The Lady Who Saw Too Much (13 page)

Gia gasped. The boy hadn’t drowned. He was trapped.

She opened her eyes, heart pounding. The urge to race from the room to relay her news gave way to exhaustion. She tossed the bear aside but was too drained of strength to do anything more.

After breathing deeply for several moments, her pulse finally began to slow to an even tempo. Unable to rein her excitement, she shot to her feet, then hurried back to the parlor. Shoving her way into the room, she addressed anyone who might listen.

“Is there a cave nearby? Or a mine shaft, perhaps? Someplace where Georgie might be trapped?”

The women stared, surprised by her outburst.

“Is there?” Gia asked of the startled faces.

“He could be trapped,” Edna uttered. She considered the prospect, her weary eyes brightening with life. Hope.

…Optimism leads to disappointment…
She brushed off Landen’s grim words. The boy was alive.

“Is there a mine shaft? Does anyone know?” Gia pressed.

The ladies looked to one another for answers, shaking their heads.

“I think there’s an old well on the White property,” Edna said as she stood.

Gia nodded, encouraged. “We must find out.”

She hurried outside, Edna and the other women on her heels, to where Landen and the last group of men were just embarking on their search.

“Landen!” she called, fairly breathless with excitement.

He strode toward her, brows raised at the clutch of chattering women behind her. “What is it?”

“It just occurred to us that the boy may be trapped somewhere. In a cave or deep hole.” She paused briefly for breath. “Edna says there’s an old well on the White property.”

“They searched the White property last night,” he said. “They’ve searched every inch of the area. They didn’t find or hear anything.”

“But the boy may have been sleeping or unable to call out for help,” Gia said.

Landen frowned, glancing over her shoulder. Taking her arm, he led her a few steps away. “The boy was at the lake. His fishing gear—”

“Edna said Georgie was not allowed to go into the water by himself.”

“Children don’t always do as they’re told.” He lowered his voice, leaning closely. “Gia, please. This is difficult enough for Edna without you making it worse.”

“I’m not trying to make it worse. You don’t know for certain he drowned.”

“And you don’t know that he hasn’t.”

But she did know. She lifted her chin. “I—”

“We’re searching the lake,” he said sternly.

“But—”

“And you are doing the woman no good by giving her false hope.”

“There is no harm in hoping.”

“And when the boy’s pulled from the lake?”

“If he has drowned, she can mourn then. Until that time, she can hope.”

“Elmsworth!” Tom called. “Let’s go!”

“Take Edna back to the house, and let us conduct the search of the water before it gets dark.”

Gia tossed a glance at the group of impatient men watching their exchange. “Fine.” She straightened her spine. “We women will conduct our own search.”

“You will do no such thing,” he ground out through clenched teeth. “That woman has been up all night. She’s in no state to go traipsing through the fields after vain hopes you’ve sowed in her head. Now take her back to the house and wait for us there.”

While he might be right about Edna, Gia refused to submit to his commands. She’d vowed to never again allow anyone to control her—to stop her from doing what her visions led her to do. Had she not succumbed to her parents’ browbeating, Prudence would still be alive.

“The other women can stay with her. I will go on my own.” She started away.

He grabbed her arm. “Listen to me—”

“No.” She yanked free.

He stared, stunned by her defiance.

Disapproval circulated among the men who watched on. Ignoring their grumblings, Gia said, “We are wasting time. If Georgie is in the water, we’re already too late to save him. But if he’s trapped somewhere…” She’d felt the boy’s fear during her vision, felt his pain. He was hurt. She swallowed a sob, tears welling in her eyes. She had to trust her ability, no matter the cost. “Please, Landen.” She clutched his arm. “Please.”

* * * *

Despite his vexation at his wife’s obstinate behavior, Landen felt himself caving beneath Gia’s desperate plea for his help. Tears shimmered on her lashes, and it took all the strength he possessed not to pull her into his arms to calm her hysterics.

Staring into her dark eyes, he felt his throat tighten. He’d never seen her like this. He’d brought her here hoping she might help comfort Edna. She’d been such a comfort to Alice during Clara’s illness. Truth be told, she’d been a comfort to him, too, although it pained him to admit it.

He took a deep breath. “All right,” he said. “Wait here.”

Embarrassed and frustrated by his certainty they were wasting time, he strode toward the waiting men to explain the situation. With each step, he rued succumbing to Gia’s appeal, but she’d left him little choice. Edna and the other women seemed convinced Georgie had fallen into a hole, and Landen had no doubt Gia was responsible. Edna’s fragile state had her teetering on the edge of reason, and there’d be no way around investigating their unlikely theory now.

For Edna’s sake, Landen persuaded Henry Whalen and Tom to join him on a quick search of the White property before heading out on the lake.

“Tom confirmed there’s an old well on the White property,” Landen murmured to Gia. “Henry and Tom will go with me there before we head out on the water.”

Exhaling in relief, Gia nodded, looking grateful for their assistance. At least she had the good sense to realize the men were better equipped to rescue Georgie than she was.

Despite Landen’s directive, Edna refused to remain at the house. Flanked by her friends, she clung to their arms as tightly as she clung to the hope they’d find her son, safe and sound, as they crossed the field to the abandoned White property.

Tall weeds ensconced the crumbled stone foundation on the hill that once supported a house. A crow squawked from its perch atop the dilapidated fireplace.

Henry pointed. “The well is somewhere over there by that stone wall.”

“Georgie!” With renewed strength, Edna ran toward the wall. “Georgie!”

Landen ran after her, and the others followed. He grabbed Edna’s arm, until Tom took hold of her.

“Wait here,” Landen told her, reaching for the lantern Henry had lit.

Landen waded through the weeds, searching as he walked. He spied the ring of stones marking the well in the distance. Narrowing his eyes at the sight a few feet away, he quickened his pace. His breath caught in his throat. A hole gaped through the wide plank that served as the well’s cover. His heart lurched, and he sprinted to action. He tore off what remained of the splintered wood, heart pounding.

Dangling the lantern before him, he gazed down into the dark depths below. The anxious chatter of the crowd behind him fell deathly silent. Focusing his eyes, Landen searched for signs of movement as he followed the beam of light over pieces of splintered wood to the boulder on floor of the well. His shoulders slumped with disappointment. Swallowing hard, he turned to face the crowd. “He’s not down here.”

Edna sank to her knees, sobbing.

“Are you sure?” Gia asked.

Landen stood, wiping his sleeves. “He’s not here.”

The sound of Edna’s grief howled through the grim silence. Landen’s chest tightened at the thought the worst was yet to come. The woman had some dark days ahead, and he bit back a curse at the extra pain this wild goose chase had caused her.

He strode toward Gia, teeth clenched. “Satisfied?”

She shook her head, lips quivering. “He could still be trapped somewhere else. He—”

“Enough!” She was tenacious as hell, but he was her husband. He’d be damned before he let her forget this. He pointed his finger. “Do not speak one more word.”

She flinched, clamping her lips.

He took a deep breath, glancing to Edna. She cried into her hands at Tom’s feet, her endurance clearly at its end.

He turned away from the pitiful sight, furious. He must have been out of his mind to have listened to Gia and her improbable notion. She’d weakened his resolve when he’d needed it most, and he was as much to blame as she was for this ugly debacle. “Let’s head back to the lake,” he called to Henry and Tom as he started away.

“Listen!”

They all turned to Henry.

“I hear something. Listen!”

The air stilled. Beneath the sudden silence, Landen heard something too.

A small sound in the distance.

“Georgie?” Edna’s eyes widened as she scrambled to her feet.

Landen listened hard, glancing around. The sound was coming from the old foundation on the hill. “Up there.” He strode toward the ruins, the sound growing louder. “Here!” he called to the others as they raced to join him. “There’s a root cellar!”

“Georgie!” Edna yelled.

Landen struggled to lift the heavy door of the root cellar, and Henry rushed to assist. Together they finally pried the door open. Light shined into the dark hole below.

The little boy lay huddled in a ball, unmoving. A kitten mewed loudly at his side.

“Georgie!” Edna called, gazing down at her son.

Landen descended the dirt stairs, and the kitten skittered away. Crouching in front of the child, Landen took a deep breath, then gave a tap to his shoulder.

The boy stirred, then rolled to his back. “My ankle hurts.”

Landen blew out a gust of relief. “He’s all right!” he called over his shoulder. He patted Georgie’s knee. “Let’s get you home.”

The kitten mewed at them from the darkened corner.

“Friend of yours?” Landen asked.

Georgie nodded. “I followed him here.”

Landen lifted the boy carefully. “We’re coming up!” He carried the little boy up the stairs and into the sunlight. “His ankle may be broken,” he warned Edna.

“Oh, Georgie!” Edna cupped the boy’s face and smothered him with kisses. “What happened?”

Georgie blinked, breaking free of her grasp long enough to speak. “My pole got stuck on a log, so I was on my way home when I saw a kitten.”

“And you followed it here?”

He nodded. “The cellar door was cracked open, but when I slid under it, it fell closed, and I couldn’t get out.”

“Oh, my poor darling,” Edna cooed.

“Shadow kept me company,” he said, glancing at the kitten now nestled contently in Gia’s arms. “Can I keep him?”

Edna laughed, and the others laughed too.

“Yes, yes of course you can.”

Landen watched the uplifting reunion, feeling drunk with relief.

“Brilliant thinking, Elmsworth!” Tom said with a slap to Landen’s shoulder.

Landen shook his head, overwhelmed with emotion. “It wasn’t my brilliance, I assure you.” He glanced to Gia. Rejoicing with the others, she smiled through tears of joy, the kitten cradled in her arms. The pride that swelled in Landen’s chest knocked the air from his lungs. “The credit belongs to my wife.”

By the time Gia and Landen boarded the wagon and departed for home, it was well past dark. Gia breathed in the crisp night air as they drove beneath the starry sky, tired but exhilarated by the day’s events.

“The boy was lucky only to have suffered a sprained ankle,” Landen said. “He might have died down there.” He turned to face her. “If it weren’t for you.”

Gia stared into his handsome face, basking in his recognition. “And you,” she said. “Thank you for investigating our idea.”

He cocked a brow. “As I recall, you gave me no choice in it.”

She smiled at his flimsy reprimand. “No, I suppose I didn’t. But Edna was adamant Georgie wouldn’t go into the water by himself. Her trust in the boy convinced me he had to be somewhere else.”

“And you were right.”

Gia was too elated by Georgie’s safety to rue her duplicity. After all, there was a kernel of truth in her explanation of how she’d formed her conclusion to his whereabouts. The boy was in the bosom of his family now, and that’s all that mattered.

“I was overly harsh with you earlier,” Landen said.

His tone carried an apology she didn’t deserve. She’d challenged him in front of his friends—not exactly a wifely behavior a man could condone.

“You were concerned for Edna.”

“Yes. And you were determined to help.” He turned to face her. “And you did.”

The approval in his eyes left her speechless. A rush of warmth flowed through her veins. She started and ended each day in the bliss of his physical passion that, until now, had been all she could ask for. As premature at it might be, his heightened regard had kindled a spark of hope for something more.

“I am simply happy he is safe and back with his family,” she said. The bona fide affection Edna had displayed to her son tugged at Gia’s heart. “He’s one well-loved little boy.” A twinge of envy ached through her. The same shameful envy she felt toward her brothers as she recalled her parents’ favoritism and their treatment of her after the accident.

For two days, Gia had lain upstairs in her bed, recovering and waiting for them to come to her. But they were too bereaved to exert the effort, too depleted to summon gratitude for the daughter whose life had been spared. The daughter who could never replace the beloved sons they had lost.

They’d had to deal with her eventually, but with each vacant glance at her, she’d heard the words they were thinking.
It should have been you.

“Not all children grow up feeling loved by their parents.” The words fell from her mouth before she could stop them. She squirmed in her seat, abashed by the slip.

“Are you speaking from experience on the matter?”

Too beset by memories to pretend otherwise, she didn’t bother to try. “Yes.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t mean to imply my parents were intentionally cruel to me, but indifference can feel that way. Especially to a child. My parents favored my brothers, you see.”

“You have brothers?”

“They died,” she said quickly. “Mark and Miles fell through the ice of a frozen pond.” She lifted her chin against his surprise, against the tears that always welled up inside her when she thought about that horrible day. Strangely, the tears didn’t come.