CHAPTER 15

Thursday morning Cara boarded the company jet with Maevis and Ted Brewster, the company's vice president for acquisitions. Herbert's nephew, Charles planned to join them in Houston. She knew the drill. Maevis traveled with her, brought her itinerary, and made all the arrangements for travel, lodging, even what she wore. Maevis would have instructions as to whom she would meet and those persons' relationship to the company. At the end of the day, Maevis would ask if she needed anything before turning in. Cara always answered, "No thank you."

"Mrs. Bancroft, I have your mail. Would you like it now or later?"

"Excuse me? What?"

"I have your mail. There are a couple of invitations and a personal letter from Ireland. In case you wanted these, I have them with me."

Cara may have been physically present but her heart and her mind were still elsewhere. She hesitated before answering once again.

"I can keep them until we return, whichever you prefer."

"Thank you. I'll take the letter. If you will keep the invitations. I can deal with those later," Cara sighed, putting the letter in her bag. Her attention was drawn to the clouds outside her window which were as adrift as her thoughts. How did she wind up here? How did she become Bancroft Mining? No one really asked her. It seemed to come with the title of Mrs. Charles Herbert Bancroft, IV.

"Come on, it's going to be great – Bets and Ben next door – Edward and little Charlie," said Bert.

"Bert, Little Charlie is at least thirty years old."

"I know. Look at this place," replied Bert, totally optimistic and completely unfazed by Cara's concern. "Edward already has men working. Oh, Cara. You're going to love it here. The stories Bets and I can tell you."

Bert Bancroft was like that about life – always certain, always smiling, always positive. He was practically a force of nature. He could be very convincing.

The memory of that first day, that first moment walking into the Bancroft estate and calling it home, seemed liked yesterday. Yet it seemed also like another lifetime. It was as if a series of uncontrollable events – one after the other – had brought her to this place. Now Bert was gone. Now Edward was gone. And now she was here.

After Herbert retired from public service, the two moved to Denver taking the eldest son's rightful place as proprietor of the Bancroft Estate. No one had lived there for years and Herbert and Cara quickly became engrossed in restoration. There so much work to be done but they were at least doing it together. Herbert's brother, Edward, was thrilled to have Herbert home. More and more Edward drew Herbert into the company. With barely two years difference in the age, the brothers grew up very close to each other. Then Bert chose law school and being a career diplomat to the family business. When Edward discovered that his brother and Cara could never have children, he named his son Charles Herbert Bancroft, V. Returning to Denver seemed the logical and obvious choice for Bert.

"Cara, Edward is going to survey some land in Alaska for the company. You know a little business trip. I thought I would go with him and help him out. We might take a short- excursion – do some fishing. I'll only be gone a few days."

If Bert was anything, he was persuasive. Not that it took much persuading. He had been enthusiastic about their move to Denver and assumed that she was. It had been the story of their marriage. Bert going at life with a passion and taking for granted that Cara felt just as he did. At the end of the day, he was the most fascinating man she ever met. He swept her off her feet and had swept her along with his larger than life personality their entire marriage. When he brought up the Alaska trip he didn't wait for her response. He was already packing.

The next two days were quiet in the large, empty house. Bets called and invited her to lunch. An interior decorator brought fabric swatches for a chair in the master suite. The one thing she did completely for herself was to order tulip bulbs to plant by the terrace in the back yard. She had always wanted tulips blooming in spring and now that they were settled, she could at least make that happen. She had just placed the order when the bell to the large imposing front door rang.

"Mrs. Bancroft, I am Dwight Jones. I regret to tell you that the survey plane that was carrying Herbert and Edward has gone down. There were no survivors. There was a sudden…"

"Mrs. Bancroft. Mrs. Bancroft," called Maevis, bringing Cara out the foggy past.

"Oh, yes Maevis."

"We are about to land."

Thursday night dinner ended a little early for the trio. Joe had promised Bill to be at the farm at 6:30 in the morning to get started on repairing a fence. He had barely left Oliver's house when the argument inside began.

"See, I knew this – this Mrs. Bancroft wasn't a good idea."

"Oliver, what the Sam Hill are you talking about?"

"She didn't come."

"She was in Chicago."

"Yes, and she is always in Chicago or Houston or New York or D.C."

"Really, Oliver."

"It took us six weeks to find her at home and deliver those bulbs after we knew who they be – I mean – knew to whom they belonged."

"Oliver, you said she was perfectly lovely. You said she was gracious."

"Yes, and she is. I just – I just…."

"You just don't want your dad to be hurt," Shane said, slipping up beside Oliver placing her hand across his tense shoulders.

Oliver looked at Shane and sighed. "He tried to protect me. He did protect me. But I wasn't the only one who got hurt. I owe him."

"No, you love him."

Oliver wrapped his arms around his caring wife and kissed her forehead.

"Oliver, you may not trust Mrs. Bancroft, but you can trust your dad. And something tells me, it is going to be fine. Maybe there really is something greater at work here."

"Something?"

"Yes. Ready to go to bed?"

"Not yet, I think I need a little time."

"If you need me, even if I'm asleep," Shane said, not even having to finish the sentence. He knew.

Joe looked at his phone one last time before going to sleep. He thought of calling her but it may be too late given the time difference in Chicago. Besides, he really had no idea of her schedule other than she had to go to Chicago and then Houston. They had such a good time the morning they spent at the garden. But when they last spoke she was distant, even aloof. No. There would be no phone call tonight. However, he did miss her.

The sum total of Cara's responsibilities for Thursday had been to smile, shake hands, and drink a cup of coffee with the owner of a company Bancroft Mining was trying to buy. She literally went into a room, was introduced, shook his hand, asked questions about his family, shared a story, drank a cup of coffee, and left the room. "If you gentlemen will excuse me, I believe you have some business. Maevis, shall we go?"

And with that, she was done for the day. She returned to her room. If that meeting went well, there would a dinner tomorrow night with several more employees, a group of smiling lawyers, and a few spouses. She would be charged with tapping her champagne glass and toasting the new acquisition saying, "I know how happy my husband and Edward would have been about the continued success of Bancroft Mining and this new partnership." She glanced at her phone before going to sleep. No calls.