“As punishment, I was sent to my room for the day without breakfast. I didn’t mind at first, but my room was so hot. I banged on the door to be let out. No one came. I tried to open the window, and when I looked out, I saw my stepbrother Robby outside. I kept yelling and banging on the window, trying to get his attention. The glass broke. The next thing I remember was that my hand was bleeding.”
The sound of a muttered curse caused her to look at Sam whose jaw was clenched in fury.
“I vaguely recall someone calling to me and breaking the door in. When I woke, I felt as though someone was sitting on my chest. It was difficult to breathe.”
“Yes, Dr. Duran noted you were in a state of respiratory distress when he arrived. His treatment for you was chloroform. The theory is when taken in small doses it will relax muscles and induce sleep, and upon waking your asthma attack would have ceased.”
“Many others in our profession at the time—and some still do—believe the influence of the mind causes asthma. A psychological problem brought on by strong emotions, such as anxiety or excessive sadness, such as the yearning for the mother. You certainly were under stress, and of course, you’d lost your mother the previous year. Therefore, it would be a logical conclusion. His recommendations included a regiment of bleeding and emetics to induce vomiting.”
Elizabeth took Rebecca’s hand and asked gently, “Where was your father at this time, do you recall?”
“He was there at one point. I remember my stepmother saying I was disrupting everything to get attention. He spanked me and told me to take my medicine and quit coughing. He held me while my stepmother forced me to drink the medicine. Afterward, I remember trying not to cry or cough.” Pausing for a moment, she looked directly at Elizabeth. “Then I vomited all over my father’s boots.”
A small giggle erupted from Elizabeth, who immediately apologized profusely. “Rebecca, I am so sorry. I know how particular your father is about his boots. But, I can’t help but think well done.”
Elizabeth’s comment brought a brief chuckle to everyone, including the doctor. “I believe laughter is good for the soul. In all seriousness, after this asthma attack, you contracted pneumonia. Your prognosis was noted as grim. Between the bleeding and the emetics, in my opinion, it is surprising you survived.”
“Doctor Duran’s recommendation states he felt it would be better for you to recover in a calm environment without the additional stress of a stepmother and stepsiblings. Based on what you told us, I wholeheartedly agree.”
Placing his glasses back across his nose, Doctor Ziegler paused for a moment as he examined additional notes. “There are some other transcripts I believe it is important to share. Your doctor at the time recommended institutionalization. Your stepmother agreed. The records say your father rejected the idea in a very hostile manner.”
Tapping his pencil on the document, looking directly into Rebecca’s eyes, he emphasized. “The word hostile is underlined three times. The final decision was for you to be placed in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. Dr. Duran noted a loving home would be advantageous to an institution. However, his concern was the age of the caretakers. Your father agreed to provide domestic help and cover all expenses. You, of course, recovered, except for the loss of hearing, which was believed to be caused by the high fever during your bout with pneumonia.”
“Now, to get back to the business at hand, my opinion will be based on my examination of you, the reports from both doctors and your recollection of the facts. I will be issuing a statement that in my professional opinion, you are the same child, now grown woman, known as Rebecca ‘Becky’ Mueller. I would be happy to testify in a court of law, should it be necessary.”
As they left the office, Sam stopped to shake Dr. Ziegler’s hand.
“Much obliged, Doc. I think you have helped more than you can imagine. This is the first time Rebecca’s been made aware of what actions her father took toward her care. I can’t imagine what I would have done in the same situation. Even so, I am still worried if I ever see the man in person, it will be all I can do to keep from punching him square in the mouth.”
Chapter 28
Dear Papa,
Molly is correct. It does make me feel better to write my thoughts down. The fact that you will never read these words perhaps gives me the courage to say what I really think…
Hearing the conductor announce the next stop, James Taylor swiped his hair with his hand for a quick comb and rose to leave. His trip back east to negotiate with another meatpacking distributor had been profitable. However, the repeated telegraphs had him worried.
Charles was a hard taskmaster but generally allowed him time to finish a job without interference. After more than three weeks away, he wanted very much to go home, greet the family, and rest. As he exited the train to claim his baggage, he was brought up short by the voice of Charles Mueller. “Thank God you are here, James. I need your help.”
“I received the telegraphs yesterday. I came straight away. I must tell you I am more than a little tired. The meetings went fine, by the way.”
With a pat on his back, Charles steered James in the direction of the boardwalk. “I expected nothing less. However, this is a personal matter. Can you come with me now to my attorney’s office? Robert is here. He will see to your belongings.”
James found it strange Charles wished to speak about something personal. While their relationship was a good one, it was strictly business. They enjoyed lively discussions, geared to the price of cattle, grain or ideas on increasing profits. He doubted Charles would be familiar enough with his personal life to even know his children’s names.
James matched Charles’ strides as they made their way in silence. Upon arrival, they were immediately ushered into the office of Jacob Weber, who made quick work of explaining the situation.
James rubbed his chin in contemplation. “When I first was offered this job, it was with the understanding I was to handle the business affairs. I would only transfer funds into the household account as approved by Charles or you, Mr. Weber. It was made clear to me Louisa wanted to take care of the household financials without my help.”
Jacob Weber rose from his chair to retrieve another file. “James, where does the request for payments come from? Are you provided with invoices?”
“No, I am given a list from Louisa each quarter as to what the expenses are. From the beginning, I was directed not to insist on invoices. But I was required to provide an itemized statement, even if it meant I was to write the list myself.”
“Are you familiar with the bookkeeper who distributes the funds? Have you ever done business with him before?”
“Yes, he was hired by Louisa when Charles arranged a separate account for household expenses. He pays the bills. She seems happy with the arrangement. His information is back at the office.”
Charles looked grim as he moved to sit in the chair closest to James. “Robert found the name and address of the bookkeeper. He sent a wire asking him to meet with us. He is at the train station waiting for him now.”
Charles rubbed his temples and stared off in the distance. “It was a mistake to marry so quickly after Leah’s death. But I was lonely. I believed my daughter needed a mother. Louisa was beautiful and so different from my first wife, I was intrigued and grabbed at a chance for happiness again. I was delighted with both of her children. I assumed they would be wonderful playmates for Becky.
“When I arrived home after the roundup, everything was in chaos. My wife blamed my daughter, saying she was spoiled. I have since seen how Louisa’s affection is devoted exclusively to Lucy. She demands the same level of attention from everyone. I don’t know if what I could provide was not enough, or if she simply could not abide the fact my daughter might receive something Lucy might want.”
James countered, “But Charles, I understood that Becky is attending finishing school. Surely, she could not be attending such a school without your financial support?”
“We have bee
n provided with information confirming my daughter never attended such a school and is in fact here in town, staying with the Brooks family.”
Jacob Weber took this moment to interject, “The physician confirmed her identity based on physical evidence and her recollection of certain events. Those happenings have been validated as having taken place.”
“Since I was not there at the time of the accident, I was led to believe a different story of how Becky came to be injured. Robert confirmed her recollections are true. Although I wish to God it was not so.”
A strained silence took place as all three men tried to come to grips with the depths of the deception. The silence was interrupted by a knock on the door followed by the arrival of Louisa’s bookkeeper.
Chapter 29
Dear Papa,
I turned 17 today. Mrs. Potts gave me time off, so I could spend the day with Molly…
With a satisfied look, as her recent purchases were loaded into the front hall, Louisa Mueller entered her home displaying a triumphant smile, calling for her daughter.
Charles Mueller motioned to his housekeeper. “Don’t bother having any of those packages sent up to Lucy. They will all be going back to wherever they came from.”
Louisa gasped. “Charles, you are early.”
“Yes, earlier than expected. I imagine you planned to have everything put away before my arrival.”
Louisa narrowed her eyes at her husband. “Whatever is the matter with you? These are simply a few things we will need for Lucy’s birthday celebration.”
“The ‘few,’” he said, raising his eyebrows, “will be returned. Now, wife, if you will join me in my office, we have much to discuss.”
Louisa waved her hand in dismissal. “I am certainly not going to participate in another lecture on the importance of following a budget. I do my best with the meager funds you give me. You should try to run a household on what you allot.”
Charles' eyes smoldered. He pointed at the door, shouting, “Now, Louisa.”
Louisa changed tactics, taking his arm. “Charles, really it is not like you to carry on so, especially in front of the domestic staff. If Lucy overspent, it is because she is excited about her birthday party.”
Charles studied his wife. He couldn’t help but notice how lovely she was, especially when she attempted to be pleasant. “Enough, no more about your shopping, your spending, your parties. I have been a fool; however, a veil has been lifted from my eyes. I now see who you are, what you have done. I know it all.”
Louisa smiled coyly. “Charles, how mysterious you are. I have already apologized for Lucy’s overspending. We can subtract whatever the amount is from next month’s budget.”
Charles picked up his accounting ledger, turning the pages. “Yes, I see. Simply make a note of the expense so you can debit it from my daughter’s allowance. That is the reason for going over budget each month, isn’t it? If your account is overdrawn, then you do not have the money necessary to make a transfer.”
Louisa headed for a mirror and adjusted her hair. Their eyes locked as she admired her reflection. “Exactly what are you accusing me of, Charles?”
“Louisa, your day of reckoning is today. You are a liar and a thief.”
She turned to exit the room. “I am not going to sit here and listen to this. Go back to the ranch you love so much. Leave me here in peace.”
Charles reached for Louisa’s arm and stopped her retreat. “Nothing would make you happier than to be left to yourself, to do as you will. My dear wife, those days are over.”
Louisa pulled her arm from his grasp. “Have you run mad? What are you about?”
Charles tapped the ledger with a loud thump. “Although I will take my share of the blame, I will not allow you to continue your games. I have spoken to your bookkeeper. I have all the records. The legal term, of course, is embezzlement.”
Louisa crossed her arms and shrugged. “I have simply been using our own money. If you hadn’t been so stingy with my allowance, I would never have gone to such extremes. Besides, why does a child like that need money? Why does she deserve it over our other children?”
“Whether you believe she deserves it or not, the money used to purchase the ranch was a gift to my wife, from her grandfather. As you well know, the stipulation to the inheritance is the original acreage for the ranch, the house, the livestock, percentage of profits, all of it, will belong to Becky.”
Charles took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Which is why I have worked so hard to be able to purchase more acreage, so the boys could have a good start on a ranch of their own. Other profits put aside are only a small portion of what you have stolen.”
Louisa tilted her head and raised one eyebrow. “Stolen? I have earned it.”
Charles’ jaw dropped. “Have you no soul, woman? You deceived me all these years. Denied me access to my daughter, when I have taken your children in and loved them?”
“Love, is that what you call it?”
Charles' eyes narrowed. “My definition is different from yours. But, yes. I believe you substitute the meaning of love with possessions.”
Louisa pressed her finger into her husband’s chest. “Oh, let’s bring Lucy into this, shall we? You never loved my daughter. I had to do something to make it up to her. Besides, the only thing you ever cared about was your obsession with your dead wife and her child.”
Charles gritted his teeth. “Have I ever denied you anything? Do you think if you had been honest with me about your children’s trust fund, I would not have paid for their education?”
Louisa’s finger absently traced the blue opal glass oil lamp. “You would not have paid for where I wanted to send them. I did what I needed to do to allow them to attend a school worthy of them.”
“What of Becky, did she deserve no less?”
“Becky is not my concern.”
“Yes, you have made your feelings abundantly clear. “
Louisa lifted her chin. “I will sue you for divorce.”
“On what grounds?”
Louisa forced her mouth into a pout. “Cruelty.”
Charles barked with laughter. “Cruelty? Look at this house, at your clothes. You have been denied nothing.”
“You never loved me.”
“And you never loved me. We married to help each other with our children, to combat our loneliness. I hoped we might grow to love one another or at least to be content. I have tried my best to live up to my side of the bargain.”
“You have no love left for me because it was all buried in the grave of your first wife.”
“Did you not tell me you felt the same about your first husband?”
Louisa shrugged before placing both hands on her hips. “I will not cancel Lucy’s party. Everything has been ordered. Most of it paid for.”
Charles rolled his eyes. “That is what you are concerned about, Lucy’s party? What about my daughter who never so much as received a new dress or a pair of shoes from her father?”
“She belongs in an institution. It would be a waste of effort to send her anything of value.”
Charles opened and closed his fists as he stared at his wife. Her beautiful face twisted in fury. “That was not your decision to make. My lawyer will contact you with details on some sort of settlement. If it were not for the children, I would be tempted to have you thrown in jail. So don’t fight me on this Louisa. The more money we get from the sale of this house, the more likely there will be enough funds to set you up somewhere else. Perhaps you can go back east to live with your sister. You have threatened me with doing so often enough.”
Charles walked over to his safe. “I will leave you with a small amount of cash, but no more. Additionally, all of the merchants here in town have been told not to extend you credit.”
Louisa picked up a vase and hurled it across the room at Charles.
Dodging, he said, “That was an expensive vase, was it not? Again, I warn you any settlement you may receive will come after the sale o
f this house. You might want to consider the cost before you throw anything else.”
Chapter 30
Dear Papa,
Although the boarding house is almost always full and very noisy, it is so lonely living in town…
Darkness filled the room. Rebecca tossed the quilt aside, sweating profusely, and sat on the side of the bed. Rising to open the window, she allowed the breeze to cool her as she took in deep breaths. Was it the heat of the night or the memories of her childhood that had caused a reoccurrence of the old familiar nightmare? Glancing at the rumpled sheets, she decided to allow herself some time to calm down before attempting to go back to sleep. She quietly strolled into the parlor and opened her Bible to locate a favorite verse.
Colossians 3:13: “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
Suddenly, memories of her disastrous first day at school flooded her mind. The pastor stopped by to make sure Rebecca was on her way to recovery. Although she experienced waves of dizziness and nausea, during the first several days after the incident, she recovered. Fearful of triggering another episode, she had sequestered herself in the bed.
Horace made no pretense of hiding his anger with her childhood friend, B.J. She had heard him voice his concerns to Pastor Nelson. “I know the boy feels bad. But she was so excited about starting school. Now she is afraid to get out of bed.”
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