Mae grinned. “Lil’s behavior can be a bit eccentric, but she’s a perfectly wonderful woman and any man would be proud to claim her.”
Tom sat back in his chair with a laugh. “Well, Trinity, tell us about this kin of yours. Mae says you’re on the hunt for some long-lost relative.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve got a great-great aunt…well, at least I had one. I didn’t even know where to look for her until a prospector who had known her happened by my place shortly after the raid.”
“Raid?” Tom frowned.
Trinity glanced at Jones. Would the reference prompt his flagging memory? “My home was ransacked by a group of thugs. What they didn’t tear up and destroy, they tried to burn. Fortunately for me, the flames didn’t catch and the house was saved.”
Jones glanced up, focusing his gaze on her. She met his eyes. “Ring a bell?” she said drolly.
Recognition dawned. “That was you?”
“We do seem to meet in the oddest circumstances.”
Mae looked back and forth between them. “The two of you have met previously?”
“Not really,” Jones said.
“Only a brief encounter,” Trinity assured them. There was no need to go into detail—and they would hardly believe the story if it were told. “There’s nothing for me in Piedmont but the house. I plan to return to Sioux Falls as soon as I locate my kin. If she’s alive, I’m hoping she’ll have the deed to the land. And then I can sell”—she shot Jones a look—“to the other railroad.”
“You’re trying to sell the land without a deed?” He snickered.
Snickered!
“There is a deed—I just have to find it.” She knew her reasoning had some holes in it, but how was she to know that Rob hadn’t kept the document in his bank box? For all she knew it was somewhere in the house, shred into a thousand pieces along with everything else.
“I’m sure the other company will give you a fine price,” said Tom. “Most lines are buying up everything they can get their hands on. But exactly who are you looking for here in Dwadlo?”
“My great-great aunt. Coming here is most likely a wild goose chase, but I took the chance. She would be very old now.”
Tom shook his head. “You never know. I guess Mae mentioned that we’re building a new facility to house the aged?”
“She did, and I see the work is well underway. It’s going to be lovely, and what a pretty setting with the Missouri running right beside it.”
“Exactly,” said Mae. “Tom wants to put chairs along the waterfront so the residents can fish or enjoy the warm sun when weather permits.”
Jones was still staring at Trinity. “That was you back there?” She gave a curt nod, and he sat back in his chair. “It’s you. I can’t believe it.”
“What’s the story here?” asked Tom. “When did you meet?”
“Tom,” Mae cautioned, “perhaps they don’t care to say when.” She turned to Trinity. “I’m sorry. You were about to tell us who you’re looking for.”
“Pauline. Pauline Wilson.”
A dead silence fell over the room.
“I beg your pardon?” said Mae.
“Pauline Wilson. Do you know her? Is she still alive?”
Mae’s fork clattered to her plate. “Pauline is your aunt?”
“Yes. So you know her?”
Tom sprang up so quickly the dishes on the table rattled. “Know her! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Jones reached out to steady the gravy bowl.
Trinity lowered her cup to the saucer. “You’ve been looking for me?”
“Yes!” cried Mae. “We’ve searched high and low for Pauline’s family!”
A tender shoot of hope sprouted in her heart. Pauline must have left an inheritance! She could go home, go back to her former life. “I would have written to inquire about her, but I regret to say I’ve lost all track of distant kin.”
“No need to apologize,” said Tom. “You’re here now.”
“How long ago did she pass away?” asked Trinity.
“Pauline isn’t dead,” said Mae. “She’s still very much alive, and you will be a godsend to her.”
Trinity’s smile faded. “She’s still living?”
“Alive and well—right here in Dwadlo.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Mae reached out to squeeze her hand. “The new nursing facility is being built in her honor.”
Trinity’s head was swimming. Jones nudged her water glass closer to her hand. “Better have a drink—oh. I forgot. You don’t like water.”
She shoved the glass back, sending him a steely glare. What was it with this man? She turned to face Tom. “Is Pauline…in good health?”
“For a woman her age, I’d say she’s in excellent health. She has a few spells, but that’s only natural, and her memory is going. She’s ninety-four, you know.”
Trinity nodded. “Who cares for her?” She saw a look pass between Mae and Tom.
“Actually…” Mae began, but then hurriedly picked up the cream pitcher and started it back around the table. The dish passed through three hands and landed back in Mae’s.
Trinity peered at the woman curiously. “Who cares for my aunt?”
“I did for several years, but it grew increasingly hard to look after her when I had Jeremy and my work to think about. She’s staying with Widow Farley right now, but the two of them… well, let’s just say they look at things differently. Both like to have the final word, and it never matches. Pauline will move to the nursing home once it’s up—we hope by late fall.”
Trinity groped blindly for her glass. “That’s…encouraging, but I’m not sure I’m in a position to care for her. I’m so sorry…” Nearly broke, and now a ninety-four-year-old aunt to care for?
Mae put her hand over hers. “We understand. You needn’t apologize. Did you ever meet her?”
Trinity shook her head. “I think maybe when I was an infant. I’ve only heard stories—and there’s a daguerreotype in the family album.”
“Well, you’ll love her. She’s a splendid woman and”—she paused, glancing at her husband—“fairly easy to look after.”
“She gets confused easily,” Tom added.
Trinity took a deep breath. “Well, at least it’s comforting to know that I do have living kin after all.”
“Your parents are deceased?”
“Yes, and I lost my brother a few months back.”
Mae sighed. “I’m so sorry.”
“I was very small—I barely remember them, but I always knew Rob would be there if I needed him.”
Mae patted Trinity’s arm sympathetically. She knew what it was like to make do without parents.
Tom turned to Jones. “Where are you heading from here?”
“Back to Chicago. I’ll send a wire in the morning to let them know I’m going to buy the land, high price and all—on your advice.”
“Covering your bases, huh?” Tom stood and started to clear the table. “You’re doing the smart thing.”
Trinity wasn’t sure what land they were speaking of, but she felt confident that Jones didn’t intend to buy her property.
And she sure wasn’t going to ask for clarity.
Mae poured hot water into the dish pan. “Trinity, come around midmorning and we’ll visit Pauline together.”
“That would be nice, Mae. Thank you again for supper.” The meal had saved her twenty-five cents, and she could use the money. The food was quite good and the company, with one exception, was pleasant.
She eased past Jones and tried to beat him out the door. He would probably be all nicey nice and offer to walk her back to her room.
That was a definite no.
Seven
The bank tower clock struck eight as Trinity and Jones stepped out of the Curtis home. They descended the steps together and began to walk down the street, their steps perfectly in sync.
“You don’t have to walk me across the street.”
“I’m
not. I’m going to my room.”
Trinity glanced up. “You’re staying at the café?”
“Tom said they were the only available rooms in town.”
She couldn’t argue, but she resented that he would be so close by. It felt too…personal.
Jones absently reached for the sack she was carrying. Before leaving, Mae had appeared with the bag, saying that it contained a few dresses and other personal items. Trinity could return them later. “I’ll carry that for you,” said Jones.
“It’s light. There’s no need.” Their hands froze, locked in a duel to secure the bag.
“I’ll carry it,” he repeated.
“There’s no reason. I’ll carry it.”
He tugged, and the sack spilled open, trailing personal garments all over the ground.
“You…!”
Trinity dropped to her knees and started stuffing frilly items in the bag. Jones calmly handed her a chemise and heat crawled up her face. When she stood up, he affected a mock bow and handed her the bag. “You carry it.”
Straightening, she faced him. “You, sir, are a cad.”
“And you, ma’am, have hornet stings on your face. Do you need salve?”
She arched her brow. “You are despicable.”
“It appears we may have started off on the wrong foot.”
“You nearly drowned me!”
“But I didn’t. Here you stand, bright, cheerful, and in robust tongue. Now give it a rest. You did not drown.”
Clutching the bag to her chest she stomped off toward the café, fairly bursting to inform him that he was ever so right. He had started off on the wrong foot and he was likely to remain there.
The strained walk took all of three minutes. When they got to the café, he tipped his hat and bid her goodnight. The fresh smell of soap and men’s cologne mingled with the light scent of asters blooming nearby. Lifting her nose, Trinity turned to the right and went up the stairs that led to her room. An identical staircase led to two rooms on the left.
She could hear him snickering as she slipped the key into the lock.
Hopeless.
The insufferable beast was hopeless.
It was early the next morning, and already Lil’s dirty boots were propped up on Mae’s desk. “Did you tell the girl anything?” she asked.
“Tell her what?”
“About the dogs and cats, for example?”
“No. Why would I want to scare the living daylights out of her? She went a little pale last night when she realized she had an aging aunt who needed care,” said Mae.
“Those dogs have torn up how many sofa cushions?”
“I have no intention of telling her anything. She’ll see for herself.” Mae closed the ledger and sighed. “I’m banking that she’ll have the grit to handle Pauline’s…eccentricity.”
“You’re playing with dynamite.” Lil took a swig of coffee. “So you got to eat supper with Jones. How come you get first try at any good-looking bachelors who happen through Dwadlo?”
“I don’t. I have my man. You are welcome to any and all who come through here.”
“Mighty big of you.”
The bell over the door rang and Mae looked over, brightening when she caught Trinity’s eye. “Good morning, dear! Did you rest well?”
Well enough, Trinity supposed, knowing that the beast was sleeping nearby. “I did, thank you.” She nodded a greeting to Lil.
Mae glanced at Lil. “You can handle the store?”
“I always do, don’t I?”
“We won’t be gone long.” Mae smiled at Trinity. “Jeremy delivered a note to Mrs. Farley earlier informing her that we were coming to visit this morning.”
Nodding, Trinity tried to calm her nerves. Meeting kin was a special event and she looked forward to the occasion. If only Pauline had some savings she might be willing to loan her enough to get home. Of course she’d pay every cent back.
The women left the store and stepped into the street—nearly empty at this time of day. The fifteen-minute walk to Mrs. Farley’s house provided plenty of time for conversation, as well as the chance to gather blackberries along the roadside.
“Tom loves blackberry cobbler,” said Mae, straddling a thicket to access a particularly juicy patch.
Trinity waited near the road. Mae was so bright, her happiness bubbling over. “You sound like a happily married woman,” she said.
“I never thought anyone could be so happy,” admitted Mae. “What about you? Anyone special waiting back in Sioux Falls?”
Frank Logan came to mind. He was a young widower with two small children who ate most of their meals in the café. Their casual relationship was comfortable, but Frank was still grieving his wife and Trinity didn’t feel all gushy and tingly around him. “No. No one special.”
“You’re still very young. There’s plenty of time.” Mae emerged from the thicket with a full basket of berries. The women fell into step and walked on.
“Lil seems rather…different,” said Trinity slowly.
Smiling, Mae shook her head. “I love her like a sister, but she is, shall we say, unique. She’s brimming with life and can’t get enough of it.”
“That’s not a bad attribute.”
Mae paused to gather a handful of wildflowers. “Did you see her elephant behind the store yesterday?”
“How could I miss it?”
Laughter spilled out. “That’s Esau. Perhaps you’ll stay long enough to ride him.”
Trinity grinned. “I seriously doubt that.” She had done some silly things in her life, but riding an elephant would not be among them. “Where did she get an elephant?”
“Purchased him from the circus. They came through on the rail one day, and Esau was real sick. They were going to put him down, but Lil got to him first. She bought him and nursed him back to health—even built a nice heated shed next to her place to house him. He’s the most pampered pet around. She dearly loves that animal.” Mae fashioned the white prairie clover into a pretty bouquet and handed it to Trinity. “Pauline will enjoy these. She always kept fresh summer flowers on her kitchen table.”
Their destination came into sight. A woman sat on the front porch, rocking. She didn’t look up when Trinity and Mae approached.
“Morning, Pauline! We’ve brought you some pretty flowers today!” called Mae.
The chair slowly creaked back and forth. Stepping onto the porch, Mae bent close to Pauline’s ear. “Good morning!”
“I heard you.”
“Then why didn’t you answer?”
“You won’t like what I have to say.”
Turning to Trinity, Mae rolled her eyes. “I’m afraid she’s in a mood today. She and Mrs. Farley have it out once in a while. Could be they’re feuding this morning.”
Nodding, Trinity knelt beside the rocker and placed the bouquet on the woman’s lap. “Aunt Pauline, I’m Trinity. Trinity Franklin.”
Pauline snubbed the gift and the greeting.
“Aren’t you going to speak to me? I’m your kin, Trinity.”
The old woman’s voice turned sour and harsh. “That’s what they all say. I got more kin than beggars have lice. You’ve come to haul me off somewhere. I don’t want to go.”
“No.” Trinity’s hand closed around her spindly arm. “I’m here to visit you. I won’t take you away.”
“Did you come on the train?”
“Yes.”
“Ah ha!” She leveled a gnarled finger at Trinity. “The train done derailed!”
Mae intervened. “That was months ago, honey. It’s running now, and your niece is here to visit.”
She sniffed, then turned her eyes on Trinity. “You’re my kin,” she said. It was a statement, not a question. Tolerant, but disbelieving.
“I am. I’m Francine’s daughter.”
“Francine who?”
“Francine—my mother—your…” Trinity mentally counted up the generations and came up blank when she reached the first great. “Francine’s�
��daughter.”
“Which would be,” Mae helped, “Trinity’s great-great…”
“Not great-great. Great, perhaps,” Trinity offered, “but not great-great.”
“No, it would be great-great…then maybe another great?”
Trinity shook her head. “I don’t think the third great is correct. Wouldn’t it be great-great…”
The old woman’s eyes bounced back and forth between the women until she threw up her hands. “Stop!”
Mae patted her veined arm. “Now, now, it only seems proper we should have the generations accurate.”
“I don’t understand a word you’re sayin’ and it don’t matter. I won’t remember five minutes from now. So move on to something else.”
Mae brightened. “Trinity is the kin we’ve been searching for, Pauline. Isn’t it good that she’s found you?”
“You’re here to make me live in that nurse’s home.”
Shaking her head, Trinity smiled. “The nursing home isn’t built yet, and I…”
Pauline shoved herself out of her chair and went inside. Trinity looked at Mae.
She shrugged. “This isn’t one of her better days. We’ll come back tomorrow.”
Trailing Mae off the porch, Trinity had to wonder about her aunt’s good days.
Eight
Jones dodged a buggy as he crossed Dwadlo’s main street and proceeded to the general store. He noted the elephant tied to the hitching post and shook his head. Mae’s strange friend was up and about early today. Entering the store, he spotted Lil behind the counter.
“Howdy!” she called.
“Morning.” His gaze roamed around the room. “Mrs. Curtis around?”
“Nah. She took that Trinity woman to meet Pauline. Dale—he owns the store—he’s off visitin’ family in Texas so I’m watchin’ the store.” She came around the counter, all grins. “What can I do for you?”
He removed his hat. “I need to send a wire.”
Lil nodded. “Mae’ll be back shortly.”
Delay. Now it would be hot as blue blazes before he could get on the trail. He absentmindedly wiped the sweat from his brow. “I’ll wait at the café.”
Under the Summer Sky Page 5