Part 7
Lexington, Kentucky Rebecca walked into the Post Office, and asked the Post Master General to send a telegram to New York City to a Suzanne O'Gradey. "Say, attention Suzanne O'Gradey, stop. Jeremy has been injured, stop. Your presence is required, stop. Please come to Lexington, Kentucky, stop. Go to the Logan household, stop. Signed, Rebecca." Rebecca told the man. "Okay, it's sent. That'll be 15 cents, ma'am," he said. Rebecca paid the man and left hoping that Suzanne would see the telegram soon.
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New York City, Jockey Club
The woman looked at her cards then held her hand close to her bosom. She glanced at the men surrounding her at the table. Her eyes sparkled, and she winked at the man across the table. "Well boys, I guess I'll call," she said with a false southern accent The men laughed, and laid their cards out on the table. She laid her hand last with a small giggle. " I think I won again, is that so? I do believe that I beat all of you again. It must be my lucky day," she grinned from ear to ear as she took the pot. The men marveled at her amazing ability to cheat them out of their money. They never knew how she did it, and she was so suave. "Well gentlemen, I'm feeling a bit faint," she said while feigning a yawn. "And I missed lunch thanks to our friendly little game." She said.
She turned to the man standing at her side. "Mr. Liam, I do believe that you have recently come into some cash, would you like to escort me to lunch?" she slyly put in. "Why Ms. O'Gradey, whatever do you mean?" Liam retorted. She shot him a nasty look, but played along. "I do believe that you have won a bet, and that I was a major factor in it. So the least you could do is offer me lunch," she responded. Liam smiled, and said, " I assure you that I am an upright, and well bred man, and I would never be involved in any betting, but I would surely love to take you to lunch." He then crooked his arm, and she took it at the elbow, and they began to leave.
While they were walking away Suzanne elbowed Liam in the side. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Ms. O'Gradey." He laughed at her, "then change it," he said. Suzanne caught where he was going, "to what, hummn, well I guess I would have to go man hunting, because the good Lord knows that there is no one around here..." she cut off when Liam started to tickle her.
When they were walking out a boy came running in. Panting and out of breath, he grabbed at Suzanne's arm. "Ms. Suzanne, Ms. Suzanne...." He said between breaths. Suzanne knelt down on one knee, "calm down, it's okay, just take a deep breath and start slowly," she said helpfully as she laid a hand on his shoulder with a smile. Liam noticed how good she was with children, and how her eyes looked so kind, she would make a wonderful mother some day. "There is a telegram for you at the Post Office... it's urgent." He said, as he collapsed to the floor.
Suzanne smiled and rubbed the boys shoulder gratefully, she reached into her pocket, and removed some coins from her new bounty. "Thanks for the scoop," and she turned to Liam. "I will have to take a rain check on lunch..." but Liam held up his hand, "My carriage is right outside, we can stop on the way to lunch." Liam helped Suzanne into the carriage and told the coachman to take them to the Post Office.
Once on the way, Liam turned and looked at Suzanne. Eyebrows raised and head cocked to the side, he scolded Suzanne, " you know that you should not let the children speak to you in such an informal manner." Suzanne took an exaggerated deep sigh, and looked to the sky. " Liam, my love, how many times do I have to tell you..." she started, but Liam finished, " that you don't like to be treated like you are superior, all people are the same, and you like everyone to see you as an equal, that way everybody can talk to you....I know, I know, but it's still not proper for a lady of your stature."
Suzanne laughed and rolled her eyes as they arrived at the Post Office, "when was I ever proper... "she choked out as she stepped out of the carriage. Liam stumbled after her, she knew that Liam always liked to be proper, and her getting out without his escort would really bother him. " Suzanne." he wined, she took a deep breath, and said, "oh, all right," and accepted his escort.
He smiled in triumph, and led her into the Post Office. Suzanne just shook her head, and thought of how easy it was to placate him. She walked up to the counter, and asked the man for a telegram that had arrived for Suzanne O'Gradey. He smiled and handed he a piece of paper. She looked at Liam and raised her eyebrows, "you know, I'm getting more popular by the minute..." and her voice trailed off. Liam knew by the look in her eyes that something was terribly wrong. He stepped forward, and pulled her into a gentle embrace. "What is it. " he whispered. "I have to go to Kentucky, " she said and she turned to face him, "it's very important, " she stressed. "I'll go with you..." he started, but she placed her hand on his chest and shook her head no. " I need to do this alone, besides you just can't leave, who will run the business..." She said, her eyes lowered as the hurt expression came across his face. "But," he started, but she turned and left him standing there, staring at the spot where she stood.
He shook his head and ran after her. He caught up with her outside the inn where she was staying. He grabbed her arm, and spun her around to face him. She dropped the telegram from her hand as she spun. Protocol be damned. He had lost her once, never again. "No, you can't just walk away with no explanations," he said angrily. She looked up into his eyes and saw his pain. "I'm sorry, it's Jeremy. I'll come back, I promise," she said, she didn't have time to explain, " I have to go," she turned, tears in her eyes as she ran away.
He turned, angry and frustrated. He couldn't just watch her go, then he saw the paper laying on the ground. He bent down and picked it up, read it, and called for his carriage.
Continued...