Chapter 10

 

 

July 19, 1878 4:00a.m.

B lythe’s eyes popped open. With her heart racing, she jerked upright in bed. Then she heard it again—the pounding on a wooden door.

“What’s happening? It almost sounds like someone is beating on our door, it’s so loud.”

In the faint light of the three-quarter moon that shined through their window covered only by a thin muslin curtain, Blythe turned to Nancy who, like her, now sat up in the bed rubbing one eye. “No, it’s not our door. It’s the room below us.”

“You sure?”

“Thomas Edison! Mistah Edison, suh! Ah need y’all to wake up and open the door so ah can meet the great inventor.”

Blythe groaned and rubbed her forehead. “I’m sure. It’s someone at Mr. Edison’s door. Well, his and Mr. Fox’s. Here I promised them a quiet room and now this.”

“Well, it’s not because you didn’t try.” Nancy’s sarcasm bled into her voice. She reached for the lantern and match. “I’m not used to tip-toeing around my own room or talking in whispers just so I don’t risk disturbing the people staying on the floor below.”

As the flare from the match hit her gaze, Blythe blinked. She watched as her roommate lit the lamp and then turned it low. The entire time, demands made from someone with a Southern accent assaulted her ears.

  “It’s Texas Jack, suh. Y’alls famous. Ah’m famous. It is fate we meet, suh. Ah have read about y’alls phonograph machine, and ah want to meet the man who created it.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming. Let me get my pants on.”

Upon hearing Mr. Edison’s voice, Nancy covered her mouth to smother her giggles. She turned to Blythe. “Did you hear that? Mr. Edison talked about his pants for all the world to hear.”

“It’s mostly men on the second floor, Nancy. I’m sure they’re not shy about discussing pants in front of other men. Now, hush.”

“You’re probably right. The boards between floors aren’t very thick, and I’ve heard all sorts of improper comments that male guests had no idea I overheard.” She scooted out of her side of the bed and reached for her wrapper. “Come on. We’ve got to see this.”

The force of the door below being yanked open vibrated the walls in the attic room and sent the water in the washbasin sloshing.

“It’s four o’clock in the morning! Are you insane?” Edison’s voice carried through the floor.

“Nancy, what are you doing?” Blythe hissed as she clutched her sheet to her chest.

“I’m going to open the door so I can hear better.” Nancy crossed the floor to the door and unlocked it before she waved Blythe over. “Hurry. He’s not interested in us. He only wants to see Mr. Edison.”

Sensing that if things got out of hand, she had a better chance of escaping trouble if she was on her feet, Blythe also rose and slipped on her wrapper. As she tied the belt around her waist, she stepped into the open doorway next to Nancy. With the top of the stairs ending just outside their door, the floor blocked their view of the man now talking to Mr. Edison. However, by positioning herself on the top step and leaning over the rail, Blythe soon realized she and Nancy were not the only ones who opened their doors to learn what took place.

“Ah read about y’all in the newssheets, Mistah Edison. Amazing, this phonograph y’all invented. Ah must shake y’all’s hand, suh!”

“Mr. Jack, or whatever your name is, this could have waited until morning. You’ve been drinking, sir. You need to find your bed and sleep it off.”

“It’s Texas Jack, suh. It’s the name by which ah’ve been known since ah came from Virginia to the great state of Texas. Surely, y’all’s heard of me? Ah have scouted with the greats like Ned Buntline and Bill Cody.”

A giggle next to her ear prompted Blythe to face Nancy, who stood on the next step down.

“I know who he is.” Her body pressed against Blythe’s, Nancy stuck her head even farther over the rail than Blythe did. “First time I saw him, I noticed his dark, curly hair and how he wears this wide-brimmed hat at a jaunty angle.” Keeping her voice at a whisper, Nancy leaned back and sighed as she turned to Blythe. “He’s so handsome.”

“No one’s handsome when they’re drunk and waking people up in the middle of the night.” With a hiss in her voice, Blythe placed her lips next to Nancy’s ear. She shuddered as a flash of Wendell, Jr.’s darkened visage passed before her mind’s eye.

The door on the other side of the attic opened. With Mary clutching a wrapper to her neck standing behind him, Allen stuffed a nightshirt in his pants as he stepped into the hallway. “Who’s raising all this ruckus?” He leaned over the rail to view the room that opened just to the left side of the stairs. “Oh, for crying out loud.” He raised his voice. “Sir, you are not a guest at our hotel. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I demand you stop bothering our customers. We have no more available rooms. I must ask you to leave.”

“Look, Mr. Jack, or Texas Jack, whatever you prefer to be…what?”

Blythe heard a voice that sounded like that of Mr. Fox, although she could not hear the words.

“I am informed your real name is John Omohundro.” Edison’s voice, etched with frustration, again sounded up the stairs.

Aware she was probably in trouble with Mary for being outside of her room, Blythe could not resist leaning over the rail once more. She watched Thomas Edison’s face illuminated by a lantern held in one hand while the other hand raked his dark brown hair. She noticed his nightshirt sloppily tucked inside a pair of trousers.

“Please, Mr. Omohundro, it is the middle of the night. I am exhausted after a long and uncomfortable trip on the train. Let’s continue this in the morning.”

“No, suh, y’all must call me Texas Jack. No one here knows me as Joe Omohundro, but everyone knows Texas Jack. Ah was with Mistah Cody’s Wild West show. Ah am the boss pistol-shot of the West!” The unwelcomed guest wobbled unsteadily on his feet as he slapped a palm on his chest. “Watch! Ah’ll show y’all.” He pulled a large revolver from his side holster as he staggered along the hall toward the open window at the bottom of the stairs and below the room where the Hayes had taken up residence. Standing with his feet apart, he wavered as he aimed his gun out the window. “Ah will send that rooster across the way to its eternal reward.” He shot the pistol.

Blythe cringed and covered her ears as the blast of the single shot reverberated throughout the building. Afraid to move in case doing so attracted the attention of the sharpshooter and his pistol, she crouched on the stairs and ducked her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Nancy next to her.

Almost immediately, the sounds of doors opening throughout the building reached them. They were followed by voices demanding to know what was going on—if the hotel was under attack by desperados.

Nancy, her hands covering her mouth in a vain attempt to stifle the sounds that kept escaping, giggled. In the dim light, her eyes appeared to be dancing with amusement. Her gaze met that of Blythe’s. “I told you this would be fun.”

Blythe looked through the balusters holding the handrail as she caught sight of men in various states of undress standing in the open doorways below. Although she saw all three men with whom she traveled, her gaze focused on Eli.

Eli, a sheet wrapped around him which covered him from beneath his armpits down, looked both directions down the hallway before he looked up. His gaze caught Blythe’s watching him, and a smile lit his face.

Blythe stared at the man whose gaze connected with hers. She took note of his hair sticking out in several directions, including a large tuft on the top of his head. It looked like it had been blown there by a strong wind hitting the back of Eli’s head. Wrapped in the sheet like he was, she thought he looked like an ancient Greek wearing a toga.             

“You like him, don’t you? The man wearing a sheet, I mean.”

Startled, Blythe twitched upon hearing Nancy’s softly-spoken voice next to her ear. “Hush, he’ll hear you.” She turned to Nancy to whisper her warning.

“So?” Nancy leaned forward and across Blythe to peer through the balusters. She straightened and then placed her lips next to Blythe’s ear once more. “He’s tall and thin, but very good looking. Why would you want to marry some soldier smelling of horse sweat when you could have him?”

Blythe pressed her lips together. She doubted someone like the young science instructor at the University of Iowa would be interested in a woman like her. Besides, she needed to give Sgt. McGilvey a chance.

“Oh, oh. We better move.”

Blythe heard the warning tone in Nancy’s voice. She next heard footsteps run along the attic hallway toward the stair. She stood to allow Allen to run past her down the stairs.

“You ladies have no business being out here. I told you to stay locked in your room.” Allen’s words came out sounding like someone had dragged them across a washboard.

“I know, sir, but this is too good to miss.” Nancy’s soft voice followed their boss down the stairs. She crouched once more so she could watch the scene at the bottom of the stairs.

Allen shook his head as he continued the descent. “I’ll deal with you later.”

Blythe, unable to contain her curiosity, sat on the stair behind Nancy and peered over her roommate’s shoulder. I’ll hear about tonight, anyway. Might as well see it to the end. Her gaze again focused on Eli.

Allen reached the second-floor landing. His hands held up at his sides in a gesture of surrender, he faced the nighttime visitor. “Texas Jack, please holster your pistol.” Once the man did as asked, Allen shook his head. “To what do we owe the honor of you disturbing my entire hotel full of guests, sir?”

“Why, suh, ah came to congratulate Mr. Edison for his invention. Ah also showed him my skill with a pistol. Y’all see where that bird used to perch atop that building?” Texas Jack, wearing a wide grin, stumbled and then caught himself as he twisted to point outside. “It’s gone now.”

Allen stepped toward the window and hunched over. His words came slowly as he narrowed his eyes and, in the dim light of early dawn, studied the town outside. “Well, I doubt the Union Pacific will take it kindly that you shot their weathervane off the top of their depot. You’ll have to work it out with them tomorrow.” He clapped a hand on Jack’s shoulder and turned him away from the window. “Come with me, sir. You’ve put on enough of an exhibition for now. I’m sure it will be a long time before my guests forget their first night in Rawlins.”

Allen turned to those whose doors on the second floor stood open. “It’s all right, folks. Show’s over. In spite of his startling visit this night, Texas Jack is a good guy, not one of our bad men, of which we have a good supply. Please return to your rooms.”

Jack stopped and shook his head. “But ah have not yet finished my visit with Mr. Edison.”

“Yes, you have.” Thomas Edison’s shouted declaration echoed throughout the building.

Blythe craned her neck to gaze at the famous inventor.

Wearing a scowl on his face, Edison rubbed his forehead. “We can continue this later, Texas Jack—much later. I’m going to bed. I suggest you do the same.”

Blythe stood when she heard Edison’s door slam shut. She glanced at Eli and returned his smile.

Nancy’s giggles sounded in her ear.

Blythe’s eyes widened, and she froze in place as Texas Jack, taking a step back to keep his balance, turned his gaze toward her and Nancy, now leaning over the stair rail.

Texas Jack swept his hat off his head in a wide arc. With his forehead almost touching his knees, he bowed to the pair of women. While Allen held his other arm to keep him from losing his balance, Jack, wearing a rakish smile, resettled his hat on his head at an angle that showed off his dark curls. “Ladies.”

Again, Blythe glanced at Eli. This time, she saw that, as he watched Texas Jack, he wore a murderous expression.

A scowl on his face, Allen turned his gaze toward Blythe and Nancy. “Show’s over for you two. Back to your room.”

“Yes, sir.” Nancy grinned and bobbed her head at her employer. Then, waggling her fingers at Texas Jack, she spun around and ran up the stairs.

Blythe wanted to wave to Eli, but with her employers present, she dared not. Ignoring Mary’s pursed-lipped glare across the top of the stairwell, Blythe followed her roommate. Once they were both in their room, Blythe locked the door. She pressed her back against the solid wood and exhaled loudly. I’ve never done anything so outrageous in my life. “I hope I don’t get fired over this.”

“Mary will grumble, but she won’t fire you. At least, not until this crowd of guests leaves to go back east.” Nancy laughed as she removed her wrapper. “Let’s try to catch a few more minutes of sleep before we have to get up for the day.”