A Gathering of Memories (25 page)

Mandy was very quiet on the ride into town the next morning, and Silas wondered just how much more she could take. Levi had been impossible at the breakfast table, disrespectful to everyone, and especially Mandy. It was just one
more worry on the overburdened heart of this 18-year-old girl. If the dark smudges beneath her eyes were any indication, she was near the breaking point. Silas asked God to sustain her as only He could.

Ross was waiting outside the sheriff’s office. Mandy didn’t look at all surprised to see him. He held her by the waist to swing her down from the wagon and she gave him a weak smile. His eyes took quick inventory of her fatigued features before he dropped his hands and took her arm to enter the building.

In the space of a few minutes the sheriff told Mandy what she already knew—when, where, and how her father was killed, along with the fact that he had no leads to the murder. They talked about the cryptic letter, and Rufus agreed with Silas that it must have been Ward’s way of saying good-bye.

“What about Aaron Marks? You said he was headed out there on business that morning. Did he see anything?” Ross’ face was serious.

“I haven’t talked to Aaron since he came and told me he’d found Ward. His, uh, housekeeper told me he was going to be away for a few days.”

Ross was clearly suspicious and the sheriff gave him a stern look. “Now listen, Ross—I can see what you’re thinking and I can’t say as I think much of Aaron Marks, but I wouldn’t call the man a murderer.”

They soon left Rufus’ office with Mandy looking utterly drained.

“Maybe we should put off going to the house.”

“No, I want to get it over with.”

“What’s this, something I can help with?” Ross asked and Silas explained the plan. He offered to go with them and the three rode in silence out to the Jackson house.

Luke was on time and the three men made quick work of the beds, table, one dresser, and the handful of chairs. Every
time Mandy picked something up one of the men took it from her hands. Finally Ross stepped forward with a small brown book.

“Here’s something you can carry. It looks like an old diary.” It was locked and without a key. Not recognizing the book, Mandy could only wonder what was inside the little volume.

“Well, that just about does it. Mandy, why don’t you have a look around to see if we’ve missed something?” Mandy was inside when Luke called from his place by the wagon.

“Looks like we have company.” The three men watched two riders approach, and when they drew closer Ross said, “I thought Rufus said Aaron Marks was out of town.”

“Well, since Rufus is the man riding with him we’ll just ask.”

The men had dismounted before anyone spoke, and by then Mandy was back out of the house. Speaking directly to the sheriff, Mandy broke the silence. “I thought you said Mr. Marks was out of town.”

“It would seem, Mandy, that his housekeeper was misinformed. The truth is, Mr. Marks just showed me a contract, signed by your father, that states
him
to be the lawful owner of this house and land.”

“Easy.” Ross’ voice, soothing and low, came to Mandy’s ears from where he stood just behind her. She tried to relax the muscles that had tensed with this unexpected news.

“Would you have an objection to my seeing the contract?” Ross asked the question, but his direct gaze and professional air made it sound more like an order.

Mandy, standing in front of Ross now, studied his face as he read. His eyes sought hers when he lowered the paper, never leaving them even when he passed the paper to Silas and Luke. He told her the property was legally Marks’.

Had he not had an audience, Ross would have taken Mandy in his arms. He watched her eyes fill with tears and gently
brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers, finding the touch not nearly enough. He turned back to Baxter’s sheriff and Aaron Marks, his eyes narrowing in speculation.

“I never met Ward Jackson but I find this a little out of character for all I’ve heard about the man. He took the risk of leaving his family with
nothing
by not returning by August with gold from your claim? That’s an agreement only a fool would sign.”

“But sign it he did. Now, if you’ll please return it to me I’ll be about my business. By the way, did this furniture come from inside the house?”

Silas opened his mouth to protest, content in letting Ross handle matters until now, but Mandy forestalled him. The furniture was all in terrible shape, and there was no fight in her.

“Sheriff, does he have a right to this furniture?”

“I’m afraid so, Mandy.” The man looked truly regretful.

“Then we’ll unload it.” She moved forward and took a chair down which Ross took from her. In no time everything was in a pile outside of the cabin.

“I don’t like any of this, Rufus, and I intend to look into the whole thing.”

“I don’t like it either, Ross, but you can see my hands are tied.”

Aaron Marks was inside the cabin and missed the exchange. The men talked for a few minutes more and then Ross stepped to the wagon, where Silas was trying to comfort Mandy.

“I’ll be looking into all of this starting tomorrow. In my opinion there are too many things falling nicely into place for Aaron Marks. But for today, I think I should take Amanda in to Grandma Em’s. She needs quiet and a place to rest and—”

“Amy might need my help.” Mandy’s words were ignored, and if she hadn’t been so tired she would have resented the way they discussed her as if she weren’t there.

“That’s fine, Ross,” Silas answered when he’d heard him out. “We’ll see both of you at supper.”

And that
, Mandy thought,
was that.
She was lifted into the wagon, and Ross headed the horses toward Grandma Em’s.

Mandy would not even discuss going up the stairs to one of the bedrooms at Grandma Em’s. She took a place on the sofa in the living room, where she could hear the older woman preparing coffee.

Ross came down the stairs with a quilt and a pillow in his arms, and Mandy watched him place them beside her.

“I’m not sleepy, Ross.”

“Well you might be before the afternoon is over, and if you won’t go to the bedroom I’ll bring the bedroom to you.”

Mandy’s eyes felt like they were filled with sand every time she blinked, making the pillow beside her look inviting after all.

“I’ll help Grandma Em with the tray.”

Mandy acted as though she didn’t hear him, and Ross began to worry about her. He felt guilty about the way he’d insisted she not go home to her family, understanding very well the way her brothers and sisters leaned on her. But the way she unreservedly gave of herself was taxing her to the limit. If she didn’t get some rest, she was going to collapse.

“I’m so glad you brought her here, Ross. She’s been trying to take care of everyone but herself for too long. Here—you carry the tray in. I want to get my Bible.”

Grandma Em was just a few seconds behind Ross in entering the living room. She saw that he’d set the tray down and was trying to carefully remove the quilt from beneath the pillow on which Mandy had fallen asleep.

“Ross,” Grandma Em whispered. “Go get the quilt off my bed.”

In the time he was gone Grandma Em had lifted Mandy’s legs onto the sofa. Ross was able to step forward and gently lay the covering over her.

Mandy stirred then and said without rising, “Is it alright if I sleep here?”

“It’s fine, dear. Go back to sleep.” Grandma Em was bent over her, and she couldn’t see Ross.

“I forgot to thank Ross.”

“You’ll see him later.”

“Okay.” The word was said in such a sleepy voice, Grandma Em smiled. Mandy would sleep for a good long time, she was sure of that. Ross carried the tray back to the kitchen where they had their coffee.

Mandy studied herself in the mirror and then told herself to stop it. “Ross is just a friend.”

She shook her head—it wasn’t working. She could tell herself that Ross Beckett was just a friend until she was old and gray and it wouldn’t change the way her heart quickened when he was near or the way his touch, even accidental, made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.

And now he was coming to get her in just a few minutes to head back to Silas and Amy’s, and she was primping in front of the mirror as if going to a wedding.

“Oh, your hair is so pretty, Mandy, so dark and thick!”

“It’s not as long as I’d like.”

Grandma Em had come into the bedroom and sat down in the rocking chair where she could see Mandy in the mirror.

“Oh, but the style is so becoming on you. I didn’t even notice the length.”

“Thank you.” Mandy said the words gratefully and pulled the brush through her hair a few more times.

“Are you looking forward to Ross driving you out?”

Mandy turned and smiled at Grandma Em. “We’re just friends.” She was careful not to give the wrong impression.

“I understand,” Grandma Em said, even as she wondered if Mandy’s heart wasn’t more involved.

“Thank you for letting me stay this afternoon. I can’t believe how long I slept.”

“I still think you should have eaten some lunch.”

“Amy and Carrie will have supper on, and I’ll fill up at home.” Grandma Em rose then and even though she was saying something, Mandy wasn’t really listening.
I’ll fill up at home.
Mandy smiled to herself over her own words. She said a prayer of thanksgiving because the words were true. Silas and Amy’s house was her home.

Her next thought was the remembrance of Aaron Marks walking into the cabin as its new owner.

A blind person could see that the house wasn’t worth a thing. But it had been home of 18 years, and Mandy was attached to the old shack even though a strong wind could blow it over.

“All ready to go?” Ross smiled and waited for her to precede him to the wagon. She had never seen him so casual, not that she blamed him for wearing shirtsleeves and light-colored slacks on such a hot day.

“Thanks again, Grandma Em. I’ll probably see you Sunday.”

“You’re welcome, my dear. Oh, before I forget, would you and Carrie think about coming in one weekend in September and helping me with my canning?”

“We’d love to.” Mandy was sincerely pleased. She and Carrie loved the fall, and Grandma Em’s house was always fun.
It also crossed her mind how much closer she’d be to Ross for an entire weekend.