Chapter 5

Hattie

As the sun rose, Hattie woke. She could have slept in a little bit because today was her twenty-first birthday. Today she was free, her indentured service ended. A lady from the orphanage had come to see her yesterday and brought her the papers that said she was no longer in bondage to them.

Now she was ready for her new life, far away from Chicago and Papa John Torrio and his plans for her. Ever since her friend, Haddie, had shown her the telegram stating that her way to Sanctuary was covered, she had worked hard to be ready to leave. The train would be pulling out of the station at noon. She had snuck her clothes out of her room, one outfit at a time, and left them at Pastor Long and Haddie’s house. Haddie had even made her a few more suitable dresses, so she wouldn’t need to take the plain gray work dresses she wore every day. She needed to let the cook know she was going to town to celebrate her birthday so that Papa John wouldn’t be concerned when he couldn’t find her today. By the time he got concerned, she’d be long gone.

She got up and dressed in her blue church dress. It was the only clothing she hadn’t taken to Haddie’s because she wanted to wear it today. She was going to pin her hair up but decided instead to quickly braid it and then pin up the braid in a twist at the back of her head. Then, she pulled on her bonnet and raced down to the kitchen. Where she found the cook. “Well, don’t you look pretty, lassie. Where are you heading this fine da’?”

“It’s my twenty-first birthday, Cook. I’m going to go celebrate in town.”

“Lookee here, gel, you be careful and don’t go doing anything that will upset Papa John. I already got orders to have your things moved to his rooms.”

“Oh, I’m just going to spend the day looking at the sites and eat in one of those restaurants everyone’s always talking about. Nothing fancy, but fancy for me.” Hattie hated to lie to the woman who had looked after her and helped teach her to cook, but she was loyal to her employer and if she thought for one second Hattie was escaping, she’d tell Papa John in a minute.

“Well, happy birthday, lass. Have fun.”

“I will. Goodbye, Cook.”

The old lady waved her off. “Go on with ya, now.”

Hattie turned and walked to the door and was outside before she could be stopped. She didn’t know if Papa John would try to have someone follow her, so she went into town and wandered around the shops for a while, looking to see if she recognized anyone who worked for him. After about an hour of not seeing anyone, she headed for the church and, more specifically, the parsonage behind it.

She knocked on the door and was surprised when a red-eyed Pastor Long answered and stepped out, shutting the door behind him. “Hattie, happy birthday, my dear. Are you ready to leave?”

Hattie frowned. “Yes, sir. I just need to get my suitcase from your parlor and then Haddie and I can go meet the others.”

“I have your suitcase in the buggy already, but Haddie isn’t going to be able to go with you. She is very sick. I had the doctor come over last night because she is burning up with fever.”

“Oh no! Is it serious?”

“Yes, it is! He thinks it is scarlet fever and could be fatal. But, even if it isn’t, she won’t be able to travel for some time. She told me to tell you to use her ticket, as it’s already purchased. I have the funds for your food and your stage fare in this envelope.” He handed it to her. “This may be a good thing. Now you won’t have to purchase a ticket when you get to the train station and leave a clue for Mr. Torrio to follow. She did ask you to explain to her intended that she will follow with the spring train. The Good Lord willing.”

The two of them got in the pastor’s buggy and he drove them over to Pastor Jackson’s church. Once there, Pastor Long gave Hattie a quick hug and said a prayer of protection and one of blessing over her. “Make sure you write to us and let us know how things are going. I may come out with Haddie in the spring, just to meet this young man of hers and maybe of yours, too.”

“Thank you, Pastor Long, for everything. Tell Haddie I’m praying for her and will let Pastor Bryce know what happened.”

“Thank you, young lady. Now get inside the church. I believe you’ll find Pastor Jackson and his wife there, as well as the other ladies going to Montana Territory with you.”

Hattie climbed down and took her suitcase. She had put the envelope with the ticket and money in her reticule on the ride over. She took a deep breath and entered the church through the side door Pastor Long had pointed to. As the door closed behind her, a woman, just a few years older than her, looked up and smiled. “Hello, can I help you?”

“Yes ma’am. Pastor Long brought me over. I’m going to Sanctuary on the train.”

“Oh, you must be Haddie’s friend. Where is Haddie?”

“She is sick. Pastor Long said the doctor thinks it’s Scarlet Fever. She won’t be going till spring, if then.”

The woman gasped. “Oh, the poor dear. I’ll have to go see if I can help them after we get you ladies to the train. “What’s your name, dear? Haddie never told me.”

Hattie laughed, “That’s funny. I know why she didn’t, and you are going to understand why it’s funny. My name is Hattie Long.”

The woman’s mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding with me?”

“Oh, no, ma’am. Haddie and I call ourselves almost twins. It surprised us the first time as well.”

“Well, that is quite a coincidence. I’m sure the Good Lord enjoyed putting the two of you together.” She reached out and put her arm around Hattie. “I’m Linda Jackson. Let me introduce you to your travel companions. Three other ladies are heading to Sanctuary to be brides.” They stepped into a room behind the sanctuary that was obviously the pastor’s study. “Okay, ladies, change of plans. One of our travelers has taken sick, so just Hattie will be joining you. Hattie is part of Reverend Long’s church and is going to Sanctuary to meet a husband as well. Hattie, this is Virginia Snow.”

Linda pointed to a very shy-looking woman, about Linda’s age, who spoke so softly, Hattie almost didn’t hear her. “Hello.”

“Next is Nellie Clark.”

“Hi, there. Isn’t this exciting?” Nellie was a bit on the plump side and her hair was a darker blonde than Virginia’s. She was very excited and almost bouncy.

“Then there’s Josephine Wrigley.”

“Hello, my dear.” Josephine obviously came from money. She was dressed in a fashionable travel gown of forest green that set off the red color of her auburn hair and highlighted the emerald green of her eyes. Instead of a bonnet, she wore a very small hat that was stuck to her hair by a hairpin of a dragonfly, also in jade and emerald stones.

“You all can get acquainted better on the train. Pastor Bryce has informed us that he contacted the rail line and asked that all the girls traveling to Sanctuary be put in the same sleeper car. Each of you has a berth there, and you will be meeting some young women from two other churches further east, who have agreed to become brides, as well.