“And the final announcement for today is to let you all know that in a few days’ time, we are expecting new settlers from the East,” Reverend William’s voice boomed down at his congregation. Theirs was a most modern church designed by one of the congregants who was originally from England. He had immigrated to the United States of America in the late eighteen fifties with his wife and three children, two sons and a daughter. At the time of their arrival, Fergus Thomas, his wife Maud and sons Wilbur, Nathan and Elizabeth had found that the church was nothing more than a small sod building that was on its last legs. It had been erected by a few of the miners but when their pastor had moved to California no one had the inclination to keep the church going and only a handful of people met for Sunday services.
Fergus was a building engineer but had become quite discontented with life in England and when he was offered the chance to travel to the United States he had grabbed it with both hands. The family landed in New York but to Fergus and Maud it seemed as though they had left one hell hole for another. The city was too crowded and crime was on the rise. Their great desire was to raise their children in the new world, free from corruption and social evils that they had left behind and so once again the Thomas family had packed up their worldly belongings and headed West.
Because he had run a successful enterprise in England, Fergus came with money and he was a good investor and hence when he arrived in Last Chance he had decided to stay. At the time it was still quite unknown, but he had been on the trek with William Willoughby who had told him that he was answering the call of God to go West and make disciples of those he found there.
The Reverend seemed quite fearless and Fergus had decided to throw in his lot with him and when their wagon landed in Last Chance which was originally called Prickly Pear Valley, a number of them decided they could go no further.
“If we keep going we might end up falling into the sea and having not staked any claim to any land,” William Willoughby told Fergus and the latter agreed. So a number of families settled in Prickly Pear Valley and just a few years later four men who were fondly referred to as the Four Georgians struck gold and since they had just about given up any hopes of finding gold they renamed the town Last Chance Gulch.
Fergus built the first modern house with indoor facilities, copying the style of his house back in England and soon a number of the townsfolk contracted him to design their houses for them. Apart from enriching the Thomas family more, it gave him the chance to be one of the town’s representatives in Montana Territory.
As a mark of gratitude he had designed and built the church sanctuary which was a beauty to behold and the residents of Last Chance were quite proud of their church. They boasted to anyone who cared to listen that theirs was the only brick church in the Wild West which some found to be an exaggeration but no one argued with them about that. It was indeed a beautiful building.
Fergus had taught the congregants how to make bricks and use them for building, and roofing tiles also became a regular sight in Last Chance.
As Reverend William stood on the podium that Fergus had erected he looked quite authoritative and his voice carried to all the hundred or so members of his congregation as well as to the Sunday School building which was a few yards away.
“According to the letters of introduction that I have received from various missions in the East and the families themselves, we have five families who are arriving in the next few weeks. The first family that will be arriving gets here in about a week’s time. The Richards’ family is from Akron in Ohio and from what their pastor tells me they are a very Godly and strong family who will be a great addition to this congregation.
As the congregation clapped one person’s heart was almost bursting with joy. Louis Albert could not believe that finally his dream was coming true. He and Cora Richards had communicated for close to one year and now finally he would behold the woman who held his heart.
When Reverend William had received the final confirmation that the Richards family was indeed coming West, he had mobilized the congregation into building a four roomed cabin for the family on the land that had been allocated to them. William was a well-loved man because he planned for new families ahead such that by the time the family got to Last Chance and were a part of his congregation they always had somewhere to live.
In this case, Walter Richards who was also a planner had written to William and informed him about the portion of land that had been allocated to him and after exchanging a few letters had given William the go ahead to build them a cabin for which he had sent money ahead in advance to prepare a number of things for them. Once the family got here and settled down they would then go ahead and build a house according to their own plan.
Louis was one of those who worked hardest in building the cabin for the Richards and only Reverend William knew the reason why. The two men had decided that they would keep things to themselves until the Richards family settled down, and then Louis could go ahead and begin his courtship of Cora.
“We also need to make ready for the other four families and as usual I need all the help I can to construct habitations for the visitors.”
***
Maurice Madison watched his daughter as she wept brokenly, his own gentle heart almost breaking in the process. He quickly blinked his tears away and forced himself to watch the road that he was passing on. It was quite dark and he was glad of the cover of darkness because it enabled him and his only child to flee from those who would destroy them.
Betsy Madison felt that she had let her father down and the shame made her hold her head down. She could not even look at him for fear of seeing the pain in those gentle eyes.
Ever since she had lost her mother when she was twelve, she and her father had been very close. Her mother had died in childbirth after another unsuccessful attempt to bring an addition to the Madison household. Betsy was the first child of Maurice and Laura but after her difficult birth, Laura had tried in vain to conceive and whenever she did she lost the child within months of carrying it. Finally her body had given in and she and the child she had almost brought to full term had died.
Betsy Madison led a sheltered life and her father who had come to Last Chance as a miner had done his best to protect his only daughter from the evils that lurked in society, but that was until Andrew Willard appeared on the scene.
Then Betsy had changed for the worse. Overnight the once obedient girl had become a handful and her father had watched in dismay as the well-dressed man seduced his sixteen year old daughter, buying her expensive gifts and giving her money that her own father could not afford to.
“Betsy, this path you are taking will lead you to heartbreak,” he had told her on one occasion and she had lifted her chin up at him.
“Pa, you are just jealous of Andrew. He loves me and we are getting married as soon as his mother gets well and can help with all the wedding preparations,” she had told him haughtily. Maurice had just shaken his head sadly. His daughter was such an innocent fool. A good man intending to marry a girl would ask her parents for her hand in marriage, not seduce her with gifts and money like any common prostitute.
Then two days ago he had found his Betsy crying behind the house, weeping as though her whole world had come crashing down. Without being told, Maurice knew what had happened and when she had confessed that she was with child he had not spoken a word but had turned to go in search of Andrew Willard, who he found in his regular spot.
Andrew Willard loved gambling and Maurice found him in the largest tavern in Last Chance. It was also a brothel and there were women draped all over Andrew as he laughed and drank whiskey.
Maurice was a humble man and he had approached Andrew, hat in hands and asked to speak with him.
“What do you want?” Andrew had looked him up and down, barely disguising his scorn and contempt.
“I come to speak about my daughter,” Maurice had said, folding and unfolding his old hat in his hands, his hands quite sweaty.
“And who is your daughter?” It was obvious that Andrew was a bit drunk, though he could hold his drink quite well. He threw out his hands. “All these lovely birds here are someone’s daughters, is yours one of them?”
Maurice shook his head, questioning himself as to why he had thought the man was decent in any way and could be approached for a sensible discussion.
“No, my daughter is Betsy Madison.”
Andrew had thrown his head back and laughed loudly. “That cow with two left feet? Is that your daughter?” As he hooted with laughter the other revelers joined him, making nasty comments about Maurice. “The stupid broad claims I have put her in the family way,” Andrew got to his feet and Maurice took a hasty step backwards. “If you know what is good for you and that sorry excuse of a human being that you call your daughter, you will not besmirch my good family name. You know who my father is, and one word to him and you and your useless daughter will end up in a jail far from here.” Andrew took a step forward and Maurice took one backwards. “After all that girl is very loose,” he turned and yelled out. “Madam Fortune, do you need another whore in your establishment here? I have just the perfect one for you. Ripe and juicy and ready for the picking.”
Maurice felt his heart being squeezed as he heard the derogatory terms in which his child was being referred to.
Madam Fortune raised her hand in response. “I could do with a new whore, where do I find her? My customers need new blood around here.”
“This misguided man’s daughter needs a job for a few months at least. She has been sleeping around with different men and is now pregnant and has deceived her poor father that I am responsible. Give her the job so she can save some money to feed her bastard.”
Maurice just looked down, his face quite red. “I am sorry sir,” he turned away but found his way blocked by a mountain of a man.
“Grant, let the poor fellow go, but listen here,” Andrew stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on Maurice’s shoulder. “I am a kind and generous man, a Christian and so I will be very generous with you.” He took two gold coins and placed them in Maurice’s hand. “You and your daughter will need this money to settle elsewhere. If I find you still here in Last Chance when I make my patrols tomorrow morning there will be trouble. You cannot go around ruining my family name and expect to continue living here. My parents have found me a perfect Christian woman to marry and such libelous words will cause my family grief.”
The huge man who Andrew had referred to as Grant escorted Maurice out of the tavern. “Do not stay around here if you know what is good for you and your daughter,” he whispered in a deadly voice and Maurice shuddered.
Hence his flight in the night. He was leaving Last Chance where he had buried his beloved wife and stillborn child. He would go on to San Francisco where his sister lived. Perhaps they could rebuild their shattered lives once again.
***
Victor Willard sighed. He shook his head sadly and looked around his large drawing room. “For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul in hell?” he thought to himself. His wife Claudia was in their bedroom getting ready for one of the many parties that they usually threw to welcome the spring.
As for his son, Victor shook his head once again, pacing the large room deep in thought. Andrew was his one disappointment in life, but he never spoke out aloud for fear of angering Claudia, who doted on the boy. To her Andrew could do no wrong and Victor, who greatly valued peace in his home, never said anything to disillusion her because he knew she would only take to her bed for weeks on end, sulking that he did not love her nor her son.
Victor loved his wife but sometimes an ugly thought crossed his mind and he wished he had never had the misfortune of falling in love with her. She was vain and selfish and had brought up their son to be just like her. He had always longed to have many children but after the birth of Andrew his wife had refused to have any more children.
“It is not your figure that will be distorted,” she had screamed at him shrilly when he had suggested getting another child. “You can go and take as many mistresses as you want and have them bear bastards for you if it is children that you so desire,” and she had refused to let him back into her bed.
Victor was a patient man but even patient men had their limits and the stories he had been hearing about Andrew made him realize that his son would never be the kind of man that Victor wished his son to be. He knew just what to do.
***
“We are here at last,” Mary said with a laugh, stepping out of the covered wagon with relief. It had been a long journey but it was finally over and she could rejoice. They had joined a wagon trail from Cincinnati and though the going had been slow it had been quite an adventure for the five members of the family.
They would have come faster by stage coach but Mary Richards was not leaving any of her precious belongings behind and so her husband had found a wagon trail which had left Cincinnati at the beginning of December. It was early April when they got to Last Chance. A few other families had chosen to stay in Last Chance but the wagon trail had continued on.
The Richards had sold their farm in Akron and managed to raise a good sum of money and with that they were able to purchase three large sturdy wagons to transport the belongings they wanted to bring West. For most of the journey Mary had been alone in the wagon because her husband and children preferred to ride their four horses.
“We are here,” Mary repeated joyously.
“Indeed we are, dear good wife,” Walter draped his hand lightly over his wife’s shoulders. “And what a beautiful country this is.”
Michael, Henry and Cora had ridden ahead to the family cabin with a few of the young men that Reverend William had appointed to wait for the family and lead them to their new home. Mary and Walter followed at a slower pace, their wagons being led by their twelve oxen, and they were also leading a few heifers with their calves.
The family was warmly welcomed by members of their new congregation and because they had arrived in the early afternoon Mary did not have to do anything other than rest as the women from church had brought various food stuff for them.
The next three days were spent making their new home as comfortable as they could and they were glad to have such good neighbors who dropped in to give them a helping hand, especially in building the barn for their animals. The womenfolk brought more food and helped Mary and Cora feed the laborers.
By the fourth day the Richards household had some order and Mary smiled as she looked around her. Yes, the journey had been worth it and she was glad to have come. She had in her secret purse a deed with her own name on it, for one hundred and sixty acres of land.
“Thank You Lord for the Homestead Act,” Mary raised her hands towards heaven. According to the Homestead Act which had been passed by Congress in eighteen hundred and sixty two, any citizen twenty one years of age or older was offered one hundred and sixty acres of land free of charge but in return, the settler had to live on the land for five years and improve it. Altogether the family had four hundred and eighty acres of land and when Mary looked towards the hills behind their log cabin she felt what the Israelites must have felt when they finally entered Canaan their promised land.
“This is a dream come true,” she told her husband later that evening as the family were once again alone. They had sold most of their furniture but still had a large settee on which the couple were reclining. They would make more furniture for their house because there were plenty of trees on their land. Henry sat on the floor beside them while Michael was walking around the cabin, touching the walls in wonder.
“I had only heard of log cabins and always thought they were quite crude structures, but this is beautiful,” he said. He turned to his parents. “Pa, Ma, when you eventually build your house would you let Henry and I keep this cabin?”
Mary and Walter looked at each other and nodded.
“Thank you,” Michael beamed at his parents. “When do you think you will begin building your house, Pa?”
“Are you already throwing us out of our humble dwellings mmh?” Walter shook his head, pointing a finger at his eldest son. “We have barely settled down to enjoy this place and you are already making plans to get us out.”
Michael laughed briefly, “It is just that for so long Henry and I have lived like babies in our parents’ house and now we are all grown up, we need to look like mature men because in a short while we shall be getting ready to court some ladies who will not think us so mature if we are still living with our parents.”
Henry was watching Cora and he wondered why she was so silent. Usually she had a lot of questions and comments to make about everything being discussed but today she seemed too quiet, and if he was not wrong, she looked a little bit nervous.
“Cora, is everything alright?” He asked her and she started, flushing deeply for having been caught day dreaming.
“What?” She looked at her brother, noticing that the whole family were watching her. She laughed nervously. “I am fine, Henry, why do you ask?”
“You seem a little bit distracted and nervous, something is going on,” Henry insisted and his sister cleared her throat, her hand going to her heart in a nervous gesture. Mary was surprised to see her daughter’s hands shaking.
“Cora?”
“Yes, Ma?”
“What is going on with you? If there is a problem would you share it with us so we can find a solution?’
Cora twisted her lips and then sighed. “It is not really a problem as such,” she said. “I am sorry I have not been honest with all of you for a long time now.” Her family looked at her in surprise, wondering what she going on about. “Sometime last year I met a man...”
“What?” Mary shot up and sat up straight. “Cora!”
“Ma, I have not actually met him in person but we began writing to each other and through the year we fell in love and would like your blessings so that we can get married.”
To say that the family were shocked would be putting it mildly. All their mouths fell open in astonishment and no one spoke for a while as they digested the news that had just been broken to them.
It was Mary who broke the silence first. “Cora, I cannot believe just how deceitful you have been. And where is this man that you claim to have fallen in love with?”
“He is here in Last Chance, Ma. His name is Louis. Louis Albert.”
Henry shook his head. “I cannot believe it, Cora, one full year and none of us was the wiser. How did you get your letters without Pa finding out and yet he was the one who always got our mail from the post office?”
“I used Mrs. Summers’ postal box. She gave me the key and authority to collect mail on her behalf and that is the address that I gave Louis.”
Walter had a frown on his face. “You say this man is right here in Last Chance?’
“Yes, Pa.”
“And is he a Christian?”
“Yes pa, he is a member of Last Chance Baptist Church.” The family stared at Cora as if she were mad. “This is the third year that Louis has been a member of the church. He sent me a letter from Reverend Williams who gave him a glowing reference.”
“I cannot believe that we have been hoodwinked into moving to Last Chance just so you could meet a man, Cora,” Michael sat down on a three legged stool. “So that is the reason why you kept insisting that we come to Montana and specifically Last Chance.”
“Yes,” Cora said in a small voice. “I did not want to be parted from all of you and I wanted you to have a chance to meet Louis and find out just how wonderful he is.”
“Cora, really this is a real shock to all of us. Does this man work, is he able to provide for a wife?”
“Yes, Pa. Louis is a miner and he has been working hard and saving for us to begin our home together.”
“You say he is a miner, huh?”
“Yes.”
“And that he has been saving?”
“Yes.”
“I see,” Walter looked at his wife. “When will we get the chance to meet this man?”
Cora cleared her throat nervously, shifting her sitting position. “He is calling on us tomorrow afternoon.”
Mary exclaimed loudly. “And you are just telling us this right now? Cora, are you really serious about this being a man who is ready to marry you?’
“He is.”
“Or was he one of the young men who were helping us move in and settle down?” Walter demanded.
“No, Pa,” Cora shook her head.
Henry snickered. “And how would you know, have you met him?”
Cora looked at her brother with a slight frown. “In my last letter to Louis, I asked him to bring along one of the drawings that I sent him as proof of his identity. We also agreed that he would come calling on our fifth day here.”
“Why would you go and do something so dangerous, Cora?” Her mother asked her in exasperation. “How do you know whether this man is truly who he says he is?”
“Ma, Reverend William sent me a reference about Louis.”
“The man could have forged the Reverend’s signature to fool you.”
Cora shook her head. “Reverend William used the same address that he wrote to Pa with when they were making arrangements for our arrival here.” Cora sighed, shaking her head sadly. “Can’t you at least be happy for me? I have tried to be a good daughter and sister and been obedient to you, but you made me do this because Henry and Michael would not let me meet any suitors in any other way. They went around threatening every young man who showed the slightest interest in me. What could I do?” She cried desperately. “Last year alone, my three friends wedded and now have homes of their own. I am eighteen and still in my parents’ home with no prospects for the future, what else was I to do?” She twisted her lips, her head down. She failed to see the swift look that her family exchanged.
“Cora is right, Ma, Pa,” Henry said at last. “At least let us give this man a chance to present himself so that we can get to know what kind of a person he is. Maybe it is time we accepted that our little girl has grown up and begin to allow her to meet suitable men.”
The family went to bed in agreement and Cora slept fitfully, quite nervous about Louis meeting her family the next day.
It was a Friday and the day was cloudy even though it was spring. It looked like there would be some showers but at around noon the sky cleared and the sun shone through brightly. Cora was too nervous to eat and she kept looking down the path from which she expected Louis to appear.
Louis Albert’s heart sank as he looked at himself. How could he present himself to his prospective in-laws as he was? Just that morning he had been very excited and nervous about finally meeting the woman he had corresponded with for a full year. On Monday when Cora and her family arrived in Last Chance, he had been out in the mountains on a gold dig with old Reuben and had managed to get a few nuggets to add to his collection. He wished he could have had a glimpse of her, especially when one or two friends from church had told him just how beautiful she was.
Now he was about to present himself to Cora and her family and he looked a mess. He had spent the whole morning getting ready. He had told Mrs. Willows about Cora and she had kindly given him a heavily starched white shirt which she informed him had belonged to her late husband.
“First impressions are very important, Louis Albert, so you need to look like a serious man who is ready to support a wife,” she had said.
“How do I thank you Mrs. Willows?” Louis said, tears in his eyes. “You have been so kind to me all this time that I have lived in your house. And now you are even more gracious by allowing me to borrow Mr. Willows’ shirt. Thank you.”
Naomi Willows looked at the young man in surprise. “I am not lending you the shirt, I am giving it to you because Mr. Willows will never need it again. I was reluctant to part with his clothes but now I realize the time has come to let go. You and Mr. Willows were roughly the same size and so his clothes should fit you. When you get back I will get you some more clothes so that you can always look presentable.”
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Willows. One day God will bless you for the kindness that you have shown me.”
Apart from the starched shirt, Mrs. Willows also gave Louis a pair of black corduroy trousers with suspenders and a black overcoat to match. She added a cravat and a felt hat. Surprisingly the two men wore the same shoe size and so a very smart Louis had left the boarding house to pay a visit to his prospective in-laws.
All was well with him and he smiled at the world, but his joy was short lived when he met with Andrew Willard. Andrew had frowned at him.
“The little man has preened himself, what is the occasion?” He had asked mockingly.
Louis cleared his throat. He was already nervous and Andrew’s attitude was not helping. “I am on my way to call on the new family that have arrived. The Richards.”
Andrew nodded. “And so you think you stand a chance with their beautiful daughter?” Andrew nudged his friend and they both laughed at Louis, who just calmly stood, his hat in his hand out of respect even though he was older than both of them. “You are such a deluded fellow, you need to turn back and save yourself a lot of humiliation and embarrassment.”
“I will be taking my leave now if you are finished,” Louis said.
“Oh, so in spite of my advice you insist on going?” Andrew shook his head. “Poor fool,” he whipped his horses and they neighed nervously and raised their front legs and brought them crashing down into a large pool of dirty water that was on the road and unfortunately Louis was in the way and his white shirt was flooded with muddy water. Andrew and his friend went on their way, laughing at him and he stood helplessly beside the road wondering what to do.
“Lord, Your Word says the race is not to the swiftest, nor the battle to the strongest,” he prayed. “Man looks on the outward but you look on the inside of men. I pray that you give me favor before Cora and her family in spite of how I look, and forgive Andrew for his thoughtlessness as I forgive him also. Please give me favor before this family, in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
And armed with that prayer, Louis resumed his journey and was soon standing outside the Richards residence which he had helped build. The door was open but he knocked on the panel to draw the attention of those who were inside the house.
Henry walked to the door to welcome their visitor and he sighed inwardly. This was the man that Cora hoped to marry? The man looked dirty like he had been frolicking in the mud. But he kept his thoughts to himself.
“You must be Louis Albert, come right in.” Henry did not bother to shake hands with Louis whose hand was half raised in greeting. He stepped into the temporary living room and found himself face to face with three pairs of eyes that looked quite unwelcoming. He guessed that the three were Cora’s parents and her older brother. He did not immediately see Cora who was seated on a three legged stool near the window.
“Good afternoon to you all,” Louis said in a clear voice, trying his best not to show just how nervous he was feeling.
“Good afternoon,” the three responded.
“Please take a seat, Louis,” Henry motioned to an armchair which Louis sank onto gratefully. And then he noticed the fifth person in the room and looked towards the window and his eyes and Cora’s eyes met and it was as though time stood still for both of them.
Green eyes met with brown eyes and two hearts were knit into one right there in the sitting room of the new cabin. Kindred souls met and wound around each other. Cora and Louis realized that they had each met their soul mate and knew that what they shared would never die. This was stronger than death and it was as though each soul gave a promise to the other.
Walter cleared his throat and the two broke their glance and looked at him.
“So you are Louis Albert,” Walter stated, “Cora has told us about you.” Louis was silent because he had not been asked a question but the older man had been making a statement. “Young man, first of all, how old are you?”
“I am thirty-one years old sir,” Louis turned clear eyes to his prospective father-in-law. Now that he had seen the most beautiful woman in the world and felt her response to him, he was no longer nervous.