A Most Unsuitable Match (36 page)

The doc had turned down his lamp and he and Patrick had retired long ago. By now, Fannie was asleep over at the boarding house. Edie had taken to keeping watch at night. She was in the kitchen now. Every once in a while, Samuel heard a quiet footstep or a creak as she got up to get another cup of coffee and then settled back into the doctor’s rocker. She’d asked Samuel if he minded if she read his mother’s Bible. He’d smiled and she’d teased him, “If I’d known you had such a pretty smile, Parson, I’d have asked to read the Good Book as soon as you woke up.”

Samuel lay on his side staring at the square of pale light on the board floor where moonlight shone in the window by the doc’s desk. Praying for a miracle. Praying to heal so he could return to the gold camps before snow closed the trail. Wishing he hadn’t heard the doc begging Fannie to stay. Wishing he hadn’t seen how easy it was for her to say yes . . . to
him.
Doing his best to believe that in that space between what he knew to be true and what he didn’t understand . . . that somewhere in that empty space . . . he’d have the faith to be happy for Fannie and Dr. LaMotte . . . and to hold on to hope for himself.

Dear Minette,

There is so much to say—so much to explain—and I haven’t nearly as much time as I need. I want to write pages and pages, but the steamboat departs this morning and this letter has to be in the mailbag on board, because I won’t be. Too much has happened for me to leave now.

Oh, Minette, I’ve finally found Aunt Edith! And while at first she seemed less than happy to have been found, now we are spending time together. We’ve just begun to get acquainted, and I don’t want to put our relationship at the mercy of either the river or a mailbag.

The next reason I need to stay is for Samuel’s sake. He has not found his sister, but he and Lamar were headed back to Fort Benton when they were caught up in an Indian skirmish. They were helped into Fort Benton and are recovering, except for the fact that Samuel cannot speak. He makes noises, he can swallow, he can understand, but he can’t form words. Yet. Dr. LaMotte is hopeful, but I can see the fear in Samuel’s eyes. He is my dear friend, and I cannot abandon him.

Lastly, I want to stay for Patrick and Edmund LaMotte. Patrick is a dear. He reminds me of you in that he has a sixth sense about people. He told me that listening carefully sometimes helps him see. I can’t explain it all, but suffice it to say that Patrick helped me to see that I cannot leave yet.

And so, dear Minette, I will be spending a winter in the northernmost trading outpost of the Missouri River. Abe’s boarding house is nearly empty, and so there is little work to be done, but he assures me I am welcome to stay, even though I am bereft of a way to pay him. Which leads me to another topic.

I am enclosing a letter to Mr. Vandekamp. It is essential that both your father and Daniel read it before it is delivered.

I hope this finds you well. I am fine, although changed in ways I don’t quite understand myself. I have always believed in God, but I’ve needed my faith more since leaving home. It is as if a seedling is sprouting stems and leaves. Perhaps by the time I see you again it will be in full bloom. I know that I will never be the same because of Fort Benton and all it represents.

Please know that my devotion to you remains as strong as ever. I love you, dear friend. In the midst of the shock this letter will undoubtedly cause, I pray that you can still find it in your heart to love me as well as ever.

Always yours,

Fannie

Dear Mr. Vandekamp,

Having received your letter, I find it necessary to express my deep disappointment at your taking advantage of my situation in order to follow the letter of the law rather than its spirit. In the absence of your goodwill, God has seen fit to provide for me in other ways. I send this letter in care of friends who will see that it is delivered and my wishes executed without the disappointing taint of the vengeful spirit evidenced in your communiqué.

At her request, I forward greetings from Miss Edith LeClerc . . . my own Aunt Edie.

Sincerely,

Fannie LeClerc Rousseau

Fannie folded the note to Mr. Vandekamp and reread the accompanying document that would hopefully provide Daniel Hennessey and Mr. Beauvais everything they needed to manage her affairs. She couldn’t help but feel what was probably a sinful bit of satisfaction as she envisioned the effect the document would have on Mr. Vandekamp. Those two bright spots of color would have already appeared on his face when he read her note. But, as he stood in the presence of Daniel Hennessey and Mr. Beauvais and read the document, his entire face would burn bright with rage. The only person he had to blame was himself. And now . . . now Fannie could face the winter knowing that things in St. Charles would be all right until she returned in the spring. Faith was the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, and as she sealed the envelope, Fannie realized that she was at peace with her decision to stay . . . and hope . . . and see.

To all parties involved in businesses and private matters related to the estate of the late Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rousseau of St. Charles, Missouri:

As the sole heir of the parties herein mentioned, I, Fannie LeClerc Rousseau, wish it to be known that in my absence from St. Charles, Missouri, however long that may be, and until further written notice from me or by verbal instruction from my own person, Mr. Daniel Hennessey and Mr. Claude Beauvais are my appointed agents. Their decisions are to be considered final and binding on all parties concerned. I hereby instruct Mr. Hubert Vandekamp to make available to the aforementioned gentlemen any and all financial records, accounts, etc., necessary in order for Mr. Hennessey and Mr. Beauvais to conduct matters in such a way as they see fit.

Regarding the property on Main Street, which I understand was damaged in a fire in my absence, I request that everything possible be done to prevent further damage to both the house and its contents until I return to inspect the property. Mr. Amos Walker has my full confidence in the matter of upkeep and, along with his assistant, Tommy Cooper, should be paid for his services in that regard. If Mr. Walker sees fit, he is to take up residence in the carriage house apartment. If he does not wish to do so, appropriate measures should be taken so that a trustworthy watchman remains on the premises. Nothing is to be disposed of unless this is deemed necessary by Mr. Hennessey and Mr. Beauvais, who have my utmost confidence and trust.

Hereto I assign my signature on this twentieth day of October, 1869.

Fannie LeClerc Rousseau

Witness: Edmund LaMotte, M.D. Fort Benton, Montana Territory, U.S.A.

Witness: Abraham Valley, Proprietor of the Fort Benton Hostelry, Montana Territory, U.S.A.

In whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

E
PHESIANS 1:7

As October waned and the prairie browned, Fannie saw Fort Benton transformed. Only a few crates and barrels remained on the once bustling levee. The last bull train left for the gold camps, and with that, many of the saloons closed down to wait for spring. While business didn’t completely die, the nights were no longer punctuated with music and gunfire.

Lame Bear and his sons rode into town one day in a display of feathers and finery that took Fannie’s breath away. They were headed to their winter camp, but Lame Bear wanted to see how Lamar and Samuel were doing, and now that White Sparrow was going to stay the winter, he thought she might change her mind about riding Smoke. After an impressive speech, he waved at Owl, who jumped off his pony and presented Fannie with a beautifully tooled sidesaddle.

Even as she ran her hand over the burnished leather, Fannie protested. “We’re the ones who should be giving gifts. They saved Samuel’s life. In fact . . . I’m ashamed I haven’t done so.”

When Edmund translated the message, Lame Bear smiled at her and gestured to his sons. Edmund laughed. “He’s willing to accept you into the clan if you’d care to go into winter camp with them.”

Fannie shook her head even as she smiled at Lame Bear. “I see the smile around your eyes. You’re teasing.” Putting her hand to her heart, she nodded her thanks to the three braves. The men returned the gesture and then, in a whirl of color and a chorus of yells, charged out of town toward the north.

Fannie looked down at the saddle. “Do I dare wonder how on earth they came up with this?”

Edie deadpanned, “There’s a saddler right up the street. I imagine they stopped in and bought it right before they had tea at the mercantile.” She laughed. “If you know what’s good for you, Miss Rousseau, by the time spring rolls around and Lame Bear comes back this way, you’ll be ready to demonstrate how well you can ride that gray horse he gave you.”

“But I sold Smoke to Edmund.”

“Did you, now?” Hands on hips, Edie glared at Edmund. “For cash?”

“For perpetual medical care,” Edmund said. “A fair trade.”

Edie nudged Fannie. “Take the horse back, honey. A woman who has to wait on a man to go where she wants to go is a woman who spends far too much of her life waiting.” She tilted her head. “Now that I think about it, we need to teach you how to shoot. Then you’ll be all set.”

Later that evening, Fannie took her time washing dishes in the lean-to boarding house kitchen while Patrick and Abe played checkers and Edie, Lamar, and Samuel played poker with bits of paper for chips. Samuel was feeling considerably better, and was now able to sit up and play a game for a half hour at a stretch before the exhaustion caught up with him again. The laughter sounding from the room should have made Fannie happy, but somehow it made her feel lonely.