Prairie Storm (17 page)

“You say you found this baby in a wagon that was shot full of arrows?” the doctor asked, turning to Elijah.

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you happen to notice anything unusual about the folks in the wagon?”

Elijah shook his head. “I mostly prayed over them while I buried them. I couldn't think too clearly just then.”

“Did you see which of them was a redskin?”

Lily stared at the dark-haired baby in the doctor's hands. A redskin? An
Indian
?

Elijah rubbed the back of his neck and shifted from one foot to the other. “It was the mother,” he said finally. “I couldn't tell what race she was. Maybe Indian or Mexican. She had real black hair.”

“Then you got yourself a half-breed here.” The doctor laid Samuel back on the table. “You sure you want him? There's a home for orphans and foundlings over in Kansas City. I could put the baby on a mail coach headed that way.”

Lily clasped her hands together in disbelief. Put Samuel on a mail coach? Send him to an orphanage? Surely Elijah wouldn't do such a heartless thing.

She didn't care what color the baby's skin was or whether his hair would stay black as he grew older. His heritage didn't matter in the least. Samuel was a beautiful child, a precious little boy. Everyone who saw him would recognize that, wouldn't they? Surely people wouldn't reject Samuel because of the circumstances of his birth or the color of his skin.

“I didn't really give the whole notion much thought before now,” the preacher said. “I guess Sam's going to have a hard row to hoe in life.”

“He sure is.”

“Good thing he's a fighter.” Scooping up the baby, Elijah planted a big kiss on the boy's soft forehead. “Come on, little fellow. Let's go home.”

Relief flooding through her, Lily grabbed the baby's bag and gave the doctor a final glance.
A hard row to hoe
. Whose life wasn't? Elijah's was. Hers certainly had been.

Perhaps Samuel would face many difficult times ahead—maybe he would even walk through the valley of the shadow of death. No telling what kind of evil and heartbreak might lie in his path. But with Elijah Book as his father, the child would be watched over, tenderly loved, and diligently nurtured. Samuel Book, Lily decided, would grow up to be a strong and courageous man.

“Thank you, Doctor,” she said. “For the medicine.”

Out in the street, Mother Margaret was lifting Samuel into the wagon. Her face was suffused with the light of the waning sun as she hugged the tiny baby. “Mercy sakes, you're gettin' heavy,” she cooed. “Your mama's gonna have to sew you some regular people clothes. You'll be crawlin' before long.”

Your mama
, Lily thought as Elijah helped her into the wagon. No, she wasn't Samuel's mother. But if anyone had tried to put that baby into an orphanage, she would have fought tooth and nail to prevent it. Already the thought of abandoning the child in a couple of months seemed unbearable. She had told Elijah that no one could take the place of Abigail—and she had meant it. But Samuel had carved out his own niche in Lily's heart.

Taking Samuel from Mother Margaret and gathering him close, Lily brushed a light kiss across the baby's cheek. “I guess we're ready to go back to Hope now,” she said. “After a stop at the boardinghouse to pick up my melodeon.”

“There's one more thing,” Mother Margaret said from her place in the wagon. “Once we fetch our bags, Brother Elijah, I'd like you to drive by Moses' house one more time. I been considerin' on this matter for a few hours, and I've made up my mind. Moses and his wife asked me to stay with their family as long as I want, and I believe I'll do that. Would you tell Ben and Eva where I am? Would you give them my love?”

Elijah gave the old woman a hug. “I don't know how we'll make it without you, Mother Margaret.”

“Well,” she said, softly, “you've got the Lord, ain't you?”

Chapter 9

L
ILY handed the baby to Mother Margaret and stepped down into Elijah Book's arms. Though she dreaded the moments to come, she had made up her mind to confront Beatrice Waldowski. Elijah had reminded Lily that it would be a lot simpler just to take the melodeon from the show wagon and then head for Hope. But Bea deserved better.

The flamboyant woman had befriended Lily at a desperate time, and she had continued to support her through the ups and downs that came their way. Most important, Bea had recognized and encouraged Lily's singing ability. For that alone, she must be treated with respect.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Elijah asked as he walked Lily a few paces toward the boardinghouse. “I told you I'd stand by your side. I meant that.”

She shook her head. “Bea doesn't trust you. She thinks you're trying to convert me to your religious ways.”

“I am.”

“You are?”

At her startled look, he gave a chuckle. “I'd be lying if I told you I didn't want you to know Jesus Christ the way I know him. But that's not why I'm choosing to stand by you, Lily.”

“It's Samuel, isn't it?”

“God brought the two of us together for Sam's sake, but it's gone way beyond that. In spite of your hard ways, Lily Nolan, I care about you. I've come to know the woman inside you. I'd give my life to protect you.”

Lily fingered the fringe on her shawl. She thought about telling Elijah how much he had come to mean to her in the past few days—how she enjoyed the deep sound of his voice, how she looked forward to his laughter, how she treasured watching him hold Samuel. She even liked fighting with the man.

But she didn't want to say too much. Philadelphia would be her destination before long. She couldn't afford to let a man's blue eyes and gentle heart sway her from her own path in life.

“I'll be back soon,” she said, touching his arm. “Elijah … pray for me.”

Without waiting for a response, she hurried up onto the porch of the boardinghouse and knocked on Beatrice's door. In a moment, she heard the sound of chairs scraping and voices murmuring. Lily had rarely known Beatrice to entertain gentlemen callers, but—

“Lily?” The door swung open. Behind Beatrice stood a tall, beefy man with a thin black mustache. His face hardened at the sight of the young woman on the porch.

“Beatrice,” Lily said, focusing on her friend, “I've come to tell you that the preacher's baby is well.”

“You interrupted me for that?” Bea pushed up the shoulder of her red silk gown. “Can't you see I'm doing business, Lil? This is George Gibbons from the Crescent Moon. He's one of the
owners
, if you catch my drift.”

“I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Gibbons,” Lily said. The man looked familiar, and she remembered seeing him at the hotel. “I've decided to go back to Hope, Bea,” she went on. “I wanted you to know that. And I'm going to take my melodeon with me.”

For a moment, Beatrice stared in silence. Then her black-rimmed eyes narrowed. “You're going with
him
?”

“The baby needs me.”

“You've let that preacher bamboozle you.” Her lips tightened to a white line. “You're a coward and a weakling. You disgust me, Lily Nolan.”

Stung, Lily stood her ground. “I'm sorry you feel that way. I was hoping we could part as friends.”

“Who is this gal, Bea?” the man from the Crescent Moon asked. “I've seen her over at the hotel.”

“She's a traitor, that's who she is,” Bea said. “I saved her from her pious father, and now she's taken up with a preacher.”

“I remember her,” George Gibbons said. “She was with the fellow we threw out of the hotel the other day. That preacher just about ruined our saloon business for the whole night.”

For some odd reason, Lily felt a surge of pride in Elijah. “Mr. Book speaks from the heart.”

“I'd like to punch him in the gut.”

Just give it a try
, Lily thought. Considering Elijah's years on the cattle trail, she had no doubt the preacher could lay this loser out cold. Of course, Elijah had told her he was trying to turn the other cheek.

“Good-bye, Bea,” Lily said, choosing to ignore the man. “Thank you for all you've done for me. I'll never forget you.”

She had turned to go when Beatrice burst through the doorway to embrace her. “Don't leave me, Lily!” the woman cried. “I need you. I've counted on you. You've got to help me with the opera house.”

“Beatrice, please—”

“You can't go with that man. You're all I have. Oh, Lily, you have to sing for me. How can I have an opera house without a singer? You're not really leaving, are you?” Bea pleaded, clasping Lily tightly. “Everything depends on you! You can't take the melodeon. You can't go.”

“Bea, I've made up my mind,” Lily said. “I'm going back to Hope.”

“You're mad! I've offered you twice what that preacher can pay. Why would you turn me down?”

“I need to help the baby.”

“It's not the baby!” Bea's eyes were streaming now, black paint staining her cheeks as her desperation turned to rage. “It's that preacher. He's trapped you with his words. He's snared you in his web of lies.”

“This is my choice, Bea. I want to go back to Hope.”

“No, Lily! You can't. Tell me you won't do this to me.”

“I'm leaving, Bea.”

“I'll tell your father where you are!” Bea burst out. “I'll write to him and tell him you've gone insane. He'll come to Hope and find you. He'll beat you black and blue.”

Lily grasped the porch post beside her. “Beatrice!”

“I will! I'll tell him you ran off with a show man, and I'll tell him everything you've done. We'll see what happens then! You'll pay for this, Lily Nolan.”

“Bea, please don't tell my father where I am.” Lily's lips trembled. “When the time is right, I'm going back to Philadelphia. I'll make peace with him.”

“Not after he knows where you've been, how you've lived, the things you've done! You won't live to see the next day after he catches up with you! I'll tell him everything unless you stay with me. This opera house is all the future I've got, Lily. I won't let you ruin me. I'll make you stay.”

Lily took a step backward. Her plans to return home hinged on her father's ignorance of her past. She could never tell him about the traveling show, about Ted Nolan and Abigail, about the reckless, desperate choices she had made in her life …

“Everything all right here?” Elijah Book stepped onto the porch. “You okay, Mrs. Nolan?”

Lily swung around. “Elijah, I—”

“Don't touch that woman, Preacher,” George Gibbons said, stepping into the doorway. “I've had my fill of trouble from you.”

“I'm not here for trouble. I just want to make sure Mrs. Nolan is treated right.”

“Treated right?” Beatrice exploded. “How are you treating her, Preacher? Have you managed to get her into your bed yet?”

“Beatrice!” Lily clasped the woman's shoulders. “Bea, please don't say such things. Can't we part as friends? Can't you let me go?”

“I'll never let you go, Lily,” Bea snarled. “I made you. I brought you here. I own you.”

“Bea—”

“You watch and see, Lily Nolan. I'll tell your father everything you've done. And I'll build my opera house in Hope.”

“Hope?”

“I'll put my place of business so close to that church, we'll drown out the preacher and shut down his whole operation. Before summer's out, I'll have you singing for me, Lily. You can count on it.”

Lily took a step closer to Elijah. “Bea, what are you saying?”

“I won't let you go, Lily. I have plans, and you're part of them. If you won't help me out of love, you'll do it out of fear.”

“But I do love you—”

“You don't know the first thing about love, Lily. You only know fear. Fear drove you out of your father's house. Fear brought you to the traveling show. Fear made you Ted Nolan's wife. And fear's binding you to that preacher and his baby.”

“I care about Samuel.”

“You're scared he's going to die just like Abigail. That's all you can think about, isn't it? Fear eats you up inside just like a worm in an apple.” Bea set her hands on her hips and stared at Lily. “I can't believe you're so ignorant. Can't you see the preacher's onto you just the way your father was? He's playing your fear, Lily. Well, I can play you, too. I'll make you so frightened, you'll do anything I ask. And I'll start by telling your father where you are.”

“Don't you dare!” Lily cried.

“Listen here, Madam Whoever-you-are,” Elijah said, pointing a finger at Beatrice, “I don't know what kind of hex you're trying to put on Lily, but it isn't going to work. She's a strong woman and a good woman—and what's more, she has a heart. You're not going to scare her into anything, you hear?”

“You shut your trap, Preacher,” George Gibbons said, drawing back his coat to reveal a holstered six-shooter. “Now get back in your wagon and head out.”

“I'll leave when I'm good and ready. And you'd better cool down that itchy finger. I'm a minister of the Lord, and I'm unarmed.”

“As if I care!” Gibbons drew the gun. “Back away nice and slow, Preacher. Bea, grab the singer.”

“No!” Lily cried as Bea reached for her. “I won't stay here. Run, Elijah!”

Gathering up her skirts, she leapt off the porch and landed in a bed of peony bushes. As she tumbled forward, Elijah scooped her up in his arms. As Gibbons fired warning shots into the air, the preacher dashed for the wagon. Lily flung her arms around his neck and buried her head against his chest, tensed for the moment when a lead ball would tear into his back.

“Hunker down, Mother Margaret,” Eli called as he tossed Lily into the wagon bed and clambered onto the seat. “Come on, ol' mule. Let's go, sweetheart.”