Return to Whittakerville

by Shirley A. Roe

  “I almost lost her Aunt Loretta. I am sorry it took me so long to come to my senses. I will take very good care of her and you and Uncle Austin can come and visit anytime you like.” Loretta told him she considered him family, although they are not related. The families grew up together. She trusted him and she knew her daughter would be safe.

  The families enjoyed the festivities. Jeremy and Martha watched their sons; now all married, with pride. “You did a wonderful job with the boys Martha, I am very proud of you. You were saddled with three stepsons, at the young age of eighteen and now look at them. Happy, successful and strong, all thanks to you.” He kissed her and she put her arms around him. If only I had done as well with our child, Jeremy. Our daughter, whose wedding we will never have the pleasure of attending.

  “I will miss Ezekiel when he returns to England. It has been nice having all of them together again, but he has been away from the school for too long.” Martha would miss her son a great deal but she knew he had to go. At least Abraham and Vivienne had decided to settle in St. Louis instead of returning to Louisiana. Thomas arrived to ask Martha to dance; she curtsied and let him lead her onto the floor. Isaac and Abraham soon joined Jeremy.

  Sissy arrived moments later. “Dance with me, Granddad.” Jeremy picked her up and danced away. The rest of the family watched and smiled. Austin stood with his arm around Loretta's shoulder; they would miss their lovely daughter very much.

  At the end of the month, after a tearful goodbye, Ezekiel and Abby took the train to Boston. From there they would board a ship to England. Loretta cried for days.

  Chapter Nine

  Mayor of Whittakerville

  “Anna, you have to realize how the whites feel about half breeds. If anyone ever found out that I was Red Fox, half-breed son of Jeb Whittaker and a Cheyenne squaw, they would probably lynch me. We have to be very careful.”

  “Jeb, you look very different than you used to. You can do this, Jeb. Sign your name and you will become a candidate in the election. We will do our best to get everyone in town to vote for you.” She brushed a speck of dust from his jacket. “In the meantime, I will dig up as much dirt on Whitehall as I can.”

  “I don't know Anna. I don't think you understand what prejudice and hate can do.” Jeb paced nervously. Too many memories haunted him. The attack on Ling Ye brought it all back to him in vivid detail.

  “My brother Abraham went to Mississippi and Louisiana to be a doctor to the blacks after the war. I have heard many stories of the cruelty of the whites. We always treated our black servants with respect and they were paid, never slaves. My family is very empathetic to all races.” She watched him pace. You don't look like a half-breed; you look white. I must convince you. “Our servants have good accommodations and good pay, you defended Ling Ye when some lunatic attacked her. Although that is something else no one should know about. You were careful?”

  “Of course, I was careful. No one saw me, you can be sure of that. Oh all right, give me the damn paper and I will sign it. I hope you know what you're doing, Anna.”

  Meantime down at the hotel, Whitehall and several of the other town council members were having a meeting. “I'm telling you, his wife picked up the application this morning. Whittaker intends to run against you Whitehall. I for one am not happy about it.” Several of the others nodded in agreement.

  “Then, we will have to make sure he meets with a terrible accident.” Mr. Whitehall was sweating profusely, he was nervous. “One of you will have to make the arrangements, I have to keep my hands clean until after the election.” He was remembering the look in Jeb's eyes the day he came for his fortune. That man is a very dangerous madman. Yes, we have to eliminate him.

  Jeb delivered the documents and went to the saloon to announce his candidacy. He was met with cheers and claps on the back. It seemed the townsfolk had been praying for someone to run against Whitehall and his hoodlums that called themselves the town council. Several men offered to buy Jeb a drink, or help in anyway with the campaign. Jeb was feeling better, for the first time in his life he felt like he was accepted, like he belonged.

  Later, after too many drinks, Jeb left the saloon. He walked toward his home at the far end of town. He was not drunk but his head was fuzzy. Little did he know he was being followed. Surprised from behind, someone hit him on the back of the head. His vision went blurry and then he blacked out. He was dragged behind the sawmill. A large wooden door slid open. The smell of rough- cut lumber filled the air. Two men bound his arms. A gag was tied around his mouth. Jeb slowly began to gain consciousness. His head throbbed. His vision was blurred. Realizing that he could not move his arms, terror began to settle in. One man left the scene leaving the other alone with a very frightened Jeb. “Goodbye Whittaker, nice knowin’ ya.” The man laughed a cruel and heartless laugh. The second man, the much larger of the two grabbed Jeb roughly. He tried to clear his muddled mind, staring at the multitude of wide round blades, covered in sharp teeth hanging on the wall. Shelves filled with oilcans, rags, and hand tools slowly came into focus. Piles of sawdust loomed on the floorboards like tiny mountains in a desert of dust. He shook his head but his vision would not clear. He was being jostled like a rag doll, by this huge man. Suddenly, Jeb found himself standing on a crate, a rope tight around his neck. He squinted his eyes tight, trying to focus. Strange thoughts filled his head. Where is everyone? Why is the sawmill empty in the middle of the day? Jeb tried to fight but his arms were tied tightly behind his back. Terror filled his every pore, sweat dripped from his face. “Why are you doing this to me?”

  “Ready to meet your maker, Whittaker?” The man spat on the dusty floor. He kicked the crate from under Jeb's feet. The rope tightened, he felt his breath leave his lungs, as his weight pulled downward. His airway was being choked off; he was dying.

  Just before blacking out, he felt someone grab his legs, lifting him in the air. The rope slackened quickly as if cut from his neck. Jeb gasped for air, he choked. Cough after cough as he pulled air into his lungs. He was placed gently on a bale of straw. Recovering, he turned to see his assailant lying on the ground. Over him stood, Chu Ying with a very large blade, dripping with blood. Jeb was never so happy to see anyone in his life. Chu Ying released Jeb's arms and removed the gag. He simply smiled, nodded his head and waited for Jeb to lead the way home.

  “Chu, I am forever in your debt. Thank you, my man, how did you know where I was?” Jeb wiped his sweating brow with his handkerchief and brushed the dust from his clothing. He gulped several large breaths of air trying to calm himself.

  “Chu Ying follow Bossman, you okay now, Bossman?” Jeb nodded and extended his hand. Chu Ying hesitated but then he reached out and shook Jeb's extended hand. Jeb looked up to see the rope swinging from the rafters, the noose was still around his neck. Slowly he lifted it over his head, dropping it on the body of his assailant.

  “This man is on the town council, and so is Mr. Dillon, the owner of this sawmill. It is funny but I wondered where everyone was. Strange things go through your mind when you are being murdered.” Chu Ying nodded. They dragged the man's body behind a large pile of logs and left it there. “Someone else can finish this job. I am sure there are enough men that knew about what was happening here today.” They walked home silently; a new bond was formed. Jeb knew that Chu Ying would watch his back and it seemed that his timing was perfect.

  “Oh my God, Jeb, they tried to kill you. This is terrible. These men are very dangerous, first they threaten Ling Ye and now this.” Anna was beside herself. “Thank God for Chu Ying, I didn't even know he was gone.” Jeb explained what happened and then told Anna that he was more determined than ever to become the mayor of Whittakerville. She saw a new determination shining in his eyes. She was very pleased. Twenty-year-old Jeb Whittaker was becoming his own man.

  Anna knew that she must not do anything to make him feel he was making a mistake, she needed him proud and determined. “Darling, we will show those horrible men. They will learn
that Jeb Whittaker is not a man to trifle with.” She kissed him but her thoughts were not of him. By this time next year, I will control this town. You my dear Jeb will be the mayor but I will pull the strings. So stay determined. Little do they know, the more they attack you, the more determined you will be. Together we will make this town ours. I will work on the women. An evil smile crossed her lips. She hugged Jeb tightly. He felt safe in her arms.

  Anna invited twenty of the most influential women of Whittakerville to tea. She fussed over the room and the food. This was very important to her plan. Anna screeched when Ling Ye knocked the vase of flowers over. Ling Ye bowed her head, becoming accustomed to the tirades of her mistress. Slowly, she bent and retrieved the vase. Anna shook her head in disgust, left Ling Ye and went to get dressed. An hour later she heard voices and decided to make her entrance. She had dressed very carefully in her new gown. Slowly she ascended the staircase, ready to meet the women that would ensure her future. As she reached the parlor, only two women were seated there. She looked anxiously around the room. The older of the two rose to greet her. “Mrs. Whittaker, how nice of you to invite us.” Anna recognized her as the old woman from the cemetery. Great, one old bat and the town spinster, where is everyone else?

  “Mrs. Mueller, how lovely of you to come. And Miss Parker, nice to see you.” Elegantly, Anna extended her hand to the two women intimating that they sit down. “Are the others coming?” She maintained her poise beautifully.

  “Actually, we are the only two. I am afraid the other's husbands forbade them to come. You will soon learn that there is a certain group of men that control this town, my dear.” Anna was fuming but the smile never left her face.

  “Miss Parker, I understand you would like to be our new school teacher.” Miss Parker fidgeted nervously. Her handkerchief twisted in her long thin fingers.

  “I am afraid, Mr. Whitehall has decided to send for someone else, Mrs. Whittaker. I am working in the general store right now.” Alice Parker's eyes never left her hands.

  “That is preposterous, I know that you were chosen from a very extensive list of applicants. Why on earth would Mr. Whitehall want someone else?”

  “Very simple, He is hiring his cousin from back east. Easier to manipulate, although what kind of threat this poor creature poses is beyond me.” Olga Mueller spoke directly to Anna, and then looked at Alice with sympathetic eyes. She reached over and patted her hand.

  The ladies were served tea and cakes and treated like aristocracy. Anna soon realized that Olga Mueller was a great source of information and not one to be pushed around. She decided to make her an ally. Where Miss Parker would fit in was still a mystery, but since they were the only two in attendance, Anna was sure to make very fast friends with them both. Anna asked Alice more details as to why she did not get the job of schoolmarm. Anna knew that the town had hired her. Alice had traveled a long way. Something didn't make sense and Anna wanted to know the details. Alice was hesitant but after a few minutes of prodding and some motherly reassurance from Olga, Alice told her story.

  “I arrived in Whittakerville filled with anticipation of a long awaited school of my own. I studied very hard and obtained excellent grades. I did teach for two years back east before I applied for this job. Mr. Whitehall met me at the train and escorted me to the hotel. The next day he appeared at my door and although I did not invite him in, he entered the room nonetheless.” She paused to catch her breath. Her handkerchief twisted violently in her hands. Anna waited while the nervous young woman sipped her tea.

  “He tried to kiss me. I pushed him away but he wanted more. He ripped my blouse and I ran from the room and hid in the broom closet.” The young woman trembled.

  “What a pig, the devil himself that man.” Anna was shocked. She patted the other woman's hand. Alice was only a few years older than Anna but appeared very innocent. It was obvious that Anna was the more mature of the two. ”Please go on, my dear.” So Mr. Whitehall, you do have secrets.

  “There really is not much more to tell. The next morning one of the town councilmen arrived and told me that the job was being given to someone else.” Alice wiped her eyes. “I spent my savings to travel to Wyoming. I didn't have any money to get back east. Olga was nice enough to offer me a job.” Olga looked from one young woman to the other. She could see that Anna was not about to let this injustice continue. A sense of respect was beginning to grow for this young impetuous woman. Olga knew just how ambitious Jeb and Anna were but perhaps they would get Whittakerville back to the lovely town it had once been.

  Later that evening, Anna paced her room like a wet hen. Jeb returned home to find her there. “What has you all upset?”

  “Upset, I am not upset. I am furious. I invited twenty women for tea today, twenty! Do you know how many showed up? Two.” She paced faster, her face set in a stubborn frown. “Our illustrious town council forbade their wives from coming. Forbade them!” Her voice rose, “Do you hear that? Unbelievable!” She was angry and Jeb knew better than to remind her that he told her she was expecting too much. He sat on the chair by the dressing table and watched her. Jeb was growing used to seeing Anna in an agitated state one-minute and sweet as pie the next. She was a paradox. “Our memorable Mr. Whitehall tried to obtain sexual favors from poor Alice Parker before he would give her the teaching job. That man is a pig. We have to do something.” After several minutes she informed him that they were going to church in the morning.

  “Church? I don't think so Anna. I am not going into that white man's church. Do you know what those missionaries did to my mother's people?” He was certainly not going to church, no matter what her reasons.

  “You listen to me. Do you want to be the mayor of Whittakerville or not?” She glared at him. “We are going, you don't have to listen to the sermon, just smile at the ladies and tip your hat. Religion is the least of my concerns but we want to appear pious. Religion worked for your father, it will work for us.” He winced at the mention of Pastor Jebediah Whittaker. “We are going.” With that she marched from the room leaving him shaking his head in frustration. He didn't like the reference to his father. Anna you are beginning to scare me. Sometimes she was so exasperating.

  The next day was a bright, sunny, Sunday. Typical for this time of year and everyone's mood was light. Anna, dressed in her finest, smiled and greeted everyone with a smile. Jeb tipped his hat and smiled right along with her. She purposely seated herself next to Mrs. Smithers, the blacksmith's wife. A tall willowy woman with graying hair, Mrs. Smithers was not included in the earlier luncheon invitation as she had been out of town. Further down the pew, sat Mrs. Bolton, the wife of one of the town councilors. After introductions were made, Anna invited the two women for lunch. Mrs. Bolton was about to decline when Anna mentioned how preposterous it was that ‘some of the town's women were being controlled by their husbands’. Anna added that such intelligent women should take pride in having their own opinions, after all Wyoming did give women the right to vote and hold very prestigious positions. Mrs. Bolton thought for a moment and then with a most determined expression, accepted the luncheon invitation.

  “Tell me Mrs. Whittaker, what are your thoughts on temperance?” Anna smiled, gathered her thoughts carefully before she replied. Realizing she was in the church and most of these women probably were in favor of temperance, Anna knew to measure her reply carefully.

  “Why as you know Susan B. Anthony was first and foremost one of the pioneers of the Temperance movement. She is truly the woman that I most respect and try to emulate. Of course, Frances Willard the leader of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union is another of my heroines.” Mrs. Bolton, surprised at the apparent knowledge of this young woman, was most impressed with the mention of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Anna had a new friend.

  Mrs. Smithers smiled over to her husband. This was a very wise young woman. She also accepted. He had discussed the Whittakers with her earlier, making note that if anyone could make changes in this t
own, it was Mr. Jeb Whittaker. She had agreed to get to know the intriguing Mrs. Whittaker better.

  After church, Mrs. Bolton was seen arguing with Mr. Bolton outside the church. Anna smiled, One down, seventeen to go. Taking Jeb's arm, she whispered, “All this talk of temperance, I could use a good stiff whiskey.” He laughed out loud as they walked down the street.

  Anna visited the school on Monday as the children were dismissed. “Do you have children, Mrs. Whittaker?” one of the mothers inquired.

  “Why no, but Jeb and I plan to have a family one day. I just love children.” Anna smiled. She was becoming a very convincing liar. She chatted with the mothers, planting the idea that Miss Alice Parker was a well-qualified teacher and should start immediately. The schoolmaster was leaving in two days. “The education of our young people is paramount in this town. I think we should all have a meeting this evening and tell the mayor we demand that Miss Parker be hired. You ladies are aware of Susan B. Anthony and the National Woman Suffrage Association. I am arranging for Mrs. Esther Hobart Morris, Wyoming's first woman Justice of the Peace and a member of the National Woman Suffrage Association to visit this town. I would be thrilled to have all of you hear her speak.” After her carefully spoken, most inspiring tirade, she had the women riled up. For someone with no children she knew exactly what to say to make these women feel that their children were being denied a good education. The women all agreed to meet that night at the school.

  Two days later, Alice Parker rang the school bell. Anna Whittaker walked her to the schoolhouse personally and smiled as the children greeted their new schoolmarm. Alice fussed and fidgeted, thanking Anna profusely. Naturally, she thought Anna did it for a sense of justice and fair play. Anna, who had her own motives, was very satisfied with the outcome. A small boy bumped into her, she shrieked. Recovering quickly, she feigned surprise, smiled, patted his head and sent him on his way. Little brat, watch where you are going. Alice watched Anna with interest, but said nothing.