A Constant Love (The Hope of Cheyenne #1)

Chapter 13

13

“Mr. Higgins, I’m so glad to know that you’ve managed to get to the bottom of everything,” Lucille Aldrich said, feeling some of her tension ease.

“As far as I know and can find proof of, there was no written agreement between your husband and Mr. Bradley. This includes, but is not limited to, any arrangement for the ranching business, Mr. Aldrich’s investments, and the promise of Charlotte in marriage.”

Charlotte heaved a sigh, but it was Lucille who spoke. “So even though Frank agreed that Charlotte and Mr. Bradley should wed, she isn’t at all obligated to fulfill that arrangement?”

“No, not at all.” Clarence Higgins leaned back in his leather chair. “And even if there had been, it’s a simple matter to get out of a marriage in Cheyenne. If you hadn’t already heard, we’ve become famous for divorces. Some call us the Magic City of Divorce.”

Lucille shook her head and folded her gloved hands together. “What a sad moniker to have.”

“We’re also the Magic City of Weddings. Folks who have divorced in Colorado have a long waiting period to remarry, so they come here to get wed again. So many have come, in fact, that Colorado is trying to pass laws refusing to recognize marriages made here by their residents.”

“Goodness, what a mess,” Charlotte said before Lucille could reply.

She knew her daughter probably had strong thoughts on the matter, but rather than allow them to get caught up in a lengthy conversation, Lucille refocused their discussion. “So we aren’t under any obligation to Lewis Bradley?”

Mr. Higgins closed the file in front of him. “None whatsoever.”

“Good. We just wanted to make certain that was the case. He’s made a pest of himself trying to force Charlotte to carry through with her father’s plans to marry.”

“Well, I suppose it is possible that Mr. Aldrich could have made a written agreement with Mr. Lewis in private. There might be repercussions if it relates to business dealings. Should he suggest that he has any document of that type, encourage him to come see me, and I can compare signatures and get the details of what was agreed upon. I doubt this to be the case, however, since your husband was a real stickler for doing business through me alone—wouldn’t so much as sell a cow without me doing the paperwork. Regardless, he can’t force Miss Aldrich to marry him. She’s reached her majority.”

“That certainly puts my mind at ease.” Lucille looked to her daughter. “And I’m sure it helps Charlotte to rest easy.”

“I wouldn’t have married him even if there had been signed contracts and endless pledges. I won’t marry a man I do not love,” Charlotte said with a bit of a shrug.

Lucille smiled. She knew her daughter. Once she made her mind up about something, she wouldn’t be otherwise persuaded. She loved Micah Hamilton, and it was Micah whom she would marry and no other.

“And you have arranged for the rest of our legal papers to be put into my name and Charlotte’s?”

“Yes, of course. I managed most of that last year after our very brief talk at the funeral. The ranch and all of your holdings are legally sound and properly documented. You needn’t worry. Charlotte is partnered with you as you requested and will, upon your death, inherit the entirety of your estate.”

“Good. That is as it should be.” Lucille got to her feet, and Mr. Higgins and Charlotte rose as well. “Then unless there’s something else, we will be on our way. It’s quite warm.”

“Yes, this office can be stuffy, even with the new ceiling fan,” Mr. Higgins agreed.

Lucille waited until she and Charlotte were outside before speaking again. She looked at Charlotte. “I hope you feel better now.”

“I do. I’m glad you requested the appointment with him when we saw him at the Fourth of July celebrations.” Charlotte opened and raised her parasol. “Now if Lewis bothers me again, I will send him straightaway to Mr. Higgins. Being as they’re both lawyers, they can speak all their legal phrases and understand each other.”

“I wonder if Micah has finished arranging for the saddles we brought in to be repaired.”

“You told him to meet in the hotel lobby. My guess is he’ll be waiting there for us,” Charlotte replied.

They made their way back to the hotel and found Micah reading the newspaper in the lobby. The moment he saw them he jumped to his feet.

“How did it go with the saddles?”

“Old Gus said he’d have the repairs made and ready tomorrow. He’ll just put the saddles in the back of your wagon, and when we leave Sunday, we can pay the livery bill, and he’ll include it in that.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Lucille turned to her daughter. “I don’t know about you, but after that stuffy office, I’d like a nice long walk.”

Charlotte held up her now closed umbrella. “Sounds perfect, and I’ll have my own shade.”

Lucille gathered her skirt. “I’ll go upstairs and retrieve mine as well.”

She was surprised when Charlotte handed over her own parasol. “I’ll go fetch it, Mama. Please hold this for me.”

Lucille dropped her skirt and took the piece. She waited until Charlotte was halfway up the stairs before turning to Micah. “She’s under no obligation to marry Lewis Bradley. I thought you should know that before she returns, although I’m sure she will tell you as much herself.”

“I couldn’t see why she should be. What about the ranch? Did Bradley manage to finagle any of that into his possession?”

“No. Mr. Higgins knows of no contracts. He said should Mr. Bradley come up with something that he says is a signed contract between himself and Frank, we should direct him back to Mr. Higgins. He’d be able to tell if the signatures were truly Frank’s, and besides, Frank never signed anything without the lawyer involved.”

“I remember that about him. Does he think Bradley would forge them?”

“He’s just extra cautious. We were one of the few ranches to come out of the bad winter with assets still in place, and he’s heard it rumored that Mr. Bradley is starting to struggle financially. But he had nothing firm on the matter. Just rumors, and we all want nothing to do with those.”

“Especially since Bradley’s finances aren’t our concern. I’m glad, though, that neither of you have to deal with him anymore and can just tell him to leave you alone.”

“Mr. Higgins is going to write him a letter and explain that we talked all of this out and that we know where we stand legally.”

Micah glanced back at the stairs, and Lucille followed suit. Charlotte was just starting down. Lucille let her gaze go back to Micah. He seemed to watch Charlotte as if trying to figure something out.

“She is all grown up,” Lucille said, looking back at her daughter.

“Yes. Yes, she is,” Micah murmured.

She was all grown up. Micah had seen her as the little girl for so long that it still rather shocked him to acknowledge those years were far removed. She had forever been Frank Jr.’s little sister. The tiny blond girl in braids and pinafore aprons. But no more.

“I’d like to walk down toward the capitol building. It will give us a good stretch of our limbs.” Mrs. Aldrich raised her parasol. Charlotte did likewise.

Micah offered Mrs. Aldrich his arm, but she took Charlotte’s instead. Micah brought up the rear as a watchful guardian might do. He thought of how much these two women meant to him. He would die for them. The thought was rather startling. They were in every way the only family left to him.

“As we saw on the Fourth of July, things have changed so much. This town is nothing like when we first came here,” Charlotte said, glancing up at buildings. “Remember how many of the businesses were in tents, Mama?”

“I do. I’ve been fascinated over the years watching it change, but it seems these last few years have brought even more alterations. I heard we now have a county library. I enjoy a good book when time permits. It might suit me to make a visit there.”

“Don’t forget, Mama, we were going to check into material for new winter coats,” Charlotte reminded her.

“Or you could just buy them ready made,” Micah offered. “I’ve been surprised at how well some of that stuff fits. I just bought myself a couple of shirts.”

“You should have told us you needed them,” Mrs. Aldrich declared, glancing over her shoulder. “Charlotte and I would have made shirts for you.”

“You two have more than enough work already.”

“Yes, but we’re never too busy for you, Micah.”

“It just wearies me here with all the noise and constant change,” Charlotte said, not seeming to have heard her mother. “It’s different every time we come here. I need consistency in my life. That’s why I love the ranch.”

“Things change on the ranch all the time. New life being born, animals going to market, things growing and dying.” Micah could think of a dozen more examples but left it at that.

“Yes, those things change,” Charlotte went on, “storms come, and fires can destroy, but foundationally everything stays fixed. That’s what was so hard when Frank and Papa died. Your father too, Micah. That foundation was shaken. Where before it had always been constant. I need that consistency—to know that I have a strong foundation to build on.”

“Reminds me of Jesus speaking of the man who builds on sandy soil and the one who builds on rock,” Mrs. Aldrich said, smiling at her daughter. “When you were little, you always loved when your father would tell that story.”

“That’s because he made it fun. He would pretend to hammer and build and then make like rain was coming down. He always pounded his hand down hard on the table to emphasize the house on the sand being destroyed.” She smiled back at Micah. “Frank Jr. would imitate him at times, remember? You and he told me that story once when I was afraid.”

“I remember that. We were caught out riding and misjudged the weather. Thunderstorm moved in so fast we barely had time to find any shelter.” Micah could see it all as if it were yesterday. They were soaked to the skin when they finally made it home.

“Well, the point in my reference is that God is that rock. He’s constant and solid. We can build on Him and know that He’ll never change because the Bible tells us so.” Charlotte’s mother glanced at the building across the street. “In another twenty years, that structure might very well be gone. Even the capitol building could change. After all, they’re already adding to it. What’s to stop them from tearing it all down and completely changing it?” She shook her head. “Nothing. But God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Charlotte nodded and drew down her parasol. “Family had always been like that for me too. When we lost Papa and Frank, it felt like my house was on sand, and as the Bible says, great was the fall of it.

“I know people will die and buildings can be destroyed, but the ranch, the land, it remains. It’s all so neatly a part of my faith. I didn’t realize it until we faced death. I found such strength in my home and the land around me. God and the ranch were my constants. Of course, Mama, you were as well.” She leaned over and gave her mother a peck on the cheek.

Micah realized in that moment that he’d had no constant. Even his relationship with God had been meager and weak. Maybe that was why alcohol seemed so appealing. He had felt the immediate calm that it could bring him. Instead of seeking God in prayer or in Bible reading, or fellowship with another believer, he had given himself to a substance that offered only the briefest of comfort.

“And you were a constant,” Charlotte said, stopping their progress to turn to Micah. “I’ve missed Papa and Frank Jr., but if I’m honest, I think I’ve missed you most.”

Micah was surprised by her boardwalk declaration. He looked around to see who else might have overheard them, but there was no one. People were going about their business with no interest in what the trio might be discussing.

“We should have insisted you join us on the ranch.” Mrs. Aldrich reached back and took hold of Micah’s right arm.

Charlotte took hold of his left. She smiled up at him with such love in her eyes. “You’re stuck with us now, and as Ecclesiastes states, a threefold cord is not easily broken.” Charlotte tightened her grip on him. “I think we should find somewhere to have lunch. I’m starving.”

“There’s Belham’s on the next block,” Mrs. Aldrich suggested. “I’ve heard that they’re serving lunch these days as well as supper. I say we give it a try.”

And just like that, they were off to the restaurant and seated near the window before Micah could offer any protest. Not that he wanted to, but the whirlwind those two women could sometimes create amazed him. Once they decided on a matter, it got done.

“Oh, look, it’s Katie Combes. I haven’t seen her in ages.” Charlotte stood, and Micah did as well out of respect. “I’ll be right back.” She hurried across the room to where her friend sat with a couple of other women.

Micah reclaimed his seat and smiled at Mrs. Aldrich. “She never seems to tire.”

She laughed. “She’s been that way all her life. But then, you know that.”

Micah nodded. “I do. I thought maybe time would slow her down just a bit.”

“It didn’t slow me down, and she reminds me so much of myself.” Mrs. Aldrich gave a slight shrug. “I don’t know that it’s a good way to be, but we get a lot accomplished.”

“Micah Hamilton, how are you doing?”

Micah looked up to find one of his father’s friends standing at his side. “I’m doing well, Mr. Post.” He got to his feet and shook the man’s hand. Post was a good friend of his father’s and just happened to head up the bank where they kept their account. For years Micah’s dad had an arrangement to provide Post’s family with beef.

“I haven’t seen you in some time. I was sure sorry to hear about your father. I had no better friend.”

“I know he thought highly of you, Mr. Post.” Micah was most uncomfortable in speaking about his father. He glanced at his tablemate. “You know Mrs. Aldrich, don’t you?”

“Of course. Lucille, how are you?” He frowned. “We’re all much worse off for the loss of your husband and son.”

“Thank you for saying so. However, we’re getting by, and God has been good to meet our needs.”

The man nodded and turned back to Micah. “I’d like it if you stopped by the bank sometime. I’d like to talk to you about your plans.”

“I’ll do just that.”

“Just offhand, do you figure to sell the ranch?” Mr. Post asked.

“No.” Micah offered nothing further, and that seemed to put an abrupt end to the conversation.

Post gave a nod. “I must return to the bank, but don’t forget to come see me soon.”

“I’ll do my best.” Micah shook his hand once more and waited until Post was nearing the door of the restaurant before he reclaimed his seat.

“Micah, I think the time has come for you to figure out your future,” Mrs. Aldrich declared.

“I haven’t got the money to set up business at my place. There’s so much that’s needed, and I took what we had in the bank just to live on after Dad passed away. No bank is going to extend me credit. After the Great Die-Up, no one wants to risk their money. I think about those cows and calves I have—thanks to you and Charlotte—and I don’t even know how I can keep them fed through the winter.”

“That’s all right. I’m going to help you, and you’re going to let me.” Her words were quite determined.

Micah glanced across the room, where Charlotte was still deep in conversation with Katie Combes. He looked back to Mrs. Aldrich. “What is it you have in mind?”

“My plan is twofold. First, to get you back into the routine, I want you to partner up with us. Come and be my foreman, and we’ll give Kit one more chance to take training. If he can’t learn or refuses, then you can find another to replace and train. Those boys I hired for a crew have the ability to be good at what they do. You saw them at roundup.”

“I did, and you’re right. With proper training, they’ll do great.”

“Then we’ll run our cattle together and see that each head has what it needs. I have plenty of hay coming in and that newly fenced pasture close to the house. Close your house and live in the foreman quarters. I will pay you a good salary to work, and you can save it, because I’ll also take care of all your other needs just as I would have Frank Jr.

“Second, we’ll see to it that all of your heifers and cows get bred without charge, and the steers that are ready for market will go without expense to you, but you will reap the benefits.”

“That’s hardly fair. I would expect to pay for any expenses you put out.”

“No, I’ve thought this through. Your father was a great help to us at different times, and I made your mother a promise to be there for you and help you both. Frank would want it this way. Frank Jr. would too. Run your cattle with ours, and let’s build this herd back up. Charlotte has been shopping more stock, and I know that in five years we can have a fine herd in place.”

“So long as there’s no drought or bad winter.”

She smiled at Micah. “I’ll trust it to God. Look, you think about it, pray about it. I’d like you to start work on Monday, but you can wait and give me your answer after church on Sunday.”

He laughed out loud, caught completely off guard. He saw the twinkle in her eye, and it amused him all the more. “Are you sure you can wait that long?”

“I am, because I already know the answer.”

Micah shook his head. He was already sure what his answer would be as well.