The Gift of Twins

by Gabrielle Meyer

  “To all of them.”

  “Is the mademoiselle special to you?”

  Ben frowned at the question. “Does it matter?”

  “I have hopes for you to marry well.”

  Anger burned inside Ben’s gut, but he held his frustration in check, remembering his need for peace. “If Emmy would have me, I could do no better, even if I combed every last continent.”

  “Oui, but she is not well connected. I have a list of debutantes for you to choose from, if you’d only say the word. The young lady may be everything you hope for in a wife, and more, but if she does not further your career, what good is she?”

  “What do you recommend?” Ben faced his father, his anger boiling to the surface. “To do as you have done? Marry for advancement, but misuse an unworthy woman for pleasure?” Visions of his beautiful mother surfaced and Ben ached with her memory. “My mother loved you—but she meant nothing to you, did she?”

  With panther-like reflexes, Phillippe grabbed Ben’s lapel, his jaw tight. “There, you are wrong, mon fils. I loved your mother with all that I was. When she died, I thought I would die with her.”

  Ben’s shoulders tightened and he breathed hard through his nostrils. “Then why did you leave her son all alone in the world?”

  Phillipe let go of Ben as quickly as he’d grabbed him. “I was young and stupid.”

  “Maybe you were, but if you had it to do all over again, would you have made a different decision?”

  Resignation bent Phillipe’s broad shoulders and he turned away from Ben’s penetrating gaze. “Non. I would do it again. I had no other choice.”

  Ben sat for a moment and absorbed what his father had said. All his life, the only thing that had given Ben any sort of hope was that his father had regretted his actions. He’d always believed that given a second chance, Phillippe would have taken Ben with him. The childhood delusion was now shattered, and in its place Ben felt nothing.

  He spurred Ginger into motion, directing her down the alley and onto the old wagon road that ran from the Coopers’ home to Main Street.

  Neither one said another word as they picked up speed and headed south toward Owatonna and a future that looked as bleak as Ben’s past.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Are you ready, boys?” Emmy stood from her desk at the front of the schoolroom and addressed Levi and Zeb, who sat on the front row looking through a picture atlas Emmy kept at the school. She had already dismissed all the other children earlier and prepared her things for the next day.

  Zeb was the first to stand, his wide smile revealing a missing tooth that he had lost the day Ben had left. “Can we take the book home with us?”

  “May we take the book home?” Emmy corrected, and then said, “No, you may not. I need that book for a lesson I’m teaching tomorrow.”

  Levi sighed and closed the book. He stood and handed it to her. “I like books, Miss Emmy.”

  “Good.” She smiled at the little boy. “Books make leaders out of men. The more books you read, the more you’ll know.” She set the book on the edge of her desk.

  “Is Mr. Ben coming back today?” Zeb asked with a lisp.

  The mention of Ben brought back the memories of the embrace they’d shared in the barn, and then in the kitchen just yesterday. Something had overcome her when he was about to leave, and she had thrown herself into his arms. Heat had filled her cheeks and she was thankful for the dark room, or he might have seen the effect he had on her. Shame and fear had prevented her from going back to sleep, and she had lain awake long after he’d left, worried that if she didn’t leave his home soon, she would not be able to keep from falling in love.

  “Miss Emmy?” Zeb tugged on her hand. “There’s a man walking this way.”

  Emmy looked toward the window and saw Mr. Samuelson on his way to the school. Anxiety filled her stomach as she watched his approach.

  “Sit here,” Emmy said to the boys as she pointed to the front row and reached for the book on her desk. “You may continue to look through the picture book until he leaves.”

  She was thankful the boys were still with her. The thought of being alone with Mr. Samuelson made her scalp crawl.

  Emmy took a seat at her desk and readjusted the books and papers she had been working with earlier. She had already arranged everything, but she needed to do something with her hands as she waited for the door to open.

  A creak at the back of the room made all three of them look up.

  Mr. Samuelson removed the hat from his head and walked down the aisle toward her desk with determined steps.

  Emmy rose and gave a slight curtsy. “Mr. Samuelson. To what do I owe this visit?”

  “I don’t have much time today, Miss Wilkes, but I wanted to let you know I’ve found alternative accommodations for you.”

  Her heart sped at hearing the news. It’s what she had wanted, wasn’t it? Then why did she feel grief and sadness at the thought?

  “The Janner family lives just north of town on the Belle Prairie road about a mile from here,” he said, his voice all business today. “They have one small room they rent out to boarders and it’s just become available.”

  Emmy nodded, as she looked at the boys. She hadn’t told them she was planning to move, and by the look on their faces, they didn’t like the idea one bit.

  “How long do I have to decide?” she asked.

  “Mrs. Janner likes to keep the room full, so she sent word that you must move in today, or she’ll give it to someone else.”

  “Today?” Emmy lifted her eyebrows, her response louder than she intended. “But I have other plans for today.” She and Mrs. Carver had cut the fabric for the angel costumes Levi and Zeb would wear during the pageant and had planned to spend the evening sewing them.

  “Mrs. Janner insists you make the move today, or you’ll need to look for a different place to live.” He leaned forward, his lips pursed with purpose. “I would recommend you take this opportunity, Miss Wilkes. There’s no telling when another room will open. Mrs. Janner’s home is clean and respectable—which is more than I can say for several other places I’ve investigated on your behalf.”

  Emmy clasped her hands together on her desk as she thought about her options. She had so few, it didn’t take her long to come to a decision. She couldn’t stay with Ben any longer and she didn’t know of another home where she would have space and privacy to study. “I’ll make the necessary plans to move today.”

  “Good.” Mr. Samuelson stood and Emmy used the opportunity to glance at the boys.

  They were looking at one another the way they had the first day she’d met them, as if their world was crashing down around them and they were all alone. Levi reached for Zeb’s hand.

  “I will let Mrs. Janner know you’ll arrive before supper.” Mr. Samuelson put his hat on. “That should give you a couple hours to pack the necessary items you’ll need for a few days and then you can have someone help you move your other things after that. Do you know where the Janner family lives?”

  She was familiar with them. They attended church and their two youngest children attended school, though they were the oldest students Emmy taught.

  “They’re just a mile north on the road out front,” Mr. Samuelson said. “A white picket fence around their yard. You can’t miss them.”

  “I think I know which house you mean.”

  “I’ll leave you to your work.” He left without another word and Emmy was both relieved to see him go and anxious that she would have to face the boys now.

  “Come,” she said to them. “We need to get you home.”

  They rose from their bench, their hands firmly clasped together, and walked to the cloakroom without saying a word. As they put on their coats, Emmy studied their faces, wishing things could be different.

&nb
sp; She locked the door behind them and then walked them home through the melting snow.

  When they reached the parsonage steps, Emmy couldn’t handle the silence any longer.

  “I’m sorry, boys, but this move is for the best.”

  “Why?” Levi asked. “Did Mr. Ben make you angry?”

  Emmy bent to be eye level with the boys. “No. Mr. Ben is kind and thoughtful. He would never intentionally hurt me.”

  “Did I do something wrong?” Levi asked, his eyes wide with fear.

  Emmy’s chest tightened with sadness as she pulled him into her arms. “Of course not. We’ve always known that this living arrangement was temporary—I just didn’t realize I would be leaving so soon.”

  Levi pulled away and frowned, his anger covering his sadness. “I don’t want you to leave.”

  “You’ll still see me every day at school.” Emmy adjusted his cap. “And I’ll come to visit as often as I’m able.”

  She straightened and put a smile on her face, even though she’d rather cry. “Chin up, boys. We’ll get through this and be stronger on the other side.”

  Emmy pushed open the front door and looked at the dear home. She would miss the smell of Mrs. Carver’s fresh-baked cookies after school, and the sound of the boys’ laughter as they played on the rug. She would miss the greeting Ben gave when he came home for supper in the evenings, and his thoughtful way of making time for her to study.

  “Miss Wilkes?” Adam appeared on the street behind her, a smile on his handsome face.

  “You go on inside,” Emmy told the boys. “I’ll be just a minute.”

  Adam waited for Emmy to close the door and then he took a step toward her. “I heard Reverend Lahaye is out of town for a few days.”

  “He is.” Emmy nodded.

  The banker took another step toward her. “I was hoping to call this evening, if I may.”

  “I’m sorry.” Emmy glanced toward the parsonage where she had a lot of work to do if she was going to make it out to the Janners’ by supper. She would pack a small bag, one that wouldn’t be too cumbersome to carry on the mile-long trek. “I have plans this evening.”

  “Oh?” He waited patiently for her to explain.

  What did it matter if he knew? Eventually everyone would hear.

  “I am moving to the Janner residence this evening. I plan to pack a few things and go as soon as possible.”

  He took another eager step forward. “I’d be honored to help. I can hitch up my wagon and take your trunks.”

  “I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”

  “No bother at all.” He grinned. “I’d like to help.”

  It would be nice to have all her things with her right away—and it would prevent the awkward situation with Ben when she’d need to return for them later.

  She nodded. “I’ll have my things ready in an hour. Will that be convenient for you?”

  “I could have my wagon here even sooner.”

  “An hour will be just fine. Thank you.”

  “I’ll be back shortly.” He waved and walked toward the north, but Emmy didn’t watch him go. She had far too much to do.

  She entered the house just as Mrs. Carver left the kitchen, a dish towel in hand. “What’s this about you moving?”

  “The boys told you?”

  “They said you’re going tonight.”

  “In an hour, I’m afraid.”

  “Land’s sakes, dearie. When did all this happen and where are you going?”

  Emmy didn’t have time to explain everything in great detail, but she did tell her that Mr. Samuelson had been looking for a place and one had been found with the Janner family. “I need to move in today or Mrs. Janner will give the room to someone else. Mr. Russell has agreed to take me there in an hour.”

  The older woman’s eyebrows rose. “After what happened the night of the last frolic, you’d be seen with Mr. Russell?”

  “He’s just being neighborly, and besides, we’ll be in plain sight the whole time. He’s just taking me to the Janners’ place, nothing more.”

  Mrs. Carver shook her head, a sigh on her lips. “I don’t like any of this—not a bit.”

  “I don’t, either, but it’s for the best. You’ll be leaving soon and if Ben is successful, the boys will go, too. I had to find somewhere to live sooner or later.”

  “I just wish it was later.” Mrs. Carver’s voice was filled with sorrow. “I had so looked forward to spending Christmas together. I can’t even make you one last meal.”

  “I’ll visit,” Emmy promised, and added on second thought, “If I’m invited.”

  “Ack, dearie!” Mrs. Carver pulled Emmy into her thick embrace. “I’ll see that you’re invited back as soon as Mr. Ben is home.”

  Emmy swallowed hard as she returned the hug. She hated to think of how Ben would feel when he discovered she had left without warning. He’d been through so much with his father, and she couldn’t imagine what he might face in Owatonna.

  Yet—he couldn’t be surprised by the turn of events. They both knew she needed to leave.

  It didn’t make it any easier, though.

  * * *

  It had been two days since Ben had left Little Falls. He and Phillippe had barely spoken, and Ben wanted to keep it that way. No matter what was said, it seemed to come out hurtful.

  Clouds hung thick over the expanse of snow-covered prairie and Ben was forced to pull his collar up to protect his neck from the blast of cold air that swept over the hill where he and Phillippe traversed. They had arrived in the small town of Owatonna the night before and started asking for Malachi Trask. No one had ever heard of the man before, and Ben had started to suspect that Reginald had given him faulty information.

  That morning, when Ben had left his hotel room and gone down to the dining room for breakfast, he had asked the waitress if she’d ever heard of Malachi. She had looked at him with suspicious eyes and asked where he’d heard that name. When Ben explained, and told her about the boys, the woman had finally shared that Malachi had changed his name and he was living west of town.

  Now, as a storm threatened the northwestern sky, Ben and Phillippe rode toward the farm where they believed Malachi lived under the name of Oscar Webb. Why he had changed his name, Ben didn’t know, but he had a few ideas. More than likely he was avoiding the law.

  “Is that it?” Phillipe pointed to a sod house tucked between two rolling hills. A rickety corral encircled two scrawny cows, and a sod barn sat nearby. A thick blanket of snow topped the house and barn, and Ben imagined it kept them well-insulated from the frigid winter air. Smoke puffed out of a metal stovepipe sticking through the house roof.

  As they drew closer to the home, Ben took in the wax-covered windows and the wood door, with cracks wide enough for critters to get through. Not a tree was in sight—nothing but endless rolling prairie for miles and miles.

  They brought their horses to a stop and Ben climbed out of his saddle, watching the house, looking for someone to greet them. Anxiety churned in his gut as he thought about losing Zeb and Levi. The boys had become like family to him and he hated to think of them leaving—yet somehow, he also knew he was doing the right thing.

  Phillippe also dismounted and he came to Ben and took the reins. “You go ahead, I’ll stay with the horses.”

  Ben nodded and traipsed through the snow to the front door. Footprints crisscrossed the yard around the house, but the wind whipped up the snow, making it hard to tell how fresh they were. He knocked and waited.

  A shadow at the window told him someone was inside, though he couldn’t make out the figure. He stood in his warm buffalo robe, but even then, it was still cold.

  The door creaked open and a haggard-looking woman glared out at Ben through a slight crack. “What do you want?”

>   “Is this the home of Malachi Trask or Oscar Webb?”

  “Who are you?” Her teeth were crossed in the front and her wiry hair stood out in disarray. Deep wrinkles lined her once pretty face, though he didn’t think she was more than twenty-five or twenty-six. The prairie had a way of doing that to people, aging them before their time, but he sensed there was more to this woman’s plight than the prairie wind. She looked disillusioned.

  “My name is Reverend Ben Lahaye,” he answered. “I am here on behalf of Mr. Trask’s twin boys, Levi and Zebulun.”

  The lady’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know no Mr. Trask.” A little hand appeared at the door and it creaked open wider to reveal a girl of about three years old standing there in nothing but her underwear. With the door open, Ben could now see the woman held a feverish child of about a year, and she was well along in another pregnancy. The home was disheveled. Clumps of dirt were breaking away from the walls and ceiling, and moth-eaten rugs covered the earthen floor.

  Ben wondered what else she didn’t know—and he hated to be the one to tell her. “Is Mr. Webb at home?”

  “He hasn’t been here in days,” she said with a scowl. “Went into town drinking, so I don’t ’spect I’ll see him until he’s spent all our money on booze.”

  The little girl blinked up at Ben with the same almond-shaped green eyes as Levi, and his heart went out to her. No one deserved to live this way. He had a mind to turn around and head back the way he’d come, protecting Levi and Zeb from the reality of this life, but he didn’t think God had brought him all the way here just to leave now. “Do you know where I might find him?”

  She snorted. “Nowhere a preacher-man would want to go.”

  “I need to speak to him immediately,” Ben explained. “If you’d be so kind as to tell me, I will take my leave.”

  The woman’s eyelids drooped as she looked at Ben with disdain. “Why are you here? If you came to get money for some church or something, you’re wastin’ your time. Oscar ain’t got two pennies to rub together, and if he does, he spends it on drink.”