Lightning and Lace (17 page)

“Oh, and I love them, too. Lester and I never had any children of our own.” She paused. A strange look passed over her face. Then she straightened. “These girls are like my own. So I pretend they are.”

“That simple?”

She smiled and nodded.

“Lester has a saint for a wife.”

She bit into her lip and glanced away. “I understand my husband has made your job a little difficult.”

“I believe he’s voiced his views on a few matters.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need. It’s all a part of being a preacher.” Travis studied her face and saw exactly what he suspected—a lonely woman. He realized propriety stopped her from talking to him about Lester. She probably led an empty life apart from her volunteer work.

“How is Zack doing in your care? I was real happy to see him come forward on Sunday.”

“He’s doing fine. I’m right proud of him. The boy’s turned into a good scholar.”

“Brother Travis, there’s something you should know. I—”

“Miss Sylvia,” Laura said. “We’ve decided to gather more pecans. Do you want to help?”

Sylvia touched Travis’s arm. “Never mind. Wasn’t important.”

“I forgot the prayer requests,” Travis said, once he and Zack returned from Tuesday night’s prayer meeting. With Thanksgiving on Thursday, they’d changed this week’s service. He opened his Bible to double check if he’d stuck the piece of paper inside as he normally did.

“Do you want me to fetch them?”

A crash of thunder shook the house.

“No, I’ll hurry back to get it before the storm hits.”

“Couldn’t the requests wait until morning?” Zack said.

Travis shook his head and laid his Bible on the kitchen table. “I’ve got myself into a habit of praying for folks night and morning. Done it for years. I won’t be long.”

“Dodge the lightning. And don’t be long, ’cause then I worry.”

Travis laughed. Some days that boy acted like an old man. “I’ll be back before you bring in a load of firewood off the back porch.”

Stepping into the night, Travis saw the sky light up in a jagged streak of lightning. Since the twister, he’d been a mite nervous with nature’s fickle temperament. For certain, he’d not waste time.

He hurried past the various businesses and on toward Heaven’s Gate. As he passed the house, he shot a glance toward the side and saw the shadowy figures of a man and a woman. Whether it was the previous profession of the occupants or the fact the young women lived alone, Travis walked across the road to make sure everything at Heaven’s Gate was all right. There was a lot of truth in darkness covering sin.

He heard voices and stopped. Lester and Rosie.

“No, I won’t, and don’t ask me again,” she said.

Lester chuckled—the overconfident, cocky, grating sound that Travis detested. Excuse me, Lord.

“Now, you don’t mean it at all, Rosie. We have something special, and you can’t deny it.”

“I’ve had enough. You’re a hypocrite. You act like you’re a God-fearin’ man, even read scripture to us. Then you come after us like we belong to you.”

“You do. And don’t forget it.”

“Not anymore, Lester. I care too much for Miss Sylvia.”

“Every time we have this talk, you get hurt. How stupid are you?”

Lester had beaten Rosie!

“What kind of a man beats a woman who refuses him—a man who has a wife and other women?”

The sharp crack of a hand striking flesh startled Travis. He headed toward them. Bile rose up from his stomach. Lester had beaten Rosie, not once but twice. “Don’t you touch her.”

Lester laughed. “Well, if it isn’t the preacher coming to pay a call at Heaven’s Gate.”

“Where is your decency? To think you cover what you’ve been doing under the blanket of God’s work.”

Rosie moved away from Lester. “Leave us, Brother Travis. I can take care of myself.”

“Like you did when he beat you the last time?”

“You don’t understand,” she said.

“You’re protecting Sylvia?”

Rosie said nothing, and Travis clearly recognized the power Lester held over her.

“Keep walking,” Lester said. “This is none of your concern.”

“I’m making it mine. The sheriff will learn about this. There are laws to protect the innocent.”

“These girls aren’t innocent, and threatening me only means trouble for you.”

“I don’t see how.”

“Who do you think the town will believe? An established pillar of the church and community who generously gives to others or a new preacher who nobody knows anything about?”

“Rosie can speak for what’s been done.”

“No, she won’t say a word, because she’s tasted my anger. I’m warning you, Preacher, keep out of my business or you’re going to be real sorry.”

“Listen to him,” Rosie said. “Forget about tonight.”

“Won’t you go with me to see the sheriff?” Travis said, incredulous that the young woman refused to seek help from the sheriff.

“No, I can’t. And if you do, I’ll deny it all.”

“Why?”

Lester laughed. “’Cause she’s smarter than you.”

Rosie walked to the back of the house and up the steps. The creak of the door told Travis she’d gone inside.

“You need to learn a lesson,” Lester said. “I’ve warned you long enough.” He took off down the road toward town as another crack of thunder pierced the air.

Travis watched him. In the blackness, the only part of Lester recognizable was his voice—and his arrogance. Lord, what am I supposed to do with him? He can’t get by with what he does, but he picks on weak folks who are afraid of him.

Travis stared up at the second floor of Heaven’s Gate. A faint light from a kerosene lamp shone dimly through a curtain. He vowed to stop Lester, and he didn’t have any problem calling on the Andrews men, the reverend, or the sheriff to do it.

*****

Bonnie said good-bye to Michael Paul and drove the wagon away from the schoolyard. Odd, Miss Scott had not returned Bonnie’s wave this morning. She must have other matters on her mind.

“Are you ready to see Grandma?” she said to Lydia Anne.

“How long are we staying?”

“Not too long. I wanted to invite Grandma and Grandpa to Thanksgiving breakfast as well as dinner.”

“Brother Travis, too?”

Bonnie sensed a little flip in her stomach. Ever since the twister, Lydia Anne thought Brother Travis hung the moon. And Bonnie’s mind tended to drift his way far too many times. Why, he wasn’t the least like Ben, and she really had no idea what he looked like beneath that mountain of hair. He could be one hundred years old, and who would know? Except his beard and hair held very little gray. She’d noticed that—and his light brown eyes with little flecks of gold. Mercy, she was behaving like a schoolgirl.

“Mama, is Brother Travis coming, too?”

“We’ll ask him and Zack.”

Lydia Anne clapped her hands. “Goody.”

At the parsonage, Bonnie helped her daughter down from the wagon and took her hand. Mama and the reverend stood in the backyard, each with a cup of coffee.

“Good morning,” she called.

The reverend waved, and the older couple made their way toward them while Lydia Anne raced to lessen the distance between them. The reverend snatched her up and swung her into his arms.

“Reverend, she’s getting too big for you to lift.”

“I’m old,” he said, “not weak.”

Bonnie turned her attention to her mother. Added lines to her face told of troublesome matters.

“What’s wrong? Are you ill?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“You’re pale. Bad news?”

Mama peered at the reverend. He cleared his throat. “Best tell her, Jocelyn. She needs to hear it from us, not from someone else.”

Irritation threatened to rob Bonnie of her festive mood. “Simply tell me.”

The reverend planted a kiss on Lydia Anne’s cheek. “How about a biscuit and honey?” In the next instant, the two disappeared into the house.

“Please tell me what is going on?” Bonnie said.

“It’s ugly.” Mama’s tone startled her.

“Gossip or truth?”

“Gossip for sure.”

“Then tell me, Mama.”

The older woman’s face hardened. “You know I despise folks who try to pass lies off as gospel truth.”

Bonnie nodded. “Must be a story from a church member.”

“Sylvia came by early this morning with a story about you and Brother Travis.”

Bonnie shivered. She could only imagine what Mama’d been told. “What kind of a story?” Lester’s threats blared across her mind.

“She said one of the girls from Heaven’s Gate saw you two together—in an embrace.”

“When? How? Which one of the girls? You know that came from Lester. He put her up to it. I’m sure of it.”

“I agree, Bonnie. But Sylvia said Lester is taking this information to the deacons, Jenny—”

“She won’t believe a word of it.”

“Of course not, but the deacons might. But it doesn’t matter whether they do or not. The information will discredit you and Brother Travis in the church and community.”

Bonnie covered her face. “There’s more to the story, Mama. Much more.”

“Do you want to tell me?”

In the morning stillness, with the scent of Thanksgiving in the air, Bonnie confessed her past problem with the wine that Lester supplied, his attempt to bully her when she stopped his gifts, and his visits to the Morning Star without Sylvia. Then she told her mother what happened with Morgan during the pouring rain.

“Why does he persist?” Mama said.

“I’m not sure, but I have an idea.” Bonnie dabbed the perspiration on her forehead, and it wasn’t even warm.

“I do too.”

Bonnie’s gaze flew to Mama’s face.

“You’re a beautiful woman, and he has a roving eye.”

“I thought he might still be upset because Ben refused to sell the ranch.” Bonnie closed her eyes. In an instant, the many times Lester continued to bring the bottles even after she’d asked him to stop flashed across her mind. “Sylvia is the most precious woman I know.”

“Is this why you haven’t told her of your indiscretion? Don’t you think she’s an intelligent woman who knows what Lester is doing?”

“I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. Then why wouldn’t she confront him about his actions?”

“I think she simply loves him. How did Lester threaten you?”

“He said the information would destroy my entire family’s fine reputation.”

“Hogwash. We’ve stood against this town with worse.”

“What can I do to stop Lester?”

“Probably nothing until he breaks the law. Some folks are going to believe him, and others will ignore the gossip. Perhaps a talk with Jenny and Grant is in order.”

Bonnie nodded. “That makes sense since she built Heaven’s Gate. She and Grant had a tough time with gossip long before they were married. They’ll understand.”

“My point. Remember Lester was more than involved with that gossip, too. If you want to take care of a few things this morning, I’ll keep Lydia Anne with me.”

“But tomorrow’s Thanksgiving.”

“I’m sure Juanita has everything under control, and Casey and Jenny are bringing food.”

“All right. I’ll go see Jenny and Grant now, then Morgan.”

“Make sure your older brother keeps his temper in check. The town may be better off without Lester, but let’s not have Morgan handle him.”

Bonnie smiled. “I’ll reason with him. I hope.”

A short time later, Bonnie sat in Grant’s office with him and Jenny. She described the recent events, including her problem with Lester supplying her with wine. “Before the day is finished, I’ll tell Morgan the truth, too.” She waited for one of them to speak.

“He wants you dependent on him,” Grant said. “I’ve seen Lester in action. However, I thought after Martha left town with his boys that he might have changed. I mean, he’s built an orphanage, and he’s the first to contribute to worthy causes.”

“I’m going to talk to the girls at Heaven’s Gate,” Bonnie said. “What could he have done to persuade one of them to lie?”

“I have no idea, but I’ll try to find out,” Jenny said.

“We’ll find out together,” Grant said. “Lester may think he’s bought this town with Sylvia’s money, but some of us can’t be bought.”

“Grant, what do you mean, ‘Sylvia’s money’?” Bonnie said.

“Lester wouldn’t have a wooden nickel without her, which could be why he didn’t follow Martha. If there’s one thing in this world I hate, it’s wagging tongues, and I need to shut my mouth before I’m guilty of the same thing.” He blew out an exasperated sigh. “Let’s go see Morgan and get his opinion about all of this.”

He took Jenny’s hand. “Depending on how many patients I have, we’ll head over to Heaven’s Gate when I return. I’ll be back shortly. Don’t you dare go near there until I return, Mrs. Andrews.”

Jenny nodded. “Yes, Doctor. I’ll do as you ask.”

*****

“Lester sure is giving us good reason to run him out of town,” Morgan said. “I nearly flattened him a week ago when he accused Bonnie and Brother Travis of the same thing.”

“Shall we go see our favorite banker?” Grant said.

“Ah, I don’t think so. That may be exactly what he wants, and I don’t relish the thought of playing into his hand. Which one of the residents of Heaven’s Gate made the accusation?”

Bonnie’s mind focused on each young woman. She’d established a relationship with all of them—and she thought they were close. “I have no idea. All three appear devoted to God, Sylvia, and living upright lives.”

“Jenny and I are headed over there to find out as soon as I have a break from patients. I don’t want her going over there alone.” Grant stood and paced the floor of his brother’s law office. “What does Lester really want?”

Morgan glanced at his brother and then at Bonnie. “It could be as simple as our little sister, the ranch . . . or to destroy all of us.”

“But why?” Bonnie said. “Sometimes I think he has a sickness when it comes to . . .”

“Say it, Bonnie. We’re your brothers,” Morgan said.

“All right. I think he has a problem with being faithful to Sylvia.”

“He’s already proved his unfaithfulness,” Grant said. “It doesn’t help the situation that I delivered his illegitimate sons and persuaded Martha to talk to Morgan about starting a new life away from Kahlerville.”

“And I refused to tell him where she moved,” Morgan said. “Which leads me back to the idea that he may want to destroy all of us. Most folks in this town let him have his way because he’s the banker. But we don’t.”

“And neither does Brother Travis,” Bonnie added.

Grant continued to pace the floor. “I wonder how he feels about the gossip.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know,” Bonnie said. “He spends most of his mornings with Zack.”

Morgan stood from his chair. “Let’s go pay him a call.”

A short while later, the three sat at Travis’s kitchen table. Bonnie sent Zack to the parsonage to fetch Lydia Anne and the wagon.

“Lester threatened to spread that rumor,” Travis said. “I caught him red-handed doing something no law-abiding, godly man should do, and he ordered me to stay out of his business. I’m real sorry, Bonnie.” If she hadn’t been there, he might have stated what he saw happen between Rosie and Lester.

“He threatened me with the same. We’ve come to the conclusion that Lester is more put out with the three of us than you,” she said. “I think you got in his way when you refused to follow his orders.”