Alexandra's Awakening (Pearson Grove Book 2)

by Caroline Clemmons

  While Virgil was pleased with his home, he was certain it would not be viewed acceptable by Alexandra Novak. He had three bedrooms—two of which were small, parlor, kitchen, dining room. Nope, not even close to what Miss Novak would require.

  Not that the subject would ever come up. He was doomed to live here alone for the rest of his life. Absentmindedly, he rubbed the scar along his collarbone, gift of a bank robber. Being sheriff meant he wasn’t guaranteed a long life. Perhaps he was better off not leaving a widow.

  ***

  Alexandra slipped inside the house and sat on the parlor couch. After pondering Virgil’s advice, she agreed knowing was better than guessing. She was determined to greet her father and brother when they returned from that girl’s place. Sitting still was difficult when she brimmed over with anxiety. She rose and paced back and forth.

  Mrs. Conner peeked into the parlor. “Are you all right, Miss Alexandra?”

  She managed to fake a smile. “Certainly, but thank you for asking. I’m just waiting to speak to Papa.”

  “Your mother turned in early. If you don’t need anything, I’ll do the same.”

  “Of course, you must be tired. I’ll be quiet so you can sleep.”

  Mrs. Conner was more than the housekeeper. She was a member of the family, like a favorite aunt. With Mama ailing after the fire that destroyed most of their home, Mrs. Conner had been busier than ever. While they had to live in the hotel, the housekeeper had nursed Mama. Not only did she supervise the house now—including directing Ella, the day girl who came to clean—she waited on Mama as if she were delicate porcelain.

  Alexandra picked up a book she’d been reading earlier in the day and sat in her favorite chair. Reading would pass the time. The words danced and waved rather than making sense. Thank goodness, she heard her father and brother unlocking the door.

  The two men entered the parlor wearing smiling faces. She stood and crossed her arms across her chest.

  Looking her fiercest, she tapped her foot. “What have you two to say for yourselves?”

  Her father frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Ron started toward the stairs.

  She pointed at him. “Wait just a minute, Ron. I want to talk with both of you.”

  Her brother paused and she thought he might disregard her comment. He turned and plopped onto the couch. “What’s put a burr under your saddle?”

  She hardly knew where to begin. After a deep breath, she sat in her chair. “I learned that neither of you has been spending time at the Lodge. So, tonight I followed you and found you both went to the home of that saloon girl, Lula. Why have you lied to us? Why are you spending time with her instead of Mama and me?”

  Her brother and father exchanged worried glances.

  Papa held up a hand. “Calm down. It isn’t what you might think, Alexandra.”

  “Then explain what is happening.”

  He looked at Ron again then back at her. “I don’t want to go through this twice. Let me get your mother down here.” He stood and hurried up the stairs.

  Ron looked at her. “You have things mixed up, Alexandra. You may think the worst, but this time you’re wrong. Please, be patient with Papa and me. Mama’s going to need your support when she hears the full story.”

  Alexandra clutched a hand to her throat. “You’re scaring me even more. I can’t imagine what you’re talking about, Ron.”

  Her brother held up a hand in a stopping motion. “Just be patient, that’s all I’m asking.”

  She remained in her chair but wriggled this way and that, unable to settle. She wished Papa would come back with Mama so she could find out what was going on. Thank goodness, she heard footsteps on the stairs.

  When they came into the parlor, Mama wore her slippers and robe. Entering from the kitchen was Mrs. Conner, the housekeeper, also in her slippers and robe. Papa indicated the other two women should sit down and he took the place next to Mama.

  Mama looked distressed. “Now, Byron, you’ve frightened me. Tell me what this is all about.”

  Papa glanced at each person in the room. “I asked Mrs. Conner to join us because she’s part of the family and because this will affect her.”

  He paused and mopped his brow with his handkerchief. “Alyssa, you remember when you took the children and went to live with your mother? You’ll recall I begged you to stay and you refused. You said you were going to get a divorce. I wrote you several times asking you to come back and you told me not to come after you and that you were filing for divorce.”

  Mama took out her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “I don’t know why you have to remind me of that terrible time when I was so foolish. I explained all that long ago.”

  Papa took her hand and patted it. “I’m sorry to distress you, but it’s important that you remember that you wrote me you were definitely filing for divorce and I was never to contact you again.”

  “How could I forget being so stupid? I thought you would come after me and give into my silly demands.”

  Papa cradled her hand in his. “That was when Ambrose was the only other bank employee. I couldn’t leave him on his own and come after you with so many people’s finances depending on the bank.”

  “Mama had told me what to say. I never should have listened to her. After all, she drove my own father away.”

  “I was so depressed at losing you and our children that people commented on how bad I looked. I hope I never go through such a dark time again.”

  Mama leaned her head on his shoulder. “I share that hope, Byron.”

  He looked as if his heart was breaking. “One night after the Lodge meeting, a couple of friends invited me to go with them to Robert’s Rest Saloon. You know I don’t usually go to any saloon, and certainly not that one. I was so lonely and lost that I figured why not?”

  He waved a hand as if dismissing a bad image. “There was a beautiful woman there named Maribelle. She reminded me of you, Alyssa. I started going to see her just to talk to her.”

  Mama dabbed at her eyes again. “Oh, Byron, why do I think you didn’t continue just talking to her?”

  “You’re right, love. Eventually I moved Mirabelle into a house and she quit working at the saloon. I couldn’t bring myself to move her into our home even though you said you’d never return. I guess I still hoped deep inside that you’d change your mind.”

  Mama wept softly. “I did, but only after three miserable, lonely years listening to my mother tell me what was wrong with me, with the children, with you, with everyone she knew. What a fool I was to tolerate her.”

  He wrapped an arm around Mama. “That’s all past, my love. When Mirabelle told me she was expecting a child, my child, I admit I was overjoyed. I missed you and the children so deeply. I looked forward to having a new child in my life. Although I was still deeply in love with you, I decided that when the divorce was final, I would marry Mirabelle to give her security and protect my youngest child’s name.”

  Mama sobbed and covered her face with her hands.

  Tears ran down Papa’s cheeks. “Mirabelle was visiting in our home when I opened the letter saying you were moving back here. I was split in two at that time because I couldn’t imagine losing either you and our children or my new child. I promised Mirabelle that I would see she was always taken care of. I told her I would gift her the house she lived in and a monthly allowance. By that time, the bank was established and I was making a profit.”

  Mama sniffed and blew her nose. “To think that all this started because Mama convinced me I should have a larger allowance and more luxuries.”

  “Mirabelle cried a bit but said she understood and I walked her back to her house. The next day when I went to visit her she was gone. I searched for her. One of her friends at the saloon told me she had left to marry one of the men who had sought her. Her friend insisted she didn’t know where they’d gone or the man’s name—at least she wouldn’t admit it.”

  Ron gave a disgusted huff. “Of course s
he knew his name at least and probably where they’d gone.”

  Papa shook his head. “I’m sure you’re right, Ron. I hired a detective to find her but I didn’t even know her new last name. After six months the detective said it was hopeless. I never gave up wanting to find my child.”

  Ron looked at his mother. “A few weeks ago, one of the men who came into the bank told me that the new waitress at Robert’s Rest Saloon looked just like Alexandra. When I told Papa, he wanted to go immediately and see this girl. We went that evening.”

  Her brother stood and leaned on the fireplace mantel. “When we did, we were both struck by her likeness to Alexandra. She even had some of the same mannerisms. When she waited on our table, Papa asked her the name of her mother. Sure enough, she was Mirabelle’s daughter. That meant she was also Papa’s daughter and my half-sister.”

  Alexandra gasped. “You mean that saloon girl is related to me?”

  Papa nodded. “I know it’s hard to take in but, yes, she’s your sister and my daughter. As soon as I found her I moved her to one of my vacant rent houses. I gave her enough money to buy some clothes and food and told her that Ron and I would visit her several times a week.”

  Alexandra crossed her arms. “I’ll bet you told her my dresses were at the Mercantile didn’t you?”

  Papa nodded again. “I did and they fit her perfectly even though she’s younger than you.”

  Alexandra wanted to pound something but she remained perfectly still. “Why did you lie to us about where you were going? Why didn’t you just explain in the first place?”

  Papa sagged and looks years older than he had earlier today. “Lula was raised without any social training. Mirabelle became ill and Lula had to nurse her mother from the time she was twelve until Mirabelle died when Lula was sixteen. Mirabelle made Lula’s stepfather promise he would take good care of Lula and make sure she was treated well.”

  Papa shook his head. “When Mirabelle died, Lula’s stepfather immediately traded her to a horrible man in payment for a gambling debt. I don’t want to shock you, ladies, but you need to know the whole story. The bounder even suggested the man could get a lot of money for her at Robert’s Rest Saloon where her mother had once worked.”

  The three women in the room gasped.

  Mama said, “Oh my word, Byron. What happened to the poor girl?”

  “The man decided to bring her to Robert’s Rest and auction her because she was a virgin. I suppose you know that the waitresses there take men upstairs for… um, improper relations. The bidding had already started when Virgil found out. He rescued Lula and told the man who held her that if he wasn’t out of town within an hour he would put him in jail.”

  Dorcas Connor tut-tutted. “He should of been taken straight to jail.”

  Papa turned to Mrs. Connor. “You’re right, but that would have meant that Lula had to testify in court in front of everyone. The sheriff wanted to spare her that humiliation. Lula got a job as a waitress at the same awful saloon. She had to support herself some way but she didn’t take men up to her room. She was only a waitress, which meant she didn’t earn much money.”

  Ron spoke up, “She had a hard time fending off customers at the saloon. Before she died, Mirabelle had told Lula her father’s name and where he lived. Lula already knew who he was when we came into the saloon but she hadn’t tried to contact Papa. She wasn’t sure he would want to know who she was. When she learned Papa wanted to claim her as his daughter, she was so happy she cried.”

  Alexandra gasped and crossed her arms again. “Why not when she’d found a treasure chest?”

  Papa held up his hand in a staying motion and looked from Mama to Alexandra. “Now don’t get excited. I know how much public opinion means to you two. That’s why we’ve waited a few weeks while we taught her proper etiquette, or as much as Ron and I know. I want her to come live with us as my daughter and be a part of our family. Ron and I came up with an idea that we can say we discovered she’s a relative whose family fell on hard times. Then I can formally adopt her and change her last name to Novak.”

  Alexandra rose to stand. “You mean that’s why you had extra rooms added? Now you expect me to treat a saloon girl as my sister?”

  Papa leaped to his feet and pointed a finger at Alexandra. “I certainly do, Alexandra. We already had a guest room Lula could use. I had extra rooms added to enlarge our home for your mother and our family to enjoy.”

  He took a deep breath and returned to the couch beside Mama. “Alexandra, please keep in mind that Lula is as much my daughter as you are. She hasn’t had the advantages that you have growing up so she’s still learning. Like you, she’s very intelligent. I know she’ll pick up everything she needs to know when she’s living here.”

  As if taking in this momentous revelation, Mama sat for what seemed like hours. In reality, only minutes passed before she took Papa’s hand and spoke around her sobs. “If you insist, dear, then she’ll be our daughter. When are you going to move her in here?”

  Papa returned his arm around Mama and kissed her brow. “There’s no reason to keep Lula a secret now. I’d like to move her here tomorrow. I know an extra person will make more work for you, Mrs. Connor, and that’s why I wanted you to hear this discussion.”

  Mrs. Connor dabbed a hanky at her eyes. “Thank you for including me, Mr. Byron. I’ll welcome the young lady with the dignity she deserves. I’ll not be explaining to the daily girl who comes in, for Ella doesn’t need to know the details.”

  Papa stood and helped Mama to her feet. “And now I suppose we can all go up to bed and get some sleep. Thank you for listening.”

  Papa and Mama went up the stairs. Mrs. Connor lowered most of the gas lights and went toward her room at the back of the house. Alexandra hadn’t been able to digest what she’d learned. Lula had been here for weeks and weeks.

  She faced her brother with fists on her hips. “You do all this for who knows how long and didn’t tell me. How could you be so unfair?”

  He faced her defiantly. “Because I knew this was how you’d act. You think you’re better than others. If you give Lula a chance you’ll find out how nice she is. If you hurt her feelings, you’ll have to answer to me.”

  “I cannot believe you’re taking the side of that girl against me, your real sister. How can you be so heartless?”

  “Do you hear yourself? You’re the one being heartless. Her name is Lula, not ‘that girl’. At least with Evelyn gone, your worst influence is no longer around. There are times the last year or two when I’ve been embarrassed to call you my sister.”

  Alexandra’s mouth gaped open. “When? When have you been ashamed to be related to me?”

  “The way you acted with Scott Ferguson, chasing him and then breaking the engagement when he wouldn’t do everything you asked.” Ron held up fingers as he ticked off instances. “The way you treated Moriah when she moved here. The way you treat other people, as if you think they’re beneath you because you have more money. It makes me sick at heart because I love you and I know you can be a nice person when you want to be.”

  Tears pooled in Alexandra’s eyes. “I know I was wrong about Scott and later about Moriah. If Moriah hadn’t saved her, Mama would have died in the fire. I’ve apologized to both of them and they accepted my apology and appear okay with me now.”

  She swiped a hand across her face to wipe away tears. “I never meant to treat anyone as if I was better than they are. Except… well, I can’t help believing I’m better than someone who works in a saloon. Mama feels the same way in spite of what she told Papa.”

  “Are you going to be nice to Lula?”

  “Yes. I guess I let Evelyn influence me too much, but I promise I’ll try to be nicer and that includes accepting our half-sister.”

  Ron put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “I’m glad to hear you’ll make every effort to be nice to Lula. You’re a beautiful woman and smart as a whip. You have a lot to offer the world without resorting to pret
ense.”

  Chapter Three

  Virgil leaned on the counter of the Mercantile. There were no customers so he could speak frankly to Scott and Moriah.

  Scott set down his mug. “You hear the latest on the Novaks and Lula?”

  Virgil shook his head in wonder. “Sure have. Can’t believe they’re passing her off as a poor relation. Guess they believe the truth would be too scandalous. It was years before I moved here but a lot of folks were here when Mrs. Novak and the kids took off for her mother’s. I think word will get around who Lula really is, especially since she looks so much like Alexandra.”

  Moriah sobered. “Poor Lula. Lucky for her you interceded before that awful man sold her. It’s no wonder she thinks you’re a knight in shining armor.”

  Virgil set down his cup. “She’s still a kid, though. Plenty of time to adjust to the Novaks and then figure out what she wants from life.”

  Scott shook his head and stepped around to the same side of the counter as Virgil. “She’s had a rough enough life she’s probably older than us in hard knocks. For instance, I’ve wondered how she talked that man into bringing her here to auction her. From what I hear, there were closer saloons.”

  Virgil couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled up from his throat. “You’re right there. She looks like a china doll but I suspect life has taught her some hard lessons. Too bad about her mother dying, though.”

  Moriah refilled his and Scott’s mugs. “If her mother hadn’t died, Lula never would have come here and found Byron Novak. Well, maybe she would have when she was grown and out on her own.”

  Virgil swallowed another gulp of coffee. “Frankly, I can’t see Mrs. Novak and Miss Novak being happy to have Lula move into their home. Makes me feel sorry for Lula all over again.”

  Scott shrugged. “If she’s going to be unhappy, at least she’ll be in a more luxurious place. That has to help some. And Byron will make sure she has everything she needs. He and Ron are happy to have her in the family.”

  “Happy? Byron is over the moon. When I came here as sheriff five years ago, he took me into his confidence and explained he was still looking for Lula’s mother. At the time, he didn’t know whether her mother had delivered a girl or a boy.”