Endless Mercy
Page 26
Good thing Garrett Sinclair had stayed clear of their farm, because she might be small, but she was strong. She could make him pay.
She had seen that same fiery anger in everyone in that room.
The bleating of her sheep calmed her heart a bit. A little manual labor would be good for her soul, even if it was Sunday.
John and Daniel had finished the elevated creep pen in the middle of the large pen. It allowed the lambs and ewes to see each other while keeping the weaned lambs from trying to nurse. Now that they were milking the sheep every day, it was a wonderful solution. All because Daniel had taken the time to come help them.
Daniel . . .
She pulled Buddy’s ring out of her pocket and sat on a bale of hay. What was she going to do? She had never thought of how lonely Buddy must be. Day in and day out, he was surrounded by hundreds of people, and yet he still felt so alone. She could understand that, and her heart ached for him. If she had the power to save him from that misery, shouldn’t she do whatever she could?
“Care for some company?”
She looked up when she heard Daniel’s warm, deep voice.
She gave him a weak smile. “Sure. That would be nice.”
“So you’re not mad at me anymore?”
Squinting her eyes at him a bit, she pursed her lips. “I’m not sure. But I’ll think about it.”
A light chuckle accompanied his footsteps as he came closer. “Don’t think about it too long. I miss you.”
His words did funny things to her insides.
He came close and sat beside her. “What do you have there?”
Madysen held up the ring.
“Wow. That’s impressive. I take it Buddy proposed?”
“He did.” With her head down, she just stared at the ring. Any girl should be overjoyed with such a prize.
“And?”
“I didn’t answer. Needed time to think about it.” Twisting and turning the ring, it caught rays of sunshine coming through the windows. “The last ship to Seattle is set to sail November tenth, so I need to make up my mind by then.”
“Oh.” He stiffened. “That’s only a couple weeks away.”
“I know.”
“So shouldn’t you make up your mind before then? I don’t know much about these things, but doesn’t it take a while to plan a wedding?”
A wedding. That her family would miss. It wouldn’t be anything like she’d dreamed. “He wants to marry in Seattle so his mother can be there.”
“What about all of your family here?”
She shrugged. “We were all together for Havyn’s wedding. . . .”
“And they will want to be a part of yours, Maddy. You are loved and cared for here . . . by lots of people. Is it wise to go off with a man you’re not married to? What if he never intends to actually marry you?”
She held up the ring. “Would a man give me a ring like this if he didn’t intend to marry me?”
“He might.” Daniel grabbed her hand. “If . . . the girl is naïve enough.”
“I am not naïve, Daniel Beaufort. How can you even say such a thing?” She tugged at her hand, but he held tight.
“Maddy, you have a huge heart. You really do think the best of everyone, but what do we know about Buddy Merrick?”
“Why do you keep asking me that? I know lots of things. Things like . . . well, for instance . . . oh, you’ve flustered me and I can’t think.” She shot him a look. “You’re not being a very good friend right now.”
She tried to yank her hand out of his grasp again. But he held fast. “I think I’m being a better friend than anyone else has been to you, because I’m speaking truth. I care about you. That means I want the best for you. And if that means, Buddy . . . then so be it. But I don’t think it does.”
“Well, then, what do you think is the best for me? Because I have no idea. I want to be hopeful again. Joyful again. I want to be happy and loved.”
“But Maddy, you are loved. Why can’t you see that?” He reached up and touched her cheek. “Maybe . . . you have a friend who wants to be more than friends.”
She got lost in his touch. Was he saying what she thought?
TWENTY-FIVE
Daniel hefted another crate and passed it to his dad. He wanted to get out to the farm as soon as possible. Bethany had interrupted his discussion with Madysen yesterday, and he wanted to try to talk to her again. To make sure she knew how he felt. Before it was too late. “You sure you’ll be okay without me here?”
“I’ll be fine. You’ll be missed, but if you can spare a half hour every day to help with some odd jobs, I’ll be perfectly content.”
“Not a problem. I’m sure I can manage that.” He rechecked the inventory. Yes, he’d done it correctly. Lately, it had been hard to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. “You’ve seemed a bit worried lately, Dad. Everything all right?”
Dad waved him off. “Everything’s fine. I’ve just made a few mistakes in the books. Once I get it all figured out, things will be right as rain.” His smile looked forced.
“Need me to help?” Daniel walked over to his dad. “I’m pretty good with numbers.”
Dad put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, it’s no big deal. You go on out to the farm and help.”
Granny entered the mercantile and brought him a paper bag. “This is for everyone, so I expect you to share.”
As soon as he took the bag, the scent of cinnamon overtook his senses. “Your cinnamon cake.” He closed his eyes. “Granny, you spoil me.”
“Of course I do, that’s my job.” She patted his arm. “Now what’s got you all fired up this morning?” The look of innocence on her face didn’t fool him.
“You know exactly what, Granny.”
“Hey, maybe I don’t.” Dad crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s she talking about?” He grinned.
“Oh, you two are impossible. There happens to be a redheaded girl who might perchance be on my mind.”
“Which one?” Dad quirked a brow.
“You know perfectly well which one.”
Granny went to the penny candies and straightened the jars. “So you’ve made up your mind about her?”
“I have.”
Dad came over and elbowed him.
Daniel shook his head. “Like I said, you two are impossible.”
“You know what you have to do to make that happen, don’t you?” Granny poked him in the belly. “I don’t want to wait forever.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, ma’am. I know.”
The bell over the door jangled.
“Oh, good. People.” Daniel went to the front to greet them.
Christopher Powell and John Roselli entered, expressions serious. Chris’s jaw looked like it might explode, he had it clenched so tight.
“We’re going to find Sinclair and confront him. We’d appreciate it if you would come with us.”
“Of course.” Daniel took off the apron he used in the store and called out, “Dad, I’m going out to the mines before I head to the farm.”
Dad came up behind him and wiped his hands on a towel. “Sinclair’s not working any mining anymore.” He looked at Daniel. “Sorry, I overheard. He’s working for Judas Reynolds. I made a delivery to Judas not more than thirty minutes ago, and Sinclair was there.”
Judas put the last of the deeds for his newest claims in the safe. He’d no sooner straightened than he heard a commotion in the outer office. What in the world was going on? He went to the door and found his receptionist arguing with a trio of men. Men he knew very well.
“John.” Judas nodded as he stepped out. “Daniel, and I believe this is Mr. Powell, if I’m not mistaken. To what do I owe this visit?”
“It’s not a pleasure call, that’s for sure,” Powell all but growled.
“Step into my office and tell me what’s going on.”
The men followed him and waited until he was seated. “Please, sit.”
“We don’t have time fo
r that.” Powell ground out his words.
“Judas, I’m afraid I have some news about one of your employees that you won’t like to hear.” John glanced over to Powell and Daniel.
“Go on, Roselli. You know I trust you to be honest with me.”
Judas listened as John told the whole sordid story. He should’ve known that Sinclair would do something stupid. The man was entirely too arrogant for his own good.
“He didn’t rape her, but only because Whitney somehow got the upper hand with the help of her dogs. They attacked Sinclair, and she got her rifle.”
“Bad enough what he did to her”—Powell skewered Judas with a fiery glare—“but at the Roadhouse Saturday night, he was talking it up. Making like he had been intimate with her and was proud of it. Like she’d invited his advances. Folks were talking about it at church on Sunday.”
Judas might have laughed had the men not been so serious. What did women’s reputations matter? Now his reputation, that was important. Speaking of which . . .
He might be able to use all this.
Judas squinted his eyes and pressed his lips into a thin line. “How dare that man smear a lady’s reputation like that!” He pounded a fist on his desk.
His secretary came running through the door. “What do you need, Mr. Reynolds?”
“Have Burt come see me immediately. You should be able to find him in the warehouse.”
“Yes, sir.” She ran from the room.
He straightened, putting on his best moral outrage. “Gentlemen, rest assured that I will take care of this.”
“We don’t need you to take care of it.” Powell leaned over the desk. “We can take care of it ourselves. We just need to find Sinclair.”
No, they didn’t. It wouldn’t help Judas at all if they did. “Look, I understand how you feel, but beating the man senseless won’t change what he’s done. In fact, such a reaction from you might convince people that what he said was true. His very public besmirching needs a very public retraction. You can’t provide that, but I can.”
Powell straightened.
Ah, capitulation. He loved it.
“How?”
He held Powell’s gaze. “You said Sinclair announced his falsehoods to his friends at the Roadhouse. I will ensure he makes another announcement there. And at the Follies. And at church. The reverend and I are well acquainted, and I’m sure he will be more than happy to see a sinner confessing his wrongdoing.”
The trio stepped back and discussed it among themselves for a moment. Judas could hear that they were concerned about how Whitney would bear up under this very public reminder of what had happened to her.
Judas leaned back in his chair, schooling his features into the picture of concern. “Our dear Whitney is humiliated by a lie. We must bring out the truth. It sets us free, as the Good Book says.” Judas got to his feet. “Don’t worry about a thing. Sinclair will make his apologies, and Whitney will be vindicated. By week’s end.”
Or Sinclair would be dead.
It took a full day for Burt to locate Sinclair. When the oaf was finally seated across from Judas, he looked completely confused. “What did you call me in for? It’s my day off.”
Judas narrowed his gaze. “You stupid fool. How could you have been so careless as to make such declarations about a prominent lady in our town—someone you know is a family friend of mine. Especially without even having the pleasure of doing what you insinuated. You really are an idiot! Now I have to clean up your mess. No, I take that back. You are going to clean up this mess. And you are going to do exactly what I say.”
Sinclair leaned back in his chair and grinned. “It’s not that bad. I don’t see why you are so worked up about this.”
Judas came out of his seat and around his desk in a flash. He grabbed Sinclair by the collar and pulled him to his feet. Once Judas had him standing, he punched Sinclair in the nose, knocking him to the ground. “This isn’t a grinning matter. Now, do I have your full attention?”
Sinclair got to his feet. His nose dripped blood onto his shirt. He seemed momentarily stunned.
Good.
“Answer me.”
“I’m listening.” Sinclair took out his handkerchief and tried to stanch the flow of blood.
“Let me make myself very clear, Mr. Sinclair. I own you. I know things about you that would get you hung. And I’m not a man who merely threatens. If you don’t do exactly as I say, you won’t live to see another sunset. That’s a promise.” He straightened his vest and jacket. “I don’t have room for men in my business who can’t follow orders.”
The fool straightened in his chair and dared to lift his chin. “Yes, sir. I’ll do whatever you say.”
Judas spotted a green dress and flash of red curls out the window of his office. “You’re going to have to leave out the back, Sinclair. Make sure you aren’t seen. Don’t go into town. Don’t speak to anyone. Is that understood? You will wait until I tell you what to do.”
With a nod, Sinclair left out the side door of his office.
Judas took a breath, then hurried to the front of the building to call after the retreating figure. “Miss Powell!”
Madysen turned and smiled, then came back. “Mr. Reynolds, how nice to see you. I was just in town with John to check on our orders. The time is narrowing fast for getting in product.”
“Indeed, it is. That’s part of the reason I wanted to talk to you. Won’t you join me in my office?”
She followed him inside and gave a nod to the receptionist.
“Sit down, please. Can I offer you anything?”
She took off her coat and sat in the same chair Sinclair had just vacated. “No. I’m fine. What can I do for you?”
“Well, I heard that congratulations are in order?” He pasted on his best smile.
Her brow creased. “For what?”
“You and Buddy Merrick, of course!” He walked to the front of his desk and leaned against it. “What a fine match you two will make.”
“Oh, well . . . you see—”
She didn’t look at all like a blushing fiancée.
“You deserve to perform on a larger stage, Madysen, and Buddy will take fine care of you. Oh, and won’t your mother be smiling down from heaven?” He clasped his hands in front of him. “Now . . . what would you like for a wedding gift? I want to spoil you.”
Havyn picked up her violin and tried the concerto again. By measure twelve, she was distracted and missing notes. Why did some people have to be so awful? The thought of people around town spreading rumors about Whitney . . .
It was so wrong!
Putting the violin back in its case, she let out a long, shaky breath. It was a good thing she sent a note to Mr. Norris saying they couldn’t perform for a while. None of them were up to it. Nothing would be right until the lies about Whitney were rectified.
But would that encourage everyone in town to believe the lies? She hoped not.
Movement out of the corner of the window caught her attention. Maddy was back.
Her sister came in the room, taking off her gloves. “Where is everybody?”
“Ruth is doing schoolwork with the children, and Granddad is sleeping. And I presume John returned with you from town.”
“Yes. He and Daniel are unloading.”
Something in her sister’s face told her that she needed to talk. “What’s going on?”
Madysen took off her bonnet and tucked her gloves inside. “I’m going to get Whitney. There’s something I need to speak to you both about.”
No smiles or wave of her hands. It must be serious. Then again, everything was serious right now. “I’ll put on some tea.”
A few minutes later, they were all gathered in the great room. The place where they’d played music, opened presents, held family celebrations, and watched the fire crackle during deep conversations and secrets shared. Many lively games had been played in this room. Havyn closed her eyes for a moment and could almost hear Mama’s sweet laughter.
Just a few days ago, she’d hoped to share some happy news in this room. But things had changed since that horrible man had tarnished Whit’s reputation.
Maddy scooted to the edge of her seat. “I’m glad we could all be together like this.” She took a deep breath. “I guess I better just come out and say it. Buddy Merrick has asked me to marry him and join his troupe.”
Havyn watched her baby sister. For some reason, Maddy didn’t seem all that happy about her news. Which was fine with Havyn, but she counted to ten before allowing herself to respond. “A few days ago, it seemed this was what you wanted. Have you changed your mind?”
“No.” Maddy looked down at her hands. “I don’t know. You all don’t know him like I do.”
Havyn tried to keep her tone loving as she repeated the question. The last thing she wanted was to push her sister away.
“I thought I did . . . but now . . . I’m not so sure. I’m torn between the dream and my life here. It’s hard to think about leaving my sheep and . . .”
Had she been about to mention Daniel?
“It’s hard to think about leaving all of you. What do you think?” Maddy’s gaze bore into hers.
“Oh, Maddy. It seems to me that if you really loved him, you’d be thrilled. Dancing around the room and full of joy.”
“Well . . . I . . .” Maddy bit her lip.
Havyn sent a look to Whit, but their older sister didn’t say anything. “I can’t imagine life without you here. With us. I love you so much. And I can’t see that Buddy loves you like a husband should love a wife. Not that I’m comparing him to John, but you know what I mean. Does he even have a relationship with the Lord? And what about when you start having children? Are you going to continue traveling?” She paused and stood up. “I’m sorry. But I can’t say that I think you should marry him.” Had she said the right thing?
Maddy nodded and sniffed. Was she crying? “I need to make a decision soon because the ship leaves on the tenth. Buddy wants us to marry in Seattle so that his mother can attend the wedding. Buddy is her only child. So . . . you all would miss the ceremony.”