Caroline was surprised at the question. She’d honestly never given much thought as to his looks—he was a customer of the hotel, and she was always so busy when they interacted that she’d never studied him. “He is,” she answered at last. “I don’t think I’ve ever noticed before, though.”
Rachel laughed. “Miss Hampton, I think you need a vacation,” she said. “If you’re so busy that you can’t see a handsome man when he’s standing right in front of you, you’re working too hard.”
***
Elizabeth cried in her husband’s arms, nearly feeling her heart break all over again with every tear that fell. His strength wrapped around her and held her steady even when she was close to falling apart. Here, in their bedroom, away from the hustle and bustle of the hotel, Harriet taking a turn with Agatha, she could be herself.
“Your mother is a strong woman, one of the strongest I know,” Adam said, wiping away the tears from her cheeks with his handkerchief. “The only woman who could come close to surpassing her is you.”
“Do you think she’ll pull through this?” Elizabeth asked. “Is it even possible?”
“Everything is possible,” Adam replied. “Look at us—aren’t we a miracle? A grumpy, confirmed bachelor is blessed to find the perfect woman right on his doorstep . . .”
“More like, the desperate widow finds a new home when she lies her way into getting a job.”
Adam chuckled. “Either way, we are a miracle, and so we have every reason to believe that we’ll see another miracle right now with your mother.”
“I’ll hang on to your faith, then.” Elizabeth wiped an errant tear with her fingertip. “I talked to the pastor for a little while this afternoon, and he tried to help, but in the end, there’s just too much we don’t know. I have no doubt that Mother will go straight to whatever heaven there might be when she passes, but when? Should we be preparing for that now, or later, and what does preparing even mean?”
“You like to have all the answers up front, don’t you?” Adam kissed her forehead. “That’s not always possible, sweetheart.”
“I know it’s not possible, but I do like it. That’s something I have in common with your aunt.” She stood and gathered up some blankets from the chest at the foot of the bed. “I’m going to make myself a pallet in Mother’s room. I don’t want her alone tonight.”
“Excellent idea, but why don’t we bring in the small bed from the room next door? You’d be more comfortable.”
“You’re right. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself.”
Adam stood and kissed her again. “Because you’re thinking about a dozen other things at once. I’ll help you get settled.”
It was simple work for Adam to move the bed from one room to the next, and then he brought Rose’s cradle up from downstairs. “Sleep well,” he said, taking Elizabeth in his arms. “I’ll miss you, but I know this is where you’re most needed.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth snuggled into her husband’s chest, still amazed that she’d been blessed to find this man. For some reason, she was the lucky girl who got to be his wife, and she thanked heaven for that every day. She had never known a kinder, more generous soul, and she wondered if her heart would ever stop skipping a beat when he walked into the room. She hoped not.
Adam held her another moment, then stepped over to her mother’s bedside. “Good night, Agatha,” he said softly. “May you know how much we love you.”
***
Caroline all but collapsed in her bed that night. The girls had done their jobs beautifully, going far beyond their regular duties to fill in the gaps. The dining room was ready for the next day, and they’d even gotten a head start on the pies. All that said, however, worry had been building until it threatened to swallow her whole.
She lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling that she knew was up there somewhere. She would very much have liked a window in her room, but she only had herself to blame. She could have chosen another room altogether, even one with two windows. Then she could have looked out and watched the moon make its way across the sky throughout the night, or the stars as they cast their light. But she had chosen this spot on purpose so she could be near the girls in their dormitory.
The next day, she would ask Adam about placing an advertisement for another waitress. It was high time they had their full complement of six—the hotel could now afford it, and it was sorely needed. She would also see about finding a seamstress. Agatha had been doing their mending, and there were some draperies in need of a new hem.
She closed her eyes. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof . . . She should worry about tomorrow’s duties tomorrow and allow her mind to sleep. It was needed. It was so, so needed.
Just as she was about to drift off, another thought crossed her mind. The flowers Mr. Dupree had been carrying were for her—he was holding them when he asked to speak with her. Gracious—was the man coming to court her? She’d thought he wanted to share a concern about the meals or the dining room schedule, but why would he bring flowers, if that were the case? Now she felt even worse about brushing him aside. She hadn’t realized he was on personal business. As to how she felt about that personal business, she just didn’t know. She was far too weary to think about it. She would analyze it in the morning.
***
Caroline stood near Agatha’s bedside, watching as Dr. Wayment listened to the woman’s heart yet again. His brow was scrunched in concentration, and she feared that meant something bad. When he finally straightened and put his stethoscope in his bag, his face looked grim. “Her heartbeat is even fainter than it was yesterday,” he said.
“Does this mean she’ll never wake up?” Elizabeth asked from the foot of the bed. “She did swallow a bit of water this morning.” She held little Rose close, rocking her to and fro although the child had gone to sleep several minutes before. Caroline recognized that Elizabeth was just trying to keep herself occupied in a moment when there was really nothing else she could do.
“That is heartening, but my guess is that she will not wake up. I’m sorry, Mrs. Brody. However, I’m often wrong, and I’m not ashamed to admit that. If she does wake up, I will happily admit my mistake.” He paused. “I suggest that you take a moment to say your good-byes. Some put it off until it’s too late, and then they regret having missed that opportunity.”
Elizabeth nodded. “All right. It . . . it won’t be easy, but I’ll do it.”
“You said you slept in here last night. Did you notice any changes in her breathing? Any gasping, for instance?”
“No. Nothing like that. In fact, I got up several times to make sure she was still breathing at all, she was so quiet.”
“I’m glad you were in here with her. I’ll check by again late this afternoon. Please send someone if you need me.” Dr. Wayment put on his hat, nodded to both ladies, and stepped out of the room. Then he came back, resting his hand on the doorjamb. “I hope I don’t seem insensitive. I wish there was more comfort I could offer. I just don’t know what to predict.”
“That’s all right, Doctor. I understand.”
He nodded, then left once again.
Elizabeth laid Rose down in her cradle and then took the seat nearest the bed. “I don’t know if I ever told you this, but my mother saved my life,” she said to Caroline as she lifted Agatha’s hand into her own.
“She did? How so?”
Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed, and she studied the bedspread. “After my husband was killed, things became very difficult for me. I was alone, with child, living far away from friends and family. Then Rose came, and it was overwhelming. How could I be a mother? I was hardly more than a girl myself. I . . . wasn’t thinking clearly, and I began to have melancholy thoughts. There was a pond not too far off, and I imagined myself walking out into that pond and letting the water cover me.”
Caroline didn’t speak. She had no words.
“My mother somehow sensed my dark mood and spoke to me—rather sharply, actually. Sh
e pointed out that while I might think my life was hard, if I ended it, I would be leaving Rose far worse off than I ever was. We talked all night long, and while it wasn’t an immediate cure, I was able to start finding joy in the small moments. Rose and my mother saw me through that black time, and now, if Mother were to go . . .” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “I’m stronger because of her, but am I strong enough without her?”
“You mentioned friends and family,” Caroline said, finding her voice at last. “Is there anyone who should know about your mother’s condition?”
Elizabeth wiped her eyes. “Gracious. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own thoughts and feelings that I haven’t even thought about that. I should send some telegrams.” She shook her head. “Things became odd after my father passed away. It’s difficult to explain it because I’m not sure what happened, but my siblings took a step back from my mother, and we haven’t been in close contact for a number of years.”
“I did notice that none of them came for the wedding,” Caroline ventured. She hoped she wasn’t poking her nose into a situation that was none of her business, but her curiosity was getting the best of her.
“We actually didn’t tell them about the wedding until after the fact.” Elizabeth chuckled. “Your nephew was so impetuous, he didn’t give me much time to plan, and they wouldn’t have been able to travel here in time even if they had wanted to come.”
“Adam was impetuous because he was very much in love and couldn’t spend one more minute without you. I’m sorry things have been strained in your family. Why don’t I fetch some paper, and you can write out what you’d like the telegrams to say. I’m sure Tom would be more than happy to send them for you.”
“Thank you, Caroline. That would be helpful.”
Caroline left Elizabeth sitting on her chair, looking pale and trying to be resigned to whatever fate might throw her way. She wished there was something more she could do, but the wheel of fortune would turn as it would, and all they could do was wait.
Chapter Five
When the stream of passengers entered the hotel for that afternoon’s meal service, Caroline scanned the faces, looking for Mr. Dupree. She was disappointed when she didn’t see him. She had no idea what she was going to say to him, just that she knew the conversation had to take place. An apology, at the very least, was in order. She’d have to decide later if being courted was or was not something she’d like—after she verified that’s really what he wanted, of course.
Mr. Dupree was a kind man. He was soft-spoken and gentlemanly, and he often brought a book with him to read as he ate. His taste in poetry leaned toward the classical, and she liked that about him. Here in Kansas, where the land was rough and untamed, the men were often also rough and untamed. She supposed that was of necessity. Such men were needed to build the railroads and carve new farms into the soil, but she did grow weary of the crude language that often went along with that.
And now that Rachel had pointed it out, she could see that yes, Mr. Dupree was handsome. His hair was a nice shade of sandy brown, and he had a small mustache that seemed to give his face character rather than crawling across it like some sort of vermin that ought to be whacked with a rolled-up newspaper. His eyes were brown, she believed, although she’d never paid much attention. They were friendly eyes, though, thoughtful and observant.
“Excuse me. I’m looking for Mr. Brody. Is he available?”
The voice startled Caroline out of her reverie. A young woman stood in front of her, holding the handles of a satchel as though her very life depended on it. “Yes, he’s in his office. Please follow me.” Caroline led the way over to Adam’s door and invited the young woman to enter. Adam hadn’t gone to the station to meet the train this time, wanting to be on hand in case Elizabeth needed him, and he rose and greeted the girl as she came in. Caroline hoped she was an applicant for the job.
She glanced around the lobby one more time, but then scolded herself. Mr. Dupree wasn’t on this train, and she had better stop wasting time looking for him.
The dining room was in full swing when she entered, and she gave a nod of satisfaction. It always pleased her to see the hotel doing well. The kitchen was under control, so she grabbed an apron and began taking orders, seeing a need to be filled.
As she approached a table near the back, she saw a man sitting there in a train conductor’s uniform, and her heart gave an odd and unexpected thud. He was here after all. But when the man put down his menu, Caroline saw that it wasn’t Mr. Dupree, but Mr. Ramsey, another one of the conductors who came through frequently.
“Hello, Mr. Ramsey. What can I get you today?”
“I’ll take some pot roast, greens, and a slice of apple pie, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not. I’ll be right back.” Caroline took a step away, but then felt a sudden rush of courage and curiosity. “I wonder if you could tell me when Mr. Dupree will be back through.”
“Well, now, let’s see. He was on the eastbound train yesterday, so he’ll be on the westbound train today. Gotta come back home after you’ve left it, right?” Mr. Ramsey laughed at his own joke, and Caroline managed a smile. “So he’ll be here this afternoon.” He suddenly gave her a more interested look. “Needin’ to speak with our Wallace, are you?”
“I just had a question about a book he was reading last week,” Caroline answered, entirely too flustered. “I’ll be right back with your meal.”
She pressed a hand to her cheek as she walked toward the kitchen. She hadn’t blushed like this since she was seventeen, and here she was, nearly forty. What on earth had come over her? She hadn’t even spoken with Mr. Dupree yet, and already she was acting like a silly girl. What if he hadn’t meant to court her at all? Couldn’t there be any number of explanations for why he’d wanted to see her?
There could be. And she’d just have to wait until the afternoon train to find out.
As the last passengers left and the girls began stripping the tables, Adam walked into the dining room with the young woman in tow. “Caroline Hampton, this is Emma Gibson. She comes to us from Wichita. Deputy Hanks sent her our way, actually. Seems he had to break up a fight at one of the saloons his first night on the job, and Mr. Gibson, Emma’s father, was arrested. She’s looking for a new start, and I told her we’d give her a chance.”
Now that Caroline wasn’t so busy looking for Mr. Dupree, she could focus on the girl standing before her, and she liked what she saw. Miss Gibson was tidy and seemed intelligent, and heaven knew they needed more hands. “I’m very glad you’ve come, Miss Gibson,” Caroline said. “Are you able to start today, or do you need the night to settle in?”
“Oh, please, Miss Hampton, call me Emma. And I’d like to start right away.”
Better and better. “Excellent. Let me show you to your room, and then I’ll introduce you to the other girls. They have the unpleasant task of laundry and ironing this afternoon. I wish that wasn’t the case on your first day here, but we’ve had so much upheaval as of late, we’re running a bit behind.”
“We also have four guests staying the night,” Adam said, and Caroline nodded. She’d get the room numbers from him later.
She showed Emma to her spot in the attic dormitory, then led her to the kitchen to help dry the dishes before laundry time. With these additional hands, hopefully all the mundane tasks would be caught up soon.
***
Wallace stood on the platform, studying the hotel. It looked the same as it ever did from the outside, and he wished he had some sort of insight as to how everyone fared inside. Mr. Brody wasn’t there to invite the passengers to a meal, so Wallace would just have to guess.
“Heading over for something to eat,” he told his engineer. “Coming?”
“No. I’ve got a box from home.”
Wallace nodded and walked toward the hotel, hesitating only a moment at the gate before going through. This was awkward, to be sure, but it would remain awkward until he saw Miss Hampton again and broke the ice. An
d now that he knew why she’d been curt with him, he could move past that.
He entered the hotel and took off his hat, glancing around for Miss Hampton. He didn’t see her at first, so he walked toward the dining room, where another waitress led him to a table.
“You must be new here,” he said. “I’m Wallace Dupree, conductor of the train out there.”
The girl bobbed a small curtsy. “I’m Emma. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Dupree.”
“Do you . . .” Wallace swallowed. “Is Miss Hampton available?”
“She’s in the kitchen right now, but I can tell her you asked about her.”
“Thank you. That would be nice. And could I get some beef stew? My mouth’s been set for it all day.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.”
Wallace drummed his fingers on the table while he waited. Ordinarily, he would use this time for reading, but he was too nervous about seeing Miss Hampton again. He hoped she’d have a free moment before he had to leave—he would just as soon get this over with.
A moment later, Miss Hampton delivered his food herself, sliding it onto the table with a practiced hand.
“Here you are, Mr. Dupree. I hope you don’t mind, but I also brought you a piece of cherry pie as an apology for my rude behavior the other day. My mind was somewhere else, and I should have been much more polite.”
Wallace blinked. She had taken the initiative herself, erasing all the awkwardness and shouldering the blame. He hadn’t expected her to be so straightforward about it, and he smiled. “If only every apology came with cherry pie, Miss Hampton, they would be much easier to accept. Mr. Brody told me about the illness in the hotel, and I understand that you were flustered. Is Mrs. Early doing any better?”
“I’m sorry to say, no. She hasn’t woken up, and Dr. Wayment fears she won’t.”
“That is sad news indeed.” Wallace toyed with his fork, wondering if he should wait before asking his next question, but then deciding there was likely no better time. “Miss Hampton, could I speak with you a moment before I leave?”
The Whisper of Morning (Kansas Crossroads Book 6) Page 3