The Ways of Heaven

by Lindsey Barlow

  Cade looked after her until he heard her bedroom door shut. He looked down at his hands to see them shaking. Feeling a bit defeated he slid off the sofa and down to his knees. He needed help; giving this up would be more difficult than he anticipated. Cade clasped his trembling hands into a prayer position. Instantly, the shaking stopped, and with an encouraged smile, Cade bowed his head and prayed.

  Forty–Three

  “No!” Cade roared, his chest heaving. “I’ll tie you down and lock you in your parents’ house if you don’t promise to stay away from him tonight.”

  “Cade, you heard the sheriff, we need more time. Having photographs of murdered woman, even creepy photographs, are not enough unless the diary holds a confession. Ben, please support me here. All I am saying is that I can help keep him distracted at the ball so he doesn’t get suspicious and run.”

  Ben put his hands up in defense, “Rose, I have to side with your husband on this. Confession or no confession, that lot you took there shows a disturbed mind. It may be enough for us to get a warrant, but that will take a little time.”

  Shifting Daisy to her other hip, she met Cade’s blazing gaze. “Cade, you’ll be there at the party as well as Sheriff Ben, Jonathan, my parents, and half of Tall Pine. If one of those entries is a confession, then we can act fast. I would prefer not to make Jeffries identify his daughter from the photographs.”

  “Speaking of coming festivities, I will see you both this evening.” Sheriff Ben hurried out the door, leaving Rose and Cade to stare at each other in frustration.

  Sighing, Rose noticed the slight twitch in Cade’s hand. “You’re feeling the need, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” he said with forced calmness.

  “Anything I can do to help?” she inquired curiously.

  “Letting me tell you about it helps more than you know.” To Rose’s surprise he knelt down by the hearth and began to light a fire, “It’s getting colder.”

  Rose walked over to the sofa and let her body relax as she rested in the cushions. She had not realized how much she and Cade had done to the place. There was a quaint bookshelf with comforting book spines coordinating with the vases of flowers and candles over the fireplace.

  Her cooking had improved, and the aroma of bread and stew filled up the space with the smell of comfort. The gaslights were working well, and the broken boards on the floor had been replaced.

  “You’ve worked hard,” Rose found herself saying. “I was so fixated on that fence you were working on that I have not paid attention to what you have done to this home.”

  He stood up and looked around. “Looks nice, doesn’t it? Of course, I am not the one who picked flowers and arranged our meager furniture.” He winked and nodded towards the hall. “I need to wash my hands before lunch. We having beef stew again?” he grinned.

  Rose glared and set Daisy down on the sheep’s woolskin beside the sofa. “It is a stew, but I used chicken instead, and there are blueberry muffins,” she shrugged. “Meg says any fool can make a stew, so I am mastering that until I progress to other things.”

  Cade nodded his head, “Sounds reasonable.” He walked to his room shutting the door behind him. Rose bent down to hand Daisy the small cloth doll she like to gnaw on. It was then that she saw a package next to the fireplace, wrapped in twine.

  Curious, Rose walked over and picked it up. She had not sent for anything and neither had Cade to her knowledge.

  Maybe it was something for Daisy. Either way she set it down and turned around to scoop up Daisy.

  “You’re not going to open it?” Cade’s voice startled her.

  Rose spun around. “When did—”

  “Some time ago. I know you did not take a whole lot when you left me. Besides, I know I can’t keep you from the ball tonight, so you might as well show off how lovely you are in pink.”

  Rose’s eyes widened, “Pink?”

  Cade grinned. “My father may have cut me off, but there are things I did pay for with my own deputy money. Things like some of the furniture and your clothes.”

  “My clothes?”

  “Just open it,” he grinned and took Daisy into his arms.

  “Is anyone watching the Hugh home? What if he doesn’t come back?” she asked while trying to undo the knot.

  “Ben has someone keeping an eye on it, but unless Jessica checked the safe and got word to Phillip, he won’t know anything is missing until he comes home. With a pinch of luck, he’ll not notice until after the ball. Do you need help with that?”

  Rose squinted her eyes. “I am pretty good about getting out tight knots.”

  His eyes smoldered over as he whispered in her ear. “You are pretty good at a few things,” he nipped her earlobe sending shivers through her veins.

  Rose smiled, eagerly, tearing away the wrapping. A petal pink satin and cream laced dress greeted her.

  “Cade!” She finished unwrapping it and held up the pink dress. “How did you know I wanted this? I was speaking to Meg about this the week we moved in here.”

  Cade laughed. “I heard you two talking. I know you’ve been careful with money since I’m not making a whole lot, but I did want to buy this for you.”

  “Well, thank you,” she looked up at him, wondering why she was suddenly feeling choked up. She blinked rapidly and shook her head. “Do you mind watching Daisy for a moment while I go put this away?”

  Cade said he would and sat down to bounce Daisy on his knees. Rose walked to her room admiring the soft fabric beneath her fingertips. The satin was cool and calming, like a breeze to the skin. She laid it out on the bed, admiring its lines and soft color. Cade had given her presents before: her necklace, a book. Why did this feel like something more?

  It was intimate. The necklace he had thought of, the earrings and book as well, but this dress—it was a vain wish to have it, a luxury. Yet, it was something she wanted no matter how frivolous, and he bought it for her. He noticed her desire and went out of his way to fulfill it.

  Rose bit her lip. She never thought of Cade as tender or sensitive. Seeing him with Daisy began to form that image of him in her mind, but to Rose it was hard not to be tender towards Daisy. The child was so happy, so lovely; one would be a fool not to fall in love with her.

  This, however, was a tender act towards her. It was a husband thinking of his wife’s needs and meeting them even if they were not convenient. Rose toyed with the lace trim. She would go to the party as a married woman. Not one who was trapped in a marriage out of loyalty or desperation. No, she would be going as a happily married woman. A woman with a family and a husband who was a good man.

  Rose smiled. And she would look stunning.

  Forty–Four

  Meg checked herself again in the mirror. Below her window she could hear the buzz of voices mingling with music. She really did look like a golden autumn leaf lit up with sunlight. That was Jonathan’s description of her and it never seemed to get old. She spun around, admiring the play between the bronze and goldenrod colored satin. Rose had given her silk stockings with a mischievous wink and told her that no matter what society proclaimed, they always brought her good luck.

  Spinning around, Meg screamed when she turned around and knocked into the hard figure of a man. “For crying out loud, Jonathan. Don’t you know I am a little jumpy since Charles showed up here? Between you and Rose popping out of thin air, I’m lucky I haven’t died from a heart attack.”

  He paled at the reminder. “Sorry, I should have announced myself. I was just so eager to see you.”

  “Indeed,” she said more crossly than she meant to.

  She turned around again, but Jonathan twirled her and pulled her into his arms. “Do I have to spend my whole life convincing you that I love you?”

  Meg smiled shyly. “I wouldn’t mind.”

  Jonathan grinned. “You know why it took me a while to make my way over here?”

  Meg feigned to get away, but quickly relaxed when Jonathan still held her. “You enjoy being
fashionably late to dances?” she queried.

  “Because,” Jonathan let go of her and pulled from his pocket a square of silk wrapped smoothly around a small object. He began to unfold the silk. “When I first met you, I thought you were an angel of gold. Everything about you was warm and reminded me of autumn.” He pulled back the last flap of silk to reveal a gold ring carved in a circle of leaves and flowers with a small emerald drop in the center. “Anything prosaic would drown your presence. I knew if I were to ask you to be my wife I would need something that could handle the beautiful woman you are with the vibrant spirit I so love.”

  Meg prayed that her heart would not split as Jonathan knelt to the ground.

  “My last proposal was rushed and not as I imagined, so—” he pulled out a simple ring and held it up.

  “Yes!” she cried out, falling to her own knees. Meg wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his face, his cheeks, his lips, his temples. “A million times yes. Ring or no ring … though I will take the ring. House or no house. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine.”

  She did not know if the tears on her chest were her own or Jonathan’s as he pulled her tightly against him, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering sweet words in ear.

  “I love you, Meg. I love you so much,” he whispered.

  Meg smiled and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. She saw before her a world that promised more joyful memories to come, a world that was safe, that was full of love, and that was her own.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered. Meg looked down at the ring on her finger. Not long ago she was cowering in a corner while Charles beat her. She was cooking for ungrateful men and women. She was lonely, and angry at God, at herself, at everyone.

  Now there was so much joy in her heart she wondered how it could all be contained.

  /

  “Ooh,” Anna gasped, taking Meg’s hand in her own to examine the ring. “Oh, Meg, it is beautiful.”

  “I always did say Jonathan had perfect taste,” Rose added. She looked breathtaking in a pink gown with Cade bathing her in a smoldering gaze. “Congratulations to you both.”

  “Jonathan has agreed to the idea of building a home for us near the dairy. He knows I need to see the twins, and it would be closer to his own parents,” Meg said, grinning. She’d finally met his parents that night at the party when Jonathan introduced them by the punch bowl. Mrs. McPherson was a robust woman with shiny eyes and a smile that never seemed to go away. Mr. McPherson was a tall man with a demanding presence and proud chin. Neither had made any comment of her being a cook or having no parents around. They had embraced her, kissed her, and welcomed her into their family.

  “A toast,” Clark said loudly over the crowd, pausing until the music quieted for a moment. “To the newly engaged couple. Meg, it will be a sad day when you leave us. I am hoping we can convince you and Jonathan to build a house as close to ours as possible.”

  The twins began talking at once about how that would be a good idea, but Clark tapped a spoon against his cup.

  “Hold on, hold on,” he grinned at the two young men. “I want to point out how blessed we are. Meg, Anna, and I always wanted one more daughter and a sister for Rose. We found her in you. Jonathan you were always like a son and now you are family.” His eyes rested on Daisy. “We always wanted to be close to Nell, and we mourn her death. I am just so grateful that she sent to us the most wonderful gift we could have, our little Daisy Walker.” He lifted his glass higher, “To blessings.”

  Rose raised her glass in agreement, until a burst of giggles caught her attention. The twins were playing a clapping game with Daisy who thought it the funniest thing in the world.

  “I need to join that fun,” Anna said walking over to Daisy who upon seeing her held up her round little arms. “Did you see that?” Anna nearly squeaked. “She wanted me. She knows I am her grandma.”

  “She’s a smart girl,” Cade came up behind Rose and smiled proudly at Daisy. “You can’t get a whole lot past her.” He looked around. “Is Jeffries showing up?”

  Anna shrugged. “He’s out back with Ben roasting the pig. I don’t know whether he’ll join in the celebrations or not. He has been a bit down since the murders. I don’t blame him if he wants some space.” Rose looked over at her husband to see him looking at Daisy, his eyes misted over as he scowled in contemplation at the round face with eyes so green and blue they glowed in her caramel face.

  “Cade,” Rose whispered, “are you alright?”

  He nodded stiffly. “Can she have some potatoes? She’s been lunging at solid food this whole week.”

  Rose frowned, knowing he was holding back something. “Yes, if you mash them good and make sure there are no skins.”

  He nodded and headed for the table; when Jeffries appeared by him, the two men talked quietly.

  Rose felt bad that she was not more attentive to the engaged couple, though they were now in their own world. She found herself watching Cade, noticing how he squinted his eyes and gave a half smile when he found something amusing. Rose liked how he tugged at the collar of his shirt as if it were suffocating him. She remembered how Cade would often come home and take off his shirt as if it were in his nature to be bare chested.

  Kyle did some fancy jig, and Rose burst into laughter, his mountainous body of muscle and fat shaking the ground. He swung his daughter Bless like she weighed no more than a penny, her chestnut hair swirling around her face while she laughed. Christabel at one point took his place and lifted Bless to her hip swaying with her as she ignored the admiring glances of the dairy workers.

  Rose folded her arms as she watched the dark haired girl dance. Not long ago, Rose wanted to be single again. She wanted to be free of a tumultuous marriage and to once again be a young, single woman.

  Tearing her eyes away from Christabel, she looked again at Cade laughing with Jeffries. She did marry a good man. No, he was not perfect and yes, he had a serious problem. But wasn’t God’s grace for the imperfect? Was not forgiveness for those who sinned both in their hearts and in the open? Rose had always wanted to marry a prince, but she was beginning to realize that there was no such thing. Even better, there were broken women who dusted themselves off every day and faced trials and heartache with perseverance. Men and women with tempers, addictions, sorrows, anger, pride, countless flaws. Cade was such a person, as was Rose, and everyone else.

  Rose smiled as the insight washed over her. Thank goodness God did not give up on anyone even when others did. “You seem in a good mood.” Phillip Hugh was suddenly beside Rose. She froze, her heart turning to ice in her chest. He was here, standing beside her. Where was Cade? It was one thing having a rich young man flirt with her, having a potential murderer do so was quite another.

  “I am,” she replied, smiling politely and realizing how much shorter he was than Cade. Shorter, softer, smaller.“I assume things between your husband and you are doing well?” he smiled tightly.

  Rose nodded, praying that Cade would show up.

  “How is the case coming along?” he asked, looking straight ahead.

  Rose shifted on her feet. “Well, I believe they have a lead, and it looks very promising.”

  “A lead?” Phillip looked over at her. “Please do tell.”

  Rose saw Jessica hurrying over to them, no doubt wanting to be right beside her beloved Phillip. She looked over at Cade who was laughing with her father now. She could not shout for him to come over. Of course, she could leave.

  “I am not sure what it is,” she smiled. “I probably should join my husband.” She took a step, but Phillip’s soft hand touched her elbow.

  “Am I the lead? Is that why you are so eager to run away?”

  Rose made a tsk sound with her tongue and forced a playful smile. “Of course not. However I am a married woman,” she pulled back her arm. “And I probably should be by my husband.”

  Phillip raised an eyebrow. “He has you well trained I see.”

  Rose st
opped in her tracks and looked steadily at Phillip. “No one has me trained.”

  Phillip chuckled. “Well it was not long ago that you seemed to thoroughly enjoy dancing with me. In fact, you seemed far too eager to dance with me than a married woman should be.”

  Rose lifted her chin. “Yes, I was eager. Dancing with a respected man might make others respect me and through that respect Daisy.”

  “So you used me?” he asked, his nostrils flaring and all facade of kindness falling away to reveal blank eyes deplete of compassion. “You’re not the first, you know? I’m used to women trying to use me, but being used to give a bastard girl respectability is a first.”

  Rose bit her lip, holding back her rage, “You are a fool!” she spat.

  “Am I a fool for speaking the truth?” he said a little too loudly, looking around. “Your husband is an addict and a violent man. And here I am an intelligent man of wealth, charm, and impeccable breeding who, out of the kindness of my heart, offers you my help. And you think that you used me? No, no,” he said, lowering his voice, his hand shooting out to grip her arm.

  “Let go of me,” Rose growled, the scent of alcohol on his breath making her stomach churn.

  “You want me, Rose,” he smiled, “I could tell the moment I saw you. Admit it, you wanted me then and still want me now. I know when a woman wants me. I can see it in her eyes. She may say she loves another, wants another, but the eyes never lie.”

  Phillip was jerked around by a strong hand. He wobbled, nearly falling before Cade jerked him upright. “I would strongly advise you to keep your hands off my wife,” Cade said, his voice low. “I have sent you sprawling with my fist before, and I have no hesitation doing it again.”

  Rose saw her father start to head over, but Anna stopped him and gave a subtle nod to Clark as if saying, “Let him handle this.”

  “You think this is noble of you, defending that little bobble-headed apple?” Phillip shouted waving a hand at Daisy, “And hopelessly trying to win a woman who so obviously prefers me? You—”