Dangerous Illusions (Hearts of Hays Series #1)

by Barbara Goss

  Kate looked doubtful. “I wish I knew for sure.”

  “Then believe it.” Margo smiled. “And enjoy your stay here.”

  “I shall, anyway,” Kate said, rubbing her hand across the richly polished furniture. “I shall.”

  Margo walked over to the closet and opened the door. “This closet is about the size of the room you and Lydia shared.”

  “I know.” Kate joined her. “I’ll never fill it up even with my large wardrobe.”

  “They must have cleaned out Joanna’s things in a hurry to make room for you. Wonder where they stored them all?” Margo said, running her hand along the shelf over the hanging rod. “No dust.”

  “Look here,” Kate said pointing to three drawers built into the closet wall. “I can hide my personal things...” She halted and pointed to the floor. “Is that yours?” A shiny, heart-shaped object lay on the hardwood floor, near the chest.

  Margo’s hand flew to the charm hanging from the chain around her neck. “No. I have mine.” She bent over and picked up the small piece of jewelry. “It’s a locket!”

  Kate gasped. “Do you think it’s Joanna’s?”

  Margo looked thoughtful. “The initials engraved on it are JMR, so it must be. I recall her wearing something like this at one of the meetings. It kept reflecting from the lamps and shining.”

  “Can we open it?” Kate asked.

  “Why not?” Margo opened the locket, and they both peered at it blankly. “I suppose if we took it over by the window, we’d see it better.”

  They walked to the windows and examined the pictures within the locket.

  “That’s Arthur Redfield!” Exclaimed Kate. “But who is the woman?”

  Margo shrugged. “Not Joanna.”

  “You’re sure it’s her locket?”

  “It looks like hers. The initials begin with a J and end with an R. Who else could it have belonged to?”

  “But why would she have a picture of her father-in-law and some woman in her locket?”

  Margo turned the locket over in her hand. “I don’t know, Kate.” She handed it to her. “You keep it. Maybe Anna will know who the woman is.”

  Kate carefully placed the heart inside the top drawer of the bedside table. “Will you stay and help me unpack?”

  Margo smiled. “Certainly. That’s why I’m here.” She shook her finger at Kate. “Don’t think you’ll be rid of me by moving, for I’ll visit you often. Count on it!”

  “Do you think I’ll still see…?” Kate stopped. She couldn’t ask if she’d see Geoffrey. What would Margo think? “The others,” she finished. “You know, Elmer, Carl, Earl, Lydia, and Geoffrey.” That sounded better, she decided.

  Margo gave her a sweet, motherly smile. “My! You did take to my family, didn’t you?” She sighed. “I wish I’d had another room…”

  Kate fidgeted with discomfort. Some of it was true, she told herself. She did like Elmer and the twins. But she’d not miss them. She would miss seeing Geoffrey. How would she ever win him from here?

  “Margo,” she said with determination, “there’s something I’d like to discuss with you while we unpack.” As they began putting clothes into drawers, Kate continued, “It’s about Lydia and Geoffrey. They’re making a big mistake.”

  “How’s that?” Margo asked, paying little attention.

  “They’re all wrong for each other.”

  Margo suddenly gave Kate her full attention. “Wrong for each other? What do you mean, Kate?”

  Kate suddenly wished she’d planned this conversation instead of plunging into it. “I’m fond of both of them and can see they are not well matched for marriage.”

  “Why ever not?” Margo asked, shocked by Kate’s admission.

  “Lydia’s a wonderful young woman, but not at all for Geoffrey. He needs someone who can cook, clean and run a country household.… and…” she fumbled for the right word.

  “Kate! What’s wrong with Lydia? I thought you liked her? She thinks the world of you.”

  “I do like her. But she isn’t what I’d pictured for Geoffrey.”

  Margo shook her head. “But she’s warm, loving, caring, and sincere, not to mention good-natured, loyal, and old- fashioned. Geoffrey loves her!”

  “Could be mere infatuation, or just convenient, perhaps?”

  “Convenient? When she had to come all the way from New York?”

  “Doesn’t he want someone who will become more of a pioneer’s wife than the Victorian women are?”

  “True, he did mention once that he didn’t like the uncommitted attitude of the Victorian women—or the men, for that matter. He asked me to teach her things, but he would have had me teach anyone. I wouldn’t worry about Geoffrey and Lydia. Kate; they’ll be fine.”

  “Lydia will never adjust; she doesn’t even like it here.”

  “Kate, please don’t worry. It’s several months before the wedding. If they aren’t compatible, it will show up before then.”

  Kate decided further argument would be wasted on Margo. She didn’t understand.

  “How did he meet Lydia anyway?” she asked.

  “Why, I don’t know exactly. He spent a few months in New York City before coming west. I suppose he met her then,” Margo said, shaking out Kate’s dresses. “Shall we hang these in the closet?”

  Kate laughed. “At least we won’t have to worry about them getting crushed in that mammoth closet.”

  After hanging the garments, Margo put her arms around Kate. “Is something else bothering you?”

  Kate shook her head.

  “All that concern over Lydia and Geoffrey is futile. Worry about your own Prince Charming.” Margo tweaked Kate’s cheeks. “Sometimes people fall in love without respect to ‘types.’ “

  “They do?” Kate said without enthusiasm, for she still worried about never seeing Geoffrey.

  “Of course. Look at Buzz and Nancy Balcomb!” Margo asked, “Can you say they’re just the same?”

  Chapter Ten

  The thought of going down to dinner frightened Kate more than coming to live at Hannah House had. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror of the dressing table, she wondered how many times Joanna had stood before it, dreading something.

  Kate scolded herself. Why should dining with the Redfields fill her with trepidation? Arthur’s sour disposition? No. It was Josh she felt uncomfortable about. Why? Because of all she’d heard about him.

  Taking the locket from the bedside table, she turned it over in her hand, wondering about Joanna. She rubbed the smooth surface of the golden heart against her cheek. Ouch! She jerked the piece from her face and examined it. The ring connecting the heart to the chain appeared jagged, as if ripped off violently. Had someone yanked the locket from Joanna’s neck? Kate wondered. Certainly it hadn’t fallen off accidentally. She doubted anyone would remove such a precious piece of jewelry so carelessly.

  Shaking her head, Kate put the locket back into the drawer. Had there been foul play involved? Or had Joanna merely disappeared or… Stop it! I mustn’t think on those lines!

  Kate blew out the lamp and left the room. Determinedly she headed toward the staircase.

  She wouldn’t think about what people were saying about Joshua Redfield. She’d concentrate on the things Margo had pointed out about him. Think positive, she told herself as she walked down the stairs. To bolster her courage, Kate had put on the dress Jane Kessler had given her. The delicate skirt gently whispered her progress down the steps.

  Anna sat on the bottom step, with head in her hands, waiting. She jumped up at the sound of Kate’s descent. “I’m waiting to take you to dinner,” she explained anxiously. “Do you like it here?”

  Kate laughed lightly. “But Anna, I’ve only just come. So far it is extremely pleasant.” She looked about the deserted downstairs. “Your home is breathtaking.”

  “Breathtaking? You can’t breathe?” She asked in alarm, grabbing her teacher’s hand.

  “Yes, I can breathe,” Kate smiled
. “It means so lovely it sort of takes your breath away, but only for a second...”

  “Like a surprise?” she asked, skipping beside Kate.

  “Yes, exactly.”

  “Josh said I could sit next to you. Aren’t you glad?”

  “It makes me very happy,” Kate said as they entered the formal dining room.

  Again Kate lost her breath. The table was clothed in green, with silver candleholders and tableware. Flowers decorated the center, arranged in a large basket. To the right stood another elegant silver candelabrum, upon a buffet that displayed colorful spreads of various foods.

  By the window Josh Redfield stood, talking to his father. Both were dressed formally and would have taken her breath away if the dining room scene hadn’t already done so. Kate was especially taken aback by Josh’s new look. His beard and mustache no longer grew thick and wild but had been trimmed and groomed carefully. He no longer looked quite so fierce and untamed.

  Josh’s eyes lit up when she walked into the room, but he only muttered a quick “Good evening.” It was left to Arthur Redfield to say, “My, what a vision you are, Miss Hunter. I hardly expected such stylishness in Kansas.”

  She smiled and turned toward the table. Which of the ten or more chairs was meant for her? Only the four place settings at the far end, with one prominently placed at the table’s head, gave her a clue.

  “Sit here!” Anna cried, patting the seat of a gold brocade chair with carved light-colored-wood legs.

  “Let’s eat,” Arthur barked, taking the seat across from Anna, who sat beside her father, at the head of the table.

  Kate silently slid into the chair beside Anna. Never in her whole twenty-one years had she felt more uncomfortable, despite her fine dress. The most formal dinner she’d ever attended had been supper at her minister’s parsonage, when her mother was in childbirth with Benji. She trembled within, remembering how she’d spilled her water glass and had run from the room in tears. Of course Mrs. Lewis had run after her and assured her that no one minded. Would anyone mind if she spilled something here? Surely they would. How could she manage to eat under these conditions? She yearned to be back at the kitchen table on their farm or even back at Margo’s.

  While dishes were passed, she spooned a little of each onto her plate and wondered how she had felt herself more suitable for Geoffrey than Lydia Spencer. Lydia probably came from a more socially acceptable family than she did. Dressing with more taste and a good education weren’t enough; she’d realized the moment she’d sat down at this elaborate table. Would the Redfields notice, from her manners, that she wasn’t familiar with this type of dining?

  After Josh said grace, Kate put her first forkful to her mouth, chewed automatically, without tasting, and swallowed painfully. No one spoke! She wished this meal over quickly.

  To Kate’s relief Anna broke some of the tension at the table. “We don’t always eat like this,” she whispered to Kate. “It’s because of my grandfather.” Anna smiled and said knowingly, “He’s used to eating like this in London.”

  Kate cast a quick look at Arthur, who frowned at his granddaughter. “Did you say something, miss? If so, say it loud enough for all of us to hear.”

  Feeling responsible for Anna’s scolding, Kate cleared her throat and said feebly, “She was telling me you’re from London.”

  The old man smiled proudly. “Born within the sound of the bells, I am.”

  “I’ve always wanted to visit England. It’s such a fascinating country,” Kate said. She noticed that conversing made the meal seem less tense.

  “London is stuffy,” remarked Joshua. “This country is much more to my liking.”

  “Humph!” Sneered Arthur. “Primitive, I call it.”

  “Father, it’s called country living!”

  “Country! If that’s all you wanted, you could have moved to Plymouth or Penzance. You didn’t have to move across the ocean to live in the country!” Arthur nearly shouted.

  “My dear father,” Josh said in a humoring tone. “You know nothing back in England can compare with this. Did you see the richness of the soil? The vastness of the plains? There is only one place I’d trade this for, and that’s California. I’ve heard—“

  “That’s even farther west!” Arthur sputtered. Picking up his fork, he waved it at Joshua. “You and Joanna just wanted to get away from me. Didn’t you?”

  She hardly blamed Joshua, for she could see that once Arthur had an idea, he held to it as firmly as a wolf grasped its prey.

  Joshua frowned, and his voice hardened ruthlessly, “This is not the place to discuss that subject.”

  “I’ve been here a week, and you haven’t shown me a place to discuss it yet!” Arthur spat. “How long do you think I’m planning on staying in this God-forsaken place?”

  “We’ll discuss this later—“ Joshua’s voice held warning.

  “When?” Arthur pressed. “And where is Joanna? No one has given me a satisfying answer on that subject. Just where is she?”

  Embarrassed, Joshua Redfield glanced at Kate and Anna. “You’ll have to excuse my father; he’s always been high-strung.” To Arthur he ground between clenched teeth, “Later!”

  Before Arthur could erupt again, Josh addressed Kate. “Mr. O’Brien stopped by today and informed me that there will be no school for the remainder of the week. He’ll let us know Sunday, in church, if it will reopen next week. It depends on how many of the children get sick.”

  Kate nodded and once again thought how with his trimmed beard and mustache he actually was rather handsome, in a rugged way. “I see. Well, Anna and I can hold our own school. That will keep us busy.”

  Joshua’s eyes swept over her approvingly. “What a splendid idea! You may use the den. It has a desk and several full bookcases. Also feel free to borrow any book that appeals to you.”

  Kate thanked him and felt relieved when, a few moments later, he excused himself and his father so they might converse privately in the den. With the men gone, Kate realized how good the food actually tasted.

  “Where’s Mrs. Simcox?” Kate asked Anna.

  “She eats in the kitchen or in her room.”

  “Why?”

  “Josh asked her to eat with us, but she won’t. I think she doesn’t like eating with my grandfather.”

  “How do you dine when your grandfather isn’t here?”

  Anna tilted her head and thought for several moments. “We don’t use these.” She picked up the silver tableware. “They’re just for parties.

  “We have the smaller table in the kitchen, and Mrs. Simcox puts on a white one of these,” she fingered the green cloth before her. “The candles go in those.” She pointed to some pewter candleholders.

  “It’s more fun eating with Josh and Mrs. Simcox. We laugh more and don’t feel so—”

  “Stuffy?” Kate helped.

  Anna giggled. “You know big words. Will I ever be as smart as you?”

  Kate smiled knowingly. “It’s my job to see that you are!” I am hoping that by using big words when speaking to you, that it will improve your vocabulary, which is already very good for your age.”

  On her way through the living room to the stairway, Kate overheard arguing male voices, through the door just beyond the stairway, which she supposed led to the den. She wondered, as she climbed the stairs, what caused such disagreement. Had Josh told Arthur about Joanna’s disappearance?

  Alone in her room, Kate went to the window to close her drapes. She looked down on the lighted room where Josh and Arthur talked. Arthur, standing by the window, with his hands in his pockets, seemed aggravated. What could Josh be telling him? Kate watched him stare out the window, shaking his head in defeat—or was it confusion or even exasperation?

  Closing the drapes, Kate prepared for bed. Before blowing out the lamp, she took the locket from the bedside drawer. Rubbing its smooth side with her fingers, she wondered what it would say, could it talk. Would the heart tell her how it got yanked from its chain?
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  Kate put her hand inside her skirt pocket and felt for the locket. Fingering the necklace slowly, she watched Anna doing her lesson and wondered how to ask her about it. Would seeing it upset her? She didn’t want to remind Anna of her loss. Kate gazed out the window and automatically looked up toward her own bedroom window. This must be where Arthur Redfield had stood last night. She admired the gardens below her window and noticed Arthur sitting on a bench, staring blankly. What had Joshua told him last night to make him appear so old and defeated today?

  “I’m finished,” Anna said proudly, holding her paper high above her head. “If I have all the answers right, will you take me riding?”

  Kate slid into her chair behind the desk. “Do you ride?”

  Anna nodded. “My horse is named Lightning. Can you tell how fast he is?”

  Kate chuckled, “Is there a slower horse for me to ride?” Kate asked.

  “Sure. My mom’s horse, Loco.”

  “Loco?” Kate asked in surprise. “What sort of name is that?”

  “He can spin round in circles, so Mom let me name him Loco.”

  “Have you heard from your mother or had any news about her?” Kate asked cautiously.

  Anna seemed to hesitate so long and Kate had to practically strain to hear it, “No.”

  “Yet, you seem so much happier,” tested Kate.

  “I’m talking to God, like you said to.”

  Letting out a breath of relief, Kate pulled the locket from her pocket. “Whose is this, Anna?” She held the heart out in the palm of her hand.

  Anna looked, and her eyes widened. “Where’d you find that? That’s my mama’s!”

  “I thought it might be. I found it on the floor in the closet of my room.”

  “That’s my mama’s room. She must have dropped it. Did you see the pictures inside?”

  “Yes. The man is your grandfather, but who is the lovely young woman? Not your mother?”

  “No. That’s Hannah Redfield, my grandmamma, Josh’s mama.”