Ellen: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides

by Rachel Wesson

  Samuel’s heart almost stopped. If Aaron guessed, he would never hear the end of it. But that wasn’t the worst bit. He might tell Davy and he wasn’t at all sure Davy would approve. Ellen was like his little sister given how close Mary and Katie were. There was a large age gap between him and Ellen, never mind the fact, she was a school teacher and he a ranch hand.

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t been looking at no one.”

  “Yeah. Well, seems to me like you hankering after Miss Laura. Won’t do your health no good if Paul thinks you have feelings for his wife.”

  Samuel laughed with relief more than anything else. He liked and respected Laura, but she scared him too much to be attractive. She was beyond intelligent.

  “For all your boasting about being the brains of this family, you couldn’t be more wrong. Miss Laura was helping me with my letters. You know I struggle with my reading. She’s been teaching me. Says there is a word for what I got.”

  “Yeah, it’s stupid.”

  Samuel bristled at his brother’s teasing. It must have shown on his face because Aaron immediately looked contrite.

  “Sorry, Bro, I was just teasing. You’re not stupid. We all know that.”

  Samuel didn’t respond. He could see by the way Aaron didn’t meet his eyes, his brother believed he was slow. He knew he embarrassed him sometimes when he started stammering. He’d lost count of the number of boys Aaron had beaten up for calling his little brother stupid. But all along he believed what those kids said.

  Some beau for a school teacher. Samuel’s fists balled. He needed to get away before he said or did something he regretted. He walked toward the stables. A ride across the prairies always helped when this black mood descended.

  He ignored Aaron asking him where he was going and what time he’d be back. He needed to think, and to do that, he had to be alone.

  His horse seemed to sense his mood as she nuzzled into him. He stroked her head before mounting. What was it about animals that gave them an insight humans often lacked?

  His own family couldn’t see how much he struggled. Ma loved him, but he knew she worried about him. He had always been one step behind Aaron. His big brother was the smart one, the one who came top of his class. As he rode his mind wandered back over his days in school. They had to be some of the unhappiest of his life, yet here he was thinking of courting a school teacher.

  They aren’t all like Miss Prendergast. His mind recalled the harsh teacher who had caned him daily for being stupid. Laura reckons it was partly her fault, I struggle so much.

  Samuel gave his horse the lead and smiled as she let herself go. They galloped across the plain. Being out here always made whatever was bothering him seem better.

  He couldn’t believe Aaron thought he was in love with Miss Laura. The smile faded. He hoped Paul didn’t think the same.

  He respected Miss Laura. She was the first person who had explained what might be stopping him from reading. He didn’t believe her at first, until she insisted some man from somewhere called Germany was looking into how some people didn’t see letters the same way as others. He didn’t fully understand what it meant.

  But that was okay. Laura said this man had discovered there was a reason why some people struggled to read and it had nothing to do with their intelligence. Maybe I’m not stupid after all. Yes you are if you think Ellen is going to be interested in you. What would she want with a ranch hand when she could meet another teacher or a banker or maybe even a professor in that university in Boulder? Now the open plains couldn’t do anything for his mood. He slowed the horse down and headed back toward the ranch. He had work to do. Dreaming of a different future didn’t put food on the table or money in his pocket.

  Ellen paced back and forward past the stables. Katie would be leaving any minute to go back to Clover Springs. It was getting late and the children were becoming cranky. She had to see him before she left. To find out if it was true. Was he really leaving?

  “You looking for something, Miss O’Callaghan?”

  “No thank you, Aaron, and since when did you call me that? I was always Ellen before I left.”

  “I dunno. You seem all grown up and ladylike now. Not a bit like the little tyke who used to run around, braids flying.” Aaron smiled taking the sting out of his words.

  If he sees me as a grown up, maybe Samuel does too?

  “I heard you were thinking of leaving Clover Springs?”

  “News sure travels fast around these parts.”

  “Is it true?”

  Aaron looked at her, speculation in his eyes.

  “I would love to be a man and be able to go off exploring.” What did I say that for?

  Aaron burst out laughing. “That’s the Ellen we knew. The one who thought she could do anything. Some people would think going to Boulder was excitement enough for a lady.”

  “Well, it is, but it’s not like going to California. Are you really going?”

  “Is he really going where?”

  The hair on Ellen’s neck and arms rose at the sound of Samuel’s voice.

  “Ellen was just asking me if it was true we were off to California.”

  Ellen looked at Samuel waiting for his response. He stared back at her but his expression was unreadable.

  “Are you leaving?” she asked, her voice squeaky even to her ears.

  “Samuel isn’t keen on coming with me. Can’t go alone, so why don’t you talk some sense into him, Ellen? No point in staying around here. Never get our own place then.”

  Aaron nudged his brother before leaving them alone. “I got to get back to work. See you, Ellen.”

  She couldn’t answer. Her whole focus was on the man who stood next to her.

  “Would you care?” Samuel asked softly as he moved closer to her. Ellen swallowed hard, digging her nails into the palms of her hands. She didn’t move.

  “Ellen, you didn’t answer me.”

  “I, em…well, yes, of course I care. We’re friends aren’t we?”

  “Friends?”

  Was it her imagination or did he sound disappointed. She tapped her foot. What did he want from her? She couldn’t very well tell him how she felt. He should make the first move.

  “Will you go?” She asked, desperation to know making her throw convention to the wind.

  “I don’t want to leave…Clover Springs.” He reached out to touch her cheek. “You got m-mud on your face.”

  Ellen brushed her cheek not taking her eyes off his. She saw his gaze drift from her eyes to her mouth and back again.

  “Ellen, I…” He stopped.

  “Yes?” Say something please.

  His breath smelled of mint, its warmth caressing her cheek. She moved slightly closer to him, willing him to do something.

  “Aunt Ellen, Ma said it is time to go. Where are you?”

  Ellen could have cried with frustration. Samuel moved away.

  “Sounds like Ella wants you. You best go back inside before that little lady throws a tantrum.”

  Ellen returned his smile, although part of her wanted to grab him and shake him. Why did she have to be a woman? If she was a man, she’d have kissed him. Well, you wouldn’t if you were a man would you?

  “Bye, Samuel.”

  He nodded but didn’t say anything as she walked back toward the house and the strident tones of her niece calling for her.

  “Quit shouting, Ella. I am right here.” Her frustration made her tone sharp. Ella gave her a dirty look before running to her ma. Ellen didn’t look at her sister. The last thing she needed now was tea and sympathy. Why was life so complicated?

  Chapter 18

  The next few days passed by really slowly. Ellen kept hoping Samuel would come into town but he didn’t. She could have gone out to the Sullivan ranch but the children and Father Molloy had moved back into town to stay in Ma’s boarding house. Father Molloy wanted the children to go to school and he wanted to get to know the townsfolk. He said it would be bett
er for all concerned if the people of Clover Springs got to know Rosa and John better. They would be more likely to vote yes for the orphanage. Ellen couldn’t argue with his logic, but she couldn’t help wishing he had taken Davy up on his offer. If the children had been at Mary’s she could have visited every day.

  No man wants a woman to run after him. You have to let him do the chasing, Ellen.

  How could she show him she was grown up now if they never got a chance to talk?

  “Ellen, you’re scaring Danny with your screwed up face.” Katie teased.

  “Sorry.” Ellen knew she spoke testily but her patience had worn thin.

  “Want to talk about him?”

  Ellen started. “What?”

  “You heard me. Do you want to talk about Samuel Higgins?”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about, Katie Sullivan. Samuel, as you well know, is an old friend. He was good to me when we…”

  “Yes, I know the story. He was good to you when you were a snotty nosed brat. But now you are a full grown woman. Your feelings for Samuel aren’t those for a big brother figure are they, Ellen?”

  “I think you need to get some sleep, Katie. I don’t have any romantic feelings for anyone. I am going to be a teacher. Teachers don’t get married.”

  “Laura’s married and she’s teaching.”

  “Laura had no choice but to get married, her life was in danger.”

  “Yes, that may be, but the fact remains she is married and she is a teacher. You can do the same.” Katie stood with her hands on her hips watching her sister closely.

  Ellen studied a spot on the floor. She didn’t want Katie reading anything on her face. “Laura might not want to give up teaching.”

  “She does and stop changing the subject. What happened between you and Samuel?”

  “Nothing happened. He thinks I’m a child.”

  “I doubt it.”

  “He does. We were alone and I…well, I gave him the chance to… Oh, I am not having this conversation with you.” Ellen picked up some clothes and started to refold them.

  “Ellen, we’re sisters. Who else would you talk to?”

  Ellen swallowed hard. She didn’t want anyone to know how much she liked Samuel, not even Katie.

  “Does Laura really want to stop teaching?”

  Katie’s look said she knew she was changing the subject but thankfully her sister answered. “Paul wants Laura to give up and rest more. Mrs. Grey suggested Laura needed to look after herself a little better. Something to do with her heart.”

  “Laura has a weak heart?”

  “I don’t know why Mrs. Grey was concerned, but we found from experience it’s better to heed her advice. Paul would prefer Laura rest at home more. The children from Clover Springs are just like those anywhere else. They can be more than a handful at times.”

  Ellen smiled at the thoughts of some of the children’s antics. When she had helped Miss Freeman, Bertram Shaw had played a number of pranks. Some of them had been funny, others potentially dangerous. She shivered.

  “Who walked over your grave?” Katie asked.

  “Oh, nobody. I was just thinking of the day Bertram Shaw put the bull snake in Miss Freeman’s desk. She thought it was a rattler and sent all the children out of the classroom. Davy had to come in and remove it.”

  Katie frowned. “Poor Miss Freeman, she didn’t sleep a wink for a week after the snake incident. She’s not the first or the last person to mistake a bull snake for a rattler. Bertram should have known better. That size snake can deliver a nasty bite. One of the younger children could have been badly hurt.”

  “I hate snakes as much as anyone else. He didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Davy gave him quite a hiding.”

  “He had to. His mother wasn’t going to. She thinks the sun shines out of that boy. Bertram Shaw hasn’t changed. You should listen to Laura’s stories about that boy.”

  “That’s a good idea. I should go to the school to see Laura. Thanks Katie.” Ellen picked up her things and walked toward the door.

  “Ellen O’Callaghan, you can run but you can’t hide. We will resume our conversation about a certain young man.”

  Ellen didn’t respond but let the door swing shut behind her. She tied her bonnet as she walked down the main street toward the school. The talk of snakes reminded her of one of the first times she had gone to the Sullivan ranch. She’d been crying and didn’t want anyone to see how upset she was. She had hidden in the barn to give herself time to get over the crying fit. That was when she had seen her first snake. Even now the hairs on the back of her neck rose as she remembered how close she came to stepping on it. She had screamed and Samuel and some of the other ranch hands had come running. Samuel had picked her up and carried her out of the barn while one of the other men dealt with the snake. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered the teasing they had given her. Her big scary snake was a small ratter, completely harmless. But to someone from Ireland where there are no snakes of any kind, it was the scariest thing she had ever seen. Samuel hadn’t laughed. He brought her in to his ma and stood by as she drank hot milk and ate cookies. He always had a kind heart.

  She greeted people she recognized as she walked along. It wasn’t yet lunchtime so she waited outside the school house. At first glance, it seemed Clover Springs hadn’t changed much in the year she’d been away. But closer inspection showed some of the buildings had been recently whitewashed. The boardwalk had been extended making it easier for the ladies to walk through town without their skirts getting covered in mud. Ellen didn’t have to wait long until the bell went and the children charged out of school for lunchtime recess.

  She walked inside, the smell of chalk and children making her smile. Her happiest memories had happened in this classroom.

  Laura hadn’t yet noticed her, she seemed preoccupied by something on her desk. Ellen was a little shocked at her appearance. She looked worse than she had on Sunday. Tired didn’t come close to describe how Laura looked.

  “Are you feeling alright, Laura?”

  Laura looked up with a smile.

  “I am fine, Ellen. It is so good to see you back. You look fabulous.” Laura cocked her head to one side. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I am just a little worried about you. Katie said you are working too hard. I think she’s right.”

  “Everyone is fussing too much. Women have babies every day. Why should I be any different?”

  “Well, I still think you should take advantage of me while I am here. I can take over your classes and let you catch up on some rest. You can spend time with your new husband.”

  The glow on Laura’s face made Ellen almost envious.

  “It would be nice to spend some time with Paul. I try to wait up for him to come home but I cannot keep my eyes open. All too often he finds me asleep at the table. He jokes about me finding married life boring already.”

  Ellen smiled. “Laura, please let me help. You would be doing me a favor. I need to do something. I am not good at finding things to occupy my day.”

  “The townsfolk would probably prefer if you were to take over.”

  “Laura, you are a wonderful teacher. The children love you from what Katie has told me.” Ellen looked at Laura noting the tiredness in her eyes.

  “Thanks, Ellen. I enjoy it but maybe Mrs. Grey is right. She’s a real fusspot but I admit I am feeling very tired. It will be nice to have a few days off.” Laura gathered some of her things together. “The children will be excited to see you back. They talk about you a lot.”

  Ellen looked out the classroom window. “You rest and do everything Mrs. Grey suggested. She knows what she is doing. Helping here while I am in Clover Springs is the least I can do.”

  “Thank you, Ellen. I will take advantage of you. I admit today has been difficult and it’s only lunch time. If I hurry, I will be able to catch a lift back to the ranch with one of the boys. I saw them in town earlier. They are probably collecting supplies for Mrs. H.”
r />   “Go on then.” Ellen smiled as she slipped off her shawl.

  “I will call in tomorrow or the next day and we can chat about the lesson plans.” Laura cocked her head to one side. “I feel a bit guilty just leaving you like this.”

  “Laura Kelley, stop it now. You got a baby to think about.”

  The blush on Laura’s cheeks made her even prettier. “Go on now. We can talk in a few days. There isn’t anything that can be that different. You kept me up to date in your letters.”

  Laura gave her a quick hug before leaving her alone in the classroom. Ellen looked around her.

  The school house had been improved upon since she first arrived in Clover Springs. Then the building had been too hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. She shivered remembering the days when the students fought over who sat nearest the stove in winter and near the only window in summer. Now light flooded the room via the windows on both sides of the building. The rows of long benches were still the same. The old stove had been replaced with a newer model. Laura has mentioned in one of her letters that it didn’t spit out as much smoke and was more effective at heating the whole room. The children still fought over who sat nearest the heat so Laura had introduced a rotation system. It meant every child got a chance to heat up on those freezing winter days.

  Using the duster she wiped the slate chalkboard clean. The map of the world caught her attention. She fingered the outline of Ireland, a tiny dot miles away from Clover Springs. The ringing of the bell broke into her thoughts as the classroom soon filled up with chattering children. They fell silent as they found her standing, waiting in Laura’s place.

  “Miss O’Callaghan, it’s true, you are back.”

  “Yes, Peter. It’s true. Mrs. Kelley is feeling unwell, so I am taking her place for a little while.”

  “Are you back for good? I like Mrs. Kelley but I prefer you.”

  Peter blushed as the children teased him. Ellen swallowed hard to get rid of the lump in her throat.

  “That’s enough class, settle down now.” Ellen said. “Thank you for the lovely welcome back. Now who can tell me what you did with Mrs. Kelley this morning?”