by Lynn Landes
“There’s no need to manhandle me, Mr. Irwin,” Savannah huffs under her breath. Calming herself, she tries to reason with him. “Look, this is clearly a mistake your Mother’s in no condition…”
“You don’t get to decide what happens now, Miss Ward.” Eli shoves her through an open door leading into the gardens causing her to stagger.
“What is wrong with you! You’re making a scene.” Savannah tries to walk around him only to have him block her, yet again.
“What exactly did my brother promise you on his death bed?” Eli stomps closer to her.
Savannah flinches as if struck, “I don’t have to listen to this,” she turns and walks away seeking an exit.
“Money perhaps, or land, maybe a share in our family farm?” His voice stalks her, and she feels each insult like a knife. “You must have been one special friend. Did that friendship come with any side benefits?” he sneers at her from behind.
The bags hit the ground, and he’s expecting the slap when she whirls and cracks his cheek. He even accepts the fury behind her eyes.
“You’re disgusting.” Her tears of outrage don’t reach him, but her next words do. “I was gifted with the honor of holding your brother’s hands when he spoke his last words on this Earth.” Eli shuts his eyes against the image of his baby brother in such a way. She steps forward lowering her voice, so only he can hear her words.
“Oliver begged me to come home and see his last wish through, I promised, and a Ward always keeps her promise.” Her voice breaks, “You don’t deserve his last breath.”
Savannah grabs her bags and this time he lets her go. He walks slowly back to the restaurant. Felicia is sipping on hot tea and biscuits waiting for him. She glances past him looking for Savannah.
Her teacup slaps the plate, and she glares at him. “Eli Irwin, what did you do?”
“Mother, please,” he rubs the cheek she smacked and glances at her with a grin, “For such a tiny thing, she sure packs a wallop.”
“Did you deserve it?”
“I imagine I did,” Eli says and grabs a biscuit.
“Then you can pay for the hotel bill, I will secure us two rooms for tonight, and I’m not budging until you get Miss Ward to agree to come home with us.”
“Mother! This hotel is expensive,”
“Yes, but your brother’s last wish is priceless. I’ll say it again. Fix this!”
Chapter 11
Savannah rushes from the hotel, forgetting that she doesn’t have a horse waiting on her. As if she could ride in this fancy dress. After ten minutes of attempting to find a coach, she decides to go back inside and seek help.
With a sniff, she turns and smacks straight into a hard chest. “Oh, I beg your pardon,” only to glare when Eli chuckles and steadies her.
“It’s I who should apologize, Miss Ward,” Eli is surprised to feel the tremors running through her body. “Allow us to give you a ride back to your hotel.”
“No, thank you.” Savannah tries to pull away, but Eli is not letting go so easily.
“Miss Ward, you obviously want to get this done and so do I. If I promise to be on my best behavior would you, please, do us the honor of…
“Are you out of your mind?” Savannah shouts, causing him to release her arms and step back in surprise. “After the vile, disgusting, insinuations you made. Give me one reason why I should trust you, Mr. Irwin.”
“Because Oliver told you too.”
Savannah deflates and her anger sifts away at the sincerity of his words. “Damn you for using his memory against me.”
“Again, I’m sorry. Please, Miss Ward, my mother is all the family I have left. My father passed just after Oliver. She needs to see this through to have peace. I promise to be on my best behavior.”
“I suppose I could consider it.” Savannah straightens her posture. “Thank you. I could use an escort back to my hotel.”
Eli nods and guides her to the covered carriage and opens the back to allow her to place the two bags inside. After two attempts to lift them, she turns to him and snaps, “Well, are you going to help me?”
“I wasn’t sure you’d let me.” Eli grabs the bags and hefts them inside. “How in the world did a little bit like you manage to carry those around?” He asks surprised by the weight of them.
“I’m stronger than I look, Mr. Irwin.”
“Duly noted, Miss Ward.”
When she steps inside the carriage, Felicia gasps in relief. “Miss Ward!”
Savannah settles across from Mother and Son and avoids looking at Eli. “This is wonderful! That big farmhouse gets lonely during planting season. Eli works sun up till sundown. We shall have lots of time to get to know each other.”
“Oh, but I didn’t agree…” Savannah tries to say, but Felicia talks over her.
“What does your family do?”
Savannah sighs, “We have a small orchard, but before the war, we were horse breeders. My brother is starting the business back up, in fact.”
“That’s fascinating. You will tell me all about that tonight over dinner. Right, Eli?”
“Whatever you say, Mother.” He sits back with a smile on his lips, and Savannah wishes she could slap him again.
After a quick stop at the Hotel, Eli insists they enjoy lunch in the hotel while he arranges for her bags to be loaded in the carriage. “Do you plan on going through my things, Mr. Irwin?” Savannah asks before he walks away.
“Not today, Miss Ward,” he quips.
Her smile takes him by surprise, and he quickly walks away before he says something else out of turn. This will be an exciting few days.
After lunch, Eli offers each lady an arm and guides them from the Baker House hotel to the carriage. They are laughing and smiling over a story of Oliver and Eli as children when Savannah feels Eli stiffen.
“Eli?” a young woman calls out.
Eli ignores the voice and stops his mother with a sharp, “No!” He opens the carriage door and helps his mother inside without looking at the woman. “Let me help you, Miss Ward.” Strong hands lift her into the carriage, and he dips his hat at her with a smile.
Savannah watches the look of hurt flash over the young maid’s face. Eli hurries to her, and after some heated words, he walks back to the carriage. The poor girl rushes around the back of the hotel in tears.
“Her name is Kristin Fischer. She was Eli’s fiancé until she broke his heart.” Mrs. Irwin says. “To lose his brother, father, and then Kristin, I’m not sure that he will ever recover from the blow.”
Pity stirs in her heart for this man. The thought of losing her brother Glenn, and her Father would be enough to break her. “I will pray for them tonight,” Savannah says and misses the look of surprise on Mrs. Irwin’s face. “Who broke it off?”
“Kristin did. Eli forbids anyone from talking about her.” Savannah glances back to Felicia.
“Does he always get what he wants?”
Felicia grins, “No, he just thinks he does.”
Chapter 12
Pennsylvania
“I need you to look at something for me.” Glenn offers Dayton a cup of coffee after visiting the stables and his new prized pony. He carefully places four tintypes on the table before him.
“Of course. What am I looking at?” Dayton sips the hot brew, before placing it down on the table.
“These are images from the War.” Glenn explains, “Savannah did more than care for sick soldiers, Dayton.”
Dayton’s dark eyes jump to his in surprise, and his voice goes quiet. “What does that mean, exactly?”
Glenn quickly fills him in on the details of her travels during the war. Dayton picks up an image of a church and whistles. “Beautiful, she really has an eye for this.”
“Yes, she does, in fact, Savannah’s been selling the images and making a good profit.”
A smile curves his lip. “Striking and resourceful,” he murmurs. That explains what she was doing at the fair, Dayton thinks.
“
Indeed. Savannah is unique. In fact, a publishing house has offered to publish a book of her pictures.”
Dayton jerks in surprise before he grins at his friend. “You must be so proud. That’s a rare accomplishment.”
“Of course, but I’m worried. Look closely at these and see if anything jumps out to you.”
Dayton picks up the second image of a farmhouse, then moves on to the one of a nurse, praying with a dying soldier. “That’s a harsh one.” He imagines her walking through rows of moaning, dying wounded men and he closes his eyes against the images. “How long did she travel with the Sisters?”
“Three years.” Glenn sips his coffee. “There are much worse images. I wish I could’ve protected her from seeing this, but she isn’t one to sit back.” Glenn waits for him to pick up the last image and watches closely for a reaction from him.
“Why on earth did your Father let her…” he stiffens when he picks up the last one. The color drains from his face. “Damn, Glenn. Please tell me she didn’t take this one.”
“I knew something was off,” Glenn barks, “What do you see?”
Dayton points to the man in the tintype. “The man in front of the wagon is Senator Buren, from Washington. He’s running for Secretary of State.”
“Okay, what’s the problem?”
“Glenn, look who he’s shaking hands with! That’s a Confederate General, judging by the uniform and look behind them.” Dayton points, “Those are weapons.”
“Why would a Senator from a Union state be meeting with a Confederate General?”
“Now, you’re getting it!”
“Savannah’s in trouble,” Glenn says hoarsely.
“Where is she?” Dayton demands
“Iowa.”
“What’s the hell is she doing in Iowa!” Dayton leaps to his feet and roars, “Does she ever stay in one place?”
Glenn glares at him until he calms down. “Forgive my outburst, but this is bad, Glenn.”
“I’ll explain,” Glenn says.
“Explain quickly, Glenn.” He gestures to the table. “Senator Buren was providing weapons to the Confederacy during the war. That’s treason.”
“Savannah is fulfilling a promise to a soldier she met during the war. On his death bed he secured her word that she would return his images to his family. She took the originals with her, and that’s not all,” Glenn explains quickly filling him in on the offer from the publishing house and showing him the check and contract.
“Glenn,” his voice is raspy, “this is a payoff. They’re trying to keep Savannah from showing anyone else the photos. You need to get her home now.”
“It’s not that easy,” Glenn jumps up and starts pacing. “I can’t leave my wife and children alone. My parents are traveling. I will send her a telegram and tell her to come home.”
“Not good enough. They’re already moving to meet her.” Dayton stands up and grabs the photos. “I’ll go.”
“What?” Glenn stops moving and stares at his friend. “I can’t ask you to do that!”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” Dayton grabs his hat.
“Why?” Glenn demands. “Savannah thinks that you have no interest in her, so why would you do this?”
“Why would she think…” his voice fades when he remembers the fall carnival. Dayton runs a hand through his black hair in obvious frustration. “I’ve forced myself to steer clear of her for years out of respect for you, in fact, I’ve written to her multiple times since the fall fair, I’d hoped to get a response from her.”
“Savannah isn’t just some debutante looking for a husband, Dayton. Do you believe that just because she didn’t fight in the fields, she wouldn’t be running from the same ghosts the rest of us are?” Glenn demands.
“I didn’t think about it,” Dayton says picking up the image of the nurse and soldier and remembering her comments.
“I need your help, but I don’t want my sister hurt again, Dayton. She’s had enough trauma. This promise haunts her, she needs to see it through. I suggest you do some soul searching and praying on the way to Iowa. Ask yourself what kind of woman you want in your life. Savannah has seen things…” he pauses for a moment, “things I wish she hadn’t. She deserves to be treated like the rare gem she is.”
“I agree,” Dayton says. “I promise to protect her, Dayton. I’ll take her to my family home in Kentucky. I’ll send you a telegram once I find her. You’re coming for the race in a few weeks. Bring your family and meet us. You can stay at my family home. I have plenty of room. Until this is handled, you could all be in danger. I’ll deal with Senator Buren once Savannah is safe. Can I keep this photograph?”
“Of course.” Glenn shakes his hand, “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“I’ll think of something.” Dayton grins and rushes to his room to pack.
Chapter 13
Iowa
Kristin watches Eli leave and wipes her tears with the back of her hand. It’s no surprise that he hates her. She tried to explain to him that she had no choice, but he wouldn’t listen. His hurt was too big and now, watching him with the pretty redhead, laughing and smiling, she understands his pain.
It couldn’t hurt to find out who she is. Kristin hurries inside to take a peek at the registry. “Kristin, what are you doing back?” Mrs. Beatty, head of housekeeping asks.
“One of our guests dropped a small bag, I was trying to find her, but I don’t know which room she’s in. Perhaps you’ve seen her. Young woman, red hair?”
“Oh, I’ve seen her. That hair is something! She checked out this morning. We just finished cleaning the room.” Mrs. Beatty walks to the counter to look up her name. “Savannah Ward, room 223. You want me to take the bag?”
“No, thank you. I’ll leave it in lost and found with a note. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Kristin rushes away and sighs. A lot of good it does to know her name. Time to get back to work.
Kristin makes sure the carriage is gone before she walks across the street to the saloon. Wiping her tears, she takes a deep breath to calm her heart. Mama used to say that you won’t die from a broken heart, but she isn’t so sure.
Her Father waited until Eli left church that day to tell her about the marriage he’d arranged for her. It was a business deal, to increase his holdings in the local flour mill. He owned a quarter share, and with Kristin’s marriage, he was to be given a second quarter, giving him a majority share. When Kristin tried to fight back, he threatened to give Lily, her twelve-year-old sister to him in marriage. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Your love is deep Lord, I will trust in your plan for my life,” she whispers before hardening her soul. If only Eli would listen! She’s tried multiple times to explain, but his anger and pain are too great to overcome. Every time she sees him her heart trembles. If only she could stop her love for him, the way he has for her. Life would be simpler.
Kristin works in the kitchen at the Saloon. Her husband Emmett was a good man. He was patient and kind. With time she came to love him for his heart for God and gentle nature, but he was a terrible businessman. After his death, she was left broke.
“Ms. Fischer, we have a big crowd coming tonight. I hope you’re prepared to work. I’ll need you out front tonight,” her boss snaps, drawing her back to the present moment.
“Yes, Sir.” Kristin sighs and gets to work.
Fred Anderson steps off the railroad in Iowa and squints against the bright morning sunshine. The advance Senator Buren paid him allowed for a quality trip. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes to find this S.E. Ward. He will start by visiting the Irwin family and paying his respects to their dead son, Oliver Ward.
If he floats the idea of Congressional Medal of Honor for their fallen soldier, they will fall over themselves to give him what he needs, starting with all the photographs from the war. A wax-sealed letter from Senator Buren should sweeten the deal.
Fred smooths his mustache and decides to start by checking for arrivals at the ma
in desk.
“Next,” the older woman working the counter calls.
“I need information regarding an arrival. An S. E. Ward in the past few days.”
“Sir, we don’t give out,” she stops speaking when Fred slides some money through. “Yes, sir,” she grins, “Do you know which train this person would be traveling on?
Fred gives the train information and waits.
“Give me a few minutes.” She takes the money and turns away to rifle through some papers before walking back to him. “Okay, the only Ward came in two days ago. Miss Savannah Ward.”
Fred is shocked. “Are you sure that’s the only Ward? I’m looking for S.E. Ward.”
“That’s the only Ward on our passenger list.”
“Any chance you know where she went?” Fred asks.
“No, though, I’d check the nearest hotels. The Becker House is just a block down the road.”
Fred walks away with a list of hotels. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find a female traveling alone.” This will be easier than he thought. A woman! The Senator doesn’t need to know that, he thinks with a laugh. Finding out she’s a woman makes the game even more interesting. “Time for a drink.”
He walks down the street and stops at a saloon. “All work and no play makes Fred cranky. Tomorrow will be soon enough to find, Miss Ward.”
Chapter 14
Eli leaves the next morning at sunup to help with the planting. His days are long, and he’s grateful. It’s hard to be in the house with his mother catering to this Savannah Ward. It isn’t surprising to hear that his mother is lonely, with his father gone. The staff takes care of her, making sure she isn’t working hard, but it’s a large void to fill.
Seeing Kristin yesterday was a harsh blow. Her beauty took his breath away. Long, brown hair, dark chocolate eyes pleading with him to hear her out. Why is she back in town and why is she dressed like a maid and working at the Becker House?
