Hope Rekindled (14 page)

“No. Poor timing was that you hadn’t discussed this long ago. Does Christopher know how you’re feeling—even a little?”

“I don’t know. He knows I love medicine, just as he does. He knows I love helping him treat patients. I worry he’s brought his brothers and sisters here, expecting me to stop helping him and work with them.”

“But why? Why do you think this?” Mother asked.

Frowning, Deborah raised her face. “He’s not here asking me to assist. To me, his actions speak louder than any words. He’s been heading out to tend patients for days now, and not once has he suggested I go with him.” She drew a deep breath to steady her emotions. With very little urging she might burst into tears, and that was the last thing she wanted.

“Deborah, you must speak with him. This is not the way I raised you. If you are feeling out of sorts, then you must let Christopher know. He can’t be expected to instinctively know your heart.”

“I thought he already understood my heart.” Her words were heavy with emotion. “I thought that was why we loved each other.”

Mother embraced her for just a moment. “Oh, sweetheart, you need to tell him how you feel.”

“But what if he doesn’t want to marry me after that? What if we can no longer work together?” Deborah imagined all of her dreams suddenly dissolving before her eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

“But you can’t marry a man you don’t trust.”

“I trust him. I never said I didn’t.”

Mother pulled back and smiled. “If you trust him, then why aren’t you talking to him about this matter? Why are you bearing this alone—fearful of what the answer might be?”

Her mother’s words hit hard. She
should
be able to sit down with Christopher and share her heart. She ought to be able to go to this man—the man she wanted to spend her life with—and explain her fears.

She nodded. “I’ll talk to him tonight. If there’s time and the children don’t need him too much.”

“You let me handle the children,” Mother said. “I will have them help me with some task. You and Christopher need time to settle this. I don’t want you to lose him out of fear—nor to marry him because of it. Fear is not a solid foundation upon which you can build a marriage.”

“I know you’re right.”

Mother patted her cheek. “I must go now, but remember what I said.”

“I will. I promise.”

Deborah watched her mother leave and let out a heavy sigh. She made it sound so simple, and perhaps that was the truth of it. Maybe Deborah was just making it difficult. Either way, she couldn’t be happy by settling for less than what she felt called to do. Christopher wouldn’t want to marry her if Deborah was less than the woman God had created her to be.

“But what if I’m the one who’s wrong?” she whispered to no one. “What if God is calling me to be a wife and mother—to raise a family and put aside all my book learning? What if I’m simply in rebellion against Him, and don’t even realize it?”

G
.W., Stuart Albright just rode up. He’s getting out of his buggy this very minute,” Deborah announced. “You don’t suppose he’s heard about the trades, do you?”

Getting to his feet, G.W. shook his head. “I couldn’t say, but I wish Lizzie’s father had stuck around. I feel better when we have a scholarly man in our corner.”

“Do you want me to stick around?”

G.W. considered this for a moment. His guess was that Stuart hated Deborah more than anyone—unless he counted himself. “No. I’ll call for you if I think it’s needed. Better let us men bang heads on this one.”

Deborah nodded, but G.W. could see she was upset. He let her go without another word and looked down at his desk. He wanted to make sure there was nothing visible that might give away their secret dealings.

Sissy ushered Mr. Albright to the office and announced him. “Mr. Albright says he needs to speak with you.”

“That’s fine, Sissy.” G.W. remained standing as Albright pushed the black woman aside and stalked into the room as if he owned it.

“Vandermark, I have a proposal for you.”

“First, apologize to Sissy. You didn’t need to be so rude. She’s an older woman—please show some respect.” G.W. knew he was setting the stage for Stuart’s hostility to grow, but he didn’t want Albright to think he could just barge in and treat people like that.

Albright cast a brief glance at Sissy. “I apologize.” He turned back to G.W. “Will that suffice?”

G.W. looked at Stuart for a moment before taking his chair again. “Have a seat.”

The man unbuttoned his suit coat and did as instructed. G.W. figured it was the last time Albright would do anything he was told. He decided that for now, he would hear the man out—then throw him out, if necessary. G.W. frowned and chided himself for his attitude. Maybe Albright had come to propose the start-up of log delivery.

“As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, we are arranging to rebuild the mill,” Stuart began. He fixed his gaze on G.W. and settled back in his chair.

“I heard somethin’ about that.”

“It appears that the construction will take some time to complete.”

“I suppose you’ll set up saws out in the open and build around them.”

Stuart shook his head. “You suppose wrong. There are far more modern processes now for mills. We intend to have the latest equipment available. Steam power will cut costs, and I intend to see the latest innovations installed. However, such equipment is costly and requires a decent structure in which to house it.”

G.W. ignored a wave of disappointment. If Albright was being truthful, it would no doubt be a while before he wanted logs from Vandermark Logging. “So why are you here today? I reckon you didn’t come for logs.”

“No, again you suppose wrong. I actually have come for logs.”

“I see.” G.W. tried not to sound hopeful. He took up a ledger and opened it. “How many do you want and when do you need delivery?”

Stuart gave a bit of a laugh. It wasn’t one of joy, however, and G.W. closed the book and eased back into his chair slowly. “I suppose that was just your idea of a joke?”

“Not at all, but you misunderstand. I don’t want a mere shipment of logs. I want to buy you out.”

G.W. could hardly believe his ears. He narrowed his gaze. “I reckon you better explain yourself.”

“Of course. Your company is completely tied to mine. I hold the key to your success or demise.” He gave G.W. a smug smile. “You might say I control your destiny.”

“You might, but it would be wrong. God alone controls my life.” G.W. crossed his arms against his chest. “Vandermark Logging isn’t for sale.”

“Now, now. Let’s not make rash decisions without hearing the details of what I am about to offer. I would like to present a legitimate business proposal. I will buy Vandermark Logging and all your land, houses, and equipment. You and your . . . family,” he said, “can simply pack up your personal items and leave.”

He made it sound like it were already a done deal. G.W. shook his head. “You’re barkin’ up the wrong tree, Albright. Our company and land ain’t for sale. Even if they were, we wouldn’t sell to the likes of you.”

“I hardly see how you have much of a choice,” Stuart replied. “You have to be quite behind in your bank payments. I understand you received permission to sell off a small portion of land, but the bank will not allow further sale.”

“And how is it that you know anything about our bank dealings, Albright?”

Stuart looked most satisfied, and G.W. regretted having asked the question. “I have my ways of knowing whatever I need to, Mr. Vandermark. I am a man of resources. I’m also a man of power.”

“I suppose that’s your way of sayin’ that havin’ money allows you to nose into other folks’ business. Well, it won’t do you any good this time.”

“You can’t hope to continue for long in this manner.”

“I don’t have to,” G.W. said, taking a deep breath. “Our lawyer, my father-in-law, has it under control for us. I reckon he’s just as smart as you when it comes to business dealin’s.”

“I seriously doubt that.” Albright touched a hand to his impeccable suit. “Were he as capable as you say, Vandermark Logging would hardly be in this position.”

“Albright, I didn’t ask you here today, and I’d appreciate it if you’d state your business and go.”

Stuart’s icy blue eyes bored holes into G.W. “You are in a bad way, Mr. Vandermark. You are at my mercy. If I choose to, I can drag out the rebuilding of the mill until your family is dead in the dust.”

“You do what you feel you have to,” G.W. said. “I doubt Zed will be all that happy with it, however. He’ll have something to say about all of this.”

“Hardly. I’m buying him out, as well. He has no more say over anything.”

G.W. couldn’t hide his surprise. “Buyin’ him out? It’s his company.”

“No, Mr. Vandermark. It is my company. Mine and Mr. Longstreet’s. I hold the controlling interest. Mr. Perkins owes me a great deal of money. He had no insurance on his business, and no means to support himself apart from it except for the company stores—which are also now mine.”

“So you’re just gonna ruin the man? I guess I should have figured on that. It seems that stirrin’ up trouble and makin’ folks miserable is what you do best.”

Albright shrugged. “It’s a gift.” He laughed and got to his feet. “I came in good faith to offer you a decent price on the business. It seems to me, a mill owner should handle his own logging. If you aren’t of a mind to cooperate, I’ll simply wait until the bank takes over your property, and then I’ll buy it for a pittance of its former worth.”

G.W. fought the urge to jump to his feet. He didn’t want Albright to see that he was upset. He pretended to busy himself with the papers at hand. “I’m sure you know the way out.”

Without another word, Stuart exited the office, leaving G.W. to contemplate the situation. He wished his father-in-law could have been there to help, but he figured he’d handled the situation well enough. G.W. really wanted to talk to Zed and find out what was going on. He couldn’t imagine Zed had wanted to sell out. The longtime family friend would no doubt be devastated. With a sigh, G.W. pushed the papers aside and bowed his head. Prayer seemed the only hope any of them had.

Lizzie sat on the porch, glad that the twins were off with Euphanel and the others. It would give her a few free moments to confront the man she’d nearly married.

When Stuart bounded out the front door, a scowl on his face, Lizzie knew her time had come. She stood and faced him. “Why are you here?”

Stuart stopped in midstep, unable to hide his surprise. He quickly recovered and masked any emotion in his expression. “You know full well.”

“You once said you loved me, and now you treat me this way.”

He shrugged. “I lied. I never loved you or anyone else. I wasn’t raised to love—I was raised to prosper. You nearly cost me everything. Had Jael not needed my help as much as I needed hers, I might have seen the end to my fortune. All thanks to you.”

“I couldn’t marry a man I didn’t love,” she countered. “It wasn’t my intent to hurt you—neither in leaving you on our wedding day nor going through with the marriage.” She softened her tone and took a hesitant step forward. “Stuart, I didn’t want us to live in misery.”

He laughed, causing her to step back again. “I would not have been in misery. You wouldn’t have had to be, either. I told you as long as you presented yourself in a positive manner socially, I would give you the freedom to live as you wished. You could have had everything your heart desired.”

“Everything but love.” She shook her head. “I feel sorry for you, Stuart. At first I worried about causing you pain, but now I just hold pity for you. You have no idea what real love is all about. I’m blessed to know it for myself, and there is nothing so wonderful.”

Her words hit their mark. Stuart paled slightly and shook his head. “I will crush you. You and your precious family. Mark my words, I will have my revenge.”

“The world is full of folks who are seeking the same,” Lizzie said sadly. “I thought you to be smarter and definitely more secure in your position than that. Seems to me you’ve been running scared most of your life.”

His face contorted in anger as he took a menacing step forward. “Watch yourself, Lizzie. It would be a pity if something happened to you—or one of your children.”

She closed the distance between them and narrowed her eyes. “You’d do well to watch yourself, Stuart Albright. If you ever open your mouth to threaten my children again, I’ll . . . I’ll. . . .”

He laughed. “You’ll what? You can’t hurt me.”

Lizzie regained her composure. “I’ll have my father help Jael get a divorce.” She smiled at the look of surprise on Stuart’s face. “That’s right. I know Jael wants to leave you. I knew it from the first moment when I learned the truth about why she married you. Mark my words, if one of my children so much as scrapes their knee, I’ll be eyeing you first to ascertain whether or not you pushed them.”

Stuart opened his mouth to speak, then turned instead. He stormed from the porch and into his buggy, barely releasing the brake before applying a whip to the back of his horse.

Feeling rather strengthened by Stuart’s reaction, Lizzie squared her shoulders. It felt good to stand up to the man who’d so often manipulated her in the past. She felt a sort of quiet resolution in their exchange. He would know now that she was not a weakling. She was a woman who loved her family. A mother who would guard her children with her life.

Lizzie shook her head and wished that things could have been different with her own mother. She couldn’t imagine how different their relationship might have been had her mother been more interested in Lizzie than in working for women’s rights. She was so disinterested in motherhood that she didn’t even tell Lizzie about her twin sister.

Taking a seat on the porch, Lizzie felt tears form. How she longed for her mother to come and see the twins and explain about the sister she’d never known. She wanted her mother to tell her how sorry she was for the wasted years—that she wanted a new life with Lizzie and the others.

“But that won’t ever happen,” she whispered with a sigh. Regrets wrapped themselves around Lizzie like iron bands. For all the joy she knew now—for all the love—she couldn’t find a way to put the demons of the past at bay.

“Are you all right?”

It was Deborah, returning from teaching Darcy about the horses. Lizzie forced a smile. “I’m fine. Stuart came for a visit with G.W.” She wiped away a tear. “How was your ride?”