The Clash Between the Minds

by Nann Dunne

  Sarah took a bead just below the fiery tip and fired again. The torch went flying. The other man had drawn his pistol, but the torchbearer yelled, "Run, you fool!" and they both took off.

  Paddy soon stopped barking. Sarah sat down on the floor and laid the rifle next to her. Paddy, whining softly, pushed a cold nose against her arm. Sarah picked him up with one hand and held him against her chest until the puppy calmed down. "Good job, Paddy." She kissed his small red head and set him back on the floor. Sarah pushed him down next to her and stroked his back until he lay still. After waiting close to an hour, she got up, took the rifle, and went back to the sofa.

  Paddy awoke, trotted after her, and settled on what was fast becoming his usual night spot on the rug. Sarah glanced down at him and grinned. Leah had been right. Even though he was just a pup, Paddy was a great watchdog.

  She slid under the quilt and squirmed against the cushioned back of the sofa. With a huge leap of imagination, she pretended the softness she snuggled against was Faith. She felt wretched. Not only did she miss Faith, but she also wondered whether Joel had made any progress in turning Faith against her. This latest encounter could add fuel to the fire of Faith's anger.

  Damn it, she wasn't asking for this violence to follow her, but she was helpless to stop it.

  "How many were there?" Sheriff Schmidt asked. He pushed the ubiquitous folders out of the way and pulled a tablet closer.

  Sarah sat down at the desk. "Six. Five trying to pound the cross into the ground and one holding a torch."

  Schmidt wrote that down. "What happened?"

  "I shot the middle of the cross, blew it apart, and four of them ran. The one with the torch froze in place, and the other one pulled his gun. I shot the torch, and one of them yelled, 'Run, you fool,' and they bolted."

  "You shot the torch?" Sarah wasn't sure whether Schmidt sounded impressed or skeptical.

  "I've had a lot of target practice. Hard to miss at that range."

  "Mmm." Schmidt gave her a quick smile. "Did you recognize any of them?"

  Sarah considered that for a moment. "The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but I can't place it."

  Schmidt twiddled the pencil he held. In his large hands, it looked like a sulfur match. "Not much to go on. I'll come out and check the site, but I don't hold much hope."

  "Don't waste your time, Sheriff. There's nothing there, just some bits of lumber and pitch that could come from anywhere. No distinguishing boot prints. I just want to let you know what's going on. I think someone's trying to run me out of town."

  Schmidt laid down the pencil, sat back, and rested his elbows °n the chair arms. "I'd say you're right. I hear things."

  Sarah flicked her fingers against the front of her hat and tipped it back. She raised her eyebrows. "What kind of things?"

  "Nothing I can act on, but a couple of people in this town are talking against you. They want to punish you for Hiram's death."

  "Hiram's death was his own fault." Sarah drummed her fingers on the desk. "Ed getting shot was his own fault, too."

  "Yes, but they'd rather blame you."

  "Do all the men in these parts belong to the Klan? Except you and Doc Litchfield, I mean."

  Schmidt fingered his chin. "I'd guess the six you saw at your place are just about the only active ones. Maybe one or two more. Enough to cause more than just mischief, if they decide to."

  "Have they attacked anyone else?"

  "Nope. Not hereabouts, anyway. Just you and your nigra."

  "Noah's not my nigra. He's a free man."

  "Going to take awhile for everyone to accept that." Schmidt hiked his belt and shifted in his chair. "I saw what happened at the parade. Doc jumped in before I could get there. You okay?"

  Sarah gave a short nod. "Just some bruising. I got shoved into the leader by someone behind me."

  "Yeah, a couple of people told me that, but they either didn't know or wouldn't let on who did it. Scared, maybe. Seems kind of personal against you, huh?"

  "Sure does." Sarah sneered. "The Klan leader's Morton Blanton. I recognized those fancy boots he wears."

  "I figured that was him. You want me to have a word with him?"

  "No, never mind. I'm leaving town, but not because of him. I need to find a new place to live. Somewhere people will let Faith and me be who we are."

  Schmidt took a deep breath and let it out. "Don't know as such a place exists. People can be mighty mean to anyone they think is different."

  "I aim to look, anyway." Sarah hesitated. "I'll be putting my property up for sale. You know anyone who's interested, tell them I'll see them when I get back."

  She stood up and so did Schmidt. Sarah reached forward and shook his hand. "Thanks, Sheriff. And thanks for not judging Faith and me."

  "Good luck, Miss Sarah."

  When Faith got to school and heard about the Klan attack on their—Sarah's—home, she shook with fear and frustration. She had felt in her heart that the Klan would cause more trouble for them. And now they had. The news Joel had given her about some townspeople wanting Sarah dead made this latest development even more distressing. She wanted so badly to protect Sarah, but she felt helpless to do anything. She couldn't even go to Sarah and let her know of her support.

  She didn't remember getting through the school day. By the time she got home, she was so disturbed that she stomped back and forth through the house, trying to rid herself of the excess energy that her rage built in her.

  Benjamin came in and watched her for about half a minute. "Mama, are you all right?"

  "No," she snapped and immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry. I'm just so worried about Aunt Sarah, and I don't know how to help her." She stopped and sat down at the table. "Everything seems to be piling up against her."

  Benjamin sat next to her, and they hugged. When they moved away, Benjamin said, "I'm worried about her, too. I want to help protect her."

  Faith had been so engrossed with her own feelings the past two days that she hadn't given much thought to Benjamin's. Should she tell him Joel's news? Perhaps she should, so he would understand why Faith had to keep Sarah away. "Benjamin, I have something I want to tell you, but you must not tell anyone else."

  "I promise, Mama."

  She looked into his trusting eyes. "Dr. Litchfield overheard some men planning to kill Aunt Sarah if she doesn't stay away from me. They think she's an evil influence on their schoolteacher."

  His face paled. "Oh, Mama." The fear and frustration that crossed his expression mirrored Faith's feelings. "You'll have to make Aunt Sarah stay away."

  "I don't know whether I can do that."

  His shaky voice conveyed his disturbance. "But you have to, Mama, even if it hurts her feelings. I don't want Aunt Sarah to die."

  "I'll try my best to keep that from happening."

  Benjamin reached out, gave her another hug, and clung to her.

  Faith thanked God that she had Benjamin at her side. But who did Sarah have? That question made her heart hurt even more.

  Late that afternoon, Sarah rode to Leah and Phillip's home. She dismounted and wrapped Redfire's reins around a hitching post standing near the porch steps. She walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

  "Welcome, Sarah. Come on in," Phillip said as he opened it. He gave her a hug and escorted her into the kitchen.

  "Hi, Leah, Amy."

  Supper was finished and Amy was washing the dishes, but Leah had already set Sarah a place at the table and was preparing a serving of food. Amy waved a soapy hand. "Hi, Aunt Sarah."

  Sarah hadn't come here to eat, but the kitchen smells made her mouth water. Leah had a definite knack for cooking, no doubt about it. Sarah hadn't eaten well since Faith left. She just had no desire to go to the effort of making a hearty meal for herself.

  "Hi, Sarah. Sit and have something to eat." Leah's tone left no room for arguing. She set a plate of sliced roast beef, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy into the stove to heat.

  Sarah and Phillip s
at down. "Are you all right?" Phillip asked. She grinned wryly. Phillip's question pointed up the troublesome events she was involved in.

  She placed her hands on the table and drummed her fingers. "Yes, I am. I suppose you heard about the Klan attack last night."

  Leah poured Sarah a cup of coffee and returned the pot to the stove. She sat next to Sarah and touched her hand, quieting it-"We did. Phillip heard some gossip about it. Your voice sounds calm, but your fingers give you away. Tell us what happened."

  Sarah recounted the events. "Thank you for insisting I get a dog. I might not have heard them if Paddy hadn't wakened me."

  "I thought as much." Leah turned toward Amy who had finished doing the dishes. "Go ahead and leave, Amy. I'll clean up the rest."

  Amy went to Sarah, dipped her head, and kissed Sarah's cheek. "We love you, Aunt Sarah. Please be careful."

  Sarah tapped her fingers on Amy's arm. "Thank you. Don't you worry your head about it. I'll be all right. You go on, now." Amy, who was the picture of her mother, left the room. What was she now, ten? She looked after her little brother, Brendan, like a second mother. Amy had Leah's big heart, too.

  Leah retrieved the plate from the stove oven, put it in front of Sarah, and sat back down. "Thank goodness they didn't hurt you."

  "Yes, or my property. Between the attempted burning of the cross and the parade fiasco, I think someone's intent on driving me away, rather than seriously harming me." Sarah sliced the roast beef into bite-size pieces and gulped several of them.

  Phillip looked uncomfortable. "I saw what happened at the parade, but I was too far away to help you. By the time I pushed a little way through the crowd, Doc Litchfield was there. Do you have any idea who's after you?"

  Sarah swallowed the beef and ate a quick forkful of beans mixed with mashed potatoes. "Morton Blanton was leading the Klan parade. I recognized his hand-tooled boots when he kicked me."

  Phillip balled his hands into fists. "Just give me the word, and I'll make him sorry he picked on you." He waited while Sarah grabbed some more food.

  She gave him a serious look. "Thanks, Phillip, but please stay out of it. It's bad enough he's turned a bunch of people against We. I don't want to be the cause of that happening to you or your family."

  "You have something in mind," Leah said. "I can tell. What is it?"

  "Yes, I have. I'm putting my house up for sale and leaving town. Now. First I'm going to visit Scott and Lindsay—and maybe Mother and Father—then I'm going to scout for another place to live."

  Both Leah and Phillip looked dumbfounded. Silence reigned while Sarah cleaned up her plate and drank some coffee.

  At last, Leah managed to speak. "I thought you were going to wait until Faith finished teaching."

  "That's what we had planned. But this spate of violence made me change my mind. I don't see any way of stopping it without causing more." Sarah finished her coffee and shook her head no when Leah nodded toward her empty cup. "You know how Faith hates violence. The more it chases after me, the farther it pushes her away. I don't want to lose her, but I can't see a way to redeem myself in her eyes. My best bet seems to be to get away before it tears us apart."

  Leah looked stricken. "Do you really think it could?"

  Sarah rubbed the back of her neck. "It wouldn't even enter my mind except Joel Litchfield has been urging her to rethink our relationship. She has a tender spot in her heart for doctors. Her father was one."

  "You're right about the tender spot," Phillip said. "I remember how her voice grew softer when she spoke of her father to me."

  "Joel Litchfield's a handsome man, and I'll bet he can be pretty persuasive," Leah said. She rose, put Sarah's dirty dishes in the sink, and sat back down. "He's turned the head of every woman I know."

  "Really?" Phillip's jaw was set.

  Leah laughed and waggled a finger at him. "Not me, darlin'. You're my one-and-only man forever." She sobered. "You know there's one big thing we're overlooking." When Sarah and Phillip gave her questioning looks, she said, "Faith was married to a man, so the idea's not foreign to her. I have to admit, it does cause fewer social problems. No doubt the dear doctor has pointed that out to her." She gazed at Sarah. "I guess I'm not doing much to set your mind at ease, am I?"

  Sarah grimaced. "You're not telling me anything I don't already know. I believe in Faith, but I can't seem to stop being jealous of Litchfield. Seeing him sniff around Faith...I can't stay and watch that without the danger of more violence happening. Only this time I would be to blame."

  The three of them sat silently looking at each other.

  Sarah slapped her hand on the table. "So, I'm leaving tomorrow. I want to ask a couple of favors."

  "Anything," Leah and Phillip said together.

  "First, I want you to look after the horses and watch Paddy for me until I get back."

  "Of course we will," Leah said as Phillip nodded.

  "Second, I'm going to put my house up for sale, and I wondered whether you two would keep an eye on it and show it to prospective buyers."

  Another silence ensued while Leah and Phillip looked at each other. Phillip cleared his throat, and with a last glance at Leah, he said, "If you really mean to sell, we'd like to buy it."

  It was Sarah's turn to be dumbfounded. "I...I...Wonderful! I'd love to have you living there."

  "I'm so glad." Leah clapped her hands. "Phillip and I have talked about building a place like yours, but this is even better. I have lots of good memories from that house."

  "So have I," Sarah said wistfully. "I'll bring a signed deed over tomorrow on my way to the train station." She was surprised when Leah jumped up, came over to her, and sat on her lap. Leah wound her arms around Sarah's neck and kissed her cheek.

  "Thank you, thank you, thank you. You've done so many good things for me. I'll never be able to repay you. I still say Faith is foolish for not appreciating you." She kissed Sarah's cheek again, got up, and switched to Phillip's lap. "And thank you, too, sweetie." She kissed him on the mouth, and Phillip returned it with obvious enjoyment.

  Recovering, he said to Sarah, "We'll need to work out a price and a payment plan."

  "You figure out what you can live with, and we'll talk about that when I get back. Meantime, the house is yours. Use whatever furnishings you need for the moment, and pack the rest away. We'll take care of that later, too."

  Leah grinned endearingly. "I hate to see you leave, Sarah, but I'm already planning on what will go where."

  Sarah chuckled. "You'll let me stay with you when I get back, right?"

  "Forever," Phillip said before Leah could get a word out.

  Sarah rose. "That's settled then." Phillip and Leah stood, too. "I'll stop by here tomorrow with the puppy and the deed right before I leave town."

  "Does Faith know you're going?" Leah asked.

  "Not yet. Tomorrow's Saturday, no school. I'll tell her in the morning."

  Phillip frowned. "How do you think she'll react?"

  "Phillip," Sarah said with a droll smile, "I never know how that redhead is going to react. She sure keeps life interesting." Sarah hesitated. "But I won't be talked into changing my plans."

  She left, and Leah and Phillip stood on the porch watching Redfire trot away.

  "Sarah could be making some life-changing decisions," Leah said. "I hope she's not headed down the wrong path."

  "Me, too." Phillip put an arm around Leah's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "But Sarah's a remarkable woman. We're both living proof that she has a way of changing wrong paths into right ones."

  The next morning, Sarah put on her work clothes and filled Paddy's food and water bowls. She went to the barn and mucked the stalls and fed and watered the horses. Then she returned to the house, disrobed, and washed up. Clean again, she brushed her hair until it shone.

  She donned the trousers of her best navy blue suit and slipped on Faith's favorite tunic, the amber one that matched her eyes. After she tied her hair back with a piece of natural-colored
rawhide, she shrugged into the suit jacket and debated whether to wear a coat. Faith had made her a hip-length, dark-brown canvas one with a lining of lamb's wool and lamb's wool trim, even on the four pockets.

  The weather had been cooling its way toward winter, but today's bright sunlight lessened the chill. Disdaining the heavier outerwear for the moment, she decided she would wear it later, to Leah's.

  She hadn't been able to eat. The qualms that arose about a possible confrontation with Faith made eating unthinkable. Rejecting the idea again, she squared her shoulders, put on her slouch hat, and left.

  She arrived at the schoolteacher's house, dismounted, and tied Redfire to the hitching post. As she turned toward the door, Benjamin came out. When he spied her, he hopped down the couple of steps and ran to her. "Aunt Sarah." He hugged her and in a voice muffled by her shoulder said, "I've missed you so much."

  Sarah's voice caught in her throat. "I've missed you, too." She took hold of his upper arms and backed him away from her. "Benjamin, I have something to tell you."

  He fixed his large brown eyes on her and cocked his head, as Faith often did. "Something bad?"

  She dropped her hands from his shoulders. "No, not bad, just...I'm selling the house and going away for a while."

  "You're going away? And selling our house?" His face crumpled. Sarah could tell he was fighting against crying, and her heart went out to him.

  "I'm going to visit your Uncle Scott and Aunt Lindsay, and my mother and father. Then I'm going to look around west of here. Aunt Leah and Uncle Phillip are buying the house, so you can visit it whenever you want to."

  "But you won't be there."

  "No, but I'll be back by the time school's out. Some people here have turned against us, and I want to locate a place where you and your mama and I can live together in peace."

  His face cleared a bit. "Do you know where to look?"

  "Not yet, but I'm sure I can find a good one. In the meantime, I want you to take care of Redfire for me, all right? I'm going by train, and I can hire a horse or get another one when I need to."