In Times Gone by

by Tracie Peterson

  Kenzie saw a mix of emotions cross Victoria’s face before she looked away. It was clear she wasn’t interested in a Bible study.

  “I think that would be very nice,” Kenzie said, reaching for her tea. “What is it that the Bible says about training up a child when they’re young? Victoria could benefit greatly from such study.”

  “I agree,” Camri said, nodding as she closed ranks around Judith. “It’s important for the older women to teach the younger. We’ll have to figure out a good time. Today won’t work, however. Patrick is coming for me soon. We’re going to take advantage of our Saturday and spend the entire day together. Caleb, you and Judith should join us. We can take the ferry to Oakland and get away from all the destruction and noise. I think we need to refresh ourselves in order to have strength to move ahead.”

  “I think you should do exactly that,” Kenzie declared. “I’m going with Cousin George and Mrs. Andrews. They intend to be married today by Judge Winters.”

  “What?” Camri cried. “Why didn’t they tell us? We might have planned a celebration!”

  Kenzie laughed. “Because we might have planned a celebration. They just wanted a very quiet arrangement. Otherwise I should be here the entire day.”

  “We can hardly leave Victoria behind,” Judith said, still appearing confused by what her cousin had said earlier.

  “Oh, she can come with me to see Cousin George married, and then we’ll return to the house. You all go and enjoy yourselves,” Kenzie insisted. She looked at Victoria, who was watching her with a look of displeasure.

  “I don’t know,” Caleb said. “There’s a lot of work I should be doing.”

  “It’ll keep, brother dear.” A knock sounded on the front door, and Camri jumped to her feet. “That will be Patrick.”

  After breakfast, the plans were finalized, and the foursome took off for their day of fun. Victoria moped around the house as if she’d been asked to attend her own funeral. Kenzie thought about confronting her regarding her performance at breakfast but thought better of it. It might be wise to let Victoria think she had the upper hand.

  “Do I really have to go to your cousin’s wedding?” Victoria asked as Kenzie came downstairs with her hat and gloves.

  “What else would you do?” Kenzie paused in the hall to put on her hat. She could see Victoria’s scowling face in the mirror.

  “Stay here.” Victoria crossed her arms, and Kenzie turned to face her. “In fact,” the girl continued, “that’s exactly what I intend to do. You can hardly force me to go.” She marched into the front room and plopped down in one of the stuffed chairs.

  Kenzie wasn’t sure what to do. If she didn’t get a move on, she would be late, and that in turn would delay the wedding. She looked at Victoria and shook her head. “Have it your way. I hardly care one whit what you do, but if anything is amiss when I return, you can be certain Caleb and Judith will hear about your behavior.”

  Victoria looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “I’m not causing any trouble at all. I just don’t feel like attending a wedding. I just lost my family. Have you no mercy? No compassion?”

  Kenzie pulled on her gloves. “Just make sure you give me no reason to tell them.”

  She left the house and was only a few steps down the street when she heard Micah call her name. She turned to find him driving up behind her.

  She smiled. “I see you got your automobile back.”

  He stopped and leaned across the seat to open the passenger door. “Let me drive you.”

  “You don’t even know where I’m going.”

  “I do too. You’re going to your cousin’s wedding.”

  Kenzie moved to the car and looked at Micah. “I said nothing about that.”

  “You didn’t have to. I’m going as Mrs. Andrews’s guest.” He shrugged. “She wanted me to stand as her witness. We’ve been friends for a very long time.”

  Kenzie rolled her eyes. “Are you sure this isn’t just a ploy on your behalf to get me up before a judge?”

  He laughed. “The thought had crossed my mind.”

  Kenzie slid gracefully onto the seat. Before she could completely close the door, Micah leaned across her and did it for her. As he straightened back up, he quickly touched his lips to hers.

  “I’d like to spend more time on that effort,” he said in her ear, “but we’ll be late.”

  The kiss left her unable to think or speak. She hadn’t expected to even see Micah today, and yet here he was, and she couldn’t deny she was pleased. His kiss, even abbreviated, sent a tingle through her like an electric current.

  “Aren’t you going to at least chastise me?” he asked, still not putting the car into motion.

  Kenzie shook her head and met his gaze. “No. The thought never crossed my mind.”

  His eyes widened and his brow shot up. “Well, I’ll be. The lady is finally coming around to my way of thinking.” He rubbed his gloved hands together and put the car in gear. “We may have to talk to that judge after all.”

  Victoria peered from the front window to see which direction Kenzie had gone. She saw a car stop and recognized Dr. Fisher as the driver. Maybe Kenzie wasn’t going to a wedding at all. Perhaps she was running off for a day of fun with the good doctor. Either way, with Kenzie in the company of Micah Fisher, Arthur Morgan would be very unhappy. Perhaps he’d like to know about it.

  When the car moved off down the street, Victoria put her own plans into motion. She knew where she could find Arthur Morgan, and with any luck at all, she could get there and back before Kenzie returned. She was desperate for his help, and now she had some information he might like to know.

  Just in case Kenzie came back early, Victoria decided she would pull one of the same tricks she had at home when she’d wanted to go out unnoticed. Hurrying upstairs, she arranged her bed in such a fashion that the pillows gave the appearance of a body beneath the covers. Next, she changed out of the gown she’d been wearing and draped it across the foot of the bed. She positioned her shoes next to the bed, then retrieved another pair from one of her many clothes trunks.

  Once she’d redressed in her black mourning clothes, Victoria went downstairs to the kitchen level. Camri had mentioned an exterior door, and Victoria wanted to make certain it was unlocked. Now when she returned, she could sneak in that way, and no one would be any wiser about her absence.

  She wasn’t used to having to do for herself, but she could manage. Anyone who thought otherwise was a fool. She had been giving her family the slip for more years than she could remember.

  Laughter bubbled up inside her at the thought of what she was about to do. She would let Arthur know that Kenzie would be home later that day—and alone. Victoria frowned. At least she hoped Kenzie would be alone. Arthur had told her it was important that he find a way to get Kenzie away from the others, and this opportunity was too good to pass up.

  She made her way to Arthur’s hotel wearing her mourning clothes and veil. She ignored the doorman when he asked if he might help her. Arthur had given her his room number, and while it was scandalous for her to go to a man’s hotel room, she didn’t have time for proprieties. If she asked the front desk clerk to have Arthur notified and brought to the lobby, it would only expose her presence at the hotel. Hopefully this way, no one would pay her any mind.

  When she knocked at his room, Arthur opened the door and stared at her for a moment as if not recognizing who she was.

  Victoria raised her veil and pushed past him. “Shut the door, you fool. We don’t need anyone recognizing me.”

  He did as she commanded. “What are you doing here?”

  “You told me to let you know when Kenzie was alone. She’ll be alone this afternoon. At least, I believe she will be. The others have gone to Oakland for the day, and Kenzie just left to attend her cousin’s wedding. I have to be quick about this, and you must pay for a taxi for me to return.”

  He smiled. “You have definitely captured my attention.”

  She
crossed her arms. “I thought we agreed to be useful to one another.”

  “Of course. I’ll do as you say. So Kenzie will be at the house alone?”

  “I’ll be there, but I’ll conveniently disappear and leave you two alone. I honestly don’t know why you want her. She’s dull as dishwater and has a voice like a harpy.”

  He laughed and casually took a seat. “Kenzie is my business. What I want to know is what you expect me to do for you.”

  Victoria cocked her head. She crossed to where he sat and took the chair opposite him. “I need help to get my inheritance. I want you to find me someone—a lawyer or a judge or someone with power who can be bought. You’ll have to front the money, but I assure you that once I have mine, you’ll be paid back.”

  “Perhaps you should give me the details of why you can’t access your funds without legal aid.”

  “My cousin Judith has the advantage of age. I’m only nineteen, and therefore they’re holding my money in trust until I reach my majority. However, I think with the right incentive, we should be able to convince a judge to let me have my money and freedom. A great many young women set out on their own prior to reaching the age of twenty-one. Given my circumstances—my family having been killed and Judith being a stranger—I can’t help but believe some sort of arrangement could be made. For the right price, of course.”

  Arthur’s expression turned wolfish. “I’d arrange for you myself if I didn’t have Kenzie to contend with. You’re exactly the kind of young woman I enjoy spending time with. Perhaps I could set you up somewhere in Kansas City.”

  Victoria smiled in her most seductive manner. “We shall see. First things first. You, for whatever reason, need to get Kenzie to marry you, and I need my funds released from the care of my cousin. Can you find me a lawyer?”

  “Of course. My family has any number of connections here in San Francisco, but as I recall, one man in particular seems able to accomplish almost anything. I’ll get in touch with him immediately.”

  Victoria got to her feet. “Thank you. What’s his name?”

  “Ruef. Abraham Ruef.”

  “So, did that give you any thoughts as to saying yes to my proposal?” Micah asked as he drove Kenzie home from the small ceremony.

  “I’m still surprised at the quickness of Cousin George marrying Mrs. Andrews. I never thought him the marrying type. He’s been single all these years.”

  “When a man has had enough loneliness and solitude, he can’t marry fast enough.”

  She looked at him. “Is that why you want to get married?”

  Micah turned a corner and barely missed a stack of debris. Some of the streets were still barely passable, so he kept his eyes on the road ahead. “I think you know me better than that.”

  “Cousin George is such a strange man anyway,” Kenzie continued. “He’s spent so many years caught up in his belief that someone is out to do him in. He was always certain that someone was trying to ruin his chocolate business, and now he’s working for the very man he called the enemy.”

  “Sometimes enemies can become quite chummy.” He touched her cheek and smiled when she didn’t jump back as she used to.

  “We’ve never been enemies, Micah,” she countered.

  He nodded. “True. Perhaps adversaries would be a better term. Like in a game of chess. We both had our pieces and our moves, and the challenge was to see if we could endure to the end.”

  “I thought the challenge of chess was to put the king in checkmate.”

  “Well, you did that the very first time I met you.” He glanced over long enough to see her blush. “Why don’t you tell me something about your childhood? Share a memory.”

  Kenzie said nothing, and Micah worried he’d offended her. He looked over again to find her deep in thought.

  “Tell me why they named you Kenzie.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve always hated my name. Who in their right mind names a little girl after a commanding officer in the army? My father wanted a son, and when I was born, he was very disappointed, but my mother, hoping to assuage his wounded spirit, suggested he give me the name he would have given a son. She knew it was important to him. So they named me Merton Kenzie after the man my father so admired—who saved Father’s life at Gettysburg. But it didn’t help. He still regretted me. I tried hard to win him over, but I wasn’t a boy.”

  Micah heard the sadness in her voice. “I, for one, am very glad you aren’t a boy.” She looked at him, and their eyes met for a moment. He could see that the memory troubled her greatly. “I’m sure you were a beautiful little girl.”

  “I was as I am now. Red-haired and freckled. I take after my mother’s grandfather. No one else has this curse, as my father calls it.”

  “I love your red hair. Your freckles too. I intend to count each and every one of them, in fact.” He grinned. “After we’re married, of course.”

  “You, Dr. Fisher, are quite out of line. I shall think twice before agreeing to ride with you again.”

  He laughed heartily, pulled up to the curb in front of Caleb’s house, and turned off the motor. “Did your father ever get his boy?”

  “Yes and no. When I was five, my brother James was stillborn. It was my father’s greatest sorrow. My mother had had several miscarriages prior to that, and afterward there were no more children. I grew up an only child, and my father did his best to tolerate me.”

  “I’m so sorry. You deserved much better.”

  She shrugged. “I know he loved me in his own way. Especially once I grew old enough to be useful. He worked for his uncle, running a mercantile, and he put me to work there doing any number of things. Still, I always knew I wasn’t truly what he wanted. When Arthur stood me up on our wedding day, I figured I wasn’t what he wanted either.”

  “You’re definitely what I want.” Micah took hold of her chin and turned her to face him. “Kenzie, you are everything I ever dreamed of when I thought of a wife. You’re all I’ll ever want.”

  She searched his face as if trying to ascertain the truth of his words. He wished she could see into his heart and know exactly how much he loved her.

  “Please, Kenzie, say you’ll marry me.”

  “I . . . I . . .”

  He thought for a moment she would agree, but then just as quickly, she opened the door and got out of the car. “I have to go.”

  He watched her race up the steps to Caleb’s house and wondered if he shouldn’t chase after her. To what purpose though? He could hardly force her to agree.

  Micah heaved a sigh. Somehow he had to prove to her that his love was real—that he wouldn’t be one more disappointed man in her life.

  CHAPTER

  16

  Kenzie could hardly still her trembling after leaving Micah. She entered the house and closed the door with a sigh. She leaned back against the cool wood and wondered when she’d ever feel free to give Micah the answer he longed for.

  “Kenzie.”

  She jumped at the sound of Arthur whispering her name. He stood in the archway of the front sitting room just a few feet away, watching her.

  “What in the world are you doing here?” she demanded.

  “I had to see you. The young lady staying with you let me in. She said I could wait for you to return. I see you were with that doctor again.”

  “‘Again’? Are you spying on me and keeping a record?” Anger gave her strength. She straightened and pulled off her gloves. “Arthur, you have no business being here.”

  “Of course I do. You’re my business, and at the moment, the only one I can focus on. I think about you every moment of the day.”

  He gave her his lopsided boyish smile. How she used to love it. He seemed like such a sweet innocent boy when he smiled like that. Kenzie put her gloves aside and removed a long pin from her hat.

  “It isn’t appropriate for you to be here, Arthur. You need to go.” She contemplated the hat pin in her hand before stepping back and opening the door.

  “It isn�
��t fair that you give that doctor a chance to woo you, but you won’t even speak to me.” Arthur moved closer, and Kenzie tightened her grip on the hat pin. “He doesn’t know you like I do. He can’t possibly care for you as I can.”

  “I’m not going to discuss Dr. Fisher with you.”

  “I can give you anything you want,” Arthur said, standing within inches of her. “I’ll build you a new mansion. I’ll give you furs and jewels. I’ll set you up with your own bank account and fill it with more money than you could ever spend.”

  “Those things would mean nothing without love.”

  “But we’ll have love too.” He reached out to touch her, but she held up the pin. He stepped back. “I know you love me.”

  “Arthur, what has become apparent to me is that I do not love you. I don’t think I ever did—not the way I should have.”

  “How can you possibly say that? I remember our time together. I remember our talks. You seemed to like my kisses well enough.” Again he grinned.

  She remembered those times too. They now paled when she thought of how Micah made her feel. “Maybe growing closer to God has helped me better understand what love really is . . . and what it’s not.”

  “If religion is important to you, it’ll be important to me too,” he said, his voice desperate. “I’ll build you your own church—a grand cathedral. It’ll be the most beautiful in the world, I promise. I’ll accompany you there every Sunday. Just say you’ll marry me.”

  Kenzie thought of Satan tempting Jesus with the world, if only He’d fall down and worship Satan. “No. I will not marry you, Arthur. Now please, just go.”

  His expression grew sad, but there was something else in his eyes. Anger. She’d seen that anger many times when he’d dealt with issues that didn’t go his way.

  “Kenzie, just—”

  “Good-bye, Arthur.” She turned and walked away. When she reached the stairs, she called over her shoulder, “Make sure you close the door behind you.”