Holly asked, “But if she never visits, she won’t know where Annie and Ben are, will she?”
Charity shook her head. “She knows most of the people in town, and she’ll ask if she wants to find them, and people will be happy to accommodate her.”
Charity suddenly looked down at her dress and said, “I need to go home and change my dress.”
~*~
When Charity returned two hours later, she was dressed in a dark green dress more suited for church than the utilitarian brown or navy dresses she used for work.
“You look lovely,” Holly told Charity.
“Thank you, I want to try and look the way Gertrude would expect. I thought about it, and maybe Joseph is right, and she’s here to cause trouble. She never accepted me as Charles’ wife and didn’t think I could raise Annie and Ben alone.” Charity dropped onto a chair and confessed, “I am worried she might cause trouble.”
“I wouldn’t worry,” Holly said. “The town knows what a good mother you are, and I doubt Gertrude could do anything to change their minds. I just don’t understand why she’s coming here for the wedding if she doesn’t care for you.”
Charity puffed out her cheeks and let her breath out. “I don’t know, but I think I should walk across the street and wait for the stage. It arrives early some days.”
Joseph offered, “Why don’t you stay here and wait. You can see the stage arrive and I’ll walk with you to greet Gertrude. It’s too cold outside to stand and wait for anyone.”
Charity nodded in agreement, picked up her coat, and sat at an empty table near the window. Less than an hour later, she stood and said, “The stage is coming.”
Charity slipped on her coat and hurried out the door with Joseph doing his best to follow her and keep up with her brisk walk. They arrived at the stage stop several minutes before the stage rolled up.
Joseph walked to the stage and opened the door. He offered Gertrude his hand to help her alight and said, “It’s nice to see you, Miss Gertrude.”
Gertrude accepted his hand but didn’t return his smile. “Thank you,” she mumbled.
Charity stepped forward, addressing Gertrude. “Welcome back, Gertrude. I’ll accompany you to the hotel, and Joseph will bring your things.”
Gertrude nodded her agreement and walked down the boardwalk toward the hotel. After the manager checked Gertrude in and gave her the key to her room, she turned to Charity and said, “I would like to speak to you. Let’s take a seat in the lobby before I retire to my room.”
“All right,” Charity answered and walked to two empty chairs in a quiet corner of the lobby.
Gertrude sat in the chair across from Charity and folded her hands in her lap. After a few moments, she cleared her throat.
“First, let me congratulate you on your wedding. I honestly thought you’d marry sooner, but it seems you waited for an important person rather than some cowboy.”
Charity’s mouth dropped open, but before she could speak, Gertrude continued.
“Regardless, I suppose it doesn’t matter who you marry. What matters is you are acting stupid and not thinking of your children.”
Charity found her voice. “How dare you speak to me that way. My children are my world, and no one would say I’m not a good mother. Ask anyone. Ask Pastor Elkins or anyone else in town that you trust. They’ll tell you.”
Gertrude waved her hand dismissively and said, “I didn’t say you weren’t a good mother. I said you were acting stupid regarding the children. I will repeat it. You are not putting the children first by allowing any man to take their inheritance.”
“What,” Charity stammered, her fists balling at her sides. “No one is taking anything from the children.”
“So, you think,” Gertrude answered. “Listen to me, Charity Rossman, my grandfather worked hard and made a great deal of money. When he died, his estate passed to my father, and after our parents passed, the estate was bequeathed to Charles and me.”
Charity nodded, “I know that. Charles and I used some of the money to buy the ranch and stock. We were thankful not to have to acquire debt when first married. When Charles died, I sold the ranch and cattle and was able to purchase my home and only occasionally work at the café instead of working somewhere for sixty hours a week to feed Annie and Ben.”
“That’s all well and good, but you still had not addressed the fact that when Charles died, you inherited all of the money, including the estate funds from our grandfather. You have no right to marry and put that money in jeopardy. Your children are in danger.”
Charity scrunched her eyebrows and asked, “Could you please tell me what you’re talking about? I have no idea, and I don’t understand how marrying Jason will put Ben and Annie in any peril. Are you sure you’re feeling well?”
“I am perfectly well, thank you, and if you don’t reconsider your marriage, I will have no recourse but to notify my lawyer to begin the proceedings we discussed before I left Cheyenne.”
“What proceedings?” Charity stammered. “Please explain. I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish.”
Gertrude stood and said, “I don’t have to explain myself. You’ll be notified in due time.”
Charity sat stunned as Gertrude turned and strode out of the hotel.
When Charity regained her composure, she quickly walked back to the café, hoping her brother could make some sense out of the strange conversation she had with Gertrude.
Charity’s worry was written across her face as she entered the café, and Holly rushed to her side.
“What’s wrong?” Holly asked.
“Joseph was
