Country chatter, Theodosia thought, remembering the morning Roman had taught her to imitate Oble Smott’s chatter. That had been the day after they’d made love for the first time. And when Oble had gone, they’d made love again.
She closed her eyes and felt sunrays beam onto her eyelids. A swirl of colors floated through the darkness, and in the midst of the colors Roman appeared. She saw his brilliant blue eyes, crooked grin, and long charcoal hair. His scent came to her; sunshine, wind, leather, and the musky smell of hard-worked muscles.
“See the marks, Theodosia?” Pinky pressed.
Opening her eyes, Theodosia looked at the marks. “Yes, I see them, Mrs. Scrully.”
Luby glanced at his wife’s snake fang scars, too, and scratched the gray grizzle on his chin. “Pinky, what in the world? Theodosia don’t wanna see your fat leg. And you’re thinkin’ o’ the time we was in Tosten, not Boston. Boston ain’t on the Missersipper River, and neither’s Tosten, fer that matter. Boston’s in Massertuchetts, and Tosten’s up in the Oklerhomer Terr’tory.” He looked at Theodosia. “You’re a long way from Boston, darlin’. How you gonna git there?”
Theodosia felt one swift tear escape down her cheek and reached up to wipe it away before the Scrullys saw it. How was she going to get all the way to Boston? She only had thirty-five dollars. The mercantile owner in Willow Patch had refused to pay a penny more for the ruby brooch. She knew the fine piece of jewelry was worth much more, but as terrified as she’d been of the possibility that Roman would find her before she left Willow Patch, she’d accepted the measly amount of money and given the store proprietor her most treasured possession.
“Theodosia, honey, you all right?” Pinky asked, spotting the wet sparkle in Theodosia’s eyes.
“There now, darlin’, don’t you go to frettin’, hear?” Luby said. “We’ll be in Gull Sky tomorrer. From there, you can git you a seat on a stage that’ll take you to Oates’ Junction. Trains run through Oates’ Junction, and I ’spect one of ’em might head toward Boston.”
Theodosia turned her head sharply toward him and peered intensely into his bleary gray eyes. “Oates’ Junction,” she whispered. “How far away is Templeton from where we are right now?”
Luby rubbed his chin grizzle again. “Templeton, y’say? Well, it’s just a holler away, darlin’.”
“A holler? How much distance is a holler?” Luby pointed ahead. “See the other road that turns off the one we’re on now?”
Theodosia saw the small dirt road that veered to the right.
“Down that road a piece is Templeton.”
“A piece?” Theodosia asked, thoroughly bewildered. “Mr. Scrully, I’m afraid I do not know the distance of a piece, either.”
“Well, darlin’, in the case o’ Templeton, both a holler and a piece’d mean about ten miles. You know somebody in Templeton?”
“Dr. Wallaby,” she murmured. Was it possible that the scientist was still in Templeton?
She doubted it. Months had passed since she’d last seen him. His research funds had more than likely arrived from New England, and at this very moment he was probably deep within the Brazilian jungles.
Still, the slim chance that he might yet remain in Templeton was a chance she was going to take. If he was there, she’d stay with him until Lillian and Upton sent her enough money to get back to Boston. “Mr. Scrully, would you mind—”
“Takin’ you to Templeton?” he finished for her. “Be my pleasure, darlin’.” He turned the wagon onto the side road.
Dusk fell quietly. Soon a crisp evening breeze swayed through the air, carrying the faint sound of lively music. Before long, Luby drove past a small country fair. Watching the goings-on, Theodosia thought of children bobbing for apples. She pondered displays of country crafts, squealing livestock, the Father of Pie, and game booths.
She remembered Roman and wondered if there was anything in the world that wouldn’t somehow remind her of him.
“Well, here we are, darlin’,” Luby said as he urged his ox down the main street of Templeton. “Where to now?”
Theodosia directed him to the house that Dr. Wallaby had rented at the end of the street and bade him stop before the small cottage. Her parrot’s cage in one hand, her bag of belongings in the other, she stepped over Pinky’s legs and climbed out of the wagon. “Thank you ever so much, Mr. and Mrs. Scrully,” she said, managing a smile.
“Don’t you want us to wait and see if you git inside all right, Theodosia?” Pinky asked.
Unwilling to bother the kindly couple any further, Theodosia shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
“Well, you take care, then, darlin’,” Luby said.
She waved to them until their wagon reached the end of the street, then turned toward the house. Hoping with all her heart that she would find Dr. Wallaby inside, she walked to the door, set her possessions on the ground, and knocked.
The door opened slowly.
Theodosia felt as though she were peering into a mirror.
“Lillian?” she whispered.
In the next moment she found herself in her sister’s loving arms.
Chapter Nineteen
“Theodosia,” Lillian murmured, holding Theodosia tightly. “Oh, my sweet little sister, you’ve no notion how happy I am at this moment.”
The familiar scent of lemon verbena and love flowing around her, Theodosia took great comfort in her older sister’s embrace. She sighed with exhaustion and with relief, then blew a kiss to Upton, who stood behind Lillian.
“Lillian, if you do not mind,” Upton said, tapping Lillian’s arm. When she moved away, he too embraced Theodosia. “We have missed you, my dear. Missed you terribly.”
“As I have you,” Theodosia whispered, deeply soothed by Upton’s loving hug.
He released her, smiled into her big brown eyes, and cupped her cheeks. “I suppose you are wondering why we are here?”
“We came to wait for you,” Lillian explained. She took Theodosia’s hand and led her into the house.
The same sparse furnishings remained in the front room, Theodosia noted, but gone were the books, microscopes, and other scientific equipment.
“He’s gone,” Lillian announced when she saw Theodosia looking around the room. “That’s why we’re here. We received a letter from Dr. Wallaby a little over two months ago. His research funding had arrived, and he was about to set sail for Brazil. He said you would be returning to Templeton as soon as you had concluded your studies of southern speech and that he regretted not being here when you arrived. His letter ended with his assurance that he would eagerly await you in Brazil.”
Upton brought Theodosia’s things into the house and shut the door. “The thought of you returning to Templeton and finding this house empty disturbed us, especially since we had no way of knowing if your escort, Roman Montana, would remain with you. Your letters and wires arrived regularly for a period of time but then became few and far between. Out of worry, we decided to come and wait for you here.”
Guilt seized Theodosia. “I’m sorry,” she squeaked. “But Roman and I—we—there were long stretches of time when we were not near any towns. I could not write—”
“Don’t trouble yourself a moment longer,” Lillian scolded gently. “The important thing is that you are safe and with us again.” Impulsively, she gave Theodosia another hug. “Besides, we only arrived two weeks ago and have not been waiting for you so very long, darling.”
John the Baptist squawked loudly. “If it weren’t for nightgowns gittin’ pulled up and seed gittin’ spilt, there wouldn’t be no people in the world,” he said.
Theodosia stifled a gasp.
“Why’s a Yankee bird singing the Confederate anthem, anyway?” the parrot continued. “Tark, y’see, is Krat spelled back’ards.”
Lillian and Upton stared at the parrot.
The bird pecked at the door of his cage. “How do. I’m Oble Smott. You don’t put that kind of doll behind a glass case and stare at her.”
“What?” Theodosia whispered. “Oh. Yes. Yes, Upton, he has been in the company of many people given to oral meandering.”
“And did you enjoy your research concerning the patterns of southern speech, my dear?” Upton asked. “I assume you made a great many notes concerning the subject, and I must say that I am extraordinarily interested in seeing them. How I have missed our discussions, Theodosia.”
“I—”
“How did you come to possess such interest in the speech patterns of the people here?” Upton pressed. “You failed to mention your reasons in your letters. Lillian and I decided that perhaps your escort, Roman Montana, spoke in such a manner. Where is Mr. Montana, by the way?”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Upton,” Lillian chided. “You are barely giving our poor Theodosia time to think about one question before asking her another. Later you will have plenty of time to study her notes concerning digressive discourse. As for you, Theodosia, you look very tired. Your eyes are red as well.”
Theodosia was as yet unprepared to relate her story to Lillian and Upton. Her pain remained too raw, and she knew her tears would deeply upset them.
Soon, she thought. Very soon she would tell them about the child she’d conceived for them.
Bowing her head, she pretended to brush dust from the front of her gown. In actuality, however, she only wanted to feel the special place where the child dwelled. As her hand brushed past her lower abdomen, she swore she could feel Roman’s presence.
“Then don’t do anything, Theodosia,” John the Baptist said, splashing water. “Just be with me for a while.”
The parrot’s reminder of what Roman had once said to her forced Theodosia to blink back tears.
“Theodosia?” Lillian said. “Is something the matter?”
Quickly, Theodosia feigned a smile and reached out to caress Lillian’s cheek. “I may not look my best, Lillian, but you certainly do. You have finally put on some weight and look better than I have ever seen you.”
Lillian looked at her husband. “Shall we tell her, Upton?”
“Yes.” Upton put his arm around Lillian’s shoulder. “Theodosia, we have exciting tidings to share with you.”
Lillian laid Theodosia’s hand over her lower belly. “I am with child, darling, and am well past the first trimester. Indeed, I have almost reached my fifth month. All four physicians who have examined me believe that I will give birth to a healthy baby.”
The moment Lillian’s announcement registered in her mind, Theodosia felt as though the world had been turned upside down. Off balance both physically and mentally, she felt her legs weaken.
“Upton!” Lillian shouted.
He caught Theodosia just as she began to slip to the floor and helped her to the small wooden bench near the window. “Bring some water, Lillian,” he said, patting Theodosia’s alabaster cheek.
Lillian rushed to get the water. “Theodosia, forgive me,” she gushed. “But I had no idea that our news would give you such a shock. I’m profoundly sorry to have given it to you so suddenly.”
Theodosia watched Lillian’s lips move, but her sister’s voice sounded as if it were coming from a hundred miles away.
Lillian and Upton did not need the child she carried.
The realization tightened around her like a thick rope, at first choking her with disbelief, then suffocating her with overwhelming despair.
Escape, she thought desperately. She had to escape Lillian and Upton. The house. Her own stunned emotions.
She had to think. Alone. Outside. Yes, outside.
Oh, God, what was she going to do?
“Theodosia?” Upton murmured, holding the glass of water to her mouth. “Drink a bit, my dear.”
She did as bade and, with much effort, forced herself to appear in perfect control. “Your news has astonished me. I am thrilled for you. Truly thrilled. But I fear that my excitement has taken a toll on me, and I feel the need for—”
“Of course, Theodosia, darling,” Lillian blurted. “You must lie down and rest. After a nap, you will feel—”
“I would rather walk outside first, Lillian,” Theodosia protested. “After a bit of fresh air, I will rest.”
Lillian nodded. “I shall accompany you,” she said, then turned to cross the room and fetch her outerwear.
“Oh, no, you will not,” Upton said, catching his wife’s hand. “You will nap while Theodosia walks. Then when she returns to rest, you will have sufficient energy to fuss over her, which I know full well you will do. You must think of the baby, Lillian. Go along, Theodosia, but don’t venture far, and don’t tarry. It will soon be dark.”
Grateful for his intervention, she left quickly and, once outside, hurried away from the house. Following the road that led out of town, she passed the area where the country fair had been held. Only a few people remained there, disassembling booths and loading livestock back into wooden crates.
Paying little attention to her surroundings or where she was going, she continued down the soft dirt road, rounded a sharp curve, and soon came to an empty pasture. Masses of dead brush, clusters of large jagged rocks, and scraggly cedars scattered the deserted field. Near an old and dilapidated shed, a flock of sea gulls screamed and fought over a small dead animal.
Theodosia welcomed the ugliness of the landscape. Bending, she slipped between two fence rails and ram into the pasture.
She stopped beside a group of the craggy rocks and leaned into them. They pressed into her, and they hurt.
But not as much as her heart.
She thought of the child Lillian carried. The babe would be blessed with both parents and a warm and loving home.
She thought of Roman and the child they’d created together.
I want my baby, Theodosia!
His words screamed through her.
“How can I do this to you, Roman?” she asked his memory. “You do not love me, but you want to love your child. How can I possibly take that chance away from you?”
But how could she give up the child? The precious babe was all she had left of Roman, and she loved the tiny being every bit as much as she loved its father.
She shivered suddenly as the cool evening breeze strengthened into a strong wind. Dusk became darker as black clouds gathered in the rolling sky above. The wind picked up her hair and sent it lashing at her face.
Fear of the impending storm told her to flee. Misery forced her to her knees.
“Roman,” she whispered. She closed her eyes. Raindrops mingled with her tears. Soundless sobs shook her frame.
But she stilled instantly when she felt a large hand curl around her shoulder and strong fingers dig into her flesh.
She opened her eyes. Two men stared down at her, both smiling grins she’d seen before.
They wore rat hats.
Fear licked at her like a serpent’s tongue.
“It’s a small, small world, ain’t it Gordie?” Burris Jister said.
Gordie chuckled. “Yeah, Burris, real small.” He reached down and fingered a damp gold curl.
“Nice to see you again, purty lady. Saw you walkin’ down the road a while ago and thought we’d foller you.”
The country fair outside town, Theodosia thought hysterically. She’d walked straight past it!
“Why didn’t you come to the fair, purty lady?” Gordie asked, still holding a lock of gold hair. “It’s over now.”
Burris nodded. “Too bad y’didn’t come. We made us a bundle. Thought y’ruined us forever that day in Kidder Pass, huh? Yeah, well, it took us a long time, but we got our games runnin’ again.”
Theodosia screamed when Gordie yanked her to her feet.
He slapped her full across the face. “The day the sheriff and deputy of Kidder Pass took us away, we told you we wouldn’t forget what you done, lady.”
Burris jerked her awa
y from his brother and leered into her eyes. “We told you that somewhere, someday we’d meet up again, and that day’s here. And since that long-haired bodyguard o’ yours ain’t with you no more, there ain’t nobody to stop us from makin’ you pay for what you done to us.”
Revenge. The Jisters wanted revenge. Comprehension exploded into Theodosia’s mind, just as lightning and thunder crashed through the black sky.
With a strength she never realized she had, she tore free of Burris’s hold and, blinded by rain and tears, raced toward a rickety lean-to she’d seen earlier. As she ran, she heard the Jisters’ heavy footsteps behind her, swore she felt their hot breaths on her neck, and remembered the day she’d tried to flee from the Blanco y Negro Gang.
Today was the same. Rain battered down on her.
Thunder shook through her. Evil chased her, and lightning flamed above her.
The only difference was that there was no enchanted hill upon which to wish for Roman.
In the next moment a scream rent the air. Seething with fear, grief, and defeat, the cry had no end but tore from her throat on an unbroken stream of misery.
And then without warning, gunfire silenced her.
The heavy footsteps behind her faded and finally disappeared. She no longer felt hot breath on her neck.
The evil chased her no more.
She stopped, thoroughly bewildered, when she saw the Jisters running out of the rain-swept field as if haunted by a thousand demons.
She caught sight of him then. Sheets of rain tried to veil him from her view, but she knew who he was.
He was mounted, and his gray stallion stood pawing the mud. His long raven hair blew all around him, like a black halo.
He was far away, across the pasture, but she felt his startling blue gaze slice across the field and pierce her very soul.
Roman.
She tried to speak his name, but the sinister fire of lightning felt so near. Inches from her head. She could feel its heat, its powerful danger, and she felt sure that it was daring her to move so it could strike.
Terror plunged into her. She felt it slash through her like so many daggers plummeting from the malevolent sky.
Heartstrings Page 35
