by J. R. Biery
An hour later, when Mother Wimberley urged her to get up and get ready, Father Wimberley was standing in the room, brushing his hair and straightening his tie. Mary Anne was trying to push between him and the mirror as she tried to retie her hair ribbon. Claire put down her powder puff long enough to retie it for the excited little girl.
Bonnie sat up sleepily and yawned. It looked to her that the boys had the right idea. Dressing up for dinner, and all the primping was pointless. Impatiently she combed and recoiled her own heavy brown hair into a neat chignon at the back of her head, smoothed her skirt and blouse and headed for the inside washroom at the end of the hall. The Wimberleys refused to ride down in the ‘contraption,’ but Mary Anne was eager to ride down with Bonnie.
As Bonnie and the little girl rode down in the open cage, Mary Anne pointed to her parents and Claire, oohing about how pretty they looked. A floor lower and she was calling and waving to Bella and Barney. The little boy started a thin wail of alarm. As soon as they reached the main floor, Bonnie moved to stand at the stairs. As Barney began to struggle and flail about, Bonnie reached out and took him from his mother.
<><><>
Bella took Henry’s arm as soon as she released the boy. Bouncing him on one hip, Bonnie began to talk to him and try to calm him down. When the Wimberleys joined them, they all began the long promenade toward the restaurant near the rear of the hotel lobby. The large marble tile made musical clicks as they all walked briskly down it toward the immense room with its big chandeliers.
“Can we afford to eat here?” Mother whispered.
“Of course, I made a killing on the equipment I sold today.” He turned to stare at Henry. “How about you, Lambton? Did it go well?”
The two men loudly discussed their success as they stood waiting to be seated. Barney again squealed loudly.
“What’s wrong? Do you want to see the boys? Do you miss Tom and Jim?
Barney put two fingers in his mouth and hesitated in mid-cry. “The pretty horses, do you want to go pet Bob and Sue?
Barney looked around at the crowded dining room, at the well-dressed strangers. He made a low, tentative cry.
“Your doggies, do you want to see Tip and Tyler?”
His eyes widened and he pulled his fingers out with a pop. “Doggies?”
Several people turned to stare. In his red velvet suit, with his black hair and eyes shining against his white skin, the boy was beautiful. Several smiled and pointed to the noisy child. One woman waved at him and he raised his eyebrows in surprise. That brought another wave of appreciative laughter.
It took only a moment to convince Bella and Henry that Bonnie should take care of Barney at the wagons with the twins tonight. Even the Wimberleys barely argued. “I’ll order four meals and send them out to you in the park,” Father said.
Free at last, Bonnie rushed from the noisy, crowded hotel into the peaceful warm night.
<><><>
Claire called good-night, but was quickly distracted as a small orchestra at the back of the room began to play. Enchanted, she watched the beautifully dressed couples slowly stand and begin to fill the floor to dance. When she looked past her Father’s shoulder, she saw Bella staring at the dancers and placing a protective hand on Henry’s arm.
When the woman stood to whisper something in his ear, Claire felt a familiar wave of envy. Especially when Henry bent to fold her arm around his to lead them both into the crowded room behind the maître d’.
The excitement remained, through the careful studying of the menu, the detailed description of entrees by the waiter, and the grand meal that followed. Everyone at the table was happy. Mary Anne watched the dancers with such wistful excitement, Father Wimberley finally escorted her onto the floor between the arrival of their salad and main course. The little girl ended up standing on his feet to dance, a position Claire had used in the past. The pair received many smiles and admiring glances as they twirled past.
Without a word, the Lambton’s slipped onto the dance floor. For a moment Claire was too shocked to think how it made her feel. She tried to channel Bonnie’s emotions, and think how wonderful it was for the pair to have such a pleasurable moment since they usually argued from dawn to dusk. Without Barney to worry over, Bella looked relaxed as she gazed up at her happy husband.
Excited, Claire tried not to show her disappointment at not getting to dance, as the food finally arrived. Father Wimberley and a skipping Mary Anne rejoined the table and Claire made a point of assuring the girl how lovely she had looked and how well they had danced.
The food was so delicious, Claire forgot about the dancers. But as everyone seemed to be finishing up, she again stared longingly at the dance floor. The waiter returned to clear the table and describe the list of desserts. All three women ordered desserts, with Claire and Mother offering to share half with Mary Anne. Father and Henry chose to order an after-dinner brandy.
While they waited, Claire again looked longingly at the dancers. Father rose and escorted his wife onto the floor and the two girls at the table watched and laughed as they moved in a waltz around the floor. As he returned his wife to her seat, Robert Wimberley extended a hand to his daughter. Even though the desserts were arriving, Claire leaped up at the chance to dance on the beautiful lighted dance floor. The tile beneath their feet was black and white marble, laid in a diamond pattern. Claire and her Father laughed as the orchestra started a faster reel, but he gamely danced on.
When the number ended, they had to look around for their table. As they looped arms and spun around, a man taking her arm bowed his head to her. “Good evening, Miss Wimberley.” Father Wimberley stared, trying to puzzle out who the man was. Claire explained, “He’s the manager of the store where Henry sold most of his goods today.”
“Did you consider my offer?” the manager asked as they looped arms again.
Father Wimberley looked between the two in amazement, as he whirled his new partner past. Claire looked up at the smiling man and shook her head. “We are traveling west, I couldn’t abandon my family.
Changing back to her father, she muttered, “I explained to Mother that I was offered a job at the store today, to model the clothes for the customers. I guess she didn’t get a chance to tell you,” Claire blurted, as she was once again whirled away.
“Nonsense, you’re not interested in anything like that,” Father shouted.
The Lambton’s were the next couple in line and Father smiled as he linked arms to whirl around with Bella. Claire still felt miffed at her father’s attitude and so Henry asked what was wrong as he took her arm and twirled her.
“Just explaining who the store manager was that just spoke to me,” she said.
Once again, she linked with her father and danced up and down the rows between all the other dancers, then around to form the arch for the others.
But as her father walked her back to sit down, he breathlessly took his own seat and stared at her, clearly upset. “You did tell the man you weren’t interested, didn’t you.”
Henry and Bella were also returning to their seats, both in high-color from the rapid steps of the dance. Henry leaned forward, clearly anxious to hear her answer.
“Of course I did. I haven’t traveled all this way from Boston just to go back to work in a store. I plan to find and marry a suitable man once we settle, wherever you are taking us. Then my only job will be to supervise the servants and raise a family.”
“Good,” Father said, then lifted and swirled the amber liquid in the balloon shaped glass before taking a sip.
“Really,” Bella said. “It would seem with a little money from your parents and a good job, you could become independently established here. After all, St. Louis is far larger than any city where we’re headed. There will be many more eligible men to choose from here.”
All three of the Wimberleys looked shocked. Claire was the first one to speak. “I plan to settle close to my parents and friends.”
“A young woman alone in this place. Who would ev
er think that was a reasonable choice,” Father said and Claire noticed her Mother nodded.
“I moved to a city far from my parents to establish my business in Boston,” Bella said.
“But you had a husband,” Claire and Mother said at the same time.
“Yes, I do have Henry. I suppose you are right,” Bella said. “And you do have your friend, Bonnie.”
“She and I have made our plans. They involve visiting out friend Lynne and building homes nearby.” As she talked, Claire’s voice had risen.
Henry raised a hand and made a shushing sound. “Ladies, let’s focus on finishing this delicious meal.” A bell boy with four stacked trays stopped by the table. “Do you think I should go with them,” Henry asked.
Father shook his head. “No need. Bonnie and the lads will have things in order, you can count on that. Here in the city, it’s safe enough. Tonight, you and your lovely wife should enjoy your private room,” Father said, his eyes full of meaning.
Claire looked at Mary Anne. The imp had cherry juice on her lips and Claire raised her napkin to blot it away.
“You told me I could have half of your dessert, I just figured you wouldn’t mind if I ate the first half” Mary Anne said.
Claire stared at the mangled cherry pie, the soft cream almost melted around the plate, surrounding mostly crust. “I guess it is what I said.” Determined to be happy and enjoy the rare evening of fun, Claire took a bite of the pie. Even with melted cream and mostly crust, there was enough of the sweet tart cherries to turn the corners of her mouth up in delight. “Hmm, remind me to not be so generous next time.”
But the little girl was helping Mother eat the brown chess pie she had ordered. When Claire looked across to see what Bella had ordered, she watched Bella hold out a forkful of white layer cake for Henry. He made a moan of delight and the couple shared a secret smile. Flustered, Claire looked around the large room. She laid her napkin down, then determinedly finished what remained of her own dessert.
The waiter returned to serve coffee and clear the table. Somehow they had managed to make all the food and desserts disappear.
<><><>
Once more in the hotel room, a curtain drawn between the beds, she and Mary Anne lay giggling, too happy to sleep. In between the pauses in their own conversation, they could hear the reassuring murmurs of her parents talking in the next bed. After they had shared their favorite things about the grand dining room, the amazing music and dancing, and the delicious food, her father called. “Good night, girls. Early start tomorrow.”
Lamps blown out, in the dark the small girl quickly fell asleep. Claire could not relax so easily. The conversation with Bella came back to her. Now her mind wanted to come up with clever lines to say. But it wasn’t a play, and there would be no chance to go back and tell her ‘...’ and there Claire lay. What could she tell her? The woman was right. If she had Bonnie’s courage, she would want to live an independent life. But what kind of woman actually did that? Even Bonnie planned to live near her brothers and friends. Maybe her answer was the best one. Bella had been able to leave home because she had a husband and wanted to make a new life with him.
Claire put a hand over her heart. That wasn’t what she wanted, to be far away from her parents. She wanted to live a normal, happy life. One surrounded by family and friends who shared her values and faith, who would be there in her hour of need, who would love her. A board outside her door creaked. Claire waited until the door at the far end of the hall closed. A man traveling to the hotel bathroom. There was one at the end of the hall nearer their room for women to use. Such a modern, beautiful building. Feeling safe and happy again, Claire drifted into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Claire argued all the way down the path from the hotel. “Why do we have to leave in the dark? Can’t we stay another day, there is so much more of the city to explore. Henry and Bella still have merchandise they need to sell.”
Father was repeating what he had told her while they dressed and packed to leave the room. “Time is money. We don’t want to end up on the trail in cold weather, we have to make every day count now.”
Bonnie had a fresh pot of coffee brewed when the travelers came down the path from the hotel. She offered the sausage and campfire biscuits and was pleased when all were accepted. “I thought you would be eating fancy again this morning. I’ll need to stir up some more for our lunch.”
“The restaurant wasn’t open yet and Father wouldn’t wait. Bonnie, you tell him one more day to rest wouldn’t hurt.”
Bonnie shook her head. “We can’t stay, the police stopped by last night and told us we are camped illegally in a public park. They said if we moved on out this morning, they wouldn’t write a complaint and make us pay any fine.” She passed around the last biscuits, telling the boys to just be patient. “I promised we’d be gone.”
“You should have been here,” Tom said.
“A whole crowd of people stood around watching us get in trouble,” Jim said.
“Bonnie made us sing, but the officer let us stay when he learned we were Irish. They were Irish too,” Tom added.
“See,” Father said.
Claire didn’t want to give up. “Aren’t you tired to the bone of all this. We must have walked a thousand miles already, but Father says we’re only now getting started. Isn’t it horrible?”
Claire watched her friend pour the batter into a long pan to shove into the campsite stove. The metal box was another clever invention Father had made.
Bonnie straightened, “It’s not been all that bad. When I get tired, I just climb up on one of the oxen and ride a few miles, just like the boys.”
Bella and Henry picked their way carefully down the path. Then suddenly Bella brushed past Claire and raced to the wagons, calling her son’s name as she ran. Barney sat beside the campfire, happily wedged between the twins on the oilcloth, with the dogs stretched out beside them.
“Hi, Momma,” he called and Bella’s face changed as she turned and smiled. She said good morning to her beloved child with a noisy kiss. The boys sprang up, to give her room, excited to talk about the cattle rustlers who had visited in the night. While they jumped around and talked, Father and Henry asked dozens of questions.
Bonnie was just finishing explaining how she’d heard the oxen’s bells and fired the shotgun. “I think they were going to steal whatever they could find in the wagons,” Bonnie said.
“I thought the dogs would be some protection, give a warning. Didn’t any of you stay awake to guard?” Father asked.
The boys were interrupting again, defending their beloved animals. “We were on watch, but we ate so much food, we fell asleep,” Tom admitted.
“Tip and Tyler ate what Barney couldn’t, so they fell asleep too. But when Bonnie fired the gun, they took off after the thieves with a vengeance. Tip came back with cloth from one of their jackets or pants,” Jim said.
Mother Wimberley stood at the rear of her wagon, shaking out the clean clothes she had picked for each to change into. “Bonnie, Claire, it’s your idea. I’ve convinced Father to make the time, but you have to hurry to change if we’re going to make an early mass.”
“We’ll keep an eye on everything,” Henry said to Father. He had taken the shotgun from the front box of his wagon and stood defiantly ready. Claire thought he looked remarkably sweet holding the noisy gun she knew he hated.
Claire came down from the wagon, her spring bonnet in place, her favorite green dress shaken out for another wearing. “It will probably be our last chance to attend church until we reach Utah.”
Bella looked up from where she was feeding Barney one of the warm biscuits. “We’re Jewish, darling. You remember that, don’t you?”
Claire blushed, even without Bella saying them, she heard the words, ‘silly goose.’
What was wrong with her? Even if he wasn’t married, he was Jewish. She and her parents were good Catholics and so were all her friends. She looked away from him and hur
ried to hook her arm with Bonnie. All the way to the church, Bonnie continued to talk about the thieves. It was hard for Claire to get a word in about the grand hotel, the food, music, and dancing, but she tried.
<><><>
Inside the church, with its high arched ceiling and tall stained glass windows, she felt suddenly humbled. Kneeling and crossing herself, she followed her parents and Mary Anne into a pew near the front, leaving room for Bonnie at the end.
During the long opening prayer, she felt the magnitude of what Bonnie had been telling her. Thieves, worse, they could have hurt the children, or... As the terrible thoughts and images flooded her mind, Claire trembled. She raised her head to stare at her friend. Somehow Bonnie had found the courage to chase them away.
At the priest’s loud amen, the others opened their eyes. Bonnie stared at Claire, looked amused at the rapt look in her large, blue eyes. Bonnie reached over to pinch her, but Claire caught her hand and held it for a minute, trying to say all she felt without words. Bonnie nodded, put her arm around her shoulders and exchanged a hug.
Minutes later, Bonnie was tugging the stack of folded flyers with a message about repentance from the back of the pew. She leaned across Claire to pantomime to Father Wimberley someone writing on the paper. He patted a pocket, then passed her a pencil.
All through the Latin service and on into the English translation by the priest, Bonnie wrote. Claire looked at the paper, saw Ian and Shawn’s names at the top. Curious, she looked over at Mary Anne, who shrugged, then tried to see what had made the girl think of so much to write just now. As she turned on the pew to look behind, she saw the men who had filed in after they arrived, filling the next two rows behind them. Soldiers.
One of the men coughed, another twirled his thin, dark mustache and smiled at her. Claire tried to look shocked and swiveled back to face forward. But she was aware of whispers among the troops behind them. Flattered, she folded her hands in her lap and tried to look pious.
