“Do you talk to her about her mother?”
“I have some. I’ve told her how much she looks like her. All of her mother’s things are still in the house. She goes with me when I go visit Jenny’s grave. I’ve told her that her mother is in heaven.”
“That’s good. There are many children in our school whose father didn’t come back from the war. Some are angry about it, others have accepted it. I told Philip his father went off to fight for his country because it was important to him to do so. He seems to accept it. At least he’s not one of the angry ones.”
“I’m sure you’re a good mother. You had a good example. So did I.”
“Why did you start looking for a wife?”
“Becky needs a mother. I’m a little uncomfortable with giving her a bath and things like that.”
“She does need a mother. What do you need?”
“Since Jenny died, I haven’t allowed myself to need anyone. I’ve been afraid to. At night, after Becky has gone to sleep, I think about Jenny. I talk to her. She talks to me. I don’t know if I’m losing my mind or what. I need someone to talk to; I’m so lonely. When Becky’s awake, I don’t have time to be lonely.”
“You’re not losing your mind. I talk to Philip. We talk about our son.
“Becky does need a mother. Just as Philip needs a father. There are things she has to learn from her mother. You are an intelligent man, but I would bet there are things she will need to know that you can’t tell her.”
“I know that’s right,” he said.
“Why did you decide to write to me?”
“I know you. I always liked you. I remember us telling each other we would probably get married if I didn’t move.”
“That’s what I was asking about, and wouldn’t tell you in my letter,” she smiled as she remembered.
“Do you remember asking me not to move, and I could stay at your house?”
“I do. The morning you left, I was standing by my window watching your wagon go past our house. It was a bright moon and I could see you. I watched until you were out of sight. That’s when I realized I would probably never see you again. I asked Miss Klein about where you were, and then Mom got a letter saying you had all arrived safely. A wave of relief washed over me. You were gone, but you were safe.”
“I moved on from that time. I had a happy marriage even if it was a short one. After all of those years, the letter from you was like a special message straight from heaven.”
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“I’m looking for someone that can respect us and love us both. I want a partner I can live the rest of my life with, however long that is.”
“What are you looking for in a wife?”
“I want a mate and a companion, one who wants me and appreciates me, warts and all. She has to accept Becky as her own. I want someone to stand with me. I want someone like you.”
“That was well said, and I’m flattered. What about Philip?”
“I always wanted a son, and I don’t want Becky growing up thinking I wished she was a boy.”
“Touché,” Caroline said, thinking about her youth as an only child.
Sitting in the swing, looking at the dark mountains, each was lost in their thoughts and memories. Philip came to the door and told them, “Grandma Alice said to tell you supper’s ready.”
“Some of us have made progress,” Caroline said.
“Children have a way of getting to the heart of the matter,” Ben said.
“Don’t I know that!” she said.
“We’d better go in before she comes after us.”
Supper was over. Caroline and Alice had cleared the remains and washed the dishes. “I have to be getting on home and take care of things,” Ben said. “I’ll come back in the morning.
“Becky, do you want to stay with Grandma and Miss Caroline, or do you want to go home with me?”
“You,” Becky replied.
“That’s just about the sweetest thing I’ve seen,” Caroline said.
“Tell Grandma and Miss Caroline bye,” Ben told Becky.
She hugged her grandmother and received a kiss on the cheek. “Bye Grandmama.”
“Goodbye, darling. See you tomorrow.”
She hugged Caroline. “Bye, Miss Caroline.”
Caroline picked her up and hugged her, and kissed her cheek. “You’re a sweet girl. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He shook Philip’s hand. “We’ll be back in the morning.”
“Goodnight, Caroline. I should be here around nine in the morning. I’m glad you’re here.”
“That’s all I get? Everyone gets a kiss or handshake and I get a ‘goodnight Caroline.’ Where’s the fairness in that?”
“I didn’t want to offend you on your first day.”
She stood in front of him and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. “Goodnight, Ben. I’m glad we’re here too.”
Isaac and Philip had gone to bed, leaving Caroline and Alice in the front room. “What do you think?” Alice asked.
“Becky is as sweet as she can be. Ben is the same as I remember, except there is a sadness about him.”
“It’s been there since Jenny passed. He misses her. I’m hoping you can find a place in his life.”
“I can’t compete with her, and don’t intend to try. I’ve always had a place in my heart for Ben. I could love him if he will let me.”
“I’ll hit him upside his head with my frying pan if he messes this up.”
“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Mom. Let us handle it. Either it works or it doesn’t.”
“How long do you plan on giving it?”
“Miss Alice, we don’t have return tickets. I didn’t come with a plan to go back. I could, I can always teach, and Miss Klein would welcome me back.”
“Is that the same Miss Klein?”
“It is. They appointed her principal when Philip went to war, and she’s still there.”
“You’ve adjusted well.”
“I’ve had longer than Ben has, and I live at home. Momma doesn’t give me time to feel sorry for myself. Ben lives alone, except for Becky. There’s a difference.”
* * *
“Did you like Miss Caroline?” Ben asked as he got his daughter ready for bed.
“Uh huh.”
“Would you like for her to live with us?”
“Uh huh.”
“I would too. Say your prayers.”
She clasped her hand together in front of her face and closed her eyes.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Angels watch me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
God bless Papa, Grandmama and Grandpapa Palmer.
God bless Grandmama and Grandpapa Stevens.
God bless Miss Caroline and Flip.
Amen
“Goodnight, Baby girl. I love you.” He hugged her and tucked her in.
“I love you too, Papa.”
Chapter seventeen
The Promise
She was sitting on the foot of the bed. There was an ethereal glow surrounding her. “You’re finally going to keep your promise,” Jenny said.
“I’m trying.”
“I like her. She’s going to be good for you and she’s going to be a good mother. You’re in good hands, and I can rest now.”
“I haven’t asked her and she hasn’t said anything.”
“You will and she will. I’ll be watching over all of you.”
The glow faded and she was gone.
When Ben woke, he felt more rested than he had been in a long time. After starting the fire in the stove and putting on the coffee pot, he checked Becky. She was sound asleep, so he went to the barn and did his morning chores.
He returned to the kitchen, cooked bacon and scrambled eggs. He was a complete failure at biscuits and had given up trying. He left the pot of mush simmering to check on
Becky. “Your breakfast is about ready sweetheart,” he said. “It’s time to get up.”
He carried her to the table and placed her in the high chair he had built. He spooned the milk and cornmeal mush onto her plate “Would you like some of Papa’s eggs?”
“Uh huh.”
“Eat your mush and you can have some. I’ll get you a glass of milk to go with it.
“After you eat, we’ll wash up, get dressed and go get Miss Caroline and Philip and see how they like our house.”
Later…
“Did you have breakfast?” Alice asked.
“Of course. Becky had some mush and ate some of my eggs, and a glass of milk. I had bacon and eggs.”
“No bread?” Caroline asked.
“I am a complete flop at biscuits,” he confessed.
“There are some in the keeper,” his mother said. “There’s honey on the table.”
He poured a cup of coffee, got two biscuits and sat back down. He poked a finger in the side of the biscuits and poured honey into the holes. “These are good! It’s been a while since I’ve had this.”
“Caroline made them,”
“You did?”
She smiled. “I did.”
“I’m impressed. They really are good.”
“Thank you, Ben. I’m glad you like them.”
“We can leave whenever you’re ready,” he said.
“I fixed a basket for you. Beans are probably all you have, and you’re trying to make a good impression,” his mother said.
“That’s not necessary,” Caroline said. “We do appreciate it though.”
Ben was quiet as the wagon rolled on down the road to his farm. “What’s bothering you?”
“Nothing. My cabin is not an elegant place. It’s not what you’re used to. I’m embarrassed to show it to you.”
“I would like to see it. It’s part of why I came out here. If you don’t want to show me, then I might as well go back home. To New Concord. It’s up to you.”
“We’re this far, I might as well go ahead.”
“Are these your fields?”
“Yes. They’re mine.”
“They’re beautiful. How much land do you have?”
“Three hundred-twenty acres. It’s not free any more. You pay $1.25 cents an acre now.”
“You mean I could buy an acre for that? How much can one person farm?”
“This is more than I can do by myself. I hire someone during harvesting time. Leroy, Seth and I help each other. With them, I can do the planting without hiring someone.”
“Well, here it is. Such as it is. We cut the trees and had them cut. It’s all chinked and daubed. I just finished adding a room.”
“Do you want to go inside?”
“Of course I want to go inside. Help me down.”
He put his hands on her waist and lifted her from the wagon to the ground. “Come here punkin,” he said, and lifted Becky and carried her inside. “Do you need any help, Philip?”
“No sir.” He hopped down.
“Ben, I don’t see what you were worrying about. This is nice. It’s a lot nicer than where I lived when I was little. You’ve worked hard. I can’t believe you’ve plastered the walls.”
“I haven’t finished doing the new room yet, but I will. I bought the stove before I brought Becky home. It keeps it warmer in the winter, and cooking is easier than in the fireplace,” he told her. “That pot hanging from the hob is the one Mama used on the trail. Jenny used it too.”
“I would be proud to live here,” she said.
He blinked in surprise. “You would? I thought you would go back to Ohio.”
“Your mother asked me about it last night. I’ll tell you what I told her, I didn’t come out here for a visit. I came to live. I didn’t buy a return ticket because I didn’t think I would need one.”
“Are you serious or are you teasing me?”
“I wouldn’t tease about this. I’ve known you all of my life except for the years after you moved and we started writing. From your letters, I knew you were a good man, and I came with the intention of becoming your wife.”
Tears were streaming down his smiling face. “I can’t believe it. You want to be my wife.”
“I haven’t been asked, and if a certain someone were to ask, I have an answer ready.”
“Caroline, will you marry us?”
“We will,” she answered.
“Philip, I’ve asked your mother to be my wife, and she has said yes. I would like to know how you feel about it.”
“Good. Will you be my papa?”
“Yes, I will, and I’ll be proud to call you son.
“Becky, would you like to have Miss Caroline to be your mother?”
“Uh huh.”
“When would you like for it to take place?” he asked.
“As soon as possible. Could we do it in church?”
“Yes. We can talk to the preacher about it. I’d like to ask you to do a favor for me.”
“If I can.”
“I’d like to introduce you to Mrs. Stevens, Jenny’s mother. She’s been awfully good to us and adores Becky.”
“I would be pleased to meet her. Will you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“Kiss me,” she said, her eyes shining.
The kiss was hesitant and gentle. When they broke it, she said, “That was nice. It will do… for now.”
“I want to tell people. Let’s go into town and talk to the preacher.”
“Are you that anxious?”
“I don’t want you to reconsider your answer.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
* * *
On the way to town, he stopped at the Stevens’ farm. Clara heard the wagon and was standing in the doorway. “Mrs. Stevens, this is Caroline Simpson. We grew up together back in Ohio. She arrived yesterday. I have asked her to be my wife, and she’s agreed. I wanted to introduce you and let you know I’m finally keeping my promise to Jenny.”
Caroline looked doubtful and surprised. “What promise?”
“Ben promised my daughter on her deathbed he would find a good wife, and a good mother for Becky. It was the last thing she said before saying goodbye. It’s about time he did. Won’t you come in and set a spell?”
“We’re on our way to see the preacher. Caroline wants to get married in church.”
“I have a son, Mrs. Stevens. I lost my husband in the war. I want you to know I will be a good mother to Becky. Ben didn’t ask me to marry him, he asked me to marry them.”
“I am pleased at the news. It’s about time. You were from Ohio too?”
“Yes, ma’am. We had the farm next to Ben. I went to school and have been teaching in the New Concord schools since ’61.”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you. Ben needs a good woman. Thank you for stopping by.
“Becky, can you give Grandmama a hug before you go?”
After the hug, they headed for town.
Pastor Wilkins agreed to conduct the wedding ceremony on Sunday after church.
“Now for the easiest thing of the day. Let’s go tell Mama,” Ben said.
Chapter eighteen
A Wedding
“I expected you back before now,” Alice said.
“We’ve been busy,” Ben said. “I showed Caroline the farm, introduced her to Mrs. Stevens and we went to town. Oh yes, I proposed and she accepted. We’re getting married Sunday in church.”
“Hallelujah, prayers are answered. What did Clara say?”
“She was pleased, and said it was about time,”
“Caroline, give your future mother-in-law a hug. I was beginning to think I would never see the day. You need to write and give your mother the news.”
“I’ll do that tonight.”
“Ben, you need to tell your brothers, so they can make it to church for a change.”
“I imagine Caroline’s done enough riding today. I’ll tell them tomorrow.
“
If you can walk over two thousand miles, I can certainly ride a few more. Miss Alice, can you watch Philip while we go?”
“I’ll be glad to.”
Leroy’s farm…
She met Leroy’s wife, Glory for the first time. “We’ll be there if I have to drag him with a mule,” Glory told them.
Seth’s response was different. “You don’t want to marry him while I’m available.”
“I already gave my word, and I don’t like to go back on it,” she told Seth. “There’s one out there, all you have to do is find her.”
“I may already have,” Seth said. “I wrote off to one of those mail order bride papers, and have a couple of answers. I’m working on it.”
“I guess I’m almost a mail order bride. In a way, our courtship was through the mail. It sure takes a long time that way.
“Will you be there?”
“If I can’t find anything else to do.”
“Don’t trouble yourself,” Ben said. “We can do it without you.”
“I don’t know about that. Just to make sure, I’ll be there.”
“Thank you,” Caroline said.
They headed back.
“Have supper before you go home,” his mother said.
“You talked me into that one,” he said laughing. “I wish you were going with me,” he told Caroline.
“Why don’t you go?” Alice asked. “What difference will two days make?”
“I don’t think I would be comfortable with that,” Caroline said. “It would be nice, but I wasn’t brought up that way.”
“Becky, do you want to stay here or go home with me?”
“Her,” Becky said and pointed to Caroline.
“A knife to my heart,” he said.
“Hush and kiss us goodbye and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Saturday morning…
“Did you have a good time last night?” Ben asked Becky. She nodded.
“Where did you sleep?” She pointed to Caroline. “Can I have a hug?” She wrapped her small arms around his neck and squeezed. “You give the best hugs of anyone,” he told her.
Good morning, Mama. Did you take good care of my girls and boy last night?”
Rekindled Love Page 7
