She thought he was probably just exaggerating his thoughts, but when the dog returned, he threw a rock at it. When that failed to get results, the man went to the wagon and took up a shotgun from behind the seat. He aimed it at the dog, and Melody couldn’t help but scream.
“No! Don’t shoot!”
The dog ran from the picnic and hurried down the creek toward one of the families, who by now was watching to see who had cried out.
“How could you threaten a hungry animal like that?” she asked, getting to her feet.
Mr. Oberling looked at her like she had suddenly lost her senses. “What’s got you riled up?”
Melody planted her hands on her hips. “How could you threaten to shoot a helpless animal? He was hungry. Didn’t you see how skinny he was?”
The man shrugged and lowered his shotgun. “Not my problem. He isn’t my dog.”
“And you most assuredly won’t be my husband!”
She stormed off toward the road and marched all the way back to town without so much as a glance over her shoulder to see Mr. Oberling’s response. The man was absolutely heartless. How had Da not discerned the man’s temper? Was his physical condition starting to interfere with his ability to hear God’s voice? Fears for her father grew. Something wasn’t right, and for too long now, she’d ignored the truth. She put aside her anger at Mr. Oberling and picked up her pace. She was glad to no longer be looking for a husband, as she had a feeling Da was going to need all of her attention.
Charlie added one of the columns on the page of the bank ledger for the third time. It didn’t match up with one of the corresponding columns. It should have, but something was obviously written down wrong. He would have to go number by number. For all the erasure marks and questionable writing, it was a wonder that anything added up correctly. Some of the handwriting was so illegible, Charlie was guessing at the entries.
He frowned and set the book aside. Was Jefferson purposefully making a mess of the ledgers in order to steal from the bank? It could have been Jacob who made the mistakes, but it continued after Jacob had left Cheyenne. That mostlikely made it Jefferson’s responsibility. Charlie didn’t like to think ill of the young man, but there was no denying it had happened on his watch.
Charlie eased back on his bed and closed his eyes. He’d been poring over the books most of the morning, and now that it was a little past one, food was uppermost on his mind. He’d missed any chance at the boardinghouse lunch. It was served promptly at noon on the weekends and would mostly likely already be over with and cleaned up.
He thought of Melody and her father. Melody was on a date. Hopefully it would be her last. Maybe Charlie would grab something to eat and take it by the tent to see how Clancy was doing. Melody had said he wasn’t eating well. Perhaps if Charlie brought him something, he’d feel obliged to eat.
Clancy Doyle was good company, and Charlie had enjoyed their time together the night before. Their supper had been simple but good, and Clancy told several stories about Ireland and his youth. Unfortunately, there hadn’t been an opportunity for Charlie to speak to Clancy alone, and he hoped he might rectify that while Melody was busy elsewhere.
He closed the bankbook and took up his coat. The heaviness of what he planned to discuss with Clancy slowed his steps. When he reached the bottom step, Mrs. Cooper just happened to be there.
“Charlie, you missed lunch.”
“I know. I just realized that.”
“Well, don’t tell the others, but I made you a couple of roast beef sandwiches. They’re in the kitchen. Come along.”
“I was just going out to check on Melody’s father. Do you suppose I could impose on you to wrap them up so I can take them with me?”
She gave a nod. “Of course, Charlie. That’s kind of you to visit Mr. Doyle. I hear he’s not doing as well as he could be.”
“Yes. Things do seem to be difficult for him. I’m hoping maybe a visit this morning and a game of checkers will help.”
“You’re a good man, Charlie Decker.”
The older man was sitting outside the tent, just as Charlie and Melody had found him the evening before. He was reading a newspaper when Charlie happened along.
“Afternoon, Clancy.”
“Good to be seein’ ya again, son. Kind of thought ya might be back.” Clancy lowered the paper.
“You did, huh?” Charlie gave a knowing nod. Since their first discussion at the bank, he’d felt as if the man knew what Charlie was thinking. “I brought a couple of roast beef sandwiches. Would you care for one?”
“No, but thank ya, Charlie. Go grab a chair from the tent, and ya can be speakin’ yar mind.”
Charlie did as Clancy instructed. He placed his sandwiches on the little table and took the chair outside. He was hungry and thought about retrieving his food, but instead, he sat beside the older man, a sadness coming over him. “You have to tell her the truth.”
“I know. I’ve been wantin’ to do just that since our first talk, Charlie.”
“It’s not right that I know and others suspect, and yet you’ve said nothing to her.”
