“Ye be wanting two of those.” Aggie appeared at her side after the ringing of the bell at the door.
“Seems like a lot.”
“It’ll be harder to carry, but it’s harder to watch men starve.”
Beti thought of the children belonging to the men who’d come to the organizational meeting. “I do have some extra room.”
“I will bring extra too. As long as we protect it and don’t lose it in a river, we should get to Kentucky without starving.”
“What have ye heard?”
“That it’s hard going. I have also heard that plenty of folks make it and the land is worth the trouble.”
“I’m banking on it.”
“I will be happy to help ye pack yer wagon. I learned a few things traveling with the Army that will help ye keep yer goods dry.”
“I thought the duck cover would suffice to keep the inside dry.”
“In a light drizzle maybe. I found that a plank properly placed across the barrels helped. Nothing can stop the humid weather, but it helps keep the rain out.”
Aggie slipped her arm through Beti’s guiding her out of the store. “About the extra wagon situation.”
Beti sighed.
“Let’s get some chocolate.”
Miss Polly’s mealtimes were not to be missed, and Beti was glad they arrived in time to avail themselves of the midday meal.
“Can ye tell me what this is about?” Aggie asked once they’d filled their plates with ham and their cups with warm chocolate.
Beti opened her mouth to deflect and instead it all came out. Her mother’s death, removing to North Carolina. Aggie’s eyes filled with tears when she told of the hurtful neighbors. They fell when she told of her father’s death and the need to bury him twice to protect the sanctity of his final resting place. Anger made Aggie strangle her napkin when she heard of the looters, and she paled when Beti described the looters at Doc Campbell’s house.
Beti’s chocolate was nearly cold when she finished speaking. All the bluster gone, she let her shoulders sag unburdened. If the lightness of her heart was anything to go by, she’d done the right thing. Once again she thanked God for sending her a real friend, one who didn’t see the stamp of her earthly father. And one who’d seen hard times and knew how to deal with hard men.
“Captain Taylor’s order may just be a Godsend. I do not understand how anyone could be spreading rumors about you, but ye should have protection especially since ye have seen those men here.”
“Agreed.”
“How sure are ye the men ye saw were the looters?”
“As sure as I can be.”
“Well, there is only one thing to do then. I will arrange everything.”
Thankfulness filled her heart at the generosity of her friend. “I cannot let ye do such a thing. The man will be working for me. I need to choose.”
“And ye shall, but ye hardly need to be posting notices all around town that ye are alone. Just leave it to me. I will arrange everything. All ye have to do is show up tomorrow morning in the tavern yard.”
Beti didn’t like it, but she had not thought of a better way to maintain her anonymity. She could always choose none of the men who arrived. “All right, I will be there, but I reserve the right to turn them all down.”
“Agreed.”
Miss Polly squinted into the noonday sun as they approached her porch. “I have heard ye are looking for a man to accompany ye to Kentucky.”
Beti disengaged her arm and climbed the steps next to Aggie. “Yes, ma’am, I am.”
“Ye should talk to Toby.”
“He works for ye, Miss Polly. I wouldn’t take ye help.”
“Nonsense. He works for me to make money to go West.” She leaned in with a smile. Before retreating into the house.
Toby worked hard from all she’d seen. He didn’t talk much, but she did not worry too much about that. He was kind to Nellie.
“Excuse me.” Beti turned to go back down the porch steps in search of Toby.
“Tell him to come to the tavern yard tomorrow morning, nine o’clock sharp,” Aggie instructed.
Beti nodded. Bleating filled her ears as she crossed the yard. Nellie arrived at her side, Beti sent a hand through the soft fur. Truth was she’d not paid much attention to the man that worked for Miss Polly. They entered the barn to find him scooping feed. Nellie dropped her mouth in what Beti always thought of as a smile when she saw the man.
Now she noticed that Toby stood only five or six inches taller than her own five feet. Dark hair curled around his ears, and serious blue eyes regarded her from under his worn felted hat. White creases in his tanned face told her he was older than she’d originally thought.
“Mr. Toby.”
“Ma’am.” He continued to scoop feed from barrel to bucket.
“Miss Polly tells me ye are looking to remove to Kentucky.”
