Chapter 33
The week following Christmas was a strange cacophony of laughter and tears. Astrid Matthews visited the Chauncy boys each day, and her sweet laughter and gentle disposition were a strange balm to Roseanna’s soul.
“Sooo big,” the woman said, helping Jacob stand – holding his arms up high.
“Me too,” Caleb insisted, mimicking the pose and encouraging Arthur to do the same. “See! We soooo big!”
“You are!” Astrid confirmed, her eyes alight with pleasure.
Once the boys were settled for their afternoon nap a short while later, Roseanna followed the woman into her husband’s office to say a final goodbye. “Thank you, Mrs. Matthews. I . . .” she stammered as she drew her arms tightly around her waist. “I never wanted your husband’s attention, but I love the children he gave me.”
The elegant lady nervously twisted the beautiful ring on her left hand several times before she could face her former chambermaid. “Gerald loved me once. Maybe he still does. I don’t know. But somehow, I believe he began this odd scheme for me,” Astrid admitted, guilt creasing her face. “Gerald knew how desperately I craved a child, and . . .” her hands fluttered nervously as she gestured to the room behind them.
Surprised to find she could understand the other woman’s desperation, Roseanna leaned in and bussed Astrid’s cheek. “You will always be welcome here.”
A pleased flush stole up the woman’s face, and her cheeks dimpled. “I promise to leave Gerald home,” she whispered conspiratorially near Roseanna’s ear before giggling and waving her final goodbye.
Ben cocked an eyebrow in Roseanna’s direction when the socialite was gone and shook his head. “Now, there’s something I never thought I’d see.”
Pointing to the front window, Roseanna echoed the sentiment as she gestured to the paddy wagon parked outside the icehouse. “Where are they taking them?”
“I’m not sure,” Ben admitted. “Rassbach’s attorney requested a change of venue. I guess he didn’t think that man would get a fair trial in Roses Briar. But he’s going to get more than he bargained for – Rassbach’s men aren’t holding back any details. And I’m sure things are gonna be mighty interesting in the courtroom when the case goes to trial.”
“You said anything to Pernelia’s fiancé?” Roseanna questioned after the prison transport pulled away, heading East.
“I didn’t have to,” Ben advised. “While you’ve been spending time with your brother and sisters, I’ve been holed up here with Kenneth Lindsay and our other two prisoners. Unfortunately, Lindsay didn’t realize who Orville’s fiancé was, and he spilled the beans when he filled the other two in on the Rassbach case.”
It took a moment for Roseanna to assimilate all that information, but once she did, the young woman turned away from the barred windows. “Is it always going to be like this?”
“Like what?”
“Hangings, thieves, dynamite!” Roseanna said, imitating an explosion by throwing her arms wide.
“I suppose there’s always going to be some level of excitement. We’re a growing town. And these railroaders can be a rowdy bunch. But there’s good, solid folks here too.”
Slipping an arm through his, Roseanna peeked up into her husband’s face. “I know. I got one of ‘em.”
Flustered by his wife’s praise, Ben hemmed and hawed for a moment, then he shored up his nerve and dropped a quick kiss on the girl’s sweet, pink lips.