“My mother and sister sold the house after Father’s death and went to Mississippi to stay a time with my aunt. My mother’s older widowed sister.”
“I’m sorry to hear of your loss.”
“It was a great loss, to be sure. I’m trying to convince mymother to move here. I hope to be working closer to Fort Bridger, but Cheyenne would put them so much closer to me.”
“We’ve both been here such a short time, but I hear the town is still pretty unsettled. They keep telling me things are better than it used to be and will continue to improve as the railroad moves west, but it might be dangerous for two women who have no man to watch over them. Something to think about, anyway. Now, what about your work? Do you have a specific tribe you’ll be working with?”
“I’ve been corresponding with the Indian Affairs offices in Washington. They are working with the Shoshone to finalize additions to a treaty written in 1863. Once that is complete, I hope to go to Fort Bridger to meet with the Indian agent Mr. Blevins and begin working with the Shoshone.”
“I admire you for that.” Charlie found the man’s willingness to lay his life on the line and move to regions of unrest to be quite commendable. “Do any of the Shoshone speak English, or will you have to learn the language?”
“There are some who speak English, but not many. As I understand it, the Indian agents have been working with them, and this new addendum that is being written will require the children be educated. That, of course, will mean teaching them English.”
“So they’ll need teachers?”
Will shrugged. “I would imagine so.”
“That’s very interesting.” Charlie couldn’t keep from picturing himself teaching to the native children. Wouldn’t that be something?
“Well, if you don’t mind, I should probably finish up my business here,” Will declared. “I promised I’d meet Dr. Scott in about half an hour.”
“Of course.” Charlie smiled. “Let’s get your account set up.”
The afternoon wore on, and each time Jefferson came to the office to bring something, Charlie noted his sour expression and minimal words. He was more than a little unhappy with Charlie’s choices, and yet he had no right to be. It wasn’t his money.
“Is there something you need to say?” Charlie asked after Jefferson’s third trip to his office.
Jefferson looked as if he might say something, but then he turned to go back to his teller’s cage. “Just wanted you to have the information you asked for,” he said over his shoulder.
Charlie was starting to wonder why Jacob had ever hired him. Jacob would never have allowed Jefferson to question his choices. Charlie didn’t want to have to get firm with the younger man, but he had learned from his father that authority had to be established early on. If not, employees would take advantage of the situation. The same was true in the classroom, which was where Charlie really wanted to be. However, since the bank was his assignment, he had no other choice.
I guess I’ll have to put my foot down.
Charlie looked at the clock. It was nearly five. He might as well say something to Jefferson now, and then they could close for the day and be done with it.
He drew a deep breath and got to his feet. He had never wanted to be an employer with people to boss around. His father had pushed him into the world of banking, and Charlie could hear him even now, hundreds of miles away in Chicago.
“I have plans for you, Charles,”his father had declared.“Youhave finished your education and served your country. Now it’s time to settledown and take over your part of the family business.Your brothers have done well, and I’ve no reason to doubt you’ll do the same.”
But that wasn’t what Charlie had wanted to do with his life. It still wasn’t, and now he had to face reprimanding an employee. His heart just wasn’t in this.
He locked his office door and turned to find Jefferson already standing at the front door. He could see the look of irritation on the young man’s face. Maybe their talk could wait for the morning. No, if Jefferson took on an even worse attitude, then Charlie would have to deal with it all day.
“You know, Jefferson, it’s good for a man to know his mind and to hold his own opinions,” Charlie began as he crossed the room. “But as my employee, it might be best for you to hold that opinion to yourself unless I ask for you to make it vocal. I will fall or rise on my own merits, and you won’t be the one who must account for the results.”
Jefferson straightened and looked Charlie in the eye. “I understand, sir.” He emphasized the latter word.
Charlie smiled. “Good. I appreciate that you do.”
There, surely that would be enough to put the man in his place and let him know that Charlie was in charge and ready to defend his position. And his choices.
Jefferson opened the door for him. “Have a good evening ... sir.”
Charlie thought to stop him from the formal address, then decided against it. If that was how Jefferson needed things to be to remind him of his place, then so be it. Charlie refused to be offended by his tone or his choice of words.
He waited as Jefferson finished locking up. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jefferson nodded but said nothing more. He turned and walked in the opposite direction that Charlie planned to go, and for a minute Charlie just watched him. Jefferson struck him again as a man who intended to go places, to be important, to be in charge. He didn’t seem like the type to allow anything to stand in his way.
