Anna joined him, excited to spill everything she’d learned tonight. “And He revealed something to me too. After talking with Mrs. Neidecker, I believe there’s another explanation for how the rumors of a lost fortune got started.”
His gaze fixed on her then. “There is?”
“Do you remember that old ledger you’ve been poring over?”
He nodded. “The account book. Along with bushels of grain harvested, it also counts slaves.”
“But Michigan was always free territory. They couldn’t have owned slaves.”
“They hunted them,” he pointed out. “That’s what the notes marked with an S meant—how many fugitives caught and returned.”
“If so, then why did they also use the letters N, E, and W? I think they’re for the four directions.”
“Directions,” he scoffed. “If only it was that pure and honest. The notes spelled out where Jeb found the fugitives.”
She couldn’t believe how stubbornly he clung to his interpretation. “Or where he sent them.”
“North? Why would a slave hunter send captured slaves north?”
“To freedom.”
He stared at her. “Are you mad?”
“No, I’m serious.” She clasped his hands. “Mrs. Neidecker and I pieced it all together. The final clue was the word midnight. Remember seeing it in the ledger?”
“It’s a time of day.”
“It’s also the code word for Detroit, the final stop on this branch of the Underground Railroad. If we’re right, then your house was a station and your ancestors were conductors. They helped slaves to freedom. That’s your legacy, Brandon, not slave hunting. Your family wasn’t hiding treasure here on earth where it would only rot. They were storing up treasure in heaven.”
He stared. “I wish I could believe it.”
“We’ll find the proof. I won’t stop searching until we do.”
“You won’t?”
“We won’t.”
“We.” A look of wonder settled over him. “You want to continue working with me after what I said to you?”
Anna tossed her head, a touch of impertinence taking hold. “No, I don’t.”
His shoulders slumped. “I shouldn’t have—”
She cut him off. “I want more than work, Brandon Landers, and if you haven’t figured out what I mean by that, then you’re the blindest man on the face of the earth.”
He looked at her, stunned. “You...? You...? You don’t hate me?”
She braced her hands on her hips. “You must be blind.”
Gradually, realization dawned, and, oh, what a wonderful moment. “You? Me?” he stammered in disbelief before straightening into the pillar of strength that she’d come to love and respect. “I do love you. I’ve loved you from the first time I saw you, but I didn’t dare hope you could love me.”
She tapped the end of his nose with her fingertip. “And that’s where you were wrong.”
“I was?” A smile gradually curved his lips.
“You were.”
Then he swept her into his arms and kissed her as deeply and romantically as the most swashbuckling pirate in the best dime novel.
When he broke the embrace, he grasped her by the shoulders, hope shining in his eyes. “Anna Simmons, what would I ever do without you?”
She couldn’t hold back a grin. “Not much, I expect.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Two months later
“Ouch,” Anna complained as Brandon’s heel struck her arm. The carriage-house crawl space was too narrow for them to enter side by side, so Brandon led with the lamp while she carried the old ledger. “I don’t see why you had to go first. I’m the one who lives here.”
“I’m the one who owns it,” Brandon teased. “Besides, if I understand the Bible correctly, as the man of the house, I’m the head of the family.”
“Man of the house?” A thrill ran through her. Was this his awkward way of proposing? Since that night at the Neideckers’ house, they’d drawn closer and closer. They got the bookstore off to a better start by building on the excitement over King Tutankhamun’s tomb. They hunted down clues to support Anna’s hypothesis that Brandon’s ancestors were conductors on the Underground Railroad. Each discovery elevated his spirits, but nothing could compare to the way he’d seized on his renewed faith. No one listened more raptly to the Sunday sermons. He even asked to join the church.
Still, he never came close to proposing. Yes, they spent hours together each day. Yes, she and Ma dined with him at the house. Yes, he treated Ma like a mother. Still no proposal. If this was his attempt, it was a pretty poor one.
“You aren’t the head of my family,” she shot back. “Hendrick is. If you want to take over that job, you’ll need his blessing.”
“He gave it weeks ago.”
“He did?” If so, Brandon must be waiting for a sign from her that a proposal would be accepted. She jutted out her chin. “Then you know what you need to do.”
“Ask you and your mother to move to the house?”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Maybe I’m afraid.” He actually sounded serious.
“Of what?”
He didn’t answer right away. “A man must be able to meet his obligations.”
He was talking about marriage. Her heart pounded harder. “Finances will improve once we find the real fortune.”
He halted. “You think it’s gold?”
“It had better not be. I don’t want to marry a millionaire.”
His laugh sent warmth clear to her toes. “You don’t have much to worry about, then.”
He said no more, just crawled ahead in silence. Had she been wrong? Impossible. Ma had hinted she should expect a proposal, and Ma was never wrong in that department.
At last he stopped. “Here we are. If we’re right, our lives will never be the same after today. We can stop now, seal up this crawl space and never mention it again. You decide.”
She couldn’t bear not knowing. “We’re already certain there’s no gold or money hidden here.”
“But there might be a map. Who knows where that might lead?” He gingerly rose, stepped over the charred remains of the rug that had caught fire months ago and turned to face her, so the lamp was between them.
She pointed to the odd Xs that had been penciled on the stone wall. Knowing what she now knew, these marks took on new meaning. “See? Three of them. Like the three crosses on Calvary. Right here where we had the fire.”
He held out his pocketknife. “Would you like to do the honors?”
She took it and began scraping away the ashes below the marks. The crevices in the wood plank floor revealed nothing, but as she removed the dirt and ash next to the stone wall, the knife caught an edge of paper.
“That’s it,” she said, excitement pounding in her chest. Her hand trembled. “I don’t know if I can get it out without damaging it.”
“Do you want me to do it?” he asked just as breathlessly.
“No, I’ve got it.” With a little effort and a lot of patience, she slid the blade under the paper and wriggled it from its hiding place.
She picked it up and held it out to Brandon. “You open it.”
“You found it.”
“It’s your house.” She placed it before him.
His hands trembled as he moved the paper exactly midway between them. “We’ll open it together.”
While she held one edge, he unfolded the paper. It crackled, brittle, and he had to open it carefully. When at last it lay open, she was no closer to an answer. Odd markings were scribbled all over the paper. She pulled the lamp closer and looked from every angle.
“It might be a map.”
He laughed, t
he nervous sort of excited laugh. “Of course it’s a map. See? This is the Blackman farm and here’s Green Lake.”
“The Blackman farm? Is that where the Highbottoms live now?”
He nodded.
“But this says Africa and Emerald Pond.”
“Exactly. Code names for locations. Remember? Let’s see the ledger.”
She opened to the page she’d read before and pointed to the odd entries. “Where are Whiteside and Sunny Blooms?”
“Perhaps a white barn and a field of sunflowers.”
“They’re not on this map.” She ran her finger along the line connecting the locations. “If that’s Green Lake and that’s the Highbottom farm, then your house must be the City of Gold.”
He sat back heavily. “City of Gold? Why would it be called that?”
Anna nibbled her lip, deep in thought. The old brass lamp cast a steady but dim light on the map. She grabbed the polished metal base to move it closer, probably leaving fingerprints that would later tarnish.
“Tarnish. That’s it,” she exclaimed.
“What?”
“The roof. It’s green.”
“Copper.”
“But it wouldn’t have been green when the house was first built.”
Realization dawned on his face. “It would have gleamed in the sunlight like gold.”
“City of Gold.”
“City of Gold,” he repeated. “No wonder the rumors started.”
She shook her head, marveling at the myriad rumors that had caused so much grief. “How the truth has been twisted through the years. If only you’d known.”
He touched her cheek, soft as a whisper. “I know now, thanks to you. Some treasure hunter I am.”
She drank in his dimpled chin and broad smile. “The best ever, Mr. Brandon.” She laughed when she used Ma’s name for him, but somehow it felt right.
“Think of all we can do. We’ll unearth the stories of those who hid in this crawl space on their way to freedom. We’ll print a book of those stories. Tell the world about their lives. Everyone will want to see this place. We could turn it into a museum. The bookstore can have exhibits. It’ll be famous.”
“Whoa.” He chuckled. “You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“Am I?” She couldn’t stifle her excitement.
“Well, you’re a bit ahead of me.” He rifled through his jacket pockets until he unearthed a simple gold band. “I have something to ask you first.”
Anna sat back with a thud. Even though she’d expected a proposal, she’d anticipated nothing like this. Why, her heart had practically stopped, and her ears were buzzing.
He took her trembling hand. “Anna Simmons, will you join me on the greatest adventure of all, a life together? Will you let me take you to exotic lands and faraway places? Will you work beside me to unearth life’s secrets? Will you marry me?”
With every word, she felt lighter until she thought she would lift clear off the floor. “I will, I will.” She flung her arms around him, knowing she had found the one and only man for her.
After a kiss, he slid the ring on her finger. “It’s not a proper engagement ring, but someone insisted I give you this until we pick out your ring.”
Anna’s eyes widened. “Ma’s ring?” Tears sprang to her eyes.
“Yes, dearest,” Ma said from behind her, where she must have been waiting for Brandon’s proposal. “Your father always wanted to be part of your wedding.”
Anna hugged the ring to her heart. “Then I will always wear it.”
Then, though the space was not quite large enough, they all hugged and laughed and made countless plans. All Anna knew was that she’d found the best treasure of all—family.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt of Handpicked Husband by Winnie Griggs!
Dear Reader,
Archaeological finds have always fascinated me. I love to read about recently discovered tombs and monuments. Like Anna, I dreamed of being the first to open an ancient tomb. As a child, I conducted “digs” in my mom’s gardens and occasionally unearthed an arrowhead. When I learned that this month marks the 90th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, I had to include it in this story. Though I’d read about Howard Carter’s excavation years ago, I found that rereading the story of that monumental archaeological event renewed my childhood desire to unearth something special. I hope you have enjoyed Anna and Brandon’s search for lasting treasure. They have many more adventures ahead of them.
I love to hear from readers. You can write to me through my website at http://christineelizabethjohnson.com.
Blessings,
Christine Johnson
Questions for Discussion
Anna’s life turns on end when she and her mother must move from her childhood home. She lashes out at Brandon, while her mother responds with understanding. Why do they react differently? How have you reacted to a stressful event?
Wealthy Sally Neidecker denigrates Anna, putting her down for being poor. Why would Sally behave that way? Today, there’s a lot of focus on bullying. Would you consider this bullying or a precursor to bullying? How would you deal with this if you were Anna?
Why does Anna initially refuse Brandon’s offer of the carriage-house apartment?
Brandon is especially uncomfortable around Pastor Gabriel. Why? What might have happened in his past to make him this way? What does he need to do to get over this discomfort?
While Mrs. Simmons wants to celebrate Christmas to its fullest, Brandon tries to shut himself away from all celebrations. Why? What does he fear?
Brandon is frustrated by his kid brother’s attitude and reckless behavior, and tries to instill a sense of responsibility in him. Why do Brandon’s efforts fall short? What could he do that would get better results?
Brandon fears emotional attachment. Why? How does Anna break through that barrier?
After Brandon invites Anna to the Valentine’s Ball, she worries about her dress and hair. Why does she place so much stock in how she looks? What would have happened if she’d worn her Sunday best instead of a ball gown?
Brandon consistently denies that there is a lost fortune hidden in his house. Why? Why doesn’t he embrace Anna’s desire to find it?
Why does Anna proceed with the search for the fortune without Brandon’s permission? Do you think she did the right thing? Why or why not?
While Anna grasps at the hope of finding lost treasure, Brandon turns to the bank—a practical solution. How would you deal with a similar financial difficulty?
Why didn’t Anna tell her mother years ago that she saw her father die? How does that secret affect her life?
When Brandon accuses Anna of going behind his back to find the treasure, she reacts differently than she did early in the book when he gave her the eviction letter. That time she reacted with anger. How does she react this time? What do you think changed her?
To help Brandon, Anna must swallow her pride and talk to the woman she wronged at the start of the book. Have you ever faced this sort of situation? How did it turn out?
What changes Brandon’s attitude toward God? How does this reconciliation affect his interaction with people?
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Historical story.
You find illumination in days gone by. Love Inspired Historical stories lift the spirit as heroines tackle the challenges of life in another era with hope, faith and a focus on family.
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Chapter One
Northeast Texas, 1894
An ear-splitting shriek ricocheted through the forest, startling a raucous cloud of blackbirds from the roadside trees.
“Easy, Trib.” Adam Barr patted the horse’s neck as the animal shied. What now?
The buggy behind him slowed to a stop, but Adam ignored it, along with the uneasy questions from the three men seated inside. He’d promised to escort the men from Philadelphia to Texas, not be their nursemaid.
The wailing continued and Adam fought the urge to tilt back his head and answer with a wild, full-throated howl. He’d gritted his teeth so often these past few days the muscles in his jaw hurt. Taking on this job when more important business waited for him in Philadelphia had him in a foul mood, as his companions could no doubt attest.
After six years of biding his time—six years, two months and thirteen days to be exact—he’d thought he could finally pursue his goal without distraction.
If this assignment had come from anyone but Judge Madison...
Adam scanned the brush-skirted hardwoods lining the trail. Whatever the source of that eerie sound, it was headed their way.
He eased his rifle from the scabbard. Anticipation stirred his blood. He might have to employ his “company manners” with his three charges, but this bellowing beast was another matter.
No telling what manner of creature roamed this forsaken backwoods. The wail was too high-pitched to belong to a bear. A large cat maybe?
He urged Trib closer to the trees. There seemed to be a pattern to the sound, a certain mangled cadence. Almost as if—
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