Brides of Kansas

by Bateman, Tracey V. ;

  “I’ve treated you like you didn’t deserve love or forgiveness. No wonder you didn’t want to hear about Jesus. I paid the money for you to come home because even though I was mad as a hornet at you, I’m different inside than I used to be. I know I don’t act like I care anything about you, but the truth is, I don’t want you to die and go to hell, and I knew you stood a better chance of staying alive longer if you came home with me. Even though I wish I wouldn’t have had to give up my soddy or my land, I’d do it again for the chance to share Jesus with you before you die.”

  Heavy silence permeated the air between them as Pa sized her up. Then he cleared his throat and sneered. “That just shows how dumb you are.”

  Laney blinked in surprise. This was far from the repentant response she had hoped for and even halfway expected.

  “You know I ain’t never held to no religion. I ain’t a-startin’ now just ‘cause you got religion and gave up yer land fer me. Ya shouldn’t have done it. I wouldn’t have done if fer you.” He left her to stare after him as he shuffled to his pallet, practically threw himself down, and lay with his back to Laney.

  Bewildered, Laney turned back to her cup. Her own revelation had been so real and poignant that she couldn’t believe her pa could be so unmoved. Nevertheless, she knew something had transpired on the inside of her. If not the feelings of love, then at least the willingness to love. Urgency filled her as she listened to her pa begin to cough. I’m trying, Jesus. Please give me enough time.

  True to Granny’s prediction, the townsfolk filled the schoolhouse to overflowing the night of Vivienne’s farewell performance. Luke watched the door, wishing—without much hope—that Laney would make an appearance. He wanted…needed to see her, to somehow make her believe that he loved her and would willingly give up Oregon for her.

  He took a seat at the back just as Miss DuPres glided to the front, her red dress shimmering in the lamplight.

  “Thank you so much for coming,” she said graciously, and the room erupted in applause.

  Spellbound, the audience remained completely still while she poured out a haunting rendition of “Lorena.”

  During intermission, Luke joined several men outside. He noticed Laney leaning against the hitching post. Luke’s boots led him in her direction as though they had a mind of their own.

  She glanced up and smiled in greeting.

  “Been here long?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Watching from the door. Granny was right. Folks were happy to show up for another performance.”

  “She has a lovely voice. We don’t get that sort of entertainment around here.”

  “You think they do out west?”

  “I don’t know, Laney. And I don’t particularly care about entertainment.” Luke captured her hand in his and held tightly before she could jerk away. “I want you to listen to me.”

  “Let go of me!”

  “Not until you hear me out.”

  “Say your piece, then, and make it quick.”

  Before he could speak his mind, an unfamiliar man wearing a fancy suit and bowler hat interrupted. “Excuse me. Is Miss DuPres performing here tonight?”

  “Who wants to know?” Laney asked. From the suspicion clouding her eyes, Luke knew she was thinking the same thing that ran through his own mind. Was this the same man who had abandoned Vivienne and broken her heart?

  “I am her fiancé,” he replied.

  Laney stepped forward, crowding the man’s space until he backed up, bewilderment plastered on his face. “What makes you think she wants to see you? Any man who would run off and break a lady’s heart ain’t worth his salt, as far as I’m concerned.”

  Luke squirmed. He had the feeling Laney wasn’t just directing her words at the wayward fiancé. He almost felt sorry for the man.

  Laney moved a step closer. “You’d better give me a good reason not to call the sheriff right now and have you locked up, or that’s just what I’m going to do, mister.”

  “I have all the money right here except what it took me to get to Chicago and come right back.” Randy hung his head. “You’re right,” he said humbly. “I’m not worth the dirt she walks on, but I’ll make it all up to her if she’ll only take me back.”

  “If you love her,” Laney said, her tone softening, “why did you steal all her money and leave?”

  “I was a fool. A swindler. The plan was to wait until she had raised enough money, then leave. I’m ashamed to say I’ve done it more than once with other women. But Vivienne is so wonderful and kind, I couldn’t help but fall in love with her. My relationship with her during the past months has changed me. I made it all the way back to Chicago, then turned around without leaving the train station.”

  “Well, it’s not my place to make Miss DuPres’s decision for her.” Laney heaved a sigh. “Besides, it sounds as though you’ve learned your lesson. Come on. Let’s go find out if she’ll speak with you, but I wouldn’t count on it if I were you. If you’re a praying man, you might want to say one now, and if you’re not, you might want to become one.”

  Stunned, Luke followed along to see how it all worked out. He had expected Laney to run Randy out of town with the sharp edge of her tongue, not find sympathy for a swindler and a cad—even one who claimed to be a changed man.

  The room buzzed with conversation while the audience awaited the second half of Vivienne’s performance.

  “Luke, over here,” Pa called as Luke squeezed down the aisle after Laney and Randy. Luke watched them go, then turned toward his parents. This was the first time Pa had been into town since the accident. Ma glowed next to him. He shook Pa’s hand and bent down to kiss Ma’s cheek. “How are you enjoying Miss DuPres’s performance?”

  “It’s wonderful,” Ma said. “Of course, we’ve had the privilege of hearing her practice lately. But I must say, being at an actual performance is breathtaking.”

  “Did I see Laney with a stranger?”

  Luke nodded. “That was Miss DuPres’s fiancé.”

  “The thief?” Ma asked, her mouth tightening in disapproval.

  “He says he’s sorry and came back to beg her forgiveness.”

  “I hope she makes him grovel before she forgives him!”

  “Darling!” Pa said, slipping his arm along the back of her seat. “I’m shocked at you.”

  She smiled and reached up to pat his face. “No, you aren’t.”

  Pa captured her hand and brought it to his lips.

  Luke cleared his throat. In moments such as this, he always felt like an intruder. The sort of love Ma and Pa shared was true and lasting. All-consuming at times. A burst of determination fueled a fire inside of him. He said a hasty good-bye and spun around. He was going to find Laney and make her listen to reason.

  The lights dimmed. Luke groaned inwardly. He’d have to find a seat before Vivienne started singing again. He slipped into a vacant space in the third row just as she appeared on stage. Her voice seemed richer as she sang with great emotion. Luke had the feeling she had forgiven the man she loved.

  The audience clapped wildly at the end of the evening, until finally Vivienne lifted her hand for silence. “Thank you,” she said, her face glowing brighter than the brightest star in the night sky. “I would like to share some wonderful news with you. I’m about to be married.”

  More clapping. Luke smirked. Randy was wasting no time in proving his sincerity. “How would you all like to be my wedding guests?”

  The applause continued as Miss DuPres reached toward the side door, where a slightly bewildered-looking Randy stood. He stepped forward and took her hand while the audience stood to its feet, giving an ovation worthy of a New York opera house.

  “Reverend,” Randy said, finally finding his voice. “Would you, please?”

  Anthony made his way to the front. He faced the audience. “Well,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had such a large congregation before. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday and just as enthusiastic over singing hymns to
God as you are over Miss DuPres and her wonderful singing tonight.”

  The room filled with laughter, some nervous, some humorous.

  Luke glanced around while the couple said their vows. Where was Laney, anyway? He finally located her watching from the door. Her gaze was focused on the wedding. In the soft candlelight by the door, Luke could see her face clearly outlined. There were no hard lines to make her appear severe. Her lips curved ever so slightly, and her eyes glistened as though she was fighting back tears. Luke swallowed hard. She was so beautiful, he wished he was a painter, able to capture her image on a canvas. He burned her image into his mind, knowing he’d never see another woman as lovely, no matter how long he searched. Suddenly he wanted to tell her so. Ached to hold her. He would never leave her no matter what; and if it took ten years of working on Pa’s ranch to convince her he wasn’t going anywhere, then that’s what he’d do. Because one thing was for sure…he wouldn’t give up the woman he loved.

  Laney felt Luke’s gaze even before she saw him. The crowded room faded away, and she saw only the man she loved. She knew he was experiencing the same feelings. She longed to go to him and nearly did so when his lips moved. “I love you.” After only a moment’s hesitation, she shook her head, turned, and slipped out the door.

  It warmed her to know he meant it. Luke loved her enough to give up going west in order to marry her. But Laney knew what it was like to lose a dream; and even though she’d reconciled herself to her own disappointment, she couldn’t let Luke give up on his dream. She loved him too much.

  So she hurried to Colby, knowing if she had to face Luke again tonight, amid the romance of renewed love and a wedding, she wouldn’t have the strength to turn him away.

  “Miss Jenkins.”

  Laney inwardly groaned at the sound of Mr. Garner’s voice. She turned slowly to face him. “Hello, sir,” she said.

  “I assume your pa told you I was by the other day?”

  “Yes sir.” Ashamed, she glanced at the ground. “I’m afraid, Mr. Garner, that even with an extra week, I won’t be able to honor our agreement. We’ll be clearing out before too long.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Jenkins. I know this isn’t your doing.”

  Tears pricked Laney’s eyes. She glanced away and cleared her throat to compose herself. “Thank you.”

  “Where will you go?”

  “Miss Hastings has room for us at her boardinghouse.” It was the cheapest place in town. Miss Hastings was a nosy, grouchy spinster without a sense of humor. The thought of paying to live in a place she would never own seemed like a waste of money, but Laney knew she couldn’t afford to be choosy in her present circumstances.

  Mr. Tucker had offered her the use of his back room to work, and she had gratefully accepted. She suspected the idea of Granny working there every day appealed to him and had prompted his generosity to waive any rental fees.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw that Luke had finally squeezed his way through the crowded schoolhouse and was making his way toward her.

  “I have to go, Mr. Garner. Have a wonderful evening.”

  She quickly mounted Colby and rode off before Luke had the chance to stop her.

  Chapter 15

  Laney! He–l–l–lp!”

  Fear gripped Laney at Jane’s cry of distress. She hurried across the wooden floor of her room at Miss Hastings’s boardinghouse, flung open the door, and made a mad dash toward the stairs.

  She stopped short at the sight of Miss Hastings practically dragging Jane up the stairs. Fear widened the child’s eyes. Indignation filled Laney, but she bit back angry words. She knew she was in a precarious position, and if she angered her landlady, they’d be out on their ears with no place to go.

  Breathless from her swift climb up the long staircase, Miss Hastings stopped at the landing and grabbed her side with her free hand. After taking a moment to compose herself, she turned her furious gaze upon Laney. Laney gritted her teeth as she glanced down and observed her landlady’s bony fingers digging into Jane’s small arm. The spinster opened her mouth to speak, but Laney halted her. Regardless of the consequences, she would not allow Jane to be hurt.

  “First turn Jane loose, Miss Hastings. Then tell me what my sister did to rile you.”

  The woman’s face reddened in anger, and she turned Jane loose so suddenly, the child had to grapple for the railing to prevent herself from tumbling down the steps.

  Silently she counted to ten to keep from giving the old hag a quick shove backward. Laney reached for Jane. Once she held her sister protectively to her side, Laney regarded Miss Hastings evenly. “Now what did Jane do?”

  “I caught her stealing from me!”

  Alarm clenched Laney’s gut. “What do you mean?”

  “Ask her. She’ll tell you.”

  Laney cupped Jane’s chin and forced the little girl to meet her gaze. “Did you steal something?”

  Sudden tears filled Jane’s blue eyes. “Yes.”

  Miss Hastings gave a smug nod as though she’d just solved the mystery of the decade. “There. You see?”

  Disappointment washed over Laney. Was Jane going to follow in their pa’s footsteps? “For shame. You’ll have to give back whatever you took.”

  The child looked miserable. “I can’t.”

  “Why not. Did you break it?” Laney inwardly groaned, envisioning an expensive vase she would have to pay for. Jane shook her head. “I ate it.”

  Blinking twice, Laney tried to assimilate the child’s words, but she could only conjure up an image of Jane trying to eat a vase, and it just didn’t make any sense. “What do you mean, you ate it?”

  Miss Hastings stomped her daintily booted foot in a not-so-dainty manner. “Oh, for pity’s sake, the child stole a roll from the kitchen.”

  Jane cast soulful eyes upon Laney. “It just smelled and looked so good, and I was hungry. So I took it. But I tried really hard not to.”

  Relief flooded Laney that it wasn’t worse; still, she knew her sister had to understand stealing was wrong, no matter what the object of desire.

  She glanced down sternly. “Tell Miss Hastings you’re sorry and promise never, ever to take so much as another bite of food that doesn’t belong to you.”

  Jane obeyed instantly.

  Miss Hastings gave an ungracious sniff. “Those were to be served with dinner. Since the child has already eaten her share, she will not be given one this evening. And, Miss Jenkins…”

  “Yes?”

  “Please dress appropriately for dinner. I do not approve of your mannish garb.” So saying, she spun on her heel and flounced down the stairs.

  Laney released a frustrated breath and ushered Jane into her bedroom. The child hopped up on the bed, swinging her legs along the side. She tucked her chin glumly into her palms. “I don’t like Miss Hastings one little bit! I wish I had a fat snake to put in her bed. Or a slug or a mess of worms like the ones Will and me dug up last week.”

  Laney shuddered at the thought of sliding into bed with a mess of squirmy worms, although she had to admit the thought of Miss Hastings doing that very thing contributed greatly to the mirth rising inside of her. She swallowed down the laughter before it reached her face in the form of even a hint of a smile. Composing herself, she recognized that she was the only guidance Jane had, and it was up to her to teach her sister how to treat others—even those who treated a person unfairly. Plastering on as stern a look as possible, Laney eyed the little girl. “Janey! Do you honestly think Jesus would put a fat snake in someone’s bed?”

  “No,” she mumbled. “But He probably never met Miss Hastings.”

  “Yes, He has. And He loves her just as much as He loves us, so let’s try real hard to say something nice about her.”

  Jane scrunched her nose and closed her eyes while Laney waited. Finally the little girl shrugged, capturing Laney’s gaze. “I can’t think of anything nice.”

  It was quite a challenge for a first try, Laney had to admit.
“All right. I’ll go first, and then maybe you can think of something.” Determined to be a good example, Laney searched for something to say until finally, like a stroke of genius, she found her nice thought. “She keeps a sparkling clean boardinghouse, and Granny always says cleanliness is next to godliness. Okay, your turn.”

  Jane screwed up her face and thought…and thought…and thought. Suddenly she brightened and glanced up at Laney with a wide grin.

  “You thought of something nice to say?”

  “Yep. Miss Hastings makes the best rolls I ever had in my whole life!”

  Laughter bubbled up inside of Laney and flew from her lips. She went to the bed and grabbed her little sister, tickling her until their laughter prompted three sharp taps beneath the floor from Miss Hastings’s broom. “I will not tolerate such noise.”

  For someone who couldn’t tolerate noise, she could sure yell loud enough to cure a deaf man.

  “Shh,” Laney said, her eyes still damp with mirth. She laid back and stared at the water-stained ceiling. “Oh Janey, I promise I’ll get us out of here as soon as possible.”

  Janey cuddled up next to her and rested her silky head against Laney’s shoulder. “I don’t care where we live, Laney. Just so long as you and me and Pa are together.”

  “You don’t mind living here? Even with mean Miss Hastings fussing at you all the time?”

  Her head moved left and right against Laney’s arm.

  “But what about all the fun you had when we played with the baby chicks at the soddy? And what about all the times we sat on the bank and dipped our toes in the creek?”

  “I liked that, but it wasn’t as much fun when I had to go play at the creek by myself. I reckon there’s lots of fun things we can do even here at Miss Hastings’s—as long as she don’t hear us. Do you think we could find something quiet to do together?”

  “Well, yes. I thought we might ask Emily for a reader so I can get you started on your letters. You can practice them while I’m working. Then we can go over them after supper each night. How does that sound?”