by Lori Wick
Ross was waiting outside the sheriff’s office. Mandy didn’t look at all surprised to see him. He held her by the waist to swing her down from the wagon and she gave him a weak smile. His eyes took quick inventory of her fatigued features before he dropped his hands and took her arm to enter the building.
In the space of a few minutes the sheriff told Mandy what she already knew—when, where, and how her father was killed, along with the fact that he had no leads to the murder. They talked about the cryptic letter, and Rufus agreed with Silas that it must have been Ward’s way of saying good-bye.
“What about Aaron Marks? You said he was headed out there on business that morning. Did he see anything?” Ross’ face was serious.
“I haven’t talked to Aaron since he came and told me he’d found Ward. His, uh, housekeeper told me he was going to be away for a few days.”
Ross was clearly suspicious and the sheriff gave him a stern look. “Now listen, Ross—I can see what you’re thinking and I can’t say as I think much of Aaron Marks, but I wouldn’t call the man a murderer.”
They soon left Rufus’ office with Mandy looking utterly drained.
“Maybe we should put off going to the house.”
“No, I want to get it over with.”
“What’s this, something I can help with?” Ross asked and Silas explained the plan. He offered to go with them and the three rode in silence out to the Jackson house.
Luke was on time and the three men made quick work of the beds, table, one dresser, and the handful of chairs. Every time Mandy picked something up one of the men took it from her hands. Finally Ross stepped forward with a small brown book.
“Here’s something you can carry. It looks like an old diary.” It was locked and without a key. Not recognizing the book, Mandy could only wonder what was inside the little volume.
“Well, that just about does it. Mandy, why don’t you have a look around to see if we’ve missed something?” Mandy was inside when Luke called from his place by the wagon.
“Looks like we have company.” The three men watched two riders approach, and when they drew closer Ross said, “I thought Rufus said Aaron Marks was out of town.”
“Well, since Rufus is the man riding with him we’ll just ask.”
The men had dismounted before anyone spoke, and by then Mandy was back out of the house. Speaking directly to the sheriff, Mandy broke the silence. “I thought you said Mr. Marks was out of town.”
“It would seem, Mandy, that his housekeeper was misinformed. The truth is, Mr. Marks just showed me a contract, signed by your father, that states him to be the lawful owner of this house and land.”
“Easy.” Ross’ voice, soothing and low, came to Mandy’s ears from where he stood just behind her. She tried to relax the muscles that had tensed with this unexpected news.
“Would you have an objection to my seeing the contract?” Ross asked the question, but his direct gaze and professional air made it sound more like an order.
Mandy, standing in front of Ross now, studied his face as he read. His eyes sought hers when he lowered the paper, never leaving them even when he passed the paper to Silas and Luke. He told her the property was legally Marks’.
Had he not had an audience, Ross would have taken Mandy in his arms. He watched her eyes fill with tears and gently brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers, finding the touch not nearly enough. He turned back to Baxter’s sheriff and Aaron Marks, his eyes narrowing in speculation.
“I never met Ward Jackson but I find this a little out of character for all I’ve heard about the man. He took the risk of leaving his family with nothing by not returning by August with gold from your claim? That’s an agreement only a fool would sign.”
“But sign it he did. Now, if you’ll please return it to me I’ll be about my business. By the way, did this furniture come from inside the house?”
Silas opened his mouth to protest, content in letting Ross handle matters until now, but Mandy forestalled him. The furniture was all in terrible shape, and there was no fight in her.
“Sheriff, does he have a right to this furniture?”
“I’m afraid so, Mandy.” The man looked truly regretful.
“Then we’ll unload it.” She moved forward and took a chair down which Ross took from her. In no time everything was in a pile outside of the cabin.
“I don’t like any of this, Rufus, and I intend to look into the whole thing.”
“I don’t like it either, Ross, but you can see my hands are tied.”
Aaron Marks was inside the cabin and missed the exchange. The men talked for a few minutes more and then Ross stepped to the wagon, where Silas was trying to comfort Mandy.
“I’ll be looking into all of this starting tomorrow. In my opinion there are too many things falling nicely into place for Aaron Marks. But for today, I think I should take Amanda in to Grandma Em’s. She needs quiet and a place to rest and—”
“Amy might need my help.” Mandy’s words were ignored, and if she hadn’t been so tired she would have resented the way they discussed her as if she weren’t there.
“That’s fine, Ross,” Silas answered when he’d heard him out. “We’ll see both of you at supper.”
And that, Mandy thought, was that. She was lifted into the wagon, and Ross headed the horses toward Grandma Em’s.
39
Mandy would not even discuss going up the stairs to one of the bedrooms at Grandma Em’s. She took a place on the sofa in the living room, where she could hear the older woman preparing coffee.
Ross came down the stairs with a quilt and a pillow in his arms, and Mandy watched him place them beside her.
“I’m not sleepy, Ross.”
“Well you might be before the afternoon is over, and if you won’t go to the bedroom I’ll bring the bedroom to you.”
Mandy’s eyes felt like they were filled with sand every time she blinked, making the pillow beside her look inviting after all.
“I’ll help Grandma Em with the tray.”
Mandy acted as though she didn’t hear him, and Ross began to worry about her. He felt guilty about the way he’d insisted she not go home to her family, understanding very well the way her brothers and sisters leaned on her. But the way she unreservedly gave of herself was taxing her to the limit. If she didn’t get some rest, she was going to collapse.
“I’m so glad you brought her here, Ross. She’s been trying to take care of everyone but herself for too long. Here—you carry the tray in. I want to get my Bible.”
Grandma Em was just a few seconds behind Ross in entering the living room. She saw that he’d set the tray down and was trying to carefully remove the quilt from beneath the pillow on which Mandy had fallen asleep.
“Ross,” Grandma Em whispered. “Go get the quilt off my bed.”
In the time he was gone Grandma Em had lifted Mandy’s legs onto the sofa. Ross was able to step forward and gently lay the covering over her.
Mandy stirred then and said without rising, “Is it alright if I sleep here?”
“It’s fine, dear. Go back to sleep.” Grandma Em was bent over her, and she couldn’t see Ross.
“I forgot to thank Ross.”
“You’ll see him later.”
“Okay.” The word was said in such a sleepy voice, Grandma Em smiled. Mandy would sleep for a good long time, she was sure of that. Ross carried the tray back to the kitchen where they had their coffee.
Mandy studied herself in the mirror and then told herself to stop it. “Ross is just a friend.”
She shook her head—it wasn’t working. She could tell herself that Ross Beckett was just a friend until she was old and gray and it wouldn’t change the way her heart quickened when he was near or the way his touch, even accidental, made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.
And now he was coming to get her in just a few minutes to head back to Silas and Amy’s, and she was primping in front of the mirror as if going to a wedding.
“Oh, your hair is so pretty, Mandy, so dark and thick!”
“It’s not as long as I’d like.”
Grandma Em had come into the bedroom and sat down in the rocking chair where she could see Mandy in the mirror.
“Oh, but the style is so becoming on you. I didn’t even notice the length.”
“Thank you.” Mandy said the words gratefully and pulled the brush through her hair a few more times.
“Are you looking forward to Ross driving you out?”
Mandy turned and smiled at Grandma Em. “We’re just friends.” She was careful not to give the wrong impression.
“I understand,” Grandma Em said, even as she wondered if Mandy’s heart wasn’t more involved.
“Thank you for letting me stay this afternoon. I can’t believe how long I slept.”
“I still think you should have eaten some lunch.”
“Amy and Carrie will have supper on, and I’ll fill up at home.” Grandma Em rose then and even though she was saying something, Mandy wasn’t really listening. I’ll fill up at home. Mandy smiled to herself over her own words. She said a prayer of thanksgiving because the words were true. Silas and Amy’s house was her home.
Her next thought was the remembrance of Aaron Marks walking into the cabin as its new owner.
A blind person could see that the house wasn’t worth a thing. But it had been home of 18 years, and Mandy was attached to the old shack even though a strong wind could blow it over.
“All ready to go?” Ross smiled and waited for her to precede him to the wagon. She had never seen him so casual, not that she blamed him for wearing shirtsleeves and light-colored slacks on such a hot day.
“Thanks again, Grandma Em. I’ll probably see you Sunday.”
“You’re welcome, my dear. Oh, before I forget, would you and Carrie think about coming in one weekend in September and helping me with my canning?”
“We’d love to.” Mandy was sincerely pleased. She and Carrie loved the fall, and Grandma Em’s house was always fun. It also crossed her mind how much closer she’d be to Ross for an entire weekend.
“We’ll decide on a date later. You two had better go. Drive carefully, Ross.”
She waved them off from the front porch. As they headed down the street, Mandy had a sudden attack of shyness. It was as if Ross had been able to read her thoughts about being near him next month. It was reason enough to be embarrassed in front of him all over again.
“A penny for them.”
“What?”
Ross smiled—she’d been a hundred miles away. “A penny for your thoughts.”
“They’re not worth that much.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”
Oh no, Mandy thought. What do I say now? “And if they’re private?” she said almost meekly.
“Then I would be the last one to invade that privacy,” he assured her kindly. “Let’s talk about the weather.”
“It’s a nice day if it doesn’t rain,” she said obediently.
Ross laughed. He couldn’t help himself. The horse’s ears flicked at the sound. “Mandy, you never stop surprising me.”
“Sweetheart, you outdid yourself.” Silas pushed his chair back and put a hand over his full stomach.
“Don’t forget Carrie and Becca made the pie,” Amy reminded her husband.
“Did you really help, Becca?” her oldest sister wanted to know.
“I cut the apples.” Becca held up a bandaged finger, and everyone at the table groaned and then laughed.
Coffee was served in the living room and Mandy, after carrying the tray in, saw that the only place left was next to Ross on the sofa. She nearly sat on top of Carrie in an effort to keep from giving him the wrong impression, causing both Carrie and Ross to look at her.
“He doesn’t bite, Mandy,” Carrie said under her breath, and Ross’ chuckle made Mandy’s cheeks flame. Amy’s chair was far enough away to miss the words, but she looked very pointedly at Ross when she came to hand Mandy her coffee. Her look said, “What have you done to embarrass my girl?”
Ross only smiled back at her as she did her best to look stern. The talk very soon turned to the events of the last few days.
“I haven’t got it in for Aaron Marks or anything but a horrendous crime was committed and even if it hadn’t been, the whole thing makes me uncomfortable. You don’t have any objections to my checking into it, do you, Silas?” asked Ross.
“None at all. Like you said, we didn’t know Ward Jackson but it just doesn’t seem like something he’d do.”
The talk moved on to other topics and then Amy said it was the boys’ and Becca’s bedtime. Mandy and Carrie did the honors, even though the boys basically took care of themselves. It gave Amy a chance to tease Ross.
“Alright, Ross Beckett, what did you do to make Mandy blush?”
But to her surprise Ross did not laugh. His look was thoughtful and Silas became alert.
“Amy was kidding, Ross.”
“I know she was, but I’m not myself where Mandy is concerned and you might as well know it.”
“She’s been hurt by so many things, Ross, I—” Amy stopped when she saw that Ross understood her.
“I would never deliberately hurt her. You know that. But sometimes, when feelings are unsettled and a person needs time, well, you end up getting hurt just because your most sensitive emotions are involved.”
“Then things are all over with you and Sarah?”
“Yes, and I was relieved. That tells you just how over they are.”
Carrie came into the room then and asked if Ross was going to join them for their evening Bible study. Ross did sit in but as he rode back home on a horse borrowed from the Cameron stables, he couldn’t dispel from his mind the sight of Mandy’s sweet face when she shared the way God was holding her up during this traumatic time. And then the way she walked him outside when he was ready to leave and thanked him for all he’d done. Once again he had wanted to lay the world at her feet. But tonight there had been a difference. Tonight, for the first time, he’d wanted to kiss Amanda Jackson.
“Oh, Lord,” Ross prayed. “I was just telling Amy I wouldn’t hurt Amanda and now I’m actually thinking of doing something that would cut her to the quick if I acted on it without loving her.”
Ross’ heart stayed heavy all the way home and even after he retired. He wondered when his heart had made the change from compassion for Amanda to love and if it really had. And if he did love Amanda, just what was he going to do about it?
40
“What’s the problem, boys?” Silas stood in the doorway of Levi and Clovis’ room and stared at their stiff backs. They sat side by side on the bed looking out the window, hoping Silas would go away.
He wasn’t about to leave the room without an answer, so he came in and sat on his heels in front of them. It brought him down to eye level and they eventually forced their gaze to his.
“Amy called you to breakfast.”
“We’re sick,” Clovis told him.
“You weren’t sick last night.”
“Well, we’re sick today.” Levi’s chin jutted out aggressively.
“I know you’re not happy that this is the first day of school, but you will watch the way you speak to me, Levi Jackson!” Silas watched the fire drain out of the boy.
“I’m sorry.”
“And I forgive you.” It had taken many strong words, revoked privileges, and one severe spanking to get Levi to this point, and Silas knew he couldn’t love him more if he was a child of his own body.
“Clovis, are you upset about school?” He would stand by Levi, no matter what, and Silas could see that he wasn’t upset.
“I’d rather stay here with you, but I want to learn to read.” Silas smiled at the sincerely spoken words.
“We’ll talk over breakfast.” The words left no argument and Levi filed out the door, his face long. For the first time since being under Silas’ roof, Levi wasn’t hungry. Not e
ven his parents’ death had put him off food. For too many years he’d gone without, but today he did little more than push his breakfast around. Amy watched him with concern, her gaze moving between her husband and Levi.
“Can you tell me, Levi, what you don’t like about school?”
“I just don’t need to know all that stuff, that’s all. I want to raise horses like you, and I don’t need to know where China is to do that.”
“Well you’re right about that; I’ve never had to go to China. But last month a man underpaid us by fifty dollars. Now you tell me how I would have known that without the math I learned in school.
“Fifty dollars?”
“That’s right—it’s a lot of money. And since Luke and I share in this business together, both our families would have lost. I know school isn’t always fun, but someday you’ll have people depending on you. So right now, you do what you need to do to make sure you’re worth depending on.” Silas hoped the words were on Levi’s level. He prayed that they would make a difference in the boy’s attitude because Levi was going to school whether he wanted to or not.
“The school is closer here, Levi, that’s one nice thing.”
For once Levi didn’t snap at Carrie and tell her she was dumb. Silas had forbade him to use the word. But Silas’ words must have had an effect because Levi was uncharacteristically quiet.
Nothing more was said about school. Amy felt a little bereft as she kissed the three middle children and watched them walk away from the house. Becca would not be six for another few days and with all that had happened during the summer, Silas and Amy had decided to keep her home for another year.
Amy watched the children until they were out of sight. Carrie wore a new dress of pale blue trimmed in white, and the boys had on navy slacks with navy and white plaid shirts. She wondered what they would look like at the end of the day.
