Where It All Began

 by Heidi E. (ages 14-17)

   Elizabeth Johnson watched as the stage took Mother, Aron, Rose, and Mark. She thought about when Mother had announced that she was going to leave.

  “Elizabeth, now that I and the younger children have nothing to do here, we are going to go back to Pittsburgh.” Mother said, glancing at her daughter.

   Elizabeth nodded and said, “Mother if you do, could I stay here? I could open a shop here and make a living.”  

   Mother started to shake her head. “Absolutely not! Imagine a young lady, staying here! Alone! It’s indecent and dangerous!”

   Elizabeth stared at her mother and said, “Mother! I am 21 years old! I can take care of myself!”

   Her mother sighed and said, “Elizabeth, if you think it best to stay here, then stay. I can’t stop you. You are old enough. I want you to stay with Mrs. Finnick.”

   Elizabeth nodded her agreement and hugged her mother. “Thank you Mother!”

    Elizabeth turned and headed down the crowded sidewalk toward Mrs. Finnick’s boarding house. In front of the two story white building, she paused and looked back. She sighed and thought, Maybe I should have gone. I miss them already!

***** 

    Elizabeth fanned her face as the pastor ended the prayer he was saying, and everyone stood up. As people made their way toward the double doors, the pastor and his wife greeted them. When Mrs. Finnick and Elizabeth got their turn to talk to them, she was glad for the fresh air coming and hitting her hot face. She put on her best smile and greeted them.

   “Hello Mrs. Kinndle. Thank you, Pastor Kinndle, for the sermon. It was a moving one.” She said, shaking his hand.

   Pastor Kinndle smiled and said, “I am glad, Miss johnson. I was hoping that it was good.”

  She turned to leave, and gasped in fresh air. She smiled when Mrs. Finnick came up and said, “Eizabeth, would you like to come over to the Pastor’s house with me tonight? Mrs. Kinndle asked us over.” 

   Elizabeth nodded. “I would like that.” 

   “Miss Johnson, may I walk you home?”

   Elizabeth turned. A man with broad shoulders was standing with his hat in his hand, and he had a scruffy-like beard. She smiled and said, “Tad. I missed you the other day in my shop. Where had you been?”

   Tad grinned and said, “I was at my claim.”

   She nodded and said, “That's nice.”

   He shuffled nervously and looked at the ground. “May I walk you home?”

   Elizabeth smiled and said, “You may.” Tad grinned and looped her arm in his. Then he started to talk.

   “Elizabth, after we marry, I will make us the best house in all of San Francisco, and you will live like a queen, with all the money I will find....”

    Elizabeth stopped in front of Mrs. Finnicks boarding house and turned to Tad.  “This is where I stop. Goodbye.”

   Tad grabbed onto her hand and exclaimed, “Elizabeth! But I have not finished tellin-”

   Elizabeth held up her hand and said, “Sir, I like people who, I will say bluntly, do not immediately think that they are going to marry the first girl he meets. I must stop here.” She pulled her hand from his grasp and continued, “I do not think you will be escorting me home anymore.”

   Tad stared at her then placed his hand on her cheek and said, “My dear, I think you are mist-”

   She shook her head and stepped away from him. As she turned to go, he opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Mrs. Finnick came up and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “Dear, we are going to leave for the Pastor's house in an hour.”

   She nodded and went inside. She felt kind of sorry for Tad, but at the same time, he could be a little……impertinent. She hurried up the stairs and closed her bedroom door.

****

   She turned the sign to Elizabeth’s Mercantile from We’re Closed to We’re open, and then turned and glided to behind the counter. She picked up the duster, and while she waited for her first customer, she dusted and rearranged shelves.

  The tiny store that she owned had a counter for the cashier, and candy. Behind it was bolts of fabric that she had set at eye level, which was arranged in an array of beautiful vibrant colors. In front of the counter were big barrels of pickles and flour. The walls were covered by shelves that were full of canned goods, shoes, pans, ect.

   She heard the bell ding, and she smiled and turned around. “Hello Mrs.Yamin. How are you today?”

   Mrs. Yamin smiled and said, “I am good, thank you. I have come for a pair of boy's boots.”

  She turned to the wall by the right of the door, and Elizabeth smiled and headed over to help her, knowing that she usually chose the wrong size of boots. Mrs.Yamin had moved in front of the mens boots, and she reached out and took a piar. 

   She turned and said, “What about these ones?”

   Elizabeth just smiled and answered, “Those ones you probably won’t want. Would you maybe like this pair?” She picked up a pair of boy’s boots that was made for a boy 8-9 years old. “I am sure Benny would like these ones.”

   Mrs. Yamin nodded and said, “I agree.”

   She grabbed the pair that Elizabeth had and placed the ones that she had originally back in the men’s section and turned toward the counter. She set them on the counter and waited for Elizabeth.

  Right after Mrs. Yamin paid for the boots, a man with an unshaven face, dirty patched clothes, and ragged boots burst through the door and stalked up to the counter. Right behind him came more miners, women, and nicely dressed men. The man who had stalked up stared down at her through bushy eyebrows, and boomed, “Are you thes ownar of this ‘ere shop?”

   Elizabeth nodded and the man placed a nugget of gold the size of his thumb on the counter. “I’a wan’ some oh that canned goods, an’ I’a alsa want some-a that tobacco. I want’a flour, a pair oh boots, an bacon.”

   She nodded and gathered the things he wanted. She placed the desired bag on the counter, and the man pushed his nugget toward her and left. She grabbed it and placed it in her money box.

*****

   Elizabeth sat down on a stool, and sighed. The place had been hopping from customers till recently. The only people left was a lady with a baby, a young boy looking at the candy, and a man looking at some boots. After the people had left, she sat down to her lunch. She slowly ate her food, then she stood up, ready for some more customers. The next person to walk in was a man, who surprisingly, was clean, and had a shaven face, nice clothes, and had his hat in his hand. 

   “Howdy ma'am. I was wondering if you could tell me if you are carrying flour? And bacon?”

   Elizabeth smiled at his kind manners, and then nodded. “Yes sir. I carry those things. Anything else?”

   The man ticked off the things he needed and then paused. “That’s it I think.” She nodded her head and turned to get the items that he wanted. The man continued on, “Are you the owner of this shop, or do you work here?”
       Elizabeth turned and placed the bags on the counter. She went around the counter and scooped some flour into a paper bag. “Yes, I am the owner. Here you are sir. That will be 3 dollars.”

   The man nodded his head and pushed the desired amount of gold toward her. He turned to go and she said, “Good day sir.”

   The man paused and said, without turning around. “My name is James. James Carter.” Then he left.

   Elizabeth slowly put the gold in her money box. Then sat down on the stool to think. He has better manners than any other man that has come in here. She smiled. Elizabeth! Stop thinking and get to work! 

   She stood up with determination and put a smile on her face. A lady walked in, and she greeted her. “Good day Mrs. Welling.”

***

   Elizabeth glanced around in frustration, and then sighed. It was no use. She was never going to find her glove in time. I mean, I am going to take off the gloves at the store anyway. She smiled and placed her hat firmly on her head. She took a deep breath, getting ready for the criticism from all the old lady’s, and headed out onto the sidewalk. 

   She turned toward her shop, and made haste, in order to not come in contact with any of the lady’s who thought ‘it is not proper’ for a woman not to wear gloves. She turned the corner and almost smashed into a town resident, Mrs. Haben.

  “Goodness gracious, child! You should be careful!” She stepped back in astonishment, and studied Elizabeth’s dress. Elizabeth tried to move around her, but she grabbed her arm and said, “Elizabeth! You’re not wearing your gloves!”

   Before she could say more, and when Elizabeth thought that she was going to be stuck there for a while, she heard a voice behind her.

   “Miss Elizabeth, may I escort you to the shop?”

   Elizabeth turned and found James Carter standing behind her, hat in hand. She smiled and slipped her arm into his. She then turned to Mrs. Haben and said sweetly, “I will definitely take care from now on, Mrs. Haben.”

   Mrs. Haben nodded and said, “See that you do.” Then she turned and left. 

   Elizabeth sighed in relief, and James asked, “What was that for?” 

   She giggled and said, “Let’s just say that some people like to make sure that us ‘young generation’ needs to dress properly.” He chuckled and they walked down the street. She smiled at people going by, but when she got in front of her shop, she sighed with relief. No one else had stopped her. She turned to thank him, and he bowed. 

   “It was my pleasure to escort you. May I do it again soon?”
        She blushed and said, “Yes, you may.”

                          *****

   Elizabeth smiled when she saw James outside, and she thought, I like it when he comes each week. It’s q- She didn’t finnish her thought before the bell rang, and she stood up. She smiled and said, “Hello sir, may I help you?”

   The scruffy man grinned, revealing rotten and broken teeth. “Howdy, lady! I’a want some oh that’a there tobacco.”

    She nodded, and when she turned to get it, she heard the bell on the door jingle again. She turned and placed the tobacco on the counter and nodded when the man handed over some gold. She placed it in the money box, and when she turned around again, the man was leaning over the counter. 

   She stepped back in surprise and said, “May I help you in anything else?”

   The man grinned again and then answered her question, “We-ll lady, you sure are’a mighty perrty. An I jest wunt to ask, may I escort yuh home?” 

   Elizabeth stepped backward in  surprise again, and then said, “I will have to decline sir.”

    The man’s face crumpled a little, and then he smiled again.  “Wall, I guess I an going ta have ta convince yuh a different day’a.”

    “You guessed correctly. Miss johnson does not want to do that right now. Goodbye sir.”

   The man turned in astonishment and then hastily went out the door. James Carter smiled and said, “Howdy, Miss Johnson. I came for my regular supplies.”

   Elizabeth smiled and then said, “I will get them for you, Mr. Carter.”
         James nodded his head and said, “You can call me James.”

   She set the stuff he wanted onto the counter, then smiled and said, “I will as long as you agree to call me Elizabeth.” James grinned, then turned and left. Elizabeth sat down on the stool behind the counter, then started to write a letter to her mother.

    Dear Mother,

I have been doing great, and I met this man named James Carter. He has nice manners, and 

    When she got to this part, she stopped and pondered what she should write next.

****

   Elizabeth sighed as she glanced into the mirror. She brought her hands up to adjust her hair, then let her hands fall limply to her sides. She turned and grabbed her gloves and hat, then sighed again. No one had asked to take her to the dance at the Finny’s house. 

   She studded herself in the mirror again and mumbled, “Elizabeth Johnson, stop fretting and go to that dance!” She slipped the gloves on her hands, plopped her hat on her head, took a deep breath, and headed out the door. 

   She turned to the left, heading away from her shop, and stumbled into someone. She looked up and blushed. “James, I’m sorry, I was not watching where I was going.”  

   James Carter grinned and said, “That’s okay Elizabeth. I was just coming to ask you if I could escort you to the Finny’s barn dance. May I?”

   She nodded her head slowly, and croaked out, “Yes.”

   He smiled and linked his arm in hers, then started to walk. They stayed silent for a while, and right before they got to the Finny’s, James started to talk. “So, how is your family?” 

   Elizabeth gulped slightly and thought, Why am I so nervous? Aloud she said, “They are quite well, thank you. And how are your’s?” 

   He glanced down at her then back up. “I don’t know. I haven't heard from them for a while.”

   She nodded and then glanced up at him. They walked into the Finny’s yard, and then headed for the barn, and then stopped right outside. James bowed and then said, “It was my pleasure to escort you. May I escort you back?”

   Elizabeth blushed, and hoped that it was too dark to see. “Yes, you may.” After a few months of coming to my shop, he still is so nice. She turned and entered the barn, then looked around for Patty, her friend. She spied her over to the right, and she headed over. The barn was full of swirling couples. And the band was doing a lively tune. They were doing the Virginia Reel, and Elizabeth scooted out of the way of a couple. 

   “Hey Patty.” She grinned at her friend and gave her a hug. Patty was a year younger than her, and she was already married. 

   Patty smiled and said, “I am great, how about you?”

   Before she could answer, she heard someone go, “Eh-hem.” 

    She turned and asked, “Yes?”

   James Carter stood in front of her and grinned. “May I have this next dance?”

   She smiled and then said, “Yes, you may.”

                                                  ****

   Elizabeth sighed in delight. The barn dance had gone extremely well. James had danced with her all night, and she had loved every moment of it. James came up and smiled down at her. “Are you ready to go?”

   She nodded and James linked arms with hers, then they went out into the clear night. The moon was full, and people were streaming from the barn.  

   She let James lead her toward town, and sighed again. James glanced down at her and asked, “What?”

She smiled and said, “This night was so lovely.”

   He smiled then paused. He glanced around and said, “Elizabeth, I was wondering if you would be willing to let me…court you?”

   Elizabeth stared straight ahead, then started to nod. “Yes.” She said it in a small voice, then she said it louder. “Yes.”

      She heard him let out a big breath, and she grinned. James grabbed her hand and said, “Thank you, Beth.”

                                             ****

   A few months later, James asked Elizabeth if she would marry him, and she said yes. James had bought a ranch, and they settled down and had 6 children, Justin, Chad, Katherine, Mitch, Melinda, and Andrea. 16 years after marrying Elizabeth, James Carter died during a round up accident, by being thrown from his horse.

   Elizabeth handed over the job of the ranch to her three sons; Justin became a lawyer, and Chad and Mitch became ranchers. Katherine was married, Melinda was too small to do anything, and Andrea was still a toddler. Elizabeth was heartbroken, but she got through it all, by leaning on Christ.