Chapter summary: February 1934, The newly incorporated town of Ekalaka, Montana was about to receive four new residents: the 'Hales' from Rochester, New York. They were beautiful, polite, but distant, and Bella Swan, the sheriff's daughter, couldn't help but notice Mrs. Hale's brother, a young Mr. Edward Platt.
Something was very different about the strangers who came into town today. Well, of course, 'strange' could describe anyone who would be moving into Ekalaka; we were about as far from Butte or Great Falls as you could get and still be in Montana, but we rather liked it that way. Sure, we didn't have the convenience stores and such that they had, but we didn't have the crime they had, either. That suited my Pa just fine, being the Sheriff of Carter county. Keeping the peace wasn't the most arduous job in the world here, but there was plenty else to do. The county was relatively new with nearly 3,000 people here, and we had a court house, now, too. Lots to do, establishing a county just over ten years old. We even had a school house, not that you'd catch me there. I told Pa I knew more than Mr. Hoffmann knew already. I could read well enough on my own.
Ma went Back East years ago and found herself another man. Not that I blame her. You could go stir crazy if you expected Town. Besides, if you didn't have the necessities, then the Sears-Roebuck catalogue, and a good deal of patience for the wait of the delivery, would get you what you needed. That wasn't enough for Ma, so she moved back. But I stayed on — Pa needed my help: he took care of the county, and I took care of him.
So, not exactly New York City, nor Rochester, as these folks had come from, but that's why people moved out here and stayed here. Actually, a good third of the population were still sore over the renaming of their "New Amsterdam", and so we had the Friday Fish-Fries and Oktoberfests (which actually started in September). So, when Dr. and Mrs. Hale pulled up in their brand spanking new 1934 Dodge 4-door sedan, there were sure to be a few eyebrows raised. I'm sure there was a gasoline station every three miles back in New York, but we had enough trouble with our one road. Walking or horse-back were the surest ways to get around here. When the Kuntz's ordered the Model 40 Ford (to be delivered come summer), Pa started having conniptions about all the traffic-related injuries he would have to deal with as Sheriff.
That Mrs. Hale's brother, a Mr. Edward Platt, stepped one foot into the courthouse, gave me one black glare, and then turned right back around without so much as a how-do-ye-do surely didn't help matters any, no matter how much the good doctor tried to smooth things over with protestations about the long journey and medical conditions.
They did all look awfully pale, and travel-worn, so maybe there was something in that.
The Dr. and Mrs. Hale were polite to a fault, however. They had big-city manners, which made Pa really uncomfortable — and I'm glad they were talking to him because I couldn't imagine putting two words together to make any sense looking at them — but you could tell that they were sincere; they weren't putting on airs. Well, at least they were all kindness: they introduced themselves, registering themselves as purchasing an outlying homestead that had fallen into disrepair since its abandonment from before Ekalaka was incorporated. They literally bought the property for a song. They also mentioned they were the guardians of Mr. What-is-his-problem Platt (who was mighty full of himself at the tender age of 17 years; I was that old, and I didn't see the need to turn my nose up at everything I saw) and Dr. Hale's sister, Lillian.
Lillian Hale. Now why did that name ring a bell? I put that thought out of my mind when Dr. Hale mentioned she was recovering from consumption and wouldn't be up and about for at least a month. Oh, the poor girl!
They had rather unusual Christian names: Carlisle, Esme, and Lillian. Well, Lillian wasn't all that odd, and Mr. Dark-Glare had nothing unusual about his name, I had to admit. Oddities, or not, it would be good to have a doctor in easy reach. Dr. Hale requested, after they had some time today and tomorrow to settle in, that Pa take him around town to introduce him to the neighbors and businesses. That would be a short tour, but polite of him, none-the-less. Tomorrow evening at 5 o'clock was agreed to.
We closed shop as they drove off. Very nice car. It was dark already, as it always is in the dead of winter. I tried not to think of the Hales as I prepared supper for Pa and me, but they kept creeping back into my mind. No sense on thinking about that Edward Platt, Bella! I scolded myself. He was a real looker, but he made it plain that he wouldn't trouble himself with me again. The Carter County boys were all nice enough, in that sturdy Montana way, I suppose, so there was no sense on a girl dwelling on something that wasn't going to happen. Today was the last I'd be seeing of Edward Platt, and that was fine by me.