Reach for Heaven

by Marie Higgins

  “I believe you’re right.” Albert stroked her fingers still hooked around his elbow. “Would you like to accompany me out back to my mother’s flower gardens?”

  Oh good grief. Gage couldn’t believe what a dolt Albert was over a woman...no, this woman, to be precise. Once again her eyes sparkled.

  She smiled and nodded. “I would love to, Mr. Owens.”

  Albert looked at Gage. “If you will excuse us.”

  “But of course.” Gage bowed mockingly.

  Just before Duchess passed, she arched her eyebrows at him and lifted her nose higher. Gage took a step back to let the couple walk by, but a panicked voice and cries overrode the mumbles of the crowd and had him swinging his gaze toward the front door. Duchess—as well as everyone else in the room—shifted their focus in that direction as well.

  “Someone help me, quickly!”

  The mayor rushed forward to the lanky young man who had his hat crushed against his chest.

  “What is wrong, Jimmy?” the mayor asked.

  “My father has been shot. Just now.” He turned and pointed to the road. “Please, I beg you. He needs a doctor.”

  Gasps exploded around the room as the name, Doctor Healy, was being called. Soon a rotund white-hair man with spectacles elbowed his way from the back room, heading toward the door. Anxious to help in any way, Gage pushed people aside as he followed the doctor. A few other men were diligent in their pursuit of assisting as well.

  Once Gage stood in the yard, he scanned the people rushing past him and saw the mayor and the doctor kneeling by a man’s side to the side of the road. Gage quickened his stride toward them. Blood coated the unconscious man’s chest. The doctor ripped open the shirt as he searched for the bullet hole. As Gage came closer, he heard the story of what happened from the frantic young boy. Apparently, the boy’s father was also a doctor.

  “...And two men were waiting outside the Mercantile on their horses when Pa left the store. They accused Pa of killing one of their friends.” Timothy sniffed and wiped his nose on the cuff of his sleeve.

  “Who was their friend?” the mayor asked.

  Tears streamed steadily down Jimmy’s face. “They didn’t say, but the men wore the same red bandanas around their neck.”

  A woman’s gasp exploded nearby, and Gage turned to see who it had come from. Miss St. James stood nearby with her hand over her mouth. Her face was pale, and eyes were wide.

  The longer he studied her reaction, he had the feeling this was more than just shock from seeing a man shot. Soon, her hand dropped and she whispered, Buchanan Gang.

  Memories from seven years ago tumbled back in his head. He’d heard of the Buchanan Gang, and they had robbed many banks and stagecoaches—and killed many people. He recalled when they had burned down the house of the local doctor in town, killing his family. Gage hadn’t known the man, but his father had been friends with the good doctor. The tragedy affected the whole town, and hearing the name of the Buchanan Gang put fear in everyone’s heart.

  Blinking, Gage shook his head from the memory. What was the gang doing here? He thought they were still in Montana.

  The frustrated grumble from the mayor pulled Gage’s thoughts back to the injured man on the road. Gage moved closer and knelt beside the bleeding man before meeting the gaze of the other man trying to stop the bleeding. “I want to help. I’m studying medicine.” Although it wasn’t the full truth, it wasn’t a lie, either. The doctor instructed Gage where to place his hands to apply pressure.

  The crowd grew around him, but only one face stood out. Miss St. James stared at the injured man with wide, frightened eyes. Gage gritted his teeth. Couldn’t Albert tell this was not a scene for delicate women such as Miss St. James? Why didn’t the mayor’s son take her back inside the house, for heaven’s sake! Instead the man visited with the people around him instead of giving Miss St. James more attention.

  “We’re losing him,” the doctor’s voice rose in panic as he felt the man’s neck for a pulse.

  Gage’s heart dropped as Timothy’s wails grew louder. Gage said a silent prayer, hoping this situation wasn’t like the one seven years ago.

  PA! ADELLA BLINKED back tears as she stared at the man who’d been shot. It wasn’t the injured victim that reminded her of her father, but the story the boy related. It had to be the Buchanan Gang! They’d done this to her father before, so why not to someone else? May the devil take them—all of them!

  To this very day, she never knew why her father had died...and why the gang thought that killing the whole family would solve anything. Her body shook and she wrapped her arms around her middle. I’m going to be sick. Yet knowing she might empty her stomach soon—and in an unlady-like manner—didn’t make her leave. She couldn’t. She had to watch to see if the man lived or died.

  When the doctor’s shoulders sagged and he shook his head, tears filled Adella’s eyes. Someone had handed a rag to the doctor and Mr. Grayson, and they wiped their bloodied hands. The boy on the ground next to his dead father cried while the mayor comforted.

  “I’m gonna kill them,” the boy cried out. “I’ll make those murderers pay for this!”

  Mr. Grayson placed his hand gently on Jimmy’s shoulder. “If you kill them, that will make you no better than the others who did this terrible act of violence.”

  The boy flung Mr. Grayson’s hand away and sobbed into the mayor’s chest. “Now, Jimmy,” the mayor soothed, “just tell me who it was that shot your pa and I’ll have him arrested.”

  “I don’t know. The men left so fast...I couldn’t see any of them,” the boy said.

  “Not to worry. We’ll find him.” Mayor Owens patted the boy’s shoulder.

  Senseless! Adella shook her head. All this killing was senseless, and she wished it would stop. Once again, God refused to help another innocent person dying. The Almighty ignored this man just as He’d ignored Adella’s family. That, she would never understand.

  Mr. Grayson stood and walked toward her. Still, she couldn’t command her feet to move, not even when he stopped in front her.

  “You should not have seen this.” He shook his head. “Would you like me to escort you home?”

  “N—no, my father is here. I shall return home with him.” She glanced down at his hands. “You should go inside the house and wash your hands, Mr. Grayson.”

  He nodded. “I will, but I need to know you will be all right.” His gaze swept the people nearby. “I can’t see Mr. Owens. Do you want me to find him for you?”

  She struggled to smile. “I shall be fine. My father will probably be easier to locate.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Now please go and wash up before Mrs. Owens serves dinner.”

  “As you wish.”

  Adella watched him leave and her heart twisted. He lives in Virginia City—the very town where she’d grown up. Although she never met him or his family, she had heard of the Graysons. They were indeed a fine family. What were the chances he remembered her father? Or the senseless killing of her family?

  She turned and wandered back toward the house. When she saw Wilfred St. James, tears brimmed in her eyes again. Suddenly, she wanted to get out of here—away from everyone. Away from memories. Unfortunately, memories would always resurface, but at least she could hide away in her room so nobody could see her agony. She hurried to Wilfred and clutched his arm.

  He embraced her in a fatherly hug. “My dear, are you all right? You don’t have any color in your face.”

  Adella shook her head. “Would you mind terribly if you took me home? I don’t feel well.”

  “Of course you don’t feel well.” He pulled her closer. “You should not have come outside to see the commotion.”

  Wilfred led her through the throng of people with his arm about her shoulders until they reached their carriage. Once they were on their way, she touched her father’s arm. “Please convey my apologies to Mr. Owens and his father. I fear I was too distraught to tell them I was leaving.�
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  “Not to worry, my dear. I shall let them know.”

  The ride home took twice as long as she figured it would, but when memories were on her mind and she couldn’t get them to leave, it made her so impatient. She fisted her hands in her lap and watched the passing farms and houses until they reached home. She gave Wilfred a quick kiss before hopping down and hurrying inside. Sally watched her run past toward her room with questioning eyes. Adella didn’t say anything to her mother, but before her bedroom door was closed behind her, she heard Wilfred’s voice explaining to his wife what had happened.

  Adella curled on her bed and hugged a pillow to her chest. Closing her eyes, she willed the heartache building inside her to leave, but in order for it do to that, her memories would have to disappear as well. Unfortunately that wasn’t something easily accomplished.

  The soft click of her door opening and closing had Adella peeking to see who had entered her room. Lydia crept toward the bed, a frown pulling on the corners of her mouth as deep creases marred her forehead.

  Adella scooted over for her sister to sit on the edge, and they grasped hands. Tears filled Lydia’s eyes as she peered at Adella.

  “I heard what happened tonight.”

  Adella nodded.

  “It reminded me of what happened...seven years ago.”

  Adella sniffed. “How much do you remember?”

  Lydia’s gaze dropped to their clasped hands. “All of it. For months—years—after that had happened, I had nightmares about the gang coming to find us...and finishing the job.”

  “Yes, I know. I had those same nightmares, too.”

  Silence stretched between them for several minutes. Finally, Adella cleared her throat and her sister’s watery gaze jumped to meet hers. “I’m so tired of feeling this way, Lyd. I want it to go away—all the memories to just leave me in peace.” She sat up next to her sister. “When we had escaped, I thought by finding a new family all of our bad memories would disappear. It hadn’t. I want to be a normal woman, but I cannot with these horrific memories making me physically ill whenever I think about Pa, Ma, and Jacob...and that night we could have all died.”

  Lydia wiped her own tears away, nodding. “I want to feel that peace, as well, but how can we accomplish such a feat?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Lydia sniffed. “We should tell Sally and Wilfred.”

  Adella gasped. “Are you addled?”

  “Perhaps, but Ella, it’s been a long time. I highly doubt they will know our parents. They might have heard of what happened to the Lancaster family, but they were traveling from California when they found us, and so they wouldn’t have known.”

  “I just don’t know.” Adella rubbed her throbbing forehead, the headache growing worse by the minute. “Let me think about it.”

  “We have kept this secret for too long. I think it’s time we told someone so we can relieve the burden that’s been weighing on our hearts for seven long years.”

  “I know you’re right.” Adella took a deep breath. “I just need time to think.”

  Lydia leaned closer and gave her a hug. Adella clung to her sister for several minutes as they shared their grief, before finally releasing her. As Lydia walked out of the room, Adella wondered when her sister had become so smart. Although she knew telling someone was the right thing to do, it literally scared her to death.

  Lying on the bed, she stared toward the window. Night had crept upon them and she hadn’t even noticed. Was it dark when Wilfred had brought her home? Too much had been on her mind to concentrate or care.

  How many minutes had passed, she did not know. It could have been hours, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t bring herself to climb off the bed to undress into her nightclothes. Although, she must. Tomorrow was Friday and her class needed her wide awake and alert. After school tomorrow she could hide away in her room and pretend to be a hermit for the weekend...but not now.

  A knock came upon the door before it opened. Sally slowly walked in and closed the door behind her. “How are you holding up, my dear?”

  Once again, tears collected in Adella’s eyes and she reached for Sally. The older woman hurried to her and sat beside her, holding her tight.

  “Your Pa should have not let you see what happened tonight. I scolded him for not bringing you home sooner.”

  Adella sniffed, pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Don’t blame him. He was probably in shock as much as I was.”

  Sally offered an apologetic smile full of love. “But if he was thinking like a real father, he wouldn’t have allowed you to stand and watch.”

  She hiccupped a laugh. “Well, considering you two have only been parents for seven years, I think I can forgive him...this time.”

  Cupping Adella’s face, sadness crossed Sally’s expression. “We have not been very good parents, I fear.”

  Confusion swept over Adella and she scrunched her forehead. “Why would you say that? You and Wilfred were the answer to our prayers when we found each other.”

  “And you were the answer to my prayers, but because Mr. St. James and I wanted children so badly, we didn’t stop to think of the mistakes we were making...or the things we didn’t confide in you and your sisters.”

  Adella wasn’t sure she liked the tone in Sally’s voice. Had the St. James’ held secrets, too? “What are you talking about?”

  Sighing heavily, Sally clutched Adella’s hands. “Mr. St. James and I knew about your family. We knew your father was a doctor and that your house was set on fire by the Buchanan Gang.”

  Shock as cold as ice ran through Adella’s blood. Her heart quit beating...if just for a moment. She tried to pull her hands from her mother’s grasp, but the other woman held on tight.

  “Please let me explain,” Sally continued. “When Wilfred and I found you and your sisters, we didn’t know who you were, but the first town we stayed in before moving here, we discovered the truth. Mr. St. James and I met a couple in that town who knew your father...and his family. They mentioned how much our girls resembled the Lancaster sisters. Mr. St. James asked around during that time and discovered that you were indeed Doctor Lancaster’s daughters.”

  Still stunned, Adella didn’t know whether to become angry or not. Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to shed them. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  Moisture gathered in Sally’s eyes. “Because we wanted children so badly, we didn’t want anything to take you from us.”

  “What could possibly have taken us from you when our family was dead?”

  Sally heaved another breath. “Your father has a brother who lives in Bonner County. He and his wife would have taken you all in and raised you alongside their children.”

  Suddenly, memories she’d tried to forget resurfaced and she could picture her aunt, uncle, and cousins perfectly. She’d been to Bonner County many times as a young girl because that was where her grandparents lived.

  A pang of homesickness passed through her, making her want to cry all over again. She’d chosen not to remember her family because she didn’t want Buchanan’s gang to kill them as they’d killed her parents.

  “Uncle Marvin and Aunt Lillian?” Adella asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I do remember them.”

  “I knew you would.” Sally dabbed a finger to the corner of her eye, removing a tear. “Because I didn’t want to lose you or your sisters, I kept the truth from you.”

  The love in Mrs. St. James’ eyes was evident. Adella’s heart softened as tears streamed down her cheeks. She fell against her mother and cried softly.

  “I believe you and Wilfred did the right thing.” She took a deep breath and lifted her head to look into Sally’s eyes. “However, I also believe that my family needs to know we are alive. Although for seven years I’d wanted nothing to do with the Lancasters, it’s time to put my night terrors to rest and find some answers about what happened that horrible night.”

  Nodding, Sally wiped her wet eyes agai
n. “I agree.”

  “I shall write them a letter and see what comes from it.”

  “I think they will want to see you.”

  “Yes, I’m sure, however, I don’t want Lydia or Charity to know anything yet. So if I leave, they must not know why.”

  “I shall not say a word.”

  Adella threw her arms around Sally’s shoulders and hugged her tight. “I do love you, and will always love you, but it’s time for me to discover the truth.”

  Inside her new adventure scared her, yet she knew it must be done. That was the only way to go on with her life and forget the past. School was almost out and she would leave first thing during the school break.

  Chapter Three

  Bright and early the next day, Gage hurried out of his bedroom of the inn where he was staying. Today’s purpose—to convince the mayor that Gage Grayson was the right man to buy the land. He’d spent too much time researching the right locations and areas to just give up on this one. He knew his family would welcome him back with open arms if he decided to stay and help on the family ranch, but since his older brother Joshua married the very lovely Southern Belle, Careen, and his other brother, Peter, had wed the beautiful plantation owner, Cecilia, Gage just couldn’t be around and watch them so happy together and having children without wanting to find his own happiness.

  The walk from the inn to City Hall didn’t take very long, and even a few people waved a greeting from the nearby shops. He already loved the friendly town and prayed he would be a part of it one day.

  As he neared the mayor’s office, voices drifted from inside the room. From the bits and pieces Gage overheard, it sounded like the mayor was discussing the plot of land he had for sale. Inwardly, Gage groaned. Obviously, the mayor hadn’t made his decision yet. Was the man waiting for the highest bidder? Gage didn’t have a lot of money to spend on purchasing land—or to bribe a mayor. Gage couldn’t go any higher if he wanted to buy materials to build a house and stable. Pa had already promised Gage some cattle to get him started. If the mayor was a greedy man, Gage would have to look elsewhere.