Hannah's Dream (14 page)

The train with the furniture was due in Denver at noon tomorrow and he had hired a big wagon and a driver from the livery in High Bend.  The town was small, but more people moved in every year and the main street, Ludlow Avenue, was filling up with businesses.

The livery had come in last year.  Now the dry goods, which had been there since James moved in, was surrounded by other shops and a hotel.  The railroad had come, too.   James had foreseen a boom and he owned property in town.  He was hoping to see a huge profit as speculators came to High Bend.

Adam Cobb, his hand, was coming with him to Denver to help load the wagon.  Adam had been with James for nine years and had proved to be a trustworthy employee.  He was loyal and respectful toward James, and inspired trust in the other hands in James' employ.  James had built a room in the barn for Adam.

Adam was twenty-five.  He'd been put on the train to Denver from St. Louis by his uncle when he was sixteen.  His uncle's wife was tired of supporting his late sister's boy and believed the boy could find work in Denver.  He gave Adam a five dollar bill and wished him well.  When Adam got off the train in Denver, a man swindled him out of his five dollars and left him for dead in an alley behind a saloon.

Adam woke up with a face full of dried blood and a broken rib.  He staggered out of the alley and James, who was leaving the dry goods store, saw him and came to his aid.  After the doctor in Denver fixed him up, James put him in his wagon with the rest of his supplies and brought him home.  The "boy" had worked for him ever since.

Adam was a quiet man.  At first, James wondered if the beating had caused some brain damage, but over time he learned that Adam only spoke when he had something to say.  He was smart and didn't miss a thing.  Adam understood people well and he would warn James when he felt someone was trying to put one over on the older man.

James came to rely on Adam's intuition when it came to dealings with other ranchers and as a competent weather predictor.  Adam always knew when bad weather was coming and if he told James it was time to bring in the cattle, James sent the boys out to bring in the cattle.

"We'll leave early in the morning," James said.

"I'll be ready," Adam said.

James and Adam were sitting on his porch smoking their pipes.  Adam had been to town for a haircut.  Over the winter, his straight brown hair had grown to his shoulders.  He'd had a shave, too, and without the facial hair, Adam looked five years younger.

He had a gentle face, but James knew that underneath his soft features lay a strong, stubborn will.  When Adam made a decision, he didn't change his mind.  He was thoughtful and pondered things a long time, but once he was sure, he was sure forever.

"My sister has a daughter," James said.  "I haven't been around women in a long time."

"The only woman I knew was my aunt, and I haven't been around any since," Adam said.

"Then we're both in for it, I'm afraid."

"How different can they be?" Adam remarked.

"Son, have you ever wondered why I live alone?"

Adam shook his head.

"Well, you're about to find out."

Chapter 23

Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Evan Morgan sat at his kitchen table reading a newspaper called the Red Bank Register.  He'd sent for it as part of his ongoing investigation regarding Jean-Pierre Renault, a thief who had given Evan a concussion and left him for dead after he had tracked Renault to Toms River.  Evan had subscribed to several newspapers across the state of New Jersey hoping to find information about Renault.  One of his deputies had lived in Monmouth County and mentioned the Register to Evan.

Seven years ago, Renault stole two silver candlesticks from Moss Morgan's house.  Moss, Evan's brother, discovered the theft upon returning home from church and called the sheriff's station.  The candlesticks were a wedding present their mother brought with her from England when she came to America.  The family heirloom was precious to the boys, and their theft infuriated Evan.  He left Moss's house and followed the trail of footprints, half-eaten food, and extinguished campfires the thief left on the road.   He tracked Renault to Toms River, where he saw the candlesticks in the window of a pawnshop.  The pawnbroker told him where Renault was staying and Evan took him into custody.

A hurricane blew up the coast from Atlantic City and the local police force was called to help evacuate the area.  Evan, unaware that the police station was unmanned, took Renault there.  Before he could get Renault inside, he got the jump on Evan and escaped.  Evan chased him and saw him turn into an alley between two brick buildings.  He caught him, they fought, and Renault knocked him out by slamming Evan into the wall.  Evan's head hit the wall hard and he fell unconscious.  Renault, hoping Evan would die, took off.

When he woke up in that alley, Evan crawled to the street and was found by a man who was helping police evacuate the village.  He took Evan to the local clinic, where a young doctor examined his head and said he had a bad concussion, but it would heal.  When he got back to Cherry Hill a week and a half later, he was called to the mayor's office.  Evan had taken off after Renault without telling anyone.  The mayor told him he was lucky he still had his job.  One more stunt like that, and he'd be fired.

Chester whimpered.  The red Irish Setter had to go out and he'd been waiting for his master to notice him.

"What is it, Chet?" Evan said.

The dog whimpered again.

"All right.  Give me a minute."

He had finished reading through the paper and was about to put it aside when something caught his eye.  The small town of New Beach had held an art contest sometime in September of last year.  A girl named Louise had won the top prize.  There was a picture of Louise, a mousy girl with limp hair.  Standing next to her was her teacher, Pierre Rousseau.  A shiver went through Evan as he looked at the teacher's face.  He suddenly remembered that miserable day in 1890 and the Frenchman he was transporting to jail.  He remembered Jean-Pierre Renault, and he was standing next to Louise.

Evan stood and went to the telephone on the wall and gave the operator a number.

"I found him," he said to the party on the other end of the line.  "No, but I know it's him...why?  I have to go get him...yes, fine, I'll be there."

He slammed the receiver onto the hook.  Chet whimpered.

"All right, boy, let's go."

He opened the back door and let the dog run out ahead of him.  He stood on the porch and clenched his fists.  He didn't like being told what to do.

Chester came back to the porch and sat by Evan's legs.  He patted the dog's head and went back into the house.

"I gotta go to town, boy," he said.  "I can't take you.  I'll be back soon."

Old Mike was in his stall in the barn.  Evan threw the saddle on the horse's back, climbed up, and rode to town.

He left Old Mike in front of the town hall and went into the big, white columned building.  The mayor's secretary, a balding man named Pierce, announced him to the mayor, Jeremiah Bean.

"Come in," Jeremiah said.  "Sit.  Pierce, bring us some coffee."

Evan sat in a chair in front of the mayor's desk, took off his hat, and waited for Jeremiah to begin.

"So, you think you've found him."

"I know I've found him."

"Evan, you have to calm down," Jeremiah said.

"I am calm," Evan said.  He kept clenching and unclenching his fists.

"You can't be sure this is the same man."

Evan began to speak and Jeremiah, a gray-haired man in his late fifties with a full Chester A. Arthur mustache, put up his hand.

"You can't be sure, Evan.  You haven't seen the man in what, seven years?"

"It's him."

"Well, if it is, he can wait.  He obviously has created a life for himself in, where is it?"

"New Beach."

"New Beach.  He isn't going anywhere.  You have time to pursue him.  But this time, you will contact the authorities in Monmouth County and alert them.  You will request their assistance in investigating this man.  Until we have some answers, you will not leave Cherry Hill.  Is that clear?"

Evan shifted in his chair.  He hated being told to stay put.  But he knew Jeremiah was right.  He hated that, too.

"If you don't do as I say, I can't guarantee you'll have a job when you return.  People remember what happened.  They wanted me to terminate your employment then.  You abandoned your duties as sheriff for personal reasons.  You are employed by the people of this county.  Remember that."

"I have to get him," Evan said.

"If he is the man, we'll get him, but we'll do it the right way this time.  Go and contact the authorities.  I can't protect you, Evan.  I won't protect you if you don't do as I say."

"Fine.  I'll contact the authorities.  But if I find out it's him, I'm going after him."

"Think before you do something foolish."

Evan stood and put on his hat.

"Good day, Evan," Jeremiah said.

Evan didn't reply.  He left the building, climbed onto his horse, and rode down the street to the sheriff's station.  As he rode, he thought about what Jeremiah said.  The mayor was right.  The men in Monmouth County would get to Jean-Pierre faster than he could.  There would be more of them and no hurricane to impede his arrest.  He stopped in front of his station and slid to the ground.  He tied Old Mike to the hitching post and went inside.

He had forgotten to bring the newspaper with him and he cursed.  He looked through his desk drawers for a list of sheriffs and found it in the bottom right-hand drawer.  The sheriff of Monmouth County was listed as Theodore Aumack.  The station had a new desk telephone.  It was on the sheriff's desk.  Evan picked up the receiver and waited for the operator to answer.  He could hear the excitement in her voice when she said,

"Long distance!"

"Yes, Mary Ellen, long distance."

Chapter 24

High Bend, Colorado

The cool evening breeze ruffled Marian's hair.  She was still getting used to the view from her porch and it still took her breath away when she saw it.  The vast expanse of mountains and valleys beneath her was so different from New Jersey that at first she had suffered vertigo whenever she looked in that direction.  Now, she was more accustomed to it and was able to appreciate its beauty.

Hannah, too, had been mesmerized by the colors she'd seen during their trip across country and now, whenever she came outside, she would rush back in and grab her journal.  There were so many lovely vistas to draw, so many new things she'd never seen before, and she wasn't wasting one minute brooding about leaving New Jersey.

Jimmy was riding every day.  James had given the boy a horse named Toots and told him the horse had been given that name because it frequently broke wind.  Toots had a personality all her own.  She seemed to understand words and Jimmy was thrilled to have such an interesting horse, even if she was a little stinky.  He and Toots roamed the countryside for hours, and James would send a hand to keep an eye on the boy.  He didn't tell Jimmy, though.

When James met his sister at the train, they fell into an easy rapport.  He thought his sister had grown into a handsome woman.  His niece was delightful, and his new nephew made him laugh.  But all his concerns were truly gone when he got them home and Marian gushed over her new house.  The distance between the houses, about a half mile, was enough to lend privacy to all and she was pleased to find the study on the first floor.

"It can be a room for Becky," she said to James privately.  "I'll tell her that was your intention."

He nodded.  It was a sound plan.

For the next month, Marian and Hannah decorated the empty walls and covered them in tasteful wallpapers and pastel colored paints.  Miles Smiley approved.

"Your sister has excellent taste," he told James when he came to the housewarming.

"She knows what she wants," James said.  "I just leave her alone."

"That's always the best thing to do with a woman," Miles replied.

"And how would you know?" Becky said.  She had overheard the conversation between the two bachelors and had to put in her two cents.

"I just meant that women know their own minds," Miles said.  His cheeks were red.  Becky wasn't sure if it was embarrassment or the whiskey he was sipping.

"They know when to keep their mouths shut, which is more than I can say for some people around here," Becky said.

James raised his eyebrows and smiled.  Miles' cheeks grew redder.

"That woman has a salty tongue," he said when Becky walked away.

"She does at that."

James watched Becky walk over to Marian and whisper in her ear.  He noted the way she stood, so straight, and wondered if she ever smiled.

When the party ended, Miles hitched a ride with one of the hands who lived in town and waved goodbye with an unsteady hand.  James joined Marian on the porch and sat on one of the four rockers he'd placed there as a housewarming gift.

"I love these rockers," Marian said.  "You didn't have to give me anything.  Not after building this house."

"I wanted to.  Besides, you needed something for me to sit on when I visit.  Those chairs you have are just too soft."

She smiled.  "How rustic you've become.  I never would have thought my big brother would be so content in the wilderness."

"It's not exactly the wilderness, Marian.  We have indoor plumbing."

"How did you manage that?  I was so happy when I saw it, but I couldn't imagine how."

"I have a well and Miles and I planned it out.  It wasn't so hard.  There are real plumbers in Denver now."

"Well, I'm very happy with it.  And so is Hannah.  I know she was concerned about using an outhouse."

"And what about Becky?" he said.

Marian thought it was a strange question.  James knew Becky was her housekeeper, but Marian and Becky were awfully familiar with each other.  Maybe James didn't understand their relationship.  Or was her brother interested in Becky?

"She's happy, too.  She loves the sink in the kitchen."