Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
E arly Saturday afternoon, Ashley sat by the outdoor firepit as he cooked meat. This time of year, it was too warm to cook in the cabin. The nights weren’t exactly warm, but since he and Lisa were sharing a bed, both agreed there was no need for a fire. He still wasn’t sure what to make of their marriage. They seemed to get along well enough. Their mutual dislike of the preacher gave them something to joke about. But, for the most part, their conversations revolved around the day-to-day living in this wilderness.
A couple days ago when he went out to check the traps for an animal, he had taken his knife with him. Lisa had questioned him about why he didn’t use a gun to hunt for animals. “Wouldn’t it be easier than waiting for something that might or might not end up in the trap?” she had asked. He hadn’t known how to answer her, so he’d settled for saying that he didn’t have a gun then left before she could ask him anything else. Thankfully, she hadn’t mentioned him not having a gun after that.
But that night, the nightmares returned. In them, he saw three men struggling in the dark for control of a gun. The gun fired. Blood splattered all over him.
How Ashley hated nighttime. With it came the dark, and in the dark, too many things were hard to see. It was too easy to panic, and when there was a panic, people lost control of a situation.
Not too far away, Lisa came down from the stream with a basket full of wet clothes.
He hurried over to her. “I said I would bring this to the clothesline for you.”
“This isn’t that heavy.” Since he held his hands out to her, she placed the basket in his hands. She nodded in the direction of the firepit. “You seemed like you were thinking of something important. I figured I’d leave you alone.”
“While I appreciate the sentiment, I would rather you interrupt me.”
The less time he had to think, the better. Sitting by an open fire while watching what he was cooking wasn’t much of a distraction.
He carried the basket over to the line and started to hang up the clothes. “Was the water too cold?”
“I can handle cold if I’m washing clothes,” she replied. “I wouldn’t want to take a bath in the stream with it being that cold, though. When does it warm up?”
“I hate to break this to you, but it never warms up. It just goes from freezing cold to cold.”
She grimaced as she hung up her dress.
He offered her a comforting smile. “I hate to say it, but when you live this far up north with all these trees, the sun doesn’t get a chance to warm things up as much. If it makes you feel better, I don’t mind heating up water for you. Do you need another bath?”
“I figured I would need to take one because tomorrow is Sunday.”
“I’m not going back to church.”
She turned wide eyes in his direction. “I thought you had to go when the preacher was in town.”
He shook out the wrinkles from his pants before he hung them on the line. “I only went to church last Sunday because I thought you might like to see your friends. If I had known his sermon would make you bolt for the door, I never would have taken you.” And that brought something to mind that he’d been meaning to tell her. As much as he dreaded the trip to town, he owed it to her to let her see her friends. “When would you like to pay your friends another visit?”
She bit her lower lip for a moment then said, “I hadn’t thought about it.”
“They seemed really happy to see you.”
She nodded. “They’re nice people.”
He thought of a good time to go and decided it could coincide with a time when he had to pick up some food staples from the mercantile. He was running low on supplies. The store was closed on Saturday and Sunday. There was no point in going until Monday.
“Why don’t we pay them a visit on Monday?” he suggested. “After we’re done visiting them, we can collect some things I need around here.”
“What do you need to get?”
“Flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, salt, coffee…” He was able to ramble those off quickly since he always picked up those items. But there were some things that were only available certain times of the year. After a moment, he added, “I wouldn’t mind getting some lettuce, asparagus, potatoes.” He paused. “And maybe some pears and strawberries. I like meat as much as the next person, but it’s nice to have some other foods once in a while. The hillside isn’t exactly the best place to raise vegetables and fruits, though you can find some mushrooms and berries around here.”
Her gaze swept the area. “I don’t recall seeing any mushrooms or berries.”
“You have to look carefully for them. Berries will be on some of the bushes around here. The mushrooms will be in the shaded areas of the ground or growing on dead trees.” He caught the flicker of disgust on her face and chuckled. “Have you ever eaten mushrooms?”
“Yes, but I never thought about someone picking them off the ground or off a dead tree.”
“If that worries you, then don’t ever ask Nona what she puts in her food. I learned that shortly after I met her and Boone when I asked what she put in the stew.”
“Why? What did she put in it?”
“You don’t want to know.”
Her eyes widened. “Judging by the grimace on your face, I’ll take your word for it.”
Had he really been grimacing? He quickly forced his expression to revert to a neutral state. He hoped he wasn’t that transparent with everything. Sure, he had been thinking of the animal organs Nona had put in that stew, but he had intended to keep his expression neutral. He hurried to pick up the last of the clothing so he could avoid further eye contact with her.
Once he was done pinning the last shirt up, he said, “I better get back to cooking.”
He offered what he hoped was a nonchalant smile before he retreated to the meat he was cooking. He didn’t know why he should be so shaken up about what had just happened. They had only been talking about food. It wasn’t like he had told her about his brother or his father. Now that would be a difficult conversation to have. In fact, he prayed he’d never have a reason to tell her about them. This was why he had chosen to live out here all by himself after fleeing from Rhode Island. He didn’t ever want to tell anyone about that time in his life.
He settled into his chair and took a deep breath to settle his nerves. Just because he married her, it didn’t mean he had to tell her anything. And she made it easy not to share it anyway since she never asked him about his past. So why did he worry that it might come up?
He waited until Lisa went into the cabin before he relaxed. He had a mind to go to town and tie the preacher to a tree for forcing this marriage. The preacher deserved worse, but he couldn’t allow that kind of punishment to sit on his conscience. Marrying Lisa had changed things. He wasn’t sure how, but he knew that, in time, he would find out.
* * *
As soon as Lisa saw that Preacher Ryder was at the Paxton residence, she wanted to hightail it right back up the hillside and hide in the cabin. She’d thought she was offered a reprieve since Ashley hadn’t made her go to church yesterday. But all they’d done was delay the inevitable. Was it always like this in a small town? Did people end up seeing the ones they most wished to avoid?
“Come in and have some coffee with us,” Myrtle invited before Lisa had a chance to make up an excuse to get out of there.
Lisa dared a peek further into the home and saw that Corrine and the preacher were sitting on the couch together. Henry, however, wasn’t in the room, and judging by the fact that there were only three cups on the table, it looked as if the current occupants were just Myrtle, Corrine, and the preacher.
The preacher rose from the couch and gestured for Lisa and Ashley to enter the home. “I’m sorry we missed you at church.” He went to grab two chairs and set them by the one that was already across from the couch.
Lisa glanced at Ashley, and she could tell he felt as queasy as she did about being in the same room with the preacher. But they couldn’t get out of entering the home. Bracing herself, she passed through the doorway first. Ashley followed.
“I’ll get you two some coffee.” Myrtle shut the door then went to the kitchen.
The preacher patted the chairs. He had a wide smile on his face. “Go on. Sit.”
Well, Lisa supposed that was a good sign. If he was going to reprimand her and Ashley for not attending church, he wouldn’t be smiling. Lisa reluctantly settled into her chair. Ashley sat next to her. He remained stiff, but he didn’t say anything.
Lisa’s gaze went to Corrine, and Corrine gave her a worried look. Lisa’s eyebrows furrowed. What was the preacher doing to annoy this poor family?
Corrine glanced at the preacher before her attention went to her mother. Myrtle gave Lisa and Ashley a cup of coffee then sat in the chair next to Lisa. The preacher returned to his spot next to Corrine.
Though the preacher looked like he was ready to speak, Myrtle beat him to it. “I’m so glad you two were able to come here before the rest of the town finds out the good news.”
“Good news?” Ashley asked.
Again, Myrtle spoke before the preacher did. “Oh yes. As you know,” her gaze went to Lisa, “Corrine’s husband met an untimely death, leaving her in the family way. Preacher is going to marry her so that the child can have a father.”
Lisa looked at Corrine again So that was why Corrine had spent a good portion of the trip in the stagecoach vomiting. She hadn’t been suffering because of the bumpy ride. She’d been enduring morning sickness.
Lisa knew full well that Corrine hadn’t been married. They had specifically introduced Corrine as “Corrine Paxton”. They probably hadn’t come up with a story yet to save Corrine from public humiliation. Corrine wasn’t even showing at this point. She must have just found out she was expecting when they headed out to Oregon. Well, it was no wonder that they hadn’t pressed Lisa about her past. They didn’t want Lisa asking about theirs.
Lisa’s gaze returned to Corrine’s mother. Myrtle and Henry had been willing to go with Corrine all the way out to this Oregon wilderness so she could keep her baby. Lisa’s grip on the cup tightened. Why couldn’t her parents have done something like that? Or, at the very least, why didn’t they send her to a relative who didn’t live in Vermont?
“I’m sorry to hear about your husband,” Ashley told Corrine, “but it’s nice that you have family to lean on at a time like this.”
Lisa had to bite her tongue so she wouldn’t say something unpleasant. It wasn’t fair. Her parents had so much money that they could easily have provided for her and her baby. She would have understood if they had sent her away in order to avoid scandal. She would have given up all the luxuries if it meant she could have raised her daughter. But since she hadn’t had their support, she’d had no choice but to leave the child with someone else.
Corrine cleared her throat, and Lisa looked her way. “Lisa, I wondered if you would be willing to help me make more coffee.” She picked up the pot. “Poor Ma has been doing so much work while I’ve been battling with morning sickness. I could use some help.”
Lisa knew full well that an expectant woman could handle making a pot of coffee by herself, but she saw the desperate plea in Corrine’s eyes. Corrine was going to ask her to cover for their lie so that the preacher—and the rest of the town—didn’t find out the truth.
Swallowing the bitter lump in her throat, Lisa set her cup down and rose to her feet. She wasn’t mad at these people. They had done nothing to her. But she was mad at her parents. And she was mad at Preston. They had thought of themselves as the pillars of society. They donated to charities. They lauded their good deeds in the newspapers. They even excluded certain people from their social functions because they were “better” than the others. Yet, when she needed help the most, they turned their backs on her. And now, out here, in this humble home that had none of the luxuries she was used to, this kind mother and her kind son gave up everything so Corrine could be with her baby.
“Preacher found a job for Henry at the Blacksmith’s,” Myrtle told Ashley.
“Is that so?” Ashley asked.
“You need to stop calling me Preacher , Mrs. Paxton. I’ll be your son-in-law soon enough. Please call me Forrest.”
Corrine walked over to Lisa, and Lisa’s attention went back to her. With a nod, Lisa followed her. Once in the kitchen, Corrine took Lisa by the hand and led her through the door at the back of the home. She shut the door and took a deep breath.
“I already know there was no husband,” Lisa quietly told her so no one would overhear. She couldn’t begrudge the poor woman the need for discretion. She, herself, hadn’t wanted to face the consequences of her sin.
Corrine turned to her and clasped her hands together. “Please don’t tell anyone,” she whispered. “We left in such a hurry from Iowa. We didn’t think the plan through. We came here to avoid bringing a bad name to our family. We don’t have much, you see, and my mother’s brother stood to make a promising business deal. There are people who would judge him by my actions. We didn’t want him to suffer for something I did.” She paused for a moment and wrung her hands together. “It was a moment of weakness. You have to believe me. I didn’t mean for it to happen. Wyatt was just so charming and sweet, and I fooled myself into thinking I loved him. It turned out he wasn’t worth it.” Tears sprung to her eyes. “I wish I could take it back, but I can’t. I’m stuck with this, and I really don’t want this child to suffer for something I did.”
Lisa stopped her before she kept rambling on. The words were far too familiar. Lisa might as well have been hearing echoes from her own past as she was pleading with her parents. “I won’t say anything. Your secret is safe with me.”
Corrine studied her for a long moment as if she was afraid she hadn’t heard her right.
On impulse, Lisa took Corrine into her arms and embraced her. “It’ll be alright. You have a mother and a brother who will do anything for you.” How Lisa envied her that. There was one thing, however, she didn’t envy. She pulled away from her. “Are you sure you want to marry the preacher? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he’s not exactly the most forgiving person. You would be better off letting people think you’re a grieving widow.”
“We barely have anything,” Corrine said after a long moment of silence passed between them. “Even with Henry’s new job, we’ll be pressed to make ends meet with another mouth to feed. We could use the preacher’s assistance. The mercantile owner already saved him a job for when he can live here permanently.”
Money. At the end of the day, it was ironic how everything came down to money. The preacher, as loathsome as he was, would allow Corrine to keep her child because he would bring this family more money. Lisa would have made the same bargain a year ago if it had been offered to her.
“I understand,” Lisa softly spoke. “But you and your family will be careful about what you tell him. If he finds out the truth, he won’t take the news well.”
“I know. That’s why we’re being careful. It’s why I asked to talk to you out here.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve noticed how passionate he is about living a righteous life.”
Corrine was being far too nice about him, but Lisa couldn’t blame her. A woman ought to think the best about the man she had to marry.
Lisa released her breath. “If I am to stick to the same story you are, then what was the name of the husband who died in Iowa?”
“Duke Austin.” She shrugged. “I combined the names of two authors I used to read. I wasn’t going to come up with someone real.”
“It’s a name that’s easy to remember.” Which made it an intelligent choice. “So, when will you and the preacher marry?”
“I’m not sure yet. That’s why he’s here.”
“Well, until you two are married, I’ll address you as Mrs. Austin when we’re in public.”
“Thank you, Lisa. If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”
It was a shame they hadn’t had this conversation as Lisa was making her way to Omaha, Nebraska. Had she been fortunate enough to come across Corrine in Iowa, she could have figured out a way to tag along with them on their way out here. And she’d have her daughter with her today. Lisa forced back her tears. Life was cruel and unfair. One way or another, everyone had to atone for their sins.
“I have no need of anything,” Lisa whispered then went into the house.