Hannah's Dream (10 page)

"I had a bit set aside for myself," he said.  "I added it to the amount.  I know what you think of me, Mrs. Dawes, but I feel terrible about this."

"I don't think you really know how I feel about you, Mr. Ross, and I'm too much of a lady to tell you.  I think it's best you leave now."

Becky was at the doorway with his hat and coat.  Mr. Ross stood and bowed.

"I am truly sorry," he said.

"Goodbye, Mr. Ross.  Thank you for taking the time to see me in person."

He took his hat and coat from Becky and left the house.  Becky came back to the parlor and sat in the chair vacated by Mr. Ross.

"I know you heard," Marian said.

"How much did he add?" Becky said.

"Becky!"

"We have to be practical, ma'am.  We have to make plans."

"I can't think about that right now."

"I'm afraid you have no choice.  The bills are due for next month and you know they amount to one-tenth of that money."

Marian began to cry.

"What about your brother?" Becky said.  "He's always writing you to come and visit.  Couldn't he take you in?"

"You're talking about us leaving this house."

"Do you have a choice?"

"Oh, God, what will I tell the children?"

"You'll tell them the truth.  Hannah is a grown girl, and Jimmy is no stranger to the hardships of life."

"Poor Jimmy.  He's been through so much.  He was just beginning to enjoy his life."

"Your brother's would be a great place for him."

"You act as if my brother had invited us to live with him. I haven't even spoken to him yet."

"I can't imagine him turning you away."

"Becky, please, let me be.  I have to think."

"I'm sorry.  I just...I've been part of this family for so long.  I apologize if I'm too familiar."

Marian stood and went to Becky.  She put her arm around Becky's shoulder.

"You are part of the family.  But I have to make the final decision.  You're right.  I have to write to James."

Marian went to the corner of the parlor.  Her desk had been moved there when Jimmy took her special room.  She sat down and wrote to her brother, James Hughes.  James owned a ranch in High Bend, Colorado.  He had never married.  Becky was right.  He was always asking Marian to bring Hannah for a visit.  He didn't know about Jimmy, but Marian was sure he wouldn't object to the boy.  As she wrote to her brother, tears streamed down her face.

Chapter 15

High Bend, Colorado -- Spring, 1897

The post office in Denver was James Hughes's last stop before heading home.  It was his first trip to Denver since the pass opened up and he had brought his wagon so he could replenish his supplies.  The postmaster smiled as he handed James his packet of mail.

"Got two come all the way from New Jersey," he said.

"Must be my sister," James replied.  He didn't elaborate.  James' personal letters were none of the man's business.

"Did your stock make it through the winter?"

"They made it through just fine," James said.  "See you next month."

James looked at the letters as left the post office.  He wondered why Marian had written him twice.  He was sure one
was
a Christmas letter.  The postmark on the second letter was two weeks after the first.  He hoped it wasn't bad news.

His horse, Ulysses, loped along at a leisurely pace while James read the first letter.  It was a Christmas letter.  Marian had enclosed two pictures -- one of his niece, Hannah, and one of a boy named Jimmy.  Marian said she had adopted Jimmy, but she didn't say why.  He looked like a nice boy.

The second letter was short.  In it, Marian told James that the lawyer handling her finances had lost all her money and she was destitute.  Since both their parents were dead, Marian had no other choice but to ask James for help.  She would have to sell her house in New Jersey.  Would James allow her to live with him?

James was a confirmed bachelor.  He hadn't lived with anyone since he left his parents' home twenty years ago.  His father had given him enough money to buy the land in Colorado, build a small house, and buy ten horses.  The plan had been for James to create a working ranch and then sell it for a profit after which he would return home to New Jersey.  But James fell in love with Colorado and never looked back.

Over the years, he had added rooms to the house and expanded it to include a porch that ran across the front of the house.  From there he had a view of the river and in the evening after supper, he would sit, smoke his pipe, and watch the river roll by while eagles dipped and soared.

The first floor of the house contained a parlor, a library, and a kitchen.  The second floor had two bedrooms, one for James and one for a guest.  It also had a bathroom.  James had grown up with a bathroom and refused to use an outhouse.  He insisted on indoor plumbing when he built the house.

He thought about having his sister and her two children living in that small house.  He'd invited her to visit several times, thinking he could sleep in the parlor if she accepted.  But that would be a temporary arrangement.   He didn't want to sleep in the parlor for the rest of his life.

Of course, his niece and the young'un could stay on the first floor.  The library was big enough for two beds.  But Hannah wasn't a child anymore.  She was a young lady.

The more James thought about it, the more agitated he became.  He liked his solitary life.  He loved his sister, but having her living in the same house for what might be a very long time just didn't set right with him.

His ranch was doing well.  His father, Harmon Hughes, had left him a small fortune when he died.  Harmon believed that Marian would be well taken care of by her husband and had therefore left all the money to his son.  There was more than enough money to build another house.  He had plenty of land, and it wouldn't have to be a grand house.  James' spirits brightened.  He turned his wagon around and headed back to Denver.

Miles Smiley was an architect and lawyer with a house on East Colfax Avenue.  Miles' office was there.  James had spent many days with Miles planning his ranch.  He'd sipped Kentucky whiskey and smoked cigars with Miles while they talked about horseflesh and blue grass.  He trusted Miles.  Miles would know what a lady wanted in a house.

Miles' maid greeted James and led him to the study.  Miles, a short, fat man with very little hair on the top of his head and a long fringe of hair covering his ears stood and walked over to James with his hand extended.

"James, my, God, man, it's been ages."

"I've been snowed in most of the winter.  Just got out here today."

"Well, sit down and put your feet up.  What are you drinking?"

"I'll have some of that smooth whiskey if you don't mind."

"I don't mind a bit."

Miles took a bottle out of his cabinet and took two glasses from the shelf behind his desk.  He poured the whiskey and handed one to James, who had taken a seat by the fireplace.

"Cigar?" Miles asked.

James waved his hand.  "No, thank you."

Miles bit off the end of his cigar and spit it into the fireplace.  He lit it and sat in the chair opposite James.

"So, what brings you here?" Miles asked.

"I got a letter from my sister back east.  She needs help.  She's asked if she can come out here to live with me."

"Oh, my, oh, my.  Sisters.  Don't have any myself but I can imagine.  Do you get along?"

"We get along fine.  I haven't seen her in a long time, but she was a good sister."

"You have enough room in your house."

"She has two kids."

"Ah, the rub.  I see.  So, you are thinking of expanding again."

"I'm thinking of building a whole new house for her."

Miles puffed on his cigar.  "Don't want her in your house?"

"I'm used to being alone.  I like being alone."

"Well, we could build one close by, but far enough away to protect your privacy.  It might be nice to have someone close by now that you're getting older."

"I'm not that old, Miles.  I just turned forty."

"Well, you never know."

"Can it be done?  I mean, can it be done fast?  From what I gather from her letter she has to sell her house and come out here.  But the letter is dated four months ago.  She may be on a dang train right now."

"Would she do that without hearing from you?"

"I don't think so, but if she has to leave her house, she might."

"Well, then, we'll have to get on it right away.  I'll begin working on a plan tomorrow.  Can you come back to town next week?"

"I'll come.  Just tell me what day."

James shook Miles' hand and left him at the front door.  Miles waved as James pulled the wagon away from his curb.  He felt sorry for James.  There was nothing worse than having your family move in with you, especially when you hadn't seen them for twenty years and you were used to living alone.  Miles closed the door and went to his study.  He pulled out two rolls of paper and spread one on his desk.  Then he took a pencil and began drawing plans for a lady's house.

Chapter 16

Marian was growing anxious.  She hadn't heard from James.  She had sent the letter four months ago.

Hannah had been very upset to learn they would have to move.  She was afraid she wouldn't be able to graduate with her class and was also afraid John Liberty wouldn't be able to find her when he came home from college.  Marian assured her that John would move heaven and Earth to find Hannah.

Becky was anxious, too.  She hadn't been invited to join the family in Colorado and had contacted one of her brothers in New York to see if he could take her in until she could find work.  She didn't want to live with him, but she was a woman on her own and too old to find a husband.  She had to find a position similar to the one she had, and at her age, it might be difficult.  Her brother hadn't responded to her letter.  It had been two months since she wrote to him.

Hannah had become good friends with Louise.  The lonely girl had been taken under Margaret Mason's wing.  Margaret had tutored her in hygiene, manners, and deportment.  She was encouraging Louise's talent by taking her to museums in Philadelphia and New York.  Louise's parents didn't seem to care what Louise did.  They lived near the beach and her father had a small fishing boat.  He would usually get drunk on Friday nights after delivering fish to the markets in Red Bank.  He would bring a small bottle home for her mother and the two of them would spend the weekend in a stupor.

When Margaret discovered the nature of Louise's home life, she offered Louise a room in her home.  At first her parents balked at the intrusion, but then they relented.  They would have more private time without their lump of a daughter underfoot.

Louise blossomed under Margaret's care.  She was coming out of herself and other students had befriended her, too.  But she and Hannah shared a special bond.  They both loved art, and Hannah would often accompany Louise and Margaret to the museums.  They would stay in opulent hotels and dine on fine food.  Hannah asked Marian to join them, but she declined.  She would say she didn't feel well, but Marian didn't have the money for such outings and she wouldn't allow Margaret to pay.

As the spring approached, Hannah's concern grew.  John would be in college for two more years.  He hadn't been home once since he left New Beach.  Hannah was now seventeen and old enough to marry.  She had been thinking of writing to John to tell him what was happening.  If he asked her to marry him, she could stay with his parents until John graduated.  She could look for work in the dry goods store or as a governess.

She was also concerned because she hadn't heard from John in six months and his last letter had been more platonic than romantic.  She was afraid that time and the distance between them had diminished his feelings toward her, and she feared she might be losing him.

Hannah kept her thoughts to herself.  She didn't want Marian to know what she was thinking.  Marian would argue that Hannah was too young, but Hannah wanted to be John's wife.  She knew if they were married, she might even be able to join him in East Brunswick.  She went back and forth between living with John in East Brunswick or living with his parents here.  The thought of living in Colorado didn't enter into her plans.

Jimmy, on the other hand, was thrilled about the move.  He wanted to ride horses and shoot guns.  He didn't like school and thought he could become a rancher like James.  He could rope them doggies and brand 'em.  He fell asleep every night thinking about
Home on the Range.

Becky was taking loaves of bread out of the oven when Marian walked into the kitchen.  She had a letter in her hand.  It had been special delivered to the house.

"It's from James," she said.  "He says we can move to Colorado.  He's having a house built for us."

Marian was grinning.  She was so relieved.  Becky put her hands on her hips and began to cry.

"Becky, what's wrong?" Marian said.  "Aren't you excited?"

"Why should I be excited?  You go off and leave.  You and those kids are like family to me."

"But you must know we'd never leave you behind."

Marian put her arm around Becky's shoulders.

"You're taking me with you?" Becky asked.

"Of course, we're taking you.  I just assumed you'd know.  Oh, Becky, I'm so sorry.  We should have talked about this."

"It's okay.  I'm sorry for crying in front of you.  I just thought since you didn't say..."

"Well, it's over now.  You're going with us.  And we'll have a brand new house of our own!"

Becky smiled.  Seeing Marian so happy after all the months of gloom lifted her spirits.

"I have enough money to pay our bills," Marian said.  "I've spoken to one of the partners at Mr. Ross's law office and asked him to help me find a buyer for the house.  He said he would do whatever he could to help us.  He apologized for Mr. Ross's behavior.  I think he felt embarrassed to speak with me."

"Well, he should.  Don't them partners keep an eye on each other?  They must have known what that man was doing with your money."