Ezekiel frowned at his eldest daughter. “An’ how wouldja prepare? We eat what we eat, and we sleep where we sleep. Ain’t nothin’ or nobody gonna change them things, so what’s to prepare?”
Jarena could feel the heat rise beneath the frayed collar of her wrinkled calico dress. Her father’s sullen behavior was uncalled for—so far as she was concerned, anyway. No matter how much her father disliked Aunt Lilly’s past behavior, she was still their kin. Allowances were made for kinfolk. At least that’s what her mama had always told her.
“Your father knew I was scheduled to arrive. Didn’t you, Ezekiel?” Aunt Lilly’s voice had the timbre of a cat’s purr.
Jarena sunk her teeth into her lower lip. If Aunt Lilly thought batting her lashes and speaking in a sultry tone would endear her to the patriarch of their small family, she was sadly mistaken.
“I got yo’ letters—
all
of ’em,” her father replied curtly before striding off toward the door of their sod house.
With a determined step, Jarena hurried after her father. “
What?
But the only letter I ever knew of from her was the one that arrived shortly after we moved to Nicodemus—and I penned a reply. Who read the other letters to you, and why didn’t you mention them?”
Before Ezekiel could reply, Lilly stepped forward. She wagged her index finger and frowned at him as though he were an errant schoolboy. “You didn’t tell the girls I wanted to keep in touch with them? Ezekiel! Jennie’s daughters are my only living relatives.”
“There weren’t no need to discuss you or dem letters with nobody. Anyway, I know what each of dem letters said—every last word. Iffen there was anything important, I woulda tol’ the girls. They’s
my
daughters, and I know what’s best.”
“But you can’t read, Pappy,” Jarena whispered.
“Didn’t have to. Dr. Boyle and Moses read ’em. They even wrote answers to them letters for me. I tol’ you the girls was doin’ fine, Lilly.
But it weren’t jest the girls you was interested in, and we both knows that, don’ we? Ain’t heard you mention my last letter, Lilly. You gonna tell me you never did get the mail I sent you?”
Lilly traced one long painted fingernail along the folds of her silky skirt while peering at Ezekiel from beneath charcoaled eyelids. “Why, Ezekiel! Would I lie to you?”
Ezekiel came to an abrupt halt in front of the door. “Hmmph! Wouldn’t be the first time, and I doubt it’d be the last.”
Lilly shook her head as she gently patted Jarena’s shoulder. “Don’t you mind what your pappy says about me. He always did have a hard heart toward me.”
Ezekiel grunted as he edged through the doorway and dropped the humpbacked trunk onto the dirt floor. “You ain’ answered. Did you get my letter?”
Jarena followed Lilly into the house and watched as the older woman surveyed the dreary interior of the room. Jarena sighed. “As you can see, living out here in the middle of the prairie forces folks to live in strange habitats. But this soddy is much nicer than the dugout we called home until we moved from town. At least our sod house is completely above ground.”
Scorn came into Lilly’s eyes. “Those few stores and churches aren’t a town! New Orleans—now there’s a town.”
Jarena frowned, considering her response carefully. “Folks around these parts have worked hard, and we’re making great progress. The town may be small, but it’s growing. Why, only three years ago there was nothing here but open prairie. With all the folks that moved here from Mississippi in the last couple of years, we’ll likely expand to the size of Ellis in no time.”
Obviously unimpressed, Lilly shrugged and continued to scrutinize the soddy before directing a pitying smirk at Jarena. “Your father never was one to care much about the home he provided for my dear sister or you children. I gave him plenty of opportunities to come down to New Orleans and make a decent living, but do you think he’d listen?”
“That’s enough, Lilly! Don’ need to be fillin’ the girl’s head with your half-truths and empty promises. You still ain’ answered me. Did you get my letter?”
“Which one? I received several. Let’s see . . .” She thoughtfully tapped her index finger on the tip of her chin. “There was a letter about three years ago. If memory serves me, Jarena penned that one. You’d only been in Kansas for a short time, and you said I shouldn’t plan to visit. Then there was a brief missive about a year ago saying much the same thing—I believe someone named Moses wrote that one for you. I don’t recall that I ever received a letter penned by any Dr. Boyle. In fact, when I didn’t receive a response to my latest letter, I assumed you were prepared to welcome me with open arms.”
“I sent my last letter a couple months ago. Ain’ no reason why you shouldn’ta got it long ago.”
Lilly pulled one of the rough-hewn chairs away from the wooden table and flicked the seat with her lace-edged handkerchief before sitting down. Jarena flinched at her aunt’s conduct. Did the woman believe their furniture required dusting before it could be sat upon? Their house might be primitive, but it wasn’t dirty. She and Grace exchanged a look.
“I departed New Orleans shortly after posting my last letter to you,” Lilly explained. “I suppose that could account for my not receiving your reply. Land alive, but it’s hot inside this . . . this . . .”
“Soddy,” Jarena finished.
“Soddy.” Lilly shuddered as she repeated the word.
“Don’ know how you can complain ’bout the heat in Kansas,” Ezekiel said. “Reckon it’s sweltering down in New Orleans. How come you didn’t mention you was gonna be movin’ after postin’ your last letter?
How’d you expect me ta get word to you?”
“I made my decision rather . . . umm . . . hastily.”
Ezekiel directed a harsh look at his sister-in-law. “What you’s truly saying is that some folks caught on to your schemin’ ways and run you out of town. Ain’t that right?”
“Not exactly.” Lilly looked at Jarena and Grace. “Come on over here, girls. Jarena, why is a beautiful girl like you still living at home and taking care of her pappy? You should be married and tending to babies of your own.”
Jarena stopped in her tracks. Grace quickly dropped onto one of the empty chairs with a sturdy thud. “How come
you
don’t have a husband, Aunt Lilly?”
“I did. He died a long time ago. I’ve never found another man who could measure up to my Henri.”
“Ha!” Ezekiel slapped his beefy hand on the table. “Truth is, Henri Verdue died two weeks after you married him, and you ain’ never found another man willing to marry you—an’ we both know why.”
The air crackled with tension. Jarena stared at her father in stunned disbelief. His eyes shone with disdain. She knew he didn’t approve of Aunt Lilly—she’d known that fact for years. Yet she obviously hadn’t realized the depth of his anger and contempt. She’d never known him to harbor such opinions against another person, especially a woman.
“What about children? You have any children?” Grace asked.
Before Aunt Lilly could reply, Ezekiel forged on with his barrage. “You ain’t foolin’ me, Lilly. You got yerself in some kind of trouble and come runnin’ out here to hide among strangers. Thing is, with them fancy clothes and your eyes charcoaled an’ cheeks rouged, you’s gonna stick out like a sore thumb. We’s hardworking, plain-livin’ folks.”
Lilly waved her handkerchief as if to shoo away the comments. “Not to worry, Ezekiel. I think I can adjust in due time. I’m certain to find some opportunities out here in the West. Now tell me, Jarena, do you have a beau?”
Jarena worried the edge of her threadbare apron. “I’m corresponding with a soldier—Thomas Grayson, but we’re not yet betrothed.”
“Then you need not waste your time on him. Surely there must be some other eligible young men in this . . . wilderness. Furthermore, I could tell you stories about soldiers that would make your—” Jarena’s father pointed a warning finger at Lilly. “That’s enough! Thomas is a fine young man. Ain’t no cause for you to be suggestin’ otherwise. Jest ’cause you kept company with the wrong kinda folks all your life don’t mean you gotta imply the worst ’bout others.”
Aunt Lilly grinned slyly. “I do admit to leading a much more colorful life than you and Jennie.”
At that, Ezekiel grabbed his worn wide-brimmed hat from a peg near the door. “We both know what you been doin’ down in New Orleans—you was involved with them voodoo witches or whatever they’s called.” He turned to his eldest daughter. “There’s chores that need tendin’ to. I’ll be back in time for supper, Jarena. You gals ain’t got time to be sittin’ around talkin’ all afternoon.”
Jarena and Grace agreed and stood in unison. The moment their father was out the door, Jarena waved toward the door and asked Grace to bring in the laundry. Jarena announced she needed to snap the beans for supper and then would begin cleaning off a few shelves for their aunt’s belongings. Grace lingered, digging her toe into the hard dirt floor as she longingly glanced toward Lilly’s trunk—likely believing the hefty container was filled with wondrous treasures.
“Tell you what,” Lilly offered to Grace. “How about if Jarena clears off the shelves and then she and I will come outside to snap the beans and talk with you? It’s too hot to remain indoors. I can unpack that trunk later.”
Grace’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Then you’re gonna stay on for a while?”
Lilly beamed an enchanting smile at the younger girl. “Of course! You didn’t think a few cross words from your pappy would run me off, did you? Now hurry on outside, and we’ll soon join you.”
Grace flitted out the door as if her feet had sprouted wings. Jarena pondered how to use the next few minutes with her aunt. She didn’t want to offend Lilly, yet if they were all going to live under the same roof and maintain some modicum of peace, she’d best speak up now. Jarena sucked in a deep breath. Carefully choosing her words, she asked that Lilly refrain from questioning her father’s authority, live by their rules, and wear modest attire. She exhaled a sigh of relief after completing the requests.
Lilly’s dark eyes glimmered with amusement. “Is that it? I thought you were going to give me chores. Do you suppose your pappy would prefer that I help with the womanly duties, or shall I plan to work in the fields? Which do
you
think more appropriate for a woman of my many talents and abilities?” The words slipped over her aunt’s tongue like butter melting on a hot biscuit.
Jarena stared at the woman. Perhaps her father’s assessment was correct—perhaps Aunt Lilly did enchant people and place them under her spell. Though she couldn’t be absolutely certain, Jarena felt as though someone else had taken control of her being. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
Lilly snapped her fingers in front of Jarena’s face. “Cat got your tongue?”
Hoping to clear her mind, Jarena shook her head before finally looking up to meet her aunt’s piercing gaze. “I think Pappy would rather you spent your time helping with the housework. Grace helps in the fields sometimes, but I don’t think you’d easily adapt to such strenuous work.”
Lilly chortled. “I won’t easily adapt to housework, either. I’m accustomed to a more . . . umm . . . leisurely life.”
Jarena shifted her focus to the dirt floor. “Then you’ve truly come to the wrong place, for Pappy will never allow you to sit idle. From what you’ve told me thus far, I can’t imagine why you came here at all. I’m sure you realized you wouldn’t find a life of luxury and ease out here on the prairie in a town that’s only been in existence for three years.”
Lilly brushed the folds of her dress. “I knew life would be less than comfortable—just as I knew your father would attempt to sweep me from his doorstep. I came to Kansas because I couldn’t think of anyplace else where I would be out of harm’s way.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Aside from you and your sisters, your mother was my last living relative. And even though we were as different as night and day, I never felt so alone as the day I received the letter saying she had died. Your mother was never willing to compromise her beliefs in order to gain advantage.” She grinned mischievously. “I, on the other hand, found the practice of give-and-take quite advantageous.”
Jarena clasped her hands together; she didn’t want Aunt Lilly to see them tremble. “What do you mean about being out of harm’s way?Was Pappy right? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Let’s just say there are people who
encouraged
me to leave New Orleans. You surely know there are those who take pleasure in blaming others for their difficulties. Throughout the years, I’ve become a favored target. That fact sometimes places me in a perilous position.”
Jarena licked her dry lips. “What kind of difficulties?”
Lilly shrugged. “Anything from lost fortunes to the death of a loved one.”
“But how could anyone truly believe that you have the power to influence such things?”
A combination of anger and triumph flashed across Lilly’s face, and though the temperature in the soddy remained sweltering, a shiver coursed through Jarena’s body. Her aunt squared her shoulders and peered across the table with an undeniable intensity. Jarena knew her question had been misguided.
“Don’t underestimate my powers, Jarena. Many have suffered from such folly.”
“No disrespect, Aunt Lilly, but if you hold such power, why did you leave New Orleans? Couldn’t you have cast one of your
spells
on those people who threatened you? Not that I think such behavior is acceptable under any circumstances.”
Lilly arched her brows. “So you don’t believe in voodoo or any of the magical spells associated with witchcraft?”
Jarena shook her head. A tapping noise at the front door was soon followed by Miss Hattie’s familiar voice. The old woman glanced about the room as she entered. “Who you talkin’ to, Jarena?”
“Afternoon, Miss Hattie. This is my aunt Lilly. She’s come from New Orleans for a visit.”
Miss Hattie plopped her ample body onto one of the too-narrow chairs and cautiously eyed the newcomer. “A visit, huh? You brought a lot of baggage for a
visit
. Hope you brought along some decent clothes, ’cause what you got on ain’t proper garb for these here parts.” She added under her breath, “Ain’t proper nowhere, for that matter.”