FOUR

The crisp winter air nipped at their cheeks as Henry and Luke made their way back to the mercantile. The setting sun cast long shadows on their path, and Luke could see Henry’s excitement; the hard-earned nickels jingling in his pocket from all the nickels he’d earned were a reminder of his determination and effort. He laid his hand on his son’s shoulders.

“I’m proud of you,” he said.

“Thanks, Pa. And thanks for helping me.”

“You’re welcome.”

As they entered the mercantile, the familiar ring of the bell over their heads greeted them, and the warm glow of the lamps illuminated the shelves lined with goods. The store owner, Mr. Thompson, looked up from his ledger with a welcoming smile.

“Good evening, young man,” he said as Henry approached the counter.

“I have enough money for the card now,” Henry announced, his voice brimming with pride.

Mr. Thompson smiled with admiration. “That’s wonderful, young man. I knew you could do it. The card is twenty-five cents.”

As Henry dug into his pocket, the man retrieved the card from behind the counter, setting it down in front of Henry. The pristine paper glistened in the light from the lanterns hanging around the store. Just as pretty as it was the first time Luke saw it, his heart couldn’t help but melt a little at the thought of Henry giving it to Grace.

Henry carefully counted his five nickels and set them on the counter, sliding them over one by one as he counted them again. His tiny hands trembled slightly with excitement. Mr. Thompson accepted the coins with a warm smile and handed the card to Henry. “Thank you for your purchase, young man. You’ve worked hard for this. I know your mama is going to love it.” The store owner glanced at Luke. “You’re raising a fine boy there, Sir. His dedication is something to be proud of.”

“I agree with you fully, Mr. Thompson.” Luke laid his hands on Henry’s shoulders. “Well, son, we should probably get back to the house. I’m sure your mama will have supper ready and waiting for us by the time we get home.”

The two left the mercantile, and as they made their way back to the wagon, with a slight bounce to his step, Henry clutched the card tightly against his chest. Luke walked beside his son, silently thanking the heavens for the gift of his son and the lessons of love and hard work he was learning. Luke knew that this Valentine’s Day would be one to remember, not just for Henry’s gift but for the journey they had taken together.

“I can’t wait to give it to her,” Henry said.

“And I can’t wait to see it.”

***

As the wagon rolled toward the cabin, Grace stood on the porch. Her smile was as bright as the setting sun, and as she cradled Baby Jack and waved, Henry sucked in a breath and hid the card behind his back.

“I don’t want her to see it before I can give it to her, Pa,” he said. A crease formed on his forehead, and his eyes widened.

“Don’t worry.” Luke stopped the wagon. “Go inside, Grace!” he shouted. “Henry has a surprise for you!”

Grace’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she nodded, turned, and went inside, closing the door softly behind her. Baby Jack’s happy squeals echoed from inside the cabin as Henry and Luke climbed out of the wagon, and the two looked at each other and laughed.

“He is not a happy baby,” Luke said.

“No, he’s not.”

“He’ll calm down as soon as we get inside.”

The two made their way across the porch, and upon opening the door, Baby Jack’s screams sounded off the walls inside. Grace smiled, but Luke could tell it was a forced smile as though she was happy to see them and happy they were home, but she wasn’t too happy about a baby screaming in her ear.

“Here, I’ll take him.” Luke stretched out his arms, stealing the infant from his wife. Jack settled almost instantly, looking up at his father with red, puffy eyes and tears streaming down his cheeks. “It’s all right, Jack, I’ve got you.”

“He was not happy with me taking him inside,” Grace said, wiping her brow with the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry to make you do that. But Henry was worried.”

“I understand.” She smiled, and although there was a hint of her frazzled nerves in the way she spoke and moved, she also held a calmness. It was the same way contentment he saw in her every night when she knew her family was home safe for the night. The aroma of a hearty stew simmering on the stove wafted around them, and he leaned in, kissing her cheek.

“So, what is this surprise you have for me?” she asked Henry.

Henry’s lips spread into a huge grin, and he stepped forward, pulling the card from behind his back. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mama. I got this for you.”

Grace’s eyes widened in surprise as she took the card, her fingers tracing the delicate lace and intricate designs. Tears welled in her eyes, and as she flipped it over and read the heartfelt message on the back, she brushed her fingertips against her lips. “Oh, Henry, it’s beautiful! Thank you so much, my sweet boy,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. She enveloped Henry in a warm hug, whispering in his ear, “I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect son than you.”

Henry’s cheeks flushed, and he hugged his mother back. “I worked hard for the money, too. Doing jobs for Uncle Carter, Uncle Mason, Uncle Brooks, and Grandpa Weston.”

“You did? Well, then that makes the card even more special.”

Henry hugged her again, and a lump formed in Luke’s throat.

The journey they had embarked on to get the card, the lessons learned, and the love shared were immeasurable.

As they sat down to dinner that evening, the warmth of the cabin and the glow of the family’s love filled the room. The Valentine’s Day card stood proudly on the mantelpiece, a symbol of Henry’s hard work, dedication, and love between a mother and son. This Valentine’s Day, though simple in its celebration, would be etched in their memories forever, a reminder of the power of love and the importance of family.

THE END

 

 

 

Do you want to know how Grace, Luke, and Henry met and became a family?

THREE

After their successful visit to Uncle Brooks’ and Uncle Carter’s places of business, Luke and Henry made their way to Uncle Mason’s, an old gold miner known for his tales of adventure and a heart of gold. As they approached the quaint cabin nestled at the edge of the town, the sound of clucking chickens filled the air.

Despite Mason’s objection to the feathered fowl, Aunt Cora had made it her mission in the last several months they’d all lived in Oregon City to have as many chickens as their property could hold.

Luke remembered how much Mason had protested at first. But after Cora made an agreement with the mercantile to buy the eggs, turning quite the profit on her flock, he had since resigned to being quite happy with the chicken arrangement they had come to.

Mason was sitting on the porch, carving a piece of wood as Luke and Henry approached, and noticing the movement, he looked up.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite nephew,” he said.

“Uncle Mason, I’m your only nephew.”

Mason smiled and nodded his head. “Well, that’s true. But I’m sure there will come a time when I’ll have more, and when that happens, you’ll still be my favorite, so I might as well just give you the title now. Don’t you think?”

Henry shrugged. “I suppose so.”

Mason laughed. “So . . . you look like you’re a man on a mission. What can I help you with today?”

Before Henry could answer, the cabin’s front door opened, and Aunt Cora stepped outside. She carried their son Benjamin in her arms, and as soon as the little boy saw Henry and Luke, he fought against his mother’s grasp, wiggling something fierce in her arms.

She set the boy down, and he ran across the porch on his wobbly little legs. Mason reached out and grabbed him before he fell off the stairs.

“Luke. Henry. What a pleasant surprise. What brings you two by this afternoon?” Cora asked, ignoring how her husband had just saved their son from a nasty fall.

“Good afternoon, Aunt Cora,” Henry said. He smiled, and a sense of confidence brimmed in his eyes. “I’m trying to earn money to buy a Valentine’s Day card for Mama. Do you have any jobs I could do?”

Mason’s eyebrows rose in surprise, but before he could respond, Cora stepped forward, wrapping one arm around Henry’s shoulders. Her smile beamed. “I think that is a lovely idea, Henry. Grace will most certainly love such a gift from you. I don’t know if Uncle Mason has a job, but I know I do. It’s about time I feed the chickens this afternoon, and I would be happy to have the help.”

“I can feed the chickens,” Henry said, glancing at Luke. “Can I, Pa?”

“Of course.”

Cora patted the boy’s shoulders. “All right, then. Come along, and I’ll show you what to do.”

Luke followed behind Henry and Cora as the pair made their way to the barn, stepping around the countless feathers littering the ground. Chickens clucked all around them, and as Cora handed Henry the feed scoop, the birds began flocking around him.

“Here is the corn bin. Just scoop it up and sprinkle it all around the barn.”

“All over?”

Cora nodded. “Yes, all over. Don’t worry. They will find every last piece.” She laughed.

Henry did as she said, sprinkling the dried kernels all over the ground. The more he gave them, the more birds came from their hiding places in the bushes and trees outside. The flock followed him everywhere he went, and his laughter mingled with their excited clucks and pecks.

“How many scoops do you want me to give them?”

“Just two. Once you’re done, you can help me collect the eggs. Mr. Jones at the mercantile needs more eggs tomorrow, and I want to have enough for him.”

“Sure.”

Henry gave the chickens a second scoop of feed before he returned the scoop to the feed bin and followed Cora to the coop. She handed him a basket and lifted the hinged door to expose the nests of straw inside. “Just grab them one by one and set them carefully in the basket.”

Henry grabbed each one, counting all the different white and brown ones as he set them in the basket. He cradled each one as he finished, and Cora let down the coop door; he handed her the basket.

“I counted forty eggs, Aunt Cora.”

“Forty is a great haul, Henry. Mr. Jones will be so excited to get that many.” She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and led him toward the barn door where Luke and Mason had been watching. “Mason, he did a fine job and deserves his pay now.”

“You’re the boss.”

Mason dug into his pocket, pulled out a nickel, and handed it to Henry. “Here you go, young man.”

“Thanks, Uncle Mason and Aunt Cora. I just need one more nickel, and then I can buy Mama her present.” He turned his attention to Luke. “Can we go see Grandpa Weston now?”

“Of course.”

***

As Luke and Henry arrived at Weston and Winona’s cabin, they found Grandpa Weston working diligently on the wagon wheel of a wagon, his hands skillfully adjusting and tightening the wheel before he grabbed it and spun it around, stepping back to watch it spin while he looked for anything that needed tweaking.

Weston looked up with a smile as Luke and Henry approached. “Luke. Henry. What brings you two here on this fine day?” he asked, wiping his hands on a cloth.

Henry, who had grown to become quite comfortable with his mission, eagerly explained his quest to earn money for a Valentine’s Day card for Grace, and as the boy explained the situation, Weston’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he listened. “Well, Henry, I think I have the perfect job for you,” he said once Henry was finished. He pointed toward the cabin’s front door. “Follow me.”

The warm aroma of freshly baked apple pie filled the air as they entered the cabin, and as Luke shut the door behind them, Grandma Winona greeted them with a beaming smile. “What a pleasant surprise this afternoon. What brings you two by?” She glanced from Henry to Luke as she hugged Henry. Weston explained the reason and his idea for a job the boy could do, and as she looked at all three of them again, her eyes lit up. “Well, that just sounds lovely of you to do for Grace. She will love it. And luckily for you, you’re just in time,” she said, gesturing to the pie cooling on the windowsill. “It should be cool enough to slice into.”

Weston’s job for Henry was simple yet delightful: to eat a slice of the pie after helping Winona with the dishes.

With a smile on the boy’s face, Henry rolled up his sleeves and plunged into the task, washing, drying, and putting away each dish with care under Winona’s watchful eye as she stood next to him, playfully popping the sudsy bubbles from the soap that floated in the air from time to time.

Once the kitchen was spotless, Winona cut a generous slice of the pie and handed it to Henry. The boy closed his eyes as he savored each bite, and as Luke took each bite of his own slice, the sweet taste of apples and cinnamon seemed like a perfect reward for the day’s hard work.

After finishing, Grandpa Weston rested his elbow on the table and, with a grin, held out a nickel for Henry to take. “For a job well done,” he said.

Henry’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Grandpa Weston! Thank you, Grandma Winona!”  Turning to Luke, Henry’s excitement was palpable. “Can we go back to the mercantile now, Pa? I have enough money for Mama’s card!”

Luke nodded, a lump forming in his throat. “Yes, Henry, let’s get that card,” he said.

To be continued . . . 

Do you want to know how Grace, Luke, and Henry met and became a family?

TWO

Luke’s boots crunched softly on the gravel as he and Henry approached Carter’s doctor’s office; the familiar sign of the infirmary swung gently in the mild breeze. Although Henry said nothing, Luke could imagine the young boy’s heart pounding with excitement and nerves. Today, he wasn’t just visiting; he had a mission, and it was a mission for money.

Pushing the door open, they were greeted by the cozy warmth of the office, a stark contrast to the crisp air outside. Carter looked up from his desk, his spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose. “Luke, Henry, what do I owe the pleasure?” he inquired, his voice as soothing as always.

Luke nudged Henry forward, encouraging him to speak, and gathering his courage, Henry met Carter’s gaze. “Uncle Carter, do you have any jobs I could do for you?” he asked, his voice steady but revealing a hint of his underlying eagerness.

Carter’s eyes flicked to Luke, seeking an explanation, and Luke smirked. “Henry’s looking to buy a Valentine’s gift for Grace, but he’s come up short of the funds he needs. I suggested that he find a few jobs to earn the money he needs.”

“Ah. I see.” A smile broke across Carter’s face, replacing the initial surprise. “Is that how it is, young Henry?”

“Yes, Uncle Carter.”

“Well,” Carter tapped his chin. “I think I just might have something for you to do. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Klein will be in for their appointments in about an hour, and I was just thinking that it was rather chilly in the office. I wanted more wood on the stove, but my basket was empty. Can you take the basket outside and fill it for me?”

“Yes, Sir. I can do that, Uncle Carter.”

Henry’s response was immediate and enthusiastic. Without hesitation, he grabbed the empty basket near the door and headed to the woodpile behind the house. Luke followed behind him, determined not to interfere unless the boy needed help.

The winter air nipped at Luke’s cheeks as he watched his boy work, and he felt that even though the boy was cold, the thought of earning his first nickel spurred him on, helping him select several sturdy chunks of wood and balancing them carefully in the basket before making his way back inside.

The warmth of the office enveloped them as they returned, and the cold seemed momentarily forgotten as Henry rushed over to the stove with the basket and set it down.

“Did you get enough?” Carter asked.

“Yes, Sir. I think I did.”

“Well, let’s see.” Carter stood from his desk and made his way over to Henry and the stove. The two of them stacked the wood carefully, and when they were done, Carter laid his hand on the boy’s shoulder, giving him an approving smile.

“Well done, Henry. Not only do I think you picked enough wood, but you might have given me all the best pieces.” Carter reached into his pocket and pulled out a nickel. The coin gleamed in the light of the office. “Here you go. I appreciate your help.”

Henry’s eyes lit up as he took the coin. “Thank you, Uncle Carter!” he exclaimed, a mix of pride and gratitude hinted in his voice. He turned toward Luke. “Can we go to livery next to see if Uncle Brooks has a job for me?”

“Of course.”

Before Luke could say another word, Henry darted for the door. The sound of the bell chiming above the frame was the only indication that the boy had been there.

“Thank you for your help, Carter.”

“It’s no trouble. Tell Grace I said hello.”

“I will. And tell Lark I said hello, too.”

“I will.”

Luke followed behind Henry out of the doctor’s office, and as he caught up to his son, Henry clutched the nickel tightly in his hand.

After leaving Uncle Carter’s, they made their way to the livery where Uncle Brooks ran his blacksmith business. The sound of metal striking metal was a constant backdrop to their approach, and as they entered the stables, Brooks stood near the forge with a piece of red hot iron clutched in a pair of tongs in his hand. He looked over at Luke and Henry and smiled.

“Hello, Henry. Luke. What brings you two in here today?” he asked.

Luke could feel the heat from the iron, and he clutched Henry’s shoulders to stop the boy from getting too close.

Henry glanced up at his father. “Am I supposed to ask him?”

“Sure. You can.”

Henry looked between the two men before turning his sole attention toward Brooks. “I want to buy Grace a present for Valentine’s Day, and I . . . Do you have any work you need done so I can earn some money?”

Although there was still a hint of hesitation to him, Luke could see a determined undertone to Henry’s movement and his words. It was as though his earlier success at earning some money had bolstered his confidence.

A slow smile spread across Brooks’ face. “Well . . .I certainly think it’s good for a young man to start thinking about these things. I remember being about your age when I started earning my keep . . . at least a little. I can respect what you’re doing, and I have a job for you. I have to put some shoes on a horse in the last stall. Do you think you can fetch him for me?”

Henry nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

“Well, go on then. His halter and lead are hanging on the stall door.”

As Henry trotted off, Luke cocked his head to the side. “The horse is gentle, right?”

“As a lamb. I wouldn’t have sent the young man to fetch the animal if he wasn’t.”

“Thank you.” Luke chuckled, shaking his head.

“I think what he’s doing is a fine thing. You should be proud.”

“I am.”

Henry made quick work of putting the halter on the horse and leading it from the stall to the post outside. The horses’ hooves clopped softly against the ground. Once the animal was tied, Henry ran for the bucket of shoes next to the fire and followed Brooks outside, handing him one of the shoes with a broad grin on his face.

“I thank you, kind sir, for your help.” Brooks stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out several coins, laying them flat in his palm. He looked through them, finding a nickel and handing it to Henry with a twinkle in his eye. “For your work.”

Henry’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Uncle Brooks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Look, Pa!” Henry gushed. “I only need another ten cents, and I can buy Mama that card.”

“That’s good.” Luke patted his back, a silent gesture of support and pride.

“Can we see Uncle Mason and Grandpa Weston next?” Henry asked. His voice carried a note of anticipation.

“Sure, we can.”

Henry darted off again, and Luke shook Brooks’ hand. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Tell Grace I said Hello.”

“I will. And tell Harper I said hello.”

“I will.”

To be continued . . .

Do you want to know how Grace, Luke, and Henry met and became a family?

Read their story in Her Oregon Trail Rancher, #4 of the Oregon Trail Brides Series

ONE

Luke never cared much for going into town. Sure, he’d pass through it on the way to the stockyards with the cattle each month to sell, but meandering through the shops that had come and built up in Oregon City . . . well, that was something that Grace was more interested in.

He didn’t care about the latest dress shop that came into town or that they had built a library. He also never went into the mercantile unless he had to.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like the town; he just wasn’t much for the people part of it, which was why he hesitated when his son Henry came to him this morning about wanting to go into town.

“Please, Pa,” Henry had begged. “Miss Evans told us in school that Valentine’s Day was coming, and I want to get Grace something nice for a present.”

How was Luke supposed to say no to something like that?

He wasn’t.

In fact, he almost felt slightly guilty that his son wanted to give his stepmother a present when he, himself, hadn’t thought about gifting his wife anything.

What kind of a schmuck didn’t think to do something nice for his wife?

A slight growl rumbled through Luke’s chest as he pulled the wagon alongside the mercantile, and Henry jumped down.

“Go on inside,” he told the boy. “I’ll be in in a minute.”

Henry darted for the door without a word, and after tying the horse to the post, Luke followed his son inside.

The mercantile in Oregon City was a symphony of sights and sounds, a place where the community’s heart seemed to beat. Wooden shelves were laden with goods, while sacks of flour and grain were stacked neatly around barrels of molasses. Salted meats lined the walls, and the air carried the mingled scents of leather, spices, and sawdust.

“Good morning,” a man said to Luke as he closed the door behind him.

“Good morning.”

“Can I help you find anything in particular?”

“Just looking around.”

“Well, let me know if you have any questions.”

The mercantile owner turned his attention toward another man approaching the counter with an armful of supplies. The two carried on their conversation, and as Luke made his way through the store, he found Henry in the corner, looking at a display of new shovels and rakes.

“Pa, look at these,” Henry said, touching one of the shovel handles. “I’ve never seen a new one before?”

Luke chuckled. “Don’t forget why we came here today. You said you wanted to find a present for Grace, and while I’m sure she’d like anything from you, I doubt she’d be excited to receive a shovel.”

“I know.”

Luke laid his hands on his son’s shoulders, guiding him away from the tools. “So, what were you thinking of getting her?”

Henry shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought I’d just look around and see if anything catches my eye.”

“And are you sure you want to shop here? I’m sure the dress shop would have something lovely she’d like.”

Henry glanced down at the ground. “I don’t know if I have enough money for something at the dress shop.”

A sense of pride swelled in Luke’s chest. For a moment, he wanted to tell the boy it didn’t matter the cost. But he also knew that wasn’t a life lesson he needed to teach Henry.

“I’d rather shop here,” Henry continued. “I think there would be something better here anyway.”

“Of course, there is. You’ll find the perfect gift. I know you will.”

Liking his father’s answer, Henry smiled and continued about the store, weaving up and down the different aisles. Luke hung back, giving the boy room to look around and think for himself as he studied the different things he would pause on.

He moved around the store at least four times, stopping by different things each time, and by the last time around, his eyebrows began to furrow together.

“Can I help you find something, young man?” the mercantile owner finally said. He glanced from Henry to Luke, nodding at Luke before returning his gaze to Henry. It was a silent agreement that he would treat the boy like any man who entered the store.

“I’m looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for my Mama,” Henry told him.

“I see.” The owner scratched his chin. “Well, I’m not sure I have anything out there that would be suitable for a perfect gift. But, I did get in something super special in the last shipment, and it’s behind the counter.”

Henry’s eyes widened. “What is it?”

The store owner bent down, fumbling around behind the counter before he lifted a box and set it in front of Henry. “I just got these in yesterday.” He opened the box, revealing what looked like folded letters with intricate drawings and cutout patterns on the paper.

“What are those?”

“These are called Valentine’s Day cards.” The owner paused, sliding one out of the box. It had pink and red flowers painted on the front. “A woman in New York named Esther Howland created and designed them. Apparently, her cards are becoming quite popular, and in the article I read, they dubbed her the mother of the American Valentine.”

The owner showed Henry the card, opening and closing it a few times.

“It’s such a pretty piece of paper.”

“These aren’t just pieces of paper; they are like works of art. People all over the country know and describe them as intricate and beautiful and the perfect new way to express your love.”

“How much is it?”

“This one is a quarter.”

Henry’s smile faded, and he dropped his gaze to the floor. “I only have a nickel.”

Luke stuck his hand in his pocket, feeling several quarters, and while there was a part of him who wanted to pull one out and buy the boy the card, he knew he couldn’t. He had to stick to the guns; this was a life lesson Henry needed.

“You know, Henry, most men around here, when they can’t afford something, they work for it.”

“Work for it? Like doing chores and such?”

“Well, kind of. But more of like a job.”

“But who is going to hire me? I’m a kid.”

“I bet if we were to ask Uncle Carter, Uncle Brooks, Uncle Mason, and Grandpa Weston if they had anything they needed done, they would have something for you. Then you could earn enough money to buy that card.”

Henry’s face lit up again. “Do you think I can?”

“Sure.”

Henry faced the mercantile owner. “Do you think you could hold that card for me?”

The owner smiled and winked. “I think I can do that for you.”

“Thanks, Mister!” Henry spun and grabbed Luke’s hand. “Let’s go, Dad. I’ve got some money to make.”

To be continued . . .

Do you want to know how Grace, Luke, and Henry met and became a family?

Read their story in Her Oregon Trail Rancher, #4 of the Oregon Trail Brides Series