The stagecoach hit another chuck hole. Sarah’s stomach bounced to the top of the thing. She felt nauseous. She looked at the man seated a crossed from her; he seemed to be asleep. How? Opening her purse, she took out the letter.
Sarah
Thank you for answering my ad. As I said, my wife died five years ago. I loved her deeply. We produced one son. Mickael is now 6 years old and in need of a mother. He is a good boy and very obedient. Also, the house needs a woman’s touch. I found life extremely lonely and would welcome the companionship of a wife. If this is agreeable to you, please reply.
Sincerely
Jacob Barns
She looked at the picture he enclosed with the letter. A clean cut man with a strong chin, dark eyes, a serious, unsmiling face. She had clipped out the ad and kept it in the chest drawer. She was 19, almost 20. With the dew of youth still on her. Her parents having died she lived with her sister, husband and little boy. Harvy was two years old. A very active child.
Sarah had sent Jacob a picture of herself. She almost didn’t. Her nose was too big, face narrow. Her ears stuck out like handles on a pitcher. She had worked with her hair. In the picture, it still stuck out like the end of a mop. After a month of hiding it in her chest, she showed the ad to her sister.
“Oh, Sarah, that would be wonderful. Of course, we would miss you. You have been so wonderful for Harvy.” She hugged Sarah. Holding her at arms leant she said. “Do you think you would like ranch life? Miles from the nearest store. Neighbors so far away.”
“I don’t know. Oh, Beth, do you think I’m doing the right thing?” Sarah said with a frown.
“I think you would make a wonderful wife and mother.” Beth said, smiling. That night, she wrote to Jacob. The next morning, she hesitantly handed the letter to the clerk at the post office.
Jacob
I read your advertisement in the Staint Louis Dispatch. My name is Sarah Knowns. I am 19. 5 foot 6 inches tall. I have brown hair and eyes. As you see in the enclosed picture, I am not a handsome woman. I am used to hard work. If interested, please respond.
Sarah Knowns
Two weeks later, Jacob sent the letter she now held in her hand.
She sent a brief reply.
Jacob
I am coming. Please meet me at the stage station in Hinesville.
Sarah
Putting Jacob’s letter back in her purse, she leaned back in her seat. She had passed into Kansas on the train overnight. At Kansas City she hurried to the stage depot. Now the sun up an hour promised a hot day. She had heard stories of those lost on the prairie in a snowstorm. They did not survive. Suddenly, the stage stopped. She looked out the window. No town, no houses.
The driver appeared at her window. He smiled and opened the door. “Rest stop.” The driver said. “We’re about an hour out of Hinesville. If’n you need to do somethin’ them bushes over there will hide you.”. He shook the man on the other side of the stage. Rest stop.” He repeated.
“Ok.” He murmured. The man opened his eyes, smacked his lips and crawled out the open door.
15 minutes and they were on their way.
“How far you going?” Her fellow passenger said, looking Sarah up and down.
“Hinesville.” Sarah said. His gaze made her uncomfortable.
“Saloon girl?” He said, perking up.
“I’m going to meet my husband.” She said, hoping it was true.
“Oh.” He covered his eyes with his hat. Several minutes later, he was dozing.
An hour after the rest stop, Sarah saw a dot of buildings. She swallowed. Her hands trembled. What if he didn’t like her? Tears came to her eyes. What if it was all a joke? What if there was no Jacob Barnes? They rolled into the small town. A bank, general store, Liberty and stage office with a corral out back and a saloon. At the end of the square, set a white board church.
She fingered the small pistol in her purse. Her sister insisted she carry it. Then she saw him standing on the porch of the stage office. A tall man over six feet and a small boy. The stagecoach rolled to a stop in front of the office. Jacob stepped off the porch and opened the door. The small boy came to the edge of the porch, looking down. The man a crossed from her stumbled out. Jacob stood back and watched him stagger up to the saloon. He turned his attention back to the coach. “Sarah?” He said, smiling. The little boy gave her a puzzled smile. “Jacob?” She said, pushing off her seat. Taking her arm, he helped her to the ground. “Did you have a good trip?” He. asked
“It was very bumpy.” She said, adjusting her hat.
He laughed. It was a good laugh. “Yup, the stage ain’t the best way to travel.” He took her suitcase.
“Are you my new mommy?” The little boy was now setting on the edge of the porch.
“Now Micheal we’ve talked about this,” Jacob said. Setting down the suitcase, he lifted the child down and set him on the ground.
“I know.” He seemed to be studying his shoes. He lifted his eyes to Sarah. “I’ll try to be a good boy. Daddy too.”
“We’ll see.” Jacob said.
“Would you like me to be your momma?” Sarah said, kneeling down to the little boy.
“Micheal, we have talked about this,” Jacob said. He gave the boy a stern look.
The little boy hung his head. “Yes poppa.”
Together, they climbed into the buckboard set at the side of the station. “My farm is about five miles out this way.” They headed west from the small group of buildings. Sarah looked around her. Nothing but wide-open spaces. Nothing like Staint Louis. The man and boy beside her felt comfortable with their surroundings.
Sarah cleared her throat. “Have…have you lived in Kansas all your life?”
Without looking at her, he said. “Yup, grew up about ten miles from here.” He pointed to the east. “You live in Saint Louy?”
“Yes, I was born in the hospital there.” Sarah said.
“Old doc Baine, he lives over that a way about six miles. Ain’t got no hospital.”
A mile away, she saw a group of buildings. “There she be .” Jacob said pointing to the farm.
“Me and daddy painted the house for you. You like it?” Michael said, looking at her face. The white paint gleamed in the sun. She looked at the house barn and outbuildings.
“Yes, it’s very nice.” She said what the child expected her to say. In truth, she felt homesick.
“Looks better than it is. Well, didn’t get to the inside. Thought we’d wait on you for that.” Jacob said. He seemed to be embarrassed. They rolled up to the farm. A black dog set on the porch wagging it’s tail. Jacob climbed down and helped Sahra and Michael to the ground.
“Come Jake. Come here.” The little boy knelled in the dirt and held out his arms. The dog exploded off the porch and dashed into the boy’s outstretched arms. The child laughed as the dog bathed his face with it’s tongue.
“This way, please. “Jacob said, opening the door to the house. To Sarah, the house had no personality. No curtains at the windows, no rugs on the floors. The only color in the whole house was a handmade quilt on her bed. Jacob put the suitcase down and explained. “My wife made the quilt the first year we were married…I…thought you might like it.” Sarah saw tears in his eyes. She opened her mouth, but he had already closed the door.
Quickly changing from her traveling outfit, she selected a simple house dress. She wandered through the home. Everything was plain. Jacob and Michael emerged from the barn. He and the child had changed clothes. The dog ran by their side. “What have I got myself into?” Sarah said out loud. She busied herself making the evening meal.
Jacob and Michael came in at six. She had set the table for three. Jacob bowed his head. “Lord, we thank You Sarah arrived safety. We pray Your will be done. Thank You for this good food. In Jesus’ name amen.”
They were halfway through the meal when Jacob wiped his mouth on the napkin. “Preacher, be here tomorrow.”
Sarah blushed. “So soon?”
“No, no, just to meet you. He is a young man. Him and his wife got married about six months go.”
“Oh.” was all she could think to say.
For dessert, she set out an apple pie. Michael paused, a spoonful of pie halfway to his mouth. “Boy poppa, this is really good. Thank you, Miss Sarah.”
“Yes, thank you,” Jacob said, smiling.
Jake set by Michael’s chair. Sarah said nothing when the boy gave the dog a part of the crust.
That night, after he was in bed, Sarah came into Michael’s room. She carried with her a copy of Black Beauty. He smiled. “Poppa said mommy read to me before she died. I don’t remember.”
She read to him until he slept. Then she rejoined Jacob in the parlor. “We have some things to discuss. First, I want you to be comfortable here. Second, if you find you don’t like farm life and want to return home, just tell me. I will understand.”
“Jacob I…”
“Just hear me out. There is no pressure to get married. We’ll give it six weeks after that people will talk. You have your own bedroom and I have mine. Agreed?” He said, standing to his feet.
“Of course. That sounds reasonable.”
“I ‘m up by five. You can sleep longer if you like.” He smiled at her. “I’m glad you’re here. Good night.” He left the room.
“Goodnight.” She called to his back.
In her bed, she listened to the night sounds. Crossed the plains, a coyote howled. Another coyote answered him a mile away. Sarah shivered in her bed. Sleep overtook her. Wore out from the day she had a dreamless night. She opened her eyes to sunlight streaming in the window and the smell of bacon frying.
Dressing quickly, she rushed into the kitchen. Jacob turned from the stove, a skillet in his hand. Mickael, seated at the table, smiled. “Good morning.” Jacob said, dishing eggs onto Mickael’s plate.
“We didn’t know when you were goin’ to get up.” The little boy said, grinning.
“I’m sorry. I should be making breakfast for you.” Sarah said, her face reddening.
“No. You’re our guest. One or two eggs?” Jacob said, holding an egg.
“Two please. Tomorrow I will try to have breakfast ready when you come in.” Sarah said.
Setting down Jacob prayed and thanked The Lord for the meal as he had the night before. After eating, Jacob and Michael went out to do some work.
Sarah insisted on washing the dishes. She busied herself with dusting and planning. At a quarter to 10, she saw a dot on the horizon. It grew to a buggy with two people seated in it. Sarah hurried to her room and changed into her best dress. By the time the pastor and his wife arrived, she, Jacob, and Michael were standing on the porch. The dog set at their side wagging it’s tail.
Jacob stepped forward. He shook hand with the man. He looked no older than Sarah.
“Sarah, this is pastor Joe Wilks.” He nodded to the woman in the carriage. “And his wife Angie. This is Sarah Knowns from Saint Louis.”
Sarah shook hands with the pastor and his wife. The pastor’s wife, an attractive woman. Sarah felt intimidated by her appearance.
Angie smiled. She gripped Sarah’s hand in hers. “Sarah, I’m so glad you’re finally here. Jacob has been so lonely.”
Sarah mumbled. “Thank you. Would…would you like to see the house?” She blushed. Surely Angie had seen the house many times.” Perhaps you could give me some pointers.”
Angie looked at her husband. “You go on dear. Jacob and I have things to discuss. Sarah, it is a joy to meet you.”
“Thank you, pastor.” She opened the door to the house.
As the men walked to the barn. Jacob sent Michael ahead of them. “Jacob, are you sure this is what The Lord has for you?”
“I don’t know. The last one only stayed for two days. She thought I was a wealthy farmer with servants and all.”
“Sarah seems down to earth. She would make a good wife.” The pastor said.
“I know. But maybe not for me.” Jacob said.
They returned to the house. Pastor Wilks cleared his throat. They sat around the kitchen table. Sarah was on her feet, serving slices of cake and coffee. “Sarah, are you a Christian?”
Sarah smiled. “Yes, I received Christ as a child.”
With Angie’s help, Sarah picked out the material for curtains and decorated the house. On Sunday morning, they attended the small church in Hinesville. With Angie introducing her, the other women of the church brought Sarah into their fold. She felt more comfortable than she ever thought she would.
She wrote a brief letter to her sister just to let her know she had arrived. For the first time in her life, she learned to milk a cow. After two weeks, Jacob said one evening. “Sarah, you have become a part of our lives. I would like, with your permission, to plan our wedding.”
She smiled at him. “Yes, I believe that would be agreeable. When did you have in mind?”
“Would two weeks be enough time? Say the end of the month?” Jacob said, his heart leaping.
“Yes, that should be sufficient time.” She said, putting down her sewing. She felt excitement surge through her veins.
At church the next Sunday, she shared the news with Angie. Soon, all the ladies gathered around congratulating and planning her and Jacob’s wedding. Michael bounced around the house, becoming more excited with each passing day.
Two days before the wedding, he came in from bringing the cows up for milking. Sarah turned from the stove where she was preparing eggs. He groaned, flopping down in a chair. He was pale and sweating. He looked at her with glassy eyes. “I…I…don’t feel well.” He hurried outside and vomited off the porch. Setting the skillet aside, Sarah helped the boy undress and put him to bed. By the time she returned to the kitchen, Jacob was there.
“How is he?” He said, concern in his voice.
“We have a very sick little boy,” Sarah said, mirroring Jacob’s concern.
“I’ll ride for doc.”
Within minutes, he thundered out of the yard. Breakfast forgotten, she tended to the sick child. She bathed his brow. He seemed to be burning up yet freezing. She sang to him. Michael settled down and seemed to sleep. An hour later, the outside door opened. Sarah rose from her chair beside the bed. An elderly man came in carrying a medical bag. He smiled at Sarah, then said to Michael. “Well, young man. Your daddy tells me you’re not feeling chipper.”
“No…no …sir.”
“Let me see if I can figure out what’s wrong.” Doc said. Setting down beside the bed. Fifteen minutes later, he motioned Jacob and Sarah into the kitchen. He sighed heavily. He looked Jacob in the eye. “Michael has scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is an infectious bacterial disease. I’ll let the pastor know.”
His eyes were moist, Jacob said. “What can we do, doc?”
The doctor turned a weary, tired face to this loving father. “Just make him comfortable as you can.” Going out, the doctor quietly closed the kitchen door.
Jacob looked at Sarah. “I can’t marry you.”
“I understand. We’ll wait until Michael is well.”
“No, Michael will not get well. He’s going to die just like his mother. He’s going to die just like everything I love.” He stumbled through the kitchen and out the door. Going to the window, Sarah watched him go. Sarah felt despair in her heart. How could she help this man.
Within an hour, the pastor arrived. After praying at Michael’s bedside, he said to Sarah. “Come with me . I know where he is.”
He led her to a grove of trees at the edge of a field. There they found Jacob on his knees, weeping at his wife’s grave. Quietly, they stood back.
After several minutes, Jacob rose to his feet. He looked around, wiping his tear-stained eyes. “Please don’t go.” He said with a sad smile. Sarah gripped his arm.
Together, Sarah, Jacob, and the pastor returned to the house.
Two weeks later, they stood before the pastor to repeat their marriage vows. Not fully recovered at Jacob’s side stood Michael, a wide smile on his face.