Hope Remains: A Hope Springs Fanfiction

Chapter 8

The hot, dusty road gave way to the smoother, well-worn road of the town surrounding the depot. There were far more people here than in Hope Springs, and Emma found herself watching them as they passed. Women strolled together between shops, their children playing around them. She saw men outside the sheriff's office, gun belts slung low on their hips. There were more people dressed in the latest fashions here than in Hope Springs, and she privately wondered how much bigger bustles could get before the women toppled over backward.

"Let's check the station," Papa said, turning the wagon in the direction of the depot. "We're a touch early so he might not have arrived yet."

They trundled down the street, stopping the wagon in front of the platform. Papa hopped down and then helped Emma and Ivy down from the wagon bed. She stretched her tired, stiff limbs, grateful they would likely be here for a couple of days. Papa had to get some new lumber to build a new grain shed and Katie had given them a list of things she needed for the house. Emma knew exactly where she wanted to go first. The bookseller's.

While Ivy went off to look at the wanted posters hanging up inside the depot and Papa inquired about his business partner's train—a Mr. Kent she had learned—she stepped up to the ticketing agent's window, swallowing her nerves. The man had the sad, bloodshot eyes of a basset hound, his bushy mustache covering a rather thin lower lip.

"Excuse me," she said timidly. "I want to inquire about the price of a ticket to Baltimore, Maryland."

"Maryland," the agent mused, using his pencil to skim down the list of prices before him. "Maryland... Ah, here it is. It's four dollars a night plus meals. You'll have to change trains in Saint Louis, though. All told it will probably take you five days."

She quickly added that up in her head. "Twenty dollars total then?"

"Seems like it," the man nodded, not looking up from his price list.

"Thank you," she replied, her stomach twisting. She had the money to pay for her trip to Baltimore, but after she paid college tuition, it would be harder for her to return home. Papa would be more than happy to lend her money, but she wanted to be able to do this on her own.

"I'll find a way to make some money then," she murmured. "There has to be a way."

But what could she do? She could cook, clean, sew, all things that would make her a good housekeeper. But she knew no one besides her family could afford one in Hope Springs. Perhaps she could find work in Baltimore to supplement her income...

"The train hasn't arrived yet."

Papa's voice broke into her thoughts and she turned to face him, pasting a smile onto her face.

"The station master said it was supposed to arrive this morning, but a storm in the Dakota territory delayed them."

Emma nodded. "We can take care of the shopping while we wait."

"I'll see to the lumber," he smiled, handing her some money. "Will you and Ivy take care of the list Katie gave us?"

"We will," she promised as Ivy reappeared at her side. "But I want to stop at the bookshop first."
Papa chuckled at that. "I thought you might. You and Ivy may each pick out something new, there's enough money there."

She gave her father a grateful hug. "Thank you, Papa."

"Let's go already, Emma," Ivy said impatiently. "I heard someone inside say that the mercantile has a camera! I want to look at it!"

Smiling, she let her sister lead the way. While Ivy stared mesmerized at the camera, Emma completed Katie's purchases. New ice skates for Sean and Eimear, vanilla extract from Mexico, and a few other miscellaneous items that the mercantile at home didn't have.