by Danni Roan
“I do,” Polly smiled, “I need to remember I’m not as young as I used to be,” she added. “Isn’t that why we kept Becky to help around here in the first place?” she smiled pushing the plate of cookies toward George who snatched up a molasses crinkles, taking a big bite. “I’m glad you understand,” he mumbled around a mouthful of soft, delectable cookie. “She’ll be here in two days.”
Chapter 6
“Excuse me; I’m looking for a Mr. Olson?” The woman, fresh off the train, spoke her voice making Ellery turn.
“I’m Mr. Olson,” Ellery looked up at the woman who had spoken. She was a skinny thing, one of those straight up and down women, with mousey hair and amber eyes, but her face was pleasant in its own way.
“Oh, you’re much younger than I expected,” she smiled brightening her serious face. “I’m Ernestine Haven, pleased to meet you.”
“You must be looking for my father. I’m afraid he fell yesterday and is laid up. He asked me to meet any guests today,” Ellery’s voice was flat as he ignored the woman’s extended hand.
“I see,” the woman said looking him up and down critically. “Then you’re the one with the children who need a governess.”
“What?” Ellery’s head felt as if it were stuffed with cotton wool. He had simply been going through the motions of collecting baggage and pointing travelers in the direction of the boarding house. He was weary, counting the minutes until he could retreat to the quiet of his room once more. “I don’t need a governess.”
“But that’s why I’m here.”
“I didn’t send for a governess,” Ellery chafed feeling his temper rise. He’d been through enough. He didn’t need some confused woman nattering at him.
“But the letter said there were four children.”
“Yes,” Ellery said his voice growing louder. “I have four children and they are doing just fine with their grandparents, George and Polly Olson. We don’t need you here. We don’t want you here.”
Ernestine Haven lifted her chin adjusting her small bag in her hand. “Be that as it may,” she offered in her calmest voice. “I am here, and I am going to meet with Mr. George Olson. If you would kindly gather my bags, as that appears to be the job you have been set, I’ll go along to the boarding house to find out for myself what is going on.”
Ellery gaped at the woman, who was looking down her long nose at him with intelligent eyes. “Suit yourself,” he growled turning to gather the trunks that were being unloaded from the train and hefting them onto the hand cart his father had built for that purpose. “The boarding house is that way,” he added snapping his head in the direction of town. “Good luck.”
***
Ernie walked in the direction the man had indicated, her step quick to match her irritation at the gaunt man with the sad eyes. One would think he would be grateful that his father had his children’s best interest at heart.
Moving along the sidewalk, she gazed about the town as the buildings of Biders Clump came into view. It was an odd name for a town, and she wondered what had conspired to dub the town so, but mostly she focused on the encounter at the train depot.
Mr. George had said that his son wasn’t up to caring for his children, but he seemed hale enough. If he could be out shifting bags and guiding guests, why couldn’t he care for his own children? The thoughts raced through Ernie’s mind until she came to a stop at a two-story structure with a handy sign that read ‘Boarding House’ above the front porch.
“Hello, can I help you,” a pretty young woman with ginger brown hair and blue eyes asked from where she stood in the open door holding a broom. “Are you looking for a room?”
“Yes,” Ernie replied smiling at the other woman. She was obviously several years younger than Ernestine, but her smile was kind and welcoming. “I’m Ernestine and I’m here to see Mr. George Olson,” she smiled. “We have been corresponding.”
“I’m afraid George is laid up for a spell,” the other woman said. “I’m Rebecca, but you can call me Becky. Won’t you come inside?”
Ernie smiled, giving a curt nod. “Thank you,” she added stepping inside and sighing as a wave of cinnamon and spice hit her nostrils. “Something smells wonderful,” she said as Becky closed the door.
“Miss Polly is making cinnamon rolls for the guests,” she said. “Follow me and we’ll get you one with a cup of coffee or tea.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Ernie agreed, moving down the hall at Becky’s gestured invitation.
Rebecca Gatlin smiled kindly. She could see that the tall thin woman before her was intelligent and determined, she only wondered if it would make any difference. Polly had explained what George had done, but would the children, or more importantly Ellery Olson be willing to go along? Only time would tell. For now, guests needed breakfast and a place to rest. She would wait and see how this endeavor ended even as she remembered all too well her own arrival in Biders Clump a few short years ago.
***
The kitchen was quiet, though guests would be arriving soon or returning from outings in the community where they were buying necessities and seeing the town. Only one other woman, straight and sharp in an elegant traveling dress sat at the table nursing a cup of tea. At the sink another woman, her white gold hair pulled into a bun on the top of her head was washing a last dish.
“Can I get you anything else?” the woman at the sink asked nervously twitching her apron straight as she turned spotting Becky and Ernie.
The other woman finished her tea and stood. “No, that was a lovely treat,” she said. “I’ll leave you to your work now and return to my room.”
Ernie watched as the traveler moved out of the room and dark blue eyes came to rest on her.
“Our special guest has arrived,” Becky said indicating Ernie. “This is Polly Esther,” she finished watching the interaction between the two women.
“Hello, I’m Ernestine, Ernestine Haven, the governess Mr. George Olson sent for.”
“I thought you might be,” Polly said placing the dishtowel on the counter and moving to the table indicating Ernie should join her as she slipped into a chair.
“I take it you have reservations about my being here,” Ernie said offering a slight smile.
“Well, to be honest George didn’t tell me about you until you had already agreed to come.”
The sound of the front door opening and the heavy thump of a trunk being placed in the hallway made Polly jump and she hurried to her feet. “That’s Ellery now,” she said. “He’s not going to be happy about this.”
“He isn’t,” Ernie agreed. “I met him at the station, and he was singularly unprepared.” She raised a sculpted brow knowingly. “If I read things correctly, he is still struggling after the death of his wife isn’t he?”
Polly nodded. “He would still be up in his room now if George hadn’t taken that tumble yesterday. “I’m not able to collect guests and their baggage, so he had to do it.”
Ernie smiled understanding. “Well this is your home,” she said meeting Polly’s deep gaze. “We’ll do what you think best, but I for one believe that my being here was meant to be. Having one more body to help look out for the establishment and the children can’t go amiss.”
Polly studied the younger woman’s face carefully. Miss Haven appeared to be in her early thirties an age where most women had established families of their own. She wasn’t a beauty by any stretch of the imagination, but there was an air of quiet restfulness about her that spoke of intellect and common sense, and a smile spread across her face. Something about the younger woman, younger, but not too young, brought a sense of peace and relief.
“I think we will get along very well,” she said quietly. “Now how about we get you set up in your own room, and you can rest. Travel is wearisome.”
Ernie sighed with relief, rising and following her host along the hall, only offering a passing glance at the lean dark-haired man from the depot who was now busy unloading the cart. She was here for the chi
ldren, she thought, he would have to work out his own demons.
“Ellery,” Polly spoke, her voice soft and endearing. “Will you bring the trunk to the blue room dear? Miss Haven will be staying for a while.” Although the older woman spoke sweetly, there was a quality of strength and command to her words as she turned taking the first step toward the second floor.
Ellery looked up casting his eyes between his mother and the thin woman from the depot who met his gaze boldly. What was the point of fighting his parents on this? If they thought they needed someone to help look out for his children then they could do as they wish. He was too tired to fight. He was too tired to live.
Ernie followed Polly up the stairs her heart heavy with the look in the man’s eyes. He didn’t look like his mother, so she could only assume he looked like his father, the man who had brought her here to help in their time of need, but she hadn’t met yet.
It was a far way to travel to be received in such a way, but already she could see she was needed here in Biders Clump. She hadn’t even met the children yet, but she could see the hurting people assembled needed understanding and love.
“It’s a beautiful room,” she said as she followed Miss Polly into the room papered in embossed blue and white wallpaper. A bright window faced the back yard of the home and the morning light sparkled onto a thick carpet of deep blue wool. The white bed on the far wall was covered in a crisp blue and white pinwheel quilt that perfectly matched the rest of the space.
“It’s one of my favorite rooms,” Polly said. “Blue is my favorite color, and I must admit to indulging myself just a bit. This winter the quilting bee helped me make that new quilt, and I have to say it fits just right.”
Chapter 7
Ernie settled into the blue room a cheerful tune on her lips as she placed her heavy carpetbag on the bed and began pulling items from its depths.
A knock on her door indicated that her trunk had arrived, and a surly Mr. Olson carried it through the door placing it under the window with a sharp ‘good-day’.
Watching the man slip back out the door of the room Ernestine felt her heart go out to him, despite his rude behavior. It had always been her weakness, she cared too much, always wanting to fix everything around her, but it wasn’t her place to mend the dark stranger’s heart.
She was here to help look after the children, and she needed to get unpacked, so she would be ready to meet them and dealing with the brooding man would be the last thing on her list.
Setting back to work, she smoothed her dresses hanging them in the beautiful wooden wardrobe on the other wall, making herself at home. The boarding house was large, warm, and welcoming, and she knew she would be comfortable here.
“I’ll have to write a letter to Mrs. Barker,” she mused pulling a pale blue dress from her trunk with a sigh. “She’ll like to know I’m here and settled.” Looking back Ernie recognized how blessed she had been over the years to have good friends in her life.
Hanging the dress, she shook out a final wrinkle wondering why she had brought the pretty dress all the way to this tiny town. She had needed such things as the governess of wealthy clients but here in Biders Clump she couldn’t see any use in the elegant dress. Still it made her smile just to look at it, and that was reason enough.
The sound of a baby fussing downstairs made Ernie spin, and she hurried to the door, partly from habit, partly from excitement. True she was tired from her journey, but as the soft wailing grew, she felt her heart quicken, her steps matching the beat as she rushed down the stairs.
She was about to meet the first child she had been hired to care for. Perhaps it wasn’t exactly what she was looking for when she ran her advert in the paper, but she was happy to have children to tend once more. She loved children, and though it had broken her heart to leave her last family, she was filled with hope as she hurried down the stairs and into a room that appeared to be an office and family living area.
“You should be resting,” Becky said as she turned to look at Ernestine, bouncing a babe of about two on her hip. “I can look after Sophia yet today.”
“Becky?” Polly Esther’s voice echoed down the hall making both Ernie and Rebecca grin.
“Coming Polly,” the young woman replied turning back to Ernie. “Could you take her? I think Polly needs some help in the kitchen. I’ll be back in a minute. This is Sophie.”
“I’d be delighted,” Ernie smiled taking the little girl in the white dress. “Please call me Ernie,”
“Thank you Ernie,” the other girl spoke. “Polly will have lunch ready in about an hour, and we’re expecting several guest to join us. Just pop into the kitchen when you’re ready. Oh and holler if you need anything,” she added hurrying through the door and down the hall.
“Hello darling,” Ernie said looking into the deepest green eyes she had ever seen. The child couldn’t be more than two, but her plump face and rosy cheeks spoke of health and well-being. “Aren’t you a pretty thing?”
A grunt outside the door made Ernie turn and she watched a heavily laden Mr. Olson start up the stairs for a final time. Apparently, the boarding house was going to be very busy today.
With a smile, Ernie moved to a basket that held fresh diapers and quickly changed the babe’s damp drawers. “Now isn’t that better?” she grinned laughing as the baby smiled. “How about we go see what Miss Polly is doing in that big kitchen and maybe get you some lunch.”
By the time Ernie walked into the kitchen, Becky and Polly were hefting a large pot onto the stove. Polly had flour on her nose and two huge trays of biscuits sat rising on the counter. The place was industrious if nothing else, and she felt an excitement at the surrounding bustle. Her previous posts had valued quiet, and she welcomed this change.
“My, it is busy in here,” Ernie said. “If it isn’t too much trouble could I get a cup of milk for little Sophie?”
“You’ll have to help yourself,” Polly said turning to see her grandbaby happily sucking her thumb as she snuggled the new governess.
“I hope you’re settling in alright,” Polly offered. “I didn’t expect you to start right away though. Since George got it in his head that I’m too old to be chasin’ children about,” Polly grumbled good-naturedly.
“I don’t think that’s true,” Becky said. “He probably just thought that we would be very busy soon, and you shouldn’t have the extra responsibility.”
Polly nodded, though the fact still chaffed a bit. She could understand why George had done it, and if truth be told, it made the most sense. “It does get busy this time of the year,” she admitted. “And now with George down with that twisted ankle, we’ll need all the help we can get.”
Ernie looked between the two women seeing a shared love and respect reflected on each face. This was going to be a good place to work, she decided. “I’ll pitch in where ever I’m needed as well,” she offered. “I’m used to doing house work and light cooking, so if you need me to help when the children are at school or otherwise occupied, just give the word.”
Becky smiled at Ernie a light of hope and relief filling her eyes, even as Polly Esther nodded in response.
“Sounds like we’ll make a pretty good team,” Polly grinned. “I think I’m going to be glad George wrote to you Ernestine.”
“Please, call me Ernie,” the governess grinned as she moved to the icebox and peered inside. “All of my friends do.”
Polly turned meeting Rebecca’s bright gaze and grinned. “Ernie? Your friends call you Ernie?”
“Yes,” Ernestine smiled turning with the milk pitcher in hand, a bright grin on her narrow face. “Ernie Eleanor Haven”
Polly laughed, her heart feeling lighter than it had in many weeks. Perhaps George hadn’t told her what he was doing when he sent for Ernie, but she seemed to be exactly what they all needed. Even little Sophia, who clung to the governesses sleeve, seemed happier than she had only one short day ago.
“This little one is getting hungry,” Ernie said wiping S
ophia’s face with a soft cloth and setting her in a tall wooden highchair. “I’ll see if I can get her some lunch then put her down for a nap.”
“There are plenty of leftovers in the icebox,” Becky said, “And we use a basket in the office for nap time. You’ll find she likes being rocked in the big rocking chair as well,” Becky said. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Ernie walked back the hall stopping as a gray haired man with a doctor’s bag stepped out of the room on the other side of the hall.
“Hello,” he turned smoothing a bushy mustache, “I’m Doc Walker. Can I help you?”
“Hello,” Ernie replied. “No, I’m just putting the baby down for a nap.”
“Oh you must be the young woman that George hired,” Doc smiled. “Welcome to Biders Clump.”
Chapter 8
Warm sunlight poured through the window at the front of the boarding house onto a brightly colored wool rug. The bright pattern, or red, blue, green, and gold vibrant in the sunny glow, and Ernie took a moment to look around her at the family room for the first time.
The room was cozy, full of comfortable furniture, handmade items, and simple homey decorations. A large rocking chair sat next to a fireplace near a large desk covered in papers, and Ernie headed to the chair settling the little girl on her lap and started to sing. Sophia had eaten a hearty lunch and her eyes were already drooping with sleep.
The gentle motion of the rocker and the soothing tune began to work their magic on the tiny tot in her arms, and Ernie leaned her head back against the chair closing her eyes as weariness from her long journey crept over her as the babe slipped into peaceful slumber.
She would rest her eyes for a few moments then put the baby down before heading back to the kitchen, but as her mind sifted through the plan, her body succumbed to the siren song of sleep along with little Sophia.
***
Ellery stepped through the door of his parent’s home and business, turning and closing the door quietly behind him. He was tired and his muscles ached from the day’s unfamiliar work. If his father hadn’t needed him, he would have stayed safely ensconced in his room away from everyone, but he couldn’t ignore his father’s request.
