THE EDUCATED MERCHANT
PART III. FORT COLLINS
Tom hadn't expected Fort Collins to be a well-established town, and it definitely wasn't. Its history - as Tom learned, later - had been one of starts and stops. A military post had been established in 1862, to combat "Indian trouble," and in particular to guard the Overland Stage Line. A few settlers had moved in around the military area, but a massive flash flood on the Cache La Poudre River in June 1864 destroyed most of the early developments.
The military area was moved to higher ground, as was most of the private development, but the military base never became a real "fort," and in 1868 the Army abandoned the site. Settlers continued to move in, but the Government had not yet opened the area for homesteading, so people just began building wherever it suited them.
Tom learned that he had arrived just as the area was being prepared for the granting of homesteads. He quickly selected a town lot near an existing school and several businesses, assuming that the town would probably develop around them. He didn't yet know what he would do, now that he was there, but he doubted he would establish a farm, so didn't apply for a larger land grant - just enough extra room for an out-building for his horses. The Donohues selected a parcel near his. He was disappointed to see that the Davises had disappeared from the area. He'd enjoyed their company, and knew the girls had, too.
Accepting that he planned to stay at Fort Collins, whatever he decided to eventually do there, he set about getting a house built for him and the girls. He had some building skills, but he envisioned a strong, sturdily-built home that he didn't think he could construct by himself. They had the money to hire some actual carpenters, which he did. He and the girls lived in their wagon until the house was completed. It wasn't extra large, but he had specified a large living room and three small bedrooms. The building was done quickly, and they moved in. It quickly became Home.
With his own house built, Tom spent much of his time helping others get settled on their lands. Robert and Beth Donohue didn't have the money to immediately build their own residence on their land grant, but they found a serviceable building nearby that they were able to rent. Tom learned that Robert had hoped to open a general store in Fort Collins - interesting, when Tom had come West to escape that fate! - but Robert had misjudged how much it would cost them to get such a business started. He and Beth had enough set aside to keep them going once a store was established, but they had nothing to buy the initial stock.
Tom's interest in having another mercantile store was close to zero, but he was a realist, and saw a way that he could help his friends, while providing himself an income without daily involvement. He knew that in a place like Fort Collins - far removed from a regular supply of goods and services - it would be almost impossible for the first business of that kind to fail. So far, no one else seemed to be planning anything of the sort.
His proposal to the Donohues was that he would provide the money for the initial stocking of a general store. Based on his experience, he would give Robert detailed instructions on buying the items that would be most likely to sell in a frontier town. Then, Robert would take a wagon to Denver, and bring it back loaded with products for the store.
Tom would expect his investment to be paid back in full, but without interest, and spread out over time, so that Robert and Beth could realize some "profit" as soon as they started selling. Beyond repayment of his loan, Tom would get 30 per cent of the profits, for which he would assist whenever he was needed in the store, help with inventory, and continue to advise the Donohues on what to buy. They readily agreed, and Robert was soon on his way to Denver for their first load of merchandise.
For the first year or so, the operation of the store took up about half of Tom's time. He didn't mind. He knew the work, of course, which smoothed out the beginning period for Robert and Beth. Later, his practical advice on what to stock contributed greatly to the success that Tom had anticipated. He was left with plenty of time to be with his girls, and also to become involved in the development of the local college.
The Colorado Agricultural College was established by the Territorial legislature in 1870, and a Board of Trustees was organized to purchase land and begin development. However, no money was allotted by the government, so for several years the college was little more than an idea. Several parcels of land were donated, but there was still no money to do anything with them. It wasn't until 1874 that the Grange got involved, provided some funding, planted several acres to crops, and erected one small brick building. Another five years passed before there was an actual campus, and students began to attend classes.
Although little was changing on the ground during those years, there was a lot of planning, fund raising, developing publicity, and such. Tom entered into the activities wherever he could, both because he wanted to see the college come to life, and because he wanted to become known to those most likely to find some uses for him, later. It was slow going, but he felt things were moving in the right direction for him.
Bella and Gabby seemed to be handling the move well, and were quickly adapting to the new environment. Tom's desire that they be in a place where they weren't the only ones who looked "Mexican" was only partly realized. There were many darker-skinned people around, but there was no fraternization between them and the settlers. Tom's girls remained the only ones in their school who "looked like them." This was really more a problem for Tom than it was for them. They knew they were sometimes treated differently (and not in good ways), but they were strong, confident young women, and they just went on with their lives.
***
In their third year at Fort Collins, the girls got a new school teacher. She was young - maybe not even quite twenty, yet. She introduced herself as "Miss Davis," and explained that she had come to town from Denver. She seemed quite comfortable in her new role, and the first class went well. As the girls were leaving the classroom, she called after them.
"Bella and Gabby, can we talk for a minute?"
They turned back automatically, not at first registering what had been said. When they did...
"How do you know those names?" Gabby demanded. "Nobody knows those names!"
"Well, obviously I know them," responded Miss Davis. "You'd be amazed what I know about you. For instance, I know which of you is Bella, and which is Gabby."
The girls looked at one another, then laughed together. "You can't do that," said Bella. "Even Papa gets confused, sometimes."
"Well, be that as it may, I know that it is Bella speaking to me now, and it was you, Gabby, who asked how I knew your names."
They stared at her. "Are you a witch, or something?" Bella asked.
She laughed. "Definitely not. I just know a lot about you."
"How can you?" asked Gabby. "You said you just came to town from Denver."
"I did, but the world began before Denver, didn't it? Do you think I could forget the girls who taught me how to read and write?"
The girls looked at her, then at one another. The light finally dawned. "Cass?" they asked, in unison.
"The very same," she replied.
"You're older," Bella observed.
"So are you," Cass replied. That was all it took for hugs to be shared, all around.
Cass explained that her father had looked around when they first got to Fort Collins, but quickly decided that Denver was likely to have many more opportunities. They started south immediately.
"We didn't even get a chance to say goodbye! I missed you, but Denver turned out to be a very good move for me. They were actively training teachers, and when they found out how well I could read and write - they were amazed, by the way! - they rushed me right into the program. I certainly didn't need any more training in English, but I needed to learn something about all the other subjects that teachers are supposed to know about. I had barely finished my schooling when they offered me this job. I didn't hesitate, and here I am.
"So, how are you doing? I assume you are all settled? How's your father?" She paused before the next question, but she remembered the answer. "Your mother wasn't on the trip, was she?"
"No," Gabby replied. "She died when we were pretty young."
"Actually," Bella cut in, "Papa isn't our real father. No, that's not what I want to say. He is definitely our REAL father, but he isn't our original father. Our mother and father, and Tom - Papa - were best friends growing up. When our original parents both died young, Papa adopted us, and he and his mother - Grandma Akers - took care of us, after that. We decided on this move after Grandma died, and we didn't really have any other ties in our old town."
"I didn't know any of that. So, Tom - your father - hasn't married?"
"No," said Gabby, "He's an old bachelor. He says he'll never get married. He'll just expect Bella and me to take care of him in his old age." She stopped, and smiled. "We haven't told him yet, but we have other plans."
Cass was taking this all in. "Well, I'd certainly like to meet him, again, and say hello. But, girls, let's not tell him who I am. It took you quite a while to catch on. Let's see if his memory is any better. I bet it isn't. I was in your wagon every day, but I bet he didn't pay any attention to me - or to Josh." (She added her brother's name, hastily.)
The girls agreed. Actually, they were thinking this might fit very nicely with their other plans.
***
It was several days before Tom got over to the school. He met the girls as they were coming out. "Everybody's gone, now, and she's just straightening up. We're sure she'll be glad to talk to you," the girls said.
"Do you want to come in with me?" asked Tom.
"No, Papa," said Bella. "She might want to talk about us."
Cass turned from cleaning the blackboard when she heard the door open. She saw a tall, pleasant looking man, maybe in his mid-30s.Tom saw a tall, pleasant looking young woman. He wasn't good with women's ages, but he thought maybe 19 or 20.
"Hello, I'm Tom Akers, proud father of Bella and Gabby. You seem to already have two strong supporters in them. "
She met him halfway, and they shook hands. "You should be proud. They're the joy of my teaching experience, so far. I'm Miss Davis, fairly newly arrived in town. I'm pleased to have met you.""
Tom sensed something familiar about her. Not her looks, although they were quite nice. He thought maybe it was her voice. It had an unusual lilt to it, a certain emphasizing of certain words when she spoke. The funny thing was that, although he was sure he'd heard a voice like that, he couldn't even begin to attach it to any face.
"When we came West, we traveled with a Davis family," he said, just to make conversation.
"The girls and I talked about that. Interesting, but I guess Davis is a pretty common name."
"Yes, I guess so." He wanted to keep talking to her, but conversation was not one of his strong suits, and he found the well had pretty well run dry. "Well, I better walk the girls home. It was nice to meet you. "
"I feel the same way. Why don't we plan to get together sometime when we can talk more... about Gabby and Bella, I mean."
"I'd like that." Tom turned to leave, but then he had a thought. "It's interesting that you already know their nicknames. They don't share those with many people."
"That is interesting, isn't it?"
***
Tom wasn't spending a lot of time thinking about the school teacher. Well, that isn't true. He was thinking about her quite a bit, but not because she was nice-looking (she definitely was) and pleasant to talk to (that, too). It was that voice. He couldn't get it out of his head - and that's actually where he heard it, in his head or somewhere just behind him. It probably wouldn't have been a particularly distinctive voice to everyone. He didn't think it was really that unusual. Yet every time he heard it, he was more and more sure that he knew it some way. If only he could tie the voice to a face!
Tom found he was making up reasons to "bump into her." His efforts were too obvious to fool anyone. She didn't seem to mind. Female school teachers are always under public scrutiny, so Tom was careful to always make the meetings very public. He would be meeting his daughters after school, and would end up walking the teacher home. Or, he would casually meet her at the general store, and chat for a moment. He was feeling like a schoolboy. All that was needed was for him to carry her books for her.
One day, as they were walking, he raised a question he had wanted answered. "I will happily continue to call you 'Miss Davis' in public, but could I know your name for when it's just us talking?"
"Surely. I don't know why I haven't told you, before." (Actually, she did.) "It's Cassandra."
"Cassandra?" He said that a few times in his head. "Cassandra. I like it quite a lot."
She gave him a good smile. "I do, too. I think it's very pretty. The only trouble with it is that it's fairly long and sounds kind of formal. Most people shorten it when they talk to me."
She didn't elaborate, and Tom left her without really thinking about what a shorter version of Cassandra would be. He was about halfway home when he started to wonder. He repeated the name several times, and verified that it was a very good name for her. Then, he realized what the shortened version would be, and everything else followed quickly. Cassandra became "Cass," he added "Davis" to it, and suddenly there was Cass Davis, the daughter of Josh and Jane Davis, a girl who had been riding in his wagon almost every day on the trip West. Bella and Gabby had taught her and her brother how to read and write, so they would obviously know each other's names. It would also explain why he knew the voice so well, but not the face that went with it. The four children sat in the wagon close behind him as they studied and talked. Usually, he wasn't listening to what they were saying, but the voice would always be there, just behind his ears. He saw the face only briefly, and not usually when she was talking.
Thinking about how he had to figure all this out by himself, when he could have been told, he realized that three young women had been playing games with him. He didn't mind. The results were more than satisfactory.
After that, Cass Davis was a fixture in Tom's life, in his thoughts almost every waking minute, and in person whenever he could arrange it. He supposed he was courting her, although he wasn't sure about that. He knew absolutely nothing about girls, or women - had never had a girlfriend, had never come close to kissing anyone. He liked the female sex quite a lot - based on what he had seen from a distance - but just one female - Rosalia - had dominated his thoughts all the way through school. After that, it was full-time work in the store; then taking care of the affairs of two deceased friends; adopting two little girls; all culminated by the death of his mother, and the disposal of the store. He supposed all of that provided him with an excuse for not having any romance in his life.
Cass seemed receptive to whatever he was doing. He had a few thoughts about their difference in age - he was more than 10 years older than her - but that didn't seem to be concerning her, so he set it aside. He was very conscious of her school teacher "reputation," and kept their meetings in the open most of the time. However, within a few weeks, they had found ways to share some non-public kisses, and to have some longer private discussions. Gabby and Bella had no concerns about this progress. In fact, it fit right into their gradually developing long-term plans.
Tom talked freely to Cass about his plans and dreams, although everything was pretty nebulous. All he really knew for sure was that he wanted to be able to use his "education" in his work. Cass listened, and had some ideas.
"Have you thought about getting your teaching credential, like I have? You know so much, already, that you might not learn that much new, but having the paper makes you officially eligible for teaching jobs."
Tom hadn't thought about that, and took a moment. "Well, we already have a teacher here in town and, from what I hear, she is very good."
Cass smiled. "Well, you can't have my job, but the town is growing. One teacher isn't going to be enough, soon. However, I wasn't thinking so much about that. I was considering the college."
"The college? I still wouldn't have the training for that."
"I'm not so sure. Our brand-new little college, in a remote little Western town, is unlikely to attract a lot of professors with higher degrees. With what you've taught yourself, you are one of the most educated men in the Territory - maybe, the most educated. Like they found with me, the ones teaching you won't be able to ignore how much you already know, and you'll get your teaching certificate pretty fast. When they're looking for the first instructors at the college, they won't have forgotten you. I think it would be almost certain you'd be offered a starting job there, and you might even be able to get your college degree at the same time you were teaching."
That seemed worth thinking more about. "I'd have to go to Denver, wouldn't I - maybe for two years. I have some responsibility here at the store, but I could figure that out with Robert. Mostly, I wouldn't want to move Gabby and Bella, now that they are so settled here."
"I wasn't thinking about you moving. In the first place, I don't think it would take two years. I think they'd move you along pretty quickly. Second, I was thinking - if it's okay with you, of course - that I could stay with the girls while you're gone. I could even move into your house, so the girls would always stay right at home. With regular stagecoaches between here and Denver now, you could probably come home to see them every couple of weeks. What do you think?"
Tom thought that she'd been considering this for some time. "You'd really take care of the girls while I was gone?"
"Sure, why not? I probably don't love them quite as much as you do, but it's pretty close, I think. They love me, too, and we get along very well together. They're old enough now that they don't need a lot of care - just someone to be with them, to talk to them and listen to them. We've already had a lot of practice at that. Besides, if I moved into your house while you were gone, I wouldn't have to pay rent for a few months. That would be good for my pocketbook."
Tom had been initially surprised at her offer to be with the girls, but it did seem very logical and workable. He found he really liked the idea of Cass living in his house. Before he gave his approval to her plans, he pictured her sitting at his kitchen table, preparing food on his stove, tucking the girls in at night, sleeping in his bed... The only thing wrong with those pictures was that he wouldn't be with her in any of them!
Only a few weeks after their discussion, Tom had his local affairs in order, Cass was living in his house, and he was on his way to Denver. His studies were mostly easy, because he already knew so much, but it was still exciting to realize actual progress was being made toward his dreams.
He traveled home on the stage every few weeks, and each time was struck by the realization that a real family was living in his house. He badly wanted to be more a part of it, but he was still concerned about the school teacher's "reputation," and so always stayed overnight at the hotel.
As Cass had predicted, he moved along in his course work very quickly, and had his certificate in just a little over one year. They offered him a teaching job on the spot, but it wasn't in Fort Collins, so he declined and prepared to go home.
When Cass got Tom's note that he would soon be on his way, she and the girls started cleaning the house from top to bottom, making it spotless. Actually, it was always immaculate, and the extra touch-up was mostly imaginary. It did give Cass the chance to review everything, to make sure they were really ready for him. She found two problems, but one would be automatically solved by solving the other. She was pretty sure she had the solution to that one, too.
***
Tom had barely arrived, and just received the first round of hugs from his (three) girls, when Cass asked a question. "Before you get too settled, Tom, what would you think about getting married today?"
That wasn't a subject Tom was unfamiliar with - he had been thinking about it quite a bit the past few months - but he hadn't thought they would be confronting it so soon. He couldn't think of any reason not to get married immediately, but he needed to think a bit.
"Wouldn't it be nice to have a real wedding?" he asked, hoping she would say no.
"I'd love for you to see me all dressed up, with bunches of flowers, and with our daughters there at the altar with us. But who would we invite? It would mostly be just the four of us, wouldn't it?" She paused. "Besides, I have some more urgent concerns to address, and I think you do, too."
Tom couldn't deny the last statement, and he couldn't think of any more delaying questions. He looked down at Gabby and Bella. Their expressions seemed fully supportive. "Okay, let's take a stroll to the courthouse."
The judge seemed a little surprised to see them all, but it took less than half an hour to sign their marriage application, followed by a brief ceremony. They were married. "There's one other thing I'd really like to do," Cass began, "If it can be done, and if Tom and the girls agree. I would like to officially adopt Bella and Gabby."
The judge thought. "That isn't really necessary, Cass. Tom is their legal father, and your marriage gives you full responsibility for them."
"I know that, Judge White, but I don't want to be a step-mother or a guardian. I want to be a full, legal mother to them, because that's how I feel. Maybe it's just an extra piece of paper, as far as the law is concerned, but it would be much more than that to me."
Finding no questions or complaints among the affected parties, the judge quickly drew up an appropriate document. The four of them walked back up the street to their house, and entered it as a full-fledged, legal family.
***
They spent the afternoon laughing, joking, telling each other the news, and generally getting reacquainted and comfortable in their new roles. Cass and the girls had spent part of the morning preparing a full dinner, including a celebratory cake, which they consumed with gusto. When bedtime came, Tom and Cass tucked their daughters into bed, kissed them goodnight, and retreated to their living room. On their couch, they got considerably more personal in their greeting to one another.
Cass thought about the two problems she had been concerned with. The first was that she was not going to allow Tom to spend his first night home in the hotel. He should be with his daughters. (Well, with her, too, but that was another issue.) She knew Tom would be concerned about her "reputation," if they both stayed overnight in the same house. Well, reputation be damned! She would convince him that "family" was more important, in this case. Besides, they were adults (she told herself), and were perfectly capable of ignoring some of their more personal desires. (Were they? She didn't feel like examining that statement too closely.)
Anyway, that's when she got the idea of the quick marriage. That would take care of Tom's - or anybody else's - concerns about propriety. It did. It also did away with her second problem. If Tom had agreed to stay in the house with her there - in an unmarried state - they would have had four people, but only three beds. After their marriage, three beds was just exactly the right number.
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