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“I see.” Cassandra wasn’t bothered. She understood needing to work very well. “Well, thank you for coming to fetch me. I’ve been sitting for so long, I was starting to think I was becoming part of that train.” She’d gotten up to move at every stop along the way, but it wasn’t the same as being allowed to roam.
“I can certainly understand that! I felt the same when we came west ten years ago.”
“Are we going straight to the ranch?” Cassandra asked. She couldn’t wait to get there and be able to spend time outdoors. She hoped the garden was in a terrible state, simply so she could spend the time weeding it and maybe even planting a few more things.
“I need to stop at the mercantile first, if that’s all right. I’m almost out of flour and brown sugar, and Cameron would like cinnamon rolls for him and his men tomorrow. I think it will be a great way to start the Fourth of July, don’t you?”
“I do! Is there a fireworks display close?” Cassandra had always loved watching the fireworks.
“There is one in Mountain Home, which is the town closest to us. We always go. Independence Day is really special here,” Miriam said. “Do you have a trunk? Or just your bags?”
“Just the two bags. I was a nursemaid back home, and I didn’t have a lot of possessions. I hope it won’t make you think less of me.”
“Oh, not at all. I don’t care what you used to do. I care about who you are now. And soon, you’ll be a Royal.” Miriam led Cassandra to her wagon, and climbed up to pick up the leads. When Cassandra had stowed her bags and gotten in beside her, Miriam said, “The mercantile is just a short way, but we won’t want to have to carry that flour to the wagon.”
“I agree. Usually, it would be no problem for me, but after so long on the train, I feel weak. I hate feeling weak.”
“I felt the same way after our trip out here.”
“Did you and your husband come out along with Cameron?” Cassandra asked, feeling like she was almost begging for some history of the family.
Miriam shook her head. “My husband died back in New York City, where Cameron was born and raised.”
When Miriam didn’t offer more information, Cassandra let the subject drop. “I was raised on a farm outside of Beckham, Massachusetts, and I spent every minute I could working on my mother’s kitchen garden. I loved every second of the work, and I have missed it terribly. The family I worked for wouldn’t allow me to take the children outside, so I could only spend time outdoors on Sunday afternoons. I was so excited to learn that you needed help in your garden. Cameron told me in the letter he sent.”
“That’s nice, dear.” Miriam stopped the wagon and climbed down. It wasn’t as easy getting in and out of the conveyance now that she was getting older.
The two women went into the mercantile, and they chose what they needed. The merchant’s son carried their purchases to the wagon.
“You didn’t need to purchase fabric for me to have a new dress. I brought a Sunday dress and two day dresses.” Cassandra had never had three dresses until the past year. She was proud that she had so many.
“Oh, you’ll need more than that,” Miriam said, smiling. “Especially if you plan to dig in the dirt.”
“Just as often as possible.” Cassandra said with a smile. “I find it a little difficult to breathe here.”
“I did upon my arrival as well. The feeling will be gone within a week or two. The doctor I consulted said it was the altitude that was making me feel poorly.”
“Well, then I won’t bother to consult one. I’ll know it will go away soon.” Cassandra watched the scenery as they drove to the east. At least she thought it was to the east. It was a little hard to be certain.
“We’ll measure you for your new dress today, and then you can turn one of your older day dresses into a gardening dress. It’ll be nice to have one you don’t mind getting dirty.”
Cassandra laughed. “I don’t mind much if I get anything dirty.” She shrugged. “I love being outside too much to care.”
Miriam smiled. “Well, that pleases me because gardening is my most dreaded task. I do as much as I need to do to look like I’m working.”
“You won’t have to worry about that anymore. I don’t know how to can vegetables, unfortunately, so if you can teach me that, I can take care of the garden and even the canning.”
“I don’t mind canning, but I will teach you how. A good frontierswoman needs to know how to can.”
“Yes, she does,” Cassandra said. “I’m excited to learn to be a good frontierswoman. Can you teach me to shoot?” She loved the idea of knowing how to shoot.
“I don’t shoot, but I believe Cameron would be happy to teach you.” The faraway look in Miriam’s eyes when she said that told Cassandra there was more to the story. She hoped her future husband was more open about things than his mother was.
When they reached the ranch, Cassandra took her bags from the wagon to carry inside. “I’ll come back for the supplies,” she told Miriam. “I don’t mind carrying them in.”
“What a good daughter you’ll be!” Miriam said as she opened the front door.
Inside the house, Cassandra saw a man standing. “You must be Cameron. I’m happy to meet you. I’m Cassandra.” When the man just looked at her blankly. “The bride you sent for? Are you not Cameron?”
