Building Forever (The Gilbert Girls, #1)

by Cahill, Cat

  He took a deep breath, and Emma squeezed his hands, letting him know she was still there, still listening.

  “She became more and more withdrawn,” he continued. “She lost color and stayed in bed all day. I didn’t know what to do. I spent as much time with her as I could, but she had no female companionship in those places. We were in a mining town in the mountains when she took ill with a fever. It wasn’t long before the fever took her.”

  The anguish on his face was too much for Emma. “That wasn’t your fault.”

  “It was,” he said in a choked voice. “She was my responsibility. I knew it was wearing her down, and yet I kept dragging her from place to place.”

  Emma pulled her hands from his and placed them on each side of his face. “It was not your fault.”

  He gripped her arms, his face torn with memories and grief that hadn’t been spoken until now.

  “Yes, she was sad,” Emma said. “She was lonely. But that fever was not something you could have prevented. It could’ve happened anywhere, at any time.”

  He said nothing for a moment, only watched her as he wrestled with his emotions. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you at the house, in front of everyone. All I could think of was how my life might kill you too. I couldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t force you into that situation.” His fingers held tighter to her arms. “It was only after you’d left that I realized how stupid I’d been. That I should’ve told you everything and let you make the decision.”

  His words went straight to her heart, repairing all the hurt that lingered there. “My answer is yes. Yes to you. Yes to everything. What makes you happy makes me happy too.”

  He dropped his hands and crushed her into his arms. “Are you certain?” he whispered into her hair.

  “I am. Completely.” She relaxed there in his embrace. This was home, in his arms, no matter where they were. “But Monroe . . .” There was still one rather large problem. One that could turn all of this into just a dream. She pushed away, creating some space between them.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “I still have to support my family. They’re desperate. My sisters have found work in a factory, but it’s awful. Dirty, crowded, loud, and they’re trapped in there all day from sunrise to sundown. And the pay still isn’t enough to cover Mama’s doctor expenses if she should fall ill again. I need to find some kind of work to support them. I’m the eldest. They are my responsibility.” She frowned again. How could she find work if they kept moving around? And would there be reputable work for a married woman in the places they’d be?

  He placed both her hands between his. “Your family will be my family. And I don’t let my family go without. The money I’d make from building is more than we could ever use together. I’d be honored to send some of that sum to your mother, especially since I can’t send any to my own.”

  Emma wasn’t certain she’d heard him correctly. “But you don’t even know them.”

  He shook his head. “It does not matter. Besides, I met one of your sisters briefly when I went looking for you in Louisville. She was a delight.” He chuckled.

  “You came looking for me?” She’d had no idea. Lily must’ve taken him to task when he met her.

  “I did. It’s a beautiful city, though awfully hot. I saw quite a bit of it trying to find you.”

  Emma had to force her mouth closed. Then she shook her head. “I can’t let you do that. It’s my burden, not yours.”

  He raised his hands to her face, placing one gently on each of her cheeks. “You don’t understand. If we’re to be married, your burdens become mine too. And your family certainly isn’t a burden.”

  Something inside Emma shattered. She clung to his arms to keep herself from collapsing to the ground as relief coursed through her. All that fear, all that guilt at her sisters having to work, it all burst into pieces at his words. She no longer had to carry all of that alone. “Thank you,” was all she could think to say.

  He pulled her to him. “I’d do anything to make you happy.” He whispered the words in her ear as he stroked her tangled hair.

  She leaned into him. “We should get back to the fire.”

  “After I do this.” He took her face in his hands again and raised it to meet his.

  Emma’s entire body shook with the emotion of that kiss. For so long, she’d imagined his lips on hers. It was perfect. Monroe was hers, and she would get to see all of this land with him by her side. Her family would want for nothing. Everything was going to be fine.

  “Hello, my lovebirds! We have a fire here.” Penny’s voice broke through the haze Emma floated in. She was standing over them.

  Monroe laughed. He kissed Emma again and then dropped his hands. “You heard the lady.”

  Emma smiled up at him. She couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him, wherever that life might take them.

  Epilogue

  Emma wore a simple light blue skirt topped with a matching blue bodice that, to her, resembled the color of the Colorado sky. Her friends in Crest Stone had bought her a lovely seed pearl necklace that now rested around her neck, and Caroline had lent her a blue hat. Emma ran her gloved hands over the ensemble. She had never seen a more perfect dress or a more beautiful necklace, even compared to the expensive silk gowns and jewelry some of her friends back home had worn for their weddings.

  She’d also never seen a more perfect setting. Even the soaring St. Martin of Tours church at home had nothing on the bright yellow sun in this expansive cloudless sky, the mountains standing watch on either side of the valley, the golden asters and blue bellflowers, and closest to her heart—the partially rebuilt hotel behind her.

  But most perfect of all were the people. The girls—Caroline, Dora, Penny, Millie, and the other newer girls—had become as close to her as her sisters at home. No matter where she went, she knew she’d remain friends with them for life. It was most wonderful to have them here since her own family had been unable to make the journey.

  And Monroe. He stood before her now, clad in his finest clothing—a new gray suit with a string tie and a starched white shirt. His brown hair was freshly cut and combed perfectly down, and his boots shone in the sunlight. He stood waiting for her with Big Jim by his side and the preacher from Cañon City to the left. On the preacher’s other side, Emma’s friends waited, wearing the best dresses they’d brought from home. Penny winked at her, and Emma couldn’t help grinning back.

  “Ready?” Mr. McFarland whispered.

  She nodded and he took her arm. He’d agreed without hesitation to walk her down the aisle. She almost burst at the fatherly pride he showed, particularly since he and Mrs. McFarland had married too late to have children of their own.

  The “aisle” was but a path worn from feet making the walk to and from the tracks. Her guests were all men from the building crew, along with the newest Gilbert Girls who’d arrived in time for the hotel’s original scheduled opening. Since it was delayed, they’d made do the best they could, some of them sleeping in tents provided by the building crew, who in turn slept outside, and serving guests sandwiches where they sat on the train. Mrs. Ruby and Mrs. McFarland had welcomed Emma back with open arms as a guest when they learned of Turner’s scheme. While she wasn’t allowed to officially work for the Gilbert Company any longer because she’d broken a cardinal rule, she’d wanted to help and the women had gladly let her. And when no one was looking, Mrs. McFarland did some creative bookkeeping and slipped Emma the wages she would have earned if she’d still been officially employed.

  When they reached the preacher, Mr. McFarland stepped aside and Monroe took his place after they shook hands. After Monroe, Mr. McFarland, and a couple of men from the crew had delivered Turner to the sheriff in Cañon City, Monroe accepted Mr. McFarland’s offer to resume his old role and lead the rebuilding of the hotel under an even tighter schedule. McFarland had kept his word and not informed Mr. Gilbert of the reason behind Monroe’s termination, but McFarland insisted that Mo
nroe use his mistake in courting Emma to lecture the crew on how not to act with the ladies at the house. Emma wasn’t sure how much good that did, considering the young man who watched Caroline from the front row at the moment.

  “Hello there, Miss Daniels,” Monroe whispered to her as he took her hand.

  “Hello, Mr. Hartley,” she said, warmth snaking up her body again. She wondered if her reaction to him would ever subside. She hoped it wouldn’t.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” the preacher began. “We are gathered here for the joining of two of God’s children in holy matrimony.”

  The ceremony passed too quickly, even as Emma tried to thoroughly live each moment of it. The way Monroe looked at her as he slipped the slim golden band around her finger. The pride in his eyes when the preacher pronounced them man and wife. The tender kiss he placed on her lips as one of the girls played a happy tune on the piano some of the men had carried up from the house earlier that day.

  “Till forever,” Monroe said, his forehead touching hers.

  “Forever,” she repeated. “And everywhere.”

  He kissed her again as the audience erupted in cheers.

  Nothing could ever be more perfect.

  THANK YOU FOR READING! Now you have to find out what happens next! Who’s that man watching Caroline? And what is Caroline’s secret? Her story is next. To be alerted when it’s available to read, sign up here: http://bit.ly/catsnewsletter I also give subscribers sneak peeks at upcoming books, insights into the writer life, discounts and deals, the opportunity to join my advance reader team, inspirations, and so much more. I'd love to have you join the fun!

  Turn the page for a sneak peek at Caroline’s story, Running From Forever . . .

  Sneak peek at Running From Forever (The Gilbert Girls, Book Two)

  Chapter One

  Thomas Drexel was lucky.

  Or at least he had been lately. He was lucky that Monroe Hartley had hired him back in Denver, when all he needed was to get out of town as fast as possible. He was lucky the work paid well. He was lucky no one much ever came to this hidden valley. And even when the hotel burned up all his hard work over the summer, he was lucky they needed to rebuild and kept him on.

  He hoped his luck would hold now. It was either that or go to California or Mexico—someplace no one would ever think to look for him. He pulled off his hat, smoothed down his sun-streaked hair, and knocked on the door of the McFarlands’ apartment.

  Mrs. McFarland answered, rosy-cheeked and smiling as always.

  “Ma’am, I work—or worked, really—on the building crew. I’m Thomas Drexel. I’m wondering if I might have a word with your husband?”

  “You must be hungry,” she said by way of inviting him in.

  “No need to trouble yourself.” He inched in, feeling six kinds of awkward in her well-kept home. Thomas hadn’t seen the inside of it since he’d helped finish installing the wood trim a few weeks ago. As the hotel manager and the bookkeeper, Mr. and Mrs. McFarland were appointed a three-room apartment on the first floor of the hotel.

  “Nonsense,” Mrs. McFarland said with a warm smile. “Do sit. I’ll fetch Mr. McFarland and some hot cakes and bacon.”

  Thomas’ stomach rumbled at the very mention of bacon. The building crew usually made do with a stew of venison or rabbit and, if a man had enough time to make a trip to Canon City, some cheese or bread. It had been non-stop work since the hotel had burned in early August. Now, finally, it was all completed and due to open to guests tomorrow.

  “Thomas!” McFarland entered the room. He had seemingly transformed overnight from a grizzled bear of a man who’d worked on everything from repairing the existing buildings across the tracks to fetching supplies in town to a man with slicked-back hair, neatly trimmed beard, and, of all things, a suit.

  Thomas blinked for a moment, trying to sort out what he saw. “Good morning,” he said a bit stiffly.

  McFarland laughed. “Surprised how I cleaned up?” he asked in his Irish brogue.

  “No, sir.” Thomas recovered quickly. He had a large favor to ask, and insulting the man wasn’t exactly the best way to begin.

  Mrs. McFarland arrived at that moment with two plates of hot cakes and bacon and two mugs of steaming coffee. It was perfect timing, both for the potential awkwardness of the situation and for Thomas’ stomach.

  After they’d both eaten their share of breakfast and discussed the state of the new hotel, Mr. McFarland asked, “What brings you to see me? Aside from my wife’s cooking, that is.”

  Thomas drew in a breath. “I’m hoping that after the crew is dismissed today, I might stay on. I could do any sort of work. Carpentry, as you know. I’m good with horses and livestock. I can repair just about anything. I can fetch necessities from town. Anything you might need.”

  “Can you cook?” Mr. McFarland asked.

  Thomas nearly choked on his tea. “I . . . well, I can learn. I’m a quick study.”

  McFarland laughed again. “I’m joking. We have enough kitchen boys.” He set his coffee on the lovely hand-carved low table. “You’ve been a good worker, Thomas. I could certainly find something for you to do here, but I’m curious why. You could find better-paying work with the building boom up in Denver, especially now that you have experience.”

  Thomas wasn’t prepared for this question, but he quickly formulated an answer. “I like this place, this hotel. I feel at home here.” He hoped that was enough to avoid any more questions.

  McFarland nodded. “I’ve been here a while myself, since the days of the railroad camp. There’s something about this valley.”

  Thomas nodded, even though he wasn’t certain he felt the same way. He just needed to stay here, out of sight, tucked away in this valley where no one knew who he was.

  McFarland was watching him. “Of course, I was also sweet on this girl whose family had a small ranch a few miles away.”

  Thomas’ thoughts instantly flicked to the pretty blonde girl he’d first noticed at Hartley’s wedding a couple of months back. Since that time, he’d seen her now and then—fetching food from the springhouse at the creek behind the hotel, making her way across the railroad tracks and the hill that stood between the new hotel and the old white house where she’d been living with the other girls, laughing as she entered the rebuilt hotel for the first time. He swallowed. The last thing he needed was McFarland suspecting him of breaking the rules with one of the Gilbert Girls, especially when he’d never even done as much as spoken to her. The hotel’s restaurant waitresses were strictly forbidden, if a man wanted to keep his position with the Gilbert Company. “There’s no girl.”

  The man kept his eyes on Thomas a moment longer, then nodded. “All right. If you want, you can start right away. The head chef has already requested more shelving in the pantry. Speak to him and find out what he wants.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.” Thomas shook McFarland’s hand and made his way back through the hotel toward the kitchen.

  The large hotel lobby was mostly empty, save for a couple of new men behind the front desk and a more travel-weary man in front of it.

  “Sir, I don’t know if we’re allowed to post those,” one of the new hotel employees said.

  “Then I’ll wait for your boss.” The dusty man in front of the desk dropped the saddlebags from his shoulder to the floor. He must have traveled all night to get here so early.

  Thomas slowed his pace, eyes fixed on the front doors of the hotel but ears trained on the conversation at the desk.

  “Go on,” the traveler said to the man behind the desk. “’Lest you prefer scofflaws and murderers roaming free.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Thomas could see one of the desk clerks move quickly toward the wing that housed McFarland’s apartment.

  Scofflaws and murderers.

  Thomas swallowed hard and yanked his hat down farther over his eyes before sliding out one of the imposing front doors into the sunlight.

  His days here might be more numbered t
han he’d thought.

  Chapter Two

  Caroline Beauchamp surveyed the hotel’s dining room for the millionth time that morning. She wanted to ensure each table was at least two feet away from its neighbors, the floor was spotless, and the tablecloths showed not a single wrinkle. Somehow it calmed her to do things such as this. Speaking of the tablecloths . . .

  She pinched a corner of cloth and examined it a bit more closely. These would need to pressed again today. She’d be certain to let Mrs. Ruby know after the morning meeting. One by one, the other girls streamed into the dining room, some yawning, others almost bursting with excitement. Penny and Dora, two of Caroline’s first friends upon arriving in Crest Stone, made their way through the newer girls.

  “Can you believe it’s nearly here?” Penny’s eyes sparkled and her entire body hummed with an excitement Caroline could feel.

  “What if we make a mistake?” Dora asked. She twisted her hands together.

  Caroline took one of her hands. “You won’t. You’ve been training for this for months now. And it isn’t so different from bringing the guests sandwiches onboard the train.” Since the hotel and restaurant had caught fire in early August, which had delayed its opening, Mrs. Ruby had decided it would be most efficient and welcoming to make sandwiches and deliver them onboard the train cars to the waiting passengers as they traveled south to Santa Fe and north to Canon City.

  Dora shook her head. Dark tendrils of hair wisped around her smooth, olive-skinned face. “It’s not the same. This is so much more . . . formal.”