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“Godfrey! What are you doing here!? I haven’t seen you at the bank. Edith said you were let go. Is this true?”
“That day you came in, after you left, Mister Peverley told me to leave and to not come back.”
“He didn’t!” Madame Martineau exclaimed, fanning herself with her coaster.
Godfrey nodded and took a seat at the bar where a tall, rather impressive looking fellow was pouring a round of drinks for a trio of burlesque dancers.
“Well, goodness me,” she continued. “Have a drink. It’s the least I can offer,” the woman said, taking the chair beside him, the ever-recognizable vanilla perfume she always wore tickling Godfrey’s nostrils.
“Armand. Pour this young man a drink. What’ll you have?”
“What do you recommend?”
Madame Martineau smiled coyly. “Are we celebrating or wallowing?”
“A bit of both actually.”
“Oh? What are we celebrating?”
“I’m moving out West...to farm…with my brothers.”
“No.”
Godfrey nodded. “Yes.”
The woman nodded smartly. “Armand. Pour this young man a scotch. On the rocks. I don’t want him falling off his chair, now.”
The tall and brawny man behind the bar smiled revealing several gaps where teeth should have been. “Of course, Madame.”
“So when are you leaving exactly?” she asked as Armand took two cups from the clapboard and began to pour.
“A week from today.”
“A week from today!? That’s so soon!”
“Well, I needed to move fast to get that parcel of land my brother found for me.”
“Oh? Is it very big?”
“Big enough.”
“And do you have…forgive me for asking…but do you have the finances for such an endeavour?”
Godfrey gave a nod of thanks as he accepted his drink from Armand before turning towards Madame Martineau.
“Yeah, my Uncle Benjamin lent me the money.”
The woman seemed impressed. “All of it?”
“Yeah. To be paid back. In five years. At no interest.”
“Well, that’s very generous of your uncle.”
Godfrey nodded and watched as the attractive woman sipped her drink, a thoughtful and pensive expression on her face.
“And are you going for good? Or is this just a short term project of yours?”
Godfrey took a swig of scotch and winced as it burned his throat. “Hopefully for good. Depends whether I make it or not,” he added with a wink.
“Oh, you,” the woman gushed, patting his arm. “You’re being modest. You’ll do just fine. I know you will. And here,” she said, reaching into her cleavage and withdrawing a wad of money. “A little going away present.”
“Oh no,” said Godfrey, surprised by her generosity. “I couldn’t.”
“You really don’t like accepting money do you, young man? Or is it my money you don’t want to accept?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. “Perhaps my money’s no good?”
Godfrey raised his hands defensively. “No, no! Not at all. It’s just…I…you’re being too generous.”
“Nonsense! What a foolish thing to say!”
She thrust the wad of money at him and he took it.
“That’ll come in handy. Rest assured. Lord knows I could have used a helping hand when I started this place.”
Godfrey nodded solemnly, respectfully. “Well, thank you, Madame Martineau. I really do appreciate it.”
“It’s not a problem, young man,” the woman replied, downing the rest of her scotch. “Just be sure to come and visit next time you’re back in town.”
“I will.”
“Good. Now drink up,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Rehearsal’s about to start and I’ve got a million things to do before the show tonight.”
- 7 -
Harried travelers scurrying about the station. The steam from the train billowing across the platform. The shouts of porters, and the whistles of security personnel. Stray dogs, unattended suitcases, and children running amok.
Standing in a corner with his mother and four younger siblings, Godfrey glanced once more at the ticket in his hand. Thirty-six dollars and it would take him all the way to Wainwright, Alberta.
“And you’re sure that you have enough food?” Julie asked her son as she nervously watched the hustle and bustle inside the station.
“Yes, maman. Thanks.”
“It’s going to be a long ride, Godfrey.”
“How long of a ride, maman?”
“Three or four days, Jules. Please, I’m speaking to your brother.”
“Maman,” Rosa began, tugging at Julie’s sleeve. “I have to go the bathroom.”
“Ahhh, Rosa! I told you to go before we left!”
“Are you sure you’re going be alright, maman?” asked Godfrey, concerned.
“Yes, I’ll be fine.”
“You know, you can leave Jules with Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Josephine for awhile if you need.”
“Hey! Why just me?”
Godfrey clapped a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. “’Cause they like having you and Arthur’s old enough to take care of himself. Right Arthur?”
The thirteen year old puffed out his chest. “Yeah.”
“So there.”
“It’s fine, Godfrey,” Julie said, her blue eyes tired and weary. “I’ve got them. Just a few more years and I can relax a bit. Once Arthur’s grown up. You’re not allowed to go out West,” she said to him, a small smile on her face.
“I don’t want to go out West,” the boy replied empathically.
“Good, because we can’t afford anymore of you to go away.”
Godfrey looked at his mother. “You’re making me feel guilty, maman. I promise, I’ll send money home as soon as I can. And I’ll be one less mouth to feed.”
“Yeah, but your father’s going to have to do a lot more. At least until Arthur’s old enough to take on some more responsibilities.”
“It’ll be good for him. Keep him busy so he can’t - “
Julie gave her son a warning look.
“So he can’t keep going off to Chateauguay.”
“What’s in Chateauguay, maman?”
“Nothing, sweetheart.”
There came the blast of a train whistle.
“That’ll be for me,” said Godfrey, hoisting his bag onto his shoulder. “I love you, maman. Rosa. Delphina. Arthur. Jules.”
He gave them each a hug.
“I’ll miss you guys. But I’ll be with Isaac and Leo. So I’ll be alright.”
Rosa looked up at her brother with tears in her eyes. “Do you have to go, Godfrey?”
The young man smiled and knelt down on one knee so that he was at eye level with his youngest sister. “I do. But, don’t worry. I’ll write as soon as I can and I’ll even come and visit in a year or so. The time will fly by. Alright?”
The little girl nodded, though her mouth began to tremble and her tears began to roll down her soft, plump cheeks.
“Aww, it’s alright Rosa,” said Julie, wrapping an arm around the girl.
The little girl burrowed her face in her mother’s jacket as Godfrey shook hands with his two brothers. “You two be good. Take care of maman and papa. I don’t want to hear that you’re giving them a hard time. Help with the chores around the farm. You’re going to have a lot more to do from now on.”
Arthur nodded, taking in every word his brother was saying while Jules continued to work at dislodging a stubborn piece of snot from his left nostril.
“Delphina, no more lending your things out. Maman has enough work to do keeping you properly fed and clothed. And don’t give me that look. Keep your things for yourself.”
Julie couldn’t help but smile at the lecture Godfrey gave his younger siblings and when he finally turned towards her to say goodbye, she couldn’t hold back the tears.
“Je t’aime,
maman.”
“Je t’aime, mon fils.”
“I’ll write every month.”
“Thank you. We’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
With one final glance at his family, Godfrey Leduc handed his ticket to an agent and climbed aboard the train.
Epilogue
Fields of green and gold. Blue, sunny skies containing only wisps of cloud. The smooth chug-a-chug of the locomotive as it cut across the prairie landscape.
Godfrey breathed in deep as he held his head out the window. Just three more hours and he would arrive in Wainwright, Alberta. Just three more hours and he would be set on course for the new direction his life was about to take.
Could he make it? Would he survive? Would he succeed?
Straightening his tie, his face set in stern concentration, Godfrey watched the passing fields and small edifices that dotted the horizon and resolved to give it his best shot.
About The Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Adrien Leduc makes his home in Ottawa with his fiancée and their two crazy cats. He is a graduate of Carleton University (BA ’10) and is passionate about Canadian history. An avid reader and writer, Adrien hopes to write and publish many more books in his lifetime.
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