Forget Me Not (The Heart's Spring) (11 page)

Could this place ever feel like home?
Elizabeth clung to Joe as they walked through town on their way to Jacob’s house, avoiding the drunken brawls echoing from the saloons. Why, it was still the middle of the day, and men were already drunk! She tightened her grip on Joe’s arm.

Joe laughed and hugged her arm close to his side. “It’s fine, honey. They’ll stay in the saloons. Just don’t visit those places, and you’ll stay out of danger.”

She bristled at his words. Did he know about the time she went into the Delta looking for David?

His finger brushed her cheek. “I didn’t mean to imply
ya would. I was just tryin’ to reassure you.”

She tried to relax. The shouts and pounding that marched down the streets hadn’t bothered her as much before, when she thought she was just visiting Virginia City.

Well, that wasn’t completely true. She had never been sure what she was going to do after she saw her brother. All she had known was that David was there, and she didn’t want to go anywhere without him…

Tears burned, and her nose wrinkled. How could she be thinking about David when she was engaged to Joe? She simply had to put him out of her mind. He had obviously forgotten all about her. Life would go on, and she would make this land her home if it meant staying with someone who loved her.

“What’s the matter?”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Joe looking down at her with concern.

“I…I’m just… I don’t know what I’ll say to Annabelle.” And that truly did bother her.

“I know it’ll be different, but please don’t judge her. She didn’t have much of a choice. And Jacob really does love her.”

The mention of her brother’s name sent shivers spiraling through her. She hoped that Jacob wouldn’t be there at the house. She couldn’t face him yet. As far as she could tell from his earlier habits, though, she had no reason to worry that he would actually be with Annabelle.

Her thoughts were all tangled up when it came to her sister-in-law. She was so sweet, but what could have caused her to choose such an…occupation? Of course, Elizabeth had never known what it was to really be in need. Sarah Anne had seen to her care ever since her parents died. What if Sarah Anne hadn’t taken her in? What if she had been on her own?

Her emotions tied her insides into knots as she climbed her brother’s porch steps with Joe at her side. He knocked on the door, and they waited.

A minute later, Annabelle opened the door a crack and peeked out, uncertainty darkening her expression. Without another thought, Elizabeth pushed the door open all the way and embraced her sister-in-law. “Oh, Annabelle, I’ve missed you!”

***

Joe caught the surprise on Annabelle’s face a moment before the tears came. She hugged Elizabeth tightly, and together they both cried.

He had no idea what had caused Elizabeth to become so emotional. He supposed the thought of weddings did that to a woman. And he knew she had been worried about seeing Annabelle again, after what she had learned.

He was proud of her, and her kindness to Annabelle only made him love her more. Annabelle needed a friend like Elizabeth. He would be sure to bring Elizabeth into town often after they were married.

Finally, Annabelle and Elizabeth pulled apart, and Annabelle ushered him and Elizabeth inside. The two females sat close together on the sofa in the parlor.

“It is so good to see you again,” Annabelle said, a warm smile on her face.

“It’s good to see you, too.” Elizabeth wiped away stray tears and responded with a smile of her own.

Joe let Elizabeth tell her sister-in-law the news of their engagement, knowing that women loved to be the first to share anything with one another. He stood in the doorway of the parlor, watching them with a smile and smoothing his mustache with finger and thumb as he listened to them. He’d have to get another haircut and shave before the wedding…

“When will the wedding be?” Annabelle asked.

“Well, I want to invite my ma, so I’ll need some time to get a telegram to her and make sure she can come.” Elizabeth turned to Joe, a question in her still wet, green eyes.

“Perhaps we can wait until spring,” Joe offered, although he disliked the idea of waiting several months or more until the wedding. It hadn’t even started to snow yet, but it would soon. A winter chill had already invaded the air.

Elizabeth gestured for him to come join her, so he sat down beside her on the end of the sofa, taking her hand in his. “I think it would be good to wait,” she reiterated. “That way we have more time to…well, to get to know each other. And Sarah Anne will have enough time to schedule the trip. I really want her to be here.”

“I know. We’ll make sure she arrives before we get hitched.” He winked at her, hoping to put her at ease.

Elizabeth continued to chatter with Annabelle about the wedding, and as she did Joe let his mind wander. He had a feeling Elizabeth wouldn’t be comfortable with staying at her brother’s house anymore, and having her stay at the boardinghouse with that man, Myghal, was out of the question. But would she be willing to come down to the ranch with him? Seth and Naomi would be there to serve as chaperones and provide some company, but the snow would probably keep them from town for most of the season…

“Where is your mind today, Joe?” Elizabeth poked him in the side, a wobbly smile on her face.

“Did I miss
somethin’?”

“Annabelle wants to know if we could join her for supper.”

“Of course.”

Spring seemed so far away, but he would push that thought aside in favor of enjoying the smile on Elizabeth’s face.

“Hello, Pa.”

David stared down at his father’s grave, wondering what his pa would say if he were still alive. Would he have warmly accepted his younger son back from the grave like David’s mother and siblings had done? Or would he have sent David away again, if for no other reason than that they could no longer relate to one another after all those years apart?

The small wooden cross was a bit weather-beaten after two years of surviving the elements, sheltered only by a couple of aspen trees by the river. David leaned back against one of the trees and crossed his arms over his chest, hearing only the rustle of the breeze through the leaves and the gentle splashing of the river as it meandered across the field. No little blue flowers at this time of year—and no green-eyed girl to give them to.

Heaving a sigh, he slid down the tree to a sitting position on the dead grass. He kept his arms crossed, afraid to completely relax.

“Why didn’t you try harder to find me? I waited for you to come for me.”

Just like Elizabeth, David had gone to Clear Creek Canyon in a fit of boyish frustration. He was a headstrong eight-year-old, running from his anger toward Amos for something he had done, something David couldn’t even remember now. And just like Elizabeth, he had managed to fall into the swift creek. The only difference was that he had hit his head when the current had thrust him against some rocks at the shore. He had awoken drenched, cold clear through, and lost, unable to remember why he was there or where he was supposed to go. After hours of wandering through the ponderosas, he had come across Frank’s cabin.

The man with the scruffy beard and gentle soul had taken him in and given him a childhood as a mountain boy. Perhaps he should have been more angry with Frank, who had never tried to find his family for him. But somehow David had been able to forgive the lonely man when he had learned the truth, even though he was unwilling to forgive his own family. Frank was all David had, the only other person he knew for several years, and their bond was not easily rent, especially considering Frank had wanted him for a son when his own family apparently did not.

By the time he remembered where his home was, his life in the quiet, accepting mountains was all he wanted. By the time his honorary father died in a hunting accident, the feeling of abandonment was complete.

But all that time, he had only been a couple of days away from the farm and his former life.

“Why, Pa? I was so close. How could you just give up on me?” No one but God was there to see his angry tears. He had never wanted to grieve—he’d wanted to be brave in his exile, to stand on his own two feet without sorrowing after a family that didn’t care.
They might not have cared, but I did.
He couldn’t hide the pain any longer.

“Casey?”

His gaze flew up to find his brother walking toward him. He angled his face away, but not before he saw the concern in Amos’s eyes. After a moment, Amos joined him on the grass, leaning back on the other side of the tree and brushing the long blond hair out of his face.

“You know we did our best to find you.” A question fluttered in the statement, but the words came out with enough certainty to suggest that David could never have thought anything else.

He had no answer for that. He would have liked to believe it, but doubt was a more familiar friend.

Feeling Amos’s gaze on him, he finally said, “I suppose so.”

“Pa searched for days. We went to town, asked all of our neighbors—we even went to the canyon. We had no way of knowing whether the marks we found were from a wild creature or you. Of course, you were one and the same at times…”

A grin rose of its own will on David’s face, but quickly disappeared.

“Did ya…ever miss me?” He ducked his head in embarrassment and plucked at the grass, knowing it was a childish question, feeling like the tag-along little brother he had once been.

Amos bumped his shoulder, waiting until David glanced up and met his somber gaze. “You’re my brother. You’re a part of our family—always were and always will be, gone or not.” He paused. “Did you know that we always kept your chair at the table? Ma never had the heart to take it away.”

David cleared his throat, suddenly clogged with emotion. He got to his feet, and Amos followed. They stood in silence by their father’s grave, shade and sun alternately sweeping over them in the gentle wind.

“I go by David now.”

Amos stuffed his hands in his pockets and glanced at him. “Why David?”

David shrugged as he offered a self-deprecating smile. “I wanted to be ‘a man after God’s own heart,’ like ma once taught us. Even when I couldn’t remember my past, there was something about that name and the Psalms that Frank read that stuck with me.” He swallowed, his eyes stinging.

Amos nodded.

As they finally turned away from the grave and walked back to the farmhouse, Amos threw an arm over David’s shoulders. “Can I call you David?”

Winter was a long, long season. The snow had accumulated in the canyon, and trips up to Virginia City were scarce at best. Elizabeth enjoyed spending time with Joe and his family, but she found herself often gazing out the window at the piled-up snow and wishing for spring.

Thoughts of spring inevitably brought to mind thoughts of home—the planting season for farmers. She missed planting a garden, working out in the fields with Amos when he came around to help, and baking with Sarah Anne. She did her best to hide her tears from Joe, but homesickness consumed her, along with a longing for David she couldn’t seem to put away.

She cared for Joe, and she was sure that once they were married they would only grow closer. She appreciated the kindness he showed her, and the winter was bearable only because of reading and talking with Joe, helping Naomi in the kitchen, and thinking about seeing her ma in the spring for the wedding.

Spring did eventually clear away most of the snow and solitude, and with May’s arrival Joe promised to take Elizabeth into Virginia City.

“Are
ya all ready, honey?”

“I’ve been ready for months!” Elizabeth couldn’t keep from smiling this day. The telegram they’d received from Sarah Anne months ago said she should get to Virginia City the second week of May, and it was finally time to go to town to wait for her. When she arrived, her family and Joe’s family would all head out to Lake Tahoe, where Elizabeth insisted they have the wedding. Elizabeth twisted the ring on her finger in nervous anticipation.

“Well, come on then.” Joe tossed her a wink and helped her mount Mary before he swung up onto Copper.

As they passed through the tents of Jews and the other canyon inhabitants, Elizabeth called to Joe, who was riding ahead, “You said we could invite Myghal to the wedding, right?”

“Of course.”

“And you’re sure Annabelle recalls that the wedding is in eleven days…?”

“Yep. I’m sure she does.”

“Good.” Excitement filled her as they rode up the trail out of the canyon.

They were silent for most of the rest of the trip to town, Elizabeth occupied with thoughts of the wedding and seeing her ma again. But as they approached Virginia City, Joe asked, “Yer invitin’ Jacob, too, aren’t ya?”

Elizabeth didn’t answer. She hadn’t seen Jacob since last fall, and, with a sick feeling inside, she realized that she didn’t want to see him again.

Joe turned and waited for her to catch up to him, then reached for Mary’s reins. “Ya know you can’t just never speak to him again. He’s yer brother.”

“I know,” she said, her tone lacking conviction.

“Elizabeth, honey…”

“I don’t want to see him.”

“Ya know how I feel about what he’s done. What he’s doin’. But I hate to see ya holdin’ onto this bitterness. He really does love Annabelle, and he really does care about you.”

“Don’t lie, Joe.” Her voice came out low, dangerous.

“Listen, if you get to invite Myghal, Annabelle, and Sarah Anne, then I get to invite someone, too.”

“That’s not fair.” Her fingers tightened on the saddle horn, and she was sure her eyes were spitting sparks at him.

“It is fair. Jacob is like my brother, and he is your brother. I’m invitin’ him if you won’t.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she wrenched Mary’s reins out of his hands. Without another word she galloped into town, hating her tears, her anger, and the strange sense of displacement that had seemed to haunt her ever since David left. She could hear Joe gaining on her, but she ignored him. She didn’t slow the horse until she reached Annabelle’s home—she refused to think of it as Jacob’s house.

Joe reined in next to her, but she jumped off Mary and headed straight for the porch. A hard hand gripped her arm, and he spun her around to face him, a look of concern mixed with frustration in his honey-brown eyes.

“Elizabeth, so help me…
Ya can’t just go gallopin’ through town! You could have run someone down or got in front of a stage.”

She turned her face away from him. Through her tears, she told him, “
Yer jest a big bully. Why won’t you leave me alone?”

“Elizabeth…”

“No!”

She tried to wrench out of his grip, but he only grasped her arm tighter and pulled her to him. Pounding his broad chest with her fist, she tried to vent her fury. But the action only brought a flash of memory—hitting David’s chest, his anger as he shoved her away, and a realization of unspoken love.

You will not control me!

I’ve only wanted to help you. To protect you. Don’t you understand?

The fight left her, and she fell to her knees, sobbing.

Joe sank down with her and held her close. “
Shhh. It’ll be all right.”

They could have stayed there for a long time if Joe hadn’t seen something. She felt him stiffen before he scrambled to his feet. He mouthed only one word, but it sent fear raging through her. “Fire.”

Annabelle. Annabelle’s in there.
Elizabeth stared up at the house, horrified. The flames came from where she knew Annabelle and Jacob’s room to be. And it was a dry day.

Joe took off running down C Street.

“Joe!” she screamed. “We have to get Annabelle out of there. Where are you goin’?”

“I’ve got to get to the fire station. Alert the firefighters,” he called back over his shoulder.

His long legs sent him careening down the hillside. Swinging her gaze back to the house, she stared at the growing flames, helpless and terrified. Why hadn’t Annabelle come out yet? There was no question she was in there. She hardly ever left the house.

Tearing her gaze away from the glare, she glanced around, hoping to find some other men who had come to help. A few seemed to be gathering water buckets and supplies to help put out the fire, shouting back and forth to one another, but no one was going into the house. Didn’t they know someone was still in there?

Oh, God, help her. Help all of us. Please.
She ran into the building, hating herself for not going in sooner. Once she began to move, urgency overtook her, and she rushed through all of the rooms, calling out Annabelle’s name. When she had run through the parlor and the kitchen and found no one, she took the stairs two at a time and barged into the bedroom. She was nearly knocked back by the heat and the smoke. Her eyes watered as she fell to her knees, staying close to the ground, trying to see where Annabelle was. The beautiful red and gold bed was engulfed in flames, as well as the carpet on the floor and the wallpaper near the bed. Peering through the smoke, she finally saw Annabelle sprawled on the floor by the bed. She bit back a cry and crawled toward her.

The heat burned her cheeks and throat as she approached Annabelle and attempted to shake her awake, hoping she wasn’t injured. “Annabelle.” The name came out on a whisper that crackled before turning into a cough. “You’ve got to wake up! We’ve got to get out of here.”

When Annabelle didn’t move, Elizabeth pulled her limp body against her side and tried to drag her to the door. She made very little progress, though, and the smoke made it difficult to breathe. Inching her way forward, she prayed, unable to beg more than,
Oh, God, please!

Suddenly, hands reached down and grabbed Annabelle, carrying her away. Then someone scooped Elizabeth up, as well, and raced down the stairs, out of the house, and into the dusk.

Coughs racked her body, and she clung to her rescuer.

“Elizabeth.” The word dripped with agony and admonition. “What were you
thinkin’? I could have lost you.”

Joe.
He held her close, looking down at her, tender worry and regret causing his eyes to squint. His wheat-colored hair stood out in various directions, and part of her longed to reach out and smooth it. Another part didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

“Joe,” she rasped.

“Shhh. Don’t speak. I shouldn’t have left you.” He rubbed her arms with such force, she winced.

All she wanted was to shut out the images of blinding, twisting light and the sounds of the house crackling and falling apart. Instead, she sat up, hoping to catch a glimpse of Annabelle and the person who had rescued her. Her heart clenched when she saw them.

Her brother cradled Annabelle, weeping. He ran his shaky hand down her long blond hair—turned dark with soot—over and over. The firemen seemed to have the fire under control, but nothing compared to the relief that seared her when she saw Annabelle’s eyes open. Jacob kissed her forehead tenderly and guided her head to his shoulder, tears raining down on Annabelle’s tangles.

The town wouldn’t burn again. Annabelle was alive.

Elizabeth clutched Joe’s shirt, wishing she could rejoice in the victories. But her mind was consumed with the memories of flames and Joe fleeing.