Ellen: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Read online

  “Ellen, wait. What’s wrong? I know I got delayed but they haven’t bid on your lunch basket yet. I know as I asked Reverend Timmons to leave it to last.”

  Ellen stared at his face. “You did what?”

  “I asked him to m-make sure I had a chance to bid. It’s what you wanted isn’t it? I m-mean I thought you m-might like to have lunch with me.” He stood in front of her, passing his hat from one hand to the other. He looked so earnest. He probably looked like that when he offered to court Miss Hawthorn.

  “Of all the low down dirty dogs, you, Samuel Higgins, are the worst. How dare you tell Reverend Timmons I would have lunch with you? You are already spoken for. What kind of woman do you think I am?”

  “Gorgeous, especially when the Irish temper rises.”

  She balled her fists as the temptation to hit him was rising. She stood glaring at him. She could almost see the moment her words pierced his brain as his eyes turned puzzled.

  “Hold on a minute. Spoken for? What do you mean? Who have you been talking to?”

  “Mrs. Kelley.”

  She knew then there was some truth to what she’d said. The sheepish look on his face confirmed it.

  “So it’s true. You and Miss Hawthorn are a couple. I am very pleased for you.” She almost spat the words, the hurt evident in her voice.

  “No, you aren’t, and no, we’re not.” Samuel put his hand through his hair. “You have to believe me, Ellen. The only woman I want is you.”

  She battled against the hope rising in her chest.

  “Why should I believe you?”

  He pulled her just inside an alley, out of the view of people walking up and down the main street. Before she could do or say anything, he pulled her against him and kissed her.

  Breathless, she pushed him away. He loosened his hold but kept his arms around her waist.

  “But why does Mrs. Kelley think you are courting Ida?” She asked once she got her breath back.

  “She heard m-me speaking to Father M-Molloy. He suggested I talk to Mrs. Gantley…”

  “The bride lady.”

  “Yes.” He brushed his lips against hers lightly. “Don’t get all fiery again. I told him I didn’t need Mrs. Gantley. I knew who I wanted to m-marry.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, Ellen. I do.” He kissed her again gently. “Mrs. Kelley and Ida were walking behind us. They must have heard what I said but somehow they thought I was talking about Ida Hawthorn.”

  His eyes and nose screwed up with disgust as he said her name. She knew she shouldn’t be happy.

  “I couldn’t get the words out to tell them they were wrong. So I took the coward’s way out.”

  “You went along with it?”

  “He… Sorry. Heck no. I ran away and left Father M-Molloy with them.”

  “Alone? Oh the poor man.” Ellen tried not to laugh, but the image of the priest dealing with those two women was too funny.

  “I feel bad for doing that to him but worse for the pain it caused you. Ellen, how could you believe them? After…”

  “After?”

  “You know. Our kiss. I wanted to talk to Katie, you wouldn’t let m-me.”

  “We better get back to the street. If anyone sees us together like this, my name will be mud. Especially, if half the town thinks you are courting Ida Hawthorn.”

  “There’s only one girl for me. You know that.”

  She didn’t answer the questioning look on his face. Instead she pulled free of his embrace, rubbed her hand over her hair and walked back into the main street. She was the school teacher. She had to preserve her reputation at all costs. You are a coward. You can’t be mad at him for people thinking he is courting someone else. You never told him you wanted to be with him.

  “Miss O’Callaghan.”

  Why is he calling me that now when seconds ago it was Ellen. Because you are in the middle of the street, stupid!

  “Wait. The auction.”

  “Oh, heavens. I forgot.” Her face flamed as his eyes searched hers.

  “Can I bid on your lunch basket or is that not allowed either.” His annoyed tone caught her attention. She’d hurt him again.

  “You have to bid. Charlie Stanton said he was going to. I couldn’t bear it if he won.” Immediately after she said the words, she realized how they sounded. She was about to apologize and correct herself when he said coldly.

  “So you aren’t interested in showing the town we are a couple. You just think I am slightly better a prospect than Stanton.”

  “I didn’t say that.” She replied annoyance making her forget that is exactly how she expected he would take her remark.

  “Really? It sure sounded like it from where I’m standing.” He growled.

  “Don’t use that tone with me.” Ellen’s temper was in full rein now, severely hampering her ability to be reasonable.

  “Ellen, stop talking to me like I’m one of your charges at school?”

  “Well if the shoe fits…”

  “If you can’t be civil, then maybe I have picked the wrong woman. Go back to Boulder. Go on. See if I care.”

  “I refuse to discuss this with you when you are in this mood. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Not if I see you first. I m-mean it, Ellen O’Callaghan. You’ve pushed me too far this time.”

  “I haven’t pushed you far enough.” Ellen pushed him taking both of them by surprise. He fell on his backside as she stared in horror, realizing what she had done. She didn’t wait for his reaction but picked up her skirts and ran toward Hope House, the nearest sanctuary. The only other option was the saloon and she wasn’t that desperate.

  Chapter 33

  Once inside, she let the tears fall. She needed time alone and nobody had yet moved into Hope House. Katie was the fiery one in their family. She had always been calmer, the peacekeeper. Some peacekeeper pushing a grown man down in the street. What would the parents think? A school teacher had a reputation to uphold and behaving like a…disruptive child wasn’t going to help her case.

  She sat at the kitchen table, letting the tears fall down her cheeks.

  “Why crying?”

  Ellen felt the hand stroking her hair. She looked up from her arms into Rosa’s chocolate brown eyes. How long had the child been there? She looked scared and uncertain.

  “Come here, Rosa. Sit on my knee. I need a cuddle.”

  Rose clambered onto her lap, twisting Ellen’s loose hair around her finger.

  “Why you cry?” The child repeated.

  “I am a little sad today. Why are you in here?”

  “Rosa no like big boys. They scare me. John gone. Big boy says he in here. But he not.”

  Rosa’s eyes filled with tears. Ellen hugged her close. “Don’t cry Rosa. We will go find John together.” She lifted the girl up off her knee and put her back on the floor noticing she was wet through. In a firmer voice she said “Wait until I catch those big boys. They will be sorry for upsetting my star pupil.”

  Rosa’s eyes lit up. She threw her arms around Ellen in a hug. “I love you.” She whispered leaving Ellen shocked but pleased.

  “I love you too, Rosa.”

  She held the child close as she prepared herself mentally to go back outside. Please let the auction be over. “Come upstairs, we will get you changed into one of your new pretty dresses.”

  Walking hand in hand with the child, they climbed the stairs. Ellen thanking the generosity of the townsfolk for the new clothes waiting for the orphans. Rosa had suffered enough without having to walk through the town in wet clothes.

  As Rosa put the new dress over her shoulders, Ellen looked out the open window, noting the small crowd of boys coming in the direction of the house. Wait until I get my hands on you, Master Shaw. She saw Peter arguing with Bertram. He pulled at the boy’s arm but Bertram was too fast. What are they up to now?

  Everything happened really quickly but in her head it seemed time moved slowly. She watched horrified as Bertram lit the fir
eworks he’d been holding. They crackled in his fingers and in his haste to get rid of it he threw it in the direction of the house.

  Right beside the decorations they’d made to decorate the town for tonight’s dance. The firework exploded lighting the paper. Ellen watched horrified as the flames took hold. It took her a couple of seconds to realize the fire was spreading quickly fed by the fresh turpentine and paint used to decorate the new orphanage. She had to get Rosa and herself out.

  Ellen willed her feet to move as she stood mesmerized by the flames below her. She reached for the basin of water she’d used to clean up Rosa. Stupid woman, that isn’t going to put the fire out.

  Rosa stood still as a statue, her face mirroring the terror Ellen was feeling. She took the girl’s hand and pulled her out the door toward the stairs. Black swirling smoke made it difficult to see. She couldn’t believe how quickly the fire was spreading. She moved forward but Rosa broke away, terror making her run back to the bedroom. She made a grab for her but the terrified child was too fast for her. She ran into the room but Ellen couldn’t see her. Panicked now, she moved to the window.

  “Peter, get help. Rosa is up here with me. Don’t try to come in. Go get help.”

  She grabbed a child’s dress and soaked it in the basin. “Rosa, sweetheart, I know you’re scared but we have to go downstairs. We have to get out of here.”

  The child cowered under the bed. Ellen fought to keep her voice calm. Shouting at Rosa would only scare her more. “Come on, little one. Let’s go find John. He will be worried about you. Come on.” She saw the child move toward her. “That’s it, take my hand.” She pulled the child from under the bed and carried her toward the door.

  The flames crackled as they took hold. Ellen heard a woof sound as the decorations the class had made for the new orphanage quickly caught fire. She clamped her mouth shut despite the urge to take deep breathes. The ash on her tongue made her gag.

  She jumped as the glass frame of the window popped splintering in pieces over the floor. Rosa cringed against her. “Put this over your head sweetheart and close your eyes. We will get out of here, don’t you worry.”

  Ellen’s eyes watered as she moved cautiously down the stairs to be met by a curtain of searing heat. She hesitated. Would it be better to go back and try to escape through a window? It was too far to jump. Maybe someone would catch Rosa?

  She shifted Rosa in her arms. The child was unusually heavy. She took a step but at the same time, Rosa pulled the cover from her eyes. She screamed in terror, lunging forward causing Ellen to slip. Screaming they both tumbled down the rest of the stairs landing in a heap at the bottom.

  Rosa had tumbled too close to the flames. They licked at her dress. Moving quickly she patted down the child, rolling her across the floor, praying her thanks the fire didn’t catch on the fabric.

  She had to get them both out of here. She half pulled, half pushed the silent child, her fatigue making her weaker. She should be able to carry her, Rosa wasn’t that heavy but her arms wouldn’t let her.

  It was harder to breath now. She opened her mouth wider trying to get more air into her lungs but it didn’t help. It made it worse. Gasping, she pulled Rosa toward what she hoped was the door. Please God help us get out of here. Save Rosa at least. She’s only a little girl. Please. Ellen kept praying even as her eyes closed over. Rosa whimpered beside her but she was spent. The knock on her head from the fall must have been harder than she’d thought. Hold on Rosa, someone will come. But the child couldn’t hear her thoughts.

  Chapter 34

  Samuel froze as the smoke billowed out the window. It was that day all over again. Pa shouting at him and Aaron to hide, Ma screaming at Pa to come back inside. Painted dog soldiers hollering at the top of their voices. He covered his ears as the sounds and smell took him back. He was six years old, hiding behind the horse trough. Even with his eyes screwed shut and his hands over his ears, he could hear his pa swearing as his gun jammed. He’d opened his eyes to see a large Indian charge his pa, the ax glinting in the sunlight. He’d peed his pants, curling up tight as a ball in his hiding place.

  Aaron, only two years older, had acted like a man. He’d ignored his parents’ orders to hide instead jumping on his horse and fleeing in the opposite direction of the Indians. Somehow, he had got to the soldiers and brought them back in time to rescue Ma and him. It was too late for Pa though. His father was dead and it was all his fault. If he had been brave enough to fight, he could have shot the Indian before he murdered his pa.

  “Samuel, Rosa is in there with Miss Ellen.” Little Beaver’s push roused him from his memories. Ellen was in the burning building.

  He rushed to the door, praying she hadn’t locked it. “Little Beaver get the people to make a chain. We need water and fast. Those flames are taking hold.”

  Samuel ran inside, the smoke making visibility difficult.

  “Ellen, where are you? Rosa, answer me.”

  She looked up as she heard her name. She could see a man’s form in the smoke but didn’t recognize him. The noise from the flames meant she couldn’t identify him from his voice either. He came closer.

  Samuel. What was he doing in here?

  “Over here, we fell. The stairs. Where’s Rosa?”

  “Ellen, get out now. The roof could go any minute.”

  “ I can’t. Rosa is in here. Somewhere.”

  “I’ll find her, go Ellen. Now.”

  “I can’t. She won’t let you near her. Get out Samuel. I’ll follow when I find her.”

  “Rosa, come on little one. We have to get your teacher outside before she gets hurt.”

  Ellen heard a whimper. Under the smoke, she spotted the child. Grabbing Samuel’s arm, she pointed towards the wall. She watched as he threw a coat or blanket over his head and crawled along the floor to reach the little girl. He didn’t give her time to argue with him but grabbed her in his arms and carried her toward the door. Ellen moved to his side, trying to give them all protection with the wet dress. They were almost at the door when the roof gave way. They looked up to see a large beam falling toward them.

  Samuel threw Rosa out the door and pushed Ellen after her. She stumbled head first into the dirt, the child just inches ahead of her. Someone grabbed both of them and pulled them away from the burning building.

  “Samuels still in there. He saved us.” She kept repeating the same thing but nobody seemed to be listening. She tried to stand but her legs wouldn’t support her. Instead, she sat fighting the dizziness and pain.

  Little Beaver directed a line of men and women as they passed buckets of water from the pumps along the street. Blistering heat forced would be rescuers back from the blazing house. Ellen watched horrified as the orange and yellow flames seemed to eat Hope House. She fell to her knee’s praying. Please let them bring him out alive. I can’t lose him.

  Rosa clung to her side as Katie joined them.

  “Ellen, oh my, are you alright?”

  "Katie, take Rosa away. She doesn’t need to see this." Ellen forcibly removed the child's arms from around her neck. “Katie, go.”

  “Ellen, come with me. You need help too.”

  “I am not leaving until they bring Samuel out. He saved me, Katie.”

  Her sister would look after Rosa. She had to stay to see what happened to Samuel.

  She watched as the men and women of Clover Springs fought to put out the blaze. Please God, I’ll do anything you want but please let him be alright. She prayed over and over.

  Finally, she spotted Aaron and some other men drag Samuel free of the building. Minutes later, the building collapsed as the walls gave way.

  She got up, her legs suddenly working and ran to his side.

  “Ellen stand back, he’s hurt real bad. “Aaron tried to hold her back. “Doc needs to see to him.”

  “Pour water over him. Do it. NOW.”

  Was that her screaming? She didn’t know and she didn’t care. She knew from things she had read in Boulder th
at they needed to cool his skin. She grabbed a bucket of water from one of the startled townsfolk and threw it over Samuel’s clothes.

  “She’s right. We got to get those burnt clothes off him but it will be easier when they are wet. Go gently don’t rip anything off now. We need to move him as soon as we can to the office. He doesn’t need to get dirt and dust into those wounds.” Doc’s voice carried through the fog in Ellen’s head.

  Ellen’s legs gave way so she crawled along the ground to Samuel’s side as he murmured something. “Samuel, I can’t hear you. Say it again.”

  “Is Ellen alright? And the girl?

  “Yes, we are both fine. I’m right here. Can’t you see it’s me?”

  But he didn’t recognize her.

  “Tell her I’m sorry. I love…” Samuel lost consciousness.

  He loves me. She wanted to touch him but her hand hovered over his burning skin. She didn’t know how to caress him without causing him pain.

  “I love you too, Samuel Armstrong Higgins, and I’m not going to lose you now. You hear. You got to fight to get better. Fight.”

  “Ellen, come along now. Emer or Mrs. Grey will see to your hands.” Doc’s insistent voice penetrated the fog.

  Only then did Ellen realize she had burned her hands. She couldn’t feel anything. It wouldn’t matter if she could. All that mattered was the man she loved had almost died saving her life. Now he would lose his. Judging by the look on Doc’s face that may happen.

  She welcomed the black as it descended over her.

  Chapter 35

  “She’s coming round. Give her some space.”

  “Ellen, are you all right. You gave me such a scare.”

  “Where am I?”

  “Doc’s office. You’ve been asleep for hours. Doc said your body needed the rest but when you didn’t wake up, we were getting worried.”

  Ellen tried to sit up but winced as her hands hit the covers. She held them up. They were bandaged.