by Debra Samms
"I am not going to Oregon," her mother whispered. She shook her head and then looked up at Molly, her eyes shining with sadness. "And neither is Cornelius."
"I know that, Mother. You've already told me that. You've said that neither of you feels up to such a long journey. I understand. And I have no wish to go anywhere without you. So that settles it. I am staying right here in Chillicothe with you."
"But dearest, this is what I'm trying to tell you," her mother said. "There is no need for you to stay here at all. I won't be alone, and neither will Cornelius. You see – " Louisa paused, and then could not help smiling. "We're getting married."
"You're – what?"
"Getting married."
"To whom?"
Louisa laughed. "To each other, of course."
"But – but, Mother! You and Cornelius have no reason to get married! There would be no children from such a union. No property to manage. No farm to run. And you have both already known married life for many years, you with Father and him with Ted's mother! Why on earth – "
"Molly Bergstrom!" cried Mrs. Lincoln. "Stop right there, girl. Do not be so disrespectful to your mother."
"Or to your father-in-law," said Mrs. Andrews, with a decisive nod.
"This new union does not mean they did not love or respect their own spouses, back when those spouses were alive," Mrs. Lincoln went on. "It means that life goes on. That is as it should be for all who are alive, no matter what their ages."
"But . . . Mother . . . " said Molly faintly, trying and failing to think of something else to say.
"Please, dear," her mother said, as gently as she could. "Cornelius and I are fond of each other. We wish to live together, right here in Mrs. Parker's house, so we can help care for one another. It is proper to be married in a case like that."
Molly had no answer to that. She could only nod, and smile gently at her mother. "Then I am happy for you both," she said, in a voice that wavered only a little.
"And we want to be happy for you as well," said the formidable Mrs. Lincoln. "That is why we have brought you this copy of the Matrimonial Times. Please do consider it."
Molly looked at the folded newspaper on the table in front of her. With a sigh she picked it up and got slowly to her feet. "Thank you," she said. "I will consider it." With that, she picked up a candle from the shelf by the stairway, lit it from the burning candle on the table before the rocking chairs, and started up the stairs.
CHAPTER FOUR
February 13, 1875
Chillicothe, Ohio
Captain Strong,
After much thought and prayer, I take pen in hand to write you a letter of introduction. It is meant in response to your notice placed in a recent edition of the Matrimonial Times.
I myself am twenty-four years of age and recently widowed. I am well accustomed to farm life and to caring for kitchen and home, as well as helping with the management of dairy cows. I was a schoolteacher prior to my marriage.
I see from your notice that you hold the rank of captain in the United States Army and are currently serving at Fort Lapwai in the Idaho Territory.
Allow me to express my condolences at the loss of your wife just last autumn. I can well appreciate your sentiment as to not enjoying the life of a bachelor, as well as your longing to have both children and a loving and devoted wife. I, too, wish to have a family of my own someday.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Theodore Bergstrom
***
Three weeks after answering the notice she had seen from Captain William Strong in the Matrimonial Times, Molly stood outside on a beautiful spring morning early in April. The sky was a delicate blue with just a few puffy white clouds; there was new grass growing in the pastures; and sweet-smelling white blossoms fluttered on the apple trees.
But at her feet was an empty grave.
As she stood beside the grave, six men walked from the receiving vault bearing the wooden coffin that held the body of her husband, Theodore Bergstrom. Standing close beside her mother and several other farmers and their wives, Molly pulled her warm black shawl close around her and tried not to look at the coffin.
In a few moments, the men had lowered the coffin into the grave. They pulled up the ropes and then took up shovels to begin throwing in the newly turned earth which would cover him forever.
Molly found herself shaking. It had been over three months since the sudden death of her husband, and she had begun to adapt to being a widow. She had even been persuaded to write a letter to another man who was looking for a wife.
But now, standing beside Ted's grave and listening to the sound of the clods of earth being shoveled onto his coffin, it was as though it was happening all over again. All she could do was weep – and finally she hurried away from the little crowd beside the grave and ran to one of the apple trees. She stood behind it and hid her face behind its slender branching trunk.
In a moment, her mother stood beside her. "Oh, Molly, I am so sorry," she said, placing her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "It is not fair that you should have to go through this twice. Once was far too many."
Molly shook her head, trying to wipe her eyes. "That is no one's fault," she whispered. "I am – I am just wondering what sort of woman I really am."
"Oh, my dear . . . whatever do you mean?"
"My husband has just had his funeral. How could I have already written to another man – a man hoping to find a wife? What would Ted think of that?" She closed her eyes tight. "I know exactly what he would think. And he would be right."
Louisa walked around the tree to stand in front of Molly. "Now, you look at me," Louisa said firmly. "This event today has brought it all back. But the truth is that Ted died three months ago. You did no more than write a letter, and you did so with the knowledge and approval of the two guardian ladies of the town: Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Andrews. Not to mention your own mother."
"Maybe I should just forget I ever wrote that letter. There's been no answer yet. Maybe I can just forget I ever saw that newspaper."
"No, Molly," said a deep voice. "You should not call it off."
Molly and her mother looked up to see Cornelius Bergstrom standing near then. "I know you loved my son," he said quietly. "You were a good wife to him. But it is far too soon for you join him."
That made Molly weep all the more. Her father-in-law patted her shoulder while her mother looked on. "Promise me that if Captain Strong writes back to you, you will write to him again in turn."
Molly drew a deep breath and nodded her head. "Yes. I will." But deep in her heart she hoped there would never be an answer. That way, she would never have to take such a risk again.
***
April 2, 1875
Fort Lapwai, Idaho Territory
Mrs. Bergstrom,
I was so very pleased to receive your recent letter. You are correct when you observe that even though I am devoted to the soldier's life, there has been a considerable emptiness in it since the loss of my wife some months ago.
Like you, I wish to have a family. Therefore, at the urging of a friend, I gave myself over to Fate and placed a notice in the Matrimonial Times. Now it seems that Fate has chosen to allow the two of us to correspond.
I have enclosed a small pen-and-ink drawing of myself done by that same friend, who has no small talent for art.
Should you wish to send, in return, a sketch or pen-and-ink of yourself, I should be pleased to no end to receive it and would treasure it always. Now that the railroad has reached Utah, it will only take some six weeks for correspondence to travel between the Idaho Territory and the state of Ohio.
Again, I thank you for your kindness in sending me your letter.
Faithfully,
Captain William Strong, USA
***
After reading the letter by the morning light coming in through the window of her room, Molly set the letter down on her little table and tried to decide what to do.
When the day of Ted's burial had finally come, she'd be
en overcome by guilt at the thought of looking for another man so soon after her husband's death. Molly had secretly begun to hope that this Captain Strong would not respond to her letter.
But he had written back. And she had to admit that she was captivated and warmed by his letter. He sounded both kind and decisive, as though he were a leader. Someone who inspired trust in all those around him.
And when it came to the little ink drawing he had enclosed – could any man really be so handsome? Young but mature face, dark hair, dark eyes, and fine features. Molly had never seen a man like him in her life. Certainly not in Ohio.
Now she had a decision to make. Captain Strong would be waiting for her reply. If she was not going to pursue this any further, she should at least advise him of that.
She picked up her pen and sat down at the little table in her room.
***
May 15, 1875
Chillicothe, OhioDear Captain Strong,
I am glad to know that my last letter reached you safely. I wish to thank you for enclosing the very fine drawing of yourself. It is nearly as good as meeting you face to face.
I will tell you that before his sudden death, my husband and I both hoped to travel to Oregon and make a life for ourselves out there. Though I was unable to save him from the accident that claimed his life, I find that I am still drawn to the idea of living in the West. In any event, I have no wish to live out my years alone and childless no matter where I may be.
I have never met a soldier, though I can tell you that I find it to be a most respectable profession. I am sure that life in a fort on the Idaho frontier must be interesting indeed.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Theodore Bergstrom
***
Later that afternoon, Molly sat on the long front porch of the boarding house with her face turned towards the sun. "Now, just stay still for as long as you can," instructed Mrs. Andrews. The older lady sat across from her with a little easel and an assortment of watercolor paints. "I think this will do very nicely."
"Oh, yes, indeed yes," said Mrs. Lincoln approvingly, leaning in to look closely at her friend's work. "You always were quite good at the drawing and painting, Eulalie."
"Thank you, Imogene." Mrs. Andrews glanced up at Molly and smiled. "She was the musician among us, when we were girls. I was left to learn to draw."
Molly smiled as much as she dared. "I so appreciate you doing this little painting for me," she murmured.
"You are most welcome," said Mrs. Andrews, peering closely at her work. "Now, then. Come and take a look."
Molly quickly stood up and went to see. "Oh," she breathed. "I couldn't possibly look so pretty!"
The little watercolor painting, only a few inches on each side, showed a woman who was not young, but not old, either. Her light brown hair was tied back from her very fair face with a green ribbon that was the same shade as her eyes and her green print dress. Behind her was a branch with just a few white apple blossoms on it.
Molly looked up. "Thank you, Mrs. Andrews."
"Here you are," the older woman said, carefully lifting the little painting by the corners. "You should set it out to dry for at least a couple of days before you attempt to mail it."
"I see," Molly said. "So I'd best make up my mind by then. Thank you again." She walked inside, gingerly carrying the painting and wondering how she would feel at the end of two days.
***
Post Script: In return for your very fine pen-and-ink drawing, I enclose a small watercolor portrait of myself done by my friend Mrs. Andrews.
CHAPTER FIVE
July 3, 1876
Fort Lapwai, Idaho Territory
Mrs. Bergstrom,
I wish to send you all my gratitude for the very beautiful watercolor painting you enclosed with your last letter. I shall treasure it always.
It seems that you and I may be a pair of similarly wounded spirits. I, too, was unable to save my wife when she walked too far into the forest to gather watercress and met her death at the hands of a few marauding Indians. It had fallen to me to insist she not leave our home that day; yet I would not make her stay, and she never returned home again after that.
The Idaho Territory wilderness has a beauty all its own. The country is very open along the Clearwater River, with scattered forests of cedar, pine, and fir. Being fairly low in elevation, this region is not too cold in winter and very pleasant in summer.
I wish to emphasize that though we are well protected out here on this United States Army fort, an officer's wife must be a very strong woman to live far from the comforts of a city or even of an Ohio farm. Yet she must also be a woman who is biddable and not disobedient to her husband in matters of safety.
The beauty of your portrait now graces my desk. I await your next letter with great anticipation.
Faithfully yours,
Captain William Strong, USA
***
August 20, 1876
Chillicothe, Ohio
Dear Captain Strong,
Thank you for your kind words regarding my little picture. I am certain that my friend Mrs. Andrews made me appear far more beautiful than I am.
It seems that both of us carry grief, and more than grief, after the loss of our respective spouses. I do not know if anyone ever truly lays down such a burden; yet perhaps that burden is lessened if one does not have to carry it alone.
I am happy to tell you that I am not averse to taking my husband's direction, especially in matters of safety, so long as he will take my direction in matters of all things pertaining to womanhood.
The northeastern Idaho Territory sounds like a very beautiful place.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Theodore Bergstrom
***
After sending off her letter of the twentieth of August, Molly settled into the routine work of helping at the boarding house and of maintaining a pleasant life for herself, her mother, and her father-in-law.
True to her word, her mother and Cornelius did get married in a little morning ceremony at the church, and took a larger room together at Mrs. Parker's boarding house. Molly thought she had never seen newlyweds of any age look so happy and content, and so she could not help but feel happy for them also.
But as the weeks went by, and sufficient time – thirteen weeks – had passed to allow Captain Strong to receive her last letter and write back to her again, there was still no answer. She began to wonder if he had changed his mind.
"Perhaps I was too forward – too obstinate – in my last letter to him," Molly worried, as she sat with her mother and Cornelius at supper one night at the boarding house.
"Molly, I have never known you to be anything but perfectly amiable in all of your dealings with anyone," said her mother. "I am certain that your letters were all written in that same tone."
Then Molly looked up, and her eyes widened as she stared at her mother. "Or – or perhaps some misfortune has befallen him," she whispered, feeling a chill at the thought. "How would I ever know?"
Cornelius took another slice of beef and gravy from the serving dish. "We are getting into October now," he said. "Travel out west is very difficult in the winter, what with the mountains and the snowstorms. It is very likely – almost certain, in fact – that his letter was simply delayed."
"If I were you," Louisa said, "I would be getting everything in order to leave in the spring."
"Leave? In the spring?" Molly just sat back, blinking. "Mother, what do you mean?"
Her mother just smiled. "I feel certain that this man will propose. And soon. I can't tell you how; I just know that he will. So, Molly dearest, I would suggest that to pass the time, you sew new clothes and get everything in order. I believe you are about to take a journey!"
***
The next several weeks passed slowly, lost in a haze of grey and snowy days. But Molly took her mother's advice and used all of her free time to sew some new clothes and repair all of her existing ones, as well as to gather whatever hou
sehold necessities would fit into her traveling trunk.
She just prayed that her father-in-law was right about the weather out west, and that her mother was right about Captain Strong.
***
October 10, 1876
Fort Lapwai, Idaho Territory
Dear Mrs. Bergstrom,
I hope this letter will reach you before the spring, for I do not wish to wait any longer.
After no small amount of discussion and prayer, I have come to believe that you and I might make a suitable match. Therefore I am offering you a sober proposal of matrimony, to be carried out upon your arrival here at Fort Lapwai.
The railroads will be open again in early March. Only for the last five hundred miles will it be necessary for you to travel by wagon train, for the rest is a comfortable ride on the train.
I have enclosed your itinerary, as well as what to do upon your arrival at Franklin and then at Boise, where you will join the supply wagon trains. I am sorry to say that there is little to no river traffic in the Idaho Territory because the Snake River is far too wild. The fort is near the town of Spalding, at the junction of the Clearwater River and Lapwai Creek.
I have enclosed enough to pay the fare and to cover necessities in the course of travel. I await your arrival with great anticipation, and hope that your journey will be an easy and pleasant one.
Yours most faithfully,
Captain William Robert Strong, USA
***
February 20, 1877
Chillicothe, Ohio
My dear Captain Strong,
It is with great happiness that I accept your proposal of matrimony. I will leave on the first available train and very much look forward to meeting you.
