by Amy Field
“Sure took you long enough to get back. Seems like those town ladies grab on to ya and don’t want to let you go.”
“Now Jonesy, you know I had a list of things to do. Oh, yea, Sam says he still hasn’t gotten those ten-penny nails you wanted. He jumps off the wagon and grabs the box of groceries. As he gets on the porch he stops and hands Jonesy the two peppermint sticks.
“Here you go Jonesy, bet you thought I’d forgotten.”
“Thanks Seth.”
It was later on in the afternoon while Seth was in his office he took out the letter from his pocket. He still had no idea who would be writing to him from a girl’s school. He carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, then began to reading:
“Dear Mr. Bernstein,
I know you must be puzzled upon receiving this letter, but I was instructed that if my client should meet untimely demise, you are the only person he entrusts his child to. Perhaps I should start from the beginning, sixteen years ago a gentleman named Randall Carver brought his five-year-old daughter Charity to stay with us. A beautiful young girl but as I explained to Mr. Carver, she was too young to be placed at the school. It was then that he told me his sad story. It seems his wife had passed on, and he had no one to watch his young daughter. It was when he had told me his wife’s name I remembered I had known her when I was younger; we were schoolmates. I agreed to take Charity and when it was time enroll her in the school. He said that if anything was to happen to him to notify Seth Bernstein and he would care for Charity. Well, the time has come, Mr. Bernstein. Last month Charity turned twenty-one, and it is the time all our students are ready to leave the school and go out in the world. As her guardian I am writing to ask you when you would like to come to take her or would you rather she come out to you. I can make all the arrangements for her departure as soon as you like. I await your response.
Sincerely, Lilian Steadford.”
He placed the letter on the desk and leaned back in the chair. His mind travels back over the years and to the early days of the war. It was during that time two young men, Seth and Randall, both from Richmond, Virginia bonded together as they fought side-by-side trying to stay alive. It wasn’t long that, after a few battles, the bond was formed that would last all through the war. It was a bond that continued even after the war was over.
Afterwards Carver went back to Virginia; seems he wanted to restore what had been lost by the war, and for a few years he and Seth kept close. It was when Seth began his quest to move to the west is when the two men lost contact with each other. Which made him wonder how she had found him, but that was a question for another time. What was at issue now was, what was he to do with a twenty-one-year-old young girl? He spent the rest of the afternoon trying to compose a letter to reply back to Ms. Steadford, and was having a bit of a hard time. After all, what could he say? It was sometime that afternoon Jonesy came in and told him supper was ready. He knew something was on Seth’s mind but also knew if he wanted to tell him about it, he would. Seth looked up at Jonesy.
“Jonesy, I received and interesting letter from Virginia. Seems someone I served with in the army left me guardian over his young daughter. I ask you, what am I going to do with a twenty-one-year-old young lady?”
Jonesy looks at him and without blinking an eye says, “Marry her.”
Seth looked at him.
“Let’s be serious, Jonesy. She’s the daughter of a friend who left me her guardian in case anything happened to him. And yes his wife also has passed. She’s been living at some school for girls and since her father has passed and she just turned twenty–one she’s now my responsibility.”
“ Not for nothing but, what is wrong with my first idea, after all she’s a woman, not a child, and you’re single?”
Seth looked at him again with a raised eyebrow, and Jonesy walked out of the room. Seth took the letter in his hand again and looked it over again. He thought about Jonesy’s words and shook his head; the idea of him marrying such a young girl was ridiculous. A forty–three-year-old man marrying a twenty–one-year-old woman was just not accepted - well it was - but Seth knew it wouldn’t simply be acknowledged here with the ladies of the town. Besides, was he ready to court someone again? Had he worked through the embarrassment and shame from long ago, when he was left standing outside in the snow, barred from seeing his love?
He shook his head to get rid of the memories. This wasn’t about sentiment; this was he simply caring about the child of an old friend.
He began again to write the reply to Miss Steadford.
Three weeks later, a letter arrived at the Steadford School addressed to Lillian Steadford from Seth.
“Dear Miss Steadford,
I must say your letter took me by surprise. Mr. Carver and I served in the army during the war, he was a good friend and though we lost touch after the war I had always thought we would see each other one more time. I was sorry to hear that that was not going to happen now. I hope you can understand I had no idea that Randall had married or even had a daughter let alone naming me her guardian. I am prepared to honor his wishes and will care for her needs. You must understand I live in Wyoming on a ranch and not the sort of life I’m sure a young lady educated from your school would blend into our community. I am willing to have her visit, and we’ll see how it goes from there. I await your response.
Sincerely, Seth Bernstein.”
As Lillian puts down the letter she hears a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Slowly the door opens, and Charity walks in the room. Lillian looks up at the girl and smiles.
“Miss Carver, do sit down.”
Charity sat down across from Miss Steadford.
“I have an answer from your guardian in Wyoming. He is interested in following your father’s wishes and would like you to visit his ranch and see if you would be interested in staying there or something else can be worked out. I would like to know your thoughts on this matter.”
Charity thought about it and reviewed her options. If she decided to stay in here at Steadford, her only option would be that Miss Steadford found her some means of employment, something she didn’t want. She had been here since she was five years old and her dream had been for the past four years was to find a life outside of these walls. Though she loved Lilian deeply, as a daughter loved a mother, she knew a time would come when she’d have to move along and make her own life.
On the other hand, should she go to Wyoming and find that it was not to her liking what then? What type of man was this Seth Bernstein? Her father considered him to be the finest man alive but she had never met the man, and what would he think about having a young girl unexpectedly coming to live on his ranch?
She looked up at Lillian Steadford.
“Miss Steadford, I would like to visit Mr. Bernstein’s home in Wyoming.”
A smile came to the woman’s face, even though she felt sad. She cared deeply for Charity, and treated her as she would her own family. Her eyes grew misty, but then she regained her pose as the mistress.
“I’ll make the arrangements with Mr. Bernstein in the morning. Though it would take a few weeks to make the arrangements, I think it would be best to wait before telling the others.”
Charity looked at her and nodded understanding her point. “I’ll miss it here. You’ve always been so kind to me.” For a moment their hands touched.
Charity got up and left the office as Lillian began to write her reply to Seth. She picked up her pen and looked down at the blank paper. She begins to start her response to Seth stating that Charity does indeed want to leave and go out to Wyoming. After being here so many years Lillian had grown close to the girl, indeed, closer than to most. She will be sorry to see her leave. She begins to write.
”Dear Mr. Bernstein, I have discussed your response with Miss Carver and she’s quite interested in coming out to meet you and see Wyoming. Do let me know when you would like this meeting to take place. As always I am at your disposal.
Sincer
ely, Lillian Steadford.”
She looked at the letter and gave it one more look-over before she folded the paper and placed it in the envelope to post in the morning.
Meanwhile up in her room, Charity was on her bed holding a silver jewelry box. It was her mother’s, the only thing she had of her. It contained a photo of her parents on their wedding day; her mother’s golden wedding band; and a photo of her father and Uncle Seth when they were in the service. She looked at that picture so many times over the years, and when she was about fourteen, she started referring to Seth as 'Uncle Seth'. Her father had no objections to it, so Seth became the uncle she never met. Though her father was a handsome man, Uncle Seth was, in her eyes, the one she found attractive. She even had a secret crush on the man since she was fifteen years old, there were times she would sit in her bedroom and stare at the picture for hours wondering what it would be like to meet him. She even imagined her wedding to him. Brushing the childish daydreaming aside, she put the photo away. She couldn’t spoil this opportunity to get out and explore the wide world outside by having such silly thoughts.
Then another photo fell out from among the others and landed on her lap. It was a hazy, grey photo of a young boy. He had long, wild hair, was naked from the waist up, and he was holding a rabbit he had killed. Her father never spoke of him, but she knew he was her older step-brother, Robert. Her father had rescued him after both his parents died in an Indian raid, and raised him. He was almost ten years older than her, and ran away after a beating from her father. Not that he was a violent man, on the contrary. But the boy was known as a maverick, an outsider, and everyone accepted he’d never fit in.
He was never heard of again, after he left on that dark night. She was asleep at the time, so no goodbyes were said. Not that it would’ve meant anything, she was hardly a toddler at the time. She put the photo away, not thinking about it anymore.
In the distance the clock in the hall chimed, it was midnight, by now everyone was asleep, everyone but Charity. She took her mother’s wedding band and placed it on her finger and held out her hand to admire it. She mused about her own wedding day. Again the thought of her and Seth being married flashed into her head, but she dismissed it once again. She looked at the photo for one last brief moment, and then placed it and the wedding band back in the jewelry box, and in the drawer near her bed.
Chapter Four - Charity Is A Girl’s Name
Lillian’s letter arrived within two weeks, much to Seth’s surprise. He read the letter a few times over, then folded it away and looked out onto the horizon. This invitation of his, to a young girl to come to Wyoming, was it really such a good one? Shouldn’t he have made some plans for her where there were more opportunities, perhaps set her up back East where he still had friends and contacts? But what was done was done. He got up from the porch.
His first thought was this house needed a complete cleaning. He walks into the kitchen.
“Jonesy, we need to get this place in shape. Charity will be coming in a few weeks.”
Jonesy looked at him.
“I thought charity started at home, Seth?”
He looked at Jonesy.
“ Charity is also a girl’s name.”
“Really?”
Seth nods his head.
“Well, I’ll be…”
Seth stops him.
“That’s another thing; we’ve got to watch our language. Miss Charity is a lady and has been raised in a fancy girl’s school. So for the short time she’s with us let’s watching our language.”
Jonesy looks at Seth.
“How long is she going to be here with us, boss?”
“Just until she get something to do in town, I guess.” Seth gave him a sharp look in return.
He didn’t know the letter never did stipulate how long, all Sam knew was that she was coming. He looked around the house and realized the house needed a woman’s touch; perhaps he could get Rose to help out.
He looked at Jonesy.
“Look, I’ve got to go into town and see Mz. Rose to help us get the place in order.”
“Seth, wouldn’t be easier to have her stay at the hotel in town?”
“It would be but we still have to clean up, besides we’ve got four empty bedrooms upstairs. She’s our guest.”
Jonesy nods but still is not happy with the idea.
A few hours later Seth is at the store trying to convince Rose to see his point of view.
“Seth Bernstein, you expect a twenty-one-year-old young girl to live out at your place and not have town folk talking about it?”
“Ms. Rose, you can’t tell me people would talk if she were just here for a visit? The girl is my ward; her father wish was for me to watch over her if anything should happen to him. “
“Yes, I understand that Seth, but she’s not a little girl anymore. She’s a woman full grown.”
He looked at Rose.
“Why I never…”
Rose looked at him.
“Now before you say something you’ll regret, think about it, Seth. I know you, and you’re an excellent man, but look at you, and you yourself would have to admit if it were someone else with a young lady living at his home, and him being as handsome and unmarried as you wouldn’t you be talking about it?”
“ Now Rose, I wouldn’t think about...”
She looked at him, and he stopped.
“I always had a feeling you were like the others, Seth Bernstein, you’d be talking just as much as any of the other men in town. I could hear you and the others at the Silk Garter talking away if it were some other man in your situation. I won’t be surprised if these friends of yours don’t talk about you when it does happen. Now to avoid any embarrassment the young lady will be staying here in town at the Cheyenne Hotel, she can visit the ranch, but it’s out of the question for her to spend the night there.”
He knew there was no way Rose was to change her mind, and he was not even going to try.
“Mz. Rose I would still appreciate your help in cleaning the house up a bit.”
She looks at him. There was no denying the man looked so pitiful you really couldn’t say no.
“I suppose I could clean it up a bit. The good Lord knows, between you and Jonesy it’s going to need a good cleaning.”
A smile comes to Seth’s face.
“So when can you start?”
“ Tomorrow morning be here early, and bring your wagon. There will be things I need to take to out there that I doubt you even have. Oh, by the way, get yourself some new clothes, and some for Jonesy too.”
“New clothes?”
“ Yes new clothes, I think meeting your ward would want you to at least look your best.”
“ I suppose I could clean up a bit.”
She moves from behind the counter and gently leads him to the direction of the clothing. With that, she returns to behind the counter and takes care of the other customers.
It was that afternoon back in Richmond when Lillian Steadford received the wire from Seth stating he had transferred some funds to the bank in Richmond for the purchase of the tickets for Charity’s trip and for any other items she might need. He only asked that he been given notice when she leaves Richmond so he can be at the station upon her arrival. It was the answer she had hoped for, but in the same token, she dreaded. It would mean Charity would be leaving; true, it was her father’s wishes that Mr. Bernstein be her guardian, but she had hoped Charity would want to stay on at Steadford, perhaps even teach. Though it was her decision to go, maybe, it would be a good idea for her to get it out of her system, so to speak, and come back after this trip.
True to her word, Rose was standing outside the store early the next morning waiting as Seth arrived with the wagon. He jumps off the wagon and gives her a big smile.
“Good morning Mz Rose. I am here at your service.”
He takes off his hat and gracefully bows to her. She smiled at him, and she had to admit that smile of his was, well, he was such a charming ras
cal that not even she could be mad at him. He had that gift to turn a woman and woman’s head with a ‘simple good, morning ma’am’. Yet, there were two little words that so many women would love to hear him say to her, but there wasn’t a single woman who has been able to get a simple ‘I do’ from him, but there’s always hope. Maybe this young girl from his hometown of Richmond could be the one to steal his heart. She had noticed that since she’s come into the conversation, there has been a change in him. Maybe Seth Bernstein was ready to say those two little words. Granted a lot of young and older ladies will be heartbroken, but they knew it had to happen one day.
That is, if Seth and she could live through the jealousy and gossiping that would ensue, if they did established a relationship. Rose knew how cruel townsfolk could be.
Half way to the ranch Rose curiosity got the best of her; she started to ask the question every woman in town was dying to know.
“So tell me, Seth, you said you’ve never met this Miss Carver, how you will know her when she gets off the train?”
He smiles at her.
“I was wondering when you were going to get around to asking that question. It sure took you long enough.”
He takes a piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to her. It’s a photograph of a beautiful young girl.
Rose had to admit she was indeed very pretty.
“Seth, she’s a beautiful child.”
“ Seems Miss Steadford had that picture taken of Charity last year to send to her father. But they received news about his passing before they…“ Seth’s voice broke off.
“I’m sorry,” Rose said. She changed the subject.
“H will she know you?”
“ Well, believe it or not, she has a photograph of me and her Pa when we had just got our commissions in the army and were awaiting our assignments. We had to be all of twenty-one years old if that.”
“Seth, that photo is over twenty years old. How you expect her to know you?”
“ Well, I haven’t changed that much Mz Rose.”
