Heart of Stone

by Jill Marie Landis

  “Why?”

  Because it hurts. “No reason.”

  “Can I go outside?” Sam stood by the back door, looking out the window.

  “Not yet. I’d rather we surprise Jesse together.” There’s safety in numbers, she thought. No telling how Jesse Langley would react.

  She brushed out Janie’s tangled locks and by the time she finished, the little girl’s hair was parted in a straight line and two new braids trailed over her shoulders.

  Laura stood Janie beside Sam and looked them over.

  “How do we look?” Janie wanted to know.

  “Passable. And a sight better than when you came in.”

  “Am I old enough to wash myself too?” Janie asked.

  “You’re old enough to try.” Laura wondered if Brand had even noticed the state they were in before they left. Hadn’t Charity recovered from her shock yet?

  “Let’s go,” Sam prodded.

  “All right. Let’s.” Laura took a deep breath and opened the back door.

  The carriage house was cool and dim inside. The pungent scents of leather, horse, and dusty straw filled the air. Dust motes danced on a ray of sunlight that filtered in from the windows high on the side walls. The children were unusually solemn as Laura led the way across the open space between the buggy and the stalls toward the tack room in back.

  The door was closed. As she raised her hand to knock, the door swung open and Jesse Langley filled the doorway. He looked at Laura and then down at the children. They stared up at him in silent awe. Laura knew that wouldn’t last long.

  “You need something?” He ignored both McCormicks.

  “I do. You have guests. I brought them to meet you,” she said.

  Anyone who knew Brand well would immediately recognize Sam as his. Jesse stared at them both for a second before his expression imperceptibly tightened.

  Before anyone could say anything, Sam stuck out his hand.

  “I’m Sam. We’re brothers.”

  Jesse stiffened. His gaze shot to Laura.

  “What is this?”

  “This is Sam and Janie McCormick. Your half brother and sister.”

  Janie smiled up at Jesse with a gap between her teeth and stars in her eyes. “Now I’ve got two big brothers. How old are you, anyway?”

  Jesse stared at Laura. “Get them out of here,” he mumbled.

  “But—”

  “You heard me, ma’am.”

  “I thought—”

  He stepped back and shut the door.

  “That was rude wasn’t it?” Janie said. “Aunt Charity says there’s no accounting for rudeness and that people should at least know their manners.”

  Laura curbed the urge to knock on the door and toss Jesse Langley out on his ear, but she reminded herself what he’d been through and how he’d ended up here in the first place and calmed herself down.

  She reached for Sam and Janie’s hands and marched them out of the carriage house and back into the kitchen.

  “What now?” Sam asked, his footsteps dragging.

  “Cookies,” Laura told them.

  “It’s kind of early for cookies,” Janie observed.

  “It’s never too early for cookies,” Sam told her.

  “My thought exactly,” Laura agreed.

  Rodrigo was in the kitchen when they walked back in. She settled them at the table with cookies and milk and then marched back out to the carriage house. The tack-room door was still closed. She didn’t knock gently.

  Jesse opened the door. “What now?”

  He sounded surprisingly like Sam.

  “I’m here to remind you that for the time being, I’m your employer. I suggest you rephrase that.”

  “You need something, ma’am?” He waited.

  “I do. I need you to be civil to those children. They came over here on their own to meet their half brother and the least you could have done was say hello.”

  “They’re nothing to me.”

  “They are children. All I’m asking is that you spend five minutes talking to them.”

  “Forget it.”

  Across town at the McCormick house, Brand had withdrawn to his office.

  He knew that God never gave anymore than one could bear, but as he sat down behind his desk, he thought to himself, This time He’s pushing the load.

  Yesterday the church board had called an executive meeting and excluded him. He was convinced they were going to ask him to step down, as was their right. He wished they’d heard him out first. It may not have done any good to try and explain to those who had already made up their minds, but surely some were still undecided.

  Afterward, Hank and Amelia had stopped by to tell him that they were behind him. She was on the board and assured him the majority wanted to wait and see how the congregation reacted before they took a vote of confidence.

  He thanked them, assuring them everything would work out for the best, but when he closed the door and they were gone, doubt crept in.

  He had a family to feed and shelter and no idea where he would go or what he’d do if he lost his position.

  The Larsons had told him Laura found Jesse Langley passed out cold in the alley beside the Silver Slipper on Monday and had taken him in. Though the news surprised him, it only increased his admiration for her.

  He turned to his Bible for solace. As he began reading, there came a soft knock at the door.

  “Come in,” he called, expecting one of the children. Or both. They’d been suspiciously quiet since he’d sent them outside to play.

  But it was Charity. “I need to talk to you, Brand.”

  “Quite a shock we had, eh, Sis?” He stood up and came around the desk to join her.

  “It wasn’t just seeing that young man standing there claiming to be your son,” she began.

  “It’s not an idle claim. He is my son.”

  “Do you mind if I sit down?” She indicated the chair in front of his desk.

  “Of course not. I’m sorry this has been such a shock.”

  “No, it’s me who’s sorry,” she said softly. “All of this might have turned out differently if I’d said something to you years ago. You might have found Sarah Langley and been there to raise your son.”

  A lone tear slid down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. “But then you wouldn’t have married Jane. You wouldn’t have Janie and Sam and…I love them as if they were my own. I can’t imagine a world without them.”

  “What makes you think you could have done anything? You were only a child when Sarah disappeared.”

  “I was seven.” She took a deep breath before she went on. “Of course, I knew who the Langleys were. Everyone did. They were teased a lot about being half-breeds at school. One day I was outside Father’s study and I heard him talking to Mr. Langley. Father told him to take his family, leave town, and not come back. He said he didn’t want his son’s life ruined. I thought Mr. Langley meant to hurt you in some way.

  “I peeked around the door and saw Father take a roll of money out of the safe. When he handed it over, he told Mr. Langley to make certain no one ever found out where they went.”

  Brand’s heart stuttered. He knew his father had been unhappy when Sarah caught his eye, but he would have never have believed the man capable of this—that he would stoop so low as to pay Mr. Langley to move his family out of town and to hide their tracks.

  “It all seemed so secretive and strange. I didn’t understand then, but the minute I heard what Jesse Langley said in the church, I knew what it all meant. Father paid that man to take his daughter away, even though she was going to have your child, Brand.”

  Shaken, Brand sank into his own chair behind the desk. His gaze fell on the Bible he’d closed not five minutes before. His father had always been an authoritarian and unyielding. But he was gone now. There was nothing Brand could say, no way he could confront him.

  It all comes down to forgiveness.

  His father had done what he thought right for his son,
but that didn’t make it right. His father should never have played God.

  “I’m so sorry, Brand,” Charity said.

  “Sis, there’s nothing to forgive. How can I blame you for not telling me something you couldn’t fully understand?” He got up and went around to her side of the desk again. “Don’t forget, you were only as old as Janie is now.” He couldn’t help but smile a little. “In fact, she looks a lot like you did at that age.”

  “What about him? Jesse? What can we do to help him?”

  “I thought he would walk back out of my life as suddenly as he walked in, but he’s still in town.”

  “He is? Where?”

  “Laura took him in. He’s living at her place and working for her now.”

  “Maybe you can make him understand. Maybe there’s still a chance he can be a part of our family.”

  “It won’t be easy. Not to mention, I may have an uphill battle with the church board as well.”

  “Oh, Brand. Would it help if I spoke to them? Tell them what I know?” She was still shaking like a leaf.

  “Hopefully they’ll take my youth into consideration along with my years as a minister.” He walked over to the window, watched the clouds trail across the open sky. “We have to trust in God, Charity, the way we always have.”

  He turned away from the window, smiled down at her, and offered his hand.

  “Now, I think it’s time we faced the world and find the children. They’re suspiciously quiet.”

  “I’ll see about getting the noon meal together,” she told him.

  Charity went to the kitchen. Brand called for Janie and Sam. When he couldn’t find them in the house, he went outside and walked the grounds. They never went far and eventually came running when he called. He wasn’t overly concerned until the image of Jesse Langley’s face flashed through his mind.

  If Jesse truly wanted to hurt him, it could be easily done through his children.

  Brand started back to the house, his long strides eating up the distance. When he reached the front yard, he saw Richard Hernandez at the front door talking to Charity. She waved and called him over.

  “Laura sent Richard over to tell you Sam and Janie are at her place.”

  Brand could finally breathe again. If the children were with Laura, they were in good hands.

  THIRTEEN

  Laura waited for Brand at the edge of her veranda. Beneath the wide brim of his hat, his face was shadowed. When he reached her, he doffed the hat but the shadows remained in his eyes.

  She led him inside and paused in the entry hall as he closed the door behind them.

  “I’m sorry about Sam and Janie pestering you.”

  “They haven’t been any trouble.”

  “It’s so good to see you, Laura,” he said softly.

  Without warning, he reached for her. She knew she should protest, but all she could do was go completely still inside. His hand rested on her shoulder for a heartbeat before he pulled her into his arms and held her close. Her first instinct was to push back, to break his hold, but the way he held her was so natural that her arms slipped around him without hesitation. Slowly she uncurled her hands, pressed her palms gently against the back of his coat. Her heart was beating frantically, like the wings of a caged bird.

  She’d had countless encounters with men, but this gentle sharing was something she’d never, ever experienced. Standing within the warm circle of his embrace, she suddenly realized that she had been waiting for this moment for her entire life. She hadn’t even realized what she’d longed for until this very second when she felt the beat of Brand’s heart next to hers. She could no more let go now than stop breathing.

  Because he needs someone to hold him, she thought.

  That’s all, she told herself. That’s all.

  They held each other until the sound of footfalls echoed in the kitchen, an abrupt reminder that they were not alone. Laura immediately let go. Brand opened his arms and stepped back. Another man might have acted as if nothing had happened. But something had happened and he had felt it as well. His gaze never left her face. His expression was filled with unspoken words.

  A more innocent woman would not have understood their meaning.

  A less honorable man would have voiced them aloud. Her face flamed. She dropped her gaze and fought to collect herself.

  “The children are in the kitchen,” she said softly.

  They entered the kitchen, where Rodrigo was browning a pork shoulder.

  “Where are the children?” she asked.

  “They wanted to go outside. I told them to stay in the yard,” the cook said.

  “Jesse is here,” she told Brand.

  “I know.”

  They went out the back door. The children were nowhere to be seen, but Laura thought she heard Janie’s voice coming from the carriage house.

  “I’ll go get them,” she said, hoping to avoid a confrontation between Jesse and Brand.

  “Is he in there?” Brand stared at the carriage house.

  “He was. He’s bunking in the tack room.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Brand said.

  She saw the tension on his face. Tension tinged with worry.

  “I’m sure the children are fine,” she said, not really sure at all.

  Together they walked toward the wide-open double doors of the carriage house. As they approached, she heard Janie’s chatter, her words loud and clear.

  Laura stopped just inside the door. Brand hovered behind her. Across the open space, Janie and Sam were standing outside an open stall watching Jesse rake up straw and toss it into a wheelbarrow behind him. When Janie stepped close to the wheelbarrow, Jesse ignored her.

  “How come you are so old?” Janie asked. “I wanted a little brother, not another big one. My papa said that we couldn’t have another brother until he found a wife. So where did you come from?”

  “You’re in the way.” Jesse’s tone wasn’t as sullen as Laura expected. He carefully sidestepped the little girl and dumped a pitchfork full of straw in the wheelbarrow.

  “You got any muscles?” Sam wanted to know.

  “More than you,” Jesse said.

  “Show me.”

  Jesse ignored the request and walked back into the stall. Sam rolled up his shirtsleeve, raised his arm, and made a fist. When Jesse walked out again, Sam pointed to his bicep.

  “See? Muscle. My papa says I’m going to be strong as an ox.”

  “You believe him?” Jesse disappeared into the stall.

  Sam nodded. “‘Course I do. Why would he lie?” He shoved his fist up higher. “Feel for yourself.”

  Jesse stared at the boy for a second, then he reached down and fitted his thumb and forefinger around Sam’s miniscule bicep. Jesse snorted. It was the only comment he made before he returned to his task.

  Brand started across the room with Laura on his heels. She picked up her pace and reached the children first.

  “Look who’s here,” she said.

  “Papa!” Janie smiled and jumped up for a hug.

  Sam, old enough to know they were in trouble, remained silent.

  Jesse Langley turned his back and kept raking.

  “Why don’t you two go with Laura?” Brand said. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “We’re talking to Jesse,” Janie said. “Can’t we stay?”

  Laura watched Brand study the young man in the stall. Jesse worked on, as if none of them were there. Brand looked to her for help.

  “Come with me, you two,” she urged, “Let’s let Jesse and your father talk.”

  “Run along,” Brand added. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  Laura held out both her hands and the children took them. As she led them into the sunlight, she glanced back. Brand was staring at Jesse with mingled confusion and something she’d had little enough of in her life. Hope.

  You’re still here.” Brand couldn’t help but marvel at the strong young man mucking out the stall. He was tall and fit with thic
k black hair that reached his shoulders. He’d tied it back with a piece of black cord. His eyes were dark and clear, his mouth full, his jawline strong and determined. He was everything a man would want in a son—except that there was no love in his eyes. Only suspicion tinged with hate.

  “Yeah. For now.”

  “I’m going to take that as a good sign.”

  “Take it as anything you want. I’m still here because I don’t have the money to move on. I’ll be heading out as soon as I do.”

  “I’d like you to give me a chance to get to know you.”

  Jesse leaned on his rake. “I know all I need to know about you.”

  “You don’t know the whole story. I didn’t either, not until my sister remembered something that happened before you were born. Seeing you sparked her memory.”

  Jesse turned around. “Sounds convenient, Preacher, but I don’t want to hear it.”

  Brand looked through the open doors, out into the light of day where Laura strolled with his children through her garden. He turned around, spoke to Jesse’s back, tried once more to reach this man who was his son.

  “I’m not the kind of man who would abandon a child.” He spread his hands, shrugged. “It’s up to you to believe me or not. God knows the truth.”

  Jesse turned to stare at Brand in stone-cold silence before he said, “He’s not talking, is He?”

  Brand saw it was useless to argue. Badgering Jesse would get him nowhere.

  Brand nodded in the young man’s direction. “Thanks for putting up with the children. They’ve been curious and excited about you.”

  His gratitude was met with more silence. He knew when it was time to walk away.

  Brand took a long look at Jesse Langley, knowing it might very well be his last.

  As soon as Brand and the younger children were gone, Laura returned to the carriage house.

  “What are you to him?” Jesse asked as soon as she drew near.

  “What do you mean?” She felt herself flush. She knew very well what he meant.

  “Are you lovers?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  What am I to Brand? She didn’t know how to answer and struggled.