Chapter 22
Carrie and Spencer sat with Eugene in his final hours.
He didn’t regain consciousness, but Carrie had known the time would come when he wouldn’t.
His pulse was very weak, his breathing shallow.
From time to time, he would stop breathing altogether and she would think the end had come, but then he’d gasp a breath, and their vigil continued.
“He’s gone. I hope he found peace.” She pulled the sheet and blanket over his face. “His mother had taught him all about God. He knew the truth and hopefully acted on it.”
Carrie stood and looked at Spencer for a long moment. “Did you get your answers? Did he tell you why he felt compelled to kill your father?”
Spencer stared at the covered body. “Yes. It was an accident. He said he never meant for it to happen. He hoped to wound him so that Pa couldn’t follow him.
Astor was just going to graze his leg or hip, but Pa dropped to his knee, as he always did, to steady himself.
Astor was startled by his movement and fired anyway. ”
“Does it help that it wasn’t his intention to end your father’s life?”
Spencer met her gaze. “I don’t know. I suppose it helps me to see him as something other than a ruthless killer.
He said my having been there has haunted him all these years.
He knew me instantly because I looked so much like my pa.
When he saw me at the house after seeing you, he knew it was me. I didn’t recognize him.”
Carrie came around to where he stood. “I’m glad you at least got to talk it out with him.”
“He wanted me to forgive him.”
“And will you?”
“I want to.”
She put her arms around him and hugged him close. “In time, hopefully you can.”
“And will you forgive Oswald Nelson?” He returned her embrace.
“I already have. Oswald is pathetic and miserable. He knows he isn’t able to see things in the way I do.
He knows he’s limited in what he can achieve.
That is punishment of a most painful kind.
Still, he’ll find his way around it. He’ll find someone willing to let him take control of their work. Oswald has a way about him.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Bruce Compton said, coming into the room. “My wife tells me our patient died.”
Carrie released her hold on Spencer and stepped away. “Yes. Shall we do the autopsy tonight or wait until morning?”
“Let’s wait. I’m quite exhausted. Treated one of the area ranchers for a serious dog bite. Sewed up a lot of damage.”
“Rabies?” Carrie asked.
“I don’t think so. The man said his two dogs were fighting over food, and he foolishly tried to stop them. Once he managed to separate them, they calmed down and were again the boon companions he’d always known them to be. However, I will have them checked and watch the man carefully.”
“Then I shall return in the morning.” Carrie looked at Spencer. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes, just let me get this book Astor gave me.”
Carrie waited by the door for Spencer. She hoped his time with Astor had helped, though she knew it was probably much briefer than Spencer had planned for.
She remembered the first time she’d met the old man.
He still had hope that someone might be able to help him.
When that hope had left him, she had known her own momentary despair.
She had become a doctor in order to heal and cure.
Instead, her patient had died, but in doing so, he would give her better insight into the next patient to suffer his condition.
“Are you ready?”
She looked to Spencer. “I am.”
As they made the walk home, neither spoke for several blocks.
Carrie was already thinking about the autopsy she would help to perform the next day.
In her mind, she had already determined what she thought they would find.
She had mapped it out on paper both with words and drawings.
It would be interesting to see how close she had come to the truth.
“Are you all right? I know you cared about him.”
Carrie smiled at the compassion in her husband’s voice. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m already thinking ahead to the autopsy.”
“I hope it helps you to learn more about the brain.”
“It will. I’ve no doubt.” She noted the book. “What book is that?”
“Astor kept a ledger of the money he embezzled from the Union Pacific. Apparently, it’s all in the bank. He had planned to use it for helping his mother, but since she died, Astor figured the UP would want it back, and he wanted me to know the details so that I could claim the reward.”
“Reward?”
“Yes, apparently the UP offers rewards for help with such crimes, but as a Pinkerton, I can’t accept it.”
“Mr. Astor was a strange man. There was a gentleness to him. I know he’s been the bane of your existence, but perhaps his sins and the years that passed changed him.”
“I wondered that myself,” Spencer admitted. “Astor was nothing like what I expected. I always figured him to be a heartless killer.”
“And now?”
“It’s kind of soon to sort it all out.”
Carrie could understand that. “People do have the ability to change.”
“If he was truly repentant, he could have given himself up.”
“But that would have most likely meant he’d pay for his mistakes with his life.
The human mind is all about preserving life.
We like to go on living, even when things seem difficult.
We fight hard for our place in this world.
I’m sure when Astor considered that he would probably be hanged for what he did, confession seemed less necessary.
But he could still be very sorry for what he’d done. ”
“He said he was. I guess I have no right to doubt a dying man’s last words.”
“Well, this is fortunate for me,” Robert Vogel said, coming alongside them from one of the side streets. “Mama tried calling you at home. She wants you two at the house right away. Didn’t say why, but I’m guessing for supper since it’s that time.”
“Where are you coming from?” Spencer asked.
“Work. I checked out that name you gave me. It’s not your man. This fella is from Texas, came to the territory with a family—five children in fact. We talked at length, and I’m convinced he’s not Eugene Astor.”
“No, he wasn’t. Rowland Knowles was my man.”
“Was?” Robert’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t . . .”
“He didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re asking,” Carrie interjected. “Knowles was a patient of mine, and he was dying from a brain disorder. Probably a tumor. He just passed, but Spencer was able to take his confession.”
“Truly?” Robert looked at Spencer in surprise. “That’s great.”
“He even gave me this ledger that shows a record of the money he embezzled from the Union Pacific. And he told me his lawyer would be in touch. Colton Benton was his lawyer.”
“Rosie’s brother.” Robert shook his head. “Why should he be in touch with you?”
“Astor was grateful for Carrie’s kindness and treatment. I think he left her something.”
“Me?” Carrie was surprised by this announcement. “Why would he do that? I told him his permission to autopsy his brain was more valuable than anything else he could pay me.”
Robert looked at her a moment and shook his head. “You are a strange gal.”
Spencer chuckled and put his arm around Carrie’s shoulder. “Yeah, but she’s my gal.”
They turned to head toward the Vogel house, and once there, Carrie was surprised to see one of the livery’s rented carriages parked outside with driver in attendance. They gave the man a nod and headed in through the back door at Robert’s suggestion.
“No telling who has come. Besides, Rosie will be in the kitchen with the cook. Maybe she’ll let us sample what’s for supper.” He elbowed Spencer and laughed.
Carrie stepped into the back mudroom. The delightful aroma of fried chicken and other treats wafted through the warm air.
“Oh, it smells wonderful in here,” she said as Rosie came to give her a hug.
Rosie frowned. “Someone has come to see you.”
Carrie pulled back. “Who?”
Robert went to Rosie. “Yeah, who came, Rosie? Ma said nothing when she called me at the jail.”
“It’s that man who wanted to marry Carrie. That bad man who stole her work.”
“Oswald?” Carrie looked to Spencer. “What in the world does he want?”
Spencer put his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry, he can’t hurt you now.”
Carrie lost no time. She marched out of the kitchen and through the dining room, where Greta was setting the table.
“We have company,” Greta said in little more than a whisper.
“I heard.”
Carrie made her way into the front room, where Oswald was sitting in conversation with her folks. He was dressed impeccably in his gray tweed suit, looking every bit the proper gentleman. Good thing Carrie knew the truth.
“What in the world are you doing here?” She barely held her temper.
Oswald looked up and gave her a broad smile. “There you are at last. How I have missed you.”
“What do you want?” Carrie crossed her arms. She sensed that Spencer was standing right behind her and drew strength from it.
“I’m here to apologize and win you back.” He frowned as he seemed to recognize Spencer for the first time. “What’s he doing here?”
Carrie shook her head. “Spencer is none of your concern. In fact, neither of us are. I would appreciate it if you would leave.”
“My love, please give me a chance. I miss you terribly. I was just telling your folks that life in Chicago means very little without you.”
“I heard that you’ve received awards for your research—or rather mine.
” Carrie fought to keep her expression indifferent, but her tone spoke volumes.
“You should be quite pleased with yourself. You are the great man of the hour, and no doubt will continue to draw attention to yourself in one way or another.”
“Carrie, my love, we worked so well together. I can’t believe you’re willing to just throw all of that away. You know full well that what I did, I did for us both. Your research would never have been considered on its own.”