Morning Sky (32 page)
Mr. Cummings adjusted his vest. “I believe Truth mentioned Lilly worked for the local banker—as a housekeeper and nursemaid.”
“Yes. But she’s no longer in the Nelsons’ employ.”
Mr. Cummings stood, looking not at all pleased. “I understand. However, I am in need of a banker. I believe I’ll go and meet this Mr. Nelson. I’m certain he will be able to assist me with my
banking
needs.” Bentley Cummings stormed from the room, leaving a hint of foreboding hanging in the air like the scent of Aunt Lilly’s perfume.
T
ruth!” The sound of Moses’s voice drifted through the open window of the Boyles’ parlor. Truth jumped to her feet and hurried from the room while Jarena watched her. Jarena longed to be happy for the sweet reunion Truth would now experience with Moses. Instead, her heart filled with a stubborn fire of jealousy that refused to be extinguished. Life truly was unfair.
She forced a smile when the twosome walked into the parlor arm in arm. Their affectionate looks were like salt poured onto Jarena’s wounded heart. Nothing had changed for Truth. She’d come home to a loving fiancé and untarnished family memories. But what did Jarena have? She was left with little hope that Thomas would ever return to marry her and with the unalterable knowledge that Aunt Lilly was really her mother. Aunt Lilly! Without warning, Jarena’s thoughts returned to Bentley Cummings. Could he possibly be her father? She wanted to run after him and see if she could find any resemblance to her own features.
Desperately, she tried to recall exactly when Aunt Lilly had met Bentley Cummings. Was it before or after Henri Verdue? If Jarena was Bentley’s child, did he know it?
Truth clapped her hands like an angry schoolmarm, and Jarena startled to attention. “Are you feeling faint again?” Truth asked.
“No. I was lost in my own thoughts. I remembered something that I must take care of. Please excuse me. I’ll return shortly.”
Before Truth could offer an objection, Jarena brushed by and dashed out the door. Stepping briskly, she hurried toward the bank, all the while worried that Mr. Cummings might already be gone. She walked inside the building, clutching her chest and gasping for air, relieved when she saw Bentley Cummings seated opposite Mr. Nelson. A large mahogany desk separated the two men, who were speaking in hushed tones regarding an investment of some type. Something to do with the railroad.
Both men seemed completely engrossed, and neither looked up when she approached. “I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but . . .” The men leaned back and stared up at her. They appeared to be struck dumb.
Now that she had Mr. Cummings’s attention, Jarena had no idea what she wanted to say. Finally she asked to speak to him after he’d completed his business at the bank, and he agreed to meet her outside.
Minutes later, Mr. Cummings walked alongside her down Hill City’s dusty main street. Fear had settled on Jarena, and she wondered if she’d made a horrible error. She walked onward, wondering if this man could be her father. Thankful to find the general store void of any customers, Jarena directed Mr. Cummings to the small table and chairs near the back.
“Is there something on my face?” Mr. Cummings asked as he sat down.
“What? Oh, no. Please forgive me. I didn’t realize I was staring.” She looked away and removed a loose string from her sleeve. “I was interested in learning when you and my aunt first met.”
“Why?”
She met his piercing stare. “Since you traveled out of your way to visit her, I assumed the two of you must have had a lengthy friendship.”
He stroked his jaw. “And why are you so interested in our
friendship
?” Jarena’s mind whirled in an attempt to formulate a satisfactory reply—one that would convince him. “I suppose I am intrigued by a man who would travel so far out of his way for a mere visit. I wonder if there isn’t something else that motivates you, Mr. Cummings.”
“And I wonder the same about you, Miss Harban. Did Lilly speak of me?”
“Only once—and rather disparagingly, I might add.”
He chuckled. “That much, I believe. However, I think she spoke of me more than once, Miss Harban. Why don’t you merely tell me what you want to know—and why you want the information.”
Jarena inhaled deeply. “I wish to know how long you and my aunt were together. I want the information in order to establish whether you could be my father.” Mr. Cummings’s jaw went slack, and his mouth opened in a look of utter and complete surprise. “Lilly is barren. She couldn’t have children— she explained that to me years ago.”
“How
many
years ago?”
“Fifteen or sixteen—I’m not positive. We met a few years after her husband, Henri, died. Certainly you don’t believe Lilly is your mother.”
He stared deep into her eyes. “You do!” He laughed aloud. “Impossible!
That woman never gave birth to a child.”
“At least none that you knew of. She
is
my mother,Mr. Cummings.
I have proof of that fact. However, she didn’t name my father.”
He shook his head. “Lilly never spoke to me of a child.” He stood and backed away from her. “I’m not your father. You’ll not get a single penny of my money.”
Jarena jumped to her feet and faced him. “I don’t want your money, Mr. Cummings. And don’t worry; I now know in my heart that I am not your daughter. Good day.”
Truth settled beside Moses, and when Jarena finally returned a short time later, Dr. Boyle motioned her toward a spot on the end of the divan. They were an odd gathering, a mixture of men and women, black and white, old and young. Truth wondered what folks back in Kentucky would think of the unusual assembly in Dr. Boyle’s parlor. She steeled herself in an attempt to prepare for the many questions all of them would have. Perhaps if her recitation was detailed enough, the inquiries would be few.
An air of anticipation filled the room, yet it was quiet enough to hear the gentle rustling of leaves outside. Dr. Boyle nodded at his daughter, and Macia began the story. She explained that both her journey to New York and early days at the school had been uneventful until she had fallen ill. Since there was little she recalled after taking to her bed, she asked Truth to continue.
As Truth told the group of the events that took place after her arrival in New York, there was little doubt they were amazed at all that had occurred, especially her boldness in planning their escape while nearly succumbing to illness herself. They even applauded when she told of Daisy’s assistance and Silas’s bravery in completing the successful escape.
When Macia and Truth had completed their account, Dr. Boyle shook his head. “I believe everything you girls have said, but none of this makes any sense. Why would Mr. Laird or the Rutledges want to harm their students?” He rubbed his open palm along his jaw. “Obviously something is amiss. Why would Mr. Laird have written several times advising me that Macia was feeling better?”
Silas whispered to Truth, and she encouraged him to speak. “Lotsa them girls got the sickness durin’ the time I’s been working there. I don’t understand ’bout the Rutledges’ business, but I heard ’em talk ’bout papers on the girls. Miss Macia and Truth figure it’s somethin’ to do with life insurance. I don’ know what that is, but they talked ’bout life papers for them girls. You know ’bout insurance, Dr. Boyle?”
Dr. Boyle looked surprised. “Yes, I understand what insurance is, Silas. Are you certain that’s what you heard?”
“Oh, yessuh. I heard ‘em talk ’bout them life papers ever’ time a fresh group of girls come to the school. When the new ones come, that’s when they be in the office talkin’ ’bout havin’ them girls sign some kind of life papers.”
Dr. Boyle glanced at Truth and Macia. “They must have been taking out life insurance policies on their students. Is that possible?”
Macia bobbed her head up and down. “I recall they had me sign papers when I first arrived at the school. I specifically remember because I argued with Mr. Laird.”
“But your mother and I had signed all your paperwork,” Dr. Boyle said. “I personally forwarded the forms to them.”
“That’s what I told him, but Mr. Laird insisted I sign a few other documents. I didn’t read them thoroughly because Mrs. Rutledge appeared to be upset over the entire ordeal.” Macia turned deathly pale.
“Do you think they were trying to kill me?”
Dr. Boyle stood and paced in front of the fireplace. He finally came to a halt in front of Moses. “What do you think, Moses?”
“I think this is a matter that needs to be fully investigated.What if I contact one of the newspapers in New York City and advise the editor of our concerns? Perhaps he would be willing to assign a reporter to go to the school on the ruse of writing an article and help uncover the facts.”
“Excellent idea!”
Excited voices joined the conversation as they formed a plan to force an investigation at Rutledge Academy. Only Silas appeared apprehensive. “Moses, I’s askin’ that you please don’t be usin’ my name when you write that letter to them folks in New York. I don’ want ’em knowing I’m out here in Kansas. They’s likely to send the law after me.”
Moving to Silas’s side, Truth gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t you worry, Silas. Moses won’t do anything to jeopardize your safety. You have my word.”
The affirmation was all Silas needed. He enthusiastically suggested the men make inquiry into the disappearance of Sally Treadwell, a young lady who had become ill and later vanished from the school. He lowered his head and stared at the floor. “Me and Daisy noticed that after any of them girls died at the school, there was always lots of money bein’ spent.”
An involuntary shudder coursed through Truth’s body.
Moses shifted in his seat. “You know of girls that actually died?”
“Oh, yessuh. Probably six or seven since I been workin’ fer them people. Strange how them girls was always getting sick. I figured some-thin’ was wrong, but I couldn’ go to no police.”
Moses stood. “Perhaps the police won’t help, but someone must.”
T
here were few options available for Jarena. Unlike Lilly, she couldn’t run off to some unknown place and hide from her past, though she thought the idea a perfect solution. She had carefully folded and packed her clothing in the trunk and had only a few personal items remaining in the room. Pulling open the top drawer of the chest, she removed the leather folder containing her birth record. Aunt Lilly had given her the folder before she departed town—along with her permission to keep or burn the document, whichever Jarena preferred. She was staring at the paper when Truth walked into the bedroom. Jarena quickly closed the folder and placed it in the trunk.
Truth plopped down on the bed. “What’s that you were looking at when I came in?”
Jarena bowed her head. She didn’t want to discuss her past with Truth right now. Perhaps she never would. Why should she continue to endure the pain of discussing the matter? Let someone else tell her. “Merely some papers—nothing of interest to you.”
“Moses told me about you and Aunt Lilly.”
Jarena shrugged. “Everybody has been talking behind my back.” Truth’s pained expression didn’t faze Jarena. She cared little if her words stung. “You need not look distraught. Your life will go on as planned, Truth. I’m the only one who must daily suffer the repercussions of the lie.”
“We weren’t talking behind your back, Jarena. I was concerned over your odd behavior toward me, and Moses explained about Aunt Lilly— and Thomas. I am truly sorry for all the misery you’ve suffered. I do wish there was something I could do or say that would help. I love you, and nothing changes that.”
Jarena jumped up. “But it
has
changed.” She grabbed the folder from her trunk and flung it across the bed. “That piece of paper changed everything. You and Grace aren’t my sisters. Your father isn’t my father; your mother wasn’t my mother. Lies! All of it! Nothing but lies!”
Truth moved toward her. “I can’t change any of what happened in the past, but you will always be my sister. A piece of paper doesn’t change what I feel in my heart. Say whatever you want, but you won’t make me stop loving you. I won’t let you push me away.”
Jarena buried her face in her hands. “Each time I think I’ve come to grips with my past, a new situation occurs and the pain once again rises to the surface. I know none of this is your fault, Truth. I’ve been wrestling with forgiveness since the day I found out. In my mind I know they did what was best, but my heart is filled with such pain and anger.”
“What is it Mama used to tell us? Time heals all wounds? Maybe that’s what this is going to take—time and prayer.”
“So you’ve grown wise during your short absence?” Jarena wiped her tear-stained cheeks. “Of course, you were always bright—you merely attempted to hide it, along with your ability to sew and clean.” Jarena smiled and patted her sister’s hand.
“I don’t know if I’m wiser now, but I do know that I never want anything to come between us. You’re the one I’ve always looked up to, Jarena. What would I do without you?”