Montana Sky: Mail Order Machinations (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page A

tomorrow and what may come.
     
    *****
     
    There was a mad rush the next morning, Esther, Coral, and their mother each carrying two carpet bags that held the sum total of their belongings.  Esther had left many of her pretty dresses behind, knowing they just wouldn’t be practical for the trip out West.
    She had kept one pretty silk dress, but all the other things she’d kept had been day dresses, and one nice skirt and blouse.  She’d have two outfits to alternate for Sunday best, but everything else would be good for work on a ranch.
    Coral glanced over at Esther as they walked.  Their mother suddenly seemed horribly frail to both of them, crying a bit more with each step they took. “Mother, you’re going to be so happy to see Grandmother and Grandfather again.  You’ll be content there.”
    “But what about you girls?” Mother asked.
    It was the first time since everything had happened their mother had shown an interest beyond what would happen to her.  “We have our futures settled.  Don’t worry about us, Mother,” Esther told her.
    “Of course, I’ll worry about you. You’re my babies.”
    Esther didn’t respond, because they’d reached the train station.  They said their goodbyes, and then Esther and Coral headed back toward the center of town.  They would sell Esther’s ring before going on to Elizabeth’s house.
    “Do you think she’ll be all right?” Coral asked.
    Esther shrugged. “She’ll have Grandmother and Grandfather.  Grandfather will probably force her to get a divorce and remarry, just so she’ll be out of his hair.”
    Coral giggled.  “It would be good for her.  She needs to stop hiding herself away at home and get out and live.”
    For as long as Esther could remember, their mother had slowly become a recluse.  She left the house only on Sundays, and in the past few years, she’d stayed home from church more and more.  “Do you think one of us should have ridden the train with her and made sure she got to Grandmother’s all right?”
    Coral shook her head.  “She needs to learn to rely on herself and not on us.”
    Esther recognized the truth in her sister’s words.  Coral had been running their household since she was ten, while their mother had watched.  It was too much of a burden on her younger sister, but Esther hadn’t had the skills necessary to help much.  She wasn’t much of a manager, preferring to be told what to do for the most part.
    Once they’d sold Esther’s ring, they headed to Elizabeth’s house, the money tucked away discretely in one of Esther’s carpet bags.  She didn’t want anyone to realize she had any money with her.  She knew everyone would think they were completely destitute, so people wouldn’t bother her for her father’s debts.
    They knocked on the door of the Miller house as soon as they arrived.  The same man opened the door.  “Misses Carruthers,” he said with a nod.  “Let me take you to your rooms.” He led them up the stairs.  “I’m Bernard, the butler here.  If you need anything, be sure to inform me.  I help Miss Miller with her business as well as running this household.  Miss Miller said that one of you would be helping her with her filing while you’re here?”
    Coral nodded.  “That would be me.  I’m Coral.  It’ll be easier if you call us both by our first names.  Esther is hoping she can spend time in the kitchen learning from your cook.”
    Bernard looked at Esther with a frown.  “I hope you’re a quick learner.”
    Esther smiled.  “I hope so too.  I’ll certainly do my best.” She’d never felt like she was quick at anything, but she knew it had to do with Coral. 
    Coral had always been able to do everything quickly and efficiently.  She was taught to sound out words, and the next thing anyone knew, she was reading the Bible all on her own at age seven.  She was taught to add and subtract, and she’d quickly taken over the household accounts, exceeding even