one

Oklahoma Territory

May 16, 1890

Ben Thompson loved the sunrises that came up over the land he farmed, nestled near a creek midway between Guthrie and Edmond Station. He took a swig of coffee as he waited for the sun to rise over one of the nearby hills, spreading the light of day over his fields. Leaning against the porch railing, he watched the world come awake around him.

The sun rose over the knoll and began to chase the last of the darkness away. A rooster crowed, announcing daylight’s arrival, and in the distance, his neighbor’s cows lowed.

It promised to be a beautiful day, and Ben was happy it was Friday. He’d pick the ripest vegetables and fruits in his garden to take into Guthrie when he went to see his children for the weekend. He sorely missed Hope and Matt, but Faith had been right. They needed schooling, and with no wife to help teach them out here, the best place for them during the school year was with his sister and her husband in Guthrie.

Rose, the owner of the farm he managed, had insisted that he add a couple of rooms to the small house her late husband had built. With his brother-in-law and Matt’s help, each of his children now had a room of their own when they stayed with him.

To Ben, this place was the prettiest spot in Oklahoma Territory, and he’d about decided that if Rose was willing to sell to him, he was ready to buy her out. If not, he’d keep farming because he loved doing it better than anything else he’d tried. Still, he missed his children. And he missed his Molly—even though the memories of what she looked like were beginning to fade. If not for the small picture he carried with him, he was afraid he’d forget her sweet face altogether.

Thankfully, he still saw her in Hope’s smile and Matt’s eyes. And he could see her in some of their actions. The way Hope set herself to finish any task given to her as well as she could and the way she put her hands on her hips when she was put out at her brother. He saw Molly in Matt when he showed patience with his sister and in the easy way he caught on to nearly any new project that came along.

But seeing Molly in their children wasn’t the same as having her with him, and Ben was about as lonely as a body could be. He took a last swig from his cup and set it down on the porch to take care of later. For now, he needed to pick his garden and add to what he’d picked the day before. He had enough vegetables to sell to several of the grocers and restaurants in town and still have some left over to take to his sister. She had a nice little garden, but trying to provide meals for her boarders on a daily basis required more vegetables than her small lot could produce.

The sun was high when Ben finished filling his baskets and loading them in the wagon. He went inside and cleaned up a bit before making sure everything was locked up until his return.

After hitching his horse, Rusty, up to the wagon, he pulled out of his place and headed toward town, stopping first to make sure his closest neighbor knew he’d be gone.

Homer Barnett ambled out of his barn to meet Ben. His wife had taken the children and gone back East to visit her parents for a while, and he was about as lonesome as Ben was.

“Mornin’, Homer. Will you mind watching the place while I’m in town for the weekend?”

Homer pushed his hat back on his head and looked up at him. “I’ll be glad to. It’ll give me somethin’ to do with the family gone.”

“I sure do appreciate it, Homer. Is there anything I can bring back from town for you?”

“Maybe a newspaper or two. I kind of like knowin’ what’s going on in Guthrie. Lots of news coming out of there, what with it becoming the territorial capital and the governor arriving next week.”

“That’s true. There’s supposed to be all kinds of celebrations in town, from what my sister has told me. I don’t know if I’ll go in next week. Sure you don’t want to go in with me today? I’m sure our places will be fine for a day or two.”

Homer shook his head. “Nah. I don’t much like all those crowds in town. But I sure do like readin’ about it all.”

“Okay, then I’ll be sure to pick up those papers for you. I’ll be back Sunday evening or Monday morning like usual.” Ben often waited until Monday to come back. It gave him one less night by himself.

“No need to hurry if you decide to stay for those celebrations. I’ll be here.”

Ben reached down and shook Homer’s hand. “Thank you, Homer.”

Homer nodded, and Ben flicked the reins to his wagon. It was a relief to know he had someone to look after the place. Like Homer, he wasn’t thrilled about the crowds in Guthrie, but it was where his family lived, and he couldn’t wait to see them. Faith would have one of his favorite meals for supper that night—and all weekend, most likely—even though she had a new husband to take into account now. But Gabe liked anything Faith cooked, and Ben was sure he wouldn’t be complaining if she fixed her brother a few of his favorite meals.

He looked forward to hearing all the news, too, but while he liked visiting Guthrie, he loved living on the farm. Lately though, he’d been wishing he had someone to share his life with, someone to talk to of an evening, to wake up with of a morning and share that sunrise over a cup of coffee. But his life was what it was, and he’d best be counting his many blessings instead of yearning for more.

That was easier said than done some days. Today was better—he’d be with family. But after seeing how happy Faith and Gabe were, well, he had to admit he was a little envious, and he had to ask for the Lord’s forgiveness for that often. Truth was, seeing them together made him long even more for a wife to share his life with.

It didn’t look like that was very likely to happen—not with him living out on the farm and only going to town on weekends. Even if he didn’t spend most of that time with his family, Ben wouldn’t have an overabundance of single women to pick from in Guthrie—and those who were available either weren’t the kind he’d be marrying, or they were snapped up before he had a chance to find them. He’d best be content with the life he had. If he was ever to marry again, the good Lord would have to bring the right woman to him.

Ben’s gaze roamed the countryside as he traveled. He looked to the northeast and for a moment he thought he caught a whiff of smoke. It was probably someone making breakfast at their campsite. But as he continued on and the smell got stronger, he could see the smoke was from more than just a campfire. He set Rusty into a run.

❧

Samantha Carter took another sip of coffee. It wasn’t too bad this morning. Maybe she was getting the hang of camping—she should. Her brother had taught her how to cook over a campfire and how to pitch a tent at an early age. He’d taught her to fish and how to shoot a gun. But she’d never quite gotten the hang of hunting—if she had, she’d be eating real well out here. Still, it wasn’t the kind of life she envisioned when she left Kansas more than a week ago.

She didn’t know what good it would do, but she’d go into Guthrie one more time to try to find work and a place to live. With it being such a new town, she hadn’t thought she’d have any problem finding employment when she chose it as her destination. But evidently she was wrong. The only kind of work that seemed available was the kind she wasn’t going to take.

And as for a place to live—it seemed every hotel room in the town was taken up with either people waiting to get a house built or those who came in to celebrate Guthrie becoming the territorial capital. All kinds of celebrations were planned for May 23, when the new governor would be arriving. Maybe a room would be available once that was all done with, but since that was still a week away, she was thinking maybe she ought to go on to Edmond Station and see what was there. If that didn’t work, maybe Oklahoma City would have more opportunities. She’d heard that it was growing faster than Guthrie now.

Samantha only wanted to be settled and quit having to wear boys’ clothing—that was the only size she could get to pass as a man. Thankfully, she hadn’t been bothered by anyone. But a woman out here alone on the prairie. . .well, she’d seen what a man could try with a woman alone anywhere, and she wanted all the protection she could get. Samantha poured what little was left of her coffee on the campfire and shoved some dirt over it with her boot before heading down to the small creek behind her tent to wash her face and put her hair back up under the hat that helped hide the fact that she was a woman.

It’d been a still morning, cool and dry just the way she liked. After scrubbing her face, she twisted her hair and pinned it up before putting her hat back on. Leaning back on her elbows, she gazed at the big puffs of white clouds while she tried to talk herself into going back to Guthrie, even though she really didn’t think she had any chance of finding a job there. The clouds seemed to be moving faster than usual. Then she caught a whiff of the smell of something burning. Sam turned and looked in horror as a sudden breeze sent sparks to her tent from the fire she’d thought she’d put out. Small flames began licking one side of the tent.

She took off running, her heart pounding harder with each step she took. About everything she owned was in that tent. Dear Lord, please don’t let me lose it all! By the time she reached the only shelter she had, the flames had grown larger and threatened to engulf one side. She ran through the flap and was overwhelmed by smoke. Coughing, she managed to get the saddlebag that carried what little money she had and get it out. She was just about to go back in, when she was yanked to a stop.

“Whoa, there! You can’t be goin’ back inside, son,” a deep voice said from behind her.

Samantha twisted and kicked against his firm hold. “But I have to—everything I have—”

“Nothing in there can be that important. That tent is about to be devoured any minute now.” Samantha struggled for only a few more moments before she saw the flames reach the top of the tent and exactly as the man had predicted, quickly devour the rest of the structure. The strong arms eased their hold of her, and the man who’d held her back began to stomp the fire out around the perimeter of the tent. Sam did the same, but it seemed to do no good. She picked up the coffeepot she’d emptied earlier and ran to the creek to fill it. She poured it over the embers and then rushed back to the creek for more. At least the source of the fire was out. She went to fill the pot one more time, and when she got back, the man used it to snuff out the few hot spots left. Together they made sure no live embers remained.

“Good thing we had a rain a few days ago.” The man turned to her and let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry, son. But I couldn’t let you go back in there. What’s your name?”

She hesitated for a moment and remembered to lower her voice. “Name’s Sam Carter.”

“Nice to meet you, Sam. I’m Ben Thompson.” He motioned to the south. “I farm down the road. Where are you headed anyway?”

“I’ve been looking for work in Guthrie, but there’s not much there.”

“Well, I might could use some help on my farm for a bit, at least until you can figure out what to do next. It’s only me though, and I’m not a great cook, but it’d be better than nothing at all.”

Samantha let out a deep breath. Even if she did know something about farming, she couldn’t take him up on his offer—he was under the impression she was a young man, and there really wasn’t any way she could keep her secret from him if she stayed on his place.

“Thanks, but I don’t know anything about farming.” Didn’t really want to know anything about it either.

“I can teach you what you need to know.”

“I appreciate it, but—”

“But what?” The man stood with his hands on his hips as if he was wondering why someone who needed a job would turn an offer down.

“I’m not very strong, mister. You could probably tell that. Don’t think I’d be much help to you.”

“Well, maybe you could pick my garden for me.”

“I might could do that.” But what would happen when he found out she wasn’t a boy or a young man? Samantha let out a deep breath and took off her smoke-filled hat. She pulled out the pin holding up her hair, and the mass of blond hair tumbled down around her shoulders. “I’m not what you think.”

His eyes widened as he nodded. “I can see you’re not. Well, I guess you’re right. With no woman around, I couldn’t ask you to stay at my place. And my neighbor’s wife is out of town, so his place wouldn’t work either.”

“Thanks anyway,” Samantha said. “At least I still have my horse and a little money to eat on.”

“Listen, I’m headed into Guthrie now. My sister has a boardinghouse—let me take you to her place. Even if she doesn’t have an opening, she may know someone who does.”

For the first time in days, Samantha felt a glimmer of hope. Besides, she really didn’t have a choice unless she wanted to sleep in the elements. She nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”

The man held out his hand. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, uh. . .Sam.”

Samantha hesitated for a moment. She didn’t trust men anymore, but this one had saved her life. She slipped her hand in his. “I’m Samantha Carter. I. . .thank you for—”

He waved her thanks away. “I’m thankful you weren’t hurt. I am sorry for your loss, though. Maybe my sister will have something you can wear. Let me tie your horse to my wagon, and we’ll be on our way.”

Samantha was glad he was there to get her horse under control. It had been spooked by the fire and was a little hard to calm down. But it didn’t take long for Mr. Thompson to get him settled. While he was doing that, Samantha grabbed her saddlebag and the towel she’d taken to the river. The hat she left behind, as it smelled of smoke. She was sure her hair did too, but she couldn’t do anything about that at present. Maybe she could take a real bath at Mr. Thompson’s sister’s place. She sure hoped so.

❧

Hard as he tried, Ben couldn’t keep from stealing glances at the young woman sitting beside him. He’d thought the young man she’d posed as was a little on the small side and even wondered if he could do the work needed at the farm. Now he knew why. She was a small woman, and he felt sure that the clothes she wore were boys’. She’d probably dressed that way for her own protection, and it was a good idea—he’d give that to her. But there’d be no need to dress like a man at Faith’s. He hoped his sister had something she could wear.

“I suppose you’re wondering what I was doing camping out or even if I was trying to jump a claim.”

Ben suppressed a chuckle. No bigger than she was, he didn’t think she’d be able to hold a claim, should she try to jump it, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t take well to him saying it. “No, ma’am. Most places have been claimed by now, and all the neighbors around know whose claim is whose. I take people at their word, and if you came to find work here, that’s what I believe. I’m sorry you haven’t had much luck at it. My sister, Faith, might know of something, though. She and her husband know a lot of people in town now.”

“That would be wonderful. If not, I suppose I’ll try Edmond Station or even Oklahoma City.”

“Hopefully, there won’t be any need for that.” Ben didn’t like the idea of her taking off on her own. It wasn’t safe for a woman to be out here alone—something she was obviously aware of. And she didn’t even have anything to camp out in. He flicked the reins and set Rusty to a canter. He’d drop Miss Carter off at the boardinghouse and put her in Faith’s care until he could get back from delivering his produce. Somehow, they had to find a way to help her.

When they entered Guthrie, he was surprised by the increased traffic from a week ago. Evidently all this territorial stuff was more important than he’d first thought. “It is more crowded than usual. I can see why it was hard to find a place to stay.”

“I didn’t realize all this would be going on right now. I just wanted. . .”

Ben wondered if she’d stopped midsentence because she didn’t want to tell him what it was she wanted. He hadn’t run across many women who came to the territory alone. And that made it even more dangerous in some ways for Miss Carter to be out here alone. Faith would take her in. That he had no doubt of. And it was a good thing, too, because no way would he leave this young woman in town otherwise.

“I’d heard that Guthrie turned into a city overnight, but I don’t think I believed it until I arrived. How long have you been in the territory?” Miss Carter asked.

“I came in that first day.” Ben chuckled. “It became a city of tents by nightfall, and it was one big mess. People were staking claims all over the place, even in the middle of some streets.”

“It must have been exciting.” Miss Carter’s blue eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “If I’d have come then, I might have a place to stay now.”

“You might. Then again—those first few days were trying. Oh, it was exciting, but a day or two after we got here, the wind kicked up the dust, and then the rain came, and we had to deal with mud everywhere. Not easy when you’re living in a wagon or tent. But that’s probably why so many buildings went up as fast as they did. No one wanted to be caught like that again.”

“And it’s gone from tents to this in barely a year?” Miss Carter waved her right hand to call notice to the buildings they were passing.

“It did. And in another year’s time, it will be even harder to recognize from those first days.” Ben had a hard time remembering what it looked like last year. If not for the photographs taken by the reporters who’d come from all over the country, no one would believe how quickly Guthrie had become a real city. “Every time I come into town, I see new buildings. No tents now and most of the frame buildings will be gone by this time next year.”

He pointed out a couple of buildings going up on Second Street. “That’s the DeFord Building, and the one down the way is the Bonfils Building. Joseph Foucart is building them. I hear he’s a famous architect from Belgium.”

“They are going to be quite beautiful when they are finished. They’re quite ornate, with all the brick and stone, and his designs are very unique and quite elegant.” Miss Carter said, craning her head as Ben passed them by.

“Yes, they are. My brother-in-law is quite a good builder, too. He builds mostly homes, but he’s also built a few businesses in town. He built my sister’s boardinghouse before they got married,” Ben said as he continued down Second Street to Noble. He pulled his wagon into the yard between two lots.

“Oh, is this your sister’s boardinghouse?” Miss Carter asked. “I don’t think she’s going to have a place for me. I already tried here. But the lady who answered the door said they were full up.” She looked at Ben. “She was older—”

“Oh, that must have been Rose or maybe one of the boarders. She probably is full up, but I know my sister will make room for you.” He jumped down, came around the wagon, and held out his hand. “Come on. Come meet Faith.”