Hester's Hope

felt like he could breathe. “I’ll see you here first thing tomorrow to go over everything. We’ll make a plan.” He turned to Hester. “We’ll find the perfect home for Jonas and Bev.”

Chapter 9
“Hester, you cannot travel west with that man,” Hyke scowled at his niece. “It isn’t appropriate, and you have no idea what his motives are.”
“Uncle Hyke,” Hester scolded. “I think that if Mr. Payton were a disreputable man, we would know it by now. We have been here for nearly three weeks, and he has done nothing to indicate that he is a reprobate.”
“Hester, it is still inappropriate for a single woman to travel with a single man.”
“What am I to do then?” Hester paced the room slowly. “I can’t abandon the children and can you imagine what an adventure it would be seeing the western states?” She turned back to her uncle her eyes shining. “Wouldn’t you go if you had the chance?”
Hezekiah Johnson smoothed his beard carefully over his chin imagining what it would be like to leave everything he ever knew and go where the wind blows. “You can’t go.”
Hester felt the tears pooling in her eyes. Even with the occasional tantrum, prank, and bout of defiance, she had grown to care for the children deeply, recognizing a lostness in them that was too familiar by far. Despite the wealth and opulence they had experienced, they were needy. The needed love, understanding, purpose, and discipline.
“I can’t leave the children,” Hester sniffed. “I’m sorry if you don’t approve. You know I love you and am so grateful for everything you have done for me. Where would I be now if I didn’t have your love and support? I would be nothing. I don’t’ know how I can bare to leave you, my heart is pulled in two directions at once.”
Hyke crossed his arms over his chest, feeling the shoulders of his black coat pull tight, as his brown eyes flashed. “Then it’s settled,” he declared, his jaw set. “I’m going with you.”
Hester gasped shocked by the hard look on her uncle’s face. Reaching for him, she tried to order her thoughts, but before she could respond, he had turned on his heel and disappeared through the door.
***
“Mr. Payton I need a word,” Hyke demanded as he walked into the dining room where his employer was finishing breakfast.
“Yes,” Cecil turned to the old man who had become his not so efficient butler. “What about?”
“I’m going with you,” Hyke stated. “I’m going to Wyoming. Hester cannot travel alone with a single man. I won’t have it.”
The soft chuckle from Cecil Payton made Hyke stiffen. His niece’s reputation was no laughing matter.
“I had assumed you would,” Cecil finally stopped laughing long enough to speak. “I was under the impression that the two of you were a package deal.”
“Oh,” Hyke felt his face flush and was thankful for his beard covering his narrow face. “And what will my duties be?”
“I haven’t a clue,” Cecil replied, still grinning. “I think we’ll have to figure it all out once we get there. Mrs. August has agreed to go with us as well, but Cook and the others have chosen to remain here with Abel, who will move into this house.”
Hyke felt his shoulders relax as his mind began to grapple with his decision. He had never married, never had a family other than the tiny tot that had become his charge upon her parent’s death. He had worked hard his whole life without complaint, and now he was being given a chance to see his own country.
“Thank you,” the older man said quietly. “I’ll begin to prepare.”
Cecil watched the man everyone called Hyke walk out of the dining room, looking happier than he had since he and his niece had arrived. The man was not well suited to the position he had been given, and if the arguments between him and Mrs. August were any indication, she wasn’t happy with him either. This trip to Wyoming would be a new start for all of them. They could begin again and grow into their new lives and responsibilities.
Without the demands of the business pressing on him, perhaps Cecil could even get to know the children and provide more for them than a roof over their heads and food to eat.
***
“Here are your tickets,” Abel grinned at his cousin, his dark eye shining. “Perhaps once you’re settled, I’ll come for a visit, but for now enjoy the journey.”
“Thank you for everything Abel,” Cecil grasped his cousin’s hand shaking it firmly. “The more I think on this plan the more certain I am that it’s the right decision. I don’t know how it will play out, but we can hope for the best.”
“You weren’t cut out for life in a city like this,” Abel agreed. “It’s also nice to see the children so excited about something. I’ll miss you, but Godspeed.”
In a moment the dark-haired man had spun on his heel, tipped his hat to Hester and disappeared among the crowd.
“Is that our train?” Jonas asked tugging on Hester’s hand. “When do we go? Can I blow the whistle?”
Hester laughed smoothing the boy’s hair. “I’m sure we will board soon,” she assured.
“This way,” Mrs. August huffed. The woman looked like a ruffled bird in a stiff black dress, but no one argued as she grabbed her carpet bag and stepped up into the coach before them. “It’s going to be a long journey, so we might as well get things organized.”
The housekeeper shot a hard glance at Hester, but said nothing more as the children clambered into the comfortable Pullman car.
“Is this our car?” Beverly asked. “I didn’t realize it would be so big.”
Hester smiled, trying to take in the beautifully appointed coach that could have been the drawing room of any fine house.
“I’ve never traveled like this before,” Cecil leaned close whispering in Hester’s ear. “This really will be an adventure.”
Hester grinned, her stomach doing little flips. “Where