Chapter 9
9
Fourth of July was a grand celebration in most of America, and Cheyenne was no exception. All sorts of festivities were planned for the day from trick riding to a picnic feast. In the evening there would be a dance, fireworks, and a midnight supper. The people of Cheyenne were ready to celebrate and do so in grand style.
Micah had accompanied Lucille and Charlotte to Cheyenne after they’d finished with their roundup. The calves were castrated and branded, and already back out grazing with their mamas. Most of the cowboys had been given time off to come and celebrate. A few men had volunteered to stay closer to home to keep an eye on things and take care of chores. Of course, in the case of the Aldrich ranch, Mrs. Aldrich had promised a nice bonus to those who volunteered. Nora hadn’t wanted to come along, so the house was covered as well.
“Goodness, it looks like the number of people has doubled in Cheyenne,” Mrs. Aldrich said as they walked up Capitol Avenue.
“I heard that there were nearly twelve thousand people living around these parts now,” Micah replied. “Some of the cowboys were talking about it yesterday.”
“My, but things have changed. I worried that after so many ranchers sold out and left, we’d see Cheyenne struggling to survive. I know there is concern that losing so many people will affect our goal of statehood.”
“I guess the railroad keeps it going,” Charlotte interjected. “The railroad gave it life, and I suppose only the absence of the railroad would spell its death.”
“I think you’re probably right, Charlotte.” Mrs. Aldrich pointed to a store across the street. “Look at that. A store devoted just to clocks.”
Micah smiled. He remembered the early years of the town when folks were happy just to hear there was a new fruits-and-vegetable market greengrocer setting up business. Things had certainly changed in the twenty-one years since the railroad laid track into Cheyenne. There had been Indian wars, financial crises, droughts, bad winters, even bad people, but Cheyenne survived and seemed determined to go on.
They had left their horses and carriage at the livery, determined that walking would do them good and allow them better accessibility to the festivities. After checking in to the hotel, they headed straight to the Cheyenne Club, where the Wyoming Stock Growers Association was hosting a brief Fourth of July morning meeting.
The streets were crowded to be sure, but the boardwalks were even worse. Folks were walking shoulder to shoulder, some in quite a hurry. Micah worried the ladies would be run over by thoughtless younger men who seemed to have already started to enjoy Independence Day with a bit of alcohol.
At Seventeenth Street they turned east and walked the two blocks to Warren, where the Cheyenne Club was situated. This was solely a men’s club that had been built years before to host visiting European and Eastern United States ranchers as well as locals. It was an impressive three-story brick building with a partial wraparound porch that often attracted a gathering of men, as it was just now.
The inside was even more impressive. Micah remembered coming here with his father and staying in one of the upper-floor hotel rooms. They were plush with thick carpets and impressive furnishings. The men were required to be cleaned up, perfectly mannered, and well-dressed. Micah remembered his father grumbling about it, reminding the doorman that true ranchers dirtied not only their hands but their clothes as well. But the men they most wanted to attract were those millionaires who would continue to see Cheyenne thrive. The dismay of one moderately successful rancher wasn’t of concern to them.
Micah remembered the club had hired a very good chef who cooked amazing meals. The dishes had been flavorful creations of food Micah often had never heard of, much less tried. Sometimes the food was even set on fire just before it was served. The memories made him smile.
“What are you grinning about, Micah?” Charlotte asked as they made their way up the stairs to the club porch.
“I was just remembering some pretty fancy food I had here. I’d never even heard of ostrich, yet here they were serving it up.”
She shook her head. “Was it good?”
“I would just as soon have had my ma’s fried chicken.”
“Afternoon, Mrs. Aldrich,” one of the men said, coming to greet her.
“Afternoon, Mr. Chesterfield. How are you?” Mrs. Aldrich extended her hand. The man took hold of it but didn’t shake her hand.
“Doing well. Mrs. Chesterfield is over at the Inter Ocean Hotel for a lady’s tea. I’m sure you’d be most welcome there. Your daughter too,” he said, looking over at Charlotte. “I know she’d love to visit with you.”
“I came here to hear what the Stock Growers Association have to say, but I do look forward to visiting with your wife.”
The man looked to Micah and cleared his throat. “Well ... you do realize ... I mean, the meeting is for the area ranchers ... the men.”
“My mother and I are ranchers,” Charlotte countered before her mother could speak.
“Pretty ones too,” a man sitting close enough to be in on the conversation said with a grin. “I think they’d make a nice addition.”
Mr. Chesterfield glanced at the man and then back to Mrs. Aldrich. “I’m sorry. This place ... the meeting ... it’s for men only. The only women the association has ever had come around came with their husbands, and they didn’t come here.”
“I see.” Mrs. Aldrich pulled back her gloved hand. “And how are we supposed to hear your news about railroad freighting costs and whether there are any new diseases of which we should be aware?”
The man looked most uncomfortable. “I’m just relating what I know from the past. You could talk to the association president and see what he thinks about having you join in the meeting.” He glanced at his pocket watch. “But there’s not much time. We’re starting in ten minutes.”
“That’s more than ample time,” Charlotte said, pushing past Chesterfield and going inside the Cheyenne Club’s main entrance.
Her mother followed after her, so Micah did likewise, wondering all the while what kind of reception they were going to receive.
The lobby was crowded with men, but not nearly as many as there once would have been for a stock growers meeting. Micah had heard that there had been a huge membership loss in the aftermath of their bad winter, but he hadn’t truly expected the numbers to diminish that much. They must have lost well over half their membership if this was all that was left.
Charlotte and her mother were already speaking to one of the other men. They weren’t about to be cast aside without first attempting to be heard. They were both incredible.
“Micah Hamilton,” a man said from behind.
Micah turned to find Bruce Cadot, one of the area ranchers. “Morning, Mr. Cadot.”
“I haven’t seen you at the meetings in some time. Never got a chance to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your father.”
Micah nodded. “Thank you.” He glanced around, seeing a few familiar faces. “Not nearly as many of us as there used to be.”
“No. I’m afraid those days are gone. Cattle prices were already heading down before the winter of ’86, and now they’ve bottomed out. I doubt we’ll ever see the boon we once had.”
“Folks still gotta eat,” Micah said, shaking his head. “And given that maybe a million head were lost, there might even come a shortage, and people will be clamoring to pay good money again.”
“True. We did talk about that at a meeting a few months back,” Bruce admitted. “Still, that winter totally changed folks. So many left ranching and will probably never return. I’m hoping they’ll have some good news for us today.”
“I don’t see how you have the right to keep us from at least listening in to what you have to say!”
Charlotte’s voice rose above the hum of conversations in the lobby. Everything went silent except for her.
“Mother and I have been handling Aldrich Cattle Company since my father and brother died. And we’re doing a good job of it, if I do say so myself. Better than many of the men who are here today. But now you’re telling me we can’t attend a stock growers meeting?”
Micah looked at Bruce. “I’d better go see if I can calm things down. The Aldrich women hoped they could attend the association gathering. Guess that’s not meeting with a positive outlook.”
Bruce chuckled. “No, I don’t imagine it is. I’m surprised they got past the front door, frankly.”
“Charlotte is like a storm when she wants to move through an area. Doesn’t yield for much of anything or anyone.”
Micah left Bruce and went to where Charlotte was shaking her index finger. When that happened, Micah knew she was well past irritated.
“We’re ranching, same as you. We have cattle to sell, same as you. We need to know how much we’re going to have to pay to ship, same as you. I don’t see why we can’t be a part of the meeting.”
“Now, no sense to get riled. Seems to me you two need to marry up. We’ve got quite a few single ranchers,” the man replied, looking around the room. “I’m betting somebody here would be happy to team up with you.” The man’s tone was half teasing, half serious.
Micah knew the man was making a big mistake trying to make light of the matter. He reached over and took hold of Charlotte, who elbowed him away before she looked to see who it might be.
“Sorry, Micah. I thought someone was trying to haul me out of here.”
“I am.” He gripped her arm tightly. “Come on.”
Several of the men were making annoying comments about Micah being the lucky one. Others were saying slightly more inappropriate things, and Micah knew they needed to just leave.
“Please come on,” he whispered against her ear.
Charlotte seemed to calm, and when their gazes met, he could see she was losing steam. He gave her a smile, hoping it might help.
“I agree with Micah. Let’s go,” Mrs. Aldrich declared. She looked back at the organization’s president. “My husband was a member here and so was my son. I know they’d be appalled at how we’ve been treated. Some of you other men should think of our position. Your wives might one day find themselves in the same situation. Would you want them treated like you’re treating us?
“My daughter and I have had to pick up the pieces of what was left after burying my husband and son. We’ve done a decent job despite the interference we’ve found by you. The Good Lord has looked out for us, and I know He’ll continue to do so. I’m going to be praying for each of you. In particular that your consciences will hurt you something fierce for the way you’ve acted here today.”
She turned and marched from the room. Micah pulled Charlotte and followed Mrs. Aldrich. There was certainly nothing he could say to make a better point than Mrs. Aldrich had already offered.
“They make me so mad with their men-only attitude. I’m not asking to ruin their party. I don’t even want to go to their parties. I just want industry news,” Charlotte said as they went back down the stairs.
“Micah, would you please go back to the meeting and learn what you can for us? I know Rich said he was going to try to make it, but I haven’t seen him anywhere. Charlotte and I will walk back to the hotel and find that lady’s tea.”
“I will not go sit and sip tea like a helpless ninny.” Charlotte’s ire was up again. She turned and looked as if she might go back up the stairs.
“Don’t let them make you anxious, Charlotte.” Micah gave a shrug. “Those meetings are boring anyway. I’ll go and give it a listen and let you know what’s said. I don’t think you have to go sip tea or whatever else ladies do, but I wouldn’t give this bunch another thought.”
For a moment, Micah wasn’t sure she’d heard him. Then she drew a deep breath and nodded. “I suppose it’s for the best. At least right now. I wouldn’t want to spoil the day.” She turned to her mother. “I’m ready if you are.”
Mrs. Aldrich smiled back at Micah. “We’ll see you later at the hotel. That is, if you think you’ll be able to get away from this bunch.”
“I will get away, I promise. I don’t want to be eating a picnic lunch with them. Not when I have the two prettiest ranchers in the area willing to sit by my side.”
Lewis Bradley hadn’t thought of it before, but given the way Charlotte responded to Micah Hamilton, and especially how she looked at him just now, it seemed evident that she had feelings for him. Deep feelings.
Her father had never mentioned there being something between the two. When Lewis had asked about courtship, her father had made it clear that there was no one else, despite her having reached her majority.
Now, however, watching those two at the roundup and here again in town, it was easy to see that there was something that tied them together. Charlotte listened to Micah, even backed down from a fight when he asked her to do so.
Lewis had been standing in the collection of stockmen when she’d lit into the president. He had thought about coming forward and ushering her out, but fear of her making a scene had stopped him just long enough that Micah had taken the lead. Surprisingly, she had gone very willingly with him, and that was when Lewis had first noticed how she looked at Micah. It was as if he hung the moon and the stars. She had a look of serenity and wonder. She’d certainly never gazed at Lewis that way.
That moment caused him to think back to the roundup and their interactions there. It had been the same thing. She had come to Micah’s defense and he to hers. They had acted almost as one in their reactions. Was it possible that she was in love with him?
Lewis spied Kit Hendricks and went to where he stood with several other men. “I wonder if I might have a word with you, Mr. Hendricks.”
Kit gave a nod and then looked at his companions. “I’ll catch up with you fellas in a little bit.” The two he’d been talking to gave shrugs and ambled off.
“What do you need, Mr. Bradley?”
“I wanted to know what you know of Micah Hamilton and the Aldrich women.”
“They’ve given him some control when it comes to me and the boys. I hate the man. He’s always tryin’ to tell me what I need to do or how to do it. You were there at the roundup.”
Lewis nodded. “For a short time.”
“Long enough to get in on his bad side. I saw the two of you havin’ words.”
He had no desire to go into what had transpired between him and Micah and Charlotte. “What do you know about Hamilton and Charlotte Aldrich? Are they courting?”
Hendricks shook his head. “Not that anyone’s told me. She’s always been close to the Hamiltons though. Her brother and Micah were best friends, so the three of them were often together. I think Mrs. Aldrich has brought him back into the fold so to speak, but I’m not happy about it. The man thinks he knows everything there is to know and accused me of being lazy and not knowin’ my job. I’ve kept that place working just fine this last year and a half.”
Lewis knew better. Charlotte was the one who kept that ranch running. She was the one who knew what was needed and how things had to come together in order to move forward. He had no doubt about that. Sure, she needed the muscle of her cowhands, but he had a feeling Kit Hendricks knew very little about the details of running a ranch.
“I wonder if you’d like to earn a little extra money, Mr. Hendricks. I have a few ideas I need help with.”
Kit grinned. “I’d definitely like a little extra money.”
That night the Fourth of July dance and fireworks had everyone in the party spirit. The women had donned their finest gowns. It was rumored that there were even a half dozen Worth gowns being worn by society’s most respected matrons.
Some of the men were clad in tuxedos, but most simply wore their best suits. Charlotte had heard that there was a lower-class party being held on the west side that didn’t require any kind of fancy attire. A lot of cowboys and soldiers were said to be celebrating there. Cheyenne was an eclectic society to be sure, and Charlotte wasn’t exactly sure where she belonged. They had more money than most, but her folks had never aspired to be upper class. They were content with the ranch and their biblical values. Family and home came first, not the social registry or political gains.
Still, it was fun to dress up once in a while. Charlotte didn’t mind at all that Micah might find her appealing. She wanted very much for him to give her his attention. The trouble was, she was most likely going to garner that same interest from other single men. Single women were still somewhat scarce in the West, and marriageable-aged women were highly sought. Between the railroad, the fort, and all the ranches, single men were plentiful and desirous of female companionship. She wasn’t quite sure how to tell them all that she only had eyes for one man. Especially if he didn’t show her the same kind of attention.
However, Charlotte was game to try and had chosen one of her newest Sunday gowns. It was a layered muslin of pale pink with a modest neckline and lace trim. The gown had short, puffed sleeves and a folded sash at the waist. She wore white gloves and had arranged her blond curls in a fashionable style atop her head. Mama had helped with the latter, but they kept the design simple, sweeping Charlotte’s hair back from her face on either side and tying a band of pink ribbon across the top. The curls were pinned in such a way that they cascaded a little down her neck, just touching her shoulders. Charlotte liked it very much and hoped Micah would too.
Mama, on the other hand, had chosen a dark plum-colored gown that she’d purchased earlier that summer. She looked quite lovely. Refined and elegant was what people would no doubt say. At least those were the words that came to Charlotte’s mind.
It was good to see her mother smiling ... even laughing. The last year and a half had been so hard on her. The first year, Mama had wept a great deal when in the privacy of her bedroom, but over the last few months, Charlotte had noticed a difference in her demeanor. Perhaps it was in part due to Rich showing up more often, or maybe she could finally remember her husband and son without falling to pieces. Whatever it was, Charlotte was relieved to find Mama happy again.
“Are you ready to meet up with Micah?” Mama asked from the open door of their two-room suite.
Charlotte gave a whirl. “I am. Do you think he’ll notice me?”
Mama laughed. “He’d have to be blind not to notice you. You’re quite the belle tonight, my dear, and most every man in the room will be noticing you.”
“As long as Micah does, I’ll be happy. His attention is the only one I want.”
The evening was perfect for the celebration, and as Charlotte and her mother met up with Micah in the hotel lobby, Charlotte was ready for the fun to begin. Of course, seeing Micah all cleaned up and in his best Sunday clothes, Charlotte couldn’t help but wish they were already a couple. She longed to be on his arm—to know that they would dance away the evening with each other and then end the night together. She flushed at such a thought, and altogether missed what her mother had just said.
“Charlotte, did you hear me?”
“No, I’m sorry. My mind was a million miles away.”
Mama glanced at Micah a few feet away. “I’m sure it was considerably closer. I said that Mrs. Nagle has invited us to their new-house reception. It will be toward the end of the month. Would you like to go?”
“Oh.” Charlotte met her mother’s curious gaze and nodded. “I suppose it could be interesting.”
The Nagles were part of the wealthier folk in Cheyenne, but Mama had long been friends with Mrs. Nagle, and the new house they had built on East Seventeenth was said to be the finest money could buy. It was rumored to have cost fifty thousand dollars, and while Charlotte really didn’t care that much about attending the reception, she was curious as to what had been done to be worth that much money.
“I’ll send her a note before we leave tomorrow. I think it might be very interesting to attend, and I know it would please Emma. She’s so proud of her new house. Micah, would you be willing to escort us? We can stay the night in town, maybe a couple of nights. I have banking and lawyer business to tend to. I’ll pay all the expenses, of course.”
Charlotte noticed that he seemed to be staring at her as if trying to remember something. She smiled his way, happy to know that he was at least a little interested. “What do you say, Micah?”
He seemed momentarily confused and then nodded. “I’d be happy to escort you both, but I can fend for myself.” He offered Charlotte’s mother his arm. “Now, shall I escort you to the ball, Mrs. Aldrich?” He bowed in mock formality.
Charlotte couldn’t help but giggle. Even Mama chuckled, but she took his arm, nevertheless. Then Micah straightened and smiled at Charlotte.
“I have two arms. You might as well take the other.”
She nodded and allowed Micah to sweep them across the crowded lobby. Outside was little better as they followed many of the other people to the park where the dance was to be held. The musicians were already hard at work under an arbor of muslin and flowers.
“May I have this dance,” someone said to Charlotte, and then before even waiting for an answer he whisked her away and into the flow of waltzers. She looked up to find Lewis Bradley holding her possessively.
“You might give a lady a chance to say if she desires to dance with you,” Charlotte said, fixing him with a scowl. “I would rather not.”
He tightened his grip. “It would look ridiculous if you were to cause a scene just now. Think of your reputation ... or at least that of your mother’s. You wouldn’t want people looking down on her because your behavior was out of line.”
Charlotte said nothing. She allowed him to turn her and lead her through the steps, but inside she was seething. The music couldn’t end soon enough.
“I wish you wouldn’t be mad at me. I just wanted to apologize for making you feel so unhappy when last we spoke. I do love you. I know you don’t love me, but I promise you will in time.”
Charlotte tried again to pull away, but Lewis was having nothing to do with that. She decided it was best to finish the dance and be done with him. She’d be better on her guard next time.
“Honestly, Charlotte, you’re acting like a child. At least say something.”
She fought to keep from countering with a lengthy diatribe about his manners. “Very well. There, I’ve said something.”
He smiled. “Try to look happy. People are watching.”
“That I will not do. You are fortunate that I don’t put an end to this and slap your face. Maybe publicly humiliating you will get my point across where words have failed.”
The music concluded, and Charlotte yanked her gloved hand from his and turned without another word. She knew if she said anything at all, it wouldn’t be kind.
After that, she was very guarded about who she danced with and what dance was chosen. Throughout the evening, she kept wishing Micah would ask her to waltz. She knew he was a capable dancer. Mama had seen to it that both he and Frank Jr. knew all the latest dances. She had forced them to take classes despite their protests. Charlotte remembered wishing she could go with them, but she’d been much too young.
“Would you care to dance?”
She smiled at the sound of the voice and looked up to see the one man she’d longed for all evening. Micah gave her a hint of a smile.
Charlotte felt as if there were butterflies in her stomach. “I was just looking for you. You haven’t asked me to dance all evening.”
“Sorry, dancing has never been of any real interest to me. I was kind of hiding out while you and your mother enjoyed yourselves.”
“Well, let’s give it a go,” she said, taking hold of his hand.
With little difficulty, Micah merged them into the crowd of dancers and began to waltz. Charlotte could have lost herself forever in that moment. Micah was easily the handsomest man at the dance. At least he was in her eyes.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you today at the Stock Growers Association meeting,” Charlotte began. “I know I shouldn’t let my temper get the best of me.”
“I thought you had a valid reason to speak as you did.” Micah whirled her in a circle. He was quite a capable dancer, even if he didn’t like the activity.
“I appreciate that you feel that way. I’m thankful, too, that you were able to go back and get the information for us.”
“There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you and your ma.”
Charlotte wondered if now was the time to share her heart with him. “You know, Micah, you’re important to the both of us. You always have been. Mama sees you as a son. I know she’s perked up considerably since you started spending more time with us. We miss having men around to talk to. We ... I, especially, miss you.”
As the music ended, so too did the dance. Charlotte gazed into Micah’s eyes for a long moment. It was as if no one and nothing else existed. “Micah, I—”
A burst of fireworks went off, filling the night skies with flashes of light. The moment for confessions passed as those around them began to cheer. Charlotte moved close to Micah and turned to watch. She felt his arm go around her in a rather protective manner and eased in just a little closer. She wanted the moment to go on forever.