Foster’s mouth curled slightly at the corners, and there was a serpentine look in his eye. “Give me five minutes and I think you’ll agree that you’re not that busy.”
When the front door slammed, Caroline jumped, nearly dropping the frying pan. She turned toward the door as Joshua came clomping down the hall and entered the kitchen. “Joshua?” she said in surprise. “Did you forget something . . . ?” Her voice trailed off when she saw his face. “Joshua, what’s wrong?”
“Where’s Olivia?”
“She’s upstairs helping Charles get dressed. Why, what’s the matter?”
He just glared at her. “And Will?”
“You told him to go out to the Peterson place and check on that load of corn coming in from Keokuk.”
“So he left?”
“Yes, about a quarter of an hour ago.”
There was one curt nod. “You get Olivia and both of you come out to the barn.”
“The barn? But—”
“Savannah can watch Charles for that long. I don’t want the young ones hearing what I’ve got to say. Now, just do it!” And with that, he spun around and stomped out again.
As they left the house and started across the yard, Olivia looked at her mother, fear openly written on her face. “Do you think he knows about my going to see Joseph?” she asked.
“I don’t know how he could,” Caroline answered. She was pale. Her stomach was one huge, twisted knot. The fury in Joshua’s eyes was not for some slight infraction by one of the children. And why did he want Olivia too? “Have you told anyone about that, Olivia?”
“No, Mama. Not anyone. I promised Joseph.”
“Not even Amy?”
“No, Mama. I mean, I didn’t tell Amy about what Joseph and I discussed, but she knows I went to see him, because she’s the one who first gave me the idea.”
This was news to Caroline. “Amy told you to go to Joseph? Why would she tell you—”
Olivia had suddenly stopped. She looked stricken. “Because I told her about that night I heard you and Grandma and Mary Smith talking about plural marriage.” Olivia had confessed to Caroline about having eavesdropped that night. But—whether it was out of forgetfulness, negligence, or guilt, she wasn’t sure—she had not told her mother that she talked to Amy about it.
Caroline’s mouth opened and she almost wanted to gag. “You told Amy about that?” she half whispered. Just yesterday, Benjamin had taken Caroline aside and whispered a word of warning to her about Olivia’s friendship with Amy Appleby. John Appleby was known to be friendly with Foster and Soby and the Laws, he said. Olivia needed to be careful about what she said to her. Caroline had been planning on talking with her about it this very morning.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Olivia said in a low voice that was now trembling. “She promised me that she hasn’t told anyone.” Her eyes said that she no longer believed Amy Appleby’s promises.
Caroline thought about that, trying to assess the damage. At least Amy didn’t know what had transpired in Joseph’s office. Caroline looked up as a movement caught her eye. Joshua had come to the door of the barn and was watching them with a baleful stare. She took her daughter’s hand and raised her head high. “I’m here, Livvy. It will be all right.”
Joshua stepped back inside as they reached him. He waited until they were in, then shut the door behind them. When he turned to face them, his lips were pressed into a thin, hard line, and his eyes were like glittering pieces of coal. “All right,” he said in a low, menacing voice. “I’m going to ask some questions and I want no more lies.”
Caroline’s chin lifted slightly and she met his gaze with calmness. “No more lies? Does that mean you think I have been lying to you, Joshua?”
“Don’t be cute with me, Caroline!” he snapped.
“The last thing in the world I have tried to do is be cute, Joshua.”
He thrust his jaw out, addressing Caroline now. “Is it true that while I was gone you used our home as a meeting place to try and convert Melissa to the idea of plural marriage?”
She had expected no less. “One night Mary Smith visited with me, Lydia, your mother, Rebecca, and Melissa. And yes, we did meet here. You and Will were gone, it was quiet, so—”
He threw up his hands and whirled away. “And knowing how I feel about this whole damnable doctrine, it never occurred to you that I would object to that?”
“I . . . no, Joshua, I guess it didn’t. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” he raged, swinging on her again. “
Sorry?
I caved in about your being baptized, Caroline. I didn’t stand in Will’s way. I agreed to let Olivia join the Church with you, even though I felt that she had been duped into believing all this nonsense. And this is how you repay me? You bring Mary Smith right into my home to do this?”
“Somewhere I had it in my mind,” Caroline said evenly, “that this was my home too. But I am sorry, Joshua.” Then there was a steeliness in her own voice. “Would it have made any difference to you if it had taken place at your mother’s house? or Lydia’s?”
He exploded at that. “If it had taken place at my mother’s house,” he yelled, “at least my daughter wouldn’t have come back and overheard the whole thing.”
Now Caroline’s head dropped. On that he had her. It had been a foolish thing to do and Olivia had been badly shaken because of it. “You’re right, Joshua. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
He just snorted in disgust. Then he swung on Olivia. She shrank back a little, her eyes wide with dread. “Now, you answer me, Livvy, and you answer me honestly. Is it true that you heard everything Mary Smith was saying about plural marriage?”
“Yes, Papa, all but the very first part.”
“And is it true that you went to see Joseph Smith to ask him about it?”
That stunned her.
“Did you?” he said, his voice snapping like the crack of a whip.
“Yes, Papa.”
“And did you ask”—the sarcasm was heavy now—“
Brother
Joseph about plural marriage?”
She could no longer bear the heat of his eyes. She stared down at the floor. There was a numb nod.
“And what did Joseph tell you, Olivia?”
There was a quick, frightened look at her mother. “I promised I wouldn’t tell,” she said.
He jerked forward, mouth twisting. “What did you say?” he asked.
“I swore I would not speak to anyone about it.”
“Not even to your mother?” he shot right back.
“No, I— Joseph said I could tell Mama.”
“But not me, right?”
She didn’t answer.
“Look at me!” he commanded. “You look at me when I’m talking to you.”
Olivia’s head came up. Her eyes were shining, her lower lip visibly trembling.
“Did Joseph tell you not to tell me?”
For a long moment there was silence, then a bare whisper, “I cannot say.”
He whirled, took three steps to the half wall of the nearest stall, and slammed it with his fist, causing both Caroline and Olivia to jump. “She can’t say,” he cried.
“There’s no need to terrorize her, Joshua,” Caroline said softly.
Now he spun on her, so angry he could hardly speak. “Is that what it is? Because I want to know the truth, I’m terrorizing her?”
“You’re frightening her, Joshua, can’t you see that?”
He turned, ready to snarl out an answer, and then he saw the fear on his daughter’s face and felt ashamed. He moved closer, his face softening now. “Livvy,” he pleaded. “Don’t you understand? I’m trying to protect you. I don’t want anything awful happening to you.”
Her eyes flooded with relief. “I know, Papa, but it wasn’t what you think. It wasn’t anything bad.”
“Did Joseph speak to you about the possibility of marrying Brigham Young or Heber Kimball?” he asked.
It was like being slapped in the face again and again. Caroline couldn’t believe it. This was more than just knowing about Olivia’s trip to see Joseph. He knew every word that had transpired.
“I can’t say, Papa,” Livvy whispered.
Now his face went cold. Very quietly, he said, “I see. And did Joseph suggest that you pray about this so you would have faith enough to live it when you’re asked to?”
She looked away. Caroline jumped in. “Joshua, I don’t know who told you all of this, but they’ve twisted it all around. It’s not what—”
He whirled like a bull, his head weaving, his chin down. “No, Caroline. You stay out of this! This is my daughter and I’ll not have her duped into thinking this is from God.” He swung right back to Livvy. “Did he ask you to pray, Livvy?”
“It is not what you think, Papa,” Olivia said with a sob. “You make it sound ugly and awful, but it wasn’t like that.”
“Then tell me!” he pleaded. “I’m listening, Olivia. I’m trying to understand. If it was so beautiful and wonderful, why won’t you tell me what happened?”
Her head was down now. Tears were streaming down her face. She didn’t answer.
“I see,” he finally said, totally wearied now. “Just one last question, then. Did Joseph Smith take you in his arms and kiss you?”
Olivia’s head came up with a violent jerk. “No!” Then remembrance came rushing back and horror filled her eyes. “He hugged me, Papa. That was all. He kissed the top of—”
“You don’t have to lie, Olivia,” he said, wanting to cry now. “Someone was there. Someone saw you!”
There was one tortured glance at her mother, and then Olivia’s body twisted in a racking sob. She whirled and plunged out the barn door, hugging herself as though she were in unbearable pain.
Joshua watched the door shut behind her. He didn’t turn around to meet Caroline’s eyes.
“I don’t know who told you all of this, but they’re lying,” she said quietly.
“Caroline, we’re leaving tomorrow.”
She stiffened as if thrust through with a sword. “
What?
”
His voice was dull, lifeless, as though he were exhausted from a long journey. “We’ll have to go to Warsaw for now, until I can find a buyer for the freight yard here.”
One hand flew to her mouth and she bit down hard on her fingers. She felt her stomach lurch, the growing weight of the baby twisting inside her.
He went on as if he were dictating a letter to a secretary. “I know Warsaw is not ideal, but I’ve got to be close to Nauvoo until I can make the arrangements to sell the business. We’ll just give the house to my family. Then we’ll move to St. Louis. We could even go back to Georgia if you’d prefer.”
He turned. She was standing there, hand still to her mouth, staring at him from eyes sunken with shock.
“Don’t try to fight me on this, Caroline. You may get Will and Olivia to stay with you, but no court in the land will give you Charles and Savannah and the baby. Not with plural marriage on the table.”
There was no response.
“You’d better start packing some things. I’ll be at the office most of the day getting things ready there.” He turned and went out the side door, leaving Caroline to stand there alone, staring out at nothing. She held her arms across her body and began to rock very slowly back and forth as the tears started to flow.
Joseph and Hyrum heard the footsteps on the stairs, then the heavy thud of boots coming down the hallway toward the office. They were reviewing a copy of the political statement, talking about what needed to happen now. They both looked up and Hyrum started to rise to go to the door, but the latch turned and suddenly it was thrust open. Joshua Steed filled the frame.
Totally surprised, Joseph stood quickly. “Joshua, I heard that you had returned. I was—”
“Joseph, I know about your little talk with Olivia.”
His eyes widened.
“Oh,” Joshua flung at him, “she didn’t break her word to you. You’re really quite amazing, actually. It didn’t matter that her father wanted the truth behind all this. It didn’t make any difference when I asked her straight out what was true and what was not. She was a faithful little Mormon right to the last. She wouldn’t tell me anything.”
Joseph started around the desk. Hyrum was rooted to where he stood. “Joshua, I can explain. I—”
“No!” Joshua cut in sharply. “I’ve heard quite enough of your smooth talk and your silky ways. I’m here to warn you. You even so much as talk to my daughter again, and you’ll wish to heaven that the Missourians had gotten you instead of me. Do you understand me, Joseph?”
“I don’t know what you think went on between your daughter and me, but if you’ll sit down, I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
Joshua raised a hand, his forefinger jabbing at the air. “You heard me, Joseph. You stay away from my daughter. You leave my wife alone. Or you will rue the day you were ever born into this world.”
When Caroline opened the back door to her home and saw Nathan, her eyes widened with concern. He smiled reassuringly. “Caroline, I’d like to talk to you and Will and Olivia. Can you leave Charles with Savannah for a time?”
She looked frightened all of a sudden. “Joshua could come home anytime now and . . .” She didn’t have to finish that. It would be like setting a keg of black powder on an open fire if Joshua thought the family was trying to intervene at this stage.
“I know,” he said quickly. “I’ve got Matthew and Derek watching the road. They’ll give us plenty of warning if he decides to come.”
Will had come to the door to stand by his mother. “If he sees you talking to us,” he said, “it will be Jackson County all over again, Nathan.”
Nathan nodded and managed a smile. Without thinking, one hand stole up and he rubbed the scars beneath his shirt. “Most of the wounds are healed now. Besides, for all the outer fireworks, it isn’t the same Joshua now that it was then. I’m not trying to sneak around behind Joshua’s back, but I’d really like to talk to you before you have to leave.”
She hesitated, and then her head bobbed quickly. “All right. Knowing Joshua, I don’t expect him until late, after I’m asleep. Where do you want to meet?”
“In our barn.” He moved away, not waiting for her answer.
They sat almost in semidarkness, the only light coming from a small candle Nathan had brought from the house. Olivia’s eyes were still red and puffy. Will sat like death itself, staring at the ground, his mouth in a hard line. Caroline was still half-dazed. Nathan had brought a chair out for her and made her sit in it. She was only four months with child, but this time she was having a more difficult time of things, probably because she was now almost thirty-eight years old.