Lazy Days (3 page)

Timmy shouted, "Yes! Thank you! Thank
you!" He ran to his mother and hugged her. "Oregon—here we
come!"

Cooper looked from the boy to his mother just as
two big tears slid down her cheeks. Quickly, she swiped them with her apron and
returned her son's hug. "Timmy, you go feed the chickens while Mr. Jerome
and I discuss the particulars of the move."

"Sure, Ma." He looked at Cooper and grinned,
showcasing a missing front tooth.

After the boy slammed through the door, Mrs.
Wells asked, "Why did you change your mind? Was it Timmy?"

"Yes, ma'am. But it's not something I want
to explain."

"Then I'll not ask you to."

An awkward silence filled the cabin.

"Um, ma'am, why don't you tell me
everything you can about your scheduled departure time, so I can make some plans?"

Cooper nailed the final board in place covering
the door of his humble cabin, hoping to deter thieves while he was gone. He'd
already delivered his animals, all but Sweet Pea, to a neighbor's care.

Shaking his head, he wanted to berate himself
for his spur-of-the-moment decision to help the Wells widow and her son, but
with everything in him, he knew it was really the only choice he had. Life was
harsh for a woman without a husband, especially a woman with a young son and no
home. He sighed.

The poor woman couldn't be much older than
twenty-seven or eight, if that, and with her farm already sold, she was in deep
trouble if she didn't remarry. He'd seen plenty of destitute women trying to
survive during the war. A few lucky ones got jobs as teachers, but even that
didn't pay much. Hell, he didn't even know if Mrs. Wells had an education,
although she'd seemed learned. Some women took in washing, which paid little
and aged them almost overnight, while others finally turned to prostitution to
put food in their children's mouths. Although unlikely, just the possibility of
that poor woman forced into a life of degradation sickened him. And the boy,
God help him, the boy reminded him of another boy. Yep, he'd done right by her
and her son.

With a final sigh, he checked his saddle bags
and mounted Sweet Pea.

* * *

Hallie twisted around in the buckboard to check
on Timmy sitting next to Daisy Smithson, the only child of the new owners of
her farm. The red-haired girl with a mischievous tilt to her chin whispered in
her son's ear. Timmy jerked his head back and shouted, "No way!"

Hallie smiled at the antics of the children and
turned back around. Watching Timmy momentarily gave her respite from the finality
of leaving the home that she and Thomas had shared. As the buckboard pulled
onto the road in front of the farm, however, she said a silent goodbye to her
dear husband.
Goodbye, my love. I'm following our dream.

Brushing a tear aside, she basked in the
familiar terrain that she might never see again. Mr. Smithson seemed to realize
her need for reflection and did not interrupt her musings.

After several minutes travel, Hallie broke the
silence. "I'd like to thank you again for the ride to town and the
kindness you and Mrs. Smithson have shown Timmy and me by allowing us to remain
on the farm even after you'd moved in."

The sweet man, whose wife was just as
sweet-natured, replied, "It's the least we could do considering your
circumstances. If we hadn't already sold our own place, we could have canceled
the transaction so you could stay on."

"Now, I don't want you to fret about that.
This is what Thomas wanted, and he put that same vision in me. I just feel
blessed to have Mr. Jerome driving our wagon. For awhile, I wasn't sure how
things would work out, but the good Lord sent us a good man."

"I'm right happy to hear that, ma'am."
Mr. Smithson shifted the reins to his other hand, guiding the horses around a
pothole.

After almost an hour, they arrived on the
outskirts of town. "Now where exactly are you meeting Mr. Jerome?"
asked Mr. Smithson.

"He said he'd meet us in front of the Grand
Hotel. We're traveling by stagecoach to St. Louis and then on to Westport
Landing by steamboat." Hallie could barely contain her excitement. She
glanced around at Timmy and he gave her a smile that warmed her heart.

Mr. Smithson pulled the buckboard to the main
cross street in town and guided the horses to the hotel, sitting on a corner. Contrary
to its name, the Grand Hotel wasn't so grand with its faded façade in desperate
need of whitewash and repairs.

Hallie anxiously scanned the few men smoking and
laughing on the wide porch and an older couple strolling the warped boardwalk.
Glancing farther down the street she saw Mr. Jerome dismounting his mare. As if
her presence were a magnet, he turned and looked directly at her. Hallie's
heart hammered. She was entrusting her life, and the life of her son, to a man
she'd met fewer times than the number of fingers on one hand.

Mr. Jerome tipped his hat and then wrapped the
reins of his horse around the hitching post.

Mr. Smithson jumped off the buckboard and came
around to help Hallie down. Timmy and Daisy scrambled off the wagon's bed and
Hallie chuckled when the impish girl unexpectedly planted a kiss on Timmy's
cheek.

"Cut it out!" he admonished and jumped
backward.

Daisy only grinned. "Don't forget what I
said."

Timmy rubbed his cheek and replied, "You
can't know that."

"Yes, I can."

"Cannot."

"You just wait and see, Timmy Wells," Daisy
huffed, and climbed onto the seat Hallie had vacated.

Distracted by the exchange between Daisy and her
son, Hallie jumped when Mr. Jerome said, "Mornin', ma'am," and placed
her hand over her heart.

"Sorry, ma'am. Seems I have this way of
startling you."

"No. No. I'm just nervous about leaving a
place I've lived for so many years." She paused and then remembered Mr.
Smithson. "Goodness, where are my manners? Mr. Jerome, I'd like you to
meet Mr. Smithson. He’s the gentleman who purchased my farm and he and his
family have been angels during this difficult time. And this is his daughter,
Daisy."

Mr. Smithson stuck out his hand. "I'm pleased
to me ya, Mr. Jerome."

Mr. Jerome offered his hand in a firm shake.
"Likewise, sir." He nodded and smiled at Daisy, "And pleased to
meet you, too, little lady." He turned his attention to Timmy. "Good
to see you again, Tim."

Daisy responded, "Howdy, sir."

Timmy responded, "You, too, Mr.
Jerome."

He glanced at the back of the wagon. "I
take it that's your trunk, Mrs. Wells."

"Yes. It contains all my worldly possessions,"
Hallie laughed nervously.

Mr. Jerome reached and tugged the trunk to the
edge of the wagon bed. Mr. Smithson grabbed the handle on the other end.

In a flash, the trunk was safely stowed at the
edge of the boardwalk to be reloaded when the stagecoach arrived. Hallie opened
her reticule to peer at her pocket watch—ten thirty. The stage was due to
arrive at twelve and leave at one with fresh horses for the four to five hour
journey to St. Louis. She sure hoped it was on time.

Hallie glanced at her son, who was casting sour
looks at Daisy.
What is wrong with Timmy's attitude?
She scowled and
motioned for him to stand beside her.

Mr. Smithson reached to pat Timmy's shoulder.
"Well, Timmy and Mrs. Wells, I guess this is goodbye.
I wish you
all the best in your new life and I'm right sorry about your husband."

"Thank you, Mr. Smithson. Again, I
appreciate all you and your wife have done for Timmy and me."

Mr. Smithson smiled. "Well, you know our address,
so don't forget to write. My Sarah loves gettin' letters."

Daisy smirked. "Yeah, Timmy, don't forget
to write. Cause if you don't, someday I'll find you." She grinned,
revealing a missing tooth just like Timmy's.

Timmy grumbled and gave her another sour look.
Hallie chided, "Son! Mind your manners and tell Daisy goodbye."

He gave his mother a rebellious look, something
unusual for him, and mumbled, "Bye, Daisy."

Hallie shook her head and was about to chastise him
again when Mr. Jerome touched her elbow.

"Ma'am, you and Tim best wait on the porch
while I check to see if any wires have been received about stagecoach delays.

The touch of Mr. Jerome's hand sent Hallie's
heart racing. "Yes, of course." She stepped away from him and turned
her attention toward her son. "Timmy, change your attitude and come with
me." She grasped his hand and pulled him toward the porch as Mr. Smithson
called a final farewell, commanded the horses, and flicked the reins. The
buckboard pulled into the dusty road and Daisy waved goodbye to Timmy, blowing
him a kiss.

Her son made a disgusted noise and turned his
back toward the street.

Mr. Jerome motioned to two chairs on the hotel
portico. "Why don't ya'll have a seat and I'll be right back? Can I bring you
some tea or lemonade before I take care of business?"

Timmy appeared to have reverted back to his congenial
self and waited for his mother to respond. Knowing that lemonade was one of her
son's favorite drinks, she said, "Thank you, Mr. Jerome. Lemonade would be
much appreciated."

Mr. Jerome started to turn away, but paused.
"Ma'am?"

"Yes, Mr. Jerome?"

"Do you 'spose we could do away with the
formalities since we're going to be traveling together for the next few months?
Please call me Cooper. May I call you Hallie?"

Hallie felt her face flush scarlet and stumbled
over her reply. "Oh…yes…that…that would probably be best, Mr.
Jerome." His lips quirked and Hallie felt her face flame brighter.
"I…I mean…Cooper."

Cooper's half grin turned into a full one.
"Well, 'scuse me, Hallie and Tim; I'll be right back with your
lemonades."

The stagecoach departed only two hours past its
scheduled time. Cooper shrugged and said he'd waited for as long as two days
for a coach to arrive. Now, over an hour into their journey, Hallie's
excitement mellowed and she felt her eyelids droop; sleepless nights had caught
up with her.

Timmy, after discussing the Wild West with the
only other child on the coach, a younger boy, around five, who couldn't stop
fidgeting, now leaned against his mother’s shoulder and succumbed to sleep. And
the boy who’d asked his parents every few minutes, "Are we almost to St.
Louey?" yawned, crawled onto his father's lap, and also fell asleep, his soft
snores filling the coach.

Meeting the child's parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Hankerson, a couple from a neighboring town and bound for the same wagon train
as Hallie, was an unexpected bonus; they turned out to be delightful people.

Hallie yawned and glanced out the stagecoach window
at Cooper riding alongside on his beautiful mare. Before her eyes closed, an
unguarded thought escaped.
What a magnificent man on a magnificent horse
.
She sighed and felt safe for the first time in weeks.

The slowing of the coach awakened Hallie and she
realized she must have slept for quite some time because the sun was much lower
on the horizon. Sammy, Timmy's newfound friend, had moved from his father's lap
to sit beside Timmy, and the boys thumbed through a book about the Wild West,
mesmerized by drawings of cowboys, Indians, horses, herds of buffalo,
mountains, and other scenes the artist had encountered during his own journey
west.

She glanced at Mrs. Hankerson, a pretty,
full-figured, dark-haired woman, who said, "I was wondering when we'd take
a break. I feel like every bone in my body has jarred loose."

Hallie nodded her agreement and stretched her
aching neck. The stagecoach came to a complete halt and Cooper opened her door.
"Let me assist you out."

While Mr. Hankerson helped his wife and son out
the other door, Hallie accepted Cooper's extended hand. It felt warm and
calloused and sent a frisson of awareness up her arm. As soon as her feet
touched the ground, she quickly withdrew her hand and stepped aside. Timmy
jumped down behind her. The Hankersons rounded the coach and Mr. Hankerson turned
to his son. "Sammy, I think we'd best head off into the bushes and take
care of business." He looked at Hallie, "Would you like me to take
Timmy with us?"

Hallie looked at Timmy. "Do you need to
relieve yourself, son?"

"Yes, Ma."

"Okay, go with Mr. Hankerson."

After the boys left, Mrs. Hankerson sidled up to
Hallie and whispered in her ear. "I don't know about you, but I think I'm
going to wet my knickers."

Hallie looked at her sympathetically. "I
know exactly what you mean," she whispered back. She glanced at Cooper to
see him watching them and felt her face glow pink.

He cleared his throat and pointed. "Uh,
ladies, see that tree over yonder? If you'd like to visit it, I'll make sure no
one walks in that direction. And here, I have a blanket you can hold up for
privacy." He took the couple of steps to his horse and untied a roll fastened
to the back of his saddle.

Cooper's consideration of the needs of her
bladder made Hallie want to throw her arms around him in gratefulness.
Throw
your arms around Cooper! Hallie Wells, what's gotten into you? You watch the
direction of your thoughts!

After everyone had regrouped, the driver yelled,
"All aboard! We'll reach St. Louis just after nightfall."

Relieved that the bumpy journey was almost over,
Hallie settled back inside the coach and thought about the next leg of her adventure.
Timmy must have been thinking the same thing, because he said, "Ma, I
can't wait to ride on the steamboat!" Sammy caught his enthusiasm and
agreed. "Oh, yeah! Let's see if we can find a picture of a boat in the
book."

Hallie smiled and smoothed Timmy's tousled hair.
He huddled next to his new friend and poured over their book again. Hallie
glanced across at Mr. and Mrs. Hankerson. "I'm so happy we're traveling on
the same wagon train and steamboat. And please, you must call me Hallie."

Mrs. Hankerson reached to pat her husband's
hand. "And you must call us by our first names, as well—Lydia and Emmett."

"Have either of you been on a steamboat
before?" Hallie asked.

Lydia replied, "I haven't, but Emmett
has." She giggled. "Before he met me, he was a little wild."

Glancing back at the short, thin man, probably
in his mid thirties, with rosy cheeks and an already receding hairline, Hallie
found that impossible to believe.

Emmett smiled and admitted, "As a young pup,
while sowing my wild oats, so to speak, I had a fondness for the cards and
found myself gambling on riverboats often." He laughed. "But I was
never very good at bluffing. After losing my hard-earned ranch wages one time
too many, it cured me of the seamy side of life."

"Goodness, do you suppose they'll have card
games and a saloon aboard our steamboat?" Hallie asked with incredulity.

"It's a possibility, but we'll just avoid
that part of the boat. Besides, you said Mr. Jerome is escorting you. He's a
formidable looking cowboy so no one will bother you. Even in my wild days I
wouldn't have wanted to tangle with him."

Hallie glanced at Lydia. She could read the
question in the woman's eyes about her relationship with Cooper, and she felt
embarrassed. It was highly unorthodox for a woman to travel in the company of a
man who wasn't her husband. Hallie had been so concerned about finding someone
to drive her oxen that she hadn't even considered the speculations that would surely
occur.

Not wanting to bring up the topic of her
husband's death in front of Timmy, when he seemed so happy at the moment, she
made a mental note to later clarify her strictly business relationship with
Cooper Jerome for her newfound friends.