Shadow of Shame: Book 1 of the Shadow series (16 page)

Christmas Eve morning, the sheriff and deputy paid Jonas a call. Jonas was just opening the stable doors when they rode up. They dismounted and walked over to him.

“We bear good news, this time, Jonas,” Sheriff Smith said.

“I could use some,” Jonas answered.

“We got Boyd Egan. There was a shoot out, and two of my men were injured. Boyd ran out of bullets and started to run on foot, but we caught him. He’ll not see freedom for years, if ever.”

“That
is
good news,” Jonas said. “I still can’t believe an ex-friend could do something so horrible.”

“We searched his house and found four more letters to you asking for money. They were written by Beulah Kreider, so I can only think he forced her to write them before he killed her. And to think she was inside that closet all those summer months. No wonder the house smelled. I wonder if the woman who cared for her knew that.”

“There’s only one thing I can’t get my head around,” Jonas said. “How did he know Ivy would be riding with Zoe last night? How did he know I wouldn't be with them?”

“Once we caught him and he knew there was no way out for him, he confessed everything. We charged him with first-degree murder, since Beulah’s letters indicated premeditation. I offered him life in prison in place of hanging if he told us everything.

“It seems he somehow snuck into your stables and overheard us talking—remember the bucket that was knocked over? That was Egan.

“He said that while you were out he got into the stables with the purpose of stealing a few horses to pay for his way out of town, but once you returned he was stuck there and couldn’t leave without your seeing him, so he had to stay in there. He overheard a customer tell you he’d pick up a horse at seven. He’d heard in town that Zoe was to be in the Christmas Eve play and would be at rehearsal with Ivy Jeffries. He also heard me say we were going to search the Kreider house. He figured the town would probably just demolish the house, which we almost did.”

“Thank you both, and please thank the whole posse. I’m glad this is over and we can finally enjoy Christmas. We'll all appreciate each other more after last night,” Jonas said.

“How's your little daughter doing today?” the deputy asked.

“She’s fine, and has already forgotten about it. Since we have no snow this year, she’s more worried about how St. Nick will get here and how he’ll get down our chimney if the fireplace is lit.”

The deputy laughed. “I was asked that same thing by my son! As parents we need to come up with some creative answers.”

The lawmen mounted their horses. “It’s getting cold and windy, I wouldn’t be surprised if we did get a bit of snow overnight,” the deputy said.

Ivy wanted to share Christmas morning with Zoe so she arranged to have Violet accompany her. They were both to spend Christmas Eve night in one of Jonas’s spare rooms.

Before Thelma took her leave on Christmas Eve, she left the mincemeat pie and a whole platter of chocolate drops. She also wrapped all Jonas’s gifts in paper for him and even left one for him and Zoe. She also left some decorative candles out for Jonas to use that evening.

Jonas had given both Thelma and Ingrid a generous Christmas bonus, and the next two days off with pay.

After they returned from the successful Christmas Eve play, they all sat around the sitting room sipping hot cocoa, eating chocolate drops, and singing Christmas Carols by candlelight.

Jonas played the piano. Zoe was in her glory—she loved it when he played and sang. She didn’t know the words to the songs, but she danced around the room to the music anyway.

Jonas was pleased to have Violet, and of course, Ivy—, with them to celebrate. It wouldn’t have been much fun with just him and Zoe, but he would have tried nevertheless.

Afterward, Jonas told Zoe she needed to be asleep before St Nick arrived or he wouldn’t leave any gifts. She pouted a bit, but then gave in and gave everyone a kiss goodnight. When she gave her Papa his kiss she said, “Will Ol’ Nick drive a buggy tonight?”

Jonas nodded. “I’m sure he will.”

“Leave door open?” She pointed to the door

“Yes. I will be sure to not lock the door.”

Jonas took Zoe upstairs to bed, tucked her in, and read her a story. When he was finished he sat there, watching her, silently thanking God again that she was safe in her bed. What a gift from God she was. He took this as a sign that God had forgiven him. God had even rewarded him by sending him the best gift ever, and she had quickly captured his heart.

Jonas stroked her cheek. “Are you happy here, Zoe.”

“Yes-s.”

Jonas noticed that she spoke without a lisp. He smiled and kissed her again. “Goodnight, my sweet angel. When you wake up and see that it’s morning, come in and wake me up. We’ll call Ivy and Violet and we’ll all go down together to see what Old Nick left us.”

“Okay, Papa.”

Jonas turned off her kerosene lamp and left her door slightly ajar. For some reason, he hated to shut the door completely—she'd already been shut away for too long. Never would she be shut away anywhere ever again.

Jonas, Zoe, Ivy, and Violet all held hands to walk down the stairs the next morning. Zoe ran to her stocking, but she couldn’t reach up high enough to put her hand inside. Jonas took the stocking down and gave it to her.

“Show us all what St. Nick brought you,” Jonas said.

Zoe’s cheeks glowed with excitement.

While she was digging around in the stocking, Jonas said to Ivy, “Last night she said yes instead of yeth.”

Ivy nodded. “We’ve been working on that. I’m so glad she remembered.”

Zoe pulled a candy cane from the stocking. She smiled, showed it to everyone, and then dug back in for more. She pulled out something wrapped in brown paper, unwrapped it, and squealed in delight to find a small rag doll, which she immediately hugged. She took out more candy, and when she got to the very bottom, a box. She opened it and smiled. “A horse!”

“Hey, what happened to Horsey?” Jonas asked.

“Ivy taught me to thay—s-
say—
horse.”

“Look, the horse is on wheels,” Ivy said.

Zoe wheeled the horse all around the room. She even tried to make horse noises.

“Zoe,” Ivy said, “I also brought a gift for you that St. Nick left at my house.”

“You did? Where is it?”

“Good job with your ‘s’, Zoe.” Ivy handed her a gift wrapped in paper.

Zoe tore it open to find a box. Inside were a tiny blue necklace and a matching bracelet. Zoe squealed with delight. She ran to Ivy. “Put it on.”

“What do we say when we want a favor, Zoe?” Jonas prompted.

“Please,” Zoe said.

Once it was on, Zoe modeled the jewelry for everyone.

Jonas pointed to a large box set behind the armchair. “What’s this?” he said, dragging the box out. “It says, ‘For Zoe.’”

With a squeal of delight she ran to the box and tried to open it. Jonas helped her. After a bit of a struggle, they lifted out a small saddle.

Zoe looked at it in confusion. “What tis it, Papa?”

“It’s a saddle. I wonder what you will put it on."

Zoe shrugged.

“Let’s see,” Jonas said. “I heard St. Nick out in the stable last night. Let’s put our coats on and see if he left something out there for you.”

Jonas led them all to the stable, opened the door to reveal a black and white pony with a bright, red ribbon tied around its neck in the first stall.

Zoe stood wide-eyed with her little mouth in the shape of an O.

“She's yours, Zoe," Jonas said. Zoe beamed. "What will you name her?” He opened the stall door so Zoe could touch her pony, but instead of touching the horse she ran to Jonas and hugged his legs.

“I love you, Papa.”

Ivy and Violet wiped tears from their eyes.

Later that day they all went to George Armstrong’s house for dinner. Phoebe had cooked a wild turkey with all the trimmings. The Jeffries family joined them.

After dinner in the sitting room over coffee and tea, Lavinia and Phoebe chatted about starting a gardening club in the spring. George and Hiram were conversing about the church and how they might be able to add more social events, mostly for the younger people in the congregation.

Ivy held hands with Jonas, and Violet and Rose played with Zoe.

Jonas gazed around the room and felt true happiness. Both families were getting along, he had found the best mother for Zoe, and for the first time in years he felt free from the heavy shadow of guilt and shame. He squeezed Ivy’s hand, and she looked up at him and smiled.

Caleb sat at the far end of the sofa, alone. Jonas made a mental note that he would have to start praying that he, too, would be able to find someone to make him happy.

George and Hiram came into the room carrying something wooden. “This is my gift to my granddaughter,” George said. He set it on the floor.

“Did you make that rocking chair yourself, Father?” Jonas said.

“I did,” George said proudly. "I started working on it the first day I met her.”

Zoe rushed to sit in her chair. She rocked back and forth wearing a huge smile on her face. “Thank you Gram Papa.” This made George smile with equal delight.

“I’m afraid our Zoe will be spoiled before long,” Jonas said.

“I hope so,” Caleb said. “She deserves to be spoiled.” He brought out his gift and handed it to Zoe. “My apologies in advance, Jonas.”

Zoe squealed in delight once more when she saw the little drum, complete with two drumsticks and began to play on it, while Jonas grimaced.

“You know I’ll pay you back for this one day, brother,” Jonas said, smiling.

Lavinia stood. “What? No gift from your other grandparents? That can’t be!” She left the room and came back with a wrapped gift.

Zoe’s eyes sparkled with joy. She tore off the paper in haste, but all she was able to say was, “Oh.” She stroked the chalkboard. “What tis it?” She looked up at Lavinia with big-eyed wonder.

“It’s a chalkboard. Here’s the chalk. Watch.” Lavinia took the piece of chalk and wrote on the board. “See?”

Zoe’s eyes widened. “Ohhh!” she said.

Lavinia handed her the chalk. “You try it, Zoe.”

Zoe made a mark on the board. She became quickly mesmerized by the gift, and spent the rest of the evening sitting in her rocking chair and writing on her chalkboard. Jonas had thought it a good idea to hide the drum.

Ivy and Jonas wandered off for a bit of privacy in the kitchen. Jonas took her into his arms and kissed her. He never tired of kissing his own, private angel. The kisses grew increasingly emotional and frenzied. He wondered how he would be able to wait until February to make her his wife completely. He now knew how God inspired procreation—by giving couples this urge that they couldn’t describe, but drove them to know exactly what to do.

Jonas broke the passionate kiss and took a step back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “Merry Christmas, Ivy.”

Ivy took the box and opened it carefully. Like Zoe, she stared at it and said, “Oh!”

As she stared at it Jonas removed it, and placed it on the ring finger of her left hand. “Are you absolutely sure you want to marry me and become an instant mother?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” she said. “But this gorgeous diamond ring makes my gift to you look poor in comparison.”

“We don’t measure gifts by the cost, Ivy. We measure them by the thought they come with,” Jonas said.

Ivy left the room and came back with a wrapped package. “Merry Christmas, future husband.”

Jonas opened the package and took out a beautifully knitted scarf. Clipped to the bottom of it was a note. “This is beautiful, Ivy. You must have spent days working on this.”

She nodded.

He opened the note, and read.

This homemade gift is for all to see, just how much you mean to me.