A Man for Temperance (Wagon Wheel) (23 page)

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. I do know they got a juggler, an acrobat, and they do some Shakespeare.”

“Oh, I’ve never been to a theatrical,” Rena said. “Can we sit up front, Thad?”

“You can sit up on the stage if you want to, honey. Anybody fools with you, I’ll shoot their leg off.”

Thad was in a mood Temperance had never seen before. His eyes were bright, and he seemed so different that she kept stealing glances at him.

Finally they reached the building rented by the acting troupe. A poster was pasted on the side of the wall, and they stopped in front of it. Quaid read it aloud: “Minstrelsy, burlesque, extravaganzas, Ethiopian eccentricities. Nothing to offend the most sensitive taste. Admission fifty cents. Private boxes three dollars.”

“What’s an Ethiopian eccentricity?” Temperance asked.

“I don’t know, but I’d sure like to. Come on now, I’ll buy the tickets.”

They lined up, led by Thad with Temperance beside him, holding Timmy in her arms. Behind them Rose was holding Billy, while Rena with Bent beside her was holding Bess. They were grouped together with Belle and Quaid standing to one side, waiting.

The man stared at them and said, “Nice family you got, mister.”

Temperance flushed, feeling the blood warm her cheeks, but Thad said loudly, “Thank you.”

“These are all your kids, are they?”

“Of course they are,” Thad said indignantly. “We got another six at home. We have to take them out half a dozen at a time.”

The man, who was short and stubby and had a cigar stuck in the side of his mouth, looked at Temperance. “You don’t look old enough to have a dozen children.”

“She’s fifty-six years old. Is that old enough?”

Suddenly Temperance giggled. When he had the tickets and moved away, Rena reached up and pulled at his arm. “Why’d you tell that man that lie?”

“He was rude. I can’t abide rudeness. Just keep that in mind, miss.”

The show was very poor, indeed, but it was the only show Rena, Bent, and Rose had ever seen. They were late getting back to the wagon, and as the children were getting ready for bed, Thad pulled Quaid to one side. “You don’t have to make the trip to St. Joe and Fort Smith, Quaid. I got this thing covered.”

Quaid grinned slightly. “You’re always worried about me, aren’t you, my comfort and all?”

“I know you got things to do.”

“Why, I’m enjoying watching you, Thaddeus. A man never knows what you’ll do next. I reckon I’ll go the rest of the way just for the spectacle of it all. Why”—he grinned broadly—“you’ll be more interesting than an Ethiopian eccentricity!”

THE SMELL OF WOOD smoke and coffee laced the air as Temperance made the morning breakfast. A breeze stirred the musky and pungent odors of the pine trees that lined the banks of the Missouri River, and the smell of the river itself was strong. The sun was barely up, and as she put bacon in the frying pan, a fish broke the river’s surface, the sound resonating through the still air. From somewhere to her left, a deer made a racket in the brush on its way to the water. As the bacon sizzled in the pan, a series of thoughts spread through her mind, and for one moment she stood still and motionless in a tableau beside the fire. They had been on the road from Independence headed for St. Joe for two days. During all that time Temperance had been more silent than usual, and the others had noticed. Quaid, who had been putting the oxbow on the oxen, came and stood beside her. “Breakfast smells good,” he said.

Temperance did not answer. She removed the bacon and began to break eggs into the skillet. “I’m going to scramble the eggs. It’s too much trouble to do them any other way.”

“Scrambled is fine.”

Moving to one side where he could see Temperance’s face, Quaid studied her carefully. “You’re not happy, Temperance,” he said. “You hardly said a word since we left Independence. What’s the matter?”

Temperance cast a look at Timmy lying on his stomach on a blanket. He was kicking and squirming, and she smiled but only briefly. “I’ve always wanted children, Quaid,” she said finally, and her voice was muted. “I’ve gotten so attached to Timmy, and now I’m going to have to give him up.”

Quaid had suspected this was the problem, and he said gently, “You’ll have children of your own.”

“No, I never will.” She pushed the eggs around with a fork and added with a trace of bitterness, “No man has ever wanted me.”

Quaid knelt beside her and put his arm around her. “You’re wrong about that.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You’re woman enough for any man.” He suddenly pulled her around and kissed her. It came as a shock to her, and when he lifted his lips, she whispered, “Don’t treat me like this, Quaid.”

“Like what?” he said. “It was just a kiss.”

“You’ve got a way with women. That’s plain enough.”

Quaid was troubled by her words and stood before her, his handsome face still but his eyes half-hooded as he thought over her words. “I’ve done my share of chasing,” he said finally. “But it means nothing.” He struggled to find the words and finally said, “You know, when a fellow passes a certain age, Temperance, he wants to make some kind of a mark that will live after he’s gone.”

“We all want that, I guess.”

“On the trail outside of Fort Kearny,” he said, “one day I was out and I found the traces of a grave. I think it was a child. It was very small. Someone had put a sign up made out of wood and it was weathered. All I could read was the name Alice. But
the grave was hard to see. I almost stepped on it. Know what I did?” Quaid said. “I began clearing the grave away. I got some rocks and I outlined the grave, put the marker back on it. It was fading away and no one would know who Alice was. I wanted to do something to make her live a little bit longer.”

“That was thoughtful of you. Not many men would think of a thing like that.”

Quaid was thinking deeply, and finally he said, “The only thing a man can leave that will outlast him is some kind of a monument. Some men do it by their deeds. Nobody will ever forget George Washington. But most of us don’t have that kind of life. The only other thing that we can leave that will be part of us walking around after we’re gone is children.”

This was another side of Quaid that Temperance had not seen. She lifted the eggs off the fire, put them into a large bowl next to the bacon on a plate, then still holding the skillet, she turned to him. “I didn’t know you thought about things like that.”

“I didn’t when I was younger, but as we get older, we have some long thoughts. Most of us wish we could go back and live our lives over again. You can’t do that though,” he said and gave her a rueful grin. “We just have to start where we are now.”

From across the camp Thad had been watching the two as they spoke. He could not hear their words, but he was studying their faces. Belle, who had been speaking to him of what lay on the trail ahead, fell silent for a moment and was watching him. He turned to face her and said, “He’s quite a spellbinder. I wish he’d leave her alone.”

“Why? What’s wrong? They’re not doing anything wrong.”

Thad had no answer for that. He shook his shoulders in a restless motion and kept his eyes on the pair.

“Don’t begrudge her this moment. She’s never had a man.”

“You don’t know Quaid like I do. He can charm the birds out of the trees. I’ve seen women’s eyes follow him when we went into restaurants. Whatever it is that women like, he’s got it, but he never stays with a woman. He’ll romance her and then get tired of her and go off and leave her.”

Belle’s face grew still and her mouth showed her displeasure. “Well, at least she’ll have the memory of a man showing her some attention. That’s more than she’s got now.”

“It’s not enough.”

“It’s all some women get. Now leave them alone, Thad!”

* * *

A STEADY DOWNPOUR TURNED the road into a quagmire of mud that slowed their progress, but they arrived at Saint Joseph, Missouri, on the last day of July. They came into the town at three o’clock in the afternoon, and Thad, who was riding Judas, came up to say to Temperance, “I’ll see if I can find out where the Blanchards live.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned and moved the big stallion to where a man was sitting in front of a hardware store. He was tilted back in a chair, his eyes fixed on the newcomers. He was a small man with bright eyes and a bushy, black mustache. His clothes were rough, and he didn’t move as Thad pulled Judas up in front of him. “We’re looking for Tom Blanchard. You know him?”

“Of course I know him. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know.” Thad grinned briefly. “Where can I find him?”

“He owns the hardware store, but he’s closed for the day.”

“Can you tell me how to find his house?”

“Why wouldn’t I be able to tell you how to find his house? You think I don’t know anything?”

“Sorry. Give me some directions if you will, partner.”

“You go down this street clear through town and turn left at the livery stable. Go a quarter of a mile and you’ll see a big house with white pillars in front. There’s a bag swing out in the front and the nicest pinto horse you ever saw out in the pasture. What are you looking for him for?”

“Just some private business.”

“If you can’t find it, come back and I’ll take you myself.”

Thad smiled and rode back until he was beside the wagon. “It’s not too far. Shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

Temperance was holding Timmy, possessively. She said nothing, but he saw that her eyes were disturbed. “Look,” he said, “they’re probably fine people. He’ll be all right.”

“Let’s go find the house, Thaddeus.”

The house was not difficult to find. It was a fine structure, a two-story white frame with three gables and a well-kept yard. Temperance got down out of the wagon, and, without asking Thad, walked up on the steps. He said nothing, but when she did not move, he knocked on the door.

After a brief moment the door opened and a tall, well-dressed woman in her forties stood there. Her eyes flew open as she saw Timmy in Temperance’s arms, and she cried out, “Tom! Tom! Come here! Timmy’s here!”

A tall lean man wearing a suit appeared, and his eyes lit up at once. “You must be Miss Peabody,” he said. “I’m Tom Blanchard. This is my wife, Kate.”

But Kate Blanchard paid no attention. She came forward and looked down at the child, and tears came into her eyes. “He looks like Martha, Tom.”

Tom Blanchard came forward and put his arm around his wife. He touched Timmy’s chin. Timmy gurgled, reached out, and took Tom’s finger.

“He’s—he’s the one we’ve been praying for for so long, Kate.” His voice was unsteady, and he said, “Come in right now. We want to hear everything. Your letter was quite brief, Miss Peabody.”

“Well, there’s some more of us, Mr. Blanchard.”

Blanchard looked at the wagon and said, “Get them all in here. Wife, we’ve got to have a big supper tonight to celebrate our new boy.”

“Can I hold him?” Kate Blanchard asked, and when Temperance handed him over, she handled Timmy as if he were very fragile. He looked up at her and grinned toothlessly. “Just like having Martha back,” she whispered.

“Bring him on in. Is this your husband, ma’am?”

Thad at once said, “No, I’ve been the guide from Walla Walla.”

“Well, bring everybody on in. We’re going to have a feast tonight.”

“Yes,” Kate said, not taking her eyes off Timothy. “We want to hear all about Martha and Clyde and about your trip here.” She looked up at Quaid and the children standing beside the wagon. “Is that your husband and your children out there?”

“No, that’s a friend of mine,” Thad said quickly. “We’re taking the children to their people.”

“Isn’t that fine! God will bless you for it,” Blanchard said heartily. “Now, let me hold that boy while Kate cooks supper.”

* * *

THE SUPPER HAD BEEN delicious. Kate Blanchard had apologized that there was not more, but the meal consisted of steak pounded and floured, fried, and drenched in gravy, an enormous bowl of red beans laced with onions, and vegetables including baked potatoes bursting out of their jackets and peppers of several different varieties. There had been sliced cucumbers, fresh bread whose aroma filled the whole house, all sorts of corn relish, jams, and hot apple pie with flaky crust.

Timmy had not been allowed to touch the floor, for either Kate or her husband, Tom, had held him constantly.

“I can’t wait for this boy to get old enough to go fishing, and I intend to teach him how to play ball too.”

Kate’s eyes were moist as she saw the two. Then she turned and said, “We want to know all about Martha and Clyde. We tried so hard to get them to stay here. Tom offered to build them a house and set him up in business, but Clyde had wandering on his mind. Tell us all about them.”

Temperance gave them the history, and both the Blanchards understood at once that she had done her best for them. They thanked her profusely.

“I brought all their personal things, pictures of the family, and letters. I think some of them were from you.”

“Well, that was so thoughtful of you, Miss Peabody.”

It took some time after the supper, but finally Kate Blanchard got everyone settled down. The big house had five bedrooms, and there was plenty of room.

Tom Blanchard came to Temperance before she retired and was beaming. “I want to help you with the expenses of the trip, Miss Peabody.”

“You don’t have to do that, Mr. Blanchard.”

“I insist. God has blessed Kate and me financially.” He cleared his throat and said, “I haven’t cried since I was twelve years old, as I can remember, but I can’t seem to stop blubbering.” He had a sheaf of bills in his hand and he took her hand and closed it on them. “You’ve done a wonderful thing, miss, and I want to show our gratitude. You just use this to do whatever needs doing. Now, you go on to bed and get a good night’s sleep. I guess you’ll be leaving soon.”

“Yes, we’ve got to take two of the children to Fort Smith.”

“Well, the Lord will take care of you,” he said simply. She went to the bedroom she was sharing with Rena, and as soon as she could, she undressed and got into the bed. She lay there for awhile and then prayed:
Lord, I don’t want to be selfish. Timmy
will have a wonderful home here, and I thank You for bringing us
here safely. Help us now with the other children.

* * *

THE BREAKFAST WAS BOUNTIFUL—PANCAKES, eggs fried and scrambled, pork chops, grits, fresh biscuits, and four different kinds of jams and jellies along with pots of coffee and fresh milk.

After the breakfast, Quaid and Thad had the oxen yoked, and the moment came that Temperance had been dreading. Kate Blanchard was holding Timmy, and she held him out. “I guess you want to say good-bye, Temperance.”

Temperance took the baby and held him for a moment. She looked down in his face, and touched his fat cheek, which made him grin as it always did. She kissed him, smoothed his hair, and then handed him back. She could not keep the tears back,
and Kate Blanchard said quickly, “When you get settled, you write to us. You’ve got my address. We’ll have pictures made of Timmy and we’ll send them to you as he grows up.” Kate reached forward, put her arm around Temperance, and pulled her close. She was a big woman, and Temperance felt small and vulnerable. “We’ll never let him forget Miss Temperance Peabody,” she whispered. Temperance pulled away when the woman released her and walked outside.

“You OK, Temperance?” Thad asked.

“Yes,” she said and got into the wagon. Thad spoke to Babe, and the wagon lurched as the animals leaned into their oxbows. They left the Blanchard house, and despite herself, Temperance looked back and saw the Blanchards with Kate holding Timmy. They were both waving, and she did not have enough spirit to wave back but turned and kept her eyes down until the house was out of sight.