Hearts Aglow (26 page)

Spotting her uncle inside the barn, Deborah climbed up on the carriage to set down the corn cakes. “I need to speak with Uncle Arjan for a minute. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be fixin’ to go when you are,” Jake replied.

Deborah entered the barn and felt the temperature drop only slightly. Her uncle was forking hay into the stall of one of the milk cows. They had just sold her latest calf, and the animal was rather forlorn.

“Poor Dottie,” Deborah said, stroking the cow’s face. The mother cow gave a mournful call for a calf that was long gone. “She sure misses her baby.”

Uncle Arjan stopped what he was doing. “I see Jake’s gonna drive you into town.”

“Yes. He asked me to show him around. He wanted to see the sawmill, and Mr. Perkins said today would be best.”

Uncle Arjan leaned on the pitchfork handle and smiled. “I suppose you’ll be seein’ that young man of yours.”

“Well, I hardly know if he’s mine,” she snapped. Feeling rather embarrassed by her comment, Deborah smiled. “Sorry. I feel out of sorts today.”

He nodded. “I can understand that. I feel that way a great deal of the time.”

Deborah looked at him for a moment. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember what she’d come to talk to him about. Frowning, she started to explain, but her uncle was already speaking again.

“I think each person has someone out there that the Good Lord intends to see them spend their life with. When the time isn’t yet come and those folks are separated, I think there’s a powerful longin’ to set things right.”

Deborah cocked her head and without thinking said, “Like you and Mother?”

Arjan straightened and looked at her as if he hadn’t heard right.

“Uncle Arjan, I . . . well, most all of us can see that you love Mother. The thing is, I believe she loves you, as well. I do wish you two would stop being so respectful of each other and just get the words said.”

“I . . . well, I guess I didn’t expect . . . ” He stopped and fixed Deborah with a narrowing gaze. “Do you really think she feels that way?”

Deborah laughed. “I do. Now, look – you did not hear that from me.” She stepped forward and kissed her uncle on the cheek. “You’ve always been a part of my life, like a second father. Why not make it official? If you don’t, it seems that Mr. Longstreet may well try to join our family.”

She didn’t wait for him to comment but hurried back to the carriage where Jake stood to assist her. Taking her seat, Deborah couldn’t keep from grinning. She was rather glad her uncle’s own words had opened the door for her to say what she did.

“You look like the cat what swallowed the bird,” Jake said, taking up the reins.

“I’m just happy, is all.”

“And is part of that happiness on account of your spending the day with me?” he asked hopefully.

Deborah could see that she needed to set yet another matter straight. “Jake, I’m courting Dr. Clayton. He’s my beau.”

“But you ain’t engaged.”

“No, we aren’t, but our courtship is with marriage in mind.”

Jake laughed. “Most are, aren’t they?”

“Well, I just don’t want you getting the wrong idea.”

“I think until there’s a ring on your finger, I have just as good a chance as he does in winning you over.”

“That’s a very bold thing to say. I think – ” She fell silent at the sight of another buggy coming in from the road. “Oh my.”

“What’s wrong?” Jake looked at the well-dressed driver.

“Mr. Albright,” Deborah said.

“I’ve come for my wife,” he replied curtly. “Would you be so good as to get her?”

Deborah nodded, and Jake tied off the reins and helped her down. She heard Jake introduce himself to Stuart as she hurried toward the house. Jael wasn’t going to be overly happy at this news. She had only said that morning what a peaceful blessing it had been to be with the Vandermarks and how she wished to remain here forever.

“Jael, you need to come quickly,” Deborah called.

Her friend scurried into the foyer from the front sitting room. “What’s wrong? I thought you were headed to town.”

“I was, but Stuart’s here. He said he’s come for you.”

Jael sobered and stiffened. “Very well. I knew it was only a matter of time. Tell him he may come get my trunk. I have it nearly ready. Father had already told me to expect him.”

“Why did you not say anything to me?”

“I didn’t want to spoil our time together. I was afraid you would fret and fuss over me.” Jael took hold of Deborah’s arm. “I’ll be all right. In time, I truly believe love will grow and that Stuart will be an attentive husband.” With that, she turned and headed up the stairs.

Deborah had no choice but to return outside and give Stuart his instructions. “She asked that you come and retrieve her trunk. She’s just now finishing her packing.”

Stuart nodded, his icy blue eyes narrowing slightly. “I understand Elizabeth has given birth to twins.”

“Yes. Last June. They arrived early, as twins usually do, but they are quite plump and healthy now.”

He said nothing for a moment, then secured the brake and climbed down from the carriage. “If you’ll direct me.”

Deborah led the way into the house but found it unnecessary to go any farther. Jael was tying on her bonnet as she descended the stairs. “Hello, Stuart. My things are ready and waiting in the room just to the top right of the stairs.”

She stepped into the hallway to give him access to the stairs. Without a word, Stuart left the women to their good-byes.

“I will come to call on you in town,” Deborah promised. “Please feel free to send word if you need me for anything.” She embraced Jael. “If you leave the area, please let me know.”

“I promise I will.” She smiled as they pulled apart. “Please tell Lizzie and your family good-bye for me and thank them. I have so enjoyed my stay and the hospitality. Hopefully I will be able to visit you from time to time. I know my father would certainly like to see your mother again.” Deborah said nothing, and Jael continued. “If nothing else, I will see you in church tomorrow. I might have a better idea of what to expect after I have time alone with Stuart.”

Just then Stuart came back down the stairs, a small trunk on one shoulder and a suitcase in the other. “Is this everything?”

Jael moved away from Deborah. “Yes. That’s all I brought. The rest is with my father at the boardinghouse.”

Stuart exited the house without asking for assistance. He had already secured the luggage and was back waiting to hand Jael up into the carriage when the ladies appeared on the porch. With another quick hug, Deborah let her friend go.

“I will see you tomorrow,” she called after Jael.

Stuart turned the horses and headed back out of the yard almost before Deborah could descend the porch steps. The entire matter had taken less than ten minutes.

“You ready to go to town now?” Jake asked, drawing the buggy closer to the house.

Deborah nodded. “Yes, I suppose I am.”

They followed Jael and Stuart to Perkinsville, taking care to keep far enough back so the dust could settle. The deeply rutted road was miserably dry, and it seemed all of the earth cried out for rain. Glancing upward, Deborah could barely see the skies through the thickness of pines, but it was clearly void of clouds.

“If you’re thinkin’ it might rain, I wouldn’t get your hopes up. We spent much of the last year doin’ that heavenward gawk. Didn’t do us any good.”

“I haven’t had a chance to tell you how sorry I am about your ranch. I can’t imagine how you must feel.”

“Mostly angry,” Jake said matter-of-factly. “Angry that I couldn’t do anything to make it right. Angry that God didn’t seem to hear our prayers.”

“We can’t always understand why things happen the way they do, that’s for sure,” Deborah replied. “Still, we have to have faith that God will keep us in His care – that no matter what happens, He is still in control.”

“Sometimes I think that’s askin’ a lot.”

Deborah didn’t know what to say, and so she moved the conversation in a different direction. “I do wish it would rain. Uncle Arjan is very concerned about fires. One spark from the train or a carelessly tended fire, and we could have a disaster on our hands.”

“That would surely trouble a great many folks.”

“It’s the dichotomy of living in the Big Piney. You want things damp and moist to keep the fire chances down, but you don’t want the storms that bring the rain. If lightning comes with the rain, there’s always the possibility that it will strike a forest fire.”

“But you seem to really like livin’ here,” he said, keeping his gaze on the road.

“I do love it here. Texas is my home, and I know most every path and turn in these woods – where the rivers run and where the creeks twist off. When I was gone from here, it was all I could think on.”

“I can see why. The forest has an appeal, just like the range. I miss it.”

She looked at him in sympathy. “Goodness, but I don’t know what I’d do if we had to give up our place.”

“It ain’t ever easy to lose what you love.”

His words made Deborah uncomfortable, and so she settled back into the seat and said nothing more, pretending instead to be completely transfixed by nature. By the time they reached town, Deborah felt pretty certain that Jake’s feelings for her ran deep. At one time she might have welcomed his attention. He was a very nice man – quite the gentleman for being raised on a ranch.

“Just stop over there by the commissary,” she instructed. “I’ll walk you over to the mill.”

Once she had Jake tended to, Deborah made a straight path to Christopher’s office. Entering the side examination room after knocking, she was surprised to find the room empty. She checked his office and the front waiting room, but there was no sign of him.

“Christopher? Are you here?”

Something drew her attention to the kitchen. It was just a hint of noise that sounded something like the fluttering of paper. Before she could go see what it was, however, Christopher emerged. He looked awful – as if he hadn’t slept all night. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his face was pale.

“Are you ill?” she asked, crossing the room.

“Why are you here, Deborah?” His question was curt and to the point.

She stopped and crossed her arms. “Well, that’s a fine way to greet someone – especially someone you supposedly care about.”

He sighed. “It would be better if you go.”

This made her angry. “So we’re finished with the courtship? You’ve given up and are releasing me?”

“I didn’t say that.” He tossed the letter onto the exam table.

“No, you didn’t. You don’t say much of anything. I can’t read your mind, and you won’t share it.”

He pointed to the letter. “Read that and then tell me how much you want me to share with you.”

Deborah went to the letter and lifted it. “You could just explain what’s in here.”

“Better you read it for yourself.”

Scanning the contents of the letter, Deborah could barely read the script. Apparently it was from someone in Indianola. The letter was brief and to the point.

You have been requested to support your brother Calvin Kelleher
at his murder trial on the nineteenth of the month of August. He stands
accused of killing a man in a saloon fight. Seemed to some to be a case
of selfdefense, but others are accusing him of provoking the attack.
He says you are the only one who can come to his aid.

She looked up and found Christopher watching her intently. She wanted to ask why Calvin’s last name was different than his own but knew that now was hardly the time.

“So do you still see yourself in a courtship with a murderer’s brother?”

“Your brother isn’t you. You have no reason to bear his shame,” she protested.

“You marry a man’s family as well as the man,” he countered. “My family has murderers and thieves, apparently. My mother tells me in another missive that two of my other brothers are in jail in Springfield for attempting to rob a bank there.” He began to pace and mutter inaudible things to himself.

“Christopher, you cannot let the misdeeds of your family cause you this grief. We must pray for them and do what the Lord would call us to do, but we needn’t take it on our shoulders.”

“He wants me to come to Indianola. No doubt he wants me to pay for him to have a lawyer and a fair chance. Maybe he even hopes for a character witness. Who can say? I’ve not seen Calvin in ten years. I went away to study when he was young and when I returned, he had left home with Benjamin and Andrew – the two in jail in Springfield.”

Deborah moved toward him, but Christopher held up his hands. “Don’t. Don’t try to console me. I don’t deserve it. If I’d been the man my family needed, I would have been there to see that they had a better time of it.”

“You did what you could. They weren’t your responsibility – that belonged to your father and mother.” Deborah inched closer. “Christopher, you aren’t to blame for this. Fact is, it really wouldn’t matter who was in error of their upbringing; they are grown men. They make their own choices.”