Chapter 197: Icebreaker

Friday, July 2, 1971

There weren’t any tears on Friday when Robert, Cindy, and Melanie left the train around lunch time, simply because they had decided to drive up to the ranch to meet us, sometime next week. We weren’t stopped more than ten minutes for them to disembark the train, and then it was full steam ahead for Colorado.

I seemed to spend most of my time in my stateroom for the next thirty hours, as first one and then the rest of the girls wanted some quality attention like Abby and Jessica.

Saturday, July 3, 1971

There was a knock on my stateroom door and then Aida stuck her head in.

“Grace said to tell you it’s time for supper,” Aida said.

“Thanks. We’ll be there shortly,” I told her as I realized that was the shortest conversation I had ever had with her. I turned over and nuzzled the back of my wife’s neck.

“Thank you, dear,” I told her.

“For what?” she asked sleepily.

“For being so generous. I know that you made sure that everyone else was taken care of before you came to my bed,” I explained. I wanted Ileana to know that I had noticed what she had done, and that I appreciated it. In a unique life like mine, it is a blessing to have a very understanding wife.

“Since Hanna is waiting on her wedding night, and Aida and Allie still aren’t sure, I really didn’t have much to do with it. I was worried that there wouldn’t be much left of you after Eve and Rose talked Narvenia into triple-teaming you. Especially after Abby and Jessica’s tag team. But with Grace on her period, I hoped that you’d have a little left for me. And I was right. You really do amaze me, Michael.”

“Do you want a shower before we go eat?” I asked. “I can assure Her Highness that she is in no danger this time. I’ll be lucky if I can even stand up.”

After our shower, we headed to the Dining Car. Grace met me as we sat down.

“Anna radioed and wants you to contact her. And Vickie radioed from New York. She said that Dawn had called the house looking for you. She didn’t leave a message, but Vickie said she could sense something was wrong.”

I pulled Grace to me and hugged her. “Are you okay? You seem down.”

“I’m just tired and a little on edge. My time of the month always does this to me,” Grace told me.

“Well, if you’re in the mood to be held, my arms are available tonight,” I told her.

“Ohhh, Michael! That would be heavenly!” Grace sighed.

I made my way to the new sleeping car where I took a seat in the parlor. I just needed to be alone for a few minutes to contact Anna and Dawn and there was too much going on in the Dining Car right now.

“Hey good looking,” I thought to Anna. “How’s the soon-to-be mother of my children?”

“She misses their father,” Anna replied.

“It won’t be long, my darling. We should be there when you wake up,” I told her.

“That’s good. The truck with the salvage got here yesterday. It’s parked in one of the unused barns, and the Sheriff let me hire a couple of off-duty deputies to keep an eye on it, but I would feel better if you were here to take care of it.”

“We’ll handle it first thing tomorrow. You don’t know if it’s going to rain, do you?”

“I think there’s a good chance of afternoon thundershowers tomorrow,” she replied.

“Good. Well, get some sleep so I can wear you out tomorrow,” I told her.

After we said our goodnights, which took another five minutes, I connected with Dawn.

“Good evening, Chief!” I told her.

“Michael! I wasn’t expecting you!”

“But didn’t you call the house in New York looking for me?” I asked.

“I just wanted to let you know that the warehouse is empty and cleaned out. My drivers parked it in a barn on the ranch and came straight back. I didn’t want to have to explain their absence to the Indian Agent. We’re expecting the new one to show any day.”

I could sense that Dawn was very worried about the new Indian Agent.

“Thanks. I just spoke to Anna and she’s anxious for me to get the stuff off her hands. What should I do with the trailer when it’s empty?”

I would have to find a way to disguise where it had been.

“Your assistants leased it in your company’s name. I think you have it for a year.”