Hannah's Dream

by Lenore Butler

  When Randall died, their relationship changed. Marian was free to do her own hair and to dress herself, with a little assistance with corset strings from Becky, and Becky was free to do what she had hoped to do when she came to the house with Marian -- keep the house! They fell into an easy companionship of mutual respect and at times, Becky forgot she was a hired servant. She would say things that caused Marian to blush, but she secretly admired her outspoken housekeeper. Marian loved Becky, too, and while some of the things Becky said embarrassed her, she secretly wished she could say them herself.

  Over the years they had supported each other in many ways. When Becky refused payment for her services, saying her room and board with a small allowance were enough, Marian at first refused to hear of it and pressed Becky to take the money, but Becky stood firm. The balance of power shifted and Becky became Marian's friend and equal. Now, if her bones ached and she needed to sit down in the middle of the day, she didn't feel shame -- she simply sat down. And if Marian needed a shoulder to cry on, she didn't hesitate to throw her arms around Becky's neck and weep.

  It had been difficult for Becky to see James Hughes again after twenty years. When she was a kitchen maid in his parents' house, James had been a handsome young man with many prospects. He never wanted for a dancing partner and was invited to the homes of families with single daughters at least once a week. He was considered quite a catch. With his full head of brown hair and green eyes, James cut a dashing figure in a tuxedo or morning coat.

  Becky would find excuses to stand by the sink so she could watch for him out the window. Sometimes her diligence would pay off and she'd see him astride the chestnut stallion he'd been given for his twenty-first birthday. His leg muscles would ripple under his riding breeches and Becky would feel her cheeks grow red.

  She longed to talk to him, if only for a minute, but James had no cause to enter the kitchen and she never entered the main house. She had to content herself with glimpses of him riding by, or at dinner, when James sat on the right-hand side of the dining table. If she opened the dining room door a crack, she could watch him from inside the kitchen. When James left for Colorado, Becky had mourned the loss for weeks, but she couldn't tell a soul.

  Now she saw James every day. His boyish face had grown more masculine from days spent on a horse under the sun. He was tanned and sported a full mustache. When he smiled, the skin around his eyes would crinkle, and he had maintained his strong white teeth. When she saw him at the station, Becky almost swooned.

  But the puzzling thing about James Hughes was the attention he paid to her. Becky didn't have much experience with the opposite sex, but she was sure James was flirting with her. It vexed her. His attentions prompted her to look in the mirror. She looked the same as she always had -- hair pulled back in a neat bun, blue eyes, clear skin. There was nothing special about her face.

  She reasoned he had been on the mountain too long pining for the company of a woman. Whatever it was, she didn't feel comfortable about it. She had been a servant in his parents' home. He was the master's son. Even her easy relationship with Marian hadn't changed the reality of her station. In her heart, she would always be a servant, and he would always be the master's son.

  Chapter 36

  Three weeks after she arrived, Louise received a telegram from New Jersey. The man in the telegraph office sent a boy to the ranch when it arrived, but in his haste, the boy had forgotten to bring it with him. Hannah, who had become adept at handling the reins on a horse, took Louise to town in the carriage to collect it. The young women parked the carriage at the livery and walked to the post office. The postmaster gave them a packet of mail.

  They left the post office and went to the telegraph office next to the railroad station, and the man behind the counter handed Louise a telegram marked URGENT in an envelope bearing the Western Union logo. Louise held it in her hand and looked at Hannah.

  "I can't do it," she said. "Please open it."

  Hannah took the telegram and opened it. She read it and bit her lower lip before looking in Louise's eyes.

  "Mrs. Mason has passed," she said.

  Louise gasped. "How?"

  Tears were forming in Louise's eyes and Hannah felt her friend's pain. She, too, began to cry. Mrs. Mason had been a true lady.

  "She suffered a heart attack."

  "When?"

  "Last Monday. A week ago."

  Louise was crying harder so Hannah put her arm around her and led her out of the telegraph office to a bench in front of the barber shop. They sat together while Louise read the cable several times. She shook her head in disbelief.

  "It's from her lawyer," Louise said. "He says I must return immediately. He's sending Jenny to accompany me home."

  "It's odd that he's sending Jenny," Hannah said, but Louise was silent.

  Hannah went inside the train station to read the train schedule and left Louise sitting on a bench on the platform. Her tears had stopped. She felt numbed by the shock of the news.

  "There's a train leaving Thursday," Hannah said when she returned. "We'll have just enough time to get you packed."

  Hannah felt sad. She didn't want her friend to leave. Louise was unresponsive. Hannah sat down next to her and held her hand.

  "It's been so good having you here," she said. "I'll miss you terribly."

  She squeezed Louise's hand and they sat there together for a long time before going back to the livery to fetch the carriage. As they passed the dry goods store, Louise fell against Hannah's shoulder. She looked at Louise and saw that she was unconscious. Hannah pulled on the reins and stopped the horse.

  "Louise!" she cried. "Louise!"

  She shook her but Louise didn't wake up. Hannah looked toward the doctor's office. She remembered seeing the man putting up the new sign and, taking hold of the reins, urged the horse to move forward. She stopped the carriage in front of the office, jumped out, and ran into the office. There was a sign on the inner door advising that the doctor was attending a patient and to please be seated. Hannah ignored the sign and knocked on the door.

  "Please," she said. "I need help!"

  The man Hannah saw putting up the sign opened the door. This close, he was even better looking. Hannah was taken aback. He seemed too refined for a country doctor. She gathered her wits and began to speak.

  "Please, my friend is in the carriage. She's swooned."

  The doctor strode past Hannah and out the door while his patient, an elderly man, stared at Hannah from a chair in the examining room. She followed the doctor and watched him lift Louise out of the carriage and bring her inside. He took her into the examining room and laid her on the divan.

  "Mr. Pinkerton, do you mind leaving us alone?"

  "I was here first," Mr. Pinkerton said.

  "And she is unconscious. Leave, sir. I'll attend to you later."

  The old man grabbed his hat and, after glaring at Hannah, left, but he sat in the outer office.

  "Close that door," the doctor told Hannah.

  "How long has she been like this?" he asked.

  "Not long. We were riding home and I felt her head on my shoulder."

  "Get me that blanket," he said, indicating a folded blanket on the shelf behind his desk.

  Hannah retrieved the blanket and unfolded it as she walked to the divan. He took it from her and threw it over Louise.

  "What happened before she swooned?" he asked. He was holding Louise's wrist.

  "She heard that her benefactress had died."

  "Then it's shock from the news. We have to keep her warm. Get me the smelling salts in the top drawer of that cabinet. They're in a yellow box."

  Hannah rushed to the cabinet, found the smelling salts, took the small bottle out of the box, and brought them to the doctor. He opened the bottle and placed it under Louise's nose. She began to cough and opened her eyes.

  "How do you feel?" he asked.

  "What happened?" Louise said.

  "You had a shock and swooned," he replied
.

  Louise tried to sit up, but the doctor put his hand on her shoulder.

  "Stay there for a while," he said and she obeyed.

  Louise could see Hannah as she stood behind the doctor.

  "You look white as a ghost," Hannah said.

  "I feel strange," Louise said.

  "That's why you have to lie still for a while," the doctor said. "You may be dizzy for a bit and I don't want you falling." He turned to Hannah. "Sit with her while I talk to Mr. Pinkerton."

  Hannah sat next to Louise and held her hand.

  "I feel so foolish," Louise said.

  "Why? You had a shock."

  "But I've caused all this trouble."

  "Oh, pish posh. I'm just glad we were in town by the doctor."

  "I can't believe she's gone," Louise said. "She was so good to me."

  "She was better to you than your own family." Hannah's cheeks reddened. She saw the look on Louise's face and wished she could take back her words. "I'm sorry, Louise. I..."

  "Oh, don't be sorry. You're right. They were harsh."

  The doctor returned and checked Louise's pulse.

  "It's returned to normal," he said. "And the color has returned to your cheeks."

  "Thank you, doctor..." Hannah said.

  He smiled and his blue eyes were warm. "Owen Wallace," he said. "And you are?"

  "Hannah Dawes, and this is Louise Weise."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you both," he said.

  Hannah's cheeks reddened again as the doctor appraised her, so she looked at Louise. Louise saw the exchange between them and thought of Adam.

  "We have to get home," Louise said. "I have to pack."

  "Sit up and see how you feel," Owen said. He held out his hand and Louise pulled herself up. "How does your head feel?"

  "Fine," she replied.

  "When you get home, loosen your corset and rest."

  The women blushed.

  "Miss Dawes," he said. "Stop at the drug store and get her something to drink."

  "I will, doctor," Hannah said.

  "Call me Owen," he said smiling.

  "I'd prefer Dr. Wallace," she said.

  "Of course," he said. "Miss Weise, if you have anymore symptoms, come back and see me."

  "I will, Dr. Wallace," she said.

  She stood and stayed in place. When she felt confident her head was fine, she nodded to Hannah. Owen followed them to the outer office and they stopped at the empty reception desk.

  "How much do we owe you, doctor?" Hannah asked.

  "Ordinarily, I get two dollars for an emergency, but she recovered so quickly, I'll only charge one."

  Hannah had no idea a doctor's services were so dear. She had only brought a dollar with her and he had asked her to take Louise to the drug store for a drink.

  "I have it," Louise said.

  "But you're my guest," Hannah protested.

  "I have it," Louise repeated, taking the silver coin from her purse and handing it to Owen.

  "Thank you, Miss Weise," he said. "Good day, ladies. Mr. Pinkerton, if you would."

  The old man groaned as he got up and followed Owen into the examination room. Hannah and Louise went to the carriage and climbed inside.

  "The doctor is nice looking," Louise said.

  "Is he? I was more interested in you. I didn't have a chance to look at him closely."

  Louise glanced at Hannah and smiled as she noted the roses in Hannah's pale cheeks.

  Chapter 37

  It was late summer on the mountain and the mornings were cool. James readied the carriage so he could take the ladies to the train station. Marian had decided to go with Louise to Denver so she could run some errands, then Hannah and Becky wanted to go, too. James was going with them as he felt the women shouldn't go to Denver alone. Tom had already taken Louise's trunks to the station on the wagon. James was standing outside Marian's house when the women came outside and climbed into the carriage.

  The train to Denver was set to leave at six a.m. Jenny had arrived and was waiting for them at the small hotel in Denver she had stayed in for two days. Once they got to Denver and put Louise on the train, they would run their errands and have a late lunch at the Oxford Hotel on 17th Street before heading home. Hannah's emotions were at odds. She hated seeing Louise go, but she was excited to be going to Denver to shop.

  They arrived in Denver at seven-thirty. Jenny was waiting at the train station. She had one small bag, which she held in her hand. James made arrangements for Louise's trunks. Louise's return ticket was also for a private car. As she and Jenny boarded the train, Hannah went with them to bid her friend farewell. The women cried as they held each other.

  "I can't bear seeing you go," Hannah moaned.

  "Me, too," Louise said.

  When they parted, they looked at each other and cried again.

  The porter came to the room to tell Hannah it was time to leave and she embraced Louise again before going. Louise followed her and waved to her as the train pulled away. Marian, James, and Becky waved, too.

  When the train was out of sight, they took a hansom cab to 16th Avenue. Denver was still recovering from the terrible flood the year before, but the shops were open. Marian wanted to go off by herself, but Hannah asked if she could go with her, while James and Becky headed for the dry goods store.

  Marian was searching for a ladies shop. They walked down 16th Avenue and came upon a small store called Yvette's. The window display featured a mannequin in a lovely white gown suitable for a wedding dress. Marian and Hannah stared at it and sighed.

  They must have lingerie here, Marian thought.

  "Let's go inside," she said, and Hannah eagerly followed her.

  The mannequins inside were dressed in formal dresses. One display case was filled with intimate garments. Beaded handbags, gloves, and fans filled another. Hannah and Marian went from one to the other, pointing at each item with delight.

  "Oh, Mama, look at that handbag," Hannah said.

  "It's lovely," Marian replied. She wished she could afford such things for Hannah.

  "May I help you?"

  A tall, blond-haired woman stood behind the counter. She was dressed in a lovely blouse and skirt, and she had a thick French accent.

  "Yes, you can," Marian said. "I'm looking for something, but I don't see it here."

  "Well, if you tell me what it is, I may have it in the back."

  "It's..." Marian hesitated. She had lost weight and her corset had grown uncomfortable. She didn't want to alarm Hannah, who might think her mother was ill. The truth was that Marian had been helping Becky with the household chores when Hannah was out painting. The extra movement had caused her to lose a few pounds, and the corset was rubbing her the wrong way, so to speak.

  "I need..."

  Hannah was watching her mother. She noticed Marian's hesitation and wondered why she was so reluctant to tell Yvette what she wanted. Hannah decided to go to the other side of the shop and look at a lavender dress.

  "I want to look at that dress," she said and left Marian alone with Yvette.

  Marian waited a minute before speaking.

  "I seem to have lost some weight and my corset is too big."

  Yvette nodded her head.

  "I can make you a new one. I will need your measurements. Do you live in Denver?"

  "No, but we will be staying here in a hotel overnight."

  "Then I will come to your room when I close the shop and take your measurements."

  "We're staying at the Oxford Hotel."

  "I know it well," Yvette said. "I close at five. I will come there directly."

  Marian told Yvette her name and thanked her before walked over to Hannah. She was standing in front of a mannequin wearing a tea dress.

  "Isn't it lovely, Mama?" she said.

  Marian felt an ache in her heart. If things had been different, she could buy Hannah the lovely dress. As she always did when confronted by their situation, she silently cursed her dead husband and
Mr. Ross.

  "We have to meet Uncle James and Becky," Marian said.

  Hannah followed Marian out the door and they headed to the dry goods a block away. They were walking arm and arm and Hannah thought of Dr. Wallace.

  "That new doctor is very kind," she said.

  "He seemed nice that day we saw him putting up the sign."

  "He was more attractive up close, and he was very attentive to Louise. He has blue eyes."

  Marian knew her daughter well. If Hannah remembered the doctor had blue eyes, she must have been paying close attention to him. Marian was aware that Adam was fond of Hannah and thought Hannah liked him, too. She was concerned, however, that Adam, the solid, steady ranch hand, wouldn't be interesting enough for her imaginative daughter. Marian had felt the same way about John Liberty, though at the time, she'd kept her feelings to herself. Secretly, she was glad when John eloped with the volunteer.

  "So, you think he's attractive?" Marian asked.

  Hannah thought about the doctor's face. "Yes," she said and blushed.

  Marian turned toward Hannah and saw her reddened cheeks. Poor Adam, she thought. The doctor was an educated man and attractive to boot. Perhaps he was well read and would stimulate Hannah's mind, or share her love of art. It might be a good match for Hannah.

  At the dry goods store, Becky and James had separated. Becky had placed a box of rubber rings for the mason jars in her basket and James was at a display case looking at pipes. He was thinking of switching from cigars to pipes and the clerk had taken three from the case and had placed them on the counter. James liked the molded stoneware pipe from England with the glazed finish. He liked the way it felt in his hand.

  "I'll take it and three pouches of tobacco," he said. "Cherry."

  Becky walked the aisles and suddenly found herself in front of a display of bright red shawls. On the back of each shawl was an embroidered Chinese dragon. The dragon looked beautiful and fierce. It was stitched in purple, red, turquoise, and gold silk thread. Becky couldn't resist touching one and let the silk fabric run over her hand. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. It was long with a foot-long fringe that would touch the ground if worn by a tall woman.