Given that she wanted no more secrets between them, Charlie wanted to make this clearly understood. He didn’t want her accusing him of false pretenses. Charlie had only ever asked her father to let things unfold this way because he believed all marriages were better when the couple started with friendship. He’d seen it proven with family members. His eldest brother, Jacob, had known his wife for many years before they wed. They were good friends who had met through gatherings that included both families. She’d even lived just two houses down on the same street. Whereas Charlie’s other brother, Warren, had married a woman he hardly knew at all. The marriage had been all but arranged by the fathers of the couple. They never seemed truly happy and fought all the time. At least anytime Charlie was in their presence there appeared to be some sort of fight ensuing.
There were, of course, close friends whom Charlie had watched court and marry. The ones who had a history of being friends first always seemed to have a much better foundation than the ones who were arranged or claimed loveat first sight. He had wanted very much to be friends with Melody Doyle before anyone spoke of love and marriage. However, Charlie could now say without any doubt at all that he did love her.
That made him even more determined that she should know the truth of his arrangement with her father. No more secrets. He would tell her everything, perhaps even the fact that he’d lost his heart to her.
“Charlie, how did it go teaching Sunday school yesterday?” Mrs. Cooper asked.
He looked up and smiled. “Fairly well. The boys were quite energetic, so I had them marching in place for a time.”
“Marching?” She looked quite puzzled.
“The Bible story I chose to teach on was Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. The Israelites had to march around the walls of the city, as you might recall. So I had the boys stand and march in place. That seemed to amuse them but also kept them busy. When the walls came tumbling down, so did they.”
The men who were paying attention chuckled at this, causing the others to look up from their food. It was Otis who spoke, however, and it had nothing to do with what Charlie had just said.
“They are breaking ground today for the railroad line from Denver to Cheyenne. Just imagine how convenient that will be in the future,” he announced. “We shall soon move about as easily as they do back east. Once the east and west lines close the gap on the transcontinental railroad, we will be able to travel without resistance from one end of the country to the other and all points in between.”
“These truly are remarkable times,” Mrs. Cooper agreed.
Incredible times, to be sure, but not enough so that thedoctors had a means to save Clancy Doyle. Nevertheless, Charlie said nothing and refocused on his breakfast.
Today wasn’t going to be at all easy for him. The bank was his sole responsibility since he had fired Jefferson. And, quite frankly, the bank was of absolutely no interest to him, given Melody’s situation. Sometimes it was very hard to meet his obligations when the heart beckoned him elsewhere.
16
“I’m glad you felt you could stop by,” Marybeth said as Melody headed for the front door. “I’m just as sorry as I can be about your father. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
“I will, but I doubt there will be anything. Da is spending more and more time in bed. He just doesn’t have the strength to do otherwise. While he sleeps, I cook or bake and clean. Sometimes I just sit by his side and watch him breathe. I know he wouldn’t want me to do that, but I can’t help it. When things were good, Da would almost always go out on Friday nights, to a fight or just to see the fellas, and he always invited me to come.” She paused and tried her best to contain her emotions. “Now I wish I’d gone more often.”
“Bye-bye,” Carrie interrupted, wrapping her arms around Melody’s legs. “I wuv you, Melwedy.”
“I love you too, Miss Carrie.” Melody hugged her back.
“Are you sure you won’t stay and have supper with Carrie and me? Edward’s gone off on his shift, so it’ll just be the two of us. I’ll be glad when he switches to daytime hours. It’s coming soon, but not soon enough to please me.” Shepaused to look at the clock on the mantel. “Look, it’s already five forty. You don’t want to have to be cooking something now.”
“I’ll be fine. I made some soup, and I want to try and get Da to eat something.”
Marybeth pulled Carrie away. “You go play for a little bit in your room, and then we’ll eat.” Carrie skipped off across the room without another word. Marybeth touched Melody’s arm. “Just know that no matter what happens, you have a home with us anytime you need it.”
“The Taylors stopped by and told me the same thing. I’m relieved not to have to worry about that much. Charlie has been so good to help too. He’s really been the best of friends to me and Da. Da likes him a lot, and they play checkers when Da is up to it.”
“Charlie seems like a very good man.”
Melody nodded. “I think so. I like him very much.”
“Perhaps if things were different...” Marybeth left the rest unsaid, but Melody completely understood.
“Yes.”
She headed for home, thinking about asking Dr. Scott to come by and see Da. She knew her father’s time was passing far too quickly. It might comfort him to speak with the pastor. Knowing Da, however, he’d probably already discussed everything with the man in order to plan out the funeral arrangements. That would be like her father.
Remembering that she still needed to pick up a few things from the store, Melody hurried to cross House Street and make her way up Sixteenth to Armstrongs’ Mercantile. They closed at six, so she needed to hurry. She’d nearly reached her destination when she saw Jefferson Lane with a large suitcase in hand.
“Jefferson, are you heading somewhere?” she asked as she came up behind him.
He turned, looking surprised. “Uh ... well ... uh, yes. I’m leaving for good. This town just doesn’t agree with me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She almost chuckled but refrained. “I thought you wanted to marry me.”
