An Angel in the Mail (32 page)

“Sometime later, she and Peter—her husband—joined a wagon train heading to Oregon. Shortly after leaving, a tragic accident killed Peter, and the wagon master forced Emmaline to marry another man in the group. I was stationed at Fort Laramie at the time, where the wagon trains stopped for supplies. You can imagine my shock when I ran into her, there of all places, and discovered she had been widowed, and then re-married so quickly.

“At that time, the Army sent two soldiers from the fort with each wagon train for protection. I volunteered to accompany them to Oregon, and I got it in my head Emmaline wanted to leave her husband and go back to Indiana to her parents, and I would be the one to take her.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, and continued. “After we all arrived in Oregon, I contacted an attorney and learned her marriage could be annulled since she had been forced into it. When I told her this, she said she didn’t want to talk about it, so I, ah—”

He stopped and pulled Angel close to him. “So I went to her house one day and took her and her baby daughter,” he said in a rush. “I had arranged with another wagon train heading east to meet up with them in a wagon I had bought and outfitted for the trip.”

She pulled back and looked at him. “Did you hurt her?”

“Of course not! God, no. I thought I loved her. I sprinkled chloroform on a handkerchief, then when she passed out, I carried her and the baby to the wagon.”

He sat forward on the seat, his forearms braced on his knees, his head in his hands.

“And her husband came after her?”

“Oh, he came after her all right. In the meantime, Emmaline found my rifle and threatened to shoot me if I didn’t turn the wagon around. I did. It seemed Emmaline truly loved her husband, and had no desire to return to Indiana, or anywhere else for that matter, without him. They have a horse farm out in Willamette Valley, and I haven’t been near either one of them since.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and continued. “To this day I don’t understand it myself. I still can’t believe I did that. I’d never done anything that strange, before or since. I tried to explain it away a number of times, but I always come up blank.” He shrugged, and glanced at his wife.

To his amazement, Angel wrapped her arms around him, and laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

This could look very bad to someone who didn’t know Nate.

Truly the most kind, considerate man she had ever known. A wonderful husband and father, and crazy about his children. Losing them would be a blow he would probably never recover from.

They sat and held each other, not speaking for a while. Eventually, Angel pulled away. “All right, my turn.

Mine is simply stupidity on my part. When I attended boarding school years ago, an entire group of girls decided I didn’t fit in, so they found ways to torture me. When none of their games and nastiness worked to get me to leave, they hid an expensive necklace in my room, and then reported it missing to the headmistress. So, naturally, they searched the entire school, and there it sat in my dresser drawer.”

“Didn’t you explain it to the headmistress?”

“No. And that’s where I made my mistake, because apparently it’s on my record there. I was also young, and full of pride. But I hated the school, and relieved to have my papa come for me, so I could return home and put it all behind me.”

They sat in silence, holding each other. The rays of sun peeking through the clouds diminished their problems. A God who could make such magnificence would certainly help them through this. Everything would be all right. It had to be, for she couldn’t handle anything less. The children were too important.

“Well, I guess the next step would be to see Mr. Lawton in the morning and tell him our stories,” Nate said.

He clutched the reins in his hands and started for home. Angel laid her head on his arm. Anxious to see the children, she hoped her time with them would not be cut short by grandparents who didn’t care for them, but for what they believed in.

Sylvia placed the book she tried to read in her lap. It didn’t hold her interest, anyway. Her mind kept returning to the situation with Lucy. Eli wore blinders when it came to his daughter’s problems, and Sylvia could see disaster on the horizon. The young woman had been very clear she disliked her, and resented the relationship Sylvia had with her father.

Although not a very likeable girl, she felt sorry for Lucy in a strange way. Under all that nastiness, a spoiled young girl who’d never had the influence of a mother, cried out. Nate seemed capable of handling Lucy’s ever-increasing advances, and luckily Angelina kept her head about her, and ignored the young girl. But since her drinking had come to everyone’s attention, the time had arrived to take action before something tragic happened.

She rested her head against the back of the comfortable damask chair and allowed her thoughts to wander. She’d been thrilled when Eli hired her at the restaurant, and knew from the start he was attracted to her. As much as she liked his money, she also cared deeply for the man, and didn’t want to see him hurt. He was so protective of her, and had taken care of that nasty matter with the sheriff.

The whole episode still bothered her. The attorney for the estate had handed her a check for two hundred eleven dollars, when all the claims against Gerald’s estate had been paid. Why there remained over a thousand dollars still due depositors continued to be mystery.

But now she worried about her future stepdaughter. She rose from the chair to ready herself for an evening of dinner and the theater. Various ways to address Lucy’s situation with Eli ran through her mind. It would not be an easy conversation, but a necessary one.

Sometime later, after dismissing the maid who fixed her hair, Sylvia picked up her wrap, gloves and reticule, and headed downstairs. Eli waited for her in the library, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

“Would you like a sherry before we leave, sweetheart?”

“Do we have time?” She settled on the padded bench in front of the fireplace.

“Yes.” He poured a small glass of the dark liquid and handed it to her. Taking the seat across from where she sat, he lifted his glass in a toast.

Sylvia took a small swallow. “Eli, we need to talk about Lucy.”

“What about Lucy?” Eli frowned.

“I don’t mean to upset you, but I have reason to believe she’s been drinking quite a bit.”

Eli dragged his hand down his face and sighed. “At one time I would have denied that, and taken offense at the suggestion, but I’m afraid you’re right. Even though she denies drinking, I’ve noticed liquor disappearing from my stock, and I have no reason to believe anyone on the staff has suddenly started stealing from me.”

She set her glass on the small cherry wood table next to her, and took his hand. “What are we going to do?”

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I thank God every day for you, my dear. You cannot imagine how wonderful it is to have someone to share my life, and concerns about my daughter.”

He rose and placed the empty brandy glass on the sideboard. “I wish I knew. A lot of Lucy’s behavior has to do with not having a woman’s influence. Also, my allowing her to run roughshod over everyone and giving her everything she wanted didn’t help.”

“I don’t think you should blame yourself.” Sylvia edged to the end of her seat. “Certain personality traits are present at birth. I really hate to make comparisons because it’s not always fair, but Angelina also experienced a childhood with no female influence, and had every advantage Lucy had. Yet you’ve seen how well she’s adjusted to her life. She adores her husband and the children. She doesn’t miss all the material things she had before. And she even took me in after I pulled that dirty trick on her.”

Sylvia remembered when she’d told Eli the mail order bride story, taking quite a bit of guilt onto herself when she did.

“Sweetheart, don’t keep blaming yourself for what you had to do to take care of Angel. You didn’t have a lot of choices, and I haven’t seen a happier couple than those two.” He sat alongside her and ran his knuckles over her cheek. “You did a good thing.”

“Well, if I’m to not blame myself, how can you blame yourself for Lucy’s failings?”

“Ah, but it’s a parent’s duty to feel guilty,” he said with a small smile.

“Enough of this wallowing in pity.” Sylvia swallowed the last of her sherry and stood. “I think we should take this up with Dr. Penrose. Maybe he can suggest something, or maybe you can hire a companion for Lucy. Someone near her age.”

“Wonderful idea.” Eli helped her into her wrap. “Now, let’s go to dinner and the theater. Although,” he winked at her, “I understand the seating host at the Bella Donna Restaurant is nowhere near as good looking or fascinating as the one at The Golden Buck.”

Nate yanked at his collar as he steered the buggy around a half-rotted tree trunk in the road. The morning of the court hearing had dawned cool and cloudy. Nobody had spoken much while the family dressed and had breakfast. Nate had decided not to tell the boys why they were going to court, but Angel had changed his mind.

“You can’t keep this from them,” she said as they readied for bed the night before.

“I don’t want them to worry.” Nate stopped in the middle of pulling off his boots.

“I think the chance of the Belfords getting them is slight, but if they do, I don’t want them surprised by the whole thing.” She sat and unbraided her hair, then brushed it.

“This whole thing is outrageous to begin with. I can’t believe any sane judge would take our children away based on such flimsy charges.” He had come up behind her and took the brush out of her hands. They were both silent as Nate ran the brush through the silky strands.

Angel leaned her head back, and their gazes locked. “I’m ready to run if you are.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” He pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. Her smell, touch, and warmth filled him with desire. Not for lovemaking, but for the peace and contentment she showered on those she loved.

How cold my life was before my Angel.

As the buggy entered the main street of town, Angel wondered if maybe they shouldn’t all make a run for it. Then she dismissed the idea. A life on the run with the size of this family would be almost impossible. She still had faith in the justice system, no matter how flawed it sometimes seemed to be.

Nate took her hand, squeezing it lightly. She bent and planted a kiss on Julia-Rose’s head and squeezed back. She murmured a silent prayer, begging the Lord to guide the judge into a decision that would allow them to keep the children.

Briefly, she touched her belly where her secret sat snug and safe. A small smile flitted across her face, as she prayed Nate’s reaction to her announcement would be welcoming.

The buggy came to a halt, and the four boys jumped out, surprisingly quiet for them. Nate had explained the meaning of the hearing, with both he and Angel assuring them the judge would rule in their favor. By the looks on their faces, it didn’t seem they had much confidence in this hearing, either.

Much to Angel’s surprise, the Belfords did not make an appearance at their house to see the children while they were waiting for the hearing to continue.

Damian’s instructions were also a surprise. He wanted the children with them. When Nate questioned the wisdom of that decision, he merely responded based on what the Hales had told him, the children themselves might be their best defense. He’d refused to elaborate, so they followed his instructions, and now they all walked toward the courthouse.

The boys looked splendid in their clean, pressed clothes, and Julia-Rose wore a frilly pink dress with a matching bonnet.

Damian waited for them, and smiled brightly as he looked the children over. He gave Julia-Rose a little pinch on her cheek, and smiled at Angel and Nate.

“You all look fine. Wipe those scared expressions off your faces.” He chuckled as he led them all into the courthouse, where the clerk ushered them inside. The Belfords and their attorney were already seated.

Nate nodded briefly to the Belfords, and joined Angel and Damian at the head table. The boys, with Matt holding Julia-Rose, sat on the bench directly behind him.

Almost immediately, the door opened and the judge entered. As soon as Julia-Rose saw the solemn looking man, she reached out. “Mama, up.”

Angel took her from Matt as the judge smiled in her direction.

“Your Honor,” Damian began once the judge sat and adjusted his spectacles, “the petitioners have maintained charges against my clients that I would like to address at this time.”

“You may proceed.” The judge nodded.

“I have here in my hand a signed and sworn-to testimony from Mr. Davis Templeton and Mrs. Emmaline Templeton, who maintains the so-called kidnapping by Mr. Nathan Hale ten years ago, was no more than a misunderstanding. They never pressed charges, and indeed never even reported it to the sheriff at the time.”

“Your Honor, I would like to see that, please.” The Belford’s attorney rose and took the paper from Damian’s hand. He skimmed the document, and handed it to the Belfords. They frowned while reading, but made no comment. After perusing the information, he returned it to the judge and sat down.

“May I continue?” Damian asked.