Escaped (Intrigue Under Western Skies Book 4)

by Elaine Manders

  Chapter 13

  “Next stop Westerfield.” The conductor barked his announcement so close Annie jumped. Juliette squeezed her hand, the realization they had reached their destination frightening her too.

  This was the unknown, and she’d always hated uncertainty. Despite Jake’s reassurances, she didn’t know if she’d be welcome. With a family. With all their problems.

  She wasn’t even sure she could acclimate to this land with its flat, endless prairie. No place to hide.

  At least her brothers were happy. For now anyway. Corky turned around in the seat in front of her. “I’m glad we’re finally here. I’m stiff as a board, hey, Jul?”

  “I am bored,” Thad said. “I’m ready to meet the ranch hands. Mr. Jake said those fields back there with all the cows are a part of Sollano. It must really be big. Bigger than Mr. Blythe’s plantation.”

  Corky peered in the direction where Thad pointed to, his mouth falling open. “Sure it’s big, ‘most big as the whole state of Nebraska.”

  “It is not, you dolt, and we won’t be driving cows. Mr. Decker said we’ll be in charge of the steers.”

  Juliette couldn’t help smiling at the boys’ enthusiasm. “Stop calling your brother names, Thad, and both of you stay with Mr. Decker and Jake when we disembark. This is a strange place, and I don’t want you to get lost.”

  “Ah, Jul, we’re not little boys.”

  No, they weren’t, and she wasn’t an innocent young girl any more. She was in love. Deeply. Completely. Irrevocably.

  Sleep came hard on the trains and coaches, but when it had, a reoccurring dream haunted her. She walked the aisle of a small country church, wearing her mother’s lace wedding gown, the one she’d packed in her luggage. The pews were crowded on each side with well-wishers.

  Jake waited at the altar. Smiling, he held out his hand to her. When she’d taken it, the preacher gestured for them to kneel for prayer. She’d bowed her head, but couldn’t think of a single word of entreaty to send heavenward.

  When she’d opened her eyes, Jake was gone. The people were gone. The preacher was gone. She knelt alone at the altar.

  The train’s screeching brakes tore her from that disturbing thought. Out of the dingy window, she got her first glimpse of Westerfield. A little town growing out of its confines as several dirt streets split off from the main one, like a child’s limbs sticking out of overgrown clothes.

  It didn’t appear to be any bigger than Abbeville, but more bustling with traffic filling the streets, both on foot and on horse and wheel.

  The train came to a full stop, and people spilled into the aisle. Jake sat behind them, and she knew he’d stop to let them go ahead of him. He’d be slower on his crutches, so she waited patiently. “Hold onto the crate tightly,” she told Annie. “If someone should jostle it out of your hands, the cats might escape and be lost.” They’d allowed Annie to bring two of her precious cats.

  “Ready, ladies.” That familiar male voice whipped her attention around like iron to a magnet. Jake filled the aisle, blocking those from behind. He looked tired, his smile forced, but who wouldn’t be after traveling almost nonstop for the last four days?

  She moved into the space he made for her, gesturing for Annie to get in front and sending a worried glance backward. “Perhaps you should take a hotel room and go to the ranch tomorrow. I’ll never forgive myself if you have a relapse.”

  “I’m the one who pushed through, Juliette, and the ranch is less than thirty minutes away. Deck says I’ll stay at the ranch house for a couple of days to rest up.”

  “I should hope longer, if you need more time.” She bit her lip. The ranch house wasn’t hers to extend hospitality, but she would make her opinion known—as his nurse. She assumed she and Annie would be staying at the ranch house too, though no one had said anything to confirm that. She’d camp out nearby if necessary, but somehow she’d be near enough to check on Jake’s health each day.

  Outside a crowd of people cheered when Jake emerged. He handed Juliette one of his crutches, waved his Stetson overhead, and hopped down the steps on his good leg. Juliette anchored herself between Jake and Annie as she studied the well-wishers.

  A tall, blond man stood in front, holding a squirming baby in one arm, the other around a pretty brown-eyed woman’s waist.

  Jake lowered his head. “Juliette, this is Colt and Katherine Holliman. The baby is Emmy Lou.” He addressed the couple. “This Juliette Kendal, my guardian angel, and her little sister, Annie.”

  Katherine held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Juliette. Annie.”

  Juliette gripped the lady’s hand and acknowledged her husband’s nod.

  Deck shouldered his way through the crowd. “Hey, Colt, would you help me and the boys with the luggage? Jake, there’s a carriage over there for you and the ladies.”

  Colt handed the baby to his wife. “Kathy, go ahead with Jake and the ladies so you can introduce them to the folks. Jake should go straight to bed.”

  “Don’t know if I can stand all this molly-coddling.” Jake’s laugh sounded strained to Juliette’s ears.

  Before they got away, men came forward, slapping Jake on the back and everyone started talking at once. Juliette nudged Annie, and they stepped aside to give the men space.

  Two determined ladies broke through the crowd, the older one thrusting a hand to Juliette. “Welcome to Westerfield, Miss Kendal. I’m Myra Landry. I run the mercantile over there.” Myra grinned. “This is Rachel Hadley, my friend.”

  “And I hope a friend of yours, Miss Kendal,” Rachel said.

  Myra glanced from Jake to Juliette, her smile widening. “Have you ever heard a more romantic thing, Rachel? Jake brought back his guardian angel.”

  “Never mind her, Miss Kendal.” Rachel’s hair was red but two shades lighter than Juliette’s. She sent a sidewise glance to her friend. “What do you know about romance, Myra? You’ve been married forever.”

  Juliette didn’t know what to make of these two. Before she could think of a response, Rachel’s attention went to Annie. “What you got there in the crate, Annie?”

  Annie gripped the crate tighter like she feared Rachel might snatch it.

  Rachel ignored that, stepping forward as a white-mitten paw punched through the slats. “What’s the matter, honey, cat got your tongue?” She laughed playfully.

  “Annie can’t speak, Mrs. Hadley,” Juliette said. “She’s mute.”

  Rachel’s smile died as she stared at Juliette. A flush rose over her face all the way to her red roots. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  Myra grabbed Rachel by the arm, pulling her back. “I told you you’d put your foot in your mouth too many times and get choked.”

  Maybe it was just as well that Annie’s condition would be broadcast throughout the town, making any further explanations unnecessary on Juliette’s part.

  “Let’s get Jake to the carriage,” Katherine said, shifting the baby to her other hip and reaching out a hand.

  The ladies gave Jake the whole facing seat to himself since he needed to stretch out his leg, but after watching him twist this way and that, so he could recline, Juliette moved to the corner of his seat. “Take this pillow to cushion your bad leg against the other end and lay your head in my lap.”

  She needed to check for fever anyway. Moisture beaded on his forehead, though it was hot enough to draw sweat from anyone. She brushed back the damp curls, gratified to find his forehead no warmer than hers. Still, a white line around his lips indicated he was in pain.

  “That’s a lot better,” he said, smiling up at her.

  The exchange didn’t get past Katherine. She grinned like she’d just discovered the turning point in a dime novel. Let her think what she would. Juliette and Jake had no secrets. Well, Jake didn’t.

  Being caught staring, Katherine turned her attention to Annie. “Will you let Emmy Lou see the kittens?”

  Surprisingly, Annie smiled at the baby and opened the crate enough
to take one of the tabbies out.

  Bouncing up and down, the baby held out a soggy crocheted teething ring. The afternoon sun spilling through the carriage window revealed two tiny teeth as slobber glinted on her chin. Annie grabbed the teething ring, dropping it to the carriage seat, then took Emmy Lou’s chubby hand and brought it to the kitten’s head.

  Emmy Lou squealed, and more happy-jumping ensured as she grabbed the kitten’s head. The animal quickly tired of that treatment and hissed and squirmed until Annie put it back in the crate and set the crate on the floor out of the baby’s sight. She twisted sideways in the seat and lifted the apron of her frock to play peek-a-poo with Emmy Lou.

  Maybe this move would be good for Annie. Taking her away from the horror she’d endured just might loosen her vocal cords enough for her to speak again.

  Annie twirled a finger in the baby’s downy golden curls, then ran it down her cheek, coaxing giggles.

  “Emmy Lou’s having a time, isn’t she?” Jake said. He hadn’t opened his eyes, but his smile showed how much he enjoyed the children’s play.

  Juliette had long since given up any thoughts of having a child of her own, but now that deep-seated desire rose in her chest. Jake would make a wonderful father. If only it could be so.

  “She can be a handful,” Katherine said. “But she’s the joy of Colt’s and my life.” She rummaged through her reticule and brought out two peppermint sticks, giving one to Annie and putting the other in Emmy Lou’s plump fist. After a few misses, the baby got it between her rosebud lips and began to slobber over her bib.

  Messy little thing—and totally adorable. Juliette yearned for one. She shifted her gaze out the window to squelch that desire. Too many obstacles stood in the way of marriage to Jake and the hope for babies.

  They crossed a wide river bridge and out to the open countryside. Getting used to this flat topography would take time, being so different from Georgia. True, the Georgia coastal plain was flat, but the thick forests belied that fact and broke up the horizon, while here the land seemed to stretch forever.

  Did Jake’s boss own all this land? They passed the impressive sign and gatehouses of Sollano, and she didn’t have to guess. Fenced pastures stretched out on both sides, and cattle of various colors grazed in the afternoon sun.

  When they arrived at the ranch compound—she couldn’t count the number of buildings—anchored with a huge three storied house of gray stone, Katherine introduced her to the stable and house servants.

  Juliette had never been good with names and only remembered Maria, the housekeeper, Jenkins, the stable hand who helped Jake to his room, and Harriet, the maid who took Juliette and Annie up the sweeping staircase to their rooms.

  “I’ve put you and the young miss in one of the suites that has two bedrooms with communicating door.” Harriet opened a door about half-way down the west hallway. The proper English maid spoke in an accent that fell pleasantly on the ear. She held the door open for Juliette and Annie to enter.

  “Thank you. It’s beautiful,” Juliette replied, giving the well-appointed room a sweeping glance.

  A four-poster bed stood between two windows, two intricately carved nightstands on each side. The vibrant blue hues of a Turkish carpet complimented the pale blue papered walls. The open communicating door revealed a plainer decorated, but comfortable room. Annie’s luggage set on the bed.

  “I put a pan of sand in the corner for your cats, Miss,” Harriet said. “Make sure the door is closed before letting them loose.” She laughed. “This house is so big we’d have a grand time trying to find them.”

  Annie entered the room and closed the door behind her.

  “It’s kind of you to allow her to bring the kittens inside.”

  “Your sister isn’t the first to bring pets with them, Miss. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds. We try to accommodate them.” She chuckled again. “Last year a gentleman brought a parrot that squawked ‘Hey, Jezebel,’ every time I entered the room.” She went into a laughing fit that made her lift the hem of her apron to wipe the tears. “Sometimes the animals escaped, throwing the whole household into upheaval.”

  Juliette giggled. “We’ll try to prevent any escapes, and I’m sure we’ll be comfortable here.” She wondered how long they might stay as guests in this luxury.

  “Well, then, let me show you the bathing room. It’s just across the hall.”

  Just the mention of bathing reminded Juliette of the dust covering her clothing and the grime coating her skin. A hot bath would be welcome indeed.

  “The water closet is separate,” Harriet explained, “but you can access it through the bathing room, just remember to hook the latches to keep someone from barging in.” Her laughter bounced off the tiled walls of the small room, monopolized by a claw-foot tub. She went on to describe how to operate the hot and cold faucets and drain.

  Juliette had read about such luxuries but never thought she’d get to bathe in one.

  Harriet reached for the door connecting to the water closet. “I expect you’ll want a bath right away. I’ll draw it for you. The only thing to remember about the toilet is to pull the chain and flush the bowel after…when you’ve finished.”

  This was a vast improvement to the outdoor privies Juliette was used to, but in a house this large, she guessed it was necessary. It would take a long time just to get out. “How many people use this…these facilities?”

  “No one but me and the nursemaid, Miss. Oh, and little Master Davy. The master suite has its own bathing room. There’s one identical to this one downstairs. That’s the one the rest of the staff use. Originally, only the master suite had a bathing room, but Mr. Cason had these two designed liked those in one of the government buildings in Washington DC.

  They returned to the bedroom, and Juliette noticed the last rays of sunlight streaking through the windows.

  “Dinner will be served in thirty minutes, but if you wish, I’ll bring up a tray for you and Miss Annie. I expect you’re both tired after that long journey. I suggest you dress in your nightclothes directly after your bath. I’ll bring up your dinner in about an hour, and you can go straight to bed.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Juliette said. The maid’s smiling face made her wonder what the protocol was. Should she tip Harriet? Since she didn’t know, she asked, blushing at her ignorance. But Harriet shook her head. “Oh, no, Miss. Servants aren’t allowed to accept tips here.” She laughed. “Mr. Cason hates the practice since he travels frequently and fusses about having to carry loose change on him. On the upside, he gives me the leftover coins when he returns. I’m looking forward to see how much he has left on this trip.”

  “Mr. Cason is away?” This was disturbing news. Jake was going to ask his boss about finding a lawyer to fight Abner Wexman’s lien on her house.

  “That’s right, but he should be back day after tomorrow.”

  Juliette released a sigh. So much could happen in two days’ time. “Thank you for all your help, Harriet.”

  ***

  Juliette would have liked to soak for an hour in the warm, sudsy, floral smelling water, but she cut it short so Annie could bathe. By the time Annie’s bath was finished and Juliette had towel-dried the girl’s hair and braided it, Harriet arrived with their dinner.

  After days of train food, the beef steak, mashed potatoes and green beans tasted like heaven on a plate. She didn’t have room for the eight-layer raspberry and chocolate torte, but Annie finished hers.

  Not surprisingly, Annie’s eyes began to droop after the heavy meal. Juliette sent her off to bed, and went to the window, now dark. Their room faced the front of the house where soft gaslights lit the front gardens.

  The landscape was so quiet and dreamy, her thoughts flew to Jake. She didn’t know where he was, but couldn’t forget how tired he looked, and in so much pain. The journey had taken more out of him than he’d admitted. He’d need a dose of laudanum to allow a good night’s sleep. If only she could see him and assure herself he was all right.<
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  So engrossed was she in her thoughts, a knock at the door startled her. She admitted Harriet who’d come for the trays. “I brought some fresh coffee. Thought you might like it with your dessert.” Harriet set a new tray laden with a small coffee pot and two cups on the nightstand.

  “How thoughtful. Annie went ahead and ate her torte and is already asleep, but I’d love a cup of coffee.”

  Harriet stacked the dishes and made to leave. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll bid you good-night, Miss.”

  Juliette took a step forward as the maid reached the doorway. “Harriet, would it be possible to meet Mrs. Cason tonight? If she’s already retired for the night, I understand.”

  “I happen to know she’s still in the nursery getting little Davy settled. I’ll drop by and tell her you wish to speak with her. She would have greeted you when you arrived, but she was busy with the new baby.”

  Juliette hated to burden the new mother, but she couldn’t rest before knowing where she stood in this house. And how Jake was.

  She paced the floor, trying to weave together all the questions into one coherent speech. After a couple of minutes, a light rapping pulled her to the door. She expected to find Harriet, but to her surprise, an attractive young woman stood in the hallway. She wore a royal blue dressing gown with wide lace trim Juliette recognized as the height of fashion.

  This had to be Mrs. Cason. Jake had described her to Juliette, from the perfectly coiffured brown hair to her large hazel eyes, to her full lips perpetually tipped up at each corner into a smile.

  “Welcome, Juliette. I’m Carianne, and we’re going to be great friends. By now Juliette wasn’t surprised the mistress of the house used first names as many on the ranch did. But formalities notwithstanding, Carianne’s soft hand bespoke her aristocracy. “Jake tells me you’re going to become my new librarian.”

  One problem solved. Juliette couldn’t help but return the lady’s friendly smile. “If you think I’d suit. Jake also mentioned you use a different cataloging method than what I’m used to.”

  “Yes, we use the Dewey method, but it’s easy. Maggie will teach you in a couple of weeks. I would myself, but I’m busy with little ones at the moment, and besides, Maggie is a much better librarian than I. I get sidetracked when handling books.” She hooked Juliette by the arm and strode toward the two wingchairs across the room. “I start reading and time flies before I know it.”