So, when Gabe proposed to Rose, Rose wholeheartedly accepted, and the couple began making plans for her to join Gabe in California. But, unfortunately, before those plans could be put into action, something unexpected happened.
While transporting cattle to a buyer in a neighboring settlement, there was an attempted rusting that resulted in a shootout and caused a stampede. Gabe was drawn into the stampeded, but, thankfully, his life was saved by another man on the scene. But, alas, his body, livestock, and business were affected in a way that required him to postpone his plans with Rose.
But, now, the delay was through. In her hands, pressed close to her heart, Rose held the letter indicating that she and Gabe could finally be together. It was just a matter of time—and, for Rose, that time couldn’t come soon enough.
FIVE
The next day, Rose left for work early, to accomplish some errands along the way. Her first stop was at the train station, where she checked the upcoming travel schedule. Once she found a departure that suited her needs, she went to the post office, where she penned a quick, but heartfelt, letter communicating her forthcoming plans to Gabe. Then, she gave it to the post master and left for work.
As soon as Rose arrived at work, she sought out Dr. Simmons and told him that she’d be leaving the hospital, and Baltimore, in two weeks. She said she was going to California to get married. But, she left it at that. Something inside of her told him not to say more, and, as it was, Dr. Simmons didn’t press for further details. Indeed, his response focused on his sadness over seeing a nurse of Rose’s caliber leave.
Rose went about her work day as usual, diligently caring for her patients. When her shift was through, she collected her things and left the hospital with a smile. But, as soon as she got outside, that smile faded, and her heart started racing.
“Hello, my angel,” Andrew said the moment she stepped out the door. “I came around to walk you home again.”
Rose stared at Andrew blankly, unsure what to say or do.
“Come now,” Andrew said, stepping closer. “Let’s get going before it gets dark.”
Rose shook her head from side to side. “I… I… I told you I wasn’t interested—” she stuttered.
“You said you weren’t interested in socializing,” Andrew interjected. “But, surely you’re interested in protection. These streets can get ugly at night, and I—”
“I’m not interested in your company in any way,” Rose said, taking her turn to interrupt. “I don’t want to socialize or have you walk me home.”
Andrew’s face turned red with both embarrassment and anger.
“So, you’re not just a shrew?” he growled. “You’re an idiot too? You’d rather walk home on your own than have a police officer escort you?”
Rose was highly offended, but she didn’t let on. “Please,” she said cautiously. “Just let me be.”
“Fine!” Andrew shouted in a huff. He turned and stormed off in the opposite direction.
Rose waited outside of the hospital for a few more minutes, then started on her way home. She was very scared. Every time she’d here a noise, her heart would beat harder, and she’d turn, defensively, to make sure Andrew was not following her.
Once Rose was back in her apartment, she felt safe, and she settled into her evening routine. After dinner, she pulled Gabe’s letter our again and reread it, then, shortly thereafter, went to bed with pleasant thoughts of him in her head.
The next morning, as she was getting ready for work, Rose glanced out of her window to appraise the weather and determine how she should dress for the day. When she looked out the window, she saw an unwelcome sight. Andrew was standing on the street, just outside of her building, with a bow-bound giftbox in his hands.
Rose’s heart was racing again. She was terrified. Despite everything she’d told him—despite the multiple times she’d dismissed him, and he’d stormed away—Andrew was back after her.
Rose weighed her options carefully. She didn’t want to confront Andrew. She feared any interaction with him would only make things worse. So, she decided to do something out of character.
Even though she was due in to work in less than an hour, Rose opted to stay inside her apartment until Andrew left. She’d never skipped a day of work or gone in late in her entire career thus far, but she figured either would be a small price to pay in the situation at hand.
Rose sat beside her window, hidden by a thick curtain, and watched for Andrew to leave. And, she wound up sitting there for nearly two hours before he did. It wasn’t until another uniformed officer came and got him that he left.
Once Rose was certain Andrew was gone, she gathered her things and rushed off to work. Dr. Simmons was a bit upset that she came in so late. But, regardless, he was happy that she showed up.
Rose walked around on eggshells at work. She was constantly in fear that Andrew would randomly appear at the hospital or make some other unwanted gesture, like have his gift delivered to her. But, much to her surprise (and joy), nothing out of the ordinary happened during her shift.
When Rose’s shift was done, she again felt great fear. She worried that Andrew would be outside waiting for her. But, again, much to her surprise (and joy), he was not. Nevertheless, she walked home very quickly, just in case.
Once Rose was back at her apartment, she felt optimistic that maybe, just maybe, this nonsense with Andrew was done, and she paid him no more mind as she settled in. Since she went into work late, she’d skipped lunch. So, her first course of action was to go to the kitchen and get something to eat. After devouring two biscuits and a few slices of dried cured meat, Rose went to her bedroom to get changed. But, before she could change her clothes, her mood changed.
The moment Rose opened her bedroom door, she noticed something on her bed. She was deeply frightened, for it was the bow-bound giftbox that Andrew had been holding out on the street that morning.
Rose surveyed the rest of the room, and called out Andrew’s name, to determine if he was still present.
When Rose didn’t see Andrew, or get any type of response, she cautiously approached the bed. She sat down then slowly opened the giftbox. There was a note atop the tissue paper covering the gift. Give your heart to me, the note read. If you do, a life of luxury and pleasure awaits. Again, the note was not signed, but Rose had no doubt who it was from.
Rose set the note down, then lifted the tissue paper. She gasped at what she saw. The giftbox contained a silk slip-like undergarment. It was a very fine garment by clothing standards, but it was far too personal a gift for any man to give a woman who was not already his wife.
Rose pushed the box away, buried her head in her hands, and proceeded to cry for several minutes before looking up again. And, when she did look up again, she noticed something she hadn’t noticed before. One of the drawers on her dresser was slightly open, as was her closet door.
Rose was scared stiff. Apparently, Andrew had somehow broken into her apartment to leave the gift, and, in doing so, he’d also rifled through her things. The situation was getting out of hand, and Rose was very fearful of what he’d do next.
After thinking things over, Rose decided to act. She grabbed the giftbox and note and swiftly left her apartment, headed for the police station. When she got there, she found a familiar face sitting behind the front desk. It was the other officer who’d met up with Andrew that morning. Rose took this as a good sign. Since he’d seen Andrew by her building with the giftbox, she figured he’d believe her and be able to validate her story.
“Can I help you?” the officer asked, unenthusiastically greeting Rose.
“Yes,” Rose replied. “Your fellow officer, Andrew Meyer, broke into my apartment. He left an inappropriate gift on my bed and snooped through my things. And, on top of that, he’s been lingering around outside of my apartment and work.”
The officer behind shook his head and sighed. “Ah, Rose Mills,” he said disparagingly. “I’ve heard about you. And, I know better than to believe
your lies.”
“What?!?” Rose exclaimed, shocked.
“Andrew told me about his time in the hospital, and how you took a liking to him,” the officer explained. “He said you have been seeking him out and trying to win his heart.”
“That’s not true!” Rose retorted. “And, you know it’s not. I saw you meet up with him outside of my apartment this morning, when he had this box with him. So, you are well aware that he’s been stalking me, not the other way around.”
“I did see Andrew at your building with that box,” the officer replied. “But, I know the truth of the matter. He told me. He said he was there to return an unwarranted gift you’d sent him.”
Rose set the giftbox on the counter and opened it. “Does this look like a gift I’d give a man?” Rose queried, dangling the undergarment from her fingers.
“Miss, please,” the officer admonished. “This is a police station, not a tavern or house of ill repute. Put that thing away.”
Rose let the slip go and closed the box. “Well, there you have it,” she said. “It’s obvious who you should believe.”
“Yes, it is,” the officer laughed. “Andrew is a highly-respected officer in good standing with this station. He is a man of good moral character. And, apparently, you’re upset that your suggestive gift didn’t sway him.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Rose snapped back. “Why would a woman give a man a gift like that? It’s meant for a woman to wear.” She reached into her pocket and retrieved the note that had accompanied the gift. “Read this,” she added.
The officer skimmed the note, then handed it back to Rose. “Look, honey,” he said, rolling his eyes, “I don’t know why you’d send Andrew such a gift. Perhaps you wanted him to envision you in it, or anticipate the things you promised in this note… But, whatever the case, you won’t get anywhere by making false claims about him, not when I know the truth. So, just take your fancy undergarment home, forget about Andrews, and—”
“I demand to speak to your superior,” Rose asserted. “Let me speak with the chief.”
Again, the officer laughed. “You are,” he said with a proud grin. “I am the chief of police here.”
Rose hadn’t paid attention to his uniform earlier. But, upon further inspection, she noticed that it was a bit different than Andrew’s and was more decorated.
“You’re wasting your time,” the chief went on. “Please leave.”
Rose felt as though she was about to faint. She’d tried to get help, but there was no help for her.
Rose walked out of the police station, leaving the giftbox behind, and made her way back to her apartment.
Once she was in her apartment, Rose locked the door and barricaded it with a chair. She no longer felt safe and secure in her own home—or, in Baltimore for that matter. She went to her bedroom and shut the door behind her, barricading it as well. Then, she laid down on her bed and cried.
After an hour or so of crying, Rose had no more tears to shed. But, she had a plan. All things considered, she knew what she needed to do—and, without further ado, she got up from her bed and started packing her things.
SIX
Two Weeks Later
Gabe Rogers sat on his back porch. It was late morning, and he’d only worked a few hours. But, he was still recovering from his near-death experience in the stampede and needed to take a break to rest his aching limbs. And, what better way to “take a break” than to sit down with a tall glass of lemonade and swoon over the most recent letter from the woman he loved.
Rose’s letter had arrived two days earlier, and, since it did, Gabe had read it dozens of times. In fact, he had it memorized by this point, though he kept referring to it to admire Rose’s penmanship for its delicate, feminine form.
My Darling Gabe, Rose had written. I am overjoyed to receive your letter. Words cannot express how happy I am. I will be leaving Baltimore for Belleville by train on May 10th, and should arrive in California on the 25th. Until then, I remain yours faithfully.
It was a simple letter, but it stirred profound things in Gabe. He felt like the luckiest man on earth, for he’d found the woman of his dreams—and, soon enough, they’d be married and share a happy life.
Gabe closed his eyes and thought about the many letters he and Rose had exchanged over the past months. From her words, he could tell that she was as sweet as she was sincere, as optimistic as she was practical, and as intelligent as she was wise.
Gabe opened his eyes and sighed a deep, satisfied sigh, for he felt truly blessed. He took a sip of his lemonade, then closed his eyes again. The date was May 9, and he envisioned Rose preparing herself for her trip. He’d never seen a photograph of Rose, so he could only imagine what she looked like based on the details she’d provided in her letters. But, regardless, his heart swelled at the image he saw in his mind.
As Gabe continued to daydream about Rose, he started lamenting the fact that they wouldn’t be together for another two weeks. Granted, he still had a great deal to do to prepare for her arrival, but part of him wished he didn’t have to wait so long.
Gabe opened his eyes again and finished what was left of his lemonade. He was just about to get up and go back to work, when one of his workers ran up to the back porch from the front yard.
“Mr. Rogers?” the younger man said meekly, hoping not to disturb his boss.
“Yes, Jacob?” Gabe answered.
“There’s… ah… something… er, someone… that needs your attention,” Jacob hemmed.
Gabe stood up from and shook the tightness out of his legs. “Alrighty,” he said.
“Out front,” Jacob noted, reaching up and scratching his head. “Someone’s come calling.”
Gabe nodded at the boy, then walked around the side of his house. As soon as he rounded the corner to the front porch, he stopped dead in his tracks. He thought about pinching himself, to make sure he wasn’t still daydreaming.
“Rose?” Gabe asked with a dropped jaw. The woman standing on the porch met the description Rose had provided. But, she was a thousand times’ more beautiful than the woman he’d pictured in her head—and the woman he’d pictured in his head was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen (or hoped to see).
“Yes,” Rose replied. It was much warmer in California than in Maryland. But, it wasn’t the heat of the environs that melted Rose’s heart.
Gabe was captivated by the sight of his fiancée. But he was also confused.
“I’m delighted to see you,” he said, cocking his head to the side. “But, honestly, I’m a little shocked… According to your last letter, you weren’t even scheduled to leave Baltimore until tomorrow. Yet, you’re here today.”
Rose smiled a smile that almost made Gabe forget what he was saying. “I know,” she replied. “I did provide such a timeline in my letter. But unexpected circumstances arose after I sent it. When I told my landlady I’d be leaving, she informed me that another woman—a single mother with a young child—had expressed interest in obtaining an apartment as soon as possible… So, I decided to leave early, to accommodate that woman’s needs. I hope you don’t mind.”
Gabe straightened out his head, then shook it from side to side. “Not at all,” he answered. “True, your early arrival raises a few practical issues that must be addressed. But, all in all, it’s not a problem. As I said, I’m delighted to see you, and I’m proud of you for taking a risk to help that woman and her child.”
Rose smiled again and bowed her head. She was not one to lie, and it especially pained her to lie to her husband-to-be. But she’d had a lot of time to think during the train ride, and she’d decided that, since Andrew was out of her life for good, she didn’t need to burden Gabe with the dreadful story of what had really transpired back in Baltimore. But, nonetheless, she needed some type of explanation, and the story she told him was the best she could come up with.
“As per these practical issues,” Gabe added, “there are a few things we must take care of straight away.”
Gabe nodded his head toward the side of his property, where a few of his workers were idling in their work, watching Gabe and Rose.
“I arranged for you to have a chaperone until we are wed,” Gabe went on. “Of course, she wasn’t expecting you so soon. But, I’ll have to speak with her and have her come here today, so that unnecessary rumors do not spread.”
Rose glanced over at the workers and noticed them spying.
“They’re good men,” Gabe remarked. “But, even good men can say things that have bad consequences. I doubt they’d intentionally say anything to harm my reputation, or yours. But, you must understand, beyond your presence, I’m in a very precarious position right now, and I can’t take the chance of having things get worse.”
Rose looked at Gabe curiously.
“I didn’t mention this in my letters, because it was a complicated matter,” Gabe explained. “But, the man who rescued me from the stampede was an Indian. His name is Oak Tree, and he is the chief of the Kiowa Tribe. After the stampede, he came around to check on me, and we have since become friends.
“But, many people in this area—most, in fact—do not care for the Indians. They are prejudiced against them and have come to blame them for many of the unsolved crimes in the area. But, I refuse to let others’ narrow minds tell me who can and cannot be my friend.
“Nonetheless, I must be careful of everything I do these days. My affiliation with Oak Tree has brought many eyes on me, and some people have questioned whether I, too, am involved in the unsolved crimes. So, you can see how rumors of me housing an unchaperoned woman would only further complicate things.”
Rose sighed and shook her head. “I understand,” she replied. “But, I must say, it’s very unfortunate how people here have come to these events. I, for one, don’t care about a person’s color or creed, and I look forward to meeting the man who saved your life—and to calling him my friend as well.”
New Beginnings Spring 20 Book Box Set Page 76
