The Cogan Legend (28 page)

Charles decided not to push Ann any further, and since she spoke openly he had hope that her condition was improving.  Ann slept better that night than she had in weeks, and soon they were back on the road.

Ann sensed nervous excitement in her father's behavior as the miles clicked down and the day wore on.  Suddenly, Charles asked, “Ann, what do you think Mary will say when I ask her to marry me?”

“I'm pretty sure she'll accept.  Rachel and I talked about the looks you and Mary shared, and we joked often about your eagerness to help in the kitchen.”

Charles smiled at her comment.   He knew it wouldn't be much further as they passed through Gratztown.  

  

 

Mary heard the wheels of the arriving coach and felt her heart lift.  She hurried to the door, wiping her hands on a dish towel.  At the door, she realized she was wearing her apron and hurried back to the kitchen to hang it on the back of the door.  She checked her appearance and, although not completely satisfied, she returned to the door.  

Mary observed as Charles got out of the coach and helped Ann step down.  Mary was surprised at the girl's appearance.  She looked frail and withdrawn.  Mary stepped out onto the porch to greet them and was surprised when Charles strode over to her and held his arms open.  He hugged and kissed her and then, stepping back, said, “Mary, you look beautiful.”  

“Thank you,” Mary replied and felt her face redden.

Ann and Lewey each gave her a hug, and then Lewey started to unload the trunks and bags.

Tom's appearance surprised them as he came from the house and down the steps to offer his assistance to Lewey.  “Tom! What a surprise! I thought you'd be in Sunbury with Phillip guarding the prisoner,” Charles said.

“How are you, Mr. Fairchild?”  

Charles shook his hand. “Let's go inside. It's still cold out here.”  

Charles took Mary's elbow to help her up the steps. Tom held out his hand for Ann to take, and he leaned forward and said, “Gee, Ann. You look terrible!”

Ann favored him with a glare and then grinned.  “Blunt as usual Tom.”  She took his hand to show that she had no hard feelings.  Tom guided her up the steps.

When he released her, Ann stepped over to Mary.  “I'm so glad to be here. The trip was so long.”

Mary put her arm around Ann's waist.  “Come inside.  Dinner's ready, but I'll keep it warm if you want to freshen up first.”

Charles glanced at Ann.  Her face was pale.  “Maybe you should go lie down for awhile before we eat.”

Ann nodded gratefully.  “I think I will, Father.”  It was the first time Mary saw her smile, although it was tight-lipped at best.

After Ann left the room, Mary turned to Charles. “What's wrong with her?  She looks like she did when you left.  You told me she had improved.”

Charles, busy with unpacking, stopped and took Mary's hand.  “I'm not exactly sure it's easy to explain.  After dinner, I'll try.”  

When Ann entered her room, she looked around and noticed that Mary had redecorated.  It was painted a different color, and Rachel's bed was removed in an effort to ease the memory, but thoughts of Rachel still came to mind.

Tom knocked. “Ann, I have your trunks.”  Tom pushed the door open and entered.  “Ann, I've never seen you like this.  What's wrong?”

Ann shuddered as she looked at Tom.  He was the one far more injured than the neighbor, yet he hadn't berated her.  She suspected that he too harbored the same feelings that Mrs. Miller expressed.  How could he not?  Rachel loved him with all her heart, and she was anxious to start her life with him.  The only reason she'd gone along with Ann's mad scheme was to make enough money so that they could be married.  She'd ruined it for both of them. Tears streamed down her cheeks.  

Tom reached in his pocket for a handkerchief and sat with her.  “I want you to tell me what's wrong.  I'm not leaving until I get an answer.”

She looked at Tom teary eyed. “Several weeks ago, I went to visit Carrie.  She has so much resentment toward me she never wants to see me again.  It took Carrie and a neighbor to chide me before I realized my selfishness killed Rachel.  It's my fault she's dead.”   

Tom nodded thoughtfully.  He took the handkerchief Ann returned to him and folded it before replying.  “Carrie also blames me. She told me directly ‘if anything happens to Rachel, I will blame you.'  So it's not just you she blames.  Right now Carrie is mad at the world, and I guess I can't blame her.  Like us, she'll never accept Rachel's death.  As for selfishness, both Rachel and I were selfish.”  Tom thought a little humor might help, “Actually, I was more selfish than Rachel.”

Ann twisted her hands in her lap. “I was far more selfish, I think.”

“I agree you were selfish, but we both saw it as a chance to get what we wanted, too. We both wanted things.  I wanted the best I could give her, and to do that we had to twist your father's arm because I wanted the money.  No one could ever predict what was to happen.   Rachel or I or your father, or you would never have gone if we knew what was to come.  I blame the murderers, and one of them will hang for killing Rachel. The other is already dead.  That won't bring her back, but it will allow me to feel justice has been served, and I'll be stronger for it.”

“It's hard for me to talk to Father like this.  Tom, you've made me feel a little better, thank you.”  

Still sitting on the bed, Tom looked around the room. “Mary told me Rachel and you shared this room.  Every night when I'm here, I come in and sit on the bed hoping she will appear.  I miss her so much; she's all I think about.  I never realized how much she meant to me.”  

 “We all miss her.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be down in a few minutes after I freshen up.”

He nodded and left.

Everyone was at the table waiting for Ann.  

“Tom, I want to hear all about the capture,” Charles said.  “And, I insist you call me Charles.  We're not in Philadelphia now, son.”

Tom smiled and nodded. “Okay.”  As they ate, Tom related the details of the capture, and explained to Charles why only one murder was awaiting trial.

Tom turned to Ann. “Phillip is hoping you can testify at the trial. He's sure your testimony would make it an open and shut case. The guy's guilty as sin, but we still have to prove it.”

Tom looked at Ann who seemed to be somewhere else. “Ann, are you alright?  Ann, did you hear me?”

Ann looked up.

“Do you remember what happened that day?” Tom asked.

 Ann looked at him. “I've tried to remember but very little has come back.  I'm sorry, Tom.”  

“That's okay; I thought perhaps you might.”  

Lewey, who seldom spoke, said, “I heard Rachel say something to Ann, but her voice was so faint I couldn't hear.”

Tom looked at Ann. “Maybe someday you'll remember.”

They finished eating in silence.  Ann's yawn broke the spell.  She stood. “I'm sorry, but I'm exhausted.  Will you please excuse me?  It's been a long day.”

“Certainly, Ann, we understand,” Mary said.

Lewey was right behind her. “If you'll excuse me, I'm exhausted too.”

After Lewey departed, Tom asked Charles, “I'd like to talk to you about my old job.”

“What about your job?”  

“Since the trial will not start for several weeks, I've decided to go back to Philadelphia.  I want to see how Carrie is holding up.  I know she has good neighbors, but I also know Rachel's death has been very hard on her.  I just hope she will forgive me.”

“Well, I'm not sure she is in a forgiving mood.  Ann went to visit her several weeks ago, and she slammed the door in her face.”

“Perhaps news of the capture will help ease her pain.”

“I don't think she'll ever get over her loss.”

“When I go back I thought I would go to work, but I wasn't sure it would be as a foreman.”

“Tom, I promised you at the funeral you could have your job back. Mary, do you have a pen and paper handy?   I'll write a note to Ted and when you're ready to go to work it will explain everything.  Is there anything else you want to discuss, Tom?”

“No, that's really all I wanted to know.  I appreciate it.  I almost forgot; will it be alright if I go to the trial?” Tom added.  “Phillip will let me know when it starts.  I don't want to miss it.”

“Of course. I don't want you to miss it either.  Just tell Ted before you leave Philadelphia.”

“When do you plan to leave the lodge, Tom?” Mary asked.

“I've decided to leave in the morning.  I just want to express my gratitude to you, Mary, for all the hospitality you've shown me.”

“You've pretty much earned your keep,” she said.

“Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if Lewey's in my bed,” Tom said and went up the stairs.

Finally, Mary was able to speak to Charles alone.  “Charles, tell me what's wrong with Ann.”  Mary anxiously awaited a response.

“For weeks Ann was doing so much better after the funeral.  Then recently she went to visit Rachel's mother.  Ann was scorned by Mrs. Miller and her neighbors, and she hasn't been the same since.  They said hurtful and horrible things to her, and she now totally blames herself for Rachel's death.”

“Oh, that's terrible.  I know what she's going through.  I went through a deep depression years ago.  I hate seeing her in this state.  Maybe I can help her.”

“That would be great, Mary.  It would be wonderful if you could help me get her out of her current state.”

Charles stifled a yawn but had no desire to go to bed; he wanted to spend private time with Mary.  He was nervous as he began to speak.  “Mary, before we left Philadelphia I had a few friends and acquaintances over for dinner and I told them I was having a relationship with a wonderful woman.  The entire trip I couldn't stop thinking about you.”  Charles then took her hand, looked directly in her eyes and asked, “Mary, will you marry me?”  

She hesitated for only a few seconds then smiled. “Yes Charles, I'll marry you.”

He kissed her hand and tears came to his eyes. “I love you Mary, and I missed you terribly.”  Then he kissed her, reached in his pocket, and pulled out a beautiful ring that he slipped on her finger.  

Her eyes filled with tears, “Oh my, Charles!  I've never had such a lavish gift.”  

“Mary, you have no idea how happy I am right now.”

Finally, Mary had the opportunity to confess her true feelings to him.  “I love you too, Charles.  The first time I saw you I desired you, but since you were married I dared not in any way express those feelings.  I knew you loved Elizabeth very much, and I thought that there was no hope at all for me.  A few of the local men asked me out, and I accepted, but I found none of them desirable and I was committed to being an old maid.  When I received word that Elizabeth had passed away I was heartbroken and thought you would never come back.  I know I was selfish but I thought you would sell the lodge and I would never see you again.  As time passed without word, I was sure that was your plan.  I felt so sorry for you, I knew you were heartbroken and there was nothing I could do.  Then when I received your letter that you, Ann and Rachel were coming I was so happy and overjoyed I danced around the kitchen.  During your stay I fell in love.  Then the tragedy and your abrupt departure left me wondering what was to be.  But I knew in my heart you felt something too.  I hoped you would return and when I received your letter soon after the funeral I knew you loved me.  You have just made me the happiest woman in the world.”  

Charles kissed her again and jokingly said, “If you would have said no, I could never have faced my friends again.”  

Ann slept well deep into the night. Then toward dawn she had a horrible dream and became restless.  In the dream she heard screaming, and suddenly she awoke.  She looked around the room to see if someone was there.  Upset, she lay back down and tried to remember, but she couldn't.  She lay in bed for awhile but couldn't fall back to sleep.  She was wide awake, so she decided to get up and bathe.  She never mentioned the dream to anyone and hoped it wouldn't return.  

When Ann finished her bath and got dressed, she went down the stairs to see about breakfast.  It was early, but Mary was in the kitchen and Charles was lacing his boots in the front room.

Charles grinned when he saw his daughter.  “Ann, I haven't been this happy in a long time, and it feels wonderful.  Mary and I are going to be married.”  He was beaming with joy as he looked at Mary who'd stepped into the front room when she heard Charles speak.

“Mary, I'm happy for both of you,” Ann said.  She wasn't sure who to hug first and decided since Mary was closer; she'd get the first hug.  Then she turned, “Father, I knew she'd say yes.  I think it's wonderful.”

Just then Tom came in to get his saddlebags.  He had eaten breakfast and was ready for the long trip back to Philadelphia.

“Tom, before you leave I want you to know that Mary and I are going to wed.”

Tom extended his hand. “Mr. Fairchild, Charles, that's wonderful news.  Mary deserves someone like you. Mary, I know you'll be happy.  When will you be moving to Philadelphia?”  

Mary looked at Charles who responded, “We haven't decided on a date, but it'll be in the near future.”

“Tom, have a safe trip back, and we'll see you when the trial begins,” Charles said.

Tom turned and addressed Ann, “Miss Fairchild, when I see you again, I want to see a smile.”

Ann gave Tom a half-hearted grin as he left.

When they sat down for breakfast Mary asked, “Ann, would you like to accompany your father and me to Gratztown?  I need a few things at the store; it would help break up your day.”