The Widow Finds Love (Mail Order Bride Series) (4 page)

The letter felt lighter than previous ones. 
I wonder if he has found someone else?  He hasn’t said anything about corresponding with others looking for a husband.  He may have had several responses to his ad, just as I did.  I just chose not to answer. 
It was with nervous fingers she tore open the envelope and extracted the letter.

As she read it, her eyes filled, and tears streamed down her cheeks. 
This is just about the saddest thing I could have imagined,
she thought.  When she reached the last paragraph in the letter, the one with the invitation, she sat in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. 
Why am I crying
? she asked herself. 
This is what I wanted.  I never had a lot of hope it would happen
. 
Of course I’m going to accept.  I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  I have to tell Mama and Papa and the Hutchisons.

The Hutchisons!  This is going to be very difficult.  I will be taking their only granddaughter away.  They’ll have no one left.  Can I really do this to them?

“Mama, I need to talk to you,” Sarah said to her mother.

“What is it, dear?” her mother asked.

“I’ve been writing to a man in Texas,” she said.

“I know, dear.  You left one of the letters on the table.  I shouldn’t have read it and I’m sorry.  I didn’t want to say anything, so I just waited.  When you wanted me to know, I figured you would tell me,” her mother said.

“Thank you Mama.  He’s a cotton farmer, and lives here.”  She pointed to a place on an atlas.  “He has invited us to meet him, and will provide transportation for Rebecca and me to come to Texas.  If I decide it isn’t the best idea, after we meet, he would provide the return ticket.  He says his sister will let me stay with her if I prefer not to get married right away.  What do you think?” Sarah asked.

“I don’t know.  It’s a big step and could be dangerous.  How did you hear about him?” her mother asked.

“I asked the preacher and he told me about several women that have tried this.  He gave me the name of the paper and I wrote to the editor.  They don’t give out your name until you give permission and all letters go through the editor until you tell them to reveal names.”

“Did you tell Papa about the letter?”

“No,” her mother replied.  “There wasn’t any point in bothering him.”

“You’re the best, now what do you think?”

“Well, it isn’t as if Yorkville is flooded with men your age.  I would say go with your  instincts.”

“What about the Hutchisons?  This would take their only grandchild away,” Sarah asked.

“I think they would understand and want the best for you and Rebecca.  Of course, it would be sad for them, but they know the situation here.”

Sarah said, “I’m going to write back and accept his offer.  His name is Clint Thomas and he has a daughter named Cassie, who is nine.  His wife died last year of pneumonia.”

“What about your Pa?” her mother asked.

“I was thinking I would hold off telling him until everything is all set,” Sarah said.

“Do you think that’s fair to him?  I think you should tell him now.”

“I guess you’re right.  I don’t look forward to it,” he said.

“Don’t underestimate your Pa.  He’s a good man and always wants the best for his girl.”

* * *

“Papa, I have something to tell you,” Sarah said.

“What about?  Sit down and tell me about it,” he said.

“I’ve been writing to a man in Texas.  He’s a cotton farmer, and a widow.  He has a nine year old daughter.  We’ve been writing for several months and he wants me to go there.  If everything is okay, we will get married right away,” she said in a rush.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.

“Yes sir, I’m sure.  I want to get married again and Rebecca needs a father.  I hope the idea doesn’t upset you too much,” she said.

“Well, you’re a grown woman, and I’ve always thought you to be pretty level headed.  I understand about wanting to be married.  A woman your age should be married and I agree about Rebecca needing a father.  Is there anything you need, money for a ticket, or whatever?” he asked.

“Not really.  He’s going to pay for the railroad, and if things don’t work out, he will pay for us to come back here.”

“When would you be going?” he asked.

“I just got his letter asking us to meet him,” she said.  “I’m going to answer it today.  It takes about a week each way for mail, so I would guess in two or three weeks.  I’m going to miss you and Mama, but we need this or something like it.  I dread having to tell the Hutchisons though.”

“I understand your problem, but you must consider the rest of your life and Rebecca’s.  She needs a father.  Grandfathers are nice, but it’s not the same.

“What do you know about this man?”

“He’s twenty-seven years old, goes to a Baptist church.  He raises cotton, and has a section of land, that’s 160 acres by the way.  He has a big house and wanted a large family, but his wife died of pneumonia before that could happen.”  She pulled out the same atlas and showed him where Marshall was.  “He was born in Alabama on a cotton farm.  He is lonely and needs a wife as badly as I need a husband.  His daughter needs a mother.  That’s about all I know.  It’s not much to go on, but in his letters he sounds like a good man.”

“Go for it, honey.  You have my blessing, and my help if you need it.”

She stood and hugged him tightly.  “Mama told me not to underestimate you.  I guess I did.  I thought you would be upset.  I’m glad you understand.”

Sarah’s response, in part…

“Dear Clint,  I have received your letter suggesting we meet.  After giving it much thought and consideration, and discussing it with my family, including Rebecca, I accept your kind invitation and look forward to meeting you and Cassie.  This will be a great adventure for us, since I have never traveled outside Yorkville… (s) Sincerely, Sarah”

The final goodbyes between the Hutchisons, the Walters, Sarah and Rebecca was a tearful one.  It would probably be the last time any of them would see their daughter and granddaughter again. Malachi and Darcy Hutchison both had eyes brimming with tears as they said goodbye to their only granddaughter.  Rebecca clung to her grandmother as she said, “Goodbye Grandmama, I love you.”

“I love you too, darling, and I always will.  You be a good girl and help your Mama.”

“I will, Grandmama.  I promise, I will, the little girl said.

“Sarah, you take care of our little girl, and, maybe, the good Lord willing, we’ll see you again,” Darcy said.

For his part, Malachi stood there, stoic, with a sad expression on his face.  The only legacy of his long dead son was leaving.  His world would fold with the departure of the train.  Rebecca, came to him and hugged his leg.  He gently patted her on the shoulder.

“Sarah, you are everything a mother could want in a daughter.  I’m so proud of what you have done, with all you’ve faced in your life.  Not many could have done it and no one could have done it better.  God speed darling.  We’ll be together again someday,” the elder Sarah Walters said.

“Mama, I really do hate to leave you and Papa, but I think this is something I had to do.  I’ll miss  you every day, and you’ll always be in my thoughts.  I just hope I’m as good a mother to Rebecca as you have been to me.

“Papa, thank you for all you’ve been to me.  I was never frightened because I always knew you would catch me if I stumbled.  And you did.  I couldn’t have survived the loss of John without the support of you and Mama.  When we lost our home, you took us in and gave us yours.  I love you, Papa,” Sarah said. 

The conductor called, “All abooaarrrd.”

Nathan held his daughter’s hand as she stepped onto the steps of their car.  She turned, and buried her head in his chest.  “Goodbye, Papa,” she said, and stepped onto the rear platform, tears cascading down her cheeks as the train huffed and puffed its way out of the station.

The journey began…

* * *

The Thomas farm, near Marshall, Texas…

Clint Thomas sat on the davenport in the living room of his farmhouse.  “Cassie, I need to talk to you about something very important.”

“What,
Papa?” she asked. 

“For the past four months I have been writing to a lady in South Carolina.  I have asked her to come to our farm.  How would you like to have this lady be your mother?”

“Is she nice?” Cassie asked. 

“I haven’t met her so I really can’t be sure, but she sounds very nice in her letters.  There’s one other thing, she has a little girl, named Rebecca, who is seven years old.  She’s coming too.  What do you think?”

“Papa, you’re not teasing me are you?  Am I really going to have a mother and a sister?”

“If she likes us, and we like her, then we would be married and she will be your mother,” he said.

“What if she doesn’t like us?” she asked.

“Then she would take Rebecca and go back to South Carolina, and we will have to keep looking for someone to take care of us.”

“I’m going to be extra nice, she has to like us.  She just has to,” Cassie said.  “Did Rebecca’s Papa die, like Mama did?” she asked.

“Her father was killed in the war, when she was two years old.  She’s grown up without a Papa, but she does have her grandpas.”

“That’s really sad.  I’m glad you didn’t get killed in the war, Papa.  I would have had to stay with Aunt Suzy.  She’s nice, but not very much fun.”

“Aunt Suzy just doesn’t understand little girls, since she only has boys,” he said.

“They’re mean,” she said.

“They’re not mean, they’re good boys.  Boys just play differently from the way girls do,” he said.

“They’re mean.  They pull my hair and call me names.”

“Boys do that.  I guess I pulled Suzy’s hair when we were little.  I’m pretty sure I called her names too.”

“How will they get to Texas,” she asked.

“They’ll come in on the stage from Shreveport.”

“I thought you said they were coming from South Carolina,” she reminded. 

“Well, from South Carolina, they will ride the train to New Orleans.  Then they’ll take a boat from New Orleans up the river to Shreveport and then take the stage to Marshall.”

“How long is that going to take, Papa?”

“It is going to take them about a week to get here.  I will get a letter that tells me when they will be here, then you and I will go meet the stage, and bring them to our farm.”

“That’s a long time.  I’ll bet they will be tired,” she observed.

“I’m sure they will.  Now, I have another question.  Where do you think they should sleep?”

“We have the spare bed Aunt Suzy uses when she stayed here.  You could move it into my room, then Rebecca wouldn’t be in a room alone and get scared,” she said.

“What about her mother?  Where should she sleep?”

“Papa, Mamas always sleep with the Papas  She can sleep in your room, just like Mama did.”

“That wouldn’t bother you?  Her taking your mother’s place, I mean,” he asked.

“If you get married, then it’s all right,” she said.  “I’m really glad we’re going to have them live with us.  It’s going to be fun having a sister.  I can show her about the chickens and eggs and the cows and stuff.”

“I think she will already know a lot about that.  She lives on a farm now,” he said.

“But not on a Texas farm, Papa.”

“No, not on a Texas farm, but they grow cotton too.  Tomorrow, we’re going to Aunt Suzy’s and tell her all about our visitors.  Remember, they might not like us, or they might not like Texas.”

“They will, Papa.  I know they will.”

The next morning…

“Suzy, I’ve asked Sarah and her daughter to come meet us.  They should be on their way now and get here next week.  It’s a long trip, and with the railroads all torn up from the war, it will take a week to get here,” he told his sister.

“I am so happy for you and for Cassie,” Suzy said. She needs to have a mother to talk to.  Have you told her about it yet?”

“Yes,” he said.  “We talked about it last night.  She’s all excited about having a sister and a new mother.”

“You don’t think she will resent having someone take Ruth’s place?” Suzy asked.

“No, I really don’t.  I asked her where she thought Rebecca should sleep, and she suggested we move the spare bed into her room, so she wouldn’t be afraid.  When I asked her where she thought Sarah should sleep, she surprised me.  She said “Mamas always sleep with Papas” and since we would be getting married, it would be all right.”

Suzy burst out laughing.  “Our little girl may be older than we thought.  Oh, Clint, I do hope this works out.”

“I do too,” he said.  “It has been a lonely place since Ruth passed.  It will be nice having laughter and noise in the house again.  Sarah’s husband was killed in 1862 so she’s been alone a lot longer than I have.  Then she lost her farm and had to move back in with her parents.  She’s going to want to make this work as much as I do.”