by Natalie Dean
"Alice, is there any place I can go that will give me shelter? I need to leave here now, and you must come with me too."
"We can go to the orphanage where I grew up. They will shelter us but, M'lady…"
"What is it, Alice? We don't have much time," Cecilia was impatient.
"You will have to give them money for your sanctuary."
Cecilia felt relieved. Money, she had plenty of that. Her father would never think of the convent. As Jenkins busied himself with dinner, Cecilia and Alice snuck out of the house forever.
The next few days were spent traveling to Bannack, Montana. Now she was on the last leg of her journey. Alice had been a Godsend, and the nuns had taken care of them in their hour of need. It was only now that Cecilia could breathe. At every change of station, she kept looking over her shoulder. She was afraid she would be recognized but now sitting in the stage coach, Cecilia felt she was finally free. Alice had promised to wire John Aikens of her arrival.
John Aikens. Cecilia had given him little thought. He had been a means of escape. It was strange to think that she would be married soon to a man she never met. At the back of her mind, Cecilia's plan was to refuse to go through with the marriage. She would pay for his inconvenience and start the new life she wanted for herself. There was no way she would let a man control her again. But what if father shows up, he'll have the right to drag her back home. Cecilia would have to marry to stay in this new world. She hoped it was going to live up to her expectations.
Despite the heat and the dirt, Cecilia was the happiest she had been in a long while. She prayed that Moll and Alice were safe and out of harm's reach. The coach began to slow down. The shotgun rider yelled out that Bannack was next. Cecilia's heart began to race. She was about to meet John Aikens.
As the stage came into view, John patted down his hair. He held his hat in his hand and nervously wiped his boots spotless. He wanted to look presentable to his wife. So many of the men didn't bother bathing, but that wasn't John's way. Cecilia, as a maid in a big house, would expect men to be clean. He wanted to make a good impression. The Doc had offered to wait with him, but John was too nervous. Besides, this was his moment. He needed to greet his bride alone. They would make their way to the preacher and call on the Doc on their way there. John's heart was beating out of his chest, and he cleared his throat anxiously as the stage halted in front of him.
John stood back, to allow the passengers off. He looked past the stunning woman who was alighting from the carriage.
"Ma'am, is there anyone else?" he asked the woman. She looked behind and shook her head. She watched at how disappointed he looked. Cecilia saw how nervous he was. Was this her intended?
"Excuse me, I'm Miss Cecilia Sanders. I'm here to meet John Aikens," she said as John looked her up and down.
"Well, I'm… I mean, I'm John Aikens, Miss. Excuse me there must be some mistake. You cannot possibly be Cecilia. You look…" John didn't know what to say.
"Apologies for the subterfuge, Mr. Aikens. I am Miss Sanders. The master in my letters is my father. I have money, and I'm willing to learn how to look after a house."
John scratched his head. She looked so elegant and unused to domestic labor let alone any physical work. What good was she going to be, he wondered. His health wasn't good, and two delicate people couldn't run a ranch. He didn't know what to do.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sanders. I don't know what to do. I want to help you but …" John said. He was so conflicted. He had heard of women fleeing bad situations but a fancy lady from a fancy house, he wasn't sure how to process this.
There was something about John that warmed Cecilia's heart. She had mentioned having money, but he hadn’t paid much heed to that. He was showing concern about her ability to work the land which she thought was admirable. For the first time in her life, he didn't see her beauty and want to own it. Her beauty and delicate features were a disadvantage.
"Is there somewhere we could go and talk?" she asked. John looked like he needed some time.
"Yes, we'll go to Doc's house. I'm sorry, Miss Sanders, I was all set for us to marry. But I'm not so sure. It isn't you. The ranch requires a lot of physical work, and that's why I sent for a wife, to help me."
"I understand. But I am stronger than I look."
John took her bag, and they walked towards Doc's home. She was very attractive, but she was used to the finer things in life. John wasn't sure she would suit the life he was offering. Although he was surprised at her one little bag, it seemed to constitute the total of her possessions. Perhaps he should give her more credit he told himself as he knocked on Doc's door.
"Come in," the Doc called out, and Cecilia thought the voice sounded vaguely familiar. She didn't want to see someone she knew. Her father would find out. She dismissed the thought as John led her through to the surgery.
"Doc, this is …." But before John could finish the Doc said, "Cecilia, is that you?"
John's heart dropped. How did the Doc know this woman? The Doc was handsome, and there was no way John could marry a woman that Doc had been involved with. It must be some mistake, but John watched as Cecilia smiled and extended a hand to Doc.
"Hamish, it's been too long. Fancy running into each other here?" Cecilia said as she smiled back at John, but his horrified look made her take a step back.
"You know each other? How?" John stuttered. The Doc and Cecilia began to laugh.
"Oh, poor John, let me explain. Cecilia is my cousin. I haven't seen her in a long time. Our fathers were brothers but brutish men. I'm assuming that's why you're out this way, Cecilia, to escape Uncle's plans for you."
John felt relieved by the Doc's words. Now he could breathe.
"She's the woman I told you about, Doc but she's too much of a lady for these parts. I’m afraid this may not work."
It was Cecilia's turn to look despondent.
"Mr. Aikens, Hamish can tell you how feisty I am but if my father finds out my whereabouts he will force me back to the city. I cannot be a pawn in his plans. He cares not for me. Hamish, even poor Moll, hasn't escaped. Tell John I can be his wife. I have money."
"Our fathers are tyrants, John. That I can attest to. She is right if Uncle turns up and Cec isn't married, then he'll take her back. You know the scar on my back. Well, I can thank Miss Cecilia for that. She's strong. Don't let her looks fool you. Look, why don't we take Cec to the hotel. Mrs. Lavery will have a room, and we can meet for dinner and discuss it. I think you two need each other and nothing would please me more than my good friend and favorite cousin to be married and live here in Bannack."
That night it was resolved. John would marry Cecilia. They married the following day although John was hesitant about Cecilia's ability to work on the farm. Mrs. Lavery, the hotel owner, offered for her cook to teach Cecilia the basics of cooking. It seemed that Cecilia was a natural and with pride she served dinner to her husband.
"I'm not an educated man, Cecilia. I have worked hard all my life," John said as he looked across the table.
Cecilia sighed with relief. For the first time in her life, a man had seen through her beauty. It didn't matter here what she looked like, it was what she could do that mattered. John was kind. He had even slept in the barn on their wedding night, not wishing to push Cecilia into any situation which made her uncomfortable. To Cecilia, it meant he was more of a man than she had ever known. And despite knowing him only a few days, she felt love in her heart already for him. But something was bothering her. She could hear him coughing in fits, and it concerned her.
He didn't want her pity, and instead, she focused on making his cabin a home. Cecilia didn't need lessons on how to clean and John complimented her on her good work. Receiving praise for her effort in something so domestic, Cecilia felt her chest swell with pride. It certainly was a new world out here. She had only received compliments on her looks, but looks didn't do anything.
However, Cecilia didn't realize how much she needed his protection until three weeks later w
hen a Pinkerton detective arrived looking for Cecilia at her father's behest. Cecilia was sweeping out the cabin, the smell of cornbread baking when she heard the sound of horses’ hooves. John was in the barn.
She rushed out expecting it to be her cousin, Doc but instead a stern looking gentleman dismounted.
"Are you Miss Cecilia Sanders?"
Cecilia nodded.
"Miss Sanders, I am Detective Tovey, and I am here to escort you back to your home. Please gather what you need."
The man's authoritativeness angered Cecilia. For the last few days, she had been treated with respect. Her husband and Doc talked to her as if she were their equal. There was no ordering or demanding.
"I'm not going back," Cecilia said as John came from the barn.
"What is it Cecilia?" he asked.
"This man expects me to pack up and go back to the city. I won't, John. This is my home now."
"Indeed, it is," the usually meek John said as he raised his shotgun at the detective. “You have a wasted visit here. This is my wife, and she is staying here with me. Her father has no claim on her."
But the detective was insistent, even offering John money to pretend the marriage hadn't taken place. Cecilia knew everyone had their price but not John, he was confident and self-assured as he spoke. The only malice was the way he held his gun, but his voice and demeanor were of a man who knew he was in the right. The detective left and Cecilia ran into his arms.
She had never felt so protected in her life. She mattered, as a person, not as a commodity.
It transpired that Jenkins had overheard the maids talking about Elsie from next door helping the young mistress to escape. Elsie had given up the details. William Sanders couldn't be bothered to come to get her. He had sent someone. For the first time, she felt valued as a woman. John had protected her.
She thanked the Lord for creating the circumstances that brought her here. Cecilia was home.
But her joy was short-lived when John died six weeks later. Cecilia was a widow.
Chapter Three
She was alone again. Her gentle husband had passed on. Not all the men treated women with respect, but Cecilia had developed into a strong, confident woman. The night of John's death, as Cecilia roamed their small holding, she found the fences had been knocked down.
"I know it's Palmer," she said to herself and rode back towards her cabin when shots were fired at her. As an inexperienced rider, Cecilia fell from her horse and could only watch as it galloped off. In the dwindling daylight, she wasn't sure where to hide. But she heard a man gasp, and then a horse galloping off.
She prayed that the Lord would keep her safe. John had wanted to teach her how to shoot, but Cecilia didn't think it was a skill she needed. Now she regretted not letting him teach her.
Cecilia looked around. Her horse was gone but was it safe for to move from behind the rock she had found?
"Missy John, Missy John," she heard a man's voice. She was a sitting duck, and with nothing to protect her, there was no point in pretending she wasn't there.
"Who's there?" she asked.
"Missy John, are you hurt? I shot at the man, and he’s gone now." The voice was getting closer to her. Next thing Cecilia knew was that the Indian man was standing beside her. He had come from nowhere.
"Missy John, are you hurt?" he asked again, and Cecilia replied that she was unharmed but who was he?
"I will help you home. Mr. John very good to my father. He lets us live on the land when we are in Bannack. I am Johnny Eagle."
Johnny Eagle picked up Cecilia before she could reply. He was very strong and carried her home. She didn't say anything until they reached the cabin and the Doc was waiting for her.
"What happened? Is she hurt, Johnny?" the Doc came running to them.
"Hamish, I'm quite capable of talking for myself. Mr. Eagle has helped me. Someone shot at me. I think it must have just been a warning, if he wanted to kill me, he could have. Thank you," she said to Johnny.
"Hamish, do you think it's Palmer?" she asked, as she was thinking about what happened to her fences.
"Probably but you'll never be able to prove it. The Anderson place got burnt down last week. I hear they're moving on today with what they could salvage. They were lucky to get out alive," the Doc said.
"I'll go and talk to him," Cecilia said, "he can buy the place. What's the point in me staying on? I don't know what I'm doing. But I don't see why Palmer should get the land for free."
"Apparently, he had offered to buy the Andersons out, but they refused. Let me broker a deal. It ain't right that you should do it, Cecilia," the Doc was protective of his cousin. But he and Palmer didn't get along.
"No, Hamish. This is my battle. You mean well but I've no husband to protect me, and I need to learn how to sort these things out for myself." Cecilia was determined that life would run her way and she wasn't going to be dictated by a man. She had plans. Bannack was growing, and she had become very friendly with Mrs. Lavery. With more families moving into the town, it was starting to thrive. Decent folk needed a place to remind them of the finer things in life and Cecilia had plans to open a tea shop.
"Palmer can pay for my land, and he can have it. John had no family. He told me I could do whatever I wished. I'm only bothered by what will happen to Johnny Eagle and his family."
"Cecilia, Johnny Eagle and his people are nomads. They move on in search of the buffalo. He will understand, and Palmer can't police the whole territory. You have to do what's right for you."
"Why don't we go now before I change my mind? You can come but let me do the talking."
Cecilia and Doc rode towards the Palmer Ranch. His men were at the entrance and escorted them to the house where Palmer stood chewing tobacco. His handlebar mustache twirled at the ends. Cecilia had never met the man but already disliked him.
"What can I do for you Lil' lady?" he asked as he spat tobacco towards her. She wanted to shout at him, but she needed to hold her anger back.
"I got your message about my land," she said as she watched Palmer nod at all but one of his men to leave them alone.
"Come inside, Mrs. Aikens. Let's be civilized," he stood back to allow Cecilia through the door. As Doc went to follow her, Palmer's man blocked his entrance. Hamish couldn't follow, and he hoped Cecilia was going to be alright by herself.
"Maria, bring us refreshments," Palmer directed as he pulled out a chair for Cecilia. She chose to sit in a different chair other than the one he offered.
"As you wish, my dear," he said smugly. It annoyed Cecilia. She had played into his hand. He knew she would react the way she did and now she was sitting beside him rather than opposite him at the table.
"Reports of your beauty weren't exaggerations. You are used to the finer things in life." Palmer was talking at her rather than with her.
As tea was served, Cecilia looked around the room. It was very well furnished. The contents of the house would look comfortable in any city dwelling. Palmer had good taste.
"You approve of my decor?" he asked, and Cecilia nodded.
"I am looking for someone to share this with me. You are available. I am a very generous man."
"Mr. Palmer, I buried my husband this morning, and now you are proposing marriage," Cecilia was disgusted by his disregard for proper decorum.
"Now, now, Cecilia. There is no need to be like that. We must be practical. You have come to sell your land to me. I will buy it and at a fair price despite what the good folk of Bannack say. But you're too smart for a place like this. You'll never accomplish anything unless you have a man with vision by your side. You plan to open some little store in town. You'll never survive. Without my help, you will have to return to the city. I'm sure your father is still seeking a reward for you."
Cecilia's green eyes flashed at Palmer. Why was he threatening her into marriage? She knew he was a collector. And that's all she'd ever be, a trophy.
"My father has no control over me or what I do. No man will tell me
what to do. If you were the last man alive and the future of the earth depended on us being together, I would rather die than be with you. John Aikens was a good and kind man. He saw past these looks. But you, you are no different to any other man I've met. You want to own me. Pay me for my land, and it's yours but don't expect me to fawn at your feet."
Palmer grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. She set his pulse on fire with the way she spoke to him.
"I'll enjoy taming you!" he declared before he cried out in pain as Cecilia brought the fork down on his hand.
"Don't you ever speak to me like that again. You are correct in my estimation that I am smart. Don't make an enemy of me, Palmer or I'll make it my business to destroy you. Now give me my money, and I'll bid you good day. You can take possession of the land tomorrow."
Cecilia stood up. Her heart was beating so fast. She felt so powerful. Palmer was like any bully; he backed down when challenged. She was lucky none of his men were around.
He wrapped a handkerchief around his hand as he left her in the drawing room. He returned, his face was pale, and Cecilia noted how he didn't even look at her as he counted out the money and she signed over her farm to him.
"You should get Hamish to take a look at that," she said as she walked out the door. She looked calm on the outside, but inside she wanted to collapse. Her legs were shaking as she made her way to Hamish who was standing with the horses.
"What happened?" he asked.
"We need to go now," she said as he helped her up on the horse.
They galloped away and didn't stop until they knew no one was following them. Cecilia told Hamish what happened.
"Cec, how many men have you injured?" the Doc burst out laughing.
"Do you think he'll have me killed?" she asked. She knew men like him didn't like losing.
"No, I think you're safe. I don't think he'll be bothering you ever again. I must say, Cec, you are a fiery little thing. You look like an angel and yet you can protect yourself."
Hamish was right. Palmer never bothered Cecilia again. She lived at the Lavery Hotel while her tea shop and home were built. She would live above the shop once it was complete. Cecilia felt she’d had enough of men. Each night she prayed to the Lord to keep her safe. The Lord had shown her how a woman should be treated, but a man like John Aikens was rare. While their time together was short, she had loved him. Although she wasn't sure she was capable of love. Strong men exerted control, and weaker men were no match for Cecilia. Except for John who, while he looked weak, had been the most courageous man she had ever known. John had given her this wonderful life. Who could compete with a dead man?
