After leading the way across the muddy street and entering the cafe, Kit found a table near the back wall and pulled out two chairs. Once they were seated, he ordered coffee. Liam swallowed a third of his drink in a large gulp, then added two heaping teaspoons of sugar and enough milk to fill the cup to the brim.
Kit leaned back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other. The day of Annie’s birthday party, Joanna corrected his presumption that Rose was unmarried. He hadn’t given it much thought since, assuming she was widowed. “I met your wife at the Stewart house. She’s a fine woman.”
His companion grunted. “Yeah.”
That was all he had to say about Rose? Upon his second meeting with Joanna’s housekeeper, she had shown a kinder, less protective side, and he had enjoyed conversing with her. “I didn’t realize you lived on the property.”
McCall’s eyes narrowed with hostility, then quickly turned docile. “Used to.”
“You worked for Mrs. Stewart?”
“I worked for Mr. Stewart when he was alive and Mrs. Stewart after he died. You might say I’m between jobs now.”
Kit decided not to shy away from his next question. “She fired you?”
Liam ducked his head. “As you saw the other night, I like to have a drink now and then. Once in a while, I overdo it.” He shrugged. “Guess Rose and Miz Stewart got their fill of me.”
Kit studied Liam’s bowed head and slumped shoulders. “Why do you want to work for me, Liam?”
The man raised his head. “I need a job. I’ve looked other places, but no one will hire me ’cause of my drinking.”
Once a man had a reputation as a drunkard, it followed him. Kit thrived on trying to turn those reputations around. “You do realize I can’t pay much, and the work wouldn’t be permanent?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You also realize I won’t tolerate drinking whether it’s during working hours or on your own time?”
“Donovan told me your purpose. That’s the real reason I want to work for you. I’m thinking maybe you can help me quit the liquor.”
“Why do you want to quit?”
Liam pursed his lips as if the question required a good deal of thought on his part. Finally, he said, “I want my wife back.”
Kit tented his fingers and studied the man across the table. Part of his responsibility was reuniting families where possible. If he and Ben succeeded in helping Liam abstain from alcohol and win back his loved ones, it would help establish the House in Banesville and secure the continued support of Mrs. Brockhurst and her peers.
“You must want this more than anything else, Liam. Do you?” The man answered with a curt nod. Time would tell. “The sale is final Thursday. We’ll start work in the afternoon. In the meantime, report to me at seven a.m. the next two mornings.”
In the past, Kit had used every trick available to cover his drinking. He knew the signs to look for and the questions to ask. Seeing McCall at that early hour would provide a certain amount of assurance that he meant what he said about wanting to turn his life around. He could hardly drink until late at night without it showing, though that still left all day.
“One more thing, Mr. Barnes.”
“What is it?”
“I’d be obliged if you’d find work at your place for my Rose. She’s a good cook and housekeeper.”
Kit straightened in his chair. A reunion between Liam and Rose would keep her in Banesville with her husband. If Rose stayed, would Joanna? Was this God’s answer to his prayer?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Joanna stood at the kitchen sink and pumped water into a glass. As she tipped the glass back to swallow the cool liquid, she spotted movement from the corner of her eye. She peered through the kitchen window toward the cottage. The glass slipped through her hand. Catching it before it hit the floor, she slammed it on the counter and stared out the window again.
Liam. What was he doing here? She wouldn’t collect Kit’s check until tomorrow.
Joanna marched to the door and flung it open. With one foot on the veranda, she halted at the sight of Rose approaching Liam. He reached out and pulled his wife closer, enfolding her in an embrace. The sight beat the air from Joanna’s lungs.
When he dipped his head to kiss his wife, Joanna stepped back inside the kitchen and shut the door, unable to stomach seeing them together again.
Ben Greer believed in a forgiving, merciful Savior and insisted she discover the truth for herself. If that scene was an indication of God’s truth, His grace and mercy, she wanted no part of it.
***
Kit and Ben ate breakfast in the dining room of the hotel, checked out of their rooms and, carrying their bags with them, walked out the front door into blazing sunshine.
To alleviate the burn in his dry, tired eyes, Kit blinked several times. In an hour, he’d sign the papers to purchase Joanna’s house and the work in Banesville would officially begin. Less than two months remained until the deadline given them by Mrs. Brockhurst and her temperance friends. That and other concerns had hampered his sleep.
“So what is your plan to win Joanna back?”
At the abrupt interruption of Ben’s voice, or possibly the question itself, Kit stumbled over a loose brick in the walkway. He snatched at his partner’s coat sleeve to catch his balance. “I never said for certain I wanted to win her back, just get to know her better. You told me yourself I should do that, remember?”
“What you need is a plan”—Ben elbowed him—“or maybe a brain.”
Kit glowered up at the grinning giant. Try as hard as he might, in and out of sleep, he couldn’t erase from his mind Ben’s suggestion that he had cared more for Joanna in the past than he realized.
Ben had visited an old friend in Greensboro during the past two days, and there were things, besides his relationship with Joanna, that they hadn’t discussed. “I met Liam on the street the other day. He’ll be working for us for a while and suggested I hire Rose as our housekeeper and cook.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He’s her husband.”
Ben’s lips parted with the drop of his jaw.
“I finally surprised you.”
His friend batted away the teasing. “That must ease your mind about Joanna being Annie’s mother.”
Did it? “My gut continues to scream that she avoided telling me something the other day—something I should know. What if, in order to protect herself and the girl, she allowed Rose, a married woman, to raise Annie as her own?”
Ben groaned. “More what-ifs? Believe her, Kit. Believe Joanna is a compassionate woman who loves the child.”
Was it that simple? “I hired Rose to cook and clean.”
Ben blew a soft whistle between his teeth. “Are you sure that was a good idea? She’s a lovely lady, but remember the trouble we had finding a woman in Pittsburgh who wasn’t annoyed daily by improper advances from the men?”
“We need a cook who serves healthy meals. We’ll be there to watch over her, and I figure a man would be a fool to risk Liam’s ire by bothering Rose.”
Ben halted, forcing Kit to backtrack a couple feet. “Why do I think this has more to do with you and Joanna than Rose and Liam?”
Kit scuffed a clod of orange dirt under his shoe. “It occurred to me that God provided the perfect answer to the problem of keeping Joanna in town.”
“How so?”
“Even if she isn’t Annie’s mother, Joanna will think twice about running off who knows where alone and without the people she considers family. That will give the two of us time to get better acquainted and you more time to work your spiritual expertise with her.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Me? I assigned you the task.”
Kit laughed. “You are the preacher.”
“I hope you aren’t making a mistake by getting involved in all this, Christopher. Joanna may not take kindly to your interference.”
“I didn’t approach Liam or Rose with the idea of working for us. He came to
me. We’re helping them save their marriage, Ben. I’m sure Joanna supports their happiness. Besides, since the McCalls have reconciled, Rose has no reason to leave Banesville. How can it be wrong to help two people mend their marriage rather than encourage their separation?”
“For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing for the McCalls. For your sake, I hope Joanna sees it that way.”
Kit ambled toward their destination. Had he made a mistake by interfering in Joanna’s life? One she wouldn’t forgive?
Ben tapped his arm. “Furniture store’s on the way. While you’re in the attorney’s office, I’ll check on that order I placed last week.”
They approached a break in the buildings and waited until an empty freight wagon left the alley for the street. Once it rattled past, a slouched figure stepped from the shadow of the nearest building. “Mr. Barnes.”
Kit tugged Ben to a stop. “Donovan. Good morning.”
The fighter shoved his hands into the front pockets of the tired-out trousers he wore and nodded to Ben before returning his attention to Kit. “I heard you hired McCall to work for you.”
“I did.”
Was that a scowl on Donovan’s face? If so, he covered it quickly. “Is that offer of a job still good for me, too?”
Kit contained the smile of satisfaction fighting to break free. “It is if you’re interested.”
He drew in a deep breath. “I am.”
Kit detailed what would be expected of Donovan and how they planned to help him. “Now that you know what it means, do you still want to join us?”
Donovan’s Adam’s apple rippled. “I do.”
“It won’t be easy, but Ben and I have walked in your shoes. You’re not in this fight alone. We’ll provide as much assistance as we can, but the bulk of the responsibility is yours.” Kit paused to let him think about it. If Donovan had an urge to run, he hid it well.
“All I’m looking for is the chance at a better future.”
So am I, Dynamite.
***
After dropping a stack of petticoats into the trunk, Joanna reached for the folded skirts. Soon this room and everything other than what covered the surface of the bed—her clothes and the mementos she’d carried with her from childhood—would belong to Kit and his mission to the inebriated. The thought made her wish for a decanter of brandy for herself.
“Jo?”
She glanced at Rose standing in the doorway of her bedroom, then turned away and let go of the skirts. They fell inside the trunk in a multi-colored pile of cotton, silk, linen, and wool. “Yes?”
“I’d like to talk to you.”
“Has Liam moved back into the cottage?” Behind her, Rose sucked in a breath, obviously not aware of Joanna having seen them together.
“I-I told him it’d be best to wait until …”
“Until I no longer hold any influence over you? I hope he realizes he’ll not get a penny from me now.”
“I wouldn’t let him take one.”
What was Liam up to? Why would he exchange thousands of dollars for Rose and Annie—a family for whom he’d shown no respect or concern?
Rose entered the room. “I’m sorry, Jo, but this separation from him has weighed on my mind for weeks. I can’t break marriage vows spoken before God without good cause.”
“And being hit by your husband is not good cause? Annie’s safety is not good cause?” Disappointment and anger sharpened Joanna’s voice. “How can God expect you to keep a promise to a man who, given half a chance, will hurt you again?”
“Liam promises to change. He says he no longer drinks.” Was Rose trying to convince Joanna or herself?
Joanna tossed a corset that had seen better days on top of the skirts. “And you believe him?”
“I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt … for now.” To her credit, Rose didn’t try to feign unquestionable faith in her husband’s proclamation. “Sobriety is a condition he agreed to meet when Mr. Barnes hired him.”
Those last words battered the inner wall of Joanna’s chest. She swiveled to face Rose. “Kit hired Liam?”
Rose ducked her head. “Liam wants to change, Jo. He wants his family back, and Mr. Barnes agreed to give him a chance. He plans to hire men like my husband—”
“Drunkards, you mean?”
Rose straightened and shook her finger at Joanna. “You know yourself, there’s a good bit of work to be done before the ministry opens. I came to tell you that Liam asked him to hire me, too. I’m to be the head housekeeper and cook for the Spencer Brockhurst House. So you see, Annie and I can’t go with you.” With that final statement, her voice fell along with the chastising finger.
Joanna’s eyes burned and her throat ached with the effort to ward off the tears brought on by Kit’s treachery. The moment she saw Liam kiss his wife, she anticipated leaving Banesville alone. Based on the way in which her friend grieved over the failure of her marriage, it had been certain she would jump at the chance to reconcile with her husband if things were different—if Liam were different.
But the fact that Kit would plunge a knife into Joanna’s back once more by hiring a wife beater, placing her best friend in danger, and pulling Rose and Annie away from her … She never anticipated that move from him.
She erred when thinking that, after their time together in the park, they might part in a civil manner. He’d broken her trust at every turn. Why should she have expected anything else of him?
Joanna grabbed her friend—her rock through times in which she could barely think, let alone act rationally—enfolding her in a breath-stealing hug. The idea of leaving her to deal with Liam alone produced a cold sweat that rolled down her backbone. Yet there was nothing she could do. “I know your marriage is important to you. I won’t try to talk you out of going back to Liam.”
Rose pulled back. Her eyes sparkled with tears similar to those that threatened to spill down Joanna’s cheeks. “He’ll need to prove himself to me, Jo. I’m not so foolish as to just accept his word.”
“Good.” Joanna hadn’t received another note from the man since the day Annie took sick. Perhaps he had changed, but it would be a miracle. She tossed more clothes in the trunk. “When I’m settled, I’ll send my address. If you ever need me or you want to come—”
“We’ll keep in touch.”
“Please be careful.”
“I will, and I’ll pray for you.” Rose dabbed her eyes with the apron she wore. Her grin wobbled. “We must be a sight.”
Joanna chuckled, her mood anything but lighthearted. “It isn’t the first time we’ve cried together over men.”
“I hope it’s the last.” Rose backed out the door. “I’d best mind the stew pot before the meat burns.”
Once she’d left the room, Joanna dropped onto the bed, her stomach in knots too tight to eat the chicken she’d smelled earlier. She dug the heels of her palms into her eyes to ease the sting.
“Why are you putting your clothes in there, Aunt Jo? Mama says we won’t go away now.”
Joanna rubbed the moisture from her cheeks and smiled. “That’s true for you, sweetheart. Did you know that today, your friend, Mr. Barnes, will move in here?”
Annie ran a hand along the edge of the trunk. “But where will you go?”
Joanna picked her up and cradled her on her lap. With her chin resting on the top of the child’s head, she said, “I’m taking the train to Chicago.”
“What’s in Chi … Chi …”
“Chi-ca-go. It’s a big city on a lake with tall buildings, lots of people, and exciting things to do.”
“I don’t think I’d like it. Neither would Jelly.”
Joanna grew up in a city, but Annie knew nothing more than the Stewart property and the shops in town.
Annie snuggled closer. “Don’t go away.”
The appeal of moving with the purpose of becoming lost in a crowd of people—a place where no one had an inkling of her history—faded with the comfort of holding this sweet
child in her arms. “I must.”
“Papa is coming home.”
The words Joanna should have kept to herself burst forth. “Are you happy about it?”
Annie’s bony shoulder rose and fell. A faint quiver ran through her body. “Mama says it’s for the best. She says we’ll be a family again and that’s the way it should be.”
Could Liam change and grow into the husband and father Rose and Annie required—a man who nurtured his family and didn’t frighten them? Joanna’s stomach sank as if she’d swallowed a cannonball. She doubted it.
Annie squiggled off her lap. “I forgot something.” She ran out of the room and returned a short time later, waving a drawing. The sun shining through the paper revealed writing on the other side. Taught not to be wasteful, Annie must have employed correspondence Joanna had sorted into a pile to be thrown away. “I drew this for you.”
Joanna smiled at the crude but endearing images of a girl playing with her kitten. An extra-large sun beamed on them from the sky. “It’s perfect, sweetheart. I’ll keep this al-always.” A sudden whimper escaped her throat.
Annie caught Joanna’s cheeks between her hands and gazed into her eyes. “Don’t cry, Aunt Jo. You’ll be back.” It was the confident pronouncement of a child unaware of the complexities of adult lives. Her lower lip protruded. “I don’t like Mr. Barnes anymore.”
Fighting the urge to say “Me, too,” she gently tapped Annie’s pouting lip. “It’s not his fault that I’m going away for a while. Will you be a good girl and be nice to him?”
“Do you think he’ll bring me another kitten?”
Despite her sadness, Joanna laughed. Children tended to see the good in most situations. For the first two years after her mother fled, she expected to see her walk back through the door and greet her with a hug and kiss. It wasn’t until she began to understand the vile comments of others that she understood how unlikely that was to happen.
“I hope he brings you a whole litter.” She’d leave Kit one more thing—the yarrow salve—and hope he was able to make good use of it.
A Reluctant Melody - Will she risk losing everything … including her heart? Page 13