by Danni Roan
As others finished their dinner and began preparing for bed. Spencer took Daliah’s hand and led her out under the stars for a walk.
“What do you hope for?” Spencer asked, as they looked up at a half moon. “Do you have your heart set on anything special?”
Daliah looked up into the heavens and thought about the question. “I really don’t know,” she finally admitted. “All I know is that I needed a new start and this is it. I’ll be happy to work toward whatever you want,” she finished, liking the way his hand felt wrapped around hers.
Spencer squeezed her hand. “Why did you leave Smithfield?” he asked, gently. “I’ve heard rumors but they don’t fit the woman I’ve come to know.”
Daliah lowered her eyes, her heart heavy that he had asked but realizing it was time she explained.
“I was accused of stealing money at the bank where I worked,” Daliah said. “I didn’t,” she added quickly. “My drawer was counted out every night and balanced before I handed it off to the bank manager.”
Spencer looked down at the small hand in his and nodded. “That’s what I heard,” he admitted. “I don’t think anyone who knows you would ever believe it though.”
Daliah looked up into Spencer’s face. “You believe me?”
“Of course I do,” Spencer said. “Anyone in their right mind can see you aren’t the type to take what isn’t yours.” He leaned down kissing her gently and feeling the jolt of the kiss to his toes. Daliah would make his new life so much better.
“I’d better head back to the fire,” Spencer finally said breaking the kiss. “I need to get Chad to bed and check the camp.”
Daliah nodded relieved that he believed her story. The weight of the accusation was still painful even after this long, and she wanted to start their life together with no secrets.
Together they walked back to the camp, and Daliah somehow felt lighter as if she no longer had to bare life’s burdens alone.
“Daliah will you put me to bed?” Chad called walking up to them knowing that there was no way to delay the inevitable.
“I’d love to,” Daliah replied taking the boy’s hand, still holding to Spencer’s as together they walked to the wagon they shared with Ben.
Daliah tucked Chad into his little spot at the tailgate of the wagon kissing his forehead as she settled him for sleep. “Now say your prayers,” she said, sitting back on the tail gate.
“My prayers?” the boy asked. “Why?”
Spencer shuffled his feet in the dust of the prairie as guilt wriggled through his chest. “I’m afraid I’ve neglected such things,” he said, looking at his son, “but this is a new start for all of us and if Daliah will help I think we can all start saying our prayers again.” Was it any wonder the boy had been in trouble so much?
Chad nodded closing his eyes and folding his hands as Daliah bowed her head.
“Now I lay me down to sleep,” she began not noticing when Chad’s eyes flew open again. “I pray the Lord my soul to keep,”
“I know this,” Chad said interrupting, and then closing his eyes once more as Daliah and Spencer looked on. “Auntie Beth taught me.”
“Would you like to continue?” Daliah asked, smiling at the boy.
“If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take,” the boy finished. “Oh, and God bless us everyone,” he added rolling over and snuggling into his blankets.
Chapter 18
Daliah looked up from where she sat next to Molly as Mr. Hampton pulled his horses to a stop at the edge of the town they had all been looking forward to for so long.
A tiny gasp escaped her lips as she gazed out across the mismatched tents and rubble built shacks that dotted the flat top of the hill.
“Not exactly what you were picturing is it?” Mrs. Hampton said shaking her head.
In the distance they could see one building that appeared to be made of wood and stone but everything else was a mash up of dwellings.
“I don’t know what I was expecting,” Daliah admitted. “I just hope I can be useful here in some way,”
Leaning to the side to get a better view of the town Daliah spotted Spencer climbing down from his horse as another dark haired man hurried to meet him at the edge of the town. When the men embraced, she smiled realizing that the other man must be his brother.
“Whoa,” Mr. Hampton said pulling his horses to a stop. “We’ll just wait here a spell until Spence tells us where we should lite.”
A loud scream from further up the wagon train made everyone turn to see Mrs. Script leap from the wagon into the outstretched arms of a stocky man with a shock of red hair and a beard.
Daliah smiled reaching up to help Mrs. Hampton from the wagon. “I think this is going to be a good place,” she said her eyes twinkling with cheer.
“It just needs a little time, and a few more women,” Mrs. Hampton said.
“Dan, I’d like you to meet Ms. Owens, and the Hamptons,” Spencer said hurrying down the street toward them. Reaching out he took Daliah’s arm turning her toward his brother. “Daliah, this is my brother Dan.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Daliah said with a smile. She could see the resemblance between the brothers at a glance.
“Welcome,” Dan said shaking hands all around. “I’m mighty pleased to meet all of you. I hope you’ll feel welcome here,” he gestured around him. “For now I’d like you to settle at the ranch until you figure out where you want to be.”
“That sounds fine,” Mr. Hampton said. “I can see there’s work to be done at this here town.”
“I’m afraid it isn’t much of a town just yet,” Dan admitted. “Tonight we’re all meeting at the saloon to discuss plans for all you folks,” he added pointing to the wooden building at the end of the street.
Daliah looked at Spencer somewhat concerned as Chad came racing up followed by Ben. “Pa, Pa is this our new home?” the boy asked.
“It sure is son,” Spencer said, grabbing his boy and lifting him up. “I’d like you to meet your uncle Dan as well,” he added, turning to boy toward his brother.
“Hiya,” Chad said, extending his hand and making Dan smile. “Is this where you live? It don’t have any houses.”
Dan chuckled. “I’m afraid this town is very new and in need of many things,” Dan agreed, “but now that you are all here we’ll make it into something good.”
***
The members of the wagon train dispersed to different areas setting up camps or sorting through possessions in preparation for starting their new home.
As the sun reached the edge of the western horizon, the whole town began to make their way to the saloon.
Dan Gaines had stayed in town for the day and made the rounds making sure that everyone who could attend the big meeting would be there.
“You’re rather an important man in this town,” Spencer teased his younger brother as they walked through the open doors of the Saloon, Daliah on his arm.
“I was one of the first people to homestead so people kind of look to me when anything new is happening.”
Dan left Spencer and the small group of people with him and stepped up to the bar hooking his heel on the rail to give himself more height. The saloon was closed to serving anything but coffee for the night in deference to the woman and children and as Dan called out the gaggle of voices hushed.
“Well folks, it looks like things in this here place are about to change,” he called garnering a trickle of laughter from the rough-looking men that took up one side of the saloon.
“About time,” one scruffy looking individual with a bushy beard called out, “I’m tired of sleepin’ under canvas.”
Dan chuckled waving the man to silence as others laughed slapping each other on the back. “That’s why I asked my brother to see if he could organize a wagon train to come to our humble town to help us flesh out some of the things we need.”
“Need,” another man called, “seems like there ain’t nothin’ we don’t need.”
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br /> “All right, you rogues settle down,” Dan called. “Tonight we’re here to meet the new neighbors. I’d like to introduce my brother Spencer,” Dan continued slapping his brother on the back. “Spence if you’d introduce yourself and then have the folks that traveled with you introduce themselves as well. It’d be good to know what folks are looking for and what they’re bringing to our town.”
Spencer stood his hat in his hands as he gazed out over the crowd. “Hello,” he started. “I’m Spencer Gaines, Dan’s big brother, and I’ve come down here to make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble.” The laughter that met that remark rattled the windows, but soon the men settled down again. “I had a little ranch a few years back, but when my wife died, I got restless. I’m hoping to make this a real home for me and my son,” he said, waving at Chad who waved back from his seat next to Daliah. “This young lady is Daliah Owens, who has consented to marry me as soon as we can find a preacher,” he finished noting how some of the other men seemed to grumble at the statement.
Daliah looked up prettily, blushing slightly at the attention, but Spencer’s bright smile and twinkling eyes made her feel loved.
“The folks with her are the Hamptons. Mr. Hampton if you’d introduce yourself,” He finished stepping aside as the older man stood.
“I’m Orville Hampton,” the old man said, “and I’m an old sawyer. Some of these hills here about are full of good trees and I’d like to start a mill so’s folks can start building good sturdy housing that will last. My wife Olive and me are looking forward to seeing what we can do for this town.”
Several men clapped, as one shouted out. “We been needin’ a mill. I won’t complain about four walls around me.”
“We need a mill.” Someone else called.
“We need a store too,” another voice called.
“And a livery!” another shouted.
“Seems to me this is a mighty needful town,” Mrs. Hampton said loudly to her husband just as the noise quieted.
A heavy hush fell over the meeting place and only the creak of a chair or the scuff of a boot could be heard.
“Needful, hey?” Dan said, looking at Mrs. Hampton whose face tinted with embarrassment. “Needful. I reckon that pretty much sums it up,” he continued. “What do y’all think about that?” he asked. “Needful, Texas sounds about right to me.”
Spencer stepped up to Daliah taking her hand as a hushed conversation ensued, gazing into her eyes as his thumb drew little circles on the back of her hand and sheltering her protectively.
“Looks like your brother needs a preacher,” the man with the bushy beard called with a hearty laugh.
“You mind your manners Greg,” Dan chided as others laughed.
“Needful sounds good to me,” one of the wranglers said. “We need a good many things.”
“Is everyone agreed?” Dan called waving the men down. “All in favor of finally naming this forsaken patch of earth Needful raise your hand and say, aye.”
Every hand in the place seemed to raise and the resounding ayes echoed through the room.
“Anyone not in favor?” Dan called one more time but was met with silence. “Well let’s get back to introductions then...”
“Help! Help!” a woman’s voice called as a short black haired woman with dark skin rushed into the saloon. “I need doctor, please. Is there a doctor?”
Dan hurried to the woman taking her hands in his as he tried to calm her. “We don’t have a doctor,” he said. “What’s wrong, what has happened?”
The woman collapsed into tears as Dan tried to comfort her.
“My bambino, my bambino,” she sobbed.
“Dan, Daliah’s mighty good with fixin’ people up,” Spencer said, joining his brother with Daliah in tow.
“Please help,” the other woman cried grasping Daliah by the arm.
“I’ll help,” Daliah said. “Please take me to your baby.”
Together the small group hurried out the door, Daliah casting a knowing glace back at Mrs. Hampton who gathered Chad to her.
“Spencer will you fetch my bag please, it’s in the wagon,” Daliah said, practically running to keep up with the smaller woman.
In a few moments Dan, Daliah and the woman were ducking into the drafty tent with a small cot and what appeared to be a bundle of rags in a basket.
Daliah leaned over the bundle and peered in at the tiny baby who was gurgling and struggling for breath. “Boil water,” she said, her voice snapping as she lifted the little thing from the basket.
The other woman jumped to comply, grabbing a bucket and kicking a fire pit back to life under a large black kettle at the front of the tent.
“Daliah?” Spencer said, walking in, a lamp in one hand and her bag in another.
“Here,” Daliah replied, handing the baby off to Spencer as she took the bag rummaging for what she needed until she pulled out a vile of pungent smelling liquid.
“Unwrap her,” Daliah said spilling a drop of the liquid onto her finger and rubbing on the baby’s chest.
Spencer blinked as the strong smell of menthol, eucalyptus, and something else assailed his nostrils.
“The water’s almost boiling,” Dan said ducking his head back into the tent. “Rosa, the mother, has been here a couple of weeks cooking for some of the men in town.”
Daliah nodded. “Dan could you go and ask Mrs. Hampton to get some tea on,” she said taking the baby back from Spencer. “Spencer I need a basin for the water.” Together the men stepped out into the darkness disappearing.
“Rosa,” Daliah called and the other woman stepped inside wringing her hands. “What brought you to Needful?” Daliah asked trying to calm the woman and using the town’s new name for the first time.
“My husband, he is working on a drive. He brings cattle to New Mexico. I cannot stay alone, so I come here.”
“Will this do?” Spencer stepped back into the softly lit tent with a basin. Daliah nodded handing the baby to its mother and hurrying back to the kettle. In a few moments she had the basin filled with hot water as she dripped more of the pungent liquid into the water then held the baby over the steam, keeping her hand close to its face to make sure the baby didn’t get to warm.
Rosa stood beside her wringing her hands with fear.
“Daliah, I brought tea,” Mrs. Hampton said stepping into the tent with Dan on her heels. “You men clear off now,” the older woman said waving at Dan and Spencer. “We’ll call you if you’re needed.”
Spencer smiled for what felt like the first time in hours as the baby gagged and choked.
Olive handed Rosa a cup of tea. “You drink this dear,” she said. “Daliah will do all she can.”
Again the baby hacked, coughing from deep in her lungs as the congestion broke and the baby retched up the choking phlegm.
“That’s better,” Daliah said breathing for the first time as she dipped a rag in cool water and washed the babies face, grinning at its soft cry.
“Thank you, thank you,” Rosa said fresh tears pouring down her face as Daliah handed the baby back to her.
“If she gets bad again, you will need to do this again,” Daliah said. “For now keep this cloth on her chest,” she said dabbing more of the strong liquid onto a rag. “It will help keep her airways open.”
Rosa tucked the still crying child into her arm and reached out to hug Daliah. “Gracious Dios,” the woman said. “God brought you when we needed you.”
Daliah suddenly felt exhausted and Olive pulled her and Rosa down to sit on the cot pressing cups into their hands once more.
“Seems to me that this town needs a decent restaurant,” the older woman said lifting the tea pot and another cup for herself. “I think I’ll be talking to Orville about that first thing.”
Daliah smiled seeing the older woman’s mind whirling away with plans.
“This is Christina,” Rosa said lifting the now quieted baby. “She is our first bambino.”
Daliah looked down at the
baby’s puckered face and smiled as she blinked back at her. “Raoul and me, we work hard. We come to this part of Texas to make a better life, but now he goes away, and I must stay.”
“Well you aren’t alone no more,” Olive said. “Once me and Orville get things goin’, you’ll come and work with us, and I tell you, we’ll do some good around here. With Daliah here getting’ married, I’ll need someone to help me if you’ll agree.”
Rosa nodded. “I would like that Senora,” she said. “Thank you.”
