by Lori Wick
“I go to the new one. Does that help?”
“That’s what Doyle asked me, and I just don’t know yet.”
“It’s a huge decision, and you must still have questions.”
“Yes, I do. Doyle can’t answer them all, but he keeps reading his Bible and telling me things.”
“Like what?”
“Did you know that in the first chapter of Genesis, God talks as though He’s more than one person? Doyle says that’s Jesus and the Holy Ghost too.”
Maddie nodded. “Jace and I read that not too long ago.”
“I never knew that.”
“Why did it strike you as important?”
“I think of Jesus having a beginning, but He doesn’t. I mean, I know He was born at Christmas, but it seems He was also present at creation.”
Maddie’s heart was smiling in amazement to hear these words coming from her aunt. She had been so angry just a few days before and was now willing to discuss Scripture. Maddie stayed quiet when her aunt brought up some more facts that Doyle had uncovered, completely unaware that the same conversation was going on in the parlor.
“How are things going?” Jace asked of Doyle.
“Pretty well, I think. I have questions, and so does Cathy, most of which I can’t answer.”
“That sounds familiar. Maddie and I still have questions every Sunday for Douglas Muldoon.”
“And has it helped? Have you gotten answers?”
“Every time. If he has to think about something, he gets back to us, but he usually has what we want to know.”
“How does he do it?”
“He’s just spent so much time studying, Doyle.”
“But how do you know you can trust what he says?”
“Because he shows me in the Bible. There’s no denying it when the written words are in front of me.”
“Like me seeing Jesus’ forgiveness of Zacchaeus and not just seeing that Zacchaeus was a short little man?”
“Exactly. God’s Spirit is opening your eyes to truths that have been there all along. And He’s given all of us good minds to understand.”
Doyle smiled, knowing that more questions would come, but right now he was at peace. He’d read the Bible off and on for years, but now, for the first time, it was making sense to him. And even at this moment, Maddie was talking to Cathy in the kitchen. Doyle prayed that God would see fit to open her eyes as well.
With a rather spur-of-the-moment decision and just a week after Dalton left, Troy decided to visit Linden Heights for the weekend. He was missing his family so much, especially his granddaughters who were changing from week to week, that he didn’t want to delay.
Reese didn’t have as much notice as before but still managed to make sandwiches and pack a nice meal for Troy to enjoy on the train. The ride was not overly long, but the weather had become very cold, and she was confident that having something to eat would keep his body warmer.
Conner did not see Troy off at the train station, but after asking Reese whether she could work indoors for a while, he ran errands on the green concerning some printing and the wood railing for the bank alcove. Reese took that opportunity to do some extra cleaning in Troy’s room. She moved all the furniture she could manage and left the room in sparkling order. Dust was always an issue, but she got what she could.
She finished just in time to put dinner on the table for Conner, who left again as soon as he was done, leaving Reese to her next big task for the day: the fireplace in the large parlor. The ashes had built up since the men were in there most nights, and Reese wanted it off her list. Swathing herself in an oversized apron and covering her hair, Reese went to work on a job that took the remainder of the day.
It was not a warm walk down the green for Reese when she left the big house that evening, but then her long legs always made fast work of the distance wherever she was going. She hadn’t visited Mr. and Mrs. Somer for a time and decided to stop in on her way home. It was a bit out of the way, but that didn’t deter her. And indeed, as soon as Mrs. Somer saw Reese, she was glad she’d made the effort.
“Oh, Reese, come in. We were just talking about you. Hank,” she called to her spouse and led the way for their guest. “Reese is here.”
Reese found Mr. Somer in a chair in the parlor, a smile on his face.
“Well, look at you,” Reese exclaimed, going to his chair and taking his hand. “You look fit to walk right out that door.”
Mr. Somer beamed with pleasure as Reese found a chair.
“We want you to come for dinner sometime, Reese,” Mrs. Somer began. “We want to thank you for coming that day.”
“I would enjoy that,” Reese smilingly agreed. “I hope you’ll let me bring something.”
“No,” Mr. Somer put in. “It’s our treat.”
“Yes, it is,” Mrs. Somer agreed. “Now tell us what’s going on in town. We’re not out enough these days.”
Reese left the Somer house with a smile on her face. It had been great fun to fill them in on her life and to see that Mr. Somer was a new man these days. For the first time in Reese’s acquaintance, he was not feeling donsie, as he liked to say, or even unwell. Not a word was said about his back hurting, and Reese had noticed that when Mrs. Somer looked at him, her eyes were alight with love.
Huddling a bit deeper inside her coat, Reese picked up the pace, glad to be going home. She knew the kitchen would be warm and tea would be waiting. Part of her wished that she could be in the garden watching for a certain tall gentleman to wander past, but it was much too cold for that, not to mention that as the weekend neared, Mrs. Greenlowe always grew a bit tired, and Reese knew it was a relief to her landlady to have help with the dishes and cleanup.
Reese let herself into the kitchen, enjoying the warmth that hit her, but she was surprised at how little activity there was. Mrs. Greenlowe was usually waiting, all the aromas of the meal filling the air.
“Reese?” Mrs. Greenlowe called to her in an odd tone of voice, and that woman rushed in the direction of the parlor.
Mrs. Greenlowe was on the floor, her head bleeding and her face pale.
“Did you fall?” Reese asked, running back to the kitchen to grab a towel. She was using it on Mrs. Greenlowe’s head when she found her arm gripped.
“He was here,” she said, out of breath.
“What?” Reese bent over to hear her.
“He was here. Jenness. He’s looking for you.”
“Did he do this?” Reese asked, fear shooting through her.
Mrs. Greenlowe nodded and then winced, no fire in her at all.
“He said he was going to the big house, that he could take care of all three of you that way.”
“Conner,” Reese whispered, but she didn’t forget her patient. “Here, sit on the sofa.”
“Just help me sit up, and then go for help,” Mrs. Greenlowe argued.
“I can’t leave you like this.”
“I’m all right. He just shoved me, and I banged my head on the table.” Some of her fire returned. “Go, Reese!”
Reese hesitated only a moment. She made sure her landlady was able to lean against the chair she’d pulled over, and then shot back out the door. Darkness was falling fast, but Reese didn’t go down the green. She ran through the trees and yards that had served as shortcuts for years.
It was her first impulse to go to the front door, but she knew that was foolish. Slowing down when she got to the house, Reese tried to see inside. She thought she might have caught movement in the front parlor but couldn’t be sure. Not certain what else to do, Reese swiftly skirted the house and used her key. She let herself in the door that led to the buttery, already telling herself she had to be quiet on the stairs.
“I’m glad you stopped by, Mr. Jenness,” Conner said, having invited the man into the parlor when he’d come to the door. “I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
“And I you,” Mr. Jenness returned smoothly, his voice quite different than his appearance.
&nb
sp; All this time Conner had been picturing a businessman. Victor Jenness looked more like a farmer. Today he was in boots and work pants, with a long flannel shirt for warmth.
“Would you like to sit down?”
“Thank you.”
“My business partner isn’t here this weekend,” Conner said conversationally after he’d taken a seat. “He’ll be sorry to have missed you.”
“He’s not here?” Mr. Jenness asked sharply, more distressed over this than Conner would have guessed.
“No, I’m sorry. He’ll be back on Monday. Could we plan to meet at the bank on that day?”
“Possibly.” Mr. Jenness worked to calm himself, and not for the first time, Conner noticed his eyes. They seemed to have trouble centering on him. They would meet Conner’s gaze for just moments at a time and then dart away.
“Your wife mentioned that you were away on business,” Conner said, hoping to sound ignorant. “Has that gone well?”
“Very.” Mr. Jenness’ voice turned cold now, and Conner found himself hoping he would not be put into a position of defending himself. He watched as Mr. Jenness got more comfortable in his chair and then realized he was reaching for something. Conner stood when he saw the knife.
“You need to put that knife away, Mr. Jenness. I don’t want that unsheathed in my house.”
“What you want,” Mr. Jenness mocked, slipping out of the chair to stand. “It’s always what you want. You want your way, you want to be in charge, and you want my bank.”
“I would be happy to talk to you about the bank, especially the fine job we’ve seen in your account books, but you have to put the knife away.”
“I don’t have to do anything you tell me,” Mr. Jenness growled, positioning himself with the knife ready. “All I want to hear from you is that you’re going to leave Tucker Mills and never come back. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t have you taking over my bank. It’s my bank.”
“We can’t discuss anything while you’re holding that knife,” Conner tried again.
“Don’t tell me what to do!” Mr. Jenness shouted, his eyes alight with rage.
Seeing those eyes, Conner Kingsley fell silent.
From her place in the wide hallway, Reese listened to the awful conversation, fear making her freeze for just a few minutes. He had a knife! Mr. Jenness had a knife, and Conner was in there alone.
The study door suddenly came to mind. If she was hearing right, Mr. Jenness was standing with his back toward the fireplace. Remembering the layout of the house, Reese realized she could enter the large parlor by way of the study. She knew if she slipped through that door, it would bring her in behind Mr. Jenness.
She didn’t think about what she would do if she accomplished this, only that she needed to get to that door and somehow help Conner.
Twenty
Having stayed completely calm to this point, Conner felt his heart nearly stop in his chest when he saw the door behind Mr. Jenness open and Reese’s face peek in.
“Ah, yes, I see the fear in your face,” Mr. Jenness nearly purred with satisfaction. “How does it feel, Mr. Kingsley? What’s it like to have something taken from you, the way you’re trying to take my bank?”
“I assure you, Mr. Jenness, that was never our intention. In fact,” Conner continued, making himself not look at Reese, “my brother was just here, and we’re excited about the future of the bank. We’d like to hear your ideas and thoughts.”
“Oh, my ideas and thoughts will be heard, but not by you. You have to leave now.”
The stunned look on Mr. Jenness’ face and the moment of pause when the fireplace shovel hit the back of his head gave Conner just enough time. He covered the distance in two strides and put his fist alongside Mr. Jenness’ jaw. That man dropped like a sack of cornmeal, and Conner reached for the knife, placing it on the mantel. He then went to Reese, whose arm he could feel trembling in his hand, and led her away from the crumpled banker’s form.
“What were you doing?” Conner asked, barely able to be heard.
“I couldn’t let him hurt you,” Reese whispered, tears filling her eyes. “I couldn’t let him do that.”
All Conner wanted to do was crush her in his arms, but he forced himself to be calm. Moving slowly and with a tenderness he didn’t feel, he gently took Reese into his arms and held her close.
“Thank you,” he spoke in that just-above-a-whisper voice she knew so well.
All Reese could do was shiver in his arms, still afraid for Conner and horrified at what had just happened.
Conner held her for just a little while and then released her, but he kept his hands on her shoulders. He made himself remember the man on the floor.
“Go get Doc MacKay. I’ll stay here and make sure he doesn’t move.”
“He won’t hurt you now?” she asked, glancing back at the man.
“No, Reese. He’s out cold.”
“All right.”
Reese left by the front door, ran all the way, and returned with Tucker Mills’ doctor. As he checked Mr. Jenness, he heard Conner’s story about what had just happened. When Conner got to the part where Reese came in, the doctor’s eyes were no longer calm.
“You did what?” he demanded.
“I hit him,” she said, tears threatening again.
Seeing them, Doc MacKay only nodded. He didn’t have the heart to reprimand her, but the story Conner had just told him scared him half to death. Why Reese didn’t go for the sheriff rather than handle things on her own was something he would find out at a later date. The sheriff, however, needed to come now, and as soon as he made sure that Mr. Jenness was all right, Doc MacKay went for him.
“I’ve got to get home,” Reese said to Conner right after the doctor left to get Sheriff Ferndon. “Mr. Jenness was at my house first, and Mrs. Greenlowe was hurt.”
“Is she all right?”
“Her head was bleeding, but I think she’s going to be fine.”
Conner’s eyes went to the man on the floor.
“So he was after you.”
“All of us, I guess. Troy too.”
Reese looked at him for a moment and then turned away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Conner walked her to the door, never intending to wait until tomorrow to see her but not saying so at the moment. When the doctor and sheriff came back and Mr. Jenness was roused and taken into custody, Conner and Doc MacKay headed to the Greenlowe house together.
“What will happen to Jenness?” Mrs. Greenlowe asked after Doc MacKay insisted that she allow him to examine her.
Her tea forgotten, she submitted to his ministrations but was vocal all the while. The doctor would not answer a single question until he’d seen the wound.
“Well?” Mrs. Greenlowe tried as soon as he stepped away. “What happens to him now?”
“He’s not a well man,” the doctor explained. “I’m not sure where he’ll end up, but it probably won’t be Tucker Mills.”
“Where is Reese?” Conner finally asked. He had remained quiet throughout the conversation, but when Reese still hadn’t made an appearance, he couldn’t remain so.
“She’s in the parlor. Fell asleep in one corner of the sofa. She told me her story and went right to sleep.”
Conner didn’t even hesitate but went that way. There was a candle burning on a table nearby, and Conner took the liberty of pulling a chair up close.
“Reese?” he called. “Are you all right?”
When she didn’t stir in the least, Conner just sat and looked at her. A thick strand of hair had fallen over one cheek, and Conner gently pushed it back. There was a quilt over her, but it had slipped down her shoulders a bit, so Conner pulled it back in place. After watching her for a few more minutes and thinking she looked very young, he tried waking her a few more times, but she was sound asleep. He was on the verge of heading back to the kitchen when Doc MacKay came in.
“Is she all right?”
“I don’t know. I think I finally figured out wh
at wears her down.”
The doctor brought the candle closer and checked on her color. He also touched the skin of her face and her wrist.
“Worn out,” was the doctor’s prognosis before both men went back to the kitchen.
“Thank you, Mrs. Greenlowe,” Conner said. “Please tell Reese not to come in the morning if she’s not up to it.”
“I’ll tell her, but you know what’s going to happen. She’ll come out of that bed like she’s never worked a day in her life!”
The men had to smile at her. She just had that effect.
“Go on with you!” Mrs. Greenlowe said as she came to her feet. “Wait a minute.” She changed her mind. “I’ve got some baked goods to send with you. Just bring my baskets back sometime.”
They watched as she nearly filled two baskets, but she had more words for Conner when she handed them out.
“I gave the doc more. You’ve got Reese to cook and bake for you.”
The men thanked her, keeping as sober as they could manage when both wanted to laugh out loud.
Had they known it, they could have laughed. As soon as they left, Mrs. Greenlowe did some chuckling of her own. Just thinking about Conner Kingsley falling for her Reese made her want to dance and sing.
It didn’t even take until noon on Saturday for every house and business on the green to know about Mr. Jenness’ actions. The Jenness house was not on the green, but Lillie heard nonetheless. And what was worse, Gerald heard as well. He had come home and confronted his mother, who had already spoken to the sheriff the night before, and she had no choice but to confirm the report.
“Why is he in jail? I don’t understand.” Gerald sounded as distraught as he looked.
“He went to Mrs. Greenlowe’s looking for Reese, and Mrs. Greenlowe ended up hurt. He then went to the big house and threatened Conner Kingsley with a knife.”
