by Rose Dumont
“Thank you. I guess I’ll have to get used to all these western things. We don’t travel in wagons like this back where I’m from.” Charlotte tucked her dress under herself and slowly sat down.
“Yes, I reckon you will have to adjust. But I’ll try to make it as easy as possible for you.” Grayson sat down, took the reigns and looked over at Charlotte, “Ready?”
“Yes…I think?”
Grayson steered Buck to the center of the dirt road and then shook the reigns twice. There was a quick jerk as the wagon sped up by the pull of the horse. Charlotte’s eyes grew big with fear as her right hand quickly rose to hold on to her hat while her left hand grabbed Grayson’s right arm. “Oh my!” she said excitedly.
“Hold on, Miss Charlotte. It might get a little bumpy.” Grayson smiled. He liked that she grabbed his arm.
“I won’t have any trouble with holding on. You might have to tell me to let go, though.”
“Never, Charlotte.” Grayson looked into Charlotte’s eyes and repeated, “Never will I want you to let go.” Charlotte smiled and slightly relaxed her grip on Grayson, but never letting go, as they headed out of town.
***
About a half mile out of town, the dirt road narrowed and became a little less smooth. “And I thought the road in town was rough.” Charlotte held onto Grayson’s arm a little tighter, bracing herself against the wagon’s seat with the other arm. “Where exactly are you taking me? Looks like into the wild west I’ve heard so much about.”
“I’m taking you to one of my favorite spots on our ranch that I like to go to when I’m not working. It’s peaceful and pretty, just like you.”
“You’re just full of compliments, aren’t you?”
“Shall I stop?”
“No, please continue.” Charlotte smiled at Grayson and scooted a little closer to him.
Grayson looked back and replied, “Your eyes are more pretty than the brilliant blue sky above us.”
“And…?”
“And? Well I can’t use up all my compliments in one ride to the ranch. I got to spread them out for the rest of our lives together, you see.”
“I guess I can accept that. Just don’t let them fall too far and few between.”
“No, Ma’am.”
About twenty minutes later, Grayson pulled the wagon alongside a shimmering lake surrounded on one side by aspens and fir trees and a green lush meadow blooming with a rainbow of wildflowers.
“Why this is a beautiful spot.”
“Here, let me help you down.” Grayson pulled up alongside the lake, put the break on the wagon and then helped Charlotte down.
“Do you come here often?”
“I try to. Sometimes I come up here alone, sometimes with Jarrod. This lake is on our land, so it’s nice and quiet. I’ll invite friends from town every once in a while to go fishing with me here, but typically it’s just me and Buck.”
“I live in the city back home so I’ve never gone to a place like this. The air is so fresh. It is indeed peaceful. I’m so used to people always around. I think I’d feel kind of scared if I was out here alone.”
“Well you don’t ever have to be out here alone, if you don’t want to. I’ll always be here with you.”
“How nice.” Charlotte paused and looked at Grayson. “So have you ever brought any other girls up here with you?”
“None that mattered. You’re the first.” Grayson took Charlotte’s hand and they walked over to a flat-topped boulder. “Here, have a seat. It’s my favorite sitting rock.”
“What, no cushion?” Charlotte said with raised eyebrows and a smile.
“I’ll promise to pack one next time, my Princess.” Grayson bowed and then sat down next to Charlotte. “Charlotte, I know you’ve sacrificed a lot to come out here. You’ve left everything behind to come to a place you’ve never seen before just to be with me. I want you to know that I will do everything I can to make you happy. I will love you, protect you and care for you like no other man can. Aside from Jenni, you are everything to me.”
Grayson got off the rock and knelt down on one knee. Charlotte put her hands over her mouth in surprise. “I know you already said, in a letter anyway, that you’d marry me, but I thought it would be only right to ask you like it should be done.” Grayson pulled out the ring from his vest pocket, took Charlotte’s left hand and said, “Miss Charlotte Abbey Chadwick, will you marry me?”
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Charlotte leapt to her feet, put her arms around Grayson and exclaimed, “Yes!”
Grayson hugged Charlotte back tightly and then said, “Wait, let me put the ring on your finger!” Charlotte stood back as Grayson took her hand and slowly slipped the ring on her finger. “Is it too tight, ‘cause we can get it fitted better?”
Charlotte extended her arm and spread her hand out in front of her admiring the ring. “It’s a little big, but that’s okay. It’s perfect.”
“Well we can fix that easy enough. Do you really like it?”
“I love it. I would have never dreamed of ever getting an engagement ring. I knew some girls back in Boston who did, but they were all marrying into very wealthy families.”
“Well my ranch is doing well and I had money saved up and felt like it would be a good thing to spend some of it on you.”
“I feel so special”
“That was the plan.”
“When I ordered it, I asked for a special design. Look at it. It’s shaped like you’re favorite flower.” The center diamond was set slightly above eight other diamonds that formed the petals.
“Oh. Why yes. It’s a…a daisy. How beautiful, Grayson. This was the perfect setting for you to ask me. And so is the ring.”
“Well I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. And I love you, Grayson.”
“I love you too, Charlotte. Forever and always.” Grayson took Charlotte’s hand and gently kissed it. “I can’t wait to call you my wife.”
“And you, my husband.”
“Well let’s head on out of here and get back to the ranch.”
“Sounds good to me. But I didn’t bring a change of clothes. I’ll be so dusty by the time we get there. I don’t want to look like a cattle rustler when I meet your family.”
“Oh, don’t you worry a bit. They’re used to seeing dusty folks, even women. You’ll be as pretty as can be, whether covered in dust or not. And it’s who you are that they want to know, not how clean you are. That didn’t come out right, but you know what I mean.”
“Well, if you say so. You have at least a wash basin that I can use to freshen up?”
“No, just an outhouse and the water from the cattle trough.”
“What!”
“I’m just kiddin’ you. Of course we have a wash basin. It’ll be all yours.”
Charlotte slapped him on the back of the shoulder. “I almost was gonna say take me back to town!”
“No you weren’t. You’d still love me even with just a trough, wouldn’t ya?”
“I guess. But eventually this woman would need my man to build me a proper bathroom.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Grayson helped Charlotte back on the wagon, untied Buck and then headed back down the road over to the ranch.
CHAPTER SIX
Grayson came around the last turn in the road where the ranch could be seen in the distance below. “Whoa.” He slowed the wagon to a stop. “Well there she is. Wind River Ranch.”
Charlotte looked upon the homestead consisting of the large two-story cabin with wrap-around roofed porch, a tall barn, corral, chicken coop, and several other outbuildings. Surrounding the buildings were meadows bordered by a dense spruce and fir forest with a wide meandering river. A split rail fence bordered the property where more than a dozen horses grazed along with a large herd of cattle. “Why it’s beautiful. Is all this yours?”
“Yep. And it’s not mine. It’s ours, Charlotte.” Grayson shook the reigns and headed down the curving switchback road. He pulled up n
ext to the corral and then helped Charlotte out of the wagon. “There you go. Let me just unhook Buck and get him watered and fed. It’ll only take a minute or two.”
“Alright. I’ll wait for you on the porch.” Charlotte walked up to the cabin porch and sat down on one of the rocking chairs. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw someone pulling back the corner of the curtains and looking at her, but then disappeared. She took a breath of the fresh mountain air and then sighed.
“Okay, let’s get you inside so I can introduce you to Miss Jean and Jenni.”
“And I still need to freshen up a bit before dinner.”
“Yep.” Grayson wiped his vest and pants and a cloud of dust plumed around him, “And so do I, I suppose.” He opened the door and let Charlotte walk through first. Miss Jean was sitting at the kitchen table knitting. “Hey, Miss Jean. I’d like to introduce you to Charlotte.”
“How do you do, Ma’am?” Charlotte walked over to the table and put out her hand. Miss Jean, somewhat stiff, slowly started to rise out of her chair, but Charlotte interrupted, “Oh, please don’t get up on my account.”
“Thank you, dear. I don’t rise as fast as I used to.” Miss Jean extended her hand, “A pleasure to meet you. Grayson has told me so much about you.”
“We’re glad you made it here safely. It’s a long trip from where you came.”
“Yes, it was. I’m so glad to finally be here. And Grayson has told me so much about you as well.”
“Well don’t let it scare you. I’m not that wicked.”
“Oh, no Ma’am. Grayson had only good things to say about you.”
Grayson chuckles, “She’s just messing with you, Charlotte. I forgot to tell you our Miss Jean is also a jokester.”
Charlotte looked puzzled for a moment and then laughs, “Oh! Well don’t I feel silly.”
“That’s a good thing,” Miss Jean declares.
“I think I’ll fit in quite well here with you-all.”
“You mean y’all?”
“Yes, y’all. I guess I need some work on my western speak.”
“You’ll be talking like the rest of us in no time lil’ lady.”
“I…I reckon!” Charlotte says proudly.
Miss Jean looks at Grayson, “Yep, she seems to be a keeper.”
“Forever and ever, Miss Jean.”
“I guess that’s what yur gonna promise each other a few days from now.”
“That’s right. ‘Till death due us part, good or bad.”
“Easier said than done sometimes.” Miss Jean looks upward through her spectacles at Grayson.
“Not if you’re marrying the best girl ever.”
“Awwwe. You’re so sweet, Grayson. You’re making me blush.”
“Well it’s true!”
“Well your girl would be even better if she could freshen up a little. I feel as dusty as a tumbleweed.”
“You can use the wash basin in my room.” Grayson points around the corner. “Up the stairs, first room on your right.”
“I’ll be right back.”
After Charlotte leaves, Miss Jean whispers to Grayson, “Are you sure she’s the one?”
“Why of course! Why would you ask such a thing?”
“She seems nice enough. Maybe too nice. Like she’s hiding something. I just want you to be sure.”
“Sure I’m sure. I love her and she loves me. I need nothing else.”
“I don’t want to cause you no fretting. But you know your momma would be just as critical about who’s gonna marry her son. And since she’s not here, God rest her soul, I feel I should be just as discerning. Just looking out for you, like you were my son. You might not be in blood, but you are in heart.”
“Well I thank you Miss Jean for looking out for me and all, but I know Charlotte is the one for me. I wouldn’t have gone through all this if I had any hesitation.”
“I guess if you feel that way, then I can’t say anything otherwise to you. I just want you and Jenni to be happy, that’s all.”
“Of course. And we will. The three of us will be happy together. I know it.”
“Alright. I won’t say another word about it.”
Charlotte enters the kitchen, “Oh, I feel much better now. So where’s Jenni?”
“She’s still taking her nap. She’ll be up before dinner though. Which reminds me I need to get it started.”
“Well that’s something I should do, not you. I didn’t think a man would do such a thing out here. Cook for a woman?”
“Well it’s not usual, but today I will. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make us dinner after we’re married. I’ll fix this one.”
“You don’t want any help?”
“Nope. Why don’t you two sit out on the porch and get to know each other a little better.”
“Are you sure you don’t need any help?” asked Miss Jean.
“Nope. Go ‘head. I’ve got it under control.”
“Well alright. But you holler if you need me.”
“I will.”
***
Charlotte and Miss Jean went out on the porch and sat down in the rocking chairs. “Oh, that breeze feels so nice. It’s so beautiful here. The trees, the flowers, the fresh air. It’s so different from where I’m from.”
“Where is it you’re from again?”
“Boston. Boston, Massachusetts. It’s a pretty big city. Lots of people, lots of buildings. Not much open space like here.”
“Sounds awful. Living out here isn’t exactly easy. You gotta work hard to make a living and Grayson has done that, taking over his Father’s ranch and all. But at least you’ve got space to do it. I don’t think I’d like living elbow-to-elbow next to so many people like you say. I need some space to think and stretch.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Living in a city is different. There are some advantages, though.”
“Like what? And ya know you can call me Miss Jean. You’re nearly family now and that’s what the boys call me.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I…I mean, Miss Jean.”
“So what’s so great about city livin’?”
“Well, there’s lots of shops and places to eat. You can go to plays and listen to orchestras, although I haven’t really done any of those things being poor and all.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think you’re missing out on much. Those Yankees can have it all to themselves. It’s not for me. No, I rather sit here on the porch and hear nothing but the bird song.”
“It is nice. I will miss some things about Boston, but I think I definitely can get used to this kind of life out here. I knew it would be different, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to be with Grayson.”
Charlotte’s parents immigrated to America when Charlotte was only two years old. They were poor dairy farmers who wanted the opportunity and freedom America could provide for them and their children. Charlotte’s mom’s sister, Madeline, and husband also came over on the same ship. They purchased some land together and built two small homes for their families.
They were doing well until a horrible accident happened one evening. Charlotte’s mother, Elizabeth, fell in the kitchen, hitting her head on the cast iron stove and knocking herself unconscious. When she fell, she bumped a lantern over that shattered and started a fire.
Charlotte’s father, Robert, was asleep. By the time he woke up, the fire had engulfed most of the house. It was apparent he tried to rescue Elizabeth, as they found his body laid over hers after he dragged her towards the front door. But there was too much fire and smoke and they both perished. Fortunately, Charlotte was over her Aunt’s house when it happened.
Charlotte was only twelve years old when she lost her parents. Orphaned, her Aunt Madeline took her in until she was seventeen. Her Aunt already had six children and taking in Charlotte was a burden, especially since they were just scraping by on her husband’s meager income.
When Charlotte moved out she found temporary jobs, mostly as a servant, sometimes staying in boarding houses, somet
imes staying in quarters provided by her employer. Now at age twenty-two with no prospects of a husband, Charlotte was more than happy to accept Grayson’s proposal.
“I consider Grayson as one of my own sons. I want the best for him and he seems to think you are the best. Is it true? Do you really, with all your heart, truly love Grayson?”
“Why of course, Miss Jean. I wouldn’t be here if I even had the slightest reservation. I came a long way and left my only family, my sister, behind to be with Grayson. It wasn’t easy, but I knew my heart belonged here with him and Jenni.”
“Sister? For some reason I thought Grayson told me you were an only child.”
“Uh, well…I mean a cousin of mine that feels like a sister to me.”
“Oh. I see. Well I’m glad you mentioned about being with Jenni too. You don’t have any problem raising a child that isn’t yours?”
“No, not at all. I will love her like I would my own. Because she means so much to Grayson, she already means that much to me. And I hope to have more children with Grayson so she wouldn’t have to be an only child.”
“You seem to have all the right answers. I don’t know whether to like you or be suspicious of you.”
“All my words come straight from the heart, Miss Jean. And why would you be suspicious?”
“Well Grayson isn’t your average dirt-poor sodbuster or cowpuncher out here. He and his brother have more than most and it’s something that a girl might take advantage of.”
“Oh no, Miss Jean. I would love Grayson even if he just had a nickel to his name. I love him for who he is, not what he has.”
“There you go again, saying the right words.”
“You’ve got to believe me. I’m here only for Grayson and for Jenni.”
“Only time will tell, Missy. But for now, I guess I’ve got to believe you. Just know if you cross my Grayson, you better high-tail it back to that Yankee city of yours or your hide will be mine.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I…I mean, Miss Jean.”
