Unbidden tears streamed down my cheeks. I had hoped to gain Ritt’s insight about Thomas and the money I’d discovered in the men’s quarters. Instead, I’d lost hope of a future with him, and I had no one to guide me through this mess with Thomas. I became lost in my thoughts and yelped when a hand grasped my arm.
“It’s me.”
My heart beat an erratic rhythm as an arm circled my shoulder. I twisted around and looked up. “Nathan! Where did you come from?” Relief flooded over me, and instead of pulling away, I leaned against him. “I was so absorbed in my own thoughts I didn’t hear you.”
“I worked late tonight, and rather than going straight to the dormitory, I decided to take a walk and clear my head.” He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. “After listening to the noise of the machinery, I wanted to enjoy the quiet sounds of the night before I turned in. What about you? Why are you out here alone?”
Instead of his usual accusatory tone, his voice bore a hint of kindness and concern that both surprised and pleased me. Moonlight shimmered over us as he continued to walk alongside me with his arm around my shoulder. I explained Mother’s need for medicine from the apothecary and her desire that Father remain with her. He reached around me with his free arm and wiped a stray tear from my cheek.
Gently squeezing my shoulder, he drew me to a halt and looked into my eyes.
“Are these tears because of your mother’s illness?”
“Yes. She does well for a few days but then takes a downward turn. Each time that happens it takes longer for her to rebound. I’m worried that soon she won’t be able to gather enough strength to . . .” I couldn’t bear to say the words.
Nathan cupped my cheek and looked into my eyes. “I know this is very difficult for you, Jancey, and I haven’t provided the love and support you need while going through all these changes. Since the other day, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I should be more thoughtful. I know you’re very close to your mother. Sometimes that’s hard for me to understand because I didn’t share a close bond with my family. I suppose that’s no excuse for my behavior, but—”
“But you want me to understand—and I do. However, you must give that same kind of understanding to me, Nathan.”
He nodded. “I know. Even after I arrived here, I didn’t give you the compassion you deserved. I was determined I could persuade you to return to Kansas City, so I didn’t consider what you needed or wanted. I hope you’ll give me another chance to prove my love.”
I could scarcely believe my ears. This was a side of Nathan I had never experienced. Granted, he’d shown an occasional glimmer of kindness, but he’d never before requested forgiveness. I didn’t know what had caused the transformation, but I wondered if God had been at work in Nathan’s life. If so, it couldn’t have happened at a more opportune time.
I wasn’t certain I could trust this change, but he’d arrived when I’d most needed someone. With his ties to the outside, Nathan could be exactly who I needed to help me. He might even know of the bank robbery, especially since Forsythe Construction conducted all its banking at the National Commerce Bank. Perhaps he’d even talked to my father about the incident when it occurred. A sense of relief swept over me as I decided Nathan was the better choice to help me with this matter.
He was staring at me, waiting.
“I must agree that you’ve been less understanding than I would have expected.”
His features tightened a degree. I hadn’t said what he’d wanted to hear.
“However, I am pleased by this sudden change and hope it will prove permanent. I find you much more appealing when you’re kind and thoughtful.”
“I’m pleased to hear you find me appealing. Does that mean you’ve accepted my apology?”
He winked and brushed a loose strand of hair from my cheek. My pulse didn’t quicken when Nathan touched my hand or squeezed my shoulder—not like it did when Ritt drew near. I tried to force thoughts of Ritt from my mind.
“I accept your apology, Nathan, and I do appreciate the things you’ve said.” When a tear escaped and slipped down my cheek, he frowned.
“What is this? I thought you were pleased by the changes you’d seen in me. Is there more than the illness with your mother that’s bothering you?” He lifted my chin. “You can tell me anything, Jancey. I want to help you however I can.”
My emotions were a jumble. I wasn’t sure I should confide in Nathan, but there truly was no other choice. “I have to tell you something important. Promise you won’t become angry with me if I tell you.”
“I don’t know what could be so terrible that it would make you believe I’d become angry with you, but I promise.”
We were only a short distance from the apothecary. “Let me get the headache powders for Mother first. I’ll tell you on the way home.” He started to follow me, but I held up my hand. “You should wait out here. It is better if Brother Otto doesn’t see us together.”
“You’re right.” He pointed to the side of the shop. “I’ll stand over there, where I’ll be out of sight.”
I rang the bell outside the apothecary, encouraged by Nathan’s unusually quick agreement. A few minutes passed before I heard footsteps and Brother Otto, who was also one of the elders, unlocked the door. He stood in the doorway and peered over his wire-rimmed glasses. “Your Mutter is in need of something, Sister Jancey?”
“She has a severe headache and my father sent me for headache powders. He said you know what the doctor prescribed for her.”
He waved me inside. “Your poor Mutter is having a time with all this pain. Give me a few minutes and I will have it ready for you.” He shuffled around the counter and withdrew several bottles from the shelf behind him. Using a mortar and pestle, he mashed up a concoction, poured the powder onto a piece of white paper, and secured the corners.
“Your Vater knows how much to give her.” He handed me the packet before he pushed his glasses high on his nose. “I hope this will give her some relief.”
After thanking Brother Otto, I placed the packet in my skirt pocket and departed. I knew Nathan was waiting for me, yet I startled when he stepped around the corner.
He glanced at my hand. “You got the medicine?”
“Yes.” I patted my skirt. “It’s in my pocket.”
“All the time you’ve been inside, I’ve been trying to think what you are going to tell me. Please don’t make me wait any longer.”
I inhaled a deep breath and matched his gait. “This has to do with Thomas Kingman.”
His eyebrows arched high on his forehead. “Thomas? The fellow who has the bunk next to mine in the dormitory?”
“Yes. I’ve been trying to help him find his sister, Kathleen.”
Nathan stopped short. “How do you know his sister?”
I waved him forward. “We need to keep walking. Mother needs her medicine.” He hurried and came alongside me. “I don’t really know Kathleen, but she lived at the orphanage in Kansas City years ago.” I explained how I’d seen the photograph on his trunk, and my subsequent meeting with Thomas.
Even with only the moonlight, I could see his features tighten into a frown. “You met Thomas alone out in the woods? How could you do something so foolish, Jancey? He’s a complete stranger who could have done you great harm.”
“I’ll admit it wasn’t wise, but when I saw that picture, I couldn’t resist. I had to know who she was—and he has always been a perfect gentleman around me.”
“Always? How many times have you met with him?”
“Only one time. After that, we exchanged notes.” I hesitated. “He did come into the dormitory one time while I was cleaning, and we talked for a few minutes, but I met him out in the woods only one time.”
Nathan’s frown softened. “I’m pleased you decided to write notes after your first meeting. That was wise.”
My earlier tension took flight. His affirmation both surprised and encouraged me. Bolstered by his unruffled behavior, I went on and explained
what I’d learned about Kathleen’s whereabouts thus far. “Lilly is awaiting further word from the family that adopted Kathleen, and I’ve promised Thomas I’ll pass along any message as soon as I hear.”
Creases formed across his forehead and confusion shone in his eyes. “I don’t understand why this has reduced you to tears. Do you think the girl has come to some harm?”
I shook my head. “No. That’s only the beginning of what I have to tell you. Once you hear the rest, you’ll understand why I’m in such a state.”
He waved his hand in a circular motion. “You need not worry, Jancey. Whatever it is, we’ll resolve it together.”
Buoyed by his support, I detailed how the bed frame had been lodged on a loose floorboard and how my curiosity had taken hold when I examined the area beneath Thomas’s bed. Nathan would likely believe me as curious as a hound dog sniffing a fresh scent—and he’d be right. If I’d practiced restraint, I wouldn’t be in this dilemma. I recounted how I’d reached deep into the hole and tugged on the piece of canvas.
“Hurry—what did you find?” His voice quivered with excitement.
“A bag from the National Commerce Bank of Kansas City. And it was full of money.”
He chuckled. “You’re joking with me. Tell me what you really found.”
I grasped his arm. “This isn’t a joke, Nathan. If I hadn’t seen that money with my own eyes, I don’t suppose I’d believe it, either, but it’s true.” A sliver of moonlight shone on Nathan’s face, and I could see the disbelief that flickered in his eyes. “And that’s not all.”
“You mean there’s something else?” His voice cracked and he rubbed his fingers against his throat. “I’m not sure I can handle much more.”
“Yes, there was a newspaper clipping about a bank robbery at the National Commerce Bank. I took it out of the bag and have it at home. I’ll show it to you when we get back to the house.”
“You removed the newspaper clipping, but you didn’t remove any money, did you?”
“No, of course not. I’m not a thief, Nathan!”
“I know you’re not a thief, but you did remove the clipping. I thought you might have removed a bill or coin to prove you actually discovered money.” He massaged his forehead. “I do remember that a bank robbery occurred back in January—or was it December?” He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “I know it was cold when it happened, and I do recall your father mentioning it to me. He probably remembers when it occurred. He knows the bank officers, and I bet he recalls all of the details, too.” He hesitated a moment. “Why didn’t you speak to him about this?”
“Father has enough worries.” I bowed my head. “Besides, I didn’t want to tell him I’d been digging up floorboards and sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.”
I didn’t add that I worried he would tell the elders and they might declare me unfit to remain in the colonies. If I admitted that possibility, Nathan might decide I should speak to one of the elders.
“Do you think you could mention the bank robbery to my father and find out exactly when it happened without creating suspicion? We’re not even sure when it occurred, and I have no idea when Thomas first arrived in Iowa. I asked him when he came to Middle Amana, but he didn’t give me a direct answer.”
We stopped outside the front door. “First let me take a look at the news clipping. Maybe that will refresh my memory. Then we’ll decide what to do.”
I was pleased to see Father wasn’t in the parlor. “You wait here while I take the medicine to my parents’ room, and then I’ll get the clipping from my room.”
After a light tap I opened the bedroom door. My father had drawn the upholstered chair from the other side of the room to Mother’s bedside. His chin rested against his chest, but when I tiptoed inside, he awakened.
“You got the medicine?”
I handed him the packet.
“Thank you.” He poured a small amount of the medicine into a glass. “You are going to bed now?”
“Not right away. Nathan is in the parlor. He was taking a walk after work and saw me, so he escorted me home.”
“He should not stay too long. He needs his rest and so do you. When the next bell tolls, he should go or he’ll be late getting back.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him, Father.”
As soon as I returned to the parlor, I glanced at the clock. There wasn’t any time to waste. We only had fifteen minutes before the next bell. “I’ll be only a minute. I need to get the clipping from my bedroom.” Nathan nodded as I hurried across the carpeted floor. Inside my bedroom, I picked up the Bible. My fingers trembled as I flipped through the pages where I’d hidden the clipping. When I didn’t immediately find the piece of newspaper, my stomach knotted. Had Father used my Bible and discovered it? I sat on the edge of the bed and tried to calm myself as I continued my search. I silently chastised myself when I finally located it in the middle of Psalms, where it had stuck between the pages. I should have checked where I’d placed it before closing the Bible. Next time I’d be more careful.
I returned to the parlor and sat down beside Nathan. “Here it is.” I extended the worn piece of news clipping.
“So they already captured two of the robbers.” He scanned the remainder of the article. “Too bad there’s no date on the article, but why else would Thomas have that money unless he was involved in the robbery?”
I shrugged. “He’s very nice. He doesn’t seem like the type of person who would rob a bank. He told me he’d been saving money so he could make a proper home for his sister. Maybe that money was what he’s saved.”
Nathan frowned. “I thought you said it was in a bank bag and there was a lot of it. I don’t see how he could save a lot of money working in a mill. And why is he here? If he was living in Kansas City, why didn’t he get a job at the Watkins Woolen Mill, where he would have made a higher wage?”
“I asked him the same thing. He said he’d been paying for food and lodging in Kansas City, so he wouldn’t be making much more than if he worked here.”
“Doesn’t make sense for him to come all the way to Iowa. Train tickets cost money and his sister may be still living in Kansas City.” Nathan shook his head. “I think he’s hiding from the law, and this is the perfect place to remain concealed until he’s certain it’s safe to return. It’s proved a stroke of good fortune for him that you happened to come here, found the picture of his sister, and agreed to help him. He’s probably been quite pleased with all that’s happened so far.”
“You may be right, but I’m afraid he’ll discover this news clipping is gone. He might become suspicious and take off. Then what?”
“If he leaves, it would solve the problem, but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. And he’s not going to take a chance by digging around in that hiding spot—one of the other men might see him. Until he’s ready to take off, I think he’ll leave that bag right where it’s at.”
I twisted my hands together. “What if I hear from Lilly? Should I tell him?”
Nathan reached for my hand. “You’re trembling. There’s no need to be frightened. You rest easy and I’ll take care of everything. On my day off, I’ll rent a horse and ride over to Marengo and send a telegram to the newspaper office to find out the date of the robbery and see if there’s any description of the third robber.”
The bell tolled and Nathan pushed to his feet. “You don’t know how much I hate all these rules. I can’t even make a decision about what time I go to bed.”
After acting and sounding like a new man only moments ago, I was alarmed to hear the animosity return to Nathan’s voice. Had I made a mistake and told him too much? Maybe he hadn’t changed after all.
Chapter 22
Since our conversation under the tree, Ritt had finally acquiesced enough to visit with me on a couple of occasions, but he’d been careful to direct the conversation toward neutral topics such as my mother’s health, the weather, or work. He’d also refrained from attending any o
f the tutoring lessons with Madelyn and the other children or from meeting me on the path after meals. I missed spending time with him, but he was doing what he’d said—guarding himself against falling in love with me. However, when I looked into his eyes, I wasn’t sure that I had protected my heart soon enough.
Last evening on the way to prayer meeting, he’d been particularly kind and I truly believed I’d received an answer to my prayer. I believed that God was urging me to tell Ritt about the money. However, I’d said only a few words when Madelyn skipped to my side, eager to tell me about a new math problem she’d conquered in school that day.
Later, I determined I must not have received urging from the Lord or Madelyn wouldn’t have arrived to interrupt my conversation with Ritt. Perhaps I was supposed to keep the promise I’d made to Nathan. He’d said he would take care of everything, and I’d given my word that I wouldn’t confide in anyone else. If I expected Nathan to keep his vow, then surely I was supposed to do the same. If trouble of some sort arose and Ritt was involved, he could be reprimanded by the elders, while Nathan wouldn’t face such consequences. Nathan might be discharged from his job at the mill and told to leave the village, but those measures wouldn’t affect his future in the outside world.
Although I didn’t foresee any other explanation, I still held a modicum of hope that Thomas wasn’t a bank robber. No matter what Nathan said, I simply could not envision Thomas committing such a crime. I’d offered any number of prayers that we’d discover the truth, but now I feared the truth would hurt not only Thomas, but his sister, Kathleen. What if her adoptive family granted permission for her to meet with Thomas and he was later arrested for bank robbery? The girl would be devastated. If I hadn’t written that first note, I wouldn’t have to worry. Twice now, I’d stuck my nose where it didn’t belong, and twice it had delivered trouble to my doorstep.
A Simple Change Page 20
