After a brief graveside service, Lowell and Ollie decided they would build a white picket fence to enclose enough ground for the next few generations of Jensons. They also were going to order a headstone from a stonemason in St. Paul.
Now most of the neighbors had gone home, and Mother was finally resting. Lowell and Ollie sat on the front porch, drinking glasses of lemonade someone had brought to them. Soon August and Anna joined them and sat on the swing, and August put his arm around Anna.
“How are we going to get along without Fader?” Ollie’s plaintive question reached out to Lowell.
It repeated the one that had haunted Lowell. What would they do? He didn’t want to think about it today, but he couldn’t ignore it for long.
“I always thought he would be here for my children.” Lowell glanced at his brother. “I wanted him to teach my sons the things he taught us. He could do a much better job of it than I’ll be able to.”
Ollie nodded. “Life doesn’t always happen the way we think it will, does it?”
Lowell leaned his head against one of the pillars holding up the roof of the porch. He closed his eyes, trying to keep the tears at bay. Men weren’t supposed to cry, but he was having a hard time not doing so. According to the wet trails making their way down Ollie’s cheeks, his brother shared the same problem.
After a few moments, Lowell became aware of the sound of a horse making its way toward the house. Probably another neighbor bringing food or something else for Mother. He opened his eyes and turned to look at the lone rider. Mr. Jones dismounted at the hitching post in front of the house. Lowell wasn’t sure he was glad to see him. Lawyers often didn’t bring good news. Surely if he had bad news, he would have waited to come another day.
Mr. Jones walked up to the porch. He took off his hat and held it in both hands as he looked at the brothers. “I’m sorry to come on such a sad day, but it was your father’s instructions I should come the day he was buried.”
Lowell glanced at his brother. Ollie just stared at the lawyer.
Lowell turned and did the same thing. “Our mother is resting, and this isn’t a good time. Can’t you come back later?”
“No.” Mother’s voice came through the screen door. “I’m up now, Lowell. Ask Mr. Jones in for a cool drink. I’m sure he’s thirsty on such a hot, dry day.”
Lowell and Ollie led the way into the parlor. August and Anna followed the lawyer. It was even hot in the house. If there had been any kind of wind, it would have blown through the open windows and cooled the room some, but there wasn’t even a hint of a breeze. One of the women who was cleaning the kitchen brought a pitcher of lemonade and a glass for Mr. Jones; then she left the family alone with the lawyer. When Lowell looked at his mother, her red-rimmed eyes seemed to fill her face.
After taking a long swallow of the drink, Mr. Jones reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and removed a folded document. He cleared his throat. “This isn’t my favorite thing to do, but it goes along with being a lawyer.” He unfolded the pages and started reading, “I, Soren Jenson, being of sound mind. . .”
All the legal terms droned on and on. When he finished reading, Mr. Jones asked if there were any questions. Lowell was too stunned to think of any. Ollie just sat there with his hands clasped between his knees.
Mother looked at Lowell with a wan smile on her face. “Do you understand?”
“I think so.” He turned toward the lawyer. “It means Ollie and I own the horse farm as equal partners. Right?”
Mr. Jones nodded.
“And we’re not allowed to sell our shares for at least a year.”
“Your father was specific about that provision. He mentioned there had been some. . .tension between you for awhile. By the way, that information will remain confidential between us. He hoped that by adding this provision he could help you get over this situation. By working together for a year, I mean.” He cleared his throat again. Then he picked up his glass of lemonade and took another swallow.
Mother nodded. “That sounds like a good idea to me.”
After Mr. Jones left, Lowell went to the barn and sat on a bale of hay. He loved this place. Surely Father knew that. He never wanted to sell it. He and Ollie were having a bit of a problem right now, but they were family. And this horse farm was their heritage. They would have worked together, even without that will. Lowell hadn’t realized the situation between Ollie and him had affected the rest of the family so much. It was their own fault Father felt he had to put this in a legal document. Lowell dropped his head into his hands and sobbed.
Eight
If she lived to be one hundred years old, Marissa would never understand Pierre. Of course, he was hardly ever nice to her or Clari. Since the Sunday when they attended church, he had been more brusque with her than before. She was sure it was because of their conversation later that afternoon. And he didn’t take her to church again. Most days Pierre disappeared soon after breakfast. He often told her not to leave the boardinghouse because he would soon return. That was never true. Day after day she stayed in her room, reading the books he brought her. She spent a lot of time alone, and he never returned until dinnertime.
Well, today would be different. He could go away if he wanted to, but she wouldn’t stay meekly in her room as he ordered. She was going to the Dress Emporium. She wanted to see Gerda and Anna. She missed talking to them.
After breakfast, he left with the usual admonishment. Marissa went upstairs and looked through her clothes, trying to decide which dress would be coolest to wear. Even though Minnesota was much farther north than any place they had been before, the month of August was hot here. If the wind wasn’t blowing, she sweltered even with her windows open, and it hadn’t been windy for days.
She hadn’t finished dressing before Pierre knocked on her door. Why hadn’t he stayed away today as he had before?
She went to the door but didn’t open it. “Just a moment. I’m changing into something cooler.”
“Well, hurry up.” Pierre usually tried to sound nicer when they were in the boardinghouse but not today.
She fastened the buttons on the front of her bodice, then opened the door. He pushed past her and closed the door behind him.
“I’m going to take you out to the camp. You may pack one carpetbag. I told Mrs. Olson we would be gone for a few days. I want to get on the road before it gets too hot.”
When he left, Marissa sat on the side of the bed, trying not to cry. She had always liked being in the campsite instead of in whatever town they were visiting. Not this time. She had made friends, and she didn’t want to leave them. She wished she could stop Pierre, but he couldn’t keep her from thinking what she liked. With a sigh, she stuffed several items into the carpetbag, along with some new books.
On the way to the woods, Pierre was quiet. He looked as if he had a lot on his mind. Marissa didn’t want to make him mad at her, so she didn’t talk, either. But she could think about anything she wanted to. She hadn’t seen Lowell Jenson since the day they went to church. She wondered what it would be like if she could just be herself around him. He always paid attention to her, and his smiles reached something deep inside.
His brother, on the other hand, was sort of strange. Marissa didn’t know exactly what it was about him, but she had the feeling somehow he didn’t trust her. There was a very good reason not to trust her, but he couldn’t know about that. So being around him made her uncomfortable.
Marissa wondered why Pierre had told Mrs. Olson they would be away a few days. She hoped that was true. Maybe he would leave her with Clari at the camp for awhile. She and Clari could relax and enjoy each other’s company. She could hardly wait to talk to her sister about the Jenson brothers.
Pierre had always told Clari and her it was important to keep the camp a secret. Each time he went, he found a different way to go, to keep from making a trail someone could follow. This trip was longer than before. Pierre drove the horses faster than usual, so Marissa bounced around on
the seat. She gripped the seat to keep from falling out of the wagon. At least she would see her sister soon. It had been a long time since they were able to spend more than a single day together. Marissa hoped they could be together for at least a week. And she hoped Pierre would be nowhere around, so she and Clari could relax.
When they reached the forest, Marissa closed her eyes so she wouldn’t see the dark shadows; but she couldn’t shut out the unidentifiable sounds that brought out her hidden fears. She was glad when the wagon entered the sunshine again. She opened her eyes and scanned the clearing, looking for some sign of Clari.
❧
Clarissa was at the creek washing her clothes when she heard a wagon. She grabbed up her wet clothing and darted behind a tree. Carefully working her way toward the sound, she peeked from behind each tree before she ran to another one. Finally, she caught sight of Pierre and Mari in the wagon, which was fast approaching the campsite. She ran to the caravan and put her wet clothes on the top step. Later she could spread them on bushes to dry.
She turned and saw Pierre pull on the reins to stop the horses. “Mari!” Clarissa ran and helped her sister alight from the wagon.
“Clari!” Mari hugged her so hard she could hardly breathe. Clarissa hugged her back; then they danced around, laughing and holding each other’s hands.
Pierre stood and glared at them. He knew how much they loved each other—and how much they didn’t love him.
“Stop that and come help me unload the wagon.”
He sounded harsher than she remembered. Either he was upset, or Clarissa had been in the camp so long she wasn’t used to him anymore.
After they unloaded the supplies, Mari reached under the seat and pulled out a carpetbag. Clarissa turned a questioning face toward Pierre.
He stood in the shade of a tall tree, so his face was in shadows. “Yes, Marissa will stay with you awhile.” Clarissa couldn’t keep from smiling. She didn’t care if it made him angry.
Mari stared at Pierre for a moment. “Pierre, please let us stop this criminal activity.”
He frowned. “We’ve already discussed this enough, and I’m tired of your whining.” He took a menacing step toward Mari.
Clarissa moved between them. “I agree with Mari. How long will you make us continue to do this?”
When Pierre laughed, it pierced Clarissa’s heart. He sounded so evil. “I’m all the family you have left. I have to take care of you. Why do you question everything I do? You have nice clothes and plenty of food to eat. Most women would be happy with that.”
Mari stepped up beside Clarissa. “But it’s wrong, and you know it’s wrong.”
Pierre glared at her before he turned to Clarissa. “I made the mistake of taking Marissa to church. She has had all kinds of ideas since then.”
Mari placed her fists on her hips. “I only want to live a normal life—as Gerda and Anna do.” Clarissa was proud of her for taking a stand.
Pierre took Mari by the shoulders and shook her. “I told you I didn’t want you to mess anything up. You weren’t supposed to make friends. That’s why I brought Clarissa to the campsite earlier. She was too friendly.”
Clarissa watched Mari’s eyes fill with tears when Pierre grabbed her. Soon they became twin waterfalls down her cheeks. Clarissa wanted to intervene, but this had happened enough times in the past that she’d learned not to try to stop him. He wouldn’t listen, and both she and her sister would be hurt far worse than Mari was today. So Clarissa clamped her teeth together and stifled her impulse to yell at him and pound him with her fists.
Mari jerked herself from his hold. “I haven’t been the kind of friend to them they were to me. I want to live an honest life.” She crossed her arms over her chest and thrust her chin out. Clarissa had never seen her timid sister like this.
Once again Pierre laughed. “Don’t worry. We won’t be here long enough for you to do that. As soon as I come back, we’ll set everything in motion.” He turned and sauntered toward the wagon. “I have some business to take care of getting ready for the game we’ll pull in Litchfield. I don’t know how long it will take, but I think it’ll be about two weeks.” He turned and gestured toward the large pile of items they had unloaded from the wagon. “That’s why I brought so many supplies.”
Marissa’s eyes widened.
“You’re going to leave us for two weeks?” Clarissa’s voice squeaked out the last word.
Pierre nodded. “If you’re careful, you’ll be all right.”
“What if something happens?” Marissa’s voice quavered. Her bravado had been short lived.
“Nothing’s going to happen.” Pierre sounded disgusted. “You have a gun, and I’m going to leave one of the horses with you. If you have an emergency, you can go into town but not Litchfield.” He pulled a paper from his pocket. “Here’s a map that will lead you to Wayzata. You can go there in an emergency. But if I come back, and you’ve gone there for any other reason, you’ll wish you hadn’t.” That last sentence was no idle threat.
Clarissa knew Mari was probably shaking in her shoes. “What about money—if we have an emergency?”
Pierre pulled a pouch from the pocket of his vest and threw it toward Clarissa. She surprised herself by catching it in midair. She was also surprised by how much the pouch weighed. He really meant he wouldn’t be back for at least two weeks. Maybe he wasn’t ever coming back. Maybe this was his way of getting rid of them, and this money was a payoff. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Pierre unhitched the horses from the wagon and took them to the stream for a drink. When he returned, he hitched only one horse to the wagon. Clarissa and Mari stood and watched him in silence. They would talk after he was gone. As he drove away from them, he turned around and gave a cavalier wave just before he entered the surrounding forest.
When they could no longer see him, Mari crumpled into a heap, weeping as if her heart were broken. Clarissa sat on the ground and gathered her into her arms. She held her sister until she was cried out. Then Clarissa stood and pulled Mari up with her.
She dried Mari’s eyes with her handkerchief, then stuffed it back in the pocket of her trousers. “Think about it, Mari. Pierre will be gone for two whole weeks.”
❧
Marissa felt unfettered, and she knew her sister did too. Free. It was wonderful. Marissa wished it could be forever. They opened the crates and worked together to store the provisions in the caravan. Then they ran and played in the glade, as if they were still children. In the evening after eating, they sat around the campfire and talked.
“Tell me what has been happening in town,” Clari inquired.
After Marissa told her about becoming friends with Anna and Gerda, Clari asked, “How is Ollie Jenson?”
“Okay, I guess.” Marissa looked at Clari. “I was more interested in Lowell.”
Clari laughed. “He was too quiet for me. Ollie is more fun.”
Marissa understood what was going on. “You’re interested in Ollie, and I’m interested in Lowell. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could be ourselves around them?”
Clari looked thoughtful. “Oh, yes. I know it can never happen, but what if it could?” She gazed up at the clouds. “What if we were living normal lives—being ourselves—and they knew there were two of us? I wonder if they would court us the way Mother told us Father courted her.”
“We wouldn’t dress alike,” Marissa added. “Our clothing would reflect our individual personalities. You could be Clarissa Voss, and I could be Marissa Voss, and Rissa Le Blanc would be no more.”
The next morning, the sisters went to the waterfall. They stripped down to their unmentionables and romped in the pool at the base before they showered and washed their hair under the waterfall. While they let their hair dry, Marissa told Clari about the Sunday she and Pierre had attended church.
The song that had touched her heart still played through her mind. She sang as much of it as she could remember.
“I can’t believe you’re singi
ng about blood.” Clari sat up straighter. “You never liked it.”
“I know, but something about the song soothes me. I don’t know why.”
“What does it mean?” Clari asked.
“I wish I knew.” Marissa tried to remember what the preacher said. “In the sermon, the pastor talked about Jesus saving us from all our sins. He said we can’t commit a sin Jesus won’t forgive.”
Clari looked confused. “I remember Mother telling us about baby Jesus in a manger, and we see things about Him at Christmas. Is this the same Jesus?”
“I think so.”
“But how could that baby save us from all our sins?”
Marissa shook her head. “I don’t know. I think I remember Mother telling us a little about an older Jesus too, One who died. I’d hoped Pierre would take me to church again so I could hear more of what the preacher had to say and maybe find out. I didn’t even get a chance to ask Gerda and Anna about it. Pierre didn’t let me go back to the Dress Emporium before he brought me out here.”
❧
When Clarissa got up the next morning, Mari was still sleeping. After leaving her sister in bed, Clarissa took a walk through the grove around the campsite. She liked early mornings. They were the only cool times of the day. She went back to the berry patch and picked some for breakfast.
The rest of the day was spent much like the first one. When evening came, the sisters cooked dinner, then sat watching the fire die down.
Mari got a dreamy expression on her face. “I’ve been thinking about Lowell and Ollie again. What if they did court us?”
Clarissa put her hands in the grass behind her and leaned her weight on them. “That would be wonderful!”
“It would mean we were living normal lives. Maybe we would be in Mrs. Olson’s boardinghouse, and Pierre would be gone. I wish he could be sent to prison. He deserves it.” Mari drew her knees up and put her arms around her legs. “If only he could be caught, and we wouldn’t. But that is impossible.”
Double Deception Page 7
