Eliza turned to leave and said, “I’ll be right back.” She hurried through the house to her bedroom. Josiah worked at the store with his parents. He didn’t get out as much as he liked. Eliza decided to take her time and let him enjoy his time outdoors.
Her handbag hung on the oak armoire door. She pulled it down and dug around for the piece of paper. It rested in the bottom. She unfolded it and read the contents.
Dear Eliza, Carl and I are making a quick trip to Durango in a few days. Can we pick up any supplies for you?
A smile touched her lips. Most of the town may be against her but it was nice to know she still had a few good friends she could count on. Eliza found a pencil in Mrs. Tucker’s bureau.
For a moment she allowed her mind to dream of the perfect wedding dress. Should she order the materials? She’d want lace, silk, thread and buttons. Maybe even a few pearls would be nice. Yes, nice but expensive. Eliza sighed. No, she’d not have an elaborate dress. She hadn’t needed one when she’d married Charlie and she didn’t need one now.
Eliza quickly made a list of what she wanted for a simple silk gown, not including the pearls, and added more threads and notations for sewing other things. Peter needed a few new things, as well, so she jotted those down.
Checking twice to make sure the list was complete, Eliza hurried back to Josiah. “Thank you for coming, Josiah, and tell your mother thank you for me, as well.”
The boy nodded and took the steps three at a time. He jogged across the lawn and down the street. Eliza leaned against the porch post. She’d need to make another trip to the bank and take out some money to pay the Millers and Mr. Sayer.
Eliza frowned at the thought of Mr. Sayer. She didn’t want to owe the man one single coin. The idea that she’d have to go to the mill to give him the money sent a shiver down her spine. Maybe she’d ask Jackson to take care of the actual handing over of payment.
She allowed a small smile to touch her lips. He’d sent Mr. Sayer flying from the porch with one good toss. It seemed wrong to enjoy the man’s discomfort, but Mr. Sayer had gotten what was coming to him. Eliza realized that as long as she was married to Jackson Hart, no man would ever be able to hurt her again.
* * *
Jackson picked up the horse’s leg and began the process of pulling the old nails from her shoe. He could hear Peter whistling some merry tone as the boy cleaned. Of all the people in Cottonwood Springs who’d been told of his upcoming marriage to Eliza, Peter had been the happiest.
He wiped sweat from his forehead and lowered the horse’s foot back to the ground. A short man with thinning brown hair entered the smithy.
“Good morning. I see Dan and his wife got away all right.” He extended his hand. “I’m Hugh Griffin, the circuit preacher for these parts.”
Jackson wiped his palms off and shook the man’s hand. “Jackson Hart. What can I do for you, Preacher?”
“Do you think you have time to fix a broken wagon wheel?”
Jackson looked at the horse. “Give me about forty-five minutes and I can start work on it.”
The reverend grinned. “Good, don’t need it until tomorrow afternoon, so that will be fine.”
Jackson went back to the mare and scooped up her hoof. He was aware that the preacher had followed him and wondered if he should mention that he and Eliza were getting married. Or was that something the bride did?
“What do you think of Cottonwood Springs?” the reverend asked.
What did he think of the town? Not much since so far it hadn’t been very welcoming and he didn’t like the way the folks treated one of their own. ’Course, he did like the marshal, the Millers and Eliza Kelly. His gaze moved to Peter who was busy hauling in fresh coal. He’d also gained a son. “It’s has its good points and its bad,” he finally answered.
The reverend nodded. “That’s true of all towns.” He paused and then asked. “Will I be seeing you in church come Sunday?”
“I reckon so.”
Hugh Griffin laughed. “You are a man of few words.”
Jackson smiled up at him. “That I am.”
“Is the boys yours?”
Once more Jackson found himself looking at Peter. “He is now.”
“I gather there is a story in that answer.” The preacher pulled up a wooden crate and sat down.
Jackson continued shoeing the horse. “He’s an orphan, more or less.”
Hugh rubbed his chin. “More or less, huh?”
“Yep. His pa dropped him off outside of town and said to go find a new life.” He glanced back to see the preacher’s reaction.
Sadness filled Hugh Griffin’s eyes. “I see. And he found you?”
“He found Dan Tucker.” Finished with the front foot, Jackson moved on to the next shoe.
“And Dan found you?”
Around a mouth full of nails, Jackson agreed. “Yep, me and Eliza Kelly.”
“Ah, so Mrs. Kelly is involved in this story somehow, is she?”
Inwardly, Jackson groaned. Had the preacher heard the gossip already? And if not, how much should he tell?
Chapter Fourteen
Eliza’s back hurt. She looked up at the grandfather clock and sighed. Eve would be arriving any moment. Her gaze moved to the dress that was almost finished. Why hadn’t she told her to wait until afternoon tea, instead of agreeing to see her this morning?
The door jingled as Eve came through it.
“Oh, I like the new bell and the open sign.” Eve balanced a covered plate in one hand and her handbag in the other. “I brought the shortbread cookies as promised. Did you make the tea?”
Eliza stood and pushed on her lower back. “I always have tea going, you know that.” Eliza turned the open sign over to Closed and then followed Eve to the kitchen.
“No, I didn’t know that.” Eve set the cookies on the table. “There are a lot of things I don’t know about you and you about me. That’s one of the reasons I stopped by this morning.”
Eliza brought the teapot and two teacups with matching saucers to the table. “So is that what this tea party is about?” She smiled at her twin to soften the words.
“In a way.” Eve uncovered the cookies and slowly sat down. “I want to know everything that happened after you and Charles left Raleigh.”
Eliza laughed. “We only have an hour, Eve, and then I have to reopen the shop.” She poured hot tea into their cups and then moved to get the sugar and cream.
“I gather from the talk about town that you are a widow. I wasn’t expecting that,” Eve said softly.
She placed the bowl and pitcher on the table. “Yes, Charlie was in an avalanche that took his life.”
“Why didn’t you come home?” Eve asked around a mouthful of cookie.
“How can you ask such a question? Mother and Father made it very clear that I was no longer welcome there. You know that.”
Eliza wanted to erase the sound of hurt from her voice.
Eve studied the paisley print on the table cloth. “Mother never wanted you to leave.”
“No? Then why didn’t she stop Father from casting me out? Or come to my wedding? Or...” There were so many more things she could add but didn’t. The pain of losing her family still stabbed deeply into her heart.
“I think Mother always feared Father. She didn’t want to end up on the streets like you, and many times she told me she stayed because of me. I’m so sorry, Eliza. I wish I could go back in time and change my part in what happened that night.” Eve took a deep breath and gulped at her hot tea.
So her sister had done something to cause her father’s wrath. Eliza wanted to be angry, but thankfully she’d turned this all over to the Lord the night before and didn’t hold any ill feelings toward her sister now. “It’s over and done with, Eve. How are Mother and Father?”
Eve wiped her eyes. “They were good the last time I saw them.”
Eliza sipped her tea. “And when was that?”
“Almost a year ago. Shortly after I married Lucas Masters.” Eve studied the bottom of her cup.
Who was Lucas Masters? Eliza tried to envision all the people they’d known in Raleigh but couldn’t remember him. “I take it Lucas wasn’t a local boy?” she asked.
“No, he arrived with a traveling show. Father forbade me to go see it, but you know me. I went, anyway. They were in town for several weeks and I fell in love with Lucas. I knew Father wouldn’t allow me to marry him, so we secretly got married. After the deed, I told Father and Mother what I’d done.” A sob escaped her lips.
Eliza wondered what kind of traveling show, but it didn’t seem important at the moment. She gave Eve a few minutes and then asked, “Then what happened?”
“Well, after what happened to you, Mother refused to let Father cast us out. We moved in with them, but Lucas wasn’t happy. So we began traveling.” Red filled Eve’s cheeks at the memories.
Eliza held her tongue. She wanted to ask more questions but felt this was something Eve had to work out, in her own time.
Her sister blew her nose and then continued. “I hated it but still held on to the belief that I loved Lucas. I knew he drank too much, that he visited the brothels in every town we were in, but it wasn’t until I found out he was already married that I...” She covered her face and bawled.
The past few years hadn’t been kind to her sister. All this time, Eliza had thought Eve was the perfect daughter, when all along she’d been traveling the country with a cheating husband. Her heart hurt for her sister and she stood to hug her. “What did you do, Eve?”
Eve hiccupped and sobbed. “I killed him.”
Eliza gasped and pulled away enough to look into her sister’s red face. “How? Are you sure? Why?” The questions poured from her mouth almost as fast as she thought them. She’d believed that her sister wanted something, but now she knew Eve was simply scared and running.
“I’m sure. There was a lot of blood.” Eve’s face turned pale at the memory. “He’d been drinking again and told me he was already married and that he was going back to his other wife. I picked up a bottle and smashed him over the head with it. I was just so angry, but I didn’t mean to kill him, Eliza. You have to believe me.” Her voice had gone up in volume with each word. “I left as fast as I could. What am I going to do now, Eliza? I’m a murderess, wanted by the law!”
Eliza sunk back into her chair. “I don’t know, Eve.” Her thoughts went to Seth. Was there a wanted poster with her sister’s face on it somewhere? “Where did this happen?” She thrust a teacup into Eve’s hand. “Here, drink this.”
Eve gulped at the remainder of her tea. “Oklahoma territory.”
“When?”
“About six months ago. I’ve been trying to find you.”
Eliza looked Eve over. Her sister wore very nice clothes, her hair had an expensive comb in it and the shoes on her feet were made from the finest materials. How could she afford such luxuries if she wasn’t still living with their parents?
“You don’t believe me?” Eve’s brown eyes grew round.
Eliza picked up her cup and studied Eve over the rim. “I’m trying to, Eve. I thought you grabbed what you could and ran?”
Eve nodded. “I did.”
“Then how can you afford such nice things?” She sipped her tea.
Eve sighed. “I never said Lucas was poor. He had lots of money and jewels. He kept a chest of the stuff by the door of the wagon. On my way out the door I took it all.” She wiped the tears from her face. “I’m a lot of things, Eliza, but I’m not a liar.”
Eliza had to admit her sister had never lied when they were kids. She manipulated the facts to her benefit, but as long as she could remember Eve had never openly lied to her. “How much money?”
“Enough to buy us anything we want.”
“Us?” How had she gotten lumped into this mess?
Eve refilled her cup. “Yes, us. I know you aren’t doing so well in this town, and with the money I have we can both go anywhere and start over. We can help each other, change our names and make new lives for ourselves. What do you say, Eliza?”
* * *
Jackson finished the wheel and wiped the sweat from his brow. “How would you like to go to the diner for lunch?” he called across to Peter.
“Boy, would I! I’m starved.” Peter jumped down from the stool he’d been sitting on.
“You about got that arithmetic finished?” Jackson asked as he replaced his tools.
Peter curled his lip. “I don’t like doing figures.”
Jackson laughed. “So the answer is no.”
The little boy hung his head. “No.”
“Well, after lunch you’ll have to get back on it.” Jackson took his apron off and hung it by the door. “Let’s go.”
Peter skipped ahead of him. “We gonna stop and get Ma?”
“I don’t think so. Didn’t you mention her sister was going to be there?” Jackson answered.
Peter stopped and looked up at him. “Yes, but how’s she gonna know where I am? She might get worried.”
Jackson realized that the boy was right. And once they were married, he’d have to check in with her all the time. And he’d have to be around her sister. “I reckon you’re right. We’ll stop and you can invite her.”
A smile brightened Peter’s young face. “Good.”
He enjoyed watching the boy speed ahead. Peter had more energy than three grown men combined. If only we could bottle that. Jackson’s thoughts echoed his grandmother’s words from the past. The door to the house slammed, and Jackson shook his head as he walked up the steps.
He opened the door and followed Peter inside. Eliza sat at the sewing machine and Eve stood by the window. Eve looked unhappy and Eliza’s face was masked in determination. What had he and the boy walked into?
“No Peter, but thank you for inviting me. Eve and I are going to have lunch here and work.” Eliza hugged the little boy to her and looked at Eve.
The little boy titled his head. “You aren’t really going to leave, are you, Ma?”
The question shocked Jackson down to his boots. What had the boy overheard? Was Eliza planning on leaving? When was she going to tell him? He had to stop the questions from roaring in his ears and listen to her reply.
“No, sweetheart. Aunt Eve and I were just talking. I’m not moving. I wouldn’t leave you.” She rubbed his back and shook her head at Jackson.
He was surprised at the amount of relief he felt. When had Eliza’s comings and goings started to concern him? Jackson called to Peter, “Come on, Peter. Let’s go grab lunch.”
“I want to stay with Ma.” Peter tried to blend his small body into hers.
Jackson watched as she gently pulled him away. “Why don’t you go have lunch with Jackson? And then instead of working at the smithy this afternoon, maybe you can come here and do your schoolwork.” She wiped tears from the little boy’s face. “I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”
Peter looked at Jackson. “Can I do that?” His face revealed all the fears of losing a parent that a child feels.
“Sure you can.” Jackson wondered if Peter would react that way when he moved to Silverton.
Peter wrapped his small arms around Eliza once more and then returned to Jackson. His small hand clutched Jackson’s. “I’m ready.”
As they walked to the diner, Jackson began to feel trapped. In the past week, he’d adopted a little boy and asked a woman to marry him. He’d managed to acquire in one week what most men spent their lives trying to create.
Like it or not, Jackson was part of a family. The thought came unbidden. Unless I get out n
ow.
Chapter Fifteen
Over the next few days, Eliza noticed Jackson was even more quiet and withdrawn than usual. She and Peter attended Sunday morning services. As they got up to leave she saw Jackson rise from the back pew and slip out the door. So he had attended. Something wasn’t right. Come to think of it, things hadn’t felt right since the day Peter had overheard Eve pleading with her to leave town.
Her thoughts moved from Jackson to her sister. She so wanted to talk to someone about Eve’s situation but who? Rebecca was the marshal’s wife so she couldn’t tell her best friend that her sister had killed a man. She hadn’t told Jackson because he hadn’t said more than ten words to her.
Julia Harper stepped in front of her. “Excuse me, Eliza.” She hefted two-year-old Holly up higher on her hip.
“Hello, Julia. How are you doing?” Eliza felt that if Julia wasn’t so busy with her family, they might have become good friends. But her husband, Richard, made sure the young mother was always busy. It was times like these that Eliza realized how much she missed Hannah.
“I’m doing well. I hope you don’t find this odd but George was hoping Peter could come to our house this afternoon to play. There are so few boys that are five or six years old.” She held on to six-year-old George’s hand.
George seemed to be studying Peter with interest.
Peter squeezed her hand. “Please, Ma. I’d like to go play.”
Eliza looked into Peter’s sweet face. She’d forgotten that little boys needed playtime, too. He had a stuffed puppy that she’d made him, and that he slept with, but other than that, the boy had no toys. She turned her attention back to Julia. “If you are sure he will be no bother.”
“Not at all.” Julia looked down at Peter with warmth. “We’d love to have him for lunch and then maybe a couple of hours of play. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to pick him up?”
The strong scent of roses passed by them. Eliza looked up in time to see Mrs. Walker leaning toward them. She ignored the woman. “Not at all. I will use this time to plan my wedding.”
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