Secrets of the Past (Kansas Crossroads Book)

by Marie Higgins

  When Annie opened the door, a sobbing woman entered. Eunice, Annie’s younger sister who was actually young enough to be Annie’s daughter, dabbed a corner of her apron over her swollen eyes as she looked at her sister.

  “Did you hear the news?” Eunice’s voice broke.

  “Come in before we have a kitchen full of flies.” Annie ushered her sister inside and closed the door.

  Eunice was one year younger than James, and she worked for the Lewis family as the laundry maid. She wore thick glasses and had the largest nose Josie had ever seen, but she really loved Eunice’s reddish-blonde hair. Josie had always wished her hair was as pretty.

  Josie climbed off the stool and hurried to the other woman to give her a hug. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered in a tight voice.

  “Do you know how it happened?” Annie moved back to the pot of stew and continued stirring.

  Eunice shook her head. “Poor Miss Salina had been sick, but she was starting to feel better. Mrs. Lewis suggested Miss Salina go for a walk this morning and that the fresh air would do her good.” She sobbed more and buried her face in the apron.

  Keeping her arm around Eunice’s shoulders, Josie led the woman to the stool for her to sit. “I just don’t understand any of this,” Josie said. “Salina was a very nice person. She had a kind heart. Why would anyone want her dead?”

  Eunice took in a deep breath and slowly released it as she met Josie’s gaze.

  “I... have an idea,” Eunice said in a small voice.

  Josie narrowed her gaze. “An idea of who killed Salina?”

  “Yes.”

  Josie’s heartbeat quickened. She might be able to find Wyatt later this evening and give him the information. “Tell me what you think.”

  “Last week, I’d overheard Miss Salina talking to the Watson girl. I cannot remember her name.”

  “Do you mean Mary?”

  Eunice nodded, her eyes widening. “That’s the one.”

  “What were they talking about?”

  “I heard Mary threatening Miss Salina to break off her engagement with Charles Foster.”

  Holding her breath, Josie leaned closer, wanting to hear more.

  “From what I’d gathered,” Eunice continued, “Mary was in love with Charles.”

  “How interesting.” Josie folded her arms. “If I recall, Mary also had her eye on Katrina’s beau, and...” She stilled as her mind recalled everything she’d seen in town when nobody thought she was watching. Being in the barn, she was able to peek out the window and see things that were supposed to be private moments for couples.

  Mary had wanted the attention of Katrina’s beau, and now Katrina was dead. Mary had been in love with Salina’s fiancée, and now she was dead. What about the others? What about Marjorie? Had Mary been in love with Wyatt, too? And if that was the case, would Mary want Josie out of his life?

  “Now, now you two.” Annie scowled and waved her hands dismissively through the air. “You’re just gossiping. There is no proof at all. Don’t you dare condemn Mary unless you have evidence of her crimes.”

  “You’re right.” Josie nodded sadly. Although... the one thing she did know about Mary was that the girl had always wanted someone she couldn’t have. For a time, Mary had even fancied herself in love with James. Of course, women who’d had an eye for James quickly lost interest. They didn’t want a drunkard for a husband.

  Josie squeezed Eunice’s hands. “Please send my sympathies to Salina’s family. She’ll be greatly missed.”

  Eunice moved to Annie who gave her a big hug before sending her back outside.

  Josie’s thoughts were jumping all over the place now. She picked up a carrot and nibbled on the end. Could the killer be that obvious? She wasn’t the only one who knew Mary’s attachment for men she couldn’t have. And yet, why wasn’t she arrested yet? Maybe Colonel Gordon and Wyatt didn’t know about Mary, or perhaps they’d asked the wrong questions.

  It didn’t matter how late it was tonight, but Josie was going to find Wyatt and give him this new information. Just thinking about seeing him again and kissing him made her insides jump with anticipation. And... what if the killer was Mary? Wyatt would always be grateful for Josie’s help, and maybe he’d fall in love with her.

  She could only hope things worked out as well in real life as it had in her daydreams.

  EIGHT

  Wyatt rode his horse slowly away from the hotel with his mind in a whirl. He and Deputy Hanks had spent two hours with the waitresses in the hotel, along with Elizabeth and Adam Brody. Wyatt had hoped one of them had overheard something of importance, but none of them had. After that, Wyatt and Gabe went their separate ways as they continued asking questions of the people in town.

  Wyatt carried on past the closed shops until he reached the townspeople’s homes. A little further out were some plantations. The Lewis family owned a plantation and was quite wealthy. On impulse, Wyatt decided to drop in and ask Mr. and Mrs. Lewis some questions.

  As much as he hated to bother the family so soon after the death of their daughter, he had a gut feeling to ask them different questions from what the marshal had asked right after Salina’s body had been found.

  A few lights brightened the living room’s window. He dismounted and tied his horse to a post on the front porch. He stepped closer to the house, listening for anything inside, but nothing sounded out of place.

  He knocked, and within minutes, the door was answered by one of their servants. When her gaze met his, her eyes grew wide and she looked at the floor. At first he thought she was around sixteen years old but, studying her face and body, he could see she was older. The petite woman with reddish-blonde hair had freckles all over her face, making her nose look larger.

  “Pardon my intrusion,” he began, “but I’m Ranger Donovan and I’ve been working with Colonel Gordon and Deputy Hanks. I’d like to ask Mr. and Mrs. Lewis some questions, if that’s all right.”

  “Yes, sir.” She opened the door wider and allowed him inside. “I’ll let them know you are here.”

  Keeping her head down, she scurried down the hallway and to a flight of stairs. He glanced around the expensive furnishings in the room, from the rugs to the luxurious furniture, and finally to the paintings on the wall that he was certain cost quite a bit of money.

  Mrs. Lewis, a middle-aged woman with salt-and-pepper hair, walked into the room. Her eyes were red and swollen, and still filled with tears. He knew her pain since he’d experienced that loss with Marjorie.

  “Mrs. Lewis, please forgive me, but I felt I needed to ask you a few more questions.”

  She nodded. “I understand. I just pray you catch the person responsible and hang them.”

  “That’s my prayer, as well.”

  She sat on the sofa and motioned toward one of the chairs. “Please have a seat. Do you want some tea?”

  “No, thank you, ma’am.” He sat on the chair closest to her. “Will your husband be joining us?”

  “No. He is resting.”

  He sighed and leaned his forearms on his lap. “Can you tell me when Salina started feeling poorly?”

  “It was a few days ago. At first, it wasn’t much, just a stomach cramp or two. Then she lost her appetite. She became so weak she could hardly speak.” A tear slid down her cheek and she dabbed a handkerchief to it. “She’d actually started feeling better, so Mr. Lewis suggested Salina take a walk outside to breathe in the fresh air. That was this morning, but...” her voice broke, “she never came back.”

  “Mrs. Lewis. Forgive me for making you relive this, but do you know if she had any visitors from the time she became sick, and this morning?”

  Mrs. Lewis paused, and her forehead creased. “Miss Allen brought Salina some soup.” The middle-aged woman rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why the crazy twit thought her cook’s soup was better than ours, but my daughter was polite to the girl and she left soon afterward.”

  Irritation rolled through him. This wasn’t the first time he�
��d heard the townsfolk make rude comments about Josie, and he’d like to shake some sense into them for being so judgmental. “So, Miss Allen was the only one to come visit?”

  Mrs. Lewis nodded. “That I remember. Perhaps my husband would know more.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the maid who’d answered the door peek around the corner of the wall. When he looked her way, she quickly withdrew. Unease spread over him. Did the servant woman know something Salina’s parents didn’t know? He’d have to find time to speak with her tomorrow.

  He turned his attention back to Mrs. Lewis. “I’m sure your daughter had other friends.”

  “She had many close friends.”

  “And you don’t think any of them came to see to your daughter’s welfare during the time she was ill?”

  “Not that I can recall.”

  Wyatt found it odd that Josie was the only one who cared about a girl who wasn’t even considered a close friend. “But Miss Allen was the only one who came, and she’s not even your daughter’s friend.”

  Mrs. Lewis shot him a glare. “Exactly. So I suggest, Ranger Donovan, that you go ask Miss Allen instead of hounding me with these ridiculous questions.”

  “To your knowledge, have you seen Miss Allen make these kind gestures to other people? Or would you say she’s too malicious to care about others?”

  “I wouldn’t exactly call her mean, and no, I don’t know if she takes soup to other sick people. But I do know she’s lost her mind.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “And you know this for certain? You’ve witnessed it firsthand?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Ranger Donovan. Of course, I haven’t seen it with my own eyes. She lives on the other side of town. But I do hear rumors from others.”

  “Ah, yes... rumors.” He stood, suddenly feeling like he’d better leave before he said something impolite. “Because we all know how truthful rumors can be.” He cleared his throat. “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Lewis. And once again, please accept my condolences. I promise to find the person responsible.”

  “Thank you, Ranger Donovan.”

  As he rode away from the house, irritation still grated on his already frazzled nerves. People were letting stupid rumors cloud their judgments about Josie and her family. Of course, it was easy to see that James was a drunkard, but he didn’t understand why they would judge Josie so harshly.

  The more he thought about Josie’s lonely life, the more pain twisted in his heart. He couldn’t imagine how miserable Josie had been all these years, and he vowed to make up for it. He’d do whatever he could while in town to make everyone notice Josie as the kindhearted and funny woman he knew her to be. He hated that nobody could see her like he could.

  In the quiet night, he heard his name being called. He stopped his horse and scanned the darkened street that was lit by only a half moon. Then he saw Josie, standing near the side of her house as if she was trying to keep hidden. She waved him over.

  Grinning, he led his horse toward her and then dismounted. She wore boy’s breeches and shirt, and her hair flowed in waves over her shoulders and back, just the way he liked it.

  He tied the horse’s reins to a post. “What are you doing—”

  “Shh...” She grasped his hand and pulled him in the shadows. “I found out some information about the case, and I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to tell you.”

  He wanted to chuckle. Was this an excuse just to be alone with him? If so, he couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it first. In two steps, he pushed her up against the wall, bracing her with his body so she couldn’t escape... not that she’d want to, he was certain.

  “I can’t wait until tomorrow, either.” He lowered his head to hers and covered her mouth with an urgent kiss.

  Josie released a deep sigh and slid her hands around his waist, kissing him back. He loved the way she reacted to him. She’d not been timid or shy like some women he’d known. And with her every kiss and every touch, he knew what was on her mind and in her heart.

  “Wyatt,” she moaned when he broke the kiss and moved his mouth down her neck. “Maybe we should go inside the barn.”

  His chest shook with a silent laugh. Obviously, she’d planned this out. But before he had time to say anything, she took his hand and led him toward the barn. Once they were inside, he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bale of soft hay spread out for the horse.

  “I think now is a good time to make some rules,” he said. “Because I’m certain that you’re aware that if we keep sneaking around like this, we will be spotted. And you know what happens—”

  “Wyatt, you’re jabbering.” She placed her hand over his mouth and smiled. “We can discuss that later. Right now, I need to tell you what Eunice told me.”

  He lifted her hand away from his mouth. “Eunice?” He sat on the ground with the hay behind him and scooted her right beside him.

  “Yes. She’s Annie’s younger sister. I don’t think you’ve met her before. She works for the Lewis family as their laundry maid.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Does she have reddish-blonde hair and lots of freckles?”

  “You’ve met her?” Josie’s eyes widened. “Yes, that’s her, and because of what Eunice knows and has heard, she suspects Mary Watson.”

  He wrapped his arms around Josie and pulled her next to him. Was it a coincidence that this was the third time he’d heard Mary Watson’s name brought up while asking questions around town? “Tell me what Eunice said about Mary Watson.”

  As he listened to Josie, it was hard to concentrate on her story instead of her tempting mouth. Her adorable azure eyes danced with excitement as she explained how Mary was in love with the same men whom the deceased girls had been planning to marry.

  He brushed a lock of hair off her cheek, wondering if he should start to kiss her, yet, but then he quickly decided against it. He found it odd that her beauty was so distracting, and yet he’d never thought that way about her before.

  He took her hand and rubbed each finger, then her hand, moving his touch up her arm. He bent his mouth to her neck and left small kisses along her throat. Her voice changed, becoming deeper. And her speech slowed down as she breathed more heavily.

  He kissed just below her ear. “I’ll find Mary Wadsworth tomorrow and talk to her. She definitely sounds suspicious to me.”

  Josie took hold of his head and lifted it until he met her gaze. “Her name is Mary Watson. And did you even hear a word I’ve said?”

  He grinned. “Yes. You told me I was jabbering. And I think I have a cure for that.”

  Before she could say anything, he rubbed his lips over hers until she sighed in surrender and kissed him back. He hoped she didn’t think he was ignoring her or that he was discrediting her information, but right now, he thought there were better things to do. After all, they were alone. The mood was set, the barn was dark, and he loved how she melted in his arms and kissed him with so much passion.

  Earlier when they had kissed, his emotions were right on the surface, and he’d been reaching for some kind of comfort. Now that he’d had more time to think about their first kiss, he couldn’t believe how lonely he’d been. Finally, he could put the past to rest and move on with his life. And he could finally fall in love without feeling guilty.

  Was it too soon to have feelings like that for Josie? Although he’d known her for years, he’d never thought of loving her as his wife.

  He lifted his head and realized they were practically lying in the hay. He peered into her beautiful shadowed eyes and let himself get lost in their dreamy haze. “Josie?”

  “Hmm?” her voice was low and sedated.

  “How long have you had feelings for me?”

  Her face flamed, which he thought was adorable. He stroked her cheek softly.

  “How long have you been friends with James?” she asked.

  He grinned. “That long, huh?”

  She nodded.

  “I figured you had a crush on me when we w
ere younger. You followed me around whenever I was with your brother.”

  “You’d told me how irritating I was.”

  “That’s because back then, you were.”

  “And now?” she whispered.

  “Now... I go throughout the day, wondering when I’ll see you next. You’re always on my mind, and I imagine what you’ll look like.” He caressed a lock of hair lying over her shoulder. “I especially imagine what you’ll look like when we kiss.”

  “Wyatt, you’ve always been in my heart – even when I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. However, I don’t think the feelings I have now can be considered a crush.”

  “No, they’re not.” He ran his thumb beneath her bottom lip. “The way you kiss me tells me that you have strong feelings for me.”

  She threaded her fingers through his hair. “Do you hate me because I dreamed about you every night for years, and wondered if you’d ever see me as more than James’ sister?”

  “I could never hate you. I’m sorry I made you wait so long.”

  “Well, you were rather busy.”

  He chuckled. “I wasn’t ready back then.”

  “Ready? For what?”

  “To see you as more than James’ sister.”

  She trailed her soft fingers down his neck. It was all he could do not to close his eyes and enjoy her touch.

  “Are you ready now?” she asked.

  “I think so.” He dropped his mouth back to hers and kissed her briefly before pulling away and looking down at her, again. “Actually, I know I’m ready.”

  Her mouth stretched into a grin. “Good, because I was getting rather bored with waiting.”

  He chuckled again as he swept his mouth back over hers, but before he could turn the kiss passionate, the barn door squeaked open, followed quickly by it closing. A man’s grumble echoed through the stillness. Wyatt held his breath. They weren’t out in plain sight, but if he or Josie didn’t do something really soon, they were going to get caught.