Child’s Smile
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Molly had been so busy with her duties that she didn’t get a chance to visit the baby. The child was born prematurely, and it worried Molly when no one seemed overly concerned about her. She thought maybe they were trying to protect her, or perhaps they were just not sure how much to tell her.
But either way, Molly couldn’t help but worry about the child. So on her next day off, she decided to pay them another visit. It wasn’t long before she found herself at their home in an old building that had once been a barn for the ranch.
She knocked on the door and waited until someone answered, then entered after being invited inside. They took a seat in the sitting room of the old barn and talked while waiting for the mother to arrive. A few minutes later, the young woman arrived and looked around as if surprised to see Molly there.
Then she noticed the baby and smiled and waved hello to her. When Molly walked into the nursery, she stopped dead in her tracks because all three children were staring at her with wide eyes, their mouths open. Their mother quickly closed the door behind Molly and ran up to her, hugging her tightly. “You’re here!”
“Yes,” Molly said. “I’m here.”
The two women hugged each other tightly while tears trickled down the young woman’s face. Her husband came from another room and stood nearby, looking nervous and awkward. After a while, he stepped forward and introduced himself to Molly.
He was tall and thin with dark hair parted neatly on his head. He wore a plain blue shirt and pants, and Molly could see that the man carried a gun under his jacket. The children all stared at Molly with their large brown eyes while the little girl held onto her mother’s dress, looking very serious.
Molly smiled at them and felt an instant connection with the children. It made her miss her own family more than ever before.
“How are you feeling?” Molly asked the mother.
“Better, thank you,” she said. “But I still have a ways to go yet.”
The young woman told Molly that the doctor would be by in a while to check on their daughter. The baby was still recovering, but everyone had high hopes for her health.
“So what brings you here today?” the woman asked. “We were just talking about you yesterday when we went out riding.”
“Oh, is that right? Did you know that my mother used to work in this very same place?”
The woman glanced back over her shoulder. “What? Your mother worked here?”
“Yes,” Molly said. “And you look familiar. Have you ever seen me before?”
The woman shook her head. “No, never. And I can’t say I remember seeing anyone like you either.”
“It doesn’t matter now anyway,” Molly said. “What matters is that I’m here to do a job, and I need some information.”
The mother leaned against her husband and crossed her legs, resting her hands on her knees. She nodded. “Go ahead. What is it that you want to know?”
“Well, I wanted to ask you about the children’s father. You mentioned he was a drifter and left you without saying goodbye.”
“Yes, that’s right. But why does it matter now?”
Molly hesitated. If she told them that she was investigating him, they might become too suspicious of her. “It’s nothing important,” she finally said. “I just happened to run into his name during my research.”
The woman gave a quick glance over her shoulder again and smiled at Molly. “Well, I don’t think I’ve met him. But I’ll be sure to mention your name to others who may have known him.”
“Thank you,” Molly said. “That would be helpful.”
She spent most of the rest of the afternoon with them, visiting with the children and learning about the couple’s daily lives. By the time she left, she felt like she knew the entire family. She also saw firsthand that the young mother was an amazing person, caring for her children even though she hadn’t always had an easy life.
The children were well-behaved and polite. They were all dressed in new clothes, which pleased Molly to no end.
On her way back to the ranch house, she wondered if she should continue her investigation into the children’s father. She didn’t want to seem too nosy or intrusive, but her instincts were telling her to dig deeper. At least, if she did discover anything, she wouldn’t feel bad about asking questions since they already knew her. That would make things easier for everyone involved.
She had one more day off, so she decided to return home in the morning. The first thing she needed to do was get a letter sent to Tom’s family in California. She’d found a post office where she could write a simple note, then send the letter via train.
Once that was taken care of, she could visit the children’s mother again. With any luck, she would learn something useful about the young man that she could use as ammunition in her investigation.
Molly rode back toward the ranch house in the evening, and she was exhausted from her long ride through the mountains. The sun was setting, and the clouds cast a deep orange glow on the western horizon.
As she drew closer to the home, she looked up at the sky and noticed a faint red color that reminded her of blood. The sunset seemed to be painting the sky red, not just the clouds, which was unusual for Colorado. The air was crisp, cold, and damp. Fog rolled across the ground, leaving puddles everywhere.
When Molly reached the ranch house, she dismounted and led the horse inside. It was dark inside the main room, with only a single candle burning beside the fireplace.
“Hello, Molly!” Tom called out. He sat in his chair, reading a newspaper, and gave a brief wave.
“Hi there,” she said. “I’m back.”
He set down the paper and folded his arms. “Did you get everything you needed?”
“Yes, I believe I did.”
“Good. Then maybe we can talk now.”
“Yes, let’s,” Molly said, sitting down on the sofa. She took a seat close enough to hear every word he uttered, but far enough away that he couldn’t read her expression.
Tom cleared his throat and turned away to face the fire, staring into its flames. “You know, my brother was killed in a mine explosion. His wife left our mother and their three kids, including the little girl who has been sick.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Did the mine belong to Tom?”
“Yes, he owns it,” Tom said. “But he had no control over what happened to his brother. My sister-in-law didn’t blame him for her husband’s death; she was just angry at the world in general.”
Molly listened intently. She had no idea that Tom’s brother owned a mine. She also wasn’t surprised that his sister-in-law was upset and left the family. A man’s life was worth nothing compared to hers when her husband died in a terrible accident such as that one. No wonder she was so mad about it.
“Anyway,” Tom continued, “you’re here because you wanted to find out more about my brother’s death. What can I tell you?”
Molly nodded and waited for him to speak.
“We buried him near the mine. But I never liked him much anyway, so it didn’t bother me that he was gone. He was an awful drunk. And he beat my mother and the other two boys sometimes, too.”
So Tom’s brother had a drinking problem and occasionally hit his family members. She already knew those things because she’d asked the children. Now it appeared the young miner had been violent toward his mother and sons.
“The last few months before my brother died, I think he was trying to change his life around. He stopped drinking and started going to church.”
“Did he have trouble finding work?”
“No, not really. He was lucky. Most people need two hands to dig gold, but my brother was strong, and he could do it with one hand.”
“Then why was he working in that mine?”
“It paid well, and it was only temporary until they brought someone else to replace him.”
She tried to picture the young man’s body lying in an open grave. Was he even still recognizable? Or was he unrecognizable after being covered by dirt and rocks?
“Was your mother ever able to find another husband?”
“Yes, she remarried. She met a nice gentleman in town. They got married a few weeks later. We were happy for her, but sad that we lost my brother.”
“Your mother must have been heartbroken over the loss of her son,” Molly said. “And the two sons who were left behind.”
“Yeah, she cried for days. But she was lucky to marry again. Some women lose their husbands during the war or get widows in some terrible way, so they don’t have anyone. I guess she thought she was lucky to land a good man.”
“Are they still living in the same house?”
“Yes, and the new husband is a fine man. He’s a bit older than my mother, but they’ve been happily married for many years now.”
“Have you seen them recently?” Molly asked.
“Yes, I go there every week to pay them a visit.” He hesitated. “They’re both getting old. Sometimes I worry about how they’ll manage without my help.”
She understood the feeling. Her own parents weren’t much older than Tom’s mother, and she worried about them all the time.
“What would happen if you died?”
“Oh, I’m a hundred percent healthy, so I doubt I’ll die anytime soon.”
“But suppose something happened to you. Would your mother be able to take care of herself and her sons?”
“I’ve made arrangements in case that happens.”
Molly wondered what sort of plans had been drawn up.
“Do you have any brothers and sisters?”
“Three of us. One brother is a lawyer, the other works in town, and my youngest sister lives with her husband and kids in Chicago.”
“Is she married?”
“Yes, she’s married to a man in the business.”
“How did your oldest brother die?”
Tom paused, and then he said, “He drowned.”
Molly stared at the ceiling. She hadn’t expected anything like that. Drowning in water sounded so simple and innocent. But it wasn’t. It was an awfully painful way to die, especially for a child who couldn’t swim and fell overboard from a boat.
“Why do you think the mine exploded?”
“I don’t know. I heard that the men who worked there told the mine owners that something was wrong, but the company wouldn’t listen to them. So they went ahead and started mining anyway. My brother was working in the mine that day.”
“Were you close to your brother?”
“I loved him very much. I wish he was still alive.”
Molly thought about the young miner who had been killed in the explosion. Did he love his brother? She suspected he did, but he didn’t say it aloud.
“You must miss him terribly.”
“Yeah,” Tom replied softly. “I miss him all the time.” He wiped away a tear as he glanced down at his hand. Then he looked back up at Molly. “That’s all I wanted to tell you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bannister,” she said.
He stood and walked across the room. She watched him leave the house through the window.
After a few moments, he returned.
“Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye,” she murmured.
As she stepped out into the night, Molly thought of the dead miner and his three sons and felt sorry for them. If she were in their shoes, she would be crying right along with them. And she would probably never forgive the mine owner for taking the life of a man whose only crime was helping her.
***
Molly arrived in Chicago on Saturday morning to spend several hours with her mother. The train ride from Denver to Colorado City was long, but she enjoyed watching the green grass and the blue sky passing by the windows.
She hadn’t planned to visit her mother until next month, but she needed to see her now more than ever. When she got off the train, she found herself looking forward to seeing her family. It had been too long since she’d last visited her home in Chicago, and the thought of being surrounded by familiar sights and smells made her happier than she could describe.
The train station was crowded with people rushing to catch a connecting train or bus to one of the nearby towns, and she quickly realized that the crowds were even worse than at Union Station in New York.
A group of businessmen rushed past her carrying briefcases and bundles of papers. Anxious-looking mothers clutched their children tightly against their bodies while hurrying toward a train.
She followed the crowd down a short corridor and stepped into a large waiting room where rows of wooden benches filled the space.
A woman sat on a bench near the front door. She wore glasses and had gray hair that was pulled back in a bun, and she seemed to be staring straight ahead with no interest in talking to Molly. Molly decided not to sit next to her. She didn’t want to intrude on anyone’s privacy.
The waiting room grew silent, except for the occasional sound of footsteps. As the minutes passed, she became bored. She wandered over to a small table where a man and a woman sat reading newspapers. They looked up when she approached, but neither spoke.
“Are you going to Chicago?” Molly asked.
Neither answered.
“Can I buy you, ladies, a cup of coffee?”
The couple exchanged glances before the man said, “No thanks.”
“I guess not.” Molly turned to walk away, but a voice stopped her.
“Please wait a minute.” The newspaper lay flat on the table. Molly glanced around to see if someone was playing a trick on her. No one else was in sight.
“What did you say?” Molly asked.
“I’m sorry, I don’t speak much English,” he said, pointing to his eyes. “My name is Sam. How are you?”
Molly smiled as she shook his hand.
“I’m fine,” she replied, trying to ignore the fact that she didn’t know what to say next. “I was just wondering how you’re doing.”
“How’s your trip going?”
“It’s good.” Molly glanced down at her watch again. “I should get going.”
“I’ll walk with you,” he offered. “I need to talk to my friend about some work stuff.”
They exited the waiting room and walked down the street. Molly noticed that Sam’s friend, who was also black, was dressed differently from everyone else around them—in a tailored suit and bow tie, as opposed to a cowboy hat and boots.
“Sam has a job interview with the railroad, and he wants me to help him prepare for the meeting.”
“Good luck,” Molly said.
“Thanks,” Sam replied. He glanced at his watch again. “We better hurry. We can talk more later.”
“Bye-bye,” Molly called after him.
The two men entered a building. They disappeared inside, leaving Molly alone in the hallway. She turned around, but they weren’t anywhere to be seen. Had it really happened? Did she imagine their conversation? Or had her father somehow found her and sent them to meet her?
She went back into the waiting room and searched for her mother. After a few moments, she located her sitting on one of the benches. Her mother was wearing a dark-blue dress and had her head bowed over an envelope.
“Hello, Mom,” Molly said as she sat beside her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, dear.”
“You look tired.”
“I am tired.” Mary Jane sighed, then lifted her head and gazed at Molly. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Why do you keep coming all this way?”
“I wanted to see you,” Molly said, touching her mother’s hand. “And I wanted to make sure that everything is all right.”
“Everything will be fine,” her mother said, though there was no conviction in her tone.
Molly took a deep breath, wishing she could tell her that everything would be better soon. She knew her mother needed reassurance, but how could she give it to her? She still had no idea why her father had left so suddenly, and she couldn’t offer any comfort until he told her what he meant.
“Do you have any news?”
“Not yet,” Mary Jane replied. “But I’m working hard to find you a buyer.”
“Where are you staying?”
“In a boardinghouse.”
Molly nodded.
“I’ve been looking for a place to rent,” she continued, “but I haven’t found anything affordable.”
“Well, you won’t have to worry about money anymore,” Molly said, trying not to let her mother hear the lie in her words. “I got a job.”
Mary Jane’s eyes widened, and the lines of concern faded from her forehead. “That’s wonderful!”
“I’m starting tomorrow morning. It’s temporary work, but hopefully, I’ll get hired permanently. I’m going to live in the hotel.”
Her mother reached out and squeezed Molly’s fingers. “Thank God! I thought we’d never make it.”
Molly nodded, but she didn’t feel like thanking God. He hadn’t answered her prayers. She didn’t even understand why she prayed anymore. What had happened to her faith?
“I want you to come to stay with us,” Mary Jane said, standing to leave. “This isn’t safe for you to be traveling by yourself. You shouldn’t be going to such dangerous places.”
“I’m fine,” Molly replied, rising to follow her mother.
“Please, Molly, just think about it,” she said, holding Molly’s shoulder. “You’re too young to be alone.”
“I’m not alone,” Molly said, thinking of the newspaper article. “There are others helping me.”
“Those people might take advantage of you,” Mary Jane argued. “They can be very—”
“Mom,” Molly cut her off. “I have enough money to pay for my own room and board. And I promise I’m safe.”
“I don’t trust you,” Mary Jane said, and the sadness in her voice made Molly’s heartache. “I wish that things were different between us.”
“Me, too.” Molly hugged her mother before leaving the waiting room to join Sam and his friend.
The End