The Gold Miner's Wife: A Young Woman's Story of Romance, Passion and Murder (26 page)

Epilogue

April 1878

In Denver, the Ladies Aide Society was sponsoring a new beautification effort to improve the city.  They called it ‘Dandelion Day’.  It was a contest for school-age youngsters to see who could collect the greatest number of the prolific weed for a cash prize.  The boy and girl who brought in the most pounds of dandelions by three o’clock would each be awarded ten dollars!

Susannah and Jack had finished their picnic lunch and sat on a blanket in the park, watching dozens of enthusiastic children as they darted about with flour sacks and pails in the hunt for dandelions.

“You and the Ladies Aide Society are to be commended,” said Jack.  “You have conquered the dandelion problem in only one afternoon!”

“I know you are teasing me,” Susannah replied.  “But, honestly, we all agreed it was worth a try.  After I sold my interest in the mine, the ladies were very pleased with my cash donation.  It will allow us to sponsor many more contests in the near future,” she said proudly.

“Of all the things I adore about you, I think it is your generous spirit that I love the most,” he said as he kissed her.

“How I love
you, Jack,” she said wistfully, while gently sweeping a tendril of his hair that had fallen across his brow.  “And I was relieved when you sold your interest in the mine as well.”

“It was time,” he said.  She knew it was true.  Owning the gold mine had lost its luster; they had both paid a price for their involvement in the enterprise.  “I started only as a financial backer and could never get excited about the day-to-day operations,” he admitted.  “Our new cattle ranch in Weld County is far more interesting to me,” he said.  Jack had decided to return to cattle ranching again and had purchased 50,000 acres of prime grazing land north of Denver, breeding
Charolais and Hereford cattle.

“I am jealous of the cowboys – you seem to be in your element spending time mending fences and chasing down strays with them!” she complained.  But in truth, his love was more precious to her than gold.

“Au contraire, sweetheart, you are all I think about when I am out mending fences,” he replied, as he kissed her behind her ear.    

“These children have so much energy; watching them run around makes me tired!” she added as she rubbed her hands across her very round belly.  In her eighth month of pregnancy, Susannah was growing impatient for her baby to make his or her debut.  “And now our baby is kicking again!” she said with a smile.

She took his hand and placed it on her belly, he felt it too.  “That’s my boy!” he said with a proud grin.  But Susannah gave him one of her looks.  “Or girl!” he added.  “I meant no offense,” he said as if speaking to the little person inside her womb.  “Do you want to stay a while longer, my love,” he asked her, “or are you ready to go home?”

“There are a million things to do at home.  We still do not have the rooms ready for Grand
mamma and the Purfield’s when they arrive in June for their visit,” she said, worriedly biting her lower lip.  “Not to mention when your family arrives from Connecticut later in the summer.  I also want them to have an enjoyable time.”

“All will be ready, I assure you,” Jack said, putting her at ease.
  “We certainly are going to have a house full of company!”

“
Plus, the baby’s room is not quite finished.  But we are here, so let us stay until the winners are announced,” she said.  “It is nearly three o’clock.”

“I am glad Lady Alice w
ill be spending the summer with us.  She will get to know her great-grandchild.  She has much to look forward to,” he observed. 

“Yes,” Susannah agreed.  “And it gives me peace of mind to know
she will be accompanied by the Purfield’s.”

“They have made the journey before and will know what to expect.  That your grandmother would wish to take such an arduous trip at her age is extraordinary.  I will do all I can to make sure she has an agreeable time,” Jack said.

“I know you will, and I love you for it,” she told him.

Denver’s first ‘Dandelion Day’ was an astonishing success.  The children collected 4,086 pounds of the pretty little weed.  Myrtle Pool was the girls’ winner and Harry Finley topped the boys’ total.