Josiah took a draw from his pipe, and the smoke wafted above the two wooden chairs on the covered porch. “I read a curious article in the News this morning.”
Isaac buttoned his coat to ward off the cold and then leaned back and propped up his boots on the white railing that circled the porch. “There are always curious articles in the News.”
“I haven’t read many articles about women missing from Omaha.”
Isaac stiffened. “I read the story.”
“And saw her picture?”
Isaac crossed his arms over his chest. “Of course.”
Josiah hiked his boots up onto the railing beside Isaac’s and tapped his pipe on the arm of his chair. “We have to contact her brother to let him know she’s safe.”
Isaac turned and glanced into the picture window behind them. “We can’t contact anyone until we know the reason she left.”
“Her brother is concerned about her—”
“Her stepbrother,” Isaac said, stopping him. “And we don’t know that he’s concerned.”
Josiah pondered his words for a moment. “What if she is unstable?”
Isaac pushed his heels against the banister, rocking back his chair. “She seems to be thinking quite clearly to me.”
Josiah’s eyebrows climbed. “I’m not sure how clear you’re thinking.”
Maria opened the front door. “You gentlemen can come inside now.”
Isaac stalled for a moment as he tried to sort out the confusing thoughts that collided in his mind. What if Josiah was right? What if Lavinia’s beauty mixed with her plight had clouded his judgment? Her stepbrother could be wracked with worry.
The aromas of sage and plum pudding flooded onto the porch, and he stepped toward the door.
“Uncle Isaac!” Josiah’s four-year-old son raced across the floor and leapt up into Isaac’s arms. Isaac spun Ezra around once and set him back on the rug.
Ezra’s sister, Elizabeth, was eight and much too mature to jump, so he extended his hand to her. “Good afternoon, Miss Elizabeth.”
She shook it quickly, and then she gave him a hug.
Ezra nodded toward the kitchen. “We have a woman visitor.”
“I know.”
Ezra lowered his voice. “Mama says we mustn’t ask too many questions.”
“Your mother wants to respect her privacy.”
“What’s privacy?” Elizabeth asked.
Maria stepped out of the kitchen, her hands on her hips. “Something no one in this family respects.”
The door squeaked behind her, and then Lavinia stepped into the room.
Isaac’s mouth fell open. He’d thought Lavinia pretty the first time he saw her, but dressed in the fitted jacket and skirt, her damp hair pinned back, her green eyes glowing in the firelight, she looked stunning.
Josiah elbowed him. “You’re staring,” he mumbled.
Isaac cleared his throat and turned back to the children.
“It’s time to eat,” Maria announced with a clap of her hands.
The children rushed toward the dining room, the adults trailing closely behind. Isaac stopped at the doorway and forced himself to look at the table instead of the woman now standing next to him.
Colorful ribbons, pinecones and glass balls paraded down a silk runner in the middle of the table, and the centerpiece was a golden-brown goose on a silver platter, garnished with sprigs of pine and berries. There were crystal goblets, polished silver, and a feast of Christmas pudding, roasted potatoes, and mince pie.
Josiah pulled his wife close to his side. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
Maria blushed and gave a small shrug. “It is Christmas, after all.”
Elizabeth tugged on Josiah’s coat. “I helped, Papa.”
As Josiah enveloped both children in his arms, Isaac glanced over at Lavinia and saw the flash of envy in her eyes. Again he thought it odd that she hadn’t mentioned her fiancé when he’d shared his story about Rebecca this morning. Perhaps she still longed to be loved, like Josiah loved Maria.
Isaac pulled out the chairs for Lavinia and Elizabeth, and then Josiah blessed their meal and began carving the goose.
“Thank you for letting me spend Christmas here,” Lavinia said as she lifted her plate for a serving of the mince pie.
Maria smiled at her. “It is our pleasure to have you.”
Ezra reached for a roll and began spreading huckleberry jam on it. “Where do you come from?” he asked, but Maria hushed him before Lavinia replied.
Elizabeth scooted closer to Lavinia and attempted to whisper, though everyone at the table heard her words. “Are you an angel?”
Lavinia smiled. “I am not.”
“She looks like an angel,” Elizabeth said as she turned to Isaac. “Don’t you think she looks like one?”
He started to cough.
Maria passed the bowl of pudding to her daughter. “Let’s not pester our guests.”
Josiah lifted his drink. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Maria repeated.
Isaac lifted his glass with them, and when he glanced back toward Lavinia, she smiled at him. If he hadn’t read the newspaper story, he would have thought she was an angel as well.
An oil lamp flickered outside Lavinia’s bedroom window on the second floor of the Kempers’ house. When Maria asked her to stay the night, she didn’t resist. Even though she didn’t want to return to Omaha, she didn’t want to spend another night in Isaac’s barn either. Some might think it strange, but tonight as she basked under the warmth of a fur blanket and clean lilac-scented sheets, in the pillows and soft mattress, her heart was content.
She prayed as she watched the light. She had no money to leave Aspen or wire Mr. Tipton again, but if God was powerful enough to send His Son to the world, surely He could continue to guide her. First thing in the morning, she would visit the telegraph office to see if Mr. Tipton had sent a return reply. Then she would decide what to do next.
The Kempers had been incredibly kind to her, and Isaac—
The family had sung Christmas songs tonight around the fire, Maria accompanying them on the piano. While the others were watching the fire, she caught Isaac watching her, and the warmth in his gaze startled her. Usually when men looked at her, she saw greed, or in Patrick’s case, hatred. But not Isaac.
Patrick had said no one else except Charles would want to marry her unless a fortune was attached to their future. And she’d believed him. When men back in Omaha thought she would inherit the Starr estate, they’d promised her all sorts of outlandish things if she would marry them, but she’d refused each proposal, knowing she would only be trading one prison for another.
Not that she was considering marriage now—
She yanked the covers up to her chin, glad no one else was privy to her silly thoughts.
She’d heard Isaac and Josiah whispering about the Coronado, and Isaac said the mine would be shut down the first of February if he didn’t find a vein of silver … or another investor. If Patrick offered a reward for her return—and Isaac found out about it—everything would change between them.
The Kemper children adored Isaac, and she understood why. Even though he held an important position at the mine, he cared for those around him. He treated these children with kindness and brought food to a stranger who’d hidden herself away in his barn. Isaac felt sorry for her, that was all, and she was grateful for his concern. She may enjoy his company, but he didn’t feel anything except perhaps pity for her.
As her eyes grew heavy, the image of Josiah and Maria flashed through her mind. The admiration that flowed easily between the two of them was like the sweet love she’d seen between her parents when she was a girl. Charles never looked at her like that, nor would he. He didn’t seem to see her at all.
She glanced back out the window one more time at the snow falling softly outside the glass. What would it feel like to have Isaac slip his arm around her shoulders and tenderly kiss her cheek or even her lips?
She shivered again, but this time it wasn’t from the cold.