A Walk in Heaven (30 page)

“What have you heard about their mother?”

“Not a lot. Why?”

“Did you hear how she died?”

“No.”

Exhaling deeply, he ran his fingers through his hair. “Not too long after our wedding, she showed signs of melancholy. After the twins were born, she got worse until one day she took her life – in the same pond where you and the girls were just now. The ice was weak, and she knew it wouldn’t hold her. She
knew
she’d fall through.”

Careen gasped and covered her mouth.

“A few days before this, I’d learned her uncle had been mentally insane before he took his own life. I believe Emma had this disease as well.” He paused, but only for a moment. “To this day, I worry that one of my daughters will be like their mother.”

She lowered her hand. “That’s why you asked Frances if she was insane?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Joshua.”
She stroked his arm. “I understand your fear now, but I honestly believe your daughters are fine. In all the time I’ve spent with them, not once did they act like something was wrong. They are normal little girls.
Very
normal, I assure you.”

His heart twisted from her words. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that.”

“With you as their father, I can also see them growing up to be very well mannered young women. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. The Lord loves you and those girls. If you ask, He’ll watch over them and protect them.”

As always when Joshua thought back to this subject, doubt snuck in his mind, confusing him. He hated that feeling. “Will He?”

Skepticism creased her brow.
“Of course.
Why on earth would you wonder such a thing?”

“Careen, you seem to have a strong belief in God.”

“I do.”

“Tell me something, then. Do you think Emma has gone to hell because she took her own life?”

She hitched a breath, her eyes widening. “Why, I’d never thought of it like that.”

“And, if fate has a cruel way of turning my daughters into their mother, would God not forgive them as well?”

Silence stretched a few minutes as she studied him. He expected to see her expression laced with ridicule, but her beautiful eyes still glowed with love. She slid her hand to his and he clasped it tightly.

“No, Joshua. I don’t believe God is that
unkind.
Emma had a disease, and because of that, she wasn’t in her right mind. She was
not
normal like you and I. God knows all things, and I don’t believe He would not forgive Emma for taking her life. In fact, I think Emma is in heaven now – and she’s been made perfect. She could have been the angel watching over your daughters just now.”

Love for Careen grew by leaps and bounds. Tears stung his eyes, but he blinked them away, refusing to lose control over his emotions in front of her.

“Oh, Careen.” He took her in his arms and pulled her against his chest. “You don’t know how long I’ve longed to hear words like that. I have struggled with my faith for so long, but what you said makes sense.” He kissed her forehead then pulled back enough to stare into her eyes. “You are actually the angel sent to watch over me and my daughters.”

Smiling, she shook her head. “It only seems like that, but I assure you, that’s not right.”

He chuckled. “Believe what you will, because I know the truth.” He touched his finger to her nose. “Now, you need to get upstairs and change before you get sick again.”

She nodded and pulled away from her. As he watched her walk out of the room, happiness expanded in his chest. He truly loved her. If only he didn’t have to wait so long before asking her to marry him.

Cool air chilled Joshua’s face as he rode away from the house. Early mornings were usually cold this time of year, and he anticipated when the weather would turn warmer this afternoon. One good thing about the morning’s brisk air was that it snapped him alert right away.

After yesterday’s panic with the Frances falling in the icy pond, his anxiety level had climbed a notch. Thankfully, Careen’s soothing words and encouragement helped to ease his worries. Unfortunately, the quick swing of his moods had left him mentally exhausted this morning.

Without a doubt, he loved Careen. So then why hadn’t the Lord allowed Joshua to forgive or forget? Withholding the truth about her cousin still stung like vinegar in an open wound.

Out of the corner of his eyes, something caught his attention.
Not again!

He urged his horse faster toward the fence then stopped. Grumbling, he studied the fence which had been cut as he dismounted. He wasn’t a man who enjoyed swearing, but at this moment he wanted to curse a blue-streak. The cut was fresh.

He scanned the dew-moist ground, watching for anything that would help in his search. Fresh hoof prints dented the earth, leading away from the fence toward…
The east cabin!

Jumping on his horse, anticipation shot through him. He’d catch this person today! He pushed his steed faster, not taking his eyes off the tracks. The closer he came to the
cabin,
he reached behind him for the shotgun strapped to his saddle.

The moon hadn’t yet disappeared, but the sun gave hints of making its debut. Even from a distance, Joshua could see a horse tethered nearby the place of refuge. He slowed his steed as he crept forward. He stopped his horse and dismounted, keeping low and quiet toward a large tree. He hid behind it, but peeked around the trunk as he watched the door. As soon as the intruder stepped outside, Joshua would capture him.

Fear of the unknown chilled his bones. What if it was Luther? Yet, his mind argued. Careen’s cousin couldn’t have arrived in Virginia City so soon after she had. But what if he did? If Luther had been watching the
ranch, that
explained all the incidents that had been happening since her arrival. Yet, they discovered who’d tried to shoot at them coming home from Laura’s charity ball. And the fire in the barn had been started by one of their new ranch hands.

Joshua gulped as a thought cross his mind. The ranch hand
who’d
started the fire had red hair just like Luther! Could it
had
been the same man? And…could the man in the east cabin be the same outlaw they’d been waiting for to arrive?

Curling his fingers tighter around his weapon, Joshua narrowed his gaze on the door. At this moment it didn’t matter who was in that cabin. This was the last time that person would cut the fences!

Joshua fidgeted, behind him, his horse snorted. Slowly, the sun began to awaken the earth. More birds sang
,
perched in the tree he hid behind. Whoever was in the cabin would leave any minute now, Joshua was certain.

Finally, the door creaked open. Joshua lifted his shotgun and aimed, not taking his eyes off the doorway.

A man stepped out, but had his back toward Joshua. In the unknown assailant’s arms was a sack. The dirty-rotten thief was stealing from them!
No wonder there wasn’t much food stocked in the cabin during Joshua and Careen’s stay.

When the man turned and stepped away from the cabin, recognition struck Joshua.
Mr. Jones?
What was Natalie’s father doing here?

Before the older man reached his horse, Joshua stepped from around the tree, his shotgun ready to shoot as he zeroed in on the man. “Hold it right there.”

Mr. Jones skidded to a stop. His eyes widened in terror as color disappeared from his face. The sack of food dropped as he raised his brown leather-gloved hands above his head in surrender – one still gripped a very instrument used to cut the barbed-wire fence.

Joshua came closer. “You’re caught red-handed, Mr. Jones.”

Natalie’s father glanced to his hand then quickly dropped the tool. Joshua rolled his eyes. Like discarding the cutters would do any good now.

“Now slowly, walk to my horse so I can tie you up.”

Color returned to the man’s face, accompanied with a scowl. “You think to turn me in to the sheriff?”

“Of course.
I’m not going to let you go now.”

Joshua grasped him by the arm and pushed him against the tree, quickly tying his hands behind his back. Mr. Jones grumbled and struggled, but Joshua prevailed.

“What did you hope to achieve by stealing from us and cutting our fences?”

Mrs. Jones swung his head, glaring at Joshua over his shoulder. “I deserve my land back!”

Joshua arched an eyebrow.
“
Your
land?
When was this ever
your
land, Mr. Jones?”

“It should have been mine when my brother Wilbur died, but it didn’t. I’d tried to reason with your father years ago, but he wouldn’t relent.” He yanked his arms, trying to get freed for Joshua’s grasp, but couldn’t. “It’s your father’s fault. All of this!”

Joshua yanked the man away from the tree and toward his horse. “No, this is
your
fault. My father didn’t hold a gun to your head and make you cut our fences. He didn’t blackmail you into setting animal traps around our property, either. The way I see it, Mr. Jones,” he said, stopping the other man and peering directly into his eyes, “is that the sheriff will arrest you on the spot. What you’ve done to our property is against the law no matter what you think.”

Joshua mounted then trotted the horse back to the house, pulling an irritated Mr. Jones behind. Finally, this burden lifted from his chest. He was almost relieved it wasn’t Luther. Yet at the same time, he wanted to find that dirty-rotten criminal and get him far away from Careen. Luther needed to be stopped before someone else lost their life.

* * * *

“Careen!”

Betsy’s joyous shout rented the air, accompanying the slamming of the front door. Careen jumped in her chair and clutched her sewing sampler tighter.
Something is wrong!

Beside her Elizabeth gasped, placing a hand to her heart. “Good heavens child, what’s all the commotion?”

Careen rose and hurried to the parlor room’s door. “Betsy, I’m in here.”

The maid rushed to
Careen
, huffing and puffing. Betsy grasped Careen’s arm, her eyes wide with excitement. “I was in town with Mrs. Grayson’s cook this morning, and received this telegraph from Pierre, South Dakota.” She held out the paper.

Careen snatched the paper away with shaky hands. Her mind whirled as worry and panic consumed her. It was something bad. She just knew it.

“Read it aloud, dear,” Elizabeth encouraged, standing next to her as she wrung her hands against her plump middle.

Taking a deep breath, Careen slowly unfolded the paper and read. “Luther Kennedy has been captured. Authorities in Billings, Montana, captured the outlaw. Kennedy is being held in jail until Pierre’s lawmen take him back for trial.”

Elizabeth squealed with happiness and clapped her hands. “Praise the Lord!”

Careen stared at the missive, stunned into silence. Was this true? Dare she believe? Her heart wanted to, but… No. This couldn’t be right. It was too easy.

“Careen,” Betsy said, pulling her arm. “This is good news. You don’t have to fear your cousin any longer.”

Finally, reality struck Careen in a dizzy wave. Fog gathered in her vision as the room spun around her. Helpless to stop herself, she slumped against her mother-in-law. Elizabeth screeched and held her up while Betsy grasped Careen’s other arm.

“Get her to the sofa,” Mrs. Grayson instructed.

On weak legs, Careen stumbled to the cushions and plopped down. All these weeks of worrying had finally ended. Yet…it was hard not to believe Luther would escape again. After all, he did it the first time.

A cold glass of lemonade was pushed into her hand and guided to her mouth as a woman’s commanding words to
drink
drifted to
Careen’s
ears. Once again, dizziness assailed her, but she followed instructions and slowly sipped the drink.

More voices filled the room.
Men’s voices.
Joshua!

She pulled herself out of the dream-like state she’d momentarily fell into, blinking as she tried to focus on all those surrounding her. William and Joshua stood reading the telegraph while Peter and Gage sat beside her, patting a hand. Joshua’s gaze flew to hers, his eyes wide with excitement – and relief.

He rushed to her and knelt, placing a hand on her knee. “Can you believe it? Your cousin has been caught!”

Her lips trembled when she smiled. “Honestly, no I can’t believe it.” She forced a laugh. “It’s too surreal.”

“It’s definitely an answer to our prayers,” William cheered. “First with having Mr. Jones arrested for trying to sabotage our ranch, and now this. The Lord is certainly blessing us!”

She switched her gaze to Betsy who stood in the corner, clasping her hands tightly as tears swelled in her eyes. The maid appeared as emotional as Careen felt, and she couldn’t stop the tears of joy filling her eyes.
“Yes, finally.
Our prayers are answered and we can get back to a normal life.”

* * * *

The family rejoiced in the good news, but Careen couldn’t quite bring herself to believe. The original news came from the sheriff in Billings, stating Luther was in jail. The lawman then sent it to Pierre. Everything had to be true…so why couldn’t she convince her heart?

Her cousin had always been too sneaky, too conniving. No wonder it was hard for her to grasp the news.

After dinner everyone seemed to go their own way. Elizabeth and William visited in the parlor. Joshua took the girls up to bed to read them a story. Betsy assisted the Grayson’s servant in the kitchen. And the brothers had somehow disappeared.

Careen wandered outside. Tonight’s weather seemed slightly warmer than the night before. Definitely the promise of spring weather hung in the air.

She gathered the shawl around her shoulders and stopped at the wooden railing. Wistfully, she said a prayer in her heart while staring at the full moon. She wanted everything to be normal now – to live a life without being in fear of her cousin. She wanted her dreams to come true. To fall in love with a man who would provide her with a happy home and beautiful children as she’d once dreamed Matthew could give her.

She stopped her thoughts and smiled. Actually, she had fallen in love, and Joshua actually shared her feelings. Still, it was too soon to let anyone know. Too soon to want to marry a man who could make her blissfully
happy.
For now, she had to keep that dream hidden from the family.

The beautiful evening lulled her toward the back of the porch near the swing. Sighing heavily, she recalled when she had first thought about kissing Joshua. It was here at this swing where he’d upset her so bad – yet had her mind creating images she shouldn’t be thinking.

Squeaking from the front door had her turning to see who walked outside. Her heart leapt in hopes of it being Joshua. But when Peter’s gaze landed on her, the enthusiasm vanished. More than anything she wanted to be in Joshua’s arms, dreaming aloud about their future.

“I thought I might find you out here.” Peter ambled toward her, his smile widening with each step.

“Yes, I enjoy quiet evenings.”

“As do I.”
 
He stopped beside her and touched her hand.
“Especially when shared with a beautiful woman.”