Chapter 4
Life in the West was harder than Ella expected.
Comforts she had taken for granted in Boston had no place in Harmony Springs.
Indoor plumbing did not exist in this small town.
The first time she made her way to the small outhouse in the freezing cold, Ella gagged at the stench inside.
The dusty roads made washing more often a necessity.
And while she was thankful to gain independence, doing her own chores instead of relying on servants was an adjustment.
Her bruises faded, the marks of her past vanishing in welcome relief.
She spent her days with Cassie at the café.
Her new friend graciously taught Ella how to cook—at least in a passable manner.
Nothing Ella created tasted as good as Cassie’s dishes, but she took solace in the fact that she was able to make anything at all.
No one allowed her to set foot in the kitchen back in Boston.
One evening, a week after her arrival, she prepared her first solo dinner for the Doyles.
Since she made roasted chicken several times under Cassie’s watchful eye, Ella thought that might be a good choice.
While the chicken cooked, she boiled potatoes to mash and opened a jar of canned peas to serve alongside.
The chicken turned out drier than it should, and the mashed potatoes were lumpy. Even so, Travis and Cassie complimented her on her attempt.
“It’s not easy learning to cook.” Cassie slathered more gravy over her potatoes. “You’re coming along great, Ella.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you like to learn to make caramel cake tomorrow?”
That request seemed oddly specific. Ella took a bite of chicken before answering. “That would be nice. But why that particular cake? I’ve heard caramel is difficult.”
Cassie speared some peas. “Cody always comes for dinner on Sundays. Caramel cake is his favorite. I thought it might be nice for him to have something he likes, since things have been rough lately.”
The thought of Cassie’s brother made Ella want to squirm in her chair. He’d been so stoic last week, and when he raised his voice in anger, it terrified her. Despite both Cassie and Travis assuring her that Cody was a good man, she found him intimidating.
“Ella?”
She brought her attention back to Cassie. “Yes?”
“Are you all right?”
The concern in Cassie’s eyes helped Ella relax. “I’m fine. It’s just…the thought of seeing your brother again is a little frightening.”
Cassie gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know you didn’t get off on the best foot. But I promise, he’s a good man. He would never hurt anyone.”
Visions of Howard marched through her mind. She shoved them away. “It’s nice to know there are some decent men out there.”
“No doubt.” Cassie propped an elbow on the table, resting her chin in her hand. “So what do you say? Would you like to help me with the cake before church? Be honest. I don’t mind if the answer is no.”
Ella’s shoulders relaxed. She hadn’t even noticed the tension there until it was gone. “I would be happy to help.”
“Wonderful. It should help having another adult around when the children are here.” Cassie shook her head, her eyes shifting between amused and troubled. “They can be a handful.”
Curiosity festered in Ella’s mind. “What children?”
“Cody’s, of course.”
She blinked. “Your brother has children? I didn’t realize he was married.”
“He’s not. A few weeks ago, he became the guardian of three little ones after their parents died in a tragic accident. The poor man is in over his head, but he’s determined to care for them the best he can.”
Ella let that information sink in. She hadn’t expected that of him. “It must be hard raising children alone. Has he considered an orphanage?”
Cassie’s eyes shadowed. “No.” She pushed some potatoes around her plate, not meeting Ella’s eyes. “Cody and I grew up in an orphanage. He vowed not to let Jake and Harriet’s children face that fate.”
Something squeezed in Ella’s chest. She’d visited a few orphanages in Boston over the years. The children always seemed sad, even in the institutions that boasted enough money to properly care for them. Reaching out, she put a hand over Cassie’s. “I’m sorry. That must have been hard for you both.”
“It was. The people who ran the institution were not kind. They were poor substitutes for our parents. Cody made it his mission to protect me. He gave me portions of his food, defended me from bullies, and even did many of my chores. My brother has always been a protector. It’s his nature.”
A protector. Ella’s heart softened a little toward the man. He’d even protected her, a complete stranger. He tried to save her in the alley—though he could have gone about it in a different manner.
“It sounds as though your brother is a rare man.”
Cassie smiled softly. “He is.”
They resumed their meal, and only then did Ella realize Travis hadn’t said a single word during her conversation with Cassie. Ella peeked at him. He poked at his food, looking distracted. A sudden sense of foreboding washed over her. “Travis?”
“Hmm?” He glanced her way. “Yeah?”
“Is something wrong?”
He coughed, stabbing a bite of chicken. “What do you mean?”
Ella set down her fork. “You’re avoiding my question. What aren’t you telling us?”
Lips pressed in a tight line, Travis shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ella. I didn’t want to worry you.”
Worry was the least of her concerns. She gripped the napkin in her lap, twisting it with her hands, begging him with her eyes to continue.
“I got a telegram from Boston. Your father demanded to know if I’d seen you. It seems he found our letters and thinks you might have come here.”
Her heart dropped to her stomach. “What did you tell him?”
“I haven’t responded.”
So much for her secrecy in leaving. “He knows. He knows I’m here.” It only took a week for her father to figure out the puzzle.
Cassie’s hand covered hers. “You don’t know that. He might be grasping straws.”
“You don’t know my father. He’s likely to come to Montana himself to find me. Even if Travis tells him I’m not here, Father won’t believe it.” Ella pushed back from the table. Her stomach protested the lack of food, but the steel vice gripping it made eating impossible. “Excuse me.”
Once in her room, Ella paced back and forth in front of the fire. Her escape had been for naught. Father would come, and he would take her back to Boston.
Which meant she would be forced to marry Howard.
Despair crept over her, stealing her breath. She clutched her head in both hands. How long before she lost her freedom forever?
On Sunday morning, Cody managed to get all three children dressed and ready for church in a timely fashion. Isaiah didn’t fight him but appeared sullen and withdrawn. Cody kept an eye on the boy as they departed the house. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something must be wrong.
They made it to church just as the traveling preacher took the pulpit. Cody settled into a back pew, Addie in his lap and a boy on either side. As soon as he relaxed, the baby began to fuss.
He stifled a groan. Lifting her to his shoulder, Cody bounced her up and down, hoping the motion would calm her. It only seemed to make things worse.
With a glare at Addie, Isaiah clamped his hands over his ears. “Make her stop.”
People stared. Cody’s neck flushed hot under his collar. He jiggled Addie more urgently, but she only cried louder. For a moment, he felt paralyzed.
A gentle hand landed on his shoulder. Cassie slipped into the pew with them. “Take her outside,” she whispered, nodding to the baby. “I’ll watch the boys.”
Cody mouthed a thank you, then hurried out of the church. He paced back and forth across the yard as Addie’s cries increased in volume. She’d eaten and been changed before they left. Why was she crying?
Minutes passed like hours. Nothing he did helped. Addie wailed as if in pain. Cody hated feeling helpless, but he had no clue what to do.
Behind him, the doors to the church opened. To his surprise, Ella Mountbatten descended the steps, wrapped in one of Cassie’s winter shawls. She took halting steps toward him. Wariness shone in her eyes, but determination did as well. She came to a stop beside him.
An awkward silence ensued, broken only by Addie’s cries. Ella drew in a breath and held out her arms. “May I hold her?”
Surprise rendered him mute. He nodded and held out the baby.
Ella accepted the precious bundle and cradled her gently. “Hello, little one. What’s the matter?”
Addie paused, apparently surprised to find herself in a stranger’s arms. Seconds later, she resumed her wailing.
Ella looked up at Cody. “Has she been fussy a lot?”
Still unable to find his tongue, he nodded again. Ella studied Addie’s face, then stuck her finger inside the child’s mouth. Cody blinked at the unexpected action. Addie stopped crying and began to chew frantically. Her little hand closed over Ella’s finger as if she wanted to keep it there.
“She’s cutting a tooth.”
Cody’s brow furrowed. “A tooth?”
“It can be quite painful for babies.” Ella shifted Addie in her arms. “Would you mind fetching a bit of clean snow?”
He shot glances at her as he did her bidding. The church yard was packed with wagons, but he found a nice patch of snow under a tree. He created a loose ball in his hands before returning to Ella’s side. “Here.”
“Thank you.” She withdrew her finger from the baby’s mouth, covering it with snow before putting it back against Addie’s gums.
Blessed silence filled the yard. Cody let out a breath. “You’re a miracle worker, ma’am.”
Her lips curled into a small smile. “You just have to know what to look for.” She gazed down at the baby. “What’s her name?”
“Addie.”
“That’s lovely. Is it short for anything?”
“Adelaide. It was her mother’s middle name.”
Ella ran a finger over Addie’s cheek. “What a wonderful legacy your mother left you, sweet girl.”