Mail Order Lorena

by Zina Abbott

  Danny tipped his hat to her. “Ma’am, is there anything we can help you with?”

  The woman offered a wry smile and shook her head. “Unless you know where I can find a respectable job, no. I checked inside about a cook or housekeeping position, and the manager said he has nothing available.” She sighed. “That is the same answer I’ve gotten everywhere during the last two days.”

  Danny nodded as he considered her plight. “I see. Tell me, ma’am, how long since the last time you ate a full meal?”

  The woman straightened. “Sir, that is none of your business. Although…” She bit her lip.

  Danny extended his elbow. “Ma’am, I am not in a position to offer you a job, but I would like to offer you dinner. The cook here makes a pretty good stew, and sometimes she offers chicken and dumplings. Perhaps sitting down to a leisurely meal and a nice cup of coffee or tea might revive you before you continue your search.”

  Eustace scrunched his forehead as he stared at Danny. Did Danny make a habit of offering a meal to a woman down on her luck?

  She shook her head. “No, I really shouldn’t.”

  Danny smiled at her. “I insist, ma’am. You remind me of my mother. I certainly hope, if she found herself in your situation and I was not around to take care of her, someone would offer her the same courtesy.”

  Silently, the woman took Danny’s arm and allowed him to lead her into the restaurant. He seated her at a table toward the back of the room and turned to find a waiter or waitress.

  Eustace shook his head as he followed Danny inside. This was a side of the man he had never seen. Then again, he had been willing to help Eustace come to Lorena’s rescue.

  A young man dressed in wool trousers, a white shirt under his waistcoat, and a black cotton stock tie rushed up to them. Wearing a scowl, he hissed out his words. “I’m the manager here. I just sent her on her way. What are you doing bringing her back inside?”

  Danny grabbed the man’s elbow and pulled him several feet away from the woman’s table. “I offered to buy her dinner. Now, I want you to serve her today’s special and her choice of coffee or tea. Then, I want you to allow her to stay in here at least an hour to enjoy her meal. How much do I owe you?” Danny gave the grudging manager the cost of the meal and grinned. “You can thank me later.” He turned to Eustace. “Follow me. We have business to take care of before we eat.”

  The pair exited the hotel and turned back the way they came.

  Wearing a smirk, Eustace turned to Danny. “Did she really remind you of your mother?”

  Danny shook his head. “No, but I wanted to persuade her to eat a meal and stay available. Turn right, here. We’re going to the back of the hotel.”

  As they walked, Eustace studied his coworker. Stay available? For what? He followed Danny through a fence that separated the property behind the hotel from the street. He assumed the fence was to discourage non-guests from entering the patio area set aside for paying guests. He grabbed Danny’s shoulder and turned his friend to face him. “She’s here? I told her to go someplace not easy to track her. Here, she’s right on the main travel route.”

  Danny shrugged. “I did what you said. I got her the hotel room and gave her instructions to wait until I came back with the rest of the money. By the time I returned, she already had a job. She works in back and seldom goes out where people see her. She said, until the railroad arrives here making it easier for her to travel, she feels safe here.”

  Eustace released Danny and stepped back. “And, as far as you know, no one’s been asking at any of the stations about her?”

  Danny shook his head. “No. And, believe me, I’ve made a point to listen for any hint someone might be looking for her.” Danny pointed to a tree with a thick trunk. The widespread branches shaded the service section of the yard, as well as the guest section on the other side of a shaped hedge. “Wait over there.”

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  Chapter 22

  ~o0o~

  L orena used the back of her wrist to brush a loose lock of hair off her forehead as she straightened her back after cutting raw carrots into strips. The June weather had turned warm enough she intended to offer a cooler vegetable with the supper meal. Fortunately, the hotel restaurant was not that big, and with today being Thursday, the supper hour should not be as busy as she expected it to be Friday through Sunday.

  She readjusted her white muslin head covering. When the hotel told her their policy was to have their cooks cover their hair to keep stray strands from falling into their customers’ plates of food, she had seen the wisdom of it. Since then, she made a point to keep her hair covered as much as possible. Even the few times she went outside the hotel, such as to church on Sundays, she wore a bonnet or other head covering. The fewer people aware of what color hair I have, the better.

  Upon hearing the knock, Lorena stiffened and turned to face the door. The manager had not told her another food delivery was expected this afternoon.

  “Mrs. Parker?”

  Lorena relaxed and smiled. She recognized Danny Ralston’s voice. In addition, she now felt comfortable answering to her new name, Alice Parker. Then her forehead puckered. He had not been there more than an hour or two ago to bring her a letter—one she still had in her pocket, unread. Why did he return?

  Lorena wiped her hands on a towel. To prevent her boss from finding an excuse to enter the kitchen, she rushed to the door before Danny knocked again. Offering Danny a smile, she stepped out on the back stoop and closed the door behind her. “Mr. Ralston. So good to see you again. Did you forget something?”

  Danny laughed. “Not really. Out of curiosity, was the letter I brought earlier from someone interested in marrying you?”

  Lorena shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m still working, so I haven’t taken the time to read it.”

  “I hope you haven’t found someone yet, because I know of a man who wishes to see you. He didn’t have time to write a letter.” He held out his hand and lowered his voice. “Let me help you down the stairs, Lorena. He’s hiding on the other side of that tree.”

  Lorena placed her hand in Danny’s palm and descended the stairs as her gaze sought out whomever hid behind the one tree in the yard large enough to hide a man. As she watched Eustace step out and turn to face her, she sucked in a breath and stopped.

  After a nudge from Danny, Lorena continued to walk forward.

  Eustace stepped toward her until they both stopped about three feet from each other.

  “Lorena?”

  Lorena reached up and pulled the cap from her hair. “It’s so good to see you again.” Was Danny serious when he said Eustace wants to see me? Dare I hope?

  Danny’s voice intruded. “I’ll leave you two to visit a few minutes. I need to make sure our lady diner does not desert the dining room.”

  Lorena blinked as she turned to watch Danny leave the yard and close the gate behind him. She turned back to Eustace. “Do you know what that is all about?”

  Eustace raised his gaze to study the door she exited and then smiled. “I think so. Are you working in the kitchen here?”

  “Yes. They know me as Alice Parker. I’m their cook.” I can’t get enough of his smile. I hardly ever saw it in Salina.

  Eustace’s smile widened. “The woman was here earlier looking for work, and Danny treated her to dinner. Danny knows I’ve come looking for you to ask you to marry me. If you agree, she would be interested in taking over your job.”

  Lorena felt her heartbeat increase. Her breathing grew shallow. “You plan to ask me to marry you?” Yes. The answer is yes.

  “In all fairness, you need to know all that is involved. First, my current boss, the man who drove the stagecoach you rode to leave Salina, is giving up the Ellsworth Station.” Eustace explained the situation—the positives as well as the negatives. “I now have a home to offer you, Lorena, at least, until the railroad reaches Ellsworth. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the
Cheyenne won’t attack the station again. You have to decide if you are willing to put your daughter at risk by bringing her there.”

  Lorena looked down and bit her lower lip. “Then-Then you are willing for me to have Olivia with us?”

  “Lorena, please look at me.”

  Lorena felt fingertips under her chin and she lifted her face. Once she lifted her eyes to study his face, she sensed his sincerity shining through his gaze.

  He nodded. “I don’t think you could be happy for long without your daughter. I can’t take you to get her for a couple of weeks. I have to let Isaac heal enough to return to the station for a little while. But, I promise, I will help reunite you with her.”

  “Mrs. Parker!”

  Lorena spun around to face a fuming hotel manager framed by the doorjamb, the knob of the open kitchen door in his hand.

  He trotted down the steps and, fists clenched, approached her. “Why am I being told to hire another woman to do your job as cook because you have resigned your position in order to marry? How dare you plan to leave me on such short notice and without at least tendering your resignation in writing first?”

  Lorena straightened her spine and curled her fingers in order to hook her hands together at her waist. “I’m sorry, sir, but I just barely accepted the proposal.” She glanced at Eustace. Yes, I accept. She turned back to her employer. “I have not yet had time to compose a letter of resignation.”

  The man threw his hands in the air. “How do I know she can even cook? What about supper tonight?”

  “I can cook, sir, don’t you worry about that.”

  Lorena looked at the framework of the open kitchen door and saw a middle-aged woman she did not recognize.

  “I raised a family of eight, plus I fed field hands before the children left home and my husband died. As long as she tells me what she has planned for the supper menu and shows me the food available for the next few days, I’ll get your customers fed.”

  Lorena turned back to Eustace. “When did you wish to marry?” I will not let you escape from me again, Eustace Cantrell.

  “This afternoon. We need to leave in the morning, and we have some business to take care of before we go.”

  Lorena turned back and smiled at her boss. “I suggest you hire her. I would like my pay through yesterday, but you may pay her a full day for today.” She looked up and caught the eye of her replacement. “Ma’am, if you will please start washing the bowls and pans that I left soaking in the dry sink, I’ll be inside in a few minutes to share what I had planned for the next few days. As soon as I pack up my room next to the kitchen, you may move in.”

  The manager threw his hands in the air again and turned to stomp toward the kitchen. “This is what I get for hiring a younger woman. She not only leaves to get married without notice, she tells me how to run my own dining room.”

  After the kitchen door slammed and they were alone again, Eustace, laughter in his eyes, reached up and brushed his palm across the side of her face. “Your answer is yes, then?”

  Lorena nodded. “I haven’t put my heart into the letters I write to other men, seeking a new home for Olivia and me. All my heart wished for was to be with you.”

  Danny knocked on the gate and entered. “I hope I allowed you enough time.” He laughed and shook his head as he turned teasing eyes toward Lorena. “That manager is such an ingrate. Even after I told him I deliberately kept Mrs. Beesum there to replace you, he did not give me one word of thanks.” As his gaze moved between Lorena and Eustace, he dropped his smile. “So, are we having a wedding?”

  Eustace nodded. “We are.” He turned to Lorena. “Is there someone you would choose to perform the honors?”

  Lorena nodded. “I’ve been attending church with Reverend Hicks. May we ask him to marry us?”

  Eustace turned to Danny. “Do you know where this reverend can be found? If you can make arrangements for two o’clock, I hope Lorena will have enough time to talk to the new cook and get her things packed.”

  Danny nodded. “I know where he is. I fetched him just two days ago to marry Elam and Roslyn. Should I ask him to come to the station so Isaac and Caroline can be present?”

  Eustace nodded. “I don’t know if they can get away, but if you get a chance, invite Elam and Roslyn, too. And, Danny? Do you know a good lawyer in town? I don’t want one of those shysters who might have shown up within the last year, intent on helping the railroad swindle people into buying overpriced land. I want someone who has been established in this county for several years.”

  Danny hesitated. “I’ll ask Reverend Hicks and the stationmaster. Between the two, we should find you what you need. Anything else?”

  Lorena smiled. “Shortly, I’ll need help with my trunk.”

  Danny glanced at Eustace. “You get it packed, and we’ll come back and get it.” He shook his head. “I’d hoped I’d seen the last of that trunk. The ladies from the saloon said you packed books.”

  Eustace grinned. “You’ll probably lift it again. Lorena and I won’t be at Ellsworth forever.” As he turned to Lorena, he grew more serious. “Your blue dress for today, please, Lorena? I’d love to buy you something new to be married in, but we don’t have time to shop. When we return here in a few weeks, I’ll take you shopping.”

  A wide smile on her face, Lorena all but danced up the stairs and entered the kitchen. She learned her replacement was named Maud. She donated two caps to her and explained the hotel policy regarding keeping her hair covered. She showed Maud the menu she planned and where supplies were kept. Maud nodded and took over the kitchen.

  As she entered her room to pack her belongings, Lorena sighed with relief. Before the day was over, she would be married to the man she loved—a man who had filled her dreams these past several months. What was more, he promised to reunite her with her daughter.

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  Chapter 23

  ~o0o~

  W earing her blue floral print gown, Lorena stood next to Eustace and spoke her wedding vows before Reverend Hicks. They stood squeezed between the foot of the Petersons’ bed and a dresser.

  Isaac, still bedbound, sat propped up on pillows behind them. Next to him on the bed sat Caroline Peterson.

  Behind them stood Elam and Roslyn Stewart with their baby girl, Emmy.

  Lorena had met them as Elam made his way upstairs. While holding his stiff wooden leg behind him, Elam grasped the handrail with one hand while Roslyn, baby on her hip, braced his opposite side.

  Danny stood up for Eustace.

  Preferring that someone who did not plan to live in the area sign as her witness, she asked Caroline Peterson to serve that role.

  In spite of the cramped quarters that in no manner resembled the church where her father used to preside and preach, Lorena felt a solemnity of the occasion. When prompted, she gladly turned her face toward Eustace to receive his kiss—a kiss that sparked a frisson of joy and a promise of a future filled with love.

  After the marriage register was signed, the handshakes among the men ended, and the congratulations subsided, the stationmaster and his wife excused themselves to go downstairs to see to their other customers. Eustace and Lorena walked Reverend Hicks to the head of the stairs to again thank him.

  The reverend clasped both Lorena’s hands in his. “We will miss you, Mrs. Cantrell. I hope all goes well in your new home.”

  Lorena smiled. “Thank you. We’ll try to attend your services anytime we are in town.”

  Eustace guided Lorena back into the Petersons’ room, where Roslyn sat on the far edge of the bed opposite Caroline.

  Isaac gestured toward the foot of the bed on his side. “Please take a seat, Mrs. Cantrell. I personally think you and your husband have better things to do right now, but he said he wishes to talk.”

  Eustace stepped where Isaac could easily see him and nodded. “Now that this lovely woman has married me, I have a favor to ask you, Isaac. The station is still
yours. We will leave tomorrow to go back so I can run it. However, it is my hope that, if your wounds heal well enough within the next two to four weeks, you will agree to come back to the station to run it for a short while. We need to make a trip to…” Eustace paused and looked at Lorena.

  “Arkansas. My father’s attorney is there.”

  Eustace turned back to the others. “Arkansas.” He turned his gaze to Elam. “I asked Isaac not to take your name off the company’s payroll yet. I know you need to talk it over with your wife, but if you could see your way to coming to Ellsworth for two or three weeks with Isaac, I would greatly appreciate it.” He turned to Roslyn with a half-smile. “I know one reason you left was to get your baby away from the threat. Unless you want to, I wouldn’t expect you to make the trip out if he agrees to come.”

  Roslyn shook her head. “Even if Elam decides to go, I’ll stay here and help Henry run the livery.” She looked down and stroked her baby’s head. “It will be better for our Emmy.”

  Isaac nodded. “I’ll let you know when I can go, Eustace. I have to pack up Caroline’s things, anyway.”

  Caroline reached over and placed her palm on his arm. “We’ll both go, Isaac. We were out there for months without incident. We’ll just hope the Cheyenne will leave us alone while we’re there for the last time.”

  Eustace took a deep breath. “I don’t know how long the fort will keep a security patrol out at the station, especially since I already told the corporal in charge that his men need to bring their own food supplies to combine with what we have at the station. As soon as I know when you’re coming, I’ll request some men from Fort Ellsworth to work sentry duty while you’re there.”