The Whisper of Morning (Kansas Crossroads Book 6) Read online

  Or it could be much more.

  With these thoughts chasing each other around in his head, he finally fell asleep.

  Chapter Three

  The light looked different that morning, as though Caroline held a piece of gauze over her eyes as she watched the sun peeking over the horizon. Everything was misty, muted, lacking some of the vibrant color that had filled the sky the day before. Was a storm coming? She looked for clouds, but there were no more than usual, drifting across the blue expanse like lace. Then she had to chuckle to herself. Her thoughts almost sounded like one of Mr. Dupree’s poems.

  She stepped back inside the hotel and closed the door behind her, wondering how much dirt had just blown all over her clean entryway. The dust in this place was unrelenting.

  “Caroline!”

  She turned toward the staircase at the panicked call. Elizabeth ran down the steps, clutching her baby daughter to her chest. “Caroline, I can’t wake Mother.”

  Caroline grabbed her skirts and took the stairs two at a time. Agatha had taken a long nap the afternoon before and looked tired and pale at dinner. Caroline had worried that they were working her too hard, and now . . . now her imagination was just taking over, she was sure. Everything would be fine. Or perhaps it wouldn’t. Perhaps . . .

  The other girls had trickled downstairs from their attic dormitory, and Caroline brushed past them as she ran down the hall toward Agatha’s room. The woman lay still, her skin alabaster, but Caroline could detect a faint breath. That gave her a measure of hope, and she pulled herself together. Someone had to be strong—someone had to know what to do. That role fell to her.

  She turned to the doorway where the girls had gathered, hovering, fear on their faces.

  “Sarah, go find Tom and send him for the pastor. Then you’ll be in charge of preparing the food for the first train. Margaret, you’ll be helping Sarah in any way you can. Elizabeth, ask Adam to fetch Dr. Wayment. Rachel, bring me a basin of water, a glass of water, and some towels.”

  Each girl disappeared as her task was assigned, and Caroline turned back to Agatha.

  “There now,” she said soothingly. “We’ll get you the help you need.” She reached out with trembling fingers and brushed Agatha’s hair back from her face. “Everything will be all right. You’ll see.” But even as she spoke the words, she doubted them. Although Agatha’s lungs seemed to be doing some better, she had been through several other illnesses as of late, and each had left her a little weaker than the one before.

  When Rachel came back with the basin, Caroline bathed Agatha’s face and hands, hoping the sensation would be enough to wake Agatha up, but the woman didn’t stir. Next, Caroline took the glass and dribbled a little water across Agatha’s lips, but she didn’t drink.

  “What else do you want me to do for her, Miss Hampton?” Rachel asked.

  Caroline shook her head. “I honestly don’t know what we can do. I’ll stay with her until the doctor gets here. Why don’t you go downstairs and see what needs to be done for the first train? And I don’t think anyone’s had breakfast.”

  Rachel nodded. “I’ll come back in a little bit and tell you how things are going, if you like.”

  “I’d like that very much. Thank you, Rachel.”

  Elizabeth entered the room just then, stepping aside so Rachel could pass her in the doorway. “I gave Rose to Harriet when she came in from her cottage,” she said. “Is there any change at all?”

  Caroline placed a hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “No. Has she ever been this ill before?”

  “No, never. This . . . this is the worst.” Elizabeth took a deep, shuddering breath. “I have to believe that she’ll be all right.”

  “And I’ll believe with you.” Caroline gave Elizabeth’s shoulder another squeeze. “We should keep trying to get her to drink. If she can swallow a little bit of water, it would help her, I’m sure.”

  Elizabeth raised her mother’s head while Caroline pressed the glass to the woman’s lips. This time, a few drops of water went inside her mouth, but she didn’t swallow. Caroline forced a smile, trying not to show the worry she felt. This was such a bad sign.

  A few moments later, Pastor Osbourne and his wife, Olivia, entered the room. The pastor took off his hat and set it on the chair by the door, then moved across the room and picked up Agatha’s hand. “She’s been a good and faithful servant,” he murmured. “We can only guess at God’s will for her now.”

  “I presume the doctor’s on his way?” Olivia asked.

  “Yes. We sent Adam for him a little while ago,” Caroline replied.

  Olivia nodded. “I hope you don’t mind an observation, but I snuck a peek in the kitchen on my way up here. I couldn’t help but notice that you’re down a few waitresses, and you’ve got a morning train about to pull in. Do you mind if I lend a hand?”

  “Oh, would you? It would be such a relief. But you’ve filled in so many times for us recently, I feel as though we’re taking you away from your good husband.”

  Olivia chuckled. “I seem to be better at serving food made by other people than I am at making it myself. It’s no bother at all, really. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll borrow an apron and put myself to work.”

  “I’ll go get Rose,” Elizabeth said. “That will free Harriet for serving. I’m sorry I won’t be down there to help too—”

  Caroline held up a hand. “Don’t say another word about it. You belong right here with your mother. I’ll get Rose.”

  As Caroline stepped into the hallway, she took a moment to compose herself. The train had just pulled in, and the girls were lined up in the lobby to greet the passengers as they came in. Harriet was there, but where was Rose?

  “Mr. Brody took her,” Harriet said in response to Caroline’s whispered question.

  A corner of Caroline’s sorrowful heart warmed at that. Her nephew might be a father to Rose in name only, but he took his role very seriously. A quick glance around told her that the girls had everything well in hand. The tables were neat, the food looked ready, and as the passengers filed in, the waitresses seated them efficiently. Even Margaret, who was still learning their routines, seemed to be doing a good job. Adam was in the lobby, ready to take payment for the meals, a sleeping baby tucked in the crook of his arm. Caroline nodded once. All was well—downstairs, at least.

  Dr. Wayment entered the lobby just then, his hair a bit disheveled and his hat in his hand. “Morning, Miss Hampton. I understand Mrs. Early’s ill.”

  “That’s right—thank you for coming. I’ll take you up.”

  As Caroline turned to lead Dr. Wayment upstairs, Mr. Dupree walked in through the front doors of the hotel, a large bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. “Ah, Miss Hampton. Just the woman I was hoping to see. May I have a word with you?”

  Caroline pressed a hand to her forehead. This was all too much—the people, the flurrying about, all the bustling to and fro. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dupree. This is the worst possible time. Dr. Wayment, please follow me.” She picked up her skirts and climbed to the second floor, leading Dr. Wayment to the room on the farthest end of the hallway.

  ***

  Wallace Dupree stood in the lobby, clutching the bouquet of flowers to his chest. He knew Miss Hampton wasn’t expecting him to come calling, but he’d never suspected that she would be so curt with him. She’d always seemed like a very genteel sort of lady.

  “May I seat you, Mr. Dupree?”

  Wallace blinked as one of the waitresses approached him. He believed her name was Rachel. “Yes, thank you. I’m rather hungry.”

  “Right this way.” She led him through the maze of tables to an empty spot near the back of the room. He liked that. As the train conductor, he needed to be back at his post before the passengers returned, and from this table, he could leave quickly when the time came.

  “What can I bring you?” Rachel asked.

  “Hmm? Oh, it doesn’t matter. Why don’t you decide for me?”

  She smiled. “Are you sure
you trust me that much? I might have terrible taste.”

  “Everything here’s good. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

  “All right, then. I’ll be back in a moment.”

  Left to himself, Wallace looked around the dining room. These were the faces of the people he’d just brought in on the train. Some had come aboard in Wichita, where his shift began. Others had come aboard farther west and looked weary of their journey already. Funny how differently they behaved on the train as compared to here in the hotel. There was an atmosphere of relaxation and welcome here, inviting the guests to take a moment to breathe deeply and enjoy their surroundings. Miss Hampton had a lot to do with that, he was sure.

  Miss Hampton. He sighed, looking at the flowers he still carried. Perhaps he’d been wrong about her, but he thought not. If he got the chance to speak with her, surely there would be an explanation.

  Rachel came back and set a plate in front of him. The delicious aroma of cornbread and baked beans drifted up to his nose, and his mouth watered. “Thank you. This looks very good indeed.”

  “I hope you enjoy it. Oh, would you like some water for your flowers? They look a little wilted in this heat.”

  Wallace looked down at his bundle, and then back up at her. “Actually, I’d like to give them to you. As thanks for suggesting a fine meal.”

  Rachel seemed a little flustered, but she took them anyway. “Thank you, Mr. Dupree.”

  After the girl stepped away from the table, Wallace dug in with a hearty appetite. His own cooking was pathetic at best, and he relied on restaurants and dining rooms to keep him fed most of the time. No one had been more glad than he when the Brody Hotel opened up just steps from the Topeka train station.

  Mr. Brody walked into the dining room just then, a sleeping baby in his arms. Wallace smothered a grin. Mr. Brody was the only man he knew who could carry an infant in one arm and a Colt on his waist at the same time, and look equally comfortable with both. He greeted the passengers as he moved through the room, extending the hotel’s hospitality, as he was becoming known for. He paused at Wallace’s table.

  “Good to see you, Mr. Dupree. How’s the train running today?”

  “She’s humming right along.” Wallace suddenly realized there was something odd about Mr. Brody bringing the baby into the dining room with him, and he glanced around. Mrs. Brody didn’t seem to be serving this meal, and there was the pastor’s wife—why was she waiting on tables? He didn’t think she worked here anymore. “Is everything all right? I just noticed that your staff seems a little . . . different than usual.”

  Mr. Brody nodded. “We’re a bit at loose ends. My mother-in-law has taken a turn for the worse, and my wife and Miss Hampton are upstairs seeing to her needs.”

  “Oh, that explains Miss Hampton’s rush earlier.” Wallace wasn’t expecting the flood of relief that washed over him. So she wasn’t pushing him aside—she was quite busy with something important. “I did see the doctor come in. I should have put two and two together.”

  Mr. Brody quirked an eyebrow. “Was there a particular reason you were curious about Miss Hampton?”

  Wallace’s mustache twitched. “I was . . . hoping to visit with her for a moment before the train left.”

  “I see.” Mr. Brody shifted the baby to his other arm. “I hope I’m not being too presumptuous with what I’m about to say, Mr. Dupree, but my aunt’s happiness and wellbeing are very important to me.”

  “Point taken, sir. And I assure you that I plan to do nothing that would interfere with either of those things.”

  Mr. Brody gave a sharp nod, then used his free hand to clap Wallace on the back. “Enjoy the rest of your meal. On the house.”

  “Thank you,” Wallace said as the hotel owner moved on to the next table. A quick glance at his pocket watch told him he had fifteen minutes before he needed to get back on the train. Miss Hampton wouldn’t be in any condition to speak with him that day even if she were to come downstairs in the next few minutes. It was just as well. He’d lost the courage he’d spent the entire journey to Topeka building up—this conversation could wait for another day. Instead, he’d have a piece of pie.

  Chapter Four

  Dr. Wayment finished listening to Agatha’s heart and stepped back. “I believe she’s had an attack,” he said as he placed his stethoscope in his bag. “Has she ever complained of her heart before?”

  “She’s experienced tightness in her chest, but we thought that was related to her lung condition,” Elizabeth said. She sank into the chair next to the bed, blindly reaching for Caroline, who immediately took her hand.

  Caroline could only imagine what Elizabeth must be suffering right now. These two women had been exceptionally close for a mother and daughter, a relationship made stronger by shared hardship.

  “It could have been related, or it could have been an undetected heart problem. The best thing to do right now is to keep her room quiet and allow her to rest. Only time will tell. She could wake up, but she might not. I can’t predict which she will do.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.”

  Caroline inwardly cringed at the suggestion to keep things quiet. There had already been so much upheaval today with everyone in and out, and they might have disturbed Agatha without even realizing it.

  “Miss Hampton, thank you for your help. I admit to finding myself a little at a loss without either Peterson sister here, but you’ve proven that all the women at the Brody are handy in an emergency.”

  “I was glad to help.” Caroline’s voice felt constricted. All she’d done was hand him a few things from his bag. Her contribution had been practically nothing—far, far less than she wanted. She itched to fix this, to make it all right, but she had to step aside and trust those who knew more than she did. She couldn’t fix everything.

  “I believe I’ll head down to the dining room and join the pastor for a slice of pie. I’ll also tell him I’m done with the examination.” Dr. Wayment paused. “Mrs. Brody, I don’t know if you’re religious. I know that I struggle with my feelings and attitudes about faith quite a bit. But I will tell you this—for those who believe, speaking with clergy at a time like this can sometimes bring comfort.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.” Elizabeth gave him a faint smile. “I do think I’d like that.”

  “I’ll be sure to ask the pastor to come back up when he’s done eating, and I’ll stop by again later this afternoon. Keep a close eye on her, and please send for me if there are any changes. You’ll be able to find me at the Dawsons’ or the Fishers’ if I’m not in my office.”

  After he closed the door behind him, Caroline sat down next to Elizabeth, and the two stood vigil in the only quiet they’d had for a few hours. Agatha’s breath was so still, Caroline had to focus intently to see the woman’s chest rise and fall.

  A few moments later, Adam stuck his head in the room. “I’m sorry to bother you, but this little lady needs her mama,” he whispered.

  “Oh, of course.” Elizabeth rose and took the child from her husband’s arms, then sat down to nurse.

  “What did the doctor say about Agatha?” Adam crept closer to the bed, peering at his mother-in-law’s face.

  “He thinks she’s had a heart attack. We’re to keep her room quiet, and all we can do is watch and see. Oh, Adam. I’m so afraid.”

  Caroline slipped out of her chair and let Adam sit down next to his wife. She would give them time together to sort out their feelings, and she most likely needed to check on the status of the dining room anyway. She was halfway down the stairs when a sudden thought popped into her mind—Mr. Dupree had wanted to speak with her, and she’d been horribly rude. She’d have to apologize the next time she saw him.

  The dining room was well under control. The doctor and the pastor sat together near the back, each eating a slice of pie. The other tables had already been stripped and reset for the afternoon train. With a nod of satisfaction, Caroline moved into the kitchen, where Rachel was just finishing up
the last of the dishes and Sarah was kneading bread.

  “Is everything all right, Miss Hampton?” Sarah asked.

  “I’m afraid not.” Caroline relayed everything the doctor had said. “All we can do is wait. How did the meal service go?”

  “It went fairly well, I thought,” Rachel said. “Margaret is learning quickly, and it was nice to have Olivia’s help, even if she did get into one small spat with a passenger. Seems that being the pastor’s wife hasn’t softened her all that much.”

  Caroline tried to hide a smile, but was unsuccessful. “I imagine it would take some sort of huge apocalyptic event to soften Olivia completely. She’s come a long way, though, hasn’t she?”

  “Well, she is outside helping Margaret and Harriet with the laundry, so we can’t complain too much.” Sarah gave a final punch to her mound of bread dough, then covered it with a towel. “We can do this, Miss Hampton. Let us do this for Elizabeth.”

  Caroline nodded. She had disliked placing the extra work and extra responsibilities on these girls, as young as they were, but they’d risen to the challenge and demonstrated unexpected maturity. “Thank you, Sarah. I will.”

  She paused before leaving the kitchen, noticing a bunch of wildflowers in a vase on the counter. “Did Mr. Dupree bring these in? I thought I noticed him carrying them.”

  “He did,” Rachel said. “He gave them to me as thanks for his meal, but I know that wasn’t what he meant to do with them. It was sort of an afterthought. Although, I wouldn’t mind if he brought me flowers. He’s rather handsome, don’t you think?”