A Home at Trail's End (41 page)

“But that's wrong,” Martha declared. “These children have Charles' blood in them. They cannot be treated like that. I won't allow it.”

“Perhaps if we band together,” Clara said. “If we could get enough settlers to stand by you and your grandchildren and daughter-in-law, perhaps we could stand up to the likes of Mr. Walters.”

“Where is Charles in all this?” Martha asked in a slightly desperate tone. “He should be here to protect his family.”

“I agree,” Elizabeth said. “But perhaps he felt it was more important to provide for them. Mara said that he wanted to get enough money to get them away from here…to take them someplace safe.”

With the baby still in her arms, Martha stood, looking at all of them with a defiant expression. “They will be safe with me.”

“All of them?” Elizabeth asked. “Because I have promised Mara that I will let no one take her children from her. I want you to understand that.”

“And I back her on it,” Clara said.

“As do I,” Georgia added. “And the reverend too.”

Martha frowned but then looked back into her grandson's chubby face. “Yes. I will take all of them. I'll take them home today. My sons and I will keep them safe until Charles returns.”

Elizabeth took in a sharp breath. She knew it was possible—maybe even likely—that Charles would never return. However, she did not intend to say this. Mostly she was relieved. Mara and her children would be cared for and protected—by their own kin.

“Georgia Holmes,” Martha said a bit sharply. “You were in on this from the very beginning, weren't you?”

Georgia made a sheepish smile.

“That is why you insisted I drive the wagon out here today, wasn't it? You don't really have an ingrown toenail, do you?”

“I must confess…I told a falsehood. Please forgive me. It was for a good reason.”

“Shall we load them up and go home now?” Martha asked.

“First we will have tea,” Elizabeth told her. “Mara and Rose have been looking forward to it.” She nodded to her mother. “Can you play hostess for a bit? I'll go ask Eli to get Mara's things loaded into Martha's wagon.”

Elizabeth felt like dancing as she went out to where Eli was working to level a piece of land where their barn would eventually be located. “It worked!” she called out to him. “Martha is taking all three of them home with her.”

Eli grinned. “I knew if anyone could pull that off it would be you, Elizabeth.”

“Would you mind gathering up Mara's things from the cabin? She promised to have them packed up and ready to go.”

“I would be happy to.” He came over and hugged her. “Job well done, Elizabeth.”

As she returned to the house, she knew that the job was not really done. Her friendship with Mara and her children would continue. She would continue to support this little family, helping them to fit into school and church and life in their town for as long as they remained here.

Chapter Thirty-One

I
n early June, shortly after school broke for the summer, Belinda Bramford and Jacob Levine were married. By the time of the wedding, everyone in the settlement was aware that Mara and her children were living at the Levines'. Reactions varied. Some settlers accepted them. Some seemed unsure. And a few, like Mr. Walters, were antagonistic. But Elizabeth was glad to see that Mara and the children attended the wedding in the church as well as the reception in Malinda's barn.

“I want you to meet my best friend, Malinda,” Elizabeth told Mara as she linked arms with her and walked her over to where Malinda was standing with Will. Elizabeth made introductions, even introducing the children. And Mara, still practicing her English, graciously shook their hands.

“Mara and her children lived with us for a while,” she said even though Malinda was well aware of this by now. “And I still miss her.” She grinned at Mara. “We were neighbors, weren't we?”

“And friends,” Mara said simply. “We miss you too.”

“Well, now you will have my daughter for your neighbor,” Will said in a friendly tone. “Belinda has spoken warmly of you.”

“Belinda is a good girl.” Mara smiled. “She is good with children too.”

“She certainly loves your children,” Malinda said. “She talks about them all the time.”

Mara nodded down to Rose. “She made the dress for Rose.”

“Very pretty,” Malinda said.

Now Elizabeth changed the subject, telling Malinda that Goldie had calved several days ago. “A healthy heifer.”

“I'm glad to hear it,” Malinda told her. “I've had two heifers and a bull this spring.”

“Do you have any interest in selling the bull?” Elizabeth asked.

“Now, now, ladies…” Will held his hands up. “Is this a wedding or a livestock auction?”

They both laughed, and soon they were joining in with the merriment, eating and dancing and congratulating the happy newlyweds. However, Elizabeth felt determined that somehow, between her father and brother and herself, her family would pool their resources to purchase that bull from Malinda.

As summer progressed, the town expanded. Will Bramford built a law office next to the mercantile, and because of his medical knowledge and the community's needs, it doubled as a pharmacy. On the other side of the mercantile, which now had a lean-to on one side for a post office, a large building was going up. This impressive structure would house a hotel and restaurant that would be run by Ruby and Doris before the year was out. Down the street a ways was Flanders' Blacksmith, and next to that was the new livery stable that Ezra Flanders was running with his new brother-in-law, Julius Prescott.

In just one year's time, their settlement had grown dramatically. And if the rumors were true, it would be twice as big by next year. As happy as Elizabeth was about these changes, she was even happier about a tiny change going on inside of her. She'd kept the news of her pregnancy within the confines of her family at first, but by early fall, her midsection had increased enough that people in town had begun to suspect her family would be growing too.

In mid-October two delightful surprises occurred. Actually, one was not a complete surprise, although it did arrive earlier than expected. Molly had a foal—a sweet little filly that Ruth named Pansy and claimed as her own. The second surprise was that Charles Levine came home. However, Charles was probably more surprised than anyone when he discovered that Mara was living with his mother.

“And when Charles saw his children,” Martha excitedly told Elizabeth at the mercantile, “well, he was just beside himself. He had no idea he had a son.” Then she happily boasted that Charlie, who wasn't even a year old yet, was trying to walk. “And Rose has been helping Mara with the garden, and I've never had such produce growing.” She grasped Elizabeth's hands and squeezed them. “Thank you, dear.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth told her.

By late October, the hotel was finished, and Doris and Ruby began to get settled in. “We made good money in Empire City,” Ruby told everyone as they all enjoyed a happy reunion dinner at Eli and Elizabeth's house.

“But we never felt at home there,” Doris finished for her.

“Doris had a suitor though,” Ruby teased as she bounced Baby Maude on her knee. “A businessman named George Johnston. And I would not be surprised if we have a hardware store here by next summer.”

“We told a lot of folks at Empire City about our plans to come help develop this town with our friends,” Doris said. “But the problem was, this town does not have a name.” She frowned. “Don't you locals think it's about time to name this place?”

“As a matter of fact, that's been a hot topic in these parts,” Asa told her.

“Some families want to name it after themselves,” Matthew said glumly.

“Like the Walters family,” Ruth said.

“And they're not a real nice bunch,” JT added.

“Then there's the Thompsons,” Eli said. “They claim they were here first.”

“Naturally, it's causing some arguments,” Elizabeth explained.

“Some want to name it after the river, but seems there's a town east of here already going by that, although they're not incorporated.”

“Not that we want to incorporate,” Asa said.

“Some folks are trying to name it after plants or trees or fish, but that hasn't gone over too well,” Clara explained.

“I suggested the name Riverside at the last meeting,” Elizabeth said. “That's one thing most of us have in common…the river.”

“I like that,” Ruby said. “Riverside.”

“Unfortunately, the Walters and Thompson families didn't like it,” Eli said.

“And so the debate goes on.”

“Why don't they put it to a vote?” Ruby asked.

“Good question,” Asa told her. “That's what we keep encouraging them to do.”

“Mr. Walters is afraid he'll lose,” Ruth said.

“Godfrey Walters goes to our school,” JT told her. “He's always bragging that his dad runs this town.”

“Maybe someone should challenge him on that.” Ruby pointed to Asa. “Like you. I think you'd make a good mayor.” She looked around the crowded room. “Anyone else here willing to vote for Asa?”

Naturally, they all raised their hands.

Asa laughed. “Well, I don't think we need to be concerned about that. Our nameless town isn't big enough to need a mayor yet.”

“Give it time and it will,” Doris said. “From what we heard, Empire City has grown like a weed.”

“That has to do with its location,” Eli pointed out.

The energetic discussion about their nameless town and its uncertain future continued on into the afternoon until they finally realized it was getting late, and although it was Sunday, there were still chores to be done.

It wasn't until December, just a week after Eli and Elizabeth's first wedding anniversary, that a town meeting was called. All the men who lived within five miles were invited to attend, and after what Eli described as a rather loud and disagreeable evening, a vote was taken and the town's name was decided upon.

“What is it?” Elizabeth asked anxiously, keeping her voice low since the children were in bed. “Please tell me it's not Walters.”

He grinned. “Or Thompson.”

“What then?”

“Riverside.”

“Riverside?” She grinned. “That was
my
idea!”

He nodded. “I know. It was your dad who suggested it. And he put forth a very convincing argument for it, saying some of the same things you said that day we were all talking about it right here.”

Elizabeth felt torn. Of course, she liked the name and was relieved their town hadn't been named after a disagreeable family. But at the same time it seemed unfair that just because she was a woman, she had not been allowed to speak in behalf of the town's name. Would that ever change?

“After the vote had been taken and the town's name was secured, your pa let on that you were the one who thought of the name Riverside.”