by Lisa Prysock
In the nearly two weeks since she’d been at Silver Aspen, Mia, now Lady Stanton, had emulated grace and kindness to her. Hazel blew her nose and stared straight ahead while Mia brought an arm around, pulling her to rest against a shoulder. Hazel was also keenly aware they’d both grown up without their mothers, experiencing loss at early ages. Somehow, without words, they had kindred hearts which could comfort each other at times like this. They looked after each other whenever possible.
“I’m in a terrible pickle of a mess,” Hazel finally said, sitting up straight. She sniffled again into the handkerchief as she pulled away from her cousin’s shoulder. “And I’m sorry about your teapot.” Then she burst into tears again.
“The teapot, while it belonged to Joshua’s mother, is the least of my concerns at present. Whatever is the matter, dear Cousin?” Mia asked gently, her voice soft and caring.
“My Charles has...given his affection...to another, and my dear friend, Mary, insists I return...to England...if I am not to lose him.” Hazel sobbed, barely able to speak of the matter. Her words came out choked, a few at a time. “It’s all the fault of Ms. Riggs and my father...for sending me away.”
“I do seem to remember you mentioned a Charles to me before. I’m so sorry.” Her cousin reached for a brush on the night stand. “Here, let me brush your hair. It looks so lovely down as you have it today. I like the way Miss Flora styles it.”
“Thank you for sending her to Ambrosia and me each morning to arrange our hair. We appreciate it so much, especially since Miss Mabel Workman disappeared with that vulgar sailor.” Hazel sighed, allowing Mia to brush through her thick golden hair.
“You are most welcome. It’s the least I can do,” her cousin replied. “I sincerely wish your visit in Wyoming to be a pleasant one, an escape from anything that makes you unhappy in England.”
“’Tis only my father’s choice in a wife which has made me unhappy. If I were to return to England and went directly to Lady Mary, I know I could win my Charles back.” Hazel’s face brightened as she considered the idea. “Yes, in fact, that is exactly what I shall do.”
“’Tis too dangerous to cross the Atlantic in the winter, Hazel. You must wait until later in the spring, after the ice floes have melted.” Mia looked aghast at the idea of her sailing in winter or early spring.
“Well, if he hasn’t become married by then, I have made up my mind. I shall return to England and live with Lady Mary until I win him over again. Mary will be the new Marchioness of Broadmire by April and happy to receive me. She said so in her letter. I simply am devastated to think I might lose Charles, not to mention being unable to attend her wedding. I know it is risky, but I should set sail in March. Perhaps your father and brother shall accompany me, or rather, perhaps I shall accompany them.”
“’Tis possible, though I shall miss you dreadfully. I am enjoying having you and them here in Wyoming.” Mia continued to brush her hair. “But I understand how important it is to you to return to England.”
“I am good friends and well-acquainted with Lord Heatherby. He will be happy to welcome me into their home, and Lady Mary, who will be Lady Heatherby by then, will want to hear all the news of America. With or without my father’s blessing, I shall do as suits me now. After all, I am twenty and one years of age and I come into my own inheritance from my mother at twenty-three, whether I marry or not. It matters little what father does or says after that. In fact, if Charles is taken by then, I shall find some other wealthy friend of Lord Heatherby to marry. Then I shall be rich and shan’t need to rely upon my father for a single thing. And if I don’t marry, if I am very careful, I may survive upon the trust Mama set up for me.”
Mia nodded. “See there, it sounds like you have it all worked out. You’re a smart, perfectly capable, and independent woman with strength and dignity. I approve very much so long as you pray it through.”
“Thank you, Cousin. Your words mean a great deal to me.” Hazel blew her nose once more and wiped her tears away. “However, there is one thing for which I must beg your forgiveness.”
“What is that?”
“I’m dreadfully sorry for breaking your husband’s mother’s teapot in the library, the one with the red rose. My temper got the better of me. I am forever wrestling with my own self. I simply do not understand it.”
“Think nothing of it. Teapots can be replaced. Cousins may not.” Mia smiled and patted her hand. “Now, all we need to do is have afternoon tea and scones since you’ve come up with a wonderful solution to all of your problems.”
“I agree. Tea and scones are a pleasant remedy to nearly everything.” Hazel laughed lightly, happy with her plans to return to England. Until now, she’d felt trapped and unwanted, but now, she had a better plan. In fact, she wondered why she hadn’t thought of it before.
“Only do be sure to pray about your plans and present your requests to the Lord that He will bless you. The Bible says to acknowledge Him in everything we do. If you still have peace in your heart about it after you pray, then you know your plans will succeed, so long as He is in it,” Mia remarked.
Hazel stared at her cousin blankly as if she’d spoken a foreign language to her, but she supposed a little praying couldn’t hurt. Father was always pestering her to pray. She used to enjoy her bedtime prayers and attending church services with him when she was younger. Since Ms. Riggs had come into their lives, they hadn’t attended more than on holidays. It had been refreshing to be in Wyoming where the Stantons prayed before each meal and read the Bible so often together in the evenings. In fact, some of the words were getting down into her soul. Miss Ambrosia read a passage every single night before bed. Perhaps she should, too.
“You might be right, Mia,” she finally replied.
“Now, tell me what you most enjoy now that we are both grown. I see you are unpacked and settled. You’ve been here almost a fortnight. Do you still like to read, sew, draw, collect leaves, write letters?” Mia inquired. “What can I do to help you feel more at home while you are here in Wyoming? You used to enjoy horseback riding.”
“I shall always love horseback riding, but in the snow, ‘tis not an easy thing. Well, I know Miss Ambrosia is always sketching or sewing her samplers. I suppose the thing I enjoy most is embroidery, reading, and letter writing. I’m no seamstress, but I do love to embroider little patterns and make pictures, pillowcases, fancy trim work on various things, and handkerchiefs. And I love books, as you well know. I have been finding a few books from your husband’s library. I enjoy letter writing, and now I shall write to Lady Mary. And I very much enjoy ordering new dresses and shopping, but I confess I know nothing of washing dishes or household chores. I shall need a great deal of patience and training in that regard. I can’t seem to find many leaves worth collecting in this weather. Perhaps as spring approaches.”
Mia chuckled, nodding, and stood up to stretch as she walked about the cabin a little. “As far as chores, you see how I haven’t mentioned anything about doing much. I am happy to be patient while you figure out where your strengths are. I will have a little chat with Ambrosia, Fern, and Miss Flora about being patient with you in that regard. We have most things well in hand anyhow. I’m delighted you’ve found some books to read, and I trust you have found plenty of ink, blotting paper, and writing paper in the letter writing desk over there by the window. Perhaps we will make a trip into Belle soon so you may peruse the fashion plates at the new dress shop. Did you not bring any of your embroidery projects to Wyoming? I haven’t seen you with your sewing basket. You must be bored out of your mind without it.”
“Well, father had Mabel pack my trunks who did an insufficient job, and then he insisted I board the ship a few hours later. It all happened so fast, I didn’t get to select much of what I wanted to bring. She forgot a number of my gowns, books, and my sewing. There are other things I would have instructed her to pack had I known what was happening, but Father had her pack my things while I was visiting a friend. I was in such a frenzy
.” Hazel stared at the floor, still angry about the way her father had handled the situation.
“I’m so sorry about you and your father being parted!” Mia placed her hands on the back of one of the rocking chairs and paused to contemplate the matter. “I suppose he did what he thought best to make peace between him and Ms. Riggs, the new Countess. I imagine all we can do is wait it out here for a while, and then after a time, perhaps you can be reunited with your father and stepmother down the road.”
“Perhaps the good Lord doesn’t want me to be reunited with them. Perhaps he allowed it all to happen as it did for a reason. I suppose I wasn’t the nicest daughter, but I was thinking of my father’s long term interests.” Lady Hazel Jane Brayden flicked at an imaginary fleck of dust on the sleeve of her pearl gray gown, convinced she was not to seek a reunion with the man who had packed her off to America.
“I know you were, Lady Hazel, and you may have a point upon which to pray about, because I do so hate to see division in families. There are indeed times when it is the only answer, especially if one party is moving away from the Lord rather than toward Him.”
“Cousin Mia, has anyone told you how very wise you are beyond your years?” Hazel inquired.
Mia laughed lightly and shook her head. “No, I suppose not, but I consider you the first. In any case, I am sure Miss Flora and I can find a few embroidery supplies and projects for you.”
Chapter 10
* * *
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; I Thessalonians 4:11
“Of course your sister may visit us, Wade. She can have one of the spare bedrooms, and Aunt Prudence the other. Two more guests coming to Silver Aspen! We shall have a cheerful and full household instead of the winter doldrums.” Mia spun around in the sitting room and landed in her favorite rocking chair. She looked positively overjoyed. Joseph looked to Hazel as though he planned to burrow himself away in the library as a dismal look crossed his face and he sank into the shadows of his chair.
“I do believe you like to entertain, daughter,” Uncle Charles remarked.
“Em has always liked to entertain.” Alfred glanced up at his father and then slid a rook across the chess board. “Check.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Edward responded as his knight captured the rook. He grinned triumphantly and ruffled the hair on Mac’s furry coat, then patted Sable who lay nearby. “Your move, Viscount Morley.”
“More tea, Lady Hazel?” Miss Ambrosia moved about the sitting room with a teapot of steeped orange spiced tea, offering refills to each family member.
“Yes, please,” Hazel nodded. “Thank you.” She turned her attention to the project in her hands. Miss Flora and Mia had found her a set of pillowcases to embroider and had made her a sewing basket. At least now she had something to keep her hands busy.
“Yes, please and thank you,” Miss Flora nodded, holding her cup steady for Ambrosia. Hazel wondered if Miss Flora would ever marry someone. Perhaps Edward might continue to take notice of her. It wasn’t as though she was unattractive, but it seemed to her that her cousin’s companion and maid had an all business sort of demeanor. Had she truly caught Edward observing Miss Flora from time to time? Had anyone else noticed?
“I’ll have some more tea, Miss Ambrosia,” Fern chimed in from beside Miss Flora as she held out her cup. “And if you are of a mind to it, there is a plate of glazed gingerbread cookies fresh from the oven in the kitchen. You may serve those next. They’d go nicely with our tea.”
“I thought I smelled gingerbread cookies,” Ambrosia grinned. A moment later, she returned with the cookies and began offering those along with the tea.
Frankie nodded, accepting a cookie and holding out his cup when Ambrosia reached him with cookies and a full teapot. Hazel noticed he didn’t speak many words, but everyone seemed to accept it. Ambrosia refilled his cup and he returned to concentrating on the friendly game of checkers with his grandfather.
“No more tea for me.” Henry covered his cup with his hand and then jumped over three of Frankie’s checkers on the board. “Crown me, please.”
Frankie sighed and crowned the successful checker piece, shaking his head.
“I’ll have more tea.” Joshua slid his cup across the end table toward Ambrosia. “When did Aunt Prudence say she will arrive? Next week?” Hazel wondered if he was cross with her for breaking Ida Stanton’s red rose teapot. He hadn’t spoken to her much since the incident. How she longed to be dancing with Charles at a London Valentine’s Ball in February instead of stuck in Wyoming Territory.
“Yes, father,” Ambrosia answered as she poured tea into his cup and held the plate of cookies for him while he selected one. “Her letter said she should arrive on the Thursday stage as long as the good weather holds and doesn’t delay her progress from Virginia. Such a long way. She may have my old room when she arrives, may she not Mia?”
“As you wish, Ambrosia dear.” Mia smiled, accepting a cookie. “Thank you. These look delicious, Fern.”
“And my sister and her fiancé, Esther Louise and Jack Morton, are due in on the Tuesday stage the same week.” Wade scooped some ashes out of the fireplace.
“She and her fiancé are coming from Cheyenne, correct?” Mia inquired.
He nodded while adding two more logs to the fireplace. “Yes. She wants me to meet her fiancé to be sure I approve.”
Mia nodded. “Of course, she does. You’re her older brother. She may have the guest room across from Aunt Prudence, and Jack, well, he’ll have a room in the bunkhouse. My father and Alfred said they won’t mind sharing the bedroom across from us, Joshua.”
“I’ll move our things over tomorrow,” Alfred announced as he moved his bishop into position beside his queen and a knight, successfully blocking Edward’s king from any moves. “Checkmate.”
“I hate to admit it, but I think you’ve got me.” Edward paused, then sighed, and held out a hand to shake. “Excellent game, Viscount Morley.”
“Miss Cora Fox.” Mia smiled as she opened the door on the next afternoon. “How nice to see you. Please, come in out of the cold and warm by the fire.”
“Thank you, Lady Stanton.” Miss Fox entered the sitting room with her chin tilted up.
“Call me Mia. There is no need for such formalities here in Wyoming.” Mia smiled warmly and held out an arm toward the sitting room. Miss Flora brought tea for their guest, and before long, Mia, Miss Fox, Hazel, and Fern were seated around the fire, enjoying the warmth.
Miss Fox placed a basket covered with a linen cloth on a table near the seat she sat in. “These are macaroons for Wade. I baked them myself.”
“How very thoughtful of you. I’m sure he’ll enjoy this treat. What brings you to Silver Aspen on this fine January day, Miss Fox? How is your father?”
“Father is doing as best as can be expected. He doesn’t like the long winters and struggles to keep his mind occupied in this weather. I merely wanted to leave this basket with a note and the cookies for your wrangler, the new one, Wade. He offered to do some work around our claim when the weather is better, and there’s a detailed list for him contained in the letter,” Miss Fox explained before sipping the tea Mia handed her.
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to take on some extra work,” Mia replied. “He’s been saving to build an orphanage.”
“He is the most generous and caring man I know,” Miss Cora Fox gushed, then looking around at everyone, added, “besides my father, of course.”
The ladies in the room smiled and nodded, all except for Hazel. She watched Miss Fox as she chatted with everyone about the fence repairs she needed, the extra rooms Wade had said he could build so their shanty could have real bedrooms and more room for her upright piano, and the barn repairs.
It sounded as though Wade would be spending quite a bit of time with Miss Cora Fox from Hazel’s perspective. After all, she was an attractive blond lady with big blue eyes, and a bubbly, sweet-
natured personality to go with her features. Hazel wondered if Miss Fox played the piano with as much talent as her pretty looks.
“Do you think he’d like to come for Sunday dinner? Father gets so lonely during this time of year, the winter weather and all.” Miss Fox looked pointedly at Cousin Mia. Hazel wondered what her answer would be, surprised at herself for caring.
Mia smiled graciously at their guest. “I’m sure I don’t know the answer to that since his sister is coming to town soon, but we’ll be sure to pass the message along.”
“I so appreciate it, Lady...oh, I meant, Mia, I mean, Lady Stanton.” Cora sipped some of her tea. “Sorry I’m not very good with titles. In any case, I know he’s busy out there on the ranch somewhere, but I appreciate if you’d be sure he gets this basket. We had such a nice New Year’s Eve dinner together, Wade and I.”
I’m sure you did, Hazel thought to herself, oddly anxious for Miss Cora Fox to make her exit toward her neighboring home. Hazel refused to engage in the small talk and only nodded if someone looked in her direction. It was awfully convenient that Miss Fox lived on property bordering Silver Aspen and so close to Wade Jefferson. In any case, what did she care? She could hardly abide by that wrangler. He was always looking at her as if she was up to no good.
Chapter 11
* * *
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. I Thessalonians 4:8-9
The third week in January was busy for Wade as he went back and forth between Belle and Silver Aspen to greet and transport the next set of guests. Miss Esther Louise Jefferson, accompanied by her fiancé, Jack Morton, arrived on Tuesday. Two days later, Miss Prudence White arrived. She was older than Hazel had envisioned. She wore a lace cap and walked with the aid of a cane as she placed another hand on Wade’s outstretched arm. Hazel observed all from beside her cousin and family, keeping her mouth closed as much as possible to avoid getting herself into more trouble like the teapot episode.
