A train whistle sounded in the distance. Ira Bragg stepped out of the station and pulled out his pocket watch.
“Twenty-five minutes late,” he said and moved to stand near where the baggage car would stop. Laura hid a grin and exchanged a glance with Blanche. Again, the young man stood as if he had a tail like a peacock to show off.
“Struts like a cock, don’t he?” Myra’s softly spoken comment nearly made Chloe sputter.
“Hey, don’t make me laugh. Who knows? Maybe Gema or this Libby will think he’s just wonderful.”
“Doubt it.” Myra murmured, reaching to grab Troy by the collar before he could stray too far from her skirts.
The noise of the locomotive made conversation impossible until it had passed the station and stopped, leaving the passenger and baggage car next to the platform.
“Myra, Cora, Ruth, Chloe, Blanche, Laura.” The call of names came from the train car, and all the ladies looked up and saw the beautiful blonde waving, obviously eager to descend the step the conductor was placing. As soon as he lifted his hand to help her down, she jumped, bypassing the step altogether. She ran across, arms wide and wrapped them around as many of the ladies as she could.
“I had missed you muchly. I am so pleased have arrived. Where are Esther and Birdie?” She chattered as she hugged each of the six ladies who had come to meet the newest residents of Sanctuary House. “Oh, please to make acquaintance to Libby. You have met her not. Come.”
“Gema, slow down,” Blanche hugged the excited young woman.
Gema laughed. “Yes, I must. So excited am I.” She took a deep breath and drew out of Blanche’s arms. “Come.”
The other woman was standing timidly near the train. Laura was startled by the deep sadness in her eyes. Something very tragic had occurred in her life.
“Libby, these ladies are those I explain about.” Gema began making introductions when she was interrupted by the stationmaster who had helped the train crew unload two trunks and a large wooden crate.
“Mrs. Basking, is this all the baggage? The train needs to get on its way.”
Blanche looked at the newcomers.
“Yes,” Libby said.
“Will you see they are delivered to the House, please, Mr. Bragg?”
“Of course, ma’am. It’ll be my distinct pleasure.” His gazed raked up and down Gema’s figure.
Myra, her back to the man, rolled her eyes.
Laura leaned close to her friend and said, “Just keep your mouth shut. Sometimes you let words out before you start thinking.”
Just then Newt and Noah rounded the station building. Myra’s expression broke into a huge smile. Newt came to her and kissed her on the top of her head. Gema’s eyes got wide.
“Gema,” Myra said, taking Newt’s hand and pulling him over to meet her. “This be my husband, Sheriff Newt Riverby. He’s gonna adopt my Troy. Where is that boy anyway?” She looked around. She found him squatting down, looking at the wheels of the passenger car.
She called him to come back. When he looked up and saw Newt, he jumped up and ran to him. “Pa. Pick me up.”
All the ladies exchanged smiles and pleased glances.
~~~~~
Once they had Gema and Libby settled in their rooms, the ladies gathered in the parlor where they had placed the large wooden crate that had been delivered to the House along with the trunks. Ozzie Basking had taken a crowbar and pried off the lid.
“These are for all brides. We all made them for you.” Libby pulled out a beautifully embroidered pillowcase. Chloe was stunned, as were Myra and Cora. The crate was full.
“Each bride, for herself, will take sheets of full set and twin for all child unless they sleeping double will be in big bed. Then, one for it. Also, set of dish towels, seven, for each day of week one. All they are embroidered,” Gema said. “Everyone helped with stitching. Some are… more exacting than others.”
“There are more than enough for all who came in July,” Libby added the last.
“How’re you gonna get them to Miss Esther?” Eleven-year-old Kathryn Naylor asked.
That question led to explaining her sudden marriage to the trapper, as well as Birdie’s marriage to Harvey Hayes.
Several of the ladies left needing to complete supper preparations. The others unpacked the crate, sorting the items into patterns on the sheets and pillowcases and days of the week for the dishtowels. Myra, Cora, and Chloe were first to choose the designs they liked. Birdie would be allowed her choice when she next came to town, most likely on Sunday, if the weather held. Then, the rest would be saved until the next wedding.
CHAPTER TEN
By the end of the following week, both Libby and Gema had found work. Libby was hired as a clerk at Cutler’s store. Mrs. Cutler, Sara, was expecting her fourth child and having a difficult time. Ben didn’t want her having to tend the children, their new house, and the store when she was feeling so poorly.
Gema found work as a maid at the hotel. It worked well since her command of the English language, while good, didn’t lend itself to having to speak and be understood.
Red rode into town and saw the slim blonde crossing the road. She wasn’t someone he’d seen before. Sitting atop his horse, he watched as she walked beside the café toward Sanctuary House. Turning Ralph, his horse, Red headed to follow her. He wasn’t interested, of course; he had a different purpose for coming to town today. But she was new and sure pretty.
“Mr. Dickerson.” Mark’s call pulled his focus to the boy running across the yard. “Whatcha doing here today? It’s not Wednesday or Sunday.” Those were the days of the week Red came to do his courting. He also picked up his clean laundry and dropped off the dirty on Wednesdays. Today was Saturday, and Red let the hands come to town and spend their earnings.
It was a warm January day, rare in these parts, so several of the children were outside playing.
“Well, buckaroo, I just thought I’d come and surprise you, your brother, and ma. Thought I’d take you all to lunch at the cafe. What do you think of that?” Red dismounted and tied Ralph to the hitching post.
“Hurray. I’ve only eaten there once. I’ll go get Eddie. He’s at the barbershop.”
“Where’s your ma?”
“Doing laundry. Want me to go get her, too?”
Red ruffled Mark’s hair. “How about we go together since they are both in the same place?” It sort of stuck in Red’s craw that Eddie spent so much time with Hank. Well, that could change real soon.
Red and Mark went around the House and up the alley to the back entrance of the barbershop. Opening the door, Red let Mark precede him into the hallway. The boy ran ahead to the front. Seems that was where Eddie liked to spend time.
Red turned into the nearest door and found Laura up to her elbows in sudsy water. “Howdy.”
Laura looked up and blew at a tendril of hair that had escaped the pins. “Hi, what are you doing in town today?”
Red chuckled. “Same thing Mark asked me. I came to take you and the boys to the café for lunch.”
“Oh, well.” Laura looked from Red to her tub and back to Red. “I suppose I can leave this. Um, let me…” Laura lifted her hands from the wash water and grabbed a towel, proceeding to wipe them dry. “I’ll need to go to the House and fix myself up a bit. I’m not fit to be in public like this.”
“You look fine to me.” Red scanned up and down her body. He liked her figure well enough. She was a bit thick around the middle but had decent curves. The image of the tall, slim blonde flitted through his mind.
“Well, I need to clean up anyway. My hair is falling all around me.” Laura’s hands fluttered around her head. Then, she ran them down the front of her apron. Red noticed it was damp and soiled.
“All right. Mark went in to get Eddie. How’s about I go get the boys, and we’ll meet you in the parlor at the House when you’re ready?”
“That’s good. I won’t be long.” Laura set the stove to conserve the fire and, grabbing her
shawl, stepped past him and out the door.
Red headed up to the front room, finding Mark, Eddie, and Hank. “Hey, Hank.”
“Hey, Red. What brings you to town today?”
Again! Red chuckled. “I must be pretty predictable. That’s the third time I’ve been asked, and I’ve only spoken to three people. Hi, Eddie.” Red reached out and patted Eddie’s shoulder.
Eddie looked at Red and turned away.
“Eddie.” Hank’s voice was firm. “You be polite. We’ve talked about this.”
Eddie turned back. “Hello, Mr. Dickerson. Glad to see you.”
Red could tell he wasn’t. “I came to take you and Mark and your mother to the café for lunch. How does that sound?” He saw a spark of interest in Eddie’s eyes. “She went to freshen up a bit before we head over there. We’re to meet her at the House, in the parlor. That’ll give you two a chance to wash up. Well, I suppose I could use some, too. I’m dusty from the ride.”
Eddie looked up at Hank, then shifted his gaze to Red. “Okay, let’s go. Come on, Mark.”
The boys ran down the hall. The back door slammed open then closed, leaving Red and Hank looking at each other.
“Your courting going well?” Hank asked, turning to straighten his scissors, razors, and combs.
“Seems to be. Hoping it goes even better. I’m thinking of making the relationship permanent.”
Hanks’ hands stilled, and he laid them on the counter. “Well, let me know when congratulations are in order.”
Red was concerned about his friend. He didn’t seem his normal, contented self. There seemed to be a pall over him and the shop. Red had expected that his friend would be happy for him. It didn’t seem he was.
Had Hank been interested in Laura? If so, why hadn’t he said something when Red first mentioned his thoughts of courting her? He’d have stepped aside. It wasn’t as if he loved Laura. They didn’t know each other well enough for that to have developed.
Oh, well. There wasn’t anything he would do about it now. Hank had had his chance and not done anything with it. It was Red’s turn. He just hoped it didn’t end their friendship.
~~~~~
Laura watched Eddie carefully. He wasn’t exactly impolite, but he was skirting the line, giving one-word answers to the questions Red was asking. Mark was eating up the attention he was being given.
They were seated at a table near the window in the cafe. Having ordered, they were now waiting for their food. This wasn’t something the boys were familiar with. At Sanctuary Place and House, the children weren’t called to the table until the meal was ready to serve.
“How much longer, Ma?” Eddie asked.
“It won’t be too long. They need to fix our meals. They’ll bring you a plate of food.”
Eddie slumped in his chair.
“Tell me about catching the pig that ran away again.” Mark looked up at Red with eager anticipation.
As he retold the tale Mark had heard each time Red came to court her since the event had happened, Laura’s attention wandered. Was what she was doing, allowing Red to court her, the right thing for her, Eddie, and Mark? She was tired. Six days a week for close to ten hours a day she was elbow deep in laundry. The business had grown beyond what she’d ever imagined. Maybe she should hire Ruth to help her.
But, if Red should decide they would suit she’d be getting married and moving to Hawk’s Wing Ranch. Then her business would end. The thought both disappointed and elated her.
As much as she loved being successful and independent, her schedule was wearying. Her back hurt and her hands were chapped. Every evening she coated her hands with a mixture of beeswax, rose water, and lanolin. Then she’d put on cotton gloves to wear as she slept. Even so, her skin cracked and sometimes even bled. It was worse in the winter.
Their food arrived, making the boys extremely happy. And quiet as they ate. Red talked of the ranch and moved on to describe the house he had as foreman.
Laura laid her fork down. She wasn’t hungry anymore. It was coming, she knew. Red was going to ask her to marry him. She should be joyously anticipating the question. She had been with Alan. But they’d been so much in love.
The prospect of marrying again was attractive. Laura would have a husband and security. A house of her own. A father for her boys. So why wasn’t she excited about the prospect of marrying Red? The image of Hank flashed through her mind. She shoved it away. He hadn’t come courting, Red had.
Laura picked up her fork again. She smiled and fluttered her eyelashes at the handsome man sitting across the table from her.
~~~~~
“Do you have time to take a walk with me, Laura?”
They had finished their meal and enjoyed dessert. Red had taken the boys into the bakery part of the café and allowed them to choose several cookies apiece. Now, they were walking up the sidewalk to Sanctuary House. Mark and Eddie had run ahead, wanting to get back to their friends.
“Yes, I suppose so. I do have laundry to get back to, though, so it can’t be too long.”
“We can just take a short walk. It’s so seldom that we get time that’s for the just the two of us.”
“Yes, you’re right. Let me go make sure someone knows to keep watch over the boys.”
When Laura returned from her errand, Red took hold of her hand. They walked across the street, passed Massot’s carpentry shop, and on to the next street. There were a few houses, including the Cutler’s new two story white house with blue shutters. As soon as the ground thawed and foundations could be dug, Massot would start on the house for Eli Steele. The list of houses the taciturn builder had to construct was long. With the advent of the Sanctuary House ladies and subsequent marriages, he’d be busy for quite a while. That row of houses ended the town. More land was plotted out for growth.
Trees grew thicker as they walked away from the settlement. The forest surrounded them with its silence. The scent of pine subtle in the winter air.
Neither spoke until Laura asked, “Whose house is that?” She pointed at a building nestled in the trees. It was unusual. Rather than the standard two or three storied clapboard home, this one was made of logs but was unlike any log cabin either Red or Laura had ever seen.
It seemed a part of the forest rather than having the site cleared of trees to build the house. The first floor was smaller than the upper story which was supported by trees growing through the wide balcony. A six-sided turret graced one corner. Another seemed to have a room built out from the main structure. The eaves extended from the roof over the balcony in several places, providing shade.
As they walked around the building, it became obvious that it wasn’t finished. The shell was complete, but markings on the logs seemed to indicate where windows would be cut out.
“I’d say it can only be Massot’s. He’s the only one I know who could have built such a thing,” Red said.
“But when does he work on it? Why doesn’t anyone know about it?”
“Maybe they do. This must have taken him a long time to have constructed it to this point. You know how busy he’s been building houses and businesses in town.” Red looked up at what must be a partial third floor. “As to why no one either knows or talks about it… Well, you’ve met Massot. Is he someone you’d want to make much conversation with?”
Laura laughed. “No, I don’t suppose I would. He’s so growly.”
This time Red laughed. “Yes, that raspy voice can also put people off.”
“It’s his attitude that’s off-putting. Women think his voice is attractive, stimulating.”
Red stepped, so he was facing Laura. He took both of her hands and held them against his chest. “Laura, we’ve been courting for over a month. I know it may not seem like long, but I think we’d suit well. That we could build a life together. I’ve got a good job, a house. I can support you, Mark, and Eddie, and any other children that come along.
“I may not have that stimulating voice, but is mine enough to get you to say yes? Will
you marry me?”
When Red began speaking, Laura’s hands, and her insides began shaking. When he finally asked his questions, she nearly collapsed in a heap, her legs were so shaky.
Laura looked into his eyes, searching for something. She didn’t know what. Maybe it was a look that said he truly wanted her. Was attracted to her. Wanted to know her. Wanted to protect and support her.
Red pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Please, Laura. Say you’ll marry me.”
“Y…yes, I’ll marry you.” The words came out before Laura could stop them. He was the only man in the area who had expressed any interest in her. Laura knew she wasn’t the prettiest of the ladies. Her boys fought some, even in public. They needed a man’s influence. Not the occasional mentoring by Hank or some other male who took a temporary interest. They needed a father. Red was offering that. And she was taking hold of that offer.
Slipping his fingers under her chin, Red lifted her face to look at him. Then he lowered his lips, and they met hers. They were warm and pleasant, but the kiss didn’t transport her into the throws of desire. He broke the kiss, then placed three more soft, gentle kisses on her lips.
“Thank you. I’m glad we’ve settled that.” Red stepped back, keeping hold of one hand. “Come, you said you had laundry to do. I won’t keep you from it any longer. We can talk about our plans tomorrow after worship service.”
Laura allowed him to direct her back through the trees to town. As she walked, she began cataloging the things she needed to do before they got married. First, and most difficult, was telling the boys. Mark would be elated. Eddie… well, Laura just hoped he’d accept the coming change in their lives.
~~~~~
Laura took Mark and Eddie upstairs after supper. She needed to tell them of her betrothal before Red came to church tomorrow. After they washed and changed into pajamas. Laura sat them beside her on her bed. She swallowed. This probably wasn’t going to end well for one of her sons.
Laundry Lady's Love (Ladies of Sanctuary House Book 1) Page 8
