THE CHIPPEWA FALLS DAWSONS
Chapter Fifteen
Rose woke up slowly, aware that she needed to
get up. There was something she had to do today. Memories of yesterday started
moving around in her head, and she suddenly remembered. Her mother was coming
on the train today! Rose jumped out of bed, and started to look for her
clothes. Jack wasn’t in the room, so Rose assumed he was downstairs. After
dressing in a day gown, Rose went down to find someone. In the kitchen, Mrs.
Leary was cooking, while Katrina was feeding Thomas Junior. "Good
morning," Rose said.
"Good morning, Rose. Up in time for
breakfast, I see," Mrs. Leary teased.
"Am I? Good. Is there anything I can do
to help?" Rose asked, remembering that she and Jack needed to pay the
Learys somehow.
"Not now. This afternoon, I’m going to
start your cooking lessons. I know you don’t know how to cook a thing."
"I don’t. But I’m eager to learn
how."
"I know you are. Sit down and have a
glass of milk. Jack’s out helping with the chores."
Rose blushed, not knowing that she had been
so obvious about what she was doing.
"Will anyone be able to bring me to the
train station? My mother is arriving today."
"Jack will bring you in. Katherine will
go with you. I need you to pick up some supplies."
"Of course. I want to say thank you
again for all that you’re doing for us."
"We know it means a lot to you, and I
know you’ll pay us back some day."
Rose started blushing, and was glad that
Thomas Junior decided to pick that moment to start crying. She wanted to change
the subject, knowing that Mrs. Leary’s words were true.
"Ring the bell so the men will come in
for breakfast, please." Mrs. Leary said, over the sounds of Katrina
shushing Thomas Junior. Rose went and rang the bell, and then waited at the
door for Jack to come in. That’s my husband walking towards me with a silly
grin on his face, Rose thought. That thought alone brought a smile to
Rose’s face. She was now a married woman, and she felt as free as she had been
before. At least ever since Jack had freed her.
Breakfast went quickly. Jack and Rose hurried
so that they could go pick up her mother. Jack wanted to get back in time to
help with the chores, and Rose was looking forward to her cooking lessons. She
hoped her mother would approve, and wouldn’t interfere. Besides, Mother was
bringing her maid who, Rose hoped, would keep her mother company.
Jack had already hitched up the horses to the
wagon, so when they were all ready to go, all they had to do was climb in. Jack
was in the driver’s seat, and Rose and Katrina filled the rest of the bench. On
the way home Rose knew she would have to sit next to her mother. She just hoped
that her maid would be willing to sit in the back with the trunks.
Rose sat next to Jack and tried not to think
about last night. It had seemed to her that they had been the only two people
in the whole world. She was vaguely aware of how they were moving, and that no
one was talking. It seemed that she was not the only one lost in thought. The
miles to town passed quietly, and before Rose realized it, they were pulling up
at the train station. She saw that the train hadn’t pulled in yet, that it was
probably going to be late. Katrina interrupted Rose’s staring by saying,
"I think I’ll head over and start the shopping. It doesn’t look like the
train will be too late. Maybe I can get all the shopping done before it arrives."
"That’s a good idea. If you don’t mind
shopping by yourself, I’d rather wait for Mother."
"That’s fine."
"I think I’ll go to the store and see
what kind of building supplies I can get, if that’s okay with you, Rose?"
"Yes, the sooner we can start on our
house, the sooner we can get finished."
Rose turned back towards the station, and
Jack came up behind her and put his arms around her. He kissed her gently on
the cheek, from behind. Rose turned into him and kissed him back.
"Good-bye, love," she said.
"Good-bye, Rose. I won’t be long."
He left, and Rose could feel where his body
pressed into hers. Rose went and sat down, and began to wait patiently for the
train.
Jack walked away from Rose, and headed to the
store. As soon as he walked in the store became quiet. The lack of noise was
almost deafening. It was obvious to Jack that he was the cause. He ignored it,
and walked up to the counter where the owner’s son was standing. He was not
waiting on any other customers, and Jack thought that he could get his help.
"Hello, James. I’d like to see what you have in stock for rebuilding my
parents’ house."
"Jack. It’s good that you came back. I’m
sure that we can help you."
"Thank you. How is your family
doing?"
"Fine. About the same as when you
left."
"Should we go see what supplies you have
in stock, then?"
"Yep." As James led Jack to the
back of the store, conversation resumed. Only one man left. He left in the
middle of paying for his order, and everyone else there knew that he went to
report to his boss, Mr. Doyle.
"Looks like Mr. Doyle’s still interested
in what happens on the Dawson farm," Mr. Lucas, the owner of the store,
said.