"So," Christie ended, "I wrote a letter about how we found Lady Maude and I put it with the old letter and sent it. But I haven't heard anything and maybe there is no one to get it now.
"It has come back." Mr. Cranford took from his own coat pocket the fat letter Christie had taken so long to write. It bulged even more for the top had been cut open and she could see the brownish paper of the old letter among her sheets.
"But how—"
"You were right, or your father was, about the families concerned with the old letters being notified. Luckily I was in Woburnscott when this arrived, so the postman brought it straight to me."
"But you're not named Woodbridge," Libby protested.
"No, but my grandmother was Maude Woodbridge, before she married Rufus Cranford. Captain Asa Woodbridge was my greatgrandfather. My daughter is Maude Woodbridge Cranford and many people think she looks very much like that other Maude for whom this birthday gift was intended. Even more exciting than the finding of Lady Maude herself—though you may not believe this—is the letter.
"You see, for all these years my grandmother never knew what had happened to her father. He was supposed to have started east, but, though time and money was spent searching for him, he was never found. Now we know it was his mate who was coming overland, using the stage ticket the captain had bought in his own name. The ship in which he had come from Hong Kong was, as he said in this letter, sold to a firm in South America. He took the place of another captain who had died of fever. The records of the company in San Francisco did not say that. There was a fire there and the company went bankrupt as a result, their records lost in the fire. While the ship the captain had taken was never heard of again after it sailed. We still have a mystery, but not an unpleasant one now."
"Unpleasant?" Christie wondered.
Mr. Cranford nodded. "Yes, you see it was thought that Captain Asa was carrying quite a large sum of money for the company. In fact it was the loss of that money that added to the bankruptcy of the company. By the evidence of this letter he must have given the money to his mate and it was stolen in the stagecoach holdup. The mate must have made the mistake of letting someone know what he carried when he bribed the driver to take out the missing stage. Now, after all these years, we have proof that it was not Captain Asa who disappeared with the money."
"Then Lady Maude is yours?" Christie fingered the little jewel case reluctantly.
"Let us say that Lady Maude is a Wood-bridge, yes. But her final home is not yet decided. However, do you suppose you can set her up, spread out all her treasures, so I can take some pictures? I promised Maude to send her a set as soon as I could."
Christie and Libby went to work, and Mr. Cranford took a number of pictures with his Polaroid camera. Libby and Christie viewed these critically and selected the best.
"Now, for the present we can return her to Sheriff Wylie's care and go mail these off to Maude. After that I have a conference with your father, Mr. Colby and Mr. Wildhorse, and you are all to be my guests at lunch. I have a very great deal to thank you for, and especially you, Christie, for having the enterprise to send the letter."
It was not until they had finished lunch that they heard the rest of the story. Mr. Cranford looked around the table. There were so many in their party that the restaurant had given them a side room to themselves, and, when the door was closed, it was quiet and private.
Mr. Cranford pushed his coffee cup to one side as they waited for him to speak.
"I am what you term a history buff," he began, "and for the younger members here who may not know what that means, I will just say that I like history very much. So it was a pleasure for me to find a place, while serving in Congress, on a committee that deals with the preservation and conservation of our historical sites.
"Though I come from New England, the western part of the country has long interested me. Perhaps because at the end of the Civil War two of my great-uncles came west and helped in the growth of this very state of Arizona. For all I know, they may have traveled on the Bright coaches and stayed overnight at Ten Mile Station. The opening of the new highway to the Jemez National Park will make this part of the country available to those who want to see something of the Old West.
"The plan you, Kimball and Colby, have in mind is the type of thing that needs fostering— the rebuilding and maintenance of part of our historical heritage. Since I have been informed of the situation—the legal tangle—now facing you, I think matters can be worked out. Water rights can be shared if care is taken.
"The TV program yesterday, which I have been since informed was picked up to become a national broadcast, will be beneficial—not only for your project, but for attracting attention to the park area in general. I have already called Senator Meegan and your local congressman.
"Now as to the things found in the cave. While the mail must go through regular channels, the mailbag itself and the strong box— minus its contents—plus the luggage is a different matter. These articles could be put on display at Ten Mile Station. The stage found in the valley can perhaps be restored and moved also to Ten Mile to exhibit. These are all just suggestions."
He paused for a sip of coffee. "About the actual ownership of Ten Mile—the lawyers will have to look into the facts concerning that. It may be that the title can never be really cleared. The Navajo council also has a claim to put forward. However, it can be that a very long-term lease might be had—which would satisfy most of you. And I have been informed that suggestion has already been most favorably considered by your local court and the Navajo council.
"We come now"—he smiled at Libby and Christie—"to the matter of the lady who has waited a long time to enter the world again. In fact, she is not unlike the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, is she not, girls? Lady Maude's future is mine to settle since my family can claim her. It is my decision that she is to remain here, under the joint guardianship of Christie Kimball and Libby Wildhorse. If a museum does become part of Ten Mile, she is to be put on display there. If, for some reason, that is impossible, her guardians shall determine where she will go, but this is to be her home. Christie and Libby shall make a report once a year to my daughter concerning Lady Maude and her welfare.
"Though we cannot make any final decisions yet, I believe that matters can be arranged in fairness for all. Now I wish to propose a toast— in what seems an excellent brand of cola—" He stood up and brought from a side table a tray of glasses, passing one to each of them. "A toast," he repeated, "to Ten Mile Station, and its future success!"
Christie drank. Lady Maude had not been unlucky after all! Instead she had been their good luck! If it had not been for her, all the rest might not have happened. The others were all talking. But Christie sat quietly until Libby reached out to her.
"It was your letter really—"
"Maybe," Christie answered contentedly. "Only Lady Maude really did it, didn't she? Oh, Libby, it will be fun giving her a place of her own at Ten Mile! People will love seeing her. We can put different dresses on her and—"
"And everything!" Libby finished for her. "Christie, it's going to be just wonderful at Ten Mile!"
"Young ladies!"
They both looked up, startled. Mr. Cranford stood there.
"I have made the necessary arrangements with Sheriff Wylie. He's prepared to surrender Lady Maude to you, and you can take her home this afternoon. But remember—I expect to be hearing from you about just how she conducts herself and how things go for her."
"Yes, oh, yes, Mr. Cranford! We'll remember!" Christie promised.
She looked around for Mother or Father— maybe they could go right now to collect Lady Maude. She would really feel much safer to be back at Ten Mile with Lady Maude. That was home for all of them, now and forever, ever more! Christie hugged that thought to her very tightly indeed.
Norton, Andre - Novel 32 Page 14
