Dangerous Illusions (Hearts of Hays Series #1)

by Barbara Goss

  “Did your mother also tell you that you can ask Him to help you when things hurt?”

  Anna tilted her head. “Maybe she did.”

  Kate walked to the bookshelf and took down Joanna Redfield’s Bible. As she returned to Anna, she paged through until she found the page she sought.

  “Do you recognize this book?”

  Anna’s eyes lit up. “That’s my mama’s Bible.”

  “Somehow it came to be here. I’m glad; because there are things in her book you should know. Your mother has this verse circled, which means that she read it often. Listen: ‘Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ Can you understand those words, Anna?” Kate asked.

  “I think so. When I hurt I should pray, and God will help me. He’s my friend.”

  Kate grinned and squeezed the child to her. “Exactly. How does that apply to your fretting over your mother and not learning in school?”

  Anna shrugged, eyes downcast.

  “Have you asked God to help you?”

  Anna shook her head.

  “Why not?” prompted Kate.

  Anna looked up at Kate with large tearful eyes. “I forgot.”

  Kate embraced the sweet child again. “Of course, dear, we all forget.” Kate searched Anna’s face and asked, “But what should you do now?”

  Anna’s face lit up. “Just what He wants me to!”

  Gently Kate prodded, “And what is that, Anna?”

  Putting her finger to her cheek, she contemplated, and then answered sweetly, “I tell Jesus how I hurt and ask Him to make me feel better. Oh! I know!” she exclaimed. “I’ll also ask Him to let my mother come back.”

  Kate smiled. “You are a very smart girl. Will you also ask Jesus to help you learn in school?”

  Anna nodded.

  “Trust that God will do whatever is best for you because you believe it to be true.”

  “He will, won’t He?” she asked with a beautiful smile that lit up her blue eyes until they gleamed like the sea at sunrise.

  “He will,” Kate assured her. “Just don’t forget to trust Him and talk to Him every single day.”

  “I promise.”

  “Me, too.” Another voice in the room jarred the teacher and pupil.

  “Josh!” Anna exclaimed. “Have you come for me already?”

  “It’s four o’clock. If Miss Hunter is finished with you, run out and jump into the carriage. It’s Ayda’s night off, so we’re going to Lucy’s Restaurant for dinner tonight.”

  “Really?” Anna flung a happy look at Kate. She jumped up and addressed her teacher earnestly, “I love eating at Lucy’s, especially the dessert!” She ran toward the door. “See you tomorrow, Miss Hunter, and I promise to learn!” She dashed out the door.

  Kate smiled and shook her head. “What an inspiring young lady!”

  “She is that, isn’t she?” Josh’s eyes sparkled with pride. “Anna is the dearest thing in my life,” the wide-shouldered man whispered softly.

  “I overheard some of the things you said to her. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…yet once I began listening, I couldn’t help myself. I liked what you told her. I’ve tried to say those very things to her, but they never came out the same. Thank you.” The powerful, muscular man moved toward the door with surprising grace.

  “Wait!” Kate called. “May I ask you a personal question?”

  He gave a forced smile and a terse nod.

  Kate looked at Josh Redfield pleadingly. “In the name of God, can you tell me where your wife is?”

  Josh Redfield’s face darkened with an unreadable emotion. “Because you’ve asked out of concern for Anna and not just idle curiosity or to gossip, I’ll give you the most truthful answer I’ve given anyone yet to that question: Miss Hunter, I don’t have a wife.”

  Before she could comprehend the meaning of his words, he was gone.

  “Dear God,” she moaned. “Joanna Redfield is dead! And Josh knows it!”

  Chapter Six

  Kate was delighted with her pupils’ fervent attitudes toward learning. Arrangements were being made for Kate to board at the Kesslers’ as soon as Lydia Spencer arrived from New York. No longer did Kate dread staying with the families—except for the Redfields and Grooms—for she’d now become familiar with them. The Groom children took more effort to love, because they were always soiled and often carried the odor of unwashed flesh. How could she manage to live in such a household? Kate had not met the Grooms.

  Kate felt fortunate that the school kept her too busy to worry about Lydia’s imminent arrival. She prayed constantly that something would prevent Geoffrey from marrying this woman. He was perfect for herself. The more she saw of him on weekends and special occasions, the more she idolized him. He was her knight in shining armor, her Prince Charming, her Ivanhoe.

  Kate loved working in the shop on Saturday. She met such interesting people. One sunny, fall morning a woman who looked like a mere child came into the store. She wore her hair in one long braid, and her dress appeared old and faded, but clean.

  Her fresh face smiled broadly when she saw Kate. “You must be the teacher!”

  “I’m Kate Hunter.” She greeted.

  “My name’s Clara Mullins. I don’t have children old enough for your school yet—at least I don’t think so. That’s why I’m here. I need to find out if Randy is ready for school. All the local children are bragging about it, and he simply cannot wait!”

  Kate laughed gently. “How old is Randy?”

  “Just turned five last week. Harley, my husband, thought perhaps you could accept him.”

  “I’d have to evaluate him, but he could be ready. If you bring him out to the school on Monday before nine or after three, I’ll test him.”

  “Thank you, Miss Hunter. Is there anything I can do to help you?” She asked sincerely.

  “Please call me Kate.” She gently commented, “From what Margo tells me you have your hands quite full now. How old are your babies?”

  “Randy, the oldest, is five. Nancy will be four tomorrow; Emmet is three; Eleanor is fifteen months; and our newest is yet to come.” She patted her prominent stomach.

  “I hadn’t even noticed.” Kate blushed.

  “Thank you!” She smiled proudly. “Are you certain there isn’t anything I can do for you?”

  “There is one thing—but I hate to ask.” Kate faltered, knowing that her request was wrong. “Your mother works for the Redfields, doesn’t she?”

  Clara nodded.

  “Anna, one of my best pupils, is having problems due to what happened at home. I wondered if your mother could shed any light on what happened to Joanna Redfield. I’m not prying for the sake of gossip, you understand. I’m sincerely concerned for Anna.”

  Clara looked at her sympathetically. “I’ve heard about your devotion to your students, and I wish I could help you. However, my mother never speaks of these things. She won’t say a word either way—even to me. It’s not that she means to be difficult—“

  “I understand.” Kate thought she really did understand, for guilt at even mentioning the subject coursed through her. After all, Anna had become a model student, and only the fear that her habits might return had given Kate an excuse to ask. Her guilt intensified at the sight of her next customer.

  As Clara Mullins opened the shop door to leave, balancing a large chocolate cake, Josh Redfield appeared and held the door open for her. She and Josh greeted each other amicably enough to dispel Kate’s fear of trouble that recurred whenever Joshua Redfield appeared on the scene.

  Walking slowly to where Kate counted cookies and bundled them into dozens, he greeted her almost shyly. “Miss Hunter...” He stopped when she turned at the sound of his voice.

  “How are you this fine morning, Mr. Redfield?” Kate treated him as she would any other customer. He
was after all a parent of one of her students.

  His eyes took on a sheen of purpose. “I’m fine, thank you.” He cleared his throat nervously. “I don’t know everything you said to Anna the other day, but ever since, she’s been steadily improving. In fact, she’s almost her old, normal self!”

  Friendly, smiling, chatting in a relaxed manner, as she’d never seen him, Kate realized Josh Redfield was quite handsome in a rugged way. But as soon as she remembered what she heard about him, his good looks seemed to vanish.

  He must have sensed the change in her. “I merely stopped in to tell you and thank you.” He gave her a brief nod and walked briskly out of the shop.

  Kate had barely recuperated from Josh’s visit when Jane Kessler swung gaily into the shop, carrying a package. “‘Morning, Kate.”

  “Good morning. How are you, Mrs. Kessler?”

  “Jane, please! You make me feel ancient.” Before Kate could respond, Jane pushed the package at her. “Here, I’ve brought you a gift. Go on,” she coaxed. “Open it, I made it myself.”

  Kate untied the string in stunned silence. A gift! How exciting! Unraveling the paper carefully, Kate peeked within. Slowly she withdrew a beautiful, high-necked, black-and-gold-striped satin dress. Kate gasped with delight.

  “Oh! Jane! It’s the loveliest dress I’ve ever seen! How can I repay you? I’ve never owned such a delicately sewn dress! Your work is exquisite!”

  Jane blushed, smiling proudly; “I’d seen one similar to it on the governor’s wife, back in Philadelphia. When I saw you, I knew it would be perfect for you, so I got to work.”

  Kate sighed with delight. “But where can I wear it, here in Kansas?”

  “The holidays will soon be upon us. It would be perfect for Christmas.”

  Kate hugged Jane warmly and reminded herself, there’s always the wedding.

  “A big crowd’s gathered down by the square,” Jane said.” Someone important must have come to town. I couldn’t see much as I came in, except quite a few welcomers around the noon stage and an awful lot of luggage strapped to the top.” Jane chuckled. “Whoever it is doesn’t travel light.”

  “Hays is expecting a new editor for the newspaper. Perhaps it’s he,” offered Kate. “Maybe he brought his family, or at least his wife, with all that luggage!”

  Just then, the twins burst through the shop door. “Miss Hunter,” cried Carl breathlessly, “where’s Ma?”

  Without waiting for an answer, Earl ran toward the kitchen door. “Ma! Come quick! She’s here!”

  Jane and Kate exchanged confused looks.

  “Boys!” called Kate. “Calm down and tell us who is here.”

  While Earl dashed into the kitchen, Carl stayed and explained. “Miss Spencer! It’s Miss Spencer who’s here! Mr. Grandville sent us to get Ma, quick.”

  Kate’s throat tightened. “I see. Goodness, I thought the queen of England herself had just ridden in on the stage!”

  Margo threw her apron at Kate as she raced through the store, toward the door. “Thanks, Kate! I’ll be right back!”

  When the shop quieted again, Kate looked sadly at Jane. “Well, looks as if I’ll be moving in with your family soon.”

  “We can hardly wait!” Jane beamed. “In fact, we have so much room at our house, I don’t know why you couldn’t stay with us the whole school year.”

  Kate looked at her hopefully. “Would the school district allow that?”

  “I’ll speak to O’Brien myself, though I don’t see why we can’t,” said Jane.

  Kate examined her dress carefully. “Where did you learn to sew so expertly?”

  “My father is a tailor in Pittsburg. He came to this country from Poland. At age ten he and his brothers were sent to different homes to learn trades. My father, Tom, apprenticed with a tailor, his brother Walter learned the hotel business, and my uncle John is a barber. After their apprenticeships, they came to America, settled in Philadelphia, then Pittsburgh, and slowly worked their way into businesses of their own.” She smiled brightly. “He taught me from an early age. One of his secrets isn’t the sewing but in the steam pressing. Jane pointed out a seam in the dress. “See how flat and smooth the seam is? When you finish sewing you steam press all the seams. They become practically undetectable.

  “What a wonderful gift from your father!”

  Jane nodded. “I feel especially blessed,

  “I wish I had your gift.”

  “I can only tell you what we learned from a traveling preacher last year. Whenever Ben Hanson comes to this area, he stays with us. He always preaches on God’s gifts. He quotes Romans twelve frequently, something about each of us having different gifts from God and our using them. I don’t recall it word for word.” She laughed lightly. “Though I should: He’s quoted it enough.”

  “I’ll read it later. I never thought about having a gift that I could use for Him.”

  “I recall Ben saying ‘If you don’t know what your gift is, ask, and He’ll show you.’ Well, I knew immediately what my gift was.” Jane bowed her head. “I also know my shortcoming.”

  “Shortcoming?” Kate looked at her blankly.

  “Oh, yes! As well as being gifted, we all have our weak place. He called it our ‘Achilles heel.’ Ben says Satan knows this area and uses it to pull us away from God.”

  “Really?” Kate’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard such things.” She wondered what her Achilles heel was.

  “Mine is gossip. Whenever I hear it, my ears perk up, and it isn’t long before my ears relay it to my lips, and I’m caught with my foot in my mouth. Like the day I met you. It wasn’t Martha’s fault. She merely blurted out what she’d heard me tell Mr. Kessler about Olive Groom’s housekeeping. Fine example I set for my daughter! It’s moments like that when we realize how human we are. I must overcome that weakness—if not for myself, for my children. Next I’m going to the general store to buy enough material to make dresses for Olive and her children, to ease my conscience.

  Jane had left Kate with several things to ponder, yet she wasn’t afforded the time to do so, for in moments the shop was filled with people: Margo, Geoffrey, three handsome gentlemen, and a young woman, who must be Geoffrey’s intended.

  Kate’s eyes flew immediately to Lydia Spencer and studied her. So this is the woman Geoffrey wants to marry? Kate had pictured her as beautiful and petite.

  Geoffrey introduce Lydia, and his friends: Reginald Stafford, Mitchell Hadden, and Luther Aldrich.

  Lydia was plain, plump, and dressed frumpishly. What, thought Kate, would attract an aristocratic man like Geoffrey, used to the fine ladies of London, to a woman who has no sense of dress?

  After being introduced, Kate had to admit the other woman immediately responded with a warm, loving smile that lighted up her face and made her look almost pretty.

  All right, Kate admitted. Geoffrey probably knows she has a charming smile

  When all the commotion had calmed down and Elmer had carried in Lydia’s many bags, Margo pulled Kate aside. “I need to speak to you,” she whispered.

  Kate nodded.

  “I’m sorry, but we’ll need your room sooner than I’d thought…” Margo tried to explain.

  Lydia approached them and interrupted earnestly, “No. I won’t hear of Kate giving up her room because of me. Is the room large enough? We’ll share it.”

  Taken by surprise, Margo hesitated. “I suppose it is—“

  “Good. Then Kate and I will be shipmates!” Lydia exclaimed with childlike excitement. “If that’s acceptable to you, that is, Kate?” Lydia gazed at her expectantly.

  Kate felt cornered and suddenly confused. How could she politely object? Everyone would think she was horrid if she turned down such a friendly, generous offer. Yet how could she possibly room with the woman who is betrothed to the man she loved?

  “You know,” remarked Margo, “that would work out just fine, if you girls don’t mind being cramped—for a week at the most.” She turned to Kate. “Would you
stay at least another week, to teach Lydia the running of the store? The only way Lydia will accept our hospitality is if we let her work for her keep.” Margo winked. “I know exactly how to keep Lydia busy; don’t I, Kate?”

  “Yes, but it’s fun. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

  “Then I’m sure I shall, like it too,” agreed the rosy-cheeked Lydia.

  “I hope you won’t be too busy for me?” Geoffrey walked over and put his arm about his betrothed’s waist. “I can’t believe you’re finally here—and early, too!”

  Lydia smiled coyly. She was short and a bit on the plump side with straight brown hair. She had dimples that added charisma to her constant smile. She wouldn’t be called pretty, or ugly. She was just sort of plain.

  “How do you like the West, so far?” Geoffrey asked Lydia.

  “Truthfully?” she asked, a worried look in her eyes.

  “Naturally,” Geoffrey laughed.

  Lydia’s mouth trembled slightly, her ever-ready smile faded, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh! It’s horrid here! How can I ever learn to stand the dirt, the emptiness, and all those rough men?” Her eyes darted for a quick escape, but in this strange house, she didn’t know where to flee. Her face took on a look of panic, before large tears tumbled from her eyes.

  “Sweetheart!” Geoffrey cried, reaching out for her.

  Seeing Lydia’s dilemma, Kate naturally jumped into action; without hesitation, she grabbed Lydia’s hand and pulled her briskly from the room. Kate called over her shoulder; “We’ll be down in plenty of time for lunch. We need time to freshen up, is all.”

  Chapter Seven

  Opening the door to the bedroom, Kate stood frozen in momentary shock. Crates and suitcases crammed the space. Wherever would they both find room? What on earth had this woman brought with her?

  Lydia swayed in Kate’s grasp.

  “Are you all right? Lydia?” Kate asked, truly concerned.

  The other woman sniffled, blew her nose, pocketed her handkerchief, and forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just tired from traveling, I guess. I just need a good lie down for a few minutes.”