Flora met her in the hallway with the tray holding a pitcher of tea and glasses. “Thank you, Flora. If Mama awakens, please let me know. She’ll enjoy a visit from Clarissa.”
“Yes’m, Miss Sallie.” She followed Sallie into the parlor and set the tray on a table by the sofa.
Sallie extended her arms to embrace Clarissa. “How good to see you, child. Is your mother not feeling well?”
Clarissa returned the hug then sat on the sofa when Sallie did. “Mother is fine. She and Father went down to New Orleans yesterday.”
“Oh, how nice for them.” Sallie smiled, but stopped and tilted her head. No joy shone from Clarissa’s eyes. Had something happened to her parents? How she wished to be able to tell Clarissa that Andrew was also in New Orleans, but she had promised to keep quiet.
As if reading her mind, Clarissa leaned over toward Sallie. “Oh, Mrs. Whiteman, have you any word of Andrew? I haven’t heard from him but once since my return. I do miss him so.”
“I’m sorry you haven’t heard from him. I’m sure you will when he has something to say that might interest you.” That was not the most brilliant thing she could have said, but anything else would be lying. Best to change the subject.
Sallie poured a glass of tea and handed it to Clarissa. “Now tell me, have you heard from Molly? She’s taken over the household while I’m here.”
“No, ma’am, I haven’t had a letter from her since July 5. I did send one to her, but she must be terribly busy and not have time to write.”
Clarissa’s eyes clouded over again. This time Sallie couldn’t contain her concern. She set her glass back on the tray and placed her hand on Clarissa’s arm. “My dear, something is troubling you. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Tears welled in Clarissa’s eyes. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to tell you or not, but Mother and Father didn’t go to New Orleans for themselves or even business. Stefan was badly injured in a battle with outlaws in Arizona and has been sent home for treatment.”
Sallie’s heart skipped a beat and her hand flew to her mouth. “Stefan’s injured? Oh, my gracious, I’m so sorry.” Her heart ached for Clarissa and her family. If he had to be sent home for treatment, his injuries must be serious. Molly! She’d probably sent a letter to Arizona. She’d be devastated by the news.
Then something Clarissa said earlier hit Sallie. “What did you mean when you said you didn’t know if you were supposed to tell me?”
“I . . . I don’t think they want anyone to know about it yet. They went down to see how badly he’s injured and didn’t tell anyone else in the family.”
“I see.” But Molly should know. It was only right that she be told, but Jenny was Sallie’s best friend, and she would not share the news with anyone until given permission to do so.
She grasped Clarissa’s hands. “Looks like you and I have a lot of praying to do.”
CHAPTER 30
MOLLY RESISTED THE urge to kick and yell. Another week without a letter from Stefan or Clarissa. She sorted through the envelopes in her hands once again. Nothing but stuff for Papa, including one from Mama. She clumped down the steps from the general store that also served as a post office and strode down the street kicking up dust as she did.
She didn’t mind Mama being gone so much, especially since Grandma had taken a turn for the worse and Hannah had gone over to join her, but Molly missed her and their long talks. Papa missed her too. The wistful look on his face at dinner each night served as a reminder he was without his strongest helpmate.
Clara met her on the porch with her hands on her hips and shaking her head. “I feel like wringing our sisters’ necks like a chicken. What they can get into drives me crazy.”
“What have they done now?” With their mother being gone almost two weeks now, Alice and Juliet had begun to miss her, and the past few days had found trouble to be their constant companion.
“Alice decided to fix Juliet’s hair, so she found Mama’s scissors and did a little cutting.” Clara slumped in a chair on the porch. “Oh, Molly, it looks awful. What will Mama say?”
Oh no, Juliet’s long curly golden locks were beautiful, and Mama had been so careful about letting them grow. How could Alice have done such a thing? “I should have been more diligent in watching them. I knew she didn’t like the braid I put in, but that was so much easier than trying to keep it curled and looking the way it should. Where are they?”
“Up in their room.”
“All right. I’ll take care of them. Be sure Papa gets this letter from Mama. That should cheer him up some.” She laid the mail on the porch table then marched into the house and up the stairs to the girls’ room.
The sound of sobbing stopped her at their door. “I’m so sorry, Juliet. I was just trying to fix it to look nice. I know you didn’t like that old braid.” The remorse in her sister’s voice and the sobs from the other one softened the anger that had risen. Taking a deep breath, Molly shoved the door open.
Two little girls, one holding a pair of scissors and the other with hair half a dozen different lengths turned teary eyes toward her. Alice dropped the scissors to the floor and bawled like a baby. Juliet sniffled and hiccupped, her cheeks wet with tears.
Molly gathered them in her arms. “I guess I should have been paying more attention to you two.” She raked her fingers through Juliet’s shorn locks and sighed. “Let’s see what we can do with this.”
She pulled Juliet from the floor and sat her on the bed and glared down at Alice. “Stop that crying and hand me Mama’s scissors so I can fix her hair. We’ll talk about what you’ve done later.”
Alice blinked her eyes and swiped at her cheeks with fingers before picking up the scissors and handing them to Molly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin her.” Then she turned and ran from the room.
In half an hour Molly finally had Juliet’s hair trimmed to all the same length. Instead of reaching down her back almost to her waist, it now hung straight and limp at her shoulders. The side front sections were shorter, but she didn’t want to cut it all that short. After brushing it out, Molly pulled the shorter front sections to the back and fastened them with a clip and added a bow. “There now, it’s shorter, but it looks much better than it did a few minutes ago.”
Juliet wrapped her arms around Molly’s neck. “Thank you.” Then she looked down at the pile of hair on the floor and cried again.
“Oh, Juliet, honey, it’ll grow back. Why, by the time school starts, it’ll be the right length again.”
Juliet blinked her eyes then opened them wide. “Papa.”
Molly jerked around to find her father standing in the doorway with a most disturbed look in his eyes. “It’s all right. I fixed it so it’s all one length, and it’ll grow back.”
“What, oh, yes, her hair. It looks fine. Juliet, would you let Molly and me have a moment alone?”
Molly’s heart pounded as her little sister left the room. Something must have happened to Grandma Dyer—or could it be Mama? “Maybe you better sit down.” She led him to a chair.
He sat and held up the letter he had in his hand. “Mama writes that Grandma Dyer is in very poor condition, and the doctors don�
��t give her much longer to live.”
Molly dropped to her knees beside her father. “Oh, Papa, I’m so sorry. I know Mama is heartbroken, but I’m glad Hannah is there with her.”
“That’s not all, my child. She also writes that Stefan has been wounded in battle and is in the hospital in New Orleans. Andrew is helping take care of him.”
“Stefan . . . injured . . . in New Orleans?” Molly fell back. Her heart squeezed tight, and she could barely catch her breath. “How . . . what . . . ” A sob escaped her throat.
Papa patted Molly’s head as he had when he had comforted her in her childhood. “She doesn’t go into details, dear, but it was enough of an injury to require hospitalization at Charity. His family didn’t want others to know, but Andrew is keeping your mother updated.”
Molly lifted her head and pushed herself up from the floor. “Then I must catch the next train and go to Louisiana. I can stay at Grandma Dyer’s house with Mama.”
“I’m not sure that will be possible right now. We need you here.”
His words tore at her heart. Of course she had an obligation to her family, but she loved Stefan and wanted to be near him. “Yes, Papa, I understand.” She did, but still she’d think of a way to persuade her father to allow her to go to New Orleans.
Clara appeared at the door. Her eyes glistened with tears and she held a paper in her hands. “This wire just came from Mama. It’s for you, Papa.” She handed the sheet to Papa then swiped at her eyes with her fingers.
Molly waited as her father read the telegram, her eyes intent on his face. When he frowned and shook his head, he balled the paper in his hand. “Grandma Dyer has passed away. We all must go to St. Francisville for the funeral services.” He wrapped his arm around Molly’s shoulder. “Looks like you get your wish to be in Louisiana. I’ll go out to the ranch and let Micah know. Then we’ll need to secure tickets for tomorrow.”
He patted her back then strode from the room muttering about the things he had to take care of before they could leave.
Molly straightened her shoulders and swiped her cheeks. “We have to help get the girls ready to travel. The boys can take care of themselves, and we need to let Lettie and Burt know. They were close to Grandma Dyer when they were younger.”
No wonder Stefan hadn’t answered her letter. He may not have even received it. As much as she anticipated a trip to Louisiana, she regretted the reason for their going. She wrapped an arm around her sister and led her from the room.
When Stefan’s parents finally learned of Andrew’s presence at the hospital they didn’t express their feelings about his being there, but had questioned him at great length as to why he had come to New Orleans. He had not heard from them since that conversation, but with Mrs. Dyer’s death, Andrew had been called back to St. Francisville to help Mrs. Whiteman until her family could arrive. Dr. Sutton had been most understanding.
Only moments before Andrew left, Dr. Sutton informed him that Stefan would be discharged from the hospital and allowed to go home perhaps on Friday or Saturday. Dr. Sutton had asked him to convey that news to Mr. and Mrs. Elliot, who had returned home yesterday to take care of business and so Mrs. Elliot could be with her friend. That instruction gave Andrew a legitimate reason for calling on them.
As soon as he arrived in St. Francisville, he headed for the Elliot home. As he rode up the lane to the main house, he understood why they had named it Oakwood. The tall, stately trees dripped with moss and formed a canopy over the path. The first glimpse of the house brought a gasp from Andrew. Nothing Mrs. Whiteman had said prepared him for the view before him of a magnificent two-story home with stately columns and a second-floor balcony. Rose bushes graced the sides of the broad expanse of steps leading up to the leaded glass double doors.
He halted his horse for a moment to gaze at the beauty of the flowers blooming around the circular drive. Never in his wildest dreams had he pictured Clarissa in a home such as this. No wonder her parents weren’t pleased with her attraction to a small-town doctor. Perspiration broke out on his forehead and his throat grew dry. How could he expect her to come live with him in who knew what kind of home in New Orleans?
Clarissa deserved much more than he could offer her. He had a message to deliver, but after that, he’d have to make a decision about his position.
The front doors flew open and Clarissa ran down the steps. “Andrew, you’re here. You’re really here.”
The joy with which she ran toward him melted all resolve. He swung down from his horse and strode toward her with his arms open. She reached him and threw her arms around his neck. As she pressed against him with her head on his chest, all the love he’d held for her these weeks came rushing back and filled him with such happiness he thought his heart might burst.
Andrew cupped his hand on her head and held her tight. “I’ve missed you so these past weeks.”
She leaned her head back and gazed up at him. Her blue eyes had deepened to a violet hue offset by the creamy tone of her skin. She had never been more beautiful or desirable than at this moment. He’d go anywhere in the world so he could be with her.
“I’m disappointed you didn’t let us know you were in Louisiana right away, but I’m glad you’ve been with Stefan. Mother and Father haven’t let me see him yet. And I’m sorry about Mrs. Dyer’s passing, but it did bring you here.”
Before he had a chance to reply, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the house. “Come on, Mother is waiting.”
When he glanced up at the house, Mrs. Elliot stood in the doorway with her hands clasped in front of her. Her features gave no indication of welcome, and he prayed that would change when she learned of his reason for being here today.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Elliot.” He removed his hat and smiled at her. His ma had taught him that courtesy would get him much farther in the world than intelligence if he practiced it consistently.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Delmont. Come in.” She stepped back into the house and the coolness in her voice chilled Andrew to the bone despite the humidity and heat.
The inside of the house awed Andrew even more than the outside had. A circular marbled floor foyer was dominated by a staircase that wound its way to the second floor, its polished wood steps gleaming from the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows on either side of the massive door. Fresh flowers in crystal vases stood on the two tables in the entryway.
Once again the realization of all that Clarissa had and the way she lived choked him. He could never provide her with luxury like this. Then he glanced at the young woman beside him, and the sparkle of her eyes and the warmth of her smile assured him of her love. But would love be enough to leave grandeur such as this?
“I’m sorry Colonel Elliot isn’t here, but he’s out checking the fields. We haven’t had rain in a while and the sugarcane crops are feeling the results.”
“No need to apologize, I understand perfectly.” He’d prefer to tell both of them the news at the same time, but without knowing when Colonel Elliot would return, that might not be possible.
Clarissa spread the skirt of her dark blue dress across the sofa. Andrew gazed at her and marveled that this beautiful creature could have feelings for him.
Mrs. Elliot snapped her ivory fan ope
n and fanned her face. “It is humid this time of year. Sometimes I wish we didn’t live so near the river.”
Now was the time to share his news even without Mr. Elliot being here. “Dr. Sutton sent me here to let you know that Stefan will be discharged in a few days to come home.”
Clarissa’s mouth flew open, but she covered it in a hurry with her hand. Her eyes lit up and danced with excitement.
Mrs. Elliot gasped and set her cup back on the tray with a clatter. “Oh my, I had no idea. That is wonderful news. Do you know the exact day so we can be there?”
“No, ma’am, but Dr. Sutton suggested the weekend as most likely. His wounds have healed sufficiently enough for him to be at home.”
Clarissa bounced on the sofa. “Oh, Andrew, that’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see my big brother, the hero.”
Mrs. Elliot sat up taller. “Then we’ll make arrangements to return to New Orleans to bring him home. Do you know when Mrs. Whiteman’s family will arrive?”
“Yes, Mrs. Whiteman told me they’d be here Monday.”
She clasped her hands to her chest. “Being home will be good for Stefan. I just know it.”
Stefan’s parents had seen and understood the extent of his injuries and the scarring that would be left on his face, neck, and right hand, but they must not have told Clarissa. How would she react when she saw her brother for the first time? And, more to the point, how would Molly?
CHAPTER 31
MOLLY STIRRED RESTLESSLY in her seat, neither the book in her hand nor the passing scenery outside the train held any appeal. Maybe she could talk with her uncle Micah to pass the time. Uncle Micah had secured tickets for the Whiteman and Gordon families to travel to Louisiana on Saturday. His mother had come along to help with Grace and Joel. In another hour they’d be in Baton Rouge, where her mother’s two brothers would meet them. Both anticipation and dread whirled in Molly’s head as she changed seats, sitting down beside Micah, who stopped reading and smiled at her.
Love Never Fails Page 23
