Mercy's Promise (The Promise Series Book 1)

by Lynn Landes

  “Thank you. We have good friends here, but I do miss home.”

  “Perhaps you could visit sometime for a race, I mean all of you, of course,” he quickly corrects himself.

  “Oh, I don’t know,”

  Savannah interrupts her, “I don’t know if you know it or not Dayton, but our winters are intense. It makes travel almost impossible.”

  “Of course, the races are not until spring,” he responds looking to Anika to answer.

  “I should go check on Delaney,” Anika starts to say, but once again Savannah interrupts.

  “I will go help her saddle up,” Savannah turns and leaves without waiting for a response.

  Anika almost snaps at her but holds her tongue.

  “Forgive me if I'm being to forward, Anika. I understand if you aren't interested in seeing a race.” He looks away, disappointed but understanding that it is an awkward position to be in. What doesn't make sense to him is why the Attorney General's daughter has to work as a nanny to survive.

  “How did the daughter of the Attorney General end up as a nanny? Didn’t he leave you an inheritance?”

  Anika stares at him in shock. “That’s none of your business, Dayton.”

  “I'm sorry, I spoke too quickly. I was surprised, forgive me.”

  Anika stares at him and avoids his hand when he reaches for her. He’s handsome, kind, well off, possibly attracted to her. It is only fair that she be honest with him. “Of course, Dayton. It’s a long story and to be honest, we were not speaking when they passed.”

  “I see. I hope you don’t hold my big mouth against me and will consider coming to Virginia.”

  “To be completely honest with you Dayton, I'm in no position for a suitor as I'm under contract for two years for this family. If they chose to come to see a race, I would love to visit.”

  He smiles revealing a dimple in one cheek, and she is surprised to find that she likes him. “I guess I will just have to work extra hard to make sure you all come visit in the spring. Until then, could I write to you?”

  “Why?” Anika asks.

  Dayton laughs, “I like you. I see a beautiful, mature woman, with similar interests and I’d like to get to know you better. Is that so wrong?”

  Anika blushes and looks at him, “Dayton, surely you have a string of young women beating down your door. I ... I’m not looking for another husband.”

  “What about a friend?” He asks turning his hat in his hand. Her relief is instant, and her smile quickly follows.

  “A friend would be nice.”

  The rest of the afternoon passes in excitement. Dayton is thrilled with the way Starlight performs and leaves promising to return in a few months to see how she’s progressing. Anika waves as he rides off and turns to Savannah with narrowed eyes.

  “What was that?” she snaps.

  Savannah shrugs her shoulders, “He only had eyes for you, besides he’s handsome, rich and very kind. You could do worse.”

  Anika stomps up the porch steps, “I’m in no position to leave the boys, Savannah.”

  “True, but a real man would be willing to wait.”

  “It’s not him, Savannah,” Anika whispers, stopping in the hallway upstairs.

  Savannah sighs and hugs her. “I know, but a girl can never have too many friends. Besides a spring race would be fun to go to.”

  “That’s true.”

  “We would need new dresses for the races. Mrs. Flannagan will be thrilled,” Anika teases.

  “True, there is that to look forward to.”

  “Until spring, then” Savannah teases.

  Glenn works until the sun sets on the fence. His feelings for Anika grow stronger with each passing day. He's just not sure what to do about it. She deserves someone clean, and his soul is tainted with the blood of the dead. They haunt him day and night. If only the nightmares would let up. When he returns to the barn, he joins some of the farm hands in a drink. Whiskey is passed around, and they laugh, smoke and drink until they run out. Then someone brings out a bottle of shine. It is well past two a.m. when he returns to the house. He stumbles upstairs, heading for his room when Anika hears him. She steps out of the boy's room, and Glenn stares at her in wonder. She's a vision in a blue satin wrapper, and his mouth goes dry.

  “Oh, I just put the boys down,” she whispers and tries to step around him, but Glenn blocks her path.

  “Did you wear that for him,” he slurs.

  “That’s a disgusting thing to say.” Anika glares at him only to smell the sickening scent of whiskey on his breath. “You’re drunk, Glenn, go to bed.” She tries to step around him only to hiss in shock when his arm shoots up blocking her path.

  “I’m sorry, that was mean.” Glenn lifts a hand and trails his finger through her hair, which is tumbling down her shoulders.

  “Yes, it was,” she says breathlessly. Once again, she tries to step around him, but Glenn isn’t ready to let her go just yet.

  “Are you my new nightmare?” He leans down brushing her hair away from her shoulder and inhales her scent, trailing his hot mouth over her collar bone.

  The combination of his whiskers and mouth has chills erupting all over her body. “Glenn?” she gasps and backs up into the hallway wall.

  “I’ve dreamt of you, touching you,” he nips at her shoulder causing her to gasp, and she stifles a moan when she feels the sting of his teeth, followed by moist hot heat. Glenn sucks her throat marking her and Anika’s knees go weak with pleasure.

  “Dreamt of loving you,” his tongue trails up her neck to her ear lobe, “making you mine,” he sucks her lobe into his hot mouth, and she fists a hand in his hair, jerking his head back.

  “Glenn,” she hisses but passion and whiskey cloud his mind. “You don't know what you're saying,” she starts to say, but he claims her mouth, pushing her back against the wall.

  ‘Oh, God,’ she thinks, but her mind is just as clouded as his. He savages her mouth sucking, tasting, savoring her and she gives as well as she takes. His hand goes to the belt of her wrapper, and he starts to fumble with it. Glenn groans and goes still before his full weight slumps against her shoving her back against the wall. He groans again and falls to his knees.

  Anika watches in horror as he passes out and slumps over against the wall. She pushes him over to his side and checks to make sure he’s breathing. He’s way too large for her to move on her own.

  She straightens her gown and rushes down the hall to Savannah’s room and knocks. “Savanah, I need some help please.” Anika hears her jump out of bed and the sound of footsteps.

  “What's wrong?” Her red hair is a mess, and she is holding her housecoat in front of her.

  “It’s Glenn,” she points down the hall and Savannah almost shouts when she sees him on the floor.

  “What happened?” Savannah demands as she jerks on her wrapper and rushes with Anika to his side.

  “He’s drunk, and I can’t move him on my own.” Savannah’s shock is quickly followed by fury.

  “Leave him,” she turns to leave, but Anika stops her.

  “Please, Delaney can’t see this again,” her voice breaks causing Savannah to stop.

  “I'm sorry, I didn't think. Try to wake him. I'll be right back,” Savannah rushes away as Anika turns to close the bedroom door, so Delaney doesn't hear them.

  She returns to his side and bends down, brushing the hair away from his forehead.

  “Glenn, wake up.” He mutters under his breath and swats at her hand. Savannah returns with a glass of water from her room. “I can’t wake him.”

  “Move out of the way,” Savannah orders and waits for her to stand back before tossing the full glass in his face.

  Glenn doesn’t move except to wipe a hand over his face. “Need some help, ladies?” A deep voice asks from behind them.

  “Dad,” Savannah slaps a hand over her mouth. “We were trying not to wake you,” Savannah exclaims.

  “I see that,” he walks over to look down at Glenn an
d snaps, “this is getting ridiculous.” He kicks his foot and gets no response. “That’s moonshine for you, he will be in a bad way tomorrow. No one is to baby him.” He glares at both until they agree.

  “What do we do now?” Anika asks.

  “You both go back to bed, I’ll take care of this.”

  Anika wonders back to her room, slowly and glances back as Allen drags Glenn to his room.

  She can’t blame Glenn this time. The truth is that she wants him, and the desire is only growing stronger. “What am I going to do?” Her savings is growing, but she doesn’t have enough to buy her own place and the boys are not old enough to be weaned. Delaney will not be raised with another man who drinks.

  “Tomorrow, I will have to start looking for a job,” she mutters bitterly.

  Chapter 15

  Glenn prays for death a few hours later, while his body rids itself of the toxic after effects.

  Anika hears his suffering and even angry with him, her heart can't help but wish she could ease his misery. Bouncing Quinton on her shoulder, she listens as he coughs and gets sick through the wall of the nursery. When she steps toward the door, Savannah snaps at her, “Don't even think about it.”

  “I just want to take him some water,” Anika bites back at her.

  “He has water; besides I don’t think he’d want you to see him like this.” Savannah looks at her and whispers, “I’m going to take Delaney to visit Clara in town, she has been collecting sewing squares from everyone in town and passing out flyers regarding the Quilting Bee next week. Dad is going with me, but Mom is staying with you. Don’t baby him, Anika. This has to stop.”

  “I know.”

  Just before she reaches the door, she turns back to Anika, “You may want to wear your hair down for a little while. You have a mark,” she points to her collar bone.

  Anika blushes, and her hand flies up to cover it.

  “Do you need to talk about anything else?” Savannah asks gently.

  “No, I, uh, we…” she glances at Savannah who starts laughing.

  “That's what I thought. Don't judge Glenn too harshly, Anika. Give him a chance to prove he's a good man. I imagine he'll be mortified when he remembers all of this.”

  “If he remembers it,” she murmurs. Memories flash, of Saul stumbling, hands fumbling, followed by pain. Anika takes a shaky breath and wipes at her eyes.

  “He can be better than this, Give him a chance. We’ll be back.”

  She doesn’t respond as Savannah leaves.

  Anika lays Quinton down and pats him while Allen coos at her. “Who's a good baby, yes you are.”

  Daisy walks in and smiles down at the boys. “They’re growing so quickly. I can’t believe they three months old. If only we could freeze time and keep them safe.”

  Anika hugs her, knowing she is speaking of Glenn. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but Glenn will get through this. He has an amazing family.”

  “How did you survive it, Anika. So much loss?”

  “I had no one to fall back on, and that would leave Delaney alone in this world. I turned to my Heavenly Father to guide me, and Glenn has you. This family is his safe place, he'll come around soon enough.”

  “I pray you’re right. In the meantime, we should start planning the food for the Quilting Bee. Its only two days from now and we’re going to have a big turnout.”

  “I can’t wait to see the children’s faces when they realize that people do care. The community cares.”

  Chapter 16

  “Mama, why are we sewing Bee's?” Delaney asks while helping stack squares of material that Mrs. Flanagan had sent over earlier in the week.

  Daisy laughs and hugs her close while Anika stops and stares at them with a smile.

  “No, sweetie, it’s just an expression. We are going to work like Bees in a group to accomplish one goal.”

  “Exactly, and when the sun sets, we’re going to have a party, with music, food, and dancing!” Savannah sings.

  “I love parties!” Delaney spins in a circle before stopping. “Will we have cake?”

  “Of course, and I made your favorite, apple cake.” Anika teases.

  “I can’t wait for the party, but I don’t like to sew.” Delaney frowns at the stacks of material that are piled on two tables in the barn.

  Savannah picks her up, “We shall suffer through it together dearest, then we shall party until the sun rises!” The women laugh at Savannah’s dramatic tone and Delaney squeals with laughter.

  A dog runs through the barn crashing into one of the tables as he chases the cat.

  “Allen Wade!” Daisy yells for her husband and sets off after the animals while Anika and Savannah rush to straighten the table.

  “I’ll help,” Delaney chases after them leaving the barn almost ready.

  “How many quilts do you think we can get done,” Savannah asks Anika.

  “I’m not sure. Each one is two by four feet long. It will go much quicker with so many hands. I’m hoping for quite a good turn out, but I don’t know how many will show up.”

  “I think you will be surprised. They’re all curious about you and any reason to get together and share food usually brings a crowd.”

  “That reminds me, I've got to get the apple cider off the fire, so it can start cooling, I've never made such a huge batch before.” Anika rushes out of the central bay of the barn and into a small galley kitchen in the back. It's a simple mudroom slash kitchen for the workers. A black cast iron stove sits in the corner with a cabinet beside it. Above the cabinet are a set of wooden shelves, with spices on them. The massive black pot is at a rapid boil, filling the kitchen with smells of fall. From cinnamon and nutmeg to ginger, and all of them are boiling with apple slices and peels. She hurries to stir it.

  “Mmm, smells like heaven in here,” Glenn says from behind her.

  Anika’s heart leaps at the sound of his voice. She managed to avoid him for a few days, attempting to let her anger cool. When she struggles to move the pot, he quickly offers to help and grabs it for her.

  “Let me.” Glen slides the pot to the countertop where it can cool. The oven will remain warm to help heat the barn.

  “Thank you,” she murmurs. “It will have to cool for a few hours, but it should be ready just in time for the festivities, excuse me,” Anika avoids looking at him and tries to step around him, but he stops her with a hand to her arm.

  “You and I need to talk soon,” he says softly. “I don’t remember much of the other night and what I do remember is a blur, if I did anything that made you feel threatened, I would never forgive myself.

  “No, of course not,” she pulls away from his touch and puts distance between them. She blushes and wishes it were that easy for her to forget. “Think nothing of it.”

  “I would feel better if you were angry, not this distant, cold, disappointment I get every time I look at you.” Glenn runs a hand through his hair and steps toward her, causing her to back away.

  Anger, rushes through her, hard and fast until she is trembling with the need to lash out at him. “God, that it was as easy for me.” She stomps towards him, flushed with fury and shoves him back away from her, “If I could, I would box your ears! Now is not the time for this discussion.”

  Shocked, he stares at her and guilt rides him hard. “Then what? You have avoided me for two days.”

  “Glenn, it isn’t my safety I worry about, but my daughter. If Delaney had seen you like that,” her voices goes hoarse and falls silent. She straightens her shoulders and meets his eyes. “I promised myself she would never be in that situation again, and you made me break that promise.” Fury has her blushing, “I will do the job you hired me to do, but I can’t... just leave me be.” She storms from the kitchen bumping Savannah on the way out, almost causing her to drop the linens she has brought.

  “I’m sorry,” she calls as she passes her. Savannah sighs and watches her go before turning to him.

  “You need to give her some space. Af
ter the way you treated her, I’m surprised she’s still here,” Savannah says and places the cloth down on the counter next to the pot. Picking up the large spoon, she mixes the apple cider while she waits for her words to sink in.

  “The way I treated her?” Glenn tries desperately to remember, but the combination of moonshine and whiskey did a number on his memory.

  Savannah taps the pot and places the spoon down on a plate before turning on him. “When she came to my door, she was looking a little… flustered Glenn. With swollen red lips and messed up hair, not to mention the bruise on her neck.”

  “No,” horror fills his eyes, and he steps to the door to watch Anika laugh at something Delaney says. “I wasn't myself, surely she would have said something if I …” he drops his head and turns back to his sister.

  “Glenn, what’s happening to you?”

  “It’s the nightmares.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “I don’t sleep, and whiskey helps. They used to be of the war, now they are of Sue.”

  Haunted eyes meet hers, and she almost weeps for the pain she sees.

  “I drank too much, and you know the rest.”

  “I see. After the bake sale, you were supposed to come to the homestead. Perhaps tomorrow we could try again.”

  “That’s it? No yelling, or berating me?”

  “No. You're doing enough of that for the both of us. You need to apologize to Anika.” She turns and stops at the door, “I'd do it soon. Dayton made it clear he was interested in her and I found her writing a letter today, and she was crying. I'd wager she's planning on leaving us.”

  Glenn’s heart almost stops as his eyes harden at the thought of her leaving. “That’s not gonna happen.”

  Anika watches Glenn leave and returns to the house to change into a new violet dress with dark purple trim and high collar. “Let’s have fun today, okay, Delaney.”