A Family Arrangement

by Gabrielle Meyer

  Cheney stood near a window overlooking Broadway but swiveled toward them. “Well? What did you discover?” He crossed his arms, clearly indignant to Abram’s report even before he gave it.

  What Abram had learned had both excited and frustrated him. “I met a man named Reuben Carlton, who is a blacksmith for the Chippewa Indians. He has already created a company and they’re actively locating copper deposits. He told me he expects a land rush in the next year, and if we’re going to get the Little Falls Company involved, we need to act immediately.”

  “How much will it cost to get started?” Hubbard asked.

  This was the part that frustrated Abram. “Several thousand dollars—but Carlton expects a return on the investment within the year.”

  “No.” Cheney slashed the air with his hand. “We need to stick with my plan and form the corporation. I already had my lawyer draw up the papers.”

  Abram shook his head. “I can’t do it.” He couldn’t hand over all he had worked for.

  “It’s already done,” Cheney said. “Hubbard and I agree.”

  Abram looked toward Hubbard, feeling as if the wind had been knocked from him. “You did this, without my approval?”

  “Abram.” Hubbard took a step toward him. “We don’t have much choice. We need the money or everything disappears.”

  Abram ran his hands through his hair and walked over to the cold fireplace. He couldn’t give over that much control.

  “If you don’t like it, Abram, I’d be happy to buy your shares.” Cheney spoke with little emotion. “Then you can leave Little Falls and do whatever you want in Duluth.”

  “Leave Little Falls?”

  “We’ve made our decision.” Cheney strode to the door. “Let me know in the morning what you decide.” He exited the room, leaving Hubbard with Abram.

  “I’m sorry, Abram. This isn’t personal—I need to do what is best for me and my family. You understand, don’t you?”

  Abram couldn’t talk. He couldn’t even look at Hubbard.

  Hubbard sighed. “I hope you decide to stay. It would be a shame to work so hard for all of this and then leave it behind because you weren’t satisfied with how things turned out.”

  “I didn’t have a choice about how things turned out.”

  Hubbard clapped Abram’s shoulder. “We rarely ever do. We simply have to make the best of it and let go of our disappointment. It’s the only way to move forward. You can choose what you want your legacy to be. You can either be known as a man who stayed the course or one who never found his way. It’s up to you.” Hubbard dropped his hand and walked to the door. “Good night, Abram.”

  Hubbard left the room and Abram stood for a long time staring into the lifeless fireplace.

  He had allowed himself to get caught up in an easy fix, but Hubbard was right. Abram must choose his course and then be persistent to stay on track. He would never move ahead if he spent his life wandering from one path to another.

  He strode from the room, determined to convince Charlotte he wasn’t a wanderer—even if for a brief moment he was drawn to that course.

  Abram would stay in Little Falls, regardless of the obstacles in front of him.

  * * *

  Charlotte’s bedroom was cloaked in darkness when she heard Abram’s footsteps on the stairs. Quiet sobs shuddered through her body as she buried her face in the pillow. She had sent Rachel home with Ben and had extinguished all the lights. She had quickly gone to her room, undressed, slipped into her nightgown and climbed between the sheets before Abram came home.

  The last thing she wanted was to talk to him. How many times had Father begged Mama into forgiving him? And then how many times had he squandered away what little money they had on a scheme, only for him to beg her to work harder until he could pick himself back up? It was a vicious cycle; one Charlotte had no desire to embrace.

  A light knock sounded at her door and she held her breath, hoping Abram would think she was sleeping and go to his own room.

  She waited, hearing her pulse in her ears—but then he knocked again. “Charlotte, I know you can’t possibly be asleep already.”

  Time moved slowly as she lay there.

  “Please. Let me explain.”

  Her heart tugged at her to open the door but her mind demanded she stay where she was. He was charming and convincing, and would tell her everything she wanted to hear.

  “Charlotte. Please. I want to talk to you. I’m not going anywhere until you open this door.”

  She sat up and ran her long sleeve over her cheeks. “Go away, Abram. There’s nothing you can say to convince me you’ve changed. Just go to bed.”

  There was silence and then a light thud. Was that his head against the door?

  “I haven’t changed, Charlotte. That’s the point. I’m the same man who married Susanne and the same man who was working in the sawmill that day last fall when you marched in. I’m the same man—but I’m not the man you’ve always assumed I was.”

  Charlotte pulled her legs up and put her forehead on her knees. Tears of anger and frustration wet her nightgown. “You are the man I thought, and you proved it by chasing a rumor up to Duluth.”

  “Will you please open this door so we can talk face-to-face?”

  “I’m in my nightgown.”

  “Put on a wrapper.”

  She wanted to see him, but that was the problem. She shouldn’t want to see him, or talk to him, or believe in him.

  “Charlotte. Please.”

  She let out a sigh and pushed back the covers. The moon shone bright and offered a scant light as she grabbed her wrapper from the foot of her bed. She wiped at her cheeks again but knew it was pointless. Her tears would not quit easily, because she had allowed herself to trust—and her trust had been betrayed.

  Charlotte cracked the door open a fraction but didn’t look out at him. Instead she stared at the back of the door. “I’m only opening this door to tell you that tomorrow is September first, and you failed to provide what I required. The boys and I are leaving on the stagecoach when it comes through on Monday.”

  “Charlotte, let me explain—”

  “I wanted to believe in you, Abram—I was even willing to stay as long as it took—” She choked on a sob. “But then you lied to me—”

  “How did I lie?”

  She flung open the door and found him standing there, his elbows pushed against either side of the door frame and his fists clasped over his head.

  “You said you were different than my father and Thomas. Yet you did exactly what both of them would have done.”

  “I had to go.”

  “Why? You had other options. But you chose to follow the rumors.”

  He dropped his hands. “It doesn’t matter now. I realized you’re right. I was looking for the easy way out, but I’ve discovered there’s only one way and that’s forward on the path I’ve already chosen.”

  She turned away. “Stop. I don’t want to hear any more.”

  “Charlotte, you have to believe me.”

  It was like hearing her father all over again. She wanted to cover her ears and hide under the blankets like she did when her parents fought. Tears fell down her cheeks once again. “It’s no use. There’s nothing you could say to change my mind. I’m taking the boys back to Iowa City.”

  “Charlotte, I’m going to join Cheney and Hubbard as they start the corporation. I’ll finish the school this week and I’ll find a teacher. I’m not leaving Little Falls.”

  Promises upon more promises.

  “Until something else goes wrong and you want to run again.”

  Abram’s shoulders sagged and he let out a long breath. “I can’t convince you, can I?”

  Charlotte’s legs felt heavy and she lowered herself into the rocker near th
e bureau. Even if Abram was telling the truth, and he would stay in Little Falls, she was afraid she could never fully trust him. Her father and Thomas had ruined her from ever trusting a man’s promise.

  “I’m sorry, Charlotte.” Abram slouched against the door frame, emotion shaking his voice. “I didn’t hold up my end of the agreement. I give you permission to take them back to Iowa.”

  She had thought she would be satisfied with his permission—but it only made her more heartsore. She didn’t want to take the boys away from him, but she couldn’t leave them in good conscience, either. “We’ll leave on Monday.”

  He stood tall and reached into her room to grab the doorknob. “Good night, Charlotte.”

  The door closed and she was left in the quiet darkness. “Goodbye, Abram.”

  There was no way forward for either of them. She had chosen her path when she had first come to Little Falls and had almost veered off, but was now back on course.

  Chapter Nineteen

  A light rain dripped off the edge of Abram’s brim as he held the umbrella over Robert and Martin. Up ahead on the old wagon road, Charlotte held George in her arms, a black umbrella protecting them from the predawn rainstorm. The streets were dark and empty, and the only sound to accompany them was the pitter-patter of raindrops splashing in puddles and landing on buildings.

  Now that Little Falls had a real downtown, Andrew stopped the stagecoach in front of the Northern Hotel. He still came from St. Paul on Fridays, and headed back to St. Paul on Mondays.

  Abram had already hauled the trunks and valises to the hotel earlier that morning when he couldn’t sleep and then he had helped get the children ready while Charlotte finished her last-minute preparations. He had buttoned up the boys’ jackets and answered all their questions about riding a stagecoach and what it would be like to live in Iowa. Robert asked when Abram was coming to see them, and he had signed that he would come as soon as he could—but he didn’t know when that would be.

  Charlotte wore the same dark green traveling gown she’d worn the first day she arrived, and a matching green bonnet. George looked at Abram over Charlotte’s shoulder as he waved his chubby little hand around in excitement. His dark brown eyes sparkled with happiness and Abram couldn’t help but think of all he would miss in the coming years. How old would his sons be when he saw them next? Would they remember him?

  Charlotte turned left onto Main Street and glanced back at Abram and the boys. He wanted to feel animosity toward her but he couldn’t find the strength or the inclination. They had made a deal and he had not met the conditions. He couldn’t expect her to stay in Little Falls forever, even though everything in him wanted to call out and ask her to do just that. Even if he did ask her, she would never say yes. She had a life to go back to.

  “Will the horses go fast, Papa?” Martin asked.

  “Yes. The horses will go fast.”

  “Will we sleep in a hotel?”

  “Yes.” He’d already answered this question several times. “Tonight you’ll sleep in a hotel in St. Paul and then tomorrow you’ll get on another stagecoach that will take you to another hotel. You’ll travel for six days and sleep in five hotels.”

  When they arrived at the Northern Hotel, Charlotte opened the door and stepped inside. Abram followed with the boys.

  The lobby was virtually empty, except for a clerk who sat behind the counter, a book in hand.

  “You two wait on the sofa,” Abram said to his two older sons. “Be on your best behavior.”

  Their trunks were still near the door, so there was nothing left to do but wait.

  Charlotte stood with her gaze directed out the window looking onto Main Street.

  Abram stepped close to her, having no interest in the hotel clerk knowing his business. “I’ll be sure to send you a regular stipend.” Abram played with the rim of his wet hat. “Please write if you need more or if something comes up and you can’t afford—”

  “I will.”

  Abram glanced at his sons, who suddenly looked very young. Robert glanced around the hotel lobby with his quiet reserve, while Martin sat close to his big brother, inspecting the room from around Robert’s shoulder.

  “Charlotte, are you sure this is what you want?”

  She closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at Abram. “You and I both know it’s for the best.”

  Was it? He had full confidence in her, and knew she would raise them well. There would be schools for them, and a church. They would have friends their age and all the conveniences they needed for a happy life.

  The stagecoach pulled up to the hotel and Abram’s chest tightened. Everything within him wanted to keep his family together—yet Charlotte would never agree to stay and he couldn’t go back to Iowa and give up on Little Falls. No matter how hard it would be, he would succeed for his boys. One day, when they were older, hopefully there would be a legacy waiting for them when they returned.

  “Come, boys.” Charlotte signed for Robert and Martin to follow her. She opened the door, but Abram put his hand on her wrist.

  She looked up at him, her brown eyes filled with tears.

  “Charlotte, I’m sorry everything came to this. I’m sorry I couldn’t do what I said I would do.” He swallowed. “But most of all, I’m sorry I couldn’t prove you wrong.”

  She studied him for a moment. “I am, too.” She moved away, wiping her cheeks, and spoke to the boys. “Say goodbye to your father.”

  Martin leaped into Abram’s arms and squeezed him tight. “Goodbye, Papa. Come and see us soon.”

  Abram squeezed him back, burying his face in his son’s shoulder. “I love you, Martin.”

  Martin wiggled to get out of his father’s arms.

  Abram reached for Robert, who also came to him with a big hug, and spoke a silent prayer. Lord, I pray for this boy and all the obstacles in his path. I pray You would ease his burden and pave a straight and narrow way for him.

  Robert pulled back and signed goodbye.

  Abram took George from Charlotte’s arms, which allowed Charlotte to go out into the rain with her umbrella to speak to Andrew. He climbed down from the top of his stagecoach and entered the hotel with Charlotte to help with the luggage.

  Abram gave his youngest son a hug and a kiss then handed him back to Charlotte.

  He helped Andrew load the luggage and strap it down on top, and then Andrew resumed his place on the driver’s seat and Abram reentered the hotel.

  “It looks like you’re ready to go.” Abram looked at Charlotte and his three sons, sorrow clogging his throat.

  Charlotte’s eyes filled with sadness as she put her free hand on Robert’s back to guide him out of the hotel.

  When she passed by, Abram said, “Goodbye, Charlotte. And thank you.”

  Charlotte paused and turned to him. “For what?”

  “For everything. Maybe I didn’t fulfill all the requirements, but this town wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for you and all the hard work you did.” He wanted to take her into his arms, as well, but refrained. “And thank you for taking such good care of the boys. There isn’t anyone I’d trust more.”

  She looked like she might say something but then she closed her mouth and nodded. “Goodbye, Abram.”

  Charlotte led his boys out to the stagecoach and they all loaded inside. She pulled the door closed and the boys looked out the open window and waved at him.

  Andrew clicked the reins and the horses went into motion, pulling the stagecoach away from the Northern Hotel.

  Abram waved at his sons, trying to smile for them, and watched Charlotte, waiting for her to offer him one last glance.

  She never did.

  The stagecoach disappeared down Main Street but Abram remained in the rain for several minutes. All around him, buildings stood where
only trees and grass had been before, and over two hundred people now lived in a town that had been virtually empty one year ago. But, despite the two hundred new friends and neighbors, Abram felt lonelier now than he had when it was just him and his four employees.

  “Abram.” Hubbard appeared from around the corner of the Northern Hotel, an umbrella in hand. “You’re just the man I want to see today. Let’s go inside and get out of this rain.”

  With one last glance down Main Street, Abram followed Hubbard into the hotel.

  Hubbard closed his umbrella and set it in the stand next to the front door. “Why don’t we get something warm to drink in the dining room?”

  Abram didn’t say anything but followed his business partner through the lobby and into the dining room. His feet felt heavy and his heart was sore. He was afraid he wouldn’t be good company and almost told Hubbard he’d rather go home. But the thought of being in the house without Charlotte and the boys made his melancholy almost too much to bear.

  Several patrons had arrived for their breakfast and a low murmur filled the room.

  They found a table in a quiet corner and ordered coffee.

  “I’m happy I found you.” Hubbard leaned his elbows on the table and his long beard almost touched the top. “I’ve been thinking more about what you said concerning Duluth.”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Abram’s shoulders sagged as he sat there. “I’ve decided to go along with Cheney’s plans to form a corporation.”

  “But that’s the thing I’ve been thinking about.” Hubbard’s eyes became animated. “Why can’t we do both? I can stay here with my family and manage our company’s affairs in Little Falls, and you can go up to Duluth and stake a claim and work the copper mines. That way, we’ll have several income generators.”

  Abram had already come to terms with the idea of staying. The sudden invitation to leave didn’t set well—until he started to think about all the possibilities a new adventure could bring.

  “It might be a good time for you to leave, with Charlotte taking the boys to Iowa,” Hubbard said. “A change in scenery might make the adjustment easier.”