Lucas and Peggy Ann. It dawned on him, his friends had seen to cleaning up the mess he'd left behind. Shoulders slumped forward, Jackson headed to the kitchen.
Sure enough, on the table there was a note. Peggy Ann's florid writing instructed him to head to her house as soon as he returned from town, without hesitation, no matter the hour.
It was too late to go now. He wouldn't show up at this hour, no matter what Peggy Ann's note said. He'd go tomorrow, or not. He doubted anything Peggy Ann would say in Adeline's defense would change the way things stood. Adeline had not denied any of Johnson's accusations.
Why had he hoped she had returned? Even if she did, he'd have to send her back to her husband. It would not be right to live with another man's wife, no matter how he felt about her.
He went to the larder, his eyes scanning the shelves. Adeline had been busy storing food for the winter. Every surface was covered with neatly lined jars of fruits and vegetables, each marked with identifying name and date. She'd planned to be here for a long time.
Buck had followed him in, and he trotted around the kitchen table when Jackson sat down. "Well, looks like it's just you and me now, Buck," he told the dog, who settled into the corner of the room, head on his paws, watching him. "We might as well get used to it, because I'll be damned if I'll trust a woman again."
After his head bobbed and he almost fell off the chair, Jackson stood. Not able to put it off any longer, he went to lie down in the large bed only to toss and turn.
Adeline.
The bed smelled sweet, of lavender. Adeline's soap. He growled in anger and stormed to Heath's room to sleep. Tomorrow he'd tear the linens off the bed and burn them. In the dark room, Jackson didn't fare any better. His mind kept replaying those minutes when he'd returned after the drive. He couldn't erase the pleading in Adeline's eyes and her wince at the bruising crush of Johnson's fingers on her arm.
What if Johnson hurt her? He shouldn't care, but he did. There was no denying, he'd kill the man if he found out he harmed her. Of course, they were probably almost to Virginia by now, and he had to accept the fact he'd never see her again.
Maybe he wasn't meant to have a family, but to live alone. There was no way in hell he'd even try again to share his life with a woman. Instead, he'd tend to the farm and keep it up until Heath decided to settle down. Then he'd build a cabin up closer to town and spend the rest of his years fishing and raising herding dogs or something. Jackson laughed out loud at his thoughts.
Whatever his future held, one thing was definite. It did not include Adeline.
The next day, when Jackson awoke, the fire had gone out and the room was chilled. He didn't have to wonder long how he'd managed to stay warm through the night. Butch lay beside him, not bothering to budge as Jackson rolled out of bed.
He went to the front of the house, dressed, and started a fire. Minutes later, the fire helped dispel the coolness of the house, and Jackson sat at the kitchen table a cup of coffee between his hands. Peggy Ann had left some bread, which he ate along with ham he'd found in the larder.
A horse and cart approached, and Jackson didn't have to wonder who it was. Peggy Ann must have seen the smoke from his chimney and was not waiting for him to come to her.
The petite woman stormed into the room without knocking. Her fiery eyes flew from his face to his coffee cup. "Listen here, Jackson, you need to be going after your wife, not sitting here relaxing like everything isn't about as bad as it could get."
"You have no idea what you’re talking about Peggy Ann. With all due respect, there is much you don’t know." Jackson took another sip of coffee, purposely not moving.
She stared at him with disbelief at his lack of reaction.
"What do you know about Adeline not being here?" he asked her, wishing he didn't have to talk about his wife.
"Earl told us when he came to give you the news about Heath, you were here by yourself and Adeline was gone. He said you must have torn up the house in a rage, 'cause your hands were cut up." Peggy Ann pinned him with an angry glare. "I know she lied about Billy Johnson, but when I convinced her to tell you the whole truth, I didn't think you'd go to the extreme of throwing her out."
Jackson could only stare at the woman; it was his turn to give her an incredulous look. "You expected me to stay with her after... everything?" He stood, no longer able to act nonchalant. "Peggy Ann, why would I stay with her knowing she belongs to another man? And she worked in a whorehouse?"
"What?" Peggy Ann walked to him and clutched the front of his shirt, her face inches from his. "What are you talking about, Jackson? True, she made a mistake. She gave herself to Billy Johnson since they were engaged, but that doesn't mean she belongs to him."
"They are married." Jackson spoke slowly, wondering why Adeline had told Peggy Ann so much more than she'd admitted to him.
"No, they are not," she replied in a high-pitched voice. "Who told you that?"
"Billy Johnson. He was here when I returned from the cattle drive."
Peggy Ann blanched and put her hand to her heart, her eyes wide and mouth agape. She waited for him to continue.
"He was confronting her, and they were fighting. He told me they were married."
"Wh-What did Adeline say?"
Jackson closed his eyes, not wanting to relive the day. "She just kept repeating 'no', then she said not to believe him."
"Oh God." Peggy Ann covered her face with her hands. "Oh God, Jackson, what have you done?"
"What have I done?" Jackson yelled, then took a breath. He didn't want to lose his temper. Peggy Ann was with child and probably just overreacting. "Do you think it was easy for me to let him take her away? Don't you think I wish things were different? I wanted to fight for her, tell him to leave her alone and never come back here, but I am not going to come between a man and his wife. Hell, I would have probably even forgiven her working at the whorehouse."
"Oh goodness Jackson, its exactly what you did." Tears flowed down Peggy Ann's cheeks. "Billy Johnson lied. He and Adeline never married. The reason she left Virginia a few days after they were intimate was because she found him with another woman. He hit her, then went to her father and told him they had to get married right away in case she was with child." Peggy Ann continued relentlessly, "Her father dragged her from bed and beat her senseless and told her she'd marry Billy the next day. It became clear her choices were to either live with a man who would abuse her or run. She chose to run. She asked for asylum at a local brothel, where she worked as a housekeeper. They are the ones who helped her with the money to come out west. Adeline never sold her body, Jackson."
Peggy Ann's sob was the only sound in the room. Jackson stood frozen his eyes glued to her while waiting for all the information to sink in. "Why would he come all this way then? It makes no sense. Think about it Peggy-Ann."
"It does, too, make sense. Billy Johnson's pride wasn't about to let her get away from him, and he probably cares for Adeline in his own infirmed way. Besides, her father owns a lot of land, which he must have his eye on."
An icy feeling crawled up Jackson's spine. "Peggy Ann, do you sincerely believe what you're telling me?"
"She wrote a letter to the women at the brothel, and I read it. She gave them the good news that she'd married a wonderful man. She also thanked them for helping her when she'd run from her father and Billy."
She placed her hand on his arm. "Understand her, Jackson. Adeline panicked. She meant to tell you everything, but she was intimated by your sense of honor. She had convinced herself you wouldn't forgive her, so she held back."
"She told you all this?"
With a firm nod, Peggy Ann continued. "Yes, before you left she told me, that and also what happened at the creek... uh..." Peggy Ann flushed. "She said you asked her to tell you the truth, and she wanted to, but she feared you would think her a woman without morals for leaving her fiancé. She cares for you, Jackson, and she feared losing you, but she didn't want any lies between you. Upon your return
, she was prepared to tell you Billy Johnson was not dead."
"I have to go." Jackson stumbled around the room, trying to decide what to grab first. "I have to go," he repeated.
"There's something more you have to know." Peggy Ann bit her bottom lip, her rounded eyes staring straight at his.
"Adeline is expecting."
"What?"
Peggy Ann pressed her lips together. "She found out she's expecting, and she wanted to tell you that, too."
"Is it mine?"
"The odds are it is." Peggy Ann's cheeks flushed. "Well… you know, um… only once with him."
"Yeah, I know what you're saying."
Jackson escorted Peggy Ann back to her house. He went to the barn to find Lucas. Not certain how long he'd be gone, he had to make sure Lucas would rehire one of the farm hands they'd employed for the cattle drive to oversee things at home for him.
Lucas glanced up just as Jackson walked into the dimly-lit building. Jackson waited for his eyes to adjust and leaned on a stall while Lucas continued to milk the cow. He told Lucas about all he'd discussed with Peggy Ann.
"I wish Peggy Ann had told me about all this before we left. All of this could have been prevented." Lucas leaned back and scratched his head. "I'm sorry, Jackson, it's been a hell of rough time for you since we got home."
"What's done is done -- wishing it away doesn't help. I'm going after her."
Lucas squinted up at him. "Where exactly, Jackson? You can't possibly know where the man took her. I'm willing to bet you they didn't go straight to Virginia, because he doesn't want you to find her."
"I considered that," Jackson replied. "But what choice do I have? I can't stay here and do nothing. Maybe I'll get lucky. Traveling alone, I can move faster."
He watched Lucas scratch his head in thought. "Did Adeline have a journal or anything of the type?"
"She didn't," Peggy Ann replied, moving to stand next to Lucas. "Adeline told me a bit about Billy Johnson. She said he always talked about moving to Memphis, so she assumed after they married, they'd settle there. From what she said, he planned to stay away from Virginia until they could live on her family's land, which I suppose would be after her father died."
"Jackson." Lucas stood and faced him. "I would come with you..."
"No," Jackson stopped him. "Peggy Ann needs you. Besides, one of us needs to stay to look after things here. Do you think you could get Carl back? He can keep an eye on my place and stay in the bunkhouse in the rear of the barn. Hopefully he hasn't found another job yet."
"He hasn't," Lucas replied. “I just saw Carl yesterday. Said he was staying in town for a few days until something came along. Asked me to put the word out for him.”
"Good, that's good," Jackson told his friend as he made his way outside. He looked over his shoulder at Peggy-Ann. "Thank you for being a good friend to Adeline. I'll do my best to bring her back."
"I'll pray for you." Peggy Ann sniffed and wiped a tear away. "I've already been praying for Adeline"
"I sure could use God's help right now." Jackson replied. Peggy Ann nodded and blinked which did not keep her tears from spilling down her face.
Lucas rushed out to catch up with him. "I forgot to ask. How's Heath? Should we get word to him?"
"He's recovering. Tell him I've gone to find my wife. I imagine he'll be staying at the house as soon as he's well enough to travel. It's what he was planning anyway."
They shook hands and Jackson mounted up.
He headed northeast the first of many long days.
Shoulders hunched against the cold, Jackson stared into the campfire and gnawed on a piece of the rabbit he'd cooked earlier. It'd been fourteen days that he'd ridden without results, stopping in small towns to ask of a man with a red haired woman in tow. So far his inquiries had garnered nothing of use.
Where was Adeline and what was she going through at the moment? He took in the darkening sky. "Lord, please guide me to where she is. Not for me, but for her. Don't let her suffer for my mistake."
Guilt twisted a painful knot in his chest and he let out a groan. Just then movement caught his attention. A piece of meat still dangled from his mouth, as he drew his gun from the holster and watched the figure in the shadows of the trees. The Indian hesitated at the edge of the woods, and his eyes flickered to the carcass on the spit then to Jackson's gun. Behind him, Jackson spotted a horse tied to a tree.
Clearly, if the native wanted him dead, he would already have sunk an arrow into him. With deliberate slowness, Jackson replaced his gun. The man studied him, and then again his gaze lingered on the food over the fire.
"Help yourself." Jackson gestured toward the meat and to the log across from him. "I'm not very hungry anyway."
The stranger seemed to understand his gestures, and immediately limped toward him. It appeared that he'd been seriously injured some time ago. The man dragged his left leg and his left arm was hanging limp and useless. The Indian sat on the fallen tree across from him, reached for the meat on the spit, and devoured the meal, his grateful eyes darting to Jackson. When he'd eaten the rest of the rabbit, Jackson poured water from his canteen and held it out to him. The man drank deeply and bowed his head in gratitude.
"Do you speak English?" Jackson asked.
The Indian gave him a blank stare. He didn't understand him. With his right hand, he took a beaded strap from around his neck and held it out to Jackson, bobbing his head, urging him to accept it. Jackson took the proffered gift and returned the nod. He placed the leather strap around his own neck while the man watched, his lips curving into a half smile.
When the Indian got up, Jackson motioned for him to wait. He went to his saddlebag and retrieved a bag of dried meat. "I know you don't understand me, but this is for you. I'm hoping you are a test sent by God and if I help you, He'll help me find my wife."
The man reached for the bag with a curious expression on his face. His eyes widened when he saw what the sack held. Their eyes locked in mutual understanding of his appreciation.
After the Indian left, Jackson watered the horse and made sure it was in a grassy place to graze and then lay on his bedroll.
Tomorrow he'd be in Memphis and hopefully closer to finding Adeline.
Chapter Sixteen
All week Adeline had not felt well, and now she couldn't shake the chills. For two days she'd barely left the bed, except when the frigid room forced her to add wood to the fire. Today she'd been coughing and feverish all day.
When the cramping began, there was no denying what was happening. Pains sliced through her stomach as she lay in the lumpy bed, curled into a ball, and clutched her mid-section. Strong contractions began clenching inside her, coming closer and closer together, and she screamed in agony. Maybe someone passing by would hear her and help her get to a doctor. "Help!" Her cry was cut off when a new pain began.
For hours she lay there in the grimy room and held her stomach, not able to do anything but cry as the cramps increased in severity. Perspiration mixed with tears as Adeline prayed. "Please God, don't punish my baby for what I did. I will do my best to give him a good life, I promise. Just let my child live."
She'd never felt so alone, so isolated, lying in the darkness waiting for the worst to happen. Unable to do more than pray.
An idea formed. Billy would probably come home to find her dead, but for some reason, the idea of dying did not frighten her. Her only regrets were that she didn't tell Jackson the whole truth and that she'd never see him again. And now this baby, who could possibly be Jackson's, would in all probability die.
Her innocent child was now suffering the consequences of her lie, and maybe she'd pay with her own life, too.
If she'd remained in Four Winds, perhaps she would have carried the baby to full term, but fate had different plans for her. She accepted it, as darkness threatened to draw her under. Too weak to cry anymore, Adeline could only whimper when the cramps became so intense she could barely breathe.
"What's wrong with you?"
Billy stood over her, blinking down at her as if trying to focus.
"I'm-I'm in a lot of pain -- and bleeding. I think I'm losing the baby. Help me, I think I'm dying." She clenched her jaw to keep from crying out. "I need a doctor."
"I'm not wasting money on a damn doctor," Billy replied. "Here." He picked up her head and poured liquid down her throat. The alcohol burned her throat, choking her. She sputtered and coughed while blinking away tears.
"Look." She ripped the top blanket away so he could see.
"Adeline, you're bleeding something fierce." Billy's eyes widened at the growing bloodstain underneath her.
"I'll go get Jolene." He stumbled from the room.
It felt like an hour later when Billy returned, tugging a complaining woman into the room.
Jolene wasn't much help, other than occasionally mopping Adeline's brow. She wrung her hands and sat tensely next to the bed, her nervous eyes darting to her and then away. "I think you lost a baby," Jolene told her, studying her for a reaction. "I've never seen so much blood."
The cramping began to subside, and finally it stopped. Adeline closed her eyes and grimaced as she pushed herself to a sitting position. "Can you help me clean up, please?" She asked Jolene, who bobbed her head, her eyes glued to the bloody blankets.
"Yes, of course. We need to get rid of the mess so you can rest." Seeming to be glad for something to do, Jolene heated water and helped her clean up. The bleeding had lessened, and the woman even brought her some watery soup and ensured she ate.
By the next evening, Adeline had recovered enough to sit up in a chair.
Her child was gone. Each thought of the innocent being brought a tightening to her chest. She wrapped her arms about her waist and allowed tears to flow freely down her cheeks. Rocking in place, Adeline wondered if the babe were to be a boy or girl. She wiped at the tears with the back of her hand and took a haggard breath. She'd always dreamed of having children, a family, but life had dealt her a different hand.
Where The Four Winds Collide Page 11