Love Everlasting

by Tracie Peterson

  Someone with black trousers and shoes that reflected the fire’s glow moved across the room and to the hearth. Abrianna held her breath as that same person poked up the fire and added another log. Then just as quickly as he’d arrived, the man left and closed the door behind him.

  Sweat trickled down the side of her face, and only then did Abrianna realize how frightened she was. She knew that Wade would never have approved this venture, but he did say that she should look for proof. Carefully, so as not to make a sound, Abrianna crept out from under the desk.

  She immediately spied Flora sneaking a look from behind the chair. “I think it’s clear.”

  Flora stood. “This is quite a stimulating adventure.”

  Abrianna nodded and began to pick up papers that were strewn on Welby’s desk. Would he be so foolish as to leave anything in plain sight? Probably not. She sorted through old correspondence and invoices but saw nothing that could aide them in their efforts. She tried the drawers of the desk and found them locked.

  “I know nothing of breaking into a locked desk. How about you?” She looked to Flora.

  “No. I’m afraid that is not one of my skills.”

  Abrianna considered the matter for a moment. If she tried to force entry, there would be no doubt that someone had been there. “I hate to just go without further search.” She glanced around the room. Tall bookcases lined one entire wall, but otherwise there was little furniture besides the chairs.

  She knew that whatever damaging material Welby might have must be in the locked desk. Just then the unmistakable clip-clop of a horse could be heard coming up the cobblestone drive. Abrianna felt her heart skip a beat.

  “He must be arriving. Come. We have to get back to that room and get out of here. If he finds me here, I’m certain to be worse for it.”

  She moved to the door with Flora right behind her. Cracking open the door, Abrianna checked the hall. There was no one yet. She pushed Flora through the opening and then followed, drawing the door closed as she went.

  They scurried down the hall and had just gained entrance to the dark room when voices sounded. Abrianna closed the door as quietly as possible. She could hear a man’s voice, but it wasn’t Priam Welby’s. She strained at the door for just a moment to hear the words, but it was impossible to make out anything being said.

  “Come on,” Flora encouraged. “We don’t want them to find us here.”

  Abrianna knew she was right. It had been a complete waste of time to come, and now they were still in jeopardy of being found out. She hurried to the still-open window. She helped Flora through and then allowed Flora to help her from the outside. Now all they had to do was get home without being seen.

  Wade paced the floor of the Booths’ music room and considered all that he’d shared with Jay Cunningham and Kolbein. The trio had gathered with the sole purpose of figuring out how to put an end to Welby’s hold on Abrianna.

  Kolbein spoke first. “I think there has to be a way to get Welby to reiterate his threats. And if we can get him to do it in the company of witnesses, then we will have him.”

  Wade stopped and looked at his friend. Kolbein didn’t look as though he’d had any more sleep than Wade. None of them looked too good. “Welby’s too smart for that. I doubt he’d even be honest in front of the old ladies, much less anyone else.”

  “Then maybe we arrange it so he doesn’t admit it in front of anyone,” Kolbein replied. Both Wade and Jay looked at him and waited for him to say more. “I think the trick will be to set up the situation so that Welby has to threaten Abrianna again. He needs to say exactly what he said before and admit to ordering the murders. Wherever we do this, we could have someone in authority within hearing distance.”

  “That’s going to be hard to do. Welby is very careful. He isn’t one to leave anything to chance.”

  “It will be hard,” Kolbein agreed, “but not impossible.”

  “Well, the way I see it,” Jay began, “it’ll need to be somewhere he won’t expect it. That way we’ll catch him off guard. Folks like Welby usually make their mistakes when they’re forced to think out a matter quickly.”

  “He’s right.” Wade took a chair for the first time since they’d started talking. “Welby is used to having everything prearranged. He doesn’t often leave much to chance.”

  Kolbein rubbed his chin. “That leaves us just one place for the ambush.”

  “Where?” Wade looked at his friend and could see he clearly had a plan.

  “The wedding.”

  Wade shook his head. “No. I want this thing resolved before then.”

  “But don’t you see, Wade, that’s the only place where we can be assured of catching Welby off guard. He’ll be consumed with making certain the wedding goes off without a hitch.”

  Wade let go a heavy breath. “All right. So how do we do this?”

  Kolbein laid out a brief idea. They bandied the details for over an hour, until all finally agreed as to how they might make it work.

  “Jay, you explain it to Abrianna.” Kolbein stretched. “She’ll have to make Welby repeat the things he’s done, not just the threats he’s made. If he confesses to murder, he will go to prison. If he confesses only to threatening murder, he will no doubt be able to get out of it.”

  “All right. I’ll tell her tonight.” Jay’s expression was one of grave concern.

  Wade couldn’t shake his apprehension. “Is there any way for us to have an alternative plan?”

  “What other plan do you suggest?” Kolbein shook his head. “It’s taken all our imagination to come up with this one. I don’t see any other way to rid ourselves of his threat than to have Welby confess to murder.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I guess I need to turn this over to God.” Wade shook his head. “It’s just got to work.”

  Abrianna wasn’t surprised when her father said he needed to speak with her that evening. She had just returned from yet another party with Welby and wanted nothing more than to rid herself of the clothes he had imposed upon her.

  “I know you’re tired,” her father said, “but this won’t wait.”

  She nodded and followed him into the kitchen. She wrestled with the train of her silk evening gown and positioned the bustle as she sat sidewise on one of the wooden ladder-back chairs at the kitchen table. Leaning to the side, Abrianna breathed a sigh.

  “These gowns were not designed with the comfort of women in mind.” She glanced down at the low neckline and in a very unladylike manner pulled it up with both hands. It didn’t budge.

  Her father surprised her by going to the counter and retrieving a flour sack dish towel. “Maybe this will help.”

  Abrianna smiled. “Thank you.” She draped the towel around her neck like a bib. It covered her exposed body perfectly. “That’s much better. Now what do we need to discuss?”

  Her father took a seat at the table. “We had a meeting today—Kolbein, Wade, and me. We have a plan in mind for you.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad. I’ve been so anxious in waiting to hear something these last few days. What have you come up with? I do hope it is foolproof.”

  “It’s going to take some work on your part,” her father explained. “You’ve got to get Welby to say all those things again about how he arranged murders and such. He can threaten you and even talk about killing someone you love, but if he doesn’t admit to the murders from the past, he won’t be held for long.”

  “I don’t understand how having him repeat anything is going to help.”

  Her father put his elbows on the table and folded his hands together as if for prayer. “We need to have him repeat his deeds and threats in a place where he can be overheard by folks in authority. We tried to figure out something that would work prior to the wedding day, but nothing came to mind. We figure this trap will have to be sprung right before the ceremony—at the church.”

  Her heart sank. “You mean I have to go forward with this pretense?”

  “I’m truly sorry,
Daughter. It seems the only way. Knowing the kind of man he is, he won’t be easily distracted, and we need him distracted enough that he gets careless.”

  Abrianna sighed. “Go on.”

  “The wedding day will be most hectic, and Welby will be feeling pretty assured of his situation. Especially if you make him believe that you’ve given up hope of doing anything else.”

  “He knows that already. He also makes sure that I remember it.”

  “That will work to our advantage. Kolbein plans to arrange a place for you to wait for the ceremony to start that will also have a place where we can hide folks.”

  “Hide folks? From what?”

  “From Welby. See, we have it in mind that you will send for Welby just before the ceremony starts. You will have to make him believe that you’re nervous and can’t go on with the ceremony.”

  “That won’t be hard.” She shook her head in disgust. “I can easily manage that.”

  “But here’s the hard part.” Jay lowered his arms. “You have to get him to repeat the things he told you about ordering folks killed. Kolbein is going to have the authorities there waiting. Once Welby admits to you what he did and that he’ll do it again, then we’ll have him.”

  “It’s as simple as that?” Abrianna began to clearly see a way out of this mess, and it excited her to no end. “That sounds easy enough. Why didn’t I think of that? Flora and I talked about how it would be ideal to use his words against himself, but we had no thought of how to do it. This will be perfect.”

  Her father frowned. “There’s a possibility that he won’t repeat what he told you for fear that someone will overhear. He’s no fool. If he won’t repeat it and insists on the wedding, then just comply and—”

  “I will not marry that man.”

  “I wasn’t going to suggest you marry him,” Jay said. “I won’t allow you to marry him. That’s for certain. Wade added something to the plan just before I returned home. He suggested that if Welby won’t listen, then you should tell him that you will yield and marry him. Make him believe you, just as you’ve done. Make sure he is willing to leave you alone for a few moments, and Wade will slip in and steal you away, if need be.”

  “How adventurous. However, that would leave Mr. Welby able to hurt my aunts. I cannot do that.” Abrianna knew that Welby would have little trouble finding ways to torment and harm the old ladies. He would know that word would get to her, and he would make certain he caused just enough trouble to bring about her return.

  “Father, I believe that this is a one-chance situation. If Mr. Welby won’t repeat his words, I’ll have no other choice than to see to it he can never do this to anyone again.”

  Her father smiled. “As brave as you are, I really don’t think you’re capable of murder.”

  Abrianna knew that, as well. “No. I’m not. But he is, and if it costs me my life, it will be worth it to keep the rest of you safe. I’ll simply create a situation so he has no choice but to kill me. That way you and the witnesses can arrest him for my murder.”

  “Wade would never let you do that,” her father replied.

  “I know. And that’s exactly why you will say nothing about it to him. I need your word on this, Father.”

  “She’s an awfully brave young woman to suggest such a thing,” Eloise Snyder said as she and Jay sat together on the porch swing later that night. “Do you suppose she would really go through with something so dramatic?”

  “I do, unfortunately. I haven’t known Abrianna long, but what little time I’ve spent here has proven to me that the girl is rather fearless when it comes to ensuring the safety of those she loves. Just look at all the nonsense she’s gotten herself into already.”

  Eloise nodded and took hold of Jay’s hand. “Try not to worry. We’ll pray and pray hard that Welby will have no fear in repeating his threats.”

  Jay relaxed at the sound of her soft-spoken words and encouraging ways. He put his hand atop hers. “You know, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you. Something other than my daughter’s wedding.”

  “All right.” She looked at him with a smile. “What is it?”

  “Our wedding.” He grinned and held tighter to her hand. “I want you to marry me, Eloise. I’ve known it for a time now, but I felt it was the gentlemanly thing to wait. I wanted to give you time to be sure of your feelings. I’ve waited long enough, however. Seeing the mess these young folks have gotten themselves into, I want nothing to come between us.”

  “Oh, Jay.” She drew his hand to her cheek and pressed it close. “You know I feel the same. I will happily marry you.”

  “I’ll never be a rich man.”

  “I don’t care. I’ll happily live over the stalls with you. As long as we’re together, none of the rest matters.”

  “I’ll work hard and see us fed and housed. I’m not a lazy man, to be sure.”

  “I’ve never imagined you could be. Honestly, Jay, I’ve given the matter a great deal of consideration. I’ve been prepared to pose the question myself should you fail to do so. I’ve sold my house in Tacoma. It will give us a nice start. Unless, of course, you find it appalling to use your wife’s money.”

  He chuckled and drew her close. “As long as you come with the package, I’ll take whatever comes with you. Riches or none. Health or sickness. I am prepared to love you no matter.”

  “And I am prepared to love you . . . no matter.” She lifted her face and met his gaze. “And I do love you, James Cunningham. More than I ever thought possible.”

  He pressed a light kiss on her lips. “I love you, my dear Eloise.”

  23

  Dare I hope that you’re actually enjoying yourself?” Welby asked Abrianna on Thursday evening.

  She shrugged. “The music is lovely and the food delicious, although I have no appetite. I suppose it’s just my constitution, what with all that is happening.” They sat tucked in the corner of a beautiful restaurant where a small orchestra played classical music and the waiters were dressed as fashionably as the patrons.

  Abrianna wore a gown of navy blue brocade trimmed out in black jet. It was one of the gowns Lenore had recently given her. The neckline was modest, and the long sleeves added warmth. The style was of the latest designs from Paris, although Welby thought it much too chaste. His perversions only served to rile her sense of dignity.

  “I suppose you have considered that you’ll need to have your things delivered to my house prior to the wedding, as we are to reside there immediately. Of course, I have much of your new wardrobe already scheduled to be brought there.”

  The very thought filled Abrianna with horror. She did her best to keep from frowning. They were less than two days from the Saturday wedding, and all she could think about was the one chance they would have to catch Welby in his lies.

  “You look perplexed.”

  “I suppose I am. You haven’t given me very much time to accomplish everything needed. I’m afraid I haven’t even begun to pack.”

  He chuckled. “Well, you’ll have tomorrow. I can send over some servants to help you with it.”

  “That’s not necessary.” Abrianna forced herself to sound nonchalant about the matter. “We have a houseful of people who can help me. I just didn’t think about it.”

  “It’s all I’ve been able to think about.” Welby leaned closer. “I have to admit that when all of this started, I merely wanted a means of getting back at a lot of people. My father in particular. Now, however, well . . . I don’t suppose you’ll believe me, but I find you impossible to put from my mind.”

  Abrianna shook her head. “I hardly see how marriage to me will help you in that situation. I don’t know your father, and he definitely doesn’t know me.”

  “True enough, but that will soon be rectified, as I will explain. You are of a sterling reputation, and while your ministries to the poor have caused some to think you rather reckless, most of the people who know you hold you in high esteem. Added to that, your family in Seattle has also
been highly esteemed.”

  “But what of my father? You have taken great pleasure in reminding me of his twenty years in prison. That can hardly impress your father. Won’t it harm your standing?”

  He laughed. “Not at all. You see, once we are married, I intend to make a great show of the grave injustice done to James Cunningham. I will have newspaper stories covering what happened to him and how he found himself falsely accused. It will lay a good foundation for me as I press for better laws requiring additional evidence in all murder cases. This, I’ve decided, will be the perfect lead into my political career.”

  “Political career?” She looked at him in disbelief. “With all you’ve got going on—illegally, that is—how can you even think of politics?”

  “Oh, my dear Abrianna. You are sweetly naïve. All politicians are masters of the illegal. How else do you suppose they accomplish all that they do?”

  “I presumed that men who put themselves into positions of elected office accomplished the will of the people.”

  “Granted, there are some who do. However, for every honest politician there are at least twenty others who are in their offices purely for personal gain. I intend to be among their number and see to it that the office serves me instead of the other way around.

  “As for my father, there is a long-standing debt he owes me. I have worked very hard all these years to finally see that old man put in his place.”

  Abrianna frowned. “You must hate him a great deal.”

  “I do. He threw me out of my home without a penny to my name, and all for what he perceived as an unforgivable lapse in judgment.” Welby sat back in his chair, and his expression grew hard. Abrianna did her best not to shiver at the look of pure hatred in his eyes.

  “I have carefully invested my money and bought my support where it could be had. Once we are married, we will go to him and I will deliver to him the truth of his failures face-to-face.”

  “I still don’t see how that has anything to do with me.”