Sufficient Grace

by Jessica Greyson

  Grace rested against Mitch, mute with the rankling questions thrashing about in her heart, confusing and tumbling her emotions all around.

  “It’s going to be all right, Grace, everything happens for a reason, and we don’t always need to understand them right away. He knows everything.”

  ~~~~~

  Grace breathed deeply, seeming to grab hold of herself. Mitch loosened his grip, dropping his hands to his side. A moment later Grace’s tear-dampened hand was in his, holding on tightly.

  “Thank you, Mitch,” she said, looking up.

  Tenderly, he wiped away the tears that were still trickling down her face.

  “It’s going to be all right, Grace.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  “Let’s get you home.”

  Chapter 27

  When Grace arrived home, Mrs. Fang was sitting at the dining room table with her mother and they were drinking tea. Mrs. Fang was spilling all of the latest small town gossip.

  “Why, you are home early. That or your clock is very slow,” said Mrs. Fang with a sharp look.

  “I am home early,” said Grace. Next, she will need an explanation why…

  “Did something happen at school, child?”

  Child? How old do you think I am? I am teaching school not attending it. “Deputy Jip had to take Slim down to the Sheriff’s office.”

  “Slim?” the woman’s face grew bright with excitement.

  “Hmm, he started a fight at school. None of the children felt like studying afterward, so I let them have an early day of it. The little ones couldn’t have studied a bit more, and the older ones wanted to talk about it so hopefully, we will make better progress tomorrow.”

  “Well, since you are home I hope you don’t mind me doing a few little errands I have to do you?”

  You are faster than the telegraph when it comes to news around here. “No, I don’t mind. I can take care of everything from here.”

  “Have a good day then,” Mrs. Fang said with a bob of her head and went out the door at top speed.

  Grace watched her leave with a sigh of relief. She sank down into a chair looking at her mother. “How was your day?”

  “You know I thought I was going to dread that woman, but she makes my day more amusing than it has ever been.”

  Grace laughed, “That is good to hear. I wonder what she will have to tell you tomorrow.”

  “You got into the fight at school didn’t you Grace? You fought with Slim.” Her mother’s eyes were serious.

  Grace’s throat was suddenly tight. “How did you know?”

  “I have learned more about my daughter listening to a complete stranger than she has told me herself. You never said you were kidnapped, that Mitch and the rest of the deputies rescued you.”

  Grace flushed and swallowed “It didn’t seem that relevant. I didn’t want to scare you with something that was already over. I didn’t want to pain you.”

  “I know. Ryan taught you well didn’t he?”

  Grace smiled. “Yes, he did. He knew he couldn’t be there to protect me like he had Hannah.”

  A cloud passed her mother’s face, and Grace regretted that she had said their names.

  “You were almost proud that day you came home with a black eye.”

  Grace blushed but laughed at the memory. “It hurt too much to really be proud. At least Ronny never put my braids in ink again.”

  Her mother smiled briefly. “I am going to go up and rest. I have a feeling your father will be home early tonight.”

  Grace’s heart ached. She wished her mother would stay but knew that it was easier if she was away from her father. Unexpectedly, her mother’s slender fingers were caressing her cheek. “You are a good daughter Grace.”

  Tears choked Grace, and her mother walked out of the room. Waiting for her mother’s steps to be silent Grace allowed the tears to come. Tears that felt like a balm on her heart. Oh, Mother. My mother, I haven’t failed you completely.

  After several minutes Grace started dinner clutching those words to her heart. True to her mother’s intuition, her father was home early.

  “You had a fight at school I hear.”

  “Yes.”

  “Slim has been swearing a blue streak at you all afternoon.”

  Grace shook her head.

  “How did it all start?”

  I am not in the mood for an interrogation. Why don’t you ask how I am? If I am all right? Don’t you care for me at all? Oh God, help me. Grace slowly turned to her father. “Have you heard anything about Keats?”

  Her father’s face turned ashen, then colored. “No. But I have kept my ears open. I am searching for a new position, but no one has gotten back to me. Too many decent sheriffs around and I ain’t about to choose a new career. I have been doing this for too long to quit now. Maybe we have lost him this time. I haven’t seen or heard a word from Mrs. Browning either. Just perhaps…” he let his words trail off before starting a new subject. “I’ve got to take care of the horses.”

  Grace watched her father go out the door with an aching heart. How do I tell him? I probably have three weeks. Maybe a month and a half before he finds us. Oh God, what do I say to him, and how on earth do I tell him Mitch knows?

  The thoughts tumbled Grace about like a ship lost at sea. Her father re-entered too soon for her to come to a conclusion.

  Dinner was a silent meal, and Grace was more than happy to retreat to her room to grade papers that evening.

  Grace sat in her room staring into her mirror. The papers were graded she was examining the bruise from Slim’s tight grip. Unexpectedly, Ruby walked through her door.

  “Grace, where did you get that?”

  She pulled down her sleeve. “It’s nothing, but where did you come from?” Grace smiled, standing up to greet Ruby.

  “Your father said you were up here, he told me not to knock because your mother was resting. I came to see how you were doing?”

  “Thanks,” said Grace, with an easy smile.

  “Did you get that bruise from Slim?”

  “It’s really nothing,” Grace said with a shrug.

  “You don’t want to talk about it, do you?”

  “Not really,” sighed Grace. “It happened, it’s over, let’s not live through it again, if you please.”

  “Well, if Mrs. Fang has anything to do it will live a long while. But I came here on an entirely different matter than your teaching. Other than the fact that my younger siblings sing your praises so much I half wish I was going to school myself.”

  “You flatter me.”

  “Not really. But to the matter at hand…here this is for you. I wanted to deliver it personally in hopes of securing your promise to come.” She offered Grace an envelope. “You haven’t been to very many outings this year, and it is my birthday…it is candy making and maybe some dancing on a Friday night, three weeks from now. Do you think that you can make it?”

  I can’t give out my promise too readily. There is no knowing when father will decide to pick up and move. “If I am able to come, I promise I will be there. But I haven’t even opened the envelope yet, Ruby.”

  “Well, it is nothing fancy. I just want you there. You add a nice touch to our groups that wasn’t there before.”

  “You are too kind to me Ruby.”

  Ruby smiled. “Well, I just wanted to make sure you came, and that you were all right.”

  “How are your brothers and sisters?”

  “They will be all right, Angie is still a bit upset about it, Mother might keep her home from school tomorrow if she doesn’t settle down, but other than that they are very well. Mother was so very grateful that you sent them home after such an incident.”

  “I don’t think I could have taught them another thing myself.”

  “I know I couldn’t have. Well, I will let you go back to whatever you have to do and will see you later.”

  “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  “Thank you, Grace.�
��

  When Grace returned to her room, she opened the invitation and frowned. Three weeks. Anything can happen in three weeks.

  Chapter 28

  Two weeks had passed since the incident with Slim and the calendar had slipped into the month of October.

  The morning was still dark when Grace woke up. With a sigh, she realized it was her birthday. Seventeen years of life today. Memories from past birthdays drifted through her mind; memories of a whole family all together singing happy birthday to her, sweet presents from her parents and siblings. The year that Hannah had sent a china doll from Boston, the one shared party with her friend Charlotte, whose birthday was three days after hers; if Charlotte hadn’t died, she would be seventeen too, in only a matter of days.

  Grace turned and buried her face in her pillow. God, I have to get up and go to school. I have to face my father. I don’t want to move. No one will remember, not like we used to do it. What should I do?

  Leave me your burden, Grace, give me your cares. I know it is your birthday today. Listen to my voice, and I will guide you.

  Several minutes later Grace found that she felt better, enough to go make breakfast and greet her father with a smile.

  He didn’t reply, much less acknowledge her and the first moment she could, Grace left for the school house. She couldn’t wait to see the children’s bright and unclouded faces. They could bring her joy.

  That morning as she rang the bell and the children lined up, every child wished her a happy birthday. With a beaming face, she walked to the front of her class.

  “How did you all know?”

  “Miss Cunningham told us all. She is planning…” the small child was cut short as an older hand clapped their hand over the smaller one’s mouth.

  “She told us not to say a thing,” came the fierce whisper

  Grace laughed, Milly would think of something but what?

  “Well, I thank you all very much for my birthday wishes. They have made my day so much brighter, now let’s begin.”

  It was a red letter day. At the very end, the children piled her with cards and a class present of a lovely pencil box tied with a long ribbon

  “Thank you, children, so much. You are treasures.”

  After they had been dismissed, Grace sat in her chair and read through all of her cards again; from the scribbled ones that hardly made any sense to the beautifully written ones that warmed her heart.

  The sun was slowly setting towards the west as Grace gathered her books together and headed out the door.

  I will take my usual short cut and see what Milly is up to at the store.

  As Grace reached the alleyway a sudden queer feeling swept over her that firmly made her feel that she should not to go, she hesitated. Don’t be silly Grace, it is only your imagination. There is nothing to be afraid of.

  The alleyway was the backs of all the shops with various barrels and sundry other items that were either broken or could withstand the weather without the risk of being stolen. She was nearly to the Cunningham’s General Store.

  “Hello, Grace,” the voice slunk from the darkness.

  The hairs on the back of her neck rose, her heart raced, her mouth went dry, and she spun around. The voice was familiar. One she had been waiting and dreading to hear for the last four years.

  She was numb, paralyzed with fear that absorbed her into a black hole of nothingness. The world felt as if it was about to go wild about her. Looking up, she saw him. Her heartbeat faded in her chest.

  Grace stared at him, too scared to even scream. She had dreamed of this happening so often. In her dreams Grace always stood there unable to do anything, just stand there in complete terror and wait for him to…there she always woke up.

  “Do you recognize me?” he smiled, his dark eyes mocking her.

  A chill ran through her “Yes.” She could barely breathe.

  “I barely recognized you. You are what? Seventeen? Same age as your stupid sister,” he pulled hard on the last two words.

  Grace’s fingers curled into fists “Yes,” she answered. Same age to the day. Why on earth do I feel compelled to answer him? I hate him! I hate what he had done to my family! Why can’t I call for help?

  “My, my, how time flies. I guess I have been lazy on the job.” He smirked darkly at her. “I will never forget the way you screamed at me when I nabbed that poor little friend of yours.”

  “Her name was Charlotte.” Doesn’t he realize that these people have names and faces? They were real, they had lives! They have people that love them. People that grieve for them still.

  “That’s right I had nearly forgotten that.” Stepping closer he pulled out his gun, whirling it carelessly. It stopped as he stood directly in front of her. The barrel pressed against her blouse. “I want you to carry a message for me. You think you can do that, Grace?”

  Stop using my name. It sounded like dirt in your mouth. She wanted to wash it out with soap. Really hard lye soap. “I think so.” Why am I so helpless? Grace tried to move her hands to fight back at him, but they refused to move.

  “You just think so?” The barrel pressed into Grace, hard as he shoved her against a wall.

  “I know I can,” she whispered feeling trapped in his evil scheme.

  “Look me in the eye,” he demanded.

  Grace turned her face away. The barrel shifted to beneath her chin, and he pushed it up, turning her to face him. His eyes made her cringe.

  “Tell your father.” He paused and smiled slowly. “I am comin’ for him. All right? No games, no slipping off into the night, not name changes. It ends here. You hear me?”

  His dark eye penetrated into her own, and she could not answer.

  “Tell him.” His voice became hot with anger, and his finger pressured the trigger.

  “Yes,” she whispered, trying to breathe.

  “That is a good girl. Tell your mother howdy for me too will ya’.” The pistol stroked the side of her cheek. “You have gotten pretty,” he leaned next to her ear. “I’ll be seeing you later, Grace. Oh, and happy birthday,” and he brushed past her.

  Nausea swept over Grace. She waited frozen to the spot, listening to his footsteps die away in the darkness then the sound of hooves running. He was gone. A tingle of relief swept over her and everything went black.

  “Grace? Grace,” a voice was calling to her through the darkness.

  Grace blinked. “Mitch?” she whispered.

  “Are you all right? You are so pale.”

  “Where am I?” she asked confused. Why am I here? The whole world seemed to be a mere blur.

  “In the alley between Cunningham’s, and the Tailor Shop.”

  The memory of what had happened swept over her turning her even paler. “Oh, he was here.” Nausea twisted her stomach again. “I am going to be sick.” She scrambled to her feet only to have the world dance wildly before her and fade black once again. When she awoke, it was a slow, numb awakening.

  “Mitch?”

  “Hush, until I get you home. Do you think you can wrap your arm around my neck?” She felt weak but knew she could do it. Grace pulled herself further up her head resting on his shoulder and her arms locking around his neck. The sudden realization that he was carrying her made her blush.

  “I think I can walk,” she whispered.

  “I don’t think so besides we are nearly home.”

  “My books.”

  “Don’t worry I will get them. You will have them by morning that is if you are feeling well enough to teach.”

  “I am sure I will be,” Grace whispered. She pillowed her head against his shoulder. She was so tired.

  ~~~~~

  “When you said he was here. Do you mean…?” Mitch let his words trail off into the darkness not wanting to actually say the awful words just in case he was wrong.

  “Keats,” she whispered with a shudder, hiding her face against him. “He told me to tell my father that he was coming for him. I thought we would have more time. I wanted
to have more time. What are we going to do Mitch? What am I going to tell them? If my mother sees me like this...”

  “All right, let’s see if you can walk the rest of the way home. The last thing I want to do is alarm your mother if she is up.”

  Mitch stopped and set her down. Grace tried a few steps, but she was so shaky that Mitch once again swept her off her feet.

  Mitch knocked on the front door, and no one answered. He put Grace down and tried the door; it opened easily. The house was eerie with silence. His right hand reached for his pistol as Grace stepped in. His hand touched her waist to pull her away safely. She clutched his sleeve with fear in her tense fingers.

  “SURPRISE!” Screamed half a dozen voices from the darkness. Grace gave a backward start and Mitch caught her. A match struck in the darkness and Milly came bouncing forward with a candle in hand to give her friend a hug. The oil lamps in the room were lit and turned up.

  “Happy Birthday Grace!” she said, giving Grace a hug, wrapping both arms about her friend. Mitch blew out the candle before it started anything on fire. “You look so pale. We didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “You gave me such a start,” a smile covered her pale face, and a happy tear rolled down her cheek. “I-I don’t know what to say, Milly!”

  “Well, come in and join us!” Milly said, taking Grace’s hand. “Oh dear, my candle has gone out. I guess I don’t need it anymore, though,” she said, flinging it aside. Hot wax spilled onto the table.

  Mitch shook his head. “Where would I find Sheriff Coates?”

  “At the Sheriff’s office still. When he gave me permission to throw Grace an all-girl party, he said he wouldn’t be home until late, so now shoo. Girls only if you please.”

  “All right, I’ll go, if I can have a brief moment to ask the birthday girl something.”

  Grace stepped to his side again.

  He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear. “Are you going to be all right with this?”