“You might not be able to bring her home, if she is sentenced by the court, Jeremy. Do you want me to go with you? You know I will.” Austin meant what he said; he would accompany Jeremy to Wyoming, even though he had sworn never to return.
“No, I need you here. I don't know how long I will be gone and the business needs you.” Jeremy looked over some papers on his desk.
“Is Martha going with you?” Austin didn't think Martha would be very happy about going back to Wyoming.
“I honestly don't know. Things are strained between us right now.” Jeremy looked like he had lost his best friend. Austin's heart went out to him.
“You and Martha can weather this Jeremy, you love each other. It will work out.” He wished he had more to say but words failed him.
Out on the farm, a similar conversation was taking place. “I have to do this Annabelle. I swore never to return to that horrible place, but I can't let Papa go alone and I know he will go.” Annabelle was beside herself. She didn't want Isaac to leave, but his next statement almost knocked her over. “I think Thomas should come with us. It is time he became a man.”
“You can't be serious, he is ten years old. No Isaac, he is not going. He doesn't need to be part of this fiasco with Anna.” She piled the dishes in the sink, knocking a glass over. It shattered to pieces. She cut her hand trying to clean it up.
“Leave that, Annabelle. I said leave it. Come here.” He pulled her into his arms. “Thomas wants to go. You know how curious he is about Whittakerville, and he is the next generation. Perhaps the town is not to blame for our father's mistakes.” She kept shaking her head. “I need him with me Annabelle.” She looked up into his eyes. Filled with compassion for the man she loved, she finally nodded in agreement. Oh dear God, why is this family suffering like this. Anna why did you do this to all of us?
“What if she is guilty, Annabelle? I know you always see the best in people but Anna is very willful. What if she did try to kill that crazy Indian?” Isaac sat in the living room staring at the portrait of Alicia Whittaker, his mother.
“Isaac, don't even say that. Anna wouldn't kill someone unless he threatened her. Yes, that's it. Jeb. Jr. probably threatened her and she did it in self -defense. Or she did it because he tried to kill Jeremy and this was her first chance to do something about it.” Annabelle searched her mind for excuses; she didn't want to believe Anna capable of attempted murder. “But in her letter, she said he was a good man. Oh, I don't know.” Annabelle Whittaker didn't want to believe anyone could be so cruel. Isaac was not convinced. “What are you going to do when you get there? I am frightened Isaac, you said you would kill him.” Annabelle was shaking. He held her hand tightly.
“I don't know. I don't know what to think or who is guilty anymore. This whole story is so confusing. I did feel hatred toward that crazy Indian, Jeb Jr. as you call him but now I don't know what to think.” He ran his fingers through his dark hair. “Somewhere in my mind, I wonder if he was just an angry frightened young man like I was. He saw his mother beaten by the same man that killed my mother. Maybe we have more in common that I thought.” Annabelle stared at her husband. She was surprised by this new insight.
“Yes, Isaac perhaps he is a good man after all. I pray we will settle this situation and Anna will come home safely.” She closed her eyes as if speaking to God. “You must go and yes, you must take Thomas with you.” She pulled him to her, “I love you Isaac.” They sat together silently, each in their own thoughts, for a long time.
Abraham and Vivienne arrived a few hours later. They had a similar conversation earlier. “Well what is the final decision, are you going?” Abe looked at his older brother with concern. Isaac nodded. Abe continued, “I have decided that I am not going. My patients need me and someone has to take care of the farm. I know you have all of the crops in, but the animals still need taking care of. Viv has agreed to do that for you and I would not leave without her.” Abe didn't have as much trouble making his decision as Isaac did. He wanted nothing to do with Wyoming ever again.
“Thomas and I will go with Papa,” Isaac told his brother. Vivienne looked at Annabelle in surprise.
“Thomas? But why are you taking Thomas?” Abraham looked at Viv sternly, trying to quiet her. “What are you thinking, Isaac, he is just a boy. Annabelle, for heaven's sake, do something.” Viv was getting very upset. Thomas and Sissy were like her own children and she was very protective.
“We have discussed it, and I agree with Isaac. Thomas is going, come and help me with the tea, Viv.” Annabelle ushered Viv firmly from the room. In the kitchen, Viv sank into the wooden chair, tears in her eyes. “Viv what is it? Why are you so upset?”
“Oh, I don't know. I cry at the least thing lately.” Annabelle gave her a knowing look.
“Are you with child?” Viv stared at her and then hesitating, nodded her head in the affirmative.
“I think so. Oh, it is a happy time but everything is so awful. Anna is in prison, the men want to go to Wyoming, and Mother Martha is falling apart. I haven't told Abe yet.” Annabelle hugged her tightly.
“Well, we need some happy news. Let's go and tell them now.” Vivienne hesitated. She didn't think it was the right time. Annabelle felt it was exactly the right time. She grabbed Viv's arm pulling her into the living room. “Viv has an announcement to make, gentlemen.” Sissy and Thomas came into the house right at that moment. Viv looked from one to the other.
“Annabelle, the children.” Although Vivienne seldom worried about social graces, children were not privy to such matters
“Our children were raised on a farm, Vivienne. You can speak freely in this house.” Annabelle nudged her to make her announcement.
“Abraham and I are expecting a baby.” A shocked Abe rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms.
“Is it true, we are having a baby?” He kissed her and twirled her around. Sissy and Thomas ran to hug Vivienne. Everyone laughed.
“Be careful of Aunt Viv, now children.” Isaac smiled at Annabelle. It was just the kind of news they all needed to cheer them up.
“Congratulations to the new parents.” Isaac patted his brother on the back and kissed Vivienne's cheek. “Now you be careful with the farm work, no heavy lifting. Do you hear me?”
“Hey, I'm the doctor in this family. Don't you worry; she will take good care of herself. A father, wow, I can't believe it.”
Sissy looked up at Abe in surprise. “What do you mean you can't believe it, you are the Daddy and Aunt Viv is the Mommy, that is how you get babies, silly.” Everyone laughed out loud. It was a very happy moment for them all.
“Well, that settles it. I am staying right here.” Abe pulled Viv onto his lap in the big armchair. He was very happy. “Nothing is going to spoil this time for us. Isaac, you and Papa can take care of whatever happens in Wyoming.” Thomas looked anxiously at his father.
“Don't forget, Thomas. He is coming with me.” Isaac looked at Thomas, who ran to him, hugging him tight.
“Oh Pa, thank you. I am going to Wyoming.” He was so excited; he nearly knocked Sissy off her feet as he spun around.
“Me, too Pa, I want to come too.” Sissy insisted. Annabelle pulled her close.
“I will need you here to take care of the farm, Sissy and Aunt Viv will need you too. You are going to have a little cousin next spring.” She looked disappointed but soon forgot all about it and questioned Viv about the baby. Isaac looked at Annabelle with relief. Thomas asked a million questions about the trip. The reason for the trip was almost forgotten in all the preparations and celebrating.
The next day, Abe and Viv went to the Whittaker mansion to tell Martha and Jeremy their news. She was in the conservatory, but Jeremy was not home. “Your Papa spends a great deal of time at the office these days. He is trying to settle everything before he goes west. I just wish he wasn't going at all.” Martha had large dark circles under her eyes; her face was drawn and pale. Abe was very concerned.
“Mama, sit down. You
look ill. Are you feeling all right? This entire Anna situation is taking its toll on you.” He fussed over her. Vivienne watched them from the other side of the room. She was hesitant to tell Martha their news with her mother-in-law looking so distressed. Slowly, she checked the orchids and the ferns bidding her time.
“We have news for you that will make you feel better. Mama, come here Vivienne.” Abraham's wife moved to his side. “Mama, we are expecting a child.” Martha could not believe her ears. She looked at the two of them.
“A child, that is wonderful. Oh Abraham, thank you for making me happy again. This is just the news we needed. Wait until Jeremy hears this. Oh, Vivienne this is wonderful.” She hugged them both. Her face took on a new uplifted cast; she smiled widely. “Let's have a party.”
“I don't think this is the time for a party Mama, maybe when Isaac and Papa get back. Did you know that Thomas is going with them?” Abraham watched her reaction. Vivienne took Martha's hand and sat beside her on the small settee.
“No, I didn't know Thomas was going but the boy is fascinated with Whittakerville. He is old enough to go. I wonder if Jeremy knows?” The two young people exchanged a curious glance. Were Martha and Jeremy not talking?
“When will Papa be back?”
“I don't really know. Let's call Charles and have tea to celebrate.” Martha seemed hesitant to talk about Jeremy. There was definitely something wrong. Abe offered to find Charles and order the tea. He left the women alone.
In the kitchen, Charles was relaxing with the newspaper. “Charles, Mama would like tea in the conservatory, but before you do that, is there something wrong between them?” Charles looked away, hesitant to discuss personal business. “Charles, please.”
Charles looked at Abraham. “Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker are experiencing some difficulties with the Anna situation. I am afraid they have different opinions. Would you like honey with your tea, Sir?” Abraham knew the conversation was over. He was being dismissed. He went to fetch his coat. Abe left the mansion and headed for Jeremy's office.
“I would like you to come home now, Papa. Viv and I have some special news.”
“Really son? What is it?” Abraham would rather take Jeremy home but he felt if he made his announcement, he would get more cooperation.
“We are expecting a child. Mama is very pleased and would like you to come home for our celebration.” Jeremy picked up his papers, not meeting Abraham's eyes.
“That is wonderful news, Abraham. I am very pleased for you both. I have to finish this before I can leave. I am leaving for Wyoming in two days; we will celebrate when I get back. Please give Vivienne my congratulations.” He rose and hugged his son.
Abraham tried again, but it was obvious that Jeremy did not want to go home. Abraham left him at the office and returned to the mansion. This troubled him a great deal; Martha and Jeremy were always able to work through their problems. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Damn you Anna, why is it always you that causes trouble between them? Damn you to Hell.
Chapter Fourteen
Anna
“Mrs. Whittaker, I can not help you if you don't tell me exactly what happened.” The elderly lawyer hobbled across the room. Anna watched him with distaste. She seemed to vacillate between the snobbish aristocrat and the shrew. He placed his briefcase on the table in front of her and plopped into the chair. “Why did you have arsenic in your possession?”
“For heaven sake, how many times do I have to tell you? I use it for my face cream. First you mix arsenic, vinegar and chalk and put it on your face. It gives a nice white glow to the skin. Lot's of women do it back east, I didn't poison anybody.” She glared at him. “Now, get me out of here. This place smells.”
“I am afraid you are not going anywhere just now, Mrs. Whittaker. Actually, I understand you are not Missus Whittaker but Miss Whittaker. Let me make sure the papers are correct.” He shuffled the papers slowly. She grew exasperated with him.
“Can I get another lawyer?” He ignored her. She asked again.
“I am the only one that will take your case. Now shall we begin at the beginning?”
“Send a telegram to Mrs. Esther Hobart Morris, she will find me a proper lawyer.” Anna demanded, looking at him pompously, her arms folded in front of her chest.
“Mrs. Morris has informed the court that she has no association with you and that you deserve all you get, in her opinion. I do not think she is a friend any longer. People do not like to associate with felons, my dear.” Anna was shocked. What was happening, these important people were her pawns. It suddenly started to sink in. She was in terrible trouble. The lawyer left her alone for a few minutes.
“Get my father, Jeremy Whittaker here. He will straighten this out. That lunatic Jeb Whittaker stabbed my father; he tried to kill him. Are you listening to me?” She screamed through the closed door to no one in particular. “Get Jeremy Whittaker, now!”
The sheriff and Joshua Brown listened to her shrieking from the office. They shook their heads in disgust. Anna had no friends in this town.
“What does she mean, Jeb Whittaker tried to kill her father? Is that true?”
“No, she has been shouting all kinds of ridiculous accusations since we locked her up. She is a lunatic. Filled with pure cussedness, that one. I think we might want the doc to give her something to subdue her.” The sheriff had about enough of Anna. “Do I need your permission as her lawyer?”
“Go ahead and call the doctor in, I can't deal with her like this either. I really have no case. She is guilty as sin. There is a witness, the doctor gave a statement that Whittaker exhibited all of the signs of arsenic poisoning, you have the arsenic, so no evidence pointing to her innocence, only to her guilt. Plus one minute she thinks she is Queen Victoria and the next she is screaming like a washer woman.” Old Joshua wrote something down and looked up at the sheriff. “You know they are cousins, not man and wife?”
Donald nodded, “Strange situation all around but I like Jeb Whittaker, hell everybody likes him. She will have trouble getting off in this town.”
Jeb arrived at that moment. “Donald, Mr. Brown how are you this evening?”
“We would be better if that lunatic woman would be quiet. I am thinking of having Doc give her something to calm her down. Every time I leave her food, she throws it at me. She is a she devil, that one!” Jeb smiled, he remembered finding that quality very attractive not long ago. He frowned, quickly remembering the current situation.
“I was talking to Doc about having her taken to one of the hospitals for lunatics. He said there would be no trouble getting her committed. I don't know what you think about that Mr. Brown?” The lawyer pondered Jeb's suggestion.
“Could do. Might save the court a lot of trouble. I can't even imagine trying to hold a court case, with her like that.” Just then Anna screeched through the closed door. The men looked at each other in frustration. “Something has to be done, and soon.”
“Well, if you are finished questioning her, I have to put her back in her cell.” Donald moved toward the door, he looked over his shoulder at the other two men. “Any volunteers?” The others shook their heads.
The doctor came to see Anna; he managed to slip some laudanum powder into her tea. It seemed to calm her down. The sheriff added it every morning. She wandered around her cell in a trance. She was quiet and that was all the sheriff cared about.
Jeb decided to visit her again before applying to have her committed. In his mind, committing her to an asylum was better than her being hung by the neck until she died. He wanted this all to be a terrible mistake. He wanted his Anna back. The sight of her stunned him. Her hair was disheveled, her face dirty and her clothes hung on her frame. It was obvious that she had lost weight while incarcerated. Anna stared at him blankly. She mumbled incoherently as she walked back and forth in the tiny cell. “Got to get out, got to get out. Can't stay here.” Over and over, she repeated those words. Jeb watched her from outside the cell. He was shocked
at her appearance. I loved you Anna, you are no longer the woman that I loved. Why did you do it, why did you try to kill me? His heart broke to see her like this. He called her name but she did not answer him. He turned on his heel and left the jailhouse.
The trial was to start in three days. Jeb was surprised that he had not had a telegram from the Whittakers. He sat in his office staring out the window. Smithers knocked on the door. “Come in Bill. What can I do for you?”
“Three strangers just got off the train. I think you better come and see them, Jeb. One of them says he is Anna's father.” Jeb's head jerked around.
“Anna's father? Jeremy Whittaker is here?” Smithers took Jeb's coat from the rack and handed it to him, nodding in the affirmative. The two men headed for the hotel.
Meanwhile, Anna had a visitor. Alice Parker sat outside the cell talking quietly to Anna. She told her about the children and their lessons and the town's gossip. It was as if she were having tea with a close friend. Anna sat and stared at her blankly, but she did not shriek or throw anything. Donald watched through the opening of the office door with interest.
“Can I bring you some clothes, Anna? The ones you are wearing need to be washed. If you take them off, you can wear this dress I brought you.” Alice gestured to the bag lying at Anna's feet. Anna stared at Alice and then at the bag. Moments later, as if a curtain had lifted, she mechanically stood up and started to strip. The sheriff discretely closed the door to the office. Anna carefully folded her clothes, took the dress from the bag and pulled it over her head. She smiled at Alice.
“Hand me those dirty clothes, Anna.” Anna passed Alice the bag without hesitation. “I am going to ask the sheriff if I can come and give you a bath and wash your hair. Would you like that?” Anna nodded. Alice passed a book through the bars and said her goodbyes.
Before leaving, she spoke with Sheriff Martin. “She needs a bath and I will be happy to do it. Just be sure she has been medicated and I don't see a problem.” The sheriff was impressed with Alice's approach to his prisoner and agreed. When Alice left, Donald instructed his deputy to get a tub and boil some water.
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