A Cook for Christmas

by Teresa Ives Lilly

  She made her way down the stairs and out the front door. She was pleased to see Barkley standing beside a wagon waiting for her.

  “Good morning, Barkley.” Her eyes lowered slightly.

  “Good morning.” His eyes scanned her. “You look very nice. It’s fairly cold but I think it will warm up as we travel. I’ve got a warm brick for your feet and I brought along an extra quilt.”

  Liliana sighed. “Thank you for being so considerate. I wasn’t sure my shawl would be warm enough.”

  Barkley moved closer and placed his hand on the shawl’s fringe. “It’s lovely, but not practical. You need a winter coat. Monday morning, we’ll order you one from the catalogue. I doubt they have many coats for women in stock at the mercantile. This town hasn’t had to cater to women much before the last few years, but I did notice they’ve started to carry dresses and some jewelry.”

  Liliana hadn’t thought of a catalogue purchase. At least if she ordered it, she wouldn’t have to pay until it arrived. She might have time to save enough money. “Yes, I was able to get two dresses and a few other necessary things.” She didn’t mention the warm long johns she was using to sleep in now.

  “Ready to go?” Barkley interrupted her musings.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re sure you want to go see my claim? It isn’t much to look at and there’s only an old shanty there.”

  “Will your father be there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, I’d love to go. I’m anxious to meet him. Are you sure we shouldn’t just plan to live there once we’re married? I hate to cause any more expense than I already have.”

  Liliana noted Barkley clench his fists. “Let’s not ruin the day by discussing money. If anything costs too much, I’ll let you know.”

  Liliana bowed her head in response and allowed Barkley to lift her onto the wagon seat. She was grateful for the warm brick beneath her feet and the thick quilt wrapped around her.

  ***

  It was a pleasant drive to the claim. Liliana enjoyed the crisp air, but Barkley frowned when he noted her nose turning red. “I’m glad you found a few dresses but you need warmer clothes. The truly cold part of winter will be here before you know it.”

  Liliana huddled further down into the quilt. “I’m cozy and the hot brick is keeping my feet warm.”

  “It will be much colder when we head back later.”

  Liliana tilted her head and gave a coy smile. “I’ll just have to snuggle closer to you.” She felt her cheeks warm and tucked her head so he couldn’t see her face. It wasn’t like her to be so bold.

  Barkley snorted, but didn’t reject her words. That seemed like a good sign to her.

  ***

  Barkley enjoyed the thought her comment brought to his mind, but he shook the image away with a snort. It was his responsibility to take care of Liliana now. “Monday we order you some winter things.”

  As the horse pulled the wagon around a bend, Barkley began to pull on the reins. Liliana sat up straight, her eyes glancing from side to side. About five hundred feet ahead of them, jammed against the side of a hill, a small building stood. It wasn’t very large and looked to be in need of repairs. Any semblance of what might have at one time been a quaint, small building was gone. The whitewash was almost all chipped off and the small porch in front was crooked and had some obvious loose boards.

  When Liliana gasped, Barkley sensed her shock. “Now you understand why we can’t live here. That is the shanty I’ve spent the last several years in. My Pa’s whole focus has been on mining. As you know, the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil.” Barkley sighed heavily. “That evil overtook him about a year after we got to our claim. Finding gold is all he cares about, so don’t expect him to welcome you.”

  ***

  Liliana could not believe her eyes. The building was slanted, had several holes in the roof and was in dire need of paint. She gulped. Although he said they wouldn’t live at the shanty, she had to wonder where he expected her to live. A man who was used to this type of environment might not understand the delicate nature and needs of a woman. She tried to push those thoughts aside. She’d promised to rely on God so she focused on the lovely trees that surrounded the area.

  Barkley called out, “Whoa,” and the horses stopped. Liliana waited for him to step down and come around to her side of the wagon. When he held out his hand, she placed her trembling one in his.

  “We can turn around and go back to town,” Barkley whispered. “This isn’t the kind of place for a woman like you.”

  Liliana shook her head. “I agreed to come to Colorado and marry you. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but had this been the only home you had to offer, I would have still stayed. I’m not a frail butterfly. I want to meet my soon to be father-in-law.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Barkley’s heart filled with pride. When faced with the reality of the kind of life he’d been living and had actually almost offered her, Liliana behaved graciously.

  He patted her hand as he led her toward the shanty. He could feel her quaking. He wasn't sure if she was cold or afraid.

  “Are you very cold?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Just nervous.” Her eyes were riveted on the shanty. She wondered if the boards on the porch would even hold their weight and if the roof might cave in at a moment’s notice.

  “Nothing to be nervous about.”

  Barkley stopped outside the shanty door and knocked and at the same time called out, “Pa, you here?” When he heard the mumbled response from inside, he turned back to Liliana. “I didn’t want to bring you here. I don’t want you to think I would ever let you live in a place like this but you insisted on coming. Please, don’t expect much. My father’s whole interest is in mining, not housekeeping.”

  Liliana tried to lift her lips in a smile.

  “We’ll only stay a few minutes.” Barkley pushed open the door and led her into a dark room. The smell that assaulted her nostrils when he opened the door was horrific. Liliana’s feet didn’t want to move. She was afraid to step into the dark room that could house such a terrible odor. Lord, what have I gotten myself into?

  She moved slowly, clenching Barkley’s hand. She noticed Barkley muttering something about the smell.

  When they were in the middle of the room, they both stood still, allowing their eyes time to adjust to the dark. Liliana scanned the room, but with no windows, there was no light and she was unable to make out most of the room. The smell was much worse inside. She held her hand over her mouth and prayed she wouldn’t be ill.

  “Pa?” Barkley called again. The tone of his voice changed. He sounded concerned. A faint voice came from the back side of the building in answer.

  “I’m here, son. In the bed.”

  “Stay right here, Liliana,” Barkley insisted. He dropped her hand and moved away. She could hear him stumble a few times.

  After several minutes, Barkley reappeared with a small kerosene lamp in his hand. It was covered in soot and gave off very little light. Her eyes had adjusted somewhat so she could make out the look of concern on his face.

  “Pa’s very sick.”

  “Can we get him to a doctor?”

  Barkley shook his head. “There isn’t a real one in town. But, if I get him somewhere warm and clean, I’ll be able to nurse him. This place is too open to the weather.”

  “Of course. What can I do to help?”

  Barkley ran a hand through his hair. “Go outside and wait for me. It will only take a few minutes for me to get him into the wagon. He’s pretty thin. Looks like he’s been sick for a while.”

  “I thought you lived here with him. Wouldn’t you have noticed if he were ill?”

  Barkley didn’t answer. He’d already disappeared into the darkness again.

  Liliana moved toward the door.

  “No Son, I can’t leave. I’ve got to keep working the mine.” The man’s voice was so weak, yet insistent, almost fearful.

>   Liliana continued to move toward the door, wanting to give Barkley the privacy he needed to deal with his father. When she stepped outside, she took a huge gulp of clean air. She wondered if the stench in the shanty was what caused Barkley’s Pa to get sick, or was the smell from him being sick?

  Seconds later, Barkley swept by, carrying his father like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. He placed the man on the pile in the back of the wagon.

  Liliana rushed over, grabbed the quilt from the seat and handed it to Barkley.

  He tried to push it back. “You’ll be cold.”

  “It doesn’t matter about me. We need to keep him warm.” She glanced over the edge of the wagon and nearly gasped. The man was emaciated and silent.

  She glared at Barkley. “Your father doesn’t look like he has eaten in weeks.” Her voice was laced with accusations.

  Barkley’s shoulders dropped. “I haven’t been here in over a month.”

  Liliana could hear remorse in his voice. “I thought you lived here.”

  Barkley shook his head. “I never thought the gold fever would cause him stop eating. He’s got it bad.” Barkley moved around the wagon and lifted her up onto the seat. He then clambered up on the driver’s side, picked up the reins and gave them a snap.

  Liliana waited for further explanations about why his father had been in the shanty alone for over a month, but Barkley was silent all the way to town.

  ***

  Barkley pushed the horse as fast as he dared. He could feel Liliana’s curious gaze, but he didn’t want to face her. He’d hoped she would believe he lived in the shanty with his father, but now she was aware he didn’t. He was going to have to explain things to her sooner than he wanted.

  He tried to come up with a plausible solution to tell her. Just for a while longer, until she got to know him better. He was so afraid once she knew about his money, everything would change and she would grasp onto him for the sake of the gold.

  Several scenarios ran through his mind and he finally lit on the one he felt he could speak, without actually telling a lie.

  “Liliana, I should have told you right off that I didn’t live with Pa anymore. His obsession with gold grew overbearing, I didn’t feel safe around him. He thought I was stealing nuggets from him. So, I took rooms over the Eating House. I wanted it to be a surprise for you, after we were married. But now that Pa is sick…”

  Liliana seemed mollified. “I’m sorry that surprise had to be ruined, but I’m glad to know where we’ll be living. It’s been a bit of a worry for me. Is that where we’ll take him?” Her head nodded in the direction of the old man in the wagon.

  “Yes. The room above the kitchen of the Eating House is the warmest place in town. It will be good for him. I can keep a close eye on him then.”

  When they reached the Eatery, Barkley stopped the wagon and hopped down.

  Liliana didn’t wait for his hand, but clambered off the side of the wagon and shouted, “If you can get him up the stairs, I’ll run into the Eating House and heat up some soup. It won’t take long. Do you think he’s well enough to eat anything more than that?”

  “If he responds well to the soup, we can try some bread later.”

  Liliana stood beside the wagon and watched Barkley lift the thin man over his shoulder again. He turned and moved toward the back of the building. She’d seen the stairs back there, and had briefly wondered about the rooms above the Eating House, but now wasn’t the time for that, she needed to get some hot food for the man.

  “I’ll bring up the soup as soon as it’s ready.” She made her way to the Eatery door.

  She glanced back once as Barkley began his assent of the stairs. His eyes met hers. “Thank you. I’m sorry.”

  She waved her hand dismissively. “There’s no need. I’m sorry your father is so sick. We’ll get him well.”

  Barkley climbed the stairs slowly. His father moaned and jabbered incoherently with each step. Barkley could feel the heat radiating from the man’s body. Barkley had seen many miners come down with fever before. Not many survived.

  Lord, he’s in Your hands now. Only You can heal him in body and in mind.

  CHAPTER 11

  The next few days kept Barkley and Liliana busy. She worked all day in the Eating House and Barkley cared for his father. Whenever she could steal a few moments, she carried a bowl of soup or porridge up to tempt the older man with. It was slowly beginning to help.

  When he became aware of his surroundings, Barkley almost had to tie him down. His eyes grew frantic searching the room for an escape. Barkley knew it was the gold, not the fever that caused this behavior. But after Liliana stopped by and spoon fed him a bowl of broth one morning, the man calmed down and grew content.

  After that, his eyes often sought the door, hoping to see Liliana.

  What Lilianna knew as Thanksgiving had come and gone without any ceremony or family gathering. She spent her days cooking in the Eatery and caring for Barkley’s father. Finally, on December first, the old man was able to sit up. Although his hands shook, Liliana exclaimed with happiness when he held his own utensil and lifted a spoonful of eggs to his mouth.

  “I’m so happy to see you eating on your own. I just know you will grow strong quickly. You should be quite well by Christmas.”

  Up until this day, he hadn't spoken a word. But after several hearty bites of food, he turned curiously toward her.

  “Who are you, girl?”

  “I’m Liliana Riggs. I’m your son’s mail order bride.”

  The man cocked his head. “Mail order bride?”

  “Surely Barkley told you about me, Mr. Maynard?”

  “Perhaps, but I can’t seem to recollect anything. Just call me Ron. My given name is Ronald Maynard, but I prefer Ron.”

  “Alright, Ron. Barkley and I began corresponding with one another and after a time, he sent a proposal.”

  “A what?”

  “A marriage proposal.”

  Ron pushed up straight. “That doesn’t sound fittin’. A woman needs to be courted.”

  Liliana pushed back a loose strand of hair which had come loose from the braid wrapped around her head.. “There wasn’t time to worry about that. My Grandmother died, leaving me without a home or job. Barkley’s proposal came at the most opportune time. I took it as a Godsend.”

  “Humph. Don’t see what God has to do with that.”

  Liliana reached over and took the bowl and spoon off Ron’s lap and looked at his bearded face. Today she would suggest Barkley help his father shave.

  “God loves me. Just when I needed a new place to live, He sent the proposal from Barkley. It was a true comfort to me, knowing I had a place to come to, a job, and a future.”

  She left the man sleeping comfortably. He no longer had a fever, so now it was only a matter of getting enough food in him to make him healthy again. However, she worried about the gold fever taking over.

  The next day, after she’d given Ron a hearty stew, he placed the spoon down and glared at her. “Why have you been taking care of me? You don't even know me.”

  “God tells me to. He tells us that He will comfort us during our times of affliction so we may be able to comfort others in theirs.”

  Ron crossed his arms over his chest. “I'd have to see that in the Bible to believe it.”

  Liliana moved across the room and lifted Barkley's Bible off a small table. She leafed through and with a nod, carried it to Ron.

  “Here it is in Second Corinthians, Chapter One, verses three to five.”

  Ron leaned close and read the words out loud. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

  The man gulped and his eyes grew large in awe.

  “W'al, I'll be. It does say that. It's been some time since I've read the Bible.” He set t
he Bible next to him on the bedside table, slipped down in the bed and turned his head toward the wall.

  Liliana tucked a blanket around him and whispered, “It's never too late to start reading the Bible again. God has so much to share with you.”

  He was silent for a few moments and she wondered if she’d overstepped her bounds. The last thing she wanted to do was alienate herself from Barkley’s father. But, then his voice mumbled out.

  “I don't see how He could. I've had my mind on nothing but gold for so long. I haven't been living the way I promised Barkley's ma I would. The way God would want.”

  “He'll forgive you.” Liliana whispered then slipped from the room.

  ***

  A tear slipped from Ron's eye. He squeezed them shut and lay very still until Liliana left the room. Then slowly, he turned over, reached for the Bible and pulled it close to search for the Comforter.

  ***

  Later that evening, Barkley sat beside the bed. He no longer felt anxious about his father's health, but he feared for the man's mental state.

  “Pa, why don't you plan to stay here for a while? There’s plenty of room.”

  “No, I don't think I can do that, son.”

  Barkley's face grew pale. “Pa, please don’t go back to mining. We have enough gold to last a lifetime.”

  “Yes, I know. I don’t plan to go back. I’ll hire a few workers to continue mining for us. I have plans for some of that money, but I’ll not tempt myself any longer.”

  Relief flooded Barkley's heart. He reached out and squeezed his father's hand. “I'm glad. What brought on this change and what plans do you have for the money?”

  The man pushed up straight, a glow of true humility on his face. “I plan to become a comforter.”

  “A comforter?” Barkley's brows lifted.

  “Yes.” He opened the Bible and pointed at the verse Liliana had shared with him earlier. “God sent you and Liliana to care for and comfort me and now I believe He wants me to be a comforter to others. There are many men who live alone, like I did. They need some of the basic comforts provided for them, to remind them of life before mining, before the love of money. I want to be the one to share these things with them and tell them about God.”