The Cogan Legend (11 page)

“Good fathers worry about their children.”  Mary said.  “This makes you a good parent, Charles.”  

He leaned over and kissed her.  “I need to speak to Rachel.”  Still concerned he got up from his seat, walked over to the stairs and called for Rachel.  She came to the top of the stairs.  “Rachel, I'd like to talk to you. Could you please come down?”

Pointing to a chair Charles directed her to sit.  Ann came to the stairway and stayed just out of sight to hear the conversation.

“I didn't ask your opinion of this lieutenant.  What did you think about him?”

She hesitated for a few seconds, and then, suspecting Ann would be listening, said, “I think he is everything Ann told you.  He is handsome, smart, kind, courteous, and most of all, I believe genuine.  I can sense he feels the same way Ann does.  If I were looking for a caller, he would certainly interest me.”  

Charles nodded thoughtfully. “Well, thank you for your honesty, Rachel.  I've been thinking about this return trip which I'm sure you're aware of.  If you don't want to go, there will be no trip.”

“I'm not opposed to going.  I did enjoy myself, but I want to be home for Christmas.  Every time I write, I tell them I'll be home for Christmas.”

“Does that mean you have no problem returning to Sunbury?”

“I'm fine with going back.”  She looked up the steps to see a smile on Ann's face.

Reaching for a match to light his pipe, Charles assured her, “We'll be traveling to Philadelphia soon after you return, and Mary will accompany us.”

Returning to Philadelphia was the news Rachel wanted to hear.  “I'm going to write to Tom and Mother with this great news.”

Ann came down the stairs and heard her father tell Mary, “Perhaps we should accompany them to Sunbury. Then this young man wouldn't have to return to the lodge.”  

Mary cocked her head and studied him.

“I'd like to see the building Lewey spoke of – the one with so much merchandise it took them a full day to walk through it.”

Ann pretended she'd just heard the last few words.  “Does this mean we can go back to Sunbury, Father?”

Charles tapped his pipe.  “I suppose it does.”

“Thank you, Father!”  Ann leaned over and kissed her father's cheek.  “I promise you, Phillip is looking forward to meeting you. He's arranged to take some time off, and he's happy to do it.”

“I'm thinking of going with you.”  Charles looked at Mary.  “Would you be interested in a trip to Sunbury?”

“If you want me to go to Philadelphia, perhaps I'd better spend my time getting ready for that trip,” Mary said.

Ann gave her a grateful look.

“Father, Phillip needs time off, and he wants to get away from the fort for awhile.  Perhaps you and he could go deer hunting when he comes.” In her mind that was justification for a trip without her father.

“That's a thought, Ann.”  

Charles then nodded. “Mary you have a point.  I'm not sure I'm up for that much traveling before our trip back to Philadelphia.”  He put his coat on again and went back out to the stable.

“Lewey, can you be ready to go by tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, I'll be ready.”

“To cover that distance in one day is too hard on all of you and the team.  If you leave in the morning you should reach that inn in Herndon at a reasonable time and spend the night.  You should be in Sunbury early Friday afternoon.”

Ann was elated with his decision and she hugged and kissed him, “I love you, Father.”

Charles grabbed her hands, “Just remember, Lewey is in charge.  He is also in charge of the lieutenant.”

She hugged him again.

 

 

 

The next morning Mary prepared breakfast as Charles and Lewey discussed the trip.  After everyone ate, Lewey headed to the stable to give the coach one more look and bring the team to the front of the lodge.  

Upstairs, Ann hesitated in front of the mirror and pulled her hair into a bun fastened with two tortoise shell combs.  “Oh, Rachel!  I can hardly wait!  Can't you please hurry?”

“I'm just about ready.”  Rachel said as she reluctantly put the last piece of clothing in her travel bag.

Charles paced in front of the lodge.  “Lewey, don't let them out of your sight.  This officer is still a stranger to all of us.”  Then he reached in his pocket for an envelope and handed it to Lewey.

“I'll watch them Charles, I promise,” he affirmed with a wry grin.

The young ladies stepped through the open door with their bags.  “Father, thank you again for allowing us to go,” Ann said as she gave her father a kiss and hug before she climbed into the coach.  Her excitement was apparent, but Rachel followed, less enthusiastic.

Even though he felt uneasy, Lewey decided to take the same route as before.  Approaching the Cogan he slowed the team due to the narrow condition of the road.  The dilapidated livery stable soon came into sight, and the girls heard Lewey shout, “Giddyap” as the team was now in a full trot to get through the narrow, frightening area.

“I'm going to ask Lewey why he insists on going this way.” Ann stiffened.  

They stared at the window as if expecting something –or someone – to jump through it at any moment.

“I agree, Ann.  This road is so eerie; I wish we wouldn't have to go on it.”  

Both girls breathed sighs of relief when the road opened up, and Lewey slowed the horses to a normal pace.  

A little while later the team came to a halt. “I wish we were in Sunbury.  I'm not anxious to stay here since those two men are just down the road,” Ann said as she stepped down.

Lewey made arrangements for the night and helped carry the luggage into the rooms.  Passing the girls on his way out to the livery stable Lewey suggested, “Let's all freshen up, and I'll meet you in the dining room.”  

After freshening up, the girls approached the dining room.  Suddenly, fearful that the strangers might be there, Rachel tugged on Ann's sleeve.  “Lewey isn't here; perhaps we should go back to our room and wait.”

Ann looked into the saloon as they walked through the hallway.  “I don't see him.  I think it's safe to wait in the dining area.”

They sat down, and the bartender came over to the table with a handwritten menu.  “Would you like to see what we have to eat?”

“Not right now; we're waiting for someone,” Ann responded as she looked at the doorway.   

Ann gasped and looked at Rachel when she spied the ugly stranger coming into the saloon.  As the bartender turned to walk away, Ann said abruptly, “Excuse me, sir. I've changed my mind.  Could we see the menus?”

“I thought you were waiting for someone.”  He shook his head, laid the menu on the table, and walked away.

“Rachel,” she whispered, “he's here.  Don't look, just read the menu.” Ann could hardly speak.  She could see him out of the corner of her eye as she looked down at the table.  “He's looking at us.  Now he's ordering a drink.”

“We should leave.  I know he's going to come over to the table.  I don't want to talk to him,” Rachel said in a quivering voice.

Ann responded frantically, “Just keep looking at the menu.  Oh no, he's looking over and getting up from his seat.”  

Lewey arrived at the table just as the stranger did.  He ignored Lewey and bellowed, “Well, ladies, what brings you back so soon?  Probably me, I suspect.”  He laughed uncontrollably as his head tilted back and those horrible teeth were exposed.

Lewey frowned at the stranger and stepped in between him and the girls.  “We have more business to take care of in Sunbury.”

“Can I buy you a drink?”

The girls shook their heads.

“No, we have to retire soon.  We want to get an early start,” Lewey responded.

Chuckling to himself, he walked back to his seat.  He knew the girls were frightened.

With her back toward the stranger, Rachel admitted, “I can't stand to look at him.”

Lewey tried to calm them down. “Just ignore him.  Let's change the subject, eat and get out of here.”   

The thought of the Cogan Road reentered Ann's mind. “Lewey, why do you use that Cogan Road?  Is there no other way?”

“I use that road only because it's shorter and saves us an extra day's travel.”

“Rachel and I both hate that route and having to go by that old livery stable.”

“I understand.  I'm hoping this is our last trip to Sunbury, don't you? Are you ready to leave?” Lewey asked as he stood to leave.

“Is he still here?”  Rachel asked.

Ann glanced through the doorway. “Yes, regrettably he's still sitting at the bar.”

When they walked through the hallway he turned, nodded, tipped his hat and said, “Ladies.”

The next day they were up bright and early and anxious to get out of there.   As the coached bounced over the ruts in the road, Rachel admitted, “I couldn't sleep at all last night.  The only thing on my mind was those two men breaking into our room.  I'm glad we're leaving.”

Ann then admitted, “All night I dreamed about Phillip and my plans.  I can't wait to see him.”  Just talking about him brought a tingling sensation all over her body.    

“That figures.  I should've known you weren't thinking about those two.  Ann, you've changed since that encounter with Tom's friend, Leonard.”

“Phillip is different than the others.  I feel special when I'm with him, and he makes me feel alive.”

Tears filled Rachel's eyes.  “I know that feeling.  I'll soon be with the man who excites me.”   

“I'm sorry. Rachel,” Ann apologized.  “It's very inconsiderate of me to be talking like this. I'll be quiet.”

Rachel just gazed out the window and after a minute she was in a more cheerful mood, “It's okay. I enjoy listening to you and your plans.  My day is near.”  

Early in the afternoon they pulled up at the hotel.

“After we unpack and freshen up, I'll meet you in the dining room.  I'm hungry.”  Lewey admitted.

It was almost two o'clock when they finished lunch.   

“Lewey, why don't we go to the fort and find Phillip?” Ann asked with a smile.

“That's not a good idea; we shouldn't go there uninvited.  I'm sure the fort is a busy place on a Friday.  We'll go to the Market House instead; maybe he'll be there.”

Disappointment etched itself momentarily on Ann's face. Then she brightened. “Perhaps you're right, Lewey.  Let's go.”

While walking around the Market House, Lewey and Rachel looked at items of interest to buy, but Ann's only interest was finding Phillip.

“Let's hurry,” Ann exclaimed.

They soon made a complete circle around the building and came back to the entrance.

Again, Ann suggested, “Now can we go to the fort?”

Lewey pondered for a minute before he responded. “Okay.”  

The street was congested with people and buggies heading in the opposite direction.  It was a damp, dreary, overcast day.  People, dressed in heavy clothing, walked through the dirt street outside of town toward the Market House.

They entered the fort through the big open front gate.  The soldier on duty stopped the trio as they were about to pass through. “May I help you?”

Lewey spoke. “Could you tell me where we can find Lieutenant Matter?”  

“Yes sir,” he responded.  “See that big building straight across the courtyard? His office is there.”

Just as they approached the building, Phillip stepped out and smiled when he saw them.  After greeting Rachel and Lewey, he stepped in front of Ann, placed his arm around her and gave her a kiss.

“I'm sorry, Mr. Hess, but I can't help myself.  This is a wonderful surprise seeing all of you again.  I sure didn't expect you today; I thought perhaps tomorrow or not at all.  I'll express my gratitude to Mr. Fairchild.”  He looked at Ann and smiled.  “I'm glad your father allowed you to return.”  

Ann beamed with happiness. “Father is very anxious to meet you.”

Phillip smiled. “I'm anxious to meet him.  It's too late in the day to give you the grand tour.  Do you mind waiting until tomorrow?”

The girls nodded in agreement as Lewey spoke, “Tomorrow is fine with us.”

Phillip looked at Ann but spoke to Lewey. “I have an offer.  I want to invite you all to dinner, my treat.  What do you say, Mr. Hess?”

“That's fine with me.”

Phillip then offered his arm to Ann as they walked toward the gate.  “I'll meet you in the hotel lobby at six o'clock.

Lewey took the lead. “We'll see you then, Lieutenant.”

He and Rachel continued walking as Phillip pulled Ann into his body. “Maybe after dinner we can go for a walk and spend some time together.”

“Yes, if Lewey will allow it.”  

Promptly at six o'clock, the lieutenant was in the lobby, but Lewey was already waiting.  Ann entered looking radiant in the finest green satin dress she had packed.  

“You look beautiful Ann.”  Phillip could hear his heart pounding.  

“Yes, Ann, you look nice tonight,” Lewey said feeling even more protective of his charge.

A minute later Rachel followed.

“Oh my, another beautiful woman.”  Phillip was polite and filled with complements.  His heart was still racing at the sight of Ann.  “Are we ready?”

Ann smiled in acknowledgement as Phillip assisted the ladies with their coats before they exited the hotel lobby.   

During dinner, the men discussed the return trip. “Lewey, can you tell me which route we're planning to take to the lodge?”

“We'll stop in Herndon on Sunday night.  Mr. Fairchild doesn't want to exhaust the team.  Then we'll proceed through the Cogan Road.  As much as I hate it, that route does cut the travel time.  Since we are on the subject, I want you to know your men didn't escort us through the Cogan last week.  I was very upset and disappointed.”