A Groom for Claire Read online

  He’d put an ad in the newspaper and see who he could find. Ethan knew he’d have to drive the wagons fifty miles from the train station to the farm. First, he had to see if he could arrange for the wagons to be outfitted. The store owner in St. Louis suggested he buy the wagons and load them on the train.

  Excited about the camaraderie of having someone drive one of the wagons on his trip made the ordeal sound more interesting. He wasn’t sure what kind of man he would find. Most would not want to drive the hard journey to Last Chance in the midst of winter.

  After putting the ad in the newspaper, Ethan went about buying the things he wanted to take to the family. His family. If all went as he planned, Ethan would pull up to the Braden Farm on Christmas.

  “That should make an impression.” He laughed to himself and went to the train depot to see about making his dream come true.

  After numerous stops to stores and shipping companies, he had it all arranged. When he got off the train, he’d have two wagons filled with his goods. Then it would be a three to five-day trip to Last Chance.

  Ethan was, if anything, a man prepared. He always kept three steps ahead so he could be sure to make a success out of his plans. His trouble being he was a man of few plans. His best friend in the world, Alex Gantry, often accused Ethan of being a man of little dreams. Alex had grand ambitions, but absolutely no plans on how to make them come alive.

  Chuckling to himself, Ethan went to the bank to withdraw his funds. Maybe he was a little early in doing so, and Alex would tell him to put them in the safe at the boarding house where they stayed.

  But Ethan had never been one to be afraid. Growing up loving books, he’d had to fight off his share of bullies. Besides, he knew how to use a gun and would wear his pistol just in case. Going out to the plains, he figured he should be ready for anything and bought two rifles, one for each wagon.

  After the bank, he stopped by the blacksmith shop to see if Alex was free but found him shoeing an ornery gray mare who didn’t want her feet cleaned and trimmed.

  “Stay still, girl.” Alex looked up and pointed. “Play with her ears, maybe she’ll let me get this last hoof trimmed. Thank goodness I don’t have to shoe her. I always hate it when these old mustangs come in.”

  Ethan rubbed the mare’s head and then took one of her ears and twisted it this way and that. Finally, the mare relaxed and leaned into Ethan so he could rub her head harder. He laughed when he saw the horse’s lower lip drop, letting him know she enjoyed the attention.

  “She’s like most women, talk pretty to them and play with their hair, and they’ll relax and be nice.”

  Alex put the foot down and shook his head. “If that’s what you think it will take to win over a woman, you’ve got some surprises headed your way. Claire, that’s her name, isn’t it?”

  Ethan nodded.

  “Claire is going to be teaching you a thing or two. I just wish I could be there to watch.”

  Ethan slapped his hands together, startling the mare. “Whoa, pretty.” He rubbed her head, and she relaxed again. He pointed at Alex. “Why don’t you come with me?”

  Alex shrugged. “There’s really not much for me here, but I don’t have a big stake like you do.”

  “I was going to hire a driver. I’ll add more to what I was going to pay, and you’ll have a tidy sum with what you have. Come on, it’ll be fun.” Ethan grinned at his friend. They’d have such a good time.

  “Nothing is holding me here. Not after Greg Foster stole Annabelle from me.” He sighed. “I still miss her, though.”

  “She was never your type. She wanted a man with money.”

  “They all want men with money.” Alex took the lead rope and led the gray mare to a stall on the end. He put her in and fed her a little grain. “There you go, girl, you earned a treat.” Then he walked back to Ethan and looked him square in the eye. “You’d pay me some to drive a wagon?”

  “Yep. And I’ll increase it so that you’ll have a good amount. We’ve talked about going west before.”

  Alex nodded. “But you’re not going to California. Not that there is any gold left. We let that pass us by.”

  Ethan grinned. “That was years ago, and we were just young kids when the gold was discovered. Besides, the war came along. Not like we had a choice. That took five years out of our lives.”

  Alex frowned. “You’re right there.” He grinned. “I’ll do it. I’m game for an adventure.”

  “Remember, I’m getting married. Could be some women will still need a husband when we get there.” Ethan put an arm around Alex’s shoulder. “Let’s go do some planning over dinner. I’ll pay because you’re my driver.”

  Alex nodded. “I’m not destitute, you know. Then again, my things won’t take up much space in the wagon. When do we leave?”

  “We’ll take the train to just south of Last Chance, and I figure we’ll leave the second week of December. Give us time to get our supplies and check on the weather.”

  “So, you’ll be a Christmas Groom, and maybe I will too.”

  “Sounds good, doesn’t it. I figure on taking the children some presents. I’m sure they’ll have very little. That’s why I’m bringing all the supplies.” Ethan pulled on Alex’s shoulder and led him out of the barn where they headed down the street to Burly’s Café.

  Alex blew out his breath in a cloud of frost. “That doesn’t give me too much time to settle my affairs. I’ll quit my job tomorrow and gather my things. I do hope there is a woman for me. You say the men of the town froze to death in a blizzard?”

  Ethan nodded. “I understand only one man returned, and he was the town drunk.”

  “That figures, doesn’t it?” Alex scratched the back of his head. “What makes you think there won’t be another blizzard that freezes us?”

  Ethan stared at him. Not that the thought hadn’t crossed his mind, but he’d looked at the almanac. “Sometimes, you gotta have faith. I know this will work, but I don’t want to force you to go.”

  Alex opened the café door. “Ethan, if I didn’t want to go, you couldn’t make me.”

  “Yeah, I know that. You’re more bullheaded than—”

  “You. And that’s saying a lot. Come on, I’m starved.” Alex sat down and picked up the menu.

  Ethan joined him and wondered why he bothered with the menu. They each knew what the special was on Wednesday’s. Tonight, they’d eat pork chops.

  ***

  Claire dusted the table for the third time. These long winter days drove her to boredom. A glance out the window showed it was a pretty day with sunshine and warmer temperatures. Something that she both enjoyed and dreaded.

  Once the snow melted, they would have to go and recover the dead and bury them properly. Just the thought was bad enough. She wasn’t sure she could bear to see Thomas after all this time.

  The only good thing was the snow was so deep, it would take a month of good temperatures to melt it down. And that wasn’t counting the new snow they’d had. Well, no sense thinking about dreary things.

  She went outside and took care of the cows and chickens. Poor things, the harsh winter had taken a toll on them too. She picked the eggs and went back in the house. The children should be home pretty soon.

  They were her remaining hope and joy. Since the tragedy, she’d doubled her prayers over Tom and Leah. Yet, fear, like a prowling wolf, hounded her daily and twice as hard at night. The gnawing regrets hit her at night’s darkest when she wondered that if she’d prayed harder, would Thomas have survived?

  Then again, perhaps she’d caused the disaster because she’d complained against the blessings of God. She was tired of being a farmer’s wife. She’d tried to get Thomas to see that and pleaded with him to sell out so they could go east to a big city and live like civilized people.

  But farming was in his blood, and he’d just stare at her. After a few minutes of listening, he’d take her by the shoulders and look into her eyes. Tenderly, he’d kiss her, and then he’d say, “Cla
ire, you knew what I was when you married me. I’m a farmer, and I’ll be one until the day I die. I love you, darling, but you’re going to have to make peace with that.”

  She’d been so deep into the memory that she could almost hear his voice echoing from the ceiling. Thomas had built them a strong and sturdy log cabin. He’d made special trips into the hills to get the logs of tall and straight sturdy pine. Then he’d gone into Kearny and ordered the wood for the rooms.

  Claire sat on the divan and looked out the big window he’d made for her. It had a lovely view of the fields. Now, they were white with snow, but in the spring, they would turn dark brown with the rich soil and then green as the plants grew. Harvest would come, and they’d be golden with wheat. The cycle of life, Thomas called it.

  She prayed the cycle would continue and quickly. Claire was tired of the stark white field. Still, she continued looking out the window. Tonight, she’d go back outside and close the shutters. The blizzard had taught them, if nothing else, that things could change in minutes.

  This weekend, she’d send Tom out to hunt for a turkey. She wouldn’t let him go far and only with the promise that he watched the sky. He’d take the family dog, Rustler, with him.

  Claire used to love Thanksgiving. Now, she felt nothing. Almost as if she had been the one frozen by the blizzard that day. She tried for the children, but her smiles were empty. Thomas’s death had left a considerable void where her heart used to be.

  Then she saw them. Her children, and like rays of bright sunshine and hope, they ran down the road to the house. Laughing and smiling, they bent to pet Rustler. Then Tom picked up snow and made a snowball and tossed it at Leah.

  Her daughter, only eight but so full of life and afraid of nothing, fashioned her own snowball and threw it at her brother. Although there was a four-year gap between them, they played well together.

  They bounced inside and stopped to shed their boots, coats, and gloves. Leah was laughing and came running to her, flinging herself at her and hugging her. “Oh, Mama, I missed you, but we had such fun today. We had memory day and talked about the favorite things we remembered about our fathers.”

  “Oh, that sounds wonderful.” Claire bent and kissed her daughter’s hair. It was the same color as Thomas’s had been, but she still had the soft baby hair. Unlike Tom, who had her dark hair color plus his was changing to the coarser adult hair. Her son was growing into a fine young man.

  “Know which memory I chose?” Leah’s eyes were shining.

  “Tell me.” Claire heard herself answer, but inside, she didn’t want to hear. She didn’t want to know.

  Leah laid back in her arms and looked outside. “Remember the time we went out to find a Christmas tree? Papa held me on his shoulders so I could spot it. We took the wagon all the way to the start of the hills almost to Laramie to find one. And we missed school for three days, but we had the best tree.”

  Her daughter squirmed and turned to face her. “Think we can do that this year?”

  “We’ll see.” Claire couldn’t say no. She so wanted Leah to stay happy and joyful. Yet, Claire the only thought that came to her was why care.

  Tom sat down at the end of the divan and held Leah’s feet in his lap. “George said he knew a place where there were some turkeys. A few of us thought we’d go out and see how many we could get for Thanksgiving. There will be a lot of families that won’t have anything.”

  Claire took his hand in hers. Already, it was strong and calloused. “How many of you are going?”

  “Three. Me, George, and Clint. We’ll take our horses and Rustler. We won’t be gone long, and we won’t go far away.”

  “And you’ll look—”

  “At the sky.” Tom had a pained look on his face. “We all know to do that. We’ll watch, and if it’s working, we’ll check the telegraph before we go.”

  She nodded. “I think it will be a kind thing to help those who have no one to hunt for them.”

  “Mama,” Leah sat up and looked at her. “Will Jenna be coming over? She’ll be all alone. They never had any children.”

  Claire nodded. “I’ve already asked her.”

  Leah smiled. “Good. I like her. I’ll help you cook this year. I’m big enough.”

  “I’ll need both of you to help. The first thing we need to decide is what kind of pie we will have.” Claire attempted a smile.

  Leah and Tom both blurted out pumpkin at the same time.

  Laughing, despite her sorrow, Claire did feel a bit of hope that her little family could go on. One day at a time isn’t that what Heather had said. “Pumpkin pie, it is.”

  Chapter 4

  Thanksgiving slipped by, and December roared in with a snowstorm that kept them from leaving. But now, finally, the adventure had begun. Ethan stepped off the train and stretched. “We’ve made it to step two.”

  Alex grabbed a bag and nodded. “The wagons are to be at the livery.”

  “I’d like it if you helped me pick out a couple of good riding horses for the children. The girl is only eight, and the boy is twelve.”

  “You’re spoiling them already.” Alex grinned and pointed to Main Street. “I see the hotel just down the street. I worked up a powerful hunger sitting on that train.”

  “It’s always food with you.” Ethan tapped him on the shoulder and went to find the conductor. Once he made arrangements for the baggage to be sent to the livery to load in the wagons, Ethan nodded at Alex. “Let’s go eat a good meal. The next couple of weeks or so will be slim as far as food goes.”

  “I hope I don’t starve to death.” Alex grinned. “I hope you thought to pack food.” Then Alex shook his head. “Of course, I forget who I am talking to. I’m sure you have plenty of food for us.”

  “For us, and for my new family.” He smiled at his friend. “I believe you’ll find a woman in Last Chance, too.”

  “The name of the town just about covers my life.” Alex waited at the door to the café. “First things first.”

  Ethan entered the café and found a table near the window. After Alex sat down, Ethan handed him a menu. “We should be able to leave tomorrow. I’ll check the telegraph service and see about the weather.”

  “It’s not much of a stop. You think Last Chance is bigger or smaller?”

  Ethan looked at him. “Smaller, but the woman I’m going to marry is there.”

  Alex set down the menu. “If I don’t find the woman for me, I think I’ll travel to the West to California or Oregon in the spring. Or head southwest to Denver. Anyway, I’m up for an adventure. But first, I’m going to eat.”

  Ethan grinned. “With you along, I’ll be sure to have an adventure. I’m glad you came with me, Alex. It’s good to have a friend along.”

  Sitting back with a satisfied look on his face, Alex held up his glass of water. “Here, here. I’m looking forward to our trip. I’m glad we bought warm clothes, though. It’s already cold enough to freeze candlelight.”

  “You have a way with words, Alex. Maybe you should be a writer. You certainly have the imagination to go with it.” The waiter came, and he ordered the pot roast.

  After the meal, Ethan put down his napkin. “I think I ate just about all I could. I know the next week or so will be hard. I’m all for going to the hotel and relaxing for the night. Tomorrow, we can get up and pick out the horses, and then shop for a few items.”

  “Sounds good to me. I might make a trip to the saloon.” Alex grinned at him.

  Ethan grimaced, but it wasn’t his place to tell his friend to go or not. “Not me. All you’ll get there is trouble.”

  “Well, I’ve never run from trouble. I’ll meet you at the hotel in a little while.” Alex dug in his pocket and handed Ethan his money pouch. “Just give me ten dollars out of that and keep the rest for me.” Alex grinned. “Or maybe I should say keep the money from me.”

  Ethan pulled out a bill and handed it to him. “Be back early, I want to be out and moving first thing in the morning.”

&nbs
p; “You’re a taskmaster, Ethan.” Alex left the café.

  Ethan paid the bill, snugged his coat around him tight, and went outside. The wind was blowing bits of ice and snow, and he wondered if they’d be able to leave tomorrow. He’d bought runners to put under the wheels in case the snow got too deep.

  After all, he was a man that knew to be prepared. He had enough food in the wagons to last them months along with blankets, lanterns, oil, and feed for the horses. Ethan grinned. He’d have made a great pioneer.

  He stopped in the general store and looked around. He wanted to buy Claire something special. After walking the aisles, he stopped at the front counter and saw the jewelry case. A cameo on a light blue background stood out to him.

  Ethan got the store owner’s attention and had him take it out of the case.

  “It’s my finest piece of jewelry.” The man held it proudly and handed it to him. “Any woman would be proud to wear such a piece.”

  “I’ll take it, and a gold chain to put it on.”

  The clerk wrapped up the items and handed them to him. “You’re the man going to Last Chance, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, how did you know?”

  “We got word about it from the wagons and supplies you bought. The whole town has been talking about it. Such a tragedy. We’ve had a few men go to Last Chance to see if they could help and find a wife. The weather looks to be a bear, though.”

  Ethan tucked the package in his jacket. “I’m ready for it.”

  “Good. I hope you make it in time for Christmas. You should unless you get stuck along the way.”

  Ethan glanced outside to see the snow falling harder. “We’ll take our chances.”

  The clerk laughed. “Sounds good as long as you remember you’re going to Last Chance.”

  “We’ll make it.” Ethan’s confidence often irritated others, but he didn’t care. He was ready. He left the store and went to the hotel.

  Alex wasn’t back yet, and Ethan hoped his friend would behave. Unlike Ethan, Alex lived for the moment without hardly a thought for tomorrow. But that was part of his charm. The other part was he was friendly and lucky.