In Times Gone by

by Tracie Peterson

  Victoria knew the minute everyone returned to the house from their day of fun, due to the laughter. Kenzie soon joined them, and Victoria heard her telling them how Victoria had refused to go with her to the wedding and then allowed Arthur into the house. No doubt Kenzie would encourage them to lock her up somewhere or get her a nanny who would see that she did no further harm.

  It made Victoria angrier than she could say that they held the power to command her. She had thought she’d be rid of them all by now. Hopefully with Arthur Morgan’s help, it would happen, but it didn’t hurt to try to hurry things along. If she could set them all against each other instead of against her, then maybe she could win her freedom. Better still, if she could convince her poor little cousin that Caleb was losing his interest in her and preferred Victoria, then Judith would be desperate to let Victoria leave.

  Victoria frowned. “Of course, she could send me away somewhere awful.” There were plenty of schools where people sent their adult children to be rid of them. Finishing schools, like the one in Switzerland where Grandmother had sent her because she knew it would keep Victoria under tight control until her wedding to that fat toad Piedmont Rosedale.

  Uncertain of what kind of reception she might get, Victoria stayed in her room, contemplating her situation, until Kenzie came to tell her supper was ready.

  Victoria lifted her chin. “I thought maybe you’d have them banish me to my room for allowing your Mr. Morgan to wait for you.”

  Kenzie looked at her blankly. “If your conscience is bothering you, perhaps you should stay here.”

  “Oh, bother!” Victoria pushed Kenzie aside. “I’ll never understand you—or them.”

  Victoria made her way down to the dining room and found the others already seated. Caleb and Patrick stood when she and Kenzie came into the room, and Caleb pulled out her chair while Patrick helped Kenzie.

  “I hope you had a pleasant day,” Caleb said.

  Victoria nodded. “It was nice to have some time to myself without having to worry about pleasing others.”

  She sat and noticed the strange array of food on the table. There was a large sliced ham and several loaves of various breads. Along with this were a dozen or so pastries and fresh fruit.

  “What kind of supper is this?”

  “We thought we’d keep it simple,” Camri declared. “It’s sort of an indoor picnic.”

  “I forgot the mustard,” Judith said, getting to her feet. “I’ll be right back.”

  Camri began pouring lemonade into Patrick’s glass. “I wish we had ice, but I’m sure it will be just as delicious without it.”

  Patrick took the full glass and handed Camri Kenzie’s glass. Judith returned with a pot of mustard, then took her seat. Once Camri finished seeing that everyone had lemonade, Caleb suggested they pray.

  Victoria bowed her head slightly but refused to close her eyes. She watched the others, trying to figure out each person’s weakness. Camri was an intellectual who thought everyone needed education. Her weakness was clearly her feelings for Patrick. Patrick was Irish, so his weakness was probably liquor, although Victoria had never seen him drink. How strange that an educated woman would lower herself to marry an Irishman. Victoria remembered a dalliance she’d had with an Irish stable boy and smiled. Maybe she could understand Camri’s interest after all.

  “Amen,” Caleb declared, and the others murmured the word in unison.

  “Before we begin to eat,” Caleb said, turning to Victoria, “I need to say something. Kenzie tells me that you allowed Arthur Morgan into the house while we were gone. I don’t want that to happen again. He’s not welcome here.”

  Victoria frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I didn’t even know who he was. He said he was a good friend of Kenzie’s, and I thought you’d want me to extend charity.” She lowered her gaze and drew her hand to her right eye as if to blot a tear. “I apologize.”

  “I’m sure you meant no harm, but now you know. It’s not wise for any young woman at home alone to allow a stranger entrance,” Camri said, slathering mustard on a slice of bread. “Kenzie shouldn’t have left you alone.”

  “I didn’t have much choice,” Kenzie muttered.

  Victoria wanted to counter with something snide or hurtful, but that wouldn’t gain her much. She nodded and looked around the table. “I’m sorry about that too. I was cross with Kenzie. She didn’t want to leave me here, but I was rather childish. I’m trying to change my behavior though. Caleb, the things you told me about God really made me think about how I’m living my life. I want to do better. I am trying.”

  Caleb gave her a smile, but the others looked surprised. “That’s all any of us can do. Now, let’s enjoy our meal and forget about Morgan and all that.”

  A sense of satisfaction coursed through Victoria. These people weren’t anything like her family. She had accomplished what she wanted with her family through pouting and demands, but Caleb and his friends were cut from a different cloth. This obsession they had with pleasing God seemed to be the perfect venue for Victoria to exploit. Especially with Caleb. His weakness was God, and of course Judith. And likewise, Caleb was Judith’s weakness. That just left Kenzie and Dr. Fisher. The conflict with Arthur Morgan was no doubt Kenzie’s Achilles’ heel.

  Later that evening, when the other women began to discuss wedding gowns and receptions, Victoria made her way to Caleb’s study, where he and Patrick were playing a game of chess. Victoria knew they wouldn’t want her there, but she felt it important to keep at Caleb regarding her future.

  “Please excuse the intrusion, but I wonder if you had a chance to speak to Judith about my friends in New York.” She tried to make her voice as sweet and demure as possible.

  Caleb looked up from the game. “No. It didn’t come up in our conversation. Did you write down their name and address for me?”

  Victoria shook her head. “I can give you their name. I’m not sure of the address.”

  “Given their social standing is equal to the Whitleys’, I’m certain it will be easy enough to locate them.” Caleb turned his attention back to Patrick’s move. “Aha! I’ve got you now.” He moved his bishop. “Check.”

  Patrick frowned and bent closer to the board. “How could I be missin’ that?” He moved his queen to block the bishop.

  “And now it’s mate.” Caleb took the queen with his rook and pushed back from the table. “I think I’ll build us a fire. It’s kind of chilly this evening.”

  “Let me,” Patrick said, getting to his feet. “I’m the loser.”

  Caleb laughed and headed for his chair by the fire.

  Victoria followed like a puppy. When he sat down, she knelt at his feet. “I hope you know how much I appreciate you. Your help means so much to me. I think you’re the only one who really cares about me.”

  Patrick got the fire going and took the other chair, chuckling. “Victoria, ye remind me of a china teapot full of spiders.”

  She looked at him with a frown. “That hardly sounds very nice. Whatever do you mean?”

  A smile edged Patrick’s lips. “Ye’re very pretty, but full of danger.”

  She shrugged. “A little danger now and then is hardly a bad thing. I like adventure in my life.”

  “Adventure has its advantages,” Caleb agreed. “But in moderation.”

  Victoria got to her feet and looked down at him. “I’ve never met anyone quite like the two of you.”

  She heard someone in the hall. “Caleb?” Judith called.

  Victoria used the opportunity to her advantage. She whirled on her heel and fell into Caleb’s lap. “Oh my. I’m so sorry.” She put her arm around his neck. “I shouldn’t startle so easily.”

  Judith came into the room and gaped at Victoria on Caleb’s lap.

  Victoria gave her a smug smile. “I’ll just be going,” she said, getting up. “Thank you for . . . a wonderful evening.”

  She strolled past Judith, keeping her smile fixed. She could see the doubt and worry in J
udith’s expression. Satisfaction gave Victoria the edge. She had planted seeds of discord . . . something she was an expert at growing.

  “I hope I didn’t . . . ah . . .” Judith looked out the door after Victoria.

  Patrick got to his feet and shook his head. “This is a matter for the two of ye. I’ll be goin’ now. I need to get back to the warehouse and make sure everyone’s tucked in for the night.”

  Caleb chuckled. “Give ’em all hot milk and cookies while you’re at it.”

  “Oh, for sure now, I will.” Patrick headed for the door. “Judith, I’ll be prayin’ for ye.”

  “Thank you.” Her gaze followed him until he’d passed from the room.

  Caleb watched her for a moment. “Come here, Judith.”

  She looked hesitant, but he motioned her to join him. He could see the doubt in her eyes. Victoria had made her question the situation, and he intended to set her straight.

  “I didn’t mean to disturb you, Caleb,” she said, coming to stand beside him.

  Without giving her a chance to protest, Caleb pulled her onto his lap and smiled at her stunned expression. “Don’t give it a second thought.” He kissed her hand. “And don’t give your cousin’s antics a second thought either.”

  She blushed. “I know she hates me.”

  “And she’ll do whatever she can to come between us. Don’t let her. I know full well what Victoria’s doing and why. She’s even using my desire to share God with her. She wants to convince you that she has somehow wormed her way into my heart, or at very least my interest. However, it isn’t true, nor could it ever be. I am completely devoted to you, and no other woman will ever have my heart.” He gently stroked her cheek and felt her fears slip away. “I do believe that the sooner we figure out what to do with her, the better off we’ll all be.”

  “What do you suggest?” Judith put her arm around his neck and toyed with the hair just above his collar.

  “I can’t suggest much of anything with you here like this. I think it would probably be prudent for us to say good night and start again fresh in the morning.” He stood, lifting her in his arms as he did. Judith’s expression was surprised, which only made him laugh. “You’re as light as a feather.” He kissed her gently on the lips, then put her down.

  She smiled and turned crimson all at the same time.

  “Your innocence and sweetness is such a blessing to me,” Caleb said, shaking his head. “Victoria is lucky to have you as her guardian. Another woman in your position might not be so forgiving.”

  “Another woman would have just sent her back to Switzerland.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Perhaps you will do just that. Now go. I need to check on some papers, and tomorrow is church.”

  “Thank you, Caleb.”

  He shook his head. “For what?”

  “For being you. For caring about us all, but especially for your patience with me. I can’t lie and say I don’t feel out of place at times. Everyone here has had such a different life from mine. But you always make me feel as if I belong.”

  “That’s because you do, Judith. You belong here with me.”

  CHAPTER

  17

  After a subdued Fourth of July, Caleb boarded a train to Kansas City. Kenzie was grateful for his help, and yet she was concerned that with him gone, Arthur might get it in his head to impose himself at the house. Without a man in residence, they would be more vulnerable. After all, Caleb would be gone for at least ten days, possibly two weeks or more.

  “Why is Caleb going to Kansas City?” Victoria demanded.

  Camri looked up from the ledger she’d been going over. “He has business. Why is it of any concern to you?”

  “He’s supposed to be helping me locate my friends.”

  “I’m sure he’s doing that too.” Kenzie looked up from the quilt square she’d been stitching. “He probably hasn’t discussed it with you so that you wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

  “Or because he didn’t feel a nineteen-year-old girl needs to stick her nose in his business,” Camri replied matter-of-factly. “By the way, Victoria, how much education have you had?”

  The girl rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh. “Don’t start your crusades with me. I have no interest nor need for education. I have money, and money trumps schooling.”

  Camri stared at her. “You really believe that, don’t you? You think so long as you have a fortune, you can sit and simper and pout, and everything will just drop into your lap.”

  “Well, it has so far. If I could just get my inheritance released, you would see for yourself how quickly things would go my way.”

  Kenzie shook her head. “Don’t waste your time, Camri. She’ll find out soon enough that just as she uses people, people will be only too happy to use her.”

  “Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.’”

  “I don’t care what your friends say,” Victoria countered. “I know quite enough to take care of myself, and you can tell Mr. Franklin I said so.”

  Camri and Kenzie exchanged a glance. Victoria had just proven Camri’s point. Kenzie turned her attention back to her stitching.

  A knock sounded at the door, and Victoria turned as if to answer it, but Judith came down the stairs. “I’ll see who that is,” she called as she passed the sitting room.

  Kenzie prayed it wasn’t Arthur. The last thing she wanted was to throw him out again. Within a moment, Judith appeared with a large bouquet of flowers.

  “Oh, how beautiful,” Victoria said, coming to see them better. “Are they for me?”

  Judith shook her head. “No, they’re for Kenzie, from Arthur Morgan. I tried to refuse them, but the deliveryman said Mr. Morgan told him that he was to leave them on the doorstep if we wouldn’t take them.”

  “Very well.” Kenzie got up and put her sewing in the basket beside her chair. “Give them to me. I’ll put them in the trash.”

  “No!” Victoria wrenched the flowers out of Judith’s hands. “You all are too cruel. That poor man has given you his heart, and you do nothing but crush his spirit with your snobbery. I’ll take the flowers to my room.”

  Kenzie watched her disappear up the stairs and looked at Judith. “I think you should just let her have her inheritance and send her on her way. She’s going to be nothing but trouble to all of us.”

  “I know, but Caleb said we were responsible for her. She’s just a spoiled child, and I’m the only family she has left.”

  “I believe she’d happily rectify that if given a chance,” Camri countered. “I agree with Kenzie. Maybe you should discuss the matter with Judge Winters. There’s bound to be something you can do now that you’re her guardian. Caleb has a good heart and more confidence than I do that Victoria can change. I’d hate to see her hurt him.”

  Judith nodded. “So would I.”

  Another knock at the front door caught everyone’s attention. “I hope it isn’t more flowers,” Kenzie said, moving to answer it.

  She opened the door to find Mrs. Fisher, Micah’s mother, along with several other ladies from the church. “Good afternoon, ladies. Won’t you come in?” Kenzie stepped back and admitted the women. There were five in total, and all seemed to be speaking at once.

  “Please forgive our unannounced arrival,” Mrs. Fisher said, giving Kenzie a gentle pat on the arm.

  Camri and Judith appeared in the sitting room doorway. “Mrs. Fisher,” Camri said, then nodded to the others. “Ladies. To what do we owe this pleasure?”

  “We were working on some of the donations for the shelter and had an idea about hosting a party at the church to encourage the community to help. Even though our community is currently burdened with the recovery from the earthquake and fires, we heard that the relief camps will soon be discontinued. I don’t know if those are just rumors or true, but it got us thinking.”

  Camri nodded. “Well, the army has pulled out. It surely won’t be long before they demand their t
ents and other supplies back. Why don’t we arrange ourselves around the dining table?”

  “I’ll gather some refreshments,” Judith said smiling. “Kenzie, would you help me?”

  Kenzie dutifully followed Judith into the kitchen, wondering at the strange pounding of her heart. She’d spoken to Mrs. Fisher on many occasions, but this was the first time since she had nearly accepted Micah’s proposal after Cousin George’s wedding. Would Mrs. Fisher someday be her mother-in-law?

  Then she remembered the flowers Victoria had taken to her room, and her heart sank. Until she’d resolved this situation with Arthur, she wouldn’t be able to give Micah the answer they both desired.

  Victoria had come to the top of the stairs and watched silently as the women chattered on and on and finally adjourned to the dining room. With all of them busy at whatever it was that had so captivated their attention, she would be able to slip out of the house. If they found out later that she was gone, she’d deal with the consequences then.

  She waited nearly ten minutes, just to make sure they were fully ensconced in their discussion, before tiptoeing down the stairs. She paused at the front door, waiting to see if anyone would hear the floor creak and come to investigate. When no one did, Victoria eased the door open and stepped outside.

  The skies looked like rain, but she couldn’t let that stop her now. She needed to see Arthur Morgan and learn if he’d arranged for his lawyer friend to help her. She had the feeling that Caleb’s trip to Kansas City was probably to arrange to put her in some dreadful finishing school, and if so, she desperately needed to have her options lined up.

  She hurried down the street and made her way to Arthur’s hotel. The lobby was surprisingly deserted, and the clerk eyed her immediately upon her entrance. She had no choice but to speak to him.

  “May I help you?” he asked in a curt tone that suggested he didn’t approve of her being there.

  Victoria turned on the charm. “Oh, I do hope so. My brother Arthur Morgan is staying here, and Mama sent me to speak to him. Could you have him come downstairs to see me?”