“Like what?” Maggie said.
“Like maybe I was magical or something. The child had been sick, and no one could get him to quit crying. She decided then and there that I could stay. I was with them for years. Wherever they went, I went. I practically raised that little boy. Life wasn’t easy. I tried to get away a few times, but was always caught. And disciplined. Then I got sick. I found out they planned to kill me.”
“Kill you?” Maggie whispered.
“Yes. In their eyes it was the merciful thing to do. They were moving on, and I wouldn’t be able to travel.”
Maggie had no words.
“Then, the boy I’d helped raise—he was still young, but he’d grown up strong and healthy—waited until everyone else was asleep and then threw me over his shoulder and took me away. He tied me to a tree, and left me there with some food and water, and said that someone would find me. He told me there were soldiers nearby, for me to wait until he was gone, and then to yell for them. Then he disappeared into the woods. I did yell for help. No one came. I don’t know how long it was. It felt like forever, but was probably only a few days or I wouldn’t have survived. By the time they found me, I had a bad fever. The best I can figure, that made me talk crazy. They took me to the asylum.”
“I’m so sorry,” Maggie said.
Mrs. Calhoun took a sip of tea. “After I got well, I tried to convince them that I had a family. I asked everyone who came through there to help me. The ones in charge had heard outlandish tales before. They didn’t believe me. And I admit, my memory and even my speech were a little garbled at first. It was hard to communicate. I got better with time, but I still couldn’t get anyone to believe me. Eventually I gave up.”
“Until you saw Caleb Calhoun.”
Cordelia nodded, tearful now. “At first I thought I was dreaming. Then I just knew it was one of my boys. My heart soared. Then I saw that his eyes were the wrong color. I was heart broke.”
She looked at Maggie. “I don’t want my sons to know what I told you about the Indians. I already said more than I should have on the train, but there are some things that I don’t ever want them to hear.”
Maggie understood. Sometimes you kept secrets to protect yourself. Sometimes it was to protect others.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Over the next few days Maggie marveled at how well Cordelia Calhoun adjusted to her new life in Moccasin Rock. She refused to sit idly by and insisted on helping with the laundry, cooking, and even holding and feeding the baby. She still seemed unsure of herself at times, and waited for others to make the first move in any situation, but clearly she was improving.
Peg and Cordelia hit it off immediately, despite the fact that most of what they had in common was tragedy.
Both women had known sorrow and suffering. Both had lost spouses and children in differing circumstances, yet each had a strength and dignity that was evident in everything they said and did.
Maggie had worried about Cordelia meeting Dovie, but after a few awkward moments in Peg’s kitchen, the two seemed to reach some sort of understanding. Was there something in a person who’d suffered that made them recognize it in others?
Mrs. Calhoun’s meeting with Caleb had also been a source of concern. It couldn’t be easy to find that your husband had remarried and fathered another child. Caleb had sat down with her and patiently answered all her questions, and they seemed to be forging a unique friendship and bond. They were not related to each other at all, but they’d both loved Amos Calhoun.
And Cordelia simply doted on Brody. “I missed so much of my own children growing up,” she told Maggie. “It’s enjoyable to be around a growing boy.”
“I know there’s no way to make up for the years you lost,” Maggie said, “but they have wonderful memories of what time you did have.”
At Cordelia’s quizzical look, Maggie told her about overhearing Eli’s conversation with the baby. Tears filled the woman’s eyes, but she continued on with her work with a smile on her face.
That evening when Eli and Nathaniel stopped by, Cordelia hugged them so fiercely that Eli glanced at Maggie over his mother’s head with a questioning look. She smiled and moved to another room to give them some privacy.
Although Maggie was thrilled for the Calhoun family, she was still worried about her father. She’d sent letters to him, but he hadn’t responded. Was he even getting them?
Avalee reported to her that she’d gone to the Radford house, pretending to believe that Maggie would be home. Hollis had once again answered the door and refused to let her come in.
Even though she hadn’t seen Hollis since the day he’d appeared in Peg’s kitchen with the Fair Haven sheriff, Maggie still couldn’t shake the feeling that he was out there watching her. When would Hollis give up?
At dinner that evening, Maggie noticed the look of interest on Cordelia’s face when Peg made a casual comment about Maggie and Eli’s courtship. They’d forgotten to explain what was happening.
As Maggie was feeding Lucinda before bed, Cordelia told her how happy she was that her oldest son had found someone.
Maggie hastened to clear up the misunderstanding. “This was a way that Eli came up with to keep me safe. We’re only pretending to be in love.”
Cordelia smiled. “Are you?”
After Mrs. Calhoun left, Maggie admitted the truth to herself. She wasn’t pretending at all. How did Eli feel? The two of them had not had another moment alone since the kiss. He liked her and was definitely attracted to her, but was he interested in anything more?
All she knew to do was to wait and pray to know the Lord’s will.
* * *
Maggie was outside at the clothes line, battling a freshly dried sheet in a gusty wind, when the leaves crunched behind her.
Thinking it might be Adger Wilson’s pig again, she sidestepped, holding the sheet above her head to keep it from being soiled.
Suddenly she found herself gripped by strong arms, a gloved hand clamped down over her mouth.
Dropping the sheet, she wrenched her head aside, struggling and twisting as she kicked at her captor, but he held tight. The sheet was wrapped around her legs, hindering her further. She bit the hand that was pressed to her mouth, screaming the instant it was removed. Curses filled her ears as the hand once again clamped down, and she was dragged toward the woods.
Maggie wasn’t sure what his ultimate destination was, but she couldn’t let him take her. She had to keep fighting the man.
“Get a hold on her,” a deeper voice barked.
“I got her.”
There were two of them. She didn’t stand a chance fighting both. Maybe she could outrun them. But she had to get him to loosen his grip.
Maggie let herself go limp for a moment, catching her captor off guard. His steps faltered, then halted as he tried to regain his grip.
With her hands momentarily free, Maggie turned and dug her nails into the first thing she could reach. He screamed, hands flying to his injured face. She ran straight into the woods. He lumbered along behind her.
Where was the second man?
As branches slapped at her face and snagged on her dress, memories of fleeing the asylum assailed her. But Maggie had several things in her favor this time—she had on the moccasins to protect her feet, she wasn’t in pain, and she wasn’t carrying the baby.
Catching her toe on a tree root, she went sprawling, landing hard. Struggling to breathe, she scrambled up and took off again—just seconds ahead of her pursuer.
Whoever Hollis had hired wasn’t giving up. Maggie dodged, and went further into the thicket. Barely able to make her way. Running blindly, she finally pushed through, and then stopped. She’d reached a clearing.
Panting, gaze swinging left and right, she searched for a hiding place. Maggie wasn’t sure what lay on either side of her, but in front of her stretched the Brazos River. Then she remembered that Eli had said something about people living in tents out here—but she was turned around. Which
direction should she go?
Running out of time, she dashed to her left, and tripped on her skirt. Sprawled flat on her stomach again, lungs straining for air, Maggie looked up, straight into the furious eyes of a man with a scar on his chin and a gap between his teeth.
“I had planned on going easy on you,” the man said. Then he pointed to his face and to the bloody scratch that Maggie’s nails had inflicted. “But not now.”
The last thing Maggie saw was a fist flying toward her face.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Eli entered the front room of Peg’s house and smiled at the sight of his mother holding Lucinda. It took him a moment to realize that his mother wasn’t smiling.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Maggie was out back bringing the laundry in. When I heard a scream, I thought maybe she fell or something, so I went outside to check.”
She raised worried eyes to his and a chill rolled down Eli’s spine.
“There’s no sign of her out there, Son. There’s a note, but it doesn’t make any sense to me. I was wrapping the baby up to come and find you.”
Didn’t make sense?
Eli rushed down the hall, through the kitchen and onto the back porch. The laundry basket was tipped over and sheets were scattered around.
Fear hit him like a punch to the gut. Hollis had Maggie. A piece of paper was stuck to one of the porch posts, whipping in the wind, held in place by a pen knife.
He read the words, ice cold panic twisting his insides. “Let’s play a little game. I have someone you want. All you have to do is find her. It will end where her troubles all began.”
His mother had followed him out.
“Where’s Peg?” he asked.
“Running some errands. She should be home soon.”
“Mama, are you okay to watch the baby alone for now?”
“Of course, I am. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to get Maggie.”
Eli didn’t have time for anything besides that hurried statement and a prayer as he ran to the jail. Grabbing a rifle, he explained to Bliss what was going on.
“I’m going, too,” Bliss said.
Eli started to say no, then thought better of it. Bliss was a good fighter, and even better with a gun.
“Good. Where’s Caleb?”
Bliss frowned. “He stopped by earlier, looking for you, said he’d gotten a message about some land he was interested in buying. Wanted to know if you’d go with him. Not sure when he’ll be back.”
Eli had been counting on the help. “I can’t wait. We’ll go on without him.”
His second moment of pure panic came when they got to the livery stable.
“Your horse is limping,” Eagan said. “Not sure what happened. I’ll tend to him. Don’t think it’s anything serious. But he can’t be ridden.”
“Then saddle me another one,” Eli said. “And one for Bliss.”
“Strangest thing,” Eagan said. “Remember that man I told you about, the one that asked about all my animals? Well he came back and hired out every horse I had, and even most of the wagons and buggies. Had a group of men with him. The only thing I have left is a little pony cart. And I don’t have a pony.”
Eli spun around, but then didn’t know where to go. There were plenty of people in the area that he could borrow horses from, but it would take too long. Nathaniel came running up while he was still trying to decide what to do.
“Mama told me what was happening. I’m going with you.”
Eli nodded. “We have to take the train.” With the others following, he retraced his steps and headed for the depot.
Walter Miller stepped out of the hotel lobby, carpenter’s apron on, hammer in hand and asked what was going on. Eli couldn’t slow down. “Maggie’s been abducted. Going to get her.” He wasn’t surprised when Walter tossed the hammer inside and tore his apron off. “I want to help.”
Eli was surprised to see Peg waiting at the depot, along with Brody and Avalee Quinn, Maggie’s breathless friend from Fair Haven. “What are y’all doing here?”
“I came to see Maggie,” Avalee answered in a quivery voice. “Mrs. Harmon and your mother were in a tizzy about what was happening. Poor Maggie.”
Peg Harmon gave Avalee a disgruntled look, but directed her remarks to Eli. “I’ve never been in a tizzy in my life. I’m going with you. It’s that simple. Maggie’s come to mean a great deal to me.”
“I’m going, too,” Brody said.
Eli didn’t have time to argue with the boy. “You sure you’re up to it? Don’t want you to lose ground.”
“The doctor said I’m fine.”
Nathaniel nodded in agreement and Brody added, “I’m tired of resting. Please let me go.”
“Okay.”
Avalee still stood there, ticket in hand.
“Well, you’re not going,” Eli said.
Her eyes widened. “I can’t go home?”
Eli rubbed his temples. “Sorry, I thought you were offering to help find Maggie.”
“I would love to help,” she said. “What do you need me to do?”
Before Eli could refuse her offer, Bliss blurted, “Peg Harmon, you’re not going off to Fair Haven to get yourself shot at.”
Peg’s eyes flashed. “Who’s going to stop me?”
For the next several minutes everyone talked and no one moved. Eli debated pulling his gun and shooting up into the air to get their attention. Instead he growled, and started shoving them all toward the train.
Once the train was underway, Eli took another look at the little makeshift posse he’d assembled: Nathaniel, who wanted to heal, not harm; Walter Miller, who looked grimly determined and scared to death; Peg, Brody and Avalee—a midwife, a boy and a flirt; and Bliss. Eli supposed he should be grateful that his mother was taking care of Lucinda, or no doubt she’d be here, too.
He wanted to send them back, but they were all staring at him, solemn-eyed and determined. And truthfully, he might need help. Again, not who he would have chosen, but the fact that they all came running when Maggie was in trouble, meant a lot.
They’d each come to care about her, while his own feelings, as much as he tried to deny them, went far beyond that.
Peg and Bliss were still bickering, and it was turning in to a real humdinger. They were speaking in hushed tones, but Eli had overheard enough to know that Peg had discovered that her husband’s pension had really been payments sent from Bliss. Let them fight it out. It kept them from trying to talk to him.
God, please don’t let any of them get hurt. And please help me find Maggie.
“I don’t want any of you to put yourself in danger,” Eli said as the train pulled into Fair Haven later. “I don’t believe that Hollis Anderson was armed the times I saw him, but he could be now.”
“We’ll be careful,” Peg assured him. The others nodded their agreement.
“Just tell us what needs to be done,” Nathaniel said.
But, as was often the case of late, Eli didn’t know what needed to be done.
Chapter Forty
Unlike the occasion of his previous visit, the Radford home had a neglected and empty feel that sent Eli’s heart racing. He’d stationed the others at various intervals around the yard, and resisted the urge to check and make sure they were in place.
What was he up against? He was certain it was a trap, but to what end? Was Hollis watching him approach the house? Had he harmed Maggie? If Hollis was desperate enough to kidnap her, he was desperate enough to kill her, and anyone else who got in his way.
With no idea what he was facing, Eli was unsure whether to tap on the door like this was a normal visit or kick it in. He was surprised to see the door already ajar.
Easing the Colt from his holster, Eli pushed the door further open with his boot, and then braced for gunfire. When nothing happened, he eased forward. The hall looked the same as the last time, but somehow felt different. The whole place did. There
was no hustle and bustle of servants, no sounds coming from the adjoining rooms. The first room he checked was empty. The second one had one old man sitting in front of a cold fireplace.
Eli had only gotten a glimpse of Nelson Radford before, when he’d stopped Maggie from running up to the porch, now he studied the man—brown hair, graying at the temples, a slim build, and a face that might have looked better without the sorrowful expression. He was staring into the empty fireplace as if he were watching flames dance around.
He turned to face Eli. “Who are you?”
“I’m Elijah Calhoun, the sheriff of Moccasin Rock. I’m searching for Hollis Anderson. He’s kidnapped Maggie.”
The man jerked back. “What?”
“Hollis is not the man you believe him to be. He’s taken her from Moccasin Rock. She’s in danger.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Radford said, “but I do know Hollis doesn’t have her.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“I just know.”
Eli looked around. “Where is everyone?”
“They walked out.”
“Why?”
Nelson faced the fireplace again, refusing to answer.
“I’m going to search this house from top to bottom,” Eli said, “and if I find Maggie you’re going to regret lying to me.”
The man gave him a frustrated look. “Don’t you understand? I want you to find her. She’s not here.”
“Then where is she?”
“The last I heard, she was with you. I guess she ran off again.”
Jaw set, Eli left the room before he said something he’d regret. He made quick work of searching the bottom floor, and the basement. Nothing. Before heading upstairs, he stepped out the back door, whistled, and waited until his brother reached him.
“Any sign of her?” Nathaniel asked.
“No. I’ve still got to search the second floor and the attic. Will you check on everyone else?”
A Texas Promise Page 25
