“Thank you, but I can pay my own way.”
“I know you can, and you paid me every cent from that first day in town. But sometimes it is just nice to help another man. So what say you? I think tonight is Lily Jo’s meatloaf night.”
“With gravy?”
“That is the only way to eat it.”
“Then let’s go.” Will slapped his hat on his head and grabbed his jacket, shrugging his arms in the sleeves as he headed out the door.
Tess was cleaning out the room where apparently, her mother lived for the past two months, when Chelsea stopped by. Tess was mortified at the level of filth and the number of empty laudanum bottles she found.
Just as Dawson had told her when he walked her over, many of her momma’s valuables were missing. Thankfully, none of the books were, but it made her sad that so many beautiful items were taken out of her mother’s home.
It was getting dark and her belly rumbled. She’d have to find dinner soon. She didn’t know what time Dawson would be back. Tess felt very blessed that he was taking care of her.
Chelsea entered the room, startling Tess. “Milam told me to come back.”
“Oh, I’m so happy you are here.” Tess went and clasped both Chelsea’s hands in hers. “Please come in. I apologize we don’t have chairs in here, I just had Marty remove them. Perhaps we can go to the kitchen and have a cup of tea?”
“That would be lovely.” They walked to the kitchen where Tess put the kettle on. “I brought some tea for Mrs. Daniels as well.” She took a tin from her bag. “This will do for now until I can get some more mixed up,” she said handing it to Tess.
“What is it?”
“Cinnamon and basil. It isn’t the best tasting, so you can add honey to it, but cinnamon spice and the herb are essential for removing the toxins going through your momma’s body right now.”
Tess put the tin on the table and took a seat. Chelsea sat in the other. “How often should I give it to her?”
“As many cups a day as she will take. But I suggest at least once an hour. You can make a big pot of it and just pour out what you need. It is fine hot or room temperature. How is she doing?”
“She’s asleep right now. I’ve not heard her wake up. I’ll go back and check on her shortly.”
“I’d like to take a look at her and see how she is doing. Dr. Childs briefed me on her case. I’ll be handling most of her care due to the delicate nature of it.”
“Thank you,” Tess poured the tea and they engaged in idle chatter until they heard the shriek of a very aggravated Charlotte Daniels coming from upstairs.
Dawson stopped by with a covered plate for Tess. He knew Milam could cook, but he never knew what Tess might be in the mood for.
He was surprised to see Chelsea was at the house. “If I had known you were here, I would have brought more,” he said, passing the plate to Tess.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t want to intrude. I’m just leaving. Remember what I said, Tess. You may want to untie the ribbons, but they are there for a reason.”
“Ribbons?”
Tess whispered, “We had to tie Momma up.”
“Really? What happened?”
“She woke up and had some sort of fit,” Tess responded.
“She’s safe now. I’ve given Tess some tea to help detox her system. It is going to be tempting to want to put a few drops of laudanum in there, but don’t. It will take about a month to break through her cravings.”
“Thank you, Doc.”
“Anytime, Dawson. Remember what I said. Take care of you first, Tess. Then your momma. It won’t do her any good if you aren’t well.”
After Chelsea left, Dawson turned to Tess. “Why did she tell you that? Is there something wrong with the baby?”
“Not at all. She just said I looked tired. Which I am, but she said it was perfectly normal.”
Dawson opened his arms. Tess put the covered plate on the entryway table and walked in, allowing his arms to comfort her. She rubbed her head against his chest until it was nestled under his chin. She was the perfect height to do that and she fit into his arms perfectly.
As he held her, he felt a slight movement of her belly against his. “What was that?”
Tess giggled. “That, my dear husband, is your daughter saying hello.”
“Daughter? Are you sure? It felt more like a son.” He place his hand on her belly and felt the movement again. It was so slight he probably would have missed it. “That is incredible.” His child was truly growing inside her.
Dawson had never been happier.
Chapter 8
January 1900
“I really need to get out of this house.”
“You aren’t going anywhere Momma, so you might as well get back in bed.” It had been just over a month and Charlotte was finally feeling better. She was thrilled to find out she was going to be a grandmother and chastised Tess for not telling her sooner.
She hadn’t forgiven Dawson, though, for putting her though the pain of a recovery, but she was slowly coming around.
Normally she would leave the room if he entered. Now she chose to stay. Dawson couldn’t figure out why she was so upset with him. He saved her life. If he had left her in that state when he found her, she probably would not be alive.
“Theresa, I need to get out and walk. Even Dr. Tory said exercise would be good for me.”
“I think she was talking up and down the stairs. Not going walking out in the snow.” Tess peered out the window. The snow was coming down in large white flakes and sticking to the windows. “Looks like it is a wet snow. The good kind for making snowballs. Remember when Poppa would do that? He’d make these snowballs and we would have a snowball fight.”
Charlotte laughed. “I do remember that. I also remember that he would make the snowballs and never throw any of them. He just kept making them for you.”
Tess gave a light laugh. She rubbed her belly, thinking how it hurt that her father wasn’t there for her baby being born. She now knew what Betsy was feeling when her father was buried. It was an indescribable pain in her heart. “I miss him,” she said softly.
“I do too. I think about Harris all the time.” She looked at Tess with a softness Tess hadn’t seen in a long time. “He loved you so much, you know.”
“I know. He loved you too, Momma.”
“He tolerated me. I’m no fool. There was a reason he stayed at the workshop. I know I wasn’t the easiest to get along with.”
“You can change that now, if you really want to.” Tess walked over and wrapped her arms around her mother. She was much frailer now. Charlotte returned the hug slightly, patting Tess on the shoulder.
“We can talk about that later.”
Later, Charlotte decided she didn’t want to talk about anything, let alone listen to anyone. Tess found her in the sitting room tearing apart the bookcase. Books were all over the floor and papers strewn on the carpet.
“What are you doing, Momma?” Tess cried.
“I know it is in here. I know he put some somewhere in this room.”
“Put what?”
“The laudanum.”
“Momma,” Tess cried, trying to grab her momma’s arm. “There isn’t any laudanum. You have done so good this past month. Please don’t do this.”
“Stop it, Theresa. You are driving me crazy with your whining.” She continued to pull books off the shelves and toss them on the floor. “Please don’t do this,” she mimicked. “I can do this if I want to.”
Tess started crying. “I don’t know why you are being like this. You are mean and hateful. No wonder no one has come to visit you.” Charlotte looked shocked. She stopped throwing books and looked around the room.
Then Tess saw her momma do something she had never seen. Charlotte fell to her knees and started crying.
“She went to bed,” Tess told Robert when he came to check on Charlotte. Dawson walked with him as the clinic was right next to the undertaker’s office.
Appar
ently, Chelsea had gone with Brawny to check on his mother who was running a fever. Then the snow happened, and she hadn’t made it back to Silverpines yet. Tess told Robert about her mother’s fit in the sitting room.
“That’s to be expected,” he said. “Her body is still craving the laudanum but given the fact that she put herself to bed, she is doing remarkably well.”
“It is getting harder dealing with her. She is saying she wants to go out.”
“Then take her out. Take her to the café, get some coffee. Come visit Hattie and the baby.”
Tess squealed, “What?”
Robert puffed his chest out and stood a little taller. “She had a baby girl, Anna Theresa.”
“When did she have her? And, oh my. She named her after me?” Tess had no words.
“Well you are her best friend. Anna was born yesterday morning. Hattie did the entire thing by herself. Imagine my surprise when I got home.”
“All by herself? That is scary and wonderful all at the same time. Is she in bed resting?”
“Not at all. She wrapped the baby up in some big scarf thing that she ties around her body and is back at the apothecary filling tea orders.”
Tess couldn’t believe it. To have a baby, by herself, and be back working within 24 hours. That was truly amazing. She hoped she would be half as strong as her friend.
“I brought you more tea. Chelsea has been teaching Lacy Lou how to tend to the herbs and she made this batch of tea.”
“Thank you. Momma has been drinking it consistently.”
“Then I’ll be back tomorrow to check on her. I’ll stop by around suppertime. If this snow lets up, I do suggest you take her for a walk.”
Tess nodded, and Robert left to head back to his wife and clinic.
Dawson shut the door then came over to embrace his wife. “You should go lie down before supper. I’ll come get you in an hour.” He gently guided her to their bed in Tess’s old bedroom and pushed her to a seated position.
He knelt before her. He removed her boots then placed her feet on the bed. Covering her with a blanket he gave her a kiss on the forehead and left her to rest. She was already asleep by the time he got to the door.
It took 3 days for the snow to stop. By that time, it was almost up to their knees. It took another day for Marty to come by and move the snow, so they could get out of the house. Tess thought she was going to scream.
As much as her momma wanted to go outside, Tess needed it more. Her mother had been demanding, rude, emotional and tired. Tess noticed that Dawson was around the house more, and that seemed to agitate her mother as well.
Finally, he went outside and helped the children of Silverpines shovel the snow. As soon as the walkway was clear she shouted to Charlotte. “Get your coat and gloves and let’s go to the café for tea!” Tess didn’t think she had seen her mother move so fast in her life.
She and Charlotte walked down the street, waving to the children that were busy earning those few precious cents moving the snow. The alleyways were becoming piled deeper with the white stuff. “I would like to go to the bank and get a few dollars to pay Marty,” Charlotte volunteered. “I can’t seem to find my money tin. I don’t know where it went.”
“It most likely went to whomever was supplying your laudanum; along with most of the silver, and your jewelry. You had a very expensive habit, Momma.”
Charlotte didn’t look the least chagrined. Instead her aggravation appeared again. “I wish you would stop discussing that, Tess. I still have plenty left. Those were only things. You think you would be happy I’m still alive.”
“I am, Momma,” Tess said. “I’m very happy, but there are still consequences for your actions.” She just hoped that her momma could deal with them once they came to light.
“Don’t be rude, Theresa. Let’s just enjoy the day, since it is the first one we have had in a bit where we can enjoy the weather and the sunshine.”
They continued on to the bank and fortunately it was open. When Tess went inside Mr. Richards was behind the counter.
“Good morning, Mrs. Elliot.” He looked at Charlotte before deciding to address her. Finally, he gave her a curt, “Mrs. Daniels.”
“Mr. Richards,” Mrs. Daniels replied. Tess noticed that there was some animosity there and she didn’t know why. Momma rarely came to the bank and she hadn’t been around town for a few months, so Tess was perplexed at the nature of the bitterness.
“Mr. Richards, Momma needed to get some money out of her account if we can have a slip.”
“I don’t know why she would come here. She doesn’t have any money with our bank.”
“What do you mean?” Tess asked.
At the same time, Charlotte screeched, “What?”
“You moved all your money about three months ago. Wrote a letter that said you wouldn’t step foot in this bank again and you were transferring your money.”
“I don’t remember that.” Charlotte replied.
“I can find the letter. You sent your man in here to handle the transaction. It was quite a large sum too. And he moved every single cent per your request.”
“Man? I don’t have a man working for me,” she insisted.
Mr. Richards disappeared into the office behind the door and returned with a piece of paper, handing it to Charlotte.
Dear Mr. Richards,
I regret to inform you that I will be taking my money out of Silverpines
and placing it in my account at New Harbor. I’ve not been happy
with the handling of my money and I think it would be better served
in the larger bank.
I will not be stepping foot in the bank again and I hope
you understand my reason for doing so.
Cordially,
Mrs. Charlotte Daniels.
“But I didn’t write this.”
“Let me see that, Momma.” Tess took the letter from her and quickly scanned it. “This isn’t even her handwriting. It looks like a man wrote it.”
“But that is her signature. Is it not. I couldn’t figure out your reason for doing so. Your man couldn’t either.” Mr. Richards looked worried now.
Charlotte couldn’t deny that the signature was in fact hers. She must have been in such a stupor that she didn’t realize she was being swindled right under her nose. “He isn’t my man. This is the handwriting of a thief. Is there anything we can do?”
“I’m afraid not. I held the transfer for a few days, but you didn’t come in, so I let it go.”
“Tess, what should I do? I’m penniless. I’ll have nowhere to live. Oh goodness!”
“Hush, Momma.” Tess patted her shoulder. She passed the paper back to Mr. Richards. “You wouldn’t have the bank information and bank name, would you?”
“Yes. I can get that for you. Would you be able to come back later? I’m starting to get customers.” He pointed to the woman entering the bank. It was Millie Cutler.
Millie stopped short when she saw Charlotte and Tess at the counter. “Good morning, Tess,” she said, ignoring Charlotte.
“Good morning, Millie,” Charlotte said. Millie nodded and made her way over to the counter, passing a slip of paper to Mr. Richards. “Have I done something to offend you, Millie?”
“When you take care of your credit at the store, I’ll be civil again. But it has been nearly three months and you owe over $200.”
Charlotte put her hand on her chest. “What? I’ve not been to the store.”
“No, but Mr. Clemmons has. Says he was staying with you and that you had his permission to use your line of credit with the store.”
“But I didn’t give anyone permission.”
“Even had a letter with your signature on it.”
“Tess, what should I do? This is becoming a nightmare.”
“I don’t know. Let me think.” She bit her lip as Millie finished her transaction at the bank. “Millie, may I have my husband come over and figure out what is going on? It appears that Momma has
been swindled out of her savings. Dawson will figure out how we can repay you.”
“Of course, Tess. Because it’s you that asked.”
“Thank you. Mr. Richards, I’ll have Dawson come by here a little later.”
She led Charlotte out of the bank. Tess noticed that her momma’s hands were shaking. “You know, Momma. Let’s go visit Hattie.” Charlotte nodded and allowed Tess to take her arm, leading her down the road towards the apothecary. “Did I tell you Hattie had her baby?”
“No, you didn’t.”
Hoping to take her momma’s mind off what happened, she said, “Then let me tell you all about it now.”
Dawson had both letters in his hand, along with the bank routing information. He called in a favor from the Pinkerton Agency and they dispatched a telegram to New Harbor to see if there was any sign of Shippenbottom/Clemmons.
He had the Marshal telegram the circuit judge, so he could get a warrant for the swindler’s arrest. He also asked for an order to get the money back into the Silverpines bank and under Charlotte’s name once again.
It took a few days for the order to be received, but once it was, he rode directly to New Harbor to take care of the transfer. He was thankful for once that he didn’t turn in his Pinkerton badge.
Most of the money was gone, but Dawson was able to get about half of her fortune. He passed along the information he found to the Marshals and hopefully some of the other widows would be able to get their money back as well.
He paid off Charlotte’s tab at the mercantile and that took a chunk out of what he had been saving for a house. He hoped there weren’t any more debts in town that he didn’t know of. He spread the word that if anyone was owed money by his mother-in-law to come see him first.
That afternoon Marty delivered a note from the livery. It appeared that Clemmons purchased a horse in Charlotte’s name, but it hadn’t been paid for and the horse hadn’t been seen. It occurred the same day that Dawson found Charlotte in such a state, sitting in the dark room alone.
Wanted: Gravedigger Page 7