“Hmm, my only child experiences seem significantly different from yours.”
“That’s okay, you are still young enough to train, and I bet when you really think about it, you are not a fan of sharing either.”
“Absolutely incorrigible.”
Both of us are laughing when a large home comes into view. Horses are running around playfully in a fenced-off area that is attached to a barn located, oddly enough, in the tree line. A huge man walks out on the porch first, only to open the door and yell back inside. A few seconds later, a young woman walks out, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Reggie!”
She rushes down the steps while the man leans against a porch rail, and it takes me a second to realize this is Mr. Hayes, the same man who never had a speck of dirt on him. His suits and shirts had to be pressed several times to make sure they were perfect, and he expected his home to be in tiptop shape day and night. Here he stands with a dirty shirt on, mud on his boots, and a smile I’ve never seen grace his stern features before. Reggie lowers me to the ground before dismounting and handing the reins to a young man who comes to collect Bells.
“Good to see you made it in one piece, cousin. I figured you would show up soon. Lauren has been making pies and cookies for two days, waiting for you.”
Reggie grabs the other woman by the waist, spinning her around before kissing her on the forehead. “Well, lead the way, Lauren. I am sugar deprived. Can’t you see I am fading away as we speak?”
“Put me down, you big lug.”
Reggie sets her down, then kisses her on the cheek before walking up the steps.
“Hi. Let me introduce myself since Reggie isn’t going to. I am Lauren … the big snarly one’s wife. Come on in, let’s have some tea while the boys catch up.”
“Hi. I’m Jessica. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Reggie is already up the steps, and Lauren must have seen me hesitate because she grabs my arm, linking it in hers. “They tend to forget anyone else is around when they are together. You’ll get used to it. Let them talk business while we eat their cookies.”
“Oh, wait a minute, I have a package for you from Beatrice.” I grab it out of the small bag I’d barely had time to get off Bells before they took her to the barn. Wiping my feet on the mat just inside the door, I can hear Reggie and Mr. Hayes talking off in the distance as I look around.
“Oh my, you have a beautiful home!”
“Thank you, dear. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s like living in a dream every morning when I wake up realizing it’s mine. I have Reggie’s room ready, but he didn’t tell us in his telegram that he was bringing anyone with him, besides a few men from Grant’s old estate. It’s no matter, though. We have plenty of room. If you would take these two coffee cups to the men while I get our tea on.”
I open my mouth to tell her that I am also from his estate, but before I can say a word, she has pressed two cups into my hands and is pointing down the hall. Following the sound of voices, I start to knock on the open door when I hear,
“Who is the girl, Reg? You never said anything about having a girl back home.”
“She is amaid! Well, if we want to be specific, she is your maid. It’s a long story, but the train tickets got screwed up, and we’ve played husband and wife ever since. I couldn’t just leave her behind ... then things got …”
My whole world crumbles as words flow out of his mouth. I walk in with a fake smile on my face, placing their coffee cups on the large desk they are sitting around. Reggie doesn’t even look up at me as he goes on about how hard the trip was and the weight of the wagons.
I walk out numb, fighting every emotion I’ve foolishly allowed myself to feel. Suddenly sick to my stomach, I run outside, barely making it off the porch before throwing my guts up. And of course, to see all my humiliation is Jacob as he is driving up the trail in the wagon. The moment he pulls up to the house, he sets the brake and is at my side.
“Are you alright, Miss Jess?”
I want to scream, “No, I am not!” but no one put me here. I walked into this hell with my eyes open, knowing I was headed straight for heartbreak and disaster, yet I still pushed forward, lying to myself every step of the way. I hear the door open, and Reggie and Grant walk out. Once again, Reggie doesn’t notice me. Jacob looks at me with concern, and I shake my head no.
The men get right to unloading the wagons, and I just stand off to the side. Even Lauren is busy directing them on where things are supposed to go, so I fade into the background as I try to figure out what to do next, my hand resting on the trinket box I keep with me at all times. When the two rented wagons that were holding Mr. Hayes’ things are emptied, Reggie yells at all of us to gather around. Little Henry comes over to me, leaning against my side, and I hug him close, once more fighting tears.
“Men, Mr. Hayes and I appreciate everything you have done to help get all our personal items to this remote location. Here is the pay for each of you for the harrowing days.”
Reggie walks to each of the men, handing them a paper envelope full of banknotes. I don’t know why I am shocked when he walks toward me last.
“Jess, here is yours. We never did discuss your wages, so I just guessed and maybe put a little extra in there because you had to deal with me.”
“I didn’t know I was still the hired help?” I say the words, but Reggie acts as if he doesn’t hear me when he winks and walks off. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life. My eyes catch Lauren’s when she frowns at his words, but I make myself stand there as they finalize the rest.
“Jacob and Marcus are going to follow Grant and I with the other two wagons to what I hope is a fine home with a huge barn and a bunkhouse. Deven, Colby, I will need the other two taken back to the livery as Mr. Dalton is trying to find someone to drive them back to Promontory.”
Colby steps up, hat in hand. “I’ll take one, but I won’t be returning. When I boarded that train, this was not the world Iexpected to end up in. However, I do believe a man can make his own way out here, and I’ve decided to take my wages and head further west. I’ve always liked living next to the water, and all this dust and dry land does not agree with me.”
