Donna’s Dilemma

Donna Langley looked at the time piece pinned to her blouse. It was one o-clock in the morning. The cold wind tugged at her thin calico dress and whipped her long dark curls around her face and into her eyes.

Where is she? She thought her mind wondering wildly.

She once again paced the small pathway. She was starting to worry. One of her old school friend’s had sent a letter saying to meet her here.

Do I have the right time? She looked at her time piece again impatiently. Yes I do. Just then, a small thin younger woman appeared out of the shadow’s her hair hung in a tangle mess and her face was gaunt and weathered.

“Ellie Bennett, is that you?” She stepped back as the woman advanced.

“Yes and I need your help I know it is very short notice but I had no one else to turn to. I need your help...” she sounded like she had been crying. “Please promise me?”

Donna's brow furrowed as she studied Ellie.

“But what is it? Ellie are you in some kind of trouble?” she stepped close enough to catch a glimpse of a small something hiding behind her skirts.

“Promise me.” Her green eyes narrowed.

“Yes I promise.” She said against her better judgment. Ellie let out a sigh of relief and smiled a shaky smile. "Now please, what is going on?"

“I am in a bit of trouble so to speak and I have to leave town for a little while...a long while.”

“What kind of problem?” she tapped her foot as an uncomfortable silences stretch between them it was Ellie who broke it.

“I can’t say but-” A loud shout and the sound of pounding feet made them both jump. “No! No…all ready?” She spun around a placed a small child into her arms.

“Go now! Do not stop, just keep going! Keep her safe, please? You promised…” Then she pushed Donna into the alley as she heard shouting. “Go..."

Donna ran up the street and held onto the child for dear life. Her breath coming in great gulps she flagged down a passing carriage.

“Where to, miss?” asked the driver.

“The Train station…” The driver started and turned to look at her. "We have to go."

“Ma’am, did you say the station? As in, the where the trains stop?” She rolled her eyes and nodded. “Okay whatever you say.”

He clucked to the horses and soon they were on their way to the dreadful station but she had to leave if Ellie was really in serious trouble they might come looking for her and the child.

Then, remembering the small one clutched tight to her chest, she eased her back and gasped. She was beautiful, her skin was rosy pink and her dark blond hair hung in long bouncy ringlets. She could not be over four years old.

Why did Ellie give her away, to me of all people? Oh, Lord! Please help me here please?

“Miss, we’re here are you sure? This is not the place for a woman. Let alone a woman and a child, it just ain’t smart.” She could tell he was a nice man and truth being told she didn’t think it through that much but too late now.

“I will be fine you just have a nice night sir.” She turned and waved over her shoulder at him, the sound of him muttering made her giggle but then the darkness closed around her as the cart and its lighted lantern turned the bend she listened until the sound of the horses hoofs faded away into nothingness.

What now? I have to find a train headed to...where? She started pacing the pier. Where?

“I can’t go home I will not lead them to my family or Jack he’s busy with Olivia and their baby. Reverend Countlyn would insist upon turning her over to the law and I do not have any friends. If only Aunt Winnie was here she would- wait Aunt Winnie!”

She snapped her fingers. “If I can catch a train to Nebraska I can hide then write them and tell them everything.” she stopped pacing and frowned.

“But what about a ticket, now that is a problem, It is dark and no one is at the office.” then she suddenly spun around and, still holding the little girl, marched up to the office to peer through the dirty pane of glass.

She had to try.

She saw a small man leaning over a stack of books and almost jumped for joy. Thank you lord!

She knocked on the door and heard footsteps crossing the floor. Her heart was beating over time. The door opened and a scraggly man stood and scowled at her.

’’What are you doing here lady I’m closed.” He started to shut the door but she hurried forward.

“Sir please will you listen to me for just a moment, please.” she begged. He grunted but leaned against the door frame. She rushed on, before he changed his mind.

“I need a ticket now a one way ticket to Thompson Nebraska on the early morning train please. How much are they?”

“Two dollars, maybe three.” he looked her up and down then shook his head. “But I will give them to you for one fifty you and that there baby need to get out of this here neighborhood.” she was shocked but never look a gifted horse in the mouth as aunt Winnie would say.

“Thank you, sir. Here you go.” she handed him the amount owed then turned to go when he stopped her.

“You kin wait on that there bench the train will be here in an hour it’s a running early.” then he turned and went back inside.

She shivered and cradled the baby close. If only Ellie had told me her name. She thought. After what seem like an eternity, the train’s whistle startled her.

The sun had just reached the sky when she seated herself on the ugly burgundy seat. The child woke when the train started move. Her dark creamy brown eyes look around the cart and finely settled on Donna.

“Hi my name is Donna what is yours honey?” she looked puzzled but she didn’t cry or scream like Liz, her cousins, baby had. She just sat there as if trying to find someone, probably Ellie.

“What’s your name sweetie?” She reached into her dress pocket then held out a little piece of paper stuck in an envelope

“What is it dear?” she took the letter and opened it expecting a child’s drawing or scribbles but instead she saw Ellie’s perfect script.

Dear Donna,

If you are reading this you have met Kandy, my daughter, and are probably wondering why I gave her to you. Well I am in a bit of trouble, not with the law but with my father. He hated Kandy’s daddy, who died a year ago, and threw us out when we said we were getting married.

That was before Kandy was born three years ago and now father says I am not fit to keep her and is trying to take her at first he was very civil about it then when I said I would not come home he said he would just take her away from me so I ran that was a week ago. And now he has gotten the law involved so I saw you at the store in town and knew that I had to do this and know it was not easy.

If you’re wondering why she is so quit the reason is she cannot speak please give her a good home and raise her to know God and don’t tell her about her poor down on her luck home less mother and God bless you for this. I’m sorry for dragging you into this. Please forgive me,

Love Ellie

Donna looked at the letter at Kandy then at the letter again.

“I will take care of you Kandy, okay?” She smiled a trusting smile and lay her head down on Donna’s shoulder. Oh Lord please, do not let me disappoint her.

The feel of a child in her arms and the sound of the train made her tired and she slipped off to sleep, dreaming away her troubles.

Titus Hampton was not pleased. His right hand man and brother-in-law just ran off with a saddle bag full of his money. He looked up as he heard hoof beats pounding up the small dirt road leading to Triple T ranch house, the rider was Clause Van Hanson the blacksmith.

“Titus, are you in there?” Titus pushed himself out of the big office chair.

“Yeah…Clause, I’m in the office.” They had been friends ever since Titus had moved here many years ago. He swung down and knocked his boots off at the front door.

“I thought you would have been stomping around in a rage over that lost money of yours.” He moved over to lean against the door frame.

“Well you missed it. I rattled the roof this morning, when Thatcher told me.” He gritted his teeth and clinched his fists. “Why would a man with everything going his way, a pretty wife cute kid good job, up and steal a saddle bag of money? My money…”

“How much is gone?”

“Everything, well except what little I have in the safe.” His temper started to rise but he kept his voice low and mild.

“So, what now, are you going to sell out?” He looked Clause straight in the eye with was a great feat because the smithy was a good three inch’s taller than him and he was six foot one.

“No. You know that.” The man smiled and nodded his head.

“Just making sure you’re still thinking straight. The sheriff came up empty, he sent me to tell you.’’ He grinned. “So he would not have to.”

Titus huffed and moved passed his friend and onto the front porch.

“Well I had better get going so see you Sunday. The Vander family is going to be at the picnic, and Hanna to.” He said with a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Oh great, I’m so excited.” He said sarcastically.

“Better you then me, my friend. See you then.”

“Bye.” He walked into the office and opened the safe and counted the money inside.

One hundred, not enough to run a ranch but it was all he had.

Then he remembered what Stanley or better known as newt, the sheriff, had said “I will help in any way you need, hear me boy?” but he would never accept. He knew someday his pride would cause his trouble but not today.

He built this ranch on blood, sweat and strength. He was not going to give up now after three years of work. The round up had already gone to Dodge and winter would set in about three months.

“What am I going to do now, lord?”

He laid the money back in the safe and walked into the kitchen.

“Hey Juniata, I am going out. I might be late for supper, so don’t wait up.”

“Si, senor, I will save you a plate.” said the tiny Mexican girl who had lived here ever since her parents had left her on the street. No one was going to give a young Mexican girl a home so he had hired her to be the cook and to keep up around the house.

“All right then, Adios.” He walked out to the barn and saddled Hero, his horse. A tall cow hand strode over to him.

“Where you headed boss?” asked Mason Holston.

“Into town, tell Jonas I will be back in a while.” He did not wait for an answer just swung up and started to ride into town.

The sun was hot and the midday winds kicked up small dust devils, making Titus think about his brother in law.

Solomon Jenkins was the son of the town’s only post master and had moved to Thompson, Nebraska a year after Titus had bought a nice little farm on the corner of town.

Then his sister Sarah met and fell in love with Solomon and they got married. Then she had Oren. The boy was three and now he would have to grow up without a father.

“And If I get my hands on his father. He’ll regret he ever moved here.” He knew what he had to do and hated it. He would not be able to keep all his hands but they all were his friends as well as employees.

“What now lord? I need something to hang onto.” The prayer had just left his mouth when the sound of the train passing in the distance caught his attention. “Lord, I love you and thank you for the ranch and my family. I ask for your help because I know it is near. Send someone…anyone…please, amen.”

Donna stepped off the train in Thompson and stretched wearily. The town was just as aunt Winnie described. It was small and dusty but yet still had a charm most modern cities lacked.

“Ma’am. Do you have any bags?” The porter asked. "I can have them placed in the station."

“No, thank you but can you tell me where Aunt- I mean Mrs. Langley lives?” she shifted Kandy to the other hip.

He shifted from his left foot to his right and back. “Well miss I hate to tell you but miss Winnie moved out last week, said something about going to live with her family in England. She seemed real happy about it.”

“Moved?! But where are we going to stay?” Kandy raised her head and scrubbed her eye’s with her tiny fists then looked around.

Her sweet smile and the excitement dancing in her eye made the situation a little bit better. A little bit.

The train whistle blew and the young man turned to leave. “I’m sorry ma’am. Ask the boarding house owner.” He tipped his hat. “Good luck, ma’am.”

“Good day.” She looked at the town and took a deep breath. “I guess we head to the boarding house.” She smiled when Kandy looked at her with an odd look.

She would have to teach Kandy how read and write. Thank God she can hear me. They stepped onto the board walk and Donna sat Kandy down then took her hand. The toddler smile and pointed at a horse. Donna laughed. Kandy seemed very smart and calm.

“It’s big isn’t it?” Kandy nodded. “Come now. We need to find a place to stay for the night.”

The tall elegant building made a perfect boarding house. Ivy ran the length of the porch rails and ever greens surrounded the whole building. It was beautiful but an old lady with a tight knot at the back of her neck with a long flat nose stood on the porch. Her eyes were a dull brown and bored into whoever she thought was in the wrong.

“Hello, ma’am we would like a place to stay.”

“Are you married?” The old lady stuck her nose in the air.

“No but-”

“We have no rooms available. Now off with you. We don’t house your kind.”

“No! Wait you don’t understand-” but she slammed the door.

Donna looked down at Kandy then back at the door. Kandy tapped on her leg then raised her hands, wanting to be picked up. Donna scooped the child into her arms. She laid her head against Donna’s shoulder. Oh, lord what now? I need you! Tears streaked down Donna’s cheeks.

Kandy raised her head and put her hands on either side of Donna’s face then planted a sweet kiss on her forehead. “This whole thing don’t affect you does it, honey.” She rubbed noses with her and turned to go…Where?

Aunt Winnie did not live here anymore and she had almost no money or place to stay she wanted to scream and throw a fit but she was not a child but she did have one to take care of.

She started toward the general store. With the little bit of money she had left she would buy them some food and a penny candy for Kandy. She stepped off the boardwalk to cross the street and she was too deep in thought to see the wagon charging up at a brake neck speed. Kandy was asleep.

“Move he’s not going to stop! Move!” the warning came from the other side of the street. Donna froze and then tried to run but her foot caught on the hem of her dress. She was not going to make it she was going to get trampled!

God help!

She tucked Kandy protectively against her chest and just as she expected to feel horse’s hoofs hit her back, a large hand wrapped around her upper arm and pulled her up and into a large man’s arms. The wagon thundered by and Donna let out a breath and bit her lip to stop the tears of relief.

“Ma’am? Are you okay?” He slowly turned her around.

“Yes. I’m fine.” She suddenly remembered Kandy. “Kandy! Baby, are you okay?” She sank to her knees and looked at the child. Her eyes where sleepy and her hair sprang out from the red ribbon but other than that she was fine too. She hugged her.

She looked up at the man who had saved her and froze. He was huge much bigger than any one she had ever seen. His green eyes sparkled and his dark brown hair curled around his ears. She tried to smile but knew she failed drastically.

“Is she alright?” he helped her to her feet. "Your little one?"

“Yes.” She took a deep breath and smiled. “I thank you for saving us Mister…”