Chapter 18
Coming out with the truth about their marriage weighed heavy on Spencer’s heart.
He met up with his father-in-law and Robert Vogel at the men’s weekly Bible study that morning and was still uncertain as to how he was going to tell them the truth.
It distracted him so much, in fact, that he could hardly focus on the Scriptures they were going over.
By the time they ended in prayer, Spencer decided the best way to handle things was to just ask the men to meet with him privately afterward. There was nothing else he could do.
Charlie Decker finished praying, and one by one the men left the schoolhouse. Spencer waited until everyone had gone but Decker and the two Vogel men.
As Edward Vogel moved toward the door, Spencer approached. “I, uh, I need to talk to you and Robert.”
Robert had just joined them by the door, and Charlie Decker followed after. Spencer thought this was as good a place as any to talk to his in-laws.
“Mr. Decker, I wonder if you might allow me a few minutes here to speak to my father-in-law and Robert? I need the privacy and don’t really know where else we might go.”
Charlie looked surprised, but then nodded. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like. I have some things to take care of in the house. I’ll lock up later.” He glanced at his good friend Edward Vogel. “See you at the picnic.”
“It’ll need to warm up a bit more, but otherwise we can all gather at my house,” Vogel replied. “With all the food those gals put together, I know we’ll be happy wherever we decide to eat.”
Decker laughed. “I’ve yet to go hungry when our women were in charge of the menu.”
Once he left the room, Spencer looked at his father-in-law. “There’s something important I need to tell you.”
“Finally.”
Spencer looked at him and could see Vogel’s raised brow. “Yes, finally. I apologize for keeping it from you both for so long.”
His father-in-law motioned to the table where they’d just had their Bible study. “Let’s sit.”
They reclaimed their seats, and Spencer drew a deep breath. “I haven’t been completely honest with you about why I’m here in Cheyenne. The truth is, I’m a Pinkerton agent.”
Edward gave him a nod. “I know.”
Spencer couldn’t hide his surprise. “You know?”
“You aren’t the only one who has friends in the agency,” Edward replied.
“I didn’t know,” Robert threw out. “Why wouldn’t you want us to know something like that? There’s certainly no shame in being a Pinkerton.”
“It’s a long story, but I’m chasing down a man I’ve been after for the last fifteen years. Really the ten before that, as well, but I was too young to go after him. The man killed my father. I was there when he shot him.”
“Why didn’t you think you could share that with us?” Robert asked.
Spencer didn’t have a chance to reply. Edward Vogel spoke up. “Because he couldn’t be sure that the man wasn’t a friend of ours since he was living in Cheyenne all this time. At least that’s my guess.”
“You’re exactly right. My sources tell me he’s been here for the last twenty or so years.
I’m sure he’s chosen a different name to go by, but his real name is Eugene Astor.
He was a bounty jumper during the war. He and his brothers would sign up to fight and take the bonus, then desert.
His brothers were killed rather than be captured.
“The Pinkertons figured out their mother still lived in Philadelphia, and so they had her watched, as well as her mail. Astor sent her letters, or we presumed them to be from Astor. We sent men to the towns where he was supposedly living. Usually, it was just me who went. She passed on last December, and the agency was able to get hold of Astor’s letters in her personal things.
In them he told just enough to make it clear he’d moved to Cheyenne and was working for the Union Pacific, most likely in accounting, since he’d worked at that prior to the war. ”
Robert considered this a moment. “So you figured to come here and catch him.”
“Yes. But Astor has always been quite good at giving us the slip. My father chased him all over the northeast. He finally caught up with him in Philadelphia the day after the war ended. That’s where Astor shot and killed him.
I made it my life’s ambition to get justice for my pa, but Astor always seemed to know what we were planning to do and stayed two steps ahead of us. ”
“Then you found out he was here.” This came from his father-in-law.
“Yes. My supervisor, who also happened to be my father’s best friend, gave me the news.
He helped me so much after Pa died. He knew what it meant to me to catch Astor and arranged things with the Pinkertons.
Of course, I had other jobs to do for them, but since Astor managed to swindle the government out of a lot of money, they wanted the agency to catch him no matter how long it took. ”
“Still, he did kill an agent,” Edward Vogel said, leaning back in his chair.
“Yes, which was in part how we justified my continued search.”
“And how does Carrie fit into all of this?”
Spencer couldn’t quite meet the older man’s gaze and looked at the table.
“Well, I didn’t lie about loving her. I fell for her from the first moment I met her.
Still, we didn’t really have a chance to court after she ended things with Nelson.
I heard about Astor being in Cheyenne and asked her to be a part of the plan to come here.
“See, I . . . well, I figured if I just showed up in Cheyenne alone, it would take me twice as long to make friends or earn trust than if I came as Carrie’s . . . husband. And we needed to move fast. As it is, I’ve not gotten very far at all.”
“You might have gotten further if you’d just come as an agent and told me the truth,” Vogel replied.
“But Astor could have been a good friend of yours.”
“And you think I wouldn’t have turned him over to you?”
Spencer forced himself to glance up and meet his father-in-law’s stern gaze. “I didn’t really know you, sir. I’d listened to Carrie’s stories about her family, but I couldn’t take a chance.”
“So that’s why you two married?”
“No!” Spencer hadn’t meant to sound quite so firm. “I love Carrie. I’ve never lied about that, and she loves me now as well. We just had a long talk about this, which is why we felt it was important for me to come clean. We want to have a real marriage.”
“You aren’t married?” Robert asked, his eyes narrowing.
“We are.” Spencer held up his hands, hoping to calm them both. His father-in-law had said nothing, but Spencer could see he’d stiffened up considerably. “We married in a civil ceremony arranged by the Pinkertons. We’re legally bound, but to tell the truth—”
“Which you’d most assuredly better do.” The irritation in Robert’s voice was quite evident.
“Calm down, son. Let’s give him a chance,” Edward said, watching Spencer with tense reserve.
Spencer drew a deep breath. “We’ve lived apart.
I’ve not taken advantage of her in any way.
We had married with the thought of annulling the marriage after I caught Astor.
But now . . .” Spencer couldn’t help but smile.
“We’re in love and quite happy to remain married.
We want to be there for each other and grow old together. ”
Edward Vogel leaned forward at the table. “So all this time, even under my roof, you two didn’t take advantage of the fact that you were married?”
“No, sir. I completely respected her position, knowing that we would go our separate ways when the job was done. I didn’t want to compromise her in any way. Again, I love her too much to do something like that.”
“I still don’t understand why you thought you had to be married,” Robert said, shaking his head.
“I don’t suppose it would have had to be that way, but it saved a lot of time. Being your kinsman, I was immediately welcomed into your circle of friends and was able to ascertain if any of them were Astor.”
“So you know him by sight?” the elder Vogel asked.
“I think I would. I can’t say for sure. It’s been a lot of years, and I was just a boy. It’s possible I wouldn’t know him.”
Spencer folded his hands atop the table.
“Look, I’m sorry for the deception, but Carrie and I plan to get married again, this time in the church.
We’ll do it soon and right here so that you can all be a part of it.
And for now, we’ll remain here in Cheyenne.
It’s all up to Carrie. I don’t have to be a Pinkerton to be happy, but I do need her to be so.
She needs to continue her work. Wherever she wants to go to do that .
. . well, I will see to it that she gets where she needs to be. ”
“You love her so much that you’d give up on what you want in life?” Edward asked.
“Carrie’s the only thing I really want. She even had me forgetting about my need to catch Astor. That’s part of why I still haven’t gotten very far.”
“Are you willing to let us help you now?”
Spencer looked at his father-in-law and nodded. “I’d like whatever help you can offer.”
“Are you two going to be honest with the rest of the family?”
“Yes, sir. Although I’d rather not give too many details on the man I’m hunting down. The fewer who know, the less chance of someone saying something by accident.”
“I agree.” Edward Vogel got to his feet. “There’s also the matter of what happens now between the two of you.”
“I don’t understand.” Spencer stood, as did Robert.
“Well, until you’re married in the eyes of God, I’m wondering where you’ll live.”
“I don’t think we should have them living separate,” Mama said after Carrie and Spencer shared the details of their quick marriage and relocation to Cheyenne.
The weather had been much too cold for a lakeside picnic, so the families had gathered at the Vogel house.
Spencer had told Carrie in a hurried whisper that he’d shared everything with her father and brother.
She’d worried about how the news would go over with Mama, so it was hard to wait until the Deckers went home to share the truth with her mother and sister.
Michael Decker had stayed with Greta since they had plans for the afternoon, but Carrie figured they could trust him.
“If they live separately now,” Mama continued, “folks will question whether they were ever really married. It will ruin their reputations. Since they are already married, I can just make it clear to my friends that I wanted very much to see Carrie get married. I think everyone will understand my desire for a church wedding.”
“Yes, I think that makes sense,” Carrie said, nodding.
“I have a wonderful idea!” Greta all but squealed. She looked to Michael. “What if Carrie and Spencer stand up with us and marry in a double ceremony? Robert and Rosie married with Rosie’s brother and Emma Johnson. We could carry on the tradition.”
Michael nodded. “That’s fine by me.”
Greta looked at her mother and then to Carrie and Spencer. “What say you? Just think how special it will be. Sisters having a double wedding.”
Carrie looked to Spencer. “Would you mind?”
“No. Whatever makes you happy.”
Carrie smiled. “Greta, I would love that. This way we can stand up with each other just as we always planned to do.” She glanced over at Rosie. “And you can be our matron of honor, Rosie. We’ll share you.”
“That’s perfect because Robert is going to be my best man,” Michael added.
“Would you be mine as well?” Spencer asked.
Robert gave a shrug. “Might as well be.”
They laughed, and the tension of Carrie sharing the truth faded. She was relieved to see everyone so amiable about the matter.
“I’m so glad to have this matter settled,” Mama said, shaking her head. “And the double wedding is the perfect excuse. No one will be the wiser.”
“It’s not like we’re hiding anything . . . not really,” Papa said. “Maybe we’re not filling everyone in on all the details of how things got first arranged, but it’s no one else’s business.”
“I’m just so excited,” Greta said, reaching over to give Carrie’s hand a squeeze. “This is absolutely wonderful. But we’re going to have to go immediately Monday morning and have you fitted for a wedding dress.”
“That’s right. We’ll need to get right to it. The wedding is in just about a month. The dressmaker will need time to get your gown made.”
“I don’t have to have a fancy gown, Mama. You didn’t have one, and the marriage has lasted just fine.”
“Oh, but it’s going to be such a beautiful wedding. We’re having flowers brought in and everything,” Greta said, sounding so hopeful that Carrie couldn’t ignore her desires.
“Very well. I’ll go with you Monday to see the dressmaker.” She looked at Spencer, who seemed rather preoccupied. “Can we afford a wedding dress, Spencer?”
He looked at her with an odd expression. “We can afford whatever you need.”
“We’ll pay for the dress,” Carrie’s father announced. “Just as we did Greta’s. That matter isn’t up for discussion.” He gave her a wink.
Carrie could see the love in his eyes. She really did belong and always had. Why had it been so hard to see when she was younger? God had given her a solid foundation of loving parents and siblings. It was her own misguided doubts that had left her feeling somehow less than worthy of love.
“Why don’t we go cut the cake,” Rosie said more than asked. “Everyone should have room for it now.”
Papa rubbed his stomach and laughed. “If not, I’ll make room for it by moving everything around.”
Everyone laughed, but Greta and Michael got to their feet. “We have plans and will eat cake later. We’ll be back around five.”
“All right, you two, I’m sure you have plenty to discuss and plan. Behave yourselves,” Mama said, waving them off. “Let’s head back to the dining room, I’m sure we’ll be more comfortable there.”
As everyone moved from the front room and down the hall, Carrie noticed Spencer was still quiet. She took hold of his arm and held him back a moment.
“Are you all right? Are you regretting us telling them everything?”
“No,” he said, reaching out to touch her cheek. “I’m glad we did. Your father and brother have agreed to help me in any way they can. I’m going to need their help to get this wrapped up.”
“Then what? I feel like something isn’t quite right.”
He laughed and leaned closer to her ear. “The wedding is May third. That’s over a month away.”
Carrie nodded. “Yes.”
Spencer sighed. “Seems an awfully long time.”
She laughed, finally understanding his line of thought. “Good things are worth waiting for.”