“Though you may be surprised to hear me say it, I am aware. However, I now find myself utterly at a loss. Sleeping on all of this is the only solution I can think of at the moment.” Samuel took the napkin from his lap, folded it, and stood up. “It’s been a long day and now it’s time. I must take my leave. Thank you everyone for your kindnesses, both to Charlotte and to me. I look forward to continuing these conversations. And with that, I wish you all a good night.”
As soon as the door shut, there was commotion of another sort. “You’re married?” Ada shrieked.
“My thoughts exactly,” Ellis said.
“And you didn’t even tell me? You didn’t invite us? Who stood up for you? Where was your dress? You could have worn my gold ear drops. Joseph Beacham?”
“I was never at a wedding,” Miller said.
“I never was either.”
“Small and quiet was just the way it needed to be,” Charlotte said. Chace was watching her. “For the ones getting married anyway.”
“Now it’ll be me baking the cake,” Ada said. “You’ll have to tell me how to do it.”
“No cake.”
“There’ll be a cake. And a party. Do you think Grandfather will come?”
“I’m unsure of anything about Grandfather right now,” Charlotte said.
42
42
Breakfast alone with Samuel in his room was a revelation, elegant furniture, embossed official china, pork cutlets, French coffee.
“Delicious,” Charlotte said. “If this is breakfast, I can’t wait to see lunch.”
“It seems there’s a fairly large gap, perhaps call it a canyon, between the ranks,” Samuel said.
“Whatever it is, I’m very glad, for the moment anyway, to be on your side of it.”
He let his eyes rest on her. “You live this entirely different life now. In a fort. With four children. I saw what you’re doing for them. The sketches. The books everywhere.”
“That part came easily. It’s only what you did for me.”
“I saw the amazing drawings of the buffalo too.” Charlotte waited. “You realize that there is no way I could possibly have been expecting any of this, any of what he is.”
“Believe me, neither of us expected any of it either. The first time I saw him, I held the Colt on him. I was scared to death.”
“And what did he do?”
“Nothing. He has no fear, not even of an unsteady woman with a revolver. That’s just who he is.”
“You told him about the Family.”
“Yes, I did. Think about what he already knew just from looking at me and where I was, out there all alone. But that’s behind us. What’s of concern now is Ada’s dinner. She wants it to be a celebration. Will you come?”
“I’m afraid I’m not yet ready to celebrate.”
“That’s fairly harsh.”
“Not harsh. Realistic.”