“While we were out looking for your boy today we came across Finn Morgan.” Ben Carson cleared his throat.
“What did he say about Rebecca?” Elgerson rose from his chair and approached the man.
“Finn won’t be saying much anymore, Tim. We found him up past the old mills with his throat cut from ear to ear.”
Timothy stepped back in shock and disbelief.
“Who would do such a thing? First the horse and then this? But why?” His nerves frazzled, Timothy paced the room running his hands through his hair.
“That’s not all, Tim. I think you ought to have a look at this. Maybe you can help me sort this out.”
He handed Timothy a crumpled bundle of papers and Elgerson spread them on the desk and braced himself against the desktop.
There were receipts for train tickets, ship’s passage, and one for the coach from St. Paul. There were first class tickets that were stamped returned, with receipts for third class tickets bearing the same time and date. The more costly tickets were purchased by T. Elgerson. The cheaper tickets had been purchased by F. Morgan. All of them were issued to R. Fagan.
“Tim, where did you send these tickets? It looks like Morgan cashed them in for cheaper ones and pocketed the difference, I guess.”
Elgerson’s shoulders sank.
“I posted an ad for a mail order bride, Ben,” Timothy admitted. “I got it in my head that, if I could get a woman out here to take care of Mark, it’d make him happier somehow. I thought that the women who answered those types of ads might be down on their luck. I can easily take care of someone, and she could possibly be a mother to the boy. It seemed like a reasonable idea at the time. I bought the tickets at the Hawk Bend Station from Finn.”
Ben Carson sighed. The thought had crossed his mind that his friend had sent for someone, possibly a woman, but he could not fathom any reason Tim would do such a thing.
“What became of her, Tim?”
“I have no idea, Ben. I haven’t heard from her,” he said, running his fingers through his hair. “I checked the stop in Billington, but she never arrived. I suppose she might have been late, and I sent an awful lot of cash with those tickets. Maybe Finn took that as well. For all I know she never left. That’s a hell of a long trip to make without plenty of money.”
Ben Carson stroked his jaw, considering what fate might have befallen a woman traveling alone, especially in light of the recent developments. “It just doesn’t sit right with me that Morgan would exchange these tickets, Tim. I’ve known that fella since he was just a kid. Sure, he wasn’t the brightest of men but, I don’t think he was a thief.”
Timothy gathered himself and faced the sheriff.
“I do have an idea who might have exchanged the tickets and maybe a reason why,” Ben continued. “You know, Tim, that Dianna had been pushing that girl of hers on you for years. Maybe she got it in her fool head that she’d exchange the tickets, hold back the travel money, and maybe keep the woman from coming. I was out at the house the other day and the place looks mighty run down. Maybe she could have used the money too. Do you think it’s possible that somehow she was up at Hawk Bend the night Rebecca got off the train and figured that Rebecca was your mail order bride because of her accent?”
Timothy looked at the man’s face and considered the possibility. Dianna Weintraub was a rough woman, and she liked control of anything and everyone around her. There was only one thing she wanted above everything else, and that was to marry off her spoiled daughter.
The woman honestly believed that Octavia, though as big as a farm mule, was a rare beauty and would make a great catch someday. Octavia had put on a massive amount of weight, and was quickly passing marrying age. Maybe Dianna was feeling desperate. Timothy found it hard to accept she would attack Rebecca so brutally, but it would explain many things.
“I know she wanted to marry Octavia off pretty badly, but this sounds pretty desperate, even for Dianna. I know she never had any patience with her brother, but to kill him? It seems outrageous.” Timothy didn’t much like the woman, but this was an awful lot to suppose.
“Does it, Tim? You’ve seen Octavia the last year. I’d think marrying her off might be near impossible these days. Dianna’s one of the most bull-headed people I’ve ever met. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. It’s the only reason I can come up with that she’d go after the girl that way.”
“Ben, she left her for dead. I’m certain of that. Do you really think that Dianna is capable of doing all these things, just to marry off Octavia?” Timothy could not accept the horrifying theory.
“Well, there’s something funny there too. When I talked to Octavia she seemed fine, you know, bored like she can be with everything. But, as soon as the subject of the Hawk Bend station came up, she showed an awful lot of interest. I think that Octavia knew something had happened up there. I don’t think she knew it was Rebecca though, until I brought it up.”
“Why kill the horse, Ben?”
“Well, Tim, I’m still working on that one. I know that you’ve had dealings with Dianna and have known her for years. One of the things I’ve learned while being sheriff around here is that folks you’d never imagine are sometimes capable of unpredictable things. It’d explain an awful lot, Tim. Just think about it.
“Listen, you’ve had a hell of a day. Get yourself some rest and I’ll stop by tomorrow. I just didn’t want you to hear about Finn before we talked. You take care, and keep that boy and Rebecca close, until we figure all this out.”
Ben Carson gathered up his hat and, concerned with his friend’s haggard appearance, patted Timothy on the shoulder and then let himself out.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Timothy Elgerson stood beside the open fireplace in his immense study trying to make sense of Ben’s theories and the recent events in his life. Fighting exhaustion and feeling drained, he pulled out the bottle of fine brandy and sat it on the mantle. Deciding that the powerful liquor might help him sleep, but not bring him clarity, he set the bottle back on the tray and walked to the kitchen to survey the yard and take a look at the stables.
If he were to agree with the sheriff’s speculations, much of what had gone on seemed to fall into place. Not all of it, but more than he was ready to accept. He had to admit to himself that there was always something about Dianna Weintraub that had left him uneasy around the woman, but he had continually attributed his feelings to the woman’s incessant pressure to convince him to have some attraction to Octavia.
He often felt pity for the girl. Since childhood she had been an awkward, sloppy girl, never seen as attractive by anyone of the opposite sex. Dianna’s obsessive love of her daughter had driven her to push the girl into situations that only made Octavia open for further rejection and ridicule. Dianna wanted her to sing, and had invested heavily in lessons for the girl. She enrolled Octavia in charm schools and art lessons, and at one time arranged for the girl to travel overseas to study ballet.
Octavia accepted her mother’s opinions without any of her own, remaining uninterested and untalented throughout the endless exposure to the best education. An uninspired child, Octavia went through life accepting her mother’s ambitions for her and never developing into the cultured beauty Dianna struggled to create.
Over time, as the girl showed no promise of improvement and began to gain weight, it was as if Dianna began to panic and reasoned that, if she could only find Octavia a successful husband, the girl would be cared for. Dianna began shifting her ambitions from educating the girl, to pushing her into provocative necklines and attending social events throughout the territory. She introduced Octavia to every unmarried landowner, regardless of his age or appearance.
After the death of Corissa, Octavia formed the one opinion she had developed on her own and decided that Timothy Elgerson was the man for her. Unable to deny the girl anything, and frantic to find her a suitable mate, Dianna became determined to give her daughter what she wanted.
Had she
become so obsessed that she would kill poor Finn and abduct a complete stranger, leaving her for dead? Timothy shuddered at the terrifying thought.
All his reasoning brought him back to the same conclusion. Every event surrounding Rebecca’s kidnapping seemed to fall into place, with the exception of the slain chestnut and Finn’s murder. If Dianna had gone after Rebecca because of her daughter and if she had discovered he had ordered a bride, then he was responsible for what had happened to Rebecca.
He reasoned that, by being too blind to see the ramifications, Dianna had become dangerous in her obsession and the woman he had sent for had become a target. Rebecca then was an innocent victim of mistaken identity, taken and abused, and nearly killed due to his carelessness.
He stood staring into the night, realizing that he had brought Rebecca to Stavewood as well. Instead of sensibly sending her on to continue her travels, he had brought her here to unimaginable danger. He felt responsible for the girl. He had attacked her himself, believing she was a thief. He had considered that she had something to do with the robberies of the train. Then he had become enamored with her. He cursed himself for his selfishness. No wonder the girl was less than receptive to his advances.
Timothy blamed himself for all of it. Every step of the way he never really considered Rebecca’s real situation.
“Always the fool, eh?” he muttered to himself.
Timothy Elgerson knew he had to tell Rebecca the truth.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Rebecca listened for Timothy’s footsteps on the stairs, and, as the minutes ticked by and the sock took shape in her agile hands, she became more concerned.
She wanted to have the opportunity to explain the situation to Timothy herself. If Timothy found out from Ben why she had come here he might not allow her to tell him from her point of view.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter,” she stated quietly to herself. “When he knows it won’t matter how he found out.”
Emotional and anxious, she abruptly set her knitting aside and stood at the window to stare out into the blackness of the night. Seeing only her own tortured reflection she began to pace the room.
She battled with how she might explain herself, should she have the opportunity. How would she justify the fact that she never admitted she was simply a fool who had answered a deceptive advertisement and traveled halfway around the world only to find a man who had no need for her?
Instead of disclosing from the beginning why she had been on the train and accepting her situation, she had carried on a charade that only compounded her lie at every turn. If she had explained why she came, even to Mark when he found her, the boy probably knew about that man’s bet and would have told her long ago. If she had paid any attention to the train stops, the cryptic ad, had even heard the Elgerson name at some earlier time while with the man, if she had not been such a fool, she would not be here now.
Now, she had taken so much from this man, and had never been forthright with him. She had accepted his home and his clothing, and most important his kindness. She had driven his son to the brink of death. She had even made love to the man. It was no excuse that he did not recall their night together because she did, and quite vividly. How could she imagine she had the right to love him when everything was a lie?
If Timothy already knew he would certainly put her out, or worse, allow her to remain in her shame. The thought that he might be finding out who she really was at this moment was more than she could bear.
Not caring that her nightgown and robe were not appropriate attire, Rebecca stumbled into the hall and sped down the main stairs.
The study doors stood open, the room unoccupied. Rebecca froze. She took a deep breath and went to find Timothy to face her situation once and for all.
Chapter Forty
Rebecca walked through the kitchen door, finding Timothy racked with fatigue and staring out into the night.
He was in no shape to be confronted by her, or, if he did not already know, to accept her explanations, but she knew her lie could not go on any longer.
“Timothy,” she whispered timidly, her eyes brimming with tears. He did not turn and face her.
She filled the teapot and searched the pantry for tea. When she had gathered her ingredients she set out two cups in anticipation to begin.
“Rebecca, you should get some sleep.” His tone was distant.
“I cannot sleep. Timothy I…” her words caught in her throat.
“The search parties found Finn Morgan today.” The big man fought with his resolve, staring at nothing.
“Then the sheriff spoke to him.” Rebecca was certain he knew.
“The man was dead, Rebecca.” He turned and faced her.
Rebecca exhaled and her hands flew to her face. Finn was dead! They all had to know, and now! It didn’t matter where he heard it, he had to know now.
“Oh, Timothy, I am so terribly sorry.” Rebecca was beyond tears.
“It’s not your fault, Rebecca. Please sit down.”
“But it is. Oh, Timothy. I’m so sorry. The man was kind to me. You have been so kind. I’m so, so sorry what happened with Mark. It’s entirely my fault. I don’t even know how to explain, but I need to make you understand! If I’d never have come here none of this would have happened this way!”
“Rebecca!” he cut her off firmly. “Listen to me, please. I know how all of it happened. I need you to listen to me now.” His voice was clear and unwavering.
Rebecca braced herself against the table, trying to prepare herself for whatever he decided to do with her. She would not interrupt, she could not apologize. Whatever he had decided she would have to accept.
“I suppose I should begin with this,” he pulled the ticket receipts from his shirt pocket and set them on the counter before her.
Rebecca took a deep breath and studied the documents, going back and forth between the copies of the tickets, familiar to her, yet something was very wrong.
After several moments she looked up in confusion. They were receipts of her travel tickets, but there were two. One set was duplicates of what she carried, but the other was first class. She had never received first class tickets. Was he trying to tell her that the joke of the gambling bet was intended somehow to be less cruel? That when the pranksters had originally set out their pretense they had purchased better tickets? It was plain now that Timothy knew she was a picture bride, that was evident, but why two sets of tickets?
Rebecca stammered in shame and uncertainty. Did he want an explanation? Dare she ask why there were two sets? Her hands began to shake and she stared at him in fear and confusion.
Elgerson began to pace, running his hands through his hair and trying to find the right words.
He leaned across the high table and faced her squarely.
“When Corissa died the world seemed to end, Rebecca.” He was addressing her in an intense, serious tone and Rebecca fought the overwhelming desire to run.
“I could not face her death, but Mark fared even worse. The boy hardly ate. He cried constantly. I could find no way to appease him. She was his mother, and I was simply the man she had married.” Timothy leaned back slightly.
Rebecca stood transfixed, knowing it was all her fault that the boy had become attached to her, and awaited her fate.
“I tried to find a way, any way to care for him,” the exasperated man continued. “I decided that if he had a woman around, someone to take care of him, it might be better for him.” He began to pace back and forth in the room.
Rebecca was lost. What was he saying? She stood completely still.
“I arranged a mail order bride, Rebecca, for the boy. I thought I could help her out and find someone to care for him. Heaven knows that I was not able to do the job!”
Rebecca was dumbfounded. He had sent for her, perhaps not for the reasons she imagined, but he had sent for her himself! Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was saying.
“It’s my fault you were abducted, Rebecca!
” he shouted, facing her. “They must have taken you from the train station because of your accent, thinking you were the woman I ordered. Dianna found out, I assume through Finn, that I had ordered a bride. In her attempt to intercept her, Dianna must have heard your voice somehow and decided you were the woman I had sent for and taken you. Don’t you see, Rebecca that everything that has happened is because of me?”
“Timothy, no!” she screamed. “No! It’s not because of you! No!” Her face flushed with frustration and it all began to make sense.
“Yes, Rebecca! Don’t you see? I set her up. I set you up with my fool plan to help the boy. It was me, Rebecca! I might as well have been the one who left you up there to die myself!” He rounded the corner of the table and stood face to face with her, trying to make her understand and knowing she might run before he could make himself clear.
“Timothy, you are dead wrong!” She met him with equal demand.
The big man stepped back and softened his tone. “I’m sorry Rebecca, please stay and hear me out.”
“No Timothy! I have heard enough and now you have to listen to me!” Her heart pounded and her mind raced. She was not afraid any longer and she had to make him see that he was wrong.
“Timothy there was no mistake on the woman’s part. You ordered a bride to help you take care of your son. You ordered her yourself and apparently bought expensive tickets for her travel? It was no joke? Not a mail ordered bride over a bet?” Rebecca held her breath.
“A bet? What on earth are you talking about? Freid’s bride? That was something else entirely. I don’t gamble, Rebecca. I may be a fool but it was no bet. I ordered a bride. It’s as simple as that. I have admitted it and I’m sorry! It nearly cost you your life and I cannot change that, but trust me, that is exactly what I did!” His frustration with her unwillingness to accept the facts and his admission was draining his patience and he stared at her angrily.
“I understand that!” she replied. “I believe you ordered a bride!”
Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 1) Page 21
