Free A Shelter of Hope by Tracie Peterson Page A

so. I’m making my way to …” She thought for a moment. Where could she go? The only city name that came to mind was one she remembered her father spouting off about, and that was Laramie. “I’m going to Laramie.”
    “Well, you’re in a good place for that. Stage will be heading through in about two weeks. You could catch it and it’ll take you straight there.”
    “No,” Simone said, shaking her head. “I’ll ride my horse. He’s just outside. I need to get us some feed, but then we’ll be on our way.”
    The older man stepped forward. “I’m Reverend Elias Canton,” he told her. “Who might you be, child?”
    Simone bit her lip for a moment. She wanted so much to be calm and collected about the entire encounter, but her heart was racing and her stomach was hardly satisfied with her meager offering of jerky. She felt weak, even to the point of collapse, but she couldn’t allow that to happen in front of these strangers.
    “My name is Simone.” She made a quick decision about continuing. Perhaps if she told the man her story, he’d leave her in peace. “My folks died this winter. They left me without anything but these pelts.” She felt uncomfortable in the lie but forced herself to hold steady with her story.
    “Do you have family in Laramie? Is that why you’re making your way there?” Elias Canton questioned.
    “Ah … yes,” Simone said, nodding. “I’ve come down from the mountains.”
    “How long have you been traveling?”
    “Almost two weeks. I got lost,” Simone said by way of explanation. “I’m still not even sure which direction I’ve come from.”
    “Well, no matter now. You are now among those who can help you find your way,” Elias said with a laugh. “Tom, I’ll buy those furs.” He reached into his pocket and counted out the coins for the salt, then turned to Simone and handed her several coins. “There’s more than enough here to buy your supplies and a ticket on the stage. You could come and stay with my wife and me until the road clears enough for them to make it over from Laramie.”
    “No,” Simone replied adamantly. “I’ll just get what I need and go.”
    She turned to the man at the counter. “I need matches, jerked beef—lots of it—and crackers, if you have them.” She thought for a moment and added, “I’ll also need another blanket and a canteen.” The man looked rather blankly at her for a moment, then nodded and went to retrieve what she’d asked for.
    “At least come share dinner with us. I know my Gladdy would be furious if I let you go without a hot meal to warm you.”
    “No. Thank you anyway,” Simone answered and waited until the clerk returned with the requested articles.
    “Tom, you wrap her a good portion of those dried apples, as well,” Elias commanded. “The fruit will taste mighty good to you on the road,” he told her.
    Simone nodded, not knowing how to take his kindness. The clerk wrapped everything up in the new blanket, then turned to Simone.
    “That’ll be three dollars and twenty-five cents.”
    Simone looked at the money in her hand. She knew her numbers and could add and subtract, even multiply and divide, but she’d never been given a reason to handle money. Frustrated, she looked to Elias Canton, not quite trusting either man to be honest with her.
    He smiled kindly and reached out to her open hand. “These are quarter eagles,” he told her. “They’re each worth two dollars and fifty cents. This here is an eagle. It’s worth ten dollars. This is a dime and these are nickels. They’re only worth cents. Ten cents to a dime. Five cents to a nickel.”
    “Thank you,” Simone replied and studied the money for a moment before handing the two quarter eagles to the storekeeper. “That’s four dollars and one hundred cents,” she told him proudly.
    “One hundred cents equals a dollar,” Elias explained to her in a gentle voice while the clerk went to retrieve her change.
    Simone took this information