“Peter Gehring. I don’t remember much of anything about my former life, except that Barton protected me on the train and insisted I stayed with him when we got off. I want to be with my family.”
“And I’m Wesley Preston, another tagalong who has benefited from this group’s friendship. Not all of us ended up in good homes after we were adopted, but Barton made sure we kept in touch, however, and whenever we could through the years. The idea of employment, housing, and the chance for a wife interested all of us as a way to stay together.”
Gordon turned to Barton and gave him a slight nod. He thought the introductions went well.
“Barton, how old were all of you when you left the orphanage?” Pastor asked.
“I was ten. The youngest of our group, Squires, and Peter, were four. The rest are aged in between.”
Mrs. Reagan looked at her friends again, and then at Kiowa Jones.
“Your vote?”
Gordon watched as each woman nodded in approval.
“Kiowa? You have the final voice since you’re financing this project. They do have letters of recommendations from the fort chaplain and an officer who worked with all of them,” Mrs. Reagan asked the man holding their future in his hands.
“I like that they have shown respect to all of us,” the man said. “If there had been any doubt, I would have objected.”
Gordon had noticed Kiowa study each of them as they introduced themselves. What did he think of the six of them?
“Kaitlyn, I believe you want these men to be your next set of adopted ‘boys.’ If you feel this is right, then I agree,” Kiowa replied.
Gordon nodded to Barton, who was clearly relieved they had passed this first inspection.
One set of women convinced they could handle the situation.
“All right. I’m sure Cate will agree to our plan too. Kiowa, would you please outline what is being offered and the work entailed?” Mrs. Reagan asked of their benefactor.
Gordon watched as the man stood, eyeing them individually before confidently outlining the employment and living situation in town.
There were jobs, ones that Gordon could see them being qualified for. The buildings and homes they walked by on the way to the parsonage looked in good shape. Hopefully, the housing offered to them would be likewise.
But the idea that six women had volunteered to become their wives? Gordon wasn’t confident that plan would go off without a hitch, or without a sidestep or two in a pile of horse apples.
Chapter 2
Avalee Paulson left Doctor Pansy's office and hurried as fast as she could, trying not to be obvious, but she had to find out what was going on. Six young men had walked from the train depot straight toward the church. Just ahead on the boardwalk, Amelia Shepard was motioning for Avalee to hurry up.
Avalee caught up with Amelia as the other opened the dress shop door. Avalee closed it as quickly and quietly as she could just as Pastor Reagan stepped on the boardwalk from the west side of the block.
"Did you see those six fellows leave the depot?" Avalee asked, as soon as she caught her breath. She passed a hand over her curly copper hair because tendrils had sprung free as she rushed down the boardwalk. She hadn't bothered putting on her hat or shawl.
"Yes, we've been watching them," Maggie Brenner confirmed. Maggie and her sisters, Molly and Maisie, had recently moved from their ranch home to Clear Creek to take over Mary Jones’ dress shop.
"Amelia got a close look at them because she ran into one when coming out of the mercantile."
"Did you see where they went? It looked like they were heading for the church," Avalee asked.
"To the parsonage, and then Pastor walked this way after the men went inside with Kaitlyn," Amelia told them.
"Could Pastor be getting someone to meet with them?" Avalee continued. Being Doctor Pansy Reagan's assistant, she was used to asking a lot of questions to find the source of a person's medical problem.
The five of them chatted while waiting to see who might be going back to the parsonage with Pastor. After ten minutes, it was clear who was being summoned to the parsonage.
"Look! Lorna, Millie, and my mother just walked across the street to your pa's shop, Amelia," Avalee exclaimed, and then they all turned to look at each other.
"Huh. I bet the Peashooter Society is up to something," Amelia guessed.
"Grandma Cate must not know about the meeting, or she would have already driven to town," Maggie added.
"Now, Pastor is walking back with his son, Mack, and Kiowa Jones. That could mean that there's a new construction project for the town. Mack always builds Kiowa's buildings," Amelia surmised.
"But why did the six men go into the parsonage? They might be hired to help with Mack's building business, but how are the Peashooter's involved?"
“Well, we’ll never know standing here,” Avalee stated. “While Mama’s at the parsonage, I’m going back to the hotel to talk to my sister. Maybe Nadine can overhear something about what’s going on when Mama tells Papa about it. She’s good at cleaning and eavesdropping at the same time.”
“Do you think Mack has told his wife anything about those men?” Maggie asked Avalee.
“I’ll ask Doctor Pansy, but they’re good at keeping secrets, even from each other,” Avalee answered, then tapped her finger against her lips. “I’m supposed to be wrapping bandages while Doctor Pansy went home for a bit. I best run home to the hotel for a minute and then get back to work.”
Avalee still lived in the hotel’s top floor apartment with her parents and five younger sisters. Her older sisters, Iva Mae, and Maridell had already married and had homes of their own.
“Let us know if you hear anything, and we’ll do likewise,” Amelia called out as Avalee opened the door and slipped out.
Avalee thought about the men she watched stroll through town. Three looked like brothers with matching brown hair and average height.
The three other men were total opposites in color and stature. One man was tall, with jet black hair. The next was average height with dark blonder hair peeking out from under his hat. And the final man trailing behind trying to keep up with the rest had flaming red hair and was very short in stature.
Who were these men? And why were they meeting with the Peashooter Society?
Avalee’s heart pounded as she ran down the boardwalk toward the hotel. She had an uneasy feeling six matriarchs of the community just implemented another one of their sneaky plans for the betterment—or upheaval—for someone in this town.
The main question was, for who?
***
Lorna Elison watched the nine men leave the Reagan’s dining room. She was undecided if this was a good idea or not. Welcoming men into town for employment was one thing. Getting the young women to agree with the plan was another.
Lorna was skeptical because of her own mail-order bride fiasco nearly twenty years ago. She met and married a man, only to have the lout disappear the morning after their wedding night, with her money, of course. But luckily, Lyle Elison and the Clear Creek townspeople came to her rescue.
“I know this isn’t how we thought this plan would go, and not nearly so quickly, but I think this is the right group of men to match with our young women,” Kaitlyn said.
“But how in the world did six men arrive so soon after you mailed the letter?” Darcie asked.
Kaitlyn filled them in on what Barton told her about the train robbery, finding the letter, and traveling here.
“All orphans trying to stay together. I like that idea. That will make six new families in our community,” Helen stated, with a tap of her hand on the table.
“And this group has a soft spot for adopted children,” Darcie laughed.
“Now, how are we going to get the girls to agree with our plans?” Lorna asked.
“We’ll introduce them, and then let nature take its course. Overall, they are a handsome bunch and have good manners,” Darcie suggested.
“How will they be introdu
ced as for being in town, though?” Millie tossed out, thinking like her marshal husband.
“Mack’s new building crew? Prospective owners of the businesses for sale?” Darcie asked.
Lorna looked around the table at her friends. If anyone would make this plan work, it was her group of steadfast friends.
“Helen, could we reserve the hotel’s event room for this Sunday? How about we invite the girls and the newcomers to lunch after church as a way for the men to meet people their age,” Kaitlyn suggested, thinking of all the matchmaking that had happened around her Sunday dinner table.
“Oh, yes! We can have individual tables set up for each couple we match together,” Helen wholeheartedly agreed.
“Do they need chaperones, though?” Lorna asked, and the group paused a moment to think about that.
“How about if each of us, including Cate, be in charge of a couple? Be their chaperone, guide, or whatever you want to call us,” Helen suggested.
“It might help the man out since he won’t know the woman or the community. Someone he can talk to for advice,” Lorna said, and they all nodded in agreement.
Kaitlyn stood to pick up the notepad and pencil from her buffet, then sat back down again.
“From our first impressions, who should be matched with who?” Kaitlyn asked the group, ready to write down their plan.
“And who should sponsor each couple,” Lorna continued with her idea of a chaperone. “Do you want to work with your own daughter, Helen, and Darcie?”
“No,” each said in unison.
“Amelia would pitch a fit if I was involved,” Darcie laughed.
“As would my daughters. Best Avalee and Nadine were helped by one of you instead of me,” Helen agreed.
“Okay, let’s talk about your daughter, Darcie. Which man would you like to match with Amelia?”
“I think she’d be attracted to the blonde man, Wesley. And I think she’d do best with you as the chaperone, Kaitlyn.”
Kaitlyn wrote down the first couple, then paused as if in thought.
“We don’t know who Mack and Kiowa will match with the employment positions and housing available.”
“Either Avalee or Nadine, with their husband, will have to live in the other apartment upstairs because that’s one of the places available for a couple. And, the hotel assistant manager is one of the jobs available,” Helen stated.
“Which men do you want to be matched for your girls then, Helen?”
“Both Avalee and Tobin Billings are short, and I think Tobin would do well talking to guests. The other man who I think would do well in the hotel is Gordon Miller. I guess, match him with Nadine.”
“Their sponsors?” Kaitlyn asked as she wrote down the next two couples.
“I’d like to take Avalee, and I’d suggest Cate for Nadine,” Lorna said.
“All right. That leaves the Brenner girls,” Kaitlyn wrote down their names. “Let’s see, who are the men?” This was starting to get complicated.
“Two Miller boys. Put Maggie with Squires and Maisie with Barton. That will be a combination of sisters marrying brothers. And I’ll be Maggie’s chaperone,” Millie suggested, and Kaitlyn wrote the names down.
“I’ll take Maisie under my wing. Wait did we just match the boys right? Isn’t Barton the oldest? Should he be with Maggie?” Helen asked.
Lorna was having problems keeping the couples straight. She should have asked for a piece of paper and a pencil too.
“Let’s leave the couples as is for now.”
“That leaves me taking Molly Brenner and Peter Gehring,” Darcie smiled, apparently happy to take the couple under her care.
Avalee would be a challenge because Lorna didn’t think the young woman was ready to give up her career. And to match her with Tobin Billings?
Lorna sensed it would take a lot of work to make that couple walk down the aisle together. At least Lorna’s daughters were in Boston with their grandparents and not part of this…fiasco? Or a brilliant plan? Only time would tell the outcome.
Chapter 3
Gordon listened as Mack Reagan talked and pointed toward buildings that he, with Kiowa Jones’ backing, had built over time. Several businesses on both sides of Main Street had been added, extending the business district.
"The depot and Clancy's Café across the street from it were the first businesses in town. You met my oldest brother, Angus, at the depot. His wife, Daisy, had the pharmacy you see across the street.
"Another older brother, Fergus, and his wife, Iris, had the photography shop. The next brother to me, Cullen, is the postmaster, and his wife, Rose, is the librarian." Again, the man's arm swung across the street back and forth to both buildings."
"You said you had five brothers? What do the others do?" Tobin asked.
"Seth and his wife, Lily, manage the Straight Arrow Ranch for Isaac Connely, raising and training horses. You'll meet them in church on Sunday.
"Our youngest brother, Tully, and his wife, Violet, travel and write about national parks for a Chicago newspaper," Mack concluded.
"And you said your wife's name is Pansy? All your wives' names are flowers," Tobin commented.
"Yes. Tully knew he had no choice but to stay married to his childhood friend, Violet, when they were accidentally married since her name was a flower too," Mack chuckled.
"Accidently? How do you do that?" Tobin continued.
"Ask Ma sometime. She loves to tell the story," Mack said as he moved down the street.
"What jobs or businesses are you wanting us to do?" Gordon asked, getting a little impatient. This day was making him uneasy, and he wanted to get to the details.
"We have four businesses in town that need to be re-opened so to speak," Mack said, then turned to Kiowa to continue.
"I own the barbershop building. The shop downstairs is equipped, and the upstairs is furnished," Kiowa pointed to the building.
"Why'd the barber leave town?" Gordon asked.
Kiowa and Mack looked at each other before Kiowa answered a bit sternly. "His son was arrested for arson after he tried to burn down the blacksmith and my home."
Mack pointed to another building with the sign “Taylor's Mercantile" above the door.
"The Taylors are getting older but don't want to completely retire. They want to move to the new smaller building I built down the street and just sell housewares. Someone needs to keep the mercantile running for groceries and general merchandise."
"What about clothing? Will it stay with the mercantile?" Tobin asked.
Was Tobin interested in the store? Gordon had thought to inquire about it for his job.
"The Brenner girls bought my wife's dress shop. They could easily handle ready-made clothing in their store if the mercantile decides not to," Kiowa said.
Gordon studied the storefronts as they walked down the street. All seemed to be in good shape, had lovely window displays, and no debris in their doorways.
"Ethan and Helen Paulson would like an assistant manager for their hotel. There is an apartment on the top floor. I assume it would be best that whoever assumes that job will marry one of the Paulson girls," Mack said as they walked by the hotel.
Gordon exchanged glances with his older brother. This was getting complicated, matching jobs, housing, and wives.
"The town needs a blacksmith. The smithy has living quarters in the back. Peter, I assume with your size and stature this job might be to your liking," Mack continued as he walked by the building.
The older men were assuming the wrong job for Peter. He'd be better at cutting hair than cutting hot iron.
They stopped in front of the livery, obviously in dire need of painting outside and a thorough mucking of manure inside by the odor.
"Lucas Boyle wants someone to take over his business and his house because the old man needs to move in with his daughter. He'll leave for her home in Kansas City as soon as there's someone to take care of the stock.
"One project for your group will be to clean and
renovate both places. I won't lie, the house looks and smells about as bad as the livery. When Mrs. Boyle died, everything when to pot, literally."
"What's the sixth job?" Barton asked.
"I need a carpenter, someone at the other end of the board so to speak. Besides Kiowa's projects, I repair and add-on to homes," Mack said.
"Where will we live until we're married to our brides?" Tobin asked.
"The apartment above the barbershop is available to use. You'll be in charge of your own cooking, cleaning, and laundry while you are bachelors," Mack supplied the information.
"We won’t want for meals. Possum is a good cook," Tobin announced, then paused when everyone turned back to stare at him.
"Well, he is. He can turn shoe leather into a tender steak," Tobin retorted.
"Possum?" Mack grinned down at Tobin.
"Ahh! I'm so sorry, Peter! We're supposed to use our real names instead of our nicknames!"
"Don't worry about it. My brothers and I had nicknames for each other too, depending on the situation, of course," Mack assured him.
"I started nicknames on the orphan train as a way to make us feel like a family," Barton said, probably to cover Tobin's embarrassment.
"Okay, now I'm curious. Peter is Possum. What's the rest of your nicknames?" Mack asked.
"I went with a... kind of a rodent theme,” Barton confessed. “I'm Badger. Gopher for Gordon, Squires, is Squirrel, Peter is Possum, Weasel for Wesley—"
"And I'm Tobin, the Toad for obvious reasons since I'm short and kinda pudgy looking when I sit down."
By now Mack and Kiowa were snickering, their faces turning red as they tried to keep from laughing out loud.
Gordon eyed the other men, wondering what they thought of the names that kept them together through the worst years of their young lives.
"You know, I think we're going to get along just fine," Kiowa finally said after wiping his thumbs across his eyes. "Mack, your ma sure knows how to pick 'em."
"Just remember guys, peashooters can cause problems for rodents, so you best stay on the good side of these older women. And the women they've picked out for you," Mack warned them after trying to quit his grinning.
Avalee Exchanges Her Fiancé Page 2
