The Final Vow (Hearts of Hays Series #2)

by Barbara Goss

  He thought her smile got wider, if that were at all possible.

  “This is a surprise,” she said. “Is this a social call?” She inched close to him on the sofa.

  “Not really,” he said, drawing out the word really. “I stopped by to tell you…” He turned slowly and pointed his finger two inches from her nose> “If you ever stick your nose in my affairs again, I will make you sorry you were ever born,” he yelled.

  Elizabeth jumped up. “What?”

  “You and your father went to Kansas City and brought back a priest to get rid of Laura.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Why would you do something so cruel?” Jesse growled.

  “We were just trying to get the poor girl back where she belonged. We felt sorry for her.”

  “Well, Miss Busy-body, I’m leaving tomorrow to bring her right back. Our wedding is in three weeks.”

  “No! Don’t do that, Jesse! You and I belong together,” she pleaded.

  “Whatever gave you that idea?”

  “We’ve known each other since early school days. When I smile at you, you always wink.”

  “It’s what I do to a lot of people. It doesn’t signify anything.”

  “It did before she came along.”

  “Elizabeth Healy, do you really think you can force someone to love you just because it’s what you want? Did anyone ever tell you that you couldn’t have everything you want? So you would ruin two lives just to get your heart’s desire?” Jesse shook his head. “I knew you were spoiled, but I never thought you’d go this far.”

  Elizabeth pulled out a handkerchief and pretended tears. “I think you’d better leave.”

  “I know I better leave… before I do something I’ll be jailed for.” He stood up and walked across the room, turned and said, “Stay out of my life and Laura’s!”

  Laura stepped off the train expecting to be met by someone from the diocese, but there wasn’t anyone there. Thankfully, the train station was only about ten blocks from the convent.

  She walked into the convent feeling out of place in her baby blue cotton dress and straw hat. She knew where she had to go, although she dreaded it. She’d always feared Mother Superior. The woman was a dragon. She knocked on the office door and was met by Mother Superior herself, face-to-face. Mother Superior stared, mouth agape.

  “Is that you, Sister Mary Clare?”

  “Yes, Mother Superior,” Laura said dutifully.

  “I’d heard you were leaving the convent. Is it true?”

  “Yes, Mother Superior.”

  Mother Superior smiled for the first time ever, or so Laura thought.

  “Sit down, child.”

  “I’m grown now,” Laura said, taking a seat.

  “Yes. I see that. Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

  “Yes. I am very sure.”

  “And do you mind telling me why? You don’t have to tell me, but I have known you since you were an infant, and I care about you. I know I’ve had to be strict, but it’s my job.”

  “Then why was I sent to Texas?”

  “Is that why you are leaving?”

  “Partly. I hated going, but as you’ve heard, I was kidnapped and landed safely in the most wonderful home. The family treats me like I belong. For the first time in my life, I have a family. They are wonderful people. As you know, I never had the chance to live a regular life. This…” she waved her arms about, “is all I’ve ever known.”

  “I selected you for the mission in Texas because I wanted you to have some life outside this place. I sincerely thought it would be an adventure for you.” She folded her hands. “I can accept your decision to leave the convent. You were a novice and if a nun is going to leave, that’s the right time to do it. It’s either the right life, or it isn’t— this is how we weed the garden.” She stood and paced. “This is totally out of character for me, but I think you should know, I’ve loved you like my own child. I used to rock you to sleep, and I’ve always looked out for you. I had to keep this demeanor or my position as Mother Superior would crash at my feet.”

  “I think I understand now. I also think I’ve seen the caring in your eyes often when you scolded me.” Laura took a deep breath. “There’s something else. I fell in love, and I am to be married in three weeks.”

  After a slight hesitation, the nun stated, “I am totally shocked—but also happy for you. You are completely released from the convent. I appreciate your coming in person. I loved seeing you again.”

  “Is there any way you can release my birth information? There was an ad in the paper. Someone in California is searching for a Laura Ann MacDonald. Could it be me? Do you have my birthdate?”

  “I’m sorry, but you were left on the church steps. We have no information at all about you other than a note pinned to your blanket saying your name, Laura MacDonald, and that you were a month old.” She rubbed her chin. “It was in 1864. I don’t recall the date, but it was very cold. We worried about how long you’d been out on the steps, but it couldn’t have been too long for you weren’t harmed by the cold.”

  “So it could have been February?”

  “It could have been.”

  “I also want you to know I’ll still be working for God. I’ve offered to find homes for children on the Orphan Train.”

  “That’s wonderful! You know, we’re considering sending some of our orphans west as well. Our number of children has tripled since you came to us. They will grow up better in a family unit, as I wish you could have.” She stood and sighed. “Well, you have that family now.”

  Mother Superior hugged Laura and wished her well. “Do you have a place to stay tonight?”

  “No. I don’t.” Laura felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

  “You can stay here tonight.”

  Alone in a guestroom for the night, Laura breathed a sigh of relief. Officially free, and with Mother Superior’s blessing, but how was she going to get back to Kansas and Jesse?

  9

  Jesse asked for directions and walked to the convent. He had no idea what to expect when he got there. He knew one thing: he wasn’t leaving without Laura.

  The elderly nun who answered his hesitant knock looked surprised to see him. He didn’t suppose they got many men visitors. “I’m here to see the Mother Superior.”

  She opened the door and pointed to a seat in the first office they came to. He took the seat and waited. He paced, and he waited some more. After what seemed to Jesse like an hour, but could have been less, a matronly nun walked in and closed the door.

  “Is there something I can do for you?” she asked without a smile or welcome.

  Jesse found her to be quite intimidating. She wore glasses and a frown. “I’m here for Laura MacDonald.”

  “And who might you be?”

  “Is she here?” Jesse was becoming impatient.

  “She is, but I need to know who you are and what your relationship to Laura is, first.”

  “I’m Jesse Collins and I will be her husband in just three weeks.” Jesse saw a hint of a smile on her face.

  “Ah, the fiancé.”

  The nun sat down behind her desk and folded her hands. She studied him. Jesse began to squirm under her scrutiny.

  “I’ve known Laura since someone left her on our doorstep and I feel somewhat responsible for her. Do you love her?”

  Jesse softened somewhat; he felt genuine concern from this nun. “More than anything in this world.”

  “You got here quickly, so I believe you.” She gave Jesse a genuine smile. “I just need to know one thing more: do you believe in God and go to church?”

  “Yes, and every Sunday. Right now, there isn’t a Catholic church in Hays, but there are plans to build one. We have many German and Russian settlers who want to build a Catholic church, so it won’t be long, and then, I’ll let Laura pick the church she wants to attend.”

  Mother Superior nodded. “I’ll get her for
you.” She swept out of the room with her white robes swishing.

  Jesse breathed a sigh of relief.

  He wasn’t sure if it would be proper to hug Laura when she walked into the office with Mother Superior behind her, but he felt like it. The nun, however, gave him a frown, so he simply smiled and held his hands out. Laura took them and smiled one of those knee-weakening smiles. “Let’s go home,” she whispered.

  Once outside Jesse took her into his arms and held her. “Promise me that you’ll never disappear like that again.”

  “I promise. Priests and nuns have always been authoritative figures in my life. I couldn’t disobey and not go with him. Besides, I knew it was the right thing to do and the priest said I didn’t have time to wait for you. I’m sorry, Jesse.”

  “I worried all the way from Kansas that I would arrive in this big city and never find you. What would I have done then? My heart felt as if it were going to stop if I didn’t find you.”

  “And I feared ever getting back home as I left Kansas without any money. If you hadn’t come, I don’t know what I’d have done.”

  Jesse held her at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “I can’t believe you will finally be my wife in just three weeks. Nothing will ever separate us again. I love you so much, Laura. I want to awaken each morning to you, and fall asleep each night with you at my side. I want you always with me, and I want a dozen little Lauras and Jesses running around.”

  Elizabeth Healy still pouted, and she despised the little nun who shattered all her dreams.

  “Liz, cheer up,” her father coaxed. “There is a ten to one male-female ratio out here. Start looking around.”

  “There’s no one like Jesse.”

  “Maybe there is someone you’d like even more than Jesse. After all, Jesse is a simple cattle rancher who would never be able to give you the things you are used to getting. You need a man who has enough money to spoil you.”

  “You have a point there,” Elizabeth said sadly, staring out the window. “Where do I start?”

  Her father crossed his arms over his bulging midriff. “There’s Will Clement, Bill Armstrong, and what about the new fellow who moved into the Simpson place? Martin, I think. I heard he has plans to build a new livery here in town.”

  “Martin? I haven’t seen him. What does he look like?” she asked, finally interested.

  “Ask your mother, she nearly sprained her neck gawking at him at the general store.”

  Elizabeth’s mental wheels began turning. “How would I go about meeting this Martin?”

  “Easy. I’ll invite him for dinner.”

  Elizabeth finally smiled.

  “Oh, and by the way, did you see this in the newspaper?” He handed her a newspaper folded to one page. “We should have kept the nun. This might be the Laura MacDonald they’re looking for, and we’d be fifty grand richer.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes bulged when she read the ad. “Oh my! I wonder if this is why Jesse is so bent on marrying her. I’m sure he’s going to cash in on this.”

  ”If he’s seen it,” her father said. “The only reason I noticed it was because the bank tellers were talking about it. They were saying what they could do with that kind of money.”

  Elizabeth felt her mind plotting again. She knew she’d never get Jesse back, but she could pay him back for his meanness. She was willing to bet Mr. Martin could use the reward money to start his livery business. If she were miserable, so should Jesse be.

  Meg and Cassie hugged Laura upon her return. “We missed you,” they both said at once.

  “You have no idea how much I missed all of you. I’m so glad to be home.” Laura embraced them both.

  Meg said excitedly, “Come see your dress! It’s almost finished.” She held her hand up to her son who tried to follow. “No, Jesse, you can’t see it yet. Stay and set the table with Cassie.”

  Laura couldn’t believe the dress Meg made all by hand. “It’s absolutely gorgeous.” The dress color was an ecru color, with about six ruffles starting at the hips. Three rows of white pearl-like beads encircled the scooped neckline and the waist.

  “By the way, I don’t suppose I need to hide this anymore.” Meg held up Laura’s old mended habit.

  “But you said you used it for the torch that night Adonis threw the bandit.”

  “Did I?”

  “And you said Jezebel the goat ran off with it?”

  “Well, you know, my eyesight isn’t what it once was,” she winked.

  “You can discard it, Ma.” She laughed. “I’m flattered that you created a ruse just to keep me here.” She hugged Meg.

  “I had a feeling you and Jesse would hit it off. It just needed a chance.”

  Pleasantly shocked to discover over dinner just how good-looking Silas Martin was, Elizabeth smiled flirtatiously at him. After dinner, due to the warmth of the evening, she suggested a walk, and led him to the backyard where a swing for two hung from a tree branch. Elizabeth hoped they could get better acquainted.

  “Tell me,” she cuddled closer to him, “about your plans to build a livery.”

  “I bought the land, now all I have to do is build. We start next week.”

  “How interesting.”

  “I have in storage about five carriages, and a dozen good horses.”

  Not only good looking, Silas seemed rich as well. She wanted to see more of him. She hoped he felt the same way; but, regardless, he’d fit into her plan to get even with Jesse.

  Jesse, reluctant to leave Laura, had her promise to be there when he returned from town. He needed to see Charles Miller about the ad as Miller had promised to contact Sam Morgan in San Francisco.

  Charles greeted Jesse warmly. “I do have news! I contacted Sam Morgan and discovered he is an attorney. He claims he can’t tell me anything, and that he will talk to Laura only.”

  “I’m reluctant to travel all the way to San Francisco on a hunch that this might be the right person.”

  “I agree.” Charles handed him a paper. “Here’s his address, maybe Laura could write him a letter. You know, you could collect the reward if you tell him where to find her.”

  “No! I have no idea who he is or what he wants, and I would never use Laura to make money.”

  Charles smiled. “I had a feeling you’d say that, or you’d have been after this Morgan like a dog with a rabid flea.”

  “However,” Jesse said, “I wish he’d stop running the ad. If the wrong person sees the ad, who knows what they’d do to collect the money. That puts her in danger, don’t you think?”

  Charles shook his head. “No, this Morgan seems to want her alive and well. So I wouldn’t worry too much.”

  “I worry about her constantly. She isn’t worldly, at least not yet. She’s been secluded her whole life, and I feel that she might be somewhat vulnerable. We’ll toughen her up.” He laughed, “Meg and Cassie will see to that.”

  “From what I hear,” Charles said, “she isn’t vulnerable at all. She survived a kidnapping, riding a horse for the first time, and she took care of the second bandit neatly.”

  “You’re right. I suppose I shouldn’t worry so much.”

  “Where will you live after you’re married?”

  “My mother is giving me two hundred acres, and I want to build a house there as soon as possible. Maybe a small log cabin, and we can expand later, if needed.”

  “Really?” Charles asked. “My brother Jonas might be able to help you with that. He builds cabins. Should I give you his address?”

  “Yes!” Jesse exclaimed. “It would take me months to accomplish building one. I’ll help though.”

  Charles scribbled down the address and handed it to Jesse. “Now don’t mix up those addresses,” he laughed, “otherwise, your cabin might be built in San Francisco.”

  Laura and Jesse made it a habit to take a walk every evening after supper. It was their only chance to be alone. Usually, they sat under the elder tree.

  After several welcoming kisses, Jess
e reluctantly pulled away. “I have news.”

  Laura put her head on his shoulder. “Tell me.”

  “Charles Miller gave me the address of a Sam Morgan in San Francisco, who turns out to be an attorney and the one who placed the ad. I think you should write to him and tell him who you are and ask what he wants.”

  “I’ll do it tomorrow. I’m more curious each day.”

  “And now for the biggest and best news.” He kissed her forehead. “Are you ready for this, my love?”

  Laura lifted her head. “Yes!”

  “Charles has a brother Jonas, who builds log cabins and he has agreed to start ours as soon as we stake out where we want it. So tomorrow we’ll do that as well.”

  “It sounds wonderful. Our own home! I love Ma and Cassie, but—”

  “I know, here we have no privacy. Which is probably for the best right now,” he growled as he playfully bit Laura’s neck. “Jonas also has several floor plans, so we’ll meet with him and select one.”

  “Can we afford it?” When Jesse raised his eyebrows at her question, she continued before he could answer. “I mean, what… how do you earn your money?”

  “I raise cattle. Every year we get more because they have calves. Whenever I need money, I sell as many as I need to. Our garden provides all our vegetables. We are sound financially, sweetheart.” He brushed her lips. “No worries.”

  “You do know you could cash in on the reward for finding me, don’t you?”

  “I would never do that. Besides, I’m happy with having just what I need. Why would anyone want more than what they need? As a working single man, I’ve managed to save enough to pay for the cabin and support a family comfortably.”

  “How did I get so lucky to have found you?”

  “Actually, it was me who found you, if you remember.”

  “And you couldn’t wait to get rid of me.”

  Jesse laughed, “If I’d only known.” He turned and kissed her passionately. “Hmm, by the way, don’t make any plans for at least two weeks after our wedding. I’m keeping you all to myself.”