Diantha

by Zina Abbott

  In the end, Hank hoped Mrs. Ames felt as satisfied as he did with the outcome. “Do you wish to write this up in a contract for us both to sign, Mrs. Ames, or would you like me to?”

  “You may, if you have the time, Mr. Cauley. We’ll need two copies—one for you and one for me. I’ll review the terms before we both sign either later today or in the morning. In the meantime, before you bring your things into the back room, I need to get something from the kitchen first.”

  “I’ll be happy to. Mrs. Ames, I would be honored if you were to call me by my first name, Hank.” Hank watched her purse her lips.

  “Under the circumstances, with us both being unattached, I don’t think that would be proper, Mr. Cauley.”

  “As you wish, Mrs. Ames.” Disappointed, Hank rose to his feet when she did and watched her enter the kitchen. Considering the financial loss she had received that day at his hands, perhaps it was too soon to move their relationship onto a friendlier level. She returned carrying a plate of oatmeal bars and offered him one.

  “Since I no longer provide a supper menu to my hotel guests, I make treats for them to enjoy in the late afternoon. I never learned to cook well, since I grew up in a house full of servants. However, our old cook did teach me to bake cookies and a few simple dishes. My former laundress taught me this recipe.”

  Hank thanked her and took a bite, which might have been a mistake. It ignited his appetite and reminded him that he had not eaten since morning. Once he settled his belongings in the back room, he would find the mercantile and buy food to eat now and some to cook after Mrs. Ames’s time in the kitchen.

  ~o0o~

  Inside her sitting room once more, Diantha leaned her back and head against the door. Reaching behind her, she wrapped her hands around her doorknob as if holding on to save her life.

  What have I done?

  For the sake of the people of Wildcat Ridge, she chose to work with Mr. Cauley as he assumed the postmaster position. However, she never intended for him to set up shop under her roof. She glanced at the door leading to the kitchen. He would prepare his meals next to her room with only a door separating them. He would sleep in a room on the other side of the wall from her bedroom. How had she allowed that to happen?

  Diantha closed her eyes as she fought to dislodge the awareness that she found him to be far too attractive. At first she endured the initial shock that he came to town to take over a job she enjoyed and financially needed. Now, if she were honest, she must admit, she admired his drive and self-assuredness. Even his honesty in admitting to recent failures in his career touched her heart. Even as she resisted his suggestions of how his shop could enhance her hotel business, she recognized he possessed a vision beyond her limited view.

  Then, after he managed to talk her into granting most of the concessions he sought, he had asked if they could address each other on a more familiar basis. That, she refused. She dared not become too friendly with him. Unsure what the giddiness she felt when in his presence meant, a more sane part of her warned her to keep the barrier of formality between them.

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  Chapter 9

  ~o0o~

  September 12, 1884

  B uck heaved a sigh of relief once he spotted what he recognized as the outskirts of Wildcat Ridge. Of course, the last time he had seen this section of road earlier in the summer, he had been leaving town helping to drive a small herd of horses bought at the auction. Remembering the run-in with a trio of horse thieves he and others had been forced to deal with, he kept his rifle next to his feet and wore his pistol and holster. Rustlers might not find Mabel and Charley worth the effort to steal, but the load of coal covered with a canvas tarp behind him was another matter, especially with winter just around the corner.

  Buck had already decided he would check with the nice lady who ran the hotel closest to the railroad tracks and Wells Fargo office. Boss had rented rooms for him and Hal there for the week of the horse auction, although he spent his nights in the hayloft of the livery. Still, she might know the best places he could go to sell the coal.

  “I do declare, Mr. Kramer, you are a godsend. How much coal do you have? I might want to buy it all myself.”

  Taken aback at Mrs. Ames’ response, all Buck could do was stammer. “It’s Buck, ma’am.” He noticed a man he had not seen before exit the room where the dance had been held months before and follow them out to the wagon. He helped Buck untie the ropes holding down the canvas tarp and fold it back. He knew he had made his first sale as her face lit with a smile and she clapped her hands together. They negotiated the price, which included him off-loading it into the chute leading to a small basement built specifically for storing coal, and came to an agreement. Buck did not make a great deal of profit, but considering he had only transported the coal from six miles away, it was reasonable.

  The stranger stepped forward. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Henry Cauley, the new postmaster. Call me Hank. Mrs. Ames has graciously allowed me to rent her former dining room for my store and the post office operation. I will need to buy some coal for myself. Will you be bringing another wagonload in soon? I’ll need to buy some lumber first and find someone to build a storage bin.”

  “The nearest sawmill and lumberyard is in Curdy’s Crossing, Mr. Cauley.”

  Buck tucked that piece of information from Mrs. Ames away in his memory and shook Hank’s hand. “I can unload this coal now and start back to Curdy’s Crossing today for another load. If you can tell me how many boards you need, Hank, I can bring those, too. I’m a fair handyman, and Boss—I mean, my former boss—sent a few hand tools with me. I’ll need to buy a saw, though, unless you have one.”

  Hank shook his head. “I have no tools, but I’ll go over to the mercantile and make sure they have the nails and other hardware I need before you leave. As long as your rates are reasonable, I’m happy to pay you to bring back the wood and build a storage bin. Also, you are welcome to leave a notice in my store telling people you are available for work or when you have coal to sell. They’ll see it when they come to pick up their mail.”

  Buck’s conviction he had made a good choice felt strengthened. He was not even in Wildcat Ridge an hour and already he had sold his first load of coal and contracted to haul lumber and more coal. He also had been offered a method to get the word out to others.

  “Buck, I also need someone to haul some inventory that is coming in on the train next week, although I should perhaps see if the livery has a wagon for rent. I don’t know about using the same wagon you use for hauling coal.”

  Buck pointed to Moose Creek across the street. “Wagon washes up real easy, Hank. If we go together, there’s less chance of someone getting too curious about what you’re bringing to Wildcat Ridge and helping themselves to it.”

  “Will you need a hotel room, Mr. Kramer? I have long-term rates, although if you also want board, I’d suggest Mrs. Loftin’s boardinghouse two blocks over. She also lives across from the livery, where I suspect you’ll be housing your—oh, one of them is a mule, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Old Charley isn’t too friendly with people, so don’t you or Hank get too close to him. But he likes Mabel right fine. They make a good team. They’ll be earning their feed, thanks to you two. As for the room—no offense, ma’am, but until I get set up with regular work, I need to watch my money to make sure I’m sure I can make it through the winter. Until the weather turns too cold, I’ll probably check with Jasper and see if I can give him a little extra to bunk down with Mabel and Charley, and maybe see Mrs. Loftin about taking a few meals with her. Did that last June.”

  Buck winced at the look of disappointment in her face. He almost decided against asking his next question. “Mrs. Ames, ma’am, when I was here before, I met a Miss Hilaina Dowd. Once I knew Mrs. Stillwell was coming back to the ranch with us, I told her she should see you about the laundress job. She ever talk to you about it?”

  “
Yes, and thank you. She works for me Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. You’ll be able to see her tomorrow if you return with the next load of coal during the day.”

  Buck grinned until the next thought crossed his mind. “Uh, Mrs. Ames…”

  “Since we will be doing business together, you are welcome to call me Diantha.”

  “Uh, thank you, ma’am—Diantha—but I recollect she was mighty anxious about finding someone to marry her. She married yet?”

  Relief flooded Buck as he watched her eyes light and her mouth widen with a smile.

  “No, Hilaina is not married. I’m quite certain she will welcome becoming reacquainted with you, Buck.”

  Buck broke out in what he knew must be a silly grin, but he couldn’t help himself. “Yes, ma’am. If I’m to return by the time she comes to do your wash so I can say howdy, I better get this coal unloaded and start back to Curdy’s Crossing this afternoon.”

  “Do you also have a source of firewood, Buck? My stove for heating laundry water runs better on wood.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I can cut the wood myself once I get me a good ax and maybe a cross-cut saw. Before I left, in between building a new barn and house for Hal and Birdie, I must have cut down half a forest to keep everyone there on the ranch in firewood over the winter. You tell me where I can cut, and old Mabel and Charley and I will go get some wood for you.”

  “Wonderful. It is so good to hear about Nissa’s and Birdie’s new homes. I received a letter from Nissa about two weeks ago, but I guess it was before she knew you were planning to come here. Was everyone still well when you left?”

  Buck nodded. “Nissa and Birdie are both a little peaked since each of them are expecting new youngsters come spring. Otherwise they’re fine. Hal and Boss are both right proud about it. Let me get a few more loads of coal in for those in town who want it, and then I’ll cut you your firewood.”

  ~o0o~

  Buck quickly realized living in a small town was similar to living on a ranch in that, once you told someone something, the word spread quickly. By the time he returned to the Ridge Hotel the next morning with another load of coal beneath his tarp, and tied down on top enough wood to build a coal bin, several women waited outside on the boardwalk. He pulled into the side yard next to the laundry building only to see the group walk towards him. They all wanted coal.

  Hank joined him—probably to protect his interest in the coal he had ordered the day before. Between what he had learned in Evanston and Curdy’s Crossing, plus Hank’s advice offered as one who had lived in a large city and knew how coal was bought and sold, he set up a system for figuring fees based on quantity. Halfway through taking orders, Hank asked him if he wished to write everything down. Embarrassed over his inability to read and write, Buck declined, insisting he’d keep it all in his head.

  Soon, the ladies left. In his hand, Buck held a hand-drawn map that told him where to deliver the other half of the load in his wagon not promised to Hank. Others had given him their orders for wagonloads to be delivered within the coming weeks. Assured he could expect a source of income from hauling coal, he started building the outside coal bin for Hank. He felt a lifting of his spirits, an assurance that he had done the right thing by coming to Wildcat Ridge. For the first time in months, he felt like whistling.

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  Chapter 10

  ~o0o~

  H ilaina hurried towards the Ridge Hotel, aware she would be arriving at her laundry job later than usual. Her ma had been packing the last of the vegetables for their garden in her root cellar that morning, and Hilaina had stayed to help. However, she knew with this being Friday, Diantha only had towels for her two regular renters, plus her own laundry. Today’s laundry would not include the heavy loads like she did at the first of the week when she washed all the sheets and linens on Monday then ironed everything on Tuesdays.

  Hilaina figured out where to find the post office the week before when she came to do the Friday laundry. She discovered the mail case had been moved to the old dining room. The new postmaster, Mr. Cauley, also explained his plans to open a shop. Hilaina felt disappointed the beautiful, gold-colored draperies had been taken down. However, Mr. Cauley explained since they would interfere with his window displays once his inventory arrived, he and Diantha had agreed to remove them.

  Hilaina had mixed feelings about Mr. Cauley, who now lived and worked in the hotel. Loyal to Diantha, she resented that he had taken the postmaster job away from her friend and employer. Diantha’s explanation of how postmaster positions were granted, and the assurance that Mr. Cauley had not deliberately sought to remove her from a job she enjoyed doing, and which gave her a steady source of income, somewhat mollified her. However, the Congressional representative for Utah Territory responsible for the change lived too far away and beyond Hilaina’s reach. It was easier to resent Hank Cauley.

  On the other hand, Hilaina felt a certain sense of relief that a decent man now lived and worked in the hotel. It meant Diantha was no longer alone for long stretches of the day. After the morning she confronted Mortimer Crane when he attacked Diantha, she had not liked the idea of her friend being by herself. She hoped if Mr. Crane came to cause trouble again when she was not around, the postmaster would step in to help Diantha get rid of him.

  Hilaina’s steps slowed as the laundry yard came into view. Parked next to the building where she ironed and folded sheets and towels, and which housed the wood stove for heating wash and rinse water, stood a wagon with a mule and a horse hitched to it. Both animals wore feedbags over their noses. Ropes draped loosely across the canvas covering. Courtesy of the morning breeze, the bindings had slipped, exposing a load of coal in the wagon.

  One of her ma’s friends had stopped by their cabin to share the news a newcomer had arrived to town to sell coal. She had teased Hilaina about hurrying over to meet him, because maybe he was looking for a wife. Hilaina had shaken her head and walked away. She knew she had made a fool of herself earlier that year. With all the widows in town looking for new husbands, she felt desperate to marry, even though she knew she did not have anything to offer compared to those women who had businesses new husbands could step into. Back then, she approached every man who looked like possible husband material. However, ever since she met Buck Kramer—that tall, slim wrangler from the ranch in Colorado who came to town one week for the horse auction and then left—no other man had caught her eye. Now, resigned to being a spinster, she resolved to work with her ma to make ends meet for the two of them.

  The sound of someone pounding a hammer against wood filled her ears. She inhaled, only to smell wood smoke. A glance at the stovepipe jutting above the laundry shed roof told her someone had already started a fire in the stove. Fearing Diantha—or, worse yet, the new postmaster—had started it as a signal that her tardiness had been noted, she hurried toward the door to the building where she knew a load or two of wash waited for her.

  Upon hearing the next sound that filled the air, Hilaina stopped in her tracks, frozen in place as she listened. A man whistled a tune that sounded like the one Buck used to whistle at her when she started talking too much. Only, it could not be Buck. He worked on a big ranch in northern Colorado, miles away from Wildcat Ridge.

  Unable to restrain her curiosity any longer, Hilaina stepped around the wagon until she saw the back of a man clad in denim work clothes squatting on the ground while he hammered at wide, rough-cut boards to attach them to a wooden frame. It appeared he was building a large wooden box or bin. She slowly approached as she studied him. He seemed to have the same build as Buck, and he wore the same hat. Dare she hope?

  The man, wearing the hint of a grin, stood and turned to face her. For one of the few times in her life, Hilaina found herself speechless. The man who had filled her thoughts the past two-and-a-half months, the man she dreamed about every night, the man she longed for with every ounce of her being, stood before her. She swallowed. “Buckley John Krame
r, that really you?”

  She watched his grin widen and a teasing light fill his eyes. “In the flesh, Hilaina Dowd.”

  Her lips parted, Hilaina continued to stare at him.

  “Cat got your tongue, Hilaina? Or was my whistling so good it hushed you up for a long spell?”

  Hilaina huffed in annoyance as she stepped towards Buck and swatted his arm. “Oh, you! You figure all you got to do is go whistling and I’ll plumb hush up. Well, it ain’t so. You cain’t make me mind with no whistling if I’ve a mind not to.” Hilaina sucked in a sob as tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Buck. I didn’t figure on ever seeing you again. I done missed you something fierce.”

  Buck softened his stance and smiled gently at her. “I’m here now, Hilaina. I’ve been thinking about you, too.”

  “How come you didn’t write me no letter?”

  She watched Buck shrug.

  “Because I’m too stupid. I can’t read or write. It’s not for the lack of Hal trying to teach me—I just could never get the hang of it. I can do figures. I can look at a picture of something and work out how to build it. I can follow maps. But, you string a bunch of letters together to make words, and they look one way to me one time and a different way the next time.” He shook his head. “Makes no sense to me.”

  “Oh. Well, you need a letter wrote, I’d be right pleased to write it for you. But you ain’t stupid, Buck, so don’t say nothing like that again. I’ve seen you be smart about a lot of things.” Hilaina paused, afraid of the answer, but feeling a need to know. “How long you figure on staying this time?”