[2016] A Widow's Love

by Christian Michael

  CHRISTIAN MICHAEL

  Esme Higgins was beside herself with worry. She considered herself to be a smart, practical, and very capable woman but even she had to admit she was at the end of her rope. Truth was, as a widow, she was afforded a lot of liberties in society that a maiden did not have but she was still a woman in a man’s world and could only go so far. She needed help. She was also desperate enough to take a chance she never imagined that she would take.

  What if he changed his mind? Did he abandon me? It’s been three hours and I see no one.

  She did not know anyone in this strange town and the people she had questioned about Kade Scott had ignored her and her inquiries. It seemed that no one was willing to help her. She was tired of waiting, she had been patient this long and obviously, no one was coming for her. Life was not a basket of roses and Esme was no weeping willow. She was here now and she would make her own way. Somehow.

  Mind made up, Esme hoisted her still sleeping daughter higher on her shoulders, picked up her carpet bag and started walking. Thank the Lord I did not pack anything but the essentials. If I had to cart a trunk around, I don’t know what I would do. She crossed the street and turned left at the junction. Spying an elderly woman coming the opposite way, Esme walked a little faster to meet up with her.

  “Excuse me, Ma’am,” Esme said, praying the woman would not ignore her as so many others had. “I am so sorry to disturb you, but could you please point me to the nearest boarding house? I am new to town you see, and I don’t know where to go.”

  “Oh bless your soul, you poor dear. Why you must have come in by the train!”

  When Esme nodded, the woman’s brow wrinkled. “But it’s high noon! The train came three hours ago. What have you been doing all this time?”

  Esme blushed. “Well, you see, I was supposed to meet someone here but they did not show up. I waited all this time but I can’t keep my daughter in this heat any longer, so I was hoping I could find lodgings for the day.”

  The old woman nodded sagely. “You must be one of those mail-order brides then? No other way a woman would come here alone – with a child to boot –without any other relatives. Well come along, child, you can stay with me. I wouldn’t let my worst enemy stay in the hovel they call a boarding house in these parts. Lots of unsavory characters there too. I’m Crystal by the way. Crystal Scott.”

  Esme sent up a prayer of gratitude that she had finally ran into a kind soul. “I am Esmeralda Higgins but you can call me Esme. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ma’am. Thank you very much for the kind offer. Did you say your surname is Scott?”

  “Yes I did.” Crystal answered. “Why?”

  “Well, it’s just that the man I was supposed to meet is also named Scott. Kade Scott. Would you happen to know of him?

  The woman nearly stumbled in shock as she turned to face Esme, saying, “Know him! Why the boy is my grandson! You telling me he got himself a mail order bride?”

  Esme blushed and opened her mouth to speak but was cut off when Crystal continued, “Wait just a minute. Have you been waiting all this time, in this heat for him to appear?! Oh Kade, my boy, wait until I get my hands on you! To think that you would order a bride and then forget her! And she with a child too! Oh you just wait boy until I am through with you!”

  Esme was alarmed at the woman’s diatribe. “Oh, no Ma’am, it’s quite alright, really. I wouldn’t want to get him into any trouble.” That’s the last way I want to start out a new relationship with a man I know nothing about. Why, he’ll probably resent me for getting his family involved – even though it was an accident.

  But Crystal wasn’t listening. She continued walking – rather sprightly for an old woman – and Esme struggled to keep up with her. She was tired from the three week journey she had undertaken and the heat was nearly unbearable. Sophia was also an uncomfortable weight on her back and the carpet bag, which was actually pretty light, was weighing her arm down.

  Almost fifteen minutes later, Esme heaved a sigh of relief when she saw a ranch house in the distance. Oh God, I beg you, please let that be the place. I just want to get off my feet now!

  Sure enough, Crystal was marching up the path to the house ten minutes later, hollering for someone named Phillip as she went.

  Within minutes, a sweat-drenched man appeared around the corner of the house.

  “Yes, Grandma? What’s going on? Everything ok?” Phillips eyes questioningly took in Esme and Sophie’s appearance but he didn’t say anything. He was used to his grandmother bringing strangers home.

  “Where’s Kade, Phillip? I swear the boy is in for it now.”

  “Kade? Well he went off to Spring Valley before dawn this morning to buy a three steers. He won’t be back until tomorrow. Wh-” Phillip’s eyes grew large and round as they went back to Esme and then to his watch. “Son of a gun. You wouldn’t happen to be a Ms. Esme, now, would you Ma’am?”

  Before Esme could answer, Crystal jumped in for her. “Yes she is. I suppose Kade told you to go pick her up and you forgot?”

  “Well, you see, the thing is,” Philip said to Esme, “Bessie, our horse, went into labor and the girl was having a lot of trouble. In fact, the calf just delivered not five minutes ago and in the craziness, I plumb forgot to send someone in my place to get you. I am truly very sorry ma’am.”

  “That’s quite alright, Mr. Philip, I was a little worried something adverse might have happened and I am glad to know things are okay now.”

  “What I would like to know,” Crystal retorted, “is why Kade decided to travel today of all days? He should have known his bride was coming today!”

  Esme thought, “I’d like to know that myself!” as she waited curiously for Phillip’s answer.

  Philip replied to the ladies, “Kade got word that the Jebson brothers knew about the transaction he had put through for those steers and were gunning for them so he thought it would be better if he was there in person to bring them here.” Turning to Esme, he added, “But he really wanted to be here to greet you, Ma’am. He’s gonna have me strung from the roof when he finds out you weren’t escorted home by one of us!”

  Crystal harrumphed, and said over her shoulder while herding Esme up the stairs and into the house, “The poor girl was waiting at that station in the heat with this child for neigh on three hours, Philip. Both you and Kade should be ashamed of yourselves.”

  Esme didn’t hear Philips reply because Crystal had already led her deeper into the house and out of earshot. After showing her to her new room, Crystal urged Esme to sleep so that she could be well rested by evening for dinner. Crystal offered lunch to Esme, but she declined. She didn’t have much of an appetite, her fatigue overshadowed everything else and Sophia was still sound asleep.

  Esme and Sophie missed dinner that evening. Both were extremely tired. Sophie had been sick for most of the three weeks in which they had travelled and Esme was glad the girl was finally getting some rest. For her part, Esme was quite exhausted, mentally, emotionally and physically. The last three weeks had been grueling.

  Indeed, the last three years since her husband, Albert, had passed of a wasting disease, had been taxing. She had found herself to be with child after Albert’s death and raising Sophie on her own had been very hard. Growing up an orphan, she didn’t have any relatives to help her and in a frontier town, she had been surrounded by men so women friends had been few and far between. The few women who were in town had regarded her as competition for the men’s affections so they wanted nothing to do with her.

  In the past year, Samuel Marsh, a rather foul-tempered cowboy, had taken to pursuing Esme adamantly and would not take no for an answer. Since she lived in a poorly developed town, each man was law to his own and Samuel Marsh had decided that Esme and Sophie belonged to him. He even tried to forcibly move into her home several times and there was no one in town who would defend her and make him back off. He was a drunk who was becoming increasingly aggressive and handsy, not only with her, but with Sophia
as well!

  Out of desperation, when she had seen Kade’s ad for a mail order bride in the local market, looking for a young god-fearing woman who could be his wife and companion, she had written to him. After exchanging a few letters over the course of three months and fending off more advances from Samuel, Esme had despaired of ever getting a proposal from Kade. Finally, last month, he had asked if she would come out west and she had jumped at the chance.

  Now, three weeks later, here she was. She prayed she had made the right decision, but honestly, what choice did she have? If she wanted to survive then she had to move. She hoped Kade would be a good husband and provider. For what it was worth, she liked Crystal and was comfortable with her already. Even Philip was likeable. She took those to be good signs of things to come.

  The next morning, Esme woke bright and early when her little girl decided she wanted to try her hand at braiding her mama’s hair. Esme laughed and hugged Sophia. She mock-wrestled her down on the bed and tickled her until she squealed with laughter.

  Esme sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled Sophie into her arms and rocked her as she said her morning prayers before leading Sophie in praying as well.

  “Mama, where are we?” Sophie asked enquiringly. “Are we at Mr. Scott’s house now?”

  “Yes darling we are. And I do believe it is time that we show our faces around here. Let’s go see if we can find Ms. Crystal so we can get ready this morning, hmm?”

  Crystal was easy to find. All they had to do was follow the loud sound of hymns coming from the other side of the sprawling estate. For such an elderly woman, Crystal’s voice was sweet and steady and very strong. Esme hoped she could be half as lively and joyful when she was in her dotage as Crystal seemed to be.

  She found Crystal standing on the porch, sweeping the morning dust off the steps and wiping dew off of the rails. Sophie, unaccustomed to being around other people as she was, timidly clung to her Mama’s hand and hid behind her skirts. Seeing their shadows in the morning light, Crystal looked up and smiled warmly.

  “Well, good morning dear ones. Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes,” laughed Esme, “we certainly did. I do apologize for missing dinner though; I am afraid we were both far more tired than I thought.”

  “It’s no problem at all honey, I understand. I am glad you got to rest now,” Crystal said, clapping her hands together and pressing a finger to her lips, “I suppose you will be wanting to know where the outhouse is so you can get ready?”

  When Esme nodded, Crystal motioned her to follow her lead. Sophie pulled on Esme’s hand, silently letting her know she wanted to be held. Esme picked her up and followed Crystal’s trail. As they walked, Crystal pointed out where the horses were shed and nodded in the general direction of where the cows and steers were herded. They passed a chicken coup and a sheep pen as well. As they walked, Sophie spotted several dogs playing with each other along the path and laughed delightedly.

  “She likes dogs, then?” Crystal asked.

  “Oh yes, if she could she would take every one she found home with her!”

  “Well if she likes them, she can play with them. They are gentle animals. Once they have been introduced to her properly, they will guard her with their lives. But they’re not too keen on strangers so don’t let her go to them until after she’s been introduced to them. I think Kade will enjoy doing that. They’re his dogs, you see.”

  Esme nodded.

  “Ah, here we are. Now the boys – that’s Kade and Philip, dear – built these outhouses so that everyone could be comfortable using them. Those over there are for the work hands who live here and those who are hired during the season.” Crystal said, pointing to the left at some buildings further down from where they stood.

  “These,” she continued, pointing to a sturdy red-painted building near them, “are for me, and now you and Sophie. They were made to take care of a woman’s needs much easier. Inside, there is a bath area as well, outfitted in those new-fangled indoor shower contraptions. They’re strange to work at first but they are heaven when you get used to them!”

  She also pointed out another building a little further down from the red one and said those were for Kade and Philip. Both of the family outhouses were connected to a walkway that had a covered area that led back to the house which was convenient to use when it was dark or raining. Esme was charmed at the layout of everything she had seen. It had all been put together with foresight and it attested to the kind of family she was now going to be a part off.

  Esme thanked Crystal and took Sophia to the women’s quarters where they performed the morning ablutions before joining Crystal back in the main house. Esme helped Crystal make breakfast while Sophie played delightedly with some kittens. Crystal explained that they would only be cooking for themselves and the boys. The hired hands were fed by the cook in the chuck wagon. Even so, Esme was surprised at the quantity of food they made for breakfast and wondered aloud if anyone could consume it all before it spoiled. Crystal just laughed and assured her the boys could pack away more than their share.

  “Grandma!” A deep voice belted from the porch. “I have the milk and eggs out here; can you open this door?”

  “Oh that’s Kade dear, come, let’s go meet him, shall we?”

  Esme swallowed hard. This was the moment she had been trying not to think about. She gathered Sophie into her arms and they followed Crystal to meet the man for the moment of truth.

  Esme was not at all prepared to see Kade. After seeing Philip, she had figured Kade would be handsome but she had not expected to be weak-kneed when she saw him. Maybe I am just nervous. Oh I wish I could check my hair and see how I look!

  When Kade stepped into the house, he came to a stop upon seeing Esme and Sophie. He smiled kindly at them but could not think of anything to say. Luckily he was saved by Philip who stomped in behind him.

  “Hey there Ms. Esme. Did you have a good night?”

  Esme barely managed to tear her eyes away from Kade’s deep hazel ones to answer Philip. “Why, yes, I did, Philip, thank you for asking.”

  “I see Sophie’s awake. How are you little one?”

  Sophie ducked her head into her mama’s neck and stayed there while the adults around her chuckled at her shyness.

  “Kade, maybe later today you can introduce Sophie to the dogs?” Crystal asked. “She was simply excited when she saw them this morning.”

  “Sure, I don’t see why not. If you don’t mind accompanying us, Ms. Esme,” he replied, “I can show you around the land after breakfast. Do you ride?”

  Esme nodded her agreement. “It’s been a long while since I have been on a horse, though,” she said apprehensively.

  “That’s quite alright. We can ride double with Sophie in front, if that is alright with you.”

  While Esme nodded, Philip interjected, “Well now that that’s out of the way, can we get started with breakfast? I am starving!”

  Crystal laughed. “You’re always starving, Philip. But yes, everything is ready. Come along.”

  Once they reached the kitchen, Crystal placed the milk to boil on the stove and placed the eggs in water to cook before showing Esme where the dishes were kept. Together they arranged the food and plates and everyone sat down to eat. The food was heaven on a plate and Esme ate appreciatively.

  To support herself and Sophie, Esme had worked as a seamstress and had sold baked goods. It didn’t provide much of a living in the town she had lived in but it kept a roof over their heads and bread on the table. She counted her blessings that their fortunes were changing thanks to Kade and she and Sophie had more than enough to fill their bellies.

  Later that morning, Kade escorted Esme and Sophie out of the house to where a saddled horse was waiting for them. After settling Esme on the horse, he handed Sophie to her and climbed on behind her. As they started off, Kade couldn’t concentrate on anything else but the woman who now sat in his arms.

  This is going to be a long morning. When he h
ad first seen Esme, Kade was speechless. He knew she was a widow with a young daughter but he had not expected her to be so beautiful. She had steel gray eyes which contrasted becomingly with her long black hair. Her lips were so red, he had thought it was painted until he watched her drink her coffee and none of the color wore off. She had a heart shaped face and her body was tall, willowy and full in all the right places. Kade was a tall man and most women barely reached his chest but Esme was tall enough to almost reach his shoulder. She smelled like jasmine and honey; Kade was intoxicated by the scent.

  He liked her manner and the way she took care of her daughter and got along with his family. It gave him hope for the future. If they could all get along well, then it bespoke good tidings for a good marriage.

  Esme for her part was trying to remind herself not to relax too fully into Kade’s arms. It felt so good to be held in the circle of strong arms again and she felt so safe and reassured. He smells good too. Like soap and cinnamon. Who knew cinnamon could smell so manly?

  As they rode along, Kade pointed out some of the landmarks around them and told her anecdotes about the men who worked for him and about life on the ranch. He was charmed by her easy laughter and her genuine curiosity and warmth. She didn’t have a highbrow attitude either. Whenever he had to stop and talk to some of the men, she did not act as if she were better than them and he was glad for it. He had never liked arrogant women.

  When they reached the end of his land, he tied the horse to an apple tree and helped Esme and Sophie dismount. Leading them to the banks of a creek nearby, he spread out a blanket and settled a picnic basket on top of it. As they dined and watched Sophia chase after butterflies, Esme and Kade talked.

  He already knew of her life in the town where she came from and he had a deep respect for her already. Where most women would have despaired and given up, she had tried to carve out a life for herself after her husband died. He knew they hadn’t had much and he was determined to show her the finer side of life. He found his heart was already being stolen by Esme and her precious little girl.