Love Inspired Historical November 2014 (84 page)

“I have never encouraged Tom. I've always seen him as your beau, and I've always believed that the two of you were going to be married someday. I would never interfere with that. Regardless of what you think of me, I want you to be happy. And if he's—”

Polly shook her head furiously. “Just this past fall, you were telling me about how I could do better. I never imagined you were giving me such friendly advice because you wanted him for yourself.”

Annabelle's heart hurt at the memory. She had told Polly that she could do better. Because frankly, Tom was on the lazy side. If Polly married him, she'd end up just like her mother, working hard to take care of a family while her husband squandered it all on whiskey and cards.

But that wasn't something she could say to her now. Not with their friendship so damaged.

“I was wrong to judge,” Annabelle said instead. “I didn't know his heart, and I should have listened to you. I'm sorry. I've truly never had designs on him.”

Her stomach ached at the way Polly looked at her. She could list dozens of reasons why she didn't like Tom, but they would only be taken the wrong way.

If she were to chase after a man, it would be someone like Joseph. She closed her eyes. Why couldn't she stop thinking of the impossible?

“I am so sorry that you don't think better of me,” Annabelle said, opening her eyes to look at Polly. “I know I deserve it after how judgmental I've been. But if you could find a way to at least call a truce, for the sake of the others around us, I promise I'll do what I can to make amends.”

It had taken a long time for Annabelle to find friends like Gertie and Polly, but with a few thoughtless words, she'd ruined it. Worse, though, it seemed like Polly now thought her capable of even more foul deeds than she would ever contemplate.

“You can never fix this.” Polly spat out the words like Annabelle was a bug she'd swallowed. “Just leave. We don't want you here.”

If only it were that simple. Because if she could go, she would gladly go visit her aunt, build a new life for herself in the city, and forget about the mess she'd made.

Polly returned to her work with the wash. This was not how Annabelle had envisioned the conversation going. Perhaps she'd been too ambitious thinking they would be able to forgive, and maybe even hug. But surely she could have done better than to have broken things between them even worse.

Chapter Eighteen

“I
'll only be gone a few hours.” Joseph tried prying Nugget from his legs, but she was having none of that. She'd seemed perfectly content remaining behind the day before with Annabelle and Caitlin, but today seemed to be a completely different story.

“You're just like Papa! Always leaving.” The little girl's lip jutted out in such a perfect pout that Joseph was almost convinced to remain behind. After all, the sky looked like a storm was moving in.

Fortunately, Annabelle, as always, seemed to know the perfect solution. “None of that,” she told Nugget firmly. “Joseph will be back in time for supper. You're going to be so busy playing with Caitlin that you'll hardly notice him missing. Now go get the brush from Gertie so I can fix your hair. Then we can play by the creek for a while.”

Though Annabelle ruffled the little girl's ratted hair with a gentle wave and a smile, the set to her eyes brooked no argument, and Nugget released his pant leg.

“You promise you'll be home for supper?” The big eyes blinking at him would have extracted his promise even if he'd had other plans. He'd be home for supper, no matter what.

“I already did. Now listen to Annabelle, because I'm sure she has a wonderful day planned for you.”

He hugged his sister, and then she scampered off like she'd gotten exactly what she wanted. Joseph shook his head. He'd never understand females.

“As always you know how to handle her.” He smiled at Annabelle, who shrugged.

“Children aren't so difficult. I've always enjoyed them.”

The genuine smile that filled her face reminded him of his previous thoughts about her and motherhood. “You're going to make an excellent mother someday.”

He might as well have slapped her for the shock that registered on her face. Or at least that's the expression he thought he'd caught before she replaced it with a more serene but blank look.

“Perhaps someday. But I have no intention of marrying anytime soon. There's a lot of world to see and a lot of things I'd still like to do.”

She'd spoken wistfully of her ambitions in the cabin. He still knew so little of her, despite feeling like he'd known her all his life.

“Like what?”

“Go back East, for one. I haven't seen my mother's family since I was small. My aunt Celeste has asked me to come visit, and my father says that once he's convinced my heart is healed, I can go.”

An expression he didn't recognize skittered across her face. “I know it sounds silly, but I'd like to go to the balls like Mother described. Certainly, we have the theatre and other pleasant diversions here, but Mother says that the social scene where she grew up was delightful. After all, that's how she met my father.”

And in that instant, Joseph understood. Annabelle's future wasn't here. Not the way her eyes had lit up at the thought of her mother's descriptions of the balls. He'd never been to any such thing himself—could not imagine what would draw anyone to them. But he'd seen his sisters giggle over pictures of ladies in their finery, and knowing how similar in character Annabelle was to his sister Mary, understood the draw.

A trip back East and a fancy ball—those were things Joseph could not reasonably expect to provide for Annabelle. Not with so many mouths to feed and feet to shoe.

If anything was capable of convincing Joseph that he needed to put Annabelle out of his mind, it was hearing of her dreams for her future. He cared too much for her to ask her to give up her dreams when she'd already lost so much.

Annabelle seemed to sense the change in his mood. She reached out and touched him lightly on the arm. “I'm not going to abandon you, Joseph. My father has asked me to be of assistance until Nugget is properly settled.”

A sly smile stole across her face. “In truth, I've come to love that little scamp, and I don't think I could leave until your family's affairs are in order. And I do hope you'd allow me to write.”

Joseph nodded, willing himself to find a way to speak. In her grief, he'd caught the unspoken story of the sacrifices she'd made. The things she'd given up for her father's ministry. Here she was, sacrificing one more thing. While he could tell by the light in her eyes that she didn't view her time with Nugget as a sacrifice, he couldn't ask her to do it any longer than she had to.

Annabelle Lassiter was an amazing woman, and she deserved to have a life of her own.
Lord
, he prayed,
help me set Annabelle free
.

Joseph already knew that he had to find the silver as quickly as possible, but knowing that one more life hung in the balance made it all the more urgent.

He bade Annabelle goodbye, then climbed onto the horse Slade had waiting. Hopefully they'd find silver today.

Slade had taken a look at the clouds moving over the mountains and declared that the storm would go around the area. He had been partially right.

They came to a narrow ridge, and looking across the valley, he could see the rain fall on Leadville. Glorious. The valley was packed with houses and other buildings. He could see why some of the townspeople still grumbled about wanting to make Leadville the state capitol. The city boasted growth that he hadn't seen the likes of anywhere near home.

“Your pa's mining claim should be just over the next ridge,” Slade shouted back at him.

Once they crossed the ridge, Slade pulled out a map, then pointed at an outcropping of rocks. “That's it. This claim used to belong to Slim Deckert, but then he lost it in a card game to your pa. Slim thought it was a great joke he'd pulled over on Bad Billy, since none of his crews had found anything other than pyrite.”

Joseph picked up a shiny rock. “I take it this is pyrite.”

“Yep. No offense, but your pa was known for being a fool. There's sayings about suckers here in Leadville, and your pa could be described by just about every one of them.”

He knew Slade was being honest, and with the anger he had against his pa, he hadn't expected the words to sting so much. It was bad enough having the foul deed that had come to light, but it seemed like there was a never-ending string of missteps that had him wondering how such a miscreant could have fathered him.

What a tragic end. Though fitting, for all the foolishness his pa had done. Living a fool, dying a fool.

“Doesn't look like there's anything here.” Slade rubbed his jaw and looked at Joseph. “Frank says you still have family back home. Why don't you sell the claim, take the money and go home? I'm sure there's some wide-eyed sucker that'll buy it. We've enough land brokers in town who'll gladly do the job for you. In fact, I can recommend a guy.”

Suckers. If Slade hadn't used that word, he might have thought about the idea. But how could he live with himself, knowing that to provide for his family, he'd just done to another what had been done to them? Sold them down the river on a raft made of false dreams. No, he had to see this through.

“There's evidence that my pa found silver. He sent money regularly.”

Slade snorted. “Gambling, probably. He's been kicked out of every saloon in town dozens of times. Everyone knew he didn't mean no harm, which is why they let him back in, but...” He gave Joseph a look of pity. “Everyone wins at the tables now and again. That's how they keep you coming back. Which is why it'd be best if you just went on your way.”

Maybe Joseph was being a paranoid, but it seemed like Slade was in an awful big hurry to get rid of him. The man's demeanor was pleasant enough, but there was something about his words...

“What's it to you if I stay or go?”

Slade shook his head. “None of my business. Just figuring with your family and all, you'd want to be with them.”

The easy answer did little to ease the prickle on the back of Joseph's neck. Still, what could he say to contradict a man who had been nothing but helpful?

“What do you make of the attacks on Annabelle and Nugget?”

Slade eyed him intently. “I'm not convinced Bad Billy found silver. But I do think he was into something. Whatever you've been digging into is making people nervous. If there's something going on, I want to stop it before anyone else gets hurt.”

It wasn't the first time he'd heard hints of his pa's less than honest dealings. Which made him consider Slade's idea of going to one of the local land agents and selling his pa's claims. But how could he, in good conscience, have potential buyers be swindled? And, if something illegal was going on with his pa's claims, would it put those people in danger? As much as Annabelle thought he and everyone else ignored her warnings about chasing after silver, he wasn't going to sell someone else on a false dream.

Mary would tell him that he was overthinking the situation. Too bad she wasn't here to talk to him and give him advice. What would be best for everyone?

He looked around the site, wishing it were as simple as a sign saying Silver Here.

If his pa had been killed, why here? Was the chasm a convenient place to dump a body, or did it signify something more?

Joseph went over to where Slade was poking around some rocks. “What kind of illegal activities was my pa involved in?”

Slade picked up another rock, then looked at him. “I guess we've all made it sound like he was a pretty bad guy. Truth is, when he wasn't drinking, he was a decent fellow. Pleasant enough when you came across him in the street. But he got into scuffles in the saloons, and there were accusations of cheating.”

A drunk and a cheat. But it didn't add up. “None of this makes any sense to me. If my pa wasn't a horrible person, then what could he have done that would have people trying to harm Annabelle and Nugget?”

The rocks clattered where Slade dropped them to the ground. “My theory is that some of the people he cheated at cards are trying to get their land back.”

Which would mean— “So there is silver?”

“Naw.” Slade shook his head. “They're dirtier than Bad Billy. They probably want to seed the mines to make it look like there's silver, sell it to some sucker to make a tidy profit. Then, the sucker runs out of money and is so desperate for a way home, they sell it back for a pittance. And then the cycle begins again. Happens all the time.”

And Slade was suggesting that he do the same thing. After all, no one would buy this land except for the hope of finding gold or silver.

Maybe Joseph was a sucker, too, but he had to believe that his pa hadn't completely died in vain. There had to be silver out there somewhere. His family was counting on him. And he wasn't sure he could live with himself given the alternative.

“Let me think on it. I'm not ready to completely give up on my pa's dream.”

Slade nodded slowly. “You do that. Lots of folks waste everything they have on hopes of finding gold or silver. Most of them lose everything. I'd hate to see that happen to you.”

Another reminder of Annabelle and her words on the subject. She had more wisdom than anyone gave her credit for. She just didn't understand the difficulty in separating the wise decision from the only chance he had at getting enough money to save his family.

The ride home wasn't nearly as pleasant. In fact, the storm he had thought they'd so cleverly missed had come upon them with a vengeance—punishment for the stupidity of thinking they could avoid nature.

Joseph pushed his horse hard, trying to keep up with Slade, but Slade was a more skilled rider on a faster horse, and he didn't seem at all concerned about leaving Joseph behind.

Nothing about the site where Joseph's pa had died looked even remotely possible for having silver. At least according to Slade. Which meant that all the maps and even his pa's strange code had done nothing to help.

It was tempting to stop in town at one of the land offices to see if he could sell the claims. But all he could think of was the sadness on Annabelle's face about miners and their false dreams. Could he sell that to someone else? Could he live with putting another family through what his had been through?

No, he couldn't.

His horse slipped on the wet rocks. Continuing was becoming a suicide mission, but as he glanced around, he saw no safe place to take cover.

Lightning struck nearby, sending tiny ripples of electricity through him and making the horse's hair stand on end. Not deadly, but a warning of the power of nature. The horse reared, and Joseph did his best to control it as rocks slid under them, the edge of the ground giving way.

Though Joseph managed to get the horse settled, it had caused him to lose sight of Slade against the wind and rain. Another loud boom reminded Joseph that they were too high, and on a horse, he was almost the tallest thing around.

“Slade!” The shout went unanswered, and Slade was nowhere to be seen.

More ground gave way, and Joseph fumbled, trying to get out of the saddle, but his foot remained stuck in the stirrups. Both man and horse slid down the embankment. Behind them, rocks crashed, following like an avalanche, only with rain and mud and boulders.

“Come on.” He signaled the horse and spurred him sideways, out of the path of the rocks, but with his stuck foot, was largely ineffective in controlling the spooked horse.

The horse reared and sidestepped as rocks whizzed past his head. Joseph ducked and pressed his body close to the horse, not sure which was the more dangerous move—remaining on the animal, or taking his chances among the rocks.

As he looked up, he heard a boom, then another shower of boulders headed his way.

The next lightning bolt lit up the sky, for all the good it did. All it showed was the direness of the situation. A wall of water rushed down the side of the hill. Frank had warned him about flash floods, but never did he imagine that the water would rush past like a raging river at spring thaw. Joseph looked for an escape. At the rate they were going, they'd be caught in the water in no time. If a boulder didn't catch them first. He spotted a break just to the right. Now if he could convince the horse to take it...