Beloved (21 page)

Diana began teaching Ned to read. The boy was bright but unused to the disciplines of a schoolroom. If Ned’s restive nature frustrated Diana, she didn’t let on to the boy or anyone else.

Tyson hired a private investigator and gave him two assignments. The first he kept a secret from Diana: He asked Lawrence Crawley to learn, if possible, the whereabouts of his wife’s brother and sister. The second task for the investigator was to discover if Ned had any living relatives. While he waited for the man to report
his findings, Tyson contacted the authorities about necessary legalities related to taking a child off the streets and into their home. The woman he spoke with seemed simply relieved that he wasn’t dropping off another orphan at the children’s home and waved away his question about any necessary paperwork.

Diana continued to make use of the room that had become her art studio, although she preferred to take her supplies out to the garden when it wasn’t too hot. Tyson loved to see the pictures she created, but he enjoyed even more the expression on her face when she painted but didn’t know he watched her.

Best of all, there was a new peace between Tyson and his wife. More than peace. He thought a bond was forming, albeit a fragile one. There were many times when Tyson longed to hold Diana, when his love for her wanted to be expressed in more ways than a smile or simple touch, but he didn’t give in to those desires. He would be patient. He would be careful. He wouldn’t tell her he loved her with words. He would tell her with actions. That was the only way she would ever believe it of him.

Tyson’s father returned to Boise on the second of July. Unlike a month earlier, Jeremiah let him know in advance that he was coming. “I want to be there for the Independence Day speechmaking,” he told Tyson over the telephone. “Important day for you.”

Diana accompanied Tyson to the train depot on the afternoon of her father-in-law’s arrival. Despite the stifling heat of the afternoon, she looked remarkably cool and composed in a greenish-blue frock. A matching parasol rested on her right shoulder, shading her face from the relentless sun.

Jeremiah was the first to exit the passenger car. A flicker of surprise showed in his eyes when he saw Tyson and Diana waiting on the platform.

“I expected to hire a cab.” He shook Tyson’s hand. Then he looked at Diana. “Good of you both to come.” His voice was warm, earnest.

It still surprised Tyson, this more courteous version of Jeremiah Applegate. In some ways, Tyson wished he could dismiss the changes he’d observed during his father’s last visit, but he couldn’t. They appeared genuine and consistent. Besides, Tyson wanted Diana to believe him to be a changed man. How could he do less than believe it was possible for his father?

The threesome moved off the platform and walked to the waiting carriage. Tyson handed Diana up to the seat, then waited for his father to get in before doing the same.

Jeremiah, seated opposite of Tyson and Diana, patted his forehead with a handkerchief. “Mighty hot. Been like this long?”

“Not until recently,” Tyson answered.

“I see from the newspapers that you’ve been busy.”

“Yes.”

“And doing a fine job of stating your positions, I might add.” Jeremiah’s gaze moved to Diana. “You seem to have made a great impression on everyone, my dear. Perhaps you were born to be a politician’s wife.”

Diana gave Jeremiah a tight smile. “I don’t believe that’s true, but I’m trying to help Tyson as much as I am able.”

“How is your mother?”

“She is well.”

“Good. I look forward to renewing our acquaintance.”

Tyson realized he was witnessing an answer to his prayers. Long before he returned to Idaho, he’d prayed he and his father could forge a new relationship. He’d asked God to help him honor the older Applegate. But he’d expected he would be the one who
had to change, who had to give and forgive. He’d thought he would have to shield Diana from her father-in-law’s sharp criticisms. But that hadn’t happened. Not a month ago. Not now.

It seemed God’s answer to Tyson’s prayers included softening Jeremiah’s heart too. Which was nothing short of a miracle.

“What about Ned?” Jeremiah asked, drawing Tyson’s attention.

Diana answered, “He’s well too. I’ve been working with him on his reading skills.”

“Indeed?”

“He’s come a long way in a short period of time. Eventually he may need a tutor, but—”

“Eventually?” Jeremiah’s eyebrows rose in question. “Sounds like you intend for the boy to remain with you.”

Diana’s chin tilted, as if she was preparing to do battle over the boy she’d come to love.

But Tyson’s father surprised them both. “I like the lad. He’s lucky to have you, Diana. I hope he’s able to stay.”

Diana turned her gaze toward Tyson, and without speaking, he reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. And as if Tyson didn’t have enough to marvel over already, she didn’t pull away.

Jeremiah felt an unexpected pleasure warm his chest. He liked that he’d surprised them. Surprised them in a good way.

The soul-searching that had begun well before his son’s return to the living had continued during the past month. Whatever the cause of it—perhaps God Himself—he’d been changed by it. Changed in ways he didn’t yet fully understand. Still, he had to admit it was exhausting, gauging his words all the time. It was a new experience. He’d always said what he thought and meant what
he’d said, and anyone who hadn’t liked it could go hang himself. But lately, as he’d looked back over his life, he’d seen that way of living, of speaking, wasn’t the best way.

He’d made his wife unhappy throughout much of their marriage.

His only son had gone to the other side of the world to escape him.

He’d made his daughter-in-law’s life miserable when they might have been some solace to each other instead.

Jeremiah hoped to God it wasn’t too late for his last years to be kinder than his former years. He was sixty years old. He might meet his Maker tomorrow—though he truly hoped not—or he might live another twenty years or more. But no matter how much time he had left, it would be gone in the twinkling of an eye.

The carriage arrived at Tyson’s home, and the small party moved up the walk to the front entrance in the silence that had accompanied them the last part of their journey. The butler opened the door as they came up the steps.

“Welcome back, Mr. Applegate,” Upchurch said to Jeremiah. “The green bedchamber has been prepared for you.”

“Thank you, Upchurch.”

Diana asked if he needed anything to eat to tide him over until the evening meal. He declined.

“I must return to my office in town,” Tyson said. “Would you like to go with me, Father?”

Jeremiah was about to accept the invitation, but that was the moment Gloria Fisher came walking down the hall.

“Mr. Applegate,” she said with a bright smile. “What a pleasure to see you again.”

“And you, Mrs. Fisher.” He meant it too. It was a pleasure to see her. More so than expected.

“It’s much hotter now than when you were last here.”

“Indeed it is.”

“I have missed our visits in the garden.”

“Likewise.”

He realized then that he’d thought about her a great deal during the past month. Almost as often as he’d thought of his son and Diana. It amazed him, for he’d always been more comfortable in smoky board rooms and private men’s clubs than spending time with the fairer sex.

A slight flush appeared in Gloria’s cheeks, and he realized he’d been staring at the woman while his thoughts wandered. Clearing his throat, he glanced toward his son and daughter-in-law, then back at Gloria. “Perhaps we could take a stroll about the garden now. It would do me good to stretch my legs after the long train ride.”

“Of course, Mr. Applegate. It would be my pleasure.”

Diana watched as her mother and her father-in-law walked down the hallway to the back of the house. After they disappeared through the doorway, she turned toward Tyson. “What on earth has gotten into your father?”

“I haven’t a clue.”

Together, they smiled, as if sharing a private joke, and Diana felt happiness flow through her.

“I do have to go into the office, but I’ll return as soon as I can.”

She thought he might step closer and kiss her. She almost wished he would.

“We could change our future. If we both try, we could make it better.”
She remembered those words of his almost daily. She’d been changed by them in a way she couldn’t yet understand.

But Tyson didn’t kiss her. He simply gave her a tender smile before heading out the door to where the carriage awaited.

Raucous noises—a yowl, a crash, a thump, a yell—from upstairs drew Diana around. Crazed barking reached her ears a moment before she saw Tiger come flying down the staircase, ears flat against her head. On the cat’s heels was Trouble, and behind them both came Ned.

“No, Trouble! No!” the boy shouted.

The cat sailed around the banister, raced across the entry hall, and disappeared into the dining room. When the dog hit the main floor, his paws scrambled for a foothold on the polished wood, giving the cat more of a lead. His barking increased in pitch.

There was another crash, this one from the kitchen. Then came a shriek.

Mrs. Cuddy!

“Oh, good heavens!” Diana rushed toward the kitchen but was almost knocked off her feet by Trouble as he tried to run past her. She nearly fell a second time as she grabbed for his collar. “No, Trouble!”

Too late. The dog pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen.

Mrs. Cuddy screamed again.

Diana stopped in the doorway, surveying the scene.

The front of the cook’s apron was covered in flour and some sort of berry juice. Perhaps raspberries. More flour and berries were on the floor, along with what appeared to be softened butter, a rolling pin, and a shattered mixing bowl. The woman’s face was redder than the berries and her eyes were filled with fury. Cat and dog were nowhere in sight, Trouble’s barking already grown faint.

“I’m so terribly sorry, Mrs. Cuddy.”

Ned arrived at Diana’s side, and she put her hand on his shoulder to keep him from racing through the kitchen.

“It’s unacceptable, Mrs. Applegate,” the cook sputtered. “I can’t have a proper kitchen with animals about. Look at the mess they’ve made.”

“Ned and I will help clean it up.”

Mrs. Cuddy looked even more upset than before. “You’ll do no such thing.”

“Truly. It’s our fault. They’re our pets.”

“Mrs. Applegate.” The cook drew herself up to her full height and pushed out her ample bosom. “This is your home, madam, but the kitchen is mine. Now I ask you to please go so I might put it in order again. I assure you, Joan and I can manage this without the lady of the house’s assistance.”

Properly chastised, Diana nodded. Then she realized the barking had ceased. She glanced down at Ned. “We’d better find Tiger and Trouble before they get into more mischief.”

In unison, they took a step backward and Diana allowed the door to swing closed.

“I’m sorry,” Ned said softly. “I’m not sure what got ’em started but I reckon it was my doin’.” He looked at his feet. “They broke somethin’ in the hall upstairs.”

“Let’s worry about that later. Come on. We need to find them.”

From behind them came the housekeeper’s voice. “The dog and cat are outside, Mrs. Applegate.”

Diana turned around.

“I was coming in, and they ran past me before I scarcely realized it.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Brown.” Although it would have been shorter to cut through the kitchen, Diana would rather swallow a full bottle of castor oil than face Mrs. Cuddy again. Not until her temper cooled. “Come with me, Ned.” She steered him out of the dining room and down the hall.

“What if they’ve run off?”

“I don’t think they’ll go far. They’ve both been with us awhile now. They know where home is and they know who feeds them.”

He looked at her. “You sure?”

She nodded, hoping she was right.

As it turned out, Diana was more than right. Instead of having to spend a lot of time searching for the pets who’d caused such havoc in the house, they found them within moments of going outside—in her mother’s favorite spot in the backyard. Tiger lay on Gloria’s lap, bathing herself with her tongue, looking peaceful and serene. Trouble sat on the ground next to Jeremiah, eyes closed as he enjoyed a scratch behind his ears.

When Diana’s mother saw her, she smiled. “My goodness, dear. You missed all the excitement. Trouble chased Tiger up the tree.” She pointed at the branches overhead. “Fortunately, she didn’t go very high and Jeremiah was able to coax her down once Trouble stopped barking.” She shook her finger at the dog. “And you’ll not do that again. Understand?”

Jeremiah said, “Didn’t know you’d added a dog to the menagerie while I was gone.” He scratched Trouble again, now looking at Ned. “Mrs. Fisher tells me he was a sick pup when he was found and that you’ve taken excellent care of him. It’s an important thing for a boy to learn, to take care of those who are unable to take care of themselves.”

Ned moved away from Diana and knelt on the ground beside the dog. “His name’s Trouble.”

Jeremiah chuckled. “An apt description, from what I saw a short while ago.”

“I used to call him Dog.”

“Well, it is probably better that he have a more suitable name than that. Don’t you think?”

“Guess so.”

Jeremiah looked at Diana. “Would you like to join us?” He stood and motioned to the bench. “It’s pleasant in the shade.”

Nearly two months had passed since the morning when she’d faced her estranged husband and agreed to this six-month arrangement. She had expected some things would change over the course of time, but never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined this day. She was beginning to believe God had a sense of humor—and she was rather glad He did.

April 1898

Word was the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, commonly called the Rough Riders, would soon leave San Antonio, Texas, and head to Florida before shipping out to Cuba.