Undaunted Love (PART TWO): Banished Saga, Book 3.5 (37 page)

Colin nodded his agreement as Melinda patted at his face, running her fingers over his rough cheeks. He acted as though he were going to eat her fingers, causing her to laugh even more.

“I’m sorry. I’m Clarissa,” I said to the woman who trudged along behind us.

“I’m Araminta,” she said. She wore ill-fitting clothes that were too tight across her bosom and waist, giving the impression the worn pale blue cloth was about to burst open at any moment. She walked with a slight hitch to her steps but had no trouble keeping up with the brisk pace set by the long strides of the McLeod men.

I looked to Savannah for more of an introduction, but she appeared too absorbed in taking in her new surroundings. At one point she stopped and stared at the large hills surrounding the city, her head tilting backward as she looked up. “Snow?” she asked with confusion while staring at the very tops of the mountains that had cleared with their arrival. When I nodded yes, she shook her head with wonder.

We walked along the boardwalk, avoiding the muddy street as much as possible. “Horse-drawn trolleys?” Savannah asked as one trundled past.

“Yes, things aren’t as advanced here, Sav. You’ll get used to it. In fact I rarely take a trolley. I tend to walk everywhere.”

“If you’re feeling adventurous, after the baby’s born, you should both learn to bicycle,” Gabriel said with a teasing smile. “Then you’ll be able to explore a bit more together.”

“I can only imagine the havoc Rissa could cause on a bicycle,” Savannah teased.

I laughed my agreement, and we were silent for the rest of our walk. By this point, I’d pulled on Gabriel’s arm to slow him down, and we walked at a more leisurely rate.

“Here we are,” I said as we turned into the walkway of Uncle Aidan’s house. The whitewashed two-storied house gleamed in a momentary break in the bleak day as a shaft of bright afternoon sun beamed down on us. A bench and two chairs sat on the long covered porch to the left of the door. Black shutters to the side of each window were open and were more decorative than practical. A row of pansies, their petals fluttering in the light wind, lined the walkway.

Savannah smiled, her shoulders relaxing. “I hadn’t thought it to be this nice.” She looped her arm through Jeremy’s.

Gabriel led the way up the front stairs, knocking on the door. Nicholas answered, jumping up and down when he saw us. He yelled, “They’re here, Mama! They’re here!” and abandoned his post at the front door, running into the house.

“That’s Nicholas,” I said, following Savannah, Jeremy and Araminta inside with Gabriel on my heels.

Colin and Melinda were the last ones inside, and he closed the door, handing Melinda to Araminta. Nicholas raced back toward us, and Colin scooped him up in his arms, holding him upside down while Nicholas squealed with glee. “There’s my boy,” Colin said.

Amelia emerged from the kitchen, removing a stained apron. She swiped at her flour-dusted cheeks and extended her hand.

“You must be Amelia,” Savannah said. “I feel as though I know you already after all Clarissa’s written. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“And you. You’re very welcome,” Amelia said. “I imagine you’d like to freshen up, have a little time before supper. I’ve a roasted ham, mashed potatoes and one of my last jars of pole beans planned for supper tonight.”

“And cake?” Colin asked hopefully. “You always have cake.”

“There is something for dessert,” Amelia said with a smile.

I hadn’t seen her this happy since Sebastian had departed.

“Whoopee!” Colin said twirling in place with Nicholas in his arms. When he stopped spinning, he nodded to Araminta, and they both set down their charges.

I watched as Melinda became acquainted with Nicholas, his natural tendency to friendliness overcoming any impulse to keep Colin for himself. When Nicholas showed Melinda his favorite marbles, I sighed with relief.

“There’s enough for all of us, isn’t there?” Gabriel asked as I poked him in the side.

“Yes,” Amelia said while Colin laughed.

“I haven’t felt like cooking as much now that the birth nears,” I protested.

“It’s still more than a month away,” Gabriel said. “Thankfully the nearby café is decent.”

“You should plan on having supper here most nights,” Amelia said. “It’ll be like old times with our big family gatherings.”

Colin and Araminta remained in the living room with the two children, and I saw Gabriel give Jeremy a silent tilt of his head, indicating he should follow him.

Savannah smiled as she followed Amelia upstairs to the bedrooms while I lumbered up after them. “You have the choice of room, Miss Savannah,” Amelia said.

Savannah flushed as she poked her head into the three bedrooms. “I like this one,” Savannah said, indicating the one at the end of the hall.

I’d never been in it and giggled as I peered inside. “Of course you like it. It’s the grandest bedroom in the house.” I looked at Amelia. “This was Aidan’s.”

Sturdy oak furniture filled the room, including the bed frame, two nightstands and a pair of bureaus. An ewer and basin sat atop large lace doilies, most likely tatted by Amelia, on the taller bureau, while above the lower bureau was a mirror reflecting the room. A lamp sat on each of the bureaus and the side tables. A sturdy rocking chair placed in front of one of the two windows allowed for moments of quiet contemplation.

“I always wondered where he put the rocking chair Gabriel made for him,” I said as I moved to it and traced the fine lines. I gave into my fatigue and sat into the comfortable chair, although it was too large for me.

“He says he does his best thinking staring out the window, looking toward the mountains with the birds in the trees singing to him,” Amelia said. “To answer your question, yes, this was Aidan’s room, although he hasn’t been here in over a year. In the letter he wrote me, he indicated that he wanted them to use any bedroom they desired. With the three of you, and the maid, I don’t know how we’ll all fit.”

Savannah blushed. “Ah, well, as to that. Jeremy and I are engaged. We’d like to marry here, with all you present. Thus, the room situation shouldn’t be much of a problem for long.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Amelia said. “We’ll have a feast here at the house. Although you should have a private place for your wedding night. Not a house full of children and relatives.” She frowned.

“They should rent a room in the Florence Hotel,” I said. “I remember staying there when I first arrived, and it should prevent you from being chivareed.”

“Chivareed?” Savannah asked with a small catch in her voice.

I laughed as I remembered my wedding night. “It’s when the men from the town come to your window and make a racket, and won’t cease until your husband leaves to buy them drinks at the saloon.”

“I think it’s because the single men in town are jealous of the husband’s good fortune,” Amelia said.

I sobered after a moment, frowning. “Sav, what about Jonas?” I whispered. “You can’t be married to two people at once.”

Savannah paled. “Didn’t Aunt Betsy write you? Inform you of everything that’s happened the past few months?”

“No. I haven’t received any real news from either Sophie or Aunt Betsy in a while. At least, not as pertains to you.” I frowned. “Aunt Betsy’s rheumatism must be bothering her, as she said she’d never dictate to a maid any overly personal matters in a letter.”

Savannah grimaced. “With all that happened, I’d forgotten about Aunt Betsy’s rheumatism. As for Sophie, she did no end of muttering that some news one had to share oneself.”

“I should leave you to catch up,” Amelia said as she moved toward the door.

“By all means stay,” Savannah said, waving toward the other side of the bed. “I’m sure it will become common knowledge soon enough, and I’d rather have you hear the truth from me rather than as mangled-up gossip.”

“There wouldn’t be much they could say about you that would shock me,” Amelia said.

“What if they told you that I skewered my husband with a letter opener and felt no remorse?” Savannah asked.

I gaped at her while Amelia gasped.

“He’d already shot my father and Lucas, who are both recovered, and it appeared he’d stop at nothing to have me return to him.”

“Good God,” I muttered. “Are you all right? Are you sure Uncle Martin and Lucas are well?”

“I assure you, they’re fine, Rissa. Lucas was quite ill for a while, and I worried he’d die from an infection.” She blinked away tears before she firmed her jaw, and I saw steely indignation take the place of any sadness or grief. “I’m filled with regret I didn’t do it sooner,” Savannah whispered. “I know that makes me a wretched person, but I can’t help it. He took undue pleasure in tormenting me.”

“Thank God you are free of him,” I said.

“Even though he’s gone, I’ll never be fully free of him.” Savannah shared a long glance with me, and I saw the echo of pain and loss in her eyes.

“I know,” I murmured, and Savannah nodded her understanding.

Amelia shook her head as though coming out of shock. “You killed your husband? You defended yourself against the man who stole your child and beat you? Who would have tried to kill you had you returned to him?”

Savannah nodded.

“I don’t know what I feel,” Amelia said, “but it’s not disgust. I’m embarrassed to admit it might be admiration.”

“If you’re uncomfortable and would prefer me to stay elsewhere, I’m sure Jeremy would be willing to find rooms at that Florence Hotel you mentioned.” Savannah traced patterns on the quilt on the bed, not meeting our eyes.

Amelia raised an eyebrow, frank amusement shining from her eyes. “You imagine I worry for myself sleeping in my bed at night in the same house as a woman who … killed her violent husband? No, I have no concerns, although I’m sure the sisters Bouchard and Vaughan will relish the retelling of this story.”

I shuddered at their names. “Don’t worry about them, Sav. They are townswomen who live to gossip. Now you’ll be their most interesting target as our stories have worn thin,” I said pointing to Amelia and myself.

Savannah took a deep breath and met my eyes. “The other news, Rissa, is that I met my daughter, Hope.”

“Where is she? Why isn’t she with you?” I demanded.

“She died,” Savannah whispered.

I pushed myself out of the rocking chair, arching my back to gain the leverage I needed to free myself from the chair. “How?” I sat next to her, pulling her into my arms as Amelia closed the door gently behind her, granting us privacy.

“She caught typhoid and died. No one knew how severe it was. Even the doctor thought she was recovering. She didn’t and she died.” Savannah sobbed, leaning into my embrace.

She tried to pull away, but I kept a firm hold of her shoulders, restraining her from rising and placing any distance between us.

“I’m so sick of crying. I worry Jeremy will become tired of me and yearn for a different woman.” Savannah sniffled.

“Sav, how could he want you to be anything other than who you are? It’s normal to mourn your daughter. How could you not?” I stroked her head, shoulder and arm in an attempt to impart comfort where no comfort was possible.

I glanced at my belly, patting it. “I’m sorry.” When she shook her head in denial, I said, “It’s normal to resent me or to wish you too could be expecting a baby with Jeremy.”

“I haven’t given up all hope, Rissa. Even with what the doctors said, and with everything that happened with Hope, I’d cherish any child I was blessed enough to have.”

“Even though it would mean another birth?” I asked biting my lip.

“Even then,” Savannah said, squeezing my hand. “I know the thought of birth might scare you, but you won’t be alone. Amelia and I will ensure you receive the best care.”

“I know. It’s the unknown that terrifies me,” I admitted.

“Just as there’s no cure for my sorrow, there’s nothing that will prevent you from feeling trepidation as your time nears. It’s normal, Rissa.”

“Thank you for bringing little Melly here. Gabriel teased me for worrying as much as I did, even though I knew she’d been rescued. Thank you for caring for her all this time.”

Savannah bit her lip and firmed her shoulders. “You’re to be a mother, Rissa. Something I’ve always dreamed of. Deep inside, I know I’ll never have a child. Could you consider allowing Jeremy and me to raise Melinda? We already love her, and …” She broke off.

I paused for a long moment before answering. “I can’t answer right away, Sav. I’d always thought I’d raise her, as she’s my sister. And yet I see the bond that’s already formed between you.” I smiled as I saw a tremulous hope in Savannah’s eyes. “Can I think about it for a day or two?”

Savannah nodded, blinking away tears.

I hugged her and rose. “Why don’t you wash and then try to relax a little? One of us will come for you when it’s time to eat.”

“Would you mind terribly if I slept through supper?” Savannah asked, biting back a large yawn.

“Of course not. I remember my fatigue when I first arrived in Butte.” I opened the door and glanced back, watching Savannah burrow under the covers, fully clothed. “We’ll check to see if you’re awake later.” I smiled as she mumbled her agreement, already half asleep.