Mrs. Higgins slammed the book closed, leaving Mr. Train speechless. He didn’t know the first thing about children, and he hadn’t seen or heard from his brother in years.
Now that his brother and his sister-in-law had been killed in a wagon accident, it was left to him to raise his niece… a situation he couldn’t fully grasp.
“Well, I can’t leave her to an orphanage. There’s no telling how long she’ll be in there before she finds a home, if she ever does. I guess I’m going to have to take her home with me. Is she… um… is she well behaved?”
Thomas Train fidgeted with his hat. He didn’t know how else to phrase it, but he really wasn’t sure what he was going to do about this.
“Olivia is a child, Mr. Train, and as such she is going to need guidance and discipline right along with love and care. You need to be there for her in every way you can, more now than ever. If you concur with this decision, I need you to sign your name here, and here.”
Mrs. Higgins had pulled out a piece of paper, and now pointed to two lines. Thomas took the quill pen that stood on the desk and signed where she indicated, then rose to leave.
“She’s outside with our pastor. I’ll have him fetch her in here directly.”
Mrs. Higgins also rose, and before Thomas could reply, she was gone. He could hear her wooden soled boots clanking on each step even after she had gone outside.
As he waited in the office of the courthouse, Thomas tossed his hat up into the air and caught it again, but his mind was far from what he was actually doing.
How am I supposed to raise a little girl? She’s only five years old and doesn’t know me. I don’t know if I can do this. I should tell that witch of a woman I’ve changed my mind.
“Are you my uncle?”
A sweet young voice came from the corner of the room, and Thomas turned. There, in the corner, was little Olivia, holding a doll that was tattered and much worn. She was the most beautiful creature Thomas had ever seen. The exact image of her mother.
He nodded.
“I guess it’s going to be you and me now, kiddo. What do you say to that?”
The little girl smiled, and Thomas’s heart melted.
Maybe this isn’t going to be so bad after all. She seems to be pretty quiet.
He held his hand out to her, and Olivia skipped over to take it. They left the courthouse and headed down the street, Olivia skipping the whole way.
“Uncle Thomas? Where are we going?”
“We are headed for the paper. If you and me are going to be a family, we need to get one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“We need to get me a wife and you an aunt.”
“Isn’t that two more things Uncle Thomas?”
Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle at the innocence of his niece.
“Nah, she’s going to be the same person for both. Now come along. If you are a good girl I will get you some candy for the ride home.”
“Yippee! I love candy. My favorite is the red candy that tastes like apples.”
“Then the red apple candy is what you shall have my dear, now hurry! I don’t want to be late.”
The clouds drifted by, high above Jessie Krane. She awoke from her nap with a start, and quickly stood up.
“Oh no! What time is it!? I can’t believe I fell asleep again!”
She quickly gathered her book and her bag, then ran across the meadow.
I can’t afford to be late again. Last time the Madam told me I set a poor example to the children, I don’t know what she’ll say this time.
Jessie hopped over the fence and onto the road, pushing past the people that crowded the way. It was mid-afternoon on a Tuesday, so the New York streets shouldn’t have been as crowded as they were, but Jessie figured her being late caused the traffic to build.
She stopped in front of a trough of water, and looked herself over in her reflection. Her hair was disheveled from lying in the grass, and her dress was rumpled. All in all, she looked like someone that just came running in from the fields.
She sighed and shook her head.
“That’s about the best it is going to get. I can’t be any later than I am right now!”
She tucked in the sides of her apron, and pulled back her hair as best she could, then ran to the corner of Oak and Elm.
Jessie was the nanny for the Derby children, but Madam Derby made it clear the last time she was late that “being late” wasn’t the sort of thing nannies did when they worked for her, and Jessie had assured her it wouldn’t happen again.
And here I am, less than a week later, late.
Jessie slowed to a deliberate walk when she came into view of the house. She knew the Madam would be watching for her, and she didn’t want to indicate that she knew she was in the wrong. She made a point of never breaking her pace, even when she entered the yard and walked up the steps.
A feeling of dread swept over Jessie as she looked up at the door rapper, but she squared her shoulders, and gave it a loud clang.
The door slowly opened, and Jessie strode inside.
Chapter 2 – The End of the Road
The butler said nothing to her as she walked in, even though she gave him the same greeting she always did. Jessie shrugged when he walked away, then turned to remover her petticoat.
“That won’t be necessary Miss Krane.”
Jessie turned at the sound of her employer’s voice, and stopped unbuttoning her coat.
“Madam?”
Madam Derby walked into the room, and slowly walked around Jessie, eying her as though she were a spider or a roach. Jessie hated it when Madam Derby did this. It made her feel as though she were an object and not a valued person. Easily dismissible. Easily replaced.
“You see, a nanny needs to be a person of example. A nanny needs to be someone the children can look up to, and a nanny needs to know the value of time. Her own time as well as her employer’s time, that is. You, Miss Krane, I am afraid, do not meet these qualifications, therefore you do not fall under the title of “nanny” in this household.”
Jessie was speechless. She had been working hard for the Derbys the past couple months, and had only been late one time earlier on this week. For Madam Derby to stand before her now and tell her she wasn’t fit to be a nanny wasn’t only insulting, it was downright false.
She opened her mouth, but before anything came out, Madam Derby held up her hand.
“I don’t need an explanation, and I don’t need an excuse. You have already been replaced by someone who can be here on time, and who will be. Now, here is your final pay, and I wish you good day.”
Madam Derby opened the door, and motioned Jessie to walk through it. Jessie opened her mouth again to say something, then decided against it, and carried her same composure as she walked back through the door. She snatched the money out of Madam Derby’s hand on her way by, and never looked back.
Once she was out on the street and away from the house, Jessie sat down. She looked at the money in her hand. It was nearly ten dollars. Not enough to do much with, but enough to last her a couple of days if she was careful.
But that’s only a couple of days for you to figure something out. That’s not a lot of time in the big picture.
Jessie rose and dusted herself off. She needed to find some sort of job that was going to pay her soon. And well. She was wearing out her stay at her current residence. Her sister had given her use of the bedroom while her son was away at boarding school, but now that school was nearly out, it was time for Jessie to be out, too.
If only I had married a rich man like Annie did. Then I could have my own kid that I send to boarding school and fire my own nannies that are an hour late. Men aren’t nearly as plentiful as they should be these days!
Jessie stood and began walking up the street. There was always something going on downtown, and if she timed it properly, there may be a job opportunity just waiting for her.
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Big news! We are
opening a new general store! Extra!”
A newsboy on the corner of the street waived a paper in the air, and offered one to Jessie as she walked by.
A new general store could be a good thing. After all, they are going to need someone to run that store.
Jessie opened the paper and glanced around inside. There was a big article on the new store that was to open, but it wasn’t set to open for another six months.
“Six months! That’s hardly news worthy right now!”
Jessie felt so irritated she spoke out loud, and shoved the paper down on the ground beside her. She buried her face in her hands, and groaned out loud. What was she going to tell her sister? What was she going to do? She couldn’t live off of charity, but she didn’t make enough to pay for her own space.
I’m not about to ask for money from anyone, I don’t care if they are family or not, or how much of that stuff they have lying about. I can handle it.
Jessie pulled her ankles in and laid her chin on her knees. The wind gently blew her hair over her face, and she looked down at the paper once more. Suddenly, something caught her eye.
Looking for a bride:
Me and my young niece are looking for a kind young lady to come into our family. I am looking for a bride for myself, but you will also have some of the duty of caring for a little girl.
She is very sweet, and I promise to treat you kindly. If you have any interest, please write to the address I will post below.
Regards,
Thomas Train
A smile spread across Jessie’s face as she read the ad, and her thoughts started running through her mind so quickly she could hardly keep up. The address was clear out in Wyoming, but she didn’t mind. She was in need of a change of scenery anyway.
I know how to handle children, and marriage would solve a lot of my problems. What am I waiting for?
Jessie tore the ad out of the paper and stuffed it in the front of her dress. If she hurried, she could make it home in time to write a letter and have it sent out before the postman closed for the day.
This could be my big break! Watch out Wild West, here I come!
Chapter 3 – Letters of Love
“Olivia, how many times must I ask you to wash up for dinner before you actually do it?”
“But you don’t wash up before dinner!”
Thomas sighed. This fatherhood idea wasn’t going as well as he hoped it would, and Olivia certainly had her own set of opinions on life. He grabbed his plates out of the sink where they had been drying, and laid out some silver next to them on the table.
“One of these days I’m going to build us a real cupboard to keep these things in. Here’s your dinner, please sit down. Olivia? Olivia!”
Thomas looked around, but Olivia was nowhere in the house.
She was just here!
He looked outside, and saw her wrestling with a chicken in the mud.
“Olivia! What are you… Ugh!”
Thomas walked outside and grabbed his niece, then tucked her under his arm and headed back for the house. Olivia was squealing and kicking and yelling to be let go.
“I say there Thomas!”
Thomas stopped and turned to see his good friend Jeffery Adams running up the road. Jeffery stopped and placed his hands on his knees, gasping for breath.
“What is it man? Is something wrong?”
Thomas released Olivia, and told her to run inside and get cleaned up for dinner. She stuck her lower lip out in a pretty little pout but obeyed. Thomas shook his head as he watched her disappear into the house, then he turned back to his friend.
Jeffery had a big smile across his face, and beamed as he pulled a letter out of his pocket.
“Nothing is wrong Thomas! In fact, all is right… take a look at this! Perhaps you are getting your bride after all. I thought you crazy for doing this, but it seems I may have been wrong.”
Thomas hurriedly took the letter and tore the top of the envelope off. He yanked out the paper and skimmed the contents, then jumped high in the air.
“Whoopee! She’s interested! There’s a girl out there who is interested!”
“Who is it? Where’s she from? Thomas!”
Jeffery was trying to grab the letter from his friend, but Thomas was jumping around whooping and hollering like his life has finally been made complete. Olivia came running back outside to see what the commotion was all about, and Thomas turned her around and pointed her back to the house.
“She’s from New York, and according to this letter she loves kids and has always wanted to come out West. I think we have a match here, Jeffery!”
Jeffery laughed and clapped his friend on the back.
“Good for you! Good for you!”
Jeffery shook Thomas’s hand, and turned to go.
“Oh you will at least stay to dinner won’t you? I made beans and cornbread, but let me tell you, I don’t know what to say to that girl half the time, and dinners can get to be a little quiet. What do you say?”
Jeffery started to decline, but Thomas pushed him and pushed him until he complied. The two men walked back to the house, and Thomas told Olivia her new aunt was on the way.
“What do you mean you’re moving to Wyoming?!”
Jessie knew her conversation with her sister wasn’t going to go as well as she hoped it would, and she was right. It was hard to know how to bring up the matter, but Jessie was an adult, and she knew her sister couldn’t tell her what to do.
“I want an adventure, Annie, and I want love. You met Harry while you were young, I didn’t get to have that same luck. Now I want to go make my own luck and marry this man.”
Annie shook her head, and looked at her sister with disapproval.
“You have lost your mind, and that’s all I have to say. What do you know about raising a daughter? You were a nanny for a few months. Being a nanny and being a mother are two very different things!”
“I am great the children, and this isn’t a lot of children, this is just one. I know I can handle her, and it sounds like her uncle is going to help me along the way. Now, if you will kindly help me close my trunk, I can take it down to the station.”
Annie wanted to argue further, but she knew there was little point in it. Once her sister got an idea in her head, there was no getting it back out until she had at least tried it. Besides, it was about time for her sister to be back out on her own, and Annie would be glad to have her son’s room back.
“Well, you do need to be careful. Write to me often, and let me know how it is going. If you ever need anything, you tell me, and I’ll be there for you. Even if you need to come home, you tell me, ya hear?”
Jessie closed her trunk and looked up at her sister. Tears were in both of their eyes, and Annie rushed over to Jessie for a hug. While the two sisters weren’t very close, they were always there for each other, and Jessie knew this was going to be hard. They held each other for a few minutes, then Annie pulled back.
“You have to hurry, the train is going to be leaving soon, and it waits for no one.”
Jessie dried her eyes and laughed, then picked up her trunk.
“Harry is going to help me get this to the station, and don’t you worry, I will write to you as soon as I get there, and often after that. This is a good move for me, Annie, and I am happy about it.”
Annie nodded, but she didn’t say anything. There was nothing else she could say, besides wishing her sister well.
They got the trunk in the back of the wagon, and as Harry slapped the reins on the horses, they were off. Jessie turned around in her seat and waived to her sister. She was sad to be leaving, but adventure lay ahead.
Jessie turned back around in her seat and took a deep breath. It was now or never.
Chapter 4 – The Long Road Home
The wagon jolted over the bumps, causing Jessie to hit her head and groan. She had always wanted to travel out west, but she had no idea getting there was going to be such a hassle.
They say that t
he journey is half the fun of getting anywhere, but this is crazy.
She reached across the box she was sitting next to and tried to stabilize herself, but everything in the wagon bounced and bashed against each other. She had enjoyed her ride on the train, but the train was expensive and she could only make part of the journey.
The initial plan had been to get off the train and get on the stagecoach, but there had been so many robberies on the stage coach lately Jessie couldn’t find one that was headed through the Dakotas. The other coaches were taking the long way around, and Jessie didn’t have the time or the patience… or the money… to stick with that long of a ride.
Instead, she had met with a small band of wagons that was headed to Oregon. She had the good fortune of meeting them at the general store in Minnesota, so here she was now.
“Are you doing ok back there, Miss?” The attractive young cowboy poked his head in the back of the wagon, and Jessie blushed. She always had liked cowboys, but she reminded herself that she was on the way to meet her husband, and daughter. She nodded, and the cowboy smiled.
“You let me know if you want to come up here and sit with me. There’s a lot more to see from where I am than where you are.”
“I will. The bouncing of the wagon makes me feel nervous, I think I’ll stay back here. If I get bored I’ll be sure to let you know, however.”
The cowboy kept turning his head to the side to better hear her speak, although he didn’t look directly at her. Jessie had to get used to this, though she was happy he was keeping his eyes on the trail. There were some treacherous parts in the trail, and she feared they would slide off the edge and into the ditch, or break a wheel on a rock.
After her reply, the cowboy, clucked to the horses and slapped the reins on their backs. They whinnied and threw their weight into their harnesses, and the wagon jolted on forward. The speed made Jessie feel nervous, but she didn’t want to tell him that. They were the last in the train, and she would feel badly if she was the reason he fell behind his companions. Instead, Jessie struggled to her feet and pulled down the curtain that divided her and the driver, then she made her way to the back of the wagon and did the same out the back.
[2015] Cowboy for Christmas Page 4
