Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Cold, anxious shivers raced up and down Amelia’s spine. Both Kat and Zach were missing. Zach was likely safe, but Kat? Was she hurt? Was she hiding? Avoiding them? Amelia had seen enough of the girl and her emotional outbursts to think it possible.
Poppy threw her head back and cried.
“Bedtime for you, little one.” Amelia took the baby upstairs, rocked her, and sang to her until she fell asleep. She settled her on the mat, then hurried back downstairs.
A sliver of orange and pink clung to the mountains in the west. What light there was would soon fade from the sky. She couldn’t stay here, doing nothing but worrying and praying.
“Gil, can you stay with Pa? Don’t let him go outside? And listen for Poppy though she won’t likely waken.”
“Why? Where’re you going?”
“To look for Kat. Maybe she’s closer to home and unable to call out.”
Gil rocked his head back and forth. “It’ll soon be dark.”
“I won’t go far, but I have an idea where she could be. Of course, I could be wrong.”
“Where might that be, if ya don’t mind me askin’?”
“You know that place where your ma and Zach’s ma sat among the flowers. I’m going to look there.”
Gil continued to look resistant. “If’n she’s there, why doesn’t she come home?”
“I don’t know. And there’s nothing to say she’s there. Can you watch Pa?” The older man sat at the table, paging through a book as if he knew he should be able to read it but couldn’t—poor man.
“I’ll stay. Now don’t you be long.”
“Not a moment longer than I must.” Her shoes crunched the dry grass as she trotted toward the hill she had in mind.
Wasn’t it possible that the place held special memories for Kat even as it did for Zach?
Though the only reasonable explanation for why the girl hadn’t come home was that something had happened.
Fallen and knocked herself out? Or had Sobel found her out there and—
No, she wouldn’t go down that twisted trail.
God in heaven, keep her safe and help us find her.
She crested the hill. The flowers had tucked themselves into bed, hiding their colors. Dusk filled the hollow. But—she squinted—someone or something was down there, almost hidden in the dark shadows.
Ignoring a tremor of fear that it might be a wild animal and moving as fast as was safe, she trotted downhill. And stopped. Exhaled loudly. It was Kat, curled up in a ball. Not moving. Then her shoulder twitched as the girl breathed, and Amelia’s own breath eased out in relief.
Not sure why Kat was so still, Amelia squatted in front of her. Even in the fading light, evidence of dried tears lingered on her cheeks. Her fingers curled around a bit of raisin cake.
“Kat.” Amelia waited two seconds and then whispered louder. “Kat.” And then she touched an arm.
The girl woke up in an explosion and sat up. “What? Where am I?” Her eyes focused on Amelia. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Kat glanced over her shoulder. “Where’s my horse?”
“He came home without you. It’s late, and we’re all worried.”
Pulling her knees to her chest, Kat sighed. “I fell asleep. Didn’t mean to. I was thinking of Ma.…” A sob quivered in her voice.
“This is a special place, full of memories of her.”
“Why’d she have to die?” The words wailed from her.
Daring to chance rejection, Amelia edged closer and put her arm around the girl’s shoulders.
Kat shuddered but didn’t pull away.
“Honey,” Amelia began, hoping the right words would come.
“I can’t explain why people die too soon.
My grandmother would say God’s ways are beyond understanding and not to be questioned.
I can’t say that I agree. I choose to believe God loves us and, even when things aren’t going the way we’d like, He still loves us and guides us. ”
“Ma would probably say the same thing.” Kat twisted her hands. “But things aren’t the same with her gone and Pa confused.”
“Your path is not an easy one.”
“No. But Ma would want me to be brave.” She pushed to her feet. “I’m hungry. Did you save me some food?”
“I think I can find something.” Amelia rose and fell in step with Kat.
As they approached the house, the door flew open, outlining Zach in lamplight. He was back, unharmed. Amelia’s breath caught in her chest, relief sagging through her.
Kat slowed. “Great. Zach’s angry.”
“Maybe he’s just grateful you’re safe and sound.”
With two bounds, Zach left the step and raced toward them. He skidded to a halt. “Kat, are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“Where have you been? I was worried sick.”
“I’m fine.” She marched past him into the kitchen.
Amelia caught Zach’s arm to stall him from following. “She went for a ride, then visited your ma’s flowers, had a little cry, let herself mourn, and fell into a deep sleep. She’s fine now, and that’s all that matters.”
He sagged. “You’re right. But she sure gave me a scare.”
Together, they entered the house. Gil, Pa, and Kat sat at the table. Amelia made tea and served Kat a plate of the stew, biscuits, and the pudding she’d served earlier to the others.
“I like the pudding.” Pa eyed Kat’s bowl.
Amelia gave him another serving.
He savored a spoonful. “Good food is good for…” He’d forgotten what he was going to say. He ate another mouthful. Then chuckled. “It’s good for the tummy.”
Tension eased from the air as they grinned at Pa.
Zach eyed Kat.
Concerned that he might scold the fragile girl, Amelia gathered up the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, hoping the commotion would distract him.
Perhaps aware of her brother’s state, Kat grabbed a towel, dried the dishes, and then hurried to bed.
Pa followed her up the stairs, and Gil slipped out the back.
Amelia sat facing Zach across the table.
“I know she had you worried, but she’s fine.
It might even have done her good to mourn her mother for a spell.
I recall how sorrow swept over me unexpectedly.
Still does occasionally.” Now, why had she admitted that?
It wasn’t as if she was sad or even that she wanted sympathy.
“It’s all part of grieving. We each do it in our own way. ”
“Thank you.”
She blinked at his change in demeanor. “For what?”
“For everything. Finding Kat, understanding what she needs, taking care of Pa”—he waved toward the stove—“making dessert. I assume it was you.”
“It was, but to his credit, Gil has been sober all day. Good thing, as I needed him to be here with Pa while I searched for Kat.”
“What made you think of looking there?”
“That place has so many memories for you, and I thought it might be the same for Kat.”
He huffed, but his eyes glowed. “This is the first time I’m glad for those letters you received so you have an understanding of things here.”
Appreciation, approval, being able to speak words of encouragement to Kat, they all settled into Amelia’s heart. Maybe he’d see how her presence could improve his life and suggest they proceed with the plans made in the letters.
“By the way.” He shoved his chair back, the sound sharp. “I’d like to take everyone to see where I’m going to cut more hay. It’s a pleasant little spot. Might be good for us all to do something fun.”
Perhaps like his ma and pa had once done.
“Can you prepare a picnic lunch?”
“Of course.”
He waited.
Realizing he expected her to go upstairs, she bid him good night and scurried away.
But in her room, she hugged her arms around herself. A picnic! Wouldn’t that mean something had shifted in his feelings toward her? Maybe he’d see how they’d all benefit from a marriage between them.
The next morning, Zach circled the yard, inspecting it for… well, he didn’t really know. But one could never be too careful. Tomorrow, he’d go out to check on the herd and get men to do the haying.
But today was for pleasure. His, as well as everyone else’s, he hoped.
He announced his plans over breakfast. “Gil, can I get you to stay and watch the place?” Again, no reason for his caution. But there it was.
“Sure, boss.”
“Do you have bottles stashed away?”
“No, boss.” Gil met Zach’s eyes without blinking. Still, Zach couldn’t be sure he was telling the truth.
“I’m trusting you to stay sober and be alert.”
“You expecting trouble, Boss?”
“Just being cautious.” Not that he would put it past Sobel to play dirty.
“I’ll be all eyes and ears.”
Poppy giggled. “You look funny.”
Pa chortled. “He sure would.”
The pair grinned at each other.
“Can everyone be ready to go in half an hour? I’ll get the wagon.
” At their agreement, he hitched up a pair of horses and threw in a saw and ax so he could clear a trail ready for the hay wagon.
Then he circled the corrals, again checking everything.
Why was he being so suspicious? His only explanation was he’d imagined all sorts of disasters when Kat was missing.
He shook off his dark thoughts and drove to the house.
Amelia held blankets and nodded toward the box full of food and water.
Pa carried Poppy. Both still beamed, obviously anticipating the outing.
Kat waited beside Pa. Even she managed to look eager.
They boarded and waved goodbye to Gil. If only Zach could count on him being sober when they returned.
Then he shifted his attention to the journey.
“Where are we going?” Pa asked.
“You remember that marshy area at the bottom of the valley?”
“It’s muddy.” Pa’s voice thinned, and he wobbled to his feet. “Poppy can’t play there.”
“It’s almost dried up. I’m going to get men to cut it for feed.”
For a moment, Pa’s mind cleared. “Guess we’re in need of rain.” And then confusion returned. “So long as Poppy doesn’t get all muddy.”
“Sit down, Pa.” Her touch gentle and kind, Kat nudged him back down.
They traveled along a narrow trail descending to the trees.
Zach stopped the wagon, took the ax, and removed trees and brush enough to allow the wagon to pass.
At times, there was enough room without clearing, and other times, he had to make a way.
It made the trip take much longer than it had on horseback.
The sun was high in the sky when they reached the clearing.