Ana Leigh - [The Frasers 4 - Jed] - One Night with a Sweet Talking Man (9 page)

L
eland Stanford greeted them warmly in his office the following morning. For all Stanford had accomplished through the years, Caroline was surprised to discover that the former governor of California, and president and director of the Central Pacific Railroad from the time of its founding was only forty-five years old.

After an exchange of introductions, he asked, “Do I detect a Southern accent, Mr. Fraser?”

“Yes, sir, my family’s home is located between the James and York rivers in Virginia.”

“Beautiful state, I remember it well. I visited it often when I was young. I’m from New York, and I didn’t move to California until fifty-two. I’m curious to know what the conditions are now in the South since the war is over. I imagine there was a lot of devastation?”

“Yes, sir. I think it will take several more years to restore parts of it.”

“The Civil War was the worst event that has happened to this nation since its existence,” Stanford said. “American fighting American. What a tragedy. But just as that war tore our nation apart, the railroad will unite it again. The United States of America—it’s good to hear
that
again. Only this time we’ll really
be
united—East and West, Atlantic to the Pacific.”

“Why are you so confident, Governor Stanford? There’s still so much bitterness,” Caroline said.

“Miss Collins, just imagine what will result. Those on the East Coast will soon be able to enjoy the merchandise from the Orient more cheaply and more readily than they could before, and we here on the West Coast will have the same benefit from British and European ports. And now families that have been separated by distance for years will be able to be reunited for the cost of a train ticket.”

“That’s my family’s intention exactly, sir,” Jed said. “We’re planning a family reunion in Virginia next year.”

“Then you’ll be able to enjoy the amenities of a transcontinental train. Many restaurants have followed the tracks across the country. Excellent overnight facilities are available in many towns on the route, where one can get a good night’s sleep in clean and comfortable beds, or remain and enjoy local sights of interest before boarding the next train on a later day.

“The economy of this country will completely change. Freight can be shipped from one coast to the other in a few days, compared to the weeks or months it took by wagon or ship. People will be able to cross mountain ranges that once took time and risks by wagon or horseback. Thousands of miles of government-owned land will now be offered free to anyone willing to homestead it. And out of that will come the growth of towns, and towns will become cities.

“Territories, due to increased population, will begin to petition to become individual states in the union. Businesses will spring up in areas that were once barren, creating schools, churches, and law and order in their wake.”

“But you’re speaking mainly of the taming of the West, Governor Stanford. How will a devastated South benefit from a transcontinental railroad?” Caroline asked.

Jed said, “We sure could have benefited from a few more railroads during the war. That was one of the many advantages the Yankees had over us. They could move their troops and supplies quickly by trains.”

“Exactly, Mr. Fraser. And now anything can be moved quickly from coast to coast by train. A fresh peach from Georgia can be in the hands of a chef in a Nevada restaurant a few days after it’s picked. A coal company in Pennsylvania can ship coal to warm a San Francisco mansion, or a New York boutique can ship the latest imported Paris wedding gown to a bride to be in Nebraska. All in a matter of days.

“Florida oranges will become accessible in New Mexico,” he continued. “California wine in St. Louis. The needs of an increased population will put a demand on construction, thus offering more employment opportunities and a demand for greater outputs from steel factories, cattle ranches, the corn growers of Iowa, or potato farmers of Idaho.

“Fresh Maine lobsters will make their way into a pot in Illinois; Louisiana shrimp an added flavor to a Montana barbecue.

“And just as important, my friends, with the train will come a continual migration of people both east and west, resulting in a blending of different races, cultures, religions. As a result, this country will become more united than it has ever been.”

“I concede your sincerity, Governor Stanford, but there’ve been so many scandals relating to the building of it, and the expense was phenomenal. And the Lord only knows how many lives were lost. I’m not certain I believe the end justifies the means,” Caroline said.

“There are many who agree with you, my dear. But have we not marveled at the causeways and viaducts of the early Romans, or the wonderment of the Egyptian pyramids, Inca temples, the China wall? All magnificent feats of engineering for their time—but achieved by the sacrifice of thousands of lives of slave laborers.

“Many hardworking men died in the building of the railroad, but stop to think about this: a farmer can drop dead from exertion while plowing his field, a lawman can be shot to death in the execution of his duty, or a cowboy trampled by cattle.

“The same is true of the men who perished building this railroad. Most of the men in our crews were no different from that farmer or lawman. They were men of free will, prepared to exchange a hard day’s labor, or even risk their lives, to earn an honest dollar—God rest their souls.”

“I suspect money had something to do with that accomplishment, sir,” Jed said.

“Yes, indeed, young man. Since the beginning of time, man has been willing to sell his soul to possess it. I’ll not deny my associates and I may be the worst of such scoundrels. We amassed personal wealth in the process. Did everything short of out-and-out murder. We cheated and lied, bent laws, broke rules, bribed governments, and trampled over our rivals. We swindled and extorted money from whomever and whenever we could. But it wasn’t greed and money that
drove
us to build that railroad; it took a unified dream—and the vision to keep that dream alive. Without it, there would be no transcontinental railroad today.

“Skeptics claimed it was impossible to lay track through the Sierra and the Rocky Mountains. We proved them wrong. We tunneled through granite walls and forty-foot snowdrifts when we had to—and we did it. Laid track through the heat and waterless sands of alkali deserts when we had to—and we did it. We built bridges to span raging rivers and granite gorges when we had to.” He slammed a clenched fist on his desk.
“And we did it!”

Stanford leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile.

“Two-thousand miles between here and Missouri. We headed east, the Union Pacific headed west, and we met in Utah. I shall never forget what a glorious day that was.”

“What happened?” Garrett asked, held spellbound by the man’s oratory.

“We drove in the final spike linking the two railroads, my boy. A monumental event this country will never know again.”

“Wow,” Garrett murmured with hushed wonderment.

“What’s in store for you now, Leland?” Nathan asked. “Do you have another vision in mind for the country?”

“Now, I’d like to see us crisscross this whole state with our trunk lines, then start branching out more. Maybe even form another railroad company in another state.”

“Leland, you referred to your railroad adding trunk lines, which is what brings us here today. Jed, will you explain our problem to him and what you believe Calhoun’s intentions are?”

Stanford listened intently as Jed explained the whole situation. When he finished, they waited a few moments while the man remained deep in thought.

“If I understand correctly, Nathan,” Stanford finally said, “even without Mr. Calhoun’s involvement, you’d have no intention of giving the railroad an easement on your property.”

“Not at this time, Leland. Jed told you my reason: it’s too soon to cut down those trees; they’d be worthless to me. I can’t afford that loss.”

“Excuse me a minute,” Stanford said and left the room.

He returned within minutes accompanied by a serious-looking young man with spectacles, who was carrying a folder. After introducing him, Stanford said, “Bob is the surveyor and engineer who laid out the trunk line in question. Mr. Collins has a few questions that perhaps you could answer, Bob.”

“Of course, Mr. Stanford,” the young man said. “How can I be of help, Mr. Collins?”

“Well, I’m told you’ve routed the track through a particular section of land that would create a serious problem for me. Is it possible a different route could be considered?”

The young man opened a diagram and laid it out on the table. “As you can see, this drawing represents the four properties involved. The black line of crosshatches running through it represents the intended railroad track. This became difficult because of the various elevations involved. Note the deep drop here, a sharp rise at this point, even a river. These were all considerations which couldn’t be ignored.”

He withdrew another diagram and spread it out. “Now, here is a detailed quadrant of your property. It has many varying elevations, but the only area that comes nearest to the elevation of your adjacent neighbors is the one I’ve indicated. Sadly, it has a river that runs through it.”

“And bisects my mill and a section of the trees that I’m concerned about,” Nathan said.

“Bob, can this portion be rerouted enough to avoid damaging the mill, without avoiding extensive additional costs to the railroad?” Stanford asked.

The young engineer studied the details. “Because of the river, it’s important we don’t lower the elevation so that we don’t end up with any track underwater.”

“The river never overflows,” Nathan declared.

“We still have to make it a consideration, due to the bridge we have to build to span it.”

He picked up a pencil and began to write some figures on a sheet. After several minutes, he put aside the pencil.

“If my calculations are correct, we can angle in at the same elevation thirty feet to the east of the mill and be back on the original route. Shouldn’t take more than a couple of extra rails.”

Stanford slapped him on the back. “Well done, Bob. Make the necessary changes on the drawings.”

“One thing, Mr. Stanford,” Bob said as he prepared to leave. “This change will take out Building C on the drawing.”

Nathan looked at the sketch. “That’s the bunkhouse.”

“It’s a lot easier to rebuild a bunkhouse than a mill, Nathan,” Stanford said. “Just make sure there’s no one in it when we come through, because nothing gets in the path of the Central Pacific Railroad. Right, young man?” he said to Garrett and tousled his hair.

Garrett laughed in delight. “Right, Mr. Stanford.”

“That doesn’t fully solve the problem. I can’t afford to lose those trees,” Nathan said.

“I’ve already figured what to do about that. I’ll pay for the trees that you’ll lose. But your crew will have to cut them down.”

“What will you do with them if we do cut them down?”

“We have many uses for wood on the railroad. The main need is for fuel to keep those iron horses chugging along, and we also use it on the interior walls on the freight cars. I’ll give you ten cents a running yard and hire your mill to trim them.”

Nathan was at a loss for words, so Caroline asked, “Why are you doing this for us, Mr. Stanford?”

“I’m a man of vision, Caroline, and I figure if I decide to run for president one day, I’ll be able to count on the four votes from the people in this room.”

“Five votes if you count yourself, sir,” Jed said.

Stanford snorted. “You don’t think I’d vote for a crook like me, do you?” he said, causing them all to laugh.

“Speaking of crooks, sir,” Jed said, “we still have Calhoun to worry about, and his threats to the Collins family.”

“You don’t have to worry about him, Mr. Fraser. I’ll handle our Mr. Calhoun. I intend to offer him a position with the Central Pacific. And, of course, threaten to withdraw my financial support when he runs for governor if any one of you is harmed—even accidentally.”

“But why in the name of sanity would you hire a man like him?” Jed asked. “He intended to swindle you.”

“In my forty-five years, Mr. Fraser, I’ve learned a lesson that Mr. Calhoun is about to learn if he intends to succeed in politics: never try to swindle a swindler.”

“It’s no wonder why the man was so successful at bamboozling investors he spoke of; he’s amazing, isn’t he?” Caroline said when they were on the train to return home.

“We’re talking millions and millions of dollars. I can accept the desperation they resorted to in order to build the railroad, but if what the papers imply is true, what they skimmed off the top is unconscionable,” Jed said. “Still, the insight it took to see the future economic gains for this country is remarkable, considering how difficult the physical challenges were,” Jed said.

“No doubt they had their own economic gains in that vision, too,” Nathan said. “But I can’t help liking that man. Always did, from the first time I met him.”

“So after a few hours in his presence, Caroline, you
now
believe that the end justifies the means?” Jed said.

“I would never go as far as to say that,” she said. “Except, of course, he did prove that theory, didn’t he?”

He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “Well, the next thing on our agenda is our marriage. Let’s hope the end will justify the means in
that
case.

“Tomorrow we leave for Calistoga.”

T
he train ground to a stop at the Calistoga depot with a final hissing puff of steam.

Caroline looked out the window and saw Clay and Garth Fraser. She would have recognized them anywhere. They were probably in their early thirties by now.

Her breath caught in her throat when she studied Clay. She’d always thought Andy had resembled Clay so much they could have passed as twins, but Clay had always exuded confidence, eompared to Andy’s shy nature.

As for Garth Fraser, his grin and good nature had probably broken the hearts of most of the girls between here and Virginia.

But they weren’t boys anymore; time and a war had transformed them into men, which had only enhanced their handsomeness.

When they found out the truth about Garrett, would they feel as resentful toward her as Jed did?

“All set?” Jed asked.

She took a deep breath, then nodded.

He tucked a finger under her chin and grinned down at her. “Hey, Cinderella, trust me. They’re not going to eat you,” he said gently. He kissed her lightly, then took her hand.

“Don’t forget Buffer back in the freight car,” Garrett said. “There was no reason why that mean old conductor wouldn’t let him stay with us.”

“I think he had the other passengers’ interests at heart, honey,” Caroline said.

“Well, Buffer wouldn’t have caused them no trouble. I’m still gonna write that Mr. Stanford and tell him what I think about his dumb rule.”

She took Garrett by the hand and stepped out onto the observation platform with Jed. Smiling, the two men straightened up and walked toward them.

Caroline felt like an early Christian about to be fed to the lions.

After a series of handshakes and backslaps between the men, Jed slipped an arm around her shoulders and drew her to his side.

“Caroline, do these guys look familiar? My brothers—”

She interrupted him. “You’re Clay, and you’re Garth. How could I forget?”

The two men exchanged perplexed glances. “We’ve met before?” Clay asked. “Brother Garth, help me out here.”

“Virginia?” Garth asked, clearly as confused as Clay.

“Well, certainly,” Caroline said with a grin.

“While you’re trying to figure it out, do you remember the captain of the ship I was on during the war?”

“Captain Collins, of course,” Clay said as they shook hands.

Garth shook Nathan’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, sir. Are you the captain of the ship Jed’s on now?”

Nathan laughed. “No, I’m not, Garth. I retired shortly after the war ended.”

Jed rested a hand on Garrett’s shoulder. “And this young man is Caroline’s son, Garrett.”

“Glad to meet you, Garrett. Let us be the first to welcome you into the family,” Garth said.

“Thank you. The pleasure is all mine.” He grinned. “When we were on the train, Mama made me practice saying that.”

“And let me assure you, Garrett, it’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”

“I remember now,” Clay suddenly said. “Captain Collins had a daughter…Caroline!”

“Of course.” Garth grinned. “Lady, have you changed!”

“You were just a skinny little kid then,” Clay said with a warm chuckle.

Caroline began to relax. “I would like you to know, sir, I was fifteen when we left Virginia.” She’d dreaded this meeting, but it seemed to be going well. They both were so charming. Of course Jed had been, too, until he found out the truth about Andy.

“Let’s load up this luggage and get moving,” Garth said. “There’s a lot of anxious women waiting to meet their future sister-in-law.”

When the train whistle sounded a departing toot, Garrett cried, “Buffer! The train’s leaving with Buffer on it!” Then his panic changed to laughter as the barking dog came racing along the side of the train and into his open arms. Reunited, Garrett and Buffer scrambled into the bed of the wagon, and they all broke into laughter.

Clay climbed onto the seat of the wagon. “Figure that must be the last of the luggage? Jed can ride with me. Caroline and Captain Collins, climb in with Garth. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable in the buggy.”

“You didn’t mention in your wire that your intended bride had a son,” Clay said as they drove to his home. “He’s a cute kid.”

“Yeah, he’s great. And we get along great, too.”

“What happened to his father?”

“He’s dead.”

“I thought maybe you were the father.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because the two of you kind of resemble each other, and his mother’s the daughter of your former captain. Coincidence?”

“I haven’t seen Captain Collins since the war ended. And I think I saw Caroline once when she was little. I ran into them in a restaurant several days ago.”

He and his brothers had always been honest with one another, but Jed thought it would be wiser to tell them the truth about Garrett after he and Caroline were married.

“It must be tough for a kid to grow up without a father or any brothers and sisters. We were pretty lucky, weren’t we?” Clay said.

“You’re damn right, Brother Clay.”

“You and Caroline planning on starting a family right away?”

At least he could give him a straight-out answer on that question. “Not at this time, Clay. I’ve used up a week of my leave already. I wouldn’t want Caroline to have a baby while I’m at sea.”

“Pretty hard to plan it otherwise, Jed, without you figuring on staying home.”

“I’m not ready to give up the sea just yet.”

“Then what’s the reason for getting married at this time? What kind of marriage is that: you at sea, your wife and children home?”

“Speaking of children, isn’t Rory about due?” Jed asked.

“Overdue would be more like it,” Clay said. “Where are you planning on setting up housekeeping?”

“Captain Collins owns property and a sawmill near Napa. Caroline has always lived with him, although there is a problem at this time. Some shyster named Calhoun, who is working for the railroad, threatened Caroline and her family.”

“Good Lord, you mean their lives?”

“Yes, but I think it’s been resolved. We spoke to Leland Stanford and he’s promised to move him to Sacramento, where he’ll be out of our hair.”

“You’re traveling in pretty big company there, Jed.”

“Captain Collins knows him. I’ll soon be going back to sea, and my concern is for Caroline and her family.”

“Sure you wouldn’t want them to stay here with us? There’s plenty of room.”

“I’d sure have peace of mind if they did, but they’re determined to stay where they are. Thanks for the offer, anyway.”

A short time later when Garth turned the buggy off the main road, Caroline saw a sign with FRASER KEEP hanging over the door of a small cabin. The line below read Home of the Fraser Wines of California in smaller print.

“We sell some of our bottled wine and other related items to passersby,” Garth said to his passengers.

“For instance?” Caroline asked.

“Wineglasses, and corkscrew handles we make out of a patch of oak growing here. We even sell small serviettes; those were Becky’s idea. The girls cut them out of white linen, and Lissy, who’s the best artist in the group, draws an outline of several grapes on a stalk—the same design we use on the label of the wine bottles. Then they all embroider the outline and put tatting on the edges in their spare time.”

“Don’t they all have young children to take care of? When do they find any spare time?” Caroline asked.

“They’re all remarkable women, Caroline,” Garth said. “They enjoy their lives, and they make certain the people they love enjoy life, too.”

Caroline felt a stab of shame, knowing how she had strived to make Jed’s life as miserable as possible.

“I thought Colt and his family lived in New Mexico.”

“They do, but Cassie does the serviettes in her free time and ships them to us. She’s a working hand on their cattle ranch, the way our wives work in the vineyard planting and picking the grapes. Colt claims she can ride and rope as well as any man on the ranch. Rain or shine, she’s out doing whatever the men are doing.

“Becky, Lissy, and Rory do the same here,” Garth continued. “Becky worked side by side with Clay, planting the cuttings, followed by long hours in the blazing sun fighting and watering to keep them from dying, in order to keep his dream alive. When Lissy and Steve moved here to help, it was a godsend to them, then Rory and I joined them after we married. Of course Rory can’t do much physically now, since she’s in a family way, so she minds the children for the other women and works on the napkins.”

“Sounds to me like it’s working out well,” Nathan said.

“Captain Collins, everybody has helped in some way to keep the vineyard operating. We all live right here, except for Colt and Cassie, of course.”

In the same house!
The thought was horrifying to her. All the possible noise and confusion flashed through her mind. How hard it must have been on those poor women, bearing their husbands’ children in the midst of all that hard work and stress!

She realized how calm and easy her life had been in having her loving parents to rely upon, how blessed she had been. She reached over and squeezed her father’s hand. This dear man who had looked after her welfare her whole life had always seen to her safety, a roof over her head, and a hot meal in her stomach.

How blessed, indeed.

“For the sake of all our sanities, we all live under separate roofs, as does Paddy O’Grady, Rory’s father,” Garth said. “We have an eleven-month-old son named Danny and are expecting another baby any day.

“Lissy and Steve have a four-year-old son, Ted. He’s about the only child who can run around here. Their other two children, Sarah and Rachel, are three and two respectively. Most of the rest of our children aren’t even housebroken yet.” He glanced askance at Caroline. “Still in diapers, that is.

“Clay has a three-year-old son, Jake, and a set of twins, Clint and Cody, born at the end of last year. Colt and Cassie have a two-year-old son named Jeb, and a daughter Samantha born a couple of months ago. I’m afraid none of them are old enough to be a playmate for Garrett.”

“That’s no problem, Garth. Garrett’s used to being alone, as long as he has Buffer.”

“Is that the dog you brought with you?”

Caroline nodded. “They’re inseparable.”

“You did amazingly well, Garth,” Nathan said.

Garth flashed that devastating grin of his. “Just want you folks to know we grow more around here than just grapes.”

“Did I understand you to say your wife’s father lives here with you?”

“In his own house, of course. Wait until you meet Paddy O’Grady. The old-timer used to dig for gold. He’s a great old guy and is like a grandfather to all the children.”

“Fortunately, Garrett has a grandfather already,” she said with a smile at her father. “But I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have more than one.”

“Colt and Cassie brought her father along, too. Jethro Braden’s an ex-sheriff; turned the badge over to Colt when he retired. Jethro has a raft of interesting stories to tell about outlaws and Indians. Even the Apache chief Cochise, and that crazy Geronimo. You must have heard about them.”

“Can’t help it if you read a newspaper,” Nathan said.

They reached the houses, which only could be described as a compound. Caroline only had time to glimpse several houses and a large rectangular building when the door of the biggest house burst open and several women and men rushed out the door.

Caroline gaped with awe when she saw the women. Not one among them appeared tired and worn out, as she had expected. On the contrary, they were beautiful. Downright ravishing, all of them!

A lovely blonde with incredible green eyes stepped forward and hugged her. “Welcome, Caroline! I’m Becky, Clay’s wife. We’re so excited you’ve come. This will be our first wedding at Fraser Keep.”

Before Caroline could even respond, she was hugged and kissed by another woman. Her blue eyes warm with welcome, she said, “Hi, Caroline, I’m Cassie, Colt’s wife.” She was wearing jeans and boots and perched on her dark hair was a Stetson.

“So you must be Rory, Garth’s wife,” Caroline said to the other blond woman, who was clearly pregnant. “He told us all about you on the way here.”

Her blue eyes flashed with devilment. “I hope he didn’t tell
all
about me,” Rory Fraser said, with as much of a hug as her swollen stomach would allow. She took the arm of the man standing beside her with bushy white hair and a wide Irish grin. “And this is my father, Paddy O’Grady.”

“Pleased to meet you, darlin’,” Paddy O’Grady said.

“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. O’Grady.”

“It’s Paddy, darlin’, and don’t you be forgettin’ it,” he said.

“I’m Jethro Braden,” another of the men said. Dressed in Western gear like Cassie, he wouldn’t have had to tell her he was Cassie’s father.

Caroline turned to a couple who had stood back and broke into a smile at the sight of the petite, dark-haired woman who now stepped up and hugged her.

“Caroline, what a pleasure to see you again.”

“Oh, Lissy, you’re still as beautiful as I remembered,” Caroline said.

“I can’t believe you and Jed are getting married! How are you ever going to keep my big brother on land?”

“My mother tolerated it with my father, and I guess I will, too.”

Lissy reached for the hand of the man beside her. “Caroline, this is my husband, Stephen Berg.”

The tall, redheaded man hugged her. “I’ve looked forward to meeting you, Caroline.”

Caroline took her father’s arm. “And this handsome gentleman is my father, Nathan Collins.”

Clay arrived with the wagon, and when Garrett jumped off and ran over to her, Caroline said proudly, “And this is my son, Garrett.”

A flurry of squeals of pleasure and greetings followed as the women gushed over Garrett and greeted Jed.

Another Fraser came over and hugged her. “Welcome, Caroline. I’m Jed’s brother, Colt.”

“Yes, I remember you.”

“So Jed’s marrying a Reb. It’s about time one of us did.”

Jed slipped an arm around her shoulders. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Brother Colt. Caroline doesn’t exactly walk around the house whistling ‘Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.’”