Shadow of Deceit (Shadow #2)

by Barbara Goss

  SHADOW OF

  DECEIT

  Barbara Goss

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this book is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without express written permission from the author.

  Copyright © 2016 Barbara Goss

  All Rights Reserved

  Kindle Edition

  Cover design by: Samantha Fury

  Table of Contents

  SHADOW OF

  DECEIT

  Table of 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 1

  Caleb walked to his buggy from the church after his brother’s wedding. He pulled his collar up against the January wind. He treaded carefully as not to fall on the puddles of ice in the yard where the buggies and wagons were parked.

  Weddings seemed to depress him lately. He was happy for Jonas and Ivy, but when would his turn come? Surely there must be a woman out there who wouldn’t mind a man with a bad leg. He turned around in time to catch a glimpse of Jonas and Ivy kissing in their buggy. He sighed. He had kissed just one girl in his whole life when he was twelve, just before a bull trampled him. The girl had moved away from Abilene, but probably wouldn’t have wanted him now, anyway. His brother Jonas was only eighteen months older than he, and this was already his second marriage.

  He had a lot to think about on his ride home from the church.

  A few years ago his father had suggested a mail order bride for him. He’d thought about it, but had declined the offer. Once whomever he wrote to saw him, she’d not only be disappointed, but also regret all the months of writing to him as a waste of her time.

  Now he thought perhaps it was worth a try. He’d talk to his father about it. He didn’t know where to even find a mail order bride.

  He remembered that horrible day clearly, and had replayed the afternoon in his mind so many times. How he wished he could change the events of that day. He was twelve and the job at hand was to move the bull from the old rickety pen to a larger, sturdier one. The orders from his father were that the three of them would methodically move the bull. But no—he wanted to show them both how capable he was. It was always Jonas this, and Jonas that. He wanted to show them both he could manage moving a bull by himself. He had a sturdy rope, and all he had to do was lasso the bull’s neck and lead him out. How difficult could that be? He wasn’t in the pen two seconds when the bull charged. Luckily Jonas and his father weren’t far behind and rescued him, and their expensive, prize bull had to be shot in order to save his life.

  It had been a long recuperation. Months of intensive doctoring, and then months more of trying to walk again, were endured. Thankfully, his face hadn’t gotten gored, but that was about the only place that hadn’t been scarred.

  After he pulled into his yard, he handed his buggy to Barney, his all-round handyman. He had a staff on the small farm he owned to help him, because there was a lot he still couldn’t do himself.

  He walked into his modest, one-floor, brick home. His housekeeper, Elsie, had left his supper on the stove. It was cold, but he’d eat it anyway. He was too tired to go to the trouble of reheating it. Having eaten a bit at the wedding, he wasn’t very hungry anyway.

  As he ate he thought about the years after his accident, and how his father, and brother had pampered him rather than insist he do things for himself. He supposed it was the way they showed their love, but it hadn’t helped him any. He and Jonas always had a normal brotherly relationship with teasing and occasional fights, but after the accident, Jonas never teased him, and he treated him gently, which Caleb silently resented. He wanted to be treated the same as before the tragedy.

  The most fortunate thing that happened in his life was his aunt’s leaving all her money to him and Jonas. He hardly knew her, but she left him and Jonas each a large sum of money, since they were her only heirs. This gave him the independence he’d long sought.

  He and Jonas had bought adjoining land and built modest homes. Their father had stipulated that even though they had an enormous amount of money, they were to keep their spending low-key until they each married. George Armstrong didn’t want fortune hunters seeking out either son.

  Once they were married they could divulge their fortune to their wives. Caleb imagined that right about now Jonas was probably telling his wife about his fortune. Now, Jonas could build a better home, expand his already large stables, and finally spend his money. As for him, he didn’t care about the money other than it gave him independence. He had everything he wanted and made a decent living from the lumber mill. The money couldn’t buy him a new leg.

  He put his dishes in the sink, turned off all the lamps, and walked to his bedroom, undressed, and crawled into bed. It had been a long day.

  He awoke to a pounding on his back door. He quickly dressed and ran to the answer it. Where was Elsie? Oh, he’d forgotten, it was Sunday, her day off.

  He opened to door to George Armstrong. “Father! Good morning. Come right in.”

  “Good morning, son. How did you sleep?” George asked as he entered the kitchen. “It felt good to sleep in a bit this morning since there isn’t a church service today, owed to the late double service last night. Wasn’t the wedding and New Year’s Eve service breathtaking?”

  Caleb sat across from him and nodded. “It was fine,” he said. “I’d offer you coffee but I didn’t make it yet.”

  “I had three cups this morning, already.”

  “I wanted to come and see you today anyway, I have something to ask you,” Caleb said.

  “And I came to tell you that now that Jonas is married, and has a beautiful wife and daughter, he is naturally anxious to spend some of his money on them.” While George hesitated, Caleb nodded, that he followed his conversation.

  “So, I’ve advised him to still keep living modestly—of course he can spend the money he makes from his horse stables. But until you marry, I think we should still keep a lid on it. I don’t want any—”

  “Fortune hunters,” Caleb finished for him “I know. That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

  “Go ahead, son. You have my undivided attention.”

  “You mentioned once about a mail order bride for me. How do you go about finding one? I might be interested,” Caleb said.

  George reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a folded newspaper page, and handed it to Caleb. “I was going to suggest this again today. I think it’s just what you need.”

  “I’ll try it,” he said taking the newspaper, and scanning it quickly.

  “I took the liberty of circling the ones that I think you’d like best, but you choose.” George stood. “Well, I’m off to visit my granddaughter, Zoe, who spent the night with Ivy’s parents. She’s never been away from Jonas since he brought her home, so I want to be sure she’s okay.”

  “Give her a kiss from Uncle Cal,” Caleb said as he walked his father to the door.

&nbs
p; After his father had gone, he took the paper out and read the ads. His father had circled three of the ads: a widow in Pennsylvania, a single lady in Virginia, and a single lady in Maryland’s ad. He skimmed the others, and had to admit, his father chose the best ones. The rest were older matrons or women looking for work in restaurants and saloons.

  Caleb went to his desk and wrote to all three. In the very first letter he told them all, he owned his own home, was co-owner of a lumber mill, and walked with a limp due to a farming accident. He wanted to be square with them right away. He was sure they’d get plenty of responses, so he wanted to be sure his stood out, but was honest.

  Miles Croft paced the sitting room. “I can’t believe you want me to do something that could cost me my job at the bank.”

  Julia shrugged. “Please, Miles, I’m desperate.”

  “You came all the way from Hays, just to ask me to find you a rich man? Don’t they have any wealthy people in Hays?” Miles said, visibly upset.

  “I had to leave Hays,” she said. “Since you work in a bank, it was a perfect solution to my problem.”

  “You had to leave Hays? Why? What kind of trouble are you in, anyway?”

  Julia ran a hand through her long, auburn hair. “I would rather you just do this favor, I’m your sister. Doesn’t that count for anything? Can’t you trust me?”

  “I don’t understand. You’re a beautiful woman. Why would you need help to find a man? Men swarmed around you when I lived in Hays. What happened?” He slammed his fist on the end table. “If you don’t tell me everything, I can’t help you.”

  Julia sighed. “What if by telling you, I’m divulging someone else’s confidential information?”

  “Then forget it. I can’t disclose the information you need. If anyone found out, I’d be fired. I need that job.” Miles paced again. “The answer is no.”

  “All right, I’ll tell you, but you aren’t going to like it.” Julia said.

  First thing the next morning Caleb drove his buggy into town and posted the three letters. Then, he went to work at the lumber mill.

  He greeted his father who was bent over a pile of papers in his office. Then he opened up the front counter of the store, for business. He heard the circular saws, bandsaws and the sounds of wood being stacked in the back of the mill, and knew they were ready for the day’s business.

  He’d worked with his father for several years. When he and Jonas received their inheritance, their father wanted Jonas to invest in a business. Jonas started a stable and now had the best horseflesh in Kansas. Because of his leg, his father gave him half the lumber mill business, and would give him the whole business when he retired.

  Business boomed with so many people moving into Abilene now that the town was more civilized than it had been when the cattlemen came to town. The town was now closed to the cattle drives and they were re-routed to Dodge.

  Houses were being built all over Abilene bringing in decent families. Due to the influx of the housing—carpenters, plasterers, and other craftsmen came to town in search of jobs. The population increased more each day, so it was no surprise when people came into the lumber store that he didn’t know. Years ago he knew everyone in town.

  The business district of Abilene grew too. They now had a drug store, several clothing merchants, three attorneys, two doctors, two ministers, and a town constable.

  He was bent over the counter sorting orders when a couple walked in, and the man asked about the price of lumber. Caleb recognized the man as one of the bank clerks, but he didn’t recall his name. He’d never seen the woman before, and he wondered if it could be his wife. He walked across the store leading them into the mill area, and showed the man several types and sizes available. Then, Caleb did some figuring at the desk and handed the man a rough estimate, since the man didn’t have the dimensions of his project. The couple left; telling him they’d return with the specifics for the order.

  Julia and her brother, Miles, exited the lumber mill. “So, what did you think of him, Julia?”

  “He’s very handsome, but what’s wrong with his leg?” she asked.

  “I didn’t live here when it happened, but I’d heard it was a farm accident. But, he is loaded with money and single, just what you wanted me to find for you, right?”

  “Yes. He’s a lot better looking than Conrad Lebold’s son Adam.”

  “Wealthier too,” Miles said. “Remember though, you can’t tell anyone I divulged this information or I’ll lose my job.”

  “I promise,” she said.

  “He’s handsome, but his limp bothers me, he walks rather lopsided. What about his brother, Jonas? You said he was wealthy too.”

  “He married recently,” Miles said.

  “I’ll choose this one, then. What’s his name again?” Julia asked.

  “Caleb Armstrong,” he said. “I don’t think he is courting anyone. In fact, I’ve never seen him court anyone since I’ve been in Abilene.”

  Julia crossed the street with her arm through the bend her brother’s arm. “How should I go about meeting him?”

  “I could use some lumber to replace my sagging front porch,” Miles said. “I’ll write what I need and you can order it. I’m sure they deliver. Give him my address. If he delivers, you can be there to sign for it.”

  Julia smiled. “I think I can handle this.”

  Chapter 2

  Caleb prepared to close the store for the day. The mill sounds had ceased and all the men had gone home. Even his father had left for the day. He locked the safe, and cleared the counter of paperwork, when in walked the woman who’d come in earlier with the bank clerk.

  He looked behind her but didn’t see the clerk with her. She was alone.

  “What can I do for you, miss?”

  “I have the order for my brother,” she smiled, and handed him the paper with the order. Had he imagined that she’d stressed the word brother?

  When Caleb went to take the paper, he was almost sure she’d purposely brushed his hand. On second thought, why would an attractive woman like her brush his hand? He must have imagined it. Jonas’s wedding had put his imagination to work, that’s all it was.

  Caleb added up the figures. “Where would you like these delivered?”

  “Do you personally make the deliveries?” she asked with raised eyebrows.

  “Not as a rule,” he said. “Only when Ben Johnson is out sick. He’s our delivery person.”

  “Oh. That’s fine. I just wondered,” she said. “My brother lives on the corner of Main and Cedar, across from the market.”

  “I’ll need the money today for a delivery tomorrow,” he said.

  “My brother is paying for it, he didn’t give me the money yet. Could I bring it to you tomorrow and have it delivered the day after, or something?” She’d asked with such a distressed look on her face, that sympathy flooded through him.

  Caleb thought her an extremely attractive woman, with her auburn hair and large expressive green eyes. Her attire was fancier than the women in town usual wore, and she had a fancy hairstyle. These differences made him curious about her. Or, perhaps she was on her way to someplace fancy, a party or some other classy engagement.

  “Are you new to Abilene?” he asked.

  “Yes, I’m from Topeka—originally. I’m visiting my brother, Miles.” She smiled. “I may just stay; I like Abilene. Well, that is—as much as I’ve seen of it. My brother is too busy to take me on a tour of the area. I’m quite lost if I step off this street.”

  Caleb thought about offering his services, but he held back—because of his limp. Maybe she hadn’t seen it this morning. Women often made passes at him—then when they saw him walk, they’d give him a sympathetic look, and then quickly explain why they’d suddenly changed their mind. It happened too many times.

  “I could wait until tomorrow,” Caleb told her. “In fact, if you come before noon, I might still be able to have Ben deliver it before five.”

  “Perfect.” She said. “I
’ll be here early,” she gave him a smile that warmed him.

  She had a smile to match her face, beautiful. In fact, her constant smiles almost seemed as if she were flirting with him. Well, here goes, thought Caleb. He limped from behind the counter and to the door and held it open for her. “I’m closing for the day,” he said. “I hope to see you tomorrow.”

  Without even looking at his leg, and still smiling, she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She walked out of the door.

  She hadn’t grimaced when she’d seen him walk clumsily to the door. She hadn’t even gasped. He locked the door and walked to his buggy. He didn’t realize she was still in front of the lumber mill watching him until he heard her voice.

  “Excuse me,” she called, “Is that your buggy?”

  Caleb looked at his buggy as if he had been about to jump into the wrong one. After assuring himself it was his own buggy, he said, “Yes, it is,”

  “It’s beautiful,” she said. She walked closer to the buggy and ran her palm down the upholstery. “Very nice.” She used her left hand and he noticed she didn’t wear a ring. Did she display that hand on purpose? Then Caleb shook his head to remove the ridiculous notions from his mind.

  Caleb smiled back at her. “Thank you.”

  “Do you suppose you could drop me off at my brother’s? I wore the wrong shoes today, and my feet are sore. It isn’t far,” she said.

  “Sure,” he answered. He was shocked that after seeing him walk she still wanted to be near him. Or, she needed this ride more than he thought.

  She hopped in, and he turned the buggy toward her brother’s house, which was just two blocks down the street. When he pulled up in front of the little gray house, she stepped down from the buggy, and faced him. “Thank you. By the way, my name is Julia Croft. And yours is—?”

  “Caleb Armstrong,” he said. “Nice to meet you Julia.”