Leaving Lavender: A Time Travel Romance (Lavender, Texas Series Book 3) Page 11

  They began to talk and she listened with half her mind, knowing that all would be recorded in her memory to be pulled out at will. Was she not trusted with Lavender’s history?

  She heard the words: Zan’s bitter accusations, his brother’s defense which quickly turned to hints that the younger man’s brilliance hovered on the edge of insanity. Geoff Alston was trying his best to destroy his brother’s confidence in his own mind, and he was very clever about it too. She knew little of the mental illnesses he described, but if the attack had been against her, she would have come close to believing it.

  This was the brother who had brought him up, how could Zan totally dismiss such stoutly spoken convictions?

  Papa had told her once of dreams that had visited him during the most trying period of his life and of a mentor who had guided him. She was not of his blood or that of his grandfather, the Dr. Tyler Stephens who had led them all into the haven that was Lavender, Texas, but was of like mind. Closing her eyes, she tuned the voices of the two men to the back of her mind and, wide-awake, tried to find the dream that had once guided her father.

  She heard a baby crying even before she felt the ground under her feet. Being Eddie and prone to accident, she stumbled slightly and found herself steadied by a strong hand on her arm.

  “Now who might you be?” the voice was that of a young woman and she looked up to see that her helper was an inch or two taller than herself, her hair worn in neat braids that were wound into a coronet on top of her head.

  She could still hear the hum of Zan and his brother in conversation, each word registering itself in her brain even as she looked around to find herself in a somewhat familiar setting.

  She recognized the slope of the pasture rolling down toward the little pond, the landmark red hills in the distance. When she looked behind her she saw the Caldecott’s ranch house before the building additions. It looked plainer and newer and the fences around the pastures were of barbed wire, not the white wooden fences she’d so recently seen.

  The baby still cried and she watched as the woman walked over to a little makeshift cradle set under the shade of a tree and lifted an infant of perhaps six or seven months into her arms. With the baby, she sat down on the ground, unbuttoned the top of her dress and allowed the child to nurse.

  She had asked for a helpful dream so this must be it. “My name is Edith Stephens,” she said, “but people call me Eddie.”

  “I’m Maud Bailey,” the ranch woman said, her smile wide and friendly, “and this is my baby Jenny.”

  “Jenny,” Eddie responded. “That was my mother’s name.”

  “Her papa picked it out before he died.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Eddie stood awkwardly, wondering how this was all supposed to work. Here she was back at the farm, obviously at a much earlier date than when she last visited the Caldecotts. “About your husband, I mean.”

  The woman nodded. “Me too. Especially that his daughter will never know him.”

  Eddie nodded, feeling there must be some purpose in her being here, but not knowing what to say or ask.

  Maud, who was probably the younger of the two women, tried to help. “You could shell the peas while I feed Jenny.” She indicated a bowl of fresh peas at her side.

  This was something Eddie knew how to do. Back home she been set to shelling many a basket of peas for Mrs. Myers. She settled herself on the ground next to the other woman and went to work.

  It was a warm early summer day and the sense of contentment was as warm as the air while the quiet of the hills soothed her soul even as she continued to hear the murmur of the two men’s voices.

  “Am I really here, Maud?”

  Maud’s rather plain face took on a thoughtful look. “Who can say what ‘really’ means? We live here with my mama. She’s away today buying supplies, but when she’s here, I guess you could say she was really here, same as me and Jenny. You’re not here in that way.”

  “I’m like a ghost?” Eddie pinched her own chin and it hurt in a real way. She felt as substantial as always.

  “Me, I don’t believe in ghosts, but I’ll admit there’s lots of things on earth that I don’t understand and don’t suppose I will until the good Lord sees me cross to the other side.”

  “You don’t seem particularly surprised to see me.”

  She shifted the baby to her other breast, concentrating on her until she was settled and nursing. “Maybe it’s because there’s something different about me, but I can’t remember a time when I didn’t see things that other folks couldn’t see. When I was just a little girl, I’d look through those windows yonder—“ she nodded in the direction of the house—“and I’d see the first people here.”

  “Indians?” Eddie whispered the question.

  “That’s not what they called themselves. They had other names then. It was a real long time ago.”

  “You talked to them. You understood their language?”

  “Seems to go with the territory that we understand each other, no matter who it is who stops by. It is part of the gift I suppose.”

  “Can your mother do this too?”

  “Heavens, no! When I was little I tried to tell Mama about it and ‘bout scared her to death. She thought I was out of my mind. I soon learned not to tell anybody about those I see around me that aren’t visible to anyone else.”

  Eddie laughed. “I guess I’d be downright foolish to argue with you that you’re imagining things.”

  The wide mouth broadened into a smile. “I figure the good lord has a reason for the things that happen that he doesn’t always want to explain to us.”

  “So we’re here to help each other?”

  Maud nodded. “That’s how I’ve got it figured.”

  “How can I help you Maud?”

  All the laughter faded from that kindly face. “I’ve been thinking hard all morning. Mama, she has a niece back in Missouri who never could have children. She wants my Jenny. And Mama says it would be for the best, that I’m selfish to keep my baby when she’ll grow up shamed because her papa and me never had a chance to get married.”

  Eddie had been raised in a time when such things were only whispered about. She’d heard of real tragedies involving young girls who found themselves in the family way with no husband to stand by their side and was well aware that some weddings were rushed for obvious reasons.

  Young women of her time weren’t supposed to be aware of such facts, but Eddie had been brought up by a doctor and a woman who had lived in the 21st century.

  Still, who was she to give advice in such a matter? But Maud was telling her she was here for that very reason.

  “What do you want, Maud?” she blurted out the question.

  “I’d rather die than give up my baby, but I want what’s best for her.”

  Eddie closed her eyes and then answered. “My mother left me when I was just a baby. I’d give anything to feel that she didn’t want to abandon me.”

  She heard what sounded like a gasp of relief and opened her eyes to see that Maud’s eyes were shining with tears.

  “I’m not saying it won’t be tough,” Eddie warned.

  And then she was back in the room with Zan and his brother, now arguing in loud voices. She could still catch a hint of the sweet smell of the clover that blew in the breezes at the ranch.

  She didn’t have time now to think about Maud and Jenny. Quickly her mind assimilated the conversation between the Alston brothers. Zan was accusing Geoff of having betrayed him by selling his work to make weapons, siphoning off the majority of their resources from what Zan had intended to go to a start-up base on an earth-like planet faraway.

  Another planet! No, she didn’t have time to be shocked about that or about the meeting with Maud. Not now.

  Zan was very, very angry and Geoff was doing his best to placate him. He’d tried wheedling, explaining, yelling but Eddie could have told him, he was going about this in the worst possible way.

  “It’s done, Zan, an est
ablished fact. I’m a loyal citizen and I’ve done what I could to protect my country. I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same way.”

  Zan said a couple of strong expletives that made Eddie blink. Where she came from, men didn’t normally swear in front of young ladies, though she had picked up a few colorful words by accident. These, however, were new to her.

  “There’s a long history of profiteering from war, from the loss and sacrifice of others, Geoff,” his voice was low and enraged now. “You went out to become extremely wealthy and that’s what’s happened. Is that why your marriage broke up, because Nancy wouldn’t tolerate what was happening?”

  “Marian and I fell in love,” Geoff sounded indignant and his face was red as the waddles on a turkey cock. “And that has nothing to do with what we’re talking about.”

  Zan indulged in a couple more choice words, making Eddie grin. There was, of course, nothing even slightly amusing about this situation, but she did enjoy seeing her man stand up to his brother this way. Geoff had better watch out, he’d underestimated his little brother for way too long.

  Naturally there was no resolution to the debate and eventually they went back to the others where they found Jerry playing a video game with Betsy while Sara and Einstein looked on. The four adults seemed to be pointedly ignoring each other.

  Einstein barked once, then rushed to greet Zan with enthusiasm, transferring his delight to Eddie once he’d assured himself of his best friend’s well-being.

  The two guards had pulled up chairs near the doorway and were seated as though they were still at attention, their backs straight and their eyes watchful.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Perhaps it was the abrasive situation, but Zan found it a little sad the way Betsy made such obvious attempts to get to know her father while he treated her as just one of the strangers who had taken over ‘his’ house. Of course even the best of men might have been slightly inattentive when federal agents and his former wife’s relatives were now ordering meals, assigning sleeping quarters, and refusing him and his family so much as a walk on the lawn.

  They were all kept strictly within the house, though Zan himself, accompanied by his brother, was allowed to give Einstein his regular walks. Geoff used these occasions to try to persuade his brother to his point of view. Zan tried to keep the rising anger locked inside himself, buying time before Geoff and his henchmen determined their only avenue to his secrets were the use of chemicals.

  They were trying to do everything they could to make him happy, even to the point of assigning a double bedroom for occupancy by him and Eddie. He couldn’t help smiling at the thought of how the girl from the past had reacted to that insult. Funny how Geoff could be so smart and so stupid at the same time.

  Eddie had chosen instead to share a room with Betsy, though she was willing to spend most of the daylight hours in his company.

  “We need to try to get away,” she whispered as they sat next to each other on the window seat in the breakfast room. They were never left completely alone, a guard hovered near the doorway that led into the massive kitchen, pretending he had no interest in whatever they were doing.

  Zan couldn’t resist the temptation to kiss the soft lips so close to his own.

  “Hey!” She pretended indignation.

  “Well, if we want to talk seriously we have to make them think we’re just making out.”

  “Making out?” she asked, puzzled. “That sounds indecent.”

  “Definitely,” he agreed with a grin. “And how do you propose that we escape from this very well guarded mansion in this heavily populated region of the country? You have no idea how hard it is for us criminals to lose ourselves with all the surveillance equipment available these days.”

  “I rather got some idea of it,” she responded drily, “when you took all that trouble in New Mexico to try to hide us and they found us so quickly.”

  Rather than respond to what might be considered some degree of criticism, he kissed her again. To his surprise, she sank into the kiss, responding with sweet urgency.

  When the kiss continued beyond what was obviously the acceptable length, Einstein, on the floor near them, whined softly as though in protest. Eddie laughed and got down to give him a brisk rubdown. “We love you too, old fellow, you know that.”

  “How can we be so happy under these circumstances?” Zan asked the question as much of himself as of her.

  She reassumed her cozy position at his side, one foot still reaching out to touch the dog comfortingly. She whispered, “Don’t be surprised if I go away for a little while. Just act as though everything is normal.”

  He frowned at the face so close to his own, totally bewildered, and so saw her change of expression. Her eyes no longer seemed to focus on him and the muscles of her face softened. His heartbeat quickened with alarm. It was almost as though she were going into a stroke.

  And then her lips flashed into a smile and though her gaze was still remote, her features expressed pleasure as she saw some sight that made her happy.

  He reached out and wrapped his arms around her as though by holding her close he could keep her safe.

  Eddie had felt terrible guilt ever since the last meeting with Maud. What had she been thinking to advise the girl on whether she should keep her baby or not? Placing an unplanned child in a loving home elsewhere was often the best option, but she’d instinctively reacted to her own sense of loss and Maud’s obvious and desperate longing to raise her own little girl.

  Now she willed herself back into that world, anxious to make amends by qualifying her advice.

  Even as she opened her eyes wider at the sight of the little girl of perhaps two or three coming toward her, she felt the comfort of Zan’s arms around her.

  This child with her large eyes and rounded face, moving easily under her own power couldn’t be the infant in her mother’s arms that she’d seen only days ago.

  “Are you Jenny?” she asked.

  The child stared at her as though startled that this stranger knew her name.

  “It is Jenny.” Maud’s voice came from behind her and she whirled around. This Maud wasn’t the teen girl she’d met before, but a young woman probably about her own age. Her face had lost the plumpness of youth, looked harder, stronger. She didn’t seem surprised to see Eddie. “I was hoping you’d come back.”

  Eddie drew in a deep breath. There was hardly any point in qualifying her advice now. Years had passed and Maud still had her daughter in her keeping. “She’s adorable,” she whispered softly.

  “My mother spoils her, but I guess that’s all right as long as I teach her the best I can. I reckon we’re both more fond of her than is good for her.”

  Abruptly Eddie took in her surroundings, realizing the ground lay covered in snow and she was shivering. Both Maud and Jenny were warmly clothed, but she still wore the light dress she’d had on at the house in California.

  “Come on in,” Maud invited. “I’ll get you something warm to drink.” She took the little girl’s hand and led her toward the back door, still talking. “Mama’s not here today. She’s over at a neighbor’s where they have a new baby and need some help. Young folks, they have no idea what’s in store for them.” She chuckled, obviously reliving her own early days with an infant.

  As they entered the house, Eddie felt as if the heat from the fireplace embraced her and she watched as Maud went over to stir up the embers and add another log. She blinked tears from her eyes, remembering winter days with her family by the fire, reading and playing games. She was beginning to realize that there was a possibility that she might not see home and family again.

  She wanted to rush into conversation with Maud, afraid they would once again run out of time before she learned whatever it was she was supposed to learn from this woman, but Maud insisted on making hot coffee first, serving it with cream and sugar, and giving her child a cup of warm milk and a homemade cookie.

  She offered the plate of cookies to Eddie, who shook her
head.

  Maud settled into a chair across from her guest. “I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. It makes me quake to think how close I came to letting others influence me into giving up my baby.”

  Eddie glanced to where the child was nibbling at her cookie, seeming totally absorbed in her own thoughts.

  “I’ve been worried. I had no business giving my opinion about something so important.”

  “I can make up my own mind. It was my choice, not yours, but I can’t help thinking the good Lord himself sent you to say the words I needed to hear.”

  Eddie felt as though a weight slid off her shoulders at what Maud had said. She hadn’t quite realized how she’d felt after speaking those life-changing words to Maud, who was still only a girl back then. Now they were both women talking to each other on equal terms.

  “Has your mother come to terms with your decision?”

  Maud smiled. “She fought me hard, but now she admits she’s glad. Jenny makes both our lives better. I took his name though we never married. It was what he would have wanted, for his daughter to be raised under his name. I’m Maud Bailey Sandford and nobody dares challenge me, to my face at least.”

  Eddie laughed. She imagined this woman could stand up to anything. Woe to the person who tried to denigrate her daughter. “Good for you.”

  “And you? You have some reason for coming here.”

  She sipped her coffee, a drink she loathed but wasn’t about to reveal that to Maud who seemed to feel she was providing a special treat. Though she disliked the taste, she had to admit that the warmth of the drink did make her feel better. “My life’s a mess and wonderful at the same time. I’m so much in love but at the same time there’s no chance for us to be together.”

  The fire crackled in the silence that lay between them, than Maud opened her mouth to speak.

  “You’re back!” Zan hugged her close, sounding relieved. “I wasn’t sure what was happening.”

  “I’m back and at just the wrong moment. Maud was about to tell me something important.”