by Joyce Alec
His mother shook her head. “I don’t know. Etta and I went out to the general store late this afternoon, just to pick up my next shipment of yarn – and when we came back, her room was like this.”
Etta’s eyes were glassy as she looked all about her, a hopeless figure standing in the center of the destruction. “They broke my things.”
His heart ached for her. These were the only pieces she had from home, a small reminder of her life with her parents and her brother. Carefully, he picked up the pieces, ignoring the sharp edges and cracked parts. His mother touched his arm and handed him a piece of cloth, where he gently set all the broken parts before bending down to pick up the rest.
Etta was trying to sort out her clothes, tears now beginning to fall down her cheeks although no sobs caught at her throat. His mother looked at him, her eyes heavy.
“Keep these for me, Ma,” he said quietly, handing her the fabric with all the pieces inside. “I’ll be back for them.”
She nodded and accepted it carefully.
“I think you ought to take Etta with you to the dance,” she said gently, her expression grave. “I can tidy up in here.”
“No,” he said firmly. “I can’t leave you, Ma. It might not be safe.”
She shrugged. “I’ll be just fine, Reuben. There isn’t no one here, and whoever did this is long gone by now, trust me on that.”
He shook his head, finding the idea of leaving his mother here alone to be entirely unacceptable. “No, I can’t.”
“You can and you must,” Hattie insisted. “She needs you just now, Reuben. I’ll lock up tight behind you both if that’ll ease your mind. Heaven knows I ought to have locked up when we went to the store, but I didn’t once think that anything like this would happen.” She gestured to the mess, shaking her head sadly. “I don’t even know what they were looking for.”
“Does Etta know?” he asked, a little more abruptly than he’d intended. “What did she say about it all?” He kept his eyes on Etta, who was busy trying to sort a few things back into her drawers as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
His mother frowned. “This ain’t her fault, Reuben.”
“That’s not what I’m asking,” he said, his eyes flicking back to her mother’s face for a moment. “Did she say anything about why she thinks this has happened?”
There was a short pause. “I think it’s all a bit much for her, Reuben. The shock almost had her fainting right in the doorway.” She sighed and put her hand on his arm, forcing his attention back to her. “I’m not saying that Etta knows more than she’s saying, but I reckon you’ll be the one to get her talking, Reuben. You’ve grown close, the two of you. Just be gentle with her, will you? She needs your care now, not you shooting questions at her one after the other.”
It was almost the very same thing he’d said to Gus. Recognizing that he was both angry and confused over what had happened—the fact that someone had managed to get into his mother’s store and then turned Etta’s room upsides down—he knew that he had to get his own emotions under control.
“You’re right,” he admitted heavily. “I’ll see if I can’t get her to come with me. Are you sure you’re going to be all right here by yourself? It doesn’t feel right leaving you alone.”
His mother, ever courageous, smiled back at him. “You can search the place if you want, but there isn’t no one else here,” she promised. “And I’ll lock up behind you. I don’t reckon I’ll be too long anyway, and then, when I’m done, I’ll head along to the dance.”
Knowing that arguing with his mother wasn’t going to do him any good, Reuben nodded and walked over to Etta, who was now rolling back up pairs of stockings and setting them back in her drawer. He cleared his throat, a little embarrassed, and she turned towards him immediately.
“Are you all right, Etta?” he asked, with as much gentleness as he could muster. “You’ve had quite a shock.”
She looked back at him but said nothing, her lips trembling. Reuben saw just how white her face was, saw the slight trembling in her limbs, and felt his heart break for her.
“You’re safe,” he promised, carefully reaching for her hand and holding it tightly. “You’ve got nothing to worry about now, Etta.” He looked all about him, his anger flaring suddenly at whoever had done this, whoever had put such a deep, terrible fear into Etta’s eyes. “Do you know what they were looking for?”
“Looking for?” she repeated in a hoarse voice. “What do you mean?”
Gesturing to the room, he watched her carefully. “This is the only room that was searched, Etta. There must have been something they were looking for amongst all your things.”
Unless they planned to search the rest of the house and only started with Etta’s room, he thought to himself, although the words remained unspoken as Etta looked back at him, her eyes still sparkling with tears.
“I think I know,” she whispered, one hand pressed against her heart as if trying to calm its frantic beating. “But they didn’t get to it. It’s safe. It’s still safe.”
“What is?” he asked carefully. “What are they looking for, Etta?”
Blinking furiously, Etta tugged her hand out of his and shook her head, taking a step back from him. “I can’t,” she whispered, dropping her head. “I promised I wouldn’t.”
“Who did you promise?” he asked, reaching for her again. “Tell me, Etta. It’s obviously troubling you, and after this…” He trailed off, not wanting to suggest that she was in danger, but realizing that it was a real possibility.
“Why don’t you go on to the dance, Etta?”
Reuben closed his eyes for a moment, irritated at his mother’s sudden presence. Etta had been about to answer him, he was sure, but now she was distracted by his mother’s suggestion.
“I’ll tidy up the rest of your things, if you’ll let me,” she smiled, putting one hand on Etta’s arm. “You should be able to enjoy yourself and forget about this. After all, you’ve been working so hard with Reuben. It seems a shame not to go after all that.”
“I—” Etta shook her head, fresh tears dampening her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Hettie.”
His mother looked startled. “Oh, but it’s not your fault! You don’t got nothing to be sorry for, my dear. Go on now, go on with Reuben and see if you can’t enjoy yourself. We can talk about this later.”
Etta looked up at him, and Reuben tried to smile reassuringly, offering her his hand. After a moment, she began to reach for it, her fingers gently, tentatively, brushing against his.
Reuben took her hand firmly, feeling his heart leap in his chest. He wanted to protect her and her trust in him made that urge grow all the more.
“It’s cold tonight,” Hettie commented, as they made their way to the door. “Don’t you want your coat, Etta? Where is it? Is it still in the wardrobe?”
Etta hesitated, before shaking her head. “Yes, it’s in the wardrobe, but no, I won’t take it. I’ve got a shawl and that’ll do, I’m sure. Dancing’s sure to warm me up.”
A small smile tugged at her lips but didn’t bring any happiness to her eyes. Reuben glanced at the wardrobe, still locked up tight, and shrugged at the question in his mother’s eyes. Taking Etta’s hand again, he led her out of the store, asking her to wait for a moment whilst he made sure his mother locked the door up tightly.
“They didn’t get into your wardrobe at least,” he said softly, looping his arm under Etta’s so that they walked together. “I used to keep my clothes in it, back before I had the cabin. I never made use of that key though.” Tipping his head, he looked at her carefully. “You got all your precious things in there?”
A ragged sob ripped from her throat. “No,” she cried, her shoulders slumping. “My precious things were just those ornaments from home. Small, I know, and certainly not expensive, but they were the only things I had left from my ma and pa. Why did he have to smash them like that? What good is that to him?”
Unable to see her tears without wanting to do
something to help her, Reuben wrapped his arm about Etta’s waist and pulled her in tight to him. The growing darkness hid them as he held her close, feeling her tremble and shake against him as her tears dampened his shirt.
“You need to tell me the truth, Etta,” he murmured gently, lifting her chin with one gentle finger and looking down into her red-rimmed eyes. “Someone was looking for something, and I reckon you know exactly what that was. Aren’t you able to tell me, Etta? It’s too big a burden to carry alone.”
She swallowed hard and closed her eyes, moisture streaking out from them to land on her cheeks. “I guess I have to,” she whispered eventually. “But maybe after the dance, Reuben? I’m still awful shaken after what happened, and if I try and tell you everything now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to endure it. I’m guessing you’ll have a lot of questions, and I’m not sure I have the strength to answer them all.”
It was as good an answer as he could hope for. He could tell that she was truly overwhelmed by everything that had happened, and so he nodded, giving her a small smile whilst ignoring the worry and the frustration clamoring in his heart. If only she’d told him sooner, then none of this might have happened or, if it had, he might have been able to protect her somehow.
“Just so long as you’re safe,” he said slowly. “I don’t want you out of my sight, Etta. Stay with me.”
Her smile was tremulous, but her eyes began to clear. “I will,” she promised, with a tenderness to her expression that made his heart quicken just a little. “Thank you for understanding, Reuben. I’ve been wanting to tell you the truth, but I made a promise, and I have to…” She stopped and rubbed her forehead, her features twisted with vexation. “It doesn’t matter. We can talk about all this later.”
“Sure,” he agreed, despite the numerous questions thundering through him. “Then shall we go and dance, Etta? I won’t pretend I’ve been looking forward to it, but at least I know I won’t be stepping on any toes any longer!”
She managed a small, quiet laugh, and Reuben let her go from his embrace, although he kept one arm firmly around her waist. They walked together toward the dance, hearing the music already drifting towards them.
“Might I say,” Reuben murmured softly, as they came closer. “That you’re looking awful pretty tonight, Etta.”
Lifting her face to his, she smiled slowly. “Thank you, Reuben.”
He truly meant it, even if her eyes were swollen and puffy from crying, even if her face was pale and exhausted. To him, she was beauty itself.
A couple of hours later and Reuben was glad to see Etta already a good deal more at ease. She’d danced with him and then danced with a few other men of the town, who’d all asked to take her onto the floor. He’d watched her then, carefully, never lifting his gaze from her even though he’d known each and every man who’d partnered with her. It wasn’t that he was jealous – at least, he’d never admit that to himself – but rather that he wanted to make sure absolutely nothing happened to her. Not that he expected it to, not here, not right now in the middle of the dance, but still, Reuben told himself he had to be on his guard.
She was coming back towards him now, walking alongside Tom, the blacksmith, her eyes shining with happiness. He couldn’t help but smile, thinking how glad he was that his mother had insisted he take her here. She’d been right to suggest it since Etta had clearly been able to push away her fear over what had happened and was able to just enjoy the dance.
“It’s coming up for the last dance now,” he murmured, as she reached him. “A waltz, I think. Do you want to dance it with me?”
“A waltz,” she repeated, with a slight look of surprise. “We haven’t practiced that one.”
He shrugged, hiding his sudden tension. “I’m sure I can get it right. Come on, Etta. Don’t you trust me, even after all your teaching?” He lifted one eyebrow in a challenge, and she laughed aloud, putting her hand in his.
“Come on then,” she replied, shaking her head. “But if you stand on my toes, Reuben, I’m not gonna be pleased!”
He chuckled, hurried over to her and scooped her up around the waist, twirling around for a moment before setting her down gently. “Then I’m just gonna have to make sure I hold you tightly, Etta,” he murmured, as her eyes brightened and a shy smile caught at her lips. He could hear some of the townsfolk laughing and commenting on what he’d just done, but he didn’t care. It was more than obvious that he cared for Etta, and he wasn’t about to deny it.
“You can hold me as tight as you please, Reuben,” she said softly, her fingers twining with his and sending sparks shooting all through him. “I know I’m safe when I’m with you.”
His heart flooded with emotion, and as the music began, he found he couldn’t move. With his eyes fixed on hers, he felt the urge to lean down and kiss her almost overwhelming, even though he was right in front of almost the entire town. She blushed furiously but didn’t look away, not even when he brushed her soft cheek with the back of his hand.
“Hurry up!” someone shouted from the crowd. “Get on with it, Drummond! We’re all waiting to see!”
The moment was gone as Etta laughed, fully aware that the rest of the townsfolk had been both surprised and delighted that Reuben had come out onto the floor to dance. Reuben muttered something dark under his breath, frustrated that the moment had been taken from him, before catching Etta in his arms and spinning her carefully around the floor.
7
Etta felt herself tremble inside as she walked towards the front of the store, trying to force herself to walk outside and climb up onto her waiting horse. It was foolish to be so afraid to ride out of town towards Reuben’s cabin, but she couldn’t get rid of the lingering fear.
She knew full well why her room had been ransacked and yet the inability to say anything to Reuben or Hettie had torn at her. She’d been so overcome with fear and worry last night that she’d begged Reuben to wait until after the dance before they spoke – but by the time he’d taken her back home, she’d almost been asleep on her feet.
“I can ride with you,” Hettie offered, coming over to Etta.
Etta shook her head. “No thank you, Hettie. You’ve already done so much for me.” She’d been so grateful to discover that Hettie had put everything to rights in her room, to the point that it looked as though nothing had ever been touched – aside from the few ornaments that had been smashed and broken. That still tore at her heart.
“Are you sure you don’t need me in the store today?” she asked, seeing some ladies approaching. “I don’t want to leave you with too much to do.” They’d settled into a lovely way of working these last few weeks. They’d work together in the store in the morning – sewing, darning, or speaking to whoever came in to see them – and then in the afternoon, Etta would do whatever chores were needed whilst Hettie prepared their dinner and looked after any other customers. Evenings were spent eating and laughing together, along with Reuben, with the occasional need to finish up a bit of darning. It was a life that she had begun to enjoy, a life where she felt she belonged, where she mattered, and the last thing she wanted to do was make Hettie think she was being taken for granted.
“I’m quite all right, I promise,” Hettie replied, reassuring her. “You need to talk to Reuben, and I can manage around here by myself just for one day!” She smiled, but there was something flickering in her eyes, something that told Etta that Hettie was still concerned for her. “You’ll be back for supper?”
“Sure,” Etta replied with a quick smile. “And Reuben too, I hope.”
Hettie patted her hand, holding the door open to let some customers in. “Then off you go, Etta. Reuben will be waiting.”
Etta’s stomach tightened with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, but with a quick smile in Hettie’s direction, she quickly made her way outside and, in one swift movement, pulled herself up into the saddle. Clicking to her mare, she turned its nose in the direction of Reuben’s cabin and began to make her way through town.
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A bead of sweat trickled down her back, and it wasn’t only from the heat of the midday sun. She was nervous about telling Reuben the truth of it all, especially as she’d managed to keep the secret for so long. It almost felt wrong to be talking to him about it, but Etta knew that, after last night, she couldn’t keep it to herself any longer. For whatever reason, someone believed she had the brooch, and they weren’t exactly holding back when it came to finding it again.
Shuddering violently at the memory of coming into her bedroom and seeing the state of it, Etta set her shoulders and tried to think calmly. Reuben wasn’t going to like what she had to say about Gus, that was for sure, but still Etta was determined to be honest with him. She had no proof, of course, that Gus was behind the searching of her room, or that he really did pose a threat to Laurel, wherever she was, but Etta knew she had to explain every last detail to Reuben if he was to understand.
On instinct, she pressed her hand to her pocket and felt the package still there, unharmed. It had been a simple decision to take the telegram and the brooch with her, knowing that Reuben would want to look at them both carefully. The relief that had washed over her when she’d realized her wardrobe was still safe and still locked had been overwhelming, given that the brooch and the telegram had been left inside her coat pocket, safely tucked away. She’d not even lifted them out of the pocket to see them again but had simply put on her coat, despite the heat of the day.
Her heart leapt in her throat as Reuben came into view, busy chopping wood for his stove. She pulled her horse to a stop for a moment, seeing how strong he was as he raised the ax, bringing it down with such force that the wood was cut neatly down the middle. Butterflies filled her, her heart lifting with a gentle happiness as she urged the mare forward.
They had grown so close lately, to the point that she was beginning to imagine a very different future with him. A future where she wasn’t living in the town with his mother, but living up here in the cabin, with him. Not just a friend to him, but a wife. Even now, she felt herself grow hot all over at the memory of just how close he’d held her last night at the dance. She’d forgotten almost everything as she let him lead her around the floor. She felt as though it were just the two of them dancing there.
