by Barbara Goss
After dinner cleanup they settled in the den and read from the Bible. Kate enjoyed the selection, but Arthur fell asleep, and Anna seemed unusually fidgety. Kate wondered if she was overtired. Perhaps she’d given her too much schoolwork, plus her helping with the domestic chores.
They closed in prayer, led by Josh, and Kate marveled at his eloquence in talking to God. While his prayer was “off the cuff,” he had chosen his words perfectly. As he prayed Kate shivered, wondering, how could a man who prays so beautifully be capable of harming anyone? She decided to find Anna’s mother and bring her back herself, if she had to. Silently Kate prayed for this purpose, as well as the concerns brought before God by Josh.
As the ladies and Anna climbed the stairs, Kate playfully tugged on one of Anna’s blond pigtails. “Want to come to my room for a story or something, after you get ready for bed?”
Anna smiled. “Sure! It won’t take me long!” She rushed to her room, waving to Lydia.
“You want to talk to her alone, right?” Lydia winked.
Kate nodded. “I think it’s best. Good night. And don’t forget, I’m waking you up at the crack of dawn to help start the fire for breakfast!”
“Knock lightly. If I don’t answer, feel free to go on without me!” Lydia laughed, ducking into her room and closing the door.
Kate donned her blue flannel nightgown, for the wind howled fiercely at the windows. We might get a first frost tonight, she thought. She brushed her hair vigorously until she heard Anna’s knock at her door.
Anna jumped excitedly onto Kate’s bed and covered her bare feet with her nightgown. “What story will you tell?”
“I think,” began Kate, sitting cross-legged beside her, “that it’s you who’ll be telling me the story tonight.”
Confused, and a bit disappointed, Anna tilted her head at Kate. “But I don’t know any story good enough to tell.”
“That’s well enough, and it isn’t a book story I want to hear, but a real-life story.”
Anna gave Kate another puzzled look.
“Who was the lady visitor Lydia said you had today?”
Kate saw the color fade from Anna’s face. “L-lady?”
“Yes. You had a lady visitor. Who was it?”
“What if she made me promise not to tell?” Anna asked.
“Then I shall have to tell your father about it. He should know about visitors who talk privately with his daughter.”
“No!” Anna cried. “Don’t tell Josh!”
Kate sighed. “Anna, was the visitor your mama?”
Anna nodded, her eyes full of tears.
“Does she visit you often?”
“Only two times. She came just after you told me to pray.”
“Anna, what is happening? How can I help, if I don’t know the whole story?”
“You would help?” she asked hopefully.
“Of course I would.”
“You won’t tell Josh or grandfather?”
“Certainly not. We women have to stick together, don’t we?” Kate pinched Anna’s cheek lightly.
“I don’t know much,” Anna said. “But I’ll tell you, if you cross your heart not to tell.”
“No, Anna. My word is better than that!” Kate held up her right hand. “I give you my word that I’ll keep your secret.”
“All right,” Anna said in a half whisper. “When my mother first came here, she told me that she had left because she had a fight with Josh. He never hurt her, ‘cept with words.”
“Where is she, then?” Kate asked.
“She couldn’t tell me. But she said I shouldn’t worry, and soon she would make things right, so we could all be together.”
“That’s it?” Kate asked, somewhat disappointed. “That’s all you know?”
“She asked about my bad dreams, and if I lost any more teeth … stuff like that.”
“How does she get into the house?”
“Mama has a key.”
“She just unlocks the front door?” Kate asked in astonishment.
“No, silly! She uses the back door so no one sees her.”
“Why did she come up to my room today?”
“How do you know she did?” Anna asked.
“I smelled her lavender. Was she looking for something?”
Anna shrugged. “Maybe she wanted to meet you. She asked me about you.”
“What does she ask?” Kate asked vehemently.
Anna became restless. “Oh, Kate! I can’t remember all of it. Can I go to bed now? I’m so tired. Next time she comes, I’ll tell her you’ll help. You can meet her.”
Kate helped Anna down from the bed. Ruffling the child’s hair lightly, Kate laughed. “That’s fine, now get off to bed!” As Anna sprinted down the hall, Kate whispered out to her, “Sleep well, Anna!”
That night Kate certainly slept soundly, relieved that Josh Redfield was definitely not a murderer. Joanna was alive! Now that her confidence in Josh was restored, Kate also noted that again Margo had been right.
She kept busy. Smoothly running a large house was no simple job, and teaching Lydia added to her burden. Nightly, Kate thanked God for the patience He’d blessed her with, because somehow Lydia had a knack for knowing how to totally botch up any task. Kate learned early that she had to supervise her whenever she performed any task for the first time. Sometimes her student became frustrated and cried, making Kate feel like a jail warden, rather than a teacher.
Kate persisted. She had made up her mind to help Lydia, and she would stick to that. Geoffrey visited often now, but Kate stayed as far from him as she could. She didn’t want him comparing her and his betrothed.
After a lengthy visit from Geoffrey one evening, Lydia bounded up to Kate’s room with excitement.
“Guess what?” She asked, sinking into one of the chairs.
“I can’t imagine,” Kate answered without looking up from Pride and Prejudice.
“You aren’t paying attention.” Lydia stamped her foot, pouting. “Don’t you want to hear a compliment?”
Kate sighed and lowered the book. “I’ll give you five minutes.”
“Geoffrey loves my new hairdo. He didn’t care for the other styles as much as this one. Can you show me how to do it myself? Do I really look better this way?”
Because Lydia’s face was so round, Kate had pulled her hair away from her face, tied it up high at the back of the head, and let the lifeless locks cascade down her back. Loose tendrils of hair hung beside her ears, softening her features. She had to use a curling device to get her tendrils to curl, but the result was worth it.
“Of course, that’s the easiest of them all to do. I’ll show you how tomorrow. Anything else?”
“He’s invited me to Sunday dinner in Victoria. Do you think I might go for the day?”
“As long as you’re back by bedtime, I see no problem with it,” Kate replied with a yawn. “Arthur’s a great chaperone.”
“What will you do Sunday? Won’t you need my help?” Lydia asked with concern.
“Not at all.”
“I’m glad my spending the day at Victoria won’t inconvenience you. I’ll say good night, and you can finish your book. By the way, thank you for everything. I owe you quite a bit, my friend.”
Kate smiled. “What are friends for? Good night, Lydia.”
When the sound of Lydia’s footsteps had faded, Kate brought the book back up to her face.
Not two minutes later a feeble knock on the door made Kate sigh. Now what? Was that Lydia again? Or did Anna forget to tell me something? “Come in,” she sighed, laying the book down on her lap.
Kate jumped, when, instead of a familiar person, a strange figure clad in a black-hooded cape flowed into the room. Throwing the hood back, the form revealed long, straight, and glossy hair. The blond-haired, blue-eyed Dresden doll smiled. “I’m Joanna Redfield. You must be Kate!”
Chapter Fifteen
Kate tried to stand, but her knees trembled so, she plopped back into the rocker. �
�Yes, I’m Kate,” she replied breathlessly. Lavender scent invaded the room.
Why did this woman frighten her? After all she wasn’t a ghost or anything. Kate tried to calm herself and took deep, silent breaths, all the while studying Joanna Redfield.
Considering the tall, slim figure with willowy arms and legs, Kate decided she had never seen a more beautiful woman. Large, sparkling blue eyes blinked at her from a perfectly shaped porcelain face. Her rosy cheeks dimpled with a smile. Joanna looked like an adult Anna.
“I hope I haven’t frightened you,” she said.
Kate’s head spun with confusion. Suddenly she felt inadequate next to this beautiful woman. Because she was starting to feel fondness for Joshua, Kate had mixed feelings about Joanna. Kate scolded herself for such thinking, after all this was Anna’s mother. “Won’t you have a seat?” She pointed to the other chair.
As she watched Joanna gracefully take a seat, an inkling of the truth came to Kate. She and Josh had shared no fancy balls, fine dining, or romantic moments, but Kate had come to enjoy the daily life at Hannah House: Bible readings in the study, chores accomplished side by side, and discussions they’d had about Anna’s needs. Now that his wife had returned, that would end.
Sometimes Kate even forgot that Josh had a wife. Confused, Kate frowned at her own emotions. Surely I’m not falling in love with the man! She shed the thought. No, it was simply the fact that his wife was alive that made her feel guilty. Again Kate scolded herself, and she pledged to try and patch things up with Joanna and Joshua, just as she had taught Lydia to be a better wife to Geoffrey.
God, help me, she prayed silently. Why, Lord, are You using me to help everyone else find happiness?
Kate smiled at the mysterious woman. “What can I do to help you?”
“Anna said you could be trusted,” Joanna said meekly. “Is that true?”
“Of course it is. I love Anna. I’ll do anything I can to help.” Kate responded with confidence.
Joanna let out a sigh. “I’m so glad. I don’t know who to turn to, who to ask for help. Will you help me, Kate?”
Kate studied the beautiful woman and, without planning to do so, envisioned Joshua folding his strong arms around this fragile woman and kissing her tenderly. More mixed feelings spurted up in Kate, and in those few seconds she gained more self- knowledge than ever before. And what she found didn’t please her. She was fonder of Josh Redfield than she’d realized. And to what end? Here stood his beautiful wife.
She had never loved Geoffrey Grandville. She’d only imagined a perfect relationship with him because he seemed to fill all the qualifications of a storybook hero. Josh Redfield had none of the worldly things she’d thought so important. Yet in her heart she knew she’d do anything to help him and Anna, because in the short time she’d lived with them she’d come to love them.
Once Kate’s mind was set, there was no changing it. With chin high she said, “Joanna, what can I do to help?”
“Talk to Arthur on my behalf,” she asked anxiously.
“Arthur? Not Josh?”
“No, Arthur’s the one who needs to forgive. Josh forgave me a long time ago and has spent the last seven years of his life helping me. I’ve been so selfish. Poor Josh!” She began sobbing into a handkerchief. We’ve lived a lie and it’s all my fault. Poor Anna is now caught in the middle. It’s a mess.”
Kate broke in, “I’m confused. Can you tell me what this is all about?”
Joanna sniffled, blew her nose, and smiled feebly. “Arthur Redfield is my father.”
Kate let this information digest before asking with bated breath, “You mean father-in-law?”
“No. Arthur is my father. Josh is my brother, not my husband.”
“Brother?” Kate fell back into her chair and almost laughed in relief. “Are you serious? You aren’t Josh’s wife?”
Joanna shook her head.
“What about Anna? Whom does Anna belong to?”
Joanna smiled. “Sit back and make yourself comfortable. I’ll tell you the whole story. I need a friend to confide in. I hope I can call you my friend.”
Kate laughed. “If you are truly Josh’s sister and Arthur’s daughter, you can call me anything you want!” Kate reached out and hugged the woman. “I’m so happy you aren’t Josh’s wife!”
Joanna winked knowingly. “I’d hoped that was the reason you felt that way. It will make my story easier to tell.” Joanna sat back in her chair and idly played with her fingers. “Some of the things I tell you may shock you. Please bear with me until I’m finished?”
Kate nodded, smiling inside. She felt so relieved. This whole episode tonight made her realize her true feelings for Joshua Redfield. It had nothing to do with Romeo, or any other romance book hero. It had to do with a sincere, caring person: Josh Redfield. He had no white horse, no title, and no classically handsome looks.
She settled back to hear Joanna’s story.
“Many years ago my mother was involved in a carriage accident that left her partially crippled. The man who caused the accident was returning from a wild, all-night party. Mother had been taking me to London for a new dress that sunny morning. I don’t recall much, except a jumble of screaming, the cries of horses, wood splintering, and my mother frantically calling my name.
“The details of the carriage accident aren’t important. But the drunken driver was the notorious Charles Barringer, who was known for his partying and philandering. His wife, Sarah, stayed home and took care of their son, Phillip.”
“Phillip Barringer?” cried Kate. “Phillip Barringer is the man folks say you ran off with!”
Joanna nodded. “He’s Anna’s real father.”
Kate gasped. “Honest?”
“Let me explain. Phillip and I met and fell in love. Though my father forbade me to see him, I could no more stay away from Phillip than I could Anna! I loved him.
“So I went to Josh for help. He always took care of his baby sister. This time I asked for too much, I’m afraid,” she spoke mournfully.
“Josh had connections with a local church—he has always been spiritual—and arranged for Phillip and I to be married. We were both of age, so nothing could stop us. I was Phillip’s wife for all of three days! Or should I say, until my father found out. He had a temper tantrum like never before. According to Josh, he threw furniture and broke dishes! Then he contacted a friend, a judge, I believe, and he drew up papers of annulment.
“It wasn’t really legal, since neither of us was a minor, but my father did it anyway.” Joanna’s voice remained surprisingly mild. “To make certain, my father separated us he gave my husband a letter saying I wanted the annulment. Even when he saw the papers, Phillip didn’t believe him. So my father had him beaten, drugged and thrown on a ship to America. The next thing I knew, I was husbandless and pregnant.
“Not only did Josh take the blame for the whole escapade, when I told him about the baby, he was burdened with guilt. Because he’d arranged the marriage, he felt that my condition was indeed his fault.
“You must understand, Kate, Josh and I had always been close. He was five years older and had always taken full responsibility for me, especially after mom’s accident and death.” She sniffed into her handkerchief. “I love Josh!”
So do I, thought Kate.
Joanna calmed herself and continued, “Josh discovered what my father had done, and we ran away to America to find Phillip. I gave birth to Anna in Philadelphia, before we even found Phillip’s trail. It took us several years to finally locate him.
“Due to my condition and situation, Josh protected me by pretending to be my husband. We seldom ever had to actually lie; everyone just assumed our relationship, as they assumed Anna was his daughter. Even Anna thinks Josh is her father.” For several moments Joanna wept into her handkerchief. “We were wrong, and our deception is not going unpunished.
“Finally Josh made contact with people from Victoria, He was not among the residents but they said he was expected. M
y brother and I settled here, and he started a lumber business, which has been extremely successful. Finally someone from Victoria contacted Josh and told him the man he’d been looking for had arrived in Victoria.
“After we made inquiries about Phillip, we stayed at a distance for some time, to be sure it was the Phillip Barringer we sought and that he had not married. I have to admit, too, that I felt hurt. Too many questions had bothered me for so long. Why had Phillip never tried to find me? Had he planned to live here without another thought for me? I had to be certain of his love.
“Once Phillip explained everything, I began to understand. I still had a lot to forgive him for—and he had to forgive me for all my doubts. It took a full year for our relationship to blossom here as it had in London. We met in secret and when we decided to remarry, we thought nothing stood in our way. We hadn’t counted on Josh ever being a problem. Our remarriage didn’t bother him, but my brother now loved Anna as a daughter. When I told him that Phillip, Anna, and I were going to live on a ranch that Phillip was purchasing in Texas, Josh threw a tantrum. He became almost as irrational as Father. Phillip had to leave right away, or his deal on the ranch would fall through. He gave me an ultimatum: Go with him—with or without Anna—or lose him forever. I don’t know if he meant it or not. But I couldn’t take the chance of losing him after finding him again. I knew Anna was safe with Josh.
“Kate, I didn’t know what to do! I loved them both! Then I watched Josh with Anna one morning, out by the garden, and I had my answer. I couldn’t destroy the loving brother who’d given up seven years of his life for me. So I left with Phillip.”
Kate sat spellbound by the intriguing story.
“When I say Josh sacrificed seven years for me, I mean just that. Often in our travels we met very attractive young ladies, and Josh couldn’t even approach them for friendship. One young lady in New Orleans almost stole him away from me. Though he seemed amused by it, I know Josh would have loved to have made a life for himself, instead of living a bogus life with his own sister and niece.
“Josh truly loves Anna. But so do I! While we moved to Texas settled the paperwork. I couldn’t be happy without her. I explained to Phillip how I felt, and he, too, wanted his daughter with us. Finally Phillip did what only the man I love would do: He let the ranch deal fall through to come back for Anna.
