“I have food in the wagon. I never go anywhere without it.” He pulled her hand through his arm. “I also have grape juice. Hazel gave me a couple of cakes so I brought both and there’s also bread and cheese. Will that ward off starvation?”
“It might just.”
They walked down the road towards the wagon and Noah suggested going just outside Middle Pine so they could give the horses a bit of a run on long ropes and also some grass to eat. He had some hay, he said, but he was sure they would also appreciate grass.
They ate their bread, cheese and cake and by now both of them were sleepy. They would only have four or five hours to sleep and it was getting a bit chilly. Noah wrapped Susannah in a sheet and blanket as he saw her shiver, wrapped himself then moved close to her.
“Body heat should help,” he said. “Is that alright?”
“Yes.” It would be wonderful, she thought.
“I’ll cover us with some more blankets.”
He leaned forward to wrap a blanket round Susannah’s feet then covered them both with extra ones. She leaned down to make sure his feet had extra covering as well.
“Comfortable?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you. Are you?”
“I am. I could put my arms round you to make you warmer. Shall I do that?”
“That would be nice but make sure they’re covered.”
“I will.”
He surrounded her with his strong arms and both of them did not sleep for some time as they listened to the sounds around them and consciously enjoyed the warmth from each other. Warmth, Susannah thought, not just from the blankets but from Noah.
Chapter 24
“You are amazing,” Linda said, looking across to where Susannah sat gently swinging on an adjacent hammock in the rectory garden with the toddlers sleeping on cushions on the ground near to them. “Absolutely amazing. This is your third assignment and you have solved the cases in each instance.”
“I’ve done more than three,” Susannah replied. “But the others were small cases which carried no danger.”
“I think you’re born to be a detective.”
“But I had to seduce a man and lie on top of him in order to get what I wanted. Isn’t that wicked?”
Linda smiled. “It was part of what you had to do and had to be done.”
“But it made me feel unclean and I still do even though I’ve asked God to forgive me.”
“You did it as part of catching the man. There was nothing wicked about it. I’ve done something similar myself.”
“Similar?” Susannah looked puzzled.
“Yes. It involved kissing a man.”
Susannah listened in fascination as Linda graphically described what had happened. If they hadn’t distracted the men, Linda told her, they wouldn’t have been caught. Jonathon was very verbal afterwards but she had expected that.
“He didn’t draw breath for at least ten minutes until I reminded him that, even if I had done something wrong which I hadn’t, God would have long since buried it in the depths of the sea whereas Jonathon was fishing it out.”
“What did he say to that?”
“He gave a little growl but it shut him up.”
“Noah was very sweet though, of course, we’re different to you and Jonathon. He can be very comforting on certain occasions though he also growls on and off at what I do. It was due to him that we knew about the planned robbery so he should also get the credit. He’s more than a bodyguard. He looks at the facts and weighs them up so he can decide what to do.”
“He’s a nice man,” Linda said.
“He is. You’ll be fortunate to have him in this community.”
“He’s not going back to New York?”
Susannah unknowingly looked a bit bleak. “No. He says he wants to buy a ranch. With the money we’ll get as rewards for both the diamond and this enterprise he’ll have enough to do what he wants. I’ll have enough to buy my own property in New York as well though it’s more expensive there.”
“Pity you can’t pool it and do it together.”
Susannah shook her head. “I want to be a detective and Noah wants to be a rancher. Anyway, there’s nothing romantic between us. We’re just good friends which is something we would be after the things we’ve done together on the different cases.”
“Yes. Have you heard from Blair at all?”
“No. Bruce and Hazel say they’ll adopt Dan and Becky if their mother isn’t found. They’ll be happy with them, I know, though I’ll miss them when I go.”
“When will that be? We’ll miss you.”
“Probably in a couple of weeks. I’m just hoping that in that time Blair will have found their mother because that is what will be best for them.”
“Yes, it will. Are you allowed to tell our ladies what happened at our next ladies get together?” Linda paused. “No. Maybe you shouldn’t in case you have another assignment before you go.”
“I probably won’t. Maybe I could tell them the Tuesday before I leave.”
“They’ll love that but I won’t say anything in between.”
“How are the children enjoying school?”
“They absolutely love it.”
“And is Jonathon back soon?”
“On Friday. I’m looking forward to that because we’re rarely apart this long and I miss him very much. Not because he helps with the children but because I love him with all my heart. We’ve been sending each other constant telegrams but it’s not enough.”
Would Noah miss her when she went, Susannah thought on her way to the school to pick up the children. All of them because she was doing that now after depending on Hazel to do it for a while. She and Noah had carried on at the bank for a few days in order to make sure everything was above board.
Frank Hobbs, the employee who was asked to leave and whose place Susannah had taken, was now re-instated and had been asked to be manager. It involved some training which would be done by someone who was coming from Independence and he was more than relieved. His name was now cleared, he told Susannah, and that meant a lot to him and his wife. He thanked her a few times for what she did.
But now she did not have to be at the bank anymore and she was enjoying a bit of quiet after the excitement of both assignments she had done in the area. Adventure was one thing but she wasn’t sure she wanted it too often.
Except, of course, that detective work did involve danger and she had to accept that. She did accept it but the thought of leaving Lower Pine was a bleak one. She had made new friends. There were the children. Noah was here.
Really it would be better to get it over with and just go. The children were still sleeping in Bruce and Hazel’s house at Hazel’s suggestion and were quite happy about it though they would run in and out to Susannah to show her things or to play games of skill with her. They were comfortable with her, she knew, but they loved being with the other children and even with little Amos.
But when their mother returned, and Susannah felt she had to believe she would, there would be more changes for Dan and Becky which might involve them leaving the area. It was a bit much to hope that their mother would want to stay in Lower Pine. She must just think present, she felt, because the future was too unsettling to dwell on.
“Hello.” She turned at Noah’s voice and the inevitable leap of her heart, or it felt like her heart, occurred.
“Hello.” She smiled as brightly as she could.
“I’ve just signed up to do some building work. I’ll be working on the seminary. They want to catch up as much as they can after having a break. Jude is going to work there too. He says he wants to start his course at the university and he can’t until they open. I’m starting tomorrow.”
“Do they employ lady builders? I’m bored.”
“I’ll ask them. It means climbing ladders and things.”
“I can climb ladders. I can even climb ropes, if you recall.”
He grinned. “I recall. The men will love having a lady. It will
also tone down their language because they won’t swear in front of ladies.”
“Then I definitely need to work there. I’ll come to the site myself and speak to the boss. Who is he?”
“Jack Crawford. He goes to the church.”
“Yes. I know who he is. It all depends, of course, on whether Albert sends me another assignment. His office in Los Angeles were pleased they didn’t have to send someone out to the bank.”
“They would never have done as well as you did,” Noah said.
“Ladies sometimes are better but not always. Maybe they’ll recognise that and employ some women themselves.”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“Men are often slow to acknowledge that women are as good as them at most things. In this town they’re better but I don’t know if that includes everyone. Why don’t you open a detective agency here?”
“I thought of that but I want to be acknowledged elsewhere first.”
Noah smiled. “I think you are acknowledged because what you’ve done has got into the papers. Even in New York it was reported that the person who solved the case was a woman.”
“I don’t want to be seen as better than a man,” Susannah said. “I just want to be acknowledged for what I do and that women can do such jobs. If I work on the building site I need to pick up the children because I don’t want to take advantage of Hazel anymore. She and Bruce have been very supportive.”
“Yes. Have you checked the post office for telegrams?”
“I’m going to now before the children come out of school. Are you coming with me?”
“Yes.”
“And would you like to come for the evening meal? I’ll cook you something really nice.”
“Alright, but I’ll provide the sweet afterwards. What would you like?”
“Get something in tins, which can include custard.”
They made their way to the post office and there were four telegrams for Susannah and one for Noah. She would open them at home, she told Noah, because now they must get the children. He could open his though.
“I’ll do it at the apartment,” he said.
Susannah rather felt that both of them had telegrams from Albert which meant that maybe he had something else for them to do. Would it involve danger? She wasn’t sure she wanted anymore yet. All she wanted to do was work out mysteries without any danger. She also did not want to be involved in domestic disputes.
But there were no new cases, just a query as to when she would be able to return to New York. The other telegram was from her parents who sent long ones fairly frequently. If she wasn’t coming home soon, they said, could they come to her? It would be nice to have a holiday in California.
And it would be nice to have them, she thought as she opened the third telegram. It was another one from Albert saying he had deposited the reward money for both Susannah and Noah in their bank accounts and the fourth telegram was from her brother saying he would soon be starting at the university.
But nothing from Blair and she was getting a bit worried. Did he need help? Should she contact the agency in Los Angeles? Surely he should have discovered something by now. She looked at Noah who was opening tins of food while she heated up a dish she had cooked earlier.
“We should have heard from Blair by now. I’m getting a bit worried.”
She did not see his frown as he bent over the tins. “Do you miss him?”
“The children need to know something, even if it’s bad news. Dan was talking about his mother last night and I know they both miss her. They’re happy here but it’s not enough. Even bad news is better than no news.”
“I’m not convinced about that.” Noah tipped fruit into a bowl then poured custard on top of it. “At least when there’s no bad news there’s hope.”
“I guess so. Have you found a plot of land for your ranch?”
“Bruce says there’s one coming up for sale soon so I’ll probably look at it tomorrow evening. Do you want to come and give your opinion?”
“I would have no idea if it would be a good place to buy or not. Bruce would be the best for that.”
“But you’ll give an opinion, anyway.”
She smiled. “You know me too well. Yes, I’m sure I will. You don’t really want a bossy, opinionated woman with you, do you?”
“It’s exactly the kind of woman I want with me. Shall I call the children?”
Susannah looked at her watch. “Yes, please. Bruce and Hazel will be eating their own meal now so it’s a good time for us to do the same.”
“I’ll get them.”
Noah went outside and Susannah started to dish up, her expression pensive. It was time to get back to New York because this life of domestication was becoming too familiar and she was enjoying it, which was a wasted and useless enterprise. He obviously didn’t want a wife and she didn’t want to give up being a detective. He also didn’t love her or he surely would have said something by now.
But she loved him and she didn’t want to leave him. She wanted to be with him all the time. She wanted to help him build up his ranch. She wanted to support him.
The children ran in ahead of Noah and went to wash their hands, something they had learnt from Larry and Tony and not what Susannah taught them. They went into the dining room, sat and Susannah dished up the food.
She looked at Noah. “Would you thank the Lord?” she asked.
“Yes, of course.” They all joined hands in the way Bruce, Hazel and family would. “Thank You, Father, for the food and everything you give us. Amen.”
“Amen!” the children chorused and tucked into their food.
“Larry said that if mama doesn’t come Bruce and Hazel could adopt us,” Dan said.
“I’m sure they would.” Susannah looked briefly at Noah. “Did Bruce and Hazel say anything?”
“No. Is Blair our father?”
“He adopted you but when your mama comes it will be up to her what happens because she’s your legal guardian.”
“If she doesn’t come I’d like to be adopted by Bruce and Hazel. You’ll be going back to New York, won’t you?”
“Not until we know about your mother.”
“We like it with you,” Dan continued. “But we wouldn’t mind being with Bruce and Hazel. We want a mama and papa.”
It was time for her to go. She had prayed about it a lot and this was probably the Lord’s way of answering her prayer. The children were happy to go to Bruce and Hazel and they loved the other children, so even if their mother did return, Susannah did not have to wait for that to happen.
She looked at Noah and his expression was rather intense, she felt. He had been so good about everything and really, in a way, had been a father to the children. He included them in everything he did as far as he could. He organised outings. He was patience itself and played with them.
But they did need something secure and the present arrangement wasn’t. They needed to know that where they were was permanent, or at least until their mother returned, if she returned. If only Blair would contact them.
“Do you want to move in with Bruce and Hazel?” she asked.
Dan nodded. “Yes.” He looked a bit anxious. He was a sensitive little boy, Susannah had found, though as mischievous and lively as any child. “It’s not ‘cos we don’t like being with you.”
“I know, darling, and I understand.” She leaned sideways to kiss him where he sat beside her.
“Can we go tonight?”
“Have Bruce and Hazel said anything?”
“No, but Larry overheard them saying they would be willing to adopt us. I’ll go and tell them.”
Before Susannah could say anything both children ran from the apartment. She looked at Noah rather helplessly.
“Hazel did say they would adopt them but Blair is their legal father and what is she going to think about it all? She’ll think I told the children.”
“Hazel is not stupid,” Noah said and five minut
es later the children ran back in.
“Hazel said we can go there tonight but we must finish our meal first,” Dan said. “Do you want us to pack or can we go and play?”
“I’ll move your stuff,” Susannah said but all she wanted to do was go to her bedroom and cry. They continued to eat, the children went out with Noah and not long afterwards Hazel knocked.
Susannah blew her nose as she made for the door. She must not get emotional and she must apologise to Hazel. But the minute she saw her the tears poured down her cheeks and she had no way of stopping them. “I need to pack the children’s clothes,” she said and ran up the stairs.
Hazel ran after her, followed her into Dan’s bedroom and sat on the bed. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realise Larry had overheard us. I really am sorry.”
Susannah blew her nose before going for a carpet bag. “I didn’t tell them what you said.”
“I know that. I never for a minute thought you had.”
“It will be a lot of work for you and you can’t adopt them until we know about their mother and until Blair contacts us. He’s their legal father.”
“I’ve been looking into that,” Hazel said. “I don’t think he is.”
“Pardon?” Susannah sat on the bed next to Hazel.
“I did a bit of snooping. You’d be proud of me. The adoption never was legal. It was just a case of Blair saying he would take the children with a view to adopting them. However, we can’t adopt until we know if their mother is still alive and I can’t find out anything about her. We’re happy to have the children though.”
“Life really is complicated, isn’t it?” Susannah went for some clothes and folded them to put in the bag.
“It is, which is unfair on the children. Where we are concerned we love them very much but we’re holding them on the open palms of our hands. If anyone took Larry or Tony from us we would be devastated. We wouldn’t allow it. However, with Dan and Becky we have to make a difference, though not to them. The best thing for them is if their mother is alive, but until we know for sure we have to keep a control of our emotions.”
“You’re wonderful,” Susannah said. “I think it’s time for me to return to New York again.”
The Detective Bride Page 24