Melody smiled to herself. “Thanks, Da. I was just enjoying my new quilt. It’s nice and warm and so pretty. Not that I can see it all that well.” The glow from the lantern on Da’s side of the curtain didn’t afford much light.
“Well, I was just puttin’ out the light. There’ll be time enough to see it tomorrow.”
The tent went black, and Melody closed her eyes. “Good night, Da.”
“I thought we might be takin’ our supper at Belham’s to celebrate your day.”
“That sounds fine, Da.” She sighed in the darkness. Her father was always so good to make sure she felt special on her birthday.
“I have a gift for ya, but of course ya’ll have to be waitin’.” He sounded so tired.
“I’m sure it will be wonderful, Da. We should go to sleep. I love you.”
For a moment her father said nothing, and Melody wondered if he’d nodded off. Then he cleared his throat. “I’ve only loved one other woman more than I would be lovin’ me darlin’ daughter, and that was yar ma.” He gave a long pause. “I love ya, Melody. I’ve always been blessed to be yar da.”
Tears came to her eyes. “I’m the blessed one, Da. You’ve always been there for me, and I know you always will be.”
6
It was still dark outside as Melody and her father made their way to the Coopers’ house. The sun wouldn’t be up for nearly an hour, yet the town was already coming to life. Melody was grateful for Da walking her over since she noted a few odd characters milling about.
“Are you sure you’re going to be all right without me there to watch over you?” Melody asked her father. “I know your back is still bothering you, and you admitted you didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Me back is just fine. Gives me grief now and then, but it’s of no bother. I’ll catch me a nap later on.”
Melody nodded and continued walking. “I heard at church that most of the undesirables are heading west today. The railroad is giving them free rides to the next camp and hauling over their temporary buildings and tents at a discount.”
“Probably won’t charge ’em a cent,” Da replied. “The UP likes keepin’ the workers close to home. If they had to take the train back here on payday in order to be spendin’ their money, they might not be makin’ it back to work. You know how it’s been all along.”
“Yes, and I’ll be glad to see them all go. It’s been a relief to know they’ll soon be gone. Although I also heard some of the brothels are staying, along with some saloons and gambling houses. I suppose it would be too much to hope they’d all leave.”
“Don’t be frettin’ too much,” her father said, waiting to cross the street until a six-horse team pulling a large freight wagon passed them. “The men in charge of Cheyenne have made some of that business illegal. They’ll be clearin’ ’em out and makin’ life difficult for them that stay, chargin’ ’em license fees with fines and jail time. I’ve seen it happen before. Only the most stalwart will remain. The rest will be goin’ elsewhere, seekin’ a place where no one cares what they do.”
“Do you really suppose Cheyenne will grow to be a big and civilized city?” she asked, trying to imagine it all.
“I do. The railroad will be seein’ to that growth continuin’. Railroads hold a lot of power back east, and it won’t be long before the West is crisscrossed with iron rails. It’ll no doubt be a sight to behold.”
“Well, here we are.” Melody turned. “Thanks again for walking with me. I’ve enjoyed our time together with everything still quiet. I love this time of morning.” She kissed Da on the cheek. “I’ll see you this afternoon. Maybe sooner. Mrs. Cooper said I could come home and tend to my own chores in between meals if there wasn’t anything else to do. Don’t forget to keep the fire in the stove going. Otherwise, the roast won’t get done.”
“I’ll see to it, but ya shouldn’t have worried about it since we’re going out to eat tonight.”
“That’s quite all right. It will be ready for us to eat tomorrow.”
She headed up the front porch steps and turned at thetop to wave good-bye. Da had already headed back toward home. Melody watched him for a moment. His stride bore evidence of the pain he tried to hide. She would have to check in with his doctor and see if there was something he could take for the pain.
She turned back to the house and knocked at the front door. In a moment, Faith Cooper opened it and welcomed her inside.
“I was just putting on my apron, glad to see you’re here. I hate that you must come in the dark.”
“It’s fine, really. Da walked me over. Soon enough it will be light earlier, and we’ll have no worries.”
Mrs. Cooper showed her where to hang her shawl, then handed her an apron. “We’re having biscuits and gravy for breakfast. How are you with making lard biscuits?”
Melody smiled. “Da says mine are light as fairies’ dust. I’m quite at home making them.”
“Good. I’ll let you get started on that. There are eight of us to eat. No, nine counting you. I usually figure on four for the men, and there are seven of them. So with you and me, I’d say make three dozen. No, go ahead and make four dozen, and that way we’ll have some left over for lunch.”
“Sounds good.” Melody went to work.
