by Jim Wetton
The more he thought, the more he realized that whatever entrepreneurial endeavors Breedlove had participated in thus far had done quite well for her. Now it was time to see what it was that McKeever and Son could do to help with increasing that level of wealth.
“Sara’s parents were dear friends of ours and it’s always a great feeling when we get to reconnect with any family member who we assisted with, well, with finding a better life; we’ll just put it that way. Sara found out about us and our investment company and has come to invest.”
“Invest?” James asked, stunned by the prospect. “Now?”
“Yes son, now,” Martin interjected. “I keep telling our clients that when the market is down and gloom seems to cover our faces, it’s the best time to invest. Unfortunately, most don’t see it that way; too scared and I can see why. It’s just too bad, though; the market always comes back . . . always. That’s something I want you to remember since you’ll be taking over this firm someday, so sit down and listen to what Sara, I mean, Miss Breedlove, has to offer.”
James took a seat next to Sara and across the desk from his father. He looked at Martin with questioning eyes before turning towards Sara’s welcoming smile.
“So, James, as I was describing to your father, this is what I have to offer,” Breedlove began, while glancing over curiously at Katherine. “I do think my money will grow and the way your father has proposed, it will grow for all of us.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, ma’am,” James blushed, noticing Breedlove’s look towards Katherine. “Miss Breedlove, this is my fiancée, Katherine.”
“Very pleased to make your acquaintance, Katherine.” Breedlove raised her hand in greeting. “When is the date?”
“Well, funny you should ask, and oh, it’s nice to meet you too.” It was Katherine’s time to blush. “That’s one of the reasons why James and I have been gone so long.” Katherine looked for the reaction she was hoping for from Martin and Lizzy before continuing. “We were walking around the lake in Central Park and we decided on mid-October of this year.”
“Oh, a fall wedding! How splendid, my dear,” Breedlove exclaimed.
Katherine looked sheepishly at Martin and then over at Lizzy. Neither one made a sound. She quickly turned her head towards James for help. He stood frozen, his eyes a blur. Lizzy rose from her seat and walked over to a startled Katherine and reached out both hands and placed them on Katherine’s arms to turn her towards her.
“I couldn’t be happier, dear. An autumn wedding will be just beautiful, but not as beautiful as the bride will be. I can’t wait.”
“Okay, ladies!” Martin cleared his throat and rose. He patted his son’s shoulders and nodded lovingly before continuing. “I am very happy for the young couple, but if I may remind those here that this is a place of business and Miss Breedlove has a business proposition that I—and I’m sure my son—would be interested to hear.”
“Oh, well yes, of course,” Breedlove stuttered. “First, congratulations to the young couple and second, my proposal.”
* * * *
After an hour of negotiations, Martin and James had locked in a deal. All parties knew that it was speculative to be sure, but it had promise. Martin and Lizzy had been proponents of the Negro and this felt just right to both of them. It made it even more special to be from the daughter of previous slaves that they had helped by way of the Underground Railroad. Martin had agreed to match the funds that Breedlove invested and would be her silent partner. If successful, all parties would become extremely wealthy, but if it failed. . . .
Martin and Lizzy never thought of the deal as a potential failure. Just the mere fact that this woman was in their office, proposing to invest, was a victory for the cause they once were so passionate about.
“Negro hair care?” Martin whispered to Lizzy.
“It could be Negro anything for all I care, Martin,” Lizzy whispered back. “Just imagine what this signifies to all we put our hearts into back then.”
Martin turned to look at Lizzy and could see that she had tears in her eyes. He put his arm around her and hugged her.
* * * *
The leaves on the oaks in Central Park were turning from green to golden yellow and red. The days were shorter and as the weather changed, nerves also seemed to calm. The financial panic of the early summer was still in the air but most of the clients at McKeever and Son had been appeased enough to let the wind blow where it may and those still able would pick up the pieces and move on to better fields ahead.
Martin and James continued to work their fourteen-hour days. Clients were escorted in and gingerly escorted out, most of the time with the graceful help of Mabel Ludlow.
Lizzy, feeling that the main panic had passed, quit joining Martin on his morning ride into work. Although she’d loved more than anything to accompany her husband into Wall Street, she knew she had more important things to take care of.
Accompanied by Mary Elizabeth and Nellie, Lizzy and Katherine took a coach into Midtown Manhattan to do some shopping. All the plans for the upcoming wedding day were set, with the exception of what Lizzy had to admit was the most important item: the wedding dress.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you doing all this for me, Mrs. McKeever,” Katherine said humbly. “I know my mother would have been here for me, but, well, she’s uh . . . .”
“It is our pleasure, Katherine,” Lizzy interrupted. She could tell how uncomfortable it was for Katherine to admit that her parents hadn’t approved of the marriage. If it wasn’t for James’ disclosure, Lizzy and Martin would have never known that Katherine’s parents disowned her after finding out that she was marrying a man from Wall Street. It was odd to both Lizzy and Martin that anyone could disown their own child because of an image, any image, before even getting to know the person. Martin had seen it before, unfortunately. Those involved in finance, especially the fast-moving stock exchange, received a bad rap, especially from those with a strict religious background.
“We’re a God-fearing family, Martin,” Lizzy had once said. “My father was a preacher, for God’s sake. You’d think that Satan himself was embedded in us for the filth that some say about those who choose a career of speculation and investment. What’s the difference between that and, well, and a merchant, or a banker or a lawyer or, or . . . ?”
“Or a politician!” Martin had yelled out jokingly.
“Yes, or a politician!” Lizzy had responded. Lizzy laughed, remembering the very conversation only a few weeks before.
* * * *
“You’re going to be in our family and a sister to us real soon, Katherine,” Mary Elizabeth called out over her shoulder.
“It will be nice to have another woman in the family to now finally outnumber the menfolk,” Nellie added.
“Now girls, we don’t want to give Katherine the wrong impression of us McKeever women.” Lizzy laughed. “We are strong; we are smart; we are beautiful; but most of all, we know how to get our way. Other than that, we certainly don’t want that to give her the wrong impression of this family’s women.”
Their laughter continued as they entered the boutique just off 49th Street and Broadway. They were quite a ways from home, but Lizzy had heard that this particular shop had the best selection of wedding dresses north of the Mason-Dixon line.
Once inside, Lizzy laughed at the eagerness of three young ladies, all with their mouths gaped open with envy and covetousness. Lined against each wall with four rows down the center of the boutique was every style of dress imaginable. At the back of the boutique, a display of accessories caught Lizzy’s attention. While the girls continued to pull dresses out to examine, Lizzy looked over the perfect cameo to give her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. She looked over again at the girls and was pleased to see a saleslady using her expertise to spoil them while they enjoyed their moment of bliss.
“Oh, that one is the one; trust me, dear,” Lizzy said, her eyes aglow.
; “I just wish I can look as beautiful when my time comes,” Mary Elizabeth added.
“Turn around; let us see the back!” Nellie added.
Katherine turned slowly and let the other three ladies inspect the dress that she’d picked out. The train was made of silk and she could decide later the length, though she said she didn’t want it too long since she had no flower girl to follow her in case it became tangled up in the aisle.
She had to be talked into the top of the dress. Katherine’s modesty held her back from choosing the one with the strapless top, which exposed the cleavage of her very pronounced bosom. Lizzy pulled her aside and told her that the dress, and its low strapless top, made her look like the bride that she’d envisioned her own daughters to look like.
“OK, I’m taking the strapless one,” Katherine announced with a shy laugh.
“Oh, James is going to love it, Katherine. Just love it!” Mary Elizabeth called out from her seat before she rose up to assist Katherine down from in front of the mirrors.
“You look stunning, Katherine,” Lizzy whispered in her ear as she passed by her. “My James is a very lucky man.”
Katherine was pleased at Lizzy’s comment and turned to her. “Do you mind if I call you Mother? Mother-in-law sounds too prudish, plus, we’ve become so close and my own mother . . . well, you know.”
“It will be an honor for you to call me Mother,” Lizzy choked out. “And I will always call you my daughter.”
“Thank you, uh, Mother,” Katherine giggled. “Once we’re done here, would you mind dropping me off at McKeever and Son? I’d like to describe our day with James and tell him all about the dress.”
“We’d better keep that part a secret amongst us women. Don’t want to spoil the moment, if you know what I mean.”
* * * *
“Well this is a nice surprise,” James announced.
Katherine’s knock on his office door brought James out of a gloomy mood. Lizzy, Mary Elizabeth and Nellie stayed in the coach until they were sure that Katherine had made it inside safely and then headed back home to a much-needed soak in a warm bath.
“My father and I were just about to close up for the night, so you’ll just have to tag along with us while we wait for Gavin to bring our coach around to the front. How was your day? Do anything special or are you that bored that you just had to come down here to see your fiancé and brighten up his day?”
“Yes, that’s exactly it; I’m here to brighten up your day.” Katherine laughed.
“Good! James and I can both use some brightening up after our last clients; I’m telling you,” Martin could be heard saying from down the hall. “Are you sure you want to get involved with the likes of James and me? It sure seems from the sounds of our last clients that we, alone, have ruined the lives of every generation to come, especially the one with the large scar above his right eye. And I always thought you had a good rapport with him. Guess I was wrong.”
“Don’t mind him; we’ve just, well, just had a trying day,” James said as he approached Katherine with a gentle kiss. “I’m sure Gavin’s going to take a while to get our coach. He’s been swamped and then again, we didn’t even give him any notice of a time to have our coach ready.”
James reached down and gave Katherine a kiss on her cheek, which she surprisingly accepted. “So, you’ll have plenty of time to tell me all about your day, and I’ll have plenty of time to wrap my arms around you to keep you warm.”
“You two ready?” Martin finally announced as he peeked his head into James’ office.
“Ready, Papa; I mean, Mister McKeever,” James laughed.
“Yea, whatever. Let’s go, you two lovebirds.”
* * * *
Martin walked a few steps behind James and Katherine. He smiled at the sight of the two holding hands and enjoying some small talk about the day’s events. He thought back to his own walks along the Rappahannock. He’d always loved their walks, just him and Lizzy, and now he couldn’t be happier for what was ahead for his son and bride-to-be.
“Gavin’s not here yet, Papa.”
“That’s all right; kind of expected that. Didn’t give him much notice and all,” Martin replied. “Why don’t you two sit on that bench over there and I’ll keep an eye out for him. I’m sure you two can think of something to talk about other than the damn market.”
James laughed and guided Katherine towards the bench.
The first gunshot was sudden and loud. James instinctively rose, reached out to Katherine and pulled her up towards him. He jerked around and saw the look on his father’s face. With the only light coming from the street lamp, all he could see was his father’s shocked expression. He looked down and saw his father’s hands, gripping at his stomach, his face contorted with pain.
James took one step towards his father before the second shot blew off the side of Martin’s head.
Blood splattered across James and Katherine’s faces, blurring their vision. Katherine screamed. James let go of Katherine for a split second and jumped towards his father where he lay sprawled on the ground in front of him. James wiped blood off his own face with his sleeve as panic pierced his very soul. He dropped to his knees beside his father’s limp body, now laying in a pool of blood.
James rose again abruptly at the sound of Katherine’s choking plea. As he turned to face her, he saw that she was no longer on the bench but was in the grasp of an unknown assailant. The only things he could see by the dim light were that the man had a large scar above his right eye and Katherine’s frightened look of desperation. He began to yell, but it was too late. The reflection from the street lamp off the blade took his full attention as it swiped across the front of Katherine’s throat. Bile filled James’ throat. Unable to move, he watched as if in slow motion as Katherine’s eyes drove into his with one last plea for help, then became lifeless. She collapsed to the ground, blood streaming from the six-inch slash as the strange man ran into the alley and out of sight.
“No!” James screamed out as he lunged towards Katherine’s body as it fell to the cobblestone below her. He scrambled forward to reach her and wailed as he pulled her body up into his lap. His hands and clothes now saturated in her blood, he frantically wiped away her hair from her eyes and put his hand on her cheek. His cries echoed in the alleyway as he rocked the lifeless body of his beloved in his arms. “Katherine!” he sobbed. “Oh my God, no!”
The next few minutes grew eerily quiet and seemed like an eternity. James, petrified with shock, blinded by a mixture of tears and blood, looked down at his fallen girl. He forced in a breath as he turned his head to look back to where his father’s body now lay.
As he slowly turned back around, he froze. His eyes now focused not on his father, nor on his Katherine. Now his eyes were fixed on the smoking muzzle of a pistol.
A man’s voice with a deep Italian accent muttered close to James’ ear, “We trusted your father. We trusted you.”
The last blast echoed between the buildings of Wall Street. The reverberated sound was replaced by a serene sound of a breeze blowing through the surrounding trees, their leaves just beginning to turn from summer to fall. An incoming fall season, perfectly planned for a special wedding.
The sound of a horse’s hoof and the creaking of a coach’s wheels approached.
“Mister McKeever? Sorry it took so long, been awful busy tonight, sir, but I’m here now.”
“Mister McKeever?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A Crash of a Different Kind
1893
Lizzy, her hair still wet from the bath, heard a knock on the door. She grabbed her towel and twirled it around her head and tied it up behind her. She held one hand to the front of her hearty wool bathrobe and slipped on her slippers.
“Just a minute!” she yelled out.
Good God, who’d be calling at the dinner hour? Oh, if Martin’s forgot his house keys again, I’m never going to let him live it down, not this time. Lizzy laughed
at her husband’s expense. She knew it was one of Martin’s worst habits. He’s always leaving them on the hook by the door, the old fool.
As Lizzy approached the door, she let out a giggle when she eyed the dangling keys.
“Forgot your keys again, huh?”
Lizzy opened the door slightly with a tease, its small link of chain refraining it from fully opening. She peeked out, expecting to see the humility of the man she loved. Instead, she came face to face with a large man dressed in dark blue, his cap pulled tight against his head, his eyes searching for the owner.
“Ma’am, uh ma’am? I, uh, I’ve got a letter for you, ma’am,” the man stammered.
“A letter? At this time of night?”
“Yes ma’am, it’s a special delivery letter, the kind that you or the occupant has to sign for.”
Lizzy looked again at the man. He had a thick blond mustache and tiny eyes that sunk into his puffy face. She could see that the letter in question was in his left hand and from the look on his face, the man’s patience was beginning to run low.
“Yes, well, hold on and let me close the door to unhook the chain, OK?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Once back inside, the door closed and the chain re-attached, Lizzy turned the envelope over to look at the return address:
William McKeever
San Francisco, California
Lizzy gasped with delight at the name. Oh William, oh my sweet, sweet William.
She didn’t hesitate. She poured herself a glass of wine, opened up the side window to let the westerly breeze come in from the river and sat in her rocker. She looked at the envelope again. Should wait until Martin comes home.
The thought was rational. She knew that much. She listened to Mary Elizabeth and Nellie in the back of the house. Between the gossiping about boys and laughing, she knew they’d care less about a letter from their brother.
I’m doing it; I’m reading it. Martin will understand. Oh, God, forgive me, but. . . .
Lizzy adjusted her light and held the envelope close. She looked at the shadow against the wall. Thank God for Mister Edison. Never would have been able to read this with our old gas lamps, that’s for sure.