A Constant Love (The Hope of Cheyenne #1)

Chapter 12

12

At precisely nine o’clock in the evening on the twenty-sixth of July, the Nagle house was, as one person said, “Thrown open to the roof.” Guests were received and welcomed by Emma and Erasmus Nagle in grand style with Chinese lanterns blazing and beautiful furnishings gleaming in the glow.

While a small orchestra played in the Nagles’ first house next door, visitors made their way through the new mansion. Charlotte and her mother stood waiting for Micah to hand their wraps and his hat off to the staff.

“This is quite a romantic setting,” Mama whispered in Charlotte’s ear. “Do you suppose you might tell Micah how you feel about him?”

“Goodness!” Charlotte turned and looked at her mother. “That’s a very private thing to reveal in a very public setting.”

Mother laughed. “Well, it seems to me you’ve had opportunities for private settings and didn’t take advantage of those. I thought perhaps this might do. After all, you love the man.”

Charlotte glanced to where Micah stood waiting his turn. “I do, and I will tell him in time.”

“If you wait much longer, you may lose him. Now that he’s getting out more ... well, he just might meet someone who isn’t as shy as you. Seems the Nagles’ maid is quite at ease in flirting.”

Charlotte hadn’t missed the way the girl batted her eyes at Micah. “I’m not shy. I’m just waiting for the right time.” She turned away from watching Micah and the maid lest she march over there and speak her mind. “God will show me when the time is right.”

They made their arrival known to Erasmus, or Elmo, as his friends called him. Emma was soon at his side, and Charlotte’s mother complimented them on the grand palace they’d created. Mother stayed and visited a moment with Emma while Charlotte and Micah made their way into a smaller parlor.

“Isn’t this beautiful,” Charlotte declared. She marveled at the mahogany woodwork. “They’ve truly spared no expense.”

“I suppose you’d love to have a grand house like this,” Micah said only loud enough for her to hear.

“Absolutely not.” She looked at him and shook her head. “It would never be suitable on the ranch. Oh, some of these furnishings would be just fine, but as much dust and dirt as we sweep out of the house on a daily basis, these glorious carpets and tapestries would never do. Just imagine how much cleaning it would take. I’d never get anything else accomplished.”

Micah laughed out loud, causing several of the guests to look their way. Charlotte pulled him along to another area of the house. A massive fireplace was the focal point of the next room. Above the mantel, a tall mirror ran all the way to the ceiling.

“Why did you laugh? I was serious.”

Micah folded his arms across his chest. “If you had the money to create a house like this, Charlotte, you could hire an entire staff of cleaners. You would never need to lift a finger. Just think of it. You’d be a grand lady, living in a mansion—a queen in a castle, really.”

“I have no desire, and like I said, it would have no place on the ranch.”

“I don’t know. It could be a nice addition. Besides, you might prefer the city if you gave it a chance. You’ve only lived on the ranch. You might like city life.”

“I lived in Denver to attend finishing school, and I did not care for it at all. It was always noisy and always busy. I prefer waking up to a beautiful sunrise and taking Buck out for a morning ride. I love the way the world around me seems to come alive as the sun makes its way higher and higher.”

“Now you’re just waxing poetic. What about the wind and all that dirt you were talking about? Or what if your husband wants to live in the city? Maybe he’ll prefer town life to the open prairie.”

“He doesn’t.” She hadn’t meant to say the words aloud, but now that they were out, she couldn’t help but wonder what Micah’s response would be. However, Mama chose just that moment to join them.

“I wondered where you two had gotten off to. I’ve been told that upstairs there are three beautiful tin bathtubs encased in walnut and that we must see them. Also, Micah, I heard the men say there was quite the display in the basement. A Smead furnace, as well as a filtering apparatus and ventilating system. Whatever all that means.”

Micah shook his head. “It means a lot of money went into this place.”

Mama leaned in. “Indeed, it did, and a waste of such goods if you ask me. Our house is just as roomy, and although I don’t have stained glass in my windows, the windows I have do keep out the cold in the winter and the flies in the summer.”

“Unless we open them,” Charlotte said, amused at her mother’s comment.

“I plan for us to put screens over the windows,” Mama said as she drew closer to the fireplace. “This is quite the hearth. I wouldn’t mind a grand fireplace like this.”

“Screens would be wonderful. Just imagine being able to have the windows open and the bugs unable to come in.” Charlotte smiled at her mother. “And, yes, it is a lovely fireplace.”

“And it is a lovely house. Just not the type of place I’d want,” Mama replied and turned toward the stairs. “Let’s take a look upstairs. I don’t want to miss seeing those bathtubs. That might well be something I would enjoy having at the ranch.”

“Our copper tub isn’t good enough anymore?” Charlotte asked, following her mother to the stairs.

“Well, it’s not encased in walnut,” Mama said, glancing over her shoulder before breaking into laughter.

Charlotte and Micah laughed, too, and obediently followed her upstairs.

Micah couldn’t help but wonder at what Charlotte had said when he’d questioned her about her future husband perhaps preferring to live in the city. She’d spoken as if she knew who he was. Almost as if she were already married. The thought had caused him a moment of discomfort. That had been completely unexpected. Usually, Charlotte spoke in concise and clear terms. Something he had always appreciated about her.

In fact, he greatly appreciated the Aldrich women and their sensible natures. So many women he’d met in his younger years and time at college seemed nonsensical compared. He had once commented on that to his father.

“Women can be a real mystery,” Dad had told him. “Most have the sole ambition of finding a husband. Their lives depend on it, so they learn all sorts of games to make it happen. Be careful what you say to them, or they might take it wrong, and you’ll find yourself in front of a preacher against your will.” From that warning, Micah had learned to be a man of few words. At least when talking to women.

Mrs. Aldrich made comments as they continued to inspect the house, but Micah knew that none of this really appealed to her or her daughter. Charlotte had been more impressed by the extravagant tray of desserts being served with a long line of other tasty treats, which had made him smile.

Once they’d partaken of the refreshments and visited every floor of the house, the ladies were ready to go back to the hotel. They had booked rooms through Sunday morning, telling Micah that this way they’d have plenty of time to see to all their business as well as spend a little time exploring some of the new shops and visiting friends. He hadn’t really wanted to be away from the ranch so long, but they assured him they’d have some of their hands go over and check on his place. He found it nearly impossible to deny Mrs. Aldrich anything she asked. She had been so good to him.

In every way, she had been a mother to him after his own had passed. It was clear that they needed each other, and he wasn’t going to let his pride or discomfort cause him to break this very beneficial union.

“We’ve missed out on a lot of progress this last year,” Mrs. Aldrich said as Micah handed them their wraps. “The great Sarah Bernhardt performed in the opera house last year. Lillie Langtry came just a week later.”

“I remember going there when it first opened. Papa wasn’t impressed because the play was in French.”

“He grumbled, too, about all the money that had been spent and that he had to wear a tie.”

Micah chuckled. “Dad said you wouldn’t catch him going to an opera.”

“No, I don’t suppose I would have ever expected that,” Mrs. Aldrich replied.

They made their way toward the Inter Ocean Hotel, and as they drew near, a man in ragged clothes popped out of the shadows. Micah put himself between the man and the women.

“Could you spare a coin or two? I haven’t had a meal in some time.” The man was unkempt and unwashed. The odor was quite strong, and Micah detected the smell of beer mingled in.

“Here.” Mrs. Aldrich handed Micah a few coins. “Give him this.”

Micah did as she instructed. He never carried a sidearm, although he had a rifle that he tucked under the wagon seat in case of snakes—either the ones that slithered and rattled or the kind that walked on two legs. It was of no good to him now, however.

“Move on with you, Joe,” a voice called out. “Stop pestering these good people.”

“Just asking for some money to eat, lawdog,” the man countered.

The lawman stepped closer, and the tramp backed against the wall, his hand closed tightly around his money. “Just relax. I’m not going to haul you in, Joe.”

Micah recognized Bob Vogel. They’d first met when attending the Decker School for Boys, although Bob was nearly nine years Micah’s junior. They’d crossed paths a year or two after Micah returned from college, and Bob had told him his plans to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an officer for the city’s police department.

“Go on now, Joe, and get something decent to eat. Don’t waste those coins on drink and smokes.”

The raggedy man nodded and scurried off down the street.

“How are you doing, Bob?” Micah asked. He turned to Mrs. Aldrich. “You know Bob Vogel, don’t you?”

“Most folks call me Robert these days.”

“Of course I know Robert. I’m good friends with his mother and father. How are they doing? I didn’t get a chance to see them at the Fourth of July celebration.”

“That’s because they weren’t in town. My sister Carrie’s back east. She went to college and then got hired to help with some medical research. They went to visit her.” He glanced down the road in the direction Joe had gone. “Sorry if Joe gave you a start. We’ve had quite a few problems with tramps. They’ve sort of overrun the city. Sorry that he bothered you.”

“He didn’t. He’s one of God’s children just as we are,” Mrs. Aldrich replied.

Bob nodded and tipped his hat. “Well, I’d best keep walking. Seems to be a lot of folks out this evening, and I want to make sure they keep the peace.”

Once he’d gone, Charlotte put her hand over her heart. “Oh, Mama, he might be one of God’s children, but he nearly scared me out of my shoes. If Micah hadn’t been here, I think I might have fainted, and you know I’m not given to that.”

“You can’t let fear rule you, Charlotte. Someone is always in need, and the Bible says we have not because we ask not. That man was just asking. I can’t fault him for that.”

Micah admired Mrs. Aldrich’s kindness, but he saw no reason to take a chance. “Well, let’s get you safely back to the hotel.” Thankfully, it was just a short distance ahead.

“Things are better in some ways here in Cheyenne,” Charlotte began, “and in other ways much worse. I remember when we arrived here how Papa always seemed on his guard when we came to town.

“I’m so glad we don’t live in the city. I love our ranch, and that’s where I intend to stay. Maybe we should even see about getting a church built out that way. Wouldn’t that be nice? We wouldn’t have to come all the way to Cheyenne for services on Sunday. Maybe other area families would join us. We wouldn’t be a large congregation, but I have a feeling we’d be faithful.”

“It would be beneficial,” Mrs. Aldrich agreed. “But we can’t just hide ourselves away from the world, Charlotte. We did that all last year, and it didn’t really serve us well.”

Micah couldn’t help but agree, although he did so silently. His isolation had only led to feeling sorry for himself and drinking. He’d forsaken every good habit he’d ever been taught, and he’d gotten away from God. Now, as he was working to make his way back, there was still that nagging fear that someone might learn the truth about his father. Still, it had been a year, and no one had questioned the quick burial on the isolated ranch. That was of course due to Mrs. Aldrich giving her word about what had happened. Micah knew, however, if people found out the truth, they wouldn’t be so welcoming. It wasn’t what they’d do or say to him that gave him real concern, however. It was how they would treat Mrs. Aldrich and Charlotte. If they knew that the Aldrich women had kept the truth secret, there would be much to pay. Already they had to fight to be taken seriously, but if folks knew their word was compromised, it could spell the end of their good reputations ... maybe even their ability to continue ranching.

If Lewis Bradley had any doubts about Charlotte’s feelings for Micah Hamilton before the Nagle party, he didn’t now that it was said and done. Throughout the evening he’d watched them together, and they never even saw him. They were so enthralled with each other’s company that they hardly noticed anyone around them.

It was obvious that Micah was the reason Charlotte didn’t want to marry him. He wondered if her father had known. It wasn’t likely, given that he had no concerns about it when Lewis had come to him with the proposition of joining business and pleasure.

Lewis had known his money wouldn’t last much longer. His poor investment knowledge had robbed him of much in the early days of his marriage to Willa. However, there had been so much money that he wasn’t overly concerned. It wasn’t until she died, and then that horrible winter, that things really took a turn for the worse.

He’d been poorly advised. What else could he say? He had no living father to guide him. Not one relative of value or intellect who would know which investments were advantageous and which ones would fail. Even Willa’s father was gone.

Someone had recommended a man in Cheyenne who seemed to know quite a lot about the markets and stocks that were being offered, but the man turned out to be a charlatan, and Lewis lost even more money.

Thus, his desperation to team up with Frank Aldrich Sr. had driven Lewis to court the man more than he would his daughter.

Settling in front of his bedroom fireplace, Lewis steepled his fingers as he relaxed his elbows on the arm of the chair. There had to be a way to get Micah out of the picture and force his hand with Charlotte. She wasn’t easily intimidated. Lewis knew that much. Micah Hamilton wouldn’t be either. Still, there had to be a way. But short of arranging Micah’s death, Lewis wasn’t sure how he could rid himself of the man.

He let out a heavy breath and gazed at the flames in the fireplace. He was losing money much too quickly. It would soon be common knowledge if he wasn’t careful. Already his banker knew there was trouble. Lewis had cashed in some railroad stock and deposited the money to keep things running, but it wouldn’t be long before all of that was gone. He’d staved off the man’s questions by explaining he was waiting for a big investment deal to pay off. He assured the banker that money was soon to be forthcoming.

Charlotte and her mother had plenty of money. There was money just sitting in the bank with no purpose. Then there were the investments Frank Aldrich had made prior to his death. The Aldrich lawyer had surely told Lucille about their value. And now Charlotte would inherit part of that and even more once her mother was gone. If he could just get his hands on the money, Lewis felt confident he could invest it and double it in no time at all. Already he’d heard about new railroads that were looking for investors. Just tonight he was asked to consider going in on stock for the new streetcar routes. At fifty dollars a share, he couldn’t go wrong. The streetcars would run forever. Then there were the expanding utility companies and other business ventures that promised big returns. All were worthy of his attention, but without money those investments were out of his reach.

“But she’s got the money,” he whispered to no one at all.

That feeling of desperation washed over him again as he pictured Charlotte standing next to Micah Hamilton. She adored him. She looked at him in a way that she had never looked at Lewis ... probably never would. At least not while Micah was alive.

Maybe it really was as simple as killing Micah Hamilton.