Free Janet Quin-Harkin by Fools Gold

little hand. “How do you do, I’m Bliss Grenville,” she said. “I corned a long way in a big boat.”
    The outstretched hand convinced Ma Zettel. She straightened up and looked Libby in the eye. “I can’t let them sleep along of a lot of heathen men,” she said. “I’ll squeeze you in somewhere.” She led them up to a tiny room in the attic which was normally a storeroom. “I’ll get a couple of camp cots put in here before day’s out,” she said, shifting a pile of trunks to one side with her tree-trunk arms as she spoke. “At least you won’t be bothered up here.”
    Libby now knew what she meant and nodded gratefully.
    Ma Zettel looked at Libby with interest. “Your husband’s out getting stocked up, is he?” she asked, then went on, before Libby could reply, “Well, if he hasn’t got his mules yet, my brother-in-law has a fine pair he’ll sell for a hundred and twenty the pair, and that’s a bargain the way things are going around here, as anyone will tell you.”
    “I don’t have a husband or a team with me,” Libby said. “I’m going out to join my husband and I’m hoping to join a company to travel with.”
    “My dear Lord!” the woman said. “You’ve got spunk. I’ll say that for you. Two little precious dears across all that waste and no man to protect you. Still, I’ve watched many a party set off over the past few years and there’s been women among them you’d have thought would blow away with a breeze. But they’ve made it through to Oregon or California, and sometimes had a baby along the way, while their big strong husbands are the ones stricken with every sort of ague and fever.”
    Libby laughed. “I’m tougher than I look too,” she said.
    “I’m sure you are, my dear,” Ma Zettel said. “Now, what do you say to a nice cup of coffee? I was just going to pour one for myself.”
    Libby took the girls down to the parlor and enjoyed the cool, leather chairs while the coffee revived her.
    “Now I have another favor to ask,” Libby said, when her cup was empty. “I have to find a company to join and I’ve no idea how to set about it. Would it be too much of an imposition to leave the children here? They are very good and amuse themselves easily.”
    “No trouble at all,” Ma Zettel said. “I’ll take them into the kitchen with me and they can help with the baking. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, my precious ones?” she asked.
    “Yes please,” Eden said, looking at her mother as if someone had just offered her a present. “Cook never let us help with baking at home.”
    “Right then, off with you to the kitchen,” Ma Zettel said. “And good luck to you, my dear, in your plans.”
    Libby hesitated, not sure what to do next. “I find a company that’s about to leave and see if I can get a place with them, so I’ve heard?” she asked.
    “That’s what they all seem to do,” the landlady said.
    “And there’s no public stage line for travellers on their own?” Libby asked.
    “A stage line?” A smile twitched on the leathery face. “I did hear talk of getting one started but I don’t think it ever amounted to anything. They’d lose too many coaches and drivers to make it profitable.”
    “Oh,” Libby said.
    “You’re worrying that you won’t be able to handle your own team?” the landlady asked.
    “My own team?” Libby looked horrified.
    “That’s what they do. They get their own teams and then sign up along with a company. But maybe you could find yourself a man to drive your wagon.”
    “Buy my own wagon as well as the hundred dollars to join a company?” she stammered.
    “Oh yes. The joining fee just pays for supplies and protection. They all have their own wagons.”
    “They must cost a lot of money,” Libby said hopelessly.
    “Prices are real inflated right now,” the woman agreed. “Most of the men will pay anything to get started to the gold. You’re looking at two hundred for the wagon and another hundred for the