by Danni Roan
“Looks like your brother needs a preacher,” the man with the bushy beard called with a hearty laugh.
“You mind your manners Greg,” Dan chided as others laughed.
“Needful sounds good to me,” one of the wranglers said. “We need a good many things.”
“Is everyone agreed?” Dan called waving the men down. “All in favor of finally naming this forsaken patch of earth Needful raise your hand and say, aye.”
Every hand in the place seemed to raise and the resounding ayes echoed through the room.
“Anyone not in favor?” Dan called one more time but was met with silence. “Well let’s get back to introductions then...”
“Help! Help!” a woman’s voice called as a short black haired woman with dark skin rushed into the saloon. “I need doctor, please. Is there a doctor?”
Dan hurried to the woman taking her hands in his as he tried to calm her. “We don’t have a doctor,” he said. “What’s wrong, what has happened?”
The woman collapsed into tears as Dan tried to comfort her.
“My bambino, my bambino,” she sobbed.
“Dan, Daliah’s mighty good with fixin’ people up,” Spencer said, joining his brother with Daliah in tow.
“Please help,” the other woman cried grasping Daliah by the arm.
“I’ll help,” Daliah said. “Please take me to your baby.”
Together the small group hurried out the door, Daliah casting a knowing glace back at Mrs. Hampton who gathered Chad to her.
“Spencer will you fetch my bag please, it’s in the wagon,” Daliah said, practically running to keep up with the smaller woman.
In a few moments Dan, Daliah and the woman were ducking into the drafty tent with a small cot and what appeared to be a bundle of rags in a basket.
Daliah leaned over the bundle and peered in at the tiny baby who was gurgling and struggling for breath. “Boil water,” she said, her voice snapping as she lifted the little thing from the basket.
The other woman jumped to comply, grabbing a bucket and kicking a fire pit back to life under a large black kettle at the front of the tent.
“Daliah?” Spencer said, walking in, a lamp in one hand and her bag in another.
“Here,” Daliah replied, handing the baby off to Spencer as she took the bag rummaging for what she needed until she pulled out a vile of pungent smelling liquid.
“Unwrap her,” Daliah said spilling a drop of the liquid onto her finger and rubbing on the baby’s chest.
Spencer blinked as the strong smell of menthol, eucalyptus, and something else assailed his nostrils.
“The water’s almost boiling,” Dan said ducking his head back into the tent. “Rosa, the mother, has been here a couple of weeks cooking for some of the men in town.”
Daliah nodded. “Dan could you go and ask Mrs. Hampton to get some tea on,” she said taking the baby back from Spencer. “Spencer I need a basin for the water.” Together the men stepped out into the darkness disappearing.
“Rosa,” Daliah called and the other woman stepped inside wringing her hands. “What brought you to Needful?” Daliah asked trying to calm the woman and using the town’s new name for the first time.
“My husband, he is working on a drive. He brings cattle to New Mexico. I cannot stay alone, so I come here.”
“Will this do?” Spencer stepped back into the softly lit tent with a basin. Daliah nodded handing the baby to its mother and hurrying back to the kettle. In a few moments she had the basin filled with hot water as she dripped more of the pungent liquid into the water then held the baby over the steam, keeping her hand close to its face to make sure the baby didn’t get to warm.
Rosa stood beside her wringing her hands with fear.
“Daliah, I brought tea,” Mrs. Hampton said stepping into the tent with Dan on her heels. “You men clear off now,” the older woman said waving at Dan and Spencer. “We’ll call you if you’re needed.”
Spencer smiled for what felt like the first time in hours as the baby gagged and choked.
Olive handed Rosa a cup of tea. “You drink this dear,” she said. “Daliah will do all she can.”
Again the baby hacked, coughing from deep in her lungs as the congestion broke and the baby retched up the choking phlegm.
“That’s better,” Daliah said breathing for the first time as she dipped a rag in cool water and washed the babies face, grinning at its soft cry.
“Thank you, thank you,” Rosa said fresh tears pouring down her face as Daliah handed the baby back to her.
“If she gets bad again, you will need to do this again,” Daliah said. “For now keep this cloth on her chest,” she said dabbing more of the strong liquid onto a rag. “It will help keep her airways open.”
Rosa tucked the still crying child into her arm and reached out to hug Daliah. “Gracious Dios,” the woman said. “God brought you when we needed you.”
Daliah suddenly felt exhausted and Olive pulled her and Rosa down to sit on the cot pressing cups into their hands once more.
“Seems to me that this town needs a decent restaurant,” the older woman said lifting the tea pot and another cup for herself. “I think I’ll be talking to Orville about that first thing.”
Daliah smiled seeing the older woman’s mind whirling away with plans.
“This is Christina,” Rosa said lifting the now quieted baby. “She is our first bambino.”
Daliah looked down at the baby’s puckered face and smiled as she blinked back at her. “Raoul and me, we work hard. We come to this part of Texas to make a better life, but now he goes away, and I must stay.”
“Well you aren’t alone no more,” Olive said. “Once me and Orville get things goin’, you’ll come and work with us, and I tell you, we’ll do some good around here. With Daliah here getting’ married, I’ll need someone to help me if you’ll agree.”
Rosa nodded. “I would like that Senora,” she said. “Thank you.”
Chapter 19
Three long weeks of hard work and toil passed, but Daliah looked out over the town with loving eyes. She was still staying with the Hamptons as she and Spencer waited for a traveling preacher to arrive.
She couldn’t believe what had transpired in the three weeks since the wagon train had come to a stop in Needful.
The trading post was busier than ever, but couldn’t accommodate the growing town, and Mr. Script had taken his wagon and hired another one as he and Trey set out east toward the river where they could buy supplies for the general store they were planning.
Mr. Hampton had wrangled some of the younger men and headed for the hills to mark and cut trees that would be hand split to build new homes and businesses. He had brought one of the older blades from the mill in Smithfield and was looking forward to starting work on the sawmill that was so badly needed.
It was a busy time but full of friendship, hope, and goodwill, even with the occasional drunken cowboy racing his horse through town.
Almost immediately after she and the Hamptons had set up there meager living accommodations on the outside of Dan’s property, people had started coming to Daliah for minor injuries and medical assistance. She had been overwhelmed at the number of cuts, abrasions, and belly aches she’d dealt with in rapid order.
“You’re as close as this place comes to a doctor,” Spencer said one evening when he came to call. “You have to expect people coming to you for help.”
“Just as long as no one expects me to pull a tooth,” Daliah said with a shiver. “I draw the line at that,”
Spencer chuckled squeezing her hand in his. “One of the riders said he thought a preacher might be through soon,” the one time trail boss said with a grin. “Will you be ready to marry me when he gets here?’
Daliah turned to the man who she was falling in love with a little more each day. “I think I will,” she said with some pluck. “I don’t know what you want me for, but I’ll be glad to be yours,” she added with a grin.
Spen
cer spun her toward him pulling her into his arms and looking down at her. “I want you for so many things in my life,” he said seriously. “You help me be a better man. You challenge me to remember that with the bad comes something good, and that God has a purpose for us on this dusty patch of earth. You’re good, and kind, and loving,” he finished lowering his lips to her and reminding her that God’s word said it was not good for a man to be alone.
Daliah reeled back from the kiss, her head spinning with the passion that coursed through her. She had never even had a beau before and this man did delightful things to her sensibilities. Yes, she would most definitely be ready to marry Spencer when the preacher arrived.
Spencer stepped away from Daliah pulling himself back together. He didn’t deserve this caring young woman who already loved his son like her own, but he would do his best to be the best husband he could be.
He couldn’t count the number of times she’d kept the boy out of one scrape or another on the trail, and the way she had been willing to put herself in danger for Chad had eroded the excuses he had made to guard his heart. No he was ready for that preacher to get there soon, and in the mean time, he would work hard to build a place on his brother’s land that they could move into.
Most days Spencer worked young horses for his brother in the morning then headed to town to help with laying out the building that Olive Hampton was determined to have. At least if they did have to wait longer than he liked to marry he could make sure that Daliah and the older couple would have a decent roof overhead before winter.
“Querido Cielo,” Rosa said, walking into the portion of the log structure that the Hamptons had started. “It is very big,” she added adjusting a sparkling eyed Christina on her hip.
“It will be our home and our business,” Olive said. “This is the kitchen at the back, then a small shop to sell bread and baked good, and finally an eating area here. For this winter we’ll use part of the back for our quarters and put a roof up then next spring add another floor. You and Christina will stay here,” she finished indicating a room of about ten feet square.
“This is not necessary,” Rosa said.
“I’ll be mighty glad to have you,” Olive said. “With Daliah marrying Spencer I’ll need the help,” she added with a smile and when Raoul returns he can stay here until you have a place of your own.”
Rosa smiled. “Dios de bendiga,” Rosa said.
“I come to help out,” a craggy voice called from outside the structure. “Orville said you was cookin’ for anyone what would come and pitch in with the work,” the man finished.
Olive smiled winking at Rosa. “Yes we are,” she said. “I’ll show you what to do.”
Another two weeks ticked by and Daliah was kept busy, cooking, helping with minor medical issues, and spending time with Spencer and Chad.
Dan and Orville seemed to have a way of motivating the men who were working the area, to improve the town. Several times the men had meetings in the saloon and Daliah would laugh every time Orville and Spencer came home to Olive pestering them about what was said.
The older woman was a force of her own working behind the scenes to see that the town would grow into something lasting.
“What we need is more women,” Olive said to Daliah one afternoon as they sat in their tent sipping tea. “There are far too many single men and not enough women. Why just last night there was a drunken brawl down at the saloon.”
Daliah smiled wondering what the woman was planning but biding her time. Soon she would be a married woman herself, and she could be patient if she had to. Sooner or later whatever Olive Hampton had in her head would come out.
A bright afternoon sun beat down on the town of Needful as a lone horseman in a black frock coat road into town, ambling his horse along the crooked main street and scanning the industrious building projects.
Daliah peered at the man curiously from her place in the newly framed window hole of the Hampton House, her heart fluttering in anticipation. Surely he was the preacher they had been waiting for.
Curious eyes peered out at the stranger as men stopped their work to watch him ride by.
“Howdy stranger,” Orville called as the man pulled up near a grove of fat oaks near a cool spring. “What can we do for you?”
“I’m Pastor Jay,” the man said looking down at Orville. “I see you folks are mighty busy here. Do you think you’ll have time for services on Sunday?”
“I think you’d better step down a spell,” Orville said with a smile. “We’d be mighty pleased to have you stay a spell. I know some folks been waiting for you.”
***
Daliah fidgeted as Olive adjusted the buttons on the pretty gold and blue gown.
“Would you settle down?” Olive chided. “Tomorrow’s soon enough to be nervous.”
“I’m sorry,” Daliah said. She’d been a bundle of nerves and excitement ever since Spencer had talked to the preacher. Olive had insisted that they alter Daliah’s mother’s dress, only adding to the jittery feeling roiling in Daliah’s stomach. Tomorrow after the Sunday service, she would become Daliah Gaines, and she couldn’t help but feel that surely something was going to happen to steal her joy.
“You’re as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers,” Olive said unbuttoning the dress. “Aren’t you sure about Spence and Chad?”
“Oh my yes!” Daliah cried. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I love Spencer and Chad is the light of my life.”
A heavy knock landed on the door which made Olive look up as she helped Daliah out of the fancy dress and into her simple daily wear.
Outside the room she could hear Orville greeting someone and she hurried to hang the dress up while Daliah finished changing.
The men of the town had worked overtime to finish the Hampton House and restaurant and to her great surprise the outer structure of the upstairs and roof was already on. There was plenty of work inside yet to be done but it was coming along and the kitchen and dining area was functional.
Already the preacher was taking up a spot on the bare floor above and soon she knew that the eatery would be busier than ever.
“I’ll just step out and see who that is,” Olive said, slipping through the door and closing it behind her.
Outside Daliah caught the rumble of Spencer’s voice and hurried to get ready so that they could share supper together.
“Hello,” she called cheerfully, stepping out of the small room then looking up in concern at all of the people staring back to her. “What’s wrong?” Daliah asked her hands shaking as she took in Mr. Scripts holding a rolled paper and standing by the door. “Is Chad all right?” she asked her voice cracking.
“Daliah, I think you need to sit down,” Orville said taking her arm and leading her to a chair.
“Why? What’s going on?” Daliah asked fear turning her stomach to acid.
“I’m telling you...” Spencer hissed to Mr. Scripts, “there has to be a mistake.”
“What’s going on?” Daliah demanded.
“Miss Owens?” Mr. Scripts’ eyes were sad, “I’m sorry about this,” he said smoothing his neatly trimmed beard. “When we went for supplies, we found this at the sheriff’s office,” he finished apologetically unfurling the paper before her.
Daliah felt the blood drain from her face as the image on the page swam before her eyes, and her head spun as the world faded to black.
She never even felt Spencer’s strong arms capture her before she slipped to the hard floor, nor did she feel his hot tears falling on her cold pale cheeks.
Chapter 20
“This isn’t right,” Spencer’s loud voice was the first thing that Daliah heard as her eyes fluttered open and the world came back into existence.
“What happened?” Daliah whispered trying to rise from the floor.
“You fainted dear,” Mrs. Hampton said patting her hand.
Daliah struggled to rise and Spencer was at her side instantly helping her t
o the chair she had fallen from minutes ago, while Orville pressed a cup of water into her hand.
“Spencer, what’s going on?” Daliah asked rubbing her temple with one hand while she clung to his with the other.
Spencer squeezed her hand looking toward Mr. Scripts who still stood in the middle of the room, looking worried and upset.
“Oh,” Daliah sighed dropping her head in her hands as sobs took her breath away.
“It’s all right honey,” Spencer said, his hands protectively resting on her shoulders.
“Don’t worry. You didn’t do anything, and we’ll prove it.”
Daliah shook her head dejectedly. Her life had finally taken a turn for the best and her heart had been so full of hope. She was going to be a wife and little Chad would be her new son, but now it was all shattered and scattered on the dry earth like broken pottery.
“It’s no use,” Daliah hiccupped. “No one will believe me. I’m just a nobody orphan. As long as this is hanging over my head I can’t marry you,” she finished her eyes swimming.
Spencer moved around to the front of the chair his hands holding tight to her shoulders as he squatted before her. “It will be all right,” he repeated, begging her to look him in the eyes. “Look at me Daliah,” he said, her name on his lips making her meet his troubled gaze. “I promise everything will work out.”
Daliah looked into Spencer’s earnest face wanting to believe him. She thought she had escaped this when she left Smithfield. She hadn’t been charged with a crime. She hadn’t even been publicly shamed. Why had it caught up to her now?
“I don’t know what is going on here,” Daliah said rising to her feet, “but I did not steal anything from the bank.” Taking a short turn around the room she circled back to Spencer. “As long as this is hanging over my head I won’t marry you Spencer Gaines. I won’t bring that kind of shame to your family.”
Spencer wrapped an arm around her pulling her close and offering his support. Behind her she could hear Mr. and Mrs. Hampton stepping close. Her family was behind her.
