The Bitter and the Sweet (Kansas Crossroads Book 9) Read online

  “And now my aunt’s in poor health and needs me to come to Denver for a visit,” Sarah concluded. “I never did tell her what happened, so she doesn’t know that I never want to go back there again, but under these conditions, that doesn’t really matter. She all but became my mother when my own died.”

  Giselle’s mouth had dropped open more than once during Sarah’s story, and now her eyes were big. “Of course you’ll go, won’t you?”

  “Of course. I haven’t talked to Mr. Brody about it yet, but I’d like to be on tomorrow’s train.”

  Giselle nodded. “It’s the right thing to do. And I’m sure no one will even remember—someone else will have had an even bigger scandal in the meantime, and all the focus will be on them.”

  “And I feel very sorry for them, in that case.” Sarah gave the plate she held an extra-good scrubbing, not because it needed it, but because she needed to vent her frustration with the whole situation. “I’ve never understood why some people consider it sport to laugh at others.”

  “I suppose it makes them feel better about themselves.” Giselle set down the plate she’d just dried and then laid a hand on Sarah’s arm. “You’ll be fine. You’ll spend most of your time at your cousin’s house with your aunt anyway, and there’s no need to make a public appearance at all. If you feel comfortable skipping church, that is. I know you go every week here.”

  “I do try to go regularly, but I can’t help but think that God might forgive me for not attending in Denver.” Sarah gave a rueful smile. “I think I’d better talk to Mr. Brody while I still have my courage. Do you mind finishing these last few dishes?”

  “I don’t mind at all.” Giselle gave her a quick hug. “Everything will be all right. You’ll see.”

  Sarah wasn’t so sure, but she appreciated her friend’s optimism.

  ***

  “Of course you must go,” Mr. Brody said before Sarah had even finished posing her question. “Take as much time as you need. We finally have enough staff—I think—and your aunt needs you.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Brody. I appreciate it a great deal. I wouldn’t go if it weren’t important.”

  “I know that, Sarah. I also know that you’ve been perhaps my most diligent employee. I can’t remember you ever taking a sick day, and I know full well that you’re often in the kitchen baking well into the night. Your loyalty isn’t even remotely in question.” He pulled a few bills from his desk drawer and thumbed through them before handing them to her. “Here’s an advance on your wages. You’ll need some traveling money, I’m sure.”

  Sarah did have a small coin purse of savings upstairs in her room, but she didn’t know how far that would stretch, so she was grateful for Mr. Brody’s generosity. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Mr. Brody leaned forward in his desk chair and fixed her with a look. “You’ll be gone until all your family obligations are met. Don’t give us a second thought. We’ll make things work without you, and when you return, your job will be secure.”

  Without warning, tears sprang to Sarah’s eyes. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”

  He gave a nod. “Now be off with you. You’ve got a ticket to purchase and a bag to pack.”

  “You’re right. I do.” She took a deep breath. “I’d best get busy.”

  Chapter Five

  Denver, Colorado

  1875

  George Howard paced up and down in front of his two sons, his fists clenched at his sides. “I give certain orders in regards to how this railroad is run, and I expect those orders to be obeyed. That doesn’t just apply to the engineers and the baggage handlers, but to my sons.”

  “Of course, Father,” Gilbert replied. “I wouldn’t expect it any other way.”

  “I wouldn’t either, but he . . .” George turned and jabbed a finger at Stephen. “He seems to think he knows better.”

  “I’m not trying to usurp your authority, Father. I just believe there are more ethical ways to handle the situation.”

  “Ethical? Are you calling me unethical?”

  Stephen took a deep breath. He’d always suspected that his father wasn’t entirely honest, but over the last few years of working in the office, he’d come to know it for a fact. The ledgers weren’t being kept correctly. Shipments were being weighed inaccurately. All along the way, dollars and pennies were being tucked away, and Stephen would bet all he had that they’d show up sooner or later in his father’s pocket. Now it was a dispute over wages, and he had to speak up. He couldn’t let his father’s greed impact the lives of the workers—they made so little as it was.

  Stephen’s long silence must have been all the answer George needed. His face began to turn a curious color somewhere between red and purple. “Listen here, young man. I’ve given you everything you have, and yet you insist on throwing it away with your holy morals and your superior attitude. I held my tongue when you chose to move out of our house—the house I built after years of hard work—as if it somehow didn’t meet with your righteous approval. But you will not tell me how to run my business. You will do as you’re told, and there will be no complaints.”

  Stephen glanced over at his brother. Gilbert looked as though he’d been turned to stone by Medusa. “I can’t do that, Father. If you won’t listen to reason and do right by these people, I’ll have to leave your employ.”

  George gave one quick, sharp nod. “Very well. We’ll be better off without you—infinitely better.”

  Stephen turned on his heel and strode out of the office. He was so angry, he almost wasn’t thinking rationally. His father would never listen to reason, would never admit that he’d been wrong, would never make restitution for everything he’d stolen. It was better for Stephen to be as far away from the man as he could get.

  His thoughts and emotions were warring so loudly in his head that he almost didn’t hear the voice calling out behind him. He turned and found Mr. Hennessy chasing after him.

  “Wait a moment,” Mr. Hennessy called out, then came up alongside him and stopped running. “Your father just told me that you’ll no longer be working in his office.”

  “That’s right.” Stephen wondered what else his father had said. He was sure it wasn’t pleasant, but Mr. Hennessy didn’t seem upset or bothered by anything.

  “I wondered if you’d come work in my department,” Mr. Hennessy went on. “I can’t seem to find a good head of ticket sales anywhere, and I can’t do everything myself. It’s not humanly possible.”

  Ticket sales—the one area Stephen’s father had never been able to tamper with. The one area he could be sure was being run with integrity. “I think I’d like that, Mr. Hennessy.”

  “Excellent. Can you start tomorrow morning?”

  “I’ll be here bright and early.”

  As Stephen walked back to his rented room, he thought over what had just happened. He’d only been without a job for a few minutes—amazing. But what should he do about his father? Of course, turning him in would be the right thing to do, but his father was a cunning man and had destroyed all the evidence as he went, fabricated paperwork, and told any number of lies. The only reason Stephen even knew about it was that he’d been there the whole time—it would come down to conflicting testimonies, and Stephen didn’t think anyone would ever believe him. His father was too prominent in Denver society. He would just have to wait for destiny to play her hand.

  Chapter Six

  Denver, Colorado

  1875

  Sarah stepped off the train in Colorado and glanced around, then lowered her head as she worked through the crowd. She’d only brought a small satchel with her, small enough that she’d kept it with her rather than putting it on the baggage car. She’d wanted to get to her cousin’s house as quickly as possible, and the thought of having to wait for her things to be unloaded hadn’t set well with her.

  She was nearly to the edge of the platform when she heard someone call out her name. “Miss Palmer! Is that you?”

/>   She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. No. This couldn’t be happening. But it was, and she turned to look up into the inquisitive eyes of Stephen Howard.

  “Hello, Mr. Howard,” she choked out. “How pleasant to see you.” Oh, dear. First she’d decided to skip church, and now she was lying. God would most definitely not be pleased.

  “Miss Palmer, the pleasure is all mine.” He gave her a little bow. “What brings you back to Denver?”

  “My aunt isn’t feeling well, and her doctor felt it would do her good if I came.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that, but I can’t say I’m sorry that you’re here.” He looked up at the sky, and Sarah noticed for the first time that a light snow had begun to fall. “May I offer you a ride? I’m finished with my errand, and I’m entirely at your disposal.”

  Sarah’s mind flashed back to the last ride he’d given her, that horrible night of his parents’ party. He must have remembered it too because he hastened to add, “Unless you’d rather not. I’d be glad to help you find a cab for hire.”

  She was probably just being silly. There was no reason to let her memories of the past determine what she did that day. “I’d appreciate the ride, Mr. Howard. There’s no need to find a cab when you’re right here and willing.”

  His face split into a wide grin. “Excellent. My carriage is right over here. Do you have any other luggage?”

  “No, just this one bag.”

  “That makes things simpler, then.” He took her satchel and led the way, then gave her a boost into her seat.

  As they drove, Sarah kept her attention on the buildings and homes they passed. She didn’t want to meet his curious gaze or even look at him, for that matter. She didn’t want to see pity on his face or a remembrance of the last time they’d seen each other. She hadn’t planned to see him on this trip—him or any of the Howards. At least it hadn’t been Gilbert at the station. That would have been a million times worse.

  “How have you been, Miss Palmer?” Stephen asked as he guided the horse onto the next street. “When your aunt moved here, I was rather concerned as to your welfare, since you didn’t come with her.”

  Sarah raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you were taking note of what was going on in my life.”

  “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to sound nosy. I was just concerned.”

  Sarah pressed her lips together. “And I didn’t mean to speak sharply. Let me be honest, Mr. Howard. Being here is very uncomfortable for me. I’d just as soon forget that last summer even happened, concentrate on my aunt and her health, and give my cousin a hand. No extra complications, please, and no pity. I absolutely could not abide pity.”

  He cast her a glance. “Understood. Would you also like me to keep it a secret from my family that you’re here? I’m sure they’ll find out eventually, but at least they wouldn’t hear it from me.”

  “I’d appreciate that. And now, no more mentions of it, all right? Let’s pretend that you and I are just getting to know each other. You asked how I was doing. Well, I’ve been working at the Brody Hotel in Topeka since this summer. I’m the cook, and I get to spend my days inventing new recipes and baking to my heart’s content. I’m truly very happy there.” She turned to face him more directly. “And what about you? Are you still working for your father at the railroad?”

  Stephen suddenly looked a little uncomfortable. “I’m still with the railroad, but I don’t work directly with my father anymore. We had a parting of the ways, I guess you could say, a few days ago.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

  He glanced her way again. “I would think that you’d be happy for me.”

  Sarah was surprised at this. “Why would I be happy? That sounds like a terrible thing to me.”

  “It was terrible because families aren’t supposed to fight, but it was a good thing because now I’m able to be my own man.”

  “Then I suppose I am happy for you.” Sarah gripped the edge of the seat to quiet her nervous hands. “My perspective on family fighting might be different from yours. I lost my parents several years ago, and I’d give anything to have them back again. I can’t imagine any fight that’s worth having if it means tearing people apart.”

  “I can.” Stephen gave the reins another flick. “When your family is starting to follow a moral code that is not your own, it’s time to take a stand. It hasn’t been pleasant, but I can respect myself and what I do.”

  “Oh. That does sound serious. I apologize if I judged you too harshly.” She wondered if her cheeks were as red as they felt. She hadn’t meant to lecture him—she hadn’t even meant to speak to him. But now, it seemed she couldn’t keep her opinions to herself at all.

  “No, you’re right. Family fights are usually small and petty. This, though—well, I shouldn’t say more. It’s not my story to tell. And here we are, anyway.” He brought the horse and carriage to a stop, then came around the other side and helped her down.

  “Let me carry my satchel, please,” she said as he lifted it from the back. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”

  “No, not at all.” He hefted it to his other hand almost jauntily. “Seeing you to the door is the most important thing I’ve done all day.”

  She shrugged. “Well, far be it from me to take away your sense of importance. Follow me.”

  They were only halfway up the walk when Felicity opened the front door, and three little boys came pouring out. Sarah bent over and held out her arms to give them all hugs.

  “Boys! You aren’t even wearing your coats! Get back in here this minute!” Then Felicity brought herself up short. “Oh, good afternoon, Mr. Howard. You’ll forgive me—it’s been a trying day.”

  “Not at all. I was just thinking what a nice collection of children you have here.” Stephen nodded to Felicity, then turned to Sarah. “I’ll set your bag just inside the front door and be on my way.”

  She nodded, her arms still full of boys. “Thank you. I appreciate the ride.”

  “Even if I was the last person on earth you wanted to see?”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “You were perhaps the second-to-last person I wanted to see. Gilbert still holds that title.”

  “I’m always being upstaged by my little brother.” Stephen moved up onto the porch, set the bag inside, and came back out. “I hope you have a good visit, and that your aunt recovers soon.” He touched the brim of his hat and was gone, the snow on the road muffling the sound of his horse’s hooves.

  Sarah watched him go for a moment before the boys tugged her back to reality. “I need to go see Aunt Clasby,” she told them. “Is she sleeping?”

  “She’s always sleeping.” Charlie, the middle boy, looked displeased about it.

  “That’s because she’s ill. Ill people need to sleep,” said James, the oldest.

  “Well, let’s go inside because it’s freezing out here, and then we can sneak in and see if she’s awake.” Sarah took little Karl’s hand, and they all climbed the steps to the porch.

  The warmth of the house made her cold cheeks tingle. She took off her coat and shook the snowflakes from the shoulders before she hung it up in the entryway. “Now, I also understand that you have a new brother,” she said, keeping her face very straight.

  Karl shook his head.

  “You don’t? Did someone tell me a lie? I thought for sure they said there was a baby in this house.”

  “There is one, but it’s not a brother,” Charlie said, taking her hand. “Come and see.”

  “But what other kind is there?” Sarah asked. “I thought there were only boy babies.”

  Charlie gave her a look as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “There are girl babies too, Cousin Sarah.”

  “What? Are you sure?”

  “Of course. We have one. And here she is!” He led her up to a cradle in the front room, where a tiny pink bundle lay.

  “Oh, Felicity, she’s beautiful.” Sarah reached out to stroke the baby’s cheek,
but stopped herself just in time. Her hands were probably like ice from the chill outside. She’d wait until she’d warmed up before touching such tender skin.

  Her cousin smiled. “She’s been quite a change from the boys already. She sleeps most of the time, and as long as she’s fed and dry, she has nothing but smiles for us all.”

  “What did you name her?”

  “John wanted something similar to my name for our daughter, so we chose Charity. If he’d had his way, the boys would have been named after virtues as well, but I had to draw the line.” Felicity smiled. “Let me go check on Mother. She’s usually asleep at this time of day, but maybe she’ll surprise me this time.”

  Sarah felt a tug on her skirt and looked down. Karl gazed at her with solemn eyes. “Did you bring me a present?” he all but whispered.

  She bent over and whispered back, “Yes, I did, and I’ll give it to you after dinner.”

  A slow smile crossed his face, and he looked down at the floor almost shyly. Sarah was willing to bet that Felicity had warned the boys not to ask about gifts, but his curiosity had won out.

  Felicity stepped back into the room. “Mother is sleeping, but we can have some tea while we wait for her to wake up. It’s unusually cold today—I think we’ll have soup with our dinner tonight. Weather like this calls for hot food and drink.”

  Sarah followed her cousin into the kitchen and poured out the tea while Felicity arranged a plate of cookies and tiny sandwiches. Sarah hadn’t realized how hungry she was, but suddenly, she felt like she could eat the entire plate’s worth of food by herself.

  “I was rather surprised to see Stephen Howard just now,” Felicity said as she sat at the table. Her tone of voice was casual—very casual, and Sarah bit back a smile.