Chapter 11

Throughout the next week, Melody focused on her work and tried not to worry about her father's health. Thankfully, no one else spoke of it, but she couldn't help bringing it to mind. When she sat down to tea with Marybeth and Granny Taylor, Melody wondered how she might share her concerns with them. They were always good to advise her.

"We were caught up on everything, and even supper was well on its way to being done, so Mrs. Cooper told me to take an hour or so and come back later when the laundry I hung out would be dry," Melody told Granny Taylor and Marybeth. She had gone to see Marybeth and found Granny just happened to be there as well.

"I'm so glad you came over," Marybeth declared, pouring the tea. "Carrie just went down for her nap, and it will be so nice just to visit. Granny stopped by to show me some of her new embroidered quilt squares."

Granny picked up her bag and opened the top. "I've been busy with this all winter, as well as other projects." She pulled out a big stack of squares. "The flower drawings were all done by my daughter-in-law and sent to me in the mail. She's quite the artist."

Melody took one of the squares and studied it for a moment. It was a rose, and Granny had used various shades of pink to embroider it. "This is beautiful." She gently touched the embroidery before handing it back.

"And just look at this iris," Granny said, holding it up. "It almost looks real."

Melody nodded as Marybeth handed her a cup of tea. "You look upset about something," Marybeth said to her with a look of concern.

Granny lowered the square. "I thought as much myself but hated to say anything just yet. I thought perhaps you'd come around to telling us what's on your mind."

They both knew her so well. "I suppose my biggest worry is Da."

"I thought him rather pale on Sunday," Granny said. "Jed's been worried about him too. Wondered if he'd taken ill."

Melody shook her head. "I suppose I've been so busy I hadn't really noticed, but you aren't the first person to comment on Da's health. I honestly don't know if there is something wrong."

"Is he eating all right?" Granny asked.

"Well, he eats supper with me, but not that much," Melody admitted. "Not like he used to eat, but since he's not working, it seemed natural that he wouldn't eat as much. He never eats breakfast with me now since I have to leave so early. He says he'll eat when he gets back. As for lunch, I have no way of knowing. But now that I think about it, there's never much missing. And he has lost weight. I've taken his pants in twice."

"That does sound concerning," Granny replied. "An idle man who isn't eating much shouldn't be losing that much weight."

"Has he complained of more pain than usual?" Marybeth asked. She handed Granny her tea, then took a seat. "It could be his back isn't healing as fast as he'd like."

"I've wondered the same. He does move slower than before. I just figured it was due to the injury, but what if it is something more?"

"Has he gone back to the doctor since the accident?" Granny asked.

"Yes, he's gone a couple of times and reported it all to me. At least, I thought he had. I don't know what to think. You don't suppose he's hiding something from me? He's never been that way before."

"Hopefully it's nothing." Granny sipped her tea and nodded toward Marybeth. "This is quite delicious."

"It's a special tea that Mrs. Henderson used. She left it here when she moved away, and I thought you might like it."

Melody listened to the women discuss the tea, but her mind was fixed on Da and his condition. Was he lying to her? Was something more wrong with him, and he didn't want to worry her with the details?

"So tell us about the courting. Has your father picked out a lot of suitors for you?"

Granny's question broke through Melody's thoughts. She smiled and shrugged. "I've seen four different men so far. None of them are a good fit for me, however. Like I told Charlie the other day, maybe I'm just too picky."

"A girl should be picky about her husband," Marybeth said, passing a plate of refreshments.

Melody took one of the pieces of shortbread. "That's how I see it. None of them are the type of man I would choose. And all for different reasons. And now, worrying about Da and what's really going on with him, I don't feel like going out with anyone else. How can I think about getting married when Da might need me?"

"You can't let your heart be troubled over this, Melody," Granny assured. "God knows what's going on even if you don't. He has it all under control. Just focus on praying for your father."

"I know you're right, Granny. I've told myself to pray on it more than once. I know that prayer is the answer. I suppose just coming out and asking Da about it is also in order. Still, I hate to impose on him. He's very private, and when he wants to tell me something, he does. He's never been one to keep things from me."

But Da was also the type of person that didn't share things with anyone if he was deeply troubled by it. If Da was sick and hadn't yet managed to think through the matter, he wouldn't be open to talking to anyone else about it either.

"How's your job coming along?" Marybeth asked.

Melody was glad for the change of topic. "I love it. I've enjoyed helping Mrs. Cooper. She's well-organized and keeps things running with little chaos. We have our wash days, our cleaning days, and, of course, every day we cook, and I tend to the garden. The men are all quite gentlemanly and interesting.

"I arrive every morning at five thirty. Da walks me over since it's still so early. Mrs. Cooper insists I join them for breakfast, and so I do. At the table, the men talk about their plans for the day and what their jobs will entail. It's like having a family of brothers. Charlie even helps me in the garden from time to time. We talk about church and things going on in Cheyenne. He's even taken to playing checkers with Da."

"I like Charlie. He reminds me of my son Elmer," Granny said. "We had him to dinner last Sunday before church. He told us of his love of teaching, as well as learning. He's a naturally gentle soul."

"I like him too. Maybe too much." Melody found it easy to talk about Charlie.

"Can you like someone too much?" Marybeth asked.

"You can if you're supposed to be looking for a husband, and he's not one of the ones you're looking at."

"And why aren't you looking at him? He's a fine young man," Granny interjected. "I think Charlie would make a fine husband."

"I do too," Marybeth agreed. "But Charlie isn't on Da's list. They've played checkers, but Charlie didn't ask to court me. If he had, I'm sure Da would have approved him." Melody tried not to let the matter ruin her day.

The women fell momentarily silent. Melody had no desire to continue focusing on Charlie. It was embarrassing to be developing feelings for someone who obviously had no feelings for her.

"There have been quite a number of families moving into the area," Granny said. "The railroad is hiring new workers to remain here in Cheyenne. Jed tells me the Union Pacific has advertised in papers back east and in the South for workers interested in relocating to Cheyenne. And word has also gotten out that the land is good for raising cattle and sheep."

Marybeth nodded. "Horses too. Edward is trying to convince his family to move out here. His father has a horse farm that Edward's sister helps with. Her husband is a lawyer, so there would certainly be work for him as well."

"I told my son Robert about the potential for ranches. He and his wife, Susanna, are less than content with Texas. Susanna has trouble with the heat and the dampness. I told them they might consider moving up here where it's dryer. I would love to have my grandchildren around me."

"How did you end up here in the first place, Granny?" Melody asked.

The old woman smiled. "The good Lord told Jed and me to come, so we did. Believe me when I tell you, I had no thought of moving away from Texas in my old age. Jed was a cattleman, but out of the blue, he tells me that God wants him to take up working for the railroad. He signed over the ranch to Elmer and Robert with their promise to share some of the land with their married sister, and Jed up and went to work for the railroad. Of course, railroads in Texas were a mess after the war. The South had most of their lines torn up, and the locomotives themselves needed work. Jed found mechanical work on the engines and cars to be something he enjoyed. He took to it like a fish to water. So when there were advertisements about the Union Pacific needing men, Jed felt God was calling us north. I have to say, God has used my dear husband in great ways. Jed easily shares God's Word with his fellow workers. Some of the men are now going to church."

"I'm so glad you came north, Granny. I don't know what I would have done without you." Melody had long found the woman to be the best of confidants.

"Well, you must remember that even when it seems strange, if the Lord pushes you in a particular direction, pay attention and go. Remember Abram being called to leave his country and people? That was us, and we don't regret it. God has blessed us in many ways."

Charlie stacked up the books that held all of the bank's transactions for the last year. He felt it was his responsibility to know everything he could about the bank and its customers, and studying the transactions was one way he could know both.

Jefferson was working to enter some figures in the daily ledger when Charlie came into the front room with the other books in hand.

"I'll be leaving early and taking the books home with me this weekend. With exception to the daily ledger you're working on."

Jefferson looked up and narrowed his eyes. "Why would you need to do that?"

Charlie laughed. "Because it's a good way to understand what's going on in the life of the bank." He shifted the books. "I haven't been here long enough to know the customers or their transaction routines. Jacob informed me of things, but I want to read for myself and watch the story unfold."

The younger man looked like he might protest or, at a minimum, comment on the matter, but he turned instead to continue writing in the ledger he had.

Charlie gave it no more thought. "Be sure to leave the receipts for the day on my desk and lock up when you're done." He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. It was just seconds away from chiming four o'clock. "Will we see you at church, Sunday night?"

Jefferson didn't bother to look up. "If I can make it, I will."

"Well, it would be good to have you there. If not, I'll see you Monday."

With that, Charlie headed out onto the streets of Cheyenne. He couldn't say that Jefferson had grown on him with time. If anything, the man was even more pretentious and full of himself, and Charlie found such people intolerable. Still, he had to work with Jefferson Lane, and treating him with respect was something he could and would continue to do.

As he headed home, Charlie found himself thinking no longer of Jefferson or the bank, but rather of Melody Doyle. He wondered if he'd find her out in the garden. It hadn't rained for a while, so she would need to water. She might even be planting additional vegetables. There had been some talk of tomato plants.

Mrs. Cooper was in the front sitting room when Charlie came through the door. She was straightening up several newspapers on a side table and glanced his way.

"Hello, Charlie. You're early tonight."

"Yes, ma'am. Thought I'd bring some work home to do. How are you, Mrs. Cooper?"

She shrugged. "As well as can be expected. We're having baked chicken tonight, and Melody made us two apple pies."

"That certainly will hit the spot. Is Miss Melody in the garden?"

"She is. I would expect she's finishing up with the watering."

Charlie nodded. "Well, I'd best take these ledgers upstairs and get changed. She might need help."

Mrs. Cooper smiled. "She might at that."

Charlie was headed back down the stairs ten minutes later. He didn't bother to see where Mrs. Cooper might be, just headed out the front door and around the house, where he found Melody pumping water at the well.

"Afternoon," Charlie said, coming up to where she was working. He took over pumping the water, and when the pail was full, he picked it up. "Where to?"

Melody smiled. "I'm nearly done. I'm on the last row." She followed him across the yard to the garden.

Charlie held the pail while she used the large ladle to scoop out water to sprinkle over the row of dirt.

"How are you this fine day?"

"Doing well. And how about you, Charlie?"

"I've had a productive week. Signed up six new depositors and had three loans paid back in full."

"Sounds very productive. I baked pies today, so you'll get a chance to sample my work."

"I heard about that from Mrs. Cooper and must admit my mouth is watering at the thought. I've heard from several people about your great cookies and pies. By the way, how's your father?"

Melody glanced at him for a moment. "I'm not sure I know. Several people have suggested he might be ill and not simply recovering from his fall."

Charlie frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Da never makes his feelings known unless he has to." She continued serving up water down the line, where Charlie knew they had planted seeds.

They reached the end, and Melody straightened, took the pail from Charlie, and emptied out the last little bit of water. She plopped the ladle into the bucket with a thud.

"I suppose I'll be heading home now. Da has someone lined up to see me tomorrow, and I need to talk to him in order to know what to expect."

"Your heart isn't in this, is it?" Charlie asked.

She didn't even try to hide her feelings. "No. Not anymore. I'm too worried about my father to think about securing a husband. I'm sorry I ever brought any of this up, in fact."

"Why don't I walk you home and say hello to your father? I haven't seen him since he was in the bank. Maybe he'll perk up with a game of checkers."

"Oh, Charlie, I know he'd enjoy that, and maybe you can watch him and see what you think about his health. I just want to make sure he's getting all the care he needs."

"Of course." He gave her a smile, knowing that her heart was heavy.

"But you'll miss supper."

"I'll eat something when I get back. Mrs. Cooper will put something aside for me. I'm sure of it."

Melody turned to head back toward the house but managed to lose her footing. She dropped the bucket as she reached for Charlie. He grabbed hold of her and steadied her. For a moment, he held her close and gazed into her eyes. He didn't want to let her go.

"Oh, thank you, Charlie. I stepped on the hem of my skirt."

He said nothing. He wasn't sure he could even speak. The moment was strangely magical to him. Melody Doyle was in his arms, and it felt very right.

Realizing the moment was lasting longer than it needed to, Charlie let her go. "Are you steady now?"

"Yes, thanks to you." Her expression suggested that she, too, had been moved by the experience. That surprised Charlie in a way that blurred reasonable thinking. Was she starting to develop feelings for him?

"I, uh, well, I'll go ask Mrs. Cooper to save me some supper," he stammered, not knowing what else to say.

"Actually, if Da doesn't mind, you can eat with us. I'll let Mrs. Cooper know that you're coming home with me. I'll ask her to save you a piece of pie."

"I'd like that." He felt his heart race. Be calm, Charlie. Don't make a mess of things. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I like your father a lot. He's a good man with great insight. He values work, but also play. I wish my own father would have paused for a game or two, but business is all he thinks about."

"It doesn't sound like you two are very close."

"Sadly, we're not. At least not as close as I wish." Charlie followed her to the pump, where she hung the bucket for the next person to use. "Father has always focused on the family by way of the business. If the business is doing well, he presumes the family is too."

"What a strange way of things."

"I've often thought that myself. My father is a wonderful man. A well-respected man. But he's never offered an abundance of affection or encouragement. And he has so seldom ever smiled that I can't help but wonder if he even knows how these days." Charlie could see his father's stern, almost severe expression. It saddened him to think his father had never known true happiness. Charlie pushed the thought aside. "But that's not important right now. We have checkers to play."

She looked at him oddly, and Charlie thought she might question him about what he'd said. Instead, she nodded and turned away. "I'll let Mrs. Cooper know we're leaving."

Melody disappeared into the house and was only gone for a few minutes. When she returned, she had rolled her sleeves back down and carried her shawl.

"I'm ready."

They headed around the house and down the street. Charlie couldn't help but enjoy her company. In fact, the more time he spent with her, the more he was assured that they were the perfect match. He was already losing his heart to her.

He hadn't given a lot of thought to securing himself a wife when he came west. He knew he was more than old enough and had established himself in his profession. And while he hadn't purchased a home of his own, it was just a matter of time. Up until now, he'd not had any need for a place of his own. In Chicago, he had remained in his father's house, and here it seemed reasonable to board where someone could take care of his needs. But after speaking to Melody's father and examining his heart, Charlie knew a wife was exactly what he wanted and needed—no, Melody was what he wanted and needed.

"I just never thought of Da being sick, as well as injured," Melody began as they walked. "Da's always been so healthy and vital. Never a moment of illness. His fall was the first bad injury he's had in years. And that's saying something for a section hand supervisor. Accidents are commonplace in his line of work, but Da always seems to have God's hand on him."

"Yes, your father seems to put his trust in God completely. Still, pain can alter the way a man thinks or acts."

"You sound like someone who knows."

"Not firsthand, but there were a great many men I saw in the war who were injured ... some badly enough to die. It wasn't an easy thing to see."

"I'm sure it wasn't. I doubt I'd be any good at nursing men through those kinds of injuries. I'd probably break down and cry alongside them."

"That's because you have a tender heart." Charlie glanced over at her. She looked so worried, and he found himself wishing he could ease her of that burden.

They reached her tent a few minutes later. The flap was open to let in the fresh air, but Mr. Doyle sat on a chair outside. He got to his feet and extended his hand.

"Charlie Decker, how nice to be seein' ya again."

"Charlie walked me home, and I'm thinking you two could have a game of checkers while I finish getting supper on. Da, don't you think we should ask Charlie to stay for supper?"

"I wouldn't want to be any bother or extra work." Charlie glanced from Melody to Clancy Doyle.

"Nonsense," her father replied. "It's our pleasure to have ya. Melody, bring the checkers and a chair. I'll pull up the barrel."

Melody glanced at Charlie, then nodded. Smiling at her father, she leaned over and kissed him atop the head. "This will be a grand evening."