Page 34 of Hope’s Enduring Echo

Leo

Leo awakened Tuesday morning to the sound of rain. But then a distinctive aroma met his nostrils, and he realized he was hearing the sizzle of bacon in a pan. Mrs. Ward must be fixing breakfast.

He sat up on the settee, stifling a groan. He propped his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands. When he’d collapsed on this settee a little before midnight, he’d held a foggy hope that the evening’s activities were only a bad dream. But if he was still at the Wards’ cabin, then Mr. Ward’s disappearance, the fierce storm, the frantic race to close all the shutters just before the hail began, and Mr. Ward’s rescue after the storm passed had all happened.

Worry gnawed the corners of his mind. What would the kitchen manager think when Leo didn’t show up for work this morning? Would he be fired from his job? At least he’d be in town when his folks arrived at the hotel for Daisy’s promised birthday trip. But if the storm covered most of the state, would they still be able to come?

“I wonder if the trains’ll run today.”

“What did you say?”

Leo looked up and found Mrs. Ward peering across the room at him. He must have spoken his thought. He cleared his throat and stood. “I wonder if the trains will run today. Do you think the hailstones were large enough to damage tracks?” He’d never seen such hail before—something reminiscent of a biblical plague.

“I don’t know, but I hope not.” Concern crinkled her brow. “Claude is bruised all up and down his back and legs. He has a couple of nasty knots on his head, too. I want Dr. Whiteside to come out and see him.”

Leo chastised himself. How could he think about his own troubles after what Mr. Ward had suffered last night? He crossed to her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll meet the morning train and ride into Canon City. Before I go to the hotel, I’ll visit the doctor’s office and tell Dr. Whiteside what happened. Hopefully his schedule will be clear and he can come out this afternoon.”

The woman sighed, her relief evident. “Thank you, Leo. And thank you for helping last night. Jennie and I were in such an emotional state that we wouldn’t have been able to get Claude home on our own.”

Leo disagreed. They could’ve done it. Mrs. Ward and Jennie were two of the strongest people he’d ever met. But it was nice to be appreciated. “You’re welcome, ma’am. I’ll pray that Mr. Ward isn’t badly injured.” The man didn’t need yet another setback. “I’ll gather up my things and go down to the tracks now.”

“No, no, sit and have some breakfast first. The train won’t pass by until a little past nine. You have time to eat.”

The food smelled so good he couldn’t refuse. While Mr. Ward and Jennie slept, he and Mrs. Ward ate bacon-and-biscuit sandwiches and visited. He hoped his family would make it to Canon City, the way they’d intended. He wanted his family to meet the Wards. Mother and Mrs. Ward would get along well. Father, with his endless well of wisdom, could be a real encouragement to Mr. Ward. Leo’s sisters would love Jennie, and she, them. Maybe it was silly to contemplate the two families forming a friendship given the distance between Canon City and Denver, but he enjoyed considering the possibility.

When he’d finished eating, he thanked Mrs. Ward and then headed down the rise. The air held a nip, but the sky was clear. Birds sang, adding harmony to the river’s melody. If not for the flattened wet grass and sloppy patches of mud he was forced to skirt, he might not have believed a storm roared through yesterday evening. Would the river be high above its banks after the rain and hail that fell? If so, he hoped the footbridge was still intact.

He approached the footbridge, the river’s roar growing louder with every step. He gave the simple bridge a thorough examination. He noted a few chips on some edges but no outright breaks. He stepped gingerly onto the footbridge, the river’s wild churning loud in his ears, and sent his gaze up and down the rushing water. And something else caught his eye—as far as he could see, water flowed from jagged holes in the pipeline.

He stared in mute horror, his mouth hanging open. Hailstones had broken through the staves. He looked left, then right, back and forth. So much damage. How would Jennie or Mrs. Ward be able to record it all? And how would they be able to inspect it now? The river climbed the banks, leaving no place to walk underneath, and they wouldn’t dare walk on top of the damaged staves. With Mr. Ward lying in bed, maybe badly injured, they didn’t need this additional concern.

He crossed the footbridge, then went down on one knee. He opened his knapsack, dug out a pad of paper and pencil, and scribbled a note.

Mrs. Ward or Jennie, when I get to Canon City, I will call the Water Works Department and tell them the pipeline was damaged by hail. There’s no sense in inspecting today. Stay with Mr. Ward. I pray the doctor will come soon. —Leo

He secured the note under the message rock, as he’d come to think of the large gray stone, then stood and sent a mournful look up the pipeline. He would never have imagined hail causing such destruction. Then he gave a jolt, and his gaze jerked in the direction of the dinosaur remains. He couldn’t see the site from this distance and angle, but an ugly picture filled his mind. Had the tent and bones been battered, too?

Etta

Early in the afternoon, as Etta returned the freshly washed dishes to their places on the shelves, the mutter of men’s voices drifted through the open front door. She removed her apron and hurried to the doorway, hoping to see Dr. Whiteside coming. Claude needed the doctor’s attention. She wanted Jennie’s shoulder checked, too. The girl hadn’t said a thing about being hurt. If Etta hadn’t seen her wince while putting on her jacket, she wouldn’t have known a hailstone had struck her.

She spotted the doctor walking up the rise with three other men, and she breathed a prayer of thankfulness. But her hand flew to her throat when she recognized the man striding purposefully in the lead—the Water Works Department president, Mr. Wilmer Cambrie. The day her family settled in at the cabin, he’d come out to thank them for seeing to the important duty. She hadn’t seen him since, although he’d sent a note of condolence after Claude broke his leg. Leo’s call must have greatly concerned Mr. Cambrie for him to personally visit.

She gave the cabin a quick perusal and found everything tidy, but she should brew a fresh pot of coffee. Such an important man would expect refreshments. She hurried to the counter and removed the bag of beans from a drawer. Even before she managed to grind them, there was a knock on the doorjamb.

Smoothing her hair as she went, she returned to the doorway. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Please come in.”

Mr. Cambrie entered first, removing his brown bowler as he crossed the threshold, and Dr. Whiteside came behind him. The other two men, who wore work clothes rather than suits, remained on the stoop. The doctor crossed to Etta, his brow etched with concern. “Leo said Claude took quite a beating last night.”

“He did.” Etta pushed aside the distressing images plaguing her mind and pointed to their closed bedroom door. “He’s in bed. Jennie is keeping watch. She suffered a blow on her right shoulder. I’d appreciate you looking at it.”

The doctor nodded and went straight to the bedroom. Etta watched him go in and close the door, then turned and found Mr. Cambrie frowning after him. A chill attacked her scalp and tiptoed down her spine. She cleared her throat and offered a weak smile. “Mr. Cambrie, I wish I had a cup of coffee or a sweet to offer you. I…I didn’t realize I’d have visitors today.”

The man remained standing near the door, his hands behind his back. “There’s no need to make a fuss, Mrs. Ward. Thank you for sending word about last night’s destruction. I came out with the engineers to assess the damage for myself. They’ll also examine the cabin while we’re here and will arrange for any necessary repairs.” He angled a look at the men and gave a nod. The two of them headed toward the river. Mr. Cambrie faced her again. “I would like to speak with you about a concern.”

Etta’s knees began to tremble. “Of course.” She moved to her rocking chair and sank into its smooth seat. “Would you please sit and make yourself comfortable?”

Mr. Cambrie reached the settee in one wide stride and sat on the front edge of the cushion. He laid his hat aside and clamped his hands over his knees. “My concern involves your husband, Mrs. Ward.”

Etta’s pulse thrummed as forcefully as last night’s raindrops had pelted the cabin roof. Her mouth went dry, and it felt as if her tongue was swollen. She couldn’t speak. She gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

“Although we’ve not yet made an official study of the entire line, the brief view we received upon arrival indicates last night’s storm did significant damage covering at least a mile of the pipeline. It will likely be several weeks before the entire line is repaired and fully operational again.”

Etta envisioned repairmen coming out each day for several weeks and working on the pipeline. Their family’s long-held secret would come to light very quickly. She should confess who had been inspecting the line since Claude’s accident and face the consequences. She swallowed and drew a deep breath. “Mr. Cambrie, I—”

He held up one hand, silencing her. “Let me finish, please.” His gray eyes beneath thick steel-gray eyebrows gave him a fierce appearance, but no anger tinged his voice. He seemed more sad than upset. “During the time it takes to repair the pipeline, there won’t be any need for a linewalker.”

She’d expected him to fire Claude on the spot. She tipped her head, uncertain she’d heard correctly. “Only…while the pipe’s being repaired?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He shifted slightly, placing his elbows on his knees and linking his fingers. The position brought him closer to her, allowing her to glimpse the genuine concern in his gray irises. “To be perfectly honest, after taking the train ride to reach the cabin this afternoon, I’m pondering the sensibility of housing the workers in this cabin until the repairs are done. With the hours saved by the workers not traveling each day, the pipeline repairs will be completed more expediently and the town will have its water source restored within a more reasonable amount of time. But I realize such a decision temporarily displaces your family.”

She’d often pondered what they would do, where they would go, if the waterway men fired Claude. In the past, the contemplation raised fear and worry. Strange how the thought of leaving this cabin didn’t strike fear into her now. She felt more relieved than anything. “Sir, please don’t worry about us. We’re only one family. All of Canon City’s residents and businesses rely on the pipeline to meet their needs for water. The sooner the pipeline is repaired, the better it will be for everyone.”

The man sat up, and the first hint of a smile softened his stern expression. “You’re very understanding, Mrs. Ward. Thank you.”

The bedroom door opened, and the doctor came out. Mr. Cambrie stood, and Etta hurried to the doctor. “How are they?”

Dr. Whiteside gave her arm a light pat. “Very badly bruised. Not surprising, considering the size of the hailstones. Praise God, neither Claude nor Jennie seem to have suffered any broken bones. However, it will take a while for their deep bruising to heal. In the meantime, please watch for excessive swelling or specific areas where the pain seems to be growing worse. Blood clots sometimes form in deep bruises, and they can be serious.”

While the doctor spoke, Mr. Cambrie slowly moved closer, his lips set in a grim line.

“I’m also concerned that Claude may have suffered a concussion. I gave Jennie instructions on his care for now, but I’d feel better if he stayed with my wife and me for a few days, where I can monitor his recovery.” A grin climbed the doctor’s cheeks. “I know how stubborn he is. He might not agree. And it might be hard to separate him from the scruffy little dog standing guard on his bed. I’m fortunate the protective mutt allowed me to conduct an examination at all.”

Mr. Cambrie pushed his hands into his trouser pockets and lifted his chin. “If Mr. Ward requires around-the-clock care, I will personally arrange for his transport into Canon City as soon as I return to my office.”

Dr. Whiteside chuckled. “You might be the only one who can convince him to go. Thank you. You’ve eased my mind considerably.”

“And mine,” Etta said. “Thank you very much.”

Mr. Cambrie waved one hand as if dismissing their appreciation as unnecessary. “Doctor, please send all bills for his care to me. The Water Works Department will cover his medical expenses and”—he turned to Etta—“a hotel room for you and your daughter until better accommodations are made available to you.”

His unexpected kindnesses overwhelmed Etta. She extended her hand to the Water Works president, and he took hold. “That’s very generous of you, sir. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Your family has done a commendable job in the past for us, Mrs. Ward.” Had he emphasized the words your family, or did she merely imagine it? “The least we can do is make these next weeks as free of stress as possible.” He gave her hand a light squeeze and released it, glancing around the room. “Most of these furnishings are your personal belongings. You won’t want them used by the men on the repair crew. I’d be happy to make storage arrangements for them in a warehouse owned by Mr. Dall DeWeece. Are you familiar with the town businessman and philanthropist?”

“Yes, we’ve met.”

Mr. Cambrie’s smile broadened. “He happens to be a good friend of mine.”

And, Etta suspected, had talked to Mr. Cambrie about more than housing their furniture. The family’s secret was no longer a secret.

“I assure you, he will keep your belongings safe. Well…” He took a backward step. “I’m sure you want to check on your husband and daughter. Please give them my regards and well wishes for a speedy recovery. I will be in touch with you soon concerning your move. Have a good day, now, Mrs. Ward.” He picked up his hat and waved farewell with it as he left the cabin.

Dr. Whiteside looked at Etta, sympathy glistening in his eyes. “It sounds as though things are rapidly changing. Are you reeling?”

Etta examined her thoughts. She should be reeling. Any normal person would reel after receiving such unexpected news. But she wasn’t. She shook her head slowly, pondering her strange state of…what? Numbness? No. More calm acceptance. “I’m not. I suppose it appears that my life is falling apart, but I feel it’s more like God is working His will.”

The doctor’s warm smile showed his admiration. “You’ve got some work to do to prepare for a move to town. I’ll get out of your way. I left some analgesic powders on the bedside table for Claude and Jennie. Mix a teaspoon with water when they need pain relief.” He glanced toward the closed bedroom door, and a wry grin lifted the corners of his lips. “I’ll have my wife ready a bed for Claude. I’m sure Mr. Cambrie will let me know when to expect him.”