Meg almost passed out from relief. Steadying herself, she hurried into the parlor.
While Evie preened at the flattery, Grady regarded Meg as if sending her a message. “Margaret, I wonder if you’d accompany me home. Felicia isn’t feeling well or she would have called on you herself. She has need of your advice.”
“Of course, Uncle Grady. I’ll grab my purse and come with you now.”
Evie whirled to face her. “But Burt wanted you to wait here. He… oh, he has something really important to tell you. He’ll be here in a few minutes. Wait here, Meg, and I’ll go see Aunt Felicia.”
Grady shook his head. “Felicia specifically requested Meg. Perhaps you’ll come another time, Evie.”
Meg wanted to run from the house, but forced herself to move sedately. “No matter, Evie. I’m sure Aunt Felicia won’t keep me long.”
Evie narrowed her eyes. “You don’t need your purse to visit Aunt Felicia.”
“I plan to do some errands before I return.” She took Grady’s arm. “Shall we go?”
As soon as they were clear of the house, Grady sped his steps. “That was close. Burt has an appointment with the court at ten to have you declared incompetent. He’s said you’re often hysterical. No doubt he thought you would create quite a scene in front of the judge.”
“I certainly would. I can’t believe my own sister would go along with her lazy husband’s wicked plans. But he’s such a bully, she’s probably afraid of him. I am, especially lately.”
She had to hurry to keep pace with her family friend. “What do you have in mind? Does Aunt Felicia really want to see me?”
“She always wants to see you, my dear. Right now she has the minister and his wife with her in the parlor waiting on you to appear. We’ll have you married to Curtis McClain by proxy before Burt can blink twice.”
Once they were in the house, Grady locked the door behind them. “This gives me great pleasure, Margaret. Since your dear father passed, I’d hoped one day to take his place and give you away when you marry. Today I get my chance.”
Reverend Harold Rhea and Oleta, his wife, stood when Meg entered the parlor. Judge Watson and his wife, Vivian, were also present. Meg almost passed out when she saw the judge. Good heavens, was she was turning into a fainting violet?
The pastor took both her hands. “Relax if you can, my dear. Felicia has everything arranged for the ceremony.”
He moved to stand in front of the mantle, and then took a couple of steps forward. “Fire’s nice and warm and I almost got too cozy.” He chuckled, which he did often.
Felicia handed Meg a bunch of white and bronze chrysanthemums. “I hope these will do for your ceremony. That rain two days ago beat the flowers.”
Meg cradled the bouquet in her arms. “They’re lovely, Aunt Felicia. Thank you for thinking of them.”
Vivian Watson placed a tulle veil on Meg’s head and anchored it with combs. “I realize you didn’t have an opportunity to dress in a special way, but the veil will make you feel more bridal.”
Oleta Rhea sat at the piano. “Meg, I’ll play so Grady can walk you across the parlor.” She giggled. “We must let him have his dream part.”
Meg wondered out loud, “What do we do about a groom?”
Uncle Grady chuckled. “I get to step in for him, so I get two roles.”
The minister opened his Bible. “Don’t think because we’re in high spirits that this wedding is any less a sacred occasion. Let us begin by hearing the Lord’s words.”
Pastor Rhea must give the same sermon at every wedding, for Meg had heard it a number of times over the years. Never had it sounded as sweet as now. She prayed that this wedding offered her the needed protection. Surely with the judge in attendance, she was safe.
Uncle Grady slid a ring on her finger. “This belonged to your Grandmother Todd. She left it in my care and instructed you were to have it.”
After the ceremony, Judge Watson winked at her. “I must run along. Someone has requested a court appointment for ten o’clock. I wouldn’t want to disappoint the parties.”
Meg plopped onto a chair. “Oh, Uncle Grady, that was close. I’m forever in your debt and yours, Aunt Felicia. Mrs. Watson, thank you for attending and kindly thinking of the veil. Pastor and Mrs. Rhea, thank you. Your help means the world to me.”
Vivian Watson patted Meg’s shoulder. “Your mother was my friend. I’m honored to have been a part in saving you from a terrible fate. My dear aunt was placed in an asylum when her second husband wanted her fortune. We fought for two years to get her released.”
“Were you successful?”
“We were. The judge made it a priority. You can believe he is especially careful when one of those cases comes before him. Your brother-in-law had better be glad he didn’t succeed in getting you into the courtroom.”
Pastor Rhea shook his head. “Such a shameful thing to contemplate.”
Aunt Felicia scowled. “Foiling that bully’s plan was important.”
Vivian handed Meg a small bag. “This is easy to wear inside your corset to safeguard spare cash and important papers during your trip.” She explained how it fastened.
Meg examined the delicately crocheted purse-like sack. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Watson. I’ll have need of this as the journey to Montana is quite long and I’ll have some of my inheritance with me for whatever crops up along the way.”
Aunt Felicia hugged Meg. “I’ll miss seeing you, my dear. Please write to us.”
“I will. In the meantime, be assured you have my love and sincere gratitude.”
Grady rubbed his hands together. “Now we need to get to the bank while Burt is tied up in court. Afterwards, we’ll call for your trunks and get you to the train.”
On the way to the bank, she asked, “How did you learn about Burt’s plan?”
“My dear, you know about some of your parents’ good works due to your involvement. What you don’t know is how many in this town your father helped. When Frank Lawson was a boy, his own father was ill and lost his job. The family was destitute, but your father anonymously arranged through me for the Lawson family to have all their bills paid at the grocer’s until Mr. Lawson recovered and found work.”
“Papa hated to see anyone in need. He helped anyone he could, but I didn’t know all the details, of course.”
“Once Frank was an attorney, he was able to see from the records that your father was responsible. He really shouldn’t have told me Burt’s plans, but Frank wasn’t about to bring harm to the daughter of the man who’d saved his family.”
“Papa never mentioned helping anyone, so I only know about the projects where he asked me to assist him. He believed it’s our duty to help those we can because of all we’ve received. I’m sure I don’t know about many of the people he helped.”
“He wanted no recognition, which is the true sign of a giving heart. Similar things occurred for Mrs. Watson’s family and many others. When Burt Hankins decided to cheat you, he had no idea what he’d be up against. Let’s hurry into the bank before he sees you and causes a scene.”
Inside the bank, Meg arranged for her funds to be transferred to the bank at Angel Creek with the exception of a generous amount of cash for her trip. Uncle Grady had learned the fare and she was surprised at the large cost.
Next, they stopped at the train station and purchased her ticket. Years had passed since she’d ridden a train, but the scents revived her memory—smoke and steam and a peculiar oily odor.
Grady had written out instructions. “You take the train, then a steamboat, then a stage. I’m afraid it will be a tiring and cold trip. Worse, in order to leave right away, you’ll have a long layover in Memphis. Otherwise, you’d have to wait until early in the morning to leave.”
Even the thought of delay frightened her. “No, I want to leave as soon as possible. You’re sure I can claim my trunks?”
“I am. Sheriff Edgars is going with us when we call for them. Ah, here comes the wagon we’ll use n
ow. We’ll go by for the sheriff on the way to your home.”
“I’m awfully sorry it’s come to this, Uncle Grady. I see I’d never have managed to accomplish this on my own. The most I had planned was to climb out the window with my valise and run away.”
“At least you had a plan. I’m glad we’ve arranged something more suitable so you can have all your belongings. That is, I trust my acquaintance in Montana Territory when he says your new husband is satisfactory.”
“I do hope Burt doesn’t try to retaliate against you.”
“Now, don’t you worry about Felicia and me. I suspect the judge put a good deal of fear into Burt.” He helped her into the wagon then joined her on the seat with the driver while the second man rode in back.
Chapter Three
Meg had no doubt Burt would be angry enough to become violent toward her and Uncle Grady. She gathered courage from having the sheriff with them. In her opinion, Burt had grown more fearsome every year since he and Evie had married.
When they arrived, Burt was already agitated. “What have you been up to? What are you trying to pull, Meg Todd?”
“I’m married and will be leaving on the next train to go to my husband. I’ve come to get my trunks.”
He braced his legs and crossed his arms. “You can’t have married anyone.”
Refusing to back down, she faced him. “I certainly have and I’ve the paperwork to prove the legality. Don’t think you can cheat me out of my belongings.” Without Uncle Grady, the sheriff, and the two handymen, she would have been unable to stand up to Burt.
“You think you’re so smart, always reading them books. You belong in an asylum. One of the reasons for committing a woman is that she reads novels.” Burt took a step toward her. “That’s you and I’ll see you’re sent there.”
Meg’s outrage at the man’s greed overtook her caution. “Reading is a wonderful pastime and educational. You’d be a lot better off if you read a book once in a while. Thank goodness I married a man who values reading and writing.”
Sheriff Edgars stepped forward. “Hankins, you’d better stand aside while Miss… uh, Mrs. McClain collects her belongings. Like she said, she’s legally married and is leaving today to join her husband.”
“Listen here, Sheriff. You got no right to come into my house and tell me what to do. You men get off of my property.”
Grady pointed a forefinger at Burt. “You forget that half of this house belongs to Margaret. You ready to pay her for her half?
Burt’s face turned red and the veins bulged.
Meg thought Burt was going to explode so she said, “Consider them to be on my half of the house, Burt.” She gestured to the handymen to follow her, turned, and went upstairs to supervise the men load her belongings.
Evie followed her and stood with a hand at her throat. “You’re leaving us? Oh, Meg, what will we do without you? We’ve never been separated.”
Meg wanted to hug her sister. As children they’d been so close in spite of Evie’s shallow nature. She had to remind herself that Evie would have allowed Burt to carry out his evil plan against her. “I don’t know, Evie. I suppose you’ll have to learn to take care of the house and children yourself or hire someone.”
“You know we can’t afford to hire anyone. I don’t know how I can ever cope alone. How can you desert me?”
“I love you, Evie, in spite of what you would have let Burt do to me.”
Evie sent a nervous glance toward the stairs. They could hear Burt arguing with the sheriff.
Evie twisted her hands and her lips trembled. “I’m sorry, Meg. I know that was wrong. The truth is, I don’t want you to leave us.”
“Surely it had occurred to you that I wouldn’t be here if Burt carried out his plot. As far as my being available to help you, there’ll be no difference when I leave to follow my plan.”
Evie sniffed and tears ran down her cheeks, but she said nothing.
Meg hated the pang created by Evie’s tears. “I adore your children, but I want my own family in my own home. I’ll let you know when I arrive. If… well, if you ever need to get away from Burt or if something happens to him, then you can come and stay with me in Montana.”
Evie’s eyes widened. “I can’t imagine me ever being without Burt.”
Meg hugged her sister’s shoulders. “Just remember the invitation is there. I hoped the only reason you cooperated with his plan to have me committed was because you were afraid of him. He can be intimidating.”
Evie’s chin tipped upward but she evaded Meg’s gaze. “I can’t imagine why you’d say such a thing.”
“All right, but you heard me invite you and the children to come see me.”
Her niece Nancy, age five, clung to Meg, crying. “Don’t go away, Auntie Meg. Don’t leave us. We love you.”
Billy, age four, hugged her other side. “Stay here. Who’ll read us a story if you go?”
Tears trailing down her cheeks, she knelt and hugged them. “You know I love you very much. Always remember that I am your Auntie Meg and I will always love you. I have a little gift for each of you so you won’t forget me.”
She opened the bottom drawer of the chest of drawers and gave them the gift she’d intended for their Christmas. “Nancy, I made this doll for you to snuggle with at night. And, Billy, I made this horse just for you.”
Somewhat placated, the children hugged their new toys.
The draymen removed the last trunk from the room. Meg picked up her valise and followed them down the stairs and through the house.
Near the front door, the sheriff and Grady stood with Burt. He was still angrily arguing with the two men.
When he spotted Meg, he shook his fist at her. “You’ll be sorry you tricked me, Meg. Wait and see.”
Sheriff Edgars held up a hand. “You settle down. Do I have to take you to jail?”
“Instead of threatening me with jail, you ought to let me check them trunks, Sheriff. Who knows how much of our stuff she’s hauling away in them?
The sheriff leaned into Burt’s face. “Mrs. McClain has the right to remove her things from the house that is half hers. I’m going to stay here and visit with you while Grady takes Mrs. McClain to her train. I’m warning you, I didn’t get my second cup of coffee this morning and I’m not feeling kindly toward you.”
Grady took the valise Meg carried and offered his arm. “Shall we go?”
As he helped her into the wagon, she couldn’t keep from looking back at her sister and the two children. Standing in the doorway, her sister appeared miserable. There was no way to tell if her distress was from fear of Burt, guilt for going along with him, or sorrow at seeing Meg leave. Each child hugged the toy she’d made and cried for her. Leaving the two children was even harder than she had anticipated.
Uncle Grady gently took hold of her arm. “Don’t look back, Meg. Keep focused on the future.”
“I’m trying, Uncle Grady. Oh, I already miss Nancy and Billy. But if you hadn’t rescued me, I’d be leaving them anyway.”
“Perhaps in a very unpleasant way. Though now I know Vivian’s story of her aunt, perhaps you’d have been safe.”
She dabbed her handkerchief at her tears. “Uncle Grady, I’ll never forget all you and Aunt Felicia have done for me. Thank you.”
“See you write us often and let us know how you’re doing. We want to know all about your husband and this town in Montana.”
“Angel Creek is a hopeful name for a new beginning. I pray it lives up to its name.”
Curtis hoped he wasn’t a fool for going through a proxy marriage. Nick Walker’s wife, Melody, stood in for Meg and that gave him another weird feeling. If Meg was half as pretty and half as good a cook as Melody, Curtis would consider himself lucky.
He endured a fair bit of good-natured ribbing about being a married man now. Through it all he tried to be a good sport. His friends meant well even if he did wish they wouldn’t talk about the ceremony or his wife.
Nick clapped him o
n the shoulder. “You have room in that backroom for your wife, or do you intend to find someplace else to live?”
Curtis staggered backward a step. “I haven’t had time to give the idea any consideration. Paul rushed me through this so fast I felt a breeze. In answer to your question, I’ll need to find somewhere better than the newspaper office.”
Paul stood next to him. “The house is probably larger than you want, but the Borland family wants to sell. They’re moving south as soon as possible.”
Nick brightened. “Hey, that’s right. Mrs. Borland needs a warmer climate. She’s already left to stay with relatives. John Borland is hoping to leave while he can still travel.”
Curtis rubbed his jaw. “I’d heard they were moving. Looks like a nice place, but I doubt I can afford anywhere that large.”
Nick said, “Won’t hurt you to find out what they’re asking. Be nice to have you next door to us. And there simply aren’t any other decent vacant houses that I know about. Do you know of one, Paul?”
“No, Borland’s is the only good one I know.” Paul rubbed his hands together. “As it happens, Borland asked me to help sell the place. He’s even leaving some pieces of furniture.”
Curtis shook his head. “I’ll probably regret this, but tell me how much he’s asking.”
Paul named an amount that was a bargain for the house, but was more than Curtis had allocated for living expenses. What should he do? He’d been living in the back room at the newspaper office.
He slept on a cot and had found an old washstand someone had discarded. He had purchased a small table and that came with four chairs. Mentally, he pictured living there with his wife. Even the best-natured woman would be disgusted with that as her home.
“I guess I’d better see what I can work out with John Borland and the bank. The asking price is a bargain.”
Paul clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll be glad when the babies start arriving.”
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