by Annie Boone
“It was sudden and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it,” he admitted. “It happened only about nine months ago and I’ve been lost since her last day on Earth. I never thought I would be the one left here. I had made plans to take care of her after I was gone, but I never thought about what I’d do without her.”
Ella was speechless. In a rush, it all made sense. The man was grieving and he was adrift. She was starting to understand a little more about his sour attitude and his unhappiness at being deceived.
Doctor George McCade looked over at Ella for the first time since he had shared the news about his wife. He had unshed tears glistening in his eyes. He reached for her hand and she allowed him to take it.
“I’m sorry about your husband and I am sorry for deceiving you. I did do it intentionally but I thought it wouldn’t matter when you had access to my money. In the spirit of honesty, I wasn’t expecting to live with you as husband and wife,” he said in a very sincere and humble manner.
Ella nodded to him her understanding of the situation and her acceptance of his apology.
He shrugged and continued his thought. “I am in no shape nor frame of mind to care for a child, even from afar. It seems that we have a problem.”
Ella was quiet for a moment, thinking about everything he had said. A lot of what he expressed to her echoed how she felt about William, but she didn’t say that. Instead, after a moment, she replied, “I understand and I am very sorry for not telling you about Thomas before I started on this journey. My motivation was to protect and provide the best life I could for my son. I meant no harm. I see now that I was wrong and unfair.”
He nodded in acceptance. “We never got around to having children. That just didn’t work out for us, I guess.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get the beautiful opportunity to be a parent, Doctor McCade. Being a mother has been the joy of my life for the past six months,” Ella responded kindly.
She was amazed at how quickly the circumstances had changed regarding their relationship. A more than rocky first meeting was turning out to be compassionate and thoughtful.
“I meant no harm to you, either. I know now that I just didn’t think it through completely. The reason I chose a mail order bride was so I could choose someone myself. I didn’t want to get stuck with a caretaker that I didn’t necessarily get to choose.” He chuckled in a humorless way before he answered, “It was a selfish thing to do. I still see patients, so I’m not on my deathbed just yet. I was just getting ready for when the time comes.”
She smiled back at him and after a moment, Ella felt close to him.
“Well, Doc, I think we both know that this marriage arrangement is probably not the best for either of us. I don’t think either of us can meet our goals together.”
“Yes, little lady, I think you’re right. Even if we both compromise, neither of us will get what we need.”
“I am going to go in now and see if I can get a room for tonight. Thomas and I will get a much needed rest after our long trip and tomorrow will be a new day,” Ella smiled at the man who was now her friend again.
He stood and jumped down from the wagon. He reached up and took Thomas from her arms and then held his hand out to help her. She made a graceful descent in spite of being bone weary. He fished in his pocket and came out with some bills.
“I have a little money on me now, please take it to pay for this night in the hotel,” the doctor offered.
She looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and surprise. She was about to refuse, when she realized that she probably was going to need the little bit of money she had.
“Thank you very much, Doctor. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you would do this for us,” she said.
“It’s the least I can do. I’ll check on you tomorrow afternoon, if that’s alright with you,” he said.
She smiled and nodded as she turned to go into the hotel.
Chapter Seven
Even though it was relatively early when Ella and Thomas checked into the hotel, she got a fast bite to eat and fed Thomas. The two of them were asleep only moments after they returned to the room from supper.
Ella slept like a rock for twelve hours straight. She felt like she had been sleeping on a cloud the next morning since she had been trying to find a comfortable way to nap on a stage coach for so long. It was a wonderful feeling to wake up without an aching back and to feel like you were ready to face the day.
She took Thomas down to the hotel lobby for some lunch and the two of them went for a walk through the town of Belmont. Ella was sad to see that she actually liked the place. It was small, but there were quite a few people in town and there was much going on. It made her sad that she would have to be leaving this place when she had rested enough to get back on a stage coach to go back East again. There was nothing for her here, so she felt that it would be the right thing to do to go back where she was known.
She talked to the proprietor of the Belmont Mercantile and found out that silver mining was a big part of the economy in the area. Many of the town residents had come there to mine or support the process in some way. She found this to be interesting and was sorry she wouldn’t be able to learn much more.
As she walked into the hotel lobby from their wandering around town, she heard her name. “Ella! Ella! There you are, dear.”
She recognized the gruff voice immediately and smiled at her new friend, Doctor George McCade. “Well hello there, Doc. How are you today?” she asked.
“Fine and dandy. Have you rested?”
“Yes, I think it will still take a few days to get back to normal, but I’m much better today. Thomas, here, though seems no worse for the wear. It’s a mystery how children seem so resilient.”
“Yes, yes. Um, Ella. I want to talk to you about what you’re going to do next. I know you’re probably thinking about going back to New York, but I don’t think you should do that. Now if you want to, I’ll pay for your trip, but I think it would be a mistake,” the doctor said matter of factly.
“Doc, I hadn’t even thought of what I’m going to do. Walking through the town was nice this afternoon, but I don’t have any connections here. Well, except for you, of course. I was thinking that going back would probably be the best thing for us to do,” Ella answered.
“Why don’t you stay for a while and see how it goes? I have a place for you to stay so you won’t have to be cramped in the hotel,” he offered.
Ella raised an eyebrow at his suggestion and it made her think hard about the possibilities.
Before she could ask any questions or raise objections, he continued. “My friend, Pastor Alfredo Reynoldo and his wife, Gloria, have a large parsonage with grounds and a big kitchen. They have opened their home to you for as long as you’d like to stay there. I’m sure you will love them, and they you.”
Again, Ella didn’t say anything but she did smile at the doctor.
“So, do you want to get your things and go there now?” he asked.
Ella started laughing at his eagerness. “Why are you doing this for me? I don’t deserve this kindness after my deceit.”
“I’ve thought about it all, Ella, and I believe that in His vast wisdom, God brought you here through me. There’s a reason for you to be here. I want to make sure you don’t leave and miss the purpose,” he said enthusiastically.
“I can’t put my finger on it, Doc, but you seem like a different man today,” Ella laughed again. “I’ll consider staying here at least for a trial period. There’s nothing but disappointment and sadness for me back East, anyway. So, yes. Let’s go to the parsonage.”
Even though the doctor had offered to pay her way back if she decided to go, she still had the one hundred dollars from William if she needed it. She was thankful for a place to stay while she decided what she should do. She was anxious to meet Gloria, the pastor’s wife, since she had heard from the doctor that she was a wonderful woman.
She also had to get more rest. Traveling with a
baby had been very stressful. If she went back and lost attention because of fatigue or something like that she wouldn’t ever forgive herself. She wasn’t going to be in a hurry to make the decision to go back to a place she really didn’t want to be in the first place. She halfway realized that her subconscious was talking her into staying in Belmont and figuring out how she could live here.
***
They pulled into the big driveway at the parsonage with a cloud of dust. Ella had covered Thomas up with a blanket from his head to his toes, but she wasn’t sure it was going to keep him clean and free from breathing the dust. All she could do was her best, though, so she let her worry go.
Pastor Reynoldo and his wife came out of the house to greet them as the doctor was helping Ella down from the tall seat. Clearly the visitors were expected. Gloria gently took Thomas from Ella as they smiled at each other warmly.
“Let me take him so you can get your bearings,” Gloria said to Ella.
“Thank you for taking my two new friends in,” said the doctor, looking back and forth from Pastor Alfredo to Gloria.
“We’re looking forward to the company,” said the pastor. “All this space for just the two of us – we have plenty of room for guests.”
The men pulled Ella’s trunks from the wagon and took them to her new room while the women gathered the smaller pieces to carry inside. The room reserved for Ella was cozy and restful with plenty of space to spread out. She and Thomas would be quite comfortable here for the duration of their stay.
The small group gathered in the living area as the doctor was leaving. It was obvious that Doctor McCade had gained quite a bit of respect throughout the town. Gloria acted almost as though she was indebted to the doctor and Ella automatically wondered if there was more to the story then what she was seeing on the surface.
When the pleasantries were complete, the two men walked out to the wagon. This left the two women staring at one another. It was time for them to size each other up.
Gloria appeared to be around Ella’s age. She seemed to be mature and well established since she was married to the parson of the town. There was a twinkle in her eye, though, that told Ella she may have found a friend to have a good laugh with from time to time. Who knew? Maybe they would become best friends.
The twinkle in her eye became more intense as soon as the men left the room. She was casually watching Ella with Thomas and she said, “Excuse me being nosey, but what is the situation between you two? If you were family, he would have allowed you to stay at his home. Are you a nurse of some kind? Is he sick?”
“Oh, it’s alright. And no, he’s not sick,” Ella sighed, happy to have a woman to talk to, “I am supposed to be a part of a mail order bride program.”
“Really?” Gloria asked, genuinely surprised. Then, when Ella looked at her with wonder, she was quick to amend her thoughts as she answered, “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. You look great. You’re young and perfect for that kind of thing.”
Ella was feeling uncomfortable for a moment. It seemed to her like Gloria had a romanticized view of what being a mail order bride was all about. I guess I did, too, she thought to herself. She smiled at Gloria and let her talk.
“I just didn’t think that Dr. McCade would do something like that. After all, his wife died so recently. They were married for forty years, you know. I’m surprised that he would be in the market for anyone.”
Ella cut in to stop her incorrect assumptions, “He wasn’t, well, he isn’t in the market for anyone.”
Gloria looked quizzically at Ella not understanding.
Ella shrugged and since the woman seemed to be willing to listen, she told her the story of her journey to Belmont. She started at the death of William and hit the main points of her life choices from that day to today.
“And now I’m standing in your house, wondering how fast I’m going to be able to get my life straightened out,” Ella ended the story.
When she was finished, Gloria shrugged and answered, “I completely understand how it all happened and why you did it.”
Ella was surprised by this and raised her otherwise ashamed eyes to her and answered, “Really?”
Gloria nodded. “If I had a child, I wouldn’t want to have to keep up with the chores here. I would prefer to simply raise my child. I am sure my husband would agree, even though the church keeps us so busy that we haven’t had much of a chance to think about a family.”
Ella took a deep breath and let it out in relief. “Thank you for saying that.”
Gloria smiled and beckoned Ella to follow her to the kitchen. She started taking out the makings of what would be their supper. Ella was trying to take her lead, but couldn’t keep up with her quick work for cooking the meal.
“Don’t worry about helping with the cooking tonight, Ella. I’ll take care of this meal and you can help after tonight. I know you’re still tired from the long trip and the chance to relax will be good for your recovery.” Gloria continued her efficient work at the stove and Ella took a chair and waited to finish the previous conversation about her mail order bride decision.
Gloria looked over at Ella and smiled. “So, from what you have told me, you and the doc were both looking for different relationships than what you put forth. You both are hurting and you just want some comfort.” Again, she shrugged before she added, “In fact, it doesn’t seem like either of you were really looking for romance.”
“Well, I’m not against falling in love,” Ella answered, “but my main concern is to take care of my child and give him the best life he can possibly have.” She sighed and ducked her head before she continued, “But I don’t see how that is possible now, because I have lost everything. I’m afraid it will take me a long time to regroup from this mistake.”
At this, Gloria laughed in a jovial fashion and answered, “I don’t think you know quite what you are talking about.”
This made Ella look at her strangely, “Whatever do you mean?” she asked.
“You’re a young woman, Ella. You have as much of a chance to make something out of your life as your son does,” Gloria replied.
Ella laughed when the comment registered, but Gloria didn’t. “I’m serious, Ella. The moment we decide that we have nothing new to contribute to society is the very moment that we stop living.”
The jovial mood in the room had been replaced with a serious overtone.
“Your son might have lost his father long before his time and that is indeed tragic. If you don’t find a way to get on with your life and set a goal for yourself, one that goes beyond Thomas, then your life really won’t amount to anything else. That would be a terrible shame.”
Chapter Eight
Ella continued to think about the little bit of advice Gloria had given her. She took it to heart and started thinking of changes she needed to make. The next steps would be to put the changes in place.
Gloria and Alfredo continued to be welcoming. This affirmed Ella’s faith in the goodness of the people of Belmont, Nevada. The women were becoming friends and Alfredo was a strong advocate although he wasn’t nearly as nosey as his wife.
It was easy for Ella to see that Gloria and Alfredo had the kind of relationship that was open and honest. Gloria shared everything with her husband and he drank the information in like a thirsty man in the desert. He loved to hear her thoughts on what was going on around them.
Alfredo was a more serious person than Gloria, but they were a match complementing each other beautifully. Alfredo’s job required him to deal with difficult situations and help the people of the town through death and bad times. Gloria was the perfect parson’s wife – kind, understanding, and happy.
Ella was currently basking in the compassion of this couple and she already felt that they had helped her grow as a woman and a mother. Alfredo reminded her vaguely of William, but it wasn’t a difficult comparison that made her unhappy. She had been reminded of his absence everywhere she looked in the home she had shared with him and
that had been a memory that made her need to flee.
She drew hope from the comparison, thinking that possibly there would be a man out there somewhere who would be what she needed. Someone to treat her with love and respect and want a real relationship. Perhaps, one day, she would have a brother or sister for Thomas.
Gloria and Alfredo gently pulled Ella and Thomas into their life, as well as into their home. In return for the genuine friendship that she received, Ella made it a point to help Gloria with anything that needed to be done around the house.
At the parsonage, she had fewer responsibilities than when she worked for the Choates. It was almost a respite to not have to work hard all day long. Her skills were appreciated by the couple and she soon started to teach Gloria a few of the tricks that she had learned for keeping a clean and cozy home like it was done for the wealthy people back East.
The women worked together most days on the chores. It made a day of work seem less like drudgery when they spent the day together. Gloria continued to meddle in Ella’s life, but it was light enough to not be intrusive. She could see that Gloria cared for her and that made it easier to tolerate the nosiness.
On this day, Thomas napped sweetly in the main room and the women were folding laundry that had dried on the line. Gloria had something on her mind and it finally managed to come out. “Have you gone to see Dr. McCade, yet?” she asked casually.
Ella laughed and answered, “I’m sure that I am about the last person he wishes to see right now. I know we managed to make amends, but that doesn’t make us friends.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Even though you had your differences, I believe that he would not be above trying to build a bond with you. He really is a nice man and I think it would do him well if he had a friend right now.”
This was a chance for Ella to get more information from her new friend. Gloria was always butting into her business, she decided it was time she did the same. Feeling bold, she asked, “I feel like there is something that you’re not telling me. There’s a soft spot in your heart for the doctor. Why?”
