Lawrence couldn’t resist a smile of satisfaction.
“Roland wouldn’t agree to extending credit to an undesirable?”
Lawrence almost spilled his drink. What was Mitchell talking about?
“Did you check into Mr. Murphy? There was a good reason for declining the loan.” Mitchell said.
“Well, Lawrence?”
“Mother, what Mitchell says makes no sense. Tom Murphy has run his Denver store for over ten years. His account is always in credit, the store is well run and he has a number of other investments. He is losing money due to a lack of space. I have no knowledge of any reason to make him an unsuitable candidate for a loan?”
“He is a freedman.” Mitchell’s mouth twisted into a sneer.
Lawrence stared with loathing at Mitchell as his mother choked on her drink.
“Lawrence, tomorrow you will go into the bank and tear up that agreement. Furthermore, you will close this…Murphy’s account.”
“Why?” Lawrence roared making both his mother and Mitchell stare at him.
“Just do it, Lawrence.”
Lawrence put his drink down on the table.
“No, Mother. I won’t do it.”
“Fine. Mitchell will.”
Lawrence didn’t need to look at Mitchell to see he was gloating. He closed his eyes and immediately thought of Emer. If she could be brave enough to go halfway across the country in search of family she had never met, he could do this.
“Tom Murphy has worked every day for the last ten years to make a success of his store. You could ruin him.”
“That is none of my concern.”
“Emer was right. You don’t have a heart at all.”
His mother’s eyes glittered furiously. “Do not mention that…name in my presence. She belongs on the street along with your Mr. Murphy.”
Despite knowing her all these years, Lawrence was still shocked. “Mother, if you go ahead, I will resign.”
“Of course you won’t, Lawrence. Don’t be silly. What else would you do?”
He looked at his mother, her smug, self-satisfied smile making him want to shake her. He had to get away from her. Not only her but the world she inhabited, where nothing mattered so long as you were rich and white.
“I am serious, Mother. Do this and I will never work for Shipley Bank again.”
His mother looked at him for a few seconds before standing. She placed her drink on the table.
“The account will be closed tomorrow. Mitchell, please escort me to dinner.”
Lawrence stood until they left the room then sagged into his seat. What had he done?
Chapter 30
Emer stared out the window in the direction of Sorcha’s home. If Katie was right, her sister would be along soon. Maybe they’re wrong. She could be relieved I left.
Sorcha arrived, her face stained with tears. “Why did you leave? You didn’t even say goodbye.”
“I left a note.”
“I find you after all these years and all you could spare me was a couple of lines? How could you be so cruel?”
“That’s it. I’m not staying to listen to this.”
“Run away. I get the impression that’s something you’re good at.”
Emer stilled.
“Hit a nerve, didn’t I? You ran away from Ma. Why should it be any different here? Go on, run. See if I care.” The last word came out as a whimper. Emer took a step toward her sister but then saw Ma’s face. She turned away and headed out the door. It was best for everyone if Sorcha hated her.
“I’ll find Ma. I am going to Kansas.”
“Kansas is a big state. I told you, she moved around a lot.”
“I don’t believe you. I am heading over to the sheriff’s office right now to ask him how to trace someone. I spent too many years wondering where Ma was. Now I have a clue.”
Emer looked at her sister, standing in the middle of the room, her hands on her hips. She meant it, too.
She slouched her shoulders. What were the chances of her sister finding Ma? Not very big but if she involved the sheriff? He may have seen the wanted photos – maybe he’d see the resemblance. Ma looked more like Sorcha than she did Emer.
“You win. I’ll stay.” Emer cursed as her sister’s face lit up. “For twenty-four hours. The train leaves tomorrow. But I am going to stay at Mary’s.”
The smile disappeared from Sorcha’s face but Emer pretended not to notice.
Staying in Clover Springs was a mistake. The town was too small to hide in. Ma could find her. If she did, she’d find Sorcha, Jenny and Meggie, too. She didn’t want their innocence soiled as hers was.
Sorcha drove them out to Mary’s ranch. Mrs. Higgins came out to meet them, clucking over Mary. Sorcha and Emer giggled as the older woman berated Mary for staying out in the sun so long.
“Wasn’t that long ago women in your condition stayed indoors. For good reason, too.”
“Mrs. Higgins, don’t you start. It’s bad enough Davy wants to wrap me up like a china doll. Katie worked right up until she had Ella.” At the look from Mrs. Higgins, Mary smiled. “Okay, that was a bad example. But other women do it all the time.”
“Not on my watch, they don’t. That’s the last time you’re going into town, my girl, until that baby makes an appearance.”
“Yes, Ma!” Mary said testily as Sorcha and Emer dissolved into giggles.
Mrs. Higgins turned her attention to the girls. “Don’t you look alike? I take it this is your sister, Sorcha.”
“Sorry, Mrs. H. Emer Matthews, please meet my prison guard, Mrs. Higgins.” Mary said with a look at the older woman. Emer saw the genuine affection these women had for each other. She shook the older woman’s hand. She liked her. She reminded her of Ma Newmark. A tough woman with a heart of gold.
“Come on inside, ladies. I got cookies fresh out of the oven and some hot coffee to go with them. Miss Mary likes to dunk. I have some tea if you prefer something cooler.”
“Thank you, Mrs. H. But I am going to take a nap. I invited Emer to stay here for as long as she likes.” Mary turned to wink at Emer before continuing. “We have more space and it will be nice to have an ally. Someone to protect me.”
“Don’t be looking at me. Mrs. H is right. You shouldn’t be driving wagons. Not on your own.”
Emer glowed at the look of approval Mrs. H sent her. She ignored Mary’s pout. The woman was almost due. She should be more careful.
She got down from the wagon, wishing once more she was wearing pants. Skirts hampered her movements. A giggle escaped her lips as she wondered what these ladies would think if she wore what she used to wear back in Kansas. Her good mood evaporated almost immediately. She still hadn’t decided how much to tell Sorcha.
It didn’t take long to put Emer’s things in the bedroom and send Mary to bed. Mrs. H set out some cookies and coffee on the table on the porch.
“You two can talk here. Nobody around to disturb you. Call me if you need anything. I am going to start fixing dinner.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Higgins.”
Emer added her thanks, watching the lady walk away.
“So now it’s just the two of us, can you please tell me why you ran away?”
Emer played with the cookie.
“Emer, don’t ignore me. Tell me. Please.”
“It’s best you don’t know all the details. Why can’t you just believe ma isn’t a good person and you are better off as you are?”
“Everyone deserves a second chance.”
“Maybe, but Ma wore out a whole load of chances.”
“I don’t know that. I only got your word for it.”
Emer went to stand but her sister’s hand shot out to stop her.
“Don’t go storming off again. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. But think of it from my point of view. I can’t remember our mother. I don’t even know what she looks like. Have you a picture?”
No, but the sheriff likely does.
“You look
like her. You have the same eyes and nose, although her mouth is bigger. She’s taller than you. Fatter, too,” Emer said her attention back on the cookie.
“Did you ask her about our pa?”
“Who says we got the same pa?”
“Emer.” Shock was written all over Sorcha’s face. “Why would you say something like that?”
“Heck. Sorry, but what do you want me to say. Ma isn’t a saint. She isn’t a bit like any of the women you know here in Clover Springs. I’ve had more pa’s in my life than you’ve had hot dinners. Does that spell it out for you?”
Sorcha didn’t say anything but sniffed loudly. Emer looked around her, wishing someone or something would interrupt them. This was worse than she thought.
“Granny said she was willful and prone to temper tantrums,” Sorcha continued, her tone less aggressive than before.
“She got that right.”
“She also said she was a dreamer, just like me.”
Emer didn’t like the wistful note on Sorcha’s voice. Her sister was dreaming of fairytales again.
“You aren’t anything like Ma. I don’t know if she’s a dreamer. Maybe she was, but …”
“Life wasn’t kind to her. It wasn’t easy being left pregnant with me. She could have stayed in Boston if Pa had married her.”
“Don’t you go blaming yourself. One baby on the wrong side of the blanket is a mistake. Two? That’s a pattern.” Emer’s patience had run out. “Sorcha, you got to face it. Our ma doesn’t care about anyone other than herself. You were better off believing she’s dead.”
“But now I know different. I can’t go back to thinking that. I want to know more.” Sorcha took Emer’s hand. Emer wanted to pull away but sensed she would hurt her sister badly.
“Emer, I understand you are trying to protect me but I am a big girl. I’m your older sister, remember.”
“You might be older but that don’t mean you’re tough.”
“I’m tougher than I look. I didn’t make it through years of living in the orphanage or traveling west to marry a stranger by being weak. I can deal with whatever you tell me, so long as it’s the truth.”
Emer looked at her sister for several minutes. She didn’t look away. She stayed silent, waiting for Emer to make up her mind.
“Ma isn’t anything like you dreamed of. She doesn’t cook, has never kept a clean house and she never once told me a fairytale.”
Sorcha opened her mouth but at a look from Emer, she shut it again.
“Ma tells stories. All the time.”
Sorcha smiled, but the smile changed into a frown when Emer didn’t smile back. “Her stories are lies, Sorcha. She wouldn’t know the truth if it came up and knocked her out. She drinks too much, swears a lot, wears pants and … she owns a gun.”
“She sounds amazing.”
Emer groaned. Katie and Mary were right. Instead of seeing a villain, her sister had imagined Patty as some sort of hero. She had to tell her but it was going to break her heart.
Chapter 31
Lawrence was up early, bags packed, waiting to be moved to another hotel. He wasn’t going to spend a moment longer than he had to living near his mother.
He dressed carefully before making his way to a rival banking firm. There, he ignored the curious looks of the cashiers as he requested a meeting with the bank manager. In no time at all, he had completed the paperwork and the process for moving his personal accounts to First National Bank was underway. At first, the manager had been suspicious but having explained the need for him to keep some transactions private, the man had given him a knowing smirk. He thinks I am going to frequent saloons and other places of ill repute and don’t want Mother knowing.
Lawrence’s amusement at the thought didn’t last long. If only the issues between him and his parents were that simple. He thought of Grandpa Joe. He would never have turned his back on a man because of the color of his skin or his so-called station in life. No, he wouldn’t and neither would Lawrence. Thanks to Grandpa Joe’s foresight, he had sufficient funds to take some time off to consider his options.
But before he left Denver, he had two visits to make. The first was to Mr. Murphy, where he presented the rather dumbstruck man with the funds to extend his store. “But Mr. Shipley, the bank already said no.”
“Shipley’s Bank is no longer any of my concern.” Lawrence found saying those words didn’t cause him any grief. He had spent his whole life trying to please his parents, living up to their standards. Not anymore. He was now free. He smiled, causing Mr. Murphy to look at him curiously.
“You can pay me back when you have the money. I know you are good for it,” Lawrence said as Murphy’s mouth hung open. “There is only one condition. You need to close your account with Shipley’s Bank. Today.”
“But Sir, my account has always been with that bank.”
“Yes, I know, but believe me, it is best you close it. Today. Open an account with First National. Just like I did.”
Understanding dawned on Murphy’s face. He clasped Lawrence’s hand. ‘You be a good man, Mr. Shipley, Sir. Yes, indeed.”
“I don’t think my family would share that opinion. Good day.”
Lawrence set off for his second visit, whistling as he walked down the road. He was free to make his own decisions for the first time in his life. It felt good.
He stood outside the door of Shipley’s Bank for a couple of minutes. He could see why it had impressed Emer. It was an impressive building but it had no heart. He wanted to run a finance company designed to help people, not one motivated solely by the need to make money. Pushing open the door, he heard Mitchell’s commands. Connors was arguing back, judging by the tone Mitchell was using.
“Good morning, Connors. Mitchell, may I have a word?”
“You have nothing to do with this. Dorothea told me I was in charge.” Mitchell turned his back in a gesture of dismissal.
“Connors, could you excuse us, please? I need to speak with my cousin in private.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The door closed behind them. Mitchell turned around, a furious expression on his face. He paled when he saw Lawrence had balled his hands into fists.
“Mitchell, I swear I should hit you for what you have done but I won’t. Tom Murphy will be in shortly to close his accounts.”
“They are already shut.”
“Take that smirk off your face or I will. As I said, Mr. Murphy will be in to close his account. Connors will serve him. After he goes, I am leaving. You got what you wanted. You can have the bank and Mother with it. In fact, take the whole family. If I ever see you again, it will be too soon.”
Mitchell burst out laughing.
“For a minute there, I thought you were serious but where would you go? All our lives we have been groomed for Shipley’s.”
“Some of us are capable of making our own minds up about the future we want. Goodbye, Mitchell.”
Lawrence walked out of the office, leaving the door open behind him. He said goodbye to every member of the staff, from the cleaning lady on up, leaving Connors last.
“Connors, as you gathered, my time with Shipley’s has come to an end. I wish you and Mrs. Connors the best of everything. Good luck with the new addition. Start a new account for the little one with this.”
Lawrence passed the cashier an envelope.
“Goodbye, Mr. Shipley, and good luck. I heard what you did for Mr. Murphy. Yes, he called in when you were with Mr. Shipley. That was a good decision, if you don’t mind me saying so. Mr. Murphy is a good man.”
“He is also an excellent investment. Thank you, Connors. Good day.”
“Mr. Shipley, where are you going? Are you staying in Denver?”
“No, Connors. I am off to visit a town called Clover Springs. After that, who knows?”
Leaving a bemused-looking Connors standing in the hall of the bank, Lawrence went outside and hailed a cab. All of a sudden, he couldn’t wait to see Emer. He wondered what she would sa
y when he arrived on the next train.
Chapter 32
"Sorcha, you have to sit down and listen to me. Don't interrupt. I do not want to risk anyone else hearing what I say. It could be dangerous."
"Dangerous? Why? Are you in trouble?"
"Sorcha, please be quiet and listen."
Emer took a deep breath. "Have you ever heard of the Bainstreet Gang?"
Sorcha's blank look was enough.
"They are a gang of outlaws. They rob banks and stage coaches."
"What have these people got to do with our ma?"
Emer glared at Sorcha. "Our ma is a member of the gang. You could say she's the leader but she isn't, really. She just thinks she is. Bill and Alfie are the ones who decide who they are going to rob next."
"That can't be. Our ma wouldn't do anything like that. She couldn't."
"She could and she does. She's been thieving ever since I can remember."
"Are you a member of this gang, too?"
"No, but there aren't many that would believe it. Patty Matthews is a well-known name in most sheriffs’ offices. In fact, if you were to go see that sheriff in Clover Springs, he could probably show you a likeness of Ma.”
Emer watched her sister's face but the girl was shocked so badly, she didn’t register what she had just said.
"Sorcha, I'm sorry. I should never have come here."
"Is that why you ran away?"
Emer looked at the dirt. She didn’t have to tell Sorcha the whole truth. Nobody needed to know the worst of it. "Bill Cheever, he's one of the worst members of the gang. He—well, he decided him and me...we were going to...'
"Get married. Oh, you poor girl."
Emer laughed at Sorcha's innocence. “He wasn’t planning on marrying me, Sorcha. He isn't like your Brian.”
“So you ran? Just like that?”
Emer heard the disbelief in Sorcha's voice. If her own family didn’t believe her, what chance would she have with the law?
"I ran to a friend's house. He had some money belonging to me. He helped me get to a train station and—well, here I am."
Emer: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Page 10
