Beside Still Waters

by Tracey V. Bateman

  Eva

  P.S. Tell Jonesy I saw a flock of geese returning today. I took some stale bread and gave them a welcome-home party.

  Jonesy smiled at the memory of Eva telling him she used to send the geese off for the winter with full stomachs. Oh, how he missed their rides together, their talks.

  Each time the Rileys received a letter from Eva, they sent for him and allowed him to sit and listen while Hope read. A new letter had arrived at least once a month, and each carried a P.S. for him.

  Despite his joy that she’d sent him another personal message, he felt heartsick that she would give away her child. If only she knew that he was willing to marry her and take her away. Be a pa to the baby. Frustration clamped tightly around his middle. How could he prove his love for her if she wouldn’t tell anyone where to find her?

  He’d missed the April first deadline he’d given himself to go back to Texas. Here it was, the middle of May. It always took a couple of weeks for one of Eva’s letters to reach them in Hobbs. If she came back late in the summer, they would still have time to leave. Otherwise they would have to wait through one more winter. It would be too risky to leave in the fall, especially with a baby—and that was if he could find Eva before she went through with her plan to give the child away.

  Jonesy had been so deep in his thoughts that he hadn’t noticed Mrs. Riley lean against Mr. Riley’s shoulder. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “Mrs. Riley,” Jonesy said with conviction, “I’m going to Oregon City. I have to find Eva and convince her not to give the baby away. I still want to marry her. I’ll raise that child as my own.”

  Mr. Riley regarded Jonesy evenly. “But she’s asked us not to try to find her. She seems to be doing well, and I want to give her time to sort all this out. I think you should, too.”

  Hope reached across the table and patted Jonesy’s hand. “I believe Eva’s made a wise choice in turning the baby over to parents who will love him fully.”

  “But I’d love the baby just as much. There’s no need for Eva to do this.”

  The Rileys remained silent.

  He said his good-byes in short order, then rode to his parents’ house to relay the contents of the letter to his ma. “I need to find her,” he said. “But Mr. Riley believes I have no business trying to.”

  “He’s right,” Ma said softly. “Give it some more time, son. She’ll come home when she’s ready.”

  “But it’ll be too late by then. She’ll have already given the baby away.”

  “Why are you so set on raising this child? Are you afraid that if Eva doesn’t keep the baby, she won’t need you to marry her and sweep her away to Texas?”

  Jonesy cringed at his mother’s words. “Of course not.”

  At least that’s what his mind screamed. But as he went about doing his chores, somewhere deep down inside, he knew she was right.

  Charity suffereth long and is kind. It seeketh not her own.

  He wanted Eva to need him. So much so that he resented her desire to share the baby with a barren couple. “Oh, God. Forgive me.”

  Peace swept over Jonesy. But the urgency to find Eva seemed to intensify in that moment. He knew that as surely as the earth needs water, Eva needed him. He also knew that God was telling him to go find her.

  Pete sat at the bar next to Randy and slugged down another whisky. After being cooped up in this town all winter and spring, he was plenty restless. He made a grab for the nearest woman, a plump but pretty saloon girl.

  She gave him a slow smile with luscious, stained lips. “What can I get for you, Cowboy?”

  A flash of gold around her neck arrested his attention. He frowned. It looked familiar. He made a grab at it and snatched it in his fingers before she could stop him.

  “Hey, mister, that’s mine. And Mike don’t take kindly to us gettin’ manhandled. Ain’t that right, Mike?”

  “Leave her locket alone, mister.”

  “I want to know where she stole this from. I know the owner.”

  The prostitute sneered. “I didn’t steal it. Eva gave this to me.”

  “It was a gift from her pa,” he growled. “She wouldn’t have given it away.”

  “Okay, fine. Keep it.”

  “I don’t want the locket. I want the girl. Where is she?”

  “Why should I tell you?”

  “Let’s just go,” Randy said quietly. “You don’t want to start that trouble again.”

  Pete moved slowly away. Randy was right, for now. He had ways of getting information out of women. This cow would tell him where to find Eva, or she’d be dead by morning.

  fifteen

  Lady Anne carried Jonesy into Oregon City just as dawn was beginning to break. He’d left directly after supper, under protest from his parents, and had ridden all night. Before he left, he’d stopped by the Rileys to let them know he was going. He’d felt it was the right thing to do. After all, Eva was their daughter and they had requested that he not go. But something in Andy’s eyes shone his approval when they’d shaken hands. “I’d be doin’ the same thing if it were my Hope.”

  Those words of assurance had been all the confirmation Jonesy needed that going to Oregon City was the right decision.

  Mrs. Riley handed him an envelope. “Go to our niece Aimee’s house. The address is on the back of that letter. Rex can tell you where to find Eva.”

  Jonesy stared at the envelope, trying to wrap his mind around the truth of Hope Riley’s words. “You’ve known all along where she is?”

  She nodded. “Rex’s private investigators found her before Eva’s first letter arrived.”

  “And you never brought her home?” Jonesy said, a bit too harshly.

  Mr. Riley had placed a protective arm about her shoulders. “We knew she was safe. And she needed some time away.”

  “Then why are you telling me now?”

  “If you’re determined to find her, there’s no sense in sending you on a wild-goose chase. What happens between the two of you is something you’ll have to sort through. It’s not our place to deliberately keep you from her.”

  Jonesy followed the directions on the back of the letter and by morning had found the place. A servant answered his knock.

  “Is this the home of Rex and Aimee Donnelly?”

  The stiff male servant nodded. “Who may I say is calling?”

  “Ben Jones. I’m a friend of Aimee’s aunt Hope and uncle Andy. I have a letter for Aimee from Eva’s parents.”

  He took the envelope and stepped away from the doorway. “Come inside, please.” He led the way to an elegantly furnished sitting room and waved Jonesy inside. “Wait here, please. I will inform Mr. and Mrs. Donnelly of your presence.”

  “Thank you.”

  In moments, they appeared. The man shook his hand, and the lovely woman with blond curls and blue eyes offered her hand, as well.

  “Thank you both for seeing me.”

  “I read Aunt Hope’s letter. Eva is very blessed to have a man who loves her so much.”

  “I’m the one who feels blessed to know her. I need to find her.” He looked from one to the other. “Can you please lead me in the right direction?”

  Rex sat next to Aimee on the settee. “She’s living with a minister and his wife about four hours’ ride north. There is a small community of farmers who gather to worship at Reverend O’Neill’s chapel on Sunday. They seem to make a habit of taking in strays like Eva.”

  Jonesy’s ire rose. “Eva’s far from being a stray.”

  Rex gave a chuckle. “Believe me, I didn’t mean to insult her. I just meant they seem to take in people who don’t have anywhere else to go. If Eva was looking for solitude and kindness, that’s why she ended up with the O’Neills and why she’s stayed with them for so long.”

  Mollified, Jonesy let down his guard. “I’m grateful to them for helping her and keeping her in a safe place, but it’s time to find her.”

  Jonesy received instructions on which road to take out of town an
d how to find the little log cabin and chapel in the woods.

  Aimee insisted he join them for breakfast. Jonesy had to admit he felt better and more energized after the meal. His hopes were high as he set out to find Eva.

  The sun had already risen by the time Eva opened her eyes and greeted the day. Her back ached before she even moved. She would be so relieved when the next two months were over and her body returned to normal. To have energy again. To be able to sleep all night without visiting the outhouse. To do something as simple as shifting from side to side without effort.

  Her bulging stomach rolled as the baby moved inside her. She smiled. “You’re just waking up, too, huh, little one?”

  Shawna entered the room, smiling brightly. “Oh, good. You’re up. Mrs. O’Neill says you should get ready soon or you’ll be late for morning services.”

  Stretching and yawning, Eva heaved up to a sitting position. “I feel as though I haven’t slept a wink.”

  “I heard you get up at least three times.” Sympathy sang in her tone. “Don’t worry. It’ll all be over soon. The baby will be tucked away safe and sound at the Matthewses’ home. Then you can forget this ugliness ever happened to you.”

  Forget? Though the memory had faded and the terror diminished each day as the peace of God reigned in her life, Eva knew she’d never forget the horror of that night. But over the past months, she had come to understand that God was able to carry her through. That every day didn’t have to be about what had happened to her. She knew that once the baby was born, she would be ready to go home.

  Smoke curled into the air above the little log cabin. From the edge of the woods thirty yards away, Pete watched a small dog playing with a fallen branch. He scanned the surrounding area to see if there were any larger dogs that might be a problem.

  The door opened, and a pretty young woman appeared. She smiled and stooped down to pet the dog. Pete glanced at Randy. “Looks like there’s one for you, too.”

  “Shut up,” Randy snarled. “I like my women willing. I don’t force myself on them.”

  Pete bristled at the accusation. Randy didn’t understand the special relationship he had with Eva Riley. He drew in a breath when the door opened again. His dark-haired beauty appeared. Pete frowned. She looked … different.

  “Aw, she went and got fat. Why would she do that when she knows I’m coming back to her?”

  His companion shook his head. “There ain’t no helpin’ you, Pete. You belong in an asylum somewhere.”

  “You tellin’ me she don’t look fat to you?”

  “Idiot. The only thing big on that girl is her stomach, and there’s only one reason for that.”

  Pete gave a snort. “Yeah, too much food.”

  Randy looked away in disgust. “If you don’t like fat women, why not just let her go?”

  “Let her go? She’s been waitin’ for me all this time. How would it look if I got this close and then just left without seein’ her?”

  “Are you crazy?” Randy growled, his voice as angry as Pete had ever heard. “You forced yourself on that girl. She’s praying she never sees your ugly face again.”

  “Shut up!” Pete felt the blackness coming. He didn’t like it and tried not to do what it wanted, but usually he couldn’t help himself. Pictures played in his head, and he had to do what he saw. He raised his gun and slammed it down on the back of Randy’s neck. The man slumped forward with an oomph, then slid from his horse.

  Poor Randy. He didn’t understand how Pete felt about Eva. He’d been a good friend, but Pete couldn’t take a chance the burly man would disrupt his plans. Not when he was this close to getting what he wanted.

  Eva gathered a deep breath of rain-soaked air as she headed down the path to the chapel. She would be the last one to arrive, as was becoming a habit. Since Mrs. O’Neill had released her from morning chores during the past month, she’d allowed herself those few coveted extra moments of sleep.

  The organ music was already playing before she was even halfway up the tree-lined path. Suddenly, above the music, she heard the reverend’s voice.

  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

  Eva frowned. How could it be that she heard the reverend’s voice so clearly above the congregation singing “Blessed Assurance”?

  She heard it again.

  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

  Footsteps behind her made her smile. The reverend must have forgotten his spectacles again. The scripture she heard him reciting was surely his text. Without his eyeglasses, he wouldn’t have been able to read a word.

  Her smile widened, and teasing bubbled to her lips. She turned to greet him.

  Disbelief shot across her mind. Her forward momentum halted midstride, and she backed up. A scream tore at her throat, but no sound emerged.

  Him! No! He couldn’t have found her.

  His eyes flashed with evil intention. “Hi, Eva. Did you miss me?”

  He reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her to him. Pressing his mouth close to her ear, he whispered, “Don’t make a sound.”

  Hot tears burned her eyes. She knew she wouldn’t live this time.

  Jonesy heard the sound of singing and an organ playing in the distance. His heart skipped. In moments, he would see his beloved Eva again. All the way from town, he’d tried to imagine what he would say to her. Especially when he knew she didn’t want to see him.

  He wasn’t even sure why he’d come at this point. He wouldn’t try to talk her out of giving up her baby. He wouldn’t ask her to come to Texas with him. He had decided he wouldn’t ask her to marry him until he knew she was ready.

  For now, he had every intention of keeping his word that they would go back to their easy friendship. The one they’d shared before admitting their feelings for each other.

  Lady Anne stamped her legs and whinnied as they neared a clearing in the woods. “What is it, girl?”

  Jonesy heard a man moaning. “Hello? Is someone there?”

  “Help,” came the feeble reply.

  Jonesy halted Lady Anne and dismounted. He walked toward the moaning. “Where are you?”

  “Here.”

  Drawing in a breath, Jonesy recognized the man on the ground. Blood stained his shirt and the back of his head. “Randy? What are you doing here?”

  “Pete found her.”

  Fear exploded in his chest. “What?”

  “Eva’s in danger. Hurry.”

  “Where?”

  “I ain’t sure.” Randy grimaced.

  “If you’ve hurt her, I’ll kill you!”

  “I tried to talk him out of it. That’s the only reason I came along. So I could try to protect her for you. But he must have figured it out, ’Cause soon as my back was turned, he knocked me in the head.” He moaned again. “We saw her come out of the house.”

  Alarm burst through Jonesy. “Did he figure out that she’s …?”

  “That dimwit thought she was fat. I tried to tell him, but he couldn’t figure it out.”

  Jonesy blew a relieved breath. He looped Lady Anne’s reins around a nearby tree and drew his pistol. “Look out for my horse,” he told Randy. “I’ll be back to help you as soon as Eva’s safe.”

  Slowly he moved toward the clearing. Several yards of land lay between him and the house where he would be visible to anyone watching. “Lord, please keep me hidden,” he whispered.

  He traveled swiftly across the open land to the cabin. With his back against the log wall, he made his way around to each window. He could see no one in the cabin.

  He forsook the path and used the trees as shields as he headed toward the chapel.

  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee….” The sound of Eva’s voice reached his ears.
“Be not dismayed; for I am thy God.”

  “Shut up!” Pete’s voice sounded wild with anger. “I said, shut up!”

  When Jonesy spotted him, his heart nearly stopped. Eva sat beside him, bound to a tree. What could Pete possibly be thinking? If he wanted to kidnap her, he could have been long gone by now. If he wanted to hurt her again, or even kill her, he could have done that, too. But to tie her up not far from the chapel, where people were bound to hear her if she screamed? It made no sense.

  “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.”

  “Stop it! I can’t think.” Pete covered his ears and squeezed his eyes shut.

  Eva’s voice trembled, and Jonesy could see she was fighting to believe her own words. “I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

  “Stop it!” Pete pointed the gun toward Eva’s head. “I mean it. I’ll kill you.”

  “No!” Jonesy rushed forward as Pete swung around. A shot rang out.

  Pete dropped. Jonesy looked down at his still-cold pistol. He hadn’t even been able to think clearly enough to fire. How …?

  “Jonesy!” Eva’s scream pierced the air. “Behind you!”

  He turned just in time to see Randy, gun in hand, crumple to the ground at his feet. His eyes closed, but his chest rose and fell in shallow breaths.

  “It’s all right, Eva. He saved us.” Jonesy quickly closed the distance between them and began working the knots in the ropes that bound her wrists behind the tree. “Pete knocked him out earlier, when he was going to try to save you. He’s lost a lot of blood. Only God could have given him the strength to come find us, and just when we needed him.”

  “How did you find me?” she asked.

  “Rex knew where you were.”

  Once she was free, he held back, unsure if she had digressed to the fear she’d experienced after the first attack.

  But she smiled, her eyes shining with what he hoped was love, and threw her arms about his neck. “Oh, Jonesy, God told me He was sending help. He told me not to be afraid. And you came at just the right time.”