by Lynn Landes
Rooster feels him stiffen next to him and steps in front to give him a moment to compose himself.
“Is that Miss Kristin Fischer?” Rooster calls walking over to grab the reins of the horse.
“Rooster, it’s nice to see you. It’s Kristin Taylor now.” Her eyes drink in the sight of Eli.
“And who is this little feller?” Rooster asks.
“I’m Lucas, and I’m not little. I’m three!” He holds up four fingers and they all smile. “What kind of name is Rooster?” he demands.
Rooster chuckles and reaches up to pluck him down. “It’s my nickname. You have to try and guess my real name.”
Lucas giggles and turns to look Eli over. “You gonna help my, Mama?” he demands.
Eli flinches, and his eyes snap to Kristin. “Mama?”
“Lucas, I can dismount all by myself,” she starts, but Eli stomps over and snatches her from the horse before she can finish her sentence and sets her on her feet. “Oh!”
Lucas giggles and holds up his stick. “I gotta stick, Mr. Rooster.”
“I don’t see no stick, I see a sword,” Rooster smiles back.
“Me too, but girls don’t ever see swords,” he whispers loudly.
Kristin smiles and looks up at Eli, the pain in his eyes when he looks at her son strikes her hard. “Please, Eli, we need to talk.” Eli’s grip on her waist tightens for a second, and he quickly releases her and turns to return to the barn.
Felicia has stepped onto the porch and gasps in delight when she sees Kristin. “Kristin! You’re just in time for breakfast.”
“It’s lovely to see you, Felicia,” she says as Eli walks away from her again. She straightens her spine only to jump when Rooster, nudges her.
“Don’t let him go this time, Kristin. Be brave,” he pleads.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” Kristin follows him, smiling when she hears, Rooster teasing her son, “Did you guess my name yet?”
“Is it, Paul?”
“Nope.”
The voices fade away as she picks up speed and enters the barn. She finds him with a pitchfork, stabbing at hay and working in a stall. “Eli?”
“How many times do I have to say it, for you to understand. I’ve got nothing to say to you!” Eli growls but doesn’t stop working.
Kristin flinches but stiffens her spine, determined to be heard. “Eli, I need to explain, one last time. Then I’ll never bother you again.”
Eli keeps working, leaving Kristin no choice.
“I always thought that when I saw you again, I would explain everything, and you’d find it in your heart to forgive me. That was before I grew up. I don’t need your forgiveness.”
Eli whirls around to glare at her. Kristin tosses her dark brown braid over her shoulder and puts a hand on her hip. “I was a young girl, and I did what I had too. My sister’s life was more important than your pride.” Kristin walks closer to him. “I loved you, Eli, I always will, but I wasn’t given a choice. One day, I hope you will read the letter I wrote to you, instead of the one my Father wrote. Regardless of that, my Son is not a mistake. Lucas is the light of my life, and I hope that you will find it in your heart to find peace.”
Kristin turns to leave, and his voice stops her. “Do you love him?”
“I learned too. He died last year after a bout of sickness.” She hears him move in behind her. The heat of his body wraps around her, and her mind goes blank.
“I never stopped loving you, Kristin. I hope you find happiness.”
Kristin runs, hearing the goodbye in his voice and doesn’t bother to wipe her tears. On her horse is a picnic for two and that’s the way it will stay.
She wipes her face and puts on a fake smile before she enters the house. The sound of Lucas laughing helps stiffen her spine. “I hope my son is being good?” Kristin says when she enters the breakfast room.
Felicia jumps up and hurries to hug her. “He’s adorable, those curls are perfection!” Felicia insists and guides her to the table. “Come join us.”
“He got his coloring from his father,” Kristin says.
“Yes, but his eyes are yours,” Felicia responds with a smile.
Savannah watches the young woman walk toward them and notes the puffy eyes and determined glint. After introductions are made, Rooster looks at Lucas, “I better get back to work, any chance you’d like to see some animals, little man?”
“Yes, Sir. Mama, can I?”
“If you promise to listen to Rooster,” she says.
“Yes, Ma’am!” Lucas jumps up and runs to the older man.
“Okay, do you have your stick?”
“Yep, right here.” He holds up his stick proudly and says, “Let’s go, Chicken?” Lucas asks.
Everyone freezes in shock until Rooster roars with laughter. “Nope, that ain’t my name either,” he’s still laughing when they leave.
“I’ve missed Rooster,” Kristin says softly.
“How are your parents, and sister doing?” Felicia asks.
“Daddy passed a few months ago,” Kristin says glancing out the window. “Mama took Lily to live with her family out west.” Kristin turns to the women, “I know you’re wondering why I’ve shown up uninvited Felicia, but I promise that I can explain.”
“Nonsense, Kristin, you’re always welcome.”
“That’s kind of you, but I don’t think Eli would agree.”
Savannah snorts, “He’s too angry to see anything.”
Kristin’s eyes narrow on Savannah. “He’s experienced a great deal of loss, Miss Ward.”
“I know, but that’s no excuse to treat people so harshly. Lucky for me I’m leaving soon.”
“Oh,” Kristin asks, ignoring the knowing smile on Savannah’s face.
“I was a friend of Oliver’s, not Eli,” Savannah explains.
Kristin almost sags with relief.
“It’s true.” Felicia stands. “We’ll talk when I return with tea.” Felicia hurries to the kitchen to prepare a tray of snacks and tea.
Dark eyes follow Felicia from the room before Kristin leans forward. “Miss Ward, I work at the Becker House Hotel as a maid, and the Saloon two days a week. I met a man who was looking for you.”
Savannah frowns, “Who? I’m new in town, and I don’t know anyone here.”
“He called himself Fred Anderson, and he’s not someone I’d want to tangle with.”
Savannah jerks in recognition. “He’s the editor from the publishing house in Washington! What’s he doing here?”
“Publisher?” Kristin asks. Savannah quickly explains how she met Oliver and about the bags of tintypes.
“I see, so you brought Oliver’s bags home. That is very kind of you.”
“I needed to close that chapter of my life, and I guess selfishly I wanted to make sure they would honor Oliver’s work. I don’t understand why the editor would come here.”
“Let me explain.” Savannah listens as Kristin explains and gasps in shock as she gives her the details of the evening. “He was very drunk and babbling about a Senator and tins and finding you!”
“None of this makes sense,” Savannah says. “I don’t understand why they would go to this trouble. I would have sold them to him.”
“I don’t know, but I drew him a map to an abandoned farm to lead him away. “But judging from his condition, I’d say you have a two-day window before you have to worry. I love this family, Miss Ward, I’d hate for trouble to find them.”
“I’ll take the first train home tomorrow. Thank you for the warning. I’m not sure what this is all about, but I would hate to be the cause of more pain. Promise me that you’ll avoid him at all costs,” Savannah demands. “I will talk to Eli about this before I go.”
“Good, because he wouldn’t listen to me. He told me in no uncertain terms that I have nothing left to say to him. No matter, Lucas is my world now. I wouldn’t risk his life for anything or anyone.”
“That’s as it should be, and Kristin, I hope you
that you and Eli find a way back to each other.”
“I’m not sure that possible. Who could learn to love someone else’s child?” she glances out the window with a sniff.
An image strikes Savannah of a baby in a manger.
“I can think of a man, a lowly carpenter, who loved a child that wasn’t his own and in doing so saved us all.” Kristin’s turns back in surprise to look at Savannah.
“I’d almost forgotten…” she murmurs.
“We tend to do that when life gets busy. I imagine working two jobs and raising a child is hard work.”
“It was simpler before my husband died, but I’m working for our future.”
“I’m working on strengthening my walk with the Lord. A friend told me we have to purposely carve out time for our faith.”
“That sounds like excellent advice. I think God had a bigger purpose in bringing you here, Miss Ward. Thank you for reminding me to trust and seek him first.”
“It would seem I needed the reminder too,” Savannah says with a smile.
Chapter 20
Eli is working in the stall, trying to blot out the pain of watching Kristin walk away from him, again. Gone is the young girl and it her place is a strong, beautiful woman, and God help him, he wants her more. Childish laughter has Eli turning just as Rooster walks in with her son.
“This is one of our barns, we keep the workhorses here.”
“It stinks,” Lucas says with a giggle.
“Yep, poop has a way of doing that,” Rooster teases.
“What’s that man doing?” Lucas asks pointing at Eli.
“That man is Mr. Eli Irwin, this is his farm, and he’s throwing fresh hay down for the horses, so they can rest after a long hard day,” Rooster explains.
“That’s nice.” Lucas watches carefully, observing how Eli finishes up the stall. A large brown head leans over the booth to listen carefully and nudges Eli, causing Lucas to jump in shock.
“Knock it off, Cash,” Eli grumbles.
Cash throws his head up and bares his teeth as if laughing. “He’s laughing at you,” Lucas informs him.
“Yeah, he does that.”
Lucas steps closer.
Eli sets the pitchfork in the corner and turns to look at the child. “You have your Mama’s eyes,” he smiles. “You ever rode a horse, Lucas?” Eli asks.
“Yep, but Mama says I gotta wait to ride by myself. Do you think I gotta wait?” Lucas asks.
Eli grins at the obvious plea for help. “I’d say, always listen to your Mama.”
“Sound advice,” Rooster says with a chuckle.
“My Mama’s the best.” Lucas swings his stick while the men look on in amusement.
“I need to check on one of the horse’s legs, I’ll be right back,” Rooster says. “Keep him out of trouble.”
“Sure,” Eli says hoarsely.
“See you later, kiddo,” Rooster says and hurries out before Eli changes his mind.
They stare at each other and Eli sighs. The kid is adorable.
“We’ve got some new piglets, Lucas. You ever hold one?”
Lucas’s eyes grow huge. “No, Sir.”
Eli holds out a hand and waits for Lucas to decide if he trusts him. When the little hand grabs his, Eli’s heart trembles. “Let’s go catch some piglets.”
“I gotta catch one?” he gasps.
“My Dad told me when I was your age, if I could catch one, I could keep it.”
“He did? Did you catch it?”
Eli grins, “Of course, I did,” he laughs out loud at the memory as they walk through the barn to the pigpen in the back. “My brother Oliver and I, we ran and slipped and slid in the mud, but we both caught one that day.”
Lucas jumps up and giggles in excitement. “That sounds fun. Where’s your brother?”
Eli jerks, but allows the good memory to beat back the pain.
“Oliver died during the war,” Eli says softly. The child’s hand tightens on his for a second.
“I’m sorry. My Daddy died too,” Lucas rubs his nose with the back of his hand. “But Mama says he’s in Heaven with Jesus and one day I will see him again. I bet your brother is there too.”
Eli smiles down at the child and feels a bit of his heart heal.
“Thank you, Lucas, for reminding me.”
“Your welcome.” Lucas grins up at him, “So how do I catch a piglet?”
Eli laughs and grins, “You gotta run, hard, and fast!”
Kristin follows the sound of her son’s laughter through the barn and is shocked when she finds him inside a pigpen surrounded by Eli, Rooster and a group of stable hands all cheering him on.
“Lucas Taylor! What in the world are you doing?” She picks up her skirts and runs to the side.
Eli laughs and walks over to her side. “He’s just having some fun, Kristin, it’s a rite of passage.”
Kristin stares at her son covered in mud, laughing and running with the piglets and smiles. “Easy for you to say.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll never catch one,” Eli chuckles.
Rooster calls to Lucas from the sidelines, “Faster boy, that’s it, grab him!” Lucas leaps, and to everyone’s astonishment, he’s able to grab the back leg. Instinct kicks in, and he curls his body around the little pig and screams in excitement.
“I got him! I got him!” Cheers erupt, and Kristin laughs glancing up at the shock on Eli’s face.
“Never doubt a child of mine!” she smarts. His eyes drop to her full lips, and flushed cheeks and desire strikes.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Eli quips. Lucas jumps to his feet, struggling to keep hold of the squirming, wriggling, piglet.
“Mama look at my new pig. I’m gonna name him Chuck.” Rooster jumps inside to help Lucas with the piglet.
Kristin jerks in a panic and looks at Eli who roars with laughter. “Well, what now, Mama?”
“You told him he could keep it?” She squeals. “I don’t have anywhere to keep an animal, Eli!”
Rooster rinses Lucas off at the water barrel by the barn while Kristin watches closely. They wrap a big shirt around him to keep him warm and send him running back to his Mama.
“Your family had enough land as I recall it,” Eli snaps.
“It’s time for us to go home,” Kristin says, ignoring his comment and marching over to Lucas. “Our picnic waits, Lucas. Tell everyone thank you for a wonderful time.”
“What about Chuck, Mama? I can’t just leave him,” Lucas says, and his chocolate eyes fill with tears.
“None of that now, Son. We promise to take care of Chuck until you come back and visit him,” Eli promises.
“I can come back?” Lucas asks with a teary smile.
“Of course,” Rooster teases.
Lucas smiles a wobbly smile and reaches out for his Mama’s hand. “You take care, Kristin,” Rooster says as he turns to looks at Eli.
“Should I saddle Cash?” Rooster asks.
Eli nods and turns back to Kristin and Lucas.
“Thank you, Eli, for a stimulating day,” Kristin stoops to lift Lucas only to stop in shock when he turns to Eli and reaches for him.
“Can you lift me, Mr. Eli?” Lucas asks with a smile.
“I don’t know if I’m strong enough,” Eli tries to pick him up and struggles, groaning and making Lucas giggle. “What’s in your pockets, rocks?” Pain rips through Kristin at the sight of the two of them playing and laughing.
“No, Mr. Eli, nuffin’ but mud,” Lucas shakes with laughter and Kristin turns to mount.
“We really need to go, Eli, it’s getting late.”
Lucas is lifted quickly and with little effort, and she wraps her arms around him. “Again, thank you.”
Rooster returns with his mount and Kristin frowns, “That’s not necessary, Eli. We are stopping on the way home for our picnic. I’m capable of taking care of my son.”
“Yes, but…”
“No!” she says sharper than she intends. “It will only make it harder o
n all of us. Thank you, gentlemen.” She kicks the horse and leaves without looking back.
“That’s one stubborn lady, you two are perfect for each other,” Rooster teases.
“Yeah, I used to think so.”
“Bye, Pidgeon!” Lucas shouts, and both men roar with laughter.
Chapter 21
Dayton jumps train three more times. Through rain, crowds, and less than comfortable situations, he is finding his way to Savannah. The next stop will bring him to Iowa and a certain redhead who is haunting his dreams. Glancing around the railcar, he’s struck by how miserable everyone looks and smells. He didn’t have the luxury of stopping at a hotel, and he wonders what Savannah will think of him now.
He chuckles thinking about how she will receive him with his wrinkled, moldy clothing, beard, and unkempt hair. No doubt she will not recognize him, which could be unsettling, but he imagines as a nurse during the war she had seen much worse the way he looks right now.
Hopefully, his prayers have worked, and he will find her safe and sound. Perhaps irritated with him for trying to take care of her. Dayton frowns and pushes back the fatigue and anxiety. Multiple times he’s asked himself on this journey, ‘What am I doing?’ Each time he hears the Lord say, Trust me, and I will make your path known. He’s never doubted that voice, and he sure isn’t about to start now.
It got him through the war, and it will bring him to Savannah. Then he will finally be able to put a stop to Senator Buren and perhaps along the way get to know Miss Ward.
Chapter 22
Savannah shields her eyes from the setting sun. Today was busy and meeting Felicia was unexpected. A hawk floats on the breeze, drawing her eyes upward. She jumps when it suddenly swoops down, dropping something from its claws. It floats to the ground but before she can step off the porch to claim it a cat leaps from his hiding spot and pounces on it.
The tiger-striped cat snatches his prize, and Savannah grins at the image. Hanging from his mouth is a small white flower. “You’re a sneaky one,” she teases.
