Deserted in Dodge

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

“I’m sorry. I know that had to have been hard for you.” He patted her on the back.

  S blinked back tears. “Papa thought I would marry Thomas Bankston. It had been planned long before I was even born. But when we lost our home, I lost Thomas. I loved him. I don’t have any idea what happened to him. That was so many years ago.”

  Harrison nodded, feeling for her. He’d seen her around town for the last several years but had never talked to her. S was a good woman who had reason to look sad. He hoped she would find someone and be happy.

  “I was from Kentucky. My family knew Daniel Boone and his family way back. The war tore us up, too. I lost my father and brothers. I was the youngest. Finally, my family was gone, and I went west. I stopped here in Kansas and started my farm. I’ve been all alone ever since.”

  S looked at him. “That’s the hard part, isn’t it? Not belonging to anyone. No one to share the sunsets with or that you saw a cardinal fly into the nest in the oak tree. Sometimes, my heart aches, so at night that I think I won’t see morning.” She gave an embarrassed laugh. “And then I wake up. Just me. Alone. To start another day.”

  Harrison nodded. “Yes, I know those feelings.”

  Her features softened. “Thank you for that. For so long, I thought I was the only one.”

  The music ended. “Would you like to sit down?”

  She stared at him. And finally nodded as if she understood that they weren’t the matched pair he was looking for. Still, after the dance, he felt he did know her better and liked her. As a friend.

  Harrison saw Emma sitting alone and led S over to her.

  ***

  Emma had tried to talk with Kyle, but he was a man of little words, and he certainly had eyes only for Jenny. Finally, he got up to get them more drinks and cookies. Odd, because he hadn’t even eaten his cookie.

  She nibbled at hers and looked around the room. The music had stopped, and the couples were breaking up and seeking the refreshment tables. She did hope someone would come and keep her company.

  It was hard to pursue someone while having an ankle injury. She mentally checked off her list of men, leaving Harrison for last. But when she thought of his name, her heart would race.

  She looked up, and he was suddenly standing in front of her with Miss S.

  “I thought you might need some company.” He helped Miss S sit beside her. “I had a wonderful time dancing. Punch and cookies?”

  Miss S nodded. “Thank you, that would be most kind.” After he left, Miss S turned to face Emma. “How is it going for you?”

  “Not well. Everyone has a man, but the one I was left with was Kyle. I don’t think he cares for me. I don’t think he said ten words. I tried to get a conversation going, but he clammed up as if he were on trial and guilty.”

  Miss S laughed. “Emma, you do have such a way with words.”

  “Thank you. Not that it has done me any good. I saw you dancing with Harrison. How did that go?”

  “Oh, it was all right. He’s a very nice man. I really do like him, but I don’t think he cares the same for me.” Miss S turned and faced her, taking her hands in hers. “Would you help me?”

  “But how? It’s not like I’ve done particularly well going after anyone. And now, with my foot, I can’t even follow anyone much less dance with them.” Emma was beginning to feel sorry for herself. A trap she regularly fell into but knew that it never helped.

  Miss S sighed. “Well, you need to talk to them. I saw you with Kyle. Both of you looked miserable. You know, he might be just the one for you. I heard some ladies talking once about how opposites attract. Perhaps he is your opposite.”

  Emma stared at her. “I’ve heard that, but I don’t see how that can work. Why would two people who were nothing alike get along? It’s not that Kyle and I are opposites. I don’t know the man. He barely talked to me. And I got the feeling he wanted to be with Jenny.”

  “Jenny? Who is she with?” Miss S turned her head and looked around the room. “Why she’s with Tom. He’s the rancher, isn’t he?”

  Emma nodded. “Yes. I’ve been watching everyone because I have nothing else to do, and I don’t think Tom looks comfortable with her.”

  Miss S glanced outward. “I see what you mean. But that could mean he does belong with her.” She suddenly sat back and looked away. “Oh, my. He looked at me.”

  “Tom looked at you?”

  “Yes. I don’t know what to do about that. I have Harrison. He won’t be happy if Tom comes over here after me. And how will that make Jenny feel?”

  Emma sighed. “I don’t know. Sitting here by myself, I really don’t know.”

  Miss S looked at her and shook her head. “Oh, Emma. Get a hold of yourself. You are starting to sound like a lonely, bitter spinster.”

  Emma’s heart stopped. “That is what I am. No wonder none of the men are interested in me.”

  “Emma, you haven’t said, but is Kyle the man you want to chase?”

  Shaking her head, Emma stared at Miss S and wondered if she could tell her the truth.

  “Do you know who you’re going to chase? Is it one of the four, or have you chosen someone else we don’t know about?” Miss S said it with hope in her voice.

  Emma could read that hope, the woman was practically pleading with her to not want Harrison. Yet Harrison was the man Emma was interested in.

  Harrison returned with a cup for each of them and a plate of cookies. “I hope you ladies are enjoying the evening.”

  Miss S patted the seat beside her. “Yes, I am. Thanks to you.”

  Emma merely nodded and took a bite of a cookie. Already, she’d eaten enough cookies to make her go home and take out the seams in her skirt and blouse. Goodness, how could she be so miserable in a place so lively?

  Kyle came over to them and sat on the other side of Emma. She welcomed him back and wondered what had brought him over. Perhaps he was interested in Miss S. Then, as she watched him, she saw his focus return to Jenny and Tom.

  Harrison stood and excused himself. He walked toward the marshal and began talking to the man. The marshal wasn’t married, but it was common knowledge he and one of the ladies who owned the saloon were chummy.

  Well, Emma wasn’t interested in a lawman. That eliminated Howie, and that was a good thing because Sally Mae was all over the man. Emma looked about the room and saw them walking together.

  Jenny suddenly broke free from Tom and took Howie’s other arm.

  Emma shook her head. Trouble was coming, and they were walking toward her.

  Miss S nudged her in the ribs. “Doesn’t that beat all. Howie has two ladies. Can’t he see that four women need dates and husbands?”

  Kyle left and went to talk to Tom. Emma glared at them. So, there was one man with two women and three men with no women.

  Miss S clasped her hands together. “Oh, I think I am hopeless.”

  “You’re not. I didn’t even have anyone ask me to dance.” She chided herself for slipping into the feel sorry for herself mood. That was enough. No more. She sat up straight and put on a smile.

  “Actually, Miss S, I am going to turn my attention outward. See who my friends are, and more importantly, who I can be a friend to.”

  “Lovely idea, Emma. I will join you.” Miss S looked around. “I’m going to visit Sarah Davis. I heard she was going to have another baby and so soon after the last one she had. I wonder how she can even be out here to dance after just having a child. By the way, who is taking care of it?”

  Emma put a hand on Miss S. “Sarah’s older sister is watching the children. Her spinster sister.”

  Miss S stopped in her tracks. “Oh, my. She will look at me and wonder why I’m not taking care of someone else’s children and house.” Miss S stared at her. “That is what is expected of us, you know.”

  Emma nodded. “But we don’t have to. I want a life of my own. My own family. I always have.”

  With tears in her eyes, Miss S nodded. “Me, too.”

  Harrison came ba
ck and handed them more cookies. “If you don’t mind, S, I think I’ll sit this dance out.”

  Miss S nodded. “Excuse me, I’m going to talk to Sarah.” She got up and left them, giving Emma a measured look as if to say be careful of my property.

  Emma threw off Miss S’s veiled warning and smiled at Harrison. If she had to pick now, he would be her man. “The social is nice. I’m sorry I can’t dance.”

  He nodded at her. “I feel as if I were responsible. Is your foot getting better?”

  She nodded and hoped she wasn’t blushing. Remembering their tumbled down the hill almost had laughing. Then she remembered what it felt like to have his arms around her. The way he looked in her eyes as they stopped at the bottom of the hill.

  Emma smiled at him. “Please do not think you are responsible. You saved us all from a myriad of stings.”

  “I suppose. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. Or any woman.”

  “No, I know that. You’re a very kind man.”

  He grinned and took a bite of cookie. “Thank you. My mother always taught me to be a gentleman.” Harrison looked down and then at her. “Do you like farms?”

  “Yes, I always have. Someday, after I can walk properly, I’d like to come and see yours. I was also thinking of starting a garden at Mora’s. If you could offer any tips for us, I would appreciate that too.”

  Harrison sat up and turned to face her, excitement shining his blue eyes. “I can bring my plow and make a garden for you. Show you what to plant and how.”

  “Would you? That would be wonderful.”

  “Maybe next Saturday?”

  “Yes. I’ll check with Mora. Although I see no reason that she would not want a garden. It would save her some money on her food bill and be a way that I could help her.” Emma didn’t want to let on about her money problems. Not to Harrison.

  He took her hand in his. “Your hands are soft. Be sure to buy some good gloves. Gardening is hard on the hands.”

  “I don’t mind. Mostly I sew. But when I was little, in Vermont, I would help my grandmother tend her garden. They were some of the most pleasant memories I had of growing up.”

  “Do you regret coming to Dodge City?”

  Emma sighed. She had to tell him. Yet, it was such an embarrassing bit of information. “Well, I’m not married. My father was alarmed that I was yet to find a man, so he contacted a family friend to see if he was married. He wasn’t, and I was betrothed to him.” She stopped and bit back tears. She did not want Harrison to see her cry.

  After a few moments, she went on. “Ben Johnson. I don’t know if you knew him, but he sent for me. He was going to show me a good time and marry me. Well, he didn’t. We had two meals together. He took half my dowry and left. I haven’t seen or heard from him in six months.”

  Harrison looked concerned. “I did know about Ben. I’m sorry for asking, but I’m glad he is out of the picture.”

  Emma smiled. “I have no idea what happened to him. Other than I don’t care to see him again. He had no right to my money. Not until he married me. As it turned out, I’m glad he didn’t marry me and leave me in a state of marital limbo. I am free of him.”

  Sitting back a bit, Harrison nodded. “I can understand. It’s a hard time for women. I would never do such a thing. I believe women are to be cared for and protected. I’m deeply sorry for what happened to you.”

  By the look in his eyes, he meant every word.

  Emma pushed aside her feelings against Ben and centered them on the nice man in front of her. Yes, he was the one she wanted to chase. Miss S would have to find her another man. Harrison was her target.

  Chapter 10

  As the week went on, Emma became more excited to see Harrison again. Mora had agreed to have the garden. Sally Mae wasn’t interested, but Jenny and Miss S were more than happy to pitch in and plant seeds.

  Her ankle was healed so Emma could help in the garden. She was pleased with that because she intended to chase that man down until he couldn’t or didn’t want to run from her. She hoped that was what The Lovelorn had meant, but it didn’t matter. Harrison was her pick.

  She sat on the porch and waited for him. The morning was peaceful. The air cool, the birds singing, and the smell of flowers drifted on the breeze. A perfect day to be with Harrison.

  The screen door slammed shut. That would have to be Sally Mae. Emma turned and saw her friend walking toward her.

  “Emma, are you waiting for Harrison to come?”

  “Yes. He said it might be midmorning.” She smiled at Sally Mae.

  Uncharacteristically, Sally Mae was frowning. “Emma, that list we made. We didn’t put down anyone beside any of the men’s names, did we?”

  “No, we didn’t.” Thinking back, Emma remembered that it was her list of men for her to choose, but none of the others seemed to remember that.

  “I want Howie. Will you put my name beside his?”

  “Well, Sally Mae, it’s not my job to put the names down. We all have to decide who we want to go after.”

  Sitting beside her, Sally Mae frowned. “I want Howie.”

  “Sally Mae, that is something that you and Howie have to work out. We aren’t selling the men to the highest bidder.”

  “Have you chosen?”

  “I have an idea?”

  “I think you and Kyle looked good together.” Sally Mae huffed. “Jenny is going after my Howie.”

  “There is only one thing you can do about it.”

  “What?”

  “Go after Howie and make him choose you. Once he does, Jenny can find the man she wants.”

  “I don’t know. I have an awful feeling we are going to have trouble. This kind of thing could turn out ugly. Jenny has been my friend.” Sally Mae looked near tears.

  “Oh, Sally Mae. Things will work out. I know they will. They have to. We can’t become enemies because of the men we choose.”

  “No, but I can see I already have bad feelings about Jenny. I caught her smiling at Howie.”

  “Did Howie smile back?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “I think you better go chase after Howie. Where is Jenny?”

  “She left earlier this morning. I bet that little sneak is after my man now. I better go. Howie is my man.” Sally Mae bolted from the porch and took off across the street.

  Emma wondered what Jenny was doing. She prayed there would be peace in Mora’s boarding house. At the same time, Emma began to wonder where Harrison was. She thought he’d be out early, and he had yet to take her to his farm.

  Then she saw him coming down the street in his wagon, and Miss S was sitting beside him. They were talking and laughing.

  Emma sat up. Didn’t that beat all? Here it was her idea, and she was on the verge of having no one to court her. Everyone else was taking the men from her list. Then again, it wasn’t as if Dodge City had a large number of men to choose from.

  In fact, if all the women made a list, they’d have the same men on them. Realizing the truth of the shortage of decent men to chase, Emma let her anger slide away and smiled at the two of them.

  She was going to have to come up with a new plan. She would sit down with each of the men and decide who she wanted. Right now, it was Harrison, but she hadn’t really talked to the others.

  Howie was out as Sally Mae had put her brand on the deputy.

  She walked to the plot where she thought the garden should go and waited for Harrison to drive the wagon to her. Miss S kept her focus on Harrison. He looked a little awkward and tried to wave at Emma.

  She smiled at him, and ignored Miss S. “I wondered if you were still coming?”

  Harrison nodded. “S met me at Daily’s and asked if she could ride in the wagon back to the boarding house.”

  Emma glanced at Miss S, or S, as Harrison called her. The woman didn’t even look her way but kept her focus on him. And Harrison noticed. He stepped down from the wagon and then helped S down.

  Emma huffed to herself. Mis
s S was tall enough that she didn’t need help down. Yet, she’d waited for him to come to her and smiled like a schoolgirl once he put his hands on her waist to lift her and set her down.

  Well, that showed Harrison was strong. Not like Miss S was tiny waisted, and the woman ate like a horse.

  Taking in a deep breath, Emma tried to rein in her attitude, which was far from Christlike. Downright catty, it was. That wasn’t like her. She’d always been nice. But lately, she was getting a little disgusted by the way her letter from The Lovelorn had been ambushed by the other ladies.

  This was to have been her way to find a husband. Emma had not written the letter so that the spinsters in Mora’s could all find men to marry. Suddenly, Emma had a picture of herself as a little girl stomping her foot because she wasn’t getting her way.

  Remembering that Miss S was the oldest and honestly, the least likely to find a man, gave pause to Emma’s temper tantrum. Whispering to the Lord, she said a prayer, “All right, Lord, please help Miss S find a man. But don’t let it be Harrison. I like him the best. I want him. Oh, help me, Lord, for I am coming apart with this ordeal.”

  Harrison went to the back of the wagon and pulled out the plow. Soon he had one of the horses unhitched and yoked. “Show me where you want the garden.”

  Emma walked the plot of land. “I thought we’d start here and go this far and then over and back.”

  Harrison nodded. “That’s a good-sized garden. You’re sure you want it that big?”

  “Yes, I think we can handle it.” Emma smiled at him glad she had his attention for once.

  Miss S snorted. “I don’t know where you think you’re going to get the people to weed it.” She held up her gloved hands. “I don’t relish the idea of getting my hands dirty and calloused.”

  Emma glared at her friend. “We will all have to pitch in.”

  “I’m not. A lady should always tend to her hands and keep them soft and unblemished.” Miss S pointed at Emma’s hands. “Look at yours, you already have brown spots.”

  Emma put her hands behind her back. Yes, she should have bought gloves. She realized it had been foolish of her to think she could borrow Miss S’s gloves for a future dance.