Eleanor

by Rachel Wesson

  The priest shouting was such an unusual event Bertram did what he was told. Rosa started to cry along with some other young children. Eleanor knew she should stay and help but she couldn’t. She was too distressed as well. She pushed past the children and ran outside.

  Chapter 32

  Sometime later, Eleanor heard someone knocking at the door to the boarding house. Wiping her eyes, she was tempted to ignore it. She couldn’t do anything about the redness of her face. One look and they would know she’d been weeping.

  The knocking continued as Father Molloy called out her name.

  She went downstairs quickly and opened the door, admitting Father Molloy and Wilma. She immediately looked at the woman and saw her eyes filled with questions and concern. What had Father Molloy told her?

  “Wilma insisted on coming with me to check on you. She thought you might need a woman’s ear. And she brought cookies.”

  She had to invite them in for coffee. To do otherwise would be extremely rude.

  “Thank you very much for coming. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Martha Sullivan isn’t here but I can make some coffee.”

  “I can make the coffee, you find a plate for these and some cups.” Wilma thrust the basket into her hand and headed toward the kitchen. She obviously knew her way around. Father Molloy gave her a gentle smile before following Wilma and leaving her standing in the hall. Taking a deep breath, she hoped she had the strength to explain her reaction to Bertram Shaw in a believable fashion.

  Soon they were all seated enjoying a lovely cup of coffee and cookies which tasted as good as they smelled.

  “I am sorry I was ill when you first came to Clover Springs, Miss Templeton. With my subsequent trip to Denver, I have been neglectful of my duties.”

  Eleanor raised an eyebrow not understanding what Wilma had to do with a new school teacher.

  “Wilma usually makes it a point to get to know all newcomers to Clover Springs,” Father Molloy elaborated.

  “Don’t apologize. Everyone has been lovely to me. It’s a very nice town.”

  “It is but it would be nicer if some who lived here, moved elsewhere,” Wilma retorted.

  Eleanor hid a smile as Father Molloy gently reprimanded Wilma.

  “Now, Wilma, don’t start. Miss Templeton isn’t interested in gossip.”

  Eleanor exchanged a quick look with Wilma and then had to look down at her lap for fear of laughing. Like most women, she enjoyed a chat about the people in any town. Not in a nasty way but as a means of getting to know people. But she wasn’t about to dim Father Molloy’s high opinion of her.

  “I am very sorry for not staying around today after Bertram’s outburst. I behaved badly and I will apologize to the class tomorrow.”

  “You absolutely will not. What you said had to be said. Pity you didn’t have his mother there too. I have no idea how to change that woman’s mind,” Father Molloy said, defeat evident in his tone.

  “Some people is never going to listen to nobody. They believe they is better because their skin is white. It’s the same everywhere. I guess it’s that way in England too isn’t it, Miss Templeton?”

  “Please call me Eleanor,” Eleanor said in a bid to buy herself some time to answer the question properly. She saw the speculative light in Father Molloy’s eyes. He was waiting for her to admit the truth but she wasn’t quite ready to do that yet.

  “We don’t have as much of a problem as you seem to have here simply because there aren’t that many non-white people,” Eleanor hedged catching the gleam in the priest’s eyes. “There is a rigid class system which is something similar. There are those who condemn anyone who is poor as being lazy or a drinker or a woman of loose morals. From what I have seen, it is very easy to make disparaging comments about those less well-off than yourself. Most of my friends were born into wealth so they wouldn’t know how to do a day’s work if it was needed.” Eleanor blushed as she admitted, “Gary Barret had to save this house from being burnt down. I tried to cook and well, let’s just say, it didn’t go very well.”

  “Oh, Martha is out of town, isn’t she?”

  “She left again last night. The first time she had to go because the children weren’t well but now her daughter Elizabeth is sick. It must be a challenge to be sick and pregnant never mind have young children to mind too.”

  “You poor girl trying to cook for yourself in a strange kitchen. You should come to the orphanage for your meals at least until Martha comes back. Isn’t that right, Wilma?”

  “Yes, of course, it is fine for you to invite people to my kitchen for me to cook for? Don’t I have enough to do without inviting every waif and stray to dinner?” Wilma protested but she winked at Eleanor over the priest’s head to show her she was joking.

  “Wilma, I told you we had to be nice to Miss Templeton.”

  “Why? Looks like she is capable of looking after herself. That’s true, ain’t it?”

  “Father Molloy, I think Wilma is teasing you. I would love to come to dinner some days if that was all right. I am getting fed up of bacon and eggs which is about all I could master.”

  “That’s settled then. You will have to excuse me ladies, I have a sermon to write and a visit with Mrs. Shaw.”

  “Good luck with that, Father. I don’t envy you not one little bit.”

  Father Molloy ignored Wilma. “Miss Templeton, would you like to come and see Mrs. Shaw with me?”

  “I don’t think so, Father, I am so annoyed I could say anything and make the situation worse.”

  “Yes, well, maybe that wouldn’t be a good idea. I will take my leave. Good evening, ladies.”

  Eleanor showed Father Molloy to the door as Wilma sat firmly in her seat. Eleanor tried to calm her beating heart as she returned to the kitchen to talk to Wilma. She sensed the woman wasn’t just staying on for some chit chat.

  Chapter 33

  Wilma waited until the new teacher came back from showing Father Molloy out. She sensed there was something troubling the young girl and she wanted to help if she could. She did feel bad for not being around when she’d first arrived in town. Even if Eleanor didn’t know about how she had berated Father Molloy for bringing yet another needy person to her door, her unkindness still made her feel guilty.

  “Take a seat please, Miss Templeton. I don’t need any more coffee. I have to rest on doctor’s orders. Have you met our Doc Erin yet?”

  “Only briefly. She was heading to New York with another lady and her family.”

  “Miss Alicia. She will be a good friend to you when she gets back. She understands what it is like to come from a rich family and settle here in Clover Springs.”

  “I like living here. I meant it when I said the people were kind.”

  “They are. But you are hiding something from us, aren’t you? Father Molloy told me your father died and then your family asked you to leave. Can you tell me why?”

  She saw Eleanor was taken aback by her directness. She leaned over to take the girl’s hand in hers. “I is not trying to pry in your business and I certainly wouldn’t say anything to nobody. I just get the feelin' you is struggling with something. You can’t shock me. I just about heard everything there is to hear.”

  She stroked Eleanor’s hand gently as she saw the disbelief in the girl’s eyes.

  “I used to work in a house of ill repute. Have you been told that? Never mind answering, your look of shock speaks volumes.” Wilma laughed. “It’s true.”

  “You did? You have lived an interesting life.”

  Eleanor’s choice of words made Wilma smile. She had been well brought up. Only educated people would use interesting to describe living in a brothel.

  “If you only knew. We all got secrets, girl, some prettier than others. But I learned something over my last week in Denver. You can’t keep them to yourself. They got a way of twisting up your insides so you turn to jelly.”

  “I guess you’re right but…well, the last time someone found out my secret, I lost my home and
family overnight. I don’t think I could bear that to happen again.” Eleanor’s voice caught as she attempted to hide her distress.

  Wilma pulled her into her arms and let her cry on her shoulder. God love her, she could only be about twenty and yet she was carrying the world on her shoulders.

  “You listen to me and you listen good. You don’t need to tell me nothing. Or you can tell me everything. Either way, I am your friend and that is never going to change.”

  Eleanor hiccupped before reaching for a hanky.

  “The people of Clover Springs, most of them, will behave just like I do. Not that I am suggesting for a minute you tell everyone. That’s none of their business. But you can trust people like Martha Sullivan and any of her family, Mrs. Grey—she isn’t half as scary as she tries to make out. My darling Laura is another good soul. Oh, there are so many to mention.” Wilma pushed the chair back as she stood up. “Don’t take too long though. Although I applaud everything you said today to Bertram, and I am very grateful for your support, fact is, he is a child and he is repeating the rubbish his mother spouts. If you want to change him, you got to start with her.”

  “I know I behaved badly, lashing out at the child like that. I must apologize tomorrow.”

  “You will do no such thing,” Wilma said vehemently. “Normally, I am in favor of an adult admitting a mistake. It shows children we are human too. But in this case, you would be admitting a weakness. Bertram Shaw will be a little intimidated by you for a while. That is a good thing.”

  “Thank you, Wilma, when I feel ready to talk, I will, but for the moment, I need time to work through it myself.”

  “You look after yourself, young lady, and remember you is never alone. You come up to the orphanage for your dinner any time you like.”

  Wilma engulfed Eleanor in a warm hug. She stood there, her hands by her side as the older woman squeezed her tight. Hugs weren’t at all a thing in England not even for little children. She couldn’t remember anyone ever hugging her before. It was different but in a nice way.

  Wilma left quietly shutting the door behind her. Eleanor decided to go to bed, although it was relatively early. Today had been draining. She needed her strength to face Bertram Shaw tomorrow.

  Chapter 34

  The next few days passed without incident. Nothing was said of her comments to Bertram and the boy behaved himself. Well, as much as it was possible for a boy like him to do. Eleanor tried different ways to draw out the nicer side of the child but she couldn’t find anything to work with. She met Mrs. Shaw once at the store. The woman had been hostile and would have snubbed her completely if she hadn’t insisted on greeting Bertram first and then his mother. The poor boy didn’t stand a chance with a mother like Mrs. Shaw.

  She looked up at that moment to catch Gary watching her closely. He’d come down to the school with Laura’s husband. Laura had introduced Eleanor to Paul Kelley, her husband. Gary had suggested they take advantage of his presence to head home early. School was nearly over and he would help to clear up.

  Eleanor was about to protest when she saw Laura and Paul exchange a loving glance. So she insisted they go despite being wary of being alone with Gary. Not that they were alone given the number of children in school.

  “Today was fun,” Gary said as they tidied up the school house.

  “It was but you honestly didn’t need to stay. What about your own business?”

  “I’m sure nobody but Murph missed me. Most cowboys wait until much later to start drinking,” Gary explained, lifting some books and placing them back on the correct shelves.

  “Who is Murph? Is that your cat?”

  Gary laughed making Eleanor smile too. The beauty of her smile made him stop and stare at her. Before he could change his mind, he leaned in slowly allowing her time to withdraw before he gently brushed his lips against hers. She didn’t move closer but at least she didn’t push him away either. He took the book she was holding and put it down on the shelf beside him, then he drew her closer, not breaking eye contact. Her eyes widened as he leaned closer.

  “I am going to kiss you again,” he whispered softly, this time his lips grazing hers more firmly. She held herself rigid but he put his hands on her waist and drew her closer to him. She sighed, the sound thrilling him. He kissed her gently all over her face before moving back to her lips. They were just as soft as he expected them to be. This time, she moved closer to him, putting her arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss between them.

  She was the one to break their connection, removing her arms and pushing him away.

  “Sorry, someone may come in. I could lose my position.” Her rapid breathing made her voice all husky.

  He had to restrain the urge to take her back into his arms and show her just how much he wanted her.

  “I am not sorry. I liked kissing you. I’ve wanted to do that from the first day we met.”

  “It was nice.”

  He moved toward her. “Nice?”

  He could see she was flustered and for some reason he was thrilled. She wasn’t immune to him despite playing the cold-blooded English miss.

  “How nice?” he whispered, his lips almost at her ear.

  “Lovely…but you have to stop now,” she squeaked as he kissed her ear lobe. He could see her pulse beating quicker as he kissed her neck. She shivered and moaned, the sound nearly making him burst.

  “Mr. Barrett, please stop,” she murmured.

  “I will if you really want me to, but I don’t think you do. Do you?”

  He nearly missed the small shake of her head. Smiling at her, he moved to her mouth and explored it once more. Then he cradled her to him.

  “I want to spend all night kissing you, Eleanor.”

  She looked at him with such a wistful look on her face, his restraint nearly broke. He set her free, moving slowly away from her.

  “We must think of your reputation. As we both know, gossip spreads like wildfire in this town.”

  She nodded but looked lost. He winked at her. “How about I walk you home? Mrs. Sullivan hasn’t come back yet, has she?”

  She stared at him.

  “I will only walk you to the door. I assure you, my intentions are honorable. I won’t do anything to make you the subject of gossip. I care too much for you to do that.”

  She smiled once more taking his breath away. “I think we are finished in here. Let’s take that walk.”

  As they walked, he told her about his life story including moving to the USA from Britain as well as the recent problems with Dickinson.

  “Oh, those poor girls. I can’t imagine anyone being forced to work in a house of ill repute.”

  Eleanor’s comment made Gary realize just how sheltered an upbringing she must have had. Surely, she didn’t think girls grew up wanting to work as women of the night.

  “According to the girls I have spoken to, most of them start that way. Then their families, hearing about how they have been living, don’t want to know them. So they have no way out.”

  “Families can be so cruel,” Eleanor said, her face a mask of sadness.

  He wanted to hug her and tell her it would all be fine but he couldn’t. They were in the middle of the street, but also, he didn’t know if she would ever resolve things with her family.

  They walked on in silence for a few minutes.

  “You are the first one who hasn’t asked me why I left England and came here,” Eleanor said, a questioning look in her eyes. “The others weren’t being nasty but I guess they were curious. You must be as well.”

  “I am but I figure you will tell me what I need to know when the time is right.”

  What did he mean by that? Had he seen the papers? No, if the news had reached Clover Springs, everyone would be talking about her.

  “What? Why are you screwing up your face?” he asked smiling, but his eyes were wary.

  “I just wondered what you meant when you said need to know.”

  “Well, if you ran away because yo
u committed a murder, I guess you should tell me. Or if you followed a lover?”

  Her cheeks warmed up at what he said. She’d never had a lover as he put it. Some of the young men she had grown up with flirted with her and asked her to dance but there had been no one serious.

  “It wasn’t for either of those reasons,” she reassured him.

  “Then, Eleanor, I don’t care why you came to be in Clover Springs, I am just very glad you did.”

  He surprised her by lifting her hand and kissing it. Only then did she realize they had arrived at the boarding house.

  “I would offer you coffee but I…” What could she say? She didn’t trust herself to be alone with him. She wanted him to kiss her again? She couldn’t admit to those things.

  “There you are. I thought you had got lost. Oh, hello, Gary, didn’t see you there. Would you like to come in?”

  “No thank you, Mrs. Sullivan. I have to get back to work, to my real job.”

  Martha looked confused.

  “Gary, I mean Mr. Barrett, helped me at the school as Laura went home early with her husband who happened to be in town. I wouldn’t have managed without him.”

  “I hope you enjoyed it, Gary. Makes a change from the saloon.”

  “It did and it didn’t. Some of my customers behave little better than children at times. Good day, Mrs. Sullivan and Miss Templeton. See you soon.”

  She stared at his retreating figure.

  “Come inside, dear, and tell me all about it. You can’t stand on the street looking like a lovesick young puppy. The gossips will love that.”

  Eleanor opened her mouth and shut it again as she realized Martha was teasing her. She went inside shutting the door, thankful her landlady was home.

  Martha had baked a pie as a treat. “Thank you for keeping the place so well. You shouldn’t have worked so hard.”