So Little Time

by Al Lacy

  Della laughed. “Don’t you worry so much, girl. Remember, Chris’s family traveled this same trail a few years ago. They know all about the hardships and conditions that go with it.”

  Della’s wise words calmed Betty some, but nothing could calm her wildly beating heart.

  Hannah Cooper Kirkland was busy mopping the floor in the kitchen of the commandant’s two-story house, humming a hymn. She blew a wisp of dark brown hair off her forehead as she dipped the mop into the bucket of sudsy water and moved to another spot. She paused when she heard the screen door at the front of the house open and close.

  “Mama!” came the voice of her oldest son. “Where are you?”

  “I’m in the kitchen, honey!”

  “Could you come out here, please? It’s very important!”

  Quickly drying her hands on her apron, Hannah hurried into the hall and made her way toward the front of the house. “I’m coming, Chris,” she said as she neared the foyer. “What are you so excited ab—”

  Her words came to a sudden halt when she saw that her son was not alone. “Oh! Betty!” she gasped, and went to her, arms open wide. Hannah kissed her cheek. “It’s so wonderful that you’re here!”

  Betty squeezed her tight. “Thank you!”

  Tears misted Hannah’s eyes as she held Betty at arm’s length then glanced at her son. “Chris, she’s even more beautiful than her picture!”

  “I agree, Mama.”

  Betty blushed. “You’re both so kind.”

  Chris ran his gaze toward the back of the house. “Are the kids here?”

  “No, but they should be real soon. Patty Ruth is over at the Fordhams with Belinda. I expect her any minute. B.J. took Eddie over to the corral to help him curry your daddy’s horse. They should be about finished by now.”

  Suddenly they heard young voices. Hannah stepped to the door and saw B.J. and Eddie coming toward the house with Patty Ruth. “It’s all three!” she said excitedly.

  Betty received a warm welcome from Chris’s brothers and his youngest sister. Betty immediately felt a kinship with them.

  “Mama,” said Chris, “there’s somebody else in the wagon train that you know.”

  “Oh? Who?”

  “McClain Reardon.”

  “McClain? What’s he doing in the wagon train?”

  “Well, he’s out of the army now. He’s on his way to Sacramento to take a job with Colonel Lamont in the construction business. Only, he’s not a colonel anymore.”

  “Yes. I heard they have a new commandant at Fort Steele.”

  “And something else—McClain has his fiancée with him. They’re going to get married after they arrive in Sacramento. Her name’s Rya Garrett. McClain said he’s anxious to see all of you and for you to meet Rya. She seems to be a fine Christian young lady. They’ve known each other since they were children back in Virginia.”

  “I’m happy for him,” said Hannah, “and we’ll look forward to seeing him and meeting Rya. Sometimes the wagon trains stay over a day or two when they reach this point on the trail. Do you know how long this one will be here?”

  “The wagon master told us they’d leave day after tomorrow,” Betty said.

  “Good! Tell you what, Chris—”

  Heavy footsteps were heard on the porch.

  “It’s Daddy!” said Patty Ruth, and rushed to meet her stepfather.

  Colonel Dane Kirkland was introduced to Betty, and he welcomed her to Fort Bridger. He told her he was looking forward to the wedding, when he could welcome her into the family.

  “Mama, you were about to say something when we heard Dad coming,” said Chris.

  “Oh, yes! Since the wagon train will be here all day tomorrow, I’d like to prepare a special dinner tomorrow evening to welcome Betty and invite McClain and Rya.”

  Betty’s face beamed. “Oh, Mrs. Kirkland, I’m honored.”

  Hannah hugged her again. “As soon as you and Chris are married, you can call me Mama like the rest of this brood does.”

  Betty smiled. “Yes, ma’am. I sure will.” She put a finger to the corner of her mouth. “Ah … Mrs. Kirkland …”

  “Yes, dear?”

  “Our wagon train was attacked by Cheyenne a few days ago, and … well, we had one man killed in the attack. His widow just became a Christian. McClain and Rya led her to the Lord. Her name is Dorothy, and I was wondering …”

  “Yes?”

  “Would it be possible for Dorothy to join us for the dinner tomorrow evening? Her husband died without Christ, and she’s really hurting. Rya and McClain have been staying very close to her, and—”

  “Betty, you don’t have to say any more. Dorothy is invited, too.”

  In town, Rya, McClain, and Dorothy were moving slowly down the boardwalk on Main Street, heading for the general store.

  “There it is,” said McClain.

  Rya and Dorothy saw the sign that hung above the door: Cooper’s General Store, Jacob Kates, Prop.

  McClain opened the screen door, allowing the women to move inside ahead of him. Several other wagon train people were in the store, picking up items from the well-stocked shelves. At the counter, a small, thin, silver-haired man in his early sixties was waiting on Vance and Rhonda Larkin.

  The Larkins greeted the trio, picked up the paper bags the proprietor had stuffed full of goods, and headed for the door. The little man smiled at McClain, Rya, and Dorothy. “May I help you find something, folks?”

  “Yes, sir,” said McClain. “We understand you sell Bibles.”

  “Sure do,” said Jacob Kates. “Let me show them to you.”

  Jacob rounded the end of the counter and led them toward a table near the front window, where a number of Bibles were on display.

  “Here they are,” said Jacob. “Are you folks with the wagon train?”

  McClain said they were and introduced himself, then the ladies. Jacob shook hands with McClain, introducing himself as the proprietor. McClain explained that as a soldier at Fort Steele, he had come to Fort Bridger on two occasions with his commandant and had met Colonel Dane Kirkland and his family.

  “Oh, so you know our Colonel Kirkland, and dear Hannah and her children, too.”

  “Yes. Wonderful people.”

  Jacob grinned. “You folks have that look about you. I sense it in my heart.”

  “What’s that?” asked McClain, smiling.

  “You are born-again people.”

  “We sure are!” said McClain. “Rya and I have known the Lord since we were children. And, praise the Lord, Dorothy was saved several days ago back on the trail. We came in here to get her a Bible.”

  There was a twinkle in Jacob’s eye. “Please, may I give this dear new-born child of God a Bible?”

  The trio stared at him.

  “Please?”

  “Well, all right, Mr. Kates,” said McClain. “We’ll allow you to do that.”

  “Good! Please, ma’am, pick out the one you want.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you, sir,” said Dorothy.

  “There is no thanks necessary. It’s my pleasure as your brother in Christ. You see, I’m a Jew from New York City.”

  “I thought the name Kates was Jewish,” said McClain. “We’d love to hear how you came to know the Lord.”

  Jacob told them in brief that he came to Fort Bridger a few years ago and was hired by Hannah Cooper to work in the store. In time, through the witness of the Cooper family—especially the oldest girl, Mary Beth—he saw that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Messiah and received Him as his Saviour.

  McClain, Rya, and Dorothy rejoiced to hear it. Jacob then told them that six years ago, widow Hannah Cooper married Captain Dane Kirkland.

  “Shortly thereafter,” said Jacob, “she sold the store to me. Captain Kirkland was promoted to major a few months after that, and within about four years, he was made a colonel and commissioned by the army as commandant of Fort Bridger upon the retirement of the previous commandant, Colonel Ross Bateman.”
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br />   “I knew some of these things,” said McClain, “but I’m glad to get the whole picture. More than anything, Mr. Kates, I’m glad to know that you’re a Christian.”

  Noting that customers were lining up at the counter, Jacob told Dorothy to pick out her Bible.

  “I will, sir,” she said, “and thank you for your generosity. I will treasure it always.”

  As the trio stepped out onto the boardwalk, they saw Chet Place and the men who had carried the wounded to the doctor’s office coming toward them. When they drew up, Chet was smiling.

  “So how are they doing?” asked McClain.

  “Just fine,” replied the wagon master. “Dr. O’Brien says he’ll have them patched up sufficiently so they can travel day after tomorrow. He’ll keep them at the clinic until late tomorrow afternoon, just to make sure there are no complications.”

  “Well, this is good news!” said McClain. “I’m so glad to hear it.”

  “We all are,” said Chet. He set tender eyes on Dorothy. “I only wish it could’ve been the same for your husband, ma’am.”

  Dorothy nodded, pressing her new Bible to her heart. “Thank you, Mr. Place.”

  After supper with Dorothy that night at the Keegan wagon, Rya and McClain stepped outside the circle to spend a little time together. They observed the small fire that glowed in the twilight where Sky Eagle and his warriors were camped.

  Walking slowly and holding hands, Rya and McClain discussed Chris Cooper’s family, and how well they thought Betty would fit in.

  “I don’t think it will be very long before wedding bells ring,” Rya said.

  “I’m sure of that,” said McClain. “In fact, it won’t be long after we’re in Sacramento that our wedding bells will ring.”

  Rya smiled up at him. “I love you so much.”

  Returning the smile, he said, “I love you so much, too, sweetheart.”

  Their eyes were locked in a gaze of adoration when suddenly Rya winced.

  “Is it your stomach again?” asked McClain.

  She nodded.

  “Well, in the morning, I’m taking you to Dr. O’Brien.”

  Rya managed a smile. “Yes, sir.”

  The next morning, McClain waited in the outer office while Dr. Patrick O’Brien examined Rya with his nurse at his side.

  While lying on the examining table, Rya explained to Dr. O’Brien about the recurring pain in her stomach that she had been experiencing for the past few years. She told him that it occurred mostly when she was nervous or upset, but that it was increasing in frequency.

  “I’ll give you some powders to ease the pain, Miss Garrett,” said Dr. O’Brien, “but when you get to Sacramento, you should immediately establish yourself with a doctor and let him run some tests.”

  “I will do that, Doctor,” she assured him.

  When Rya and Dr. O’Brien entered the office, they found Sundi O’Brien chatting with McClain.

  Dr. O’Brien introduced his wife to Rya.

  When the ladies had greeted each other, McClain said, “Honey, Mrs. O’Brien has been the schoolmarm here in Fort Bridger for several years.”

  Rya’s eyes lit up. “Oh, really?”

  “Yes,” said Sundi. “Your fiancé was just telling me that you have a teaching job waiting for you at Sacramento High School.”

  “And I’m so excited about it!” said Rya. “Do you teach all grades, Mrs. O’Brien?”

  “I used to, but the town and fort have both grown in population the past few years. I now teach tenth through twelfth grades.”

  The two discussed the joys of teaching for several minutes, then Sundi excused herself, saying she had some summer school students to meet at the school, and hurried away.

  Dr. O’Brien told McClain what he had done for Rya. McClain assured him she would see a doctor soon after their arrival, paid him for his services, and escorted Rya back to the wagon train.

  That evening, Hannah Cooper Kirkland had a virtual feast prepared for her guests.

  Chris and Betty welcomed Rya, Dorothy, and McClain at the door, and guided them into the parlor, where introductions were made. Dorothy and Hannah found an immediate friendship. Hannah’s parents, Ben and Esther Singleton, were there, as was Hannah’s oldest daughter, Mary Beth Martin, and her lawyer husband, Dan.

  Spotting Patty Ruth’s long auburn hair, Rya compared the matching color of her own, and the two agreed that they had their own exclusive redhead society.

  When they sat down to dinner, Colonel Kirkland asked McClain to offer thanks to the Lord for the food. A sweet Christian fellowship bound them together in their hearts.

  Dorothy was seated next to Hannah, who asked her, “Now that your husband is gone, what are your plans?”

  Dorothy bit her lower lip. “Well, I don’t really have any plans. Since Burt is gone, I really have no reason to go on to San Francisco. But I figured I would stay with the wagon train till it gets to Sacramento, and see if something develops there.”

  “Do you have relatives back East?”

  “None.”

  “I see. Well, since I learned of your husband’s death yesterday from Chris, I’ve been thinking. Have you ever done any clerking work? You know, in a store?”

  “Why, yes, I have. Before Burt and I were married, I worked in a grocery store.”

  Hannah smiled. “Well, even if you hadn’t, I would’ve made this offer, but since you have, all the better. I talked to Jacob last night. He said he met you yesterday in the store.”

  “Yes,” said Dorothy, her eyes shining. “That dear man gave me a Bible.”

  “Dorothy, Jacob needs help at the store. He had two ladies working for him up until a week ago, but their husbands were both transferred to a fort in northern Wyoming. Would you be interested in staying here and working for Jacob? He would like to have you.”

  While Dorothy was trying to find her voice, Hannah said, “We have a spare bedroom upstairs, since Mary Beth is now married. Dane and I agreed this afternoon that you could stay with us until you get on your feet financially, then we can guide you to a very nice boardinghouse here in town. What do you think?”

  Face flushed, Dorothy said, “I’m a new Christian, Hannah, but it seems to me the Lord has opened a door for me. I can build a new life right here.”

  “We have a wonderful church in town and a wonderful pastor. You’ll love it here, I guarantee you.”

  “Sure sounds like God has worked this out for you, Dorothy,” said Rya.

  A smile worked its way across Dorothy’s face. “All right, Hannah. You can tell Mr. Kates he has a new employee!”

  There was applause all around the table, then suddenly Dorothy threw palms to her cheeks. “Oh! What’ll I do with the wagon and the team?”

  “Tell you what,” said McClain, “I’ll buy them from you. Rya can ride with me in the daytime, and I’m sure the McCrums will let her stay with them at night since Betty is no longer with them.”

  “I have no doubt of that,” spoke up Betty.

  “Do you know what Burt paid for the wagon and team, Dorothy?” McClain asked.

  “Yes. It was a hundred and ten dollars.”

  “Sold for a hundred and thirty dollars!” said McClain.

  “No, I said a hundred and ten.”

  There was a glint in McClain’s eyes. “Oh, but they no doubt have gone up in value since we left Independence.”

  Dorothy laughed for the first time since Burt had been killed. “All right, smarty! Sold for a hundred and thirty dollars.”

  “We’ll get your belongings out of the wagon in the morning,” said McClain, “and bring them here to the house.”

  When the wagon train was about to pull out the next morning, the Cheyenne escort was mounted and ready to go.

  Dorothy and Betty were there at the Reardon wagon, along with Hannah. Tearful good-byes were said quickly. Betty and Rya embraced, mingling their tears, and promised to write.

  As Chet Place and Sky Eagle led the train out onto the prair
ie, Dorothy wiped tears and waved. Hannah slipped an arm around her waist.

  Dorothy smiled at her and looked back at the rolling wagons. “Oh, Hannah, I sure hope Rya and McClain have a long and happy life.”

  20

  IT WAS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, when Chet Place led his wagon train amid truck farms and fruit orchards under a clear California sky to an open grassy field on the eastern outskirts of Sacramento.

  After good-byes were exchanged with the wagon master and friends, some wagons headed north while others headed south. Other wagons aimed straight into the heart of Sacramento, including that of McClain Reardon.

  Sitting on the wagon seat beside the man she loved, Rya Garrett held on to his arm. “I wonder how Dorothy’s doing in Fort Bridger by now. Wasn’t it wonderful that she and Hannah became fast friends so quickly?”

  McClain nodded. “I was very happy when Dorothy decided to stay in Fort Bridger.”

  A contented smile graced Rya’s lips and her thoughts turned to the future she was going to enjoy with this man who had so captured her heart. She let her gaze take in Sacramento as it lay before her. “Oh, darling, we’re finally here!”

  “Yes, we are, m’lady. And yours truly will give you a personal guided tour.”

  “How are you going to do that? You’ve never been here before.”

  “Oh, but I have studied written information on this place, given to me by Ward Lamont, including a detailed map.”

  “Oh, you have, eh? Well, let’s hear some pertinent information on our new home.”

  “Well, the town gets its name from the Sacramento River, which has a confluence with the American River on the town’s north side. The American River is its largest tributary. Sacramento was settled in 1839. It grew slowly until gold was discovered at nearby Sutter’s Mill in January 1848. This brought prosperity and notable growth to Sacramento, and it was incorporated in 1850. In that same year, it became the seat of Sacramento County.”