Page 3 of On a Midnight Clear

By October it was quite evident to Vincent that he needed to make a trip into Cheyenne for winter supplies.

If Elsa had been alive , she would have reminded him.

She would have presented him with a list of all the things they needed to get through the winter , on the chance that the weather turned bad and stayed that way , preventing them from getting into town.

With Elsa gone, Vincent found the job of keeping track of things to be almost impossible.

He only learned yesterday that Ava’s shoes no longer fit.

They definitely had to get her a sturdy pair of boots for winter.

Benjamin also had needs. All of his pants were a size, maybe two sizes, too small.

He probably needed new boots as well. Vincent had no idea if there would be enough money for everything.

They’d have to start their trip with a visit to the bank.

And that was exactly where he went first when he pulled into Cheyenne’s city limits.

He was relieved to find that there was still a decent balance in his account.

He’d forgotten about his decision to sell off those older wethers from the flock.

The extra money would come in handy with the children having so many unexpected needs.

They left the wagon at the feed and hardware store, as well as a list of what Vincent needed for the farm.

They were to load up everything while Vincent shopped with his children and then took them to lunch.

None of them had had a decent meal since Aunt Mary had left two months ago.

He had tried to hire a cook and housekeeper, but no one seemed to want to live on a sheep farm nearly ten miles from town.

Vincent settled the children at a table in one of the restaurants near the train depot and motioned the waitress to the table.

“Yes, sir?” she asked, smiling.

“I’d like black coffee, and some milk for the children. I saw the sign you had out front advertising beef stew. Bring us each a bowl, please. We’re kind of in a hurry.”

“Of course. I’ll be right back.”

She hurried to the kitchen and returned almost immediately with their drinks.

Vincent took a long draw on the steaming liquid.

The children did likewise with their milk.

It was a matter of minutes before the young woman returned with a tray carrying the stew and a plate with several biscuits.

She placed a bowl before each child before setting one in front of Vincent.

“That’ll be six bits,” she said, holding out her hand.

Vincent reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, along with a letter he’d picked up at the post office earlier. He set the letter aside and handed the girl a dollar. “Bring me a piece of that peach pie as well.”

“Of course.” She tucked the dollar in her pocket and left them to wait on a newly arrived pair of cowboys.

Vincent returned his wallet to his pocket and noticed that the children were already eating. Rather than chide them for not waiting for grace to be said, he lowered his head and thanked God for the food. When he looked back up, both children had paused in respect. At least there was that much.

“Who sent the letter?” Benjamin asked with a nod toward the envelope.

“Granny Duran. She’s always good to write us.” Vincent sampled the stew and then reached for the missive. “Maybe I should see what she has to say. You go on and eat. We have to leave town right after lunch, or we’ll be driving in the dark by the time we get home.”

He opened the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper.

The letter was short and to the point. Granny had found a woman to be his wife.

She’d arrive on the thirteenth. Good grief, that was the day after tomorrow.

He scanned the rest of the information to see who it was Granny was sending. Then he saw Angellyn’s name.

“What’s she say, Pa?” Benjamin put his spoon aside and reached for a biscuit.

Vincent knew his son wasn’t going to take well to the news that their search for a new mother had been resolved.

“Granny found someone to come and be your new ma.”

“I don’t want a new ma.” Benjamin looked him in the eye. “It won’t be the same.”

“No, it won’t be the same. That’s for certain.” Vincent refolded the letter. “But I know Angel, and she’s a good woman.”

“She’s an angel?” Ava asked.

“No, but ... well, she’s a really kind person.” He easily remembered the little girl who used to follow her brothers around the sheep farm. “Her name is Angellyn, but everybody calls her Angel.”

“We don’t need her.”

“We do.” Vincent looked at his boy. “You have no idea how much. Your ma used to keep track of all the supplies we needed. I made a list, but I’m sure I didn’t remember half the stuff that a woman would know to include.

I grew up with Angel, and we were friends.

She’s a kind-hearted gal. You’ll like her if you give her half a chance.

” He said this as much for himself as for them.

“Her father taught me all about caring for sheep.”

“Is she the one who fell in the pond and nearly drowned, but you saved her?”

Vincent smiled. “Yes. That was her.” He’d used the story to illustrate to his children the importance of being helpful to those in need, no matter their age. He’d been a few years older than Benjamin when Angel had fallen in the pond. She’d been four years old.

“Did she ever learn how to swim?” Ava questioned.

Vincent chuckled. “She did. Her brothers taught her how. Like I taught the two of you.”

Ava paused with the spoon midway to her mouth. “When will she come be our ma?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

Benjamin slammed his hand down on the table. “I don’t want a new ma.”

Vincent noted several of the customers glance their way.

“Son, lower your voice. We don’t need all of Cheyenne weighing in on the matter.

The truth is, I can’t take care of you children and run the farm at the same time.

If I don’t marry and give you a new ma, you may have to go away and live with strangers. Is that what you want?”

Benjamin fixed him with an angry glare. “No, but I don’t want another ma either. Why can’t we just go live with your granny and granddad?”

“Because Wyoming was my dream. Your ma’s too. I’m not ready to let that go. I could, I suppose, send you both back to live with Granny and Granddad.”

“I don’t want to go away, Papa,” Ava said and began to cry.

Vincent reached out to smooth back her hair. “I don’t want anyone to go away. That’s why I’m getting someone who can take care of us.”

“Why can’t she just come and help like Aunt Mary?”

Vincent heaved a sigh. “Because it wouldn’t be proper for a single woman to come and stay with us. The only reason it worked with Aunt Mary is because she’s an older widow and your mama’s aunt. Being family makes it acceptable.

“Look, I don’t want any trouble about this. I know it’s hard for you, Benjamin, but we don’t have a choice. I’m not asking you to call her mother or ma , but you will at least show her kindness and respect.”

“Yes, sir,” the boy replied. His expression betrayed his conflicted emotions.

Vincent felt bad for them. They were scared, and the one person who might have offered them the most comfort was the very soul they feared he was trying to replace.

“I promise you, it won’t be a bad thing. Angel is fun to be around. You’ll see.”

Vincent could only hope she hadn’t changed too much.

Granny’s letter said Angellyn had been jilted .

.. left at the altar. She might very well be changed because of that.

Not only that, but he hadn’t seen her or heard much of anything about her in ten years.

Granny occasionally wrote about ways that Angel had helped her, but otherwise he’d paid little attention to any news about her.

For now, the important thing was to arrange for the justice of the peace to marry them and to get the house in some sort of order for her arrival.

He hurried to finish his food and was drinking the last of his coffee when the waitress brought their piece of pie. Vincent shared it with the children and then hurried them out the door and down the street to claim their wagon. Hopefully all of the stores would have deposited his purchases by now.

It was only when they were on their way home and the children had fallen asleep that the news really hit him.

He was going to remarry. Not for love or consolation for his loneliness, but for the purpose of having someone to take care of the children.

He’d done all that he could to hold his family together and would have given up the farm altogether before sending the children to someone else.

Of course, they didn’t know that. He felt guilty for having said otherwise to convince Benjamin of the necessity of accepting that his father would marry again.

Angel had been like a sister to him in so many ways.

She’d always been around, helping out or occasionally pestering him and her brothers.

As she grew older, Vincent had even considered her as a possible mate, but then Zed Martin’s sister had returned from finishing school back east and caught the attention of every male in and out of town.

Vincent had been honored when she’d made her choice known and picked him.

She was beautiful and kind, even-tempered and knowledgeable about a number of topics.

She even shared his desires to go west. Both of them felt it was their calling to civilize the frontier.

They would speak of it almost every night until they finally made the move.

Elsa had been about the most perfect woman he’d ever known, and their marriage had been a good one.

Angel would have a lot to live up to.