EMILY
By: Ginny Flack
The attractive auburn-haired waitress could not keep from stealing
glances at the big cowboy as she went about her business of serving food
and clearing tables at Daisy's Cafe. In the two
months she had worked there he had been in once a week, sometimes twice
a week, if only to order pie and coffee. He was
a pleasant-looking man, with thinning light brown hair, blue eyes, and
a charming gap-toothed smile. He was not handsome,
but Emily had learned the hard way that a handsome man was not always a
good man. He seemed to be known and liked by many
of the other customers who called him by the odd name of Hoss, and she noted
that he was on a first name basis with her employer, Daisy.
The man called Hoss, having paid for his cherry pie and coffee, was now deep in a quiet conversation with Daisy. Emily saw the pair look her way as Daisy smiled and patted the cowboy's arm. Apparently embarrassed at having been caught by Emily while discussing her with Daisy, Hoss's face turned a bright pink and he hastily bid Daisy and Emily good-by and retreated out the door.
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That evening while having their usual light supper after closing time, Daisy decided it was time to take the bull by the horns and broach the subject that she had been stewing over for some time now.
After nervously draining the last possible drops from her cup of coffee, Daisy plunged in. "Emily, dear, please tell me if I'm being out of line, but I feel like we've become friends during the past two months that you've worked here. You don't seem to have any kind of a life outside of this cafe. Mrs. Hawkins was telling me you keep to your room at the boarding house all the time, that you never visit in the parlor with the other ladies who board there or have any callers, and the only time you leave is to come here or to go to church on Sundays. Now you can call us a couple of busybodies that should be minding their own business and I won't be offended and Mrs. Hawkins won't be either. It's just that we've both come to think a lot of you and we're concerned. A pretty girl your age should have beaus and lady friends to brag about those beaus to, and be getting out to parties and church socials and the like. I can't tell you how many girls I've fired because they're too busy flirting with a good-looking cowboy or miner to keep their minds on their jobs, so I'm glad you're not that kind. But, honey, it's all right to be friendly. If a fellow catches your eye, smile at him. I won't fire you. The worst thing I might do is butt in and tell you if I think he's the wrong sort for you.
"Now, I can vouch for Hoss Cartwright. You won't find a better young man anywhere. All three of the Cartwright boys are fine young men, and in my opinion, Hoss is the best of the three. Ben Cartwright has raised them right. I've known the Cartwrights since Hoss was a young'in. Ben gave my late husband Claude a grubstake. Without that grubstake, I wouldn't have had anything to open my cafe with when Claude's mine came down on his head. But to get back to Hoss, that boy is head-over-heels for you. He doesn't come in here just for the pie. Hop Sing, the cook out at the Ponderosa, is the best cook on the Comstock, after me, if I do say so myself, and keeps those fellows well stocked up on pies and such. And it's a long ride into town from the Ponderosa. "I know that you know that Hoss and I were talking about you today. The volunteer fire company is having a big dance in a couple of weeks and Hoss asked me if I thought you'd go with him. I told him I didn't know, he'd just have to ask you. Now I won't hold it against you if you don't want to go to the dance with him. It's your right to decide that for yourself. But I'd take it as a personal favor if you'd let him down easy when he asks you. Like I said, I've known him since he was a young'in and he's bashful around women, and I wouldn't like for him to get his feelings hurt.
Well, now, that I spoke my mind, go ahead and speak yours. Don't be afraid to tell me if Mrs. Hawkins and I are being busybodies who should mind our own business. Right now, we're talking as friends, I hope."
Daisy didn't know how Emily was going to respond to her little speech, but Daisy was completely surprised by the response she got. Emily, who had been sitting silently toying with her empty teacup, put her head down onto the table and burst into tears.
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"Hop Sing, where's mine?" Hoss Cartwright sat at the supper table looking like a child who Santa Claus forgot, as he stared at the apple pie that his family's cook served to his father and brothers and then back to the empty spot before him.
"Mr. Hoss want pie, Mr. Hoss go back to town to Miss Daisy's cafe for pie. Number Six Cousin work for Miss Daisy in kitchen. Number Six Cousin tell Hop Sing that Mr. Hoss go to Miss Daisy's for pie every time go to town. Rest of family like Hop Sing's pie. Save more for them." With a finale glare at Hoss, Hop Sing stomped back to the kitchen.
"What was that all about?" asked Adam, as he looked at his brother Hoss with a puzzled frown.
"Yea, big brother" chimed in Little Joe. "Don't get Hop Sing so riled up that none of us get dessert. And stop eyeing my pie. You can always sneak down tonight after Hop Sing's asleep and have a piece then. That is if we don't eat it all first."
Ben finished his dessert and turned his attention to his middle son. "Well, son, I would like to know why you've been making all those trips to town the last couple of months. And it might be interesting to hear what's so fascinating about Daisy's Cafe all of a sudden. When I saw her a few weeks ago, she mentioned she hired a new waitress; a young lady who was new in Virginia City. Could that have something to do with your newly developed fondness for Daisy's pies?"
Ben knew he was on the right track when Hoss started to blush and examine his coffee cup.
Little Joe couldn't resist baiting his brother. "Hey, I haven't heard about any new waitress at Daisy's. You know, I think I should go try some of Daisy's pie next time I'm in town.
As expected, Hoss took the bait. "Dadburn it Little Joe", Miss Emily ain't like the usual flirtin, gigglin females that's worked at Daisy's. She's a quiet little thing. Seems shy too. I ain't never seen her talk to any fellas there except to take their orders. I can't get her to talk to me either. If I catch you makin eyes at her and botherin her I'm going to pound you into the ground. Now if you fellas will excuse me, I got some things to do in the barn."
"Hey, what's the matter with Hoss? I was just joshin him."? Little Joe asked, as he stared at Hoss's abruptly departing back.
"Well, Joseph". Ben answered, "I think your brother is in love and is serious about this girl. It would be a good idea not to devil him about her."
"Yes sir", replied a contrite Little Joe. "I think I'll go out to the barn and tell Hoss I'm sorry and I won't josh him about her again."
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Little Joe found Hoss sitting on a bale of hay, doing nothing but staring at his horse Chubb and absently whittling on a stick.
"Hey, big brother, I thought you had important things to do out here, the way you rushed out of the house. Important whittling?"
"Dadburn it Joe!" Hoss glared at his little brother. "Why'd you have to follow me out here? I 'm trying to get away from your wisecracks and think".
"Dadburn it, yourself", Little Joe glared back. "I came out to tell you I was sorry for teasin you about that gal. I had no idea you're that serious about a girl you've never even been out with".
Now it was Hoss's turn to be contrite. "Yea, well, I'm sorry I bit your head off little brother. There's just somethin about that little gal. I got a feeling she might just be the one for me, if she'd just give us a chance to get to know each other."
"Why don't you just come right out and ask her to the fire company's dance." Little Joe suggested. Maybe she's just shy and she's waiting on you to say something."
"No. No. I don't think that's it". Hoss shook his head in disagreement. I think she had a bad experience sometime with some fellow. Don't ask me why I think that; it's just a feeling. No, Miss Emily is like a skittish filly, so I'm just going to have to take it slow and easy. I think it's going to be worth it, though."
Hoss rose from the hay bale and folded up his knife. "All right, little brother, let's go in the house and I'll beat you at a game of checkers."
"Ha!" That'll be the day big brother."Little Joe snickered as the they headed for the house.
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Emily, regaining her composure sat at the table at Daisy's Cafe and wiped her tear-streaked face with a napkin. "Daisy, I'm so embarrassed. I don't know what came over me", she finally managed in a small voice.
Daisy had come to regard her employee as a friend in the time she had worked at her cafe, and was distressed to see her so upset. Daisy wanted to get to the bottom of Emily's unhappiness in the hopes that there was something she could do to help.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed or sorry about", assured Daisy, patting Emily's hand. "But an idiot can tell that you're one unhappy girl. You're not getting out of here this evening until you tell me what the problem is. You should know by now that I'll do anything I can do to help you if you need it."
"Oh, Daisy, you're so kind. I think that's what made me cry." Emily again dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. "Mrs. Hawkins and everyone at the boarding house are too. I'm so lonely, but I'm so ashamed what my life was like with my husband, that I can't let myself get close to anyone. But I owe it to you to tell you everything."
Daisy was flabbergasted at the news that Emily was married. "Your husband? Honey, why didn't you tell me you were married? And I can't imagine that you could have led a life that you should be ashamed about. I've been around, and I'm a good judge of people, and you strike me as a good girl."
"Oh Daisy", Emily sighed. "I should have confided in you before this. I'll make us some more tea and compose myself and then I'll tell you the whole story."
**************************
The two women's tea sat untouched and becoming cold, while Emily talked and Daisy listened.
"Well, there's really not a lot to the story. I'm not married any longer. I'm a widow. My father is dead and my mother owns a dry-goods store in a dusty little town in Arizona, and I have a younger sister. Lucas Wood was the handsomest man I've ever seen. He swept me right off my feet. People told me he wasn't any good, but I wouldn't listen. Especially to my mother. I ran off to San Francisco with him and we got married. I found out our first night together that everyone was right. He was brutal. The next morning I could hardly walk, and was covered with bruises. I had no money to go back home; and even if I could have found the money, I don't think I would have been able to face everyone. I was so dazzled by Lucas that I had let him to talk me into stealing from the cash drawer at my mothers' store to pay the fare to San Francisco. He had promised me that we would send her the money to pay them back, but after our wedding night I realized that he had no intention of ever sending her the money. That was the first of regular beatings. Lucas made me take a job as a waitress in his friend's tavern, but took every penny; and I swear, Daisy, that serve drinks is all I did there. He spent his time gambling and seeing other women. He was shot and killed by a man who caught him cheating at cards. San Francisco hadn't turned out to be the paradise I thought it would be. After Lucus' death, I found his hoard of gambling money. There was enough there to send to my mother to pay her back and for a stage ticket. It got me as far as Virginia City."
Emily became visibly upset, twisting and untwisting the napkin that she held. "After all that, I can't spend evenings sitting around Mrs. Hawkins' parlor chatting about young men and the latest fashions. As for Hoss Cartwright, oh Daisy, I'm as attracted to him as you say he is to me. But once he found out about me, he'd run the other way pretty quick. And if he didn't, I'm sure his father would put a stop to anything happening with us. I've heard about the Cartwrights; what an important man Mr. Cartwright is in these parts, and how close their family is. He certainly wouldn't approve of someone like me for one of his sons."
Emily had managed to stay dry-eyed while she told her story, but now at the end, the tears that she held back started to silently trickle down her cheeks.
"Emily Wood, you listen to me", Daisy ordered firmly, slapping the table with her hand and narrowly missing her teacup. "I don't hear one thing in that story to be ashamed of, except stealing from your mother, and you paid her back. Even if it was the cowardly way; sending her the money instead of taking it to her. You're not the first girl to be taken in by a handsome fellow, nor the last. Now, I'm not telling you this to brag, but at one time I was considered a fine looking woman. My Claude was short, chubby, and plain looking. Nobody could figure out what I saw in him. At one time I had fallen for a handsome face like you did. But I kept making the same mistake over and over when it came to men. It took me a long time, but I finally came to my senses, after a friend talked to me like I'm talking to you, and married Claude. A women couldn't have wanted a better husband than what my Claude was.
Now, you're smarter than I was. You learned by one mistake. But just because you made that one mistake, you think you should punish yourself your whole life. Honey, if I was allowed to have a man like Claude, even for the short time we had, after my half-dozen or so mistakes, your one mistake sure shouldn't keep you from being happy. And you didn't need to assure me that all you served was drinks. I know you well enough by know to know that.
"And as for Hoss Cartwright running the other way, or his father not approving because of your so-called past, you've got them figured all wrong. Ben Cartwright is the fairest minded person I know, and he raised those boys of his to be the same way. Just be honest with Hoss. The Cartwrights set great store by honesty.
I'm going to tell Hoss that if he asks a certain girl to the fireman's ball, that she would be delighted to go with him. I even have a green dress that would look wonderful on you. It would need cut down some, not much, because it's too small for me anymore. I couldn't bring myself to throw it out because the material is so pretty. We'll work on it Sunday afternoon. Now let's get on home, it's late."
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Emily Wood and Hoss Carwright stood hand-in hand saying their goodnights on the porch of Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house after the fireman's ball. Neither wanted to see the evening end.
"Hoss, thank you, I can't remember ever having a better time than I had tonight. I'm glad that your father and brothers were there tonight. It was nice meeting them. I havn't seen any of them in Daisy's"
Hoss looked down, blushing, into the pair of blue eyes looking up into his blue eyes. "Shucks, Emily, it's me that should be thankin you. I can't remember ever havin as good a time as tonight, either.
"If Pa eats in town, it's usually at the Cattlemen's Club or the International House, and Adam likes the International House's highfalutin cookin, and Little Joe's usually too busy drinkin beer and playin poker or chasin girls to think about eatin when he's in town. Anyway, I'm glad Adam don't go into Daisy's much. If he had met you first I wouldn't have stood a chance."
"I don't know about that Hoss." Now it was Emily's turn to blush. " I know why you came in so often. I had my eye on you too. But I was afraid."
This statement didn't surprise Hoss. "I was sure surprised when Daisy told me that you'd go to the dance with me, if I asked you. I know it ain't none of my business, but I kinda got that idea from watchin you in the cafe, how skittish you are when a fella tries to talk to you, that you had gotten grief from some man, at one time. Emily, you don't never have to be afraid of me. Will you see me again, to give me the chance to prove it to you?"
"Oh, Hoss. You don't have to prove it to me. I know you'd never hurt me or any other woman, in any way; and yes, I want to see you again. But please don't rush anything, and please don't come in the cafe this week. I need a few days to put my wits in order. We can go for a picnic next Sunday after church, if that's all right with you. I'll explain things then. Good night Hoss."
"Emily, you don't have to explain anything to me. I........"
Hoss Cartwright was left standing on an empty porch, scratching his head and staring at the door that had just quietly closed.
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Despite all the work Hoss had to keep him busy, the week ahead seemed to last a month. Finally, Sunday morning dawned sunny and balmy, and after fidgeting through the church service like a 3-year old and drawing the kind of glare from Pa usually reserved for his younger brother, it was time to collect Emily and be on their way.
Emily was waiting quietly in her usual seat in the last row of pews, hoping they could slip away without catching the attention of prying eyes. Being seen leaving church alone in a buggy with Hoss Cartwright so soon after being escorted to the fireman's ball by him would be sure the set the town busybodies' tongues wagging. However, Hoss had other ideas.
Taking Emily's arm, Hoss drew her to her feet, tucked her arm into his, and strode toward the church door. "Emily, we're friends, there ain't no reason why we should't be seen together."
"Hoss you're right, there's no reason why two friends can't leave church together. Let's go, I'm getting hungry."
Emily and Hoss joined the line to shake the minister's hand before stepping out into the summer sunshine together.
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"Oh, Hoss. Daisy was right. Hop Sing is the second best cook on the Comstock. That was a delicious. I'm stuffed. Even if a lady's not supposed to admit to being stuffed. Goodness, Hop Sing packed enough food to feed your whole family." Emily stared in dismay at the amount of food still left in the picnic hamper.
Hoss leaned back against the trunk of the tree that was shading their picnic blanket., an untouched apple in his hand. "Well, by brothers would tell you that that would be just about enough food to get me started. Usually, they'd be right. But I'm plumb off my feed today.
"I know you said we shouldn't rush anything, and I told myself that I should take it slow and easy and not scare you away. Daisy could tell you I'm usually a patient man who thinks things over careful like. My little brother is usually the one who rushes head first into things. But I'm gonna come right out and say it now anyway, and take my chances. Emily, I love you. I've never felt this way about any woman before. And don't tell me I haven't known you long enough to love you. My pa's been married 3 times. His first wife, Adam's ma, was the only one he knew a long time before he asked her to marry him. He didn't know my ma long and Joe's ma even a shorter time. If you want me to stay away from you for awhile, to give you time to think about how you feel, deep down, I will."
Flustered, Emily jumped up from her seat on the blanket and started to walk away from Hoss. However, after only a few steps, she stopped and hesitantly turned back.
"I don't have to think about how I feel. I know how I feel. I love you too, Hoss. But things are complicated. No, don't say anything. Just listen, please." Standing, looking out over the calm blue of Lake Tahoe, Emily told Hoss the tale she had told to Daisy a few weeks earlier.
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Emily managed to hold her tears back until she was finished with her story. Now as she stood with her back to Hoss, unable to look at him, they fell freely down her cheeks. She did not realize that Hoss had risen from his seat on the blanket until she felt his hands on her shaking shoulders as he gathered her into his strong, gentle arms.
Emily's sobs stopped, but the two stood entwined in the comfort of each other's arms, neither one wanting to be the first to break the embrace. Finally, Hoss cupped Emily's chin in his hand, firmly, but as carefully as if it were made of fine china, and tipped her head up to look into his eyes.
"I wish that no-good skunk was still alive, so I could wring his neck. Emily, please don't punish yourself because of him. There's no reason to. You haven't done anything that should keep you from having a second chance at being happy. I know I'm just a big clumsy cowboy, and not the handsomest man around, but I'd be honored and the happiest man on the Comstock if you'd let me be the one you picked for your second chance. Marry me, Emily."
Hoss almost couldn't believe Emily's answer of, "Oh, Hoss, yes, yes, I'll marry you."! And then a look of apprehension crossed his face at her next words. " But there are three conditions you have to agree to, right now. I don't ever want to hear you talk about yourself like that again. You're not clumsy. I enjoyed every minute we spent on the dance floor last week. And you are one of the handsomest men around. Besides, being the kindest, gentlest, and sweetest man I've ever met. The second condition is that I want to tell your pa what I just told you about myself. Daisy told me how close you all are and I want your pa to know exactly what he's getting for a daughter-in-law. If he doesn't approve of me, the third condition is that you forget about marrying me."
Hoss would have happily agreed to anything at the moment, but he had no qualms about accepting Emily's condition of telling his father the circumstances of her marriage to Lucus Wood. As for the third condition, there was nothing to worry about. He knew his father, and his brothers for that matter, as well as he knew himself. They would welcome Emily with open arms and hearts. As for the first condition she insisted on, maybe he should have Emily see Dr. Martin about spectacles.
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The only sound in the great room was the crackling & snapping of the fire that Ben had laid earlier to banish the evening chill. Ben Cartwright, sat in his accustomed red leather easy chair beside the massive fireplace; Adam, sprawled in the blue chair opposite his father; and Little Joe, perched on the woodbox beside Ben's chair. None of them could take their eyes off Hoss and Emily, sitting, side-by-side, clutching each other's hand, on the settee.
Finally, Ben broke the silence, going to the settee and taking Emily's trembling hand in his. "Emily, my dear, I've waited a long time for this news from one of my sons. I'm delighted that you're going to be my first daughter-in-law. Though, if I may be frank, there is one thing that does bother me, and I'm insisting that it's remedied before a wedding takes place. Now, Hoss, sit back down, and hear me out before you say anything. You can't start a new life as a wife without filling your obligations as a daughter. I can understand your reasons for sending your mother the money instead of taking it to her. I have a son who'd do it that way." Ben glanced fleetingly at his youngest.
"Before Hoss takes you home tonight, I want you sit down at my desk and write your mother so that you can mail it first thing in the morning. Tell her that you're sorry for worrying her and that you love her, and tell her that your can't get married without her here. I insist on paying the stage fare for her and your sister and that they stay here with us, we have plenty of room, and I don't want any argument about that.
"Now, I promise this will be the extent of my interference. Congratulations, son." Ben pumped his beaming middle son's hand while attempting to kiss the cheek of his astonished future daughter-in-law, while also managing to shout for Hop Sing to bring glasses and his best bottle of brandy.
Meanwhile, Little Joe and Adam had both made it across the room in one exuberant bound and joined their father in pumping Hoss's hand and pounding on his back. A more decorous best wishes, but just as heartly meant, were extended to their future sister-in-law as she stood clinging to Hoss's arm, tears of joy in her eyes.
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The June sunlight gleamed through the stainedglass windows of the Virginia City Community Church, bouncing their rainbow of colors off of the whitewashed walls. A big cowboy with thinning light brown hair and blue eyes stood nervously smiling the charming gap-toothed smile that first caught the attention of the attractive auburn-haired woman who in just a few moments would become his bride.
Standing beside him, both almost as nervous as the groom, were his brothers, and arrayed before him, in the pews were his and Emily's friends. The whole congregation, had in fact stayed after services that Sunday to witness the wedding of these two well-liked people. Front and center, in the first pew, sat a middle-aged copy of Emily, dabbing at her eyes with her immaculate white lace hanky.
Finally, the minister's wife struck up the first chords of "the Wedding March" and all eyes turned to the church door.
First in sight was Emily's dearest friend and Matron of Honor, Daisy. Hoss's smile changed from nervous to proud as behind Daisy, a vision in beige satin and lace, clinging to his beaming father's arm, started down the aisle on her first steps into her, no their, new life.
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Emily Cartwright laid in her husband's arms gazing dreamily at the canopy of stars overhead. The sounds of crickets and other small night creatures could be heard over the low crackling of their campfire.
"Em, honey, are you sure you want to spend a whole week campin up here?" Hoss asked his new wife bewilderdly. "Just say the word and we'll be on the stage to San Francisco. I don't feel like I'm providin you with much of a honeymoon."
"Oh, no, Hoss. I don't care if I ever see San Francisco again. Besides, this is the best place I can think of to spend our honeymoon; on the spot where our house will be. " Emily sighed contentdly. " What did you say you call that meadow, Hoss Heaven? It fits. I could do nothing all week but sit here and picture how our house will look. It's so nice of Adam to draw up plans for it. I think him, and your pa, and Joe are just as excited about building our house as we are.
"At first, when your pa made me write to my mother. I thought he was being so high-handed. But I'm glad he made me. Our wedding was beautiful, but it wouldn't have
been the same without Mama. I really didn't expect her to come, till I actually saw her get off the stage.
"I wish my sister, Annie, could have come, but being in the family way she couldn't make a trip like that; and I'm relieved she's forgiven me for running away and for missing her wedding. Tommy Ferguson's a nice boy. She's known him most of her life. He'll be a big help in the store, too. Mama was worried that I'd be upset that she's going to leave the store to them when she's gone, but I told her it's only fair. They're the one's there working in it"
"Yea, I like your mama a lot. I promised her we'd go to Arizona to see them when the baby comes. That is if there's no reason why you couldn't travel." Hoss said, tenderly stroking his wife's auburn hair.
Emily set up puzzled at that last statement. "What do you mean, if there's no reason I couldn't travel? Why couldn't I travel? Oh, that reason! Well, you never know. I think your pa's itichin to be a grandpa."
Emily sighed happily and snuggled closer to her husband's massive chest as she settled down for her first night of sleeping in her husband's arms and anticipating the first morning she would wake up with his beloved face beside her. Above their heads the stars twinkled out as the moon rose high over the grove of trees moving slightly in the gentle night breeze.
Revised