A Matter of Heart

by Tracie Peterson

  “Look who I ran into, Jessica, as I was coming back from the springhouse.”

  It was Marty Wythe and her sister Hannah.

  “Miss Hannah . . . Marty,” Jessica greeted with a nod.

  “How are you feeling, Jessica?” Hannah Barnett asked.

  Jessica smiled. “Much better, thank you.” She could see that the ladies clearly had something on their minds. “If you need, I can retire to my bedroom.”

  Hannah shook her head. “No. You can be of help in this matter. We are putting together a group of women to pray.”

  Jessica grimaced. For all that she had been doing to try to know God better, she wasn’t at all sure her prayers would avail much. But already Hannah Barnett was looking to Mother.

  “We have a problem, a family problem, and we need the Lord’s counsel and protection.”

  “Why don’t you sit down and tell me what’s happened,” Mother more insisted than questioned.

  The two women took a seat on the sofa and began to share the story, first one explaining and then the other.

  “We can’t help but think that Mr. Morgan means to see Jake put in jail unless he goes to Colorado and helps him,” Hannah told them.

  “But how can he possibly do such a thing?” Mother asked. “Surely no one would believe that Jake embezzled anything.”

  Marty spoke up. “Mr. Morgan gave us everything and made us feel that it was a perfectly normal procedure for him to follow with his employees. We had no way of knowing that the money, gifts, and even the lower interest rate on our home were part of his scheme to control Jake. Of course, Mr. Morgan had no idea the financial crash would come and close down many of the banks.”

  “But Jake no doubt worked hard for the man,” Mother countered.

  “He did. He did all that he was instructed to do. But that doesn’t seem to matter,” Marty replied. “Jake said there’s no way to prove that those things were gifts or that the extra money was given and not taken from the bank. Mr. Morgan told Jake that he has plenty of friends who will help him doctor the books and make it apparent that Jake stole from Mr. Morgan. So if Jake doesn’t help him, he’ll end up in jail for something he didn’t do.”

  Jessica listened in fascinated silence. Such intrigue was not the everyday topic around these parts. The thought that someone innocent might be jailed was abhorrent to her. Just as it obviously was to the others.

  “We will pray, and we’ll get others to pray, as well,” Mother offered. “I won’t say who the family is or offer details. I’ll simply say that a family I know needs prayer for a private request.”

  Mrs. Barnett nodded. “I’d appreciate that, Carissa. If we get folks praying, I’ll feel better. The Lord has something in mind for all of this, but I surely don’t know what it is. Alice spends most of the day in tears. She’s been so upset since finding out about Mr. Morgan’s threat that she’s hardly had any milk to feed the baby. Marty has had to help a time or two.”

  “And Jake feels to blame,” Marty explained, “even though he had nothing to do with the gold certificates.”

  Mother considered this a moment. “I’m sure he feels responsible, but we can clearly see he’s not. He’s not the type of man to do such a horrible thing.”

  “No, he’s not,” Marty agreed. “Jake was always meticulous in his dealings with Mr. Morgan and the bank. To have Morgan tell him now that he’ll see him jailed for embezzlement unless Jake helps him . . . well . . . it’s deeply wounded Jake.”

  “So you can see our need for immediacy where prayer is concerned,” Mrs. Barnett added.

  “I do,” Mother replied. She looked to Jessica. “We both do.”

  Jessica nodded in agreement but had serious doubts as to how her prayers might help. She hadn’t exactly been close to the Lord. Would He still listen to such a backslider?

  Hannah and Marty got to their feet, and Mother escorted them out the front door while Jessica continued to ponder the situation. When her mother returned, Jessica was ready with her question.

  “Mother, will God listen to me if I pray? I mean, I haven’t been a good person. I didn’t read my Bible for a long time, and frankly, I’m not sure I even knew what I was doing when I prayed for Jesus to forgive me and come into my heart.”

  Instead of Mother looking shocked, as Jessica had feared, she only smiled. “Jess, God listens to the earnest prayers of sinners seeking forgiveness. You’ve had a reckoning of the heart, so perhaps now would be a good time to offer up an earnest prayer.”

  Her mother’s words stayed with Jessica throughout the day. By the time afternoon rolled around, Jessica was aggravated in even thinking about it, and the confines of the room only made matters worse. She was relieved when Mother shooed her from the house and suggested she sit on the porch or take a walk to get some air.

  The day was warm but not unbearable. Jessica had only just settled herself on the porch when a horse and rider came loping up the long drive. It was Austin Todd. Jessica felt her stomach flip-flop. It wasn’t the same as how Harrison Gable made her feel, but it was just as intense. There was something special about this man. It didn’t hit her over the head like Harrison Gable’s presence did, but rather it was like an all-consuming fire. The feelings had started small, but they were building with each encounter and now had become a threatening blaze.

  “Miss Jessica,” Austin called out as he dismounted. He left his horse to graze on the front lawn and joined Jessica on the porch. “I came by to see how you were feeling. It’s been almost two weeks since you came down sick.”

  She smiled at his concern. “I’m doing much better. You were kind to concern yourself.”

  Austin looked almost embarrassed. “Well, since I was here the night you took ill, I’ve had it on my mind quite a bit.”

  “You have?” Jessica couldn’t imagine that Austin Todd gave her a second thought, but she was delighted that he had.

  “It seemed pretty bad. I wasn’t sure if it was something contagious or serious, but it surely was a fearful thing to watch.”

  Jessica frowned. Had he only been worried about whether or not he might contract the same illness? Surely Austin wasn’t that shallow. She glanced up to meet his concerned expression. He seemed sincerely worried for her sake.

  “Mother said it was probably either a bout of the ague or the grippe. Could be contagious, I suppose, but I couldn’t say. You might need to check in with Mother to be sure.”

  “Oh, that doesn’t worry me,” he replied. “I was just fearful for your sake. I figured you’d be pretty miserable in quarantine, and if it was life-threatening . . . I would truly regret that.”

  Jessica felt pleased at his response. “You needn’t worry anymore. I’m recovered . . . well, very nearly in full. Mother wants me to continue to take it easy for at least another day.”

  “I’m sure that’s wise.” He seemed at a loss for words, and the conversation lagged. Tugging at his collar, Austin looked rather miserable. Jessica took pity on him.

  “Father said there have been problems with cattle rustling.”

  “Yes, but the Rangers have caught up to most of them. The losses are way down.”

  “That’s good news. I know there’ve been years when the rustlers were a worry to my father. Seems about six years ago we lost quite a few head.”

  Again strained silence surrounded them. Jessica was determined to keep Austin with her, so she hurried onto another line of questioning. “You once told me that you were from Virginia. Did you like it there?”

  Austin looked at her for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to answer.

  Jessica chuckled. “I apologize if I was too forward. You know that I speak my mind. It’s just normal curiosity. Why don’t you sit and we’ll have a proper talk?”

  He glanced at one of the nearby chairs and finally gave a nod. “All right. I liked Virginia for a great many reasons, but I also didn’t like the area for other reasons. What else do you want to know?”

  “I don’t know.” Jes
sica hadn’t expected this at all. “I guess I would have to ask what some of those reasons were. For instance, what did you like best about Virginia?”

  He looked away from her and gazed across the yard. She thought he looked almost sad. “The people. The people were good and kind. Not that they aren’t here in Texas. Fact is, the people here remind me a good deal of the folks in Virginia.”

  “And what didn’t you like?”

  “The crowds. Too many people. For all the good ones, there were equal numbers of bad.” He paused and looked back at her. “I told you that my mother was originally from Texas. She used to tell me stories about growing up here, and Texas sounded . . . well . . . peaceful and unpopulated.”

  “We’re growing by leaps and bounds, my father says. Still, I can’t imagine just up and moving because there were too many people.”

  He smiled and Jessica felt her stomach flip again. Goodness, but he was a handsome man. Not only that, she loved his rich baritone voice. Deep, but not too deep. And his eyes were just as enticing as Harrison Gable’s, even if they were a lighter brown.

  “. . . because that kind of life wasn’t what I wanted anymore.”

  She hadn’t been listening and regretted it immediately. Jessica needed to know more about this man. “I’m sorry, would you say that again?”

  “I said Virginia has some peaceful, less populated parts, but I lived near Washington, D.C., where there was constant noise. I decided to come west because that kind of life wasn’t what I wanted anymore.”

  Jessica tried to keep her mind on their discussion. “What kind of work did you do?”

  “Much the same as I do now. Oh, I don’t mean inspect cattle, but working for the law.”

  “And do you have family back there?”

  She couldn’t be sure, but Jessica thought he frowned. He lowered his head rather quickly and blocked his face from view. For a moment she thought he might not respond, but finally he looked up.

  “I had family, but they died.”

  “How tragic. That must have been hard for you.”

  “It was. Sometimes it still is.”

  Austin wasn’t at all sure why he was telling Jessica all of this. His life had been a very private one, even before the death of his family. Now, however, he felt compelled to tell this woman everything. He supposed it had to do with his attraction to her. There was just something that drew him back to her no matter how hard he’d tried to ignore it.

  “So you came west hoping for a new start and to escape memories?” she asked in a soft, gentle tone.

  “I did.” The admission wasn’t as difficult as Austin had feared.

  “And has it worked?”

  He looked at the young woman with the beautiful dark brown eyes and smiled. “As well as anything has.”

  She pushed back reddish-brown bangs from her forehead and smiled back at him. “Hopefully time will help. Mother always says that time heals our wounds. Time and God.”

  “God?”

  Jessica nodded. “Mother believes that God cares deeply for our every need.”

  “But you don’t?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not sure what I believe.”

  This was something Austin completely understood. It gave him a sense of relief to find someone who felt just as he did. “I know what you mean.”

  Cocking her head to one side, Jessica seemed surprised. “You understand?”

  “I do. I feel about the same as you do. I’m not sure what I believe anymore. I was raised in a God-fearing home. I even attended church with my . . .” He fell silent. He’d very nearly told her about Grace.

  “With my family,” he added. “I read the Bible and prayed, but when I lost my family, I lost my connection to God. It felt as if He’d removed His presence along with my loved ones.”

  “How awful,” Jessica said, looking thoughtful. “My distance grew out of pure disinterest and self-centered sin.”

  Austin didn’t say so, but he admired her once again for her straightforward conversation.

  She continued. “I suppose I found other things far too fascinating. There were parties to attend and new gowns to be purchased. I’m ashamed to say I lived a spoiled and pampered life.”

  “Why ashamed? If your parents chose to lavish you with attention and possessions, I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

  “It wasn’t wrong in and of itself,” she said. “It was the way it stole my focus—my heart.” She looked at him with an expression of regret. “I don’t like the person I became. That’s why I’m working to change.”

  He was completely captivated by this confession. He’d never in his life heard a woman speak in such a manner, especially one so young and beautiful. Ignoring the sound of an approaching carriage, Austin said, “I understand what you mean. I’ve been working to change myself, too. It’s not easy.”

  “No,” Jessica said, shaking her head. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

  For a moment they just sat there looking deep into each other’s eyes. It was a silent sort of bonding that drew them together in an inexplicable manner.

  “Well, I must say I thought to hear at least a hello.”

  Austin bristled at the sound of Harrison Gable’s voice. He turned to look at the man and gave a terse nod. “Mr. Gable.”

  “Mr. Todd. What a pleasant surprise.”

  “How so?” Austin asked. He thought the man looked insincere and figured to put him on the spot. Gable was too experienced to fall into that trap, however.

  “I had hoped to discuss your duties as marshal to Terryton. You need to know what the railroad expects of you. I have just returned from meetings in Dallas and have much to share. Hence my surprise to find you here.”

  Austin refused to let him off the hook. “So what does the railroad expect?”

  Gable smiled. “Let’s not bore Miss Atherton with such talk. I can speak to you another time. I’m sure you have somewhere you need to be.”

  Austin leaned back in the chair and shook his head. “Nowhere in particular.” He saw a quick flash of irritation in Gable’s expression. But just as quickly as it came, it was gone, and he returned to his smooth-talking ways.

  “I must say, Miss Jessica, you are looking quite well. I am glad to see you feeling better. Perhaps you’ll be up to an outing soon?”

  “Of course. Mother says I only need rest another day or so. Perhaps we could go riding. My horse, Peg, needs to stretch her legs. She hasn’t had a good run in some time. We could get Osage to come along with us.”

  Austin hated to hear her respond so positively. He wanted to say something but knew anything he said would make him sound like a jealous beau.

  “I’m afraid I’m rather saddle weary. I’ve been riding a great deal back and forth from Cedar Springs to the railroad site. Perhaps we might borrow your buggy and take a ride?” He motioned toward the small conveyance.

  The momentary relief Austin felt at the news that Gable didn’t wish to ride quickly dissolved with his comment about the carriage.

  No doubt you’d like to take her for a ride. That buggy is tight enough to keep you two snuggly fitted. You would just spend the time wooing her and trying to convince her of how dear she has become.

  “I doubt that would meet with my father’s approval,” Jessica said with a smile. “He’s very protective of my reputation—and of me.”

  Austin breathed a little easier at this. She was a woman of integrity. He realized in that moment how much he’d come to care for Jessica.

  Don’t let it happen, his heart warned. Don’t feel too much, or you’ll just get hurt.

  In a most intimate fashion Gable reached out to Jessica and took hold of a loose curl. He let it wrap around his finger and then leaned down to whisper inappropriately in her ear. Austin noticed the way she shivered. It hit him hard.

  She cares for him. She’s enjoying his attention.

  “I have the utmost regard for you and your reputation, Miss Atherton,” Gable ass
ured her.

  Austin got to his feet. “I guess I need to be going. I’m due for supper with the Barnetts.”

  “What a pity,” Gable said, straightening. “Perhaps we can talk another time.”

  Austin met the man’s gleaming eyes. “I think that would be wise.” He hoped the tone inferred the seriousness he felt. He intended to find out what Gable’s intentions toward Jessica might be.

  Again his thoughts were of warnings to back off—to distance himself from feeling too much. The memory of losing his wife pierced him, and he forced a pleasant expression. “After all, if we don’t discuss it, I won’t know what the railroad needs me to do. Good talking with you, Miss Atherton. Gable.”

  Gable nodded in a knowing fashion, then turned back to Jessica, as if dismissing Austin altogether. “So as I was saying, my dear, we need to put a little color back in your cheeks, and I have just the plan.”

  Austin ignored the anger that was building. Instead of saying anything more, he mounted his horse and headed for the Barnetts’. He couldn’t understand why Gable’s interaction bothered him so much. He wasn’t about to give in to feelings that could only result in pain. Not even for one as beautiful as Jessica Atherton.

  Chapter 15

  Two weeks after his visit with Jessica, Austin sat at the Barnett dining table and shared his news with William, Robert, and Jake. Having been tied up with arresting a rustling gang, this was the first chance Austin had to explain what he’d learned about their situation.

  “I wrote to my former boss, Ellery Turner, regarding Morgan and the counterfeit gold certificates. He wired me that the department had some knowledge of gold certificate counterfeiting, but they’d hit a stone wall in their investigation. He was excited to learn this new information and arranged with the Texas Rangers for me to begin a further search for

  them.”

  “That’s wonderful news,” Will said, looking to Jake. “Hopefully Morgan will find himself too occupied by that to cause you any further trouble.”

  Jake shrugged and looked less than convinced. “Morgan still says that I embezzled from the bank. It’s his hold over me to get what he wants.”