A Dream Unfolding (46 page)

“Dear, I know it is hard right now.
 
But,” Betty said, “I promise it will get easier with time.”

Hannah nodded, wiping her face with her handkerchief.
 
When she drained the last of her tea, Betty stood to refill it.

“Hannah,” Martha said, “You should really think about moving into town and working with Betty.”

Betty nearly dropped the teapot as she whirled around to look at Martha with a stunned expression.
 
Hannah was certain her face mirrored the same surprise.
 
What made Martha think of such a thing?

 
“Well, don’t look so shocked,” Martha said, looking from Hannah to Betty.
 
“It makes perfect sense for both of you.
 
Betty needs the help and the company would be good for you, Hannah.
 
It doesn’t sound like you would be working any harder than you do now.”

“She’s right.
 
I would love to have you work for me,” Betty agreed, excitement sparkling in her eyes.
 
“I can pay you a decent wage beyond room and board.”
 
Taking on a look of mischief, she said, “We may have to boot Paul out to the bunkhouse, but I don’t think he would mind, especially if it meant he could spend time working his placer mine.”

Hannah thought for a moment.
 
She was lonely at the fort.
 
Besides Martha, the only ladies were her Mexican coworkers who spoke little English.
 
She and Martha were always so busy they rarely had time to socialize.
 
If she worked for Betty, she would be in town.
 
And she would be near Betty, the woman who was like a mother to her.
 
She would live in a building.
 
Cook over a real stove.
 
Stop living out of crates.
 
Of course, Martha was right.
 
Both she and Betty needed this arrangement.

“I’ll do it.
 
How soon do you need me?”

“Tomorrow would be just fine,” laughed Betty.

Martha beamed, obviously pleased to have orchestrated the entire thing.

Chapter
24

Once back at the fort, Hannah asked Joshua to walk with her for a moment.
 
Looking forward to some time alone with her, he quickly agreed.
 
He offered his arm, then led her along the outer perimeter of the fort.

“Lieutenant,” she started.
 
Joshua really wished she would call him by his given name, but decided not to press the issue tonight.
 
“I’m going to move into town.”

At first Joshua thought he didn’t hear her right.
 
Stopping, he turned towards her.
 
The pink tint to her cheeks and the brightness lighting her eyes showed her excitement.
 
Why would she be moving to town?
 
“When?”

“If possible, I would like to move tomorrow.
 
I am going to work for Betty—Mrs. Lancaster—at the boardinghouse.
 
She really needs the help.”

Turning pensive for a moment Joshua said nothing.
 
If she moved to town, he would rarely see her, as his duties kept him either at the fort or on patrol.
 
She sounded so confident and sure of her decision.
 
And he knew she and Betty were close friends.
 
But that did not keep his heart from pricking at the thought of being separated from her.
 
For just a brief moment he considered asking her to marry him again, but discounted the idea as being desperate.

“Lieutenant?” asked Hannah, stirring him from his thoughts.

“I beg your pardon,” he replied.
 
“My mind was elsewhere.
 
What did you say?”

“Would you be able to help me move?”

Another twist drove the knife a little deeper.
 
How could he convince her to stay?
 
Should he?

As much as he wanted to keep her near, he would do anything for her.
 
“Of course.
 
I will speak with the major first thing in the morning.
 
I am sure he will be agreeable, after all, we are here to help protect the citizens.”

Leading her back to her tent, he bid her good evening, resisting every temptation to confess his feelings and convince her to stay.
 
One thing was certain, he would greatly miss the lovely Hannah Anderson.

Morning dawned.
 
Hannah still could not believe the quick decision she made yesterday about moving to town—yet it felt right.
 
Nothing about her life in the Arizona Territory turned out the way she dreamed.
 
Drew always made decisions for them, though he sought her opinion.
 
Since losing him, she let others, mainly Joshua Harrison, fill that role.
 
But, she was a widow, with no one seeing to her care.
 
She needed to take charge of her own life now.
 
So, she made her first decision, one she hoped would prove to be a good one.

Walking towards the mess tent, she dreaded telling the manager she was leaving, especially after he treated her so well and gave her the job sight unseen.
 
Walking around to the back of the tent, Hannah greeted her two coworkers before spotting her manager.
 
She took a deep breath and walked in his direction.

After a brief conversation, the manager told her he was thankful for her great work over the past months.
 
If things didn’t work out in town, he would gladly have her back.
 
While comforted by his offer, Hannah felt confident she would not be back.

As she walked back to her tent, Lieutenant Harrison already started loading her things into a wagon.
 
He smiled as she approached before lifting the last trunk into the sparsely filled wagon.
 
Then he turned and helped her up to the seat, climbing next to her.

The old familiar sway of the wagon seemed almost comforting to Hannah, calming her nervousness about the move.
 
Joshua must have sensed her mood, for he said nothing during the short trip to town, an odd silence from the man who conversed so easily with her.

As they turned down the street in front of Lancaster’s Boardinghouse, Betty waved a greeting.
 
Hannah smiled and waved in return.
 
Paul stepped out from the dining hall as Joshua pulled the wagon to a stop.
 

Hannah sighed.
 
This was her new home.

“You can pull the wagon around to the side door,” Paul said, indicating a separate door to the personal living quarters on the outside of the building.

Once Joshua stopped the wagon in the designated area, Paul helped Hannah down.

“Ma had me clear my stuff out this morning, so the place is all ready for you,” he said.
 
“Go in and take a look around.
 
The lieutenant and I will bring in your things.”

Hannah stepped into the small living quarters, giving her eyes a minute to adjust to the dimmer light.
 
Only one window graced the room, allowing light to filter in from the town square.
 
Next to the door she entered, sat two chairs and a small table.
 
A wood heating stove stood near the center of the room, to allow for maximum heat in the winter.
 
The rest of the space was sectioned off by two curtains strung on a line across the length of the room.
 
She passed through the curtain and quickly discovered a bed and small dresser penned in by another curtain.
 
Lifting back the edge, she saw another bed and small dresser, with a few items scattered on the top.
 
A Bible lay on the corner closest to the bed.
 
That must be Betty’s room.

A clearing of a throat behind her caused Hannah to jump back, dropping the curtain closed.

“Where do you want this?” Joshua said.
 
When had she stopped thinking of him as the lieutenant?

As he looked around the small bedroom of sorts, his face flushed when his gaze reconnected with hers.
 
She felt a similar heat touch her cheeks as she realized he was standing in her room. Why should such a simple act cause such a reaction?

He shuffled his feet, stirring Hannah from her confusing thoughts.
 
Pointing toward the foot of the bed, she barely squeaked out a “There.”
 
She was acting like a silly buffoon.

Slowly Joshua slid the trunk from his shoulder.
 
Once it was safely on the ground, Hannah caught him rubbing his shoulder.
 
Heat rose to her cheeks again as she realized she kept him waiting too long.

Paul bounded into the room with the last of her things and deposited them on the floor in a pile as Betty bustled into the room.

Looking at Joshua, she said, “Dear, won’t you join us for dinner before you return to the fort?”

“Certainly,” he replied, “lead the way.”

Betty took them through the door between the living quarters and the kitchen, before leading them back into the dining hall.
 
Two patrons sat at the middle table, so Betty led them to the table closest to the kitchen.
 
Once Hannah and Joshua were seated, Betty and Paul brought in coffee and food for all four of them.

After a quick prayer, Paul said, “Hannah, you have no idea how glad I was to hear you were coming.
 
Ma is working far too hard and I was getting worried about her.”

“Nonsense,” Betty replied, swatting at her son’s arm.
 
“I am just fine.”

“Don’t let her fool you.
 
She needs the help.”
 
At his mother’s glare, he said, “What?
 
I’ve seen the way you fall into bed exhausted each night.”

“You make it sound like I’m ready to go to glory,” Betty teased her son.
 
Taking a more serious tone, she turned to Hannah, “But, I am grateful for the company.” Betty winked, “It will make laundry go so much faster with someone to talk to.”

Hannah laughed.
 
She forgot just how much she missed the dynamic mother and son.

Glancing over at Joshua she saw him jerk his head away suddenly, as if the corner of the room held something that warranted his concentrated attention.
 
He was acting so odd today.

As Hannah finished her last bite, Betty stood.
 
When Hannah started to rise, Betty said, “You just sit, dear.
 
Soon enough you’ll be on your feet all hours of the day.
 
Paul and I will take care of this.”
 
She motioned her arm over the dishes Paul stacked neatly into a pile.

When mother and son retreated to the kitchen, Hannah looked over at Joshua again.
 
His gaze bore through her.
 
She supposed this would be the last time she would see him for awhile.

---

Joshua looked over at Hannah, her blue eyes shimmering in the light from the oil lamp on the table.
 
The impulse to reach for her hand was strong, but he kept his palms flat on the table in front of him.
 
Clearly she had something to say, but remained silent for a few breaths.