The Cogan Legend (15 page)

Ann sighed as she looked wistfully out the rear window. “This is the longest ride yet! I wish he would've just tied the horse to the coach.  I've seen Father do that when he wanted to talk to a client.”

“It'll be over before you know it, Ann.”  Rachel's smile was tight and thin.  “Believe me, I feel the same way.”

Ann turned her attention away from the window. “I never realized what you must be going through until now.  You've been away from Tom for weeks.  How can you even bear it?”

Rachel returned her friend's gaze.  “It'll allow us to get married.  That makes it worth it.”

Ann changed seats and sat next to Rachel.  She put her arms around her and hugged her. “You're my dearest, dearest friend!  You kept me from getting bored to death, and I haven't even considered how much you must miss your family.”

“I do miss them, but we'll be back in Philadelphia, and this will just be a memory.  I do hope you and Phillip can get married and we can stay friends.”

“Why would you even think we wouldn't?” Ann protested.

“Well,” Rachel shrugged.  “Rich girls, handsome, dashing husbands…you know. You're father will offer Phillip a job that makes him a partner in the business just to keep you handy. Phillip will probably be Tom's boss, and you won't have much time away from high society to hang around with us.”

“Not true!” Ann said sliding away from Rachel.  “Don't even think like that!  Phillip and I would never forget you or Tom.  Besides, you're the only friends we have.”

Rachel patted Ann's hand.  “I won't hold you to that after we get back to Philadelphia. Just promise me that I can beg you for a favor now and then if I really need it.”

“Like what?”

“Like if Tom gets in some kind of trouble on the job, you'll talk to your father about keeping him on…”

“Stop kidding. You know my father likes Tom.”

“I hope he does,” Rachel said thoughtfully. “I really do.”

“Of course he does. Don't think bad thoughts!”

Rachel grinned. “Fine, I won't.”

The coach bumped over ruts in the road.  Ann slid back into her seat.  “You've really hidden your homesickness – at least, most of the time.”

“You had enough to worry about,” Rachel said.  “I tried not to make you feel worse.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you think your father will want to leave this week?”

“If he invites Mary to return with us he will. Otherwise, he'll probably wait until he deems my punishment complete.”

“Oh!  I hope not.”

“Don't worry. I'm betting he will invite Mary to spend Christmas with us.  He's probably already done that and is just waiting for us to get home so we can get on the road to Philadelphia.”

Rachel stared at Ann.  “Are you being serious?”

“Yes.  Didn't you see the way they look at each other? You have to be blind not to see that Father has fallen for her.”

“But he hasn't spent a year in mourning yet, has he?”

Ann startled and pointed out the back window. “What was that?”

“What?” Rachel twisted around and looked out.  “It's just Phillip.  Why? What did you see?”          

“I thought I saw someone cross the trail behind Phillip.  It might have been my imagination, but I swear I saw someone.”

“Do you think it was Indians or renegades?”

“Look at Phillip!” Ann pointed. “He's not paying attention to anything.  I think he's just trying to stay warm.  Anyone could sneak up on him and bash him on the head.”

“Stop talking like that! You're giving me the goose bumps!” Rachel turned away from the window.  “Nothing has happened to us and nothing is going to!”

“What about when that ugly man looked in our window that time?  You just about came out of your petticoat!” Ann laughed.

“So did you! And I wouldn't have come out of my petticoat, I can tell you that!”

“I'm just teasing.  He scared me too.”

“You don't think it's him, do you?  Do you think he's following us?  He wouldn't, would he?”

“Shhh!”  Ann reached over and put a hand on Rachel's arm.  “I'm sorry I even mentioned it.  You're giving me the heebie-jeebies!  You stop, and I'll stop.”

Rachel looked at Ann until both girls burst into nervous giggles.  “Fine, but don't say you see spooky riders then.”

“I won't.” Ann sat back.  Then she leaned forward with a serious look on her face.  “Unless they get closer.”  She glanced out the window.  “And closer!”

Rachel squealed.

Ann laughed.

Rachel looked for something to throw but finding nothing she shook her head.  “You're making me a nervous wreck!  I'm going to change places with you if you don't stop!”

Ann laughed merrily.  “You're so easy to spook!”

At that moment, Rachel shrank back against the seat and clutched her chest.  “Oh my!”

Ann turned in fright and looked at the window.  It was empty.

She turned back to Rachel, fear in her eyes.  “What?”

Rachel laughed.

When they arrived at Herndon, both girls were still giggling.   Lewey and Phillip looked at each other and shook their heads.  Phillip rode up.  “Are you girls okay?”

Both broke into peals of laughter that left them gasping for air.

“I was going to ask both of you to go for a walk with me after we settle in our rooms.  I need to stretch my legs and my rear hurts from that saddle.”  Phillip said, looking at Lewey. “With your permission, of course.”  

“We would love to walk with you,” Ann said. “Wouldn't we, Rachel?”

Lewey sighed.  “It's a good thing I trust you, Lieutenant.  If you want to go for a walk, that's fine with me.  I'm going to take care of the horses, warm up and take a nap.”

“I'll be ready in a few minutes,” Phillip said.  He hoisted the girls' bags from the coach. Ann took his arm as they walked to the inn.  After he placed the girls' bags inside their room, he went to his room.

Without unpacking, Ann tapped on his door. “Phillip.”

“Come in.  I thought you were going to unpack first,” Phillip said as he moved toward her and placed his arms around her.

“I'll unpack later.  I couldn't wait to be with you.” Ann placed a gentle kiss on his check.

“Is Rachel coming along on the walk?”

“Yes, she should be ready.  I told her I'll be right back, but you have to let me go first.”  

“But I don't want to let you go. I'd rather stay here with you all afternoon.”

“You know we can't.  Lewey is next door and would hear us.” Ann laughed.

Ann grabbed Phillip's arm as they stepped into the hallway just as Rachel opened the door.  

“I'm ready,” Rachel said.

The trio headed through the lobby and outside.

“The laughter I heard when I rode up to the coach, what was that all about?”  Phillip asked as they wandered arm-in-arm down toward the river with Rachel trailing behind.

The cold wind stung their eyes.  Rachel shivered.  “I'm too cold to keep walking,” she complained.  “I'm going inside and write a letter to Tom, hopefully, my last letter before I go home.  See you when you get back.”

Ann watched Rachel walk away before turning to continue down the path.  “Do you think she'll be okay?”

“She'll be fine,” Phillip replied.  “All she has to do is scream, and we'll be right there.”

Ann shivered.  “How can you and Lewey take this weather exposed like you were?”

“For me, it's love that keeps me warm,” Phillip teased.  “Now, Lewey, I suspect it's the pay.”

“You're impossible, Lieutenant Matter!”

Phillip laughed at her.  They stopped near the river, and Phillip pulled her into his embrace.  He leaned down to speak above the roar of the water and looked at her curiously. “Now, about that laughing you and Rachel were doing as I rode up. What was so funny?”   Behind them, Rachel rounded a bend in the path and stopped abruptly.  The ugly stranger from the Cogan stood tying his horse to the railing in front of the inn.  She couldn't help the scream that broke from her throat.

The man glanced up, startled.  His look changed and he unconsciously licked his lips when he saw Rachel.  He tugged the knot tight and let the reins drop.  “Do I frighten you so much then?”  

Rachel didn't respond.  She glanced back in the direction Ann and Phillip had gone but the bend hid them from view.  She hoped Phillip had heard her scream.  She backed away as the stranger approached, his smile revealing broken and discolored teeth.

“Are you afraid I'll hurt you?” He grinned.

Rachel took another step backwards.

“I wouldn't hurt you,” he said. “You're too pretty for that, aren't you?”

Rachel retreated further.

“It's awfully cold to be taking a walk.  A girl like you might freeze to death.”  He used his words as an excuse to examine her with his eyes.  He stepped closer.  “I don't mind the cold.  I'll walk with you since you're so anxious to be outside on a cold day like this.”

“No!” Rachel found her voice.  “You get away from me!  If I scream, Lieutenant Matter will see to you!”

“I don't think he has ears for you, honey.  He's got a girl.”

Rachel backed up another step.

The stranger laughed.  “Okay, maybe another time, then?  You must be too cold to be polite.  Is that it?  You're too cold to be polite to me?”

“Leave me alone!  I'm warning you!” Rachel glanced back.  They'd made it to the bend, and she was relieved to see that Ann and the Lieutenant were walking in her direction.  They weren't paying attention, or looking toward her, but she felt relieved that they would at least hear her scream and be able to come before the stranger did anything.

“Not too friendly are you?”  He advanced toward her again.  Rachel screamed.

The man stopped.  His smile seemed less certain.

“Maybe I'll catch you in a better frame of mind later.”  He tipped his hat, moved his lips to approximate a smile and turned on his heels.

“Did you hear a scream?”  Ann looked up and saw Rachel standing perfectly still. “Phillip, why is Rachel just standing there?”

“Something has happened,” Phillip said.  “I shouldn't have let her walk back alone! Come on!”  He began to run.

Ann grabbed Rachel as they came close.  “What happened?  Are you alright?” she asked.

“Did you scream?”  Phillip asked.

With tears freezing on her cheeks she said, “Yes.”  

Ann looked around.  “That's his horse, isn't it?”

Ann took a handkerchief from her coat and wiped Rachel's eyes.

“Who, Ann?”  Phillip demanded.

“The stranger we've been telling you about.”  Ann replied.  “Let's get her to the room; she's freezing.”  Ann put her arm around Rachel's waist and guided her through the main entrance.

“I think I need to have a talk with this man; he's scared you enough,” Phillip said angrily.  

“Phillip, let it go for now, please,” Ann pleaded.  “Help me get her to our room.”

Phillip hesitated and then took Rachel's arm.

Rachel sat on her bed trying to regain her composure. “I'm sorry for screaming and acting like this.”  Still whimpering, and the tears rolling from her eyes. “When I came around the corner, there he was.  I was so frightened I couldn't help but scream. I couldn't move.  Then when he started walking toward me, I thought I'd die.  I'm pretty sure he's been following us today.  Ann saw him cross the path behind you.”  

“Did he touch you, or say anything vulgar?” Phillip wanted to know.

“No, at least, not in so many words.  He offered to walk with me when I backed away from him.  He said I was in a bad mood and he'd talk to me later.”

Phillip frowned.  “I know he's frightening, but I'm not sure that those words were threatening in any way.”

“I told him to leave me alone and instead he took a couple more steps toward me.  He really scares me!”  She clung to Ann.  “I'm still frightened.  I thought he was going to grab me, but he went into the saloon instead.  I guess he thought you were too close to do whatever he meant to do.  I'm not leaving this room, if he's still here.”

“I'm not either,” Ann insisted.

“Why don't you try and calm down?”  Phillip suggested.

A knock on the door made the girls jump.  Phillip could feel the goose bumps on his neck.  Ann and Rachel turned toward each other and with fear in their eyes grabbed hold of Phillip's arm.  “Who's there?” Phillip asked.  

“It's me, Lewey.  Open the door.”  Phillip opened the door as Lewey continued, “Is something wrong?  I heard the commotion from my room.”

“Lewey, the ugly man is back. He's here!  He frightened the daylights out of Rachel,” Ann exclaimed.  “Rachel and I decided we're not going to eat in the dining room if he's there.”

Looking at Rachel, Lewey asked, “Did he hurt you or touch you in any way?”

“No, but he scared me to death.  Ann and Phillip heard me scream and came running.”

“It sounds like you didn't have a nice walk.  Maybe you should've taken a nap instead,” Lewey said with a relieved grin on his face.

“It was upsetting, and not at all funny, Lewey. I can't wait to leave this area and get back to Philadelphia.”

“I'm sorry, Rachel.  That wasn't very nice of me.  We still have to eat so why don't you relax and freshen up until it's time for supper?  When you're ready, Phillip and I will go into the dining room first.  If he's there, we'll wait until he leaves.”

“Would you like me to fetch hot water for you?”  Phillip asked.