Westward Bound (Closed for Perplexia)

[Knightofsloth707]

Henry Wilcott stood at his hotel window, unconsciously rotating his hands around the brim of the hat he held in front of him.

Outside the bustling streets of Independence, Missouri rang with the din of wagons, shopkeepers haggling with customers, and townfolk trying to go about their business amidst the flood of newcomers.

Today might be the day she arrived.

He had placed the ad on the insistence of a friend, but had never expected anything to come of it.

A widower, aged 31, with the means to provide for a family,
wishes to make the acquaintance of a lady with a view toward matrimony.

To his surprise a few weeks later a letter arrived. They had corresponded briefly. Henry, already a man of few words, was further unsure of what to say in this instance, and elected to stick purely to the business at hand in his letters.

He needed a wife. She needed a husband. Would she join him in Oregon, where they could make a life? The answer had arrived a month ago: Yes.

Henry had come to Independence early and made all the preparations. The wagons and supplies were all in hand. All that remained was to wait for his new bride. She was to meet him at this hotel upon her arrival.

As he had done every day for the last week, Henry went down into the dining area of the hotel and sat. As agreed, he had placed a yellow dandelion in the band of his hat, which he left visible on the table next to him.

He ran his hand through his blonde hair, and then along his bearded cheek, as he often did when in thought. His index finger brushed against the long scar on his right cheek.

Only two years ago he had been Lieutenant Wilcott. After the war, Henry languished on half pay for the better part of a year before resigning his commission. All he had left now of his time in the army were the pitiful savings he'd accrued and the scar - left to him courtesy of a Mexican cavalry saber.

Henry was impatient, restless. Oregon was the chance for a fresh start. To leave behind the memories of Janie, and those short happy domestic days they'd had before she was swept off by yellow fever.

Every day here felt like time in purgatory, but still, he waited.

 

[Perplexia]

Hannah O'Leary age 20 Ireland. It wasn’t a hard to decision to go abroad for a husband and a new life. The life she had up until now hadn’t been anything to hang on to. Her choices in life were limited. Her mother had passed on when she was around the age of ten. Her childhood went out the door with it. She was her mother and fathers only child. That was till he remarried the church cow, whose own children from her previous marriage could do no wrong.

The first sign of her being jealous of the adoration her father had for her, was when she cut Hannah’s long thick red hair off making her look like a lice infestation victim. She wasn’t as hateful when her father was around. But as he worked long days in the mines, she was left taking care of the women's children as well as ensuring the house was clean.

Since her father jack slapped her for cutting her hair when she was 11, the women didn’t touch it again, just yelled and threw things. She was 19 when the mine caved in, and took him from her. The church cow wanted to send her to the work house to pay for her fathers debt, Hannah had told her exactly what she thought and how she felt about that idea.

Hannah had sought sanctuary at the church, it was there they showed her the ad for a wife needed from this man Henry. He seemed decent enough, apparently they were going to head to Oregon to live. After some rather short letters of exchange, meaning his letters were rather short to the point. Could she cook, yes, could she clean, yes, could she manage a house, yes, could she do laundry yes. Would she be okay with moving to Oregon? Yes , not an issue.

He didn’t ask her anything about herself, other than had she been previously married with or without children. It was a common understanding in this time, that single women did not partake in sexual relations with men unless they worked in a brothel. Was she raised going to church?, she answered yes. As she was currently staying in the church, and with her family she had attended, because it was what was done. But as for her own personal beliefs she hadn’t much use for religion.

With that he asked for her hand, she accepted, and off to Missouri to meet Henry the man with the yellow dandelion in the band of his hat. The ship was long and tedious, but she managed to stay away from the ill and come into New York, where she got the train out west to Independence, Missouri. She had her best dress on a blue with white lace, and a hat that matched one of the ladies from church had made her. Other than that, she brought her clothes, and a couple trinkets and a necklace her parents had given her.

She stepped into the Inn, her long red hair was tied behind her with a blue ribbon, her ample bosom pressed firmly against the confines of her dress, and her worn shoes. Then she saw the hat. “Are you Henry Wilcott?” she asked with her thick Irish Accent. I’m Hannah O’Leary” Her green eyes met his as she held out her hand to shake his.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Henry snapped to his feet, taken off guard by Hannah's whirlwind appearance.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss O'Leary," he said, taking her proffered hand lightly in his own.

She wasn't what he expected, although it is unlikely Henry could have articulated what he had expected. A vague undefined woman who would meekly take on the duties as his wife. But not to replace his deceased Janie - no one could.

Now the woman he was to marry stood before him and his undefined notions dissipated against the reality. She was beautiful, clearly - her striking red hair alone would have caught his attention. But in the green whirlpools of her eyes he saw no inkling of subservience.

What does one say upon meeting their bride, hours before they are to be wed? For Henry it was simply, "The reverend is expecting us at the church a little before sundown. I've rented a room for you upstairs where you can freshen up.”

 

[Perplexia]

"Very well" she said nodding. "I was hoping for a wee bit of lan , Pardon, I believe you call it lunch" She smiled. "I didn't eat on the train you see, they had some kind of something, those that did eat it ended up violently ill. May I sit Mr. Wilcott?"

He was quite handsome with his blond hair and beard. Mr. Wilcott seemed more kept then a lot of other people she'd seen. She was appreciative that he thought of her comfort to wash up and rest after such a train ride.

"It was a interesting trip, I found there were a lot of women that were coming over from Ireland and England to meet their future husbands. It seems to be a trend of sorts I suppose."

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Henry pulled a chair out for her, then sat back at the table himself, watching Hannah closely. He mulled over her statement for a moment.

"There's land out west," Henry said. "Green, fertile farmland - for whoever can claim it. But not enough women."

He paused. "Truth he told, it's a hard journey. Months, by wagon, across an untamed wilderness. Not everyone sets out makes it there." He watched for her reaction as he spoke.

A waiter passed by, and Henry flagged him down. "We'll have two beefsteaks, and a whiskey for me...”

 

[Perplexia]

She watched him order and nodded. "I imagine some don't. How many acres are you considering for us to work?" she questioned not reacting to the months by wagon. "

I've worked the land of my fathers farm since i was a wee lass. Mostly potatoes, but we did have some sheep , and goats and such. Goat milk makes the most divine cheese. I'm not afraid of hard work Mr. Wilcott. I wasn't born in the city with them fancy duds. I can cut wood as good as any man, I'm not scared of snakes or bears or even of wolves. Ya let them be, they often return the favor."

When the food arrived she did a quick prayer and began cutting up her beef steak. "I can also spear a fish well enough, or hunt with a bow and arrow if need be. I believe that most of the women here don't do such things and are considered delicate flowers only good enough to do laundry, cook and raise bairns." she paused for a moment "bairns. ..babies I think is the correct American term."

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Henry smiled to himself as Hannah spoke. There were women like that, particularly back east, but the frontier only bred hard souls. An image flashed in his mind: Janie, skinning a deer he'd shot, her hands coated in blood up to her elbows. She was good enough to do more than cook and clean.

"I'm glad to hear it, Miss O'Leary" Henry said. "I reckon it'll be nigh on 2,000 miles of untamed wilderness between here and there. You do your bit, and I'll see us through."

"Oregon, he said, almost in a whisper. His eyes shone as he spoke. "Land - there for the taking to whoever can reach it. Dark, rich soil. Forests, untouched by man. I intend to make a life there. A farm and a family."

He finished his whiskey. "If you'll excuse me, I need to prepare for tonight. I will see you at the church.

He stood, tipping his hat to Hannah as left. The truth was he was nervous.

 

[Perplexia]

Hannah was glad that he seemed happy and not shocked that she was use to hard work. He seemed to be very excited about their prospects for the place Oregon he was referring to. She was happy to help him in anyway she could.

She nodded "I'll do the same" Getting up she took the key he gave her and went to her room.

In her room she placed the water in the basin removed her dress and gave herself a semi bath with the towel provided. She washed her face, and redid her hair, and washed the other parts that the corset wasn't covering. She even reached down her knickers to remove the sweat from the long ride.

She shook out her dress and gave it a semi light washing of the cloth to freshen it up a bit. She smiled again at the excitement that crossed his lips when he talked about Oregon. It was going to be a long semi dangerous ride they were taking.

Putting her dress back on, she redid her hair again adding a very light amount of rouge, as she tried to prepare herself for her new life.

When done she went back down the stairs and waited for him in the lounge.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Henry prepared himself for the ceremony with what tools he had. He elected to bath, despite already having a bath earlier that week. He figured Hannah might appreciate it.

His long blonde hair he brushed back into position using a whale bone comb. Examining himself in the small hand mirror provided by the hotel he trimmed the edges of his mustache and brushed his facial hair until it all pointed the same direction.

His formal wear consisted of dark pants and a matching vest that he slipped on over his white shirt.

He'd never much cared for the spit and polish that some army officers were infatuated with. He had called them 'parade ground soldiers' and looked down on them with disdain. Regardless, there had been no avoiding a certain amount of ceremony in the army and he'd become adept at cleaning himself up, as much as he grumbled about it.

The buttons on his vest were polished to a gleaming silver, his boots cleaned of any speck of dust.

He slipped the rings in his pocket and headed downstairs.

Hannah looked refreshed from her travels and even more beautiful than before. As he descended the stairs Henry was afforded a striking view of Hannah's bosom. His heart, already beating fast from nerves, sped up a little more.

He reached the bottom of the stairs and extended his arm for her to take. "Shall we, Miss O'Leary?"

 

[Perplexia]

"It would be my pleasure Mr. Wilcot" she replied taking his arm and walking out of the hotel to go to the chapel. There were only a couple people from the church there that would serve as witness'. The chapel itself was made of wood, and painted white. The pews were beautiful designed wooden pieces of art, in her opinion.

They had to wait for another couple to finish their ceremony before they could do theirs. "Mr. Wilcott" she whispered so as to not interrupt the ceremony "What are your views on forcing intimacy with a woman, and/or laying ones hands on her with malice?" As she waited for him to speak. She caught a glimpse of the way in which the bride looked at her new husband. The love she had for him was overwhelming. Hannah's eyes turned to the groom. He as well appeared to be madly in love with his wife.

The thought of having marriage with that type of dedication of high regard of ones spouse, was something she thought she could live without. It had never been something she'd been exposed to. Her mother had been sold to her father. From what she remembered. Her mother was an expert of putting on a mask that reflected what people wanted to see. But she had also heard her weeping when she thought no one could hear.

Now here she was at the alter made of wood. A man in a robe with the bible "Turn and face me" the preacher said followed by a bunch of mumbo jumbo. "If anyone present knows of any reason these too should not be combine in marriage, speak now or forever hold your piece." the preacher then waited a moment before continuing. "Do you Henry Wilcott take Hannah Clare O'Leary to be your wedded wife, to love, honor in sickness and in heath so long as you both shall live?"