Everett stirred.
Hubert leaned forward and gently touched a finger to Everett’s unscathed left hand. “I’m here, son.”
A faint groan sounded from Everett’s lips, and he moved his head slightly, a wince defining his forehead.
Doc Vogel glanced at his watch. “He’s not due for another dose of laudanum for two hours. We’ll wait to clean off any more dead skin and tissue until we can give him more pain medication.”
“Father?”
Unspeakable joy filled Hubert at the sound of Everett’s voice, however weak. “Yes, son, I’m here.”
“The quieter he stays the less pain he’ll have,” Doc Vogel advised. “I’ll let you have a little time together, then he needs to rest.”
Everett blinked. “Father, you’re all right. Doctor Vogel told me you were, but I had to see for myself.”
“Yes, I’m fine, son. Pearl is going to be all right as well, thanks to you. We both owe you our lives.”
A slight shake of Everett’s head accompanied the tiny dip of his eyebrows. “It wasn’t me.”
Hubert frowned, thinking surely he’d heard Everett’s words incorrectly. Of course it had been Everett who’d dragged him and Pearl from the inferno. Sheriff Webster said so. Perhaps Everett was delusional from the medication.
“You don’t have to talk, son. Just lie quiet.” Hubert hoped his voice communicated soothing reassurance.
But Everett seemed insistent. “You don’t understand, Father. It wasn’t me. The smoke was so thick I was completely blinded. The fire was all around—all sides. Windows were breaking—”
“Shh, it’s all right, son. Just be quiet now.” But the more Hubert coaxed him to be quiet, the more determined Everett grew.
His fingers caught Hubert’s and curled around them, as though driven by an urgency to make Hubert understand. “I knew I couldn’t find you by myself. I needed help. I cried out to God—begged Him to help me find you.”
Hubert froze. Could it be? Had God answered his petition he’d prayed more times than he could count? Tears slipped down Hubert’s cheeks and a shout of praise began to gather within his chest, rising into his throat.
“I was lost in that smoke…had no hope of finding you or Mrs. Dunnigan. The walls were caving in…roof was next. No way out. God was the only one who could find you. I pleaded with Him to keep you safe and lead me to you. God found you, Father, not me.” Serenity erased the anguish in Everett’s eyes as he relaxed against the pillow. “And I found God.”
Chapter 17
Hubert stood outside the post office and broke the seal on the envelope from Zack Peterson, his old friend from the Pinkerton Agency. It had taken longer than he’d anticipated to hear back from Zack. Since Silas Cain had already left town, whatever information Zack was able to find on Cain would be of little use to Hubert now. But curiosity drove him to open the letter to see if any of his suspicions were confirmed.
He quickly scanned the pages, taking in the list of charges and arrest warrants. Cain was wanted in four different states on eleven warrants, and had left behind a trail of jilted women he’d defrauded of money and property. A few he’d married without mentioning he already had a wife…or two. Hubert snorted with disgust.
The last page described Cain’s associations with known criminals and the seedy underworld of corruption, and included a list of several aliases Cain used. “Fletcher Cain, Silas Fletcher, Silas Riley, Terrance Smith.”
Anger surged through Hubert. Pearl was just another woman on Cain’s list. Hubert clenched his teeth and stifled a growl. How he wished he could slap the handcuffs on Cain himself.
He strode across the street to the mercantile to check with young Phillip O’Dell, his part-time clerk. Satisfied that Phillip had everything under control, Hubert headed down the boardwalk toward the sheriff’s office. On the way, he stopped by the stage depot to speak with Sam, the ticket agent.
Sam’s drooping suspenders hung off his shoulders as he peered out from the depot window and nodded his head with such vigor, his spectacles slid down his nose. “Yeah, Sheriff was already here askin’ the same questions. I’ll tell you the same thing as I told him.” He pushed his lopsided spectacles back into place with two fingers. “That Cain fella was standin’ here waitin’ for me to open up the mornin’ Miss Pearl’s place burned.” Sam stroked his chin. “First, he said he wanted to buy a ticket to Cedar Rapids. Then he asked how many stopovers there was between here and there.” The agent pursed his lips and pulled his pencil from behind his ear. “Thought it kinda strange, but it weren’t none of my business.”
Hubert fixed his eyes on the agent. “What was strange?”
Sam shrugged. “When I told him the southbound stage wasn’t due in until late afternoon, he changed his mind ’bout where he was headed. Asked what stage was due in first. I says the westbound. But as soon as I told him that stage stopped at Fort Dodge, he asked what was the last stop before Fort Dodge. I told him Otter Springs and don’tcha know, he bought a ticket to Otter Springs.” The man shook his head like the information he’d just given made no sense.
“What’s in Otter Springs?”
“That’s just it. There ain’t nothin’ in Otter Springs ’cept a way station.”
Why would Cain buy a ticket to the middle of nowhere? “Is there a telegraph in Otter Springs?”
Sam leaned his elbow on the edge of the counter and sniffed. “Sometimes. Lines are down more than they’re workin’. But as I recall, I got a wire from there about a month ago. Maybe the lines are still up.”
Hubert rolled the information over in his mind. “Can Cain buy another ticket in Otter Springs, maybe heading in another direction?”
“Sure. He could pick up the southbound to Des Moines. ’Course there’s a few places in between where he could board a train, too.”
“Thanks, Sam.” Hubert continued on to the sheriff’s office, armed with the letter from Zack Peterson.
Sheriff Webster was pouring himself a cup of coffee when Hubert entered the office. “Mornin’, Mr. Behr.”
“Good morning, sir.” Hubert pulled Zack’s letter from his pocket and held it out to the lawman. “I thought perhaps you’d be interested in this.”
Webster arched his eyebrows and took the letter. He scanned it quickly and grunted. “Accordin’ to what Miss Pearl’s already told me, looks like he was plannin’ on makin’ her one of his victims.”
Hubert set his jaw and nodded. “Based on the information in that letter and Pearl’s statement, seems like you have enough for a conviction once Cain is apprehended.”
“Don’t make much sense, him settin’ the fire, but I reckon it ain’t the first time revenge was the motive for a crime.” The sheriff scowled at the papers and wanted posters cluttering his desk. “I don’t have anything on Cain here. I already checked. But I’ll go through this pile again and look for those other names he used.”
“I stopped by the depot this morning and talked to Sam.”
Webster nodded. “I sent a wire to Otter Springs. I’ll let you know if I find out anything and you can wire your Pinkerton friend. I notified the federal marshal at Fort Dodge, too. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
The men shook hands and parted company. Hubert’s desire to return to the doctor’s place and speak with Pearl widened his anxious strides. He’d spent most of the night in prayer, partly for Everett’s recovery and partly for Pearl. He’d waited as long as he could bear. If he didn’t ask her today, his heart would burst.
Tears gathered in the corners of Pearl’s eyes as she listened to Tessa and Hannah outline their plans. The three women sat together in the morning sun on the back porch of the doctor’s residence.
“I must have the sweetest friends on the face of the earth.” Pearl’s raspy voice and sore throat improved daily. She leaned forward to wrap one arm around Tessa and the other around Hannah. “Mercy sakes, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Tessa laughed. “Just l
et us show you how much you’re loved.”
Hannah patted Pearl’s back and offered her the hanky she pulled from her apron pocket. While Pearl blotted her eyes, Hannah scooted her chair closer. “Two of the women in the ladies sewing circle have sewing machines now. Johannah Fredricksen’s husband gave her one last Christmas.” The doctor’s wife rattled off her efficiently coordinated plans. “Ivy Swenson and Johannah will bring their machines. Hilda Stone, Florence Hoffner, and Vera Owens are going to do the cutting, and there will be four or five other women there as well, in addition to Tessa and me.”
Tessa reached over and squeezed Pearl’s hand. “Please let us do this for you.”
“Do what?”
All three women turned. Hubert climbed the back porch steps.
“Oh Hubert, these ladies want to have a sewing bee for me tomorrow at the church. They’re going to—”
“All Pearl’s clothes got burned up in the fire.”
“We’re going to sew some dresses, skirts, nighties, and under—” Tessa clapped her hand over her mouth and her cheeks glowed bright pink.
Hannah flapped her hands. “She needs everything, so the ladies are going to make a day of it and sew her a new wardrobe.”
Pearl blinked back tears as she watched the reaction on Hubert’s face. The smile that creased his face pulled his mustache into a crescent.
“That’s a fine idea, ladies, and so gracious of you.” Hubert crossed the porch and pulled one of the wicker chairs over next to Pearl’s rocker. “I’d be happy to supply the yard goods.”
Pearl started to protest, but he turned his soft gray eyes on her. The twinkle she saw there was more than she could resist.
“Please?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
She ducked her head so he wouldn’t see her blush. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you!” Her attempt to sound exasperated failed miserably. Hubert’s grin tingled her toes.
The wicker chair squeaked as Hubert lowered himself into it. “I spoke with Doc a few minutes ago, and he tells me you’re doing fine. So why don’t you and Tessa come over to the mercantile and pick out whatever you want.”
Doing fine. Reality gnawed at her. She had no place to go, and she couldn’t stay with the Vogels forever. If the doctor felt she was well enough to walk to the mercantile, she was well enough to find some place to stay. She couldn’t impose on Tessa and her little family. They had no extra room. She supposed the hotel was her only option, albeit an expensive one. Her savings was small and wouldn’t pay for a hotel room for very long without a means of income.
“Pearl?”
She snapped her attention back to the conversation. “You all are so generous. How is a body to say thank you?”
Hubert picked up her hand and drew it to his lips, placing a chaste kiss on her fingers. “Then I’ll be expecting you and Tessa this afternoon.”
Pearl’s heart fluttered, and she tucked the moment away in her memory to enjoy later.
Hubert cleared his throat. “I have something else I’d like to discuss with you, but I must beg the indulgence of these lovely ladies.” He sent Tessa and Hannah an apologetic look. In unison, the pair rose and excused themselves, knowing smiles on both their faces.
As soon as they were alone on the porch, Hubert’s expression turned serious. “I’ve done plenty of talking in the past few days, telling you those things I felt God prompting me to share with you.” He ran his thumb up and down the underside of her fingers and fidgeted in his chair, causing a symphony of squeaks from the wicker.
She lifted her free hand and touched one side of Hubert’s peppery beard. She knew this man as well as anyone could know another person, and everything about him stirred her. She held her breath as she waited for him to say what was on his mind. Surely he must be able to hear her pounding heart.
“The past several weeks have been sorely painful for me. When you broke our engagement, I didn’t understand. I was so sure that you loved me.” A wince flickered over his features. “I now know that Everett had something to do with your decision, and that he has since asked your forgiveness.”
Pearl lowered her eyes for a moment. The events of the past week had changed everything, including the way she viewed Hubert and Everett’s relationship. Did it even matter why she broke the engagement? Yes, Hubert had been completely honest with her. It was time for her to reciprocate. She owed him that much.
“Hubert, first of all, I want to say that my reasons for ending the engagement have changed. But I still think I should explain.”
He gave a slight nod but didn’t interrupt.
“When Everett came to see me at the boardinghouse several weeks ago, he told me that reconciliation between the two of you would be impossible if we married. I couldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t come between you and Everett knowing how important your son is to you.” Her throat tightened, and she swallowed several times trying to keep the tears at bay. “But the morning of the fire he came and apologized and told me he was wrong. He wanted your happiness and he said if marrying me made you happy, then he’d give his blessing.”
Hubert’s fingers squeezed hers, and she couldn’t stop a tear from meandering down her cheek. Hubert gently wiped it away.
He pulled in a slow, measured breath. “When I was searching for you through the smoke, I was afraid I’d lost you forever. All I wanted was one more opportunity to tell you that I love you, and I don’t want to live a single day without you. I never want us to be separated again this side of heaven.” Still holding her hand, he slipped from the chair to one knee in front of her. “Will you, once more, agree to be my bride?”
Unchecked tears filled her eyes and overflowed. Oh, how she loved this man.
Pearl clung to Hubert’s hand as they sat at Everett’s bedside telling him of their renewed plans to marry. The sight of the young man’s bandages made her cringe, especially since he’d suffered the burns rescuing her and Hubert. There were no words to thank him for what he’d done.
“And so, son…” Hubert paused to glance at her, and the look he gave her made her catch her breath. He returned his gaze to Everett. “We’ve decided to postpone the wedding until you are able to be there with us. It’s what we both want.”
A shadow of a smile touched Everett’s face, and he lifted his left hand toward his father who clasped it. “I’m pleased…that you’re going to be happy.” He looked at Pearl with genuine contrition in his eyes. “I hope you can forgive me.”
She caught a glimpse of Hubert in Everett’s features. He was part of the man she loved. “Of course, Everett. I’m praying for your recovery.”
He frowned a bit, and she thought perhaps he was in pain. “The boardinghouse?”
Hubert shook his head. “It’s a total loss. Pearl and I talked a little while ago. Since I moved into my house last year, the living quarters above the mercantile are empty. Pearl is going to stay there for a few weeks until the wedding.”
Everett nodded his affirmation and a blush warmed Pearl’s face. She dipped her head… . until the wedding. Her pulse picked up speed, and she silently chided herself. Mercy sakes, folks are going to think we’re behaving like a couple of moonstruck youngsters.
“Hubert, I think we should let Everett rest now.” They rose and told Everett they’d return to visit with him later.
Once they stepped back out onto the back porch, Hubert tucked Pearl’s arm in his and tugged her toward the steps. “Let’s go for a walk.”
She hesitated. “Shouldn’t we ask Doc first?”
“Why? He’s not invited.” Hubert’s mustache twitched with amusement.
She flapped her hand at him and made a clucking sound with her tongue. “Hubert! You’re incorrigible.”
The smile that stretched across his face made the years fall away. He caught her hand as they strolled through the doctor’s backyard, past the edge of town, across an expanse of meadow, toward a grove of willow trees that lined the meandering creek.
“Let’s sit fo
r a while.” Hubert steered her to the creek bank. “I don’t want you to get tired out.”
A sweet memory tickled Pearl’s mind. “Should I have brought a picnic? The last time we came to this place, we had a picnic.” But it wasn’t the picnic that made the recollection so sweet.
With his hand supporting her elbow, Hubert helped her sit on a thick bed of grass. He bent to pluck some of the daisies and cornflowers scattered along the creek’s edge, adding a few sprigs of purple clover. He handed her the flowers and sat beside her, reaching out to touch the side of her face. She sighed and pressed her cheek into the warmth of his hand.
“My Pearl.” His tender eyes searched her face. “God is so good to give me another chance to be the kind of husband He wants me to be.” His steady gaze fixed on her eyes and a tremble danced through her. “In a few weeks, as soon as Everett is better, we’ll take our vows before our friends and neighbors at the church. But I wanted to give you and God a holy promise today, that I pledge my whole heart to our marriage. I offer my covenant to you that, with God’s help, I’ll seek His wisdom and leading for us, and I will love you with everything within me until my last breath.”
With that pronouncement, he inclined his head toward hers and placed the gentlest of kisses on her lips.
Epilogue
Nervous?”
Pearl glanced at her groom and caught the wink he sent her. “Mercy sakes, no. Why should I be nervous?”
Hubert chuckled. “Most brides are.”
She couldn’t seem to stop smiling, and her eyes locked on to his. “But we aren’t like most brides and grooms, are we?”
Hubert appeared to contemplate her question. “I don’t suppose we are. We have a few extra years and some strands of silver hair, but that doesn’t change how much we love each other.”
“Nor does it change the way God has blessed us.”
Pastor Witherspoon would call for the wedding to start in a matter of minutes, but Pearl wanted to capture this moment and etch it into her memory where nothing and no one could steal it. Their friends milled around, lingering after the Sunday morning service to witness the nuptials. Happy anticipation of the celebration to follow buzzed through the congregation, but Pearl blocked out everything but Hubert.
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