Silver Moon
Adventurer
Chapter One-hundred-eleven, “Emily’s Arrival”, Friday June 9th, 1882, 7:00 A.M.
Emily rubbed her eyes and looked at the pale dawn coming up outside the window. Yesterday she had been excited to be on the train and going someplace new. She had watched the other people come and go as they had stopped in Springfield and then left Illinois behind. Saint Louis was a bustling station, almost as impressive as Chicago. It had been a relief to get up and move around before getting on another train that moved on into Kansas.
For a while a young man had sat next to her and they made up stories about the other people they could see on the train, each wilder than the last. The man in the broad-brimmed black hat was a bank robber, running from the Marshall so he could live fat and lazy on his loot. The blonde lady at the front of the car was a sorceress who intended to bewitch everyone on the train and sacrifice them all to some unknown god.
They talked about other things too, where they were going and where they were from. He even taught her to play some card games and left her the deck when he got off the train in Jefferson City. The ride had been quiet after that and Emily had fallen asleep to awaken on the way to Denver. This day was even longer than the first. She played with some little children on the train, then read a book that their mother lent her. Reading wasn't one of her favorite pastimes, but it was nice to have something to occupy her mind beside cards and wondering what Promise City would be like.
Emily had always lived in Chicago and never traveled to another town. Each town they passed through was big enough to have a train station, and took a little while to pass through. Some of them seemed absolutely tiny to her. The idea of Promise City with only a few hundred people in it was one she couldn't quite grasp. She would be able to run from one end to the other in a few minutes. The country would never be far away. It seemed like an impossible place. She changed trains again when they reached Denver, and once more when they reached Albuquerque. Some of her precious money was spent there on a room for the night so she could catch the morning train to Flagstaff.
Her excitement came back when she got on that morning train. Today she would be there. No more traveling. She would get to see her uncle and the new home she was going to have, and find out just what she would be doing there. It was too much to hope she would just be allowed to do as she liked. More likely she would have to get a job, but even that idea was exciting this morning. With a copy several Albuquerque newspapers to read she got started on the last leg of her journey.
After Albuquerque Emily felt like all she did was change trains. The leg to Denver was so long that these short trips from town to town seemed to take no time at all. There were distressingly few trees to be seen although the closer they got to Tombstone the more the land began to green up. She smelled the city before she saw it. It was a charred smell, not strong but very familiar. The train began to slow down and Emily looked out the window and shivered. That smell was burned into her memories. Even though she had only been four years old, she remembered a lot about the night Chicago had burned. And the next day when they told her Ma that Pa had been killed fighting the fire. But that was a long time ago and far to the east. Tombstone was now.
The town was half gone, with huge piles of charred wreckage at the edges of town where they had been pushed out of the street. The sound of hammers drown out whatever other sounds the town might have been making. There must have been trees here is they were doing this much building, although there might not be any left now. Even the train station had the tell-tale bright wood that said the place had been rebuilt.
The train finally jerked to a stop and Emily grabbed her bag. No one else seemed to be in a hurry and she bounced impatiently on her toes waiting for the people blocking the aisle to move. They finally did and she took a deep, grateful breath as she was freed from the train. The sunshine was bright and hot outside but it felt better than the cool, still air inside the train. She lifted her hand to shade her eyes and hoped her years old memories would be enough to help her recognize her uncle.
Emily's fears of not being able to recognize her Uncle are washed away as the tall barrel-chested mustached man wearing a dark suit, western-style tie, cowboy boots and tan straw hat steps forward with a wide grin on his face. An awkward moment follows when they both appear uncertain of how to greet one another, which he ends by scooping her up in both arms and giving her a big hug. He eventually sets her back down. He picks up her bag and says, "I trust that you had a good journey out from Chicago?"
She replies, "I had a long journey from Chicago. It was exciting for a while, but I can only stand so much sitting. I'm glad to be here, Uncle. There's a trunk too, we'll have to get it." She was quiet for a minute. "Thank you for inviting me here. It's not that big a town is it? Will there be any trees left with all this building?"
Emery Shaw replies, "No, there are plenty more trees in this part of Arizona." He turns towards two men standing beside a large black Concord coach with silver trim. He yells, "Tim, Abner, come help me with my niece’s trunk." He two men come over and Emery says, "Emily, this is Tim Kiplin and Abner Mingle, two of my best friends. They work on the ranch." Abner smiles and nods towards the girl. Kiplin does as well, but she can tell his smile is forced and his eyes dart back towards Shaw.
"How do you do gentlemen?" she said with a bright smile and an unabashed look at each man. She ignored Mr. Kiplin's uncomfortable look, it wasn't the first time she'd seen it. But she'd hoped at least not to see it among her Uncle's friends. "Will we be going to the ranch? I think I'd like it there, but I'd like to see the town too. Uncle, this coach is the most beautiful I've ever seen."
Emery also introduces her to his driver, Paul Towle, as the man holds the door to the carriage open and helps her up. The interior of the coach has well cushioned and covered with red velvet that matches the interior side of the window curtains, the outside of the curtains being a charcoal gray. The inside of the coach is paneled with mahogany wood. The interior is illuminated by a gas lantern suspended from the center of the ceiling. The coach also has a small liquor cabinet that is presently stocked with alcoholic beverages and one large glass container with ice and what looks like lemonade. Four glasses made of fine-cut crystal are attached to the cabinet. The other two men soon secure the luggage to the top of the carriage and remain up top with the driver as the carriage departs.
Emery says, "Our ranch is around two-thirds of the way back towards Promise City. We'll stop there and stay at the ranch overnight, I know that your cousins Humphrey, Ellen and Tricia will be happy to see you again. Tomorrow morning we'll head into Promise City. I'm now running for Mayor, so it wouldn't do for me to miss Sunday's worship service."
She states, "You're running for Mayor? Your letter didn't say anything about that. He states, "Well, I was running for Town Council but the political party I was with had a falling out with my Cattleman's Association and we had a parting of the ways. At the urging of other Association members we've gone and put together the 'Unity Party' as a more moderate group than the other two extremes.”
She says, “You must be spending a lot of time in town then." He replies, “I am, I have rooms for us at one of the boarding houses. If I win I plan to build a house in town." She says “I will be glad to see my cousins again, although I have to admit I don't remember them much. I remember you a little bit better," she said as a smile flashed like lightning across her face. He says, “I'm glad you made it out here. Chicago just isn't the place for a girl of your temperament, you need the wide outdoors, and you can't get more wider and outdoorsy than here."
She says, "I hope services here are more interesting than at home, and if not that then shorter. Never could understand how our pastor could make something so interesting as the gods so boring." He answers, “I think you'll be pleasantly pleased with our Priestess, she's very unconventional, although her Bishop is currently in town so she might be more reserved than usual in his presence. It was her preaching about equality to all races which helped convince the town to give everyone the right to vote instead of just humans.”
She states, "Are you sure me being here won't hurt your chances to get elected? Sometimes, well..." she dropped her voice to be sure she couldn't be heard by the men outside. "Your friend Mr. Kiplin didn't look too pleased with me, and I'm sure there are others. And elves can be just as uncomfortable with half-breeds as humans are."
Emery says, "Well dear, you need to understand something about Tim. He isn't comfortable around those of high elvan descent and with good reason. You've heard the story about how around twenty years back Cochise went on the warpath. We were besieged on our ranch for almost a year-and-a-half and it was during then that Tim's wife died. The Apache weren't directly responsible but he still blames them. And then he lost one of his son's to the Sioux six years ago, Jerome Kiplin was one of the soldiers with General Custer during the massacre at Little Big Horn. But you're right, I would have expected better from him. But he'll be staying at the ranch though instead of town so you won't have to interact with him after today."
She replies, "I'm sorry for him, and, I'm not offended or afraid; I just don't want to be trouble for you. I may not be very old but I've been half-elven the whole time. I didn't expect there to be no one who was bothered by me, I'm just hoping for less. And I'll be glad to live somewhere that I can get to the countryside fast. But I'm not sure how much time I'll be able to spend in the country. I don't know what's expected of me here or how much I'm supposed to take care of myself."
"My Dear, you don't have to worry about taking care of yourself at your age. You happen to have a wealthy Uncle." He smiles as he says that but notes she doesn't in return. He puts his hand on her arm and says, "Emily, talk to your cousins tonight and you'll find out what my expectations are. I'm sure they will tell you how all I ever asked of them is to be honest and true to themselves and those around them. Along the way we'll teach you various skills to earn an honest day's work doing whatever work you have an aptitude and liking for.
In the meanwhile, there is a new school that just started up in town for children of all races that I believe you will enjoy. The woman who runs the school also owns a ranch and is a member of the Cattleman's Association." She replies, "She sounds busy. I don't suppose school happens out on her ranch?" she said, trying and failing to make it sound like a joke. "I thought I was done with schooling, but I'd like to learn how to do things. I'm good with animals, really good. And I know a few special things that maybe I'll show you later.
I heard stories that out here kids were like adults by my age, I just wasn't sure. I should’ a known different when Ma didn't tell me much, still a kid I guess. I don't mind, I don't want to be a grown-up yet." Emily moved over to the other bench and sat next to her Uncle and smiled. "I'm remembering you better now. You were always kind to me. And as I don't have to be a grown-up quite yet..." She pulled off her bonnet and tossed it on the seat. "I'd take off my shoes too but I've had them on so long I'm afraid too."
He says, "Make yourself comfortable Emily, we have a long ride still until we get to the ranch. What you heard about growing up faster is mostly true. I believe that you will be among the oldest in the school. I have hands on the ranch as young as sixteen, as do most of the other ranches. The gunslinger in town named Sure-shot Sam, a member of Arcade's Gang, and the rumor is that he is only sixteen. And there is one woman in town who will be turning sixteen next week that will probably have her second child before then. She works as a reporter for the newspaper where her husband is the typesetter."
"Married with two babies before she's sixteen?" Emily exclaimed as she worked her shoe loose. "I think I'm glad to come here now instead of earlier. Maybe I'll get married someday, but I can't see many men wanting to marry me. They usually want their wife at home, not up some tree." She got the second shoe off and wiggled her toes. "Much better. It'll be hard to make friends my own age if they're all working. But there will be a few my age in this school? And it's new, so I won't really seem new?"
He says, "Actually, the main reason I want you to start school is for the social reasons. You'll get to meet the other teenagers of the town. If you and Mrs. Kale both feel you're education level is already too advanced for the school you don't have to continue, but I thought it would be a good way to start."
"I guess I don't really mind, it might be nice to actually graduate. I can do my numbers, long division in my head, read just fine and write fine too. I always liked to do instead of study but I'll try. You already raised two girls, what did you want another one for?" she laughed. He says, "They're all grown up now, this is my chance to do it over again, and I won't have the preoccupation of military service or ranch operations this time around, although if I become Mayor that will take some of my time."
She states, "You'd be a good Mayor, you like to take care of people. I'll help if I can, and I won't mind sharing your time. I didn't figure to have it exclusively anyway. And I'll try not to be too... odd. Did Ma write you about my, um, talents?" He stayed quiet but looked at her curiously. "Obviously not," she said and smiled. "That's ok, I'll tell you about that later."
Her uncle handed her a glass of lemonade and she drank it gratefully, beginning to notice how much warmer it was here than in Chicago. "Would you mind if I took a nap?" "Of course not dear, you've had a long trip. Make yourself comfortable." Emily moved back over to the opposite seat and laid down, trying to arrange herself so she wouldn't roll off and fell asleep in moments.
Emery woke her as the coach rode into the Lazy-S Ranch. She looked out the window and saw corrals of green grass as far as the eyes could see, many of them with horses or cattle. The ranch featured a huge main house that must be at least twenty-rooms, plus a large barn, a small barn and a bunkhouse beside the smaller barn. Cousins Humphrey and Ellen come out to the porch.
"Oh! Oh it's beautiful, there's so much room!" she said peering out the window. "You must love it here. And there's Humphrey... and Ellen, right? Your house is enormous, we had five rooms for the seven of us." The coach rolled to a stop near the doors and Emily scrambled back into her shoes as her Uncle got out. He offered her a hand and she grabbed her bonnet and let him help her down. "Good afternoon," she said to her cousins a bit nervously.
Humphrey heads over and gives her a big hug. "Emily! We are so glad to have you here! Dad has decided to move into town and let me and Ellen try our hands at running this ranch. Once you realize that the town is too crowded and noisy for you feel free to come back here and stay with us!" Ellen steps forward and says, "We have a guest room all set for you for tonight. The men will bring your luggage up to it. How are you at horseback riding? I'd like to give you a tour of the ranch before it gets dark."
Emily says, "I'm a good rider, although I don't get to do it much," she smiled. "I'd love to see the ranch, it's so big. I can't imagine the town here being anything near like how Chicago is, Cousin Humphrey, but I'm sure to be out here as often as I can. I'll have a room all to myself?"
Ellen says, "You will tonight, and also if you decide to move back here! I would love to have a little sister!" Humphrey says, "Ellen, you do, Trisha is your little sister." Ellen replies, "I didn't mean her! She's so moody and impossible lately, I meant a sister who it would be fun to do things with. Like riding! Come on Emily, let's go get the horses."
Emily looked to her uncle for a moment and waited for his nod. Then she ran with Ellen over to the horse corrals. "Which ones can we ride?" Ellen says, "Okay, that tan one is mine, the black one with the white spot on his face is Humphrey’s, Tricia rides the brown one over there. These four" she gestures to a quartet of fine looking animals, "don't have specific owners but are used by the ranch hands who don't own their own. Pick one of them out, if you like it your Uncle will probably let you keep it."
"Oh, I wouldn't keep a horse in town, the poor thing," she said, even while she was looking over the horses. "How about that one, the one with the pale mane and the stocking on her right front foot? The chestnut colored one?" Ellen Shaw says, "That one would be fine. Would you prefer an English or Western saddle?" Emily states, "I‘ll take the western. The pommel gives me something to hold on to and help me get up."
Ellen and Emily spend the next hour riding around the vast plot of land that the Shaw's call the Lazy-S Ranch. Most of the pastures are presently empty of cattle, which Ellen explains is due to the fact that another ranch got rustled a week earlier, so we've moved all of the herd into either the barns or the corrals closer to the house to watch easier."
Emily asks, "Does that happen a lot? Cattle rustling? I feel sorry for the poor cattle, they'd probably rather be out grazing." Ellen replies, "Doesn't happen much here, it was a small ranch that was hit, but we don't want to take any chances. Right now this is sort-of a test to see if me and Humphrey can run the place with Pa. Wouldn't do to have any cattle stolen out from under us."
Emily comments, "Trisha isn't helping, too? I'd think I was the luckiest girl in a hundred miles if I could stay out here all the time. I know it's lots of work too, but it must be better than sewing or some such nonsense." Ellen replies, "Trisha is all moody and self-centered these days. Sleeps half the day and doesn't care about anybody but herself. If you ask me, Pa should ship her back to your house in Chicago where she can learn a trade, find a man, or something of that ilk. As for cooking and sewing, that's not what our Pa taught us, we're more skilled in roping cattle and drinking whiskey with the boys."
"I doubt Uncle would let me drink whiskey," Emily laughed. "But what's there for a girl to do in Chicago but work in a mill or teach or get married? I suppose it might be exciting for a while but she'd have to be crazy to go. Maybe the trip would teach her to appreciate this place though. Ma said to behave like a lady but I don't think that matters so much here." She pointed to a hilltop not too far away. "Want to race there, I think my horse wants to run."
They race and ride for the next hour before returning to the ranch. While they are putting away the horses the carriage driver Paul is busy in the barn grooming the team that pulled it. Emily notes the body language between him and Ellen as they converse, denoting that there appears to be some sort of romantic relationship between the two. Once the horses are squared away the women head back into the house. Ellen says that there is a bathtub up in each of their rooms and they should probably each wash and change before dinner.
Emily already felt clean, two long days of being trapped inside a train had been left behind out in those open spaces. She felt like she could breathe deeper and she didn't even mind being back inside. "Ok, but I don't really have any fancy dresses. Does Uncle know about you and the carriage driver? I know it's none of my business, but I don't want to make a mistake and say something I shouldn't."
A shocked look comes over Ellen's face. She exclaims, "Of course father doesn't know! If he did he would fire Paul on the spot. Please don't tell him." Emily replies, "Of course I won't, that's why I asked to make sure I shouldn't. But why would Uncle fire him? If you like him and he likes you why is it a problem? It's not like you're going to meet a lot of boys out here that don't live here. I mean, if you want to get married someday, who are you going to marry, a tree?"
Ellen replies, "He would fire him because Pa is now living in town and wouldn't feel it safe to leave the two of us out here without direct supervision. And he already has plans to marry me off, we had some wealthy ranchers from Nevada and California visit her around five months back. One of them is returning for another visit in the next few days and I'm sure a wedding is running through Pa's mind."
"He wouldn't make you though, would he? You'd feel awful bad he was disappointed, but you wouldn't marry someone you didn't want to. Uncle had better not be thinking of marrying me off." Emily smiled confidently at her cousin. "I won't say anything, and I don't think you'll be marrying any rich man any time soon either."
Ellen says, "The problem is that Trisha and I are both in our twenties and he's afraid we'll never get hitched. And he's afraid that most guys who show an interest would only be after his money, that's why he likes the idea of that rancher in Nevada, their ranch covers around a tenth of whole the territory, they're loaded!" "You sound kinda excited about that," Emily laughed. "Well, I won't have to worry about anyone looking for money out of me, I don't have any! Who needs it anyway?"
Emily rubbed her eyes and looked at the pale dawn coming up outside the window. Yesterday she had been excited to be on the train and going someplace new. She had watched the other people come and go as they had stopped in Springfield and then left Illinois behind. Saint Louis was a bustling station, almost as impressive as Chicago. It had been a relief to get up and move around before getting on another train that moved on into Kansas.
For a while a young man had sat next to her and they made up stories about the other people they could see on the train, each wilder than the last. The man in the broad-brimmed black hat was a bank robber, running from the Marshall so he could live fat and lazy on his loot. The blonde lady at the front of the car was a sorceress who intended to bewitch everyone on the train and sacrifice them all to some unknown god.
They talked about other things too, where they were going and where they were from. He even taught her to play some card games and left her the deck when he got off the train in Jefferson City. The ride had been quiet after that and Emily had fallen asleep to awaken on the way to Denver. This day was even longer than the first. She played with some little children on the train, then read a book that their mother lent her. Reading wasn't one of her favorite pastimes, but it was nice to have something to occupy her mind beside cards and wondering what Promise City would be like.
Emily had always lived in Chicago and never traveled to another town. Each town they passed through was big enough to have a train station, and took a little while to pass through. Some of them seemed absolutely tiny to her. The idea of Promise City with only a few hundred people in it was one she couldn't quite grasp. She would be able to run from one end to the other in a few minutes. The country would never be far away. It seemed like an impossible place. She changed trains again when they reached Denver, and once more when they reached Albuquerque. Some of her precious money was spent there on a room for the night so she could catch the morning train to Flagstaff.
Her excitement came back when she got on that morning train. Today she would be there. No more traveling. She would get to see her uncle and the new home she was going to have, and find out just what she would be doing there. It was too much to hope she would just be allowed to do as she liked. More likely she would have to get a job, but even that idea was exciting this morning. With a copy several Albuquerque newspapers to read she got started on the last leg of her journey.
After Albuquerque Emily felt like all she did was change trains. The leg to Denver was so long that these short trips from town to town seemed to take no time at all. There were distressingly few trees to be seen although the closer they got to Tombstone the more the land began to green up. She smelled the city before she saw it. It was a charred smell, not strong but very familiar. The train began to slow down and Emily looked out the window and shivered. That smell was burned into her memories. Even though she had only been four years old, she remembered a lot about the night Chicago had burned. And the next day when they told her Ma that Pa had been killed fighting the fire. But that was a long time ago and far to the east. Tombstone was now.
The town was half gone, with huge piles of charred wreckage at the edges of town where they had been pushed out of the street. The sound of hammers drown out whatever other sounds the town might have been making. There must have been trees here is they were doing this much building, although there might not be any left now. Even the train station had the tell-tale bright wood that said the place had been rebuilt.
The train finally jerked to a stop and Emily grabbed her bag. No one else seemed to be in a hurry and she bounced impatiently on her toes waiting for the people blocking the aisle to move. They finally did and she took a deep, grateful breath as she was freed from the train. The sunshine was bright and hot outside but it felt better than the cool, still air inside the train. She lifted her hand to shade her eyes and hoped her years old memories would be enough to help her recognize her uncle.
Emily's fears of not being able to recognize her Uncle are washed away as the tall barrel-chested mustached man wearing a dark suit, western-style tie, cowboy boots and tan straw hat steps forward with a wide grin on his face. An awkward moment follows when they both appear uncertain of how to greet one another, which he ends by scooping her up in both arms and giving her a big hug. He eventually sets her back down. He picks up her bag and says, "I trust that you had a good journey out from Chicago?"
She replies, "I had a long journey from Chicago. It was exciting for a while, but I can only stand so much sitting. I'm glad to be here, Uncle. There's a trunk too, we'll have to get it." She was quiet for a minute. "Thank you for inviting me here. It's not that big a town is it? Will there be any trees left with all this building?"
Emery Shaw replies, "No, there are plenty more trees in this part of Arizona." He turns towards two men standing beside a large black Concord coach with silver trim. He yells, "Tim, Abner, come help me with my niece’s trunk." He two men come over and Emery says, "Emily, this is Tim Kiplin and Abner Mingle, two of my best friends. They work on the ranch." Abner smiles and nods towards the girl. Kiplin does as well, but she can tell his smile is forced and his eyes dart back towards Shaw.
"How do you do gentlemen?" she said with a bright smile and an unabashed look at each man. She ignored Mr. Kiplin's uncomfortable look, it wasn't the first time she'd seen it. But she'd hoped at least not to see it among her Uncle's friends. "Will we be going to the ranch? I think I'd like it there, but I'd like to see the town too. Uncle, this coach is the most beautiful I've ever seen."
Emery also introduces her to his driver, Paul Towle, as the man holds the door to the carriage open and helps her up. The interior of the coach has well cushioned and covered with red velvet that matches the interior side of the window curtains, the outside of the curtains being a charcoal gray. The inside of the coach is paneled with mahogany wood. The interior is illuminated by a gas lantern suspended from the center of the ceiling. The coach also has a small liquor cabinet that is presently stocked with alcoholic beverages and one large glass container with ice and what looks like lemonade. Four glasses made of fine-cut crystal are attached to the cabinet. The other two men soon secure the luggage to the top of the carriage and remain up top with the driver as the carriage departs.
Emery says, "Our ranch is around two-thirds of the way back towards Promise City. We'll stop there and stay at the ranch overnight, I know that your cousins Humphrey, Ellen and Tricia will be happy to see you again. Tomorrow morning we'll head into Promise City. I'm now running for Mayor, so it wouldn't do for me to miss Sunday's worship service."
She states, "You're running for Mayor? Your letter didn't say anything about that. He states, "Well, I was running for Town Council but the political party I was with had a falling out with my Cattleman's Association and we had a parting of the ways. At the urging of other Association members we've gone and put together the 'Unity Party' as a more moderate group than the other two extremes.”
She says, “You must be spending a lot of time in town then." He replies, “I am, I have rooms for us at one of the boarding houses. If I win I plan to build a house in town." She says “I will be glad to see my cousins again, although I have to admit I don't remember them much. I remember you a little bit better," she said as a smile flashed like lightning across her face. He says, “I'm glad you made it out here. Chicago just isn't the place for a girl of your temperament, you need the wide outdoors, and you can't get more wider and outdoorsy than here."
She says, "I hope services here are more interesting than at home, and if not that then shorter. Never could understand how our pastor could make something so interesting as the gods so boring." He answers, “I think you'll be pleasantly pleased with our Priestess, she's very unconventional, although her Bishop is currently in town so she might be more reserved than usual in his presence. It was her preaching about equality to all races which helped convince the town to give everyone the right to vote instead of just humans.”
She states, "Are you sure me being here won't hurt your chances to get elected? Sometimes, well..." she dropped her voice to be sure she couldn't be heard by the men outside. "Your friend Mr. Kiplin didn't look too pleased with me, and I'm sure there are others. And elves can be just as uncomfortable with half-breeds as humans are."
Emery says, "Well dear, you need to understand something about Tim. He isn't comfortable around those of high elvan descent and with good reason. You've heard the story about how around twenty years back Cochise went on the warpath. We were besieged on our ranch for almost a year-and-a-half and it was during then that Tim's wife died. The Apache weren't directly responsible but he still blames them. And then he lost one of his son's to the Sioux six years ago, Jerome Kiplin was one of the soldiers with General Custer during the massacre at Little Big Horn. But you're right, I would have expected better from him. But he'll be staying at the ranch though instead of town so you won't have to interact with him after today."
She replies, "I'm sorry for him, and, I'm not offended or afraid; I just don't want to be trouble for you. I may not be very old but I've been half-elven the whole time. I didn't expect there to be no one who was bothered by me, I'm just hoping for less. And I'll be glad to live somewhere that I can get to the countryside fast. But I'm not sure how much time I'll be able to spend in the country. I don't know what's expected of me here or how much I'm supposed to take care of myself."
"My Dear, you don't have to worry about taking care of yourself at your age. You happen to have a wealthy Uncle." He smiles as he says that but notes she doesn't in return. He puts his hand on her arm and says, "Emily, talk to your cousins tonight and you'll find out what my expectations are. I'm sure they will tell you how all I ever asked of them is to be honest and true to themselves and those around them. Along the way we'll teach you various skills to earn an honest day's work doing whatever work you have an aptitude and liking for.
In the meanwhile, there is a new school that just started up in town for children of all races that I believe you will enjoy. The woman who runs the school also owns a ranch and is a member of the Cattleman's Association." She replies, "She sounds busy. I don't suppose school happens out on her ranch?" she said, trying and failing to make it sound like a joke. "I thought I was done with schooling, but I'd like to learn how to do things. I'm good with animals, really good. And I know a few special things that maybe I'll show you later.
I heard stories that out here kids were like adults by my age, I just wasn't sure. I should’ a known different when Ma didn't tell me much, still a kid I guess. I don't mind, I don't want to be a grown-up yet." Emily moved over to the other bench and sat next to her Uncle and smiled. "I'm remembering you better now. You were always kind to me. And as I don't have to be a grown-up quite yet..." She pulled off her bonnet and tossed it on the seat. "I'd take off my shoes too but I've had them on so long I'm afraid too."
He says, "Make yourself comfortable Emily, we have a long ride still until we get to the ranch. What you heard about growing up faster is mostly true. I believe that you will be among the oldest in the school. I have hands on the ranch as young as sixteen, as do most of the other ranches. The gunslinger in town named Sure-shot Sam, a member of Arcade's Gang, and the rumor is that he is only sixteen. And there is one woman in town who will be turning sixteen next week that will probably have her second child before then. She works as a reporter for the newspaper where her husband is the typesetter."
"Married with two babies before she's sixteen?" Emily exclaimed as she worked her shoe loose. "I think I'm glad to come here now instead of earlier. Maybe I'll get married someday, but I can't see many men wanting to marry me. They usually want their wife at home, not up some tree." She got the second shoe off and wiggled her toes. "Much better. It'll be hard to make friends my own age if they're all working. But there will be a few my age in this school? And it's new, so I won't really seem new?"
He says, "Actually, the main reason I want you to start school is for the social reasons. You'll get to meet the other teenagers of the town. If you and Mrs. Kale both feel you're education level is already too advanced for the school you don't have to continue, but I thought it would be a good way to start."
"I guess I don't really mind, it might be nice to actually graduate. I can do my numbers, long division in my head, read just fine and write fine too. I always liked to do instead of study but I'll try. You already raised two girls, what did you want another one for?" she laughed. He says, "They're all grown up now, this is my chance to do it over again, and I won't have the preoccupation of military service or ranch operations this time around, although if I become Mayor that will take some of my time."
She states, "You'd be a good Mayor, you like to take care of people. I'll help if I can, and I won't mind sharing your time. I didn't figure to have it exclusively anyway. And I'll try not to be too... odd. Did Ma write you about my, um, talents?" He stayed quiet but looked at her curiously. "Obviously not," she said and smiled. "That's ok, I'll tell you about that later."
Her uncle handed her a glass of lemonade and she drank it gratefully, beginning to notice how much warmer it was here than in Chicago. "Would you mind if I took a nap?" "Of course not dear, you've had a long trip. Make yourself comfortable." Emily moved back over to the opposite seat and laid down, trying to arrange herself so she wouldn't roll off and fell asleep in moments.
Emery woke her as the coach rode into the Lazy-S Ranch. She looked out the window and saw corrals of green grass as far as the eyes could see, many of them with horses or cattle. The ranch featured a huge main house that must be at least twenty-rooms, plus a large barn, a small barn and a bunkhouse beside the smaller barn. Cousins Humphrey and Ellen come out to the porch.
"Oh! Oh it's beautiful, there's so much room!" she said peering out the window. "You must love it here. And there's Humphrey... and Ellen, right? Your house is enormous, we had five rooms for the seven of us." The coach rolled to a stop near the doors and Emily scrambled back into her shoes as her Uncle got out. He offered her a hand and she grabbed her bonnet and let him help her down. "Good afternoon," she said to her cousins a bit nervously.
Humphrey heads over and gives her a big hug. "Emily! We are so glad to have you here! Dad has decided to move into town and let me and Ellen try our hands at running this ranch. Once you realize that the town is too crowded and noisy for you feel free to come back here and stay with us!" Ellen steps forward and says, "We have a guest room all set for you for tonight. The men will bring your luggage up to it. How are you at horseback riding? I'd like to give you a tour of the ranch before it gets dark."
Emily says, "I'm a good rider, although I don't get to do it much," she smiled. "I'd love to see the ranch, it's so big. I can't imagine the town here being anything near like how Chicago is, Cousin Humphrey, but I'm sure to be out here as often as I can. I'll have a room all to myself?"
Ellen says, "You will tonight, and also if you decide to move back here! I would love to have a little sister!" Humphrey says, "Ellen, you do, Trisha is your little sister." Ellen replies, "I didn't mean her! She's so moody and impossible lately, I meant a sister who it would be fun to do things with. Like riding! Come on Emily, let's go get the horses."
Emily looked to her uncle for a moment and waited for his nod. Then she ran with Ellen over to the horse corrals. "Which ones can we ride?" Ellen says, "Okay, that tan one is mine, the black one with the white spot on his face is Humphrey’s, Tricia rides the brown one over there. These four" she gestures to a quartet of fine looking animals, "don't have specific owners but are used by the ranch hands who don't own their own. Pick one of them out, if you like it your Uncle will probably let you keep it."
"Oh, I wouldn't keep a horse in town, the poor thing," she said, even while she was looking over the horses. "How about that one, the one with the pale mane and the stocking on her right front foot? The chestnut colored one?" Ellen Shaw says, "That one would be fine. Would you prefer an English or Western saddle?" Emily states, "I‘ll take the western. The pommel gives me something to hold on to and help me get up."
Ellen and Emily spend the next hour riding around the vast plot of land that the Shaw's call the Lazy-S Ranch. Most of the pastures are presently empty of cattle, which Ellen explains is due to the fact that another ranch got rustled a week earlier, so we've moved all of the herd into either the barns or the corrals closer to the house to watch easier."
Emily asks, "Does that happen a lot? Cattle rustling? I feel sorry for the poor cattle, they'd probably rather be out grazing." Ellen replies, "Doesn't happen much here, it was a small ranch that was hit, but we don't want to take any chances. Right now this is sort-of a test to see if me and Humphrey can run the place with Pa. Wouldn't do to have any cattle stolen out from under us."
Emily comments, "Trisha isn't helping, too? I'd think I was the luckiest girl in a hundred miles if I could stay out here all the time. I know it's lots of work too, but it must be better than sewing or some such nonsense." Ellen replies, "Trisha is all moody and self-centered these days. Sleeps half the day and doesn't care about anybody but herself. If you ask me, Pa should ship her back to your house in Chicago where she can learn a trade, find a man, or something of that ilk. As for cooking and sewing, that's not what our Pa taught us, we're more skilled in roping cattle and drinking whiskey with the boys."
"I doubt Uncle would let me drink whiskey," Emily laughed. "But what's there for a girl to do in Chicago but work in a mill or teach or get married? I suppose it might be exciting for a while but she'd have to be crazy to go. Maybe the trip would teach her to appreciate this place though. Ma said to behave like a lady but I don't think that matters so much here." She pointed to a hilltop not too far away. "Want to race there, I think my horse wants to run."
They race and ride for the next hour before returning to the ranch. While they are putting away the horses the carriage driver Paul is busy in the barn grooming the team that pulled it. Emily notes the body language between him and Ellen as they converse, denoting that there appears to be some sort of romantic relationship between the two. Once the horses are squared away the women head back into the house. Ellen says that there is a bathtub up in each of their rooms and they should probably each wash and change before dinner.
Emily already felt clean, two long days of being trapped inside a train had been left behind out in those open spaces. She felt like she could breathe deeper and she didn't even mind being back inside. "Ok, but I don't really have any fancy dresses. Does Uncle know about you and the carriage driver? I know it's none of my business, but I don't want to make a mistake and say something I shouldn't."
A shocked look comes over Ellen's face. She exclaims, "Of course father doesn't know! If he did he would fire Paul on the spot. Please don't tell him." Emily replies, "Of course I won't, that's why I asked to make sure I shouldn't. But why would Uncle fire him? If you like him and he likes you why is it a problem? It's not like you're going to meet a lot of boys out here that don't live here. I mean, if you want to get married someday, who are you going to marry, a tree?"
Ellen replies, "He would fire him because Pa is now living in town and wouldn't feel it safe to leave the two of us out here without direct supervision. And he already has plans to marry me off, we had some wealthy ranchers from Nevada and California visit her around five months back. One of them is returning for another visit in the next few days and I'm sure a wedding is running through Pa's mind."
"He wouldn't make you though, would he? You'd feel awful bad he was disappointed, but you wouldn't marry someone you didn't want to. Uncle had better not be thinking of marrying me off." Emily smiled confidently at her cousin. "I won't say anything, and I don't think you'll be marrying any rich man any time soon either."
Ellen says, "The problem is that Trisha and I are both in our twenties and he's afraid we'll never get hitched. And he's afraid that most guys who show an interest would only be after his money, that's why he likes the idea of that rancher in Nevada, their ranch covers around a tenth of whole the territory, they're loaded!" "You sound kinda excited about that," Emily laughed. "Well, I won't have to worry about anyone looking for money out of me, I don't have any! Who needs it anyway?"
