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Their first potential buyer was a farmer. Once he saw the seller was a woman, he mistakenly thought it was a fire sale. He walked the fields, despite the cold and snow. He rode his horse around the perimeter, not allowing Erin to ride with him to point out the features, and then he offered an incredibly low price, which she outright refused. She was adamant, and he was perplexed.
“Look, sir. I know how much this land is worth. I know this established farm has been in my family for many years and has produced numerous crops. I am not selling it because it’s going downhill or any other reason I’m at liberty to discuss with you. My reasons are my own. If you don’t like my price, then go on your way.” She said it slowly, enunciated each word, and used no lazy or slang language. She’d been practicin’, as Molly suggested. She could see it made an impression. He was puzzled that she wouldn’t accept his so-called generous offer. He went away, scratching his head.
They had both realized that selling a farm this late in the season would prove difficult, but they had planned for it. The fields were ready to go in the spring, and they’d gathered their crops before the ad came out. They were prepared to leave later if it didn’t sell but hoped to get out in late winter or early spring, so they could be among the first wagon trains heading out. Molly, anticipating how cold it would be heading out that early in the season, was knitting furiously, preparing extra scarves, hats, and socks to keep them warm. That two-thousand-mile trip and five to six months or more of driving the wagon did not sound appealing. Still, they wanted to be on their land and build a cabin, even a temporary one, before the snow came.
Their second buyer brought his wife and children to look over the farm. They were wrapped up snuggly in clothes. In fact, it looked like they were wearing several layers, perhaps all they owned. Their wagon was slipshod, and they looked hungry. When he tried to make a ‘trade,’ Erin reminded him that the ad had stated, ‘cash money.’ They went on their way, looking back at the two women alone on the farm.
“I think we should keep our guns ready in case they were checking out more than the farm,” Erin mentioned after they left.
“Yeah, that woman looked like she wanted to take my preserves. She hinted we should invite them to dinner. Good thing she didn’t see King or Queenie.”
Erin grinned. The buyers didn’t know they had locked the dogs in the basement when they saw a potential buyer coming up the drive.
Sure enough, that night they heard the dogs barking and carrying on until finally, they quieted.
“Bet he didn’t have a gun, or we’d have lost one of the dogs,” Erin mentioned from where she was hiding in one of the upper bedrooms, her own gun in hand as she watched the shadows. She’d padlocked the doors to the barn and felt confident he couldn’t have gotten inside. Queenie would have made sure of that as she was locked inside the barn and King was on patrol.
“Think he’ll be back?” Molly asked, a bit more upset than Erin, who looked excited.
“Not without help, and not with dogs on the farm.”
“Think that will help us on the trail?” she fretted.
“Absolutely,” Erin answered confidently, not a doubt in her mind.
There were a couple more people who came to look despite the weather, but none had the cash to make the deal. When the first buyer came back, this time with a woman in tow, they were suspicious at first. After all, the other buyers had left impressions. He then apologized for the misunderstanding and talked in earnest with Erin, the wife nodding along with everything he said but not saying a word.
The man claimed to have the money for the purchase and wanted to buy some of the furnishings too. They discussed those and what would come with the farm, finally agreeing on a price. Erin, riding one of their horses and carrying her rifle with a hidden gun under her coat, followed them towards Pittsville to get the money and register the sale, which would then be sent to the county courthouse.
During the weeks it had taken to conclude the sale, the weather had turned nasty. The buyer, a man by the name of Finn, had given them until the end of January to vacate the premises. He and his wife were from Pennsylvania and had been watching the papers for a farm that was already established, one they didn’t need to carve out of the wilderness. He liked what Erin told him about the other field where she had slowly been removing rocks. He felt he could handle that himself. He was disappointed she wouldn’t sell more of her stock, but he was assured she would take care of the little she was able to sell him until he was able to bring his own wife, children, and stock to the farm.
Once the sale was concluded, Erin went into the nearest bank. She was unwilling to go to her home bank of Stouten with this much money, and she wanted to arrange for half of the funds to be sent to Oregon. Talking to the bank manager, she learned of a company that could ship the furniture that was too heavy to take in their wagon. Hating to spend the money, she hesitantly agreed, and they confirmed they would send wagons for the shipment. She justified it with how happy she would make Molly, but she knew the money would have been better spent on supplies and such.
“How much did you get?” Molly asked as soon as she returned to the farm.
Erin told her as she put up the horse, explaining the details, very pleased with the deal. She also told Molly about the shippers coming in the next few days.
“How much did that cost you?” Molly asked, outraged. She’d resigned herself that she would have to give up the family heirlooms. When she heard how much it was going to cost to ship all the way to Oregon, she protested. “You meet up with those shippers and turn them around. Sakes alive! We need that money.”
“I was thinking of you. You’ve lost so much since...” she trailed off as Molly glared at her.
“We’re starting over, and you’re giving up as much, if not more for this fresh start. You can trade, build, or buy me new things for our home...our home together!”
Erin hadn’t seen Molly so upset in a long time, and it startled her. “I just wanted–”
“I know what you wanted, and I love you for it, but we can’t be doing frivolous things like that. It’s just too much. I know what we are both giving up here. You could stay here, and we’d grow old together, but we’d always be ‘those spinsters.’ Someone might figure out we’re more.” It showed how upset she was to be repeating a conversation they’d had many times before making the decision to move.
“Okay, okay. I’ll ride out early in the morning and head them off. I hadn’t paid them yet.”
“Good thing too!” she said indignantly, calming down. “I do love you, ya know?”
Erin smiled. Of that, she was certain. Molly was her best friend. To find that she returned her love in the same way had delighted and alarmed her. Finding a path to loving each other hadn’t been easy, but they had done it despite frequent misunderstandings, working through grief and loving each other through everything.
Erin rode one of the farm horses back towards Pittsville early the next morning to head off the shippers. She caught them almost before they left town and explained that she had changed her mind. They were disappointed since they were paid by the job. She felt bad for them but stated simply that she hadn’t the money she had hoped she would. She watched as they turned the large freight wagons back. She headed back home. Considering, she looked down at the large farm horse she was riding. It wasn’t suitable for riding. Its broad back was more suited for pulling a plow or a wagon. They didn’t have riding stock. She wondered if she should trade for a horse or two or.... Then, she stopped herself. As much as the idea to move to Oregon was hers, talking it over with Molly was always a good idea. Another set of ears and a second thought might keep her out of trouble, so she returned to the farm.
Despite the cold weather and always the threat of another blizzard or storm moving into the area, they loaded up the furniture they hadn’t sold to Finn. Leaving behind only the bare necessities and the things they’d sold to the new owners, Erin set off towards Melville to sell the load. She was lucky to find a couple of second-hand stores that would take the furniture. She didn’t get much, but it was something to help them on their move. On her way home, it began to snow once again.