Chapter 15

Melody and Charlie ran all the way back to the Doyle tent. By now Da was sitting in his chair again and waving people away.

"He was out cold on the ground," one of the women told Melody.

"I'm fine. Just a wee bit light-headed."

"Thank you for sending for me." Melody knelt beside him. "What happened, Da?"

"Just as I said. I got a wee bit light-headed, and next thing I know folks are fussin' over me." He smiled. "But I'm fine now. Everyone can go home." The few remaining people gave Melody a nod and started back for their tents.

Melody studied her father, looking for any sign of injury. "Have you had anything to drink? Some water, perhaps? The doctor said you should keep drinking plenty of water."

"The neighbors plied me with offers of all sorts of drink." He chuckled. "I've had me fill of water."

"Then maybe we should get you inside, and I'll fix supper. Charlie, would you help Da?"

"Of course." Charlie reached down to help the older man to his feet.

"Thank ya, Charlie."

Melody brought the chair inside with her. There were only two inside, and they'd need three if Charlie stayed for supper.

She checked the stove and added wood to make sure it heated up quickly. Next, she went to the tiny icebox they kept and pulled out leftover baked chicken. "Charlie, would you care to stay for supper?"

"I'd like that very much."

"If the two of ya wouldn't be mindin', I'd like to go to me bed and rest. I'm not really hungry."

Melody swallowed the lump in her throat. Normally, Da would never have considered lying down while there was company. She wondered how bad his pain level was.

"Go ahead and help him to bed, Charlie. Da, where's the medicine the doctor gave you? I think you should have a dose of it."

"Could be," he replied. Another sure sign that he wasn't at all himself. "I keep it in the wooden box at the foot of my cot."

Melody let Charlie help him to bed first, then she opened the box and found the large bottle of liquid. It didn't look as though much of it had been used. She got a spoon and went to her father's side as Charlie returned to their eating area.

"How much are you supposed to have?"

"Doc said two tablespoons or so. More if I need it."

Melody nodded and measured out the medication. She helped him to take the first spoonful and then poured another. Da didn't protest but took the medicine quickly.

"I'll just be restin' now. Maybe even sleep for the night. Don't fret about feedin' me. Ya can eat with Charlie." He closed his eyes.

Melody fought back tears. How could she have not seen how bad off he really was? His face was so thin it was nearly skeletal. A thick growth of whiskers helped to fill it out a little, but that was only another sign that Da was ill. He had always been faithful to shave every day.

She returned the medicine to the box and left the spoon in case he needed more in the night. Seeing Charlie sitting there, just waiting for her to return, Melody nearly broke down again. Instead, she went to work fixing food for their meal. At least it helped her to focus on something other than Da.

When the food was ready, Charlie offered grace. Melody was grateful for his silence and the kindness he'd shown her father. She wished so much that things might have been different. After they'd eaten, Melody gathered the dishes and checked on her father.

Da slept soundly. His breath was even, and he bore no signs of discomfort. She whispered a prayer for him and pulled up his cover. The evening was already much cooler.

"I could help with the dishes," Charlie offered.

She shook her head. "I think it'd be best for you to go and for me to get ready for bed. Da might need something in the night, and I'll need to be well rested."

Charlie hesitated. "I still need to talk to you about something."

"That's fine. I'll see you at church or maybe even tomorrow. We can talk then."

But she hadn't seen Charlie on Saturday or Sunday. Da had been feeling much worse and had agreed to take the medicine very nearly around the clock. This had left Melody no choice but to miss church.

Now, as Melody stood with Mrs. Cooper at the edge of the garden on Monday morning, she knew she would have to resign her job. It wasn't easy to let Mrs. Cooper down.

"As you know," Melody began, "we weren't in church last night."

"I did notice your absence. I hope everything is all right." The older woman looked out over the garden.

"The fact is, things aren't good. I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to stop working for a time. I'd like to come back to it, but for now I'm needed at home. You see, my father is dying."

"Oh no." Mrs. Cooper turned to her and took hold of Melody's arm. "Are you certain?"

"I'm afraid so. I had a talk with Da, as well as Dr. Latham. They have been dealing with Da's kidneys not working right for a long time. Dr. Latham has tried to find solutions, but there seems to be nothing we can do."

Mrs. Cooper gave her a hug. "I know how attentive you are. It's surprising you didn't notice it sooner."

"I know. It seems a lot of folks could see the problem before I could. I guess I was just too close to the situation and focused on other things. Da has always seemed like a pillar of strength, and I suppose I refused to allow myself to see his failings."

"Poor girl. Of course you can take as much time as you need. The job will be here for you."

"Thank you. I'm sorry if this puts you in a bind. I would certainly understand if you needed to hire someone else to help you."

"Nonsense. We'll get by. I can pay the neighbor boys a nickel to come pull weeds and water. There won't be any crops to harvest for a good while yet, so no need to worry about that. The rest of the work ... well, it will get done when it gets done." She patted Melody's hand. "You go on now. Get back home to your father."

"Thank you."

She headed home still feeling bad for leaving Mrs. Cooper without notice. But in the back of her thoughts, Melody knew it wouldn't be a long absence. Da was so much worse that now he wanted only to lie in bed. He'd even taken to using the chamber pot.

She glanced heavenward, noting white fluffy clouds overhead. How long, Lord? How long will I still have him with me?

"Melody Doyle."

She turned at the sound of her name. It was Jefferson Lane. He walked up to her like a man with a purpose.

"I'm so happy to have run into you."

"Good morning, Jefferson. I'm afraid I haven't much time to waste. My da is ill."

He sobered and nodded. "I know. He's dying."

She was surprised by this. "How did you hear about it?"

"Your father was at the bank not long ago. He told Mr. Decker, and I couldn't help but overhear. I'm sure sorry to hear about it. I know that can't be easy on you, even if you are rich now."

"What are you talking about?"

Jefferson smiled. "The money coming from Ireland. It, along with the money your father already saved, will see you through for life. If you're careful. You certainly would need to be wise about investments, and I could help you with that."

"Why would I ask you to help me with that?" She hadn't meant to ask the question aloud, but since she had, she fixed him with a hard look.

"Well, it's just that you are looking for a husband, and I have shown my interest to be considered. As your husband, I would have control over such matters. However, being the kind of man I am, I would seek your opinion and discuss the matter thoroughly with you. I believe that's what women are asking for now."

"I suppose women would like for men to be considerate of their interests and thoughts on matters of importance," Melody countered. "But the fact is, I'm no longer looking for a husband. I need to take care of my father, so I'm no longer accepting suitors."

"That's foolish, Miss Doyle. Your father will die soon, and you'll be without protection."

"Hardly that. I have the good Lord, first and foremost, and dear friends who will watch over me otherwise. Also, I'm quite capable. I'm a very good shot, and if need be, I'm not afraid to prove it."

Jefferson chuckled. "Now, Miss Doyle, you can hardly walk around with a gun strapped on like a gunfighter. And while friends are good to have, they can't be there in the middle of the night should someone attempt to rob your home. Not only that, but you live in a tent provided by the railroad. When your father passes, you will have to move."

"I have considered that, Mr. Lane. I have friends who have invited me to move in with them if need be. However, since, as you say, I am rich, I might just buy myself a house to live in."

"Yes, but the sorrows of losing your father will be great, and wouldn't it be better to have another with you who can share the load? I'm a good man, Miss Doyle. I would see your every need met."

"Well, perhaps in time I might feel differently, but for now my answer is the same. I am no longer in search of a husband."

"Perhaps you might hire me to help with the things that your father can no longer do. I could even help to care for him. I believe once you spend more time with me, you'll see how well suited we are."

"Hire you? What about your job at the bank?"

Jefferson shifted his weight and looked heavenward. "Well, that's an entirely different matter. You see, Mr. Decker fired me." He looked back at her, his expression downcast. "I still don't even understand why, but the truth doesn't seem to matter to him. I suppose when you own the bank you can do as you please."

"But Charlie doesn't own the bank. His father does. In fact, as I understand it, there is an entire board that has a share of the ownership. Charlie's father just happens to be the majority owner."

"Yes, well, it doesn't matter. I couldn't work for someone as heartless and mean-spirited as Charles Decker."

Melody almost laughed out loud. Charlie? Mean? Heartless?

"I have no idea of what transpired to cause Charlie to fire you, Mr. Lane, but I'm sure there was a very good reason. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make my way home. I've already been gone longer than I intended."

She swept past him and continued down the street. Melody was almost certain he would come after her or at least call out, but he did neither. She shook her head at the thought of Charlie being ill-tempered with Jefferson. It was ridiculous. She imagined even in firing Jefferson, Charlie had been nothing but kind and gentle.

Of course, just a short time ago, she had thought ill of Charlie too. How sorry she was to have held that attitude.

Charlie arrived at the breakfast table wondering if he'd see Melody as usual. Instead, Mrs. Cooper made an announcement just before her husband offered grace.

"Miss Doyle will be absent from us for a while. Her father has taken ill, and the doctors believe it to be such that he will die in a very short time. I beg your indulgence and ask that you arrange for your laundry elsewhere. I won't have nearly enough time to manage it all without Melody here to help." She turned to her husband. "You may now offer the blessing."

Charlie bowed his head for the morning prayer. He had been praying constantly for Melody and her father. He still hadn't had a chance to tell Melody that he'd fallen in love with her.

Given that she wanted no more secrets between them, Charlie wanted to make this clearly understood. He didn't want her accusing him of false pretenses. Charlie had only ever asked her father to let things unfold this way because he believed all marriages were better when the couple started with friendship. He'd seen it proven with family members. His eldest brother, Jacob, had known his wife for many years before they wed. They were good friends who had met through gatherings that included both families. She'd even lived just two houses down on the same street. Whereas Charlie's other brother, Warren, had married a woman he hardly knew at all. The marriage had been all but arranged by the fathers of the couple. They never seemed truly happy and fought all the time. At least anytime Charlie was in their presence there appeared to be some sort of fight ensuing.

There were, of course, close friends whom Charlie had watched court and marry. The ones who had a history of being friends first always seemed to have a much better foundation than the ones who were arranged or claimed love at first sight. He had wanted very much to be friends with Melody Doyle before anyone spoke of love and marriage. However, Charlie could now say without any doubt at all that he did love her.

That made him even more determined that she should know the truth of his arrangement with her father. No more secrets. He would tell her everything, perhaps even the fact that he'd lost his heart to her.

"Charlie, how did it go teaching Sunday school yesterday?" Mrs. Cooper asked.

He looked up and smiled. "Fairly well. The boys were quite energetic, so I had them marching in place for a time."

"Marching?" She looked quite puzzled.

"The Bible story I chose to teach on was Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. The Israelites had to march around the walls of the city, as you might recall. So I had the boys stand and march in place. That seemed to amuse them but also kept them busy. When the walls came tumbling down, so did they."

The men who were paying attention chuckled at this, causing the others to look up from their food. It was Otis who spoke, however, and it had nothing to do with what Charlie had just said.

"They are breaking ground today for the railroad line from Denver to Cheyenne. Just imagine how convenient that will be in the future," he announced. "We shall soon move about as easily as they do back east. Once the east and west lines close the gap on the transcontinental railroad, we will be able to travel without resistance from one end of the country to the other and all points in between."

"These truly are remarkable times," Mrs. Cooper agreed.

Incredible times, to be sure, but not enough so that the doctors had a means to save Clancy Doyle. Nevertheless, Charlie said nothing and refocused on his breakfast.

Today wasn't going to be at all easy for him. The bank was his sole responsibility since he had fired Jefferson. And, quite frankly, the bank was of absolutely no interest to him, given Melody's situation. Sometimes it was very hard to meet his obligations when the heart beckoned him elsewhere.