“Can you like someone too much?” Marybeth asked.
“You can if you’re supposed to be looking for a husband, and he’s not one of the ones you’re looking at.”
“And why aren’t you looking at him? He’s a fine young man,” Granny interjected. “I think Charlie would make a fine husband.”
“I do too,” Marybeth agreed. “But Charlie isn’t on Da’s list. They’ve played checkers, but Charlie didn’t ask to court me. If he had, I’m sure Da would have approved him.” Melody tried not to let the matter ruin her day.
The women fell momentarily silent. Melody had no desire to continue focusing on Charlie. It was embarrassing to be developing feelings for someone who obviously had no feelings for her.
“There have been quite a number of families moving into the area,” Granny said. “The railroad is hiring new workers to remain here in Cheyenne. Jed tells me the Union Pacific has advertised in papers back east and in the South for workers interested in relocating to Cheyenne. And word has also gotten out that the land is good for raising cattle and sheep.”
Marybeth nodded. “Horses too. Edward is trying to convince his family to move out here. His father has a horse farm that Edward’s sister helps with. Her husband is a lawyer, so there would certainly be work for him as well.”
“I told my son Robert about the potential for ranches. He and his wife, Susanna, are less than content with Texas.Susanna has trouble with the heat and the dampness. I told them they might consider moving up here where it’s dryer. I would love to have my grandchildren around me.”
“How did you end up here in the first place, Granny?” Melody asked.
The old woman smiled. “The good Lord told Jed and me to come, so we did. Believe me when I tell you, I had no thought of moving away from Texas in my old age. Jed was a cattleman, but out of the blue, he tells me that God wants him to take up working for the railroad. He signed over the ranch to Elmer and Robert with their promise to share some of the land with their married sister, and Jed up and went to work for the railroad. Of course, railroads in Texas were a mess after the war. The South had most of their lines torn up, and the locomotives themselves needed work. Jed found mechanical work on the engines and cars to be something he enjoyed. He took to it like a fish to water. So when there were advertisements about the Union Pacific needing men, Jed felt God was calling us north. I have to say, God has used my dear husband in great ways. Jed easily shares God’s Word with his fellow workers. Some of the men are now going to church.”
“I’m so glad you came north, Granny. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” Melody had long found the woman to be the best of confidants.
“Well, you must remember that even when it seems strange, if the Lord pushes you in a particular direction, pay attention and go. Remember Abram being called to leave his country and people? That was us, and we don’t regret it. God has blessed us in many ways.”
Charlie stacked up the books that held all of the bank’s transactions for the last year. He felt it was his responsibility to know everything he could about the bank and its customers, and studying the transactions was one way he could know both.
Jefferson was working to enter some figures in the daily ledger when Charlie came into the front room with the other books in hand.
“I’ll be leaving early and taking the books home with me this weekend. With exception to the daily ledger you’re working on.”
Jefferson looked up and narrowed his eyes. “Why would you need to do that?”
Charlie laughed. “Because it’s a good way to understand what’s going on in the life of the bank.” He shifted the books. “I haven’t been here long enough to know the customers or their transaction routines. Jacob informed me of things, but I want to read for myself and watch the story unfold.”
The younger man looked like he might protest or, at a minimum, comment on the matter, but he turned instead to continue writing in the ledger he had.
Charlie gave it no more thought. “Be sure to leave the receipts for the day on my desk and lock up when you’re done.” He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. It was just seconds away from chiming four o’clock. “Will we see you at church, Sunday night?”
Jefferson didn’t bother to look up. “If I can make it, I will.”
“Well, it would be good to have you there. If not, I’ll see you Monday.”
With that, Charlie headed out onto the streets of Cheyenne. He couldn’t say that Jefferson had grown on him with time. If anything, the man was even more pretentious andfull of himself, and Charlie found such people intolerable. Still, he had to work with Jefferson Lane, and treating him with respect was something he could and would continue to do.
As he headed home, Charlie found himself thinking no longer of Jefferson or the bank, but rather of Melody Doyle. He wondered if he’d find her out in the garden. It hadn’t rained for a while, so she would need to water. She might even be planting additional vegetables. There had been some talk of tomato plants.
Mrs. Cooper was in the front sitting room when Charlie came through the door. She was straightening up several newspapers on a side table and glanced his way.
“Hello, Charlie. You’re early tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thought I’d bring some work home to do. How are you, Mrs. Cooper?”
She shrugged. “As well as can be expected. We’re having baked chicken tonight, and Melody made us two apple pies.”
“That certainly will hit the spot. Is Miss Melody in the garden?”
“She is. I would expect she’s finishing up with the watering.”
Charlie nodded. “Well, I’d best take these ledgers upstairs and get changed. She might need help.”
