[Desert Roses 02] - Across the Years (22 page)

“No, I suppose I’ve done a decent job of that myself,” Ashley admitted. “Grandpa, I’ve been thinking of all the things you’ve told me. I’ve been listening to Pastor McGuire as well. I wish I could say I have the faith to believe it’s all true, but right now I just don’t.”

Her lost expression and the pain in her eyes made Russell wish he could give her his own precious salvation, just in order to see her at peace—happy.

“It’s all God’s timing,” he said, more to remind himself than her.

“I know, Grandpa. I just want you to know that I’m trying to understand it all. I want to understand. I can even honestly say that I want to trust God again.”

He nodded, closing his eyes. “That’s enough for a start. Just give Him a chance, Ashley. He’s more than happy to prove himself to you.”

“God? Prove himself to me?” Ashley asked in surprise. “But I thought it was the other way around—I thought I was supposed to prove myself to Him by trusting and believing and doing all that other stuff.”

“The Bible says that we should ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.’ See, first it says, ‘Taste and see.’ In other words, give God a try and see if He doesn’t prove to be exactly what He said He’d be. Faith and trust don’t come overnight, Ashley. They grow, and just as people need time to get to know one another, so it takes time to get to know God and grow in trusting Him. But blessed are you when you come to that place.” He closed his eyes, exhaustion claiming the last bit of his strength.

He felt Ashley kiss his forehead. “You rest now, Grandpa, and I’ll be thinking on what you said. I promise.”

He drew a ragged breath but said nothing.
Lord, please don’t let this time go wasted. Let her hear your words and
take courage. Let her come to you and heal her wounded heart. I cannot rest until I know she is safe.

****

Lavelle stood on the platform waiting for her sister. She squared her shoulders and prepared for the battle to come, believing in her heart that Leticia would come off the train with guns blazing.

She’s always been like that,
Lavelle reasoned.
She’s always been the kind to act first and think later. She never cares who she hurts or how difficult she makes life for someone else. Those things are immaterial.

Lavelle had never really stood up to her older sister. Leticia had ruled their nursery with an iron will to match that of any adult. Lavelle had just calmly gone along with most any plan Leticia thought up.
But I can’t be like that anymore. I need to be strong for Ashley, and I need to stand firm in my faith. Letty won’t like it, but that’s the way it will be.

Now Lavelle fretted over the fact that she’d never found an opportunity to tell Ashley that her father had passed away some years earlier. When Lavelle had first arrived, she’d felt certain she’d have to explain it, because Ashley kept talking about her parents and wondering if Lavelle had had contact with them. But there never seemed to be the right opportunity to speak to the matter of Marcus Murphy’s death, and so Lavelle had left it unsaid. Now she regretted it, knowing that Leticia would be the one to break the news. And no doubt she’d not do the telling in a gentle manner.

Lavelle knew that Leticia blamed Ashley for her father’s passing. Marcus had fretted and worried over Ashley’s disappearance—that much Leticia had shared with Lavelle. Letty felt he had worried himself into the grave over Ashley, and she probably held Ashley accountable for the matter. Regret washed over Lavelle. “I should have told her,” she whispered.

The westbound Santa Fe passenger train blew its whistle from down the track and Lavelle held her breath. She walked
out a pace from the depot and exhaled softly.
Lord, give me strength to deal with my sister. Give me love to shower upon her, even though I don’t feel very loving.

The train pulled in and groaned and ground to a halt. Porters and other railroad men moved into position to make the detrainment as simple and orderly as possible.

And then before Lavelle knew it, Leticia was stepping from the train. She looked for all the world as though she owned not only the train she’d just come from but the land upon which she’d just stepped. Overdressed in an elegant three-tiered bolero coat and dress by Chanel, Leticia demanded attention. The dark red color made Lavelle immediately think of blood, and she couldn’t help wondering how her sister would stage the first lethal blow.

“Leticia,” Lavelle said, going to her sister. “I’m so glad you’ve come.”

“Is he dead yet?”

The opening thrust of the sword.

Lavelle startled at the question. “No. Our father is still alive. I think perhaps he’s been holding on to see you again.”

She made a huffing noise and turned to look past Lavelle. “Where is she?”

“Who?” Lavelle questioned, completely taken aback by her sister.

“You know perfectly well. Ashley. Where is she? I suppose she doesn’t have the good manners to be here.”

Blow number two.

“She stayed home with our father,” Lavelle explained. “Someone needed to be there, and I told her I thought it best if she stayed and I came.”

“I see. Well, let’s not dillydally at the station,” Leticia said. “I’ve come this far; I might as well finish it. I’m sure there’s much to be done. I certainly can’t count on anyone else to have managed Father’s affairs. The incompetence in this family speaks for itself.”

The third in what was to become a long line of plunging attacks cut Lavelle to the quick.

“Leticia, before we go, I want to say something.” Lavelle lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders. “You were not asked here in order to create a scene. Our father is dying, and I do not wish to see him in any more pain than he’s already enduring.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Leticia shifted her matching handbag and stared at her younger sister.

“I’m talking about you. It is my fondest hope that you will be peaceable with Father and with Ashley. They are both suffering in this, and I don’t want to see them hurting more than they already are.”

“Might I remind you, you are my younger sister. I did not seek your advice. Furthermore, I do not intend to stand here and be dressed down by anyone—but especially not you.”

Lavelle bolstered her courage. “Leticia, you’re a headstrong and often cruel woman. I won’t stand for it this time. You’ll either conduct yourself civilly or—”

“Or what?” Leticia laughed haughtily. “You have no power over me. You’re as destitute as most of these people.” She waved her arm to the departing crowd. “I have enough money to buy and sell you many times over. I’ll hire a lawyer if need be, but you won’t stand here and threaten me.” The woman’s dark eyes seemed to blaze with fire.

Lavelle remained calm. “I’m not trying to threaten you. I’m merely stating that our . . .” She paused. She’d started to reference the house as belonging to their father, but that would never do. Better to set the stage early. “Ashley’s house is a peaceful one at this point. Father is much beloved in this community, and it would grieve those around him to know his own daughter cared nothing more about him than to cause him even more pain. I want to see him die in peace.”

Leticia pushed past her sister. “And I’m just ready for him to die.”

****

E. J. was relieved to have the workday behind him. He had thought to go to check up on Ashley and her grandfather but remembered that her mother was coming to town today. Her mother was the one person who very well might remember him. He couldn’t risk running into her—not just yet.

He whistled and made his way to his room at the Harvey House. He hoped to simply spend the night reading his Bible and praying. There was still the matter of telling Ashley the truth, and he hoped he could keep his courage to do so by drawing closer to God.

“Mr. Carson, wait up!”

He turned to find Natalie running after him. “I drew you a picture at school today.” She waved the folded paper as she approached.

“Why, that was very kind. What is it? The meteorite crater?”

“Nope. This is the house I’m gonna build my mama someday.”

She came to a halt in front of him, her pigtails resting down her back. He took the paper from her and opened it. There, in a very detailed manner, was the house he’d once designed for his wife. Of course, it was an amateur attempt, but he easily recognized it.

“Do you like it?”

E. J. nodded. “I like it very much, Natalie. Thank you.”

“Sure,” she grinned. “I think my mama likes you.”

E. J. was taken aback. “Why do you say that?”

“Well, she sure never took trips with anyone else. I think she only let you take us to the meteor crater because she likes you.”

“I think she likes you,” E. J. teased. “I think that’s the reason she allowed the trip.”

“Well, she liked me before and we never let Mr. Morgan take us to the meteor crater.” With that, she turned to go. “I
have to get home. My grandma is coming today. I’ve never met her, but I sure hope she’s nice.”

E. J. waved good-bye. “I hope she is too, Natalie.” It was a sincere wish, but remembering Leticia Murphy, E. J. wasn’t at all encouraged to believe Natalie’s hopes would come true.

He took the picture with him and made his way to his hotel room. He couldn’t imagine what Ashley must be enduring, seeing her mother for the first time in so very long. He wished he could be there for her—to offer support and to stand ready to defend her against her mother’s meanspirited blows.

“God, you’re the only one who can intercede in this. Please don’t leave Ashley alone.”

He smoothed out the drawing on his desk and traced the lines with his index finger. Memories flooded his mind, and before he knew it, E. J. had taken up his own sketch pad. Within a few moments, he’d drawn a rough outline of the house. Standing there, hunched over the picture, E. J. realized how very much he’d missed creating beautiful things. He felt his demons leave him—at least momentarily—as he sketched out more and more detail. Perhaps this had been the answer all along. Maybe in his creativity—his passion for beauty—he could find a way to dispel the darkness in his life.

“A little light can make itself quite evident in the blackest night,” he murmured.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ashley watched her mother scrutinize the house as Pastor McGuire carried her luggage upstairs.

“It’s rather what I expected,” her mother said, sounding very bored.

Without elaborating on her comment, Leticia turned her sights on Ashley. “I see you haven’t changed much. I understand you have a child. Is she legitimate? Who’s her father?”

Ashley raged inside at the question of her daughter’s legitimacy. “She’s Ethan’s daughter, of course. I’ve never remarried.”

“I don’t recall you mentioning that you were with child when I last saw you in Baltimore.”

Ashley barely held on to her anger. “I don’t recall being given a chance. You were, as I recall, far more focused on getting my marriage annulled than knowing the truth of the situation.”

“Well, it’s of no matter. No decent man would have you now—especially with a brat.” Leticia lifted her chin and looked left and then right. “This is an awfully small house. I understand from Lavelle that you’re the owner?”

Ashley looked at Lavelle and then back at her mother. “That’s right.”

“Humph.”

“Natalie should be home any minute. I do hope you’ll be kind to her,” Ashley said, trying hard to stand firm without resorting to her mother’s nasty tactics.

“She’s a darling child, Leticia,” Lavelle interjected. “You’ll be pleased to have her as a granddaughter.” She stood close to Ashley.

Ashley narrowed her eyes, watching her mother’s every change of expression. It was rather like watching a rattlesnake
prepare to strike. What would the woman do next? Where would she attack?

“Where is my father?” Leticia asked, surprising Ashley.

“His room is at the end of the hall. But before you visit him, I want you to understand something.” Ashley bolstered her courage. “Grandpa has advanced liver cancer. He’s in a tremendous amount of pain. You were notified to come at his request.” She hoped her mother understood the implication that she had not been brought here because of Ashley’s desire. “He cannot be up and about. He doesn’t eat, and he has been given pain medication, though he often refuses to take it because he desires to think in a clearheaded manner.

“It’s Grandpa’s desire to put the past behind us. I’m willing to at least give pretense to that, for his sake,” Ashley said, her voice unemotional. “I would like to know your intentions toward that matter.”

Leticia looked at her daughter as if she’d suddenly grown horns. “I don’t think that merits an answer. You are my child. I do not answer to you.”

Ashley stepped between her mother and the hall leading to her grandfather’s room. “Until I understand if you mean to cause him more pain and suffering than he’s already enduring, you are not going to be allowed to visit with him.”

“Of all the stupid, disrespectful—”

“I agree with her, Letty,” Lavelle said. “Father is in no condition for one of your scenes. He has no money—no possessions—nothing monetary to advance your position whatsoever. If you’re here for that, you might as well turn around and head back to Baltimore.”

Ashley watched her mother’s face contort. Her eyes blazed with anger and hatred. “Do not make me seek help from other sources in dealing with you two. As I told Lavelle, I have more money and power than either of you could ever hope to know. I will do what I have to in order to ensure that things are properly handled.”

“Grandpa has already turned matters over to his lawyer,
Simon Watson. If you have questions regarding the business of Grandfather’s estate, then you will talk to him and not to Grandpa. That is how it will be,” Ashley replied sternly. “Otherwise, I’ll have you removed from this house—my house.”

The battle lines were drawn.

“Mama, I’m home!” Natalie declared, coming through the front door.

Leticia turned, apparently startled at the sound of the child’s voice. Ashley watched as she studied Natalie’s pixielike face. She was such a delicate and tiny child, and for a moment Ashley wanted to rush between her mother and Natalie to protect her from whatever vile things Leticia Murphy might say.