Meg

by Clemmons, Caroline

  “Let me show you where to sit.” Mrs. Schulz led Tom inside the classroom.

  Curtis watched them walk into the school, wondering what was wrong with him. Had he taken leave of his senses? School was exactly where a boy of Tom’s age belonged. Why did he feel as if he was abandoning the child?

  He hurried to the newspaper office. First thing, he built a fire in the larger potbellied stove in the front and then in the smaller one in the back. Now that he had the house, he wouldn’t have lit the stove in the back. But Penny would need to play in there and needed the warmth. He shook his head. Already he was making concessions because of the children. Well, he could hardly let the little girl catch cold, could he?

  He still wore his coat when Meg and Penny arrived. “The rooms will warm up soon. I thought I had the coals banked but they went out.” He looked at a bag Meg carried. “What’s in the sack?”

  “We brought some things for Penny to play with today. Some for Tom, too, after school unless there’s something he can do to help you.” She gestured to the back room. “May I put some things out in there?”

  Curtis frowned, wondering if she thought he expected Penny to sit quietly in a corner all day. “Feel free to arrange the back room to suit Penny and Tom’s needs.” He hung his jacket on a peg and sat at his desk to write this week’s editorial. He was deep in thought when Meg stopped at his desk.

  “What can I do to help?”

  “Why don’t you start by reading last week’s edition so you know what to expect? There’s a stack on that shelf.”

  She quickly unfolded a copy and spread it on the countertop.

  He should have foreseen he’d need another chair in the front part of the building, maybe even another desk. “You could sit here. I’ll get a chair from the back.”

  “No, thanks, I’m fine.” She continued reading.

  He resumed writing his article. Mentally, he was gauging what he’d set where on each page. He finished his editorial and moved on to an article about predictions for spring stock prices.

  He lost track of how much time passed before Meg refolded the newspaper and placed it back where she’d found it.

  “I’m impressed. How are you able to include the latest national news?”

  “Each week I receive major news by telegram from New York. That’s my greatest expense, but what appears in The Herald has to be current. Otherwise I don’t see how I’d ever build circulation.”

  “That makes sense. How can I help?”

  “Eventually, I’ll show you how to set type. Today maybe you’d like to just take it easy. You must still be tired from your trip.”

  She stood with her hands on her hips. “Curtis, I need some guidelines. Do you want help today or should I go home? Should I bring knitting and sewing to work on when there’s nothing for me to do here? There’s a lot that needs to be done at home. I don’t intend to sit and twiddle my thumbs until you beckon.”

  He pressed his lips together and bit back the retort that sprang to his mind. Admitting she had a point, he stood. Exhaling, he picked up the sheets of paper he’d written for this week’s edition.

  “Fine, I’ll show you how to set type.”

  Later that evening, he recalled the exchange as he locked up for the night. Heat from below helped warm the home’s upstairs, but rooms were still cold. He’d have to start keeping a fire in the upstairs fireplaces. The children needed warm floors for play. He’d seen rugs for sale at the Mercantile. He should get one for each of the bedrooms the children used, maybe even one for the parlor floor.

  He smacked a hand to his forehead. There he went spending money he didn’t have on children he hadn’t wanted. Although now that he’d been around them, he had to admit they were well-behaved children who often brought laughter. Other times, he was proud to have them known as his. Face it, they were rapidly growing on him. He wished he knew how to talk to children, but he’d never been around them.

  Laughing at himself, he stripped to his underwear and crawled into bed. The additional quilt Meg had added looked a heck of a lot better than the blanket he’d used before she came. The extra layer helped stave off the cold. He hoped she and the children had enough cover to keep warm.

  He should have asked. Why couldn’t he figure out how to be more caring and considerate? Even though he hadn’t had an example growing up, he was a man now and almost thirty years old. Meg deserved better.

  Especially in the downstairs, she’d made improvements here and there. Little touches that made the house seem more like a home should and added to his enjoyment of his place. Obviously, she’d brought decorative things in her trunks. For a paper marriage, he supposed he wasn’t doing too badly.

  Two weeks later, Meg held open the house’s front door for Frank Sutton and Maurice Beavers. “You know the way up the stairs and to the right.”

  She’d never seen her son so animated. He ran back and forth from the front door to the stairs.

  “Tom, go up and show the men which is your bedroom.”

  The sound of his feet pounding up the stairs let her know he’d followed her request. They’d discussed where each piece of furniture would go so Tom knew what to tell the men. She went up to ensure they accepted Tom’s instructions.

  Frank moved the washstand a few inches. “This is a fine room you have, Tom.”

  “It’s just for me and no one else. I don’t have to share it unless I want to. ’Course my sister can come in when she wants but you saw she has her own room where she sleeps.”

  “I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time here. Looks like your papa gave you a nice rug to play on so you don’t get cold.”

  “He surprised us. Penny has one, too, and there’s one in front of the parlor fireplace. Isn’t that something?”

  “Sounds like he thinks you’re pretty special.”

  Tom stopped and stared at Frank.

  Meg was glad Frank had said that. Poor Tom thought Curtis didn’t want him, and with good reason. The rug should help reassure him he was welcome.

  After the men had gone, Meg prepared the beds with linens.

  Tom helped her. “Did you buy us the rugs or did he?”

  “Your papa bought them as a surprise for you and Penny. It was a surprise for me, too. He was worried the floor would be too cold for you to sit on this winter when you play.”

  She sat on the finished bed and pulled Tom to stand in front of her. “You were very kind to let Penny keep the table and chairs in her room.”

  “Aw, she likes to have tea parties with her doll. I’d rather do other stuff.”

  “All the same, you were very thoughtful and unselfish. I’m proud of you.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek.

  Chapter Nine

  Meg had been in Angel Creek several weeks without noticeable change between her and Curtis. She acted cheerful no matter how she felt. He was polite and kind but made no overtures to show any affection.

  One evening when Meg put the children to bed, she and Tom left Penny’s room. That’s where she read to them. Penny had fallen asleep before Meg finished reading the two a story. She was tired and eager to climb into her own bed.

  Tom wore a troubled expression as he sat waiting for her to tuck him in. “Mama, if you’re married how come you don’t sleep in the same room as him?” He’d stopped using “Mr. McClain” to refer to Curtis, but didn’t call him by any name.

  “We are married, but we don’t really know each other yet. Remember that I hadn’t met him until we arrived here? In fact, we hadn’t even exchanged letters. We thought we’d wait to share a bedroom until we had become friends and knew more about one another.”

  She prayed she wasn’t lying to Tom.

  Tom acted even more confused. “I don’t understand. How can you be married if you don’t know each other?”

  “We were married by proxy. It’s complicated.” And that was an understatement. In spite of that, she’d promised herself she would answer all the children’s questions as honestly as she could.
Simplifying the process, she explained to Tom.

  She hugged his shoulders. “Don’t worry, everything is fine. Where Papa and I sleep is private. That means you don’t tell anyone Papa and I sleep in separate rooms.”

  “Can I tell people I have my new furniture?”

  “Yes, and if I’m here with you, you can invite your friends to come see it if you wish.”

  A smile broke across his face and brought sparkles to his eyes. “I can?”

  “First make sure their mothers know where they are and that they have permission. But when they see where I’m sleeping, you say it’s the guest room. All right?”

  “Sure, Mama. I didn’t know I could ask friends here.”

  “This is your home now. You can have children over anytime we’re here instead of at the newspaper office. I know that’s not often, but we’ll get into a routine as we go. Just one or two friends at a time. Who is your favorite friend you’ve met at school?” She knew he’d say Joe because that’s who he talked about most.

  “His name is Joe and his papa works at the lumber mill.”

  “How old is Joe?” She tucked the cover around him.

  “He’s gonna be seven right after Christmas. Do you know when I’ll have a birthday?”

  “You’ll be seven on January 16 and Penny will be five on February 6, but this is only December. Right now, you had better get to sleep.”

  She was grateful Ida had included a note in one of the suitcases telling each child’s full name and when each had been born plus as much as they knew about each side of the family. Ida remembered the names of her parents and one set of grandparents. Her husband had only sketchy details but knew his father’s name.

  Meg kept the letter in the Bible she’d purchased before she and the children caught the steamship north. Amazing how fast the time had passed. They’d developed a daily routine and, at times, it seemed she’d always had Penny and Tom.

  Apparently she was no closer to winning Curtis’ affection. He was polite and pleasant but always kept up a wall she’d been unable to pierce. They’d agreed to reach a decision at Christmas. As the holiday drew closer, she grew more and more worried. At times she wondered if she’d married a man incapable of showing love.

  Meg held Penny’s hand as they entered the Mercantile.

  A man about to leave the store stopped in his tracks and stared at her. “Beg pardon, aren’t you Mrs. Margaret McClain?”

  Puzzled, she answered, “Yes, I am. Have we met?”

  “I’m Daniel Kroffitt, teller at the bank. I saw you and thought you must be Curtis’ wife. A lot of men pass through here, but not women. I think you’re the only lady who’s new in town but I was sick the day you opened your account.”

  She smiled at the man. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Kroffitt.”

  “Since I saw you, I wanted to let you know your money arrived… I mean the transfer from your bank in Charleston came in on today’s stage.”

  What a relief to know it arrived with no problem. “Thank you, Mr. Kroffitt. I had wondered how long the transfer would take.”

  Even though Angel Creek was a small town, she was surprised Mr. Kroffitt would speak publicly about business. Weren’t bank transactions supposed to be private?

  “Figured you were worried about robbery since you had a large amount coming. Rest assured your fortune is safe and sound with us.”

  “I’m relieved to know my funds arrived.” She couldn’t help glancing around to see who else had heard his revelation. Two men who stood nearby stared at her. Or, perhaps they stared at Mr. Kroffitt.

  The bank teller dipped his head in the gesture that replaced tipping a hat. “Well, my lunch time is almost over so I’d better get back to the bank. Nice to meet you.”

  The store owner, Mrs. Weston, chuckled. “That young man never met a stranger and doesn’t believe in silence.”

  “He seems nice, though. As a matter of fact, everyone I’ve met in Angel Creek has been friendly.” She glanced around, noting the two men stood near the door, whispering and watching her and Penny.

  “I’m glad to hear you say so, for I agree ours is a friendly town. Angel Creek is an enjoyable place to live—in spite of our winters.”

  Meg collected the items she wished to purchase and browsed a bit to familiarize herself with what was available for a Christmas gift for Curtis—and to see if the two men left. She hated to take too much time when Curtis was working next door. Besides, she enjoyed learning about the business. She laid her items on the counter.

  Mrs. Weston asked, “How did the fabric for the children’s sheets and pillow cases work?”

  “Perfectly. I’ve embroidered the pillowcases. I let them choose from the patterns you sold me. Penny chose a cat and Tom chose a dog. I appreciate your help.”

  “I’m glad they were what you wanted. Will there be anything else today?”

  “No, Penny and I have a lot to do this afternoon, don’t we, Penny?”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  The store owner looked at the little girl. “She is such a precious child, looks and acts just like an angel.”

  Penny looked up. “My first mama is an angel and she’s watching over me and Tom. She wanted to stay with us, but she had to go be an angel because she got real sick.”

  Mrs. Weston exchanged a glance with Meg, then leaned over to speak to Penny. “I’ll bet she’s looking after you right now and is proud of how good you’re being.”

  Penny tugged on Meg’s sleeve. “I am being good, aren’t I?”

  “You certainly are.”

  After saying goodbye to the store owner, Meg strode to the door. As she left, the two men were behind her. They hadn’t spoken to her or done anything questionable, but they gave her an eerie feeling.

  She hurried Penny into the newspaper office next door. From inside, she watched the two men. They looked her way a couple of times as they ambled toward the butcher shop, then they changed course and walked across to the saloon

  “What’re you doing, Meg?” Curtis called. “Something going on out there?”

  “Probably nothing sinister, but those two men gave me a weird feeling. I thought they were following Penny and me, but now they’re going toward the saloon.”

  He came to stand beside her. “Can you still see them?”

  “No, they’ve gone inside the saloon.” She took off her coat and hung it on a peg then helped Penny with hers. “Oh, when I was at the Mercantile, a young man named Daniel Kroffitt introduced himself. He’s a teller at the bank and he said my transfer arrived this morning.”

  Appearing aghast, Curtis stood as if frozen. “You mean he approached you in the store? Not what I’d call professional.”

  “I know, it was if he announced it to everyone in the Mercantile. Not that I mind anyone knowing I had my funds transferred. I’m sure everyone who moves here does. It’s only that those two men were in the Mercantile and heard.”

  “Charles Longfellow, who owns the bank, would speak sharply to the young man for being so careless. Customers want privacy and dependability from a bank. The teller may have meant well, but he was out of line. Probably the two men were on their way home and decided to have a drink first.”

  She wished he hadn’t dismissed the men so casually. Did he think she was so easily upset? “As the teller didn’t mention an amount. I guess there’s no harm done.”

  “You missed seeing Nick. He invited us and the children to dinner tomorrow evening. He and Melody are giving a small dinner party at half past six to welcome you.”

  “Oh, how exciting, my first party in Angel Creek. That’s lovely of Melody and Nick. My, my, what will I wear?”

  Curtis actually laughed. “Sounds like the women in my family.”

  Curtis realized as he spoke that, as his wife, Meg was a part of his family. “Do you intend to go to the bank now to check on your money?”

  She pulled on the sleeve shields that protected her cuffs from ink stains. “The paperwork is already signed so I
don’t see any need. Knowing the transfer arrived and is safely deposited is a relief. I was afraid there would be a robbery somewhere along the way.”

  After donning an apron, she stood at attention and saluted him. “Reporting for duty, but I don’t know what you expect. Is another article ready to set in type?”

  “Actually, there’s a project I thought you might head for me.”

  Her eyes lit with interest. “Oh, whatever I’m able to do to help, I will.”

  “I’ve tried to think of ways to increase circulation. I think something that will appeal to women might help.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Maybe a recipe, human interest stories, that sort of thing. You might have to experiment with articles to see which spark favorable comments.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “You mean I would write the articles? Curtis, as much as I love reading, since I left school I’ve not written anything more complicated than a letter.”

  Was she going to refuse? “No time like now to start. Will you give it a try?”

  She laughed and threw her arms out at each side. “Actually, I’d find it exciting. I’ve wanted to try writing and thought about what I could write.”

  He exhaled his relief at a happy outcome. “Make a few notes on what you think would work and let’s discuss them.”

  “Wonderful. I must say I’m impressed that you’re considering the female part of each family.”

  He raised his eyebrows when he glanced at her. “I’ve recently been reminded how much influence the woman has in a home. I’d be crazy not to utilize that potential.

  She answered with a wry smile, “Careful or I’ll think you’re henpecked.”

  Face neutral, he said, “Oh, I am, but my wife won’t let me admit it.”

  Chapter Ten

  Meg was excited about the dinner. She’d met the Walkers and Sheriff Quinn Cassidy and briefly met his family at church, but not the other couples. The first, Paralee and David Graham, were the son and daughter-in-law of Paul Graham, the lawyer who’d served as a go-between for Uncle Grady and Curtis. Nora and Harley Jackson were the other couple.