Mrs. Grey

by Rachel Wesson

  “Nobody knows how old she is, but she never stopped telling me about my wonderful aunt,” Isabella exclaimed. “She loved you so.”

  She had to wipe her eye, not wanting to let her niece show how much her words had affected her.

  “Sally said you used to sneak down with food for the sick, and you taught people to read. She said you helped them to escape too. And you stopped Grandfather from punishing those who got caught.”

  Lorena closed her eyes briefly as the images of the night she had failed to stop her father flooded her mind. She blinked rapidly to get rid of them.

  “Not always.” She didn’t want to think about young Abraham. She had been the reason he’d run in the first place. She hadn’t listened to him. He didn't want to go. He’d been in love with one of the house girls, but she hadn’t known what true love was. She had underestimated his feelings for Venus. And her mistake had cost him his life.

  “Sally asked me to tell you something when I saw you.”

  “Oh”

  “I don’t know what it means, but she said you are not responsible for Abraham. He is happy with Venus.”

  She gaped at her niece in horror.

  “Aunt Lorena. Are you, all right? You look like you saw a ghost.”

  “What did she say? Her exact words, Isabella.”

  “Sally? She said to tell you Abraham and Venus are happy, and it was not your fault. Who were they?” Isabella’s face was lit up with curiosity.

  Lorena couldn’t believe it. After all this time, she had never thought she would hear those names again. She stood, holding one arm of the chair. The room was spinning rather disconcertedly

  “Isabella, forgive me. I don’t feel well. I must retire. Annie will tell you when dinner is ready.”

  “But, Aunt Lorena.”

  “Not now, Isabella”

  She regretted being so sharp at the look of hurt on her niece’s face. It wasn’t the girl's fault.

  “Sorry, Isabella. I will explain but not this evening. I am very proud of you for getting your job. Please, excuse me.”

  Chapter 23

  She walked to her room slowly, feeling every inch of her years. As she lay down, she couldn’t sleep. Her mind went over images she had thought long forgotten. Abraham and Venus. The night went on forever and the next morning she got up without ever having got to sleep.

  “Good morning, Annie. How is Cook this morning?”

  “A bit shook up if you ask me,” Annie said quietly, not looking at her. She wished her maid would stop acting like she believed she would be in trouble if she met her eyes. Lorena could only imagine the trauma the young orphan had seen in her short lifetime.

  “Can you ask her to come and see me, please?” Lorena asked gently. She treated Annie much like an injured animal. By working slowly and gently, she hoped to increase the girl’s confidence so she could begin to enjoy her life. She would give anything to see Annie smile.

  She was tempted to go down to the kitchen, but the last time she had done that, Cook had nearly passed out. It was her domain and she didn’t welcome intruders even if it was her employer.

  She waited, stirring her tea. The door opened and soon Cook stood in front of her, holding her hands in front of her spotless apron. How could she keep it so white, cooking all the time?

  “You called, ma’am.” Cook’s worried tone told her the silence had upset Esther. She quickly tried to make amends.

  “Yes, Cook. I was concerned for you.”

  “What’s that Annie been saying. I am fine, ma’am.” Cook’s indignant tone told Lorena, Annie had been right to be concerned.

  “Annie was worried about you and she was right to be. Why don’t you sit and have a cup of tea and tell me what happened?”

  “But …”

  “But nothing. Sit. Annie, will you get us another cup for Cook and some of those cookies she likes so much.”

  Both servants gaped at her. But she didn’t care. She wanted to know what had happened in town.

  “Now, Cook, tell me from the start.”

  “I was in the store, ma’am, chatting to Miss Katie as you do. And this man came in. One of the workers from the hotel. He was real polite. Said he was looking for something for his wife. She wasn’t feeling too well.”

  “He has his wife with him?”

  “No, ma’am, she must have stayed at the camp.”

  Shame overcame her. She should have called to the camps, to see they had what they needed. She would go today.

  “So, Katie told him he should call to see Doc Erin. But this man said no, that docs didn’t see the likes of him.” Cook didn’t meet her eyes but looked at the rug.

  “But that’s ridiculous, Doc Erin has never turned away anyone in her life,” Lorena protested.

  Cook looked her straight in the eye. “I know that, and I told him so, but he wasn’t convinced.”

  “So, what happened then?”

  Cook frowned.

  “Two more men came in. They were also workers from the hotel, but they were mean and nasty. They told Katie she was a disgrace to their country for serving the first man. She told them to leave and one of them… oh, ma’am, it was horrible. He was going to hit Miss Katie. His name was Seamus. Only your Sheriff Willis happened to come in at that moment.”

  She ignored the reference to her Sheriff Willis. “What happened next?”

  “The sheriff, he threw those men out on the street and warned them to go home, but they didn’t listen. Sheriff Willis was called to the school, something about the young’uns. As soon as his back was turned, those horrible men took their revenge. They waited for the first man to come out and jumped him. They beat him up real bad, ma’am. Doc Erin came running and her husband and lots of others. Some women were screaming. I wasn’t but I was shocked.”

  “The poor man, was he hurt bad?”

  “I don’t know, ma’am. Sheriff Willis told us to go back into the store and lock the doors. Katie gave us tea, but nobody could drink it. The children, they were crying. Then the sheriff came, and he took those of us who lived outside of town, home in a wagon. He didn’t say a word when he was traveling until he got here. He said to apologize, but he couldn’t come in. He had to get back to town.”

  "Oh, my goodness. Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?” Lorena asked as she took Cook’s hand in hers, rubbing it gently. Esther was shaking, her knees making the table move and the cups rattle.

  “I did come to tell you but then Miss Isabella said you were in bed. You never go to bed, so I figured you must be ailing. I am sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean any harm.”

  “No harm done, Esther. I must get into town. Sounds like Doc Erin needs my help. What is happening to Clover Springs?”

  “I tell you what, ma’am. All those strangers. They aren’t like Miss Katie and her friends. They are rough. Just like the Irish my father used to tell us about back home.” When Cook got angry, her British accent became more pronounced.

  She could only imagine what Cook’s father had to say about the Irish. He’d been in the British army, and Cook had plenty to say about his trips to Ireland Thankfully, she kept quiet about it most of the time. She genuinely liked most of the Irish living in Clover Springs—as she had once said, her father hadn’t met anyone like the Sullivans or Callaghans.

  Chapter 24

  She dressed quickly before going outside.

  “Want me to drive you, Mrs. Grey?”

  “No thank you, Jim. You stay with your wife and Annie. I think the business in town has unsettled both of them.”

  “Sure unsettled the missus, her seeing stuff like that. Not what we are used to here in Clover Springs. But she said I was to come with you to protect you.”

  She hid a smile. Jim was sixty if not older. Cook’s husband had been invalided out of the army and walked with a bad limp.

  “I will be just fine. I will keep the whip handy.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She saw the relief in his eyes. Being an Englishm
an, he probably felt he was the wrong person to take on the Irish laborers.

  She couldn’t help but be sad that her little town was suffering from prejudices from farther afield. They had their issues with Charlie Staunton and Mrs. Shaw and others, but generally, people got on well together regardless of their background. That is what made Clover Springs special.

  As she drove into town with Isabella at her side, she was relieved to see it looked just like any other day. Davy Sullivan had organized for every building to be whitewashed, windows, and walkways cleaned in preparation for Mr. Prentice’s arrival.

  “It’s very pretty. I like the window boxes,” Isabella commented as she looked at the new addition to the stores.

  “Mr. Prentice is coming to town and I think Davy Sullivan is trying to impress him. He wants to supply beef to Mr. Prentice’s hotels in New York.”

  “So, he set up window boxes?” Isabella looked amused.

  “No, my dear niece. Mr. Prentice is guest of honor at the three weddings taking place at the end of the month. He is a very popular man with the group from New York. I am looking forward to meeting him. We have his generosity to thank for the library, Lizzie’s seamstress store, and, of course, the hotel. His visit is part of the reason Robbie is under so much pressure to get the hotel finished. “

  “There is a library in town? Where?” Isabella asked excitedly.

  “It is the building near Lizzie’s dress shop. It is not open yet. We have to hire a librarian.”

  “Oh.” Isabella fell silent.

  “Haven’t you enough books to read in my library?” she asked her niece, wondering if the girl didn’t feel she could borrow those books.

  “Yes, of course, but I would love to work in a place with books all around me. I could read all day, and nobody would tell me my brain would go soft, or I would lose my eyesight.”

  She pulled up outside the orphanage before turning to Isabella.

  “You want to be the town librarian?” she asked, checking she had heard correctly. She had assumed Isabella wasn’t interested in anything more than dresses and other fripperies just like Adriana, her mother. But then Isabella had got the job in the restaurant. Maybe she should pay more attention to this niece of hers.

  “I would love to do that. But I am not sure I have the right qualifications. I don’t know what a librarian is supposed to have. Training wise, I mean.”

  Lorena was thoughtful. She didn’t either, but surely someone who loved books was a good start.

  “We can speak to Mr. Prentice when he arrives.”

  “Will it be his decision who wins the job?”

  Lorena didn’t know the answer to that question.

  Mr. Prentice seemed to be fine with taking a back seat, so she couldn’t see him making a fuss over who ran the library.

  “Don’t worry, Isabella, we will soon find out.”

  “Thank you, Aunt Lorena. I best get to the restaurant. I don’t want to be late.” Isabella climbed down from the wagon, smoothed the creases in her skirt and walked off in the direction of the restaurant.

  “Have a good day, dear,” she said approvingly.

  Chapter 25

  She took a minute to admire Samuel Higgins’ garden. The man had been born with the ability to grow most anything. His vegetables helped Ellen, his wife, and Wilma to stretch the orphanage food budget. A blessing, given the numbers of orphans arriving looking for shelter. It also gave Samuel his self-respect. His injuries sustained in the fire at the orphanage some years back prevented him from being a ranch hand. She knew he had worried about supporting his family. But they were managing with Ellen working part-time as a teacher and the pay they received for their work at the orphanage. Another story with a happy ending that had started in Clover Springs. Maybe her niece Isabella would find hers as well.

  Wilma would give her an update of what was going on.

  “Morning, Mrs. Grey. ‘Tis up early you are this fine day.”

  “Morning, Father Molloy. Cook told me about the trouble in town. I came in to see if my help was needed.”

  “I thought I heard voices. What are you two doing standing on the porch? Couldn’t you find your way in?” Wilma asked. her hands on her hips as usual.

  “Morning, Wilma. I bumped into Mrs. Grey just now. How are you?” Father Molloy replied cheerfully as if not seeing Wilma was in a rare temper.

  “I am spitting mad, that’s how I am. Why has this trouble got to come to Clover Springs? You tell young Robbie not to come near me this morning.”

  “Robbie? It’s not his fault,” Lorena replied automatically.

  “So, you think it is my Zack and his men?”

  Taken aback at her friends’ reaction, she took a step toward her.

  “Wilma, would you listen to yourself. I don't think it is anyone fault apart from those two men who attacked the man in the store. Why would you think I blamed Zack?”

  “Sorry, Lorena, forgive me. I ain’t got a wink of sleep last night. We got trouble.”

  “Sit, woman, and tell us about it. I will make the tea,” Father Molloy said firmly.

  “Father Molloy, you sit. I can’t drink your tea even in a crisis. Wilma, sit beside him. You look as if you could fall over.” She filled the kettle from the pump. She spooned some tea into the big teapot Wilma used.

  “Oh, Lorena. I thought we had left all that hate behind us. I never thought we would see the like of it in this here town. The poor men and women in the camp are worried about being lynched. Just like they were in the old days. What is the world coming to?”

  She exchanged a glance with Father Molloy who nodded. She would go for Doc Erin, Wilma needed help. Her heart couldn’t take this level of strain.

  She set the kettle on to boil then headed out the door to search for Doc Erin. She almost walked into Samuel.

  “Sorry, Samuel. Wilma isn’t feeling well. I need Doc Erin.”

  “I will go fetch her. You go back inside. You don’t look too well yourself.”

  She would normally argue given how hard it was for Samuel to walk quickly but she knew he was right. The lack of sleep combined with the shock of her friend’s reaction was taking its toll. She rubbed his arm gratefully and returned to the orphanage.

  Chapter 26

  The kettle was whistling but neither Wilma or Father Molloy seemed to have noticed. She made the tea then took a seat beside them.

  “Wilma, start at the beginning. Cook told me about the store.”

  “You saw how they lived in Denver when we visited that time. They thought here would be better. Zack told them it was a good place to live. But he never thought it would turn out like this,” Wilma said, tears swimming in her eyes.

  “It can’t continue this way. Robbie will have to do something,” Father Molloy said as he took a cup of tea.

  “But what, Father? You can’t fight prejudice like this,” she answered before pouring Wilma a cup.

  “He can sack any man involved in violence. There are culprits on both sides. Zack and Robbie will have to take a tough stand,” Father Molloy retorted firmly.

  “Charlie Staunton said the camp should be cleared. He wants to put together a posse and clear the fields before the end of the week,” Wilma said, her voice shaking with emotion.

  “He can’t do that,” she said, hoping Wilma would believe her.

  “Who will stop him?” Wilma asked her eyes full of tears.

  “Sheriff Willis for a start. That land belongs to Davy Sullivan. It’s up to him who stays and who goes. Not Charlie Staunton.” She was not going to let that man hurt anyone even if she had to stand in front of him herself.

  “Yes, I know but we all know what he is like,” Wilma responded.

  The door opened admitting a harassed-looking Doc Erin.

  “Oh, my goodness, you look worse than I feel,” she said, looking at the doctor in concern. The younger woman had deep dark circles under her eyes.

  “I know, I haven’t slept all night. Samuel said Wilma wasn’
t feeling well,” Erin replied.

  “I got myself in a state, is all. I will be fine.”

  “I will be the judge of that. Have you taken your tablets?” Erin asked.

  Wilma looked guilty.

  “Wilma! I told you, you can’t afford to miss a tablet. Your blood pressure is up. You need to lie down,” Erin almost shouted.

  “I can’t lie down, not now. My Zack is in trouble.”

  “We will look after Zack you need to go to bed and that’s final,” Erin said as she listened to Wilma’s heart.

  “But…” Wilma tried to argue.

  Mrs. Grey had heard enough. “But nothing, Wilma. Go to bed. I will go with Zack to the camp and see to those who need medical help. We can bring the worst affected back into town. Doc Erin, you need to go lie down too. Emer can hold the fort in the surgery. Father Molloy, will you go tell Emer she is needed?”

  “I will, just as soon as I escort Doc Erin home and tell her husband to put her to bed,” Father Molloy confirmed.

  “I can go to bed myself” Erin protested.

  “But we all know you won’t. You will find an excuse not to go. We know you well,” he replied.

  Judging by the look on her face, Doc Erin knew when she was beaten but she refused to go to bed until Wilma was in hers.

  Chapter 27

  Mrs. Grey escorted her friend to her bedroom. She watched as Wilma just lay on the bed covers, not having the energy to get undressed. The older woman closed her eyes and opened them again straight away.

  “Lorena, I am so sorry for the way I reacted to you. I never held you responsible, you know that.”

  “I know,” she said soothingly, trying to keep her concern hidden from her friend.

  “You are my closest friend, Lorena. Never forget that.”

  She had to hold back the tears in her eyes. What would she do without this woman?

  “And you are mine, you stubborn old woman. Now sleep, or I will send Father Molloy up to start his rosary. We both know he likes the long version.”