Martha and Annabelle worked long hours stopping only to eat and grab a few hours sleep. Several of the gowns were finished and upon receipt of the money, over the next few months the business grew once more. Another sewing machine was added and Annabelle was soon turning out pieces of the garments almost as quickly as Martha. Two more assistants were hired, one was Annabelle's older sister, Ellen and May, who was the daughter of Jeremy's warehouse manager, completed the staff. Both were excellent and enthusiastic seamstresses. Money was tight in their families and the wages were greatly appreciated. Martha was surprised with her own organizational skills. She found that business came almost naturally to her and she handled difficult management decisions with ease. The ladies of ‘St. Louis Couture Designs’ hung their sign with great pride. Christmas was going to be a busy time for Martha and her new staff. Looking up from her paperwork, Martha beamed with pride and elation as she surveyed her business. A shop of her own, she could hardly believe it was true. It was hard work but worth every minute. Orders continued to flood in, thanks to her benefactor, Agatha Carruthers.
Down the block, Jeremy's business was also doing well. It was his habit to take care of his paperwork and mail early in the morning before going to the docks to supervise his shipments. His office faced the east and the river but the large windows allowed the daylight to fill the office most of the day. A long table by the window was laden with samples of materials, sundries and various dried herbs. He loved his work spending long hours in his office. It was decorated to provide him with a soothing atmosphere. Deep brown leather chairs and settee blended with the forest green and rust brown carpet to compliment the rich wood paneling. A small antique table bore a silver tray with silver tea service and a crystal brandy decanter. Several delicate crystal glasses and china teacups sat conveniently on a small shelf above the table. The room was manly and professional. Jeremy sat at his large oak desk and opened the mail. A letter from Austin and Loretta was amongst this week's delivery.
Dear Jeremy: Loretta and I made the crossing without crisis. I was surprised that Loretta, unlike myself, showed no signs of seasickness and quite enjoyed the shipboard activities. Mother met us at the harbor in Liverpool with John McGuire and the two ladies immediately became friends. John looks well and inquired about his daughter and her plans to return. I was troubled to have to tell him that it was unlikely that she would return any time soon, however he took it in his stride and gave a sum of money as payment for the rescue mission. I'll bring it with me upon my return. I did try to refuse my half but he would not have it. I intend to give some of it to my mother and then put the rest in a trust for the boys.
We had dinner with John, phoebe and Max Smithson, who it now appears, is Phoebe's beau. Loretta, mother and I accompanied John to the churchyard and put fresh flowers on your mother's grave. It appears that John visits the graveyard weekly, bringing flowers not only to his own wife, Lillian's grave but to your mother's as well. John has been very active in reforms to the Asylum Actsin England. He seems to have been affected deeply by your mother's situation prior to her death.
We'll be returning before the weather gets too cold and the seas too rough and want to be in St. Louis for Christmas. Mother has loaded us down with gifts and I'm sure we'll need another trunk for the ship. I delivered your instructions to Max about pheasant Run and it will be taken care of.
Tell Martha that Loretta is getting all kinds of information on current fashion trends in England and France from Phoebe and will return full of news for her. Apparently, Martha's old designer Charles Worth is now in France and most famous. John sends his love to Martha and his great appreciation to you. We look forward to our return. It is strange but St. Louis feels more like home to me now.
Your friend and partner, Austin Wells.
Jeremy was happy to know that Austin would be home soon. Business was brisk and he could use the help. He too would put the money from John McGuire into a trust for the boys. He was fascinated to hear that John McGuire had taken such an interest in the lunatic asylums since visiting his mother there. Perhaps it was his way of making restitution for marrying Martha off against her wishes to Jebediah. Well, whatever the reason he was happy to know that changes had been made. It was a sorry day when his father had committed their mother but she was a danger to herself and did not even recognize them. Jonas Whittaker was devastated and never really recovered from it. Jeremy remembered that Jebediah had never come to terms with his father's decision to commit her. He just didn't seem to believe that she was ill; perhaps Jebediah's denial was a sign of his own illness.
Jeremy rose from his desk and walked to the window. His hand rested on the dark wood frame as he scanned the street below basked in early morning light. Martha was crossing the street and approaching her new shop. His heart began to beat quickly and his mind filled with intimate thoughts of her. How he loved that woman. Telling himself to go slowly, he was very careful not to overstep in helping her, knowing that she had to do things herself. Looking forward to the day they could be together, he believed it would happen with all of his heart. He thought back to the night at the county club just before the Wells had left on their honeymoon. Clarise danced several dances with him and she seemed to be enjoying his company as much as he was hers. Later, as he stood in conversation with some of the Business Association members, Clarise without warning approached him and slapped his face. She marched angrily from the club without a word leaving him dumbfounded. Days later he heard that she was engaged to some business associate of her father. The whole incident was very confusing. He still didn't know why she slapped him. Even her father seemed cool towards him after that night. Well, it did not matter now because he knew where his heart belonged. He checked his watch and locked the door. Jeremy left his building and rushed out to meet Martha for an early morning breakfast.
Chapter Twenty- Abraham and Bo
Abraham returned from the blacksmith shop early one evening carrying a large parcel. As he entered the kitchen, Martha turned and inquired what he was carrying.
“Well, Mama, it's like this. The hound dog at the blacksmith had puppies about three months ago and all of them were given away to fine homes. Good thing too cause the Smitty was going to drown any of them that didn't get a home.” Abraham shuffled his foot on the floor and stared down at his shoe. Martha had a hard time keeping a straight face at the comical sight he made. “So this here parcel is, uh for your birthday Mama.” Abraham held the parcel out to Martha and she reached for it cautiously with both hands.
“Well thank you very much but my birthday is not for months.” She held the parcel in her hands and felt it move. As she peered into the sack, a pair of big brown sad, eyes looked back at her. “This present seems to be alive Abraham.”
“Happy Birthday Mama, his name is Bo.” Abraham beamed from ear to ear and lifted the already large, puppy from the sack. “I just knew you would love him. I already made a house for him at the blacksmith shop and I'll go now and get it.” Without giving her a chance to reject the idea, he started for the door. “I just knew you would love him.” With that he turned and ran across the porch and down the street. Leaving a laughing Martha holding a squirming fat three-month-old puppy. She had known this was coming and had joked with Jeremy as to how Abraham would broach the subject. Neither of them had considered the birthday angle. She had already decided that a puppy would be a good idea for the boys and a dog was good protection for the family, but she wanted to see how inventive Abraham would be. And so my family grows by one. She carried the soft brown ball of fur out in the yard and put it on the grass. The brown pup immediately started sniffing the ground and marking his territory.
“Just remember one thing Bo, I'm the boss around here and all of the men listen to me.” Martha smiled and watched Bo make himself at home. She lifted Isaac's fishing pole and moved it out of harms way. Isaac had been fishing with Grandpap Phillip in Austin's absence and Martha was pleased to include the two older people in her family circle. L
ife just keeps getting better and now we even have a dog. Abraham returned with Bo's new home and the two of them set it up in the back corner of the yard. Bo immediately settled into the straw that Abraham had put in his new doghouse and Martha returned to the kitchen, leaving boy and dog alone. She had received a letter from Wyoming, delivered by Arthur Langley that morning and sat down with her cup of tea to read it.
Dearest Martha:
Please forgive my poor English. I am not good at writing letters.
I know you are surprised to receive a letter from me Martha. Mr. Mueller and I are sorry to have to tell you that Margaret Brown and her young child have been killed in an Indian raid. It happened just two weeks ago. Indians rode north of the town raiding and burning several of the homesteader's farms. The Johnsons, the Edwards and Margaret and the child were all killed in a savage attack during the night. James Brown was off on a scouting mission and is devastated. The poor, poor man has lost not only his wife but his child as well and him trying to keep the peace between the Indians and the settlers. The entire town is in shock and fear for their lives.
Martha, her hands trembling, dropped the letter to the floor as tears for her dear friend filled her eyes. Abraham found her sobbing with her head on her arms. Although she never expected to see her again, she still felt a certain closeness to Margaret. Her heart was aching. She felt that an important part of her had died.
“Mama, what is wrong?” He put his arms around her and she lifted the letter and handed it to him. “Oh Mama, our friends are dead. This is terrible. Don't cry Mama, don't cry.” The boy did not know what to do. Isaac arrived home a few minutes later and went to fetch Jeremy. Martha was put to bed and Jeremy stayed with the worried boys.
“Thank God we got you out of there before this happened. It's a terrible thing that has happened to your friends but I just thank God it wasn't Martha and you.” He reassured them that Martha would be fine in a few days and tried to answer their questions to put their minds at ease. His heart went out to James Brown who he knew had done his best to bring peace to the unsettled land. It was a wild and unsettled country. Jeremy and the boys were thankful to be living in St. Louis and not Wyoming. Upstairs Martha lay in her bed sobbing. Memories of her time in Wyoming came flooding back. She took the folded worn letters from her drawer. A torn piece of silk from an old petticoat fell to the floor. Picking it up, she caressed it with her fingertips as she began to read:
My dearest Austin: My mental state could only be described as dark and depressed. All the love, laughter and joy have been replaced by endless toil, sadness and defeat. I'm mortified to say that I sometimes wish Jebediah were dead. The situation is hopeless and my life has become a nightmare. I feel my own heart filling with evil thoughts and I'm ashamed. Only the young boys keep me going. I realize that they need me for protection from their own father and I must be strong for them.
She had resolved never to destroy the letters that she had written during her time in Wyoming. The letters, never mailed, that kept her sane. Holding the worn paper in her hand, her wrist began to ache and her whole body shuddered as she remembered how it had been broken. Tenderly she replaced the torn silk and folded letters to their hiding place. That night her nightmares were filled with the blood curdling screams of her friends and the face of her tormentor.
The following week, Martha wrote to the Muellers to thank them for letting her know and sent her condolences to all of the people of Whittakerville. She was glad to be away from Wyoming and all of the troubles but she felt sorry for those that remained.
Vowing never to forget, she planted a pink rose bush in her garden as a remembrance to Margaret and her baby. She thanked God for bringing Jeremy and Austin to her rescue before it was too late. Every time I look at this rose, I will think of you my friend. Almost as an afterthought, she planted another rose bush beside the first for Sergeant Dwyer. As her fingers held the tiny white rose growing on the thin stem, she sent up a silent thank you to the man who had given her those precious moments of feeling beautiful and special in Wyoming. Thank you John Dwyer for giving me a few moments pleasure in a time of misery. With tears in her eyes, she dusted the soil from her apron and swore that she would never forget them.
Bo, who grew quickly, soon became a permanent member of the family. Isaac was impressed with the hound. “A good hound dog is the only dog for hunting. We'll take him out and see what he's got next week Abraham. You can come with me and control the dog and I'll do the hunting.” Abraham was thrilled to be included in Isaac's plans.
The following week, Isaac and Abraham went off to the woods alone with Bo. Isaac much preferred hunting alone or with Austin. Abraham didn't like to kill any creatures and he really was out of his element in the woods. Isaac loved the tranquility and solitude of the woods. He actually preferred animals to people and had few friends.
“We are big game hunters, just like Grandpap. Aren't we Isaac?”
“You just watch the dog and do what I say Abe.” Isaac was beginning to think he had made a mistake bringing his brother along.
The three headed deep into the thick hardwood forest. The dog took the scent and started running. Isaac took off after the dog and Abraham tried to keep up. Not long into the chase the dog disappeared and neither of the boys could see him. Isaac told Abraham to stay where he was and he would go and find the dog. Moments later, concerned about his pet, Abraham's alarm grew and throwing caution to the wind, he ran deeper into the woods to find Bo. Soon Isaac could not find either Bo or Abraham and was beginning to get worried. He searched the woods for over an hour but there was no sign of his brother. He felt both anger and concern for Abraham as he continued his search.
Abraham wandered through the forest aimlessly. He was frightened, shouting for his pet. He finally spotted Bo down in a gully. He scrambled down the bank after the dog, catching his clothing on branches and brambles as he went. As he reached the bottom of the gully he heard a loud low growl. The dog was nowhere to be seen but the bushes shook and a huge black bear appeared, with teeth flashing and angry eyes fixed on Abraham. The small boy started to run but tripped over a log and tumbled down the ravine with the bear close behind. A few feet from the terrified Abraham, the bear stopped and turned, distracted by something behind it. Bo appeared out of nowhere and leaped on the bear's back. The two creatures rolled over and over on the ground and loud growls, grunts and yelps permeated the air. The infuriated bear turned side to side as the determined Bo attacked, lip curled, teeth bare, first from one side then the other always avoiding the bear's head. Abraham covered his head with his hands and rolled into a ball under the closest shrub. His heart pounded and his body trembled with fear. Clumps of fur and blood flew through the air and the two animals were embroiled in a vicious battle. Abruptly, the sound of a gunshot cracked above Abraham's head startling both he and the two battling animals. He looked up and watched as the bear fell to the side. The snarling dog, torn and bleeding immediately went for the bear's throat. Isaac slid down the side of the ravine to where his brother was crouched and shaking. He called Bo off the bear and fired two more shots into the bear's hide. The dog crawled to Abraham and licked his face. The frightened, shaken boy sobbed at the bloody sight of his dog.
“Come on Abraham, we have to get Bo back home as soon as we can. Are you hurt?” Isaac took charge of the situation and prayed that neither his brother nor the dog were badly hurt. He could see that the dog needed immediate attention and took off his shirt and tore it into strips. Abraham crawled out from his hiding place and started to wrap the dog's wounds with the pieces of fabric. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he patted and consoled his poor pet. The dog had saved his life and now might lose his own.
“He saved me Isaac, Bo saved me. We can't let him die.” Abraham looked at his older brother with pleading in his tear filled eyes.
“Nobody going to die but that big old bear, now let's find some big sticks to make a travois so we can pull Bo home.” Isaac went off to find two long sturdy
sticks and when he returned they tied Abraham's jacket over the sticks and made a stretcher for the dog. They lifted the dog onto the stretcher and Isaac covered the bear carcass with twigs and branches. It was a good- sized bear and he intended to come back and get it when he could get someone to help him retrieve it. “Now stop that crying and start pulling.”
Martha was beside herself when she saw the blood soaked boys and their dog returning to the house. She trembled as Isaac carried the dog onto the porch and Abraham ran to her arms. Oh dear God, what now? Thank you for watching over my boys. Pushing her own fear away, she quickly set herself to the job at hand.
First she cleaned and bandaged the dog's wounds and a salve that Abraham got from the blacksmith was applied. Then the boys were bathed and fed and Bo was put in the warm kitchen for the night. Abraham brought a blanket and pillow and fell asleep on the kitchen floor beside his beloved pet. His hand was resting on the dog's head as if he were willing the dog to live. Ezekiel was sent to bring Jeremy.
Jeremy arrived within the hour and listened patiently as Isaac told him how he had found Abraham and shot the bear but the dog was the real hero of the day. “I can't wait to tell Grandpap and Austin about this. They will be so excited.” Isaac was wrapped up in his story. Seated in the sitting room with Isaac and Ezekiel, Jeremy felt very at home in this cozy house. His nephew was telling him quite a story. Jeremy shook his head in amazement at this young man's nonchalant attitude to the events. Not being a hunter himself he was very impressed with Isaac's quick thinking and shooting abilities. Austin and Phillip would be very proud of him. Ezekiel thought it was most exciting and asked Isaac to repeat the story again.
Listening from the kitchen, Martha was concerned at the danger the boys had been in and shuttered to think what may have happened. After hearing of Margaret's death, she was even more aware of how precious life could be. As she watched Abraham sleeping, big dog cuddled in his arms, she realized that the boy had not had any premonitions or dreams since they had left Wyoming. Perhaps that part of his life was over. Please let them all grow to be strong, confident men dear Lord. Keep them safe.
Dreams and Nightmares Page 21
