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  “I haven’t told Ma yet, but I wrote off to one of those mail order bride places,” Seth said.

  “You did? Have you heard back anything?” Ben asked.

  “Not yet. I don’t think there’s been enough time.”

  “Do you remember the Andrews back in New Concord?” Ben asked. They nodded.

  “I’ve been writing Caroline. Her husband was killed in the war. We were good friends back then. I’ve got my fingers crossed, hoping we can work something out.”

  “Better not dawdle. As I remember, she was pretty,” Seth said.

  “She was.”

  * * *

  Dear Caroline,

  I read with great anticipation your letter. We do not have kin in New Concord since my grandparents have passed, so none of us has ever considered a visit.

  I’ve given this a lot of thought over the past few weeks and I wonder if it would be considered too bold of me to ask if you would consider coming to Roseburg? It would be a daunting trip to make with young Philip.

  If you came, and after time for us to be reacquainted, you find me suitable, I would be pleased to have you as my wife. If you come, you could stay with Mama and Papa until the matter is settled.

  I would be willing to provide you and Philip with train fare for the trip. Of course, if you’re not pleased, your return fare would be provided.

  Please take no action on advertising for a husband until you have given this some consideration.

  If I’m being too forward, I do apologize and hope you’re not offended.

  Please give this some serious thought and let me know soonest.

  Sincerely,

  Ben

  He made a special trip to town to get the letter in the mail as soon as possible.

  Chapter fourteen

  Caroline

  “You have a letter, dear,” her mother said.

  “Has Philip had his afternoon snack?”

  “Yes, and he’s out somewhere with his grandpa.”

  “I’m going to change, and I’ll be out to help with supper in a few minutes.”

  In her room, Caroline read the letter. Her eyes widened and misted when she got to the invitation. She reread it to make sure of what it said. She went to the kitchen and handed it to her mother without saying anything. She sat at the table while her mother read it.

  “Thanks be to the Lord,” her mother said. “Caroline, I did not write to Alice. I promised you and I honored my promise.”

  “I believe you. I think I provided the nudge.”

  “What do you mean? What did you do?”

  “I asked if he had heard about women advertising for a husband, and said I didn’t know if I could do such a thing. I also asked if he had ever considered a visit back here, and said I would like to see him.”

  “Very subtle. I’m glad you did. Now what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. I want to go, but I’m afraid at the same time. I would worry about our safety, that’s a long way for a woman and child to travel unescorted.”

  “It is a long way, but you’ve traveled to Cleveland several times and never had any problems.”

  “We might never see you and Papa if we went.”

  “Honey, do you have any doubts about you and Ben as a couple?”

  “No, I don’t think so,” she answered.

  “Then go. It might even give your Papa the urge to go. I think I might like to get out of the Ohio winters. It makes my rheumatism worse.”

  She couldn’t make up her mind. “I’m going to have to think about it. It’s likely my best chance to have a marriage, and I think it will be a good chance for Philip to have a papa.”

  “I agree. It’s the right decision for you.”

  “I’m still going to have to think about it.”

  * * *

  Dear Ben,

  I was excited to receive your latest letter, and I was most pleased at your kind invitation. I also explained it to Philip and he is anxious to make the trip. Frankly, the very idea scares me. I’m going to have to think long and hard about this.

  Please don’t think I have doubts about us. My concerns have to do with the safety.

  Yours truly,

  Caroline

  The letter was on the way to Oregon. Now all she had to do was decide whether she could do it.

  * * *

  Four days later, she wrote another letter.

  Dear Ben,

  I hope and pray I haven’t ruined things with my worries. I’ve thought about it for three days. Both Mama and Papa agree it is daunting, but they think we should make the trip.

  After much consideration, we would like to come to Oregon.

  If you haven’t been put off by my hesitancy and fears, let me know what we have to do.

  Sincerely yours,

  Caroline

  * * *

  “Let’s go see Grandmama Palmer,” Ben told Becky. “Which dress do you want to wear?”

  “The blue one,” she said.

  He unbuttoned the dress she was wearing. “Do you need any help?”

  “I do it, Papa.”

  Ten minutes later…

  “Are you about ready?”

  “Help, Papa,” she said. She had her left arm in the wrong sleeve. He straightened it out for her.

  “Let me brush your hair.” After the brushing, he said, “You have beautiful hair, just like your mama had.” He hugged her. “I love you. Now tell me whose girl are you?”

  “I’m Papa’s girl.”

  The home place…

  “Well, this is a surprise. I didn’t expect to see you until this weekend,” his mother said.

  “We decided to skip my cooking for today,” Ben said. “Besides, I’ve got something to show you.”

  “Okay, but let me hug my little girl first.”

  “I’m Papa’s girl,” Becky said.

  “Yes, but you’re Grandmama’s baby.”

  “Now tell me the reason behind the surprise visit.”

  He gave her the first letter. Her face lit up as she read. “How long has this been going on?”

  “I started writing right after you had the letter from Miss Charity. It takes about four weeks to write and get an answer. This came almost a week ago.”

  “I can understand her reluctance. That’s a long trip to make among strangers. Have you thought about going there? You could get married there and come back together.”

  “I thought about it, but I don’t have enough money for that.”

  “We would be glad to help with it.”

  “I decided not to go anyway.”

  “Ben, I think that’s a big mistake. Why did you decide to give up?”

  “I’m not giving up. I got another letter yesterday.” He handed her the second letter.

  “I should hide you for doing that to me.”

  “I couldn’t resist, because I know you want it almost as much as I do. I did tell her they could stay here until we get to know each other again.”

  “That’s good. We have plenty of room. What’s her son’s name and how old is he?”

  “His name is Philip. I believe he’s seven or eight.”

  “When will all of this take place?”

  “I’ll get a draft for the ticket tomorrow, and she should have it in five days or so. I’ll ask her to wire me when they will be here, so it will be at least two or three weeks.”

  “You don’t know how happy this makes me,” she said. “At last, you will have someone.”

  “Mama, I have someone. Becky and I are doing fine.”

  “Yes and you’re doing well as a father, but a girl, or boy for that matter, needs both.”

  “She has to accept us first,” he pointed out.

  “Becky will steal her heart, even if you don’t.”

  The draft was sent. He asked the ticket agent which accommodations would be the most comfortable, and it was suggested she take a compartment. In the letter with the draft, he told her the agent’s suggestion about a com
partment, and asked her to wire him the date of their arrival.

  Eight days later, he received a wire saying they would arrive on the next Thursday.

  “Mama, they’ll be here on Thursday. Will you and Papa go with us to meet them? I think the house is ready for her to see.”

  “Of course we will. What have you told Becky?”

  “Only that we will be having company. I didn’t want to confuse her or get her upset if we get turned down.”

  “You’re not going to be turned down.”

  “I wish I had your confidence.”

  Thursday morning…

  The weather was perfect and the sky was cloudless. A slight breeze was blowing when he went out to take care of the livestock. He washed under the pump on the back porch, changed clothes and helped Becky get dressed. “Where are we going, Papa?”

  “We’re going to get Grandma and Grandpa, and we’re going to meet the train. Our company will be here today.”

  They were the only ones waiting on the small platform. Ben asked the telegrapher if the train was on time. “Yes sir. Just like always, maybe a few minutes early.”

  The train squealed to a stop with the one of the two passenger cars even with the platform. The other was just ahead. No one got off. Disappointment filled Ben’s face.

  Chapter fifteen

  You’re Here

  After a couple of minutes, a young boy appeared in the doorway. The conductor took his hand to help him from the step. Then Caroline came out. She was wearing a yellow dress, and her blonde hair pinned up. She smiled.

  “Hello, Ben.”

  “Hello, Caroline, for a minute, I was afraid you had changed your mind.

  “We were in the other car.”

  “Caroline, this is Becky. Becky, this is my friend from way far away.”

  “Becky, you are a very pretty girl,” Caroline said, taking her hand.

  “I’m Papa’s girl.”

  “I can see why he likes you so much. He always had an eye for the girls.

  Ben bent and extended his hand. “You must be Philip. I’m pleased to meet you, and welcome you to Oregon.”

  “Thank you sir,” the boy said. They shook hands solemnly.

  “Do you remember my mother, Alice and my father, Isaac?”

  “Of course, I remember them,” her voice was soft and musical. “We were neighbors for fifteen years.”

  “How was your trip?” Alice asked.

  “It was spectacular. The trip from Sacramento was very beautiful.”

  “You did in four days what took us six and a half months,” Alice said.

  “Isn’t that amazing, the progress that has been made?”

  “We’re glad you’re here. We’ve been so anxious waiting. We only found out about it when Ben showed us your letter. He had not even mentioned writing.”

  “I didn’t want to disappoint you, Mama, if she didn’t come,” he said.

  “My mother was hovering like a hawk every time I got a letter,” Caroline said to Alice. “She even wanted to write you and get you to help.”

  “I would have, if I had known. It’s so good to see you. Philip, your mother said she had a boy. Why, you’re a little man.”

  “Mr. Isaac, Papa told me to be sure to tell you hello. He said we should have come when you did.”

  It’s not too late. Still plenty of good land.”

  “I love it; the mountains are beautiful, especially after crossing all that flat land.”

  “They were a welcome, but fearsome sight, when we first saw them,” Alice said. “There had been days on the plains when there was no water or wood before we came to them.”

  “Caroline, did you have checked baggage?” Ben asked.

  “Yes, here’s the claim check. It’s a steamer trunk. Philip, show him which one is ours.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  It was no problem locating the trunk. There were no others. “Philip and I got the trunk loaded,” Ben announced.

  “You’re just as pretty as you always were,” he said to Caroline.

  “Thank you. You’re too kind.” She touched his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “You, too. After we left, I thought of you often. I didn’t wash my face for days.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You kissed me on the cheek. Right here.” He touched the spot.

  She raised on her toes and kissed the same spot. “Now you have an excuse not to wash again.”

  He laughed. “You have always been funny.”

  “What’s the weather like?” Caroline asked.

  “It rains a lot in December and January. July and August not too much. We get good spring rains. We don’t have very many real hot days and none as cold as Ohio.”

  “Are you ready?” Ben’s father asked.

  “Yes sir, I’m ready,” Caroline said.

  “I’ll drive,” Isaac said. “Honey, you sit up here and let them sit together in back.”

  Philip climbed up with no help. Ben gave Caroline a hand, and then handed Becky up. With his little girl on his lap, he sat next to Caroline. “It’s not a long ride to Papa’s place.”

  “When will we go to our place?” she asked.

  He took note of her saying our place. “I’ll go home tonight and take care of the livestock, and come over in the morning, and take you out to see it.”

  “Is that wheat?” she asked when they passed a cultivated field.

  “It is. It’s Papa’s. This was the first area we planted when we moved here. Papa also plants corn and switches back and forth and lets some lie fallow. Mama has a garden where she grows vegetables for the house. There’s the house,” he pointed to the northwest.

  “It’s really pretty. I love the mountains back there.”

  “When I look out of my bedroom, I see the mountains,” Alice said. “The ocean is the other way. Someday I hope to see it too, but not from a wagon.”

  “I saw Lake Erie in Cleveland, and it was huge, but I’d love to see the Pacific.”

  “If you decide to stay, I’ll take you to see it,” Ben said. “We can both see it for the first time together.”

  “I’d like that.”

  In the house, Alice said, “Ben, put Caroline’s trunk in your room, and Philip will be in Seth’s room.” Alice caught the fleeting expression of alarm on Caroline’s face. “Ben won’t be here. He’ll be at his place at night.”

  Ben brought the trunk in. “Follow me and I’ll show you the room.”

  “This doesn’t look like a boy’s room,” Caroline said.

  “It was mine, but I haven’t spent the night here in a long time. When Mama found out you were coming, she changed a few things. You should have plenty of room. Nothing of mine is still here.

  “Come on Philip. I’ll show you your room.” He opened the door to the room next to his. “This was my older brother Seth’s room.”

  “It’s very nice, Miss Alice,” she said back in the kitchen. “What can I do to help?”

  Alice took both her hands; “Caroline, just your coming is all the help I need. I prayed for this day. Now you get acquainted with my son again. If he gets out of line, let me know. I’ll put Seth and Leroy on him and they won’t let go until he hollers ‘calf rope.’”

  Caroline smiled. “I haven’t heard that expression in years.

  “Where is he?” she asked.

  “I think he took Becky and Philip outside.”

  “Miss Alice, tell me about Jenny.”

  “She was one of the sweetest girls I ever met. I think it was love at first sight. They met at a church picnic one Sunday. Her family came on the caravan from Indianapolis. She was an only child. To get an idea of what she looked like, look at Becky. She looks just like her.”

  “She was fine one week, then came down with what they thought was a cold, and a week and a half later she was gone. Ben took it hard and blamed himself. He disappeared for several weeks. I finally sent Seth and Leroy to find him. He was a wreck. He had
n’t been drinking or anything like that. Leroy said he thought he was trying to work himself to death. He even wanted to burn the house, it was so bad, but Ben straightened himself up, took Becky out there, and has turned into a wonderful father. She stays with us or the Stevens during the planting and harvesting seasons. The rest of the time she’s with him.”

  “He worships her. She feels the same way about him.”

  “She told me she was Papa’s girl.”

  Alice laughed. “That she is. I hear them on the porch.”

  “I’ll go out , if you’re sure you don’t need any help?”

  “You go ahead.”

  Chapter sixteen

  Caroline and Ben

  “What’s happening out here?” she asked, as she stepped onto the porch.

  “Nothing. I was just telling Philip how we sat at the same desk in our one-room school.”

  “It’s true. There was only one room. Philip, Miss Klein was our teacher. We used to stand on the corner outside the store and watch the wagon trains go past. Then one day, Ben and his family joined up with one of the trains and came all the way out here.”

  “Are we going to live here now?” Philip asked.

  “Where would we sleep?”

  “You have a room and I have a room. We could live here. Mr. Ben could build a school with one room and you could teach.”

  “That would be full circle , wouldn’t it?” Ben said to Caroline. “You’re a smart boy.”

  “Yes, sir. My mom is a teacher, and my Grandma and Grandpa Simpson are teachers, too.”

  “Why don’t you and Becky go see what Miss Alice is doing so I can talk to Mr. Ben.”

  “He’s Papa,” Becky said.

  “Yes he is, and he’s a good one too. You’re a lucky girl.”

  “She is precious, Ben, and you’re great with her.”

  “She is a special girl. I try. Every minute and every day I try to make up for the loss of her mother.”

  “You blame yourself, don’t you?”

  He was silent.

  “What good does that do? Does it make you a better person? A better father? It’s not healthy. I’ve been a teacher since ‘61. I’ve learned children are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. They observe and soak up everything they see. Becky will pick up on it if she hasn’t already done so. Whether it will affect her or not, I can’t tell you.”