New Beginnings: A Fresh Start

Chapter 26

Excitement and Doubts

( One quick note: Thank you Randi K. for telling me you love the Paradise stories.)

Arriving at the hotel, Ethan walks to the front desk clerk as Mitch and the boys wait.

Alex busily examines the elegant dark wood and velvet furniture plus the flocked wallpaper around the room.

"This is much different from The Paradise Hotel isn't it?" Rob asks quietly.

"Yeah it's much fancier even just in the entryway. We don't have any velvet covered furniture in ours. I feel like I don't belong here. I'm just a poor Irish kid not some rich kid."

"You belong with me, Alexander. As long as you are with me or Ethan, no one will question you're right to be here. You are more than some Irish kid, you are my ward which is as good as saying my son."

Hearing this allows Alex to calm his nerves. The stories his Da told of being denied lodging and food have been running through his mind.

"We're in the year 1900 now Alex. People aren't going to put others down for being Irish or something." Rob tells his friend. Listening, Mitch silently wishes the boy's words would be true but has too much experience with people to know they aren't. He doesn't correct the youthful beliefs though, preferring to let the boys learn for themselves if it comes to that.

"Good afternoon, my name is Ethan Cord and I have a reservation for adjoining rooms for two nights. Could you direct me to our rooms?"

"Yes sir. Please sign the registry. Let me just ring for the bellhop and he'll assist you. You have rooms twenty and twenty one on the third floor, sir. They are some of our best rooms. All guests in The Maverick Hotel are also provided room service. If you sirs wish for anything at all, just use the telephone to call down to the front desk. One of us will see to it you are given your order very quickly. Here is the bellhop. Marcus, lead the gentlemen to rooms twenty and twenty one."

"Yes sir. Right this way sirs. We have an elevator to take us up." Marcus announces as he follows Ethan to gather the carpetbags.

"An elevator?" Alex asks curiously, having never seen one.

"Yes sir. Right this way and you'll find it's one of the nicest in town."

Leading the group to what looks like an entrance having a wooden door behind a black iron scrolled gate, Marcus stops. Opening the black gate and the door to reveal a small box like room he waits for the men to enter. When no one moves, he implores "Step inside gentlemen and I will pull us up. It's very smooth, no need to be alarmed."

"How does this work and is it safe?" Alex asks uncertainly as Mitch, Ethan and Rob walk into the elevator.

"It's perfectly safe, young sir. It's on a pulley system. There is also a brake if I need to stop it from moving."

"Alex, don't be alarmed son. It's similar to pulling a bucket from a well. As some of us pull on the ropes, the elevator moves up. I've heard of electric elevators in New York City. It's an engineering design of the future."

"Come on Alex, have a little adventure once in a while. Don't be a scared chicken, be brave!" Rob teases which earns him a stern look from Ethan.

"It's alright, Alex. Come, join us for the ride. I've ridden elevators before." Mitch tells the young man still looking unconvinced at the safety of this new device.

Deciding he may as well join them, Alex walks into the elevator sighing as the bellhop slides the door with a glass panel closed.

"If you'd be so kind, young sirs, take hold and pull on that rope beside you. I will pull this side and we'll be moving up."

As the elevator comes to a stop on the platform labeled Third Floor, Alex happily follows the men off the elevator to their rooms.

"Here you are sirs, the keys to your rooms. If you need anything at all, the telephone is connected to the lobby. Just pick up and talk to whomever answers. Enjoy your stay in Denver. You young sirs might enjoy going to the riverwalk. We have a carnival in town for two weeks."

"Thank you. We'll get settled in now." Ethan replies dismissing the overly chatty young man.

"Well Alex, you survived your first elevator ride. Now on to bigger and better adventures!" Rob can't help but tease his friend after they all enter the first room.

"Robert. Leave Alex alone. There is no need to act this way. There will be none of what you think of as adventures during our stay. We were going to have this talk later but now may be a good time. Mitch and I want to be sure you boys understand the rules of our stay."

"Rules. I knew we wouldn't just get to come along and have fun. There's always rules to keep us from doing just that. We were planning to go to the saloons and see the ladies!" Rob teases as Alex's eyes widen in surprise.

"Rob! You are going to get us in trouble!" Alex whispers glancing at Mitch nervously.

"Robert! I'm being serious here, young man. If you want to continue to act this way, you won't be leaving the room today. Are you ready to listen?"

"Yes sir."

"This is a large city and Mitch and I want to set boundaries to keep the two of you safe. You are old enough to travel around the city without chaperones but you must follow the rules to do so. First, you must stay away from the western side of town. The majority of the wildness that occurs in Denver can be found on that side of town. There is nothing you need to see on that side of the city. You two are forbidden from going there. Understand?"

"Yes sir. We won't be going to the fun side of town." Rob replies, trying not to smile as Ethan once again gives him a warning look.

"Yes sir, I understand. I won't go anywhere near that side of town, Uncle Ethan." Alex answers.

"You two boys are not to enter any room where there is gambling taking place or liquor is served. That means both here in the hotel and in town. No saloon visits whatsoever. NO drinking and NO gambling of any kind. Disobey and you will find yourselves standing up to eat as well as sleeping on your stomachs!" Mitch announces.

"I understand, Mitch. I will follow your rules, sir." Alex replies as he looks at Rob.

"No drinking, No gambling. Yes sir, I understand also. We won't be trying to do either of those things. Mitch, Pa? I only want to show Alex around Denver some. I want to take him out to the Marina and do some Christmas shopping. I promise you, we won't get in trouble. We're going to be safe and do as you say."

"All right boys, the lecture is over. We trust you will remember to obey these rules. You may go unpack in your room, here is the key." Ethan says handing the key to Alex.

"Let's meet back here in twenty minutes for lunch. I would like to wash up and relax just a few minutes and then we'll head out to a restaurant." Mitch tells the boys.

"Yessir. We'll behave." Alex answers as Rob nods in agreement.

Inside their room, Alex stretches out on the bed watching Rob unpack his bag.

"Rob, you nearly got yourself and then ME into trouble in there! All that talk of going to saloons! I thought Uncle Ethan was going to punish you! I'm just happy Mitch didn't take you seriously."

"Yeah, Pa was getting to that point, so I stopped. He can only take so much teasing. I was only funning, Alex and you don't need to worry. I won't get us in trouble. I swear. I meant what I told them, I only want to show you around and buy Christmas gifts. I have to order something really special for Pa from all of the kids. We'll do that tomorrow. I need you to help me pick gifts for the kids. I also need to purchase some new clothes while I'm here. That's the reason I was allowed to come in the first place. I need new clothes."

"I'll need to pick out something for Mitch and Claire too. You help me figure out what to buy. I have a little money with me."

"Don't worry about money. I plan to go by the bank and withdraw enough for us to use while we're here. I have an account here in Denver."

"Rob, isn't this the place where you met that boy who got you in so much trouble last year? I remember you telling me you were taken to a gambling house by the kid. I trust you aren't planning to show me that on this trip, right? I want to see some sights of Denver but I do not want to get my backside in trouble. My goal is to stay in Mitch's good favor for as long as possible after the last time. I haven't been in trouble since your grand scheme of skipping school and going to a saloon back in September. I plan to keep it that way, just so you know."

"I swear on my friendship, I'm not planning anything that will cause us to be in trouble. Yes, this is the town where I got into much trouble last year. We had some fun here too. There are more modern things here in Denver than in Paradise. Have you ever been in an automobile or even seen one? They have some here. There are motorboats at the Marina. There's all kinds of shops here to buy things we can't get in Paradise. There's even telephones and gas lighting here. Some of the more high society homes here have electricity! Alex, this is the time to explore new things. Relax, I won't cause you any trouble."

"I would like to see an automobile as I haven't ever seen one. I'm not the adventurous guy that you are so I haven't seen all the newfangled things you have. I've only been to Colorado Springs one time and nowhere else since we moved to Paradise."

"You will find Denver is much more up to date than Colorado Springs. Just wait!"

Knocking once on the connecting door before opening it, Mitch tells the boys "We are leaving for the restaurant in five minutes. You two should already be washed with a fresh shirt on by now. We don't go to a fancy restaurant wearing wrinkled and dusty shirts. Let's get going boys."

"Yes sir." Rob answers as he moves to follow instructions.

The following morning, the boys find themselves out in the city on their own. Riding in a open seat carriage, Alex asks "Rob, are you planning to take me out on a boat today? I don't care much for boats."

"I don't have a boat or a way to get us one so just relax. I wanted to show you the Marina and the boats. There were sailboats and powerboats here last year. The water is so blue it sparkles. We have clear ponds in Paradise but this is just different."

"Alright, just as long as you don't try to 'borrow' a boat."

"Alex! How could you think such a thing about me?"

"I know you well, Rob. That innocent look doesn't work with me. I know you would get us out on a boat if you could."

"No, not anymore. I've changed and don't want to do things that would get me in serious trouble with my Pa. I've turned over a new leaf, Alex. I'm growing up you know. Even if Pa can't see it sometimes."

"Mitch doesn't see it with me either. All those rules and lectures about behavior and safety get me irritated. I've not caused him problems since I moved in with him." At Rob's raised eyebrows, he adds "Well not much. Just a couple of times getting in trouble with you."

"We'll just keep showing them we are grown up now. Sooner or later they'll finally notice. Where would you like to go after we see the Marina?"

"Well, you said you needed to go to an Ironworks so let's go there next. I wonder what Claire is doing right now?"

"The boys would be in school as it's Friday so she's with Dr. Amy. Pa told her she couldn't stay on the ranch alone so she said she'd stay at the clinic. I don't know why she likes the clinic so much. I sure don't."

"Your Pa likes the clinic too, you know. He's been over there quite often. I see him go there during the lunch times many days. He comes in to the hotel and gets plates to take out to the clinic. Is it Dr. Amy he's taking them to do you suppose?"

"I think it's Miss. Delphie he's really going to see but probably takes lunch for both ladies. They seem to be, as Claire would say, "sweet on each other'. Don't bring it up though because he won't talk about it and gets irritable if we ask."

"Parents ask all about our business and insist we tell them everything we do and yet they don't tell us about their own. I found out my Da and Ma were moving to Boston just days before it happened. I'm grateful Mitch let me move in with him so I could stay in Paradise."

"I'm grateful too as I wouldn't have a good friend to do wild things with. Just wait to see what I have planned for us for today." Rob replies smirking when Alex protests "ROB!"

While Alex and Rob are enjoying the morning in Denver, Joseph has run into some difficulty back at the ranch.

Waking early, Joseph decides to help by making breakfast for everyone. Busy stirring the pancake batter he sees George come into the kitchen.

"Morning Joseph, can I pour today? I'll be really careful. This is good to get to have Sunday breakfast on a schoolday! We usually only get hot cereal and toast."

"Good Morning to you too, George. We don't have time to fix pancakes on schooldays. Since we aren't going to school today then we do. Yes, you can pour but I'm the one doing the flipping. How about you go get dressed first though. You know we don't come to breakfast in nightshirts."

"OH! I got up to go to the W.C. and forgot to go get dressed when I heard you making breakfast. I'll be right back. Do you want me to get Ben up?"

"No, let him sleep. We'll wake Claire and Ben when it's time to eat if they aren't up by then. Ben would argue with you over getting to pour and you wouldn't like that much would you?"

"No, I wouldn't. He's a pain in the butt lately! I wish Papa was home so he would behave. His tantrum last night when you told us to put up the checkers and get ready for bed was so bad. You should've spanked him. Papa would've! Throwing the checkers at you that way! Sometimes I'm ashamed of him, Joseph. I know he can't help being younger sometimes but he acts so much younger than me. He's supposed to be ten not a baby."

"I know George. Don't let Claire or Pa hear you say 'pain in the butt' or you'll be in trouble. You know 'butt' is not an acceptable word. He wouldn't have acted that way with Pa. He knows I can't spank him so he does what he wants. I can and will tell Pa what he's done though so he best watch it! Go on, get dressed, I'm ready to pour."

Unknown to the boys, Ben is awake and listening.

"I'm not a baby either! I'm ten! I'll show them whose a baby!" Ben thinks as he turns to go back to his bedroom. "Just wait until they are cooking without me and I'll show them!"

Waiting until he is sure no one is looking, Ben slips out the side door running for the barn. Taking one cow at a time, he leads the animals out the back towards the open pasture. Not bothering to tie them to a stake as he's seen Joseph do, he leaves them loose.

"A baby can't take cows to pasture to feed them like I just did. So there George and Joseph! I know what else a baby can't do too! I'll show them who isn't a baby!" Ben tells the cows pawing on the cold ground. Turning around and going back to the barn he leaves the animals where they are.

Back in Denver, Rob and Alex are enjoying being on their own in a big city. Finding their way to an Ironworks business, Rob explains what he wants done.

"I want a sign for my family ranch, sir. The name is The Circle Five Ranch but we want it to have a symbol for the words circle and five. I have a sketch here of what I want. I want it to have the words and symbol between two horse heads facing each other and the circle be made to look like a coiled rope. You see Sir? The symbol will be a coiled rope maybe in a lasso shape for the circle with a number 5 in the center. How much would this cost me?"

"That is a pretty detailed design you have. I'd say it would run you about thirty five dollars cash up front."

"I can pay you some up front and wire the rest but thirty five dollars is too high. I am thinking ten dollars. I can do ten in cash up front." Rob replies.

"Ten is not enough. This is iron son, it ain't cheap. I'll do thirty cash up front."

"Still too high. I can do fifteen though." Rob answers as Alex listens to the dickering.

"You want this sign or don't you? You're wasting my time kid. Final offer is twenty five for the sign, all up front. I don't do half now and wire the rest or pay later. I do all cash up front. Now what's it to be, yes or no?"

"Will you be able to have it finished by December twelfth, sir? I'll need to have it sent as I won't be in the city. I need it sent to General Delivery, Robert Cord, Paradise, Colorado, I have the cash to pay you and I'll add two dollars for your help in having it sent out. Is this agreeable to you sir?"

"I'll have it finished and sent by the end of next week. You do know it takes at least a week to have something sent by stagecoach? How often do stages run through that town you mentioned?"

"We have a stage every other week sir. Here's my name and the mailing information." Rob answers as he counts out the cash to pay for the sign.

"Thank you for your help sir. I look forward to seeing the finished sign and I'll be sure to tell everyone who made it also."

"You will be pleased. Denver Ironworks does a quality business. Good day to you gentlemen."

"Rob! That is an enormous amount to pay for a sign!" Alex whispers as they walk back to the waiting carriage.

"Yes, but I did get him down ten dollars. The only problem is, I have only five dollars cash left. I need to go to the bank for some more money. Mr. Simmons, sir? Please take us to First Bank of Denver now." Rob informs the carriage driver.

"Yes, young sir. First Bank of Denver it is."

"Rob? Where did you learn to dicker that way? I'd be nervous to argue with an adult the way you did the iron worker. He looked angry when you suggested ten dollars. What if he had said he wouldn't make the sign?"

"Pa taught me to negotiate that way. If he wouldn't have accepted my lowering the price, I would find somewhere else to do business. Never accept the first offer, Alex. It's always too high. They expect you to come back with a counter offer that is too low so you can keep negotiating to a fair price. Now, I think twenty five is a little high but it's a big city and things cost more here. Claire said not to pay over twenty but he wasn't going to do it for less than twenty five. It's going to be a Christmas gift for Pa from all of the kids so it's worth the price. Now, this is between us today. You can't tell Pa or Mitch where we went. It's a surprise, alright?"

"Yes. We didn't go to the west side of the city so we shouldn't have to worry about being in trouble. What do you suppose is over that way anyway?" Alex responds.

"That's the side of town with the pleasure palaces, young gentlemen. Your Fathers are correct in warning you away from there." The carriage driver answers having been listening to the boys talk. Unknown to the two boys, Ethan spoke to him that morning while paying for the use of his services for the day.

"What is a Pleasure Palace, sir? A fancy ice cream parlour or maybe more of those bakeries like the one we passed by earlier today. The smells from it made my tongue dance and my mouth drool. I'd like to eat something from there someday." Alex says, smiling at the thought.

Laughing at his best friend's goofy smile, Alex explains before Mr. Simmons has to answer "A pleasure palace is a place where the ladies of the evening reside, Alex. Do I need to explain what a "Lady of the Evening" is or do you know of that?"

"I know of it but not experienced it if that's what you're asking. You have experienced it?"

"NO, not experienced but I've been in one once and for goodness sake don't even mention this conversation around the Pa's or ... " Shaking his head at the thought of what Ethan's reaction would be he trails off.

"Got that and I won't be mentioning one word. Let's not even think of it any longer. Let's think about how we can go back to that bakery for pastries!"

Hearing the driver chuckling, the two boys break into laughter as the carriage turns onto the street for the bank.

Back in Paradise:

Having finished setting the table for breakfast, George goes to find his brother. Not finding him inside he walks out the side door.

"BEN! BEN? BREAKFAST IS READY, JOSEPH SAYS TO COME EAT!"

"George! Stop that shouting and go find him. He's probably in the barn." Claire scolds from the doorway.

"Sorry."

Going into the barn, George finds Ben talking to their ponies. "Ben, breakfast is ready. We're having pancakes, eggs and bacon plus more. Let's go eat!"

"Okay."

As the four children enjoy the large breakfast, Joseph hears a horse whinny from the yard. Rising, he goes to the front window to see who it might be. Ethan's many lectures of "always check first to see who has arrived" keep him from going to the door.

"It's Uncle Chris. I'll go see what he wants."

"Good morning, Joseph. I just rode out to tell you children the measles scare is over. The culprit of young Caleb's spots was an overindulgence of his Ma's canned blackberries. It turns out he's not to eat blackberries as he breaks out in spots! Matthew is going to remain in town though."

"Thanks Uncle Chris. That would be something Ben would do!" Joseph answers shaking his head at the thought.

"Joseph, I'm not a rancher but even I know cows can't find grass in the winter."

"Sir?" Joseph asks, completely perplexed at that statement.

"Your milk cows are out in the open pasture. Shouldn't they be in the barn? I don't advise putting them to pasture in the winter."

"I didn't put them to pasture. They were in the barn early this morning when I milked. Someone... oooh! Ben did it! I just know he did! I'll go get them. Thank you for telling me about the non measles epidemic. Claire will rest easy now."

"You rest easy too. Don't go off half cocked at Ben until you have the facts. I'll be back tomorrow to check on you. I want to find Ben still whole and able to sit comfortably, you hear me?"

"Yes sir. I've got to get the cows in before they freeze, sir." Joseph nods as he passes to go round up the stray cows.

Following Rob into the two story bank, Alex lets his eyes travel around the room. There are many leather chairs and tables scattered around the room. Next to each grouping of tables and chairs he sees gold discs he recognizes as cigar rests. The floor is covered with a deep burgundy carpet. Realizing Rob has walked up to the cashier's long wooden desk, he hurries to catch up with him.

"My name is Robert Cord and I'm here to make a withdrawal." Rob informs the young man behind the partition. To Alex the partition looks like a small wall of bars with cut outs for each cashier to speak to customers.

"Cord, hmm. Let me check my book." Running his finger down the list of names, he says loud enough to make several patron's heads turn. "No, sorry young man, I don't have a listing for a Robert Cord."

"That's impossible! I have an account here and have had it for almost three years now! You are just not capable of reading that ledger correctly. Now look again!" Rob says through gritted teeth.

"There's a Roger Campbell, Edward Camden, Jonathan Collingsworth and three more under C but no listing for Robert Cord. No listing, no money. Good day to you son. Go play outside with your hoop now."

Furious at being dismissed as a child would be, Rob shouts "MY NAME IS ROBERT JORDAN CORD AND I DO HAVE MONEY IN THIS BANK! I DEMAND YOU HAND OVER MY MONEY OR YOU WILL BE SORRY! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A SCRAWNY NECKED WEASEL OR DUMB CLUCK CHICKEN! HAND ME MY MONEY RIGHT NOW!" Rob's shouts cause the man to quickly shut the small metal door over his opening while he rings a bell on the desktop.

"What seems to be the trouble here?" Rob hears from behind him.

Turning to see a large muscular man in a suit, he answers "I have an account and this scrawny necked lily livered weasel won't give me my money! I demand it or you and this bank will be sorry!"

"Making threats are you? Just come with me. We have a nice place for you to wait." The unknown man answers as he takes a strong grip on Rob's arm.

"Where are you taking me? LET ME GO! I DEMAND YOU GIVE ME MY MONEY!"

"We have a brand new holding cell just for people who need to be detained for the law to come after them. You can rest easy while we wait for the marshal." The man replies as he pushes Rob through the cell door and locks it.

Peering out from the bars, Rob sees Alex peeking around the corner.

"Alex! Go back to the hotel and get Pa and Mitch. Tell them I'm being held prisoner at the bank. Hurry."

"I'll be back soon. Will you be alright here?"

"Yes, just go get Pa, please. He can straighten these crazy people out. He may not react well to the news I'm locked up so break it to him gently. Be sure to say I didn't do anything wrong. It's really important to stress that part, okay Alex?"

"Right. You're locked in a cell but didn't do anything wrong. I'll tell him. See you soon, Rob."