by Natalie Dean
"My friend, Elsie, in the house next door will receive the letters in her name. I wanted to tell you, M'lady. But I so want to walk out of the house without any notice, especially as I'll never need a reference. I want to annoy Jenkins."
Cecilia couldn't help but chuckle at Alice's bravery.
"So, Alice, where shall I go? Look, a man in Bannack, Montana sounds promising. There's a gold rush there. I read that in the newspaper." They read the advertisement together.
Wife needed as soon as possible. Prospector has struck it rich and is in need of a God-fearing wife to help him with his new ranch. No children and must never have been married. Must be practical and attractive. Send replies to John Aikens, Western Union Office, Bannack, Montana.
"Well, what do you think, Alice? I'm practical and attractive. What should we write in response?"
Alice crafted a reply for her and went to the Western Union office to send it right away.
"Dear Mr. Aikens,
I am a very practical woman and am told that I am attractive. I am eighteen years old and have been in service for ten years. I am looking for a chance to leave this city.
My master is a cruel man so please send replies to Elsie…
Alice finished it off with Elsie's contact details.
Cecilia had returned home and bumped into her father on the stairway.
"The walk did you a power of good. Your cheeks are glowing. I do believe Tobias Lansing will be very pleased."
"Yes, father," she said as she ran up the stairs to Moll's room, only to find it empty.
She turned on her heel to find her father and Jenkins behind her.
"That's right, you missed the news. Mary has left the household to be with her intended. They will marry in a few days under a special license. You will not see her again. I'm afraid her influence has been unsettling for you."
The two men left Cecilia standing there. She then ran into her sister's room. If Cecilia had looked at them, she'd have seen Jenkins pass a note to her father. It was addressed to Cecilia.
"Moll, how could you leave me?" Cecilia cried. Her sister was gone. Cecilia searched the room, but there was no note. It seemed improbable that Moll would leave her without writing something to her.
Dinner was horrendous. Tobias Lansing was old and lecherous. Her father encouraged them to go for a walk in the moonlight. The old man tried to take advantage as he grabbed Cecilia and tried to kiss her. She pushed him away, saying he would have to wait until they were married.
"But we are as good as married," he said as produced a ring and shoved it on her finger.
"I disagree. In God's eyes, we are not married."
The trouble was that her coyness was driving the old man wild with desire. But Cecilia managed to get them back inside the house, where he finally stopped pestering her. She prayed the Lord would send her a response from this John Aikens. She had a fear that her intended had no intention of waiting two months for his prize.
Cecilia had never feigned more headaches than she did over the next few days. She couldn't be alone with Tobias Lansing. Was any letter ever going to arrive from Bannack?
"M'lady, I have your breakfast," Alice entered the room and set the tray to one side. She reached into her pocket and gave Cecilia a telegram. They had to be quiet as Alice was sure Jenkins had followed her and was no doubt listening.
"Look, Alice. He wants to know what skills I bring and if I am of independent means. Reply and say I received a small inheritance from my mistress, but my master is very difficult. Alice, tell him what you do. I do hate to lie, but it seems I have no other option. I'm not sure if Father is going to bring this sham of a marriage forward to a sooner date. I need to be gone as soon as possible."
Alice left as her mistress contemplated the new world that awaited her. Cecilia looked in her jewelry box. She would need to sell some pieces, and she wanted to give Alice a token of her affections. These pieces should fetch a good amount of money but how would she get them to the pawn shop. If Alice took them, she'd either be accused of theft or not get the value of the items. A solution would present itself, Cecilia was sure.
Cecilia heard a voice behind her. She was startled by the sound. Her mother stood before her.
"Cecilia, you must leave this house. Don't let your father destroy you as he has done with me and Mary and her mother. Here is enough money to give a new life. I should have done more, been more for you and Mary but …" her mother began to cry.
"Mother, I know Father is cruel. I understand more than you know. Much of it learned in the last few days. You must keep your money and find a new life for yourself." But she knew that wasn't possible for her mother who put the box into Cecilia's hands.
"It's too late for me. You go, and it's best if I know nothing about your plans. That way he cannot get it out of me. I have prayed for the Lord to spare you. I am glad you have been strong. That was Mary's doing, not mine. Leave in the night if you must but go soon."
Cecilia turned to put the box on her dressing table but when she turned around her mother was gone. It had been the most communication they’d had in all her life. She opened the box to find thousands of dollars in it. Her mother must have been hoarding money for years. She had the means to fund her new life and for Alice to have a healthy dowry too.
Chapter 2
John Aikens was very pleased with himself. This woman sounded promising. She had money. While he had made some money in the gold rush, it wasn't as much as he implied. But it had been enough to buy some land and cattle.
"John, are you ready?" John's friend, Hamish McLennon called out. John shoved the telegrams under his bed.
"Okay, Doc, I'm coming. I wonder if you'll have any patients today."
John and the Doc had come to Bannack together. While John had found gold, the Doc had sold gold digging equipment to the prospectors. John was helping him build a house which would serve as a surgery. Every day, more and more people were coming into Bannack. It was booming.
"What has you so happy?" the Doc asked.
"I'm getting married, Doc."
"Where did you find a woman?" the Doc asked, surprised this was the first he heard of it.
"I put an advertisement in the paper. I'm asking her to come out here. She's young and should be strong."
The Doc wanted to be pleased for his friend.
"Are you sure? You know my diagnosis," and as if on cue to remind John, he started to wheeze. His lungs were on fire as he tried to regain his breath.
"That's why I need a woman. It'll cost too much to hire help. And this is my dream. To have my own place, with a family on the horizon. It's almost real. All that's missing is a good woman. I'm sending for her, Doc. Today, I'm sending the telegram telling her to come now," John sounded so happy.
"But what do you know about her? Why not write to her some more?" was the Doc's suggestion.
"No, Doc, I know you mean well, but if as you say, time's not on my side, then I've gotta get things moving. I want a son who'll inherit this place. I want a family."
John stayed quiet. He didn't know how much time he had left although who knew how long they were meant for this world. He had come to America for a second chance. All those years working in the mines in England had taken their toll on his health. He needed some fresh air. He didn't expect anyone to understand. But it made sense to him. And John didn't need to explain himself to anyone.
Bannack was his home now. He wanted his life to mean something. Otherwise, he'd have kept prospecting, but he was putting down roots here. His new wife didn't need to know anything about his health.
"You promise Doc not to say anything. She's not to know," he said as they hitched their horses to the post outside the Western Union office.
"Not one word, I promise, John. I'm happy for you. I only hope she's a good one and not some gold-digger who will make your life a misery. You deserve a good woman, and I hope she's that."
But little did Doc know that the woman who would soon be on her way to
Bannack was very well known to him.
"M'lady, there's a telegram," Alice said excitedly as she rushed into Cecilia's room. Cecilia's plan was to leave as soon as possible whether or not John proposed. She had to get out of here, and now that she could see that Alice was taken care of, they would both leave. Cecilia's hands shook as she ripped the envelope open.
Dear Miss Cecilia,
Please come to Bannack. I am wiring your fare with this telegram. We will marry when you arrive.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. John Aikens.
"Oh Alice, the good Lord has answered our prayers. We must plan to leave immediately after dinner. Will you arrange a cab for me, for about 9 am in the morning? Make sure he parks around the corner. We mustn't be found out. And then you must go to a hotel until you can leave for Wyoming. You mustn't come back here. Do you hear me? I fear you'll never leave the house if you do. They will make you pay for my leaving otherwise. I'll take a small bag. There is no point in being burdened with clothing that may not be of use to me in the country."
Cecilia hugged Alice. This was the end of both their lives in the city. Cecilia hoped she could get through the evening without any hitches. As Alice left, Cecilia prayed with gratitude. Things were working out for her. Her fiancé was joining them for dinner.
She could hear her father and fiancé laughing, and as she walked down the stairs, she paused. Cecilia didn't like the conspiratorial tone she heard as they spoke. While she couldn't hear their exact words, she had a sensation that something bad for her was to happen. All she prayed for was the chance to able to leave in the morning and that nothing would disrupt her plan.
As soon as she walked into the drawing room, Cecilia's heart sank. There was a minister talking to her father and Tobias. There were no formalities.
"Ah, here is the blushing bride now. Cecilia, we have a surprise. We are bringing the wedding forward. Tobias has business that requires him to go to Canada, and he doesn't wish to postpone your wedding. You will wed this evening after dinner."
Cecilia had to gather herself. If she refused, she'd be punished. She had to get out of here now. But if her father sensed any hesitation then he'd ensure she'd be kept under a watchful eye. Cecilia had to think on her feet.
"As you wish father. Please forgive my shock. If you could allow me some time to dress more appropriately. This dress isn't what I expected to wear for my wedding."
Her response seemed to suit the men, and her father waved his hand at her. She was dismissed.
"Jenkins, send Alice to my room. I need her help in preparing for my wedding," she said as he closed the doors behind her. He bowed as she ran up the stairs.
Cecilia's mind raced. Where was a respectable young woman to go at this time of night? She couldn't prevail upon her friends as her father would no doubt send Jenkins to find her.
"Dear Lord, I implore you to help me. Please, I'm so close to getting out of here. Can you in your infinite wisdom help me?"
She felt so guilty for praying every time she needed help. Alice rushed into her room.
"M'lady, what will you do?"
"Alice, is there any place I can go that will give me shelter? I need to leave here now, and you must come with me too."
"We can go to the orphanage where I grew up. They will shelter us but, M'lady…"
"What is it, Alice? We don't have much time," Cecilia was impatient.
"You will have to give them money for your sanctuary."
Cecilia felt relieved. Money, she had plenty of that. Her father would never think of the convent. As Jenkins busied himself with dinner, Cecilia and Alice snuck out of the house forever.
The next few days were spent traveling to Bannack, Montana. Now she was on the last leg of her journey. Alice had been a Godsend, and the nuns had taken care of them in their hour of need. It was only now that Cecilia could breathe. At every change of station, she kept looking over her shoulder. She was afraid she would be recognized but now sitting in the stage coach, Cecilia felt she was finally free. Alice had promised to wire John Aikens of her arrival.
John Aikens. Cecilia had given him little thought. He had been a means of escape. It was strange to think that she would be married soon to a man she never met. At the back of her mind, Cecilia's plan was to refuse to go through with the marriage. She would pay for his inconvenience and start the new life she wanted for herself. There was no way she would let a man control her again. But what if father shows up, he'll have the right to drag her back home. Cecilia would have to marry to stay in this new world. She hoped it was going to live up to her expectations.
Despite the heat and the dirt, Cecilia was the happiest she had been in a long while. She prayed that Moll and Alice were safe and out of harm's reach. The coach began to slow down. The shotgun rider yelled out that Bannack was next. Cecilia's heart began to race. She was about to meet John Aikens.
As the stage came into view, John patted down his hair. He held his hat in his hand and nervously wiped his boots spotless. He wanted to look presentable to his wife. So many of the men didn't bother bathing, but that wasn't John's way. Cecilia, as a maid in a big house, would expect men to be clean. He wanted to make a good impression. The Doc had offered to wait with him, but John was too nervous. Besides, this was his moment. He needed to greet his bride alone. They would make their way to the preacher and call on the Doc on their way there. John's heart was beating out of his chest, and he cleared his throat anxiously as the stage halted in front of him.
John stood back, to allow the passengers off. He looked past the stunning woman who was alighting from the carriage.
"Ma'am, is there anyone else?" he asked the woman. She looked behind and shook her head. She watched at how disappointed he looked. Cecilia saw how nervous he was. Was this her intended?
"Excuse me, I'm Miss Cecilia Sanders. I'm here to meet John Aikens," she said as John looked her up and down.
"Well, I'm… I mean, I'm John Aikens, Miss. Excuse me there must be some mistake. You cannot possibly be Cecilia. You look…" John didn't know what to say.
"Apologies for the subterfuge, Mr. Aikens. I am Miss Sanders. The master in my letters is my father. I have money, and I'm willing to learn how to look after a house."
John scratched his head. She looked so elegant and unused to domestic labor let alone any physical work. What good was she going to be, he wondered. His health wasn't good, and two delicate people couldn't run a ranch. He didn't know what to do.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sanders. I don't know what to do. I want to help you but …" John said. He was so conflicted. He had heard of women fleeing bad situations but a fancy lady from a fancy house, he wasn't sure how to process this.
There was something about John that warmed Cecilia's heart. She had mentioned having money, but he hadn’t paid much heed to that. He was showing concern about her ability to work the land which she thought was admirable. For the first time in her life, he didn't see her beauty and want to own it. Her beauty and delicate features were a disadvantage.
"Is there somewhere we could go and talk?" she asked. John looked like he needed some time.
"Yes, we'll go to Doc's house. I'm sorry, Miss Sanders, I was all set for us to marry. But I'm not so sure. It isn't you. The ranch requires a lot of physical work, and that's why I sent for a wife, to help me."
"I understand. But I am stronger than I look."
John took her bag, and they walked towards Doc's home. She was very attractive, but she was used to the finer things in life. John wasn't sure she would suit the life he was offering. Although he was surprised at her one little bag, it seemed to constitute the total of her possessions. Perhaps he should give her more credit he told himself as he knocked on Doc's door.
"Come in," the Doc called out, and Cecilia thought the voice sounded vaguely familiar. She didn't want to see someone she knew. Her father would find out. She dismissed the thought as John led her through to the surgery.
"Doc, this is …." But before John cou
ld finish the Doc said, "Cecilia, is that you?"
John's heart dropped. How did the Doc know this woman? The Doc was handsome, and there was no way John could marry a woman that Doc had been involved with. It must be some mistake, but John watched as Cecilia smiled and extended a hand to Doc.
"Hamish, it's been too long. Fancy running into each other here?" Cecilia said as she smiled back at John, but his horrified look made her take a step back.
"You know each other? How?" John stuttered. The Doc and Cecilia began to laugh.
"Oh, poor John, let me explain. Cecilia is my cousin. I haven't seen her in a long time. Our fathers were brothers but brutish men. I'm assuming that's why you're out this way, Cecilia, to escape Uncle's plans for you."
John felt relieved by the Doc's words. Now he could breathe.
"She's the woman I told you about, Doc but she's too much of a lady for these parts. I’m afraid this may not work."
It was Cecilia's turn to look despondent.
"Mr. Aikens, Hamish can tell you how feisty I am but if my father finds out my whereabouts he will force me back to the city. I cannot be a pawn in his plans. He cares not for me. Hamish, even poor Moll, hasn't escaped. Tell John I can be his wife. I have money."
"Our fathers are tyrants, John. That I can attest to. She is right if Uncle turns up and Cec isn't married, then he'll take her back. You know the scar on my back. Well, I can thank Miss Cecilia for that. She's strong. Don't let her looks fool you. Look, why don't we take Cec to the hotel. Mrs. Lavery will have a room, and we can meet for dinner and discuss it. I think you two need each other and nothing would please me more than my good friend and favorite cousin to be married and live here in Bannack."
