by Emily Woods
“Lawrence!” Katie May cried out, reaching for her husband. Lawrence came to her side.
“What happened last night?” Katie May asked, looking into her husband’s solemn face. “Did I get hurt? Why do I have this bruise on my head, Lawrence?”
Lawrence looked to Lydia, who looked down at her leather boots. “You collapsed, Katie May,” Lawrence explained. “You had quite a shock, and you collapsed onto the floor.”
Katie May scratched her head, wrinkling her nose as she tried her hardest to remember the night before. “I had a shock?”
Lawrence nodded. “I should let your mother explain,” he said as he stood and walked out of the bedroom.
“Mama?” Katie May asked. “Mama, tell me what is going on? Why aren’t you on the train? Why does my husband look distraught?”
Lydia’s face paled. “Someone came to the house last night, Katie May,” Lydia said slowly. “Someone we did not expect to see.”
Suddenly, the memory of seeing Henry, her beau, in the doorway of her house in Indiana, flooded Katie May’s mind. “Henry…” she whispered. “Henry was here, wasn’t he?”
Lydia’s face was contorted in sadness as she replied, “Yes, dear. Henry was here.”
Katie May crossed her arms in front of her chest and began to cry. “But, Mama! We thought he was dead! The newspapers all listed him as dead! How can this be?”
Lydia pulled her daughter to her chest and stroked her hair. “The newspapers made a mistake,” Lydia explained, her voice shaking. “Henry is alive and well, Katie May. He came here looking for you.”
Katie May moaned. “Mama,” she cried. “Mama, I wished and prayed for him to return! I was so angry at the Lord for taking Henry away, but now, he is here? He is here in Indiana, but I am a married woman! Oh, Mama!”
Lawrence stood silently outside of the bedroom door, listening as his wife sobbed for a man she had believed to be dead only hours before. “Mama,” his wife cried. “Mama, I wished and prayed for him to return! I was so angry at the Lord for taking Henry away, but now, he is here? He is here in Indiana, but I am a married woman! Oh, Mama!”
Lawrence’s stomach churned as he heard Katie May weeping. He wanted nothing more than to burst back into their bedroom and crawl into bed beside her, pulling her to his chest and kissing her forehead to comfort her. He took a soft step, but stopped, feeling as though his presence was an intrusion upon the moment Katie May and her mother were sharing. His bedroom felt foreign now, as though he didn’t belong there.
“Dear,” Lawrence heard Lydia murmur. “Dear, I know you love Lawrence. He is a good man, and he has been very, very good to us. But, my darling daughter, I also know how much you have missed your life in the South! I used to hear you sob yourself to sleep at night when you believed Henry to be dead. Katie May, you are a married woman, but you are not trapped…not if you don’t want to be…”
Lawrence’s blood turned to ice as he listened to his mother-in-law’s betrayal. How could Lydia write him off so easily after he had taken her in? Lawrence had provided for Lydia and treated her like family, and now, she was practically begging her daughter to run away with her former beau. Lawrence balled his fists, his nails digging into his flesh as he resisted the urge to march back into their bedroom and raise a fuss.
“Mama, what are you saying to me?” Katie May asked. Lawrence could hear the confusion in his wife’s voice, and he felt hopeful that Katie May would tell her mother that she was happy in Connersville.
“I’m saying that it’s been a long, difficult time for us, Katie May, and there would be no shame in slipping away from this life and returning home to Hallow Hill. Can you imagine, Katie May? Can you imagine marrying Henry and restoring Hallow Hill to its former glory? Just think of your nice things, dear! Think of your dresses, and the rolling fields outside! Remember sitting in the parlor on breezy afternoons, the fresh air wafting in? If you turn away from this, Katie May, we could have all of that back!”
“Mama!” Katie May exclaimed. “Mama, how could you suggest that? My heart is broken right now, and I am upset that Henry showed up here, but I am married under the Lord’s word and will!”
Lawrence heard Lydia sigh. “You’re right,” Lydia murmured. “You’re right. Forgive me, dear. It was an impulsive thought. I get so homesick at times for the way things used to be, and I let my mind get carried away from me…”
“It’s alright, Mama,” Katie May comforted Lydia. “I understand. I miss the old days too…”
Lawrence couldn’t bear it any longer. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the hallway, down the stairs, and away from the house.
“She misses the old days?” Lawrence fumed as he marched off. “If she misses the old days so much, she can have them! I don’t need a wife who is heartbroken over another man! I need a wife who is devoted to my family and me!”
“You’re right,” Lydia murmured. “You’re right. Forgive me, dear. It was an impulsive thought. I get so homesick at times for the way things used to be, and I let my mind get carried away from me…”
“It’s alright, Mama,” Katie May comforted Lydia. “I understand. I miss the old days too, but I know that the Lord chose wisely when He led us here! He gave me to Lawrence, and He gave Lawrence to me! It’s like you told me when we journeyed here, Mama: the Lord had a plan for me, and this is His plan! I know it.”
Lydia wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled at her daughter. “You are a wise, wonderful woman of the Lord,” she praised. “Forgive my moment of weakness. I adore Lawrence, and I am so happy that you have found your happiness here. Let’s forget this conversation ever happened. Come, daughter. Henry is still in town. I told him we would take lunch with him before he leaves for Alabama.”
Katie May cocked her head to the side. “He’s going back home right away?”
Lydia nodded. “Yes,” she replied. “He thought it would be best, unless…”
Katie May shook her head. “I’m not changing my mind, Mama. I’m staying here with my husband. I made a vow to Lawrence in front of our Lord, and I’m not throwing that away.”
Lydia kissed her daughter’s forehead. “That’s my wise girl,” she whispered as she smoothed Katie May’s hair. “You are a wife of noble character, and Lawrence is lucky to have you to love.”
8
“It’s all ruined, Mary Lois!” Lawrence shouted to his sister as they sat in her kitchen. “It’s ruined. That Henry Davenport came here and stirred everything up! She’s going to run away with him, Mary Lois, I just know it!”
Mary Lois shook her head. “Calm down, Lawrence,” she pleaded. “What did Katie May say when you talked with her?”
Lawrence buried his head in his hands. “I didn’t talk with her,” he said. “I let her mother explain what happened, but I stood outside the door of the bedroom. I listened to them talk, Mary Lois, and from what I heard, Katie May is heartbroken over a man that isn’t her husband.”
Mary Lois thought for a moment. “I just don’t think she would run off with someone, Lawrence,” Mary Lois protested. “She adores you. I see the way Katie May looks at you with those big, sparkling blue eyes of hers! The two of you can’t keep your hands off of each other! We all see that! I don’t think she would leave her husband for some fellow she hasn’t seen in two years!”
Lawrence shook his head. “You don’t understand,” he continued. “They were nearly engaged! He asked for her hand in marriage, Mary Lois! Her late father refused the proposal because of the circumstances with the war, but if the war hadn’t begun…”
Mary Lois brought a finger to Lawrence’s lips. “Lawrence, stop this,” she ordered her brother. “If the war hadn’t begun, the South wouldn’t be in shambles right now, and Katie May never would have answered your advertisement to begin with! Thinking about what might have been is fruitless!”
Lawrence buried his head in his hands. “It just doesn’t sound like she’s sure about me,” he whispered, bending over in agony as the tears
welled in his eyes. “She sounded so upset when I overheard her conversation with her mother, and I don’t want to keep her from her happiness if her happiness truly is that Henry Davenport fellow! I love her too much to take her from the one she loves…”
“Lawrence!” Mary Lois yelled. “You are the only she loves! Katie May perhaps loved that man at one time, but now, her heart is with you. You need to march back to your home and talk with your wife about this! She deserves more than a husband who listens in on her, and then runs off to his sister to complain.”
Lawrence looked taken aback, but he nodded at Mary Lois. “You’re right,” he admitted. “You’re right. I need to speak with my wife about this.”
As Katie May and Lydia finished their lunch with Henry, Katie May was flooded with relief. Throughout the meal, while she had been plagued with sharp, bittersweet memories of the past, she realized she held no romantic feelings toward Henry, and felt as though she were catching with a brother or an old friend.
“It has been our pleasure, Henry,” Katie May whispered to Henry as the two embraced in a farewell hug. “I cannot thank you for taking the time to journey here to check on us. I’m sorry things didn’t quite work out for us, but I am so thankful you are alive! I am thrilled that the South has one of its sons back, and that you will bring such joy to your mama’s sweet heart as you raise your own family on the Davenport lands!”
Henry looked upset, but he was nothing but a gentleman as he kissed Katie May on the cheek. “You are more beautiful than ever,” he said softly, brushing a lock of blonde hair from Katie May’s forehead. “It is my deepest heartache that I did not arrive here sooner, but I can see how truly happy you are here with your husband.”
Katie May nodded. “I am,” she agreed. “I am truly happy here with my husband, my new family, and our girls. This isn’t what I expected, Henry, but the Lord has shown me that this is my home.”
Henry brought Katie May’s hand to his lips and kissed it slowly. He then stepped back and bowed to Katie May and Lydia. “I shall send word of your health and wellness to everyone back home,” he declared. “I shall tell everyone that Miss Katherine Marie Brooks is still the most beautiful, radiant, wonderful girl in all of the South, even if she no longer resides there!”
Katie May blushed. “You are too much, Henry Davenport!”
Lydia curtseyed to Henry. “You take good care now, Henry. Send your mama my best regards, now!”
Henry smiled, and he turned to walk away from Katie May and Lydia. “I will, Missus Brooks,” he assured Lydia. “I will indeed!”
Lawrence rounded the corner, his heart beating rapidly in his chest as he thought of his wife. “She cannot leave me,” he thought as he walked up to his house. As he strode toward the front door, it opened before him, and Henry Davenport walked out.
“Mister Davenport,” Lawrence said, not bothering to hide his anger. “What, pray tell, are you doing in my home again?”
Henry raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Your wife invited me over,” he said smugly. “I was just saying good-bye to her, and to Missus Brooks.”
Lawrence frowned as Henry puffed out his chest. “I’d appreciate if you’d wait for an invitation from me next time. I am the man of this house, Mister Davenport.”
Henry leaned up and stood nose to nose with Lawrence. “Don’t worry about it, Lawrence,” he said mockingly. “That won’t be necessary. I’m leaving on the evening train. I’m going back home to Alabama without my Katie May.”
Lawrence narrowed his eyes. “You mean, my Katie May. My wife. Missus Lawrence Edwards.”
Henry rolled his eyes. “Whatever you have to tell yourself, Lawrence,” he said in his thick, lazy southern drawl. “Just don’t ever forget that her heart was with me first. Whatever she tells you, I hope you don’t forget that her heart was born and bred in the South. She might be fond of you, and she might even love you, but a southern belle can’t stay away from the South forever. Mind you that, Lawrence.”
Lawrence glared at Henry as Henry turned and marched away from the house. Lawrence took a deep breath, doing his best to suppress the anger that threatened to overwhelm him.
“Lawrence?”
Lawrence turned to see Katie May standing in the doorway. “Oh, my husband! I’m so happy to see you! What are you doing out there? Come in!”
Lawrence walked into the house to find Lydia seated at the kitchen table. Three places were set at the table, and it was clear that Henry had been eating lunch in the Edwards home.
“What was he doing here?” Lawrence demanded. “Why was he in our home? No one bothered to ask me if I wanted him here.”
Katie May’s eyes grew wide. “Lawrence,” she said softly, reaching an arm around Lawrence’s waist. “Mama invited him for lunch. He’s leaving tonight, and she thought we should say farewell. He’s practically family to us, and it would have been rude not to have him in our home.”
Lawrence frowned at his wife. “Your southern manners may have dictated a lunch invitation,” Lawrence began, “but I am your husband, Katie May! I heard you this morning. I heard you with your mama. I know you are heartbroken over this situation with Henry! I don’t feel right about you having a man in my house whom you feel heartbroken for! It just isn’t right!”
Katie May narrowed her blue eyes at her husband, her hands shaking as she clenched them into fists. “You were listening to Mama and me?”
Lawrence nodded. “Of course I was! A stranger walks into my house during a party and tells everyone that he wants my wife, who then collapses onto the floor! Of course I listened in, Katie May!”
Katie May trembled. “How could you do that, Lawrence?” Katie May asked. “We were married before the Lord, and I am a good, Christian woman! How could you think ill of me? Don’t you trust me? I’m your wife.”
Lydia rose from the table and excused herself. “I’ll just go rest upstairs,” she muttered as she walked out of the kitchen.
“Katie May,” Lawrence said softly, reaching for his wife. “I’m sorry. I overreacted when Henry showed up. Katie May, I am so in love with you, and I cannot imagine my life without you! When I thought your mama was trying to convince you to run off with Henry, I thought my heart was going to break into a million pieces, right there on the floor!”
Katie May furrowed her brow. “How long did you listen, Lawrence? Because if you had stayed long enough, you would have heard me assure my Mama that I would never leave you! I made a vow to you in front of the Lord, and I told my Mama that I would never break that vow, not for all of the plantations, or pretty dresses, or fancy parties in all of the world! I’m so hurt that you would believe otherwise, all because of your pride!”
Katie May turned on her heel and dashed out of the house, her long, blonde hair trailing behind her. Lawrence sank to his knees on the wooden kitchen floor, feeling the tears fall from his eyes as he shook his head. “What have I done, Lord?” Lawrence lamented. “What have I done?”
9
Katie May rushed away from the house, tears falling from her eyes. She didn’t know what she was running to, but she sprinted faster and faster, further away from the house that held the husband who thought she might leave him. Before she knew it, she was at the Connersville Train Station, a yellow brick building bustling with people. Katie May sighed as she recounted her first steps in the Connersville Train Station on the day she had met her husband. She had been tired and filthy from the arduous third-class journey, but Lawrence had looked at her with nothing but light and love in his eyes.
Katie May shuddered as she recalled their exchange in the kitchen only moments ago. Lawrence had looked at her with distrust and anger, and Katie May felt her heart sink as she remembered how much his words had cut into her.
“What do I do now, Lord?” Katie May whispered as she stood alone in the busy station. People rushed to and from the platforms, and the loud clanging of a train entering the station was impossible to ignore. Katie May covered he
r ears, and nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand touched her shoulder.
“Katie May?”
Katie May turned around to find Henry Davenport grinning at her. He held a leather valise in his hand, and he raised an eyebrow as Katie May breathed a sigh of relief.
“You startled me,” she confessed. “I was covering my ears because of the noise from the trains! I didn’t hear you sneak up on me.”
Henry laughed. “I’ve been calling your name since I saw you run into the train station! I thought you might be running after me?”
Katie May shook her head. “I’m sorry, Henry,” she said. “I told you that I am happily married.”
Henry stared into Katie May’s eyes. “Are you sure? You don’t look too happy right now, Katie May, and your husband didn’t look too happy to see me coming out of your kitchen.”
“It was a misunderstanding,” Katie assured Henry. “He didn’t realize that we were saying good-bye. He didn’t understand that my heart is fully with him.”
Henry frowned. “That’s truly tragic if your own husband doesn’t know that his wife’s heart is with him,” he teased. “Are you sure you don’t want to return to the South with me? Come on, Katie May! You’re here in the train station! You came here for a reason, and you know it! We were almost betrothed once, Katie May. You can find love for me again. We can buy a ticket for you right now, and we can go home. We’ll rebuild your family’s home, and we’ll start our own family there! I’ll take care of the land and the house, and you can manage our family! It’ll be everything you ever dreamed of, Katie May! You know that’s why you are here! Come on! Come away with me!”
Katie May stared at the man who had won her heart when she was only nine years old. She had grown up with Henry, and what had begun as a schoolgirl crush had evolved into a deep, wild love that had nearly killed her when she believed Henry to be dead all of those years ago. Katie May looked at Henry’s soft, rolling auburn curls, remembering the days when she used to run her fingers through each one as they sat together drinking lemonade on Henry’s mama’s veranda.
