Matthew stirred and opened one eye.
"Merry Christmas!" a grin broke out over Brian's face.
Matthew groaned. He looked out the window and saw the sky was still black. "Brian, what time is it?"
Brian shrugged. "I don't know. I can't tell time yet."
"Yeah, well you better get back ta bed before you wake Pa up and make him real mad."
Brian let out a huff. He stepped over to Colleen's bed, and was about to wake her when -
"Don't even think about it, Brian," Colleen warned. "I'm *not gettin' up."
Sighing loudly and with his shoulders sagging, he let them go back to sleep. Quietly, he pulled on his pants, leaving his nightshirt on. There was no use going to the other side of the curtain and checking his stocking. He'd have to wait till everyone else was up before he could empty it. He slipped on his boots and went outside.
The cold air hit him full in the face. He shivered, enjoying tremendously the fact that his coat, scarf, hat, and mittens weren't on. No one was there to tell him what to do!
The snow was deliciously deep, almost up to the little boy's knees. Faint beams of light was just beginning to show over the horizon.
A peculiar sight caught his eye. He looked down to his left and saw the tracks of an animal. Cool! he thought. The tracks wandered farther to the west and he began following them. Where did they end? His imagination took him away as he imagined what he'd find at the end of his journey. He walked, head down...and nearly crashed into someone.
"Whoa! Brian?"
Brian looked up in surprise. "Sully? Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, " Sully returned. "What are you doing out here?"
"I uh..." Brian stuttered.
Sully's eyes narrowed. "Where's your coat? Your hat? Your mittens?" With each question, Sully's voice grew more and more incredulous. Without another word, he slipped off his coat and wrapped the little boy in it. He picked him up. "What were you doin', Brian?" he asked him.
"I only, wanted to follow the tracks," Brian began in a whiny voice.
Sully let out a laugh. Brian enjoyed seeing that. "What's so funny, Sully?" he asked.
Sully couldn't answer, he was laughing so hard. When he finally caught his breath, he gasped out, "Do you know what kind of animal makes those tracks?"
Brian shook his head.
"A wolf," he told him. "Just like this one.' He stepped aside, and for the first time, Brian saw Sully's pet.
"Is that a real wolf?" He asked in shock.
Sully nodded. "Yep. You can pet him if you wan, he won't hurt ya."
He bent down and Brian gingerly reached out his hand. The wolf gave it a lick. Brian giggled.
"What's his name?" he wondered. "Ho'nehe," Sully said quickly without thinking.
"Ho - ne-" Brian began haltingly.
"Wolf, his name is wolf," Sully made it easier.
Brian looked up. "That's a good name for a wolf."
Sully laughed again. "Thanks. I thought so too." He grew more serious. "Brian, does your Ma know you're out here?"
Brian's face began to crumple. "I just wanted to get up, and no one else did, and it's no' fair-"
"Whoa," Sully said. "Does Charlotte know you're out here?"
"No," Brian gave in.
"Don't you think she might be worried? I mean ya came out here, with no wraps on..."
"Yeah," said Brian in a small voice. He threw his arms around Sully. "I'm sorry Sully!"
Sully held him close. "C'mon," he told the little boy. "I'll bring ya back."
"Aren't you gonna come in with me?" Brian asked him.
Sully shook his head, silent.
"Why not?" Brian pestered him.
"I gotta go do something."
"What?"
"Just something," Sully left it at that.
Sully spent the rest of the day outside a certain homestead.
JANUARY 1865
It was a cold and blustery day, and Ethan didn't want to stay outside any longer than he absolutely had to. He wrapped his muffler more securely and was about to walk into the saloon, when he heard someone calling his name.
"Mr. Cooper!"
He turned around and saw Horace standing in the doorway of the telegraph office, waving a sheet of paper.
He groaned. "What is it, Horace," he asked, annoyed.
"I got a telegram for ya," Horace told him. He was about to hand to Ethan when it slipped through his hands and floated to the ground.
Clumsy fool, Ethan thought to himself. He and Horace bent down to pick it up at the same time, bumping heads.
"Ow!" Ethan exclaimed angrily.
Horace looked at him sheepishly, rubbing his head. "Sorry about that, Mr. Cooper," he said, holding the paper up as if a peace offering.
Ethan grabbed it from him. He turned away.
"Ain't ya gonna read it?" Horace asked him.
Ethan ignored him and walked out of the building. A telegram? He'd never gotten a telegram before. How was he gonna read it? He thought it over...then walked back into the post office.
"Uh...Horace," he told the man. "I've uh...forgotten my glasses at home, and I'm afraid I can't read without them. Would you mind reading it to me?"
Horace stared at him. "Sure...if ya sure it ain't too personal." He took the sheet of paper. "It's from a Mr. Charles Townsend, San Francisco, California...."
Horace continued. "Business is going well STOP Please reconsider and come STOP No notice needed STOP."
Horace looked up. "It ends kinda short right there. Please consider what, Mr. Cooper?"
Ethan was annoyed. This dimwit didn't have enough sense to stay out of other people's business.
"I have a friend who's moving to Colorado Springs," he lied. "Wants me to go into business with him. I'm just helping him out."
"Oh," Horace accepted that.
"Yeah, well, thank you very much." Ethan took the telegram back. "And mind you don't go repeatin' this to anyone."
"Oh, no sir," Horace blinked. "I took an oath!"
Ethan shook his head as he went out the door. He crossed the street and headed towards the saloon. My it was cold, and getting colder.
The building glowed outdoors. Ethan could feel its warmth, and pictured himself downing a nice apple brandy. Just to hit the spot on this winter day!
"Howdy Hank," he told the saloon keeper as he sat down at the bar.
"Ethan," the man greeted him back. "Didn't 'spect to see you here for awhile."
Ethan was confused. "What're you talkin' 'bout?" He laughed. "I always come in here. Gotta keep up wit' my friends!"
Hank looked at him. "Yeah, well," he hesitated. "I just figgered with the news and all-"
"Yeah, Cooper, ain't ya heard?" a voice called out behind him.
Ethan swiveled around on his seat. "Heard - what?" He asked, very precisely.
Hank suddenly became very aware of his surroundings. "Um, so what can I get for you?" he asked Ethan.
Ethan ignored him. "Heard - what?" he demanded again.
The loud, raucous Saloon became eerily quiet. No one spoke for a moment, then a lone voice sounded, penetrating the silence.
"The mine went bust. Ain't no gold or silver here, ain't nothin' left a t'all. Miners are outta work, we gotta fend for ourselves now, make a new livin' doin' somethin' else."
Hank didn't wait for an order, just dropped a glass of whiskey in front of Ethan. "Drink up," he told the man.
Ethan turned back on his chair to face the bar. Hank could see his pale face. Damn...
Ethan looked down at his hands for one moment, the news sinking into him. The mine... had gone... bust. Bust. Any way he looked at it, it was over. Any dream he'd have of ever striking it rich was gone.
He picked up his whiskey glass and threw it against the wall, shattering the glass and spraying the drink everywhere. "To hell with all a ya!" He got up and stormed out.
The cold air smacked him in the face. So, this is how it was gonna be. He looked at his silver pocketwatch for the time. Ahh, the one bit of silver he owned. By George, he had gotten it, one way or another.
4:20 - it was getting late. Charlotte would be preparing dinner, the kids would be home... he wouldn't have time to pack tonight, probably. No, he'd make the time. Not that he had much to pack, a small suitcase would do.
He mounted his horse and took off for home. He debated what to do. Should he ride or take the stagecoach from Denver to San Francisco? He didn't dare take it from Colorado Springs - that would be stupid. All he knew is that he was getting out of Colorado Springs one way or another. To hell with Colorado Springs, what had it ever done for him? He'd come here for silver- not only had he not found it, nothing had gone right for him here. Charlotte - he thought of her bitterly - had practically run away with some widower turned Injun, making him look like a fool in front of the town. So what if CS didn't like Byron Sully? Charlotte did.
Sully knew how to read, knew how to write, he didn't know any of that. Byron Sully knew the best fishing spots were -where he took Brian and Matthew (when he agreed to come). Byron Sully had made his wife happy.
Ethan didn't know how to do any of those things.
He tossed his head back angrily. Well, who needed 'em? He was about to embark on a whole new life. California was ahead of him, and with it came new promises of its riches. Townsend had all but promised him that. A whole new life - he smiled at the thought. He'd come back for his family, someday. Someday when he'd ride back into CS dressed like a dandy, with lots of money in his pocket and a whole business behind him. Someday when Charlotte would look at him the way she looked at Byron Sully, when the kids were older and could look up to him as well. Someday. He smiled at the thought.
He neared the homestead, dismounted and put the horse away. He entered the house. Charlotte looked up from the stove. "Hi honey," she told him, coming over to give him a kiss.
He smiled. Only one more day. "Hi, Char," he told her, draping his arms around her and giving her a long, deep kiss.
She was surprised. It'd been so long since he'd shown his affection so much. "You're in a good mood!"
He nodded. "Sure am." He took the spoon she was holding from her hand and placed it back in the pot on the stove. "Whatcha makin' for dinner?"
"You'll see," she smiled broadly. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again. God, she loved him so much.
"Hi Pa!" the voice of Brian came from down below. Ethan pulled away from his wife and swung his little boy into his arms.
"And how are you?" he asked. Charlotte stepped away, smiling at the scene.
"I'm good, Pa! Look what I made!" Brian held up a drawing.
"Well, well, that is gorgeous!" Ethan said. He put the boy back down. "Hey kiddo," he called over to Matthew.
Matthew barely looked up. "Hi Pa."
Colleen looked up from her book. "Hi Pa!!!" She ran over to him.
"My my, you look beautiful today," he told his only daughter. She smiled and blushed. "Really, Pa?"
He nodded. "Do I lie?"
Colleen smiled and hugged herself.
Ethan walked into his bedroom. He pulled out a small bag from underneath the bed. Opening the bureau, he withdrew an outfit and packed it away, along with his revolver.
Was that it? Was that all he needed? He surveyed the room. Charlotte was keeping most of it, she should be happy with that. How kind was he being, leaving her the homestead, the garden? She should be grateful, he thought.
A new idea waved over him. The stagecoach, how was he to book a fare on the stagecoach? Money, he needed money.
ARGHH!! He threw up his hands in disgust and sat down on the bed. Why was it always so difficult for him. Why didn't anything ever work out for him? Why him?!
A thought crossed his mind. Charlotte had money stashed away somewhere, he knew she had to. That was just the kind of woman she was. Always savin' for a rainy day. He quickly looked up and down the room. Standing up, he looked through the drawers, then under the bed. Nothing. A brainstorm came to him. He pulled the straw tick mattress partially off.
There it was.
Ethan greedily grabbed Charlotte's money sock and kissed it. His ticket out of here. He stuffed it into his bag and hid it all under the bed. Smiling, he came out of the room. "C'mon children, let's set the table!!" He clapped his hands together. "Tonight, we're eating like a real family!!"
Sunlight filtered through the bedroom window, hitting her face. She stirred slightly, moaning. She didn't want to wake up. A smile grew upon her face, as she remembered the previous night of passion with her husband, the first in a long time.
It was late now, she knew, but still she didn't want to get up. Flinging her arm to the other side of the bed, she felt for her husband.
He wasn't there. Squinting, she finally opened her eyes. The other side of the bed was bare.
Slowly, she sat up, pushing the bedclothes off her hesitantly, the warmth leaving her bed.
Funny, she always got up before Ethan did. She sighed out loud. It had probably gotten too late, and he had gone to do the chores. It was so sweet of him to let her sleep for a little while longer. She smiled again.
She stretched, and finally got up. Walking to the bureau, she quickly undid her loosely braided hair from the night before. She brushed it vigorously, then wound it tightly around her head, pinning it into a tight bun.
That being done, she dressed quickly, and went out to start the stove fire. Soon it was merrily crackling, lending some warmth to room. Putting on her overcoat and muffler, she went outside to collect the daily eggs. After coming back in, she pushed aside the curtain to the children's room and called out, "Matthew, Colleen, Brian - time to get up!"
She heard Brian groan as he got out of bed. Smiling, she let the curtain fall and began to prepare breakfast.
Matthew came out first from behind the curtain. "Hey sweetie," she greeted him, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Go call your father in for breakfast? He's probably in the barn."
Matthew nodded, put on his wraps, and headed into the frosty outdoors, only to return a few minutes later. Charlotte was busy at the stove when she heard her son call out, "Ma?"
She turned, and saw him standing there, pale. "Matthew! Are you feeling alright? Land sakes, son, sit down!" She started to usher him to the chair but he refused. "I'm okay, Ma."
"What is it then?" she demanded.
"Pa's not in the barn," he told her. "And Silver's missin'."
She didn't miss a beat. "Oh, he must've gone to town early."
Matthew looked down at his boots and swallowed hard before answering. "I don't think so, Ma."
"No?" She continued, frying the eggs. "Maybe he went to work early."
Her eldest son walked behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "No, Ma, he didn't."
She felt her throat close. "No? What makes you so sure?" She was trying to keep her voice steady and innocent.
"Ma, the mine closed down two days ago."
She dropped the spatula. "What?"
" 'Member how I went to town for ya yesterday?" Charlotte nodded mutely. "The whole town was talkin' 'bout it. Seems the mine went bust."
It was silent for a moment, after which Charlotte picked up the spatula and continued frying. "Then he went to town," she said matter-of-factly.
"Ma?" she heard Matthew say. He turned her around and saw the tears in her eyes. She saw her money sock in his hands. "I found this in the barn," he told her gently. "It...it was empty, Ma."
She was speechless. "Empty?" She grabbed a hold of it. "He wouldn't...he couldn't!" Tears began to pour out of her eyes. "Oh Matthew!" She reached for him. Matthew held his mother tightly.
In the middle of the night, Matthew woke up, hearing sounds of his mother's crying on the other side of the small house. He sighed, looking over at his siblings to make sure they hadn't heard. Getting up, he plunged his feet into his boots and silently stole to his mother's room.
The sobs grew louder as he came nearer to the room, and he set his jaw and clenched his hands. Damn his father! Damn Ethan! He thought vehemently. His Pa, how could his Pa do this to them, to his Ma? He shook violently, straining to keep the tears back.
He paused outside his mother's room, hand about to knock on the closed door. "Ethan!" He heard her sob quietly. "Why? Please, just tell me why? Wasn't I a good enough wife? A good enough mother? I shouldn'ta left when you were mad over Sully, I shoulda stayed and tried to explain more. He was just a friend, I promise. I'm sorry! Please, come back, I'm so sorry..." Her cries became muffled.
Matthew dropped his hand to his side, and quietly sank to floor outside the door, drawing in his knees. Finally, the tears came, and quietly wracked his body as he thought of the pain his Ma was going through.
Finally, he raised his head, tears still streaming down his face. A look of resolution and determination was upon him. "Ain't nobody gonna break us apart," he said with resolve.
"I swear it."