Mercy's Promise (The Promise Series Book 1)

by Lynn Landes

  “Yes, Mama. Can I go play now?”

  “Of course,” she laughs and gives thanks for the quick healing she sees in her daughter.

  After she brushes her hair, she pulls the sides up, leaving the rest down, pulling a few curls to the front to cover her neck. Her heart pounds and her body reacts when she thinks of Glenn's hands and mouth on her. It is clear to her that he has no memory of the other night and thankfully she doesn't have to talk about it with him.

  Nervous energy has her chewing her bottom lip. Dayton made it obvious he was interested in her. Anika never dreamed she would consider marrying a stranger, but he seemed kind and was amazing with Delaney. Her heart calls her a liar and her body agrees. “I am thinking only of Delaney and our future.” She opens the drawer by her bed and finds the unsent letter. It is for an advertisement for a wet nurse. With the wages they are offering it will not be hard to find a new post. Picking it up her hands tremble. A dog barks excitedly, causing her to jump and drop it back in the drawer. Wagons pull in with women and men loaded, children laughing and waving, and excitement builds. Today will be about making happy memories she promises herself as she heads outside.

  Chapter 17

  Dr. Parker and his wife Clara arrive with Mrs. Flannagan and some of the other women from the church, followed by multiple wagons. Each of the families brings a covered dish and soon the barn is humming with laughter. The men go to meet the new pony, Starlight and work with the horses. Glenn promises to return for food around lunchtime.

  Martha Darlington arrives in Rhemi's prize carriage with her mother, and they offer special mason jars tied with festive ribbons. “Mrs. Ward, I hope you don't mind, but Mother and I brought these just for this occasion. To celebrate our first annual Quilting Bee for the Orphanage. I thought we could share some of that famous cider and toast to new beginnings.”

  Daisy smiles, “That’s so thoughtful of you. Is Rhemi coming?”

  “He couldn't make it. Unfortunately, he was called out of town on business, but he left us in charge of the carriage.”

  “That’s nice of him. Please come inside, I’ll just take those to the kitchen.”

  “Nonsense, you stay and welcome your guests, two more wagons have just arrived. Point me in the direction I need to go.” Daisy smiles and instructs her where the galley kitchen is and hurries to welcome the new arrivals. Anika watches from her seat. Already the women have begun to put together the quilts, and with so many talented quilters they will have amazing results. Each seating section is set up in stations. One part is where the squares are sewn together, another is for batting, whether that be newspapers or old clothes, and the last is where they are sewn together.

  Daisy is quick to motion for Savannah and Anika to join her in greeting the families and welcoming their guests. Delaney plays with new friends and chases the dogs, causing everyone to laugh. Mrs. Henriette brings the twins to Anika with Savannah's help, and the women gather to play with them. They are passed around until Quinton decides he's had enough. His cry calls to Anika and she hands Allen over to his grandmother, and he quickly settles against her throat and hides his face in her hair.

  “I don’t know how you’re managing two of them at the same time. I’m worn out with just the one,” Natalie, a young mother says.

  “They are good, as long as their bellies are full,” she smiles when his hand pulls a fistful of her hair.

  “Just like any man,” Mrs. Flannagan calls out with a laugh.

  “I should help Mrs. Henrietta get them to sleep, excuse me.”

  Anika returns forty-five minutes later and joins Clara at the sewing table. The women laugh and welcome her back.

  “I’d forgotten how it feels to be part of a community,” Anika murmurs as she listens to the women laughing, teasing and talking about their lives.

  Martha watches with narrowed eyes as Anika smiles and greets people like a lady of the manor. Gritting her teeth, she slips away into the kitchen. “Shoo, filthy beast,” Martha kicks at the cat, who continues to ignore her and clean its paw. With a glance around the galley kitchen in the barn, Martha rushes to the counter where the large pot of apple cider is cooling.

  “Yes,” she uncorks a bottle with a pop and prepares to drop two caps full into the pot as the nasty old man had instructed earlier.

  ‘This is potent, only a few capfuls for an entire pot. Do you ken what I’m saying? The longer it sits, the stronger it will become, and this has been sitting for two weeks.' Old man Sutton grins at her and spits his chew into a pot while Martha struggles not to gag.

  ‘Yes, I understand, now give it to me.’ She presses the coins into his hand, surprised when he grasps her hand tightly.

  ‘Listen closely, girlie, this shine is potent, like poison if used in the wrong way?’ Martha jerks her hand away in revulsion and snaps at him.

  ‘I won't, and you speak of this to no one, or my Father will be persuaded not to look the other way regarding your… establishment.”

  Moonshine is a serious business. The liquor business is full of bootleggers and criminals, just the sort she shouldn’t have dealings with. His eyes darken, and he grins, revealing his blackened and missing teeth. ‘You shouldn’t threaten a man’s livelihood, Miss Martha.’

  ‘True, and you shouldn’t threaten a woman in love.’ She tosses him another coin and grabs an extra bottle to hide in Anika’s room. Dark, greedy eyes stare at the coin and at her as she storms back to her fancy carriage and wonders what poor sob got stuck with her. He follows and steps out onto his porch in the mountains and glares at the young man who helps her back into the carriage.

  ‘Get me out of here, Rhemi.’

  ‘My pleasure, cousin.’ He gives a quick salute and jumps inside the carriage.

  ‘Did you get it?’ he asks staring at the bottle in her hand.

  ‘Of course,” she laughs, ‘now we will both get what we want. Glenn will never look at her the same way again.’

  ‘I will be glad to look at her,’ she will pay for embarrassing him. ‘I will get my carriage ride, one way or another. It took days to get the smell of old ladies out of it. I’m only sorry I have to leave on business, but she should be good and desperate when I return.’

  The cat rubs against her leg jerking her from her reverie and reminding her why she’s here. Quickly, she pours splashes of pure moonshine into one of her special jars followed by cider. “One extra splash, for good luck.” When this hits her, they will never trust Anika again, she thinks with a grin. She covers the jar with a cloth and sets it up on the top shelf, pushing it back so no one will see it. “I’ll give this one to her myself.”

  Voices and boots are her only warning. Martha shoves the cork haphazardly on the bottle before pushing it up on the wooden shelf above the pot. She rushes from the kitchen, just missing Spot, the family dog.

  He runs into the kitchen with a large bark, causing the cat to screech and leap away. Seeking higher ground, she jumps onto the wooden shelves above the pot and knocks the bottle over, pouring the full contents of the container into the cooling liquid below. The dog grabs the cork and runs from the room, chewing on his prize as the cat leaps down.

  Two hours into sewing Daisy signals it’s time for a break and drinks. “Ladies, I shall return with cider, but this year’s brew is made by Ms. Coltrane and if your nice enough she may give you the recipe.” The ladies laugh.

  Martha jumps up, “Let me help.” Anika watches with a frown but is distracted with Delaney as she asks if they can go play at the house.

  Martha is quick to make it to the kitchen before Daisy and begins to ladle to cider into each jar being sure to place Anika’s in the back of the serving tray.

  “My goodness, Martha, you’re fast. Thank you for your help.”

  “Of course, Daisy. I'm not much of a cook, but I'm glad to help in any way I can. You fill them up, and I'll start serving.” Martha leaves and begins handing out cup after cup to the twenty women, young and old. Some refuse the brew, but Marth
a is insistent that this is for the community. “Just one drink in honor of this day. Lest we forget how fortunate we’ve been and just how important this task that Ms. Coltrane has given us.”

  Once Daisy finishes handing out the glasses, Martha sighs with relief.

  “Proverbs 19:17 says, ‘Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed,” Clara says. ‘Father in heaven we ask that bless this day so that we may do your work. Amen.”

  “Amen,” the women chorus.

  “Cheers,” Martha says, encouraging everyone to drink.

  All the women are soon sipping away and munching happily. Lunch is served, and Anika is aware the moment Glenn enters.

  Flushed from the heat, she happily fills plates for the men who move down the line and smiles at Glenn as she hands one to him.

  “Are you having a good time, Ms. Coltrane?” He asks as she hands him a plate and sips on her second cup of cider.

  “Oh, my yes.”

  Glenn can't help but notice the blush on her cheeks and the way she smiles at him has his mouth watering, though, not for the food. “You're holding up the line, Son.” Allen teases and nudges him. The plates are filled with fried chicken, biscuits, and pickled beans.

  Martha glares from her seat and makes her decision. Perhaps it wasn’t enough? She slips back into the kitchen, finding to her surprise the bottle is no longer where she left it. The old bootlegger obviously didn’t know what he was talking about. Even if it is found no one will know it was hers.

  “If three pours did nothing, but make her giggle, then let's see her handle a full bottle.” She pulls the bottle from her bodice, removing the cork, only to jump at Savannah's voice outside, coming closer. Panicked she dumps the whole bottle into the pot. She quickly shoves the cork on and stashes it back in her bodice.

  “Are you lost, Martha? Or just looking for some unsuspecting man to ensnare?”

  Martha laughs and grabs a spoon to stir, just as Savannah walks up behind her.

  “Daisy asked me to grab a tray of cookies. Men have large appetites, at least your old fiancé did if I remember correctly.” She pushes past Savannah with a laugh and carries the cookies straight to Glenn standing next to Anika’s chair.

  “I heard you liked sweets, Mr. Ward. “Perhaps you'd like to try one of these?” Her dress is cut to draw attention to her body. Any other man would have jumped at the opportunity.

  Glenn looks at her and wonders at her audacity. For one so beautiful, she comes off as desperate. His stomach drops at her insinuation. He steps back and tips his hat.

  “No, thank you. We are just returning to work on the fence, and my appetite is quenched.” He turns and marches outside.

  “I bet it is,” Martha hisses glaring at Anika before she stomps to the table and slams the tray down.

  Anika watches Glenn leave, barely aware of Martha, she shakes her head feeling slightly dizzy. “I think I need to eat something,” she grabs a plate and loads it with food and quickly finds a chair near the door. “So hot,” she murmurs as she nibbles on a piece of chicken.

  Martha glances around the barn at the women fanning themselves and panic starts to set in. This was only supposed to get Anika drunk, not all the women from the church.

  Her mother walks over to Martha and whispers, “Do something!”

  “We need to go now. I did something stupid,” Martha hisses and whispers in her ear explaining about the bottle.

  “They all think they are better than us. What will happen when Glenn returns, and you are the only sober one left,” her Mother cackles.

  Martha’s eyes fly open wide, “Mother, you’re a genius!”

  “Of course. I think it's too cold, Martha. Get them hotter, and they will drink more,” she suggests.

  Martha smiles and turns on her heel to follow one of the stable hands outside. “Excuse me, you look like just the sort I need. I mean with all your muscles,” her hand covers her mouth in a pretend blush, “It’s just that the women are cold, and we were wondering if you could add more logs to the stove.”

  “Of course,” he slides his sweat-stained hat back and grins at her. “Anything for such a pretty lady.”

  Martha giggles and hurries back inside, to wait. “It will take about an hour for it to warm up in here, keep filling their cups, mother.”

  “Do we have a count on the number of quilts?” Savannah asks Daisy.

  “I’ll ask Anika.” Daisy looks around and finds her attempting to sew a panel.

  “Blast it!” Anika hisses as she misses and pokes herself again.

  “Perhaps you should take a break, Anika.” Mrs. Flannagan says with a laugh.

  “Would you mind getting a count of the finished quilt, Anika?” Daisy asks.

  Anika sighs and wipes at her brow before standing up. Swaying on her feet, she grabs onto Daisy. “Is the floor moving?” All sound ceases as the blood rushes to her ears. Three women jump up to help.

  Martha hurries to help, “Here drink this. It’s hot in here.” Pressing a cup of cider into her hand.

  One-woman fans her as Anika sips at the drink. “Perhaps I should’ve eaten my lunch. Thank you, ladies, I’ll be fine.”

  Daisy returns with a plate of food. “Here, eat something. Clara and I will count.”

  “You remind me of my Mother. I miss her,” she smiles at Daisy. “Glenn is lucky to have you.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart, now eat,” she laughs and points at the plate.

  “Yes, Ma’am.” The food fills her belly, but she still feels strange.

  Soon the barn is warm enough to dry meat and Martha makes the rounds with multiple glasses of cider on a tray.

  “My, but it’s hot in here,” Clara mumbles and tugs at the collar of her dress a half hour later.

  “I thought it was me,” Anika says as Martha offers a fourth glass of cider. “I really shouldn’t, but it is so hot.”

  “I could open a door if you wish?” Martha offers while she refills glasses.

  “Martha, you’re so right, we should open the doors.” Clara declares with a giggle as she fans herself.

  Daisy burps and all the women laugh in shock, “Oh, my goodness.”

  “I’m dizzy,” another woman murmurs and Martha smile widens as she eyes her Mother.

  “I want to dance,” a young girl declares and jumps up to find her friend.

  “We need music,” another shouts.

  “Let’s sing.” Three of the youngest start to sing.

  “I can play the fiddle,” Anika murmurs and soon someone is pressing one into her hands.

  Clara laughs and spins on the floor, pulling Daisy and some of the older women with them.

  Delighted, Martha laughs as she watches the scene unfold.

  “What’s that noise?” Allen says puffing on his pipe.

  “Sounds like… music?” Dr. Parker states.

  “More like someone killing an instrument,” Glenn mutters, and they start walking towards the barn. The closer they get, the louder it grows, and they begin to move faster. They open the doors to the barn, and all the men stand, staring, with their mouths open in stunned, fascination. Heat rolls out in waves followed by flushed, giggling, women. Some laughing, while others spin and sway, all move like a wave towards them.

  “What the--?” Dr. Parker watches Clara with a grin of surprise.

  “Josiah! I've been waiting for you.” She grabs him and whispers in his ear as she pulls him to the floor.

  “Clara Parker!” He shouts in laughter at her lewd suggestion.

  Martha frowns as she watches from the corner. Allen laughs as Daisy picks up a harmonica and tries to play. Glenn covers his mouth with a grin when he realizes the noise was Anika trying to play to the fiddle.

  “Why won’t it work?” she mumbles and tries again, sawing at the strings.

  Martha tries to intercept him as he makes his way to Anika, but she is stopped by two girls dragging her to the floor to dance. “Let go of me, you fools!�
� She hisses, but they just laugh and imitate her.

  “Let go of me you fools,” one of them slurs.

  Anika saws at the strings, stopping to frown, “I think it’s broken.”

  “It works better when you hold it the right way,” Glenn flips the violin over and hands it back to her.

  “I knew that,” she frowns at him.

  “Looks like they started without us,” one man says.

  “Can’t have that,” another laughs and rushes to get his instruments. One has a banjo, another a harmonica and Anika has the fiddle.

  The moment they start playing Anika smiles, “Oh, I remember.” She jumps up, swaying on her feet and waits for the room to stop spinning before moving towards the men. Anika doesn't wait for a break in the music, she jumps in. Everyone stops moving, and then a roar of approval sounds out from the men.

  Glenn watches in awe as she plays and holds her own with the men.

  “Glenn! I've been waiting for you,” Martha rushes up at him and smiles, “Can you believe this behavior? It was Anika,” she starts to say, but he turns away.

  Glenn barely takes his eyes off Anika and smiles when she hands the fiddle to another man and takes a break.

  “Excuse me,” Glenn murmurs, completely ignoring Martha, and follows Anika.

  “Anika?” he calls out.

  She spins with a grin and snaps, “Where have you been? I want to dance.”

  “Well, lead the way, my lady,” he says pulling her into his arms.

  “I love to dance,” she says spinning in his arms, and he laughs.

  “I think the floor is moving,” she says happily leaning against him.

  “What have you been drinking?” he laughs.

  “Only Apple Cider, it’s my special recipe.”

  “I bet it is.” Glancing around Glenn can't help but stare at the sight before him.

  Anika stops and frowns up at him, “Glenn?”

  “Yes, love?”

  “You have way too many clothes on. It’s hot.”

  Glenn throws his head back and roars with laughter. “It's not funny, I can't breathe.” She pulls at his shirt to untuck it, and he grabs her hands.