Reclaiming Hope (Mail-Order Brides 4)

by Annie Boone

  “I am very good indeed,” Eva smiled, thinking of all the times she had added, subtracted, and multiplied. From stretching recipes to make food last longer to dividing candies between the twenty girls in her dormitory she had definitely developed arithmetic skills. “Why don't I show you a sample, Mr. Stevenson,” and she gestured for him to write a figure down for her to solve.

  “By all means,” he said, trying to stump her with a difficult equation.

  “Eureka,” she shouted, startling Luke, “the answer is sixty-four. Notice how I didn't cipher on paper? Teaching girls how to multiply has lodged the numbers in my mind permanently.”

  “Well, that was quite impressive,” Luke admitted, brushing her shoulder behind the close confines of the counter. “I know you have good penmanship from our correspondence, and now this. We will make an excellent team. And did I tell you how pretty you look today?”

  “Dear me,” Eva pantomimed fanning her face while Luke admired the figure she cut in her royal blue dress, with the flounced underskirt of cream. It was the finest dress she owned, for her first day working at the hotel she had wanted to appear as lovely as possible. It appeared that she had met her goal.

  Eva drank in the lovely words. First that Luke considered them a team and next that he thought she looked pretty. She was very nearly swooning in his attention.

  Just then, a stout man in a bowler hat burst through the door. “Luke,” he bellowed, speaking fast and loud. Then he noticed Eva and tipped his hat. ”Ma’am,” he said, nodding at her.

  “What’s wrong? Out with it!” Luke cried anxiously.

  “That crazy idiot, Bonner, is making trouble over at The Tin Cup again. He’s bothering Miss Janine and you said come get you if he showed back up. That man is barking at a knot where Miss Janine's concerned. She ain't gonna have him back.”

  “Drat and tarnation,” Luke angrily replied. “I thought he left for California when that last wagon train came through town. Can you handle this while I deal with the lot,” he asked Eva. “The sheriff is down with his back and I've been appointed his stand-in while he mends.”

  “Certainly,” she responded.

  Eva watched him warily as he withdrew a revolver from a spot under the counter. He tucked it easily into a holster he had under his vest.

  “This won't take long. Remember, if you need help William is upstairs, in room fifteen. Charles is also around in the back and he can help, too,” he told her.

  And with that he was off, leaving Eva with a twinge of apprehension. What if he gets hurt? She worried about his safety and quickly pushed the grim thought away. Bring him back to me, Lord, she prayed.

  Chapter Six

  An hour later Eva had successfully registered her first guests, a nice couple from Wyoming in town on business with one of the sawmills. Her nerves were singing so she decided it wouldn't hurt to step out for a breath of fresh air and stroll past The Tin Cup. As she meandered by she saw a saloon girl, clad in a low-cut emerald green satin dress, with a bruise on her cheekbone. The girl was talking to the fellow that had summoned Luke.

  She noticed that the group inside was breaking up so she hurried down the wooden walkway to catch them before they walked away. She arrived inside the saloon breathless in the high altitude air. Luke had told her at dinner the night before about Evergreen's extremely high elevation. Now she was feeling the effect.

  “Pardon me, “she stammered, as the woman in the emerald green dress faced her, “I'm looking for Luke Stevenson, do you know where he is?”

  “Well, you must be the dove I've heard so much about,” the woman snarled, her long raven black hair swinging from side to side, green eyes flashing, “I don't have to tell you anything, run along now, little orphan.”

  Eva wasn't bothered by the insult, she had dealt with bullies many times before. She knew exactly how to deal with this kind of person. She looked at the woman straight in the eye, never backing down or showing discomfort.

  Then she countered the barb sweetly. “Why, you must be Janine. Did Bonner hit you? What a rotten man he must be to strike a woman! The chemist across the street surely has witch hazel. I can fetch you some. It is wondrously effective in treating bruises. Clears them up lickety split and soothes the ache too. I learned that at the orphanage.”

  Janine Morell was perplexed. The scowl on her beautiful face attested to that. This little chit was here in town to marry Luke Stevenson. The man should be hers and would be if she had anything to do with it. Just because she owned a saloon didn't mean she wasn't fit to be Luke's wife.

  This little dust up with Bonner was her idea and part of her master plan. If Luke came to her rescue maybe he'd see how much she needed him. If she could stir up those protective feelings in him that would work in her favor.

  Unfortunately, Bonner had been drinking and underestimated the force of the fake blow he was to give her. It did give the whole drama the look of realism, but she'd be danged if she was gonna pay him now. He’d given her a nasty and painful bruise and she figured she didn’t owe him a dime for that!

  As she continued to size Eva up, the old fellow sitting at the bar offered, “He’s over to the jail, ma'am.”

  Wanting to speak privately with Eva, Janine said, “You know, witch hazel sounds like just the thing for this bruising on my cheek. Go fetch me some, Jedd. We ain't got no customers for you to play the piano for right now, anyways.”

  Janine leaned in towards Eva aggressively as the old man lumbered out of the saloon and on to the street. She shook her finger at her and rasped, “Me and you have business, orphan. Luke Stevenson is meant to be mine and that hotel of his is meant to be mine, too. Combining my saloon with his hotel will make us both rich. When he sees the error of his ways, he'll send you packing. Save yourself some time, trouble, and heartache and just leave now.”

  Eva had rarely seen such an ugly expression on such a pretty face. “Beauty is only skin deep,” she murmured, feeling sad for this woman she didn't know at all.

  Janine huffed and continued with her intimidation tactics. Eva didn’t back down.

  “We have no business to conduct. None at all. If Luke Stevenson chose to be with you after proposing to me I'd not want him under any circumstances. His word would no longer having meaning and he couldn’t be trusted. If that is the sort of man you want, then you are most welcome to him. If he is the man I believe him to be, stay away Miss Morell. If you don’t, I'll be forced to show you what else I learned at the orphanage,” she added sweetly.

  She turned on her heel and walked away. Janine stood slack-jawed at her bold words.

  ***

  Luke arrived back at the hotel just before the noon time meal. He was clearly disgruntled and Eva wondered what had transpired.

  “Kate is cooking ham and vegetables for lunch, or so I heard from William earlier. It’s not quite time to go in to eat, so how about a tour of the hotel before we go?” she asked hopefully. “What I've seen so far is lovely, but there is still the upper floor that I have yet to see,” she pointed up.

  “Of course, I wasn't thinking. Things got out off schedule this morning, I reckon. I am so used to this old gal I forgot you haven't seen her yet. Sometimes I think everyone knows every inch of her like I do,” Luke said. “Now let me take you on a tour of the finest hotel in ten counties.”

  Eva accepted the arm he held out, admiring his black waistcoat and vest. As he led her up the wooden staircase, she saw him lovingly run a hand over the shiny banister.

  “As you may remember from our correspondence my parents built this hotel in 1849, over twenty-five years ago. Many times as a child I ran up and down these halls all boisterous and wild. Once, I almost knocked an older gentleman over when I was running up the stairs. He tanned my hide good! I thought he was gonna tell my dad, but he didn’t. Guess he thought the thrashing was enough.” Luke was chuckling as he reminisced about his childhood in this place.

  Eva was enthralled with his happy chil
dhood full of mischief and laughter. She compared it to her own and felt sadness at what she had missed out on after her parents died. Her heart was gently reminded of the little ones at the Home who needed hugs and attention almost as badly as they needed food. “I imagine you would have had your hide tanned again when your father found out,” she smiled at Luke.

  “No doubt,” he replied, nodding vigorously. “I slid down this banister as well, but only when my parents weren't looking.”

  “Your childhood sounds like it was filled with joy and curiosity. It must have been fabulous growing up in a place like this,” sighed Eva.

  “It was and I’m thankful for the experience. I’m also happy as a businessman today that I was able to see it in it’s infancy. I learned as a child even though I didn’t realize that’s what was happening,” he shared.

  “That makes sense, though, Luke. Children take in so much more than adults give them credit for. Much of it sticks, too,” Eva added.

  “Now here is the part I’ve added,” he gestured proudly towards indoor bathing rooms as they walked further down the hallway of the second floor. “William devised the pipe system to carry the water. It was blastedly expensive, but well worth the money. Our next project will be installing a similar system in our home.”

  Luke glanced quickly and covertly in her direction to see if she had caught the “our” in his listing of the future renovations. Judging by the smile on her face, she did.

  “So,” he continued, clearing his throat, as he unlocked the door to a small room, “we also provide services for our customers, such as laundry and mending, for a small extra fee, of course. And we keep all our cleaning products and linens stored in here.” The room smelled pleasantly of pine and bleach.

  Eva drank in the lush dark green carpeting, the pleasant watercolor pictures hanging on the walls, and the wide windows looking out on Main Street. “This is truly a grand establishment,” she said in awe of the place that she was now a part of. A painting of horses in a meadow drew her attention and she walked over to study it.

  “All the paintings in the lodge were painted by Kate,” he offered, seeing her interest. “I'm sure she would love to teach you if you wish to learn. She wasted her time on me when I was a child as I am absolutely awful at drawing and painting. She wanted so badly for me to be talented, but alas, I’m not.”

  “I would enjoy that very much,” she replied. “How long have you known Kate and William?”

  “They have been with my family since I was twelve. They're as dear to me as my own parents.” He opened the door to an unoccupied room and the delicate aroma of vanilla wafted out to him as Eva stepped inside. “Each room has a bed, a small table, and two chairs. We also have a wash basin and pitcher in each room. The McCrory sisters, Essie and Grace, clean the rooms. Harder workers you couldn't ask for, and I am sure you will get along well with them. In fact, we will be attending church with them on Sunday.”

  Eva wondered if he knew how blessed he truly was. All the things he took for granted, good meals, a comfortable bed, people he had known for years who loved him. She vowed then and there to help the less fortunate if God saw fit for this marriage to take place. There were so many ideas she had for running a children's home. She would make it a place of laughter, love, and light. First things first though, right now it was time for lunch. “I so look forward to meeting them. Come along, then,” she held out her arm. “Escort me to lunch. I’m starved!.”

  Chapter Seven

  “These potatoes are delicious,” Eva told Kate, who had come out of the kitchen to join them for lunch in the dining room. “The rest of the meal was wonderful, too, but these potatoes were my favorite.”

  “They’re quite easy to prepare, my dear. I’ll be happy to show you how I make them when we have the time,” offered Kate.

  “Oh, my!” Eva exclaimed, jumping up and heading toward the door. “It just occurred to me no one is up front behind the desk.”

  “It is fine,” Luke soothed, “I have a bell system that William engineered. When a patron rings a bell at the desk a second bell rings in here.” He pointed to a circular device hanging high in the corner. Then he looked over at William and nodded to him. “You, man, are remarkably clever and I am quite happy about that.”

  “That is most ingenious,” she applauded while William bashfully smiled. “There are so many new things to do here, new things to see. I am so grateful to be here,” she finished exuberantly, as Kate and William shared a look, thinking back to the days of their own youth, it was rewarding to see life through the eyes of one who took nothing for granted.

  “All right ladies, sir,” Luke began, as he stood up, “I hate leaving such fine company but Eva and I still have work to do.”

  “We will see you this evening for dinner,” Kate told Luke, “I am baking a special dessert for Eva. It’s the pecan pie you told Luke you liked so much.”

  Eva was touched. “Oh, Kate! It’s been years since anyone has made a pecan pie for me. Actually, it’s been years since anyone made anything for me at all! My mother used to make special desserts all the time and pecan pie was always my favorite. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness!”

  She and Luke left the room to continue their work. “Ready to get back to it?” he asked.

  Eva smiled and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as they walked side by side out of the dining room. “Thank you for telling Kate my favorite dessert,” she said gently. “I’m surprised you remembered that detail. I think I probably only mentioned it once in my letters.”

  “Well, I did read your letters more than once, Eva. I was doing all I could to make sure I was getting to know as much about you as I could. I felt it was important to determine if I felt we might be a match or not. Anyway, who doesn’t like pecan pie?” he laughed and her heart melted just a little.

  Eva thought, He is much gentler than he likes to appear. Yes, she was convinced of that.

  Going to bed that night Eva was happy her first day in Evergreen had gone so well. She snuggled down in her bed and couldn’t stop smiling. Even the encounter with Janine Morrel couldn't bring her spirits down. She had resolved to forget the incident unless Miss Morrel proved bothersome. If that happened to be the case then Luke Stevenson would need to provide some answers before she married him. Yes, he most definitely would need to get involved.

  ***

  The following morning dawned with crisp air and a beautiful sunrise. Eva was impatient to be off to the lodge. She was waiting for William to walk with her, as Kate was already at the hotel, and she was hoping he would hurry. Luke would be there starting the day’s work and she was anxious to see him. She also hoped she would have a chance to go to the water’s edge today and enjoy a close up view of the lake.

  Finally, William appeared. “Oh my, dear Eva. I see you’re waiting on me. Sorry I’m poking around this morning. Luckily, I’ve had breakfast so we can be on our way.”

  He held the door for her and the two began the short walk to the lodge and the day’s work.

  “So, William. Do you happen to know anything about Janine Morrel?” Eva asked cautiously.

  The big man shook his head sadly, “I wouldn’t say that we are friends and I’ve never had a direct conversation with her. So I guess you could say that I know of her. Quite honestly, I don't rightly like what I know,” William said, shaking his head.

  “So what’s her story as you know it? I think I may need some insight into this woman.”

  “Years ago, her family moved to Evergreen and her parents tried mining for gold in the mountains. Many thought this to be a scheme to make them rich, but it’s hard work that they don’t count on. They didn't have a house, they lived in what could best be termed as a shack. One day they sent Janine into town on the only horse they had to get supplies. The sky was clear, but the wind was cold on that day, I’m told. By the time she was finished at the general store, the weather had turned and a blizzard was moving in. It w
as too hazardous for the young girl to go back to their little homestead.”

  “Oh, how scary for a young girl?” exclaimed Eva.

  “Indeed. The story doesn’t have a happy ending for this family, Eva. Two weeks later her parents were found frozen to death. The story is grim and I only tell it because of how Miss Janine is today. She is about the orneriest woman I ever saw. Sometimes I think losing her parents that way…made her mean. Other times I figure she'd have been contrary no matter what. So, anyways,” he concluded, “If you're asking about her it means she's already stirring up trouble.”

  Eva looked at William and nodded. “I may be adding drama where no more is needed,” she responded.

  “Nonsense. What did she say to you,? Miss Eva.”

  “She told me to leave Evergreen. She told me that she and Luke are meant to be together and that I’m messing up their life. Please don't tell him I asked about this,” she said. Stepping up onto the porch of the hotel, she turned and put a finger to her lips as she looked William in the eyes. “I am used to solving my own problems and I’m sure I can handle this one.”