Chapter 4: Traveling and Arrival
Ella awoke in her now dark room. She immediately felt uncomfortable from the scratchy material of her dress pressed against her skin. She stood up and pulled the fabric away from her legs and arms. Ella decided she was hungry and went downstairs to the kitchen. She took several cookies out of the cookie jar and poured herself a glass of milk. She took her meal into the study because she could not reach any of the lamps in the kitchen or the parlor. She finished her snack, but she still wasn't tired. She began to look through the books on the lower shelves. Ella knew most of the gory ones had been placed higher up where she couldn't get to them. She spotted her favorite surgery guide just out of her reach. She pulled a chair from across the room to the bookshelf. She stood on the chair on her tiptoes and was able to reach the surgery guide. She curled up in the desk chair with the book and her glass of milk and soon she had drifted to sleep.
Shattering glass ripped Andrew out of his dreams. He looked over to see Colleen had also heard the noise.
"I'll go see what it is," Andrew whispered to her.
They were both thinking someone was breaking into their home. Andrew crept quickly down the steps and saw a strip of light shimmering out of the study. He opened the study door not knowing what to expect; he found a frightened Ella rocking herself in the desk chair.
"Are you all right?" he questioned as he stepped into the room, "I heard something break."
Ella nodded and gestured to the broken glass on the floor. "I fell asleep and knocked it over," she explained trying not to cry.
"It is all right. Come, you should go back to bed," he said.
Ella was about to stand up when Andrew stopped her.
"There is glass all over the floor. You will cut up your bare feet. Where are your slippers?" he asked looking around the study for them.
"In my room," she told him.
Andrew sighed and mumbled something about catching her death. He lifted her out of the chair and did not set her down once they were out of the study. He carried her all the way to her room.
"Goodnight, Ella," he said kissing his daughter's cheek.
"G'night," she replied as her eyelids drooped for the third time that evening.
Andrew went downstairs and swept up the glass the best he could without a broom. He saw the surgery guide carelessly flopped open on the desk. He picked it up and muttered, "Ella." He found a new home for the guide on the highest shelf and turned off the lamp. He needed to get some rest because tomorrow they would be leaving for Colorado.
Early the next morning, Ella looked around the train station in awe of large numbers of people moving about the building. She walked quickly to catch up with her parents who had continued to walk when Ella had been taking in the sights of the train station. When she caught up to them, she latched onto Andrew's hand. She did not want to get lost. There were too many people.
The Cooks found and boarded their train. Ella sat closest to the window so she could watch the luggage being loaded into the luggage car. She had been on a train before, but she did not remember how exciting it had been.
"Ella, do you want to play with your paper dolls?" Colleen asked when they had settled into their seats.
"No," Ella replied continuing to look at the action outside of the train car.
Colleen shrugged and took out a book for herself. Andrew was already engrossed in today's newspaper. Soon the train left the station, and the Cooks began their journey west.
A few days into the trip, Andrew and Ella were playing ticktacktoe. Ella was thinking about other families who had more children. Ella wanted another child to play with. Her parents played games with her, but it wasn't the same.
"Why don't you and Mama have another baby?" Ella blurted out not being able to keep her thoughts to herself anymore.
"Well," Andrew said stalling for words, "These things take time."
"How much time?" Ella questioned.
"It varies. You must be patient," he said playfully tapping Ella on the nose with the pencil he was holding.
"All right, but I would like a brother," Ella told him.
"Why is that?" Colleen asked finally joining in the conversation. She had been amusing herself with Andrew's attempt at explaining the situation to Ella. She also knew that Ella would be getting her playmate sooner than Andrew thought.
"Because Katie and Rosie are already kind of like my sisters," Ella explained.
"They will be even more so with all the time you are going to get to spend with them," Colleen reminded her.
Ella nodded she could not wait to see her aunts.
It was two in the morning when the Cooks finally arrived in St. Louis. Ella was asleep, and Colleen was having trouble waking her. Ella had been having trouble sleeping on the train and was making up for it tonight. She looked over to Andrew for help.
"If you will carry one of the valises, I can carry Ella to the other train," he offered.
Colleen agreed, and Andrew insisted she carry the smaller and lighter of the bags. Colleen smiled because Andrew was always trying to be the gentleman. She wrapped Ella's blanket around her before Andrew lifted her into his arms. Ella stirred for a moment but soon settled her had against Andrew's shoulder. They slowly made their way to the train to Denver. Ella continued to sleep throughout the next day. Colleen and Andrew were not too concerned. They thought Ella was just making up for all the sleep she had missed.
"Good morning, Sleepyhead" Andrew said when he noticed Ella's eyes cracking open from behind his newspaper. He was not surprised to see her rousing just as the sun was peaking over the mountains.
"Where are we?" Ella questioned as she rubbed her eyes with the small hands.
"Almost to Denver," he replied as he folded his newspaper and set it aside.
"Oh," she responded disappointed that they were not closer to Colorado Springs.
"Don't worry we'll be there today. Are you hungry?" he asked not being able to recall the last time Ella had eaten.
"No," she told him as she wiggled around in her set trying to find a comfortable way to sit.
"Well, we will have time to have breakfast once we get to Denver," he said.
Ella nodded. She was uncomfortable, and it was starting to take a toll on her temperament. She was trying to be a big girl, but she started to cry. Andrew asked her what was wrong and tried to comfort her. Luckily, Colleen awoke. Colleen had Ella sit on her lap, and she wrapped her in her favorite blanket.
Andrew watched intently as Colleen gently rocked Ella in her arms. Colleen was able to take care of her daughter with just as much ease as a sick patient. Andrew began to feel something close to jealousy. He reminded himself that Colleen had chosen to be with him. He should be thankful that she was so skilled.
Ella was feeling better when they arrived in Denver, and the family enjoyed breakfast together at a restaurant near the train station. Ella began getting excited when they boarded the train for Colorado Springs. The short journey from Denver seemed to take a lifetime. Ella jumped up when the train slowed and Colorado Springs appeared around them. Colleen held her hand to keep her from opping off the train before it came to a complete stop. When it did stop, the Cooks stepped off the train and searched for familiar faces among the mass of people. Ella was the first to spot them.
"Grandma, Grandpa," Ella shouted as she ran toward her grandparents.
Michaela hugged Ella before Sully lifted her into his arms.
"You have gotten so big since we saw you last summer," Michaela told her.
Ella smiled and buried her face into Sully's coat. Hugs and greetings were exchanged among the family members present: Michaela, Sully, Katie, Matthew, and his fiancée, Marta.
"Where are Rosie and Brian?" Colleen asked noticing two of the family members were missing.
"Rosie has a fever, and Brian offered to stay home with her," Michaela explained.
"Oh, I hope she is all right," Colleen replied.
"She should be fine, but I am sure you are all tired from your trip," Michaela said.
"Matthew is going to take your luggage in his wagon, and you can ride with us in the surrey," Sully told them still holding Ella in his arms.
"I have been planning dinner for weeks. We are going to have chicken, mashed potatoes, and two pies for dessert," Katie excitedly exclaimed.
"That sounds wonderful, Katie," Colleen told her eleven year old sister.
Ella had begged to sit in the front seat with her grandparents. She happily told Sully and Michaela about the adventures of her trip. Andrew and Colleen sat in the backseat with Katie. Colleen asked question after question about Katie's life and Colorado Springs. Katie was happy to reply; she was just as outgoing as her parents. Ella grew tired and fell asleep before they reached the homestead.
When they arrived, Sully picked his granddaughter up and asked Michaela, "What room should I put her in?"
"Oh, no," Michaela said not answering Sully's question.
"What's wrong, Ma?" Colleen asked.
"I had planned to have Katie and Ella sleep in Rosie's room, but with Rosie sick, I don't think that is a good idea," Michaela explained.
"What about the other rooms?" Colleen questioned.
"Brian is already in the guest room, and I have you and Andrew in Katie's room," Michaela told her.
"Ella, could sleep with us," Colleen said trying to help find a solution.
"But that still leaves Katie," Colleen and Michaela said at the same time.
"Colleen, Ella, and Katie could sleep in Katie's room," Andrew replied.
"Ella isn't getting any lighter," Sully told them as a remaindered that he was still holding her.
"Sorry, put Ella on our bed for now," Michaela told him.
Sully complied, and the rest of the family soon gathered in the house. Michaela went upstairs to give six year old Rosie a bowl of soup and was worrying about the sleeping arrangements. Andrew and Colleen went up to Katie's room for a nap. Katie set to work on her perfect dinner, and Marta insisted on helping her. Brian and Matthew unloaded the Cook's luggage and joined Sully by the fire to warm up.
"Your Ma is worried about where everyone is gonna sleep," Sully told them.
"I thought she had that all figured out months ago," Matthew replied.
"She did, but she doesn't want the girls sleeping with Rosie while she is sick," Sully explained.
"So you are telling me I might be sleeping on floor," Brian joked.
"No, little brother, you can come stay with me," Matthew told him.
"How does that work out?" Brian asked.
"This way Colleen, Andrew, and Ella can all stay here, Katie can stay here, and everyone has a bed," Matthew explained.
"I'd better go tell your Ma. I am sure she is still fretting about it," Sully told them.
Matthew and Brian laughed. They knew Sully was right.