Chapter 20

“You handled that well.” Angus held out his hand to Lena. “Shall we say a prayer and eat, so we can tell the ladies how wonderful everything tastes?”

Through the rest of the meal, Lottie or Polly kept popping over to their table to see if they needed anything more, all the while tending to their other customers. Several opportunities came up to tell Lena about the outlaws, but Angus couldn’t make himself say anything that would upset her. He had never seen her so at ease. She smiled at him and at others who came by their table to make a comment or two. He couldn’t remember ever having such a pleasant time with any woman outside his family.

By the time Angus slipped the last bit of some concoction Polly had made of whipped cream, cake, and some sauce, he felt that he was about to burst.

As they left the café, a thought floated into Angus’ head and refused to leave. It might be a little demanding on his leg, but he wasn’t ready to let Lena go back to her apartment. And he wanted to give her something special to think about when she went to sleep.

“With the daylight growing longer, we have time to see a place special that I’d like to show you if you’d like to take a little walk.” Angus motioned to the right as they stood at the end of the boardwalk that ran in front of the café and mercantile.

“Will it be too much for your leg?”

“I’ll be fine. It’s not far.”

She nodded, and they headed down the road in the opposite direction from the Octagon House. They went past the livery which had closed for the day, then on toward some trees.

“Everything from the livery to the creek over there belongs to Fergus.” He motioned farther south. “When Grandda and part of the clan went to Colorado, Da bought the mercantile and a house for me. He bought the livery, smithy, as well as a small house close to the creek for Fergus. It was our inheritance, along with a small amount of money. Art got the farm. He got a larger portion, but he’s also responsible for all the family who lives and works there.” He shrugged a bit. “Even though he’s the youngest, Art carries the greatest burden. Now, most of the family looks to him for help or advice.”

“What about Kerr and your sisters?”

“Kerr lived here, but Ainsley was never his home. Da knew that and gave him a larger amount of money than he gave any of the rest of us. As for my sisters, Da arranged dowries for them, as well as a sum for each one that was to be theirs alone—not to be given to their husbands.” Angus couldn’t help the small pain that stabbed his chest as he thought about his father’s death shortly before the war ended and he came back home. Art had been the only son to be with their father when he passed.

“It sounds like he was a wonderful man, kind and generous and loving.” Lena took a couple of steps. “A lot like you.”

Her words soothed something deep inside him as they walked a few minutes in silence. As they neared the large rocks where he knew his brother Fergus spent a lot of time in thinking and prayer, He pointed to the left. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

The breeze came from the north, but as they drew closer to the front of a rocky border, the smell of flowers flowed over them.

Lena turned and stared at the large flower garden. “How did…where…who planted…who tends to this? It’s beautiful.” She glanced back at Angus. “Can we go in and see it?”

Angus couldn’t help but chuckle as he led her into the garden. He had never seen her excited like this. “It belongs to Fergus. Granny and one of our cousins started it, but Fergus took it over when part of the clan moved to Colorado.”

“Fergus! But he’s so big. His hands…” She held up her own as though she was imagining how Fergus could handle such delicate flowers with his large hands that wielded a heavy hammer on an anvil, pounding metal into horseshoes. All at once, she looked around. “Should we be here? After all, Fergus must take special care to keep it so pretty.”

“Don’t worry. Fergus welcomes any of the town folk to come and enjoy or pick flowers as long as they are careful in what they do.” He reached down and plucked a couple of flowers, then handed them to her.

She lowered her head and stared at them for several seconds. Suddenly, a drop of moisture fell on one of them.

He touched her chin and raised her head until she was looking at him. “What’s the matter?”

“No one ever gave me flowers before.” Her shoulders lifted the tiniest bit then dropped. “It’s silly, I know but—”

“What about your husband?”

She shook her head. “He didn’t care enough. Only I didn’t realize that until we were already married.”

For the thousandth time, Angus realized how fortunate he was to have escaped a loveless marriage to Amelia. And though he had suffered humiliation, anger, and the pity of the town and his family, the woman before him had endured so much more. He couldn’t imagine what her life must have been like.

As he gazed at her, his heart reached out before his arms surrounded her. He drew her closer as he stared into her eyes—eyes that asked a hundred questions, eyes that widened as he pulled her against his chest, eyes that closed as he lowered his head.

Their lips touched, then clung as their arms wrapped tighter around each other.

Time slowed. Time raced.

She filled something deep inside him, something he hadn’t realized existed.

Bit by bit, the kiss ended, and they moved apart. But Angus couldn’t bear to let her go completely, so he kept his arm around her waist—such a narrow waist.

He cleared his throat. “Probably need to get you back home.”

Her eyes remained lowered as she nodded, shifted and slipped her hand around his elbow.

As they neared the Octagon House, Lena glanced at him. “Angus, you were going to tell me something that Kerr found out. I don’t think we ever discussed what it was.”

Angus almost stumbled. This was not the way he wanted to end this evening with Lena. Neither did he want to tell her that outlaws were after her, then leave her in her apartment and let her mind create all sorts of horrible, terrifying thoughts. But she had asked, and he couldn’t lie to her. He had to figure out how to tell her without causing her nightmares.

Maybe, he could tell the bare bones tonight. Then tomorrow fill in more of it. “When Kerr went out to Seth’s place the other day, he met a stranger who had been thrown from his horse. The man mentioned something about overhearing three men talking about a red-haired woman. Then, they said something about MacPhersons.”

Lena sucked in a quick breath. “Those outlaws who were chasing you.”

He pulled his elbow in a bit, tightening his hold on her hand. “There are quite a few red-headed women in Kansas, and I know that there are plenty of MacPhersons. We don’t know that those two who were after me were the same ones this stranger was talking about.”

They moved a bit farther along in silence. As they stepped onto the porch of the Octagon House, Angus rubbed his hand over hers as it still rested on his arm. “I hated to tell you about those men. If it is them, rest assured, the MacPhersons will not let them harm you in any way.” He smiled. “And if they aren’t, they aren’t anyone we need to worry about.”

The door to her apartment opened, and Audrey stepped outside. “The boys are asleep. I need to check on Momma. I hope you had a good dinner.”

“Thank you for watching Chad and Archie.” Lena clasped her friend’s hand. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Bright and early.” Audrey gave a small wave to Angus, then hurried around the side of the porch to her apartment.

Now that they were alone again, Angus wanted to pull her back into his arms, but her boys might wake and come looking for her. So he tried to satisfy himself by resting his fingers on her cheek. “I enjoyed tonight.”

She covered his hand with her own. “Me, too.”

“I’d best let you go inside.”

She nodded.

He tightened his fingers ever so slightly, then dropped his hand. “Good night.”

She nodded again and took a couple of steps back into her apartment, then closed the door.

After he saw her inside her apartment and heard the key twist in the lock, Angus turned away. As he hobbled back to the mercantile, he worked on a plan to keep Lena and her sons safe. The first thing in the morning, before they opened, he would go over and see Parson Summers. He had two sons who served in the army during the war but hadn’t found any work since coming home. Maybe, he could hire them to take turns guarding Lena. At the store, he could watch for her. But from the time she left to the time she came back, he wanted her apartment guarded. Those two young men should be able to handle that job.

He looked over his shoulder as a lamp was lit in the upper floor of her apartment.

He stopped and bowed his head, petitioning the Heavenly Father to protect her through the night.

And if possible, that she might come to love him as he loved her.

As Lena entered her apartment, it didn’t seem quite so lonely. Angus’ limping tread sounded on the porch as he headed for the mercantile.

She glanced down at the flowers she still had clutched in her fingers. They were twisted and limp, but that didn’t matter. She could press them. And when she looked at them in years to come, she hoped that she would be able to remember the wonderful feeling of Angus’ lips on hers.

Maybe God did have something special in store for her. Maybe…

She raised her head as a knock rapped on her front door. Maybe, Angus had come back. For what she didn’t know and didn’t care. She jerked the door open and gasped.

Mrs. MacPherson and Mrs. Van Dorn stood in the opening, with heads raised and their chins tipped arrogantly.

The older woman spoke first. “Please come outside for a moment. We don’t wish to have your ragamuffin children disturbing what we have to say.”

Not wanting her children disturbed by whatever was going to happen, Lena stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Mrs. MacPherson tapped her parasol on the wooden porch. “We have learned that you had supper with Angus. We are here to inform you that this type of behavior cannot continue. You are unfit to be a member of our family. You—”

Mrs. Van Dorn rested her gloved hand on the older woman. “Kirstie, let me handle this, please.” She turned toward Lena. “I am prepared to give you, as a gift you understand, the amount of five thousand dollars, if and only if you and your sons leave town tonight and agree never to return to Ainsley ever again. Also, I have houses in several towns, both in Kansas and Missouri. I am willing to sign over one of them to you one in whichever town you would like to live.” She paused. “You have until my man with the wagon arrives, then the offer will be withdrawn, and you will be on your own.”

The woman paused again for a moment as if waiting for Lena to explode in gratitude for the offer. But there was no way Lena would ever accept it. Not only did she not trust Amelia Van Dorn, but she was also tired of other people telling her how to live, where to live, and what to do with her life. That all stops now.

Lena shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t accept your offer. Angus deserves better than you, much better.”

Mrs. MacPherson made a harsh sound. “Come, Amelia. I told you it wouldn’t do any good.” The woman turned her glare at Lena. “There are others who can persuade her to do the right thing. And I know just who they are. It won’t take long to set things in motion.” She stabbed the end of her parasol onto the porch. “But remember this, young woman. We gave you the opportunity to escape, but you”—she jabbed her finger at Lena—“you chose to reject it, so the fault lies entirely with you for what is to happen.”

“Good-bye.” Lena turned quickly and entered her apartment, then closed the door behind her and leaned her head against it. A harsh groan shot between her lips. Outlaws were coming for her. Her father-in-law and brother-in-law were hunting her. Mrs. MacPherson and Mrs. Van Dorn were threatening her.

She sank to the floor. Oh, God, help me. I need you so much. You are faithful, and I trust You. Help me, please.

Inch by inch, she pulled herself upright and climbed the stairs. After checking on her sons and changing into her nightclothes, she lay in bed for a long, long time until finally drifting to sleep.

Only to wake from a nightmare where outlaws with dead eyes were chasing her. Two witches with the faces of Mrs. MacPherson and Mrs. Van Dorn were flying above her as two hideous figures jumped in front of her—Isaac and Jedidiah, one holding the deed to her grandparents’ farm and the other pointing a gun at her.

She woke up fighting the covers on her bed.

She spent the rest of the night at the kitchen table with her Bible before her, along with a pot of hot coffee.