Providence

by Karen Noland

  “Hmmm, Nana’s preserves always sell quickly. I can give you fifteen cents apiece for the jams, and fifty cents for the eggs.”

  “Great. Put it to my account,” Kate agreed, closing the basket. Turning to her daughter, she said, “Jo, come over here. I want you to try on these shoes.”

  “New shoes?”

  “Yes, it’s about time you had some that fit for a change.”

  Jo tried on shoes until they found a pair that suited them both, shiny tan leather, high button shoes that were just large enough to offer growing room, but still comfortable for now. Jo preferred the white ones, but Kate adamantly refused, choosing practical black ones instead, until they finally compromised on the tan. Placing the shoes on the front counter, they turned next to the numerous bolts of calicos and ginghams, flannels and woolens that lined the far side of the store. She longingly fingered a beautiful deep blue satin, imagining the way it would feel and drape if she were to make it up into a dress. Sighing, she selected four bolts of practical calicos in shades of blues, yellows and greens and a bolt of white muslin.

  Looking around for Jo, she found her near a small display of a china doll and tea party dishes. Her heart ached for the little girl, but there was just no way that she could afford something like that right now. If everything went well, perhaps she could have enough set aside to get something special for Jo’s birthday in October.

  “Jo, are you ready?”

  “Yes, momma. Aren’t they pretty?”

  “They’re beautiful.”

  Jo placed her small had in her mother’s and they walked to the counter to pay for their purchases, but Kate couldn’t help noticing Jo’s gaze returning to the display.

  “I need two dress lengths of the yellow and one each of the others, Martha.”

  “Are you going to be doing some sewing?”

  “Between Nana and I, we manage to get it done,” Kate laughed. Her sewing skills were not her strong suit, and Martha knew it. “How much will I owe you after you take off for the things I brought?”

  “Let’s see, four dollars and seventy-five cents.”

  Kate quickly calculated what she had brought, saving out enough to give Jo the promised treat at the hotel. “In that case, give me three men’s shirts, and a small shirtwaist, Nana’s size.” Jo had wandered over to the candy display. “And how much is that tea set and doll?” Kate asked in a hushed whisper.

  “That would be five dollars and fifty cents.”

  Kate’s heart sank. It was far too much, with everything they needed, that little luxury would have to wait. “Maybe this fall.”

  “Okay.” Martha nodded.

  Their purchases wrapped and stowed safely in the buggy, the two women and Jo went to Martha’s house for an early lunch, leaving Lars in charge of the store.

  ***

  Martha’s kitchen was light and airy. Delicate lace curtains hung in the many windows. The table was polished white ash, as were the chairs. Lunch was served on beautiful fine china, hand painted with a blue willow pattern, and matching pieces lined the shelves along the wall. The women savored small cucumber sandwiches on thinly sliced bread spread with fresh butter, and sipped honey sweetened sassafras tea. After lunch, Jo found the trunk filled with picture books and toys that Martha kept in her living room, and busied herself with those, while the women sat at the table enjoying another cup of tea and generous slices of rhubarb pie.

  Martha’s dark eyes danced with anticipation as she and Kate sat together. “So how is he working out?”

  “You mean Luke?” Kate asked.

  “No, I mean the man in the moon!” Martha bristled. “Of course I mean Luke.”

  Kate laughed. “Better than I had hoped,” she relented. “I had my doubts, but I think he’s going to be fine. He certainly has the rest of my family under his spell!”

  “So he and Jake are getting along?” Martha inquired. “I admit I was a bit worried about Jake feeling usurped.”

  “Jake thinks the world of him. I actually believe that Jake is relieved to have someone there to share the burden, and Luke does it in such a way that no one feels like they’re being overlooked or edged out.” Kate paused a moment, pondering, “Somehow Luke manages to set things in motion, get things done, and he involves everyone, yet it never seems like he takes charge. I just can’t explain it.”

  “Well, it’s about time you had some competent help out there!” Martha smiled.

  “As though I’m not competent?”

  “Oh, that’s not what I meant at all! But you cannot do everything all by yourself, and you know it, Kate!”

  Kate’s face softened, “I know, and having Luke there these last few days has really made me realize that, in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.

  “Speaking of not being able to do it all myself, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” Kate added quietly with downcast eyes.

  “Whatever is it?”

  “Well, spring branding needs to be done, and soon! Even with Luke there, we can’t do it all by ourselves,” Kate spoke quickly now before her courage could fail her. “Luke thought - that is, we decided - Oh, bother! Do you think that you and Lars and some of the other men from town could come out a week from Saturday and help with the calves? I wouldn’t ask, but...”

  “Of course we will! Now you just stop fretting. That’s what friends are for.” Martha’s tone was comforting, and she grabbed Kate’s hand in a gentle squeeze. “You just leave it all to me. We’ll come, and I know Bert at the livery would do it for you, and Mike Hall - his oldest boys could help out, too - then there’s Jim Kelly, and...”

  “Stop! You’re going too fast for me.” Kate laughed, her head spinning. “Oh, Martha, do you really think this will work?”

  “Yes! Now, are you and Nana going to cook? I can get the womenfolk to bring pies and cakes, preserves and such like, if you’ll supply the main course.”

  “We thought we’d dig a pit and roast a steer, what do you think?”

  “Can you afford it?”

  “It’s well worth it to me if we can this branding done!” Kate exclaimed.

  “Then it’s settled. You get the calves in and leave the details here in town to me,” Martha bubbled with enthusiasm and plans.

  “So, I see Luke has things pretty well in hand out there! Is he taking charge of anything else?” Martha asked with a deliciously wicked smile and a twinkle in her eye.

  “Martha!”

  “Well, c’mon, Kate, he is very handsome, he seems intelligent and well educated for all his rough appearance, and he’d sure beat old Matt Johnson hands down, if you ask me!”

  “How did you know?” Kate gasped.

  “Oh, honey, he’s been going all over town letting it be known that you are now ‘his property.’ Please tell me that it isn’t so?” she pleaded.

  “He asked me to marry him.”

  “And?”

  “And what? I didn’t tell him anything. Obviously, I’m going to have to talk to him, tell him something, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, the sooner the better!”

  “Is he really so very bad?”

  “Worse than you think! Why I even heard that he has Little Dick West working for him!”

  “You mean the man that rode with Bill Doolin?”

  “The very one!”

  “But I thought they were all killed or taken in after the big jail break in Guthrie last year!”

  “No, Dick West and one other escaped. The other one was killed later, but they never got Little Dick, and I heard he was working for Matt. In fact, I saw him here in town with Matt just last week!”

  An image of the charred receipt she and Luke had found flashed through her mind. Richard We... was all of the name she had been able to make out, Richard West? Little Dick West? But if Martha had seen him with Matt just last week, then he was still working for Matt when the fence had been cut. A feeling of fear and anxiety rose within her, constricting her chest, threatening to cut off her very breath.<
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  “Martha, are you absolutely certain?” she managed to say at last.

  “Yes, of course I am. You remember the pictures of him that were printed in the Guthrie papers after the jail break. I know it was the same man.”

  Kate nodded, unable to speak.

  ***

  As Jo and Kate prepared to leave, Martha pressed a small parcel into Kate’s hand. “Here, I want you to have this. It’s just a little something for each of you.”

  “Martha, I can’t...”

  “Yes, you can, or you’ll really hurt my feelings!”

  “Thank you.” Kate said hugging the small woman fervently. True friends were so hard to find, and Martha had been through so much with Kate, and still stood by her, a true friend. “I love you, Martha.”

  “And I you!”

  “Bye, Mrs. Jansen, thank you for lunch. I had a very nice time,” waved Jo, as they turned the corner of the main street and headed for the hotel.

  “Are we still going to have our party, momma?”

  “Of course we are. I promised, didn’t I?”

  “You just seem kind of worried about something. I thought maybe you were too sad after all,” Jo said with an insight and wisdom beyond her tender years.

  “Oh, baby, I’m sorry, of course I want to have our party. Why, it will be just the thing to make all these worries go right away!” Kate said cheerfully.

  “Good!”

  They entered the large hotel dining room. Kate carried the package that Martha given her. She decided it would be just the thing to add presents to their small birthday celebration. They were seated at a table near the large front window. It had a white table cloth and large linen napkins. Jo had never seen such finery before and was suitably impressed. Kate smiled at her daughter. She had taken these things for granted at Jo’s age, but living the way they did now, she realized that Jo was far more comfortable with the simpler pleasures of life.

  She ordered two slices of chocolate cake, a cup of coffee for herself and a glass of milk for Jo. As they waited for their cake to arrive, Kate produced the package.

  “What’s this?” Jo’s eyes grew round in anticipation.

  “Presents from Martha, shall we open them?”

  “Oh, yes!”

  Untying the string and opening the brown wrapping paper, revealed several smaller parcels, each carefully wrapped in shiny colored papers and marked with their names. Finding the gifts for Jo and Kate, they set them aside and carefully re-wrapped the others.

  “You go first, Jo.”

  “Can we say our blessing first, momma?”

  “Why that’s a wonderful idea. Would you like to do it?”

  “Yes, please.”

  They bowed their heads, joined hands, and Jo began, “Dear, God, I just wanted to thank you today for all the wonderful things you do. Thank you for Nana and Papa and Jon and Mr. Luke. God, take especial good care of my daddy and my baby brother, and if You can, will you give them some chocolate cake today so they can eat with us? And please take away all of momma’s worries. I know You can take care of her, ‘cause she always tells me so. Amen.”

  “Amen,” Kate echoed with tears in her eyes. “Now, how about opening these presents?”

  Jo took the one with her name on it, and quickly tore into the wrappings revealing a beautiful picture book, a slate and several pieces of chalk to practice writing. Her face glowed. “Look, momma, my very own book, isn’t it wonderful? And a brand new slate to draw and write! What did you get? Oh, look, here comes our cake.”

  The waitress carried over two china plates, each with a rim of gold, and a slice of the richest looking chocolate cake that Kate had ever seen. Setting the plates before them, she placed a candle in each slice and lit them.

  Smiling at Jo, she said, “Happy Birthday, honey.”

  “Oh, it’s not my birthday,” Jo said in a solemn voice, “it’s my daddy and my brother’s, they’re having their cake in Heaven!”

  “Oh, my!” the poor waitress looked so stricken, that Kate quickly stepped in.

  “It’s all right, we’re celebrating here today!”

  “Oh, I see,” she replied, though she obviously did not. After placing the coffee, milk and silverware on the table, she quickly retreated.

  Jo and Kate watched the glow of the candles for a few moments, each lost in their own memories of Will and Caleb. Finally they blew out the candles together and dug into the luscious cake.

  “You haven’t opened your present yet, momma!” Jo observed after a few bites, chocolate frosting decorating the corners of her mouth.

  “You’re right. Let’s see what it is.” Kate carefully opened the paper, removed the cover from the box, and exclaimed over the delicate handkerchief within. Dainty cutwork embroidered flowers adorned the white lawn, and tatted lace ran gracefully around the edges. Below the beautiful hankie was a layer of perfumed soaps, oils and lotions. Picking up one of the small vials, she carefully removed the stopper and breathed deeply of the musky aroma of sandalwood. Handing it gently to Jo, she shared the exotic treat. There were jars of lavender and lemon verbena as well. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so pampered. Oh, bless you, Martha, she thought. They each dabbed a small amount of the oil behind their ears. Giggling, they shared an afternoon of girl talk and memories.

  ***

  The buggy swayed and bumped along the road home. Jo sat quiet and contentedly next to Kate, and they rode in companionable silence. A few moments later, Kate noticed the Jo had drifted off into a light sleep. Sighing, she flicked the reins and the mare extended her trot slightly. Kate wanted to make it home before the threatening clouds finally let loose the torrents of rain they seemed to promise.

  Alone with her thoughts at last, Kate’s mind turned back to Martha’s news and the bit of charred paper she had found. Was it coincidence? After all That could have been anyone’s name. Would Matt really stoop to such nefarious schemes to drive her from her ranch? If he really thought that she would consider marrying him, then what reason could he have? No, she decided, it must have been rustlers, and the receipt was simple coincidence and nothing more. But her mind was restless and her heart beat heavily in her chest as they drove along beneath rain laden clouds.

  “Momma, stop! She’s gone, she’s gone!” Jo shrieked.

  Frightened, Kate pulled strongly on the reins bringing the startled mare to an abrupt stop. “Jo, what is it?” Kate asked in a panic stricken voice.

  “My dolly, I can’t find her, she’s lost!” wailed the grieving girl.

  “Are you sure? Perhaps she fell on the floor here, or next to your seat.”

  “No, she’s gone, I know she is.”

  “Jo, calm down. When was the last time you had her?” The doll had been a part of Jo’s life from the time was just an infant. Losing her would be a shock.

  “She was in my hand when I fell asleep, and when I woke up she was gone.” Tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “Are you sure you’ve looked under the seat and everywhere?” Kate asked. They both searched the floor boards, under the seat and all around to no avail.

  Glancing at the darkening sky, then at her daughter’s tear-stained face, Kate made the decision. “We’ll go back down the road a little ways and see if we can see her, but Jo, honey, listen to me, we can’t take too long, there’s a storm coming, we’ve got to get home soon. Do you understand?”

  Drawing in a long shuddering breath, Jo nodded mutely, her sorrowful eyes breaking Kate’s heart.

  “All right. Now, I’ll drive slowly, you watch the ground, and so will I.”

  They traveled back over their trail for several minutes in fruitless searching, Jo crying and Kate torn between her daughter’s plight and the growing threat of rain.

  “Momma, look, in there!”

  Kate looked where Jo was pointing into the dense growth along the side of the road, but saw nothing. “What is it?”

  “I saw someone.”

  “Who?”

 
“I don’t know.”

  “It was probably a deer or something, Jo. I don’t see your doll anywhere.”

  Jo sniffed, “Me neither, what am I going to do?”

  “Kate.” A deep male voice spoke from behind them, sending tendrils of fear through Kate’s stomach.

  Turning, she was met by black eyes set deeply in a dark, familiar face.

  “Tochoway.” Kate said, relief flooding her.

  “This is Jo’s baby?”

  “My doll,” Jo cried reaching out for the precious possession.

  “Thank you, how did...” Kate began.

  “I was coming to meet you.” Tochoway cut her off. “I have a message from the father of Nocona. He says to tell you his son lives, and he is grateful.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad. Is he healing well? Does he have use of his arm?”

  “Nocona will be a fine hunter and horseman. His arm is healed, and he is well, thanks to you.”

  A flash of lightning split the air followed by a crash of thunder that shook the very trees around them, large drops of rain began to fall.

  “Come.” Tochoway said, melting into the foliage beside the road.

  Kate stepped down from the buggy, securing the brake. Tying the mare to a nearby tree, she grabbed her shawl for protection and held it over Jo as they followed the path Tochoway made. After a few moments they came to a clearing where a simple skin tent was erected and two ponies were tethered. Holding back the flap covering the entrance, Tochoway beckoned them to enter. Kate took Jo’s hand and led her in without hesitation. As Tochoway entered the sky was split asunder and torrents of rain began to fall. The sound of the rain drumming upon the hides was deafening, but they were safe and dry within the cozy shelter.

  “This will pass,” Tochoway reassured them. “The storm is moving quickly, and will soon be gone.”

  “I hope so. I worry about the mare and the buggy.” Kate replied.

  “They will be fine.”

  “I hope so,” she said, not convinced.

  Lightning flashed and the thunder rolled, but it grew more distant with every flash. Within minutes the rain began to lessen until it was no more than a gentle patter against the sides of their tent. The spring storms would sometimes do that here in Oklahoma Territory. They would brew all day, the heat and humidity building with every passing hour, until it seemed the air could no longer contain the storms that it was holding and they would be unleashed with a violent intensity, and be gone, the energy entirely spent. As they emerged from the small shelter, the air was fresh and clean and the rich scents of rain washed leaves and damp humus clung to their skin.