Chapter 12

Melody woke up in the middle of the night to hear her father making his way outside once again. His nighttime visits to the privy were coming more and more often. Granny had said that older people were that way sometimes, but she couldn't help but worry, what with so many people suggesting Da was ill.

She heard him return and asked, "Are you all right, Da?"

"I'm fine, darlin'. Just go back to sleep."

He settled into bed, and it wasn't long before Melody heard him snoring. She supposed she was worrying for nothing. Charlie had been with them all evening, and he didn't seem to notice anything amiss, at least he'd said nothing about it. Of course, they hadn't been alone long enough for him to say anything even if he had.

Thoughts of Charlie sent Melody to thinking back on her near fall. Being in Charlie's arms had caused her to see him in a new light. She really liked Charlie. They had a lot in common and talked so easily about all sorts of things. Charlie was kind and gentle in his nature, and he loved God. Those were such important things to her.

But things were also just different with Charlie. There was no pretense to their relationship. She openly told him about her outings with other men, men she was considering for a husband. Charlie always asked how things had gone and never seemed upset to hear what she had to say.

He wasn't looking for a wife, and even if he were, he hadn't applied to court Melody. He knew all he had to do was talk to Da. And Da already liked him, so there wouldn't be a problem with getting Charlie approved.

She frowned. He obviously enjoyed her company, so the situation had to be that Charlie simply had no interest in getting married. Perhaps he couldn't see past her being anything more than a friend.

Well, good. She needed a friend. Given that something was obviously going on with Da, Melody had already decided to put an end to the scheme of finding a husband. She wasn't going to leave Da until she knew he was well and able to take care of himself. She knew there was another outing with a new prospective husband slated for today around noon. Jason Oberling wanted to take her for a picnic near Crow Creek. She would have to endure it, but then she'd let Da know that she didn't wish to have any more outings arranged.

But what reason will I give him? It wouldn't be easy to convince him, but she supposed she might as well tell him that she just wasn't ready to leave him. Not because of his needs but because of her own. That wasn't a lie. She felt the need to see him through whatever physical problem he was dealing with, and if it turned out that she would have to move down the line with him ... well, so be it.

Charlie came to mind again. She wouldn't like leaving him any more than she would Marybeth or Granny. He'd become such a good friend. She sighed and closed her eyes. Maybe once morning came, she'd feel better about all of it.

But morning shed no more light on the matter. Because of the night's interruptions and the fact that it was Melody's day off, she didn't wake up until nearly six. Da hadn't even gotten up yet. However, he wasn't long to follow her. But he seemed tired and looked pale.

"Are you feeling all right, Da?"

"Me back is always sore after a night on that cot. But don't ya be worryin' about it, darlin' girl."

But she did worry, and her concerns were growing every day. "Coffee's on, and I'm getting ready to make breakfast. Are you hungry for anything in particular?"

"No, can't say I am." He sat down at the table. "Coffee will suffice for me."

"You haven't been eating much lately, Da. I'm worried about you. You've lost a lot of weight. I'll fix something you'll enjoy."

Her father chuckled. "Ya worry too much."

She honestly didn't know what to say to that. Maybe she did worry too much. After all, Da had never been sick a day in his life. Or maybe she should say, a day in her life. Seeing him dealing with the effects of the accident was also different. The other accidents he'd had with the railroad work had been different. Most didn't even require a doctor's long-term care. So maybe she was just giving in to her fears.

When Melody put breakfast on the table with Da's favorite flapjacks and ham, she whispered a prayer that he would eat. Instead, he only picked at it while telling her about the man she'd see later.

"Jason is a good fella. He's partners with his cousin and co-owns Oberlings' Mercantile. Ya know the place."

"Yes, I do. It's a very nice store." Melody poured her father more coffee, as it seemed to be the only thing he was interested in.

"Jason plans to be stayin' in Cheyenne, and even now he's buildin' a house."

"That's good news." Melody sliced into her flapjack. "You should eat your breakfast before it gets cold, Da."

"I'll be gettin' to it. Don't fuss."

She nodded and focused on her plate. Whatever was going on with him, he wasn't going to say a word. She knew it. It sent a sense of sadness washing over her. If Da wasn't speaking about the matter, it must be bad.

Melody could almost hear Granny Taylor admonishing her not to borrow trouble. The Bible would tell her the same. So why was it so hard not to worry?

Da cut up the flapjack and ham and took a bite of each. He pushed the food around as he talked to Melody about the day and what he planned to do while she was away on the picnic. He didn't take another bite of food.

Melody cleaned up after breakfast, mended some clothes, and then went out to check the community garden. There wasn't much to be done, however. Waiting for things to grow was hard. At least it was right now. Melody desperately wanted something to focus on besides her father's health.

She returned to the tent and readied herself for the outing she would have with Jason. Since it was a picnic, she dressed in a simple brown serge skirt and calico-print blouse. The calico had blues and browns as well as bits of rose and gold. It seemed to draw out the blue in Melody's eyes, and she'd always liked the blouse for that reason. But she didn't want to attract Jason and gave some consideration to choosing a different top. Finally, frustrated by her own jumble of thoughts, Melody kept the calico.

Jason was prompt and showed up right at noon. He and Da talked outside the tent for a few minutes, discussing the weather and railroad. Melody found herself wishing she could just cancel the entire affair but knew that was hardly the polite thing to do. Jason had already gone to the trouble of packing a picnic. The least she could do was go along and eat it.

"Well, here ya are," Da said when Melody stepped from the tent. "Melody, this is Jason Oberling."

She squared her shoulders. "Mr. Oberling, I'm pleased to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Doyle."

She didn't suggest he call her Melody. There didn't seem any sense to it. No use getting the man's hopes up.

"Well, ya best be off, then," Da said, seeming almost anxious to get rid of them.

Jason helped her up onto his buckboard, then sat beside her, taking up the reins for the dappled gray horse.

"That's a lovely horse you have," she offered.

"He's rented. The wagon too. Never had much need for one of my own but figured we had a little way to go to get to Crow Creek."

Melody nodded. "I suppose that makes sense. I walk everywhere myself."

He glanced over at her, seeming to size her up. "You're a fine figure of a woman, if I can say as much."

"Well, you just did, so I suppose I'll have to be amenable to it." She worried her words were too harsh. "Thank you for the compliment."

He gave a slight smile. "I have to say that your pa's way of hooking you up with a husband is rather strange. I never figured to find a bride this way, but now that I've joined in, it seems just as conventional as any other plan."

He sounded so happy about the prospect that Melody couldn't bring herself to tell him she'd changed her mind. They rode out from town and headed for a popular gathering spot along Crow Creek. Mr. Oberling rambled about the weather and the town, but Melody paid little attention. From time to time, she nodded or said just enough to let him know she was sort of listening.

"I like that you're a quiet woman. Most women seem to think they've got to be sayin' something all the time. Like they can't stand to just enjoy the peace and quiet."

Melody started to respond but instead just nodded. If he liked quiet, she was more than happy to give it to him.

When they finally reached the place, Melody didn't wait for Mr. Oberling to help her down. She went to the back of the wagon as he came around. He gave her an approving nod, as if pleased she was capable of taking care of herself.

"I'd be happy to carry something."

He handed her the blanket. "Appreciate that. I can manage the rest."

She saw other people enjoying the day but knew she wouldn't be among their number. She couldn't enjoy the day, not when there were so many unanswered questions about Da.

He took up a large basket from the back of the wagon and motioned to a place. "That looks like a nice spot."

She looked to where he was glancing. It was situated near a stand of pines, and not far away were several families. It offered privacy, but not too much.

"It looks quite nice."

They made their way to the spot, and Melody spread the blanket. Once that was done, Mr. Oberling put the basket down and then offered Melody his hand to help her sit. Once they were both comfortable, Mr. Oberling started bringing the food out of the basket. He offered Melody a plate, then took up a towel-wrapped bundle.

"I hope you like ham-and-cheese sandwiches."

"I do." She accepted one from him and put it on her plate.

A carriage arrived with two sets of couples. It kicked up a bit of dust, causing Melody to shield her sandwich. Mr. Oberling gave it little attention and instead reached into the basket. He took out a covered bowl. When he removed the cloth, Melody was surprised to find what looked to be very thinly sliced fried potatoes.

"My cousin's wife made these. She worked back east in Saratoga Springs for a man named Crum. He made these chips as a snack for people to eat while they waited for their meal. But I like them just as much as part of my meal. Try one." He extended the bowl toward her.

Melody picked one out and tasted it. It was crunchy and salty. She liked it very much. "It's like when I accidentally fry the potatoes too long."

"We've grown to eat them all the time. Can't get enough of them myself." He took up several and popped them into his mouth and began crunching away.

He put other things out on the blanket, then drew out a couple of jars of liquid. "This is lemonade. I got a taste for it during the war, and now we make it and sell it at the store. Sells well. Just citric acid, sugar, and a little lemon oil. Not too much of the oil, though. It can be too strong otherwise. I'm hoping maybe once the railroad goes all the way through that we'll be able to get real lemons in."

"I remember having fresh lemonade when we lived back east," Melody said, looking rather apprehensively at the jar being offered her. "Only had it a couple of times. Lemons were scarce and expensive."

"To be sure. We drank this on the battlefield when we could get the ingredients. Chemists keep the oil and citric acid. Give it a try."

Melody opened the jar and tasted it. It wasn't half bad. She smiled and gave Mr. Oberling a nod. "It's tart. I like it."

"For some reason, it's good to quench the thirst for a long time." He opened his own jar and had a long drink.

He looked at Melody. "I suppose you'd like to know more about me. I hail from Albany, New York. Lived there until after the war. I was a sergeant with the Third New York Infantry. Got injured too. Not bad, took some shrapnel to my side and back. Lost my brother Hal."

Just then, a small dog came up to their blanket. He was pale brown with short hair. It was obvious he hadn't been eating a lot, as his ribs were clearly visible. Melody thought to offer him a piece of her sandwich, but Mr. Oberling would have none of that.

"Get out of here, cur. Go on now." He waved his arms, and the dog scurried away. He looked back at Melody and shook his head. "Someone ought to shoot that mangy beast."

She thought he was probably just exaggerating his thoughts, but when the dog returned, he threw a rock at it. When that failed to get results, the man went to the wagon and took up a shotgun from behind the seat. He aimed it at the dog, and Melody couldn't help but scream.

"No! Don't shoot!"

The dog ran from the picnic and hurried down the creek toward one of the families, who by now was watching to see who had cried out.

"How could you threaten a hungry animal like that?" she asked, getting to her feet.

Mr. Oberling looked at her like she had suddenly lost her senses. "What's got you riled up?"

Melody planted her hands on her hips. "How could you threaten to shoot a helpless animal? He was hungry. Didn't you see how skinny he was?"

The man shrugged and lowered his shotgun. "Not my problem. He isn't my dog."

"And you most assuredly won't be my husband!"

She stormed off toward the road and marched all the way back to town without so much as a glance over her shoulder to see Mr. Oberling's response. The man was absolutely heartless. How had Da not discerned the man's temper? Was his physical condition starting to interfere with his ability to hear God's voice? Fears for her father grew. Something wasn't right, and for too long now, she'd ignored the truth. She put aside her anger at Mr. Oberling and picked up her pace. She was glad to no longer be looking for a husband, as she had a feeling Da was going to need all of her attention.

Charlie added one of the columns on the page of the bank ledger for the third time. It didn't match up with one of the corresponding columns. It should have, but something was obviously written down wrong. He would have to go number by number. For all the erasure marks and questionable writing, it was a wonder that anything added up correctly. Some of the handwriting was so illegible, Charlie was guessing at the entries.

He frowned and set the book aside. Was Jefferson purposefully making a mess of the ledgers in order to steal from the bank? It could have been Jacob who made the mistakes, but it continued after Jacob had left Cheyenne. That most likely made it Jefferson's responsibility. Charlie didn't like to think ill of the young man, but there was no denying it had happened on his watch.

Charlie eased back on his bed and closed his eyes. He'd been poring over the books most of the morning, and now that it was a little past one, food was uppermost on his mind. He'd missed any chance at the boardinghouse lunch. It was served promptly at noon on the weekends and would mostly likely already be over with and cleaned up.

He thought of Melody and her father. Melody was on a date. Hopefully it would be her last. Maybe Charlie would grab something to eat and take it by the tent to see how Clancy was doing. Melody had said he wasn't eating well. Perhaps if Charlie brought him something, he'd feel obliged to eat.

Clancy Doyle was good company, and Charlie had enjoyed their time together the night before. Their supper had been simple but good, and Clancy told several stories about Ireland and his youth. Unfortunately, there hadn't been an opportunity for Charlie to speak to Clancy alone, and he hoped he might rectify that while Melody was busy elsewhere.

He closed the bankbook and took up his coat. The heaviness of what he planned to discuss with Clancy slowed his steps. When he reached the bottom step, Mrs. Cooper just happened to be there.

"Charlie, you missed lunch."

"I know. I just realized that."

"Well, don't tell the others, but I made you a couple of roast beef sandwiches. They're in the kitchen. Come along."

"I was just going out to check on Melody's father. Do you suppose I could impose on you to wrap them up so I can take them with me?"

She gave a nod. "Of course, Charlie. That's kind of you to visit Mr. Doyle. I hear he's not doing as well as he could be."

"Yes. Things do seem to be difficult for him. I'm hoping maybe a visit this morning and a game of checkers will help."

"You're a good man, Charlie Decker."

The older man was sitting outside the tent, just as Charlie and Melody had found him the evening before. He was reading a newspaper when Charlie happened along.

"Afternoon, Clancy."

"Good to be seein' ya again, son. Kind of thought ya might be back." Clancy lowered the paper.

"You did, huh?" Charlie gave a knowing nod. Since their first discussion at the bank, he'd felt as if the man knew what Charlie was thinking. "I brought a couple of roast beef sandwiches. Would you care for one?"

"No, but thank ya, Charlie. Go grab a chair from the tent, and ya can be speakin' yar mind."

Charlie did as Clancy instructed. He placed his sandwiches on the little table and took the chair outside. He was hungry and thought about retrieving his food, but instead, he sat beside the older man, a sadness coming over him. "You have to tell her the truth."

"I know. I've been wantin' to do just that since our first talk, Charlie."

"It's not right that I know and others suspect, and yet you've said nothing to her."

"I'm dyin'." The words were offered simply and without emotion. "What else can I be sayin' to her?"

Charlie nodded. "But she doesn't know. She thinks you've nothing more than a back injury to overcome. Although, by now, she's starting to figure out something's not quite right."

"Me kidneys are failin'. Doc says the time's not long." Clancy gave him a tired smile. "For sure that will be hard news to take in."

"You have to tell her just the same. She can't just go on thinking you're going to recover."

"I know that, and I've been plannin' to tell her. I wanted to see if she took to any of the young men I picked out. But there's only one that I feel confident of, and that's yarself. It's always just been you, Charlie."

Charlie nodded. "I've lost my heart to her. I think she's starting to feel something for me as well. I want her for my wife. I love her."

"We did it yar way, Charlie. I said nothin' about yar interest. Let ya be friends, just as ya wanted. I like what I see. Ya have me blessin' to marry her."

"So the time has come to be honest with her. She deserves to know the truth, Clancy."

"Aye, Charlie. And for sure, I'll be tellin' her. I'll do it today after she comes back."

Charlie started to say something, but the sight of Melody marching down the street toward the tent community, a look of pure anger on her face, stopped him. He looked to Clancy and nodded his head in her direction. "It would seem that she's back."

Clancy gave a nod. "Aye, and she's ragin', to be sure. I know that look."

Charlie couldn't help grinning. "Good. That means she didn't much care for Mr. Oberling."

"It would seem that way," Clancy said, chuckling. "So much the better for ya, Charlie."