Echoes of the Heart (6 page)

Hearing footsteps
approaching her room, she turned to see her mother standing in the doorway, a scowl
on her bright crimson face.
 
Raeden
straightened her back and held her chin high bracing herself for the inevitable
humiliating confrontation.

           
The
veins in Sophia’s neck bulged, her cheeks on fire when she screeched at her
daughter.
 
“What do you think you are
doing?
 
You can’t do this.
 
I will never be able to face anyone in this
city again.”
 
Tears flowed uncontrolled
while she put her hands over her eyes and began to weep.

           
Seeing
her mother in this pitiful state, Raeden rushed to her enfolding her in
outstretched arms.
 
“I’m sorry,
Mother.
 
I don’t love Christopher and I
can’t marry him.
 
I don’t know why I let
this happen in the first place.
 
I want
more from life and it may not include a man at all.
 
If I did find someone I really wanted to be
with, it would have to come second.
 
I
want to make a name for myself.
 
It is
very essential to me.

“If Aunt Diane can
break away from the rules of society so can I.
 
We both know I have always been independent and stubborn and I am sorry
I have been such a disappointment to you and Father.
 
You always said I acted just like Diane and
maybe I am like her.
 
Can you forgive
me?”

           
Pulling
free, her mother said in a calmer tone, “Well, I will never forgive you or
Diane for this outrage.
 
Your father is
laughing.
 
Laughing, do you hear me?
 
He thinks it is funny.
 
He is on his way to talk to Christopher as we
speak.”

Her eyes glanced
around the room and fixed on the trunks spread over the floor.
 
“What is this?
 
Are you leaving?
 
Well, good riddance.
 
I hope I never see you again.”
 
She turned and stormed out of the room.
 

           
Raeden
stared after her mother with her mouth agape.
 
Raeden couldn’t believe she could be so cruel.
  
Tears smarted her eyes as she turned to
continue her task, growing angrier by the second.
 
Even this outburst by her mother would not
stand the way of her dreams.

When she had
everything together, including her sewing machine, she quickly changing into a
dress and walked out to the stairwell.
 
Excited voices filtered from downstairs as she bounded down to face the
group.

Her father looked
at her with warm loving eyes.
 
He
stretched out his arms.

           
“Come
here, baby.
 
This will be over
soon.”
 
She ran to him and let him enfold
her in his strong embrace.
 
“Needless to
say, your mother is tremendously upset but she will get over this in time.
 
And Chris, of course, is not happy but he
will be fine when he realizes it is for the best.”
 
He rubbed her back with a warm flat hand.

“With his
qualifications, some young lass will win his heart in no time.”
 
He snuggled her close for a long moment and
then held her at arms length.
 
“It’s all
right, Rae.
 
Don’t worry.”

           
She
wiped away tears and smiled.
 
Her
brothers stood in the corner laughing together and she knew they laughed at
her.
 
It would not be the first time
being the brunt of their jokes.
 
She
could take it.
 
She gave them a wry
smile.

“It is good to see
you smile, Rae.”
 
Tom said.

It has been some time since I have felt
truly happy.

           
“I’m
going to get Arte’s things together and take the buggy into town.
 
I want to withdraw my savings from the
bank.”
 
Her voice turned jovial.
 
“You never know when a girl may need some
money.”

           
Tom
stared at his sister.
 
“Arte’s all taken
care of.
 
I’ll take him to the train
station first thing in the morning.
 
We
can load up the wagon tonight and take your luggage at the same time.

“Craig will take
you to the bank.
 
Later, I will go to the
church and leave a message for the people we couldn’t reach about the deviation
in plans.”

A warm smile
curved Tom’s mouth upward, extending to his eyes.
 
“You sure know how to cause a gossip fest,
little sister.”
 
Tom approached Raeden
and wrapped his arms around her pressing her close.
 
“I’m going to miss you while you are
gone.
 
Too bad you probably will not be
here when our baby arrives, but Cynthia said she will be happy to come and help
Margaret when the time comes, and of course, mother will be there too, first
grandchild, you know.”

Raeden backed away
and looked into his strong handsome face.
 
She would really miss her family.
 
“I’m so sorry, Tom.
 
I didn’t want
to cause all this trouble.”
 
Looking into
his eyes a little spot in her heart began to ache.
 
Her life would never be the same.

           
“You
just be cautious.
 
I’m sure Diane and
Mike will take good care of you and who knows, you may like it there.”

           
“You
are a wonderful brother.”
 
She pecked his
cheek.
 
“Well, I am off to the bank.
 
Thank you for all your help.”

She bounded out
the door and walked toward the stable, spotting Craig with the buggy.
 
She jumped into the seat beside him and they
headed for the bank.
 
Craig showed white
teeth while he grinned.

“Maybe you can get
in and out before everyone in town knows what happened.
 
You sure can cause trouble, Rae.”
 
His mocking expression let her know he had
not been upset with her decision.

Five

Cash managed a few
restless hours of sleep.
 
At dawn he rose
and grabbed a clean shirt from the closet, dressed then poured water into the
basin to shave. He wondered if he would ever be free from the torment plaguing
him constantly.

Dampening his hair
and running fingers quickly through the dark strands he placed the leather
banded black Stetson on his head.
 
He
strapped on his gun then descended the stairs to eat breakfast, ordering a meal
of side pork and eggs with black coffee.

***

He entered the
office, slightly ducking his tall frame under the door’s low clearance and
glanced at John.
 
“Anything interesting
happen last night?”

           
“Nope,
everything’s fine.
 
No problems
here.
 
Where are you headed this
morning?”
 
John walked to the gun cabinet
and removed a rifle, resting the barrel over his forearm.

           
“I’ll
take a walk to the livery and see how Watts is doing on
Mike and Diane’s wagon.
 
I’ll be picking
them up at the train station.
 
They’re
bringing supplies from St. Louis
when they return from the wedding.
 
I’ll
also stop by the store and see if Mills needs anything.”

           
John
walked to the door, while placing his hat on his head.
 
“How long have you known Mike and Diane, anyway?
 
You seem pretty close.”

Cash glared at
John.
 
He never talked of the past and
did not intend to start now.
 
John looked
uncomfortable as he turned in the doorway to face Cash.

           
“I’m
going to get something to eat.
 
I’ll take
a ride around town and check things out afterward.
 
Guess we will meet up later on.”

           
Cash
strode from the office toward the livery.
 
He turned down the side street leading to the stable.
 
Once inside, he searched the area until he
spotted Watts bent over, pulling worn shoes off a
dapple-grey mare.
 
Watt’s talents also
included being the town farrier and veterinarian.
 
Cash admired his versatility.
 
“Hey, Watts, the place
is looking great.”

           
Watts
placed the horse’s hoof gently back on the dirt floor.
 
“Got to keep up with the times, you
know.”
 
Being a short wiry man, he did
not have to bend far while shoeing the animals making it easier on his back
than someone taller.

Watts
wore his hair long and his face showed lines from the sun.
 
He had been in Chamberlain for years and
everyone depended on him at one time or another.

           
“Say,
how’s Mike’s wagon coming along?”
 
He
walked forward as he spoke and put out a hand.
         

The two men shook
hands briskly.
 
“Oh, nothing I couldn’t
fix.”
 
Watts
straightened with pride.
 
They walked to
the wagon so Watts could show Cash his handiwork.
 
The odor of horses and hay filled the air.

           
“Looks
like you did a nice job on the wheel.
 
Can I just leave it here until they arrive?
 
It will save me going out to their place.”

           
“Sure,
no problem, I’m not overcrowded just yet.
 
The new wagons will be arriving on the train when Mike and Diane come
in.
 
Just wait until you see those
beauties.”
 
His lips expanded in a sly
grin.
 
“Now I’ll have something for our
new upper classes to rent that won’t tarnish their images.”

In actuality, the
people in town with their newfound wealth had not become the least bit
snobbish.
 
They worked hard for their
money and remained down-to-earth people.
 
But they enjoyed the increase in social functions in town, which also
helped all the businesses when extensive groups assembled.

“I hear the hotel
will be adding rooms next year.
 
Any
truth to the rumor?”
 
Watts
moved back toward the gray horse as he spoke, lifting another hoof onto his
knee.

           
“Bill
mentioned they would be adding on soon.
 
The town is growing so fast, he needs more accommodations.
 
I’m going to see the mayor this afternoon
about adding another deputy marshal to the payroll.
 
Many seamy characters ride into town when
they bring the herds to the train station.
 
We really need to stay atop of matters.”
 
Cash had been anxious for some time to add another man as deputy.
 
Now he only had to convince the mayor to
contribute to the funds already promised by the Federal Marshall’s office.

Cash removed his
hat and wiped beads from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
 
“Angie has problems but she sure likes the
business they bring in.
 
She says it just
goes with the territory.”
  
Tiny
particles of dust swirled in the sun when Cash smacked his hat across his pant
leg.
 
“I’m also concerned with all the
extra money the banks keep on hand, it’s an invitation for trouble.”

Watts
began filing the hoof resting on his knee.
 
“Guess you have your work cut out for you, Marshal.”
  

After thanking Watts,
Cash strode out of the livery and headed toward the general store.
          

Cash could not
help but marvel at all the new homes along the town’s main street.
 
Many had flower gardens in front behind short
white fencing while others had specially cut stones to form a walkway from the
front gates to the porches.

Several homes had
porch swings attached to the overhangs with brightly colored cushions on the
seats.
 
He watched several small children
play in the street beside one of the new homes as he continued with extended strides
toward the general store.

           
The
new storefront façade, painted white, looked nothing like the old worn face of
his youth.
 
A new sign hung outside the
upper story, reading
Chamberlain
General Store
in crisp green
letters.
 
The new expansion, almost complete,
still needed to be painted and the roof finished.
 
Extra storage would be a welcome addition for
Mike and Diane since the increase in demands.