Morning Sky (36 page)
“Of course!” Truth looped her left arm around Jarena’s right arm. “I’m preparing chicken and dumplings and even made a layer cake for dessert.”
“And it didn’t even topple over this time.” Moses kissed his wife’s cheek and winked.
Lucy had followed along behind Jarena and giggled at his remark.
“Don’t laugh, Lucy,” Truth said. “One day your husband will make fun of
your
layer cake, too.”
“I’m going to be like Jarena. I’m not going to get married.”
Jarena’s breath caught in her throat. She wanted to grab the child’s face between her hands and explain that this solitary life wasn’t of her own choosing, that she wanted nothing more than to walk down a church aisle and wed Thomas Grayson. She wanted to be exactly like Truth and the other women in the congregation—married to the man she loved, baking uneven layer cakes, and looking forward to a future filled with laughter, happiness, and children.
Moses captured one of Lucy’s braids between his fingers and gave a gentle tug. “Jarena is going to marry one of these days, too. She’s merely waiting for the proper time. Isn’t that right, Jarena?”
“That’s right, Moses.” Jarena was thankful he hadn’t said she was awaiting the right man, for such words would have cut her to the quick.
Once they’d finished the noonday meal, Moses excused himself and retreated to his library. He’d spoken of a book he’d been wanting to begin. Though Jarena doubted he was anxious to read, she appreciated his kindness in allowing her time alone with her sister. They’d begun to clear the dishes when Jarena said, “I received a letter from Lilly yesterday.” Truth looked up. “Truly? Where is she? Canada? Did she mention Mr. Cummings?”
“Indeed. She asked whether he’d actually come to Kansas. However, she’s not in Canada. It seems she went only as far as Colorado—Lead-ville. She did ask that we not divulge her whereabouts to outsiders.”
Truth picked up the bowl of green beans and returned it to the kitchen. “I won’t say a word, but I wonder what made her change her mind about Canada.”
Jarena followed along behind her sister, carrying a stack of dirty dishes. “I have no idea, but she’s invested in both a millinery shop and a silver mine. And she’s asked me to join her.”
Truth’s eyes widened with surprise. “What? In Leadville? That’s ludicrous. Surely she doesn’t think you would do such a thing. You wouldn’t, would you?” Truth dropped the damp dishrag into the sudsy water and turned to look at Jarena. “Would you?”
Nicodemus , Kansas
•
October 1880
T
he journey to Nicodemus should have been uneventful. However, they were only a few miles outside Hill City when Truth began to voice a succession of arguments against Aunt Lilly’s proposal that Jarena move to Colorado. Although Jeb had offered to drive Jarena home, Moses and Truth had insisted they would see to the task themselves. Jarena now realized why! Truth was consumed with presenting all the possible pitfalls of a move to Colorado. To make matters worse, each time Jarena attempted to divert the conversation, Truth signaled for Moses to take up the cause. Quite frankly, Jarena was now confident Jeb’s company would have been preferable to that of her sister and brother-in-law.
When they finally arrived in Nicodemus, Moses assisted the two women from the buggy. Jarena sighed with relief, pleased to be set free from their sermonizing. “Please don’t mention any of this in front of Pappy. No need to upset him with any of this foolish talk.”
Truth brightened and grasped Jarena’s hand before she had a chance to enter the house. “Then you agree with us? You’re not going to consider going to Colorado?”
Jarena peeked out from beneath the brim of her lace-trimmed bonnet. “
You’ve
made the decisions regarding
your
life, Truth. I suggest you let others do the same.”
“Now, Jarena. Don’t go and get your back up. You know we’re only attempting to look out for what’s best.”
Jarena exhaled in exasperation. She gave momentary thought to stomping her feet just like the twins used to do when they were little girls wanting their way. Perhaps such childlike behavior would finally capture Truth’s attention. “And I’m telling you I don’t want you or anyone else making my decisions. Do you understand?”
Grace emerged from the cornfield and came running toward them with the skirt of her dress whipping about her legs like a ship’s sail gone awry. “Truth! Jarena! I’m so happy to see you.” She squealed and made a headlong dive for Truth that nearly sent both young women toppling to the ground. Jarena laughed at the sight, thankful the frenzied leap had been directed at Truth rather than herself.
Grace leaned back and looked at her sister and then at Moses.
“You’re going to stay and visit for a day or two, aren’t you?”
“Only until tomorrow. We must leave early—the newspaper. But it won’t be long until we move to Nicodemus, and then you’ll quickly tire of having us around.”
Grace’s smile turned into an effective pout. “But you won’t move here until Harvey Boyle finishes school and comes back to Hill City. That’s not so soon.”
“Now, now, Grace. You know Truth will want to oversee construction of the new house once the roof is on—and that’s not far off.”
Truth looped arms with her twin sister. “Yes—and I’ll need lots of help making decisions about the house. Unlike some people, I appreciate the opinion of others.”
“Only when they agree with you,” Jarena whispered as she brushed by her sisters. “Pappy and Silas out in the fields, Grace?”
“We’ve started cutting in the far field, but now that Pappy’s got Silas working with him, he doesn’t care much whether I’m out there helping. He’d rather have me spend time improving my cooking.” Grace giggled. “I know he’s gonna be glad you’re back home for good, Jarena. He got used to having you for those couple weeks before you went back to help at the Boyles’. Now that we’ve begun the harvest, he’s gonna want some of your corn pudding.”
Truth nodded. “We all know how much Pappy wants Jarena here at home.”
Jarena gritted her teeth. Truth’s attempts were annoying and obvious. Besides, she was having enough trouble trying to decide about her future as it was.
Apparently Moses had now tired of their haggling. “I’m going over to see how the roof is progressing on our house. Tell your father and Silas I look forward to visiting with them this evening.”
Truth hurried forward to kiss him farewell. “Don’t forget to ask if there’s been any word regarding the new printing press.”
Grace followed Jarena into the house. “You’re in a sour mood today.”
“I’m sorry. I promise to try and do better. Tell me, how have you and Silas been getting on? From what you said earlier, it sounds as though he’s showing promise as a farmer.” Jarena wondered if having Silas begin to take over in the fields was difficult for Grace.
“He’ll learn—he’s kind of slow at first, but once he catches on, he does good. He likes being out there working, that’s a fact. Pappy has to force him back to the house come suppertime. He’s already trying to figure out how long it’s going to take before he can afford to buy his own piece of land. I think maybe he’s hoping you’ll sell him Thomas’s land.”
Jarena bristled as she removed her bonnet. “You can tell him Thomas’s land isn’t for sale. We’re going to farm that land ourselves when he returns.”
“Silas didn’t mean anything bad, Jarena. He was just—” “Thinking that Thomas is dead. Like all the rest of you. But I know he isn’t, and you’ll not convince me otherwise.” Her anger continued to rise along with the heat of her words. “Not until I have more proof than a letter saying he didn’t return to the fort with his company.
He might have survived. You don’t know that he’s dead!” She shouted and waved toward heaven like a fire-and-brimstone preacher at a tent revival. “Only God knows, and I trust that He’s going to bring Thomas back to me.”
She fell into a chair, spent, while her sisters looked at her as though she’d gone mad. Perhaps she had. Why was she clinging to hope?Why did she suddenly believe she should trust the Lord for Thomas’s return?
Trust—the barrier she had struggled against all her life—the adversary she had never conquered. Trust!
So many thoughts raced through her mind that she was surprised when words from the Psalms came to the forefront:
“The Lord is my
rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I
will trust.”
For now, for today, she would depend on the Lord for Thomas’s safe return.
Jarena’s sisters quickly retreated outdoors. Truth said she needed to stretch her legs after their lengthy buggy ride, but Jarena suspected both girls wanted to escape in case she veered off into another unexpected tirade. Not that she blamed them. She’d likely frightened them out of their wits as she had ranted and flailed her arms.
Perhaps there’d be no further mention of her peculiar behavior if she began the supper preparations before Truth and Grace returned. She retrieved a clean apron from her trunk and got started. Her father had pushed the trunk to the foot of her bed, right where it had been before she departed for her first journey to work for the Boyles. She unfastened the hasp and lifted the heavy lid. There, on top of her belongings, was the mysterious envelope from Bentley Cummings. She picked up the missive and turned it over as his words played back in her mind.
“Should Lilly return to Kansas or advise you of her whereabouts,
see that she receives this. And tell her I personally delivered it to you.”
Jarena pulled Lilly’s letter from her reticule and placed both documents side-by-side on the wooden kitchen table. One bore Lilly’s precise feminine script; the other displayed Bentley’s irregular, mannish handwriting. Lilly’s envelope was rather small and thin, while the one from Bentley was much thicker. Startled by the sound of her sisters’ laughter, Jarena grabbed the letters and forced them into her skirt pocket. Ignoring the faint sound of a rip, she pushed until the envelopes were safely tucked out of sight.
Grace poked her head in the door only long enough to say they were going to the river and would return shortly. Jarena nodded and waited only a moment before reexamining the envelopes. In her haste, she had torn the flap on the larger envelope—the one addressed to Lilly and carefully sealed by Bentley Cummings. She would need to remove the contents and place them in another envelope so Lilly wouldn’t think she’d intentionally opened her mail. Of course, she could merely explain what had actually happened, but Lilly would never believe such a story.
Jarena pulled the contents from the torn envelope. Her jaw went slack as she unfolded the outer page. In the center of the paper was a picture of Lilly with her name clearly printed beneath the likeness. A reward of five hundred dollars was being offered for her return to New Orleans. The poster stated she was wanted for the murder of Sephra Rigilou and the kidnapping of her son, William. The paper shook between Jarena’s fingers. A five-hundred-dollar reward! Had Mr. Cummings continued traveling after leaving Nicodemus, handing out these posters along the way? If so, Lilly wouldn’t be safe anywhere!
Jarena slumped into a chair and unfolded the letter that had been tucked inside the poster. Jarena scanned the page and then dropped it on top of the poster. The letter was clear. Even though there was no proof, Mr. Cummings had convinced the authorities in New Orleans that Lilly was responsible for Sephra’s death. However, if Lilly would return his son unharmed, he could assure her safety from the law and would willingly give her the reward money.
Jarena attempted to weigh the information she’d just learned. Bentley wouldn’t absolve Lilly if he truly believed she had killed Sephra and kidnapped his son. And if Lilly had been involved, did he actually think she would believe him and produce his son? Was this purely an attempt to gain information from Lilly—determining her guilt or innocence? Two things were certain: Bentley wanted revenge and, guilty or not, Lilly was his target. Lilly would understand this was nothing more than a ruse . . . wouldn’t she? After all, she was a worldly woman.