Though Rosalind could understand where he was coming from, his arguments didn’t make sense. “But the railroad has already invested so much time and energy into this project. To choose not to come to Noelle would mean losing a great deal of money.”
“Not necessarily,” Hugh said. “They just opened The Pretty Boy Mine on a nearby ridge. It wouldn’t take much for the railroad to reroute the track they’ve already laid toward that mining camp. The advantage of using Noelle as opposed to going in that direction is that Noelle is already an established town. But that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do it.”
Charlie made a noise. “But there are two other mines closer to Noelle, and their miners rely on Noelle for supplies. Other than Noelle, the nearest town is too far away to be cost-effective for anyone.”
Hugh picked up a large rock and studied it before looking over at Charlie. “True, but we all know that Stiles doesn’t always act in the interest of common sense.”
Jane exited the living quarters, followed by Minnie. “Mother’s spirits are low today, so I thought I might go by the sweet shop to purchase a treat for her. They had some chocolates last week that reminded her of her childhood, and it was one of the best days she’s had in a long time. I also thought I would go by Sheridan’s hardware store. I’ve heard that his cousin, Romeo, dabbles in stained glass. I’m hoping to convince him to work on mother’s window for us.”
Rosalind could hardly believe that someone related to such a bully would be able to create anything beautiful. But she supposed he couldn’t help who he was related to. And even if Romeo could make them such a thing, somehow she doubted Sol would let him. But she had to have hope in all things. If she gave up hope in something so small, and what did it say about her hope that there would be justice for her father?
“I’ll go with you,” Hawk said. “I was hoping to speak to Romeo about something myself, and based on my visit there earlier today, we’ll have to be cautious in how we go about it. Sol wasn’t very welcoming and based on the reception I got, I don’t think he’ll be very cooperative with you, either. But if we can manage to get Romeo alone, I believe our chances are better.”
Charlie muttered something under his breath that sounded an awful lot like they were on a fool’s errand, but Rosalind prayed that they would find success. Maybe, once Sol was presented with the evidence the way Charlie had been, he would see reason and understand that her family wasn’t so terrible. But as she remembered the angry man at Nacho’s yelling at her, she knew it wouldn’t be quite so simple.
Charlie followed Hawk and Jane out, and Rosalind turned to Minnie. “I should give Cordelia a break from reading to Mother. I know mother prefers Cordelia, but I’m sure my sister is worn out from reading to her all day.”
Minnie smiled indulgently. “It’s hard to compete with someone who does all the voices. Sometimes I think Cordelia is acting out the book as she reads. I could listen to her all day.”
“Cordelia says she enjoys it, but I always worry she’s tiring herself out. Dr. Deane says that mother’s health is worsening, and we must prepare ourselves for the inevitable. It’s hard enough, living without our father. But I can’t imagine having her gone as well.”
Minnie put her arm around her. “I know it’s hard for you to accept, but I have to agree with the doctor. In the months you’ve been here, she hasn’t gotten better, only worse. Even Horatio can be coaxed into sitting outside for a spell. But your mother hasn’t left her bed. Even though it’s hard to imagine life without her, and you should continue making the most of the time you have left, you should never forget the friendships you’ve made since coming to Noelle and that we are all here for you when that time comes.”
Hugh joined them. “I quite agree. You can rely on us all for whatever comes your way.”
Though her friends intended their words to be support, Rosalind couldn’t help feeling guilty over just how much support they’ve given her. “I just hate how our presence seems to have divided this town. I never wanted to cause trouble for anyone, but if it hadn’t been the two of you taking us in, we would’ve had nowhere else to go.”
Minnie gave her a gentle squeeze. “And we know that you will end up doing the same for someone else. Because that is the true spirit of love and friendship that many of us in Noelle pride ourselves on.”
She looked out the window to catch a final glimpse of Hawk as he escorted her sister down the street. Could he see that same love and friendship for himself? Was there a way to avenge his wife’s death that didn’t involve him hanging from a noose?
“It’s tempting to turn your thoughts in that direction,” Hugh said. “I know you care for him, but that path is littered with heartache. As soon as we find your father’s killer, he will leave. The thrill of a new case is distracting him right now, but once it’s gone, his thirst for vengeance will return, and it will be stronger than ever. He’ll be full of guilt that he hasn’t been pursuing it the way he ought to have been. I know this because when I first met him, he was at a stage very much like this one. Temporarily distracted from finding his wife’s killer, but once the distraction was gone, he was angry with himself for having forgotten his mission, and he pushed everyone away. That time will come for us, and just like you need to prepare for your mother’s inevitable departure from the earth, you need to keep in mind that someday, he’s going to get on that train and we may never see him again.”
If it weren’t for the pain in Hugh’s voice, Rosalind might have been tempted to brush off his concerns. But it was clear that Hugh had been down this road before, and it had wounded him deeply. It made her value Hugh’s friendship even more, knowing that he was the kind of friend that even if you hurt him, the way Hawk obviously had, he would still take you back in and defend you when it likely made his life more difficult.
With a sigh, she turned away from the window. Hawk was long gone anyway, and it did her no good to gawk. It would only add to her friend’s fears that she’d given her heart to someone who wouldn’t treat it with the love it deserved. No, that was the problem. Hawk’s refusal to handle her heart was his way of showing his love. She didn’t like it, and she didn’t agree with it, but the more she reflected upon his impassioned speech, she realized it was his way of telling her he cared for her.
However, as much as that thought should have made her feel better, it actually made her feel worse. Cordelia had been reading her mother Romeo and Juliet, her mother’s favorite. The tale of star-crossed lovers was unfortunate, but it seemed even more unfortunate to Rosalind that her star-crossed love was doomed, not by circumstance, but by Hawk’s refusal to accept that there could be another way than the fate he’d planned for himself.
Her father had always told her that love wasn’t just about passion but about sacrifice and compromise as well. Sometimes loving someone meant giving up on things that were important to you to make the other person happy. Some people thought that was wrong, but her father had said that in marriage it was a give-and-take, or sometimes one person would sacrifice, but the next time the other person would.
So maybe, even though Rosalind was hoping that Hawk returned her feelings, maybe his feelings for her weren’t love after all if he wasn’t willing to see any options other than his own twisted plans.
13
October rushed in with a flurry of snow and cold that had Rosalind wondering how anyone was going to get any work done. Though the boarding house construction was nearly complete, and all of the finishing touches needed to be done inside, she couldn’t help thinking of the other projects around town still to be completed. Rumor had it that the bridge was nearly fixed, and some people claimed that the railroad would be arriving within the next week or so. But she would believe that when she saw it.
Minnie and Hugh had moved into their new house on the ridge a week ago, and with their move had come Minnie’s parents. Even though they were supposed to have waited until Thanksgiving to come, Minnie’s mother had insisted upon arriving
early, laden with all the things she deemed necessary for her daughter to complete her new home.
Arthur Coveney, Minnie’s father, had been angry that the railroad to Noelle wasn’t finished yet. And, as the owner of Coveney coal, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of coal for railroads, his opinion seemed to carry a lot of weight.
Rosalind grabbed the pail for water and went to fill it. But by the time she got halfway across the yard, Horatio came up beside her.
“Let me take that for you,” he said.
He was moving around much better now, and though he still walked with a cane, and couldn’t remember much of the time leading up to and after his attack, he was almost the man he used to be. She’d been getting the water by herself for months now, but she knew Horatio had been feeling guilty for not pulling his weight, even though there hadn’t been much he could do.
“Thank you,” she said. “I know the boarding house isn’t done yet, but Minnie was going to bring her parents down later this morning for a tour. I’d like to have some tea and refreshments for them.”
Horatio smiled, something he didn’t do much of anymore, because the beating had left him scarred, and he said it hurt to smile. “I hope you’re making snickerdoodles,” he said. “It’s been far too long since you’ve made any, and I know for a fact that you just purchased some cinnamon.”
Living in such tight quarters at the assayer’s office made it hard to keep secrets from anyone. She had recently purchased some cinnamon because she’d seen it in Cobb’s Penn, a rare luxury they didn’t often have. But she’d been intending on saving it for Thanksgiving. Still, seeing her brother smile made it impossible to refuse him. If she were careful and spread it out just so, she could make it last for both.
They still weren’t sure if they would be able to have Thanksgiving in the boarding house. She and her sisters had been discussing that perhaps, even if they weren’t living in the boarding house, there would be enough room to set up tables and food. They might not be living there, but they could at least eat there.
But Rosalind would be lying if she said it wouldn’t be a disappointment.
“I heard the first train is coming in on Thursday,” Horatio said. “I was thinking about going over to the ridge to watch it go over the bridge. Father was so proud of that bridge. He said it was an engineering marvel and couldn’t wait for the first trains to go over it. I thought maybe we could all go, as a family, to sit and watch in his memory.”
“We’re banned from railroad property,” Rosalind said. “The spot father used to take us to watch progress is on railroad property.”
Horatio nodded slowly. “I know. But there’s another spot we could go. It’s not the same spot, but it’s close. And we wouldn’t tell anyone, not with the way people still think he did it.”
He poked the ground with his cane. “How could someone who loved that bridge so much be responsible for destroying it? Where are the people who heard him talk about how proud he was of everything that they’d done on it? Surely none of them would think him capable of such a heinous crime.”
How was she supposed to answer that question? She’d been asking it herself since July, with no good answers. “You saw what people have done to Hawk. He was one of the few willing to defend father.”
“I hear there hasn’t been any more sabotage on the railroad since he’s been fired,” Horatio said. “I know we want to believe in Hawk’s innocence, but if he had nothing to do with the sabotage, then why has it stopped?”
The crunch of gravel behind them made Rosalind turn. Hawk. Had he heard her brother’s words?
By the look on his face, he had. “It hasn’t stopped. Moses has been keeping track and letting me know what’s been going on. But he’s trying to be quiet about it to not draw attention to himself. I know they say the train will be coming soon, and different rumors are being spread about the exact date. I suspect it’s because they don’t want people getting too excited, or worse, to witness something bad happening, but I can’t get anyone to confirm it.”
The resignation in his voice made her wish there were something she could do. But she’d been keeping her ears open at Nacho’s, and she hadn’t heard a peep about the railroad.
“My fear is that something worse than the first bridge destruction is about to happen, but I’m not sure what,” Hawk continued, sounding serious. “I respect the railroad for trying to keep details about the first train a secret, but if they have someone on the inside causing the trouble, it’s not going to do any good.”
Horatio nodded. “Have you discussed this with the sheriff?”
“Both Sheriff Draven and Marshal Gant are aware of my concern. They’re being given the same details I am, but the railroad claims they have their own security and prefer to deal with everything in-house. Frankly, I don’t trust the men they have, and even though it’s not my problem since I don’t work for them anymore, I am concerned about the future of Noelle.”
Horatio made a motion with his cane. “There isn’t much I can do with this leg, but if you think of a way I can be of assistance, let me know. I’ve been going crazy, just sitting around. I know I’m supposed to focus on healing, but when I spend too much time idle, I keep thinking back to the attack, trying to remember something, anything, that would be helpful. The best I can remember is a voice, saying that if I told anyone, they’d kill my family.”
His admission brought a deeper sadness to Rosalind. Horatio had never told her this. And even though she should be comforted that some of his memory was returning, it was hard to hear that those returning memories only troubled him more. Especially since they were just more threats.
Shaking his head slowly, Horatio turned his full attention to Hawk. “I keep thinking that they didn’t mean my beating, because it would be obvious to anyone that I had been beaten. So someone must’ve said something important during that beating. Something worth killing over.”
Hawk’s slow nod told Rosalind that Horatio had a good point. And she hadn’t thought of it that way. Dr. Deane had said that he thought whoever had beaten Horatio had intended to kill him. Some of his injuries had appeared to be like they’d intended to give death blows, except Horatio had somehow been stronger than his attackers.
Or Moses and Reggie had come upon him just in time.
It frightened her to think just how lucky her brother had been. And to know that he was willing to put himself in danger again.
Before Hawk could answer, Hugh approached, an older man in tow. Rosalind assumed he must have been Arthur Coveney. She’d been working at Nacho’s when the Coveneys arrived, so she hadn’t met him yet.
“Hugh. Mr. Coveney.” Hawk smiled at the two men and gave a friendly gesture indicating that the men should join them. “We were just talking about the goings on with the railroad,” Hawk said, looking at Mr. Coveney.
It was strange, listening to this rough and tumble man acting so deferential. Mr. Coveney grinned as he held out his hand to Hawk. “Call me Arthur. I’m happy to be here. Dahlia has been eager to get out here to visit our Minnie and help her set up her new household. The woman has been driving me crazy with all her fabric samples. You have no idea how glad I am to be among men for a change.” He took an exaggerated deep breath, then looked over at Rosalind. “No offense to you, Miss.”
She gave a small laugh as she shook her head. “None taken. I’d go crazy listening to that talk as well. Fortunately, Minnie is much more preoccupied with other things.”
A wide grin split the older man’s face. “The baby.” He patted Hugh hard on the back. “I don’t think I’ve seen my Dahlia so happy. I thought she was over the moon with the idea of helping Minnie decorate her new home. But preparing for a baby, I’m not sure I’ll get Dahlia back to Denver.”
Then he looked over at the still-empty train station. “I know I won’t get her back over those mountains on another wagon. We’ll remain here until she can take the train back. Her constitution isn’t what it used to be, though I’ve seen a
new light in her eyes with the addition to our family.”
He turned back to the group and gave Rosalind a sympathetic look. “I understand your mother is unwell also. You should think about getting married and starting a family. It’s done wonders for my Dahlia.”
While her mother probably would enjoy having a baby in the family to spoil, Rosalind couldn’t see herself marrying anytime soon. She glanced at Hawk, wishing he wasn’t her immediate thought.
“I’m not sure Mother would be excited about a marriage for her benefit. She and my father had a love match, and she’s always said that she wants the same for all of us.”
She couldn’t help staring at Hawk as she spoke, and fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice. But she could feel Horatio's gaze on her. Now that he was up and about, he was becoming more involved with her and her sisters and their lives.
“Perhaps you could come back with us to Denver, then. Dahlia knows all of the eligible bachelors, and I’m sure she could find one for you.”
“My home is here,” Rosalind said with a smile. Gesturing to the boarding house, she continued, “My family is counting on me to help with the boarding house, so if true love is out there for me, he’ll have to arrive on the train to Noelle.”
Arthur looked over at the boarding house, seeming to take it in. “This is what you wanted the windows for?” He addressed the question to Hugh, who nodded.
“As you know, Noelle lacks in respectable establishments for visitors to our town. The Crearys ran a boarding house in St. Louis, and I believe they can do a wonderful job for Noelle. We just have to get the place finished.”
Coveney continued staring at the building, seemingly oblivious to everything else. “How will you prevent future damage? If they get new windows, what’s to stop whoever broke the first windows from doing it again?”
Rosalind: A Thanksgiving Day Bride (Brides of Noelle Book 8) Page 15
