Love Letters from Heaven

by Debbie Peterson

  “Hmm. Currency isn’t something we have where I’m from. So in place of the twenty bucks, what are the stakes in said bet?”

  “Okay, in the place of cold, hard cash, how about one very special, out-of-the-ordinary request, for another very special, out-of-the-ordinary request?”

  “Sounds intriguing. However, I’d like to alter the bet a little bit—just to make it fair on both sides.”

  “In what way?”

  “In addition as to what I may or may not have ridden in my youth, let’s include the horse I’m riding right now. What say you? Do you think I rode this very horse during my childhood games?”

  Katie considered both the horse and the handsome rider who rode him without benefit of saddle or bridle. “You know what? It just occurred to me that I’ve never asked you the name of your horse.”

  “Are you stalling for time, Miss Adelton? If so, is it so you can see if my expression somehow gives the answer away?”

  “No, I’m just curious, that’s all.”

  “I’m not sure I buy that, but his name is Warrior.”

  “That’s fitting.” She smiled. “All right, then. From your devilish grin and that gleam in your eyes, I’d say this could go either way. So here goes. I think you know Warrior like the back of your hand. In my opinion, he anticipates every move you make and responds accordingly. Of course, since you died many decades ago, you’ve had ample time to establish such a relationship. Still, I think I’ll go out on a limb here and say Warrior is the horse you loved all throughout your life. Therefore, he took part in all of your childhood games.”

  William chuckled as he leaned forward and stroked Warrior’s neck. “I have to say I’m quite impressed. You’re right. What you couldn’t guess though, is that Warrior and I share a birthday. That’s why at the tender age of six, my dad gave him to me as a birthday gift. But for the time I spent in the service, we were together every day. This old man outlived me by five years. When he crossed over into my realm, I saw him running toward me in the pasture. He looked like he did in his prime. He nuzzled me in greeting just as he always had during our mortality. In turn, I gave him the affection he had come to expect. All in all, I’d say we had a very sweet reunion.”

  She smiled as she envisioned the scene. “I’m sure you did.”

  “So what’ll it be then?”

  “What?”

  “The special request you’ve just won.”

  “Oh, that. You know what? I think I’ll just hold onto my voucher for awhile if it’s all the same to you. Do keep in mind though, I won’t forget you owe it.”

  “You needn’t worry. I won’t forget.” William leaned to his side and took her hand. “Now at the risk of casting a cloud over a most enjoyable day with my lady fair, may I ask her what’s wrong?”

  The question caught her off guard. “What makes you think anything is wrong?”

  “Those eyes of yours. I’ve told you before there isn’t a whole lot you can hide from me. So?”

  She shrugged it off. “Nothing, really. I—just had a nightmare last night, that’s all. Even after this magical day with you, the stupid thing crops up from time to time.”

  “What did you dream?”

  “Just a bunch of mixed-up craziness that involved Quinn, Rachel, and Gustavus. I remember something about Gustavus directing his anger at the three of us. He said he would exact his vengeance when we least expected it or some other such nonsense. Things morphed in and out as dreams often do. Still, I just can’t shake that evil look on Gustavus’ face.”

  “Are you worried about them? Quinn and Rachel, I mean?”

  “How can I not? I know Gustavus didn’t kill his son in cold-blooded murder, but if not for the vicious blow to his head, Quinn would never have fallen into that pedestal. In turn, he wouldn’t have died. Is that why his spirit is ugly and so filled with hatred right now?”

  “I suppose that’s possible.”

  “You said Quinn told you he thought his father would be happy that he had Rachel’s letters. He thought Gustavus would want to give them to her, just to see her smile again. Isn’t that right?”

  “Yes, he did say that.”

  “Then at one time Gustavus must’ve had at least some redeeming qualities for Quinn to say such a thing, don’t you think? So if once upon a time he had even a shred of love for his daughter, why did he destroy her happiness?”

  “I don’t know, Katie. All kinds of reasons come to mind. One, he might not have liked Donnie. Two, he may’ve considered his background beneath the dignity of a Jameson. Gustavus also made a series of bad choices. Each one, worse than the other, could’ve destroyed whatever good he had left inside him. On the other hand, Gustavus may’ve simply thought she should marry someone equal to her in wealth and social class. Someone who would increase his fortune.”

  “That’s stupid. Just because someone has a ton of money doesn’t make them any better than anyone else. It only means they can buy things other people can’t afford.”

  “I agree.”

  “What about Rachel? I’m sure by now she has read and reread every letter in that pouch. She knows Donnie didn’t betray her. How is she dealing with all of this newfound knowledge?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think you’re about to find out.”

  Katie turned in the direction of his gaze. At once she reined her mount to a halt and stared. Parked in front of her house sat a late model, black Audi. Rachel Jameson—of all the unexpected people—opened the driver door. In a graceful move, she swung her legs to the side, and stepped out of the car.

  Rachel dipped her head and offered a smile. She took her bag from off the seat and took a step toward her. “Hello, Katie. I apologize for not calling ahead, but I just didn’t know if I had the nerve to show up at your door. Now that I have, do you mind if we go inside and talk for awhile?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  With nothing more than a whispered word, William sent Warrior back home.

  Once he entered the house, he found his lady busy in the kitchen. She had just filled two mugs with hot chocolate and set them on a white porcelain tray alongside her homemade applesauce cookies.

  “Have I missed anything?” he asked.

  She shook her head as she added a few napkins to the plate and fussed with their arrangement. “Nope. I told her to make herself at home while I put together some refreshments. As you can see, I took my sweet time so I could wait for you.”

  He kissed her cheek. “You don’t know how much I appreciate that.”

  “Well, for your sake as well as Don’s, I think it’s important you hear every word she says. After all, there might be something he should know, right?” She picked up the tray and turned toward the living room. “Are you ready?”

  “Yep. Ready, willing, and eager.” He followed her through the short hallway and into the living room.

  She set the tray down on the tea table in front of the sofa. As she sat down next to Rachel, he settled into the chair beside Katie.

  Rachel took a mug of the chocolate and raised it to her lips. She blew on it, took a couple sips, and lowered it to her lap. “This is good, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Katie picked up the second cup and gave Rachel a smile. “Like I said when you first arrived, I’m so glad you’ve come. You’ve been in my thoughts more often than you might guess. I’ve wondered how you fared.”

  “I’m sorry that our last visit ended so abruptly. You must’ve thought me very rude, and quite ungrateful.”

  “No, not at all. I’m sure you didn’t expect that a perfect stranger would invade your home and hand you a stack of letters from a man you once loved.” She lifted a shoulder as she dipped her head to the side. “You might also have had a hard time believing I got them from Quinn.”

  “I’m sorry I gave you that impression.” For a moment she dropped her gaze to her cup. “I know you can’t know this, Katie, but Quinn died at one of the lowest points in my life. His death shattered my already broken heart
. I didn’t think I could tumble any further into the depths of sorrow than I did the day he died.”

  “Rachel, I know—”

  Rachel held up a hand to stay her words. “Please, I need to get this out before I lose my nerve. I drove out here rather than take a plane so I could sort through my thoughts and share them with you without blathering like an idiot. Once I do that, we’ll talk it all out, okay?”

  Katie patted her hand and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Thank you.” She took in a deep breath and let it go. “Two months and twelve days after my brother died, a friend called me. She had just learned that Donnie lost his life while fighting in Vietnam and thought I should know. That day I found out the sorrow could go far deeper. The pain could get far more intolerable. You see, despite what I thought I knew at the time, I still loved him. That love didn’t go away just because I wished it would go away. After I made that particular discovery, I saw Quinn’s spirit for the first time. I remember it so clearly. We had stormy weather that day. As I sat on my bed, and from my side bedroom window, I watched the rain. Somewhere along the way, a shadow kind of flickered in and out. Within that shadow, I glimpsed my brother from the corner of my eye. At once I turned toward him. Yet even as I did, I saw nothing more than the empty chair and my closed closet doors. I thought I had lost my mind.

  “Time went on as time always does. As it did, I saw my brother far more often. I could see him for longer periods of time and in direct line of eyesight. Even when I blinked, he remained. At times he sat in the chair. Other times he lounged by one of the windows as he kept me company. We never spoke. I don’t think either of us even tried. Yet whenever he looked at me I could see both love and sorrow in his gaze. His presence—whether a figment of my imagination or not—somehow gave me comfort when I needed it most. I didn’t feel so all alone when he visited me.” A small winsome smile curved the corners of her lips. “That’s kind of pathetic, don’t you think? That I would take comfort from a ghost?”

  “No, I don’t. I know about that kind of comfort.”

  “Perhaps you might at that. Anyway, that’s the reason your claim didn’t sound as farfetched as you might’ve thought. I think the one question that nagged at me the day you visited was why Quinn wouldn’t have given me the letters himself. As I looked back, I could see ample opportunity during the time I lived at home. What’s more, they would’ve been such a comfort to me back in the most difficult days of my life.”

  “I don’t think we should tell Rachel that he tried,” William said. “The knowledge wouldn’t serve any real purpose at this point.”

  Katie cleared her throat. “Does that mean you didn’t see him after you moved out of the house?”

  “No, I didn’t. I thought it strange too because I’ve often heard ghosts will follow someone from house to house—especially if they are emotionally connected to that person. I thought given the circumstances, Quinn would come with me. He didn’t though, and I just didn’t know why he would choose to remain there in that awful house.”

  “Perhaps he remained so he could watch over the letters and keep them safe.”

  Her eyes widened a bit. “I never considered that possibility, but I think you might be right at that. If nothing more, it makes sense as to why he would stay in a place so filled with bad memories.”

  “If you don’t mind my asking, how long did you stay in the house?”

  “Six months to the day after my father died, I moved out.” Rachel took in a breath as she closed her eyes. “That day I saw something I wished I hadn’t. Because of what I witnessed, I just couldn’t stay in the house any longer. I got in my car and I left. I never went back.”

  “Would that be the scene in the upstairs hallway between Quinn and your father?”

  Her eyes flew open. “You saw it too?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid I did.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Rachel gazed into her eyes for several moments. “That said, the truth of the matter is, you didn’t have to see it. So the question is why? Why would you go so far as to break into the house when you obviously had an alternative address for me? What did you expect you’d find in an empty house?”

  “Oh, we didn’t break in. Really we didn’t. We rang the bell in the hope someone would answer. Quinn opened the door and we—”

  “He did?”

  “Well, I didn’t actually see him open the door. However, I did ask him later if he invited us in, and he indicated he had.”

  “I suppose that explains the reason the alarms never went off. I wondered about that.” She shrugged. “Anyway, I’d like to know all the whys and wherefores of your search for me. If I understand all of this correctly, you didn’t know about or get the letters until after you’d gone to the house.”

  Katie rubbed her fingers across her forehead. “This whole thing is so difficult for me to explain. I’m not sure where I should even begin.”

  Rachel smiled. “I know I cut you off when you first visited me. In fact, I didn’t pay much attention to what you said once you handed me the letters. So how about we start over and take it from the beginning. Do you think we can do that?”

  “The beginning—okay, I can do that.” She traced the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. “If I told you there are a great many spirits right this very minute who are deeply in love with mortals—and in turn the mortals love them back with an equal passion—would you believe me?”

  Rachel raised her brows. “Well I don’t know. That’s something I’ve never considered.”

  Katie laughed. “I bet not. Neither did I. The thought would probably never cross the mind of a sane person. Nevertheless, I’ve been told there are many such relationships between mortals and spirits. William and I are one such couple.”

  Under any other circumstance, William might’ve shouted out a rousing hallelujah for the joy that filled his soul. Did Katie know what she just said? Without any forethought whatsoever, she admitted out loud that she loved him. She loved him!

  “William has been part of my life for as far back as I can remember. I have no doubt in my mind of that for I sensed his presence whenever he was with me. Yet all the while I never once saw his spirit or heard the sound of his voice. I couldn’t see or speak with him until I visited his grave in Normandy.”

  Rachel leaned toward her. “How very fascinating.”

  “Yes, it is. Since that day and over the course of time, I’ve learned a great many things about him. One of those things is that he takes care of various American soldiers in the moment they leave their mortality behind. They are all deeply wounded in one way or another. Either in the physical sense which caused their death, or they are wounded in mind, heart, and soul. As you can imagine, they develop close friendships with each other. Like I told you on the day we met, William has such a friendship with Don.”

  Katie told her about the day William had asked for her help, the why of it, and her subsequent search. She recounted everything that happened after she landed in Houston at both the cemetery and the Jameson estate. She didn’t leave a single detail out of her story, but for one. The encounters they had with the vile ghost of Gustavus, she kept to herself. After she finished her tale, she again turned her gaze toward William.

  “You’re giving an awful lot of attention to an empty chair, Katie. Unless of course, your soldier is sitting in it. Is he?”

  “Busted.” She laughed as she toyed with her necklace. “Yes. William is here and he’s sitting in that chair. Does the thought make you uncomfortable?”

  “No, quite the contrary actually. In a way I find difficult to explain, his friendship with Donnie makes me feel a little closer to my soldier. The fact he’s here with you now makes that connection far greater.”

  “Is he your soldier, Rachel? I mean, despite what your father made you believe all those years ago—coupled with the passage of time—do you love him still?”

  Rachel pulled a gold chain from out of her blouse and grasped the diamond ring that hung from it. “
I’ve never stopped loving him, Katie. Not ever. Part of me never believed him capable of doing what my father said he did. The Donnie I knew and fell in love with would never have done such a thing. However, when his letters stopped, doubt crept in. You see, I couldn’t reconcile the two.”

  “I’m sure that had to have been difficult. I know Quinn wanted so much to tell you all of this himself. He just didn’t get the chance.”

  “He did, actually.” Rachel dipped her hand inside her bag and removed a wrinkled piece of lined paper. “Did you see this when you opened the pouch and removed the letters?”

  “No, I guess I didn’t—” Katie stopped. “You know what? I think that might’ve been the last thing he put in the bag.”

  She unfolded it. “I found it at the bottom of the pouch, stuck between the layers of the seam. The note is from Quinn. The foolish boy didn’t think I’d let him explain once he gave me the letters. He told me what happened and begged my forgiveness for the part he played in the deception. Can you believe that? I mean if anyone should beg for my forgiveness, it would be my father. Not that I expect such a request anytime soon.”

  Katie put a gentle hand on top of Rachel’s. “I’m so sorry. I wish none of this would ever have happened.”

  A sad smile accompanied the slight shake of Rachel’s head. “What’s done is done. The one thing we can’t change is the past. Right now though, I wonder if your William could do something for me.”

  Katie turned toward him.

  He nodded. “She’s but to ask. If it’s something I can do, I’ll get it done.”

  Once again Katie gave Rachel her full attention. “He’ll give it his best shot. What do you have in mind?”

  She held the note to her breast. “If it isn’t too difficult, I’d like him to tell Quinn that nothing he did needs my forgiveness. He might also thank him for hanging around as long as he did. That he was such a comfort when I needed comfort the most. From my own experiences, I know that staying in that house couldn’t have been easy. Finally, tell him I love him and I hope he’s finally at peace.”