“And, when do you think that may be?”
“Actually, let me check with Mr. Bose—you met him at our wedding—and get back to you this evening.” His serious mien turned impish as he added, “It is possible we could even catch tomorrow’s stage together if you will indulge me in the time to conduct some railroad business while I’m there?”
She grinned back at him and boldly leaned forward to drop a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll let Mrs. Suarez know we will be away a night or two. I think I’d rather have Camellia stay here, don’t you think?” She strolled back out to make arrangements for their trip and to pen a quick note to Flora about their plans, asking if Moses could meet with them. If she hurried she could just make the mail coach.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – Broken Heart
Seeing to the packing with Maria, Megan pulled aside Sonia’s bag and valise. She’d gone through everything while on the train, but hadn’t had room to spread things out and really examine them. One of the pieces of jewelry had especially intrigued her.
There it was, the oversized, heavy silver pendant that appeared to have been cut roughly in half. It rather looks like a puzzle piece, with most of the right side missing, she mused, her finger tracing the outside loop—like half a heart! And then it starts up again, but an arrow shape cuts in toward the center from the side and the top. She turned it over. An inscription on the back read: You have the best part of my heart, but I kept the piece that holds yours. The drawer stuck a bit when she tried to replace it within the box. Pulling it out again, she realized there was a letter which had gotten caught.
It was actually just a note. All of Sonia’s letters from Tom had been in another packet. The note was dated just after the last letter. It must have accompanied the pendant. Megan carefully unfolded it and read:
Dearest Sonia,
It is far too long since I have seen you and held you in my arms, but I hope to be back to Philadelphia in time for the birth our child. As I mentioned in my last letter, Randy and I believe we have made a rich strike. We have already mined enough silver to obtain tickets for each of us to return for our wives and families and to have you all come join us here.
Randy has asked to be allowed to leave first as his wife is ready to travel now and he has been missing his two boys fiercely. No more fiercely than I have been missing you, I vow!
I have had this pendant made from a single lump of silver I pulled from the ground myself. I then had a piece cut out for me to hold onto until I am once again holding you, my dearest love and light of my life. When we are reunited, so will be this heart, and my own heart will once more be whole.
I sign this with all my love and devotion and prayers that we may soon be reunited,
Your loving husband,
Tom
Megan tucked the letter beneath the pendant and slid the drawer back into its slot, then reached into her pocket for the handkerchief she kept tucked there. As she slowly dried her face she was pondering what she had just learned.
1 – Tom had planned to be back in time for Sonia’s lying in, which had been almost three months ago.
2 – Randy had been planning to make the round trip to his home between the time of the letter and when Tom would have had to leave to make it back in time.
3 – The letter had been dated only three weeks before Camellia’s birth, which meant either Tom or Sonia had miscalculated the date, or the birth had been early.
4 – Randy had just returned to town so he had been gone almost four months. What had happened in that time?
5 – Where was Tom?
Perhaps they could go to the Tombstone Post Office to determine when Tom had last picked up his mail. It might narrow the search period or even provide a clue to where he might have gone.
CHAPTER NINETEEN – Tombstone
Ted helped Megan down from the stagecoach. The ride had been hot, dusty, cramped, long, and uncomfortable. The need for rail service was clearly evident to Megan! She’d been hearing from her fellow passengers how the new service from Benson to Tucson had already cut that trip down from nearly two days to under two hours, and Megan had seen for herself the vast difference in comfort levels.
The newlyweds’ first stop was the Post Office where no questions were asked when Ted requested the mail for Tom McNeel. Handing the small packet of letters to Megan, he then escorted her to the Owl Café for a bite to eat after their five hour journey.
They flirted as they enjoyed their repast, after which they checked into the Grand Hotel. Built just the year before, it featured electricity and running water and the elegance the Philadelphia debutante had once expected as routine and normal.
“I apologize again for leaving you alone here while I conduct business. But this will give you an opportunity to rest a bit, before we go to visit with Flora and Moses. I am most looking forward to meeting them.” Ted brought her hand to his lips.
“Well, from your description I’m not sure the Golden Eagle Brewery would be quite a suitable place for me to join you. Although if you
