The Widow's Secret (Keepers of the Light Book 5)

by Marie Higgins

  Chet nodded. “I’ll have Theo keep watch on your brother.”

  “Do you really think he’s going to escape?”

  Chet arched an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t you try to run, knowing a bounty hunter wanted to haul you to jail?”

  She sighed and frowned. “I suppose.” She placed her hand on his chest. “But is he an outlaw? I mean, is the law looking for him?”

  Chet shrugged. “If he’s robbed people, and even killed a few, I’m sure he’s a wanted man.”

  “Then I suppose you have to do your job.”

  He reached up and cupped her face. “If you want me to wait a little while, I will. I know you two have a lot of catching up to do.”

  Relief rushed through her and she leaned against him. His arm tightened around her waist. “Chet Logan, you are an amazing man. Is it any wonder you make my heart flutter?”

  His grin widened. “I do, huh?”

  Inwardly, she groaned. Didn’t he want her to confess everything? Perhaps she had taken it a bit far by telling him her feelings. Then again, she’d never done this before. Being swept off her feet by an irresistible man was something very new for her.

  “Just a little,” she said with a chuckle.

  “I have to admit,” he said in a soft voice, “that my heartbeat quickens whenever you’re near.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  He bent his head and brushed his lips across hers briefly before pulling away. “Let me see if Theo will watch Bobby so we can talk.”

  “Uh, do you need me to tell him since you don’t sign?”

  “No.” He winked. “Theo is very observant and knows what I need before I even ask.”

  She smiled happily. “Yes, he reads people well.”

  When Chet left, she moved back to the bed and covered Gracie with a blanket. The girl didn’t even stir. Gracie probably hadn’t gotten a good sleep since before her parents died.

  Amelia hurried to the mirror hanging on the wall and checked her hair and pinched her cheeks. As she stared at her reflection, she frowned. She’d lost some weight in her face lately, but she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

  The clicking of the door closing drew her attention to Chet who stood leaning against the door. His gray-eyed gaze met hers, but he wasn’t smiling. It was as if he was trying to read her mind.

  She hesitantly walked toward him. He moved away from the door and met her halfway, taking hold of her hands. Her heartbeat hammered, but it was more from nerves. Although she wanted to tell him everything, she also didn’t want him to judge her.

  “What is it that you want to tell me, my sweet Amelia?”

  She took a deep breath, gaining courage slowly. “I was going to tell you earlier this afternoon when we were by the tree, but your kiss distracted me.”

  One side of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “You don’t say.”

  “Stop teasing.” She chuckled.

  “Forgive me. Please continue.”

  “Well... I want to tell you the truth about me. “

  “I would like that very much.”

  She pulled her hands away from his and walked to the window, glancing outside toward the several people strolling up and down the boardwalk. “When I was nine, my parents left us with the neighbors while they were on a trip. A week later, we were told that the ship had sunk, and they drowned. Bobby, Prudence, and I were sent to the Stone’s orphanage in Nampa, Idaho. Not even a year later, I was told my brother had died from pneumonia and my sister escaped, leaving me by myself.” She took a few deep breaths, trying to control her emotions as she struggled to forget her time in the orphanage. “Life was not easy there, and Mr. and Mrs. Stone beat the children on a regular basis. When I turned eighteen, they convinced me that because I had nowhere to go, I could stay at the orphanage and be the school teacher. I knew that being a teacher would give me the experience needed when I finally left that place.”

  She turned toward him and leaned against the wall. She glanced at Gracie to make sure the girl was still asleep. “About six months ago, I helped the Stones acquire another orphan – a little girl who had recently lost her parents. She was scared and alone, and she clung to me for help. She had nobody to turn to, just like me, and so we bonded quickly.” She glanced at Chet who still watched her with wary eyes. “It was Uncle Theo’s plan to escape. He was free to go into town to get supplies. Slowly, he started storing supplies in the barn for when we would escape.”

  Taking another breath, she moved away from the wall and toward Chet. “I knew I couldn’t leave Gracie alone. I was all she had, and... I love her just as her mother had probably loved her.” Tears burned her eyes. “Which is why I decided to call myself a widow and tell everyone that Gracie was my daughter. We didn’t want people to know we were orphanage runaways.”

  She stopped in front of him, holding her breath. His jaw was tight and there was no semblance of a smile. For several uncomfortable moments, her heartbeat thundered in her ears. If his silence and stern expression was any indication of how upset he was to hear this, she knew her prayers were not going to be answered this time.

  NINE

  Chet stared at the teary-eyed woman as his mind digested what she’d said. She wasn’t a widow... and she hadn’t had a baby. Part of him wanted to get upset because he’d believed her charade and yet, another part of him wanted to applaud her courage to step up to the motherless little girl and become the parent Gracie needed.

  However, there was still a hole in her story. The mayor’s daughter was kidnapped about six months ago. Amelia had even mentioned that she helped the Stones acquire another orphan. To him, that meant she still could have been involved in the kidnapping of the mayor’s daughter.

  During their ride into Spruce Hill, Bobby had made mention a few times that Mr. and Mrs. Stone were the true criminals. Not only did they beat the children, but they used the older children to help them steal. The Stones also lied constantly to the state in order to get more food and pay for each child.

  Chet really wished he had known this sooner about her. Kissing her had been a mistake, but enjoying it was even a bigger mistake. He’d told Bobby he hadn’t planned on breaking Amelia’s heart, but Chet just couldn’t get involved with a woman who could possibly be a criminal – even if all she was doing was helping the true criminals.

  Releasing a gush of air from his mouth, Chet raked his fingers through his hair, pushing the thickness back off his forehead. There was more to this story than Amelia probably even realized, and he hoped she had a good memory because he was going to drill her like a soldier in the army.

  “Amelia, I’m glad you told me the truth about you and Gracie.” He sighed. “However, there is more I need to know.”

  Her forehead crinkled and she shook her head. “But I don’t have any more to tell you.”

  “Between you and your brother, I’m sure we can dig up more dirt on the orphanage.” He took her hand and pulled her to the door, opening it.

  “Where are you taking me?” Her voice tightened.

  “To my room.”

  “What?” She tried to tug her arm out of his hold, but he tightened his grip. “Why are you taking me to your room?”

  Chet opened the door. Both Bobby and Theo’s gazes swung toward them as Chet brought her inside. “Amelia, let Theo know that he needs to watch Gracie because the three of us need to talk.”

  She blinked back tears and she signed something to Theo. The older man glared at Chet before giving a nod and leaving the bedroom. Chet was sure Amelia had told Theo more than he’d asked her to say.

  “What’s this all about?” Bobby asked, sitting up from his bedroll on the floor and leaning his back against the wall.

  “I need to ask you and your sister some questions about Mr. and Mrs. Stone.”

  Bobby glanced at Amelia, frowning. “Why? Hasn’t my sister been through enough already?”

  Amelia moved to the bed and sat on the edge. “Bobby, I think the bounty hunter thinks I�
�m a criminal like you.”

  “Hogwash!” Bobby jumped to his feet, fisting his hands at his sides. “My sister is innocent. She couldn’t hurt a fly.”

  Chet held up both hands, glaring at Bobby. “I haven’t accused your sister of anything, yet. But I still need some answers.” He looked at Amelia. Her face had lost a little color. “Please, just answer me the best you can.”

  “Fine,” she snapped.

  “Your brother had told me once that the owners of the orphanage took the older kids into town to help them with some errands. Did you help them, too?”

  She glanced at Bobby who sat next to her on the bed and held her hand. Bobby gave her an encouraging nod.

  “Yes, I helped them,” she muttered.

  “What exactly did you help them with?” Chet asked.

  Her shoulders sank as she expelled a breath. “Sometimes the Stones would get word of children who were orphaned without any family, and they knew it would be easier for the older children to earn the trust of these poor homeless children.”

  Chet moved to the steel post on the bedframe and leaned against it. “Was this done in Nampa?”

  She shook her head. “We rarely stayed in Nampa. Usually, Mr. Stone was taking us out of the state to pick up children.”

  Chet’s gut twisted. He had a feeling she would tell him what he needed to know. “Where did you pick up Gracie?”

  “Forest Grove, Oregon.”

  Chet scratched his chin. “What was she doing there?”

  “Mrs. Stone told me that she was at a boarding school and that her parents died in a house fire. While the Stones were talking with the headmistress of the school, I was to convince Gracie to come to the wagon with me. Being a teacher, I know how to make children trust me.”

  Chet’s chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe. The mayor told Chet that his daughter was kidnapped while visiting her aunt at a boarding school. “And Gracie went with you to the wagon?”

  Amelia nodded. “When the Stones returned, they broke the bad news to Gracie. I was there to comfort her.” Tears filled her eyes. “Mr. Logan, I didn’t do anything wrong, and I certainly didn’t kidnap the mayor’s daughter.”

  Chet breathed slowly, trying to think of how to tell her that she actually did do something wrong but without knowing about it. “Amelia, did the Stones have proof that her parents were killed in a house fire?”

  A tear slid down Amelia’s cheek, and his heart wrenched. He’d never been in a situation like this before. His heart told him she was not the criminal, and yet... what else could he do if she was the one who did the actual kidnapping?

  “I didn’t see the proof,” she said in a tight voice. “I had learned by then that nobody questions the Stones, especially if you didn’t want to get hit.”

  Inwardly, Chet groaned. How could he blame her for what she’d done? It wasn’t her fault at all. He had to keep reminding himself that she was not the criminal – no matter how things looked.

  He gently touched her shoulder. “I believe,” he said slowly, not wanting to upset her even though he knew the news would kill her, “that the Stones were having you and the others, kidnap children just so the state would pay them a bigger allowance for each child.”

  Her eyes widened and tears finished filling her eyes. “I... kidnapped Gracie?”

  He nodded. “I honestly think that’s what happened.”

  “No!” She pushed him aside and darted for the door.

  He grasped her arm, but she yanked it free as she finished leaving his room. Instead of going to her room, she flew down the stairs. He was right behind her every step of the way. He followed her until she exited the hotel and hurried around back toward the wagon. The cries coming from her nearly brought him to his knees. He couldn’t hear any more of her misery without wanting to wrap her in his arms and comfort her.

  Amelia didn’t stop until she reached her horse. She pressed her face against the animal’s neck and sobbed fitfully.

  Chet moved behind her, taking her in his arms. She tried slapping him away, but he wouldn’t let go as he guided her to his chest and pressed her cheek against him. Her body shook terribly, and her tears began soaking through the material of his shirt. He didn’t care. He needed to let her know he was going to help her. This wasn’t her fault at all.

  “Shhh,” he whispered and stroked her hair. The longer she cried, the more his throat tightened. His heart was breaking along with hers. “Please don’t cry.” He kissed the top of her head. “You didn’t know how evil the Stones were. It’s not your fault.”

  She hitched a breath, tilting her head back to look up at him. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was moist from her tears.

  “It is my fault... and you know it.”

  He caressed her wet cheek. “You’re not the criminal, Amelia. The owners of the orphanage are the ones at fault.”

  “But I still kidnapped a child. Her parents are probably sick with worry.” She sniffed. “And if you have to arrest me, I’ll go willingly. But before that happens, I want Gracie to be returned to her family so that she can be happy.”

  “I’m not going to arrest you.” He kissed her forehead. “But the two of us can definitely take Gracie back to her family.”

  Her eyes widened. “But the mayor thinks I did it. He probably talked to someone at the boarding school and discovered I was the one who took Gracie.”

  “I will talk to Mayor Tidwell and let him know you were being forced to do the kidnapping for Mr. Stone.”

  Her breathing slowed as she inhaled deeply. “I would do anything to make Gracie happy. She shouldn’t have to suffer as I have for all these years.”

  “And she won’t. You did the right thing by taking her away from the orphanage.”

  Amelia’s gaze wouldn’t leave his face, and he could tell she was trying to study him to see what he was feeling. Unfortunately, he wished he knew. He was still so very confused about his feelings. However, he did know one thing – she was not a bad person. He needed to make sure nothing happened to her since none of this was her fault.

  “Chet?” she asked in a steady tone. “I remember talking to Gracie about her family. Not once did she talk about her father, and she’d mentioned her mother cleaned rooms at the boarding school.” Her gaze narrowed. “Are you sure Gracie is the mayor’s daughter?”

  His thoughts skidded to a halt. This case had confused him since the moment he set eyes on the lovely Amelia. He’d questioned many things over the past few days, but... why would the mayor lie to him? And if the man had, why had he lied?

  TEN

  Amelia’s heart hammered in her chest as her mind began to clear. The knowledge that she’d actually helped the Stones kidnap children made her want to scream at the top of her voice and then cry herself to sleep. Yet, as she thought about Gracie and some of the conversations they’d had, something was not right.

  Chet shrugged. “The mayor said his daughter’s name was Georgia. I just assumed the Stones gave her a new name.”

  Amelia wiped her eyes, recalling that moment she had gone into the yard of the boarding house to talk to Gracie. The cute little five-year-old had been sitting on the back step, playing with a doll. The older girls in school were inside in their classes.

  “When I saw Gracie, I introduced myself to her. I asked her questions about her doll and about her friends at the school. Then I asked her if she was hungry because I knew a great shop that made cinnamon sticky buns. She jumped up and grabbed my hand, looking at me with so much trust in her eyes.” Amelia cleared her throat. “When we walked down the street to the store, I’d called her Gracie. She didn’t correct me.” She touched a hand to his chest. “Chet, if her name wasn’t Gracie, why would she let me call her that?”

  “Had you already told her about her parents?”

  Amelia shook her head. “It wasn’t until we were in the wagon with Mr. and Mrs. Stone, and they were the ones who told Gracie about her parents dying.”

  Chet blew
out a frustrated breath and pushed his fingers through his hair. “Oh, Amelia. I’m so confused. I don’t know why the mayor would lie to me.” He motioned his hand toward the hotel. “The mayor described his daughter to me, and Gracie fits that description, and then he had your name as the woman who’d taken her.”

  “I think,” she said slowly as her mind tried to piece things together, “that we need to talk to Gracie herself. If she had a father, she would tell us.” She paused as another idea hit her. “Did the mayor’s wife work as a maid or in a hotel cleaning rooms?”

  “No. The mayor was wealthy. His wife stayed home with their three children.”

  Amelia nodded. “There’s another question we can ask Gracie – if she had brothers or sisters.”

  “Yes, that’s a good idea.” He grasped her shoulders gently. “Amelia, I promise we’ll figure this out. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Tears threatened her eyes again, and she blinked to stop them. Chet’s heartfelt promise was genuine, and it relieved her that he didn’t want to arrest her. “Thank you. I’m glad you believe me.”

  He cupped the side of her face as the pad of his thumb dried her moist skin. “Please forgive me for making you cry. When your brother told me what the Stones tried to make him do – and he saw them do that with the other older children – I’d wondered if they had forced you to do that as well.”

  “Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are not very good people at all. In fact... as much as this might make me sound bad, I now wish I had been the one to kill Mr. Stone for everything he’d done to me.”

  “No.” He loosely circled his arms around her waist. “Although you’re very upset right now, you don’t have the heart to murder someone.”

  “You’re right,” she whispered brokenly. “But in my mind, I’m torturing him and his wife over and over again.”

  Chet chuckled. “And I’m right beside you doing it.”

  She pulled away and wiped her eyes again. She glanced out of the barn. From where they stood, not many people passing by would have seen them, which was good. Being new in town, she didn’t need to give people a reason to gossip. “I suppose we should go back.”