The Vicky Series: Book 1: Chasing a Dream

Chapter 35

"Looks like she's going to be fine." Jeremy said as he splashed cold water on his face and ran his fingers through his hair.

"It's like she's back to her normal self. I don't understand..."

"Joe," Jeremy finished up washing his hands and arms to the elbows and reached for the towel, "Don't. You never will. Just be glad she's back and let it go!"

Joe slapped him on the back and chuckled. They slipped back into their shirts and grabbed their jackets on the way out the door. Abigail and their host were waiting.

Abigail enjoyed dinner immensely. Mrs. Alvarez made many wonderful dishes without too much spice in deference to her guests. Mr. Alvarez entertained them with stories. Isabel watched her father with adoration, nodding as he spoke.

His current tale was about his coming here and opening the Inn. He left his family in Mexico for safety. Abigail couldn't imagine how it must have felt being separated from their father for almost five years.

Franklin was a dangerous place to live but the inn made money he needed to send to his family. Only five years ago Franklin was not safe to venture out in a party of less than fifteen men armed with many weapons. Bandits and Indians raided and robbed and there were no good women. Bad people came to Franklin because they had only to cross the river to escape the law.

Mr. Alvarez stayed out of trouble. He kept a sawed off shot gun under his counter and still he was robbed at least once a month. He kept robber money by his shot gun, because it was safer. And then the Gadsden Purchase happened. Troops came and Fort Bliss was built. He was happy, because at last it was safe and he sent for his family to come to be with him.

Mr. Alvarez was proud of his new home town. Franklin was a small town, made mostly of adobe and wood but it was now a respectable town. There were stores, churches and one catholic school held in one of the churches. The little town was making money and people would certainly follow that money. He was confident that someday Franklin would be a big city.

"It's too bad you can't find a store here, Joe. Abigail obviously loves it here, and from what I understand, it isn't more than a day or two from Santa Fe."

"You wish to own a store?" Isabel asked shyly.

"His family had a store back east. He sold it to come west."

"I know a store that is for sale. It is a good store. Senor is a good man." Isabel said quietly.

"Si! It is so!" Her father agreed. "Senor is a good man who married a fine Mexican wife. Her Papá...está muerto." He shrugged. "There is much riches for his daughter. She is gone away to Mexico. Her husband sells his store. Then he will go to Mexico City also."

In the morning, Abigail went with Isabel to take a look. She adored the little shop and the modest living quarters behind it. The location was excellent, next to the stage stop and it had a well-established reputation. Surely a better opportunity would not present itself elsewhere. Abigail set out to convince Joseph that she'd found her new home.

Abigail began at once to convince Joseph to purchase the store. All through breakfast, he was wary. Abigail guessed he thought she was just trying to please him. She finally convinced him to come with her after breakfast and look at it. As they got closer to the store her excitement and passion for the project was obviously genuine and Joseph was delighted.

Abigail showed him the modest living quarters, just two small rooms. She spoke about how perfect they were and positively glowed with anticipation. She was home here among these people, in this town. He smiled at his wonderful wife, delighted that she was at last herself, and that he could make her so very happy.