Chapter 3
REGGIE
An hour later, I am walking through Grant’s townhouse, taking notes so I can tell him in the next telegram what was sold and what’s headed his way as I wait for the staff to gather in the kitchen on the lower floor.
The home has been thoroughly cleaned and is ready for its new owners, as I’d just signed Grant’s name by proxy for the sale of both properties.
Heading down the stairs, I am shocked to find only a few waiting.
“Who is the head servant here?”
An older woman steps forward. “That would be me, Sir.”
“Is this all that are employed?”
“Yes, Mr. Hayes only kept a skeleton crew in his absence. I hope the house was still satisfactory?”
“For so little of you, I commend all of you on what fine work you have each done here. Because of this, I am going to ask a few questions and give you the permission to speak freely. I am looking for a crew to help me not only get the items you packed into the railcars to Mr. Hayes, but also to help me set up my new home in Utah. If any of you are interested in taking this trip and relocating, please let me know; all are welcome. I will allow you time to think this over. Please send me the names of those who want to go no later than next Wednesday to the address on my card. That way I will have time to make the proper arrangements on the train.”
I hand the card to the head servant and she looks up at me hesitantly. “Sir, as much as I enjoyed working for Mr. Hayes, my family lives here.”
“I understand most of you will choose other arrangements. I simply wanted to provide another option. Either way, I am here to pay you your severance pay and provide references that will help you find other gainful employment. Grant spoke highly of each of you, and he has set aside an amount for every position.”
I reach into the case the solicitor gave me for the envelopes Grant told him I would need. If I had looked at them before coming here, I would have realized what a small staff was still on hand.
“Please come get your envelope when I call out your name. Mrs. Beacon.”
The older lady who is the head servant steps forward. “Thank you, Sir.”
“You are more than welcome. Grant sends his thanks as well.”
Each one reacts similarly as I call out their name. “Colby, Jacob, Terrance, Deven.” They seem to be the last of the men present, so then I start on the few maids, “Stella, and the last envelope I have is for Jessica.”
The young woman seems to appear out of nowhere and walks toward me slowly.
I know my eyes widen slightly when she looks up at me.
I’ve never seen such striking eyes on a woman, and they stand out even more against her olive skin and dark hair.
She curtsies slightly before taking the envelope from my hand, and I clear my throat, regaining my composure, shocked at my own inappropriate behavior.
“Grant and I both wish you all the best. As I said, if any of you wish to accompany me West with this load, I would appreciate it. I will warn you: this will be a permanent move for me, and that part of the world is nothing like the one we are currently living in. The land is dangerous and civilization is sparse, but it is a great place for any man’s dreams to come true.
If you decide to embark on this new adventure with me, I promise a fair wage and the opportunity to advance, along with your own home and land.
Ladies, it’s been a pleasure, and I wish you all well. ”
Turning to walk away, I fight the urge to look back at the girl as I leave the house.
Even as I mount Bells, who has been patiently waiting for me outside, those bright green eyes haunt me, and I wonder what will happen to the young girl now.
It’s late when I finally get home, but Paul is waiting for me outside the barn to take Bells.
“Give her some extra oats and wipe her down, Paul.”
“Of course, Sir, we all know what a good girl she is.” I pat him on the shoulder as I walk by, realizing how much things are going to change around here with all of them gone.
Clifford opens the back door, taking my long coat, hat, and gloves. “You are back late, Sir. I take it all is well?”
“Yes, thank you Clifford. I should have stayed at Grant’s, but I simply wanted to sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“Understandable Sir, we are all creatures of comfort. If that is all you need from me, I will turn in for the night.”
“Seek your bed, Clifford. I am going to raid the kitchen and Judy’s warming box on the stove and see what she has hidden in there before heading up to bed myself.”
“I am sure she made you a plate, Sir. She worries you don’t eat enough now.”
His words suddenly make me stop, and I turn back to him.
“Thank you, Clifford. I may not say it enough, but I want you, Judy, and the others to know I also see you as family. Judy’s good cooking and your advice have helped me through many scrapes in my life, and I hope this new adventure you all are embarking on with Mom and Dad proves successful. ”
“Thank you Sir, we are all looking forward to it.”
Unbuttoning my sleeves, I roll them up as I head into the kitchen that always smells like cookies and warm bread, and of course, Clifford was right.
Sitting in the middle of the warmer is a large plate covered with a white cloth.
Pulling it out, I find a few pieces of chicken, some sweet carrots, and three chocolate chip cookies.
A smile appears on my face when I take a bite of the one piece of food Judy knows I can never resist, her cookies.
After eating all of them first, I tear the chicken into small pieces, and the entire meal seems to be gone in just a few minutes.
Half in a daze of exhaustion and now with a full belly, I make my way up the stairs to my rooms. Opening the door I stop, looking around. Several lanterns are lit, and my large four-poster bed, which takes up most of this area, is turned down, with the fire banked for the night.
Sighing wearily, it hits me hard that my days in this room, which has always been my safe place, will no longer be available to me unless I take up the responsibilities my father has always carried on his shoulders. He allowed me to wander and sow my wild oats, as my mother says.
Slipping my shirt over my head, I walk over to the washbasin, as I hate to get into bed dirty.
While wiping my face and chest down, I glance up into the small mirror on the stand, noticing the tan I’d gotten while traveling to Grant’s has now faded, and my beard is seriously out of control.
Laughing to myself, I can see in my mind Mom frowning at my dishevelment as I try to comb it down.
Reaching for the buckle on my pants, I feel the telegram that I put in my pocket earlier. Pulling it out, I set it on the table, then pull on the loose pants I prefer to sleep in.
Strolling over to the small bar, I pour myself two fingers of scotch and sit down in the chair before the fire. After taking a sip, I open the letter.
Reg,
I need you to respond as soon as possible.
When you were here, we discussed how I was buying as much property as I could around the mine.
A large parcel has just become available, and before I make a down payment, I wanted to ask whether you’d be interested in the joint venture we discussed.
I’m only one person and can only manage so many acres on my own.
This piece of land is just over two thousand acres, including a small—and I do mean small—hunting cabin that could be easily renovated until you could build something larger.
I eagerly await your answer and will try to get the bank to hold off for a few days before I tell them to offer it elsewhere. Would love to have you closer.
Grant.
I read the letter several times, and it’s like a huge burden has suddenly been lifted from my shoulders, as I feel this is the answer I was looking for.
Mom and Dad are both ready for a new adventure in their lives, so why should I not take advantage of it as well?
The shipping and mercantile clients I have can be overseen by the same man I put in charge of Grant’s.
I have the funds to buy the land and build a nice home.
Grant mentioned when I was out there that this piece of property was attached to his existing mine.
If it produces, I could be financially set in just a few years.
The thought of waking up to open fields and clean air with a whole new, unplanned day in front of me is almost too good to be true.
Yes, the beginning will be hard, but I have more than Grant did.
At least I will have a home of my own and a plan for my next steps.
My next thought is, I wonder if I can talk Judy into coming with me instead of going with Mom and Dad?
I stare into the embers shimmering in the dark room, and my mind is all over the place on what to do next and how to proceed.
Finally, late into the night, I realize that no amount of worry or planning matters if I am too tired to see it through, so I get up and drag myself off to bed.
Crawling under the cold sheets, a shiver wracks my frame, and just as I am dozing off to sleep, bright green eyes fill my last thoughts and they follow me into my dreams. I see her …
a woman standing in a large field wearing a simple but revealing blue dress as she looks in wonder at the mountains surrounding us.
Without thought, I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her back against me.
She curls her small hands around my arms and then looks up at me, and I jerk wide awake, searching for green eyes and the smell of honeysuckle.