Rocky Mountain Sister Read online

  DEDICATION

  I dedicate this book to my friend, Chris Houser Williams.

  May God travel with you always. May we always be friends.

  May you always be my ROCKY MOUNTAIN SISTER.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I want to thank my two children, Matthew and Johnathan Wireman who have supported me, encouraged me, and helped me along the way of writing this book. I love you both with my heart and soul. I never knew love until the day each of you were born.

  Thank you to Jennifer Lassiter for designing and formatting my book and helping me.

  Pamela Klopfenstein, how can I thank you enough for encouraging me when I thought I couldn’t finish this book? You have so much Faith in me. Thank you for helping me with the finishing touches and for being patient with me. I love you! Forever Faith in Friendship!

  CHAPTER ONE

  Cassandra Vandevier sat at her dressing table. The storm increased by the hour. Cassandra hated storms. She got up to close the window. The lightning bolt lit up the room. The crashing sound of thunder seemed to be in her room. Slamming the window shut as fast as she could, she didn’t beat the gust of wind that blew through the room like tornado. Papers flew everywhere about the room.

  Another bolt of lightning lit the room again, this time the thunder was so loud she screamed. The clock struck two p.m. Cassandra decided to go down to the kitchen and make tea. It always relaxed her. It had been two weeks since her grandmother passed away. How would she make it without her Grandmother, Lucille Vandevier?

  Cassandra touched the pictures that hung on the wall as she went down the hall. Trying to ignore the storms rage, she concentrated on each person. Her Grandfather, Mark Vandevier, built this house with his own two hands. The Vandevier family started the first shipyard on the Missouri River in this area.

  Vandevier Freight was located east of the Mississippi River, and North of Jefferson City, easy to get to by land or water. Mark and his father, Martin Vandevier traveled the land for six months before deciding to build on the Missouri River. People could send heavy objects further West without any problems.

  One by one she touched each picture, thought about something that made that person special. The next picture was of her Grandmother, Lucille Vandevier, the woman who brought her to this house. She taught Cassandra how a real lady acts, and a few things that ladies shouldn’t do. Next was Mama and Papa, Marty and Hannah Vandevier. The only parents she knew. Lucille had brought her to the Vandevier house after finding her walking the streets alone. Cassandra was soon adopted by Marty and Hannah. She had immediately became part of the Vandevier family. Cassandra was also told that the search her birth Mama and Papa would be investigated. Someone was out there looking for a lost little girl.

  Cassandra knew she may have other brothers and sisters somewhere. The doctor thought she was around eight years old. She could remember nothing beyond the fact of waking up in the country with no one around. Cassandra didn’t know her own name or even where she came from. Nothing could be worse than a little girl not knowing who she was.

  #

  Lucille had been shopping in St. Louis before she had found Cassandra. Immediately Lucille reported to the authorities about the little girl. No one had reported a lost child matching her description. The authorities did tell her that a couple days before, a train had derailed in the area and authorities were still sorting out the details.

  Lucille took the little girl home until they could find her family. A detective was hired and six months later, they still had no answers. Lucille’s son and daughter –in-law decided to adopt the little girl who had chosen the name Cassandra. The younger Vandeviers had a young son, Christian, who was nine at the time. The children very close during the first six months. After the adoption, they decided to continue the search of Cassandra’s birth family. The next picture was of her brother Christian. She loved Christian more than anything. They were closer than most siblings. He had taught her a lot of things over the years. He took the blame for her several times when she had gotten into trouble, but he also had gotten them both into trouble more often.

  Christian had never been jealous of her. He took her in as his sister from the day Cassandra was brought home. Walking into the kitchen, she saw the cup of tea sitting on the table. “Rosa, you always seem to always know when I need something.”

  “I know how the storms affect you girl, the tea will calm you down” Rosa said as she poured herself a cup tea and sat down across from Cassandra. Rosa had been the housekeeper for the Vandeviers for the last nineteen years. She immediately took over the care of Christian.

  “Oh Rosa, what am I going to now? I feel so alone without grandma.” Cassandra dabbed her eyes with the napkin that lay beside the teacup.

  “You are going to be just fine, little girl. You need to finish what your mother and grandmother started.” Rosa took a drink of tea. “They never kept any secrets from you young lady, for a reason. You have no reason not to find your blood relatives.”

  Cassandra looked at Rosa. “Maybe you are right Rosa, now is a good time to concentrate on finding them. I just wish I could remember something, anything would help.” Cassandra let out a sigh.

  The door knocker banged at the front of the house. Both women looked at each other wondering who would be out in this storm. They headed for the front door when they heard the bang of the knocker again. Rosa opened the door to see Anthony Baker standing on the porch dripping wet.

  “Get in here boy, whatever are you doing out in this storm?” Rosa asked the young man.

  “I have a wire for Miss Cassandra. It said urgent. I thought I better get it over here right away,” Anthony told Rosa as she ushered him out of the rain.

  Cassandra took the paper from him and walked over to lamp. “I don’t understand what could be so urgent that you risk your life in this storm.”

  “Just seemed important Cassandra.” Anthony took off his coat and walked over to the Fireplace, rubbing his hands to warm them up. Cassandra looked up from the paper and gave him a puzzled look.

  “What is it?” Anthony asked.

  Anthony and his family had been friends with the Vandevier family for many years. Cassandra wasn’t ashamed to discuss any minor occurrence with her childhood friend. He had brought many wires to the house, because he was a messenger carrier for the Telegraph Office.

  Rosa entered and handed Anthony a mug of coffee, and Cassandra a cup of tea. The young man was thankful for the hot drink. It was not cold outside, but with the rain and wind, one gets mighty chilled when outside very long.

  “Anthony, when did you get this wire? I don’t understand why someone would want me to meet them at the Shipyard. I’ve never been down to the shipyard and never plan to go. Papa would just turn over in his grave if I went down there,” Cassandra said with anticipation.

  “And why in the world wouldn’t they just get a hold of Christian?”

  “Who is the wire from?” Rosa asked Cassandra.

  “It says from the Delaney Office. Urgent news about the family. Please meet me at shipyard at five p.m. Office of Delaney’s Detective Agency.” Cassandra read what the wire said. “It doesn’t even say who sent it. Well, Christian will see to this matter when he gets home. Why, he would lock me in my room for a month if I went to the docks. Christian has always handled things like this for the last couple years. I don’t plan or care to get involved with any of the matters that have to do with Shipyard, but this says about family.”

  They sat there discussing the matter for a few minutes, then Anthony decided he better be on his way. He was still on the job. They said their goodbyes and Anthony walked out the door.

  Rosa and Cassandra sat by the fire discussing the wire. They just couldn�
�t figure why any of the Delaney’s would want her to go down to the docks. Cassandra knew Christian would handle the matter.

  The storm settled down to just a steady rain. They fixed dinner and then decided to go into the den to see if they could find any information that they may have over looked or something that her grandmother had forgotten to mention.

  Over the years, documents, papers, letters and posters were filed in folders. Both women looked over the files until late in the night. When they decided to give up for the night, Cassandra noticed an unopened envelope sticking part way out of a stack of mail. The envelope was from Delaney’s office.

  Cassandra slowly opened the envelope, Rosa watching. She read the letter to herself. Rosa saw the frown on Cassandra’s face. “What does the letter say girl?”

  “Rosa, this letter is dated from a month ago, it is from Delaney’s office. It says they have a lead on where my family might be. It says that Thomas Delaney will be travelling to Colorado at the end of March to check out the new lead. Rosa, do you think that wire Anthony delivered today has anything to do with this?”

  “Well, I don’t know child, but I think first thing in the morning, if the weather permits we should go down to that office and find out what is going on,” Rosa told her.

  Cassandra held the letter close to her heart, praying that Thomas Delaney had found good news. With her parents and grandparents gone, Christian was down at the docks more. He barely had time to come home, she might as well make use of time and try to do all she could to find the family she lost almost ten years ago. She only wished she could remember something, anything about her or what had happened to her.

  Cassandra hated the fact that she couldn’t remember her own name. She hadn’t slept well in weeks; she missed her grandmother. Christian was busy with the Shipyard and her best friend was in Europe for the spring and summer.

  Cassandra didn’t sleep well that night. When she woke the next morning, she hurried to dress and go down stairs with Rosa. Cassandra could smell the coffee as she walked down the stairs. A good cup of steaming hot coffee sounded good, hoping it would wake her up.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Good morning Rosa, I don’t think I want any breakfast today. I am just so anxious,” Cassandra told Rosa as she poured a cup of coffee.

  “Young lady, you will have breakfast. I will not have you going around hungry.” Rosa eyebrows rose. “Why your grandmother would come after me from the grave if I didn’t take proper care of you. We both know we don’t want that.”

  “I just don’t think I can eat a thing,” Cassandra told her.

  Rosa sat down beside the girl at the table with her own cup of coffee. Glancing over at Cassandra, Rosa saw her break out into a big laugh, following her eyes, Rosa glanced at the open door to see Christian peeking in. The boy had been out all night, again.

  “Christian, whatever are you doing, peeking in here like a little boy up to something.” Cassandra laughed at her brother. “What have you done now?”

  Christian came in the kitchen smiling “Well, I am not for sure, I don’t remember very much after I dropped Tori off at her house. I woke up in the stable without my pants.” Christian figured with the way the two were looking at him, he might as well just get it over with. Christian laughed as he looked the women sitting at the table. He knew he must be a sight standing in the middle of the kitchen without pants. “All I remember, is running into Grayson and we started celebrating.”

  Neither woman said a word when they saw him standing there in his under things. Cassandra finally closed her mouth and wanted to say something. She didn’t know what to say. Usually when Christian came home like this, he was grumpy, this time he a big smile.

  “Celebrating?” Cassandra continued to giggle; she had no idea what Christian could be celebrating. He didn’t know about the wire or the letter. “Just what are you celebrating?”

  Rosa looked at the young man she had taken care of for the last nineteen years. “I tell you boy, one of these days. Just one of these days.” She shook her head and stood up to get him a cup of hot coffee.

  Christian waited until Rosa poured him a cup of coffee and sat back down. “You two know that you are my favorite ladies in the world, Right?”

  Both women nodded.

  “Well I think maybe I may have asked Tori to marry me last night.” Christian said as he glanced back and forth from his sister to Rosa. “Don’t worry, you two are still my favorite, I won’t leave you out. I just, well, think it is time to carry on the Vandevier name.”

  “Christian, do you think we would be upset with you?” Cassandra jumped up and ran around the table to hug her brother. “We love Tori, you know that.”

  Rosa still hadn’t closed her mouth. She knew he had been running around with Victoria Hillman, but she never realized he wanted to marry the girl.

  “Rosa, please, I know you are shocked, but I love this girl and I am going to marry her. After I get over this hangover of course.” Christian smiled at the housekeeper. He then looked up at his sister who was squeezing him very tight. “Cassandra, you can let go now, I can’t marry anyone if you smother me to death.”

  “Oh Christian, I am so sorry, I am just so happy for you,” Cassandra let go and went back to her chair. All of a sudden she was happy, and very hungry. “You didn’t ask her while you were drunk, did you?”

  “No, I was sober, I got drunk afterward with a few friends. Only they decided to really celebrate.” Christian got up to get another cup of coffee, kissing Rosa on the head as he passed.

  After Rosa made breakfast for the siblings, they all sat at the table and talked of when the wedding might be, and of the strange wire Cassandra received, and about the possibility of her blood family. Christian offered to travel to Jefferson City and talk to Thomas Delaney about the wire after he checked in at the office.

  Cassandra could hardly wait for Christian to return, she paced the parlor to where Rosa was ready to give her something to make her sleep. Rosa didn’t say anything though. Finding Cassandra’s family was what everyone wanted. Not only for Cassandra to know her roots and where she came from, but for the family who lost a little girl almost ten years ago.

  Cassandra paced back and forth in front of the window. She was getting impatient waiting on her brother to return. She wanted know to something, anything about what Christian was learning. Sometimes being a woman is aggravating, why do men have to do everything?

  Cassandra knew that her brother wasn’t really keeping anything from her. Jefferson City was four miles away and she knew he wouldn’t be back before this evening. Still the wait was driving her crazy.

  Cassandra tried to keep busy, but everything she did wouldn’t keep her mind off of her brother.

  “Hello everyone,” Christian yelled as he walked through the back door. “I’m home”

  “It’s about time,” thought Cassandra. Dinner had been over for an hour. Christian walked through the kitchen and down the hall to the parlor, both women were heading his direction when he reached the parlor door.

  “Well Christian, don’t keep me waiting. What did Mr. Delaney say?” Cassandra couldn’t hide her excitement. “Did he mention that he found out where I am from?”

  Christian looked at his sister and smile. “Alright, alright, sit down and I will tell you what he said. “Christian and Cassandra sat on the small couch. He took her hands into his.

  “Cassandra, Delaney found a few families in Colorado that have missing children. Three in particular that have a child missing that would be around your age. He wants to head to Colorado next week and check it out. He can’t guarantee anything at this point.”

  “Oh Christian, what exciting news! I may finally know where I came from. Where I was born.” Cassandra hugged her brother. “After all these years, finding my real name.”

  “Cassandra, don’t get your hopes up, Delaney isn’t positive of anything, he just has leads. They could be completely wrong.” Christian wiped the tears from Cassandra ch
eeks. “We don’t know anything yet honey. I know it sounds good, but let him do his job.”

  Cassandra looked at her brother with a look that said “I am about to get into trouble”. He knew her well. The next words out of her mouth about made him fall off the couch. She got up from the couch and stared him down.

  “Christian, I think I should go to Colorado with Mr. Delaney, I just know this is real, I can just feel it.” Cassandra practically begged her brother to allow her to go west.

  “Cassandra, we don’t know if any of these families are even your parents, you can’t go out making Delaney responsible for your care while he is trying to work.”

  “Christian, I do not need him to babysit me; I have been to many places before.” Cassandra stood with new excited in her voice. “Yes, I think I should go with Delaney, I want to go. Christian, please say yes!”

  “Cassandra, this is crazy, you can’t go running across the country trying to find them on your own. I want you to get this idea out of your head.” Christian walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Let Delaney do his job, as soon as he finds answers, he will send us a wire.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  The next morning Cassandra paced back and forth in her room. After lots of begging and pleading, Christian gave in to her request. Christian promised to talk to Delaney about Cassandra going West. Cassandra was nervous. For three days Cassandra didn’t know what to do with herself. On the third day after Christian agreed to let her travel west, Christian came home from the docks early with a wire saying Delaney agreed to let her go.

  She had taken out so many clothes and put them back. Cassandra didn’t know what to take. After an afternoon of packing her suitcase and unpacking it, she finally had that done. Tomorrow they would leave for Jefferson City, spend the night and leave on the first train heading west Thursday morning.

  Cassandra loved traveling, only this time she wasn’t sure if she was going to enjoy the trip. If for any reason that none of these families were her blood family, she knew she would be disappointed. She thought about staying home and waiting for Delaney’s wire, but then put the idea in the back of her head. She wanted to go, she needed to go. The feeling in her gut told her she would find answers in Colorado.