She had just finished with the makeshift beds, setting her and Carrie up in the far corner and placing Edward’s pallet nearer the flap opening, when she heard someone call a greeting.
“Yoohoo! Are you home?” called a feminine voice.
Marybeth pulled back the flap and found a young woman with long brown hair flowing free beneath a wide-brimmed felt hat. She held a covered plate in her hands.
“Hello, I’m Melody. I live in the tent next door with my father, Clancy Doyle.”
“I’m Marybeth Vogel. Come in.” Marybeth stepped back and waited until Melody was inside before closing the flap. She didn’t bother to tie it. “I just put some water on for tea. Would you like to stay for a cup?” she asked the petite woman.
“No, I just wanted to stop by and bring you some cookies I baked.” She pulled back the towel that covered the plate to reveal a half-dozen sugar cookies. “I also thought I’d see what you might need and if you had any questions.”
Marybeth chuckled. “News travels fast. Thank you for these.” She took the plate and transferred the cookies to one of her own dishes before handing it back. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to this.”
“And one less dish to wash,” she said with a smile. “Have you been in Cheyenne long?”
“No, we’ve just arrived from Indiana. My, uh, husband, Edward, has come to be a deputy marshal.”
The young woman frowned. “It’s a lawless place, to be sure. My da gets in a fight at least once a week and usually gets banged up something fierce. Of course, he’s Irish, and to him that’s just good sport. For me, however, it means trying to wash blood out of his clothes and patch him up. I wishyour husband good luck in his job. The menfolk around here won’t make it easy.”
“It scares me, I have to admit. The response is pretty much the same with everyone. As you can see for yourself, I’ve been doing my best to settle in, but I can’t imagine being warm enough or safe in nothing but waxed duck canvas for shelter.”
“The tents aren’t so bad. We’ve lived in one all along the line. Started in Omaha and have made it this far.”
“So is it just you and your father?”
Melody nodded. “It is. My mother died when I was just a wee one. There’s never been anyone else. Just my da.”
“What a life. I can’t imagine being one of the only decent young women in a vast sea of criminals and loose women.” Marybeth clamped her hand over her mouth.
Melody laughed. “Don’t worry. You haven’t offended me. You spoke the truth. There are only a handful of church-going women in this town. Although there are more coming every day. Most of the men wouldn’t dream of bringing their wives and children west as they build the rail line. Until the towns are actually established, decent women want little to do with them. It’s far too dangerous.”
“But you’ve managed.”
“That’s because my da is dangerous. Few would dare try to take liberties with me, and those who did try paid a pretty price. Most end up permanently damaged, and word gets around fast that a man is takin’ his life in his own hands if he wants to court me.”
“That must be difficult for you. I mean, if you met a fellow you cared for, would your father understand and show some restraint?”
Carrie came to the edge of the box and raised her arms to Marybeth. “Up. Up pease.”
“No, you must stay put until I have things better arranged,” Marybeth said, leaning down to kiss Carrie on the top of her head. “You play.”
She did as she was told but kept eyeing the two women as if trying to figure out their conversation.
Melody smiled and gave her a wave. “Your daughter is so cute. She looks just like you.”
Marybeth said nothing but instead checked on the water.
Melody leaned toward the stove. “We’re at six thousand feet here, so you’ll have to learn to change how you cook. That is, unless you were living in the mountains in Indiana.”
“No. No mountains. At least none that I know about.”
Melody continued. “Water boils at a lower temperature here because we’re higher, but food takes more time to cook.” She shook her head. “Da explained it all, but I don’t understand it really. I just refigured the time for baking and such, and I do all right.”
“I never thought about anything like that being different from place to place.” It was one more thing Marybeth would have to deal with.
“There’s definitely a lot to consider. And to answer your earlier question, my da would love for me to find a decent fella to love. He worries that I’ll never take love seriously because of takin’ care of him, but in truth I haven’t found anyone I care for.” Melody waved again at Carrie, who was smiling in return.
Marybeth thought Melody sounded rather wistful. “How old are you?”
