An Unlikely Place for Love

by Ruth Ann Nordin

“No,” she told him. “Chad’s the only one who figured it out.”

  “Let’s hope it stays that way. I saw the story in the newspaper about how you rescued that boy, and there was a fourteen year old girl by the name of Chloe who showed up on Paul’s doorstep. She called you by name and said you sent her to work at Olivia’s shop. Apparently, the girl is a talented seamstress so she makes costumes now.”

  “Oh good! I’m glad that worked out.”

  “Kate, you have to be careful. You can’t keep putting yourself out in the spotlight. It’s dangerous.”

  “I couldn’t let the girl be used in a whorehouse and I couldn’t let a boy die in a fire.”

  “You’ve always had a good heart. Just make sure you stop letting people take your picture or giving out your real name. Though no one else knows about Chloe, everyone did see the story of you saving the boy. I just hope no one makes the connection between you and Billy Ingram.”

  “That story reached Virginia?”

  Billy looked at Chad. “She’s always running around and helping people out. I should have expected she’d do something noteworthy here as well.”

  “I forgot you were in a whorehouse,” Chad frowned at her, getting upset again.

  “Only because Sam, Tim and Jeff picked me up and dragged me up there,” she said.

  “Why did you go with them to the other town that night? Don’t you realize how close you came to being harmed?”

  “It was either that or they were going to come into the barn and find me there as Kate. I didn’t want them to figure out I was playing Billy.”

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to settle down.

  “Those men are disgusting,” she told Billy. “They think that women are playthings for their amusement.” She turned back to Chad. “You really have no idea how much better you are than those creeps.” Then she changed topics and looked at her brother. “Anyway, will you come to the potluck today? Chad’s going to race Chris, and if he wins, Chris has to spend the day with Lacy. It’ll be fun to watch her drool all over him instead my Billy character for a change.”

  “Will you be Billy and Kate again?” Billy asked her.

  “Yes. I think I will. Did you know that a group of men and women came over here this past week to see Billy and Kate?”

  He chuckled. “Kate, you always find a way to get yourself into a mess. I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss the show you’ll put on again for anything. What happens if Chad loses?”

  “Then Chris will spend the day with me.”

  “She made the bargain as Billy,” Chad quickly inserted. “She originally wanted to race Chris but he’s my brother and it’s only fair I deal with him.”

  “Kate’s had more than her fair share of male suitors,” Billy remarked.

  She sighed. “Chris isn’t interested in me. He’s using me to make Chad jealous enough so he’ll give away his inheritance.” She changed the subject and turned to Chad. “Can I make breakfast this morning? I want to give it a try.”

  “If that’s what you really want to do, then go ahead.” He knew it would be pointless to argue with her. If she had her mind set to do the task, then she would find a way to do it.

  She smiled and ran to the hen coop to gather eggs.

  Billy shook his head in amazement. “I suppose you nearly had a heart attack when you realized she’s been up to all kinds of mischief as Billy.”

  “She didn’t tell you how she went to the bar in town last night,” Chad grumbled. “I had no idea she did that until she told me about it this morning.”

  “Why would she go there?”

  “Lacy won’t leave her Billy character alone. She dressed up as another woman and pretended to be Billy’s wife. Does she always put herself in dangerous situations?”

  “No. Usually, she just goes around doing good deeds for people.”

  Chad was glad to hear that. He didn’t like finding out that she was risking her well-being in order to accomplish her goals. He couldn’t take that kind of horror for the rest of his life.

  After a breakfast which Billy surprisingly admitted Kate did a good job of making, he brought them the newspapers that he had saved aside in his suitcase. Chad helped them sort through them for anything new regarding the ongoing investigation of their parents’ murders and information on Kate’s whereabouts.

  “Your Billy disguise seems to be a success,” her brother thoughtfully commented as he put down a paper and picked up another one. “It looks like Senator MacArthur was ready to sponsor the Tree Removal bill when he suddenly decided against it. No one else dares to touch it either.”

  “Senator Ethan Rich claims that he’s interested protecting the environment,” Kate commented as she sorted through another paper. “I used to collect the mail and Senator Rich sent Father many letters regarding that bill. Father didn’t see what the use was of protecting ten acres of land when Ethan already had fifty acres at his disposal. Father used to ask Ethan about his insistence on obtaining the extra ten acres for himself, and Ethan told him that God didn’t intend for mankind to destroy all the trees in a state. Now we know that Ethan wanted to protect the gemstones he found on that land.”

  “What a sad condition it is when people put a price tag on people’s lives,” Chad softly commented.

  They silently nodded.

  ***

  While Kate put on her Billy disguise, her brother asked to talk to Chad on the porch. He sat across from her brother.

  “I notice that my sister is in love with you,” he commented.

  “I love her too,” Chad confessed.

  “Yes, I realize that. I also realize that your deceased wife wasn’t good to you. I got the most educational tour in Georgia’s old bedroom last time I was here. In fact, it made such an impression on me that I had to go back this morning. I apologized to Mrs. Montgomery for my harsh words to her. The poor woman really believes her eldest child was a saint, and I suppose it’s only humane to let her continue along that line of thought, especially since she won’t be alive much longer anyway. However, in the interest of my sister’s future husband, I felt it necessary to divulge the truth about Georgia.”

  “I know what she was really like. She’s not the person the other people in this town thought she was.”

  “You also didn’t do something you may have thought you did.”

  Chad had no idea what Billy was talking about.

  “I have Georgia’s real diary.” Billy went to his horse and took something out of a bag on the animal. When he came back, Chad realized he was holding an old journal. “Her mother has no idea that Georgia kept her real thoughts in this book. She had the decoy diary sitting on the dresser. The thing that gave it away was the fact that she sounded too good to be true. I mean, no one is that perfect. She was always praising someone or praying for someone. I figured she had a real diary hidden in that room, and I was right. You’ll never guess where I found it. It was in the most obvious place of all: under her mattress. It’s a good thing her mother never got rid of anything in that room. Anyway, I would like to bring your attention to a couple of entries you will find most illuminating. I know if I were in your shoes, I would want to know the truth.”

  Chad waited as he sat down and opened the pink covered book.

  “You need to hear this,” he began, “even though it may be painful. July 2, 1879. Dear Diary, Chad threatened to leave me tonight. He even packed his bags. I couldn’t let him humiliate me in front of my family and friends, so I came up with a plan. I told him I was pregnant. It was a lie, of course, but I will figure out how to resolve that little detail later. My lie worked. Chad is staying. I’m even getting him to finally do everything I want since I’m carrying his child. It’s amazing how easy men are to manipulate.” He shook his head. “It’s terrifying to think that this woman seemed to have no conscience, and it gets worse, or better, depending on your desire for drama.”

  Chad braced himself for what was to come. He didn’t like to recall that time in
his life.

  Billy continued, “March 8, 1880. Dear Diary, I have been carefully placing pillows under my dress to fool Chad into thinking I’m pregnant, but in another month, he will expect a baby, so I have to take care of things before they get messy. Apparently, she intentionally claimed she needed bedrest as soon as she was supposed to show in her pregnancy, and she wouldn’t let you go into town with her so you wouldn’t tell any of her relatives or friends. She kept you so busy you didn’t have energy to question her.”

  “She was clever,” Chad slowly stated.

  “She was more clever than you imagined. Let me continue. While Chad was out in the fields, I ‘gave birth’ to a stillborn girl. I had a childhood doll I kept in my bedroom and put it in the casket I made out of wood. Then I dug a hole in the ground, put the casket in and buried it. I set a marker so I can lead Chad to his daughter’s grave. He was devastated at the news and wondered why I didn’t bother to wait for him to come home so he could help me bury our child, but I said I couldn’t bear for him to go through that much sorrow. What a joke. He bought the whole thing.” He shivered. “Doesn’t that just give you chills? The woman was made of icicles. Now this entry will be of special interest to you. April 25, 1880. Dear Diary, Chad discovered my secret last night. He had been curious as to why I’ve been secretive about my pregnancy and the birth to my family and friends, so he went to dig up the grave. I had no idea he would do such a thing. Of course, he found the doll. He threw the doll at me and rode the horse into town to get drunk at the bar again. When he came back, he was packing and saying he couldn’t stand to look at me anymore. I ran after him to stop him and tripped on the doll which was on the floor. I hit the corner of the chair as I fell, which gave me a black eye. Fortunately, he passed out in front of the house. I couldn’t let him leave or tell my secret to anyone else. I must maintain my pristine reputation. So when he woke up, I was crying and begging him to not hit me again. He was so drunk that he didn’t remember anything, so I was able to get away with it. Now I have him for good. He won’t dare leave me since he feels intense guilt. I have him exactly where I want him.” He looked up from the book. “There’s more. You wouldn’t believe what other things she did. I had no idea a woman could be capable of such deceit.”

  Chad accepted the book that Billy handed to him. His hands shook as he opened it. Was it true? He really hadn’t hit her after all? Was he absolved from his guilt?

  “You should probably read the whole thing. I only got the highlights,” Billy said. “It’s a good thing she would only let you have sex with her three times a year. I’d hate to think of what her children would have been like.”

  He inspected the handwriting. It was Georgia’s script. She had a funny way of looping her o’s. He almost didn’t read the book but realized it would be good to find out what the truth was all along. “I thought I knew everything.”

  “Now you do. I can understand why you don’t want to remember that woman. I just didn’t want you to go through the rest of your life thinking you hit her. You’re a good man, Chad. You will treat my sister well, and I assure you that she is nothing like Georgia.” He stood up. “I will leave you alone to read that journal. I think I’ll talk with my sister.”

  Chad thanked him as he left. He decided read the book.

  Chapter Nineteen

  By the time Kate, Billy and Chad were ready to leave for town, Roger came running into the barn and barked at them. Since she was in her Billy disguise, she thought the dog was trying to get to her again, but he jumped up on Chad.

  “I better see what he wants,” Chad said. He followed the dog out of the barn.

  “It’s a nice day for a race,” she commented as she and Billy urged their horses out of the barn. “Reliable is a great horse. He and I are in tune with each other’s thoughts. It’s like he was made for me. I almost wish I was the one racing Chris.”

  “You don’t always win against me,” her brother warned. “Chris might be just as good as me or Chad.”

  She reluctantly admitted that he was right.

  They waited for five minutes before Chad returned. “I have to take care of the sheep fence. Apparently, an animal tore a hole and went through it. There is a dead sheep I also have to dispose of.”

  So Roger could be useful when he needed to be. She nodded. “We’ll see you later on then.” She was disappointed that he wasn’t going to be coming along to the race, but she understood that taking care of the sheep was more important.

  “You’d better win,” he told her. “I don’t want you spending the day with another man, unless it’s your brother.”

  She smiled. “You have nothing to worry about.”

  Chad nodded and went to the shed for the supplies he would need to fix the fence.

  She gave Billy the sack that held all of her disguises so he would hold onto it for her during the day. She put in all her costumes in it in case she needed to make an appearance as Lois. She hoped she didn’t but there was no telling how Lacy would react to the news of Billy being married.

  When they reached the town, the potluck was already set up. They got off their horses and Sam, Tim and Jeff walked over to them. She noticed that Todd was talking to Kelly’s brothers. They would make a much better influence in his life than the Montgomery and Rod families.

  “We were wondering if you would bolt out of town,” Tim said. “After your wife showed up last night, we weren’t sure what you would do.”

  “Is she here?” she uneasily glanced around the fairgrounds.

  “No. We haven’t seen her since last night,” Jeff replied.

  “You’ll understand that you won’t be able to court Lacy now that we know you’re married,” Sam warned her.

  “I never wanted to court her to begin with,” she responded. “I kept telling everyone that no woman can hold me down.”

  “Including your wife,” Tim noted. “Just as long as you understand Lacy is off limits, then we’re alright with you.”

  She was relieved. Changing topics, she asked, “Where’s Chris?”

  “He’s over there, showing off his horse.” He nodded in the man’s direction. “He’s been bragging about his skill on a horse all morning. You’d better win. We have a lot of money riding on you.”

  “We don’t want to lose anymore money by betting against you,” Jeff added.

  “You have nothing to worry about,” she assured them.

  “If your sister doesn’t hurry, she’ll miss the race,” Sam told them. “Since she might spend the day with Chris after this event, she should be somewhat interested in the outcome.”

  “I’ll go look for her,” her brother said on her behalf.

  She nodded and took Reliable to the start line, eager to race the stallion. She patted his neck and softly said, “You can do this, Reliable. You’re a good animal and you have a lot of strength and speed. I’m proud of you. You haven’t let me down yet, and I’m sure you won’t now.”

  He neighed in response.

  She smiled.

  Chris came up next to her. “Where’s that pretty sister of yours?” he asked. “She is here today, isn’t she?”

  “Oh, she’s here. She’s closer than you think.”

  “She’ll enjoy spending time with me.”

  “She’s going to marry your brother.”

  “Has he proposed?”

  “Not yet. But it’s just a matter of time. Rumor around town is that he bought the ring.”

  “Until they’re married, nothing is set in stone. I don’t mind watching him squirm.”

  “You’re a horrible brother.”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t break my parents’ heart by giving up the family business for a woman. As far as I’m concerned, the full inheritance is my rightful due.”

  “You’re also greedy.”

  He didn’t answer her as he got on his horse.

  She got on Reliable. She waited for the race to start. As soon as Sam called out it was time to go, she urged her horse to a run
. She almost lost. The race was too close. She breathed a sigh of relief as Chris threw his hat on the ground and stomped on it. Tim, Sam, and Jeff surrounded her and patted her on the back for winning.

  “You pulled it off,” Billy congratulated her. “You improved out here. A month ago, he would have won.”

  “Well, I’ve had a lot of time to race and run this horse in the fields,” she replied, pleased by his compliment.

  Lacy walked over to her. “I’m sorry I’ll have to give my attention to Chris this afternoon, but I can understand you did it to protect your sister from him,” she told Kate. “Billy, I just want you to know that I won’t be like that horrible woman who forced you on the run. I heard about her and she sounds dreadful. I promise that I won’t be that way with you.”

  Kate’s jaw dropped. She could only stare after Lacy as she reluctantly walked over to Chris.

  Her brother shook his head. “That woman is desperate for any man, isn’t she?”

  “I don’t get it. What is her problem? I made it a point to let her know that my Billy character has a wife, yet she won’t give up.”

  “You should have been rude like I was. It works every time on any woman I don’t care to associate with.”

  “It’s too bad you weren’t here to give me that lesson when I first met her.” She groaned. “I should’ve known she would throw this curve ball.” The fact that Chad was married didn’t discourage her from trying to sleep with him. But she wanted to get even with Georgia. Kate didn’t know what to do.

  After playing horseshoes with Tim, Sam, Jeff and Billy, she decided it was time to be Kate. On her way to the outhouse, Lacy stopped her.

  “Though I have been talking to Chris, my affections are for you,” she told Kate.

  “But Lacy, what about my wife? I mean, I did leave her,” Kate protested.

  “She must be horrible if she drove you away. She doesn’t understand you like I do. It’s true that you’re awkward around women, but I can overlook your weaknesses. A simple divorce will take care of Lois. Then I will travel the country with you.”