his advert. She had giggled while writing back to him at Nanny Brown's insistence. Ruth had wanted to wait for another advert because Caleb's own pointed to someone to run his house, but she was glad now that the elderly woman had pushed her into writing to him. His first letter to her had explained his need for a wife, but also how the mail order bride concept was foreign to him and left him uncertain how to pen the advert. Ruth had found it endearing and she had replied that she didn't mind being both his wife and his housekeeper.
"Ruth! Ruth!"
She heard her name sharply called and jerked out of her daydreaming. Her face turned a reddish pink hue when her mother gave her a knowing look.
“Daydreaming again, I see.”
"I'm sorry, Mama," she immediately apologized. "I dread the new adventure I'm about to embark on, but I can’t help feeling excited. It's nothing compared to how I felt on my wedding day."
Her mother nodded in understanding and gathered her into her arms, blinking back her tears. They were still ensconced in the embrace when a maid politely knocked on the door to inform them that Nanny Brown was waiting downstairs to see them.
Ruth had moved in with Nanny Brown after the eviction from her late husband's house, much to her mother's displeasure. Margaret had felt insulted by the act, but she later came around and even called on them several times. She and Nanny Brown had become such good friends that they chatted for hours over cups of tea. Upon learning that her daughter would soon depart to parts unknown, Margaret had cajoled, threatened and pleaded for her daughter to at least spend some time with her before leaving. Hard put to refuse, Ruth had agreed but afterward regretted it because of the tension between her and her father at dinner times. The man seemed older than when she last saw him, and she had spitefully wondered if guilt was eating him up or whether his business wasn’t doing well again. She surmised it was a good thing she was leaving before his selfishness overtook him again.
"Tell her we'll be down shortly," her mother instructed, "and tell Charlie to fetch these trunks and load them in the carriage."
The maid left and mother and daughter stared at each other. Ruth knew her mother was putting on a brave front. Ruth could see in her eyes how she wanted happiness for her but would prefer she didn't leave. Margaret had balked at the idea of her going at first, but when Ruth had asked her what was left for her here, the distressed woman hadn't been able to come up with a convincing argument for her to stay.
"Well, we shouldn't keep Nanny Brown waiting," Ruth spoke into the edgy silence when she saw her mother's eyes watering.
The woman could only offer a nod and they left the room together. Nanny Brown was waiting in the drawing room with a forlorn look in her eyes. Mother and daughter came in and they exchanged pleasantries.
"I hope you're ready. You don't want to miss the train, do you?" The smile on her face didn’t look genuine.
Ruth shook her head, "I don't know if we should say our goodbyes now to avoid a teary scene at the station."
Nanny Brown laughed. It sounded choked for she too had come to love the gentle and loving girl like a daughter, especially during the months she lived with her in her small house.
"Teary goodbyes are never enough," she said into the emotionally charged atmosphere. She shared a look of understanding with Ruth's mother and continued, "Even if we cry now, we'd still cry at the station because we're going to miss you dearly."
Ruth sniffed back tears, "I'm going to miss you both so much."
She hugged first her mother and then the woman who had instigated her starting a new life somewhere else.
A servant arrived to inform them that the trunks had been loaded in the carriage and another was waiting to take them to the train station.
The three women left the house and climbed into the carriage with Ruth craning her neck out the window in the hopes that her father's carriage would draw up in time to bid her farewell and success in her endeavors. He had left the house very early that morning, stating urgent business to attend to. She had hoped he would surface before she left but he obviously didn't care about her. She sat back in the carriage and blinked back tears as it drew her away from the house she might never see again. Her mother, understanding her feelings, comforted her with a pat on her hand.
They got to the train station just in time to load her trunks before she was to board the train along with all the other passengers. The time had come for their final goodbyes. They stood on the platform staring at each other with tears glistening in their eyes. Margaret stepped forward and clasped her daughter’s face in her hands. Tears she had held back from the moment Ruth told her of her intention poured freely from her eyes.
“My darling girl, while I’m still skeptical about this venture, I know you have to leave to make something of your life. I can only apologize for not doing enough to prevent your unhappiness years ago. But I know you’ll be fine because you’re strong and can withstand anything.”
Ruth couldn’t put a stop to her own tears, “Oh, Mama. It wasn’t your fault.” She hugged her mother firmly as if she would never let go. Then she turned to the woman who had been nothing but kind since their meeting.
“Nanny Brown, I’m sure going to miss you. Thank you for everything.”
Nanny Brown smiled through her tears. “There’s nothing to thank me for, dear girl. Do take care of yourself and don’t have so much of a nice time out there that you’ll forget to write us.”
Ruth smiled through her tears and hugged the woman, “I promise to write always.”
The train blew its whistle, signifying it was time for all the passengers to board. Ruth hugged her mother again before she climbed aboard the crowded train.
“All aboard!” the train master shouted.
Minutes later, the train blew its whistle again and the chimes could be heard as it started its slow movement. Ruth, with tears still dripping from her eyes which she tried to dab with her handkerchief, waved at the two women who were also teary eyed as the train took her away to an adventure that would yet be determined as a terrible mistake or a very wise decision.
She sighed and sat back in her seat as she heard teary goodbyes between other passengers and their loved ones. She was enthusiastic about the exploit before her, but her heart remained broken at the loss of her daughter. She had tried with the help of Nanny Brown and her mother to find her, but her dead and deceitful husband had carefully hidden her whereabouts. But she would never give up hope. As surely as night turned into day, she knew she would find Maisie, and her beautiful daughter would never be far from her again.
She wiped the
tears from her eyes at the thought of the little girl she yearned to hold in her arms again.
“I’m not giving up on you, darling,” she whispered. “I’ll be back, and when I find you, I’ll never let you out of my sight again.”
Margaret and Nanny Brown were still standing on the platform staring at the train eating up the distance when Ruth’s father arrived to stand beside them. He hadn’t wanted to attend the farewell because he was filled with too much guilt at what his daughter had endured all because of him and what was the reason behind her leaving now. He had paced his office before the urge to see his little girl one last time before possibly never seeing her again had pushed him into rushing to the train station. Alas, his daughter was gone. Tears smarted in his eyes, so he turned away from the women as Nanny Brown excused herself and left.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye,” he muttered in a broken voice.
His wife sniffed beside him. “She’ll be back.”
“Do you think so?” he questioned with great doubt.
Margaret nodded. “Her search and yearning for Maisie will bring her back.”
“What if her new husband doesn’t allow her to come back? We might never see our little girl again.” His shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world was placed on them.
The woman smiled with self assurance. “From her descriptions of him, he’s honorable. David, if he had lived to old age, wouldn’t have been able to hold a torch to him, no matter how hard he tried.”
CHAPTER NINE
The Knowing Smile
It was a tough and arduous journey, but Ruth didn’t mind. The experience was one she would not likely forget in a hurry. For four days, she traveled deep ravines and rocky terrain that seemed to go on for miles. Passengers complained of the jostling but to Ruth it was all part of the experience.
Ruth slowly twisted to the side to watch the little girl sleeping in the arms of her mother and a nostalgic feeling hit her. She had made friends with the little girl and her mother during the tireless journey and she had played with the little girl a number of times. The woman was going to meet her husband who had gone in search of gold in the West. Having sourced a successful claim, he had sent for his family. Ruth wished that were her case, too. She wished that Maisie was Caleb’s daughter and that they were going to meet him to live happily ever after. Ruth had vaguely answered the woman’s question about her reasons for making the trip. With a small smile on her lips, she had simply said she was to join her husband too. Well, if things went as well between them as it had with their letters, her words would ring true.
She moved her gaze to the window and stared out at the belt of vegetation spread across the land. They were drawing close to their destination and her thoughts drifted to Caleb. How would he find her? Would he take one look at her and decide he didn’t want to have anything to do with her? Would he be able to read the deep sadness in her soul through the windows of her eyes? Or would she be the one repulsed by him? Would she discover a man with a deformed hump, one eye, and a crooked nose, who walked with a severe limp? She giggled as her thoughts ran wild. Whatever the case may be, she decided to accept him as he was. David had been handsome, but he had treated her with disdain. If Caleb happened to be as ugly as sin but also the kindest man in the world, she would marry him and make him the proudest husband ever. With that settled in her mind, she closed her eyes and allowed the soft hands of sleep to carry her away.
The train finally came to a stop at the station in Montana. Ruth sighed with relief. She didn’t think she would have been able to spend one more day in the cramped compartment. She alighted with the other passengers and claimed her luggage, looking all around her at the busy station as people went about their business. Joyous shouts and cheers could be heard all around as families reunited with loved ones. Ruth watched with tears in her eyes as the woman who sat beside her on the train found her husband and she and her daughter left their belongings and ran to him. The reunion was so emotional, Ruth was forced to look away. She stood with her two trunks and her reticule in her hands, looking lost as the other passengers started moving away after they had located their families.
Ruth suddenly noticed a man watching her and feared a joke may have been played on her if this was indeed Caleb Mason. The man was probably as old as her father with sandy, thinning brown hair beneath his brown cowboy hat. He hesitated a little before he strode forward…no, swaggered was the right word. He swaggered towards her. Oh, he did walk with a limp, albeit a slight one. A giggle escaped her lips in spite of her apprehension and she quickly schooled her features and smiled a little at him when he reached her.
“Miss Ruth Belmont?” he enquired with uncertainty. His deep masculine voice had a slight drawl.
She nodded and tentatively asked, with her heart in her throat, “Caleb Mason?”
The man must have heard her anxiety because a grin broke out on his face and he shook his head. ‘I wish! I’m Tucker Wilson, Caleb’s right hand man. Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
Ruth smiled at him, liking him on the spot. She wanted to ask why Caleb hadn’t come to fetch her personally, but she let it go, deducing it might cause an awkwardness during the ride to the ranch.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Wilson.”
He grinned again. “Please call me Tucker. Everyone does.’
She nodded. “Alright, Tucker. Call me Ruth.”
He nodded and his eyes fell on her trunks. “This be your luggage?”
She nodded. Before she could warn him about the weight, he had lifted one onto his shoulder and carried it back to deposit it on his wagon a short distance away. He returned for the second trunk, and she followed him. She had never been in a wagon before, but she enjoyed the ride and the scenic view of lush grasslands.
“It’s beautiful,” she commented, and he grunted and went on to tell her with pride the tale of how Bluewater came to be. She listened with rapt interest and laughed at his jokes. He was quite a storyteller and she suspected he added fictional tidbits to make his story all the more entertaining. Ruth was grateful to him for regaling her with tales so she wouldn’t focus on how nervous she was to meet Caleb.
Her jaw dropped when Tucker turned the wagon onto a trail and the ranch came into view. It was even bigger than she had thought. Could it be in acres, she wondered but didn’t want to ask. She didn’t want Tucker thinking she was there just for the property. She sighted a creek a short distance from the ranch house and imagined picnics there with Caleb. She giggled inwardly at her forthright thoughts.
The wagon at last pulled up in front of the ranch house and a man appeared from the barn and made his way toward them. Ruth’s heart skipped a bit.
“Is that…”
“Yes, that’s Caleb Mason,” Tucker announced, visibly enjoying both her reaction and Caleb’s. His boss’s steps had faltered at the sight of his stunning bride-to-be.
Ruth tried to stop staring at the approaching man, but she couldn’t. The tall, dark and handsome man coming her way was nothing at all as she had expected. He was about six foot four with a physique that showed him to be a man of great strength. God must have spent some extra time carving his face for it was set in perfection from his forehead to his dark intense eyes, broad and slightly pointed nose and lips that got her blushing. He removed his hat as he approached, and Ruth’s eyes fell on the jet-black hair that his strong fingers ran through pushing the slight waves in every direction on his head. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
“Hello, Ruth,” the man said when he reached them. He stretched a tanned hand out to help her off the wagon.
She placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her down. They stood staring at each other, not knowing what to say.
Tucker cleared his throat and stepped away from the wagon. Ruth dragged her gaze from his dark-as-midnight eyes and studied her reticule, missing the sharp head jerk Tucker gave his boss.
“Um…you’re not too tired from the journey, I hope.”
>
“Not at all.” She gave him a gentle smile and returned her gaze to her reticule.