by DiAnn Mills
So maybe he’d never loved Felicia at all. Another revelation of his character. Made him wonder if a man ever truly knew himself.
“Brother Travis, I’d like to ask you a question,” Zack said.
“I’m not carrying your basket, if that’s what you want.”
Zack chuckled. “I have the rolls and the desserts, and I’m not giving them up.” Lately his voice had started to deepen with cracks and sputters that reminded Travis of a stream rushing out to sea. He’d reach manhood soon enough with all of its challenges.
Travis looked forward to seeing the patchwork of Zack’s life unfold. More so, he longed to be a part of it—and his mother’s life, too. “Then ask me what you will.”
“Would you help me make something nice for Mama’s Christmas present?”
“I believe we could take on a project. What did you have in mind?”
“Something simple like a small hinged box to put Papa’s watch, their picture, and his Bible inside. Right now she has them in a drawer. I could sand it smooth and stain it.”
“I think she’d treasure a gift like you’re wanting to give her. We’ll get started on it one day this week.”
“I’m worried about her.”
“I’d not be truthful if I said there’s no reason to be.”
“Remember the night I hung Miss Scott’s clothes on the schoolhouse tree?”
“Yes.” Suspicion plodded across his mind at the recollection of what he’d seen and heard only two days before.
“When I walked past Heaven’s Gate, Lester and Miss Laura were talking. They didn’t see me. I stopped to listen.”
“What did you hear, son?”
“Cursing like I never heard from anyone before. I mean the ranch hands sometimes say a curse word, but nothing like this. Lester was real mad at Miss Laura because she’d gone home from the bank that day without staying late. I didn’t understand why he was even at Heaven’s Gate, it being so late and all.”
“Did anything else happen?”
Zack’s silence told Travis there was more, and the boy couldn’t quite bring it to words.
“Zack, I’m a preacher, but I’m still a man. I’ve experienced a lot in my days, and I doubt if I’d be shocked. You may have been privy to information that could help us end all the trouble with Lester.”
“He said if she told anyone about Rosie’s baby, he’d kill her.”
Bile rose in Travis’s throat. Had Lester beaten her because she was with child? Possibly his child? Why else would he want to keep the news quiet?
“I’m real sorry you heard all that.”
“It’s been really bothering me. I thought about telling you and my uncles yesterday when they came to talk, but Mama was there. Then I realized I wasn’t supposed to be out so late anyway. Lester could deny it all, and Miss Laura . . . well, I know how she used to live. So I reckoned our word against Lester’s was worthless.”
Unfortunately, Zack’s conclusions were right, unless Rosie and Laura could be convinced to talk to the sheriff.
“Why does he bully women who can’t defend themselves?” Zack said.
“Because he can,” Travis said. “Which makes all of this difficult. He has his good points, and that’s important for you to know. Just like I preach that none of us are perfect, inside every evil man is a dose of good. Tomorrow, I’ll tell your uncles about this. They’re smart men and will know what to do with your information.”
“I’ll tell whoever I need to. I’m not afraid of Lester, but I am afraid for my mama and those ladies at Heaven’s Gate.”
Oh, Lord, help us figure out a way to stop Lester. Protect those in danger and use me to Your glory.
*****
Bonnie wiggled in the chair while Morgan copied every word from her, Grant, and Brother Travis. All her sense of propriety in a lady displaying patience had faded years ago. Between the four of them, she hoped enough evidence had been gathered to stop Lester.
“All right, I think we have it all down on paper.” Morgan set the pen back in the inkwell. He grasped the paper in his right hand and eyed his sister, brother, and preacher.
“Read what we have,” Grant said. “Ought to be something there to put him behind bars.”
Morgan raised a brow. “Don’t be too sure of it. Lester may have broken laws, but if no one will testify against him, we have nothing.” He took a deep breath. “From Bonnie: Lester wanted to buy the Morning Star, but Ben refused to sell. After Ben’s passing, Lester began supplying her with wine. He also made visits without Sylvia, offered to find a military school for Zack, and when Bonnie let him know he was no longer welcome, he indicated others could learn about her drinking and ruin her reputation.
“With Grant: no problems with Lester since his relationship with Martha was exposed three years ago. However, if Lester has an ailment, he travels twenty-five miles to the next town for a doctor.
“With me. I helped Martha leave town with his sons, and I refused to tell him where she went. We’ve never gotten along, but why should we? The day he cornered Bonnie outside my office, I nearly hit him, but my wild sister beat me to it.” He grinned, and she poked him.
“Then there’s Brother Travis: For being here such a short time, you’ve certainly had plenty of run-ins with Lester. He tried to remove Bonnie from volunteering at Heaven’s Gate, but you refused to oblige him. He then threatened to pull his money from the church, and you let him know Piney Woods didn’t need his financial support. Now that you witnessed him in action with Rosie, he’s out to get rid of you.
“Zack is the one I wanted to keep out of this, but he witnessed the reality of Lester’s bad habits and temper.”
Bonnie blinked back the emotion. She’d wanted her son’s innocence protected for as long as possible. The cost of his foolish prank about Miss Scott was more than he’d ever bargained for.
Morgan placed the paper on his desk, sat back, and folded his arms over his chest. The ticking of the clock on his desk rhythmically broke the silence.
“There’s nothing we can do,” Travis finally said. “It’s his word against ours, and the witnesses are too frightened to speak up.”
“That’s right, Brother Travis,” Morgan said. “But we know he’s preying on defenseless women. The problem is we don’t know why.”
Grant cleared his throat. “When Martha was carrying the boys, Lester doted on her. And after they were born, he spent time with his sons. When he discovered she had plans to leave town, he told her he never wanted to see her or her bastard sons. Excuse my choice of words.”
“Could his anger and apathy have been to cover up what he really felt?” Bonnie said.
“As in vengeance against women for Martha leaving him?” Travis said.
“Possibly,” Morgan said. “I haven’t formed a strong conclusion, but I do believe he will continue until we find a way to stop him.”
“If Rosie is with child, how long before she sees me or her condition becomes apparent?” Grant said.
“I want to try talking to her,” Bonnie said. “Maybe if she knew that Lester has made my life miserable, too, then she’d be willing to tell the sheriff.”
“It’s worth a try,” Morgan said. “Brother Travis, what do you think?”
“Perhaps Bonnie and I could see Rosie and Laura together. We could offer to go with them to talk to the sheriff.”
“Lester would come after you two with both barrels,” Morgan said.
“Grant can patch us up,” Bonnie said in hopes of tearing down the wall of tension between them.
Brother Travis appeared to study her. “Are you ready to talk to Rosie and Laura right now? I’m not sure when Laura works at the bank, but we could try.”
She nodded, although remembrances of Lester’s domineering influence still haunted her. Deep inside, s
he found the courage to fight the fear. She had Brother Travis beside her, and they both had God.
But Lester was a powerful man who manipulated others to follow his orders.
Chapter 24
Travis knocked on the heavy door of Heaven’s Gate. He glanced at Bonnie, who offered a trembling smile. She should have stayed clear of this wolf’s den until the truth met the light of day. The fear in her blue eyes tore at his heart.
“I wish you’d have let me handle this,” he said.
“We’re in this together—my son . . . the gossip.”
“I’d like to spare you from every unpleasantness of this world. It—” He closed his mouth abruptly. Already he’d said too much.
About the time he decided to walk her to the parsonage and handle this alone, the door slowly opened. Rosie blanched at the sight of them.
“We’d like to talk to you and Laura,” he said.
“I—I don’t know.” She stole a look behind her.
“Are you ladies alone?” He smiled.
She glanced at her feet, then back to him. “Laura and Daisy are working right now. But—”
“Are you not supposed to talk to us?” he said.
Rosie nodded.
“Just a few minutes,” Bonnie said. “I think you, Laura, and I have more things in common than you may realize.”
Rosie tilted her head. The turmoil on her face spoke of years of suffering. He’d seen the indecision and confusion in Felicia when confronted by the haunting of her past.
“I’m afraid, too,” Bonnie said. “We have to stop him, or others will be hurt.”
A tear slipped from Rosie’s eye. “We could talk for a little while before I go to Mrs. Hillman’s.”
Inside the house, Rosie led them to the parlor. Travis seated himself in a chair while Bonnie and Rosie sat on the sofa. Polite conversation filled the air, but Travis longed to be finished with it. Heaven’s Gate still made him uneasy. He hoped that would change someday.
“I know why you’re here, and I’m sorry.” Rosie turned to Brother Travis. “You’re a fine man, and Bonnie is good and proper. I realize those rumors are lies.”
“Do you know who started the gossip?” Travis said. “I simply want to understand why anyone would want to hurt Mrs. Kahler and discredit me.”
Rosie stared down at her folded hands. Perhaps she reflected on Travis halting Lester’s brutality.
“Did Lester insist you, Miss Laura, or Miss Daisy spread the rumor?” he said softly.
“I ’spect you thought it was me after—”
“I’ve told Mrs. Kahler what happened the other night with Lester. So did he force you to make the claim about us?”
“I refused him,” Rosie said. “I couldn’t spread lies about you two no matter what Lester threatened or did.”
“I’m proud of you for standing up for what is right,” Bonnie said. “Especially when I’ve learned he’s beaten you.”
Travis stole a look at Bonnie. His silent message told of his caring and how he fretted over her safety. She needn’t display bravado on his account.
“He’s threatened me, too,” Bonnie said. “But I ignored him and clung to God to help me. You did what pleased God by not letting him force you.”
“I’m not a good person.” Emotion clung to her words like cobwebs in barn rafters. “And I must find a place to go, far away where he can’t find me. Like Martha did with her sons.”
Bonnie placed an arm around the young woman’s shoulder. “How long has Lester been beating you?”
Rosie leaned her head against Bonnie’s shoulder and sobbed. “Since Martha left. What he wanted from me is wrong. He claims I’m a wicked woman and will never be able to give up my past ways.”
“You’ve been forgiven,” Travis said. “He has no right to tell you such lies.”
“I keep thinking about how Ellen Kahler left the brothel and is so happy with Frank and her little son. I love Jesus, but I’m afraid of Lester.”
“Will you go with us to talk to the sheriff?” Bonnie said. “He’ll protect you, and I’ll help you find a place to hide.”
“I can’t. Do you have any idea how this would hurt Mrs. Hillman? And I don’t have any money. Lester is supposed to pay me for cleaning and cooking at their house, but he hasn’t. He tells her he doesn’t know what I do with the money, when the truth is that he keeps it all.”
“Sheriff Arthur will not let Lester hurt you, and someday Mrs. Hillman will learn about her husband’s actions. Better it be now when he can be stopped than later after he’s tried to destroy other people’s lives,” Bonnie said. “Brother Travis, don’t you think we could talk to Morgan about finding a place for her and Laura to stay?”
Rosie gasped. “How did you know about Laura?”
Travis saw the wisdom in not revealing what Zack had heard and seen. “We have the word of someone else—about Lester’s temper. Did she start the gossip?”
“No,” Rosie said. “Not Laura.”
“Miss Daisy?” Travis said.
Rosie said nothing, and he understood all three of the residents of Heaven’s Gate had been living an earthly hell. He concluded Lester had used all three of them to meet his physical needs. The words to delicately state the truth jumbled in his mind.
“Does he force all of you to conduct your lives as you once did?” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Are there other men involved?”
Rosie’s sobs kept her from speaking. Travis and Bonnie exchanged glances. Bonnie’s eyes moistened, and she blinked back the wetness.
Rosie lifted her tearstained face. “Yes. He makes the arrangements while we are in Bible study. Except for me.”
Travis’s stomach churned. He dug his fingers into his palms. The image of what Lester was doing made him want to stomp through the bank doors and haul him out into the middle of the street.
God might not appreciate Travis passing judgment and punishment, but the thought sure gave him a bucketful of satisfaction.
“Brother Travis and I would be happy to accompany the three of you to the sheriff’s office,” Bonnie said. “And from there, we’d go see Morgan to secure a safe place for you to stay until Lester is behind bars.”
She nodded as though another place to live was the answer. “You must understand that I can’t leave without Laura and Daisy. He’d be very hard on them.”
“Of course,” Travis said. “I’d like to talk to all three of you. When do you think that would be possible?”
She sighed. “Perhaps after church tomorrow night. We could talk there without Lester getting suspicious. But the sheriff might not appreciate us bothering him on a Sunday night—”
“Let me handle the sheriff, and I’ll alert Morgan to what is happening so he can make arrangements.”
“I don’t think any of us would feel comfortable staying at Heaven’s Gate because the . . . the men come here late at night.”
“We’ll take care of you.” Travis would help her deal with a probable baby once they were away from Lester. “And we’ll be praying. In fact, let’s pray right now for God to shelter you ladies with His protection and peace.” His attention rested on Bonnie. God help him, but he’d fallen in love with her. He prayed aloud as his mind and heart ushered him to the front door of the troubles that had caused him to leave Tennessee.
*****
For Travis, Sundays normally sped by with a worship service in the morning, a noon meal spent in the company of a church family, and then the evening service. Today, however, the time dragged at a snail’s pace. The day before, Rosie had stated she was ready to stop Lester’s tyranny at Heaven’s Gate. Oh, how he prayed she had convinced Laura and Daisy to join her.
One thought tormented him: How did Lester keep his actions from Sylvia? She w
as highly educated with a remarkable memory for names and places. Could she love him so much that she ignored his sinful ways? Travis shook his head. Sylvia was a plain woman, and Lester struck a fine image. Could it be she chose to abandon her conscience for the sake of keeping the role of Mrs. Lester Hillman?
As soon as the evening service concluded and the congregation slowly ambled from the church, Travis searched for Rosie, Laura, and Daisy. They sat in a pew near the middle of the church. Bonnie and Zack replaced hymnals while Morgan and Grant talked and laughed with their families. Unfortunately, Lester and Sylvia lingered beside him.
“I have a problem with my girls at Heaven’s Gate,” Sylvia said. “Oh dear, I don’t mean to be complaining. I simply need advice.”
“What is it?” Travis’s mind whirled with the three young women discussing the change in their future—their destiny.
Sylvia offered a thin smile. “All three of them work either for us or at the bank. Lester pays them handsomely for what they do, but none of them ever have any money. When Jenny Andrews asked me to oversee the home, our goal was for it to become self-sufficient.” She shrugged. “If I didn’t supply them with food, they’d have nothing to eat.”
“I advised her to let them go hungry,” Lester said. “A few days without eating would instill good stewardship in them.”
Travis barely contained his anger. He’d witnessed how Lester treated Rosie, and Zack had reported the same treatment of Laura. How could the man look in the mirror when he bought and sold these women like slaves, then refused to give them money?
“I don’t mind talking to them about the problem.” Travis nodded in their direction. “I’ll do so before they leave here tonight.”
“Bless you, Brother Travis,” Sylvia said. “Lester said we could count on you. I’m very upset about giving all my free time to those who don’t try to help themselves.”
Lester chuckled. “He knows how important it is to have us in agreement with what goes on at Heaven’s Gate, especially with the rumors of late concerning him and Bonnie Kahler.”