Faltered Beginnings: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book Five

by Ball, Kathleen

  “You’re right. I did eat the very first meal she ever made. I was proud of myself for not spitting it out.” He smiled and looked out on the horizon. “What happened to the singing lessons?”

  “Oh, I just said that so Mary Beth would take me up on my offer to teach her.” Letty confirmed his suspicion with a soft laugh. “My Hannah and Betsy sing like angels.”

  “You’ve got a good heart Letty.”

  “Did you want me to fix supper for you?”

  He shook his head. “I can do that. Spend time with your children.”

  Letty stood. “One thing. If you could encourage your wife to work the community garden, she wouldn’t feel so bad when she goes to pick things to make your supper. Go with her the first time.”

  “I will, thank you.”

  He watched her leave, and soon after Fletcher stopped by. “I meant to get this to Mary Beth.”

  Carter took the paper. “An answer to the telegram she sent. Thank you. I’d invite you to stay, but I’m starved. See ya later, Fletch.”

  What telegram had she sent? Should he open it? It could be something private. He stared at it a while. If it was private, she wouldn’t have trusted Fletch with it.

  He opened it. Sent baby’s father to bring you back by any means.

  His jaw dropped. Her father had sent Leon? So she’d guessed right. The telegram didn’t say much to encourage her to go home. He hadn’t even signed it. It was straight to the point, and it scared him. Any means… What would Leon assume?

  He didn’t like it one bit. He wanted to crumple it up and throw it, but it wasn’t his. She was better off without her father, though. He’d done her a great favor by throwing her out of the house. Those words haunted him. By any means—did her father realize how dangerous Leon was? He must know.

  Chapter Ten

  A week later, Mary Beth smiled with pride at her biscuits. Finally, they were soft and flakey. She hugged Letty and ran out the door and straight to the barn.

  Ross’ eyes grew big. “What happened? Are you all right?” He took four large strides, putting himself beside her immediately.

  “Nothing bad. I was just so excited, and I wanted you to know. I’ll tell you later.” She started to turn.

  Ross touched her arm. “I’m curious now.”

  “Ready to hear my news?”

  He nodded, looking a mite impatient.

  “I made biscuits!”

  His mouth started to droop into a frown but he turned it into a smile instead. “That’s nice, honey. I’ll look forward to eating them. I’m sure I’ll enjoy them.”

  She heard snickers and eyed Fletcher and Noah. The snickering stopped.

  “Yes, you will. They are light and flakey. See you later.” She walked off. If they were going to laugh they could have at least waited until she’d left. What had Ross been telling them? Her face burned, and her excitement dwindled. It obviously wasn’t a big deal to him.

  “What did he say?” Letty’s eyes twinkled.

  “Not much. Fletcher and Noah laughed at me. Frankly, it was humiliating. I guess I must learn that what excites me doesn’t necessarily excite my husband.” She tried to smile, but she cried instead. “All I seem to do lately is cry. I can’t seem to help it.”

  Letty enfolded her in a hug. “It’s the baby. All carryin’ women cry at things they wouldn’t normally cry about. It’s fine.”

  “I feel as though I’ve tried so hard and he doesn’t care. I thought I made a lot of progress this week. Oh, what does it matter? Women are supposed to know how to cook.” She grabbed a basket. “I’m going to see what’s growing and pick a few weeds.” She went out the door. Ever since Ross had shown her how to work in the garden and told her by doing so she would be contributing to their community, she tried to do so every day.

  She sighed as she set the basket down and studied the rows of vegetables. Letty was right. It had to be the baby that was making her so sensitive and setting her to crying. She wished she’d thought to bring her hat with her. The Texas sun could be brutal. The garden was large, and she found it peaceful to tend to it. Sometimes the other women would be there, but not today. The peas looked ready to pick. She smiled at the thought of how she cooked them the first time. The men all probably had a good laugh at that too.

  The garden suddenly lost its appeal. She put a good amount of the pea pods in her basket and headed home. She walked in with somewhat of a smile on her face, but the terror she saw in Letty’s eyes frightened her.

  “Letty what is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Close the door.” She knew that voice. It belonged to Leon Baker. Her heart skipped a beat as she did as he ordered and then turned toward him.

  He quickly locked the door while making sure they both could see the big knife he sported.

  Oh Lord please protect us, Mary Beth prayed. “I know my father sent you to take me back, but let’s think about this for a moment. If he promised you money, you can’t spend it in jail.”

  His grin sickened her. “I don’t go to jail. You of all people should know that. I do what I want, when I want.”

  “You don’t have to involve Letty in this. Let her go back to her family.”

  “Not on your life. I need to gather one more woman though. I promised a few guys who showed me how to get onto the ranch undetected. Mary Beth, I want you to go get Iris and bring her here.”

  “No, I refuse. I will not allow you to hurt her.”

  Leon pushed Mary Beth onto a chair and then grabbed Letty around the neck. “I will kill this one if you don’t get Iris.”

  It stunned Mary Beth.

  “If you value this one’s life you’d best get going.”

  Horror filled Letty’s eyes as she shook her head. “Don’t do it.”

  Leon let go of Letty long enough to backhand her, sending her crashing to the floor with a cry of alarm.

  “Stop!” Mary Beth shouted. “I’ll go get Iris.”

  “I’ll be watching from the window, so don’t try to get help.”

  Mary Beth nodded. “I’ll do it the way you want.” She stood and gave Letty a long look. “I’ll be back.”

  She hurried out the door and was so tempted to run to the barn, but she couldn’t take the chance that Letty would be hurt. She walked on to Iris’ and knocked on the door.

  Iris opened the door. “Is something wrong? Is it the baby?”

  She reached for Mary Beth. “Come in. Let’s get you off your feet.”

  Mary Beth went into the house. “Iris, Leon is at my house holding Letty hostage. He wants to take both you and me. I’m to bring you to my house or Letty dies. I don’t want to go with him, but I don’t know what to do.”

  Iris looked out the front window. “Where are the men? I don’t see them training the horses. I’ll leave Lex a note. Hopefully he’ll be here for the noon meal and come get us.” She shook her head. “Leon of all people. Does he have horses for us to ride?”

  “I didn’t see much beyond his knife and Letty’s fear. I didn’t see any horses.”

  “Think, Mary Beth, did he say anything else?”

  “He promised men who could get him onto the ranch they could have you.”

  Iris paled. She dashed down words on a piece of paper. “I’ll get my gun and knife and we can go.” Quickly she slipped a knife in her garter and a gun in her pocket. Then she gave Mary Beth a weak smile. “We will have to pray the whole time. Leon is truly an evil man.”

  “I know.”

  “Let’s go,” said Iris. “I’m leaving my door open, hoping someone will see it and check if something’s wrong.”

  They walked holding hands back to Mary Beth’s house. Despite the cool wind, Mary Beth was sweating.

  “Listen,” Iris said with urgency in her voice. “We’ll need him to think we’re going along with whatever he says. If he isn’t suspicious of us, he might not watch us as closely and we might be able to escape. Don’t do anything that will put you and the baby in danger.” She took a deep bre
ath. “Here we go.”

  Iris opened the door to Mary Beth’s house and walked right in with Mary Beth following.

  “Leon, always a pleasure,” she said sarcastically.

  Leon smiled. “It’s a pleasure for sure.” He threw a rope at Iris. “Tie that one up.” He nodded toward Letty.

  Iris picked up the rope and tied Letty’s hands. Leon came to check on her, tugging on the rope and giving a satisfied nod. “Nice and tight.”

  He trained his gaze on Mary Beth. “Gather food, water, and whatever you’ll need along the trail. A blanket too.

  Mary Beth nodded, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Iris slip the knife to Letty.

  “Be quick about it, girl! I don’t care one way or the other if you’re fed and warm. Hurry up.”

  Mary Beth trembled, but she was able to put everything into a carpet bag. She grabbed a bed roll Ross kept prepared. “I’m ready.”

  Leon stalked over and roughly stuffed a rag into Letty’s mouth. “Can’t have you hollering.”

  He tied Mary Beth’s right hand to Iris’ left one. Then he opened the back door and looked around. “Go to the woods.” He pulled Mary Beth toward the door. “Go now!”

  Mary Beth and Iris did as they were told. Mary Beth wanted to cry out a few times as she stumbled, but Iris was always there to keep her on her feet. They stood at the edge of the forest waiting for Leon. He joined them a minute later.

  He was carrying Iris’ knife, and he grabbed her hand and pulled it to him. Wearing an evil leer, he covered Iris’ mouth with his free hand then slit her arm with the knife. “Don’t try anything like that again! Get moving.” He pushed them into the woods and took the lead.

  The smell of blood made Mary Beth woozy. The sight of it all scared her senseless. The bright red substance bubbled and poured from Iris’ arm to the ground. Iris had her bottom lip between her teeth. It must hurt something awful. Maybe she’d have a chance to pack it with moss.

  They walked for a while, and Mary Beth spotted a wolf trailing them. It probably smelled the blood. She gestured to Iris, and Iris nodded and walked in front of Mary Beth, keeping as close to Leon as she could. The wolf no longer trailed them but walked parallel to Leon. Leon didn’t seem to notice. How long were they going to be on foot?

  Iris grew noticeably slower as they went on.

  “Leon, we need to stop the bleeding,” Mary Beth yelled.

  Leon halted, and Iris walked into him. He turned and ripped the sleeve off Iris’ arm and wrapped the top of the wound very tight. Then he slapped Mary Beth on the face with great force. “Keep quiet.”

  They started walking again.

  “Lord, it’s me Mary Beth. I’m in trouble and so is Iris. Lord I don’t want her to lose her child. She’s been praying for one for a while now. No matter how my baby was conceived I’d like it if no harm came to it. If one baby has to be taken to heaven, have it be mine not Iris’. Is it right to pray for something painful to befall Leon? Please allow both Ross and Lex to find us. Could you make it soon Lord? And Lord, I keep thinking about this forgiveness thing, and I can’t find any in my heart for my father. I’ve read all about turning the other cheek and forgiving seven times something. I’m not the best at remembering Bible verses, and I ask you to overlook my ignorance. How am I supposed to forgive a man who paid to have me and my friend kidnapped? You must show me how. Maybe I don’t have the forgiveness within me like others seem to have. I know you walk with me through this.”

  The wolf stopped and stared into her eyes for a moment before it kept pace with Leon. Iris’ lips moved ever so much, and it looked as though she was praying too.

  Leon stopped for a minute and turned his head this way and that as though he was listening. He nodded and started up again. Mary Beth listened but heard nothing. She kept walking. How big was the forest? It had grown warm, and she wanted water. She whispered her need in a prayer.

  Leon must have heard. He stopped put her bag down and found a canteen of water in it. He drank deeply from it first then handed it to Mary Beth, ignoring Iris completely. He untied them.

  The water washed down her dry throat making her feel cooler and clear minded. She handed it to Iris.

  They could hear the rush of water going by in the distance. They must be near a river; the water sounded fast. She couldn’t remember anyone mentioning a river around here. Maybe now would be a good time to mention she couldn’t swim. He probably didn’t care. But she had to try to thwart his plans.

  “Leon, I can’t swim.”

  His eyes narrowed as he studied her. “I guess your rich daddy didn’t want you to be in the lake water. Probably not good enough for you. I’ll just have to help you. We should be meeting with the men who have our horses soon.” He then turned a malevolent gaze on Iris. “You won’t need to cross the river. There’s plenty of trees here that’ll hold a rope.” He grinned.

  Iris visibly shivered. Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t say I haven’t expected this to happen. Not many believe I was too young to know what my family was doing. As far as I knew we were proud Confederates. I almost hung over this issue once before. I just wish I could have given birth to Lex’s baby.” She doubled over as if she was in pain.

  “Is it the baby?” Mary Beth asked.

  “It’s my heart,” Iris said still doubled over. “The pain of leaving Lex and knowing the pain he will feel is too much to bear. He didn’t think this would ever happen, but I knew, I knew. I shouldn’t have married him. I could have spared him all of it. I know people say their hearts are broken but they aren’t. You know by the actual pain it is broken. I’ll be released of the pain.” She sobbed in a breath of air. “If you ever see him again, Mary Beth, please tell him he was my world and there was no greater love than the one we shared. I thanked God every day for what we had.” Tears flowed from her eyes and she didn’t even try to wash them away. “God be with you, Mary Beth, and your child.”

  Iris pushed awkwardly to her feet. “Mary Beth, could I have one last hug to get me through?”

  Leon glowered at her but finally gave a nod.

  Mary Beth went to her with tears in her eyes. Iris faced Leon and put her one hand around Mary Beth, pulling her tightly to her. A grim expression stole over her face as she shot Leon with the gun in her other hand. Silence fell as Iris released Mary Beth.

  Mary Beth backed away and turned around. Leon was dead with a bullet hole in his head. It froze her feet to the forest floor.

  “Come, Mary Beth,” Iris urged. “We don’t know who heard the gunshot. We have to get as far away as fast as we can.”

  Mary Beth grabbed her bag and the water. Iris wrapped her arm so no more blood dripped leaving a trail. “This way!”

  “Isn’t the ranch that way?” Mary Beth pointed along the way they’d come.

  “Yes but if men are waiting to hang me they’d expect me to go to the houses. It’ll be much farther but we’ll go this way and come out of the woods not far from Joy. Someone there will help us or maybe Letty escaped. Come on!”

  Mary Beth nodded and began the slow run south. She watched where the moss grew on the trees to be sure they were going to right way. After a time, Iris stopped for a rest. She was panting. Sweat glistened on her forehead, and it glued her hair to her temples. Her face was deathly pale.

  Mary Beth made sure Iris was comfortable. She gathered moss from a tree, and she packed the wide slice down Iris’ arm with the moss before she wrapped it. “That should hold for a while.”

  Iris just nodded.

  “Iris are you all right? You’re so pale and quiet.”

  “That’s the second time I cheated the hangman’s rope. I know I cried, but now I need to be strong. I need to get me and the baby back to Lex. You too, of course. I think we need to cut toward the west now. We’ll either run into the ranch or we’ll be south of it. We can’t make a fire and I’d just as soon not sleep out here. That wolf is still trailing us.”

  “Yes, I’ve seen it too. If you’re rested,
we’d best get going.” Mary Beth grabbed the bag and they started west. Every tree looked the same to her, but Iris was confident she knew where they were going. It was an arduous journey. Mary Beth’s feet stung with blisters, and she began to limp. The sun started to go down, and cold air spread over them.

  Iris gripped the blanket and drew a different knife from her garter. Mary Beth laughed quietly. “You sure are a surprise.”

  Iris smiled as she slit the blanket in half. They each had a generous portion to wrap around themselves. They continued walking. They had to be extra careful as it grew darker. A fall could be bad for their babies. The wolf still walked beside them.

  “I would have thought the wolf would have been content to chew on Leon,” Mary Beth said.

  Iris frowned. “Me too.”

  At last they could see the ranch through the trees. When Mary Beth would have run forward, Iris halted her with a hand on her arm. She pointed at a group of men in white hoods riding toward Joy. Some held torches and others rifles. Gasping, Mary Beth squatted behind a thicket, pulling Iris with her. “Iris, we need to warn them or get them help.”

  Iris stared at her and was silent for a bit. “And if they catch us?”

  “We’ll backtrack and we should come to Veronica’s place,” Mary Beth said.

  At the clip-clop of horses coming close, they both dropped onto the ground. Mary Beth reached out and clasped Iris’ hand.

  Mary Beth’s heart pounded. Fear filled her as the horses drew nearer. A rustle of underbrush drew her attention just as the wolf joined them in their hiding place. As her heart beat frantically, the wolf lay down next to her. Her heart slowed to a more normal rhythm, and her breathing evened out. For some reason she did not fear the creature.

  Iris’ eyes widened as she stared at the wolf.

  The sound of horses crashing through vegetation reached them. The group was almost upon them.

  “Please Lord, let it be quick and let it be clean.” Mary Beth closed her eyes, but she knew the horses stood right in front of them. She heard Iris gasp, let go of her hand and cry. Mary Beth opened her eyes and squatting in front of her was Ross.