by Danni Roan
“Hello,” Mary Ellen greeted offering her hand to the much taller woman with the bright blue eyes and white gold hair. “I’m Mary Ellen Bigsby, and I’ve only just arrived. I hope you have enough room.”
“We have plenty,” George offered as he watched the two women shake hands. “Now why don’t you sit down, and I’ll fetch you a nice cup of coffee, or would you rather have tea?” he added. “Then Polly can get us all some cookies.”
Polly Esther snapped her dish cloth in the direction of her husband who was now pulling the tea kettle onto the stove alongside the coffee pot.
“I’m Polly Esther Olson,” Polly said and the cookie hound there is my husband George. I doubt he even introduced himself because he has cookies on the brain.”
Mary Ellen smiled taking the seat George had pulled out for her.
“I didn’t need to introduce myself,” George groused pulling down a tea pot and the box of tea. “Rock introduced us.”
As if summoned by his name Rock stepped into the kitchen pulling his hat off of his dark hair as he approached Miss Polly and Miss Bigsby.
“Everything’s stowed away,” he said looking at the newest boarding house guest.
“Good, good,” George chimed. “Now take a load off and let Polly put a plate of cookies together for ya.”
Rock laughed and the deep rumble seemed to echo in the room as he took a chair.
“It’ll just be a minute,” Polly said. “Miss Bigsby would you like to wash up first? We have a full bathroom upstairs or you can just wash your hands here at the sink.”
Mary Ellen sighed, indoor plumbing what a wonderful invention. “Just point me in the direction of the facilities,” she said rising. “I’ll be a jiffy.”
Rock stood as the woman headed down the hall following Polly’s directions, her little heels making a soft clicking sound on the polished wood floor.
Polly hurried to the stove taking a tray of golden cookies from the oven and sliding it onto the stone counter top to cool.
“George told me earlier that Cam sent you to town to pick up some things he ordered for the old Adam’s house,” she said as she added more cookies to the tray and slipped them back into the oven.
“Yes ma’am,” Rock replied. “He’s orderin’ one of them fancy indoor bathrooms like you got here. Thinks it’ll make it easier on Quil.”
“Quil Adams?” Miss Bigsby stepped back into the room gazing around her. “Is she here? Can I meet her?”
George looked at Polly who looked at Rock.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Mary Ellen said, with a blush, taking her chair once more as the men rose. “I’m afraid I’m an admirer of her work and would love to meet her.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Polly assured noting the tinge of embarrassment on the other woman’s face, “but first how about that tea?”
Chapter 3
Mary Ellen Bigsby looked around the table at the friendly faces of the people who had welcomed her to Biders Clump.
She felt tiny sitting next to the big cowboy who took up his entire chair and a bit more.
As it was her feet barely touched the floor as she sat in the tall backed chair across from Polly Esther Olson. The older woman smiled kindly as she offered the plate of snickerdoodles around the table and poured tea or coffee.
“How was your journey Miss Bigsby?” Polly asked. “Did you come far?”
“All the way from North Carolina,” Miss Bigsby replied. “I think I expected a bit more from the trip, but overall it wasn’t terrible. You would think they could make those seats a little more comfortable though.”
Polly Esther chuckled. “I know exactly what you mean,” she said. “George and I will be heading out for a trip to see our children soon. I love going and spending time with my children and grandchildren, but the journey can be tedious.”
“You must be weary after such a long trip,” Rock offered.
“I’ll admit that I’m thankful to be off the train, and that sleeping wasn’t all that easy, but I’m also very excited about seeing this beautiful town and learning more about life in the wilds of Wyoming.”
Rock chuckled softly. He hadn’t considered Biders Clump anything like the wilds for a long time. “I don’t know how wild the town is, but it does have a pretty special history.”
Mary Ellen picked up a cookie and looked at the man expectantly. “How so?” she asked taking a bite of the buttery delight.
Rock rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t know why he’d said anything. He was usually content to stay in the backdrop while someone else did the talking, but today he seemed downright chatty.
“Well ya see a long time ago when folks were travelin’ the Oregon Trail or travelin’ to California by wagon, a fella’ made his way out to what’s now Wyoming. The way the story goes is that after months of travel, he looked up and saw them mountains and just couldn’t go on.”
“Surely he didn’t just stay here,” Mary Ellen said.
George, Polly and Rock all nodded as Rock continued. “Yes ma’am, that’s exactly what he did. He up and told the wagon master he thought he’d bide a while in a clump of trees, and he never got around to movin’ on. Pretty soon as other folks come along the trail and needed a place to stop because of illness, or troubles of one sort or another they’d just stop as well.”
“And that’s how the town got its name?” Mary Ellen’s eyes were bright with excitement.
“That’s the story,” Rock assured. “Folks started to clump together to help each other and for protection, and before you knew it, the town was born.”
Mary Ellen looked around the table for confirmation smiling as Polly and George both agreed.
“It’s a quiet little town over all,” George contributed. “Now we have the train station, and about everything we need.”
“Have you been here long?” Mary Ellen asked George turning to Polly to see if she had anything else to add.
“We’ve been here nearly forty years,” George said. “We settled here when the kiddies started comin’.” He reached over and squeezed Polly’s hand.
“But what about you?” Polly interjected turning the conversation back to their guest. “What brought you here? Do you have family in the area?”
Mary Ellen sipped her tea, her eyes cast down. “I hope you won’t think me silly, but I’ve just recently left my job, and I came to see what it was like where Quil Adams lived.”
Even as she said the words she felt foolish. She was far too old for such nonsense. “I know it’s silly for a woman my age coming all the way out here because of something I read in a book but,” she hesitated a moment looking up at her host and hostess, “I’ve never been anywhere in all my life but my little classroom, and as much as I loved it, I want to see something new.”
A bright smile spread across Polly’s face. “I don’t think that’s silly at all,” she offered kindly. “When I was young, my parents were part of a traveling actor’s troupe, and we saw so many places presenting our productions on the stage. When I married George, and we found out we were expecting Althea, I wanted a quiet home somewhere out of the way to raise our family.”
“And we found it too, di’nt we,” George said.
“I know I’m mighty glad you two settled in Biders Clump,” Rock said reaching for his third cookie.
Mary Ellen smiled feeling the embarrassment wash away with the conversation. At her age, she should be settling down to the quiet life of a spinster, hoarding her meager savings for a rainy day, but instead she’d hopped on a train to see if she might possibly meet her favorite wordsmith.
“How long have you been here?” she finally asked turning to Rock, whose ears began to turn pink almost instantly.
“I wasn’t more than fifteen when I rode into town,” Rock admitted. “Nothin’ but a big dumb kid, but Mr. Adams was willing to give me a start even though he was only really getting going with his herd.” Rock looked around at his companions. “Been here ever since.”
Mary Ellen looked at the man next to her. She’d met students like him over the years: Boys who weren’t quite comfortable in their own skin, unless they had a job that they understood and the encouragement to get on with it.
“I’m sure you were never dumb,” she said automatically.
Rock grinned, but said nothing.
“Rock, perhaps you could show Miss Bigsby around a bit. Maybe even get her out to meet Quil sometime soon,” George offered.
Rock looked up from his coffee mug gazing at George in shock. If he said no, he’d be rude, but if he said yes, he would be volunteering time that wasn’t his own.
“George, don’t put Rock on the spot like that,” Polly chided. “You know he’s got work to get on with, and he can’t just bundle up Miss Bigsby and take her out to the ranch without letting Cam and Quil know she’s coming.”
Mary Ellen perked up, looking between Polly and Rock. “Oh, I don’t want to be a bother,” she said trying to keep the hope out of her voice and failing miserably.
Rock scratched at an ear swirling the coffee that was left in his mug as he thought the whole thing over. “I reckon I could drive you out to the ranch since I’m headed back anyway,” he finally said. “If Quil and Cam aren’t too busy, maybe you could say howdy.”
“I couldn’t!” Mary Ellen said her voice shrill with excitement.
“Why not?” George said. “Ain’t like you’re puttin’ no one out since Rock’s going that way anyhow. Besides he will need to bring the wagon back anyway.”
“Of course if you’re too tired and would just like to rest,” Polly said. “You could take your time and get settled in your room.”
Mary Ellen looked around the table. Mr. Bannon had offered and seemed more than willing to help her out.
“Are you sure it wouldn’t be a bother?” she asked praying the big man would say no.
“No problem for me, but I can’t promise Quil has much time. If you’re sure you aren’t too tired, I’d be glad to take you along.”
Mary Ellen pushed her chair back and got to her feet. “I’ll just be a minute,” she said with a bright smile as she hurried up the stairs in search of her things.
“That’s mighty nice of you to take her along to meet Quil,” George said his dark eyes twinkling. “I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”
Rock looked over at George sure he’d missed something but shrugged it off. George had always been a good friend, and he and Polly were known for their hospitality at the boarding house.
“I’ll make sure she’s back for supper,” he said gulping down the dregs of his coffee and heading for the door.
Chapter 4
“Mr. Bannon, are you certain this isn’t any trouble?” Mary Ellen said as they walked back out to the waiting wagon. “I don’t mean to put anyone out, and I’m certain that Miss Adams has much better things to do with her time than see me.”
“Mrs. Royal?” Rock asked as he offered her hand up to the wagon seat. This time she was able to climb up the wheel, and he didn’t have to lift her, though that had actually been rather fun. “I’m sure Quil will be pleased to see you.”
“As long as you think it’s alright,” Mary Ellen said fussing with her dark dress. It would have been best to change and wash properly before going along with this crazy idea, but she was too excited to care.
Rock climbed into the seat on the other side of the wagon, lifted the lines and chirruped to the team setting them in motion. He couldn’t quite get his head around the way Miss Bigsby kept referring to Quil as Miss Adams. Quil had been married nearly three years already and had a baby to care for to boot.
“What is the ranch like?” Mary Ellen asked fidgeting with her gloves nervously. The sun was peeking out from behind skidding clouds, and its warmth could be felt now, despite the winds determination to keep the town in a deep freeze.
“Well, it’s a ranch,” Rock replied. “You know there’s cows and horses; oh, and a house and a barn as well.”
Mary Ellen looked up at the big man trying to see if he was making fun of her. She was behaving like such a ninny, but she had come all the way out here to meet Aquila Adams, and she was going to do it on her very first day.
“What is Miss Adams like?” she asked thinking ahead to what she would say when they met. “She must have the most amazing imagination.”
Rock looked down at his companion and scowled. “She’s just Quil,” he answered blandly. “She’s not real tall, but not real short. She has brown hair and green eyes just like her sisters, and she loves her home and her family.”
Mary Ellen smiled. “I’m sorry I’m so full of questions, but I’ve never met an author before and I simply love the books Miss Adams has written. I know I’m far too old to be acting like a silly school girl, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
Again Rock looked down at the woman sitting stiff and straight on the wagon seat next to him. She didn’t appear too old to him. Why he doubted if she was more than thirty-six or thirty-seven.
“What’d you say you did back in North Carolina?” he asked.
“I was a school teacher for twenty-two years,” Mary Ellen spoke clearly. “I loved my job, but as the town and surrounding farms were growing the town council thought they needed a man to take up the position. For some reason they believed that a woman wasn’t as well equipped to deal with the rowdier boys.”
“That don’t sound right,” Rock mused.
“No it doesn’t, does it?” Mary Ellen said with a sharp nod. “Of course it all made sense once they hired the mayor’s useless nephew to replace me.” With a start she covered her mouth her eyes going wide. “Oh my, I’ve never told a living soul that. You must think me a horrid gossip.”
Rock chuckled and the sound eased some of the tension in Mary Ellen’s shoulders. “Did they hire the mayor’s useless nephew?” he asked.
Mary Ellen nodded, her cheeks going red.
“Then that ain’t gossip, it’s the truth,” Rock assured urging the horses in to a trot along the well worn road toward home.
Mary Ellen smiled her embarrassment disappearing on the breeze. Even if she had given up her job for reasons other than she might have chosen, she was out in the wider world and seeing something new.
As the horses made the turn around the bend in the road, their heavy hooves drumming the frozen track in perfect rhythm a large steep roofed log cabin came into view, its wide porch at once welcoming and protective.
“It’s lovely,” Mary Ellen said taking in the scene. “Just the kind of place you’d expect an author to live.”
Rock didn’t comment. He simply drove the team up to the front door bringing them to stop.
“Rock that you?” A tall cowboy in a heavy flannel shirt stepped out onto the porch. “Oh, excuse me,” he drawled removing a gray hat from his dark hair.
“Cameron Royal, I’d like to introduce you to Miss Bigsby, newly arrived in town.”
“Pleased to meet you Miss Bigsby,” Cameron offered hurrying down the stairs and offering her his hand.
“I’m so sorry to disturb you Mr. Royal, but when Mr. Bannon invited me to come out and meet your lady wife, I couldn’t say no.”
Cameron looked up at Rock who shrugged. “Miss Bigsby is a big reader,” he offered.
“Is it here?” Aquila stepped out onto the front porch with a fussing Andrew on her hip. “Ow, ow, ow,” she moaned as her little son tugged at the hair falling from the hasty knot she’d thrown it into earlier, and that was rapidly disintegrating as the day wore on.
Mary Ellen Bigsby stood at her first glimpse of the young woman whose words had inspired her journey and laughed. She had expected someone completely put together: a woman who seemed to have the world by the horns and ready to take the nation by storm.
Instead she saw a mother and wife like so many others she had encountered over the years. A real life woman with real life needs, hopes, and dreams.
“Quil,” Cameron said with a devilish grin. “I’d like you t
o meet Miss Bigsby. She’d ridden out here with Rock just to meet you.”
Aquila turned slowly toward the little woman standing in the front of the buckboard while Rock made his way to the stairs.
“Oh my,” Quil said her green eyes going wide as Andrew started to cry.
Chapter 5
“Miss Bigsby,” Rock spoke reaching up to let the small woman place her hands on his shoulder so that he could lift her from the wagon.
“Thank you,” Mary Ellen said absently as Rock sat her feet on the stairs. “I’m sorry for disturbing you,” she spoke looking up at the startled young woman who was bouncing a crying child on her hip. “I didn’t mean to put anyone out.”
The sound of another wagon approaching pulled all eyes along the road and toward an older couple that pulled up to the house.
“Quil, stop pinching my grandson,” a woman with elegantly styled gray hair practically leapt out of the wagon as it lurched to a stop. In seconds she’d scooped up the baby and was swinging him wildly across the porch until he giggled.
“Harland,” Cameron said shaking hands with the older man as he stepped around the team.
“Oh dear, I should go,” Mary Ellen announced feeling like an intruder.
The older woman snuggled the little boy close and turned toward the stranger. “Who are you?” she asked a smile belying her rude words.
“This is Miss Bigsby,” Rock offered stepping up behind Mary Ellen. “She’s come all the way to Biders Clump to meet Quil.”
Maud Adams-Dixon smiled at the petite woman on the stairs. “Well, welcome then,” she said. “Quil, aren’t you going to invite your guest inside? Harland I believe you came here to help Cam,” she added blowing kisses at her grandson. “Come along ladies,” she finished opening the door and walking into the house.
Quil turned back to her unexpected guest trying to tuck a strand of her tumbled hair back into its coif and brush a bit of splattered breakfast from her shirt waist. “Please, won’t you come in?” she asked graciously, “and don’t mind my mother. She’ll be busy with Andrew the rest of the day.”
