by Danni Roan
A few moments later they turned back toward the town and the few shops that were growing along the main drag.
“What is that place?” Beth asked as they found their footing on a strip of boardwalk.
“That is Mr. Franko’s place,” Brandon replied. “He’s planning on giving violin or fiddle lessons soon, so added a room at the front of his house for that. Perhaps one day he’ll even sell instruments.”
“Perhaps you could give piano lessons someday,” Beth teased. “You play remarkably well.”
Brandon dropped his eyes, embarrassed by her kind words. He hadn’t played seriously in several years, and the days of playing in music halls and saloons could hardly be counted as best practice. “I’m afraid my family wouldn’t agree with you on that matter,” he spoke, shaking his head. “My mother and father both insisted that I learn to play, but I’m sure this isn’t the purpose they had in mind for my using my talents.”
“But everyone loved it this morning,” Beth protested. “You lead us all in glorious worship and lifted our hearts.”
Brandon looked toward her from under his mop of dark hair, a grin playing across his lips. “You’re very kind,” he said.
“No,” Beth corrected as they stopped to look across the street at the General Store, “I’m honest.”
Brandon smiled, appreciating the young woman’s candor. She was different than Peri, who was lively and excitable. No, Miss Beechen was sensible, interested, and truthful. All good qualities in a woman, especially a woman the preacher found attractive.
Pushing the unwelcome thought from his mind, Brandon continued the tour of the small town of Needful. Orville and the boys were putting together a livery stable for the spare stage horses that allowed the stage driver to switch out quickly, dropping their guest, and keep moving.
The idea of getting the stage to stop had come to Mr. Hampton and a few other serious-minded men of the town when Prim had been dropped off in the middle of the prairie and expected to walk the rest of the way to town. Fortunately for the young woman, disaster had been averted by a quick thinking cowboy.
“Do you like being in Needful?” Beth asked, surprising the preacher. “You seem the type who would enjoy a larger town or city.”
Brandon raised an eyebrow, surprised at his companion’s attentiveness. “I do like it here in Needful,” he replied. “The town had a need, and I could fill it,” he added with a grin.
Beth smiled, liking the way the man grinned at her. Somehow she knew that she had made a true friend in the man beside her. She felt comfortable with him and though sadness seemed to stalk the night, her day spent in the preacher’s company was refreshing.
“The General Store has most everything you could need,” Brandon was saying as they walked quietly along the street. “Mr. and Mrs. Script run a tight ship, but I’ve heard some of the men complaining that they can’t buy baked goods though,” he added. “Perhaps one day there will be a bakery or shop that sells bread here in town, but for now we make do.”
“I take it you enjoy baked goods,” Beth said, watching as the man blushed softly.
“My mother’s cook was a tremendous baker,” Brandon admitted surprised that he had shared so much of his life with this virtual stranger. “My favorites were her cookies, but we don’t see cookies often in this town. Olive has been known to make pies though, and they are always a welcome treat.”
“Perhaps you should go berry picking this summer,” Beth offered. “If you bring the fruit, Olive will make you a special pie.”
“That’s good thinking,” Brandon said, smiling. “Perhaps one day there will even be an apple orchard right here in Needful and we can have apple pie every Sunday.”
Beth didn’t say anything, thinking over what the man had said. It would be easy enough to make a simple, dried apple pie. Once she was comfortable with her responsibilities at the Hampton House, she could look into the option, to thank Mr. Tippert for being so kind to her. His kind words, cheerful nature, and friendly attitude, helped her forget her own sorrows.
Together Beth and Brandon made a loop of the town and the preacher started back toward the Hampton House that was closing for the afternoon.
Several men stood on the stoop of the boarding house chatting and swinging shiny buckets in their hands.
“What are the buckets for?” Beth asked inquisitively.
“The Hampton’s only serve lunch on Sunday,” Brandon offered. “That means that men who don’t want to cook for themselves usually bring a lunch pail and take something extra with them for a later meal.”
Beth nodded, seeing how that would be a benefit and also seeing why a bakery of some kind would benefit the men of Needful.
As they stepped up on to the front porch, Beth ducked her head as the men quieted, tipping their hats or greeting them politely.
She wondered if the man called Darwin was among them and felt her face heat at the thought of the drunken man staring at her possessively.
“Preacher, how come you get to take a walk with the new girl here in town?” one man asked, scratching at the front of his shirt with a dirty hand. “I thought Miss Olive was sortin’ out who got the next woman?”
Brandon stood taller, giving the man a hard look. “I believe that Miss Olive is simply giving Miss Beechen a chance to get familiar with the town,” he said, his dark eyes hard as he gazed at the other men. “I’m sure when she begins to consider Needful as home, things might change.”
Several of the men shuffled their feet nervously, nodding, or humming agreement as Brandon opened the door ushering the young woman inside.
Something protective seemed to surface in the preacher as he noted the way several of the men looked at Miss Beechen longingly. He knew that any single woman in Needful would be of interest to men, lonely, and alone in so many ways. The men of the town were hard working for the most part, and though there were days when the jail house was full of rowdy cowboys, or drunken miners, most of them wanted a quiet life.
Still, he couldn’t help but feel protective of the lovely young woman, and he realized that his past failure’s had much to do with his need to watch over the newest member of his congregation.
Perhaps this time he could keep an innocent out of harm’s way, even when he had failed so badly long ago.
Lord willing, Brandon would be there if Miss Beechen ever needed him, and he prayed that he might be able to live up to that responsibility this time.
“Thank you for the tour,” Beth said, puzzled by the preacher’s distraction. They had enjoyed a nice walk and a few moments of friendship but now he looked troubled.
“You’re welcome,” the tall man said. “It was truly my pleasure,” he added tipping his head politely. “If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to call on me.”
Beth smiled, hoping the man could see how grateful she was for his friendship as she bid him good day.
Chapter 10
Beth moved through the day, trying to keep from being underfoot, but it was obvious that she wasn’t needed at the Hampton House.
Did this mean that she should be concentrating on getting to know the single men of the community and deciding if one of them would suit her as a potential mate? The prospect did not thrill her as yet another miner grinned at her through a layer of dust and grime covering his face.
Perhaps it would have been better to arrive in Needful with a man already picked for her. That way she wouldn’t have had to think about the whole mess. Instead she would have been adjusting to a new life as a stranger’s wife.
“You’re a mighty pretty girl,” an older man with a long beard said grinning at her with a gapped smile. “Why don’t you pick me, and we’ll get married tamoory?” he said.
Beth managed not to shudder at the man’s proposal, but hurried back into the kitchen as soon as she could.
“Rosa, I don’t know what to do,” she whispered as she huddled next to the stove, dreading going back into the dining hall. “I know I came here as
a mail-order bride, but I just can’t seem to like any of these men.”
The black haired woman turned, her eyes weary. “It does not matter,” she said. “You can think you know a man, but he will hide things from you and then it is all too late.”
Olive had told Beth that Rosa was still struggling with the loss of her husband a few months earlier, and she shook her head at her careless words. “I’m sorry Rosa,” she said. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
Rosa shrugged her shoulders. She wasn’t any bigger than a minute, but was hard working and an excellent cook. “Why don’t you take my Christina out for a walk,” she said, stirring chopped onions into a pan. “She is inside too much.”
Beth looked down at the little girl playing with a rag doll in the tiny pen Rosa had set up for her in the kitchen. The little girl was a year and a half old and as the pretty as a picture, with rosy cheeks and pitch black hair.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Beth said reaching down and picking up the child. “It’s bright and sunny and a few minutes outside will do us both good.”
Rosa nodded absently as Beth carried Christina toward the back door. It was very hard to care about things some days, and she was glad to have someone else take a turn with her daughter.
The sun was shining as Beth stepped through the door, but the air was still cool and brisk. She had heard that Texas could get terribly warm in the spring and summer, but so far the weather was mild, even welcoming.
Putting Christina down on the patch of grass on the back lot, Beth took her little hand and began walking around the clearing.
“Now ain’t that a sweet sight,” a ragged voice called as a man working on the structure of the livery stable yelled down from the roof. “You’re as pretty as a painted pony,” the man continued, slicking greasy blonde hair out of his eyes. “Maybe I’d best come callin’ later this week and meet up with you,” he added with a wink.
Beth felt her face flush as she hurried to gather Christina up and rushed into the house, the man’s raucous laughter following her through the back door.
“What’s wrong?” Olive asked, hurrying to catch Beth in the parlor. “Are you ill?”
Beth stood staring at Olive for several seconds, face flushed, and eyes flashing. “The men in this town are rude,” she finally spoke. “That man on the roof out there was calling to me as if I were some common trollop.”
Olive shook her head. “I know, I know,” she grumbled. “The men around here lack a certain refinement. I think it comes from being on their own too long.”
“Olive,” another voice interrupted and Prim stepped into the family living quarters smiling softly. “I was wondering if you would let Mama sit here for a while,” the dark-haired young woman said. “I’m trying to get the shopping done and don’t want to tire her before supper.”
“You know your mama’s welcome here any ol’ time,” Olive grinned. “I’ll fix some tea,” she continued turning toward the shared kitchen then pausing. “Why don’t you come and sit with me for a spell though before you go to the store,” she added tapping her lips with a finger. “I have an idea.”
Prim looked to Beth then back at Olive when the other girl had nothing to offer.
“You two come along now,” Olive said, grabbing each young woman by the hand and tugging them toward her own small table in the back of the building. “My girls will see to your mama until you return.”
“So you think Anderson and I should hire Beth to work at our house and help look after mama?” Prim said a few minutes later as they all sat around a small table drinking tea. “That way she won’t be bothered by the men here in town that are determined to have a wife, and I’ll have someone to help around the place.”
“That’s right,” Olive nodded, adding a smidge more sugar to her tea. “Then Peri and me can sort out a few fella’s who might suit you, Beth,” she continued, turning toward her newest helper. “Dan Gaines doesn’t seem interested in marryin’ up yet, but he’s a good man and maybe if you get to know him things will work out.”
Beth chewed her bottom lip thinking over the idea. “I wouldn’t want to be any trouble,” she offered, looking at Prim.
“It wouldn’t be any trouble for me,” Prim assured. “As a matter of fact it would be a big help. Ever since Peri married Bear, it’s mostly me and Mama, alone all day. Some days I surely would love the help.”
“When would you like me to start?” Beth asked shifting Christina from her lap to the floor.
“I’ll need to talk it over with Anderson first,” Prim smiled her blue eyes kind. “I don’t see any issues with it though. He keeps telling me I shouldn’t be doing all the housework on my own. Give me a couple of days and then we’ll go from there.”
“Prim, you go on and do your shopping, and I’ll introduce Beth to your mother. I’m sure they’ll get along wonderfully,” Olive said, finishing her tea and ushering everyone back out into the parlor where Mrs. Perkins sat rocking in an old chair where one of the Hampton women had placed her.
“Mama, I’m going to do the shopping now.” Prim smiled down to the woman with gray streaked brown hair who was humming softly as she rocked.
The chair came to a halt as the older woman’s eyes roved the room landing on her daughter and the other women as her thin hand reached toward Beth.
“Yes, Mama,” Prim grinned. “This is Beth and she’s going to keep you company for a bit while I go to the store.”
To Prim’s surprise her mother started humming again, this time a jaunty tune she didn’t recognize even while pulling herself out of the chair as she clung to the blonde girl’s strong hand.
“I think she likes you,” Olive said with a chuckle. “Just take her into the dining area, and we’ll bring out some coffee,” the old woman finished with a grin.
Chapter 11
Beth slipped into a seat across from the older woman who smiled crookedly at her. Prim had explained that many years earlier Mercy Perkins had been kicked by an old cow and later had a stroke, leaving her unable to communicate and somewhat hindered in her mobility.
As one of the Hampton women brought coffee and a tiny tin of crisp molasses cookies, Beth helped the elder Mrs. Perkins grasp her cup.
“I’m very happy to be here with you,” Beth said breaking a cookie in her fingers and nibbling it delicately. “I don’t have many people to talk to yet, but I feel I can talk to you.”
The older woman’s dark eyes sparkled as if she understood what Beth meant, and she popped the whole cookie into her mouth before sipping her coffee.
As Beth settled into the chair more comfortably, she noted a few of the men in the room glancing her way, but none of them were bothersome, loud, or overly forward. The lack of additional attention was welcome, and she sipped her coffee in ease.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for me to come and live out at the house with you and Prim,” Beth stated. “I don’t want to be a burden to anyone,” she continued as she leaned a little closer to the other woman. “I’m not sure I’m ready to marry anyone in this town yet either, though.”
Beth was sure she saw a smile flicker across the older woman’s face and found herself relaxing even more.
“I so appreciate the Hamptons and the place they gave me, but I can see I’m not really needed here,” Beth looked around the room noting the patrons coming and going, then smiling as Mr. Tippert the town’s preacher entered.
“May I join you?” the lean man said walking toward their table. “I’m afraid I’ve been neglectful of you recently Mrs. Perkins,” he added as Beth indicated he should take a chair. “I hope you enjoyed my piano playing in church this week,” he chuckled.
Beth smiled softly at the man as Mrs. Perkins began to hum the strains of one of the hymns they had sung that weekend.
“Coffee, Preacher?” Shililiah asked with a cheeky grin. She had her strawberry blonde hair wound up in a brightly colored scarf today and her pale green eyes sparkled with a welcoming cheer.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hampton,” the preacher replied. “Did you make the cookies as well?”
“No, no, not me, I can cook well enough, but my baked goods leave things lacking,” the young woman said, turning on her heel and heading for the kitchen.
“Do you know which one made the cookies,” Brandon asked taking a crisp round disk from the box.
“I don’t,” Beth admitted. “Would you like me to ask?”
“No,” Brandon grinned. “I’ll just enjoy them with you.”
Beth smiled. She felt comfortable with the preacher and Mrs. Perkins. It seemed that between the two of them they buffered the constant attention of the other single men of the town.
“Has it been busy today?” Brandon asked looking around at the dining hall. It wasn’t overly full, but more people were filtering in for a meal.
“Not especially,” Beth commented as Dan Gaines stepped into the room, looking along the length of the dining area then turning for the kitchen. “He seems to be looking for someone,” Beth said watching the handsome cowboy step out of sight.
“I’m afraid he’s looking for Rosa again,” Brandon dropped his voice. “He’s been trying to convince her to let him pay for her room and board, so she won’t have to work anymore.”
“Why would he do that?” Beth asked as raised voices drifted from the kitchen on the far end of the room.
“He feels responsible for her husband’s death,” Brandon shrugged. “Raul worked for him and other ranchers in the area until he was recently killed along the border when he was mistaken for his brother, a Mexican outlaw with a price on his head.”
“I’d heard that Rosa’s husband had died,” Beth said sadly, “but I didn’t know how. That is so horrid.”
“No! No! No! No!” Rosa’s voice drifted through the door as the tiny woman poked a finger in the rancher’s thick chest forcing him to back out of the room with every word. “I do not need your charity. My Raul did what he did and that is all. You did not tell him to make a bargain with his brother. It is his fault he is dead, no one else can take that blame,” she snapped, her dark eyes flashing, as Christina started to cry in the other room.
