Chapter Six: Noah

After my reassuring conversation with my friend, I found myself wondering what he had said to the Burns' when he visited them. Had he had any success in reasoning with them? Had he learned why they had been so set on ruining my reputation?

Given that Rollin hadn't sent a message, I decided to assume that he'd run out of time before he had to leave for the next town. He would have made sure to let me know if there was something I needed to know, right? The thought haunted me over the next several weeks as I went about my usual routine.

Since so many in town had reacted negatively to my presence, I decided to stay away for as long as I could. Perhaps distance would allow time for tempers to cool and the townspeople to forget why they were so angry. Well, I doubted that would actually happen, but maybe they'd be more open to hearing my side of the story.

Or everyone would just think about it and get more and more upset.

The only downside to that was I couldn't check for any letters from Miss Garrison. I'd never received an answer from Miss Jones and I hoped she had sought out another opportunity. The last time I was in town, I'd received two from other ladies, late readers to the advertisement.

It felt impolite not to acknowledge them, so I'd penned brief letters to thank them for their interest,but that I was unable to pursue an attachment any longer.

I took advantage of the time on my homestead to straighten the inside of the barn. There were a few bags of feed left from the previous winter, and when I shifted them closer to the stalls, I noticed a pile of grain on the ground. Further inspection showed that at some point, something had chewed through the canvas.

"Just what I needed," I said, sitting back on my heels. "Rodents."

"Talking to yourself, Noah?"

With a start, I spun around, nearly falling over. A tall, familiar man stood in the doorway. "Sneaking up on people should be considered a crime," I complained, pulling myself up. "What are you doing here, Earnest?"

My friend and closest neighbor let out a laugh. "When I was in town, Collins mentioned he hadn't seen you in a while," he answered. He held up a small package. "SOmething came for you on the last stage"

"I didn't think Collins was supposed to give out the mail to just anyone."

"Well, you can take it up with him the next time you are in town," he said with a grin. "If you are truly upset, I can take it back to town and give it back to Collins. Then, you can ride to town when you want and collect it."

Shaking my head, I held my hand out. "That won't be necessary."

He handed me the envelope. "You've never been concerned about me bringing your mail before," he commented. "In fact, I remember doing it for you most of last year. Is Collins right?"

"Right about what?" I asked, recognizing Miss Garrison's handwriting. What had she sent me?

"He said that this package was important."

Great. At least Collins hadn't actually said that it was something from a lady I was courting. "I don't actually know what is in the package, so I can't say if it's important or not," I said, though I knew that wasn't exactly right. Anything Miss Garrison sent would have some importance.

If it was important enough for her to send across the country, I would value it as well.

"Well? Aren't you going to open it?"

"I'll open it when I'm good and ready ." Why was he so curious? Because packages of this size were rare. I slipped it into my pocket. "Do you want some coffee while you're here?"

"Sure. Aren't you the least bit curious about what Miss Elizabeth Garrison from Indiana has sent you?"

Blast. He'd given the envelope more than a cursory glance. "Can't a man have any privacy in this territory?" I asked, pushing past him. "Never mind what Miss Garrison sent me. It has nothing to do with you."

Earnest raised an eyebrow, seeming not to understand my rebuke. "Who is Miss Garrison, anyway?" he asked, his tone still curious. "A cousin of some kind? You've never mentioned having family in Indiana."

"If you must know, she is a lady I have been writing to these past few months," I told him bluntly. "There? Are you happy now?"

He stared at me, his curiosity shifting to surprise. "Noah, have you bought a mail-order bride?"

Bought? Now that just sounded wrong. "That's—No! Of course I haven't bought anyone. You know it's illegal to buy people. I merely sent an advertisement to a few newspapers and Miss Garrison responded. We have been exchanging letters for the past few months."

Raising his hands, Earnest shook his head. "It was just a joke," he said, his tone becoming serious. "So you're writing to this Miss Garrison with the intention of marrying her?"

"No, I'm writing because I have so much free time." I knew as soon as the sarcastic words left my lips that he didn't deserve to be the recipient of my annoyance. "If we decide we could make a life together, yes, I will marry her. Look, I haven't made this well-known, alright?"

"I gathered that given the interesting tale I heard while I was in town." Earnest followed me out of the barn. "I didn't just come out to deliver a package. People seem mighty upset with you, Noah."

Was this really the first he was hearing about it? "And just how bad has it gotten now?"

"Now? Do you mean to tell me that you know about it?"

Holding back a sigh, I shrugged my shoulders. "You could say that. Come inside for some coffee and I'll try to explain."

Earnest listened to my tale with a serious expression. "Yeah, that is quite the fix you've gotten yourself into," he said when I'd finished. He sipped his quickly cooling coffee. "How did you manage it?"

"I have no idea. I think even if I'd been upfront with the Burns' right when I first noticed their hints, this is where I would be." I didn't have any evidence for that statement, just a feeling. And I'd learned that sometimes, gut feelings were the right ones. "What exactly is being said this week?"

My neighbor shook his head. "In the saloon, I heard a much more detailed story. You have been sneaking around with Miss Annie and she's carrying your child."

Horrified, I stared at him. "What? That's ridiculous!"

"The good thing is, only a couple of men thought that was true." Earnest hesitated before he added, "But everyone agrees you've overstepped and ought to be forced to make an honest woman of her. Miss Annie apparently hasn't been seen in town for weeks."

Worse and worse! How had it reached this point? Was it merely a story being repeated and embellished along the way? And why were so few people standing up for me?

Did so many people know me so little? Or were they eager to latch on to any kind of drama to liven up their lives for a moment?

"Well, thank you for warning me," I said with a sigh. "Now I'll know to watch my back if I leave my land. No doubt with that kind of rumor everyone will be even more willing to string me up from the closest tree."

Concern shone in his eyes. "It's times like these when I wish we had a sheriff on hand to make sure that doesn't happen."

"You don't know that a sheriff would be able to keep a posse from forming if enough hotheads got together." Maybe it was just the recent details but my mood was decidedly pessimistic. "Or said sheriff might even side with them."

"Noah. There might be some corrupt men in this world, but any man who picks up a badge has the moral obligation to uphold the law. As of now, you have not committed any crime."

"In the eyes of our town I have." Who wouldn't say that ruining a young girl wasn't a crime? It ought to be!

To his credit, Earnest didn't try to protest that. "Well, then, you'll have to prove that you are completely innocent. Before anyone takes into his head to string you up, as you put it."

Yeah. That was stating the obvious. "If I knew how to do that, I would have done it already. I tried reasoning with the Collins' when I was last in town. Like, how would I have been able to meet Miss Burns without anyone noticing?"

He nodded to acknowledge the point. "One would think with as many siblings as she has, one of them would notice if she were suddenly absent. Then, it seems the only thing to do is actually talk to Mr. and Mrs. Burns about the story. They may not even be the source of the rumor."

I couldn't see how that was possible. Who else would make up a story?

"Have you even tried talking to them?"

"I haven't seen them since that last time I talked to them. None of the family came to Rollin' service when he was here." I shook my head and then drained my cup. "I don't even know what I would say to them."

Leaning back, Earnest crossed his arms. "I think I'd start with asking what happened to offend them so much," he said. I scoffed, knowing the answer. "Well, it would open the conversation. Wouldn't you rather know you tried everything you could to settle the matter?"

"Rollin seemed to think I would only make conversation more difficult because they were angry with me."

"With all due respect to the good reverend, there's more than one way to approach a matter. Avoiding confrontation will get you nowhere, Noah." Earnest shook his head. "I've never been in your situation. I don't know any man that has. I can only tell you what I think I would do if I were in your boots."

I would have been very surprised if there had been any situation like mine that my friend had been tangled up with. He somehow managed to be friendly but keep to himself without offending anyone. As a friend, I couldn't think of anyone better.

"You think I should ride over and just talk to them?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "That's what I'd do, but I'm me. You're you. Do what you think will be best. Just think about the kind of reputation you want to have when your young lady gets here." Earnest pushed himself up off the chair. "Thanks for the coffee. I should get back to my own spread."

"Right. Well, thanks for the advice." I followed him to the front door.

"Oh, you never did say what you were complaining about in the barn," he said as he stepped outside. "Rodent problem?"

"It looks like it. I haven't had mice chewing through my feed in the summer since the first year I came here." I shook my head. "But I've never really had much leftover grain before. What animal wouldn't want easy food?"

Earnest chuckled as he put his hat on. "What you need is a good mouser."

"Probably." I just didn't know where I was going to get one. A few of the homesteads in the area had a cat, but they obviously wouldn't just give away a useful animal like that.

"My cat just had a litter of kittens two weeks ago. You're welcome to claim one of them."

I never would have thought I'd get a cat before a dog. I'd grown up with dogs and missed having that kind of companionship. Well, if the cat kept the mouse population down, I'd be satisfied.

"Thanks. Just let me know when I can pick him up."

Nodding, Earnest headed for his horse. I waved him on his way, feeling the silence and loneliness creeping back in. I reached for the package from Miss Garrison and opened it. A letter fell free as I stared at what had made it larger than a normal letter.

A photograph.

It was mounted on cardboard. The face of a serious woman stared out at me and my heart skipped a beat. Miss Elizabeth Garrison. She looked younger than I'd expected, the expression in her eyes startled. It almost looked as though she were about to frown at someone.

Breathing out, I sank down onto the boards of my porch. Now I had a face to put to the name. Of course the photograph couldn't capture the color and vibrancy of real life, but it looked like she had dark brown hair.

I don't know how long I stared at the photograph. It was a touching gesture, and I had no way to return it. There was no photographer in the territory. At least, not that I knew about. And I didn't know anyone who could draw.

What could I possibly do to reciprocate this gift?

Earnest's words echoed in my mind. Would I want Miss Garrison to come while the town thought so ill of me? No, absolutely not. She'd get right back on the stagecoach and return to her home in Indiana.

"I should do all I can to resolve this mess, so I don't have any reason to be ashamed," I muttered. And that meant making a trip through town to get to the Burns' farm. "There's no time like the present."

But first I needed to put the photograph somewhere where I could see it often and it wouldn't be harmed in any way.

~*~

I did my best to ignore the glares that followed me when I rode through town. After five times of a woman turning away with a shocked gasp when I nodded at her, I stopped acknowledging anyone. How much longer did I have before the men in the territory decided they needed to take matters into their own hands and punish me for my supposed crimes?

My courage faltered the closer I got to the Burns' farm. How would they react to seeing me? Would they expect me to be angry, or would they be willing to see reason? I tried to think of every possible outcome, but only ended up confusing myself.

As I approached the Bruns' homestead, I saw a small figure dart ahead. One of the Burns' sons? Odd that they would feel the need to have someone keeping watch. Usually, any visitor was welcome.

Their homestead looked much as it had when I'd come out the year before to help raise the roof of their house. The remnants of their sod house had been converted for use by the pigs. Grass grew up tall everywhere I looked.

By the time I reached the house, Mrs. Burns was on the porch, drying her hands on her apron. At least three children were gathered around her skirts, all them younger than the age of ten.

"Afternoon, ma'am," I said, bringing Charger to a halt. A brazen chicken raced in front of me, intent on catching a bug. "Is Mr. Burns here?"

"What are you doing here?" she asked sharply.

"I was hoping I could talk to you and Mr. Burns." I remained on my horse, watching her reaction carefully. "There has been some wild gossip being passed around town these past few weeks and I thought we could clear up the misunderstanding."

Movement behind the woman caught my eye. Annie Burns moved into the doorway, staring at me. "Misunderstanding?" Mrs. Burns' repeated, drawing my attention. "There's no misunderstanding."

Well, that wasn't encouraging. "Mr. Rollin said he was going to come out and talk to you when he was here."

"The preacher should learn to mind his own business," Mrs. Burns snapped. "He might preacha good sermon, but he has no right to poke his nose where it doesn't belong. We don't have a quarrel with him unless he sides with you."

Did they really want people to take sides? "I don't understand why you are spreading lies about me. I don't appreciate having my reputation slandered for no reason, Mrs. Burns."

"So now you ride onto our land to say I'm a liar?" the woman demanded. "You really know no bounds, do you? If my husband were here, you would not be sitting so pretty in that saddle!"

My horse shied under me, no doubt sensing my unease. "Mrs. Burns, if I have caused offense, I am sorry. It was never my intention to raise anyone's hopes, especially not Miss Burns. I've never had any thought of marrying her."

Which was probably the wrost thing to say. "Then you're not going to make things right?" the woman asked, coming to the steps of the porch. "Vile man! How dare you come and just add insult to injury! I ought to drag you off that horse myself!"

She looked as though she intended to do just that. "Mrs. Burns, please calm down. Whatever you think I have done—"

"Men like you should be horsewhipped!" she shouted. "Horsewhipped and then driven away from decent people! We didn't cross the country to have our family besmirched by the likes of you!"

Her ire took me by surprise. It made Burns' anger during our last conversation look like mere annoyance. Why? Did she really believe I had... "I have done nothing to you or yours," I told her sharply. "I've done nothing to Miss Annie. I've never even spoken to her—"

"So you are a liar as well?" Mrs. Burns scoffed. "If you're not here to do the decent thing and to own up for what you've done, get out of here. You're not wanted anywhere near our family."

"Mrs. Burns, I don't know what you think you've been told—"

"Get off our land!" she shouted.

So much for having a calm, reasonable conversation. "At least give me the chance to defend myself," I said, trying to keep my temper under control. "When am I supposed to have done anything to your daughter?"

Annie Burns had vanished from sight. Had she invented some story to tell her parents? Was she to blame for this mess? Perhaps she was the one I should speak to and get this matter sorted out. But no, that would be impossible.

"I told you to get off our land!" Mrs. Burns screeched. She looked over her shoulder. "Artie, get me the rifle!"

It took all my self control not to reach for my own rifle. The last thing I wanted to do was to defend myself against a woman and children. I'd left the East behind me because I didn't want to aim a gun at another person, but if someone threatened to kill me? I wouldn't just let them kill me.

"Alright, I'm going," I said, holding up one hand. "Have a good day, Mrs. Burns. I hope this whole thing can be resolved."

Hands on her hips, she glared at me. One of the children had disappeared inside the house. Gone for the rifle? It took all my courage to turn Charger and ride away. They wouldn't shoot me in the back, would they?

I glanced over my shoulder just to be sure. Mrs. Burns was where I had left her. Though I couldn't see it, I knew she was still glaring. At least I didn't see any sign of a rifle near her or aimed in my direction.

What was going on? Mrs. Burns' fury seemed genuine, so did she really believe I had done something to her daughter? Where would she have gotten that impression? Her daughter or her husband?

And how was I going to get to the bottom of this mess?

~*~

Dear Miss Garrison,

Thank you for the photograph. It was an unexpected but delightful surprise. I have put it over the fireplace in my home where no harm will come to it. I believe my parents had a photograph taken when I was a child, but I don't remember it clearly. No doubt I caused them a great deal of trouble because I am told I was an impatient child.

Will it offend you greatly if I don't reciprocate? I don't think there is a camera in the whole territory. If I knew someone who had some skill with a pencil, I'd send a sketch. I promise that if a photographer comes through, I will get my photograph taken.

The summer can get very hot here as well but nothing too bad, in my opinion. Perhaps it is the humidity that makes a difference? I don't think it's as bad as some people might report. Or maybe I've just become used to the weather out here. Winter is the hardest season out here, but if you're prepared, it is not unbearable.

I also found your question an interesting one. Normally, I would say that it isn't possible to think too much and that not enough people think before they act. But if someone gets frozen in place because they do nothing but think about what might happen, that's probably not a good thing. I have to admit that I've been thinking too much about certain things this past week...