Even if Ruth didn’t know how she would survive, she kept her faith that somehow things would work out. She had hope.
Heather clung to the little bit of hope she had and began to read out loud.
“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.”
Heather closed her eyes and silently counted to five. When she opened them, he was still at the front of the church. She gave a little sigh and shifted on the hard bench.
Pastor Collins was pacing in front of the pews. He was dressed in his black frock with black knickers. His white stockings had mud splatters and his black shoes were large and clunky.
“Given that we must now accept that those brave men have certainly perished, I feel I must advise you. Not only as your pastor, but your dearest friend.”
Heather saw Millie lift a handkerchief to her nose. Her shoulders shook lightly, and Heather couldn’t tell if her dearest friend was laughing or crying. Her view was blocked as Pastor Collins moved in front of her. “Do you agree, Mrs. Barnes?”
Heather shook her head in agreement. “Of course,” she said. “What am I agreeing to?”
“Why that you must remarry. And quickly at that.”
Pastor Collins quickly strode to his pulpit and took down a piece of paper. “I have taken it upon myself to make a list of the eligible men in town. Granted there aren’t many, but I’m pleased to say that I have put myself at the top of the list. As a clergy, I realize that I will have to lead by example and take one of you for my wife.”
“What if we don’t desire to remarry?” Heather inquired.
“Why Mrs. Barnes, then you cannot remain in Last Chance.” Gasps went around the room. “It would be inappropriate for unmarried ladies to be here without any suitors or the possibility of marriage. Not to mention that having this many unmarried women would be too much of a temptation for any man.”
“We just lost our husbands,” Linda Applebee said.
“Yes. But you know it has been two weeks. The men aren’t returning.”
A second blizzard whipped through the town. This time it dumped four feet of heavy wet snow on the ground. Thankfully, it happened at night, so the only casualties were a few animals that were left outside.
“All the more reason, my dear. I have to say, I have my eye on several of you.” Pastor Collins gave a little chuckle. “Although I don’t want to cause any fighting, I will let you ladies come to me when the time is right.”
“Why don’t we place an ad?” Celia offered. “I know many of us came here as mail order brides. Why couldn’t we advertise for husband?”
“That sounds like a splendid idea,” Millie said. “I wonder how much it would cost to place an advertisement?”
“I believe it is free for women,” Celia replied.
“I can help write up something,” Linda offered.
“Ladies, ladies. Please understand this is not what I was intending.”
“Is the telegraph office still flooded?” Heather asked.
“The lines haven’t been restored,” Faith said, covering her face with her hands.
“Well then I recommend someone ride to Grand Platte and send it from there.”
“You should do it.” Everyone looked around to see Altar sitting alone knitting as everyone was talking. “I said, Heather should go.”
“Why me?”
“You know how to ride and shoot. Most of us can shoot, but not from the back of a horse. Your husband taught you that. Also, if you see any Indians, they respect your husband. You’d be the most logical choice to go.”
The women piped up in agreement. Heather felt she couldn’t refuse.
Within the hour she was saddled on a horse with the paper Linda had written folded up safely in her pocket.
Chapter Ten
October passed in the blink of an eye.
Heather was busy with the butcher shop and her patients. Cecily went along on all Heather’s appointments and was turning out to be quite the little helper. She carried Heather’s doctoring bag, as well as handed her anything she needed from within.
Lauren even allowed Cecily to listen to the baby. Heather watched the young girl’s eyes grow wide as she could hear the baby growing in Lauren’s belly. After the appointments, they would go to the butcher shop and Heather would teach Cecily how to stoke the fire and check the meat. Her favorite part, she said, was wrapping the finished meat in linen cloth. It was like putting it in a blanket. Heather laughed. The child wasn’t too far off.
She even caught Cecily wrapping Miss Poppet in a linen blanket and placing her among the smoked roasts.
In the evenings, Heather would teach Cecily to read from the primer as well as the King James Bible. There were so many children that were orphaned from the blizzard that Heather teared up every time she thought about it. She talked to Cecily and told the young girl that she always had a home with Heather. At some point she might even make it official, although she didn’t know the first thing about adoptions.
It appeared Autumn was truly in the air. The wind was crisp and cold as it came off the river. The sky was bright blue with fluffy white clouds floating by. Nothing like the storm clouds that brought tragedy to their small town. Heather had just dropped Cecily off at school
