Chapter 2 – The Journey Westward

27 Thank you, Lord

by admin on November 26, 2011

A turn of the key and a quick flip of the light switch and they were inside.  “Follow me upstairs and I’ll try to make sense of these events for you” he said.  Once in the bathroom Charles shed his two-day-old clothes and left them lumped on the floor.  As he headed for the shower Laura walked in.  “Charles!”  Startled, he turned to see Laura staring at his pile of clothes on the bathroom floor.  “The hamper is right there” she said, pointing to the corner of the room.  Exasperated, he turned to retrieve his laundry and put it in its proper place.  Once again he headed for the shower, glancing at Laura as he went.  She had a playful grin on her face.  “Oh, thank you, Lord” he said to himself, “I don’t think she’s going to kill me tonight.”

As the warm water began to flow over him the events of the last two days proceeded to unfold.  Sitting at her vanity table, Laura listened in amazement.  Frequently she would interrupt for clarification but Charles didn’t mind.  It was good to be home.

Laura stopped Charles when the story got to Edward’s part in this saga.  “You mean that good-for-nothing brother of yours left these people stranded in the middle of nowhere?” she exclaimed.  “Yep, that’s about the size of it” he said.  He continued to relate how Harold had been swindled and how the call had come to dad.  Anger and sympathy swirled around together in her mind.  She continued to ask many questions.  Charles answered the best he could, but he was still trying to piece this together also.  The warm water felt so good, he just stood there with his eyes closed.  Finally, Laura spoke, “Come on Charles, we’ve got to be back at the hotel in less than an hour.”  Charles grudgingly shut off the water and prepared himself for reality.  As he stepped out of the shower a large towel and a kiss from Laura greeted him.  “Thanks, you’re the best” he said.  “I know it” she said laughingly “and don’t you forget it.” He gave her a big hug.

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26 Walking on Eggshells

November 26, 2011

Samuel took the lead in introductions.  “Laura, I would like you to meet Ida Bingham and her husband Harold”  “Ida, Harold, this is Charles’ wife Laura.” A gaggle of pleasantries and smiles ensued.  “Hello.”  “How’d you do”?  “Pleased to meet you.”  “Welcome.”  Ida was the first to offer conversation.  “Charles has told us so much […]

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25 Hell Hath No Fury…

November 26, 2011

Laura Dunwell had arranged for a car and driver to meet her at the station.  She also drove their Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser 98 to the station.  Standing outside her car she spotted Charles and the baggage cart.  They made eye contact and Charles headed her way.  He didn’t know what to expect but he figured […]

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24 “Gonna be a Good Railroad Man”

November 19, 2011

At 4 years old Michael had already shown a keen interest in anything mechanical.  To him riding in the cab of the locomotive was as natural as could be.  He watched in fascination as fireman Roy Calhoun shoveled coal into the boiler.  He studied the moves of the engineer as the temperature and pressure gauges […]

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23 Welcome to the Mile High City

November 19, 2011

Denver station was a beehive of activity.  Trains of every description were queued up to the many platforms.  Porters were everywhere, loading or unloading baggage from arriving or departing trains.  Hundreds of passengers milled about, looking at tickets, trying to find the right platform numbers.  Arriving passengers stood next to porters, urging them to be […]

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22 Time to Make Things Right

November 19, 2011

Edward had always been a major disappointment.  Despite all his efforts Samuel was never able to connect with his eldest son.  He had given him every opportunity to grow into the family businesses.  But Edward was content to be a professional student and live off of his father’s generosity.  Edward ended up attending USC Berkeley […]

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21 Long Train Runnin’

November 7, 2011

The noonday scenery rushed past the window of Alex and Michael Bingham.  In eastern Colorado the landscape is pretty much like Kansas…flat.  With not much to see the boys began to make up stories about their new destination…Lake Neccudah, Colorado.  There must be cowboys there, too.  And lions and bears must be roaming the mountains.  […]

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20 Big Wheels Keep on Turnin’

November 6, 2011

Charles walked briskly toward the station platform and the waiting family.  As he came into view the Binghams and Samuel boarded the lead passenger car.  Moments later he joined them as the conductor signaled the engineer.  “ALL ABOARD.”  The conductor’s words rang out with authority and clarity.  With a loud hiss of steam and a […]

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