New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) (35 page)

They walked through Dominion Square again and were quite surprised at how fast the ice palace was growing. They continued slowly back to the hotel, starting to feel rather tired after their unusual day.

“What a day this has been,” Sara said to her husband as they continued at their unhurried pace.

“As most days are since we have been together,” Sam responded as he sat down on a bench, pulling his wife down beside him. “I wonder how I could have ever thought I had everything before I met you. As it turns out, I had nothing.”

They stayed for a while, holding hands, not saying anything as the day gradually turned to the dark of the moonless night. They watched as the lamplighter passed by to light their way through the park. People of all descriptions continued to walk hurriedly past them, most on their way home after the workday. As they sat on the bench they both realized the task they came to Montreal for was completed and it was time to continue on with their journey.

Going back into the hotel they decided to stop at the cigar shop in the rotunda to order a gift for Doctor Brown. Sara hesitated at the door before stepping into the shop, wondering if women were allowed in such a place.

Sam took her hand and said, “They can’t do any more than ask you to leave.” As he spoke he looked directly at the well-dressed man behind the counter and expressed a look of daring at him.

The proprietor looked back and more or less gave a slight shrug. Although a woman coming into the shop may be rather unusual, he would not cause any fuss.

Together they found a beautifully-carved box which contained two-dozen hand-wrapped cigars imported from Cuba. Behind the counter were fancy bottles of imported liqueurs and Sam selected two the same, saying he would take one with him and the other was to be sent to Dr. Brown at McGill University. After leaving the instructions and payment the couple left the small shop to return to their room. They were both tired after their busy day and thought to relax before they left the city.

Prior to going back to their accommodations, they decided to go up to the observation tower in the corner of the hotel situated on the crossing of Dorchester and Peel Streets. This was an area topped by a copper-roofed cupola. They looked out at the large city from a height of a hundred and thirty feet above the ground. They were the only people at the moment to look out at the sights in the dark night as there really was not a lot to see other than the lights of the city. Looking toward the mountain they watched a trail of torches moving in a long continuous line and knew the men from the Montreal Club were out on an evening tramp.

It was rather warm in the room and they removed their fur coats, laying them on a bench. It offered any visitors a place to rest after the climb up the long stairway. When they were alone together, they generally held onto each other. Sometimes it was a hand placed lightly on a knee under the cover of a table, but as often as possible they liked to feel the touch of the other. Tonight Sam gently placed his arms around his wife’s waist as he stood behind her and pulled her close. Sara in turn held his hands in hers and leaned her cheek back against his, feeling the light stubble. She put her right hand against his cheek and as they stood for the moment, no words needed to be said. What they had together always felt right, almost from the moment they met.

Sam pulled back a little and placed a gentle kiss upon her neck before he whispered, “Did you know it is two months ago today you came to my aid?”

Sara stiffened slightly, seeming surprised at the idea. “It can’t be! It feels like we have shared a lifetime together.”

“It is … but I cannot remember a time when I did not love you.”

“It is a good thing my father is no longer living. My mother would have understood, but not my father.”

“He would have seen we are right together, Sara. We are meant to be.”

Together they looked out upon the city at the lights flickering like a thousand stars.

“I think the first time since I went west I didn’t long to go back to New Brunswick was the first morning I woke and you were beside me.”

“Why that day?”

“Because you were there and it felt like the place I was supposed to be. You wiped out many years of loneliness in one night.”

“The first time I knew I wanted you, was when I woke and saw you in the rocking chair you pulled close to the wood stove. You had been in it all night and were quite stiff from sleeping there. I think it was the first time anyone ever did something for me just because they wanted to, not because I ordered or paid for it. I thought you didn’t know who I was and you still did that for me. When I found out you knew, I couldn’t go back.”

Again they stood silent for a time, still standing cheek to cheek.

Sam spoke again, “Would you like to go back home to New Brunswick?”

Sara didn’t move or speak, as if she hadn’t heard him.

“We don’t need to be in a big hurry to get to Philadelphia and if you would like to go we can take the time.”

He saw the single tear run over her cheek and held her a tighter. “I would, Sam … I would like to go home for a little while.”

Chapter Twenty-six

As the crow flies the distance to St. Stephen, New Brunswick from Montreal was close to three hundred and fifty miles. Normally it would mean a ride of about half a day or so by rail. The route Sam and Sara took to get to her hometown was rather complicated compared to the course already travelled. They had barely left Montreal when they changed trains at the town of Chambly in order to direct their route to Sherbrooke, Quebec, only to change trains again. It took them almost thirty-seven hours to cross the state of Maine and arrive back into Canada. For the most part the time spent travelling was not done on the train, but rather waiting in the various stations of Wilson, Brownville Junction and Mattawankeag before arriving in McAdam Junction in New Brunswick. Even then, they had to make another change at Watts Junction before they were finally on the train taking them to St. Stephen.

Needless to say they were both tired by the time the conductor announced their arrival in the town Sara called home for most of her life. As she looked out the window at the familiar sight, Sam saw the look of fatigue swiftly vanish.

“I never imagined I would ever see this place again,” she said absently, as if she was talking to herself. “As much as I wanted to come back, it seemed to frighten me. But now I can show you my home. Where I came from,” she said with a look of contentment on her face.

It was mid-morning when they walked into the train station.

“Sara … Sara Gardiner … is that you?” The man behind the counter exclaimed as he saw the two standing before him.

Sara looked at him and for a moment couldn’t identify the man, until suddenly the concentration in her expression changed to one of recognition. “Are you Duncan Campbell?”

“I surely am,” he answered as he stepped out from behind the counter. “You haven’t changed a bit.” He held her tightly in a warm embrace and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “I was so sorry to hear about William.” He hugged her once more, then pulled away. “I can’t believe you haven’t changed a bit. Anne said in your letter it sounded like you were having a hard time out on the prairies. She is going to be so excited to see you.” Duncan was so thrilled he could hardly stop talking until he looked up and saw Sam watching them.

“Duncan, I must introduce you to my husband, Sam Fielding. We were married at the beginning of November. Sam, this is Duncan Campbell. He is Anne’s brother.”

The gentlemen shook hands and in unison said, “Nice to meet you.”

“I must get back to work here, Sara. A lot of freight came in on the train and I have to get it sorted before people start coming in for it. Will you be going out to your house?”

“Is anyone there?”

“No, it has been empty for almost a year since your father passed. No one really knew what to do with everything and I thought you might be coming home after William died. I am so sorry Sara. Things have been hard for you.”

“Things have been hard for a lot of people, Duncan. Has everything been stored in the house? Could we get a ride with someone?”

“I’ll ask Benton. He has to take a load that way this morning and can drop you there. I must get word to Anne you are here. She will be so excited.”

They rode with Alexander Benton, all three sitting on the seat of his wagon. After he made his delivery in Milltown, directly south of St. Stephen, he continued west in the direction of the Winston home. It was surprising they left a mountain of snow behind them in Montreal and came to a land where only a few banks sat where the sun hadn’t melted it. Alexander explained winter seemed to be rather unpredictable here, being so near to the ocean. As cold as it was to the north this area had, so far this year, been spared the dreadful chill and any great amount of snow. He was quick to warn them the weather could change at any time and not to think living there resembled the southern states.

“I remember,” said Sara, “some winters were like this and others seemed to give us very deep snow. My father used to say it was one of God’s surprises and reason for us to be prepared for whatever may come.”

The house was located almost two miles west of St. Stephen. “If we should keep going west we would soon come to the St. Croix River and crossing it we would be back in the state of Maine,” Sara told her husband as they continued along. “In fact, the river decides the border between the two countries. Directly south of the river from town is the Maine community of Calais. All of us have friends across the border. Even in times of war the two towns remained friends. Oddly enough when the town celebrated the American Independence on July 4
^th
, 1813, St. Stephen supplied the gunpowder for the salute, or so the tale is told.”

They arrived at the house before noon. Alexander went inside to make sure they would find what they needed in the home. Sam and Sara both stood outside as she looked around, bringing back the memories. It was a large two-storey house built of stone, as was the small barn standing a short distance away. A storage shed also made of the same stone completed the buildings in the yard. Only a few trees grew around the house sitting on top of a low hill.

Going into the house they found most of the furniture was covered with sheets. Although a shallow layer of dust was on everything, it would not take much effort to ready the building. Surprisingly a stack of firewood sat beside the cook stove, ready to be used.

Sara looked out the kitchen window and let out a slight laugh.

Her husband came to her side to see what amused her. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary to him.

She answered his look of questioning. “That was so typical of my father. Look at the wood piled beside the shed. There is enough for three of the hardest winters, or for any person in the community who might run short through the winter.”

After starting a fire in the cook stove Alexander departed to return to town, leaving the couple to themselves. The kitchen started to lose its chill and they both hung their coats on hooks behind the entrance door. They went into the adjoining sitting room where Sam lit a fire in the fireplace. Sara started to remove the dust covers from the furniture, rolling them up as she went and placing them in a pile in the corner.

“This is a beautiful home, Sara and so large. You must have found living in a log cabin on the prairies so different. You must have really missed it.”

“There was little time to really miss the house, but my parents are a different matter. My mother was always here, no matter what the problem. Even though she never gave me many answers to my questions she always listened. Father … well, he was strict and expected everything to be just right but he always encouraged me to do what I thought was right. He didn’t want me to nurse in the war and he didn’t want me to marry William, but he always encouraged me to make my own decisions. I have missed them through the years and coming here makes me miss them more than ever. This house was never empty before.”

“I’m sorry Sara. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to bring you back here.” Once again Sam put his arms around his wife and held her tightly.

“No, this has been the right thing. It is time I confront this, then maybe I can go on in my life, free of any guilt.”

“What guilt do you feel?”

“I left them in such a selfish way.”

“You went to Manitoba to make your own way in life. I am sure your father really wanted that for you. He would be very proud of you, Sara, I am certain.”

They stayed quiet for a time, holding each other and feeling the stillness of the empty home.

They continued to explore the house, giving all of the rooms a quick look before selecting a guest room over the kitchen as their sleeping quarters for a few nights. They both enjoyed looking in Sara’s old room. The furniture was the same as when she lived there, but the special effects of books and drawings were put into boxes in the closet. Each container was carefully labeled as to the contents they held. Looking in each closet, in each bedroom, they continued to find the boxes in which most of the articles were placed and marked.

“Someone must have come and sorted through everything.” Sara concluded as they continued to find everything so carefully packed. “Even Father’s things have been put into their own boxes.”