Katie: Bride of Virginia (American Mail-Order Brides 10) (14 page)

She rose from her seat in a chair and faced him, her heart beating rapidly at the sight of her husband. “What's wrong?”

“Jack said you were walking in the vines this morning. Why are you trying to ruin me?”

Confused, she stared at him. He had the nerve to come in here and accuse her in front of her guests?

“Yes, I went for a walk in the vineyard to cool off after you accused me of shattering two cases of wine. But I have no clue as to what you are referring to. What's happened?”

“You're the only person who has been in that section of the vineyard. It has to be you.”

“Tell me what I've done?” she said her voice raising. She was so tired of him thinking she was the one causing the problems in his vineyard. This had to stop or it was going to end their marriage.

“You poured kerosene on the vines and then lit them.”

She paused staring at him like she didn't know who he was. He came in here and accused her of trying to set the vineyard on fire, while they had guests. While women from their church were here in their home attending a tea, he had the nerve to confront her.

“Mr. O'Malley, if I knew where you kept the kerosene, I might be tempted to light a fire under you to leave my tea party. But I have no idea where you keep the liquid. Have you ever considered that one of your hands is possibly doing the damage? I would suggest you begin looking there.”

“But you've been near every single accident.”

“That doesn't mean I'm the person responsible for the sabotage. Someone is trying to make it look like me.”

Shaking his head, he stood there, face flushed, hands on his hips. “This didn't start until you arrived.”

“Why would I damage our livelihood? Don't you think I understand what it's like when the business you work for fails?”

“Maybe you were the one who started that fire?”

Katie felt like he'd slapped her. She could have died the day the factory burned. She'd been running out of the building with the rest of the women, frantically searching for her friends. His comment was such an insult. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“That comment, sir, does not deserve a response.”

The women from church were all staring at the two of them in shock and Katie had never been more embarrassed in her life. Humiliation flowed through her veins almost strangling her.

Daniel clenched his fists. “I've worked so hard. Why do you want to put an end to what I've built? I'm so angry right now, I don't think I can look at you another minute.”

“Then leave. You've disrupted my tea quite enough,” she said, her heart breaking, wondering how they could go on after this.

Like he had forgotten they were there, he suddenly glanced around the room at the women from church. “Excuse me, ladies.”

He strode from the room.

“I'm so sorry, Katie, I really need to be going,” the older woman said standing and searching the room for her reticule.

“Me too. It was...charming,” someone else said.

Katie felt numb. The man she loved had made her look like the biggest laughing stock in town. She knew for a fact the women would hurry home to their husbands and tell them what they'd witnessed. How could she ever hold her head up in church again?

One by one, they all said their goodbyes leaving Katie to an empty house that seemed to echo with empty promises.

Sinking down into the chair, she stared at the teapot, the glasses and the cookies she'd made for the event. A surge of anger rushed from her head to her toes, bringing tears to her eyes.

His mother rolled her wheelchair into the living room. She was silent for a moment. “I'm going to my room to rest for a while.”

Katie didn't respond. She couldn't without breaking down into tears.

She loved Daniel, she wanted to be his wife, but he believed she was trying to destroy his vineyard and their livelihood, which for the life of her she didn't understand. If they failed how would they make a living?

She didn't believe the worst about him, but he thought she'd deliberately harm his business. A good marriage could not exist without trust. And she wasn't willing to watch the man she loved decimate them until she hated him.

Maybe when she left, he'd see it wasn't her causing the damage to the vineyard. It was someone he'd obviously overlooked.

She'd go back to Lawrence, meet up with Julia and together maybe the two of them could find jobs. She'd given marriage a try. She'd even fallen in love with Daniel, but how could she live with him when he didn't trust her and believed she would harm him.

Heart weary, tears ran down her cheeks, she went upstairs to pack. She would catch the next train to Lawrence even if that meant she had to spend the night in town.

#

Daniel strode out of the house feeling like the biggest fool. If his wife ever forgave him, it would be a miracle. He'd acted irrationally. From the look on Katie's face, he knew she'd not poured kerosene on his youngest vines, damaging them permanently. It had to be one of his workers and he had to find out who.

Then he would return and grovel at his wife's feet to forgive him.

He watched as Martha walked towards the house. “Good morning, Mr. O'Malley.”

“Good morning,” he said, stepping in front of her. Her eyes widened and she stopped. “Katie told me you found broken wine bottles in the kitchen the night of the party. Do you have any idea what happened.”

The woman's skin flushed and she licked her lips nervously. “Yes, when I walked back into the kitchen they were broken.”

Why was she out of the kitchen? She'd left them in a vulnerable position and he couldn't stand for it any longer.

“But you were supposed to stay in the kitchen that night and make certain the food trays were ready and the drinks were ready,” he said. “So how could someone sneak into the kitchen.”

Her eyes grew wide, her pupils dilating. “A lady does have to use the outhouse occasionally.”

Daniel shook his head. “No. You know who broke those bottles. And I bet you know who broke the two cases in the cellar.”

“Mr. O'Malley, I like my job. I don't want to lose it. I would never do anything to cause me to get fired.”

He took a deep breath. “I understand. But you see, I'm thinking about firing every person working for me right now. Because I think someone is trying to ruin the vineyard and maybe even send me to prison for murder.

“So if I fire everyone, I think I'll take care of the person who is causing the trouble. Someone has to know what's going on and why. And I'm not willing to take any more chances. So effective immediately, everyone is fired. You're the first one to know.”

The older woman's eyes widened. “No, you can't do that. My husband works for you and I work for you. We've lived here for thirty years.”

“I'm sorry, then someone better start talking.”

Daniel started to walk off, when she reached out and grabbed him by the arm. “Yes?”

“It's Jack Edwards, your foreman. He broke the bottles in the kitchen and in the cellar. He broke those bottles with a hammer and a cloth over them to soften the noise and keep wine from getting wine on him. He told me to keep my mouth shut or he'd make certain we were both fired. Talk to my husband. He can tell you about what's been happening in the fields.”

“Why didn't you come forward and tell me before now? Are you so afraid of me that you don't think you can talk to me about what's happening?” Daniel asked.

Martha sighed. “No, sir, but he told me he would make certain that my grandson went to jail for the murder of your wife, if I said anything. I love my grandson and I feared with no one being accused and him being a young black man, he could find some way to pin her killing on Thomas. I love that boy.”

Daniel could understand her fear. While the Civil War was long over, the tension between the races still ran high. And he would hate to see someone wrongly accused.

“Thank you, Martha. I understand. If I could find out who Eloise's killer was, I would put that behind us as well.”

The older woman bit her lip and hung her head. “Sir, the day before she died, she came back from town happy. She asked me to go to the cellar and bring her, her suitcase, said she would soon be leaving. I didn't question her, because I knew she went to see her father several times a year. When I came back up the cellar steps, she was at the back door having a heated conversation with someone.”

“Did you hear what they were saying?”

It was the first new clue he'd had in over a year.

“All I heard was her saying, I'll see you tonight.”

Daniel leaned his head back, thinking he was so close to learning the truth. “But you didn't see a face?”

She shook her head. “And I didn't hear the man's voice.”

“So someone came to the kitchen door and arranged to meet Eloise that night.”

“Yes, sir,” she said.

“What time of day was it?”

“Probably around three o'clock,” she said, gazing at him worriedly. “Oh, there was one other thing. When Eloise shut the door, she laughed and said he isn't getting a dime.”

Daniel shook his head. “Why didn't you tell me this after Eloise died? Why didn't you tell the sheriff?”

She sighed. “I wanted to, but I'm an old black woman and no one would have believed me.”

He laughed. “I understand that completely. No one believes me either.”

Leaning his head in his hand, he stared at the woman who had worked for him for years. “I think it's time I paid a visit to Jack and just see what he says. Somehow I've got to figure out if he's the one who's been destroying the vineyard.”

And then he had to apologize to Katie. He'd been cruel to the woman he loved and that wasn't right.

The older woman stood. “Do I have a job?”

“Of course. If my workers would talk to me, I bet we could find out who was behind these incidents and send them on their way.”

“Can I go now? I need to get to the house before it looks suspicious and he comes after me.”

“Does he make all of my employees fear him?” Daniel asked.

She smiled. “Yes.”

Nodding, Daniel said, “Thanks, Martha. Please never hesitate to come talk to me if there's a problem.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The older woman hurried out of the barn, while Daniel sat at the table trying to figure out his next move.

#

Daniel had hired Jack Edwards because Frank had referred him. Said he came with excellent references. Now he was questioning those references and wondering why the man was out to ruin him. Eventually, he would talk to all of his employees, but right now he wanted to start with his foreman.

Walking to Jack’s house, he glanced around at the cottage that had come with the property. Two smaller cottages were occupied by Martha and her family and then the third was filled with single men. Normally, he avoided the area not wanting his workers to think he was spying on them and to give them some hours away from the business.

He walked up the stairs and knocked. Jack came to the door. “Good day, sir. I was just eating lunch.”

“Can I come in?”

“Of course,” he said opening the wooden door.

Daniel walked into the small house and glanced around at the scattered clothes and dishes. The man wasn't much for cleaning.

“Have a seat,” Jack said pointing to a saggy sofa. “What can I do for you?”

Taking a seat, Daniel glanced around at the room, there were three pieces of furniture and nothing else, no pictures, nothing. “I wanted to talk to you about this morning’s attempt to burn us out.”

“Yes, we got lucky,” Jack said shaking his head. “The vines were wet enough that the kerosene didn't burn, though the plants are probably ruined.”

“How many do you think we lost?”

“It looks like at least one row, if not two, from what I can tell,” he said.

The room felt chilly in the early morning air and Daniel shivered.

“Oh, let me throw another log on the fire. It stays chilly in here unless I'm burning word,” Jack said, rising and putting another log into the rock fireplace.

Daniel stared at the hearth, there was a stone missing. The previous owners had told him of how they hauled big river rocks from the Rivanna River to decorate not only the big house, but the cottages on the property. They were unique smooth--silver stones that were excellent for decoration. And Jack had one missing from his hearth.

Eloise had died from her head hitting a big stone like the one missing from Jack's hearth. They didn't think the fall killed her, but rather the cold, she'd been unconscious and unable to return to the house.

Anger surged through Daniel like a dam breaking. He wanted to pound the man, but he couldn't. He had to first prove Jack was the killer and then let the sheriff arrest him or his name would never be cleared.

But part of him just wanted to beat the man into a senseless bloody pulp. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

Jack turned back from the fireplace and stared at Daniel.

“What's our next move to protect the vineyard?”

“I thought tonight we would set up patrols. No one goes near the vines. Two men patrolling all the time,” Daniel said.

Nodding in agreement, Jack smiled. “I'll get some volunteers or assign someone and we'll get on it. Is there anything else, boss?”

Oh there was so much more. Like why was he trying to destroy the vineyard, but most of all why had he killed Eloise?

“No, I've got to run into town for a bit. Just make certain the vineyard is protected all the time,” Daniel said.

“Will do.”

Daniel stood and walked to the door. He had to get out of here. He didn't know why, but he felt like Eloise had died here in this cottage. He had to get the law.

Knowing he was being watched, Daniel strolled towards the barn and his horse, when all he wanted to do was run. When he got to the barn, Martha's husband was frowning, waiting for him.

“George, I need you to watch the house and not let the ladies alone with Jack while I go to town. Can you do that?”

“Yes, sir. My wife said she spoke to you.”

“Yes, and she's a good woman. Now watch the place well and I'll be back as soon as I can. And this stays between us.”

“Yes, sir.”