Lightning and Lace (9 page)

Travis fretted over leaving Zack alone while he visited Mrs. Kahler, but if the woman was drinking, the boy didn’t need to view it. Instead he gave him chores and schoolwork to do over the afternoon hours, and he asked Mrs. Rainer to accompany him to the Morning Star Ranch.

“I’d like to talk to Mrs. Kahler, but I don’t want to call on her alone,” Travis had said. “It doesn’t look proper.”

“I agree. Some folks just look for something to gossip about. I always enjoy a ride to Bonnie’s ranch, and the afternoon is a good time. The reverend takes a nap then, so I won’t be missed.” The woman nodded to punctuate each word.

Travis imagined Mrs. Kahler would someday look like her mother—the same sky blue eyes and wheat-colored hair that had merely whitened and not grayed. He hoped if Mrs. Kahler did have a problem with spirits, her mother would mention it to him before they arrived.

The two took the reverend’s buggy and horse. If not for a cold rain, the ride would have been pleasant. Mrs. Rainer chatted about her family and church life, which eased Travis’s mind. He always feared folks would inquire about his last church.

“Morgan and Casey live on the ranch that my first husband and I homesteaded,” she said.

“The Double H, right?”

“Yes, it stands for Hayden’s Heaven.” Mrs. Rainer smiled, and he figured she was remembering days gone by.

“So Zack was named after his grandfather—Zachary Hayden. He and I will have to discuss his namesake.”

“Are you making any headway with my grandson?”

He shrugged. “I like to think we are, but he’s keeping something from me. I can feel it in my bones.”

“With a young boy, it’s difficult to tell. All boys seem to go through a time when life doesn’t make sense to them, and when a tragedy occursl, only God can restore them.”

“Sounds like you know from experience.”

She laughed. “Oh, I do. Both my boys had rough periods for a while. Grant was sixteen when he gave me trouble. He simply missed his father and got to mixin’ with the wrong boys. Refused to listen to me. Forced me to be mama and papa to him. But Morgan had the real tragedy.”

“You don’t need to tell me this unless you want.”

“Hmm. I will because the story is a part of our family, and you’re giving of yourself to pull us back together. The story is not a secret. Most folks in town remember it all.” She hesitated and glanced away for a moment. “Morgan’s first wife was brutally murdered by an outlaw.”

Travis startled. “I forget this part of the country had been pretty wild.”

“Still is, Brother Travis. My Morgan blamed himself because he wasn’t at home when it happened. He took off after the killer, and that’s when he met Casey.” She eyed him critically. “What I’m about to tell you is not to be repeated. None of the children know this but Chad, and we prefer to keep it that way until the others are a little more grown.”

“I understand.”

“Casey was a part of the outlaw band that killed Morgan’s wife. She’d been a part of the group since she was fourteen and finally fled in hopes of finding a new life. Her reputation had been built on the gang’s reputation, not on anything she’d ever done. Casey and Morgan fell in love but had a hard go of it. They both had pasts that haunted them and kept them apart. God healed their pain and made a way for them to marry.” She took a deep breath. “I know that families pass things on to each other, and I fear young Zack may have inherited his uncles’ tendencies to handle grief through anger.”

“I see. Your secret is safe with me, and I pray Zack soon finds peace.”

She patted his arm. “I believe my daughter is finally on the right path. Bonnie came to see me a few days ago and asked for forgiveness. She admitted to grieving so that she’d neglected her children, the ranch, and her relationship with the Lord.”

“Praise God,” Travis whispered.

“Jenny happened to be there at the time, and she did the same with her. We all had a good cry.” Mrs. Rainer laughed. “Brother Travis, the reverend and I decided that the Lord has sent you to help this crippled family be whole again.”

I doubt your confidence, Mrs. Rainer. You don’t know what happened in Tennessee.

“Bonnie is taking a new interest in the ranch and even having Lydia Anne learn how to ride.” Her eyes sparkled with Bonnie’s renewed enthusiasm for her family. Mrs. Rainer was a hearty woman, the type this country needed to stay strong.

“I don’t think I have a thing to do with how the Lord is working in your family. He’s answering prayers from a godly family.”

“Shush, now. We all know different.”

She talked on about church matters, helping him bide the time to the Morning Star. Soon the rain stopped, and rolling pastures filled with cattle and horses came into view. He wanted this afternoon to answer the question about Mrs. Kahler’s presumed drinking. Travis had never been patient in waiting to learn the truth about a matter.

Bonnie met them on the front porch with a sweet smile and a hug for her mother. Travis inhaled for a scent of alcohol but smelled nothing but the freshness of the woman who had captured his mind in more ways than one.

“Are you making apple butter?” Mrs. Rainer said once they were inside the house. “Smells heavenly.”

“Juanita and I finished by noon. I’ll send a jar back with each of you. I’m so pleased you came to see me.” She smiled at Travis. “I have your other handkerchief ready for you. And how is my Zack?”

“Oh, I have him busy this afternoon. He’s memorizing his first Latin words, cutting wood, and preparing vegetables for stew.”

Her eyes widened. “He knows nothing about cooking.”

Travis laughed. “We men have to learn a few things to survive. I put on some beef before leaving, and he’s to add the rest.”

“I hope it’s palatable.”

“So do I. It wouldn’t look good for the new reverend and his charge to starve, although we’ve survived on a few meals of the reverend’s biscuits.”

“I’d gladly give up a meal for them.” Bonnie laughed, a pleasing sound he’d never grow tired of hearing.

He allowed himself to stare into her eyes and thought he’d drown in their depths. Ben Kahler had left behind a beautiful woman. She gestured toward the parlor where he’d enjoyed her company before, but Mrs. Rainer stopped her.

“I want to sip coffee in the kitchen and visit. You know how I frown on all those lady peculiarities.”

Bonnie laughed. “I just brewed a fresh pot and haven’t tasted a drop.” She peered at Travis. “Is that fine with you?”

“I’m from the Tennessee hills, Mrs. Kahler. Most of us don’t have fancy parlors or elegant coffee cups.”

“Then come along. Juanita, we have two very important people for coffee.”

“Sí, Miss Bonnie,” came a response from the kitchen.

Travis instantly relaxed. He sensed warmth here despite the turmoil, and certainly Mrs. Kahler had not been drinking. Still it bothered him that both Zack and Lester had accused her of such. He pushed the puzzlement from his mind. Good coffee and the company of three fine women held his attention—for the moment.

After Mrs. Kahler poured coffee for them all, she sat at the kitchen table with them. “Are you here to see me on business?” she said.

Mrs. Rainer nodded at Travis. “Brother Travis asked me to accompany him. Sir, I guess you are to answer my daughter’s question.”

He nearly laughed at Mrs. Rainer’s bluntness, but he did appreciate her ways. “I wanted to see how you are doing in Zack’s absence.” His words were partially true.

“I worry about him, but I’m keeping busy with Michael Paul and Lydia Anne.” Bonnie glanced at her mother. “Mama, don’t you dare leave until she wakes up from her nap. Anyway, Thomas is re-acquainting me with the ranch. Lydia Anne is learning to ride, and Michael Paul has taken a new interest in the cattle business as well as the piano. I’m looking forward to watching him grow up.” Her shoulders lifted and fell daintily. “We are doing well, but we miss Zack. Or rather, we have missed the old Zack for a long time.”

“I’m praying he’ll return to you soon.”

“But he must abandon his anger,” she said. “I cannot threaten military school and not be prepared to follow through.” She stared into her cup. “Has he opened up his heart to you?”

Travis hesitated. “I’d rather not say until we spend more time together.”

“You’re thinking he might stretch the truth about things?”

The thought of hurting her with what Zack and Lester had said clawed at his heart. “I want him to trust me with everything. Then he and I can sort out the truth and work through his troubles.”

Sadness shadowed her delicate features. “A boy should be able to come to his mother with the things that burden him. I pray that day comes soon.”

“It will, Mrs. Kahler. God is faithful.”

Dear Lord, don’t let this kind lady suffer too long.

Within the half hour, Lydia Anne woke and was delighted to see her grandma.

“Can I show you the horses?” the little girl said to Mrs. Rainer. “Mama lets me ride by myself.”

“Oh yes, show me.” Mrs. Rainer stood from the table and reached for her granddaughter’s hand. “We’ll leave your mama and Brother Travis to talk and drink coffee.”

Once the two left and Juanita excused herself to tend to something outside, Travis realized the utter helplessness of being alone with Bonnie Kahler.

“Now that we are without other ears, is there anything you need to tell me about Zack?” The earnest look in her face nearly made him speechless—and he was a preacher.

“I think any preconceived ideas or notions I might have need more time.”

She tilted her head and glanced into her cup. “I’ve made many mistakes as a mother. I deeply regret them.”

She’d said this before, but her past must really be bothering her. “God forgives our misdeeds, and I have plenty of my own.”

“You’re an answer to prayer, and I’ll forever be indebted.” Her soft voice reached down into his soul and gave him confidence that perhaps he could help her son.

Without another spoken word, she reached out and touched his arm. If not for his shirt and jacket covering it, he’d surely have been burned.

*****

“What do you think about taking a walk this morning to the parsonage?” Travis said to Zack a week after he’d visited Mrs. Kahler. “The reverend and your grandma asked us for breakfast. He and I have a few things to discuss afterwards.”

Zack’s face brightened.

“From the look on your face, you don’t mind giving up a couple of hours of schoolwork.”

“No, sir. Or your cooking.” He yawned.

“Very funny. Do you miss your school friends?”

A strange look swept over the boy’s face, one Travis couldn’t quite read. “Miss Scott hates me.”

“I hardly think she hates you. More like she had her fill of your behavior.”

“Same thing. Both of you say exactly what you think.” Bitterness tipped his words.

“That’s right. She doesn’t like the trouble you caused in her classroom. Has nothing to do with the young man inside of Zack Kahler.”

“You’re talkin’ in riddles.”

“One day you’ll understand what I mean.”

The anger and rebellion surfaced in Zack’s eyes. Travis regretted the miserable state of the boy, but he’d been there—and not so long ago.

“All right, let’s go,” Travis said. “Along the way, we can talk about this morning’s reading—King David putting Uriah in the front lines to get him killed.”

“Are you thinking I’ll say it was all right ’cause he was the king?”

Travis picked up his Bible and opened the door, motioning for Zack to step through. “I have no idea what you think. That’s why I asked.”

“I don’t understand why God didn’t hit him with a bolt of lightning for what he did. He knew better. Looks like murder to me.”

“If you were God, how would you have handled it?”

Zack shrugged—his familiar response. “I’m not God.”

“If God gave all of us what we deserve, none of us would be alive.”

Travis couldn’t get another word out of Zack. He’d like to think his charge was reflecting on the morning’s Bible reading, but Travis had a hunch other more pressing matters raced through the boy’s mind. The boy’s heavy eyelids showed he hadn’t gotten much sleep during the night.

The closer they drew to the parsonage, the faster Zack walked.

“You must be powerful hungry,” Travis said.

“Sure am.”

“Do you want to walk back to the schoolhouse? This early no one should be about, and it’s been a long time since you were there.”

“Not today.”

Travis lifted his head and peered off in the direction of the school. He startled. What was flapping in the breeze? He stopped dead center in the middle of the road.

“Well, if that don’t beat all.” He chuckled. “Zack, take a look at that tree in the schoolyard.”

Zack stood beside him. “What is it?”

“Looks like somebody strung up a woman’s clothes in the branches.” Travis planted his hands on his hips. A woman’s unmentionables flapped in the breeze. Three pairs of them. “We ought to see what we can do about getting them out of there. Miss Scott will be real upset.”

“I wonder who did that.”

The way Zack asked the question drove an arrow of suspicion straight into Travis’s mind. “Whoever hung those clothes up there had to be pretty spry.”

“I imagine so.”

“Clever, too. But there was a sky full of stars last night.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I doubt if the culprit had any help. Probably did it by himself.”

“Most likely.”

They walked closer and spotted the reverend in the schoolyard. He stared up into the tree, obviously wondering how to retrieve the clothes.

“Morning,” Travis called. “Somebody’s been up to mischief.”

“If I wasn’t a preacher, I’d laugh,” the reverend said. “Best we set those clothes free before Miss Scott gets here.”

“Aw, leave ’em alone, Grandpa.”

“Now, Zack, I know you don’t care for the teacher, but she deserves your respect.” The reverend reached for the nearest branch.

“We’ll do that, Reverend. I don’t think Mrs. Rainer would approve of you climbing trees.” Travis fought an urge to laugh. He glanced at Zack, whose face was the color of a ripe apple. “Should we summon the sheriff?”