Allie began to talk before she had her swirling thoughts in order. “Sir…”
The sheriff interrupted, “Please…Allie…call me Paul.”
“Paul…” Allie nodded in acceptance and took a breath. “As you know I am married and was living in Idaho. I am here to talk to you about what I need to do to get a divorce and to let you know that my husband won’t be too kind when he learns of my plan. I’m sure he…Eddie…is already unhappy with me. I’m not sure what he is fully capable of, but I know what he has already done. I don’t want anyone getting caught between our issues and his temper.”
Paul took his seat while he absorbed this information. He was not unfamiliar with this sort of person. Deer Lodge had its fair share of questionable individuals that tried to blend in with the upstanding citizens. The fact that Allie got herself mixed up with one of them bothered him. She was a great girl and had blossomed into a beautiful and respected young lady before she met Eddie.
Paul gently tugged on his long mustache. He was a tall man and could fill a large room with his presence, but Allie had thrown him off and he was struggling to find a quick way to help her. “Allie, do you know that you have to be married a full year with abuse, if that is what has been taking place, before you can file for a divorce?” His brows were raised waiting for her to absorb this.
Her shoulders slumped, and her chin fell to her chest. “I didn’t know. It hasn’t been a year yet. I don’t even know how to prove what he did. Does the abuse have to be for a full year or just the marriage? It started off okay…and, of course, I’ve been home…away from him…for the last month.”
“I think that will depend on the judge.” Paul sat tapping his desk. Can you write everything down? The whole story from the first day you met him. Don’t leave out any detail, even if you think it’s too small to matter. I will try to figure out how to do this.” He stood and motioned for her to follow him out. They walked back to the main entrance and through the front doors. “I will also keep an extra watch out. Boys like him tend to get upset when their plans go awry.” Frank stood and took the steps two-at-a-time to reach them, “Morning, Sheriff.” He reached his hand out and shook Paul’s.
“Hi, Frank. You here for business?”
“Nope, just waiting for Allie.” He turned and looked into her eyes. “I’m taking this young lady to lunch. That is, if you’re all finished?”
The sheriff gave Frank a knowing nod. “You two go have some fun. Frank, will you come find me later today? I have something I’d like to speak with you about.”
Frank took Allie’s arm and led her down the steps as he called back, “Sure thing, Sheriff. I’ll be back this afternoon.” He led her down the walk toward the hotel that had a small restaurant in the front corner. “Allie, will you wait right here for a moment?” Frank dashed inside before waiting for her answer. Allie was left confused standing on the walk, but it wasn’t long before Frank came back out carrying a basket and offered Allie his arm. “I thought, after this morning, you might like to dine alone. Lunch is in the basket. We can go find a quiet picnic spot and I can return their basket after I take you home.
Allie didn’t know what to say. It had been a long while since anyone took time to care for her and Frank seemed to do it every time she turned around. She accepted his arm and placed her free hand around it as well.
CHAPTER 17
Lunch was perfect. They found a spot by the river that was somewhat secluded. The flow of water seemed to make the air feel cooler. March had been warm, but April was coming in downright hot.
Frank opened the basket and pulled out several items. Not knowing what Allie liked, he’d ordered a variety of sandwich makings. This way she could put her own together.
After they ate, they leaned back for a while on the blanket that the hotel provided and talked about the past. The deep past…safe topics, back when they were kids and life was simple. It was the perfect conversation to the perfect meal. Unfortunately, time could not be held still, and she needed to get home before Ma and Pa started to worry. She helped fold up the blanket and placed everything back in the basket before standing and stretching.
“How did your talk with the sheriff go?” Frank had fallen into step with her in the direction of her home.
And with that one question reality came rushing back in gulps that were too big for her lungs to take in. She stopped and bent over—trying to calm herself.
“I’m sorry Allie, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Frank sat the basket down and stood there twisting his hands not knowing what he could do to help.
She stood up and grabbed his arm to brace herself.
“No! No…it’s okay. That question threw me, that’s all. I was relaxed with our lunch. Everything felt safe. But now… I’m not sure how it went this morning. Seems I need to be married for a full year and we are unsure if the abuse needs to be constant during the year before I can file or not. I can’t go back and wait it out. I don’t know what I should do now.” She moved ahead of him, her steps growing faster.
Anger built within him. He scooped up the basket and trotted to catch up with her. “How can they do that? They can’t put you back in danger. I won’t allow it.”
Allie stopped mid-step and turned, her cheeks red from exertion.
“You won’t allow it?”
Frank heard the deeper meaning in that question. Oh no, she just went from one abuser who had all sorts of rules placed on her. She doesn’t need me talking like that, too.
“I’m sorry Allie, that’s not what I meant. Well, it is, but it’s not. I can’t explain it really. See, oh I don’t know, I feel something. I’ve never felt like this with any other person except my family. I want to protect you. I want to make you happy.
Allie’s lips were turning up into a smile as Frank’s face was becoming more and more flushed.
“Stop! Please!” And she began to laugh.
“Well don’t laugh at me. I’m telling the truth here and it’s hard.” He ever so slightly stomped his foot.
“I’m sorry, Frank. I don’t know what’s come over me. Just seeing you get flustered…well…it was cute.” As she said this, she turned her head away from him.
Frank’s chest puffed out just enough to be noticeable. He set the basket down and reached for her hands, turning her back toward him. “Allie, I know you are dealing with a lot right now, but will you think about letting me be your beau?” His eyes were searching hers.
Allie’s heart was beginning to pound, but then realization slapped her in the face. “Frank! I’m still married. I can’t…we can’t.” She tugged her hands out of his and began to move toward home again.
“Allie, wait! You can’t leave yet!”
She spun around. “Frank! Stop! Please! It’s not just that we legally can’t. I don’t know if I can. I used to be so trusting…too trusting. And, look where that got me. I don’t know if I can. I want to trust you…I do. I’m scared. And there are some things you don’t know. At least…I don’t think you know.”
Frank stood still letting her talk. Deep down he knew this would be a hurdle he hoped wouldn’t be very tall to jump. He didn’t know whether to go wrap his arms around her or keep his distance. He decided the latter was a better choice for now.
Allie turned back around slowly and began walking towards home again, leaving Frank behind. He watched her walk as long as possible, only turning and heading in the opposite direction once he couldn’t see her anymore.
Allie continued home and headed straight to the creek taking her top layer off and slipping in the cool water. She needed to cool her whole body. The hot outside was bad enough, but now she had a heat burning from within that needed to cool. Maybe the creek would be so cold she could numb her mind. Her tears flowed freely and were washed away every time she dunked her head under the rush of water. She had loved Frank for years, but he always saw her as one of the younger girls, never as a wife. Why did life do this? A year ago would have been much better timing. She walked o
ut and laid on the bank letting the sun dry her.
She laid that way for a long while before deciding to dress and head back to help Ma with dinner. Ma would be wondering where she was. This was a long day and she was ready for it to end. Just a couple more hours and she could hide away in her room for the remainder of the night.
CHAPTER 18
Eddie made it to Deer Lodge and decided that following the creek would provide him coverage while he made his way to the farm where Allie lived. It was a longer route, but he didn’t want to risk being seen headed that way. He wasn’t in town long before, but someone may still remember him. Allie was the town’s little lamb and a few heads turned when they found out he had snatched her up. There were a couple of close calls in the saloon right before they tied the knot. Leaving this town was the best thing I could have done for us. Too many folks wanting to stick their noses into our business.
The creek seemed low for this time of year. He hadn’t really paid much attention to it before, though, so maybe it was just fine. The grass and trees still looked good. These parts have their fair share of fires and the weather sure wasn’t going to help them out this year. He knew this area usually had heavy rain in the spring, but it looked like there had only been a few showers.
At least he wasn’t a logger. They would be out of work if the fires took hold this summer. Rail work didn’t stop. Areas might have to be put on hold, but there was always another section in another area that needed workers. Train workers could find work pretty easily. Taking this little time off shouldn’t hurt him. If his old boss wouldn’t welcome him back, he would go elsewhere.
Eddie continued walking, thinking about the other places he could go if that was necessary. Traveling was his joy. He loved to sample the local tastes in liquor and women in new areas. He could move on before he grew tired of it. If only Allie would cooperate, so he had someone doing the work at home.
Nearing the farm, he found a boulder to crouch behind while he kept watch on the house. Everything looked quiet. They must all be inside. It was about supper time and his stomach was not going to let him forget that. He reached into his pack and pulled out some of the food he’d brought along and made short work of it. It sure didn’t taste very good, but it did the job. It gave him the strength needed so he could get back to looking for his wife. This first part of his plan had been seamless. Now, for step two: watch her every move to see when the best time would be to confront her and take her kicking and screaming back to Idaho.
Allie helped Ma clean up the dishes and feigned a headache. She made her way up the stairs, donned her nightgown, and wrapped a blanket around herself. Sitting in the chair, she decided to pull out her old diary and read about the good times. She read through the pages where life was simple. She wished she could close her eyes and be magically sent back in time.
Early on, she wrote about her favorite doll and her best friend, the time George Pilchuck, the same George that married her best friend Blinne, pulled her braid and called her a ninny, all of it was mixed into those beginning pages. Back then, those were the rough times, back when a problem could be fixed with a piece of Ma’s chocolate cake and a cold glass of milk from their cow, Bertha.
No amount of chocolate cake was going to solve her current problem. Could she endure that life again if she was forced to complete the year, so she could be legally divorced? Would the month she spent here be added to her remaining time? And…there was Frank! Allie had loved Frank since they were kids. She had imagined what life would be like with him. She had even written about him several times in her diary. If she did have to go back and live with Eddie, would Frank wait for her? He had his whole life ahead of him. He had a promising career and an open schedule to go wherever he wished. She was not sure if he would pause his life for her to clean up hers.
Allie was finished looking at her past. It only upset her. Time was marching ahead. While she waited for answers about her divorce, she needed to live her life. In two days it would be Sunday and she decided she had hidden long enough. Church sounded like the best chance to enter back into life in Deer Lodge.
She tried to sleep, telling herself that all would end well, but the negative thoughts plagued her throughout the night. No use pretending, she had a headache now! She truly had one from lack of sleep. Tomorrow, she would go to Blinne. She always had a way of calming her down. Blinne would want to know what the sheriff had to say. It would be good to share with her. Maybe she would have another perspective.
Dawn came a few short hours later. Allie had eventually fallen asleep, but was at a loss as to how long that might have been. She rose and dressed in the same plain work dress she had arrived in and headed downstairs to find Ma in the kitchen making breakfast. Allie said good morning, rolled up her sleeves, and began rolling out the biscuit dough Ma had just prepared.
“How is your head dear?” Ma said, while frying sausage.
“Mmm…still hurts a bit. I didn’t sleep well.” Allie closed her eyes. The mere mention of the word sleep left her body yearning for it.
“Well, you can take a nap later. When we’re done cleaning up after breakfast, you can help me carry some buckets up to water the garden.”
This was always a chore for late July and August. They never needed to do it in late April…but here they were. Their well usually contained plenty of water for them, and the garden, before it would run dry in late summer. Fortunately, the well was still providing for them, but preserving what was there was of high importance right now.
“I really hope we get some rain soon. All this heat is melting the snow in the high country so much faster than normal. I already heard talk of some wild fires starting up about two months earlier than normal.” Ma wiped her brow on the dish rag and added milk, salt, and pepper to the sausage.
“I do love sausage gravy and biscuits.” Allie placed the last of the biscuits on the baking pan and took it to the oven.
Ma had the fire lit and it was warm and waiting for the doughy wonders to enter. Soon the smell matched that of the sausage. That also means that Pa and Drew would be looking for breakfast soon. As if on cue, they entered the kitchen and sat at the table. Ma poured coffee and took it to them, announcing that breakfast would be ready shortly. They sat and talked about the chores already completed that morning that included carrying buckets of water to the crops and animals.
When the biscuits were done, they all made short work of filling their plates and even shorter work of emptying them. This was one of the family’s favorite meals. Sometimes Ma would even break tradition and serve it for dinner—and no one ever complained about that. After breakfast, Allie stood to remove the plates and take them to the sink.
“Save those dear. If we don’t get started on the watering now, we will be miserable doing it later. It is getting warmer by the second outside.” Agreeing with Ma, Allie left the breakfast cleanup for later and headed out front to find her pail on the porch. Ma was right behind her and grabbed her own pail as they made their way down to the creek.
CHAPTER 19
Allie had kept to herself for a couple of days, dreaming of what life could be like with Frank. The timing was all wrong! She wanted to be free, or be able to go back in time and not make the worst mistake of her life. Shaking off the thoughts that continued to circle in her mind, she donned her best dress and headed down to join her family for church. She had kept to herself and her small group long enough. She needed to join the community again if she ever hoped they would welcome her when this was all over.
The white double doors were both propped open, greeting her like arms stretched wide in expectation of an embrace. They drew her in and her heart warmed. This building was always more than walls to her. It was a cocoon that was her refuge when she was in turmoil. The stained wood walls made the large space seem small and intimate. She could easily have burst into a song…feeling like she was the only one in attendance. Walking to her family’s usual pew, she was greeted by a few members. Just simple hellos and w
elcomes, —nothing personal. She knew some were staring at her. She could feel the attention. It unsettled her a bit, but she hoped it was just curiosity on their part. Allie sat as the church bells began to toll and opened her hymnal, ready to join in the praise that would follow once all had arrived.
Church seemed to fly by. It was typical…nothing to speak of that was of particular note. She just relaxed and allowed the general peace of God and the familiarity sweep over her. A social hour always followed. She was uncertain about how this would go and that’s what had kept her from coming for so long. She knew that most would be friendly enough, but there were a few that just never could mind their own business.
Allie followed her Pa and Drew to a table and took a seat. She thought—or hoped—that staying by them would prevent most from attempting to poke too far into her life. She scanned the crowd…and locked eyes with Frank. He was making his way to her and she shivered. Anticipation, nerves, excitement…she wasn’t entirely sure what, but she decided she would try to figure it out later.
“Hi,” he said, looking directly at her as he sat to face them all. Then he tipped his head acknowledging Pa and Drew.
“Hi, Frank. How’re your parents?” Pa, replied.
Frank folded his hands in front of him on the table and engaged Pa in a brief conversation, catching him up on his parents and what he had been doing. Then he looked at Allie and held her gaze for a while—unsettling her further.
“Well…I see your ma has taken up a conversation with Mrs. Wimble. I’m going to go grab a plate of food. We might be here awhile. Let’s go see what we can muster up Drew.” Pa and Drew stood and left without looking back, and Allie folded inward as her shield moved farther away.
“How are you, Allie?” Frank didn’t waste any time trying to strike up a conversation.
Of course, he wants to know how I am. The last conversation wasn’t superficial. He will probably want to continue where we left off.
By His Hand Page 8