A Love All Her Own

by Janet Lee Barton

  “And why would that be something wrong with me? Perhaps it’s a change for the better.” She couldn’t help but smile at their expressions. It seemed she’d just given them a concept they couldn’t understand.

  “You really aren’t that upset about Nate, are you?”

  “I told you I was happy for him and Meagan.”

  “But. . .but. . .you never talked to us about it. You just up and left town.”

  “I am sorry I didn’t see you before I left. And I was upset at first. But I’ve come to see that Nate and I were not meant for each other.”

  “But, Abigail, you loved him for so long.” Rebecca looked at her in surprise. “How can you be over it so quickly?”

  That gave Abigail pause for thought; she suddenly knew the answer, but she wasn’t about to talk about it now. She just shook her head. “I really don’t want to discuss it.”

  Abigail could tell Rebecca was frustrated that she wasn’t getting an answer. Her huge sigh told it all. “I suppose we might as well go.” Rebecca looked at Jillian. “You know how stubborn Abigail can be.”

  Oddly enough, her words didn’t upset Abigail. Instead, she chuckled, garnering puzzled expressions from both women.

  “You have changed,” Jillian said. She leaned her head to the side and looked at Abigail. “And perhaps it is for the better after all.” They exchanged a smile before Jillian motioned to Rebecca. “Come on. We aren’t getting any more information out of Abigail tonight. We can talk tomorrow.”

  Abigail walked them to the door. “What did you all do today?”

  “Just a lot of boring sightseeing,” Rebecca said. “We did take a picnic from the hotel dining room, and that was nice. Other than that, it is about as boring here as it is at home on a Sunday.”

  “Maybe you should have come to church with me—that would have started your day off right.”

  Jillian looked at her closely. “Perhaps we should have. See you tomorrow. You’ll meet us for lunch in the hotel?”

  “All right. See you then.” Her tea arrived just after they left, and Abigail was more than ready for a cup. It had been hard to avoid answering their questions when all she wanted was to be left alone with her thoughts. She hurried to get ready for bed, and then in her comfortable wrapper, she curled up on the settee with her tea and thought back over the evening and the answer to why she had gotten over Nate so quickly. There was only one answer: She had been more in love with the idea of loving Nate than she had been in love with him. She wasn’t sure that what she’d felt for him was even love. . .not when Marcus Wellington could make her feel the way he did with just a smile, a look. . .or a touch.

  Ten

  Robert Ackerman was waiting for Abigail when she came down to join the group for lunch the next day. “Everyone has already gone in and acquired us a table. I told them I’d wait for you.”

  He crooked his arm, and etiquette insisted that Abigail slip her hand to his forearm. But when he pulled her hand farther and put his other over it, she felt a chill pass down her spine. What was it about Robert that bothered her so? She glanced around quickly and found Ross watching from across the room. He nodded, letting her know he’d be there, and she relaxed somewhat. Marcus or one of his agents was never far away, and just knowing that gave her a feeling of security she’d never fully realized until now.

  She and Robert were shown to the table where the others were waiting for them, and Abigail was relieved that the only two chairs saved were not next to each other. The girls had saved her a seat at one end of the table so they could talk to her, and the men had left Robert one at the other end. Breathing a sigh of relief, she greeted everyone warmly. “Good morning. . .or afternoon. Did you all have a good day yesterday?”

  “We missed you,” Robert said plaintively from the other end of the table. “I felt like a fifth wheel along with these four.”

  Abigail wanted to say he was the one who’d chosen to travel with the foursome. It wasn’t her responsibility to keep him company. And then it dawned on her that it sounded as though he’d thought that once they got to Hot Springs, he wouldn’t be the odd number in the group—and that must mean that he’d known she was there. She chose not to comment on that revelation, however. “It’s a beautiful day today. What do you all have planned?”

  “I wanted to do some shopping,” Jillian said.

  “We thought maybe we could do that and the men could. . .find something else to do,” Rebecca said.

  “Well now, that’s not fair,” Reginald said.

  “Why not?” Rebecca asked. “We did what you all wanted yesterday. And we don’t expect you to go shopping with us. Surely you can find something to do on your own.”

  Abigail couldn’t help but giggle at all the sputtering from the men. She wondered if the long courtship Rebecca and Jillian each had with their beaus wasn’t getting a bit old. After all, they’d been courting for more than a year now—in Rebecca’s case, nearly two—and still no wedding dates had been set.

  There was a bit of tension at the table as they ordered their lunch, and Abigail was more than ever convinced she didn’t want to go back to Eureka Springs and run around with this crowd. Oh, she cared about them and would pray for them, but she no longer was interested in spending her days in boredom, waiting for the next exciting event to come along or someone to come up with a way to take one’s mind off the fact that all they were really doing was searching.

  “I wish you all had come to church with me yesterday.”

  Total silence fell for a few moments, and then Jillian spoke up, “I kind of wish we had, too.”

  The waiter brought their meals just then, and the subject was changed. Abigail wished she had the courage to ask one of the men to say a prayer, but from the way all except Jillian had looked at her when she’d mentioned church, she didn’t think it would be well received. So, as she silently prayed for their meal, she asked the Lord to work in their hearts the way He’d worked in hers to show her that all that searching she’d been doing had really been for Him.

  The conversation got back to the afternoon’s activities, and the men decided to go visit one of the bathhouses. “You might want the desk clerk to see if you can get into a bathhouse. They stay pretty busy,” Abigail said.

  “What are you ladies going to do?” Reginald asked.

  “We’re going shopping,” Jillian said.

  “But you will join us at the opera house, won’t you?” Robert asked.

  “Oh yes, I forgot to tell you,” Rebecca said, turning to Abigail. “The night clerk told us that Bailey’s big production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin is here this week until Saturday when Lillian Russell will be here starring in the title role of the comic opera Patience.”

  “I’ll think about it. Perhaps I’ll go.”

  Robert looked a bit perturbed that Abigail hadn’t said for sure, but she wanted to talk to Marcus to make sure he could accompany her before she committed herself to going with them. She certainly didn’t want Robert thinking he’d be escorting her.

  She was very relieved when Marcus showed up just as they finished and entered the lobby. Abigail turned to Jillian and Rebecca. “I need to talk to Marcus a moment before we go shopping, all right?”

  “Certainly. Why don’t you see if he’d like to come with us tonight?” Jillian suggested. “The show starts at eight, and we’ll meet for dinner here at six.”

  Abigail could have hugged the woman for suggesting that she do exactly what she intended to. But this way, she wouldn’t have to answer questions about how she felt about him. At least she hoped not. Those were questions she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to answer yet. “I might just do that.”

  “Jillian! Why did you do that?”

  Abigail heard Robert’s aggravated-sounding whisper to her friend, but she ignored it as she met up with Marcus, who’d been talking to Ross.

  “Good afternoon,” he said. “Did you have a good lunch?”

  Abigail smiled but admitted truthfully, “I’ve h
ad better. I’m going shopping with Jillian and Rebecca this afternoon, but they all want to go to the opera house tonight. Would you be available to escort me?”

  “Of course I will. Ross will be watching out for you this afternoon, all right?”

  “That will be fine.”

  He nodded and smiled. “Good. Have a good afternoon, and I’ll see you this evening at. . .what time?”

  “It starts at eight. But we’re having dinner here at six. Can you join us then?”

  “I’ll be here.”

  Abigail’s heart gave a little jump when he smiled and showed his dimple, and she found herself looking forward to the evening very much. “Good. I’ll see you then.”

  ❧

  Marcus watched as Abigail went back to her friends. He gave them all a wave and turned to Ross. “She’s going shopping with the ladies. Just keep an eye out, okay?”

  “Sure. Long as I don’t have to carry their bags, I’m happy.” Ross laughed. “I’ll let them get out the door and then stay out of sight.”

  “Abigail knows you’ll be there, but it’s better to try not to be seen in case her friends get curious. I’m going to do a little checking on a few things, and I’ll talk to you later.”

  Ross nodded and went back to his paper reading. Marcus figured his men were more aware of what was going on in the town and country than most of the people who visited Hot Springs, with all the newspaper reading they did.

  Marcus headed back to his office with the express intent of looking into Robert Ackerman’s past. Something about that man set him on edge, aside from the way he looked at Abigail. Perhaps it was just his personality, but if there was something there—if Abigail was somehow in danger—he needed to find out.

  Her other friends had all checked out. They were just part of the rich and, to his mind, idle: always in search of something more, something better. Abigail had been right. They were searching for all the wrong things. He was so thankful that she realized that now, because he didn’t think she had in Eureka Springs.

  Marcus looked over the scheduling of his agents. He’d insisted that they all get telephones put in their homes in case he needed to get in touch with them in a hurry. It had helped immensely when he needed to change schedules. He looked over the agents he had hired. He picked up the receiver and turned the crank to get the operator.

  “Miss Opal? Could you get me through to the Morrison house?”

  “Certainly, Marcus. Hold on.”

  Marcus waited to be connected to Ben Morrison, one of his best agents, who’d just returned from an assignment in Little Rock.

  “Ben,” Marcus said when he answered. “I need you to go to Eureka Springs. I need you to check out someone for me.”

  “Marcus, I can’t do it. Doc says the baby can come any minute. I can’t leave Melanie right now. I hope you understand.”

  “Of course I do. Don’t worry about it. I hope everything goes well. Let me know when she has the baby.”

  “I will. Thanks, Marcus. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem. I’ll get someone else.” Although he didn’t have a clue who—all his other full-time agents were on assignments. Luke came in just then from checking the mail and the telegraph office. Maybe it was time to give the young man another assignment. He’d been hinting that he thought he was ready to do some real investigating. Marcus couldn’t really argue with that. He’d taught him about all he needed to know, and experience was the only thing he was lacking. Luke had been eager to learn all Marcus had taught him, and he was chomping at the bit to get away from his desk and into the field. It was time he put what he’d learned into practice.

  “Luke, want to go back to Eureka Springs on assignment?”

  His huge grin told Marcus all he needed to know. “Are you serious? Of course! What do you need me to do?”

  “A little investigating.”

  If anything, the younger man’s grin grew bigger as he nodded.

  Marcus gave him what information he had on Robert Ackerman. “He may be clean. But I have a feeling there’s more to him than he wants anyone to know about, so dig as deep as you can. If you have to go somewhere else to get more information, let me know.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll get on it. When do you want me to leave?”

  “As soon as you can get packed and get on a train.” Marcus opened the safe he kept in the office, pulled out some cash, and handed it to Luke. “This should see you until you get back, but if you do get low, telegraph me and I’ll get some money to you.”

  “All right.” Luke pulled out a pocket watch and looked at it. “There’s a train leaving this afternoon. I’ll go pack and catch it.”

  “Good. Let me know when you get there and keep me updated. If you find out anything I need to know quickly, telegraph me. Otherwise, I’ll be looking for your report by mail.”

  “Yes, sir. You’ll be hearing from me as soon as I get there.”

  Marcus watched Luke walk out of his office and knew he’d put the right man in charge. . .even if he was the only one he had available.

  ❧

  For the most part, Abigail did have a good time shopping with Jillian and Rebecca. Still, she was finding that they just weren’t quite as humorous or fun as they’d once been, and she had a feeling they’d certainly say the same about her. She took them to the shops she’d enjoyed going to with Sally, but they weren’t very impressed.

  “Don’t you have a dress shop like Meagan’s here?” Rebecca asked.

  Jillian nudged her, but it didn’t seem to faze her. “She’s making quite a name for herself in Eureka Springs. I’ve ordered several things for this fall, but she can’t get to them yet because she’s so busy.”

  “Rebecca! I’m sure that Abigail doesn’t want to hear about how successful the woman who stole Nate from her is!”

  Only then did Rebecca act as if she didn’t know her words could hurt. “I’m sorry, Abigail. But you did say you are happy for them.”

  Abigail took a sip of her tea and wondered if Rebecca was testing her. She was glad she could answer honestly, “I am happy for them now. But at first, I wasn’t. I was devastated when I left Eureka Springs. But I’ve come to realize that a lot of the hurt I’ve gone through in my life has been caused by my own actions and choices.”

  “What do you mean?” Jillian asked.

  Abigail shrugged. She wasn’t sure she could trust her deepest feelings with these two women she’d once confided in. “Let me just say that the Lord has shown me a few truths about myself in the last few months.”

  “What kind of truths?”

  “I’ve been able to see how self-absorbed I have been. To see that I was just putting lip service to my Christianity, that I was always thinking about myself and what I was going to do next that would be entertaining.” Although her words didn’t paint a pretty picture, Abigail wanted them to know that she wasn’t the same person who left their hometown.

  “All I was concerned with was what I wanted.” And how I could make Nate fall in love with me when I wasn’t really in love with him. I only thought I was. That thought gave Abigail pause. That was exactly what she’d been doing. And how unhappy she would have been had all that happened? Two people who didn’t really love each other married because of what she only thought she wanted! Thank You, Lord, for making sure that didn’t happen!

  “But Abigail, we’ve all done that. Just because you want to have a good time doesn’t mean you are a bad person,” Rebecca said.

  “Of course not. But it is when it is all one is concerned with. When it takes away from enjoying doing for others, spending time in God’s Word, and trying to live the life He wants me to live—”

  “What has happened to you?” Rebecca said, looking at her as if she’d never seen her before. “You aren’t the Abigail we knew.”

  “I’d say I’m sorry, Rebecca,” Abigail said. “But that wouldn’t be true. I like the person I’m becoming here in Hot Springs, and I don’t want to go back to being the old Abigail.�
��

  “And who is the cause of all this change? Is it Marcus Wellington? I’ll admit he’s a very handsome man and would be a nice catch for any woman.”

  Rebecca just didn’t understand, and Abigail doubted that she could make her. Although she agreed with everything Rebecca said about Marcus, her change wasn’t because of him. She gave all credit to the Lord. “No. Marcus doesn’t have anything to do with what’s happening with me—except perhaps that I’m glad he didn’t know me back in Eureka Springs. The Lord is the One who is changing me, and I’m ever so happy that He is.”

  Both ladies seemed at a loss for words, and Abigail had a feeling that she’d given them something to think about or that they didn’t want to hear any more when Jillian said, “I guess we’d better get back to the hotel so that we can get ready for tonight.”

  “Yes, let’s,” Rebecca readily agreed.

  Abigail was glad to go back, too. She almost dreaded the evening ahead and would have tried to bow out had it not been for the fact that Marcus would be with her. She’d told the truth that he wasn’t the one who had anything to do with the change in her. . .but there was no denying that he had a lot to do with the fact that she was enjoying her stay in Hot Springs and had no desire to go home.

  ❧

  Abigail looked lovely when Marcus came to pick her up. She was dressed in a bluish green dress that brought out the color of her eyes and made her skin look like velvet, and he was more than proud to escort her back downstairs to meet her friends. “You look quite beautiful this evening.”

  “Why, thank you, Marcus. You look very nice this evening, too.”

  “Thank you.” He pulled her hand through his arm and looked into her eyes. He loved seeing the color creep up her neck onto her cheeks when he complimented her. It made her look even prettier.

  Ackerman, Mitchell, and Fitzgerald were in the lobby when they got there, but it was Ackerman who hurried over and reached for Abigail’s hand. He brought it to his lips, and Marcus’s fingers itched with the urge to grab her hand out of his.