Heart of Stone (17 page)

T
hough they’d only been gone a few hours, Laura was more than relieved to be home. She had heard confession was good for the soul. As far as she was concerned, it was exhausting.

Amelia guided the buggy up to the fence in front of the house. Bidding her good-bye, Laura climbed down and started up the drive, intending to go in the back way. She wanted to change, brush the trail dust out of her hair and wash up, before she met a gathering of guests in the drawing room for late-afternoon tea.

She wasn’t halfway up the drive when Jesse came out of the carriage house trailed by Sam and Janie. Each of the children had shouldered a long stick with a small bundle attached to it.

What now, Laura wondered.

Jesse studied her face. “What’s wrong? You been crying?”

“Of course not. I’m perfectly fine.” She reached up, brushed back a lock of hair.

“Coulda fooled me.”

She looked past him at Sam and Janie. “What are you two doing here?”

Sam scuffed the toe of his shoe in the dirt. Janie’s face crumpled. She started to cry. “We ran away from home but Jesse won’t let us stay. He’s mean. He hates us.”

Laura turned to Jesse. He shrugged. “They want to live in the carriage house with me. I told them to skedaddle.”

Laura lowered her voice. “Did you actually tell those children you hate them?”

“‘Course not.”

Laura knelt down and gently took hold of Janie’s arms. “Jesse doesn’t hate you. It’s just that you
can’t
stay here. Your father is probably worried sick about you. He’ll most likely be here in a minute—” She didn’t know whether to be thankful or irritated. She was shaken and definitely not in the mood to face him.

“No, he won’t,” Sam interjected. “All he does is worry about folks not coming to church anymore and where we’re gonna go if we have to move away. We don’t
wanna
move away. We wanna stay here. You got a big place, Mrs. Foster. Why can’t we live with you? Jesse is our brother—”

“Half brother,” Janie amended.

Sam went on. “We wanna live with him. I want him to teach me how to ride and shoot. Papa doesn’t even carry a gun.”

“Papa says we might have to leave town!” Janie wailed.

“What makes you say that?” Laura asked.

“We were listening at the keyhole when he was talking to Aunt Charity in his office,” Sam volunteered.

Laura looked at the thin sticks bending under the weight of their small clothing bundles. The arm of a rag doll was sticking out of the top of Janie’s pack. She had the urge to pull them into her arms, to cuddle them as she had her sisters when they were small. She wanted to assure that all would be well and that they wouldn’t have to move away.

But she’d failed her sisters and she knew better than to make these children a promise that was out of her power to keep—especially when she wasn’t even certain of her own fate.

Her carefully constructed life might be unraveling but right now these children needed her help. She looked at Jesse and thought,
All of them.

Laura took a deep breath and got to her feet.

“So are you taking them home? Or do you want me to have Richard go tell the preacher they’re here?” Jesse asked.

Laura stared at him for a moment, thinking. The children were watching the exchange with interest. Suddenly she had an idea.

“No,” she said. “I’m not taking them back. You are.”

“Me? But—”

“They’re here because of you. You take them back.”

“We don’t wanna go back,” Sam said.

Laura planted her hands on her hips. Her own world might be teetering on the brink of disaster, but she was still capable of trying to help Brand’s family survive.

“You two don’t have a choice. Your father loves you. He needs you at home right now.” She glanced toward the carriage house where Jesse’s horse was saddled and tied up outside.

“Go get Jesse’s horse and bring it over here,” she told the young McCormicks.

They hurried away, arguing over who would get to hold the reins.

“Hey,” Jesse started after them. “Wait just a minute here.”

Laura reached for his shirtsleeve and pulled him back.

“I have my own problems, Jesse,” she said. “This one is of your own making. Because you chose to confront Brand in public, he’s being forced to resign.”

“Listen, I—”

“Because of your resentment and anger, those children’s lives are being turned upside down. It’s time you and Brand talked things out. You’re still around because in your heart you want to get to know him.”

“You’re crazy, lady.”

“I’m a lot of things, but crazy isn’t one of them.” She glanced up the drive and saw the children leading the horse behind them. “You are taking those children home and while you’re at it, use the opportunity to talk to Brand. Listen to him when he tells you what happened to him and your mother. Think of someone besides
yourself. You’ve hurt him deeply and if that’s what you wanted, you’ve won. Now maybe it’s time you try and make something good happen.”

When he sighed and rubbed his jaw, she could see that he was weighing her words.

The McCormick children were back. Janie was trying to balance both bundles as Sam held the reins.

“Give me those,” Laura said, taking the bundles and sticks from Janie. “Now Jesse is going to let you ride on his horse while he walks you home.”

“We’re gonna be in trouble,” Sam mumbled.

“You shoulda thought of that before you ran away,” Jesse told him just before he grabbed Sam around the waist and hoisted him up into the saddle. The grumbling stopped immediately.

“Me too! I wanna ride too!” Janie started jumping up and down, holding her arms up to Jesse.

He looked at Laura. “Thanks a lot.”

“Anytime.”

Once Janie was securely settled, Laura handed Jesse both bundles.

“Have a nice walk,” she said.

As Jesse grudgingly led his horse down the driveway, Laura listened to their exchange.

“What’s his name, Jesse?” Janie reached down to stroke the horse’s mane.

“Horse.”

“Will you teach me to shoot?” Sam wanted to know.

“No.”

If she hadn’t been so bone tired and drained, Laura would have smiled.

B
rand was ushering Timothy and Mary Margaret Cutter out of the house when he saw Jesse leading his horse up the street. Both Sam and Janie were mounted in the saddle.

“Why, that looks like
him
,” Mary Margaret stood aghast at the top of the porch stairs. “What’s he doing with your children?”

“Jim who?” Timothy squinted down the street.

Mary Margaret shouted in his ear, “Not Jim.
Him.
The one that started all the fuss.”

The fuss Mary Margaret referred to was the reason why the two of them had come to call. They assured Brand they were on his side come what may, but as members of the board, they were very concerned about the future of the church.

“Thank you so much for stopping by,” he told them. Distracted by the sight of Jesse with the children, Brand added, “Things will work out for the best.”

One way or another
, he thought.
One way or another.

Mary Margaret and Timothy negotiated the steps, supporting each other as they moved along the uneven walk. Brand escorted them out to the street, where they bid him good-bye, though Mary Margaret stalled a bit as she watched Jesse approach with the children. She gave Jesse a cool nod and hooked her arm into her husband’s elbow.

As they walked away, Timothy shouted to his wife, “Are you sure his name is Jim? I thought it was something else.”

It was a second or two before Brand realized Jesse was holding two small bundles. He handed them over to Brand.

“What’s this?” Brand recognized Janie’s doll named Sadie. It was stuffed into the top of one of the packs.

“Their things. They ran away.”

Brand cradled the bundles in the crook of his arm. Everything his children valued fit inside two flour sacks.

“Look, Papa! I’m riding Jesse’s horse named Horse,” Janie cried.

Sam beamed. “Janie wiggled all over. Jesse told me since I’m older I had to hang on to her so she didn’t fall off and break her neck.”

Jesse reached for Janie first. She giggled as he swung her down. It was obvious from his expression that bringing them back wasn’t
his idea. But when he set Sam on his feet, Jesse said, “Nice work, sport.”

Sam seemed to grow an inch.

Brand saw Laura’s hand in this fragile camaraderie between his children. Somehow she’d managed to bridge the gap. He was filled with an intense longing to see her.

“I’m sorry they’ve pestered you again,” Brand apologized. “They talk about you all the time.”

“Somebody ought to keep a better eye on them,” Jesse advised.

“Things have been in a bit of upheaval around here.”

The children, he noticed, were staring up at Jesse as if he’d hung the moon.

Just then, the front door opened and Charity appeared on the porch.

“Look, Aunt Charity, this is Jesse,” Sam said proudly.

“So I see,” Charity came down the steps to join them in front of the house.

“He’s our half-a-brother,” Janie told her. “Yours, too, I ‘spose.”

“Actually, he’s my nephew.” She smiled up at Jesse. “I’m your Aunt Charity. Welcome.”

Jesse nodded and tugged his hat brim. “Ma’am.”

Charity turned to the children. “Why don’t you two run inside and set another place at the table?”

“A place for Jesse?” Sam’s eyes went wide.

Charity nodded. Without her having to tell them twice, they ran off to do her bidding.

Once they were gone she said, “I was just a little girl when…when your mother’s family left town. If I’d have understood what was going on back then, I could have given Brand the information that might have helped him find your mother. Our father paid your grandfather to take Sarah away and ensure none of you were ever found. He did his job well. It was as if your family never existed.”

She made an attempt to reach for Jesse’s hand and then stopped
and dropped her gaze. “I’m so very sorry,” she whispered. “If I’d only known—”

Brand waited for Jesse to comment, but his son merely shifted and appeared uncomfortable.

Charity eventually found her voice and a smile. “I’ve fixed an early supper,” she said. “We’d be pleased if you’d stay.”

“I don’t think—” Jesse started to refuse.

“The children would love to have you here,” Brand said.

Jesse hesitated, tapping the horse’s reins against his thigh. Brand gently placed his hand on Jesse’s shoulder. He felt the young man stiffen and fully expected to have his touch shrugged off. A silent second passed and then another before Jesse slowly relaxed.

“I’d like you to stay too, son,” Brand said.

When Jesse turned to Brand, his jaw was tight, his eyes suspiciously bright. He cleared his throat before he turned to Charity.

“I ‘spect it would be all right. Mrs. Foster won’t be needing me any time soon.”

“Wonderful. I’ll go in and have the children wash up.” Charity hurried inside and left the men alone. “Don’t dawdle out here, you two.”

Brand showed Jesse where to tether his horse. Silence hung heavy between them as Brand struggled to find common ground. He thought immediately of Laura, as he did most every hour of every day.

“How is Mrs. Foster?” He asked.

Jesse paused, appearing uncertain. “She went for a drive this morning with Mrs. Larson. When she came back she looked upset. Like she’d been bawling about something—”

“Laura? Crying?”

“Not in front of me.” Jesse took off his black hat, wiped his brow with his forearm. “She pretended to be fine, but her eyes were all red and puffy. She was in some kind of a mood, that’s for sure. I’m hoping it was none of your doing.” He eyed Brand suspiciously.

“I haven’t seen her for days,” Brand admitted.

“You think that might be part of the problem?”

Brand’s first impulse was to rush to Laura’s. He very nearly excused himself and told Jesse to tell Charity to start dinner without him, but Jesse looked uncomfortable enough as it was. Brand figured Jesse might take off at the least provocation.

“Do you have any idea what might be wrong?” he asked.

Jesse checked the reins he’d looped around the hitching post, made certain they were tight. Then he rubbed his hand across his jaw for a second before he met Brand’s gaze head on.

“No idea.” He shrugged. “If you care so much, maybe you ought to go see for yourself.”

A
fter Jesse left with the children, Laura went upstairs to wash her face and hands, then brushed out her hair and pinned it up into a simple chignon. She changed into a fresh gown, a simple, demure day dress of dark blue with a round collar, long sleeves, and cuffs trimmed in dove-gray piping.

The entire time she was freshening up, she thought about Amelia’s suggestion that she tell Brand the truth. It might only be a matter of time before he heard it from someone else anyway.

She rested her elbow on the dressing table, covered her eyes with her hand. If she were a praying woman, this would be the time, but she knew nothing of God. She’d never even opened a Bible and didn’t even own one. There had been no curiosity about God on her part. She was certain that He did not exist. Not for her, anyway. She went to church on Sunday to keep up appearances. Nothing more.

She raised her head, turned away from her reflection in her dressing table mirror, and hurried downstairs.

“Is Jesse back?” she asked Rodrigo.

When he told her that as far as he knew, the hired hand hadn’t returned, Laura hurried outside. There was no sign of Jesse in the carriage house. She wondered what was keeping him. Brand’s house was across town, but easily within walking distance.

She hoped it hadn’t been a mistake to send him off with Brand’s children.

She stared down the empty drive at Main Street. She pictured the children, their short, skinny legs sticking out over the sides of Jesse’s horse. They’d left with him so trustingly.

It suddenly occurred to her that if Jesse wanted to get back at Brand for abandoning him and his mother, what better way than through his younger children?

Practically at a run, she started down the drive. When she reached the street, she slowed but didn’t stop. Late-afternoon shadows appeared to grow longer as she passed the livery and reached the boardwalk. Trying not to panic, she searched for Jesse’s horse among those tied up along Main. All she could recall was that his horse was brown and little else. Before she knew it, she realized she was about to pass by the Silver Slipper.

She lifted the hem of her skirt, about to cross to the other side of the street, when Collier came strolling casually through the open doors of the saloon.

“Well, well, well.” He slowly looked her over. “Look who’s here.”

“I’m
not
here. I’m just passing by.”

“That hurts, Lovie. Just passing by? I can’t believe you wouldn’t stop in to say hello.”

Too late, she realized she’d run out without a hat or her reticule. She reached up, tucked a loose curl behind her ear. She felt her face flame as he slowly perused her modest dove-gray gown and then smiled.

“My, my. That schoolmarm costume certainly does something for you—Mrs. Foster. Very intriguing. Sparks my imagination.”

“It’s not a schoolmarm
costume
, thank you.” She made a move to walk away but he stepped in front of her.

“Hold on a minute. What’s the rush? I honored your request. I’ve steered clear of you, but now here you are in front of my saloon. I’d say that’s more than a consequence.”

“I told you I have my own business to attend to. Now let me pass.”

“I’ve given you plenty of time. Am I going to have to resort to blackmail to make you realize this is where you belong? Keep the damn boardinghouse if it means so much to you. You can run both places.”

“I’m not going to change my mind, Collier. That’s final.”

“Then don’t blame me if word gets out about who and what you are. One way or another, I want you here and I mean to have you.”

She felt her insides turn to ice water. She was aware of movement on the street, but wasn’t about to take her eyes off of Collier.

“Aren’t you even a
bit
curious to see what I’ve done to the place?” He nodded toward the front door.

“No. I’m in a hurry—”

“Laura?”

She recognized Brand’s voice and looked up in time to see him swing out of his saddle. Dressed completely in black, wearing his white collar, he looked every inch a handsome gentleman preacher as he closed the gap between them.

Please, please, no. Not now.

She tried to wish Brand away.

“Are you all right?” He stared down into her eyes in a way that made her want to melt into him and let him carry her away from Collier’s knowing leer. “You look a bit pale.”

Instead of bringing relief, his appearance only compounded her anxiety. Not to mention Collier’s threat.

“Did the children get home?” she asked.

He nodded. “They did. Thank you for sending them home with Jesse.”

“I was worried about them, thinking perhaps I’d made the wrong decision, sending them back alone with him—”

“Not at all. In fact, he stayed for dinner. He should be returning soon. I was just on my way over to thank you.”

He studied Collier, obviously waiting for an introduction. Laura couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

Collier offered his hand. “I’m the new owner of the Silver Slipper. Collier Holloway.”

Weak in the knees, Laura held her breath.

The men shook hands. Brand introduced himself.

“Nice to meet you, Preacher.” Collier’s manners were smooth as silk.

Unfortunately, Laura knew when he appeared to be behaving that he was at his most dangerous.

She found Brand studying her far too closely.

“Will you walk me home?” Anxious to get home and to get him away from Collier, she took hold of Brand’s arm.

“Of course.” He didn’t smile as he tipped the brim of his hat in Collier’s direction and then walked her to the edge of the boardwalk to collect his horse.

She knew Collier would take note of her familiarity. Sure enough, when she looked back at the gambler, Collier smiled and gave a slight nod. If he wanted to hurt her, all he had to do was use Brand.

“Have a nice evening,
Mrs. Foster
,” Collier said. “Stop by again anytime. You, too, Preacher.”

Brand led his horse as they walked along in silence, each of them lost in thought for a few strides. When they finally spoke, it was at the same instant.

“I did
not
stop by that place—”

“You seem upset—”

She tightened her fingers on his sleeve, knew she should let go, but didn’t.

“I was worried about the children. I hope you aren’t mad about Jesse.”

“On the contrary. I’m very thankful you sent them home with im. When Charity first invited him to supper, he refused, but then he changed his mind. When I saw him sitting there at the
table with us, I knew the problems he brought into our lives paled in comparison with what I’ve gained, and I have you to thank for it. You could have turned your back on him, left him lying in the street, but you took him in and now you’ve brought us together. Thank you doesn’t seem nearly enough.”

If only she could put her own life back together that easily.

“I think deep down, he’s a good-hearted young man.” For the moment, Laura tried not to dwell on Collier and what havoc he might cause in all their lives. “All Jesse’s ever wanted is to know you, to have you acknowledge him.”

They were nearing the boardinghouse and she slowed her steps. She didn’t want Brand to walk away and leave her there alone. She couldn’t bear to tell him good-bye.

“Thank you for walking me back,” she said, making no move to turn toward the house.

“I’ve missed you, Laura.”

She looked into his eyes and the undisguised desire was there again. She could no more deny it than she could the air she needed to exist.

“Oh, Brand.” She wished she could tell him how much she’d missed him. That she thought of him with every passing hour.

“Tell him the truth.”

Amelia’s words came to her.

Brand started walking again. She fell in beside him as they crossed the street.

“I heard that you went out with Amelia this afternoon and returned upset,” Brand said.

Had Amelia spoken to him already? What exactly did he know?

She knew that he must have heard it from Jesse when he asked, “Did that have anything to do with that man, Holloway?”

She nearly lost her footing but then caught herself. “Of course not.”

“He seemed to be playing loose with your feelings, Laura. As if he had the right.”

“He has absolutely
no
rights where I’m concerned,” she said a bit too harshly. “Not anymore.”

Brand stopped walking. He wanted to say more, she could tell, but he didn’t. They had nearly reached her drive. The sun was hurrying toward the horizon. She’d missed tea. It would soon be time to dine with her guests.

“So you do know him.”

Afraid of saying too much, she said absolutely nothing.

“What is it, Laura? Please, let me help you.”

She shook her head.

Tell him.

She let go of his arm, prepared to walk away. He had enough worries of his own. “Everything is fine,” she said.

He reached for her hand, kept her there with the merest touch.

“I’d do anything for you. I hope you know that.”

She tried to don a carefree smile. An image of the Ellenberg family gathered together in their humble sitting room earlier came to her—a vignette of a life that was but a distant, faded memory for her. Thinking about the scene she’d witnessed, their shared laughter and joy, caused her smile to waver. It was the kind of life that was as out of reach for her as the moon.

Unable to deny herself, she reached up, patted the lapel of his coat, and smoothed her hand along the black fabric.

“Go home to your children and hold them close, Brand. And don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

B
rand waited until she disappeared into the house before he mounted up and headed back down Main Street. He slowed his horse to a walk as he rode by the Silver Slipper, but he didn’t see any sign of Collier Holloway. Until he had more information, he wasn’t about to make another scene. That was the last thing his battered reputation needed right now.

There was something Laura wasn’t telling him; he was sure
of it. She’d tried to reassure him that everything was fine, but she couldn’t disguise the haunted look in her eyes.

She was anything but fine.

He was tempted to go back and demand she tell him what was wrong, but with a woman as headstrong as Laura, he figured that would be the worst thing he could do. He hated leaving her, hated not being there to help.

He rode past the
Gazette
building. It was dark inside and there was no sign of Hank. Amelia had been with Laura earlier. If anyone could tell him what was wrong, it was her.

He nudged his horse into a trot and headed toward the Larson house. When he arrived, Hank and Amelia were just finishing up their evening meal. He sat down at the table and unable to resist sweets, opted for a piece of apple cobbler.

“So what brings you here, Brand?” Hank hooked his arm around the back of his chair. “Some good news for a change, I hope.”

“Jesse ended up having supper with us today.” He went on to explain how Jesse came to be at the house—how Janie and Sam had “run away” to Laura’s and how she’d sent them all home together.

“Good for her,” Hank said. “She’s not one to shy away from anything.”

“How is Charity?” Amelia asked. Brand noticed she seemed quieter than usual and often lost in thought.

“She invited Jesse to stay to supper. She let him know he was welcome any time.”

They chatted awhile longer as he finished off his apple cobbler and complemented Amelia.

“Would you like more coffee?” she offered.

“No, thanks. I’ve got to be going.” He stood up, collected his hat. “Before I leave, I’d like to speak to you about Laura. If I may?”

Amelia seemed so hesitant that Brand became certain something had, indeed, happened on their outing. Something Laura
wasn’t willing to tell him. His gut twisted. Amelia glanced over at Hank and smiled.

“Excuse us, would you, dear? I’ll walk Brand out alone.”

“Should I be jealous?” Hank teased.

“Only if I’m not back within the hour.” She walked Brand to the door and they stepped out onto the porch.

Brand thought he’d have to initiate the conversation, but Amelia surprised him.

“Have you spoken to Laura this afternoon?” she asked.

“I just left her,” he admitted.

“And?”

“Jesse mentioned he thought she was upset earlier, so I was intent on seeing her. I was on my way to her place when I ran into her on the street talking to a man named Collier Holloway outside the Silver Slipper. It was such an unlikely place to find her—”

Amelia couldn’t hide her alarm. “Did she say why she was there?”

“She said she’d been out looking for Jesse, that she wanted to make certain he’d brought the children home.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

“Well, then,” Amelia didn’t look at all relieved.

“If she’s in danger, I need to know, Amelia.”

“You need to talk to Laura, Brand, not me.”

“So she
is
in danger.”

“I don’t think so. At least, she’s not worried about anyone harming her.”

“But she’s worried about something.”

“I really can’t say.”

“Harrison Barker said she has been corresponding with a man in New Orleans—”

Amelia stopped him. “I know how much you care about her, but there’s really nothing I am at liberty to tell you. You need to talk to Laura.”

“I’ve been hesitant to lay my troubles at her doorstep.”

“You’ve both been trying to protect each other when what you need is to lean on each other.”

“What are you saying?”

“Love is the strongest thing there is, Brand. You know that. I’ve heard you preach that over and over. Love and forgiveness.” She took his hands, gave them a squeeze, and then let go. “Go see Laura tomorrow. Take her somewhere where you can talk in private. Tell her how you feel—”

“But with everything that’s happening—”

“None of that matters. She needs to know how much you care about her.”

“Of course, but what are you hiding, Amelia? What has you so upset?”

“Laura is my friend, Brand. I can’t say any more. The rest is up to the two of you.”