Morning Sky

by Judith Miller

  MORNING

  SKY

  JUDITH

  MILLER

  Morning Sky

  Copyright © 2006

  Judith Miller

  Cover design by Lookout Design Group, Inc.

  Cover photo of settlers used with permission of the Nebraska State Historical Society, Photograph Collections.

  Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

  Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright owners.

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  Printed in the United States of America

  * * *

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  McCoy-Miller, Judith.

  Morning sky / Judith Miller.

  p. cm. — (Freedom’s path ; bk. 2)

  Summary: “Ezekiel Harban carries bitterness and suspicion toward his wife’s half-

  sister. Lilly recently fled New Orleans and moved to his Kansas prairie. He is sure she is

  hiding something, but what?”—Provided by publisher. ISBN 0-7642-2999-0 (pbk.)

  I. Title II. Series: McCoy-Miller, Judith. Freedom’s path ; bk. 2.

  PS3613.C3858M67 2006

  813'.54—dc22

  2005032009

  * * *

  To my husband,

  Jim—God’s amazing gif t to me

  A MESSAGE TO MY READERS

  Ihope you will join me on my continuing journey to explore the struggles and growth of Nicodemus and Hill City, Kansas, through the lives of the Harban and Boyle families. As the towns experience expansion and development, the character and fortitude of the inhabitants are stretched and tested in their fight to survive the harsh Kansas prairie.

  Both of these towns were formed in the late nineteenth century by a group of African-American and Caucasian men with a vision to settle western Kansas. Their plan called for one city, Nicodemus, to be predominately settled by African-Americans and the other community, Hill City, to be predominately settled by Caucasians.

  While grounded in fact, Morning Sky is a work of fiction and not a historical documentary. However, I have made every attempt to honestly portray the harsh circumstances these early settlers faced and the intense courage they displayed as they struggled to settle on the western plains.

  Both of these towns continue their crusades to survive. Nicodemus is the only African-American frontier town in existence today.

  For additional information about these communities, you may visit the Kansas Historical SocietyWeb site at www.kshs.org or the National Park Service Web site at www.nps.gov/nico/.

  The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

  shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

  — PROVERBS 4 : 18 NIV

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  CHAPTER

  1

  Nicodemus, Kansas • June 1880

  Nicodemus? Surely not!

  Lilly Verdue traced one finger along the deep V-shaped neckline of her bright red dress. The crimson shade of her gown highlighted the mind-numbing drabness of this town as much as it accentuated her soft toffee-brown skin. What a wretched place.

  Dust billowed from beneath the wheels of the freight wagon as it slowed to a stop. This couldn’t be the town where Ezekiel had chosen to settle with his family, could it? Stunned into an uncharacteristic silence, Lilly stared down the street. A livery stable, a sod church, and a pitiable general store that appeared to double as the local post office lined one side of the street. On the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and Third Street, she saw a frame drugstore flanked by a small sod building advertising hotel rooms for rent. Lilly nearly laughed aloud as she read the signage. The building more closely resembled a ramshackle privy than a hotel or boardinghouse. Who would even consider paying to room in such a place?

  Farther down the street, she spied another sod church, a lumber merchant offering limited supplies of wood, and a real estate office. A torn broadside nailed to the door of the real estate office boasted fair prices for farmland in Nicodemus Township.

  “Little wonder!” Lilly muttered. “They’d have to pay me to own land in this forsaken place.” No millinery shop, no dress shop, and no saloon or dance hall—yet a church on each corner.

  Yes. This would be a town Ezekiel would choose for his family.

  Lilly pulled a lace handkerchief from her beaded reticule and waved at two men standing outside the blacksmith’s shop. As the wagon passed by, she straightened to full advantage, enjoying the stares of unrestrained interest. Perhaps she didn’t need to worry about her age— it seemed she still had enough flair to garner attention from members of the opposite gender.

  Dismissing the driver’s condemning look, Lilly settled back against the hard wooden seat and sighed. “Any of these dwellings or businesses belong to Ezekiel Harban?”

  The driver shook his head. “No, but you’s lucky. Ezekiel’s place is only a couple miles outside of town.”

  Lilly arched her perfectly shaped brows and curled her upper lip. She wouldn’t argue with the driver, for if he thought there was good fortune connected with living anywhere near this place, he wasn’t apt to understand a word she could say. Why waste her breath? Obviously this man was no different from her brother-in-law. He likely thought life must be filled with nothing more than hard work, austere surroundings, and religion. Oh yes, lots and lots of religion—the kind that was filled with a generous measure of fire and brimstone.

  Mouth agape, Jarena Harban gawked at the flamboyantly attired woman. She could neither close her mouth nor turn her eyes from the mysterious sight. The strange visitor sat patiently, lips pursed and hands folded, while Jarena’s father walked around the freight wagon and reached up a hand to assist her down from the conveyance.

  Though her father’s eyebrows were knit together in a fuzzy worry line—which was not a good sign—the woman appeared completely unruffled. In fact, she seemed the personification of tranquillity.With her tawny skin and perfectly coiffed sable hair, she was a vision to behold in a dress of red silk adorned with countless tiny beads. The stitched embellishments shimmered like diamonds as the woman slowly sashayed toward Jarena and
her younger sister Grace. The woman came to a halt only inches in front of Jarena, who inhaled deeply and then lifted her nose into the air. Her nostrils filled with an unidentifiable scent—sweet, yet not too sweet—a most enjoyable experience.

  A gleam of satisfaction shone in the woman’s eyes as she appeared to notice Jarena’s actions. “My own mixture,” she announced proudly. When Jarena said nothing, the visitor pulled off one glove and extended her wrist until it hovered directly beneath Jarena’s nose.

  “The perfume—it’s my own mixture,” she explained. “I’m Lilly Verdue. Aunt Lilly to you and your sisters. And I suggest you close your mouth. Otherwise, you’ll soon be catching flies.”

  Jarena immediately smacked her lips together. The woman nodded once, and Jarena let out a breath. For some inexplicable reason, the woman’s sign of approval was important. Jarena wanted to impress this stranger, yet she wasn’t certain why. Most of all, she didn’t want to appear ill-mannered to such a stylish-appearing relative.

  However, a quick glance at her father proved he didn’t share her concerns. His eyes burned with anger, and his craggy features were twisted into a dark scowl. Jarena looked back and forth between her father and the outlandishly clad woman and waited for him to say something—anything. Instead, silence hung in the air like the stillness before a storm.

  Unnerved, Jarena turned her attention to their guest. “So you’re Aunt Lilly? Why didn’t you tell us she planned to visit us, Pappy? We could have made arrangements before her arrival.”

  A throaty laugh escaped Lilly’s lips, and Jarena noted it was one of those evocative sounds that caused men to take notice. Unfortunately for Aunt Lilly, Jarena’s father didn’t seem impressed in the least. Nor did he bother to answer Jarena’s question. Without fanfare, he hauled Lilly’s trunk from the back of the wagon.

  As their father passed Jarena and Grace, he tilted his head toward the wagon. “Grab them other two satchels, gals.”

  Jarena stepped forward and grasped the worn straps of the larger bag while Grace picked up the smaller satchel. As she made the proper introductions, Jarena led her aunt toward the house and explained that their sister, Truth, had taken employment in Hill City. She glanced over her shoulder with an apologetic smile. “Had I known you were coming, we would have been better prepared.”

  Ezekiel frowned at his eldest daughter. “An’ how wouldja prepare? We eat what we eat, and we sleep where we sleep. Ain’t nothin’ or nobody gonna change them things, so what’s to prepare?”

  Jarena could feel the heat rise beneath the frayed collar of her wrinkled calico dress. Her father’s sullen behavior was uncalled for—so far as she was concerned, anyway. No matter how much her father disliked Aunt Lilly’s past behavior, she was still their kin. Allowances were made for kinfolk. At least that’s what her mama had always told her.

  “Your father knew I was scheduled to arrive. Didn’t you, Ezekiel?” Aunt Lilly’s voice had the timbre of a cat’s purr.

  Jarena sunk her teeth into her lower lip. If Aunt Lilly thought batting her lashes and speaking in a sultry tone would endear her to the patriarch of their small family, she was sadly mistaken.

  “I got yo’ letters—all of ’em,” her father replied curtly before striding off toward the door of their sod house.

  With a determined step, Jarena hurried after her father. “What? But the only letter I ever knew of from her was the one that arrived shortly after we moved to Nicodemus—and I penned a reply. Who read the other letters to you, and why didn’t you mention them?”

  Before Ezekiel could reply, Lilly stepped forward. She wagged her index finger and frowned at him as though he were an errant schoolboy. “You didn’t tell the girls I wanted to keep in touch with them? Ezekiel! Jennie’s daughters are my only living relatives.”

  “There weren’t no need to discuss you or dem letters with nobody. Anyway, I know what each of dem letters said—every last word. Iffen there was anything important, I woulda tol’ the girls. They’s my daughters, and I know what’s best.”

  “But you can’t read, Pappy,” Jarena whispered.

  “Didn’t have to. Dr. Boyle and Moses read ’em. They even wrote answers to them letters for me. I tol’ you the girls was doin’ fine, Lilly.

  But it weren’t jest the girls you was interested in, and we both knows that, don’ we? Ain’t heard you mention my last letter, Lilly. You gonna tell me you never did get the mail I sent you?”

  Lilly traced one long painted fingernail along the folds of her silky skirt while peering at Ezekiel from beneath charcoaled eyelids. “Why, Ezekiel! Would I lie to you?”

  Ezekiel came to an abrupt halt in front of the door. “Hmmph! Wouldn’t be the first time, and I doubt it’d be the last.”

  Lilly shook her head as she gently patted Jarena’s shoulder. “Don’t you mind what your pappy says about me. He always did have a hard heart toward me.”

  Ezekiel grunted as he edged through the doorway and dropped the humpbacked trunk onto the dirt floor. “You ain’ answered. Did you get my letter?”

  Jarena followed Lilly into the house and watched as the older woman surveyed the dreary interior of the room. Jarena sighed. “As you can see, living out here in the middle of the prairie forces folks to live in strange habitats. But this soddy is much nicer than the dugout we called home until we moved from town. At least our sod house is completely above ground.”

  Scorn came into Lilly’s eyes. “Those few stores and churches aren’t a town! New Orleans—now there’s a town.”

  Jarena frowned, considering her response carefully. “Folks around these parts have worked hard, and we’re making great progress. The town may be small, but it’s growing. Why, only three years ago there was nothing here but open prairie. With all the folks that moved here from Mississippi in the last couple of years, we’ll likely expand to the size of Ellis in no time.”

  Obviously unimpressed, Lilly shrugged and continued to scrutinize the soddy before directing a pitying smirk at Jarena. “Your father never was one to care much about the home he provided for my dear sister or you children. I gave him plenty of opportunities to come down to New Orleans and make a decent living, but do you think he’d listen?”

  “That’s enough, Lilly! Don’ need to be fillin’ the girl’s head with your half-truths and empty promises. You still ain’ answered me. Did you get my letter?”

  “Which one? I received several. Let’s see . . .” She thoughtfully tapped her index finger on the tip of her chin. “There was a letter about three years ago. If memory serves me, Jarena penned that one. You’d only been in Kansas for a short time, and you said I shouldn’t plan to visit. Then there was a brief missive about a year ago saying much the same thing—I believe someone named Moses wrote that one for you. I don’t recall that I ever received a letter penned by any Dr. Boyle. In fact, when I didn’t receive a response to my latest letter, I assumed you were prepared to welcome me with open arms.”

  “I sent my last letter a couple months ago. Ain’ no reason why you shouldn’ta got it long ago.”

  Lilly pulled one of the rough-hewn chairs away from the wooden table and flicked the seat with her lace-edged handkerchief before sitting down. Jarena flinched at her aunt’s conduct. Did the woman believe their furniture required dusting before it could be sat upon? Their house might be primitive, but it wasn’t dirty. She and Grace exchanged a look.

  “I departed New Orleans shortly after posting my last letter to you,” Lilly explained. “I suppose that could account for my not receiving your reply. Land alive, but it’s hot inside this . . . this . . .”

  “Soddy,” Jarena finished.

  “Soddy.” Lilly shuddered as she repeated the word.

  “Don’ know how you can complain ’bout the heat in Kansas,” Ezekiel said. “Reckon it’s sweltering down in New Orleans. How come you didn’t mention you was gonna be movin’ after postin’ your last letter?

  How’d you expect me ta get word to you?”

 
; “I made my decision rather . . . umm . . . hastily.”

  Ezekiel directed a harsh look at his sister-in-law. “What you’s truly saying is that some folks caught on to your schemin’ ways and run you out of town. Ain’t that right?”

  “Not exactly.” Lilly looked at Jarena and Grace. “Come on over here, girls. Jarena, why is a beautiful girl like you still living at home and taking care of her pappy? You should be married and tending to babies of your own.”

  Jarena stopped in her tracks. Grace quickly dropped onto one of the empty chairs with a sturdy thud. “How come you don’t have a husband, Aunt Lilly?”

  “I did. He died a long time ago. I’ve never found another man who could measure up to my Henri.”

  “Ha!” Ezekiel slapped his beefy hand on the table. “Truth is, Henri Verdue died two weeks after you married him, and you ain’ never found another man willing to marry you—an’ we both know why.”

  The air crackled with tension. Jarena stared at her father in stunned disbelief. His eyes shone with disdain. She knew he didn’t approve of Aunt Lilly—she’d known that fact for years. Yet she obviously hadn’t realized the depth of his anger and contempt. She’d never known him to harbor such opinions against another person, especially a woman.

  “What about children? You have any children?” Grace asked.

  Before Aunt Lilly could reply, Ezekiel forged on with his barrage. “You ain’t foolin’ me, Lilly. You got yerself in some kind of trouble and come runnin’ out here to hide among strangers. Thing is, with them fancy clothes and your eyes charcoaled an’ cheeks rouged, you’s gonna stick out like a sore thumb. We’s hardworking, plain-livin’ folks.”

  Lilly waved her handkerchief as if to shoo away the comments. “Not to worry, Ezekiel. I think I can adjust in due time. I’m certain to find some opportunities out here in the West. Now tell me, Jarena, do you have a beau?”

  Jarena worried the edge of her threadbare apron. “I’m corresponding with a soldier—Thomas Grayson, but we’re not yet betrothed.”