Chapter Two
Excerpt from Ch One
Only question he, Victoria and their children had was…. why now? Why send such a telegram so many years after the fact?
Rachel Caulfield stiffened as she heard the coughing coming from the small room Leah Simmons Sawyers occupied. While the cough was not consistent, it was a reminder that her dear friend was ill. No, dying. It was a fact that could not longer be denied. When 'their boy' and his small family came into view, Rachel watched as Hannah set down her laundry and gave him a huge hug. Unlike Hannah James, Rachel knew about the telegram. How could she not when she had been the one to send it? Sure, when she'd confessed that fact to Leah, the dying woman had given Rachel an earful—only to get one back.
"You've heard the talk as well as I have!" Rachel folded her arms planted her feet at the end of Leah's bed. "They're-meaning all the owners of the mines-are talking about reopening the mines. In fact, it's more than talk. There's word that the majority of shareholders have asked that 'Tom and his two boys come down and inspect the mines, along with talking with a few investors. If I didn't do something, that 'boy' of yours would wind up back in that hole! He doesn't belong there, and we both know it! He needs to fulfill that dream of his!"
Leah bit her lip and then let out a breath. "Of course, I don't want him working in any mine! Only, it doesn't matter where he belongs. Neither of us, nor Hannah, have the money to send him where he does. He doesn't either…not with a wife and children depending on him. However, telling Tom Barkley about him in the hopes that he will hand over the money for my boy's dream to be fulfilled? There's just something wrong with that!" She bit off the last few words.
"There's something wrong with it?" Rachel snapped, a bit of disbelief in her voice. "What was wrong was done the moment you lay with Tom Barkley, and again when you lied to him and his wife! That 'boy'...as you say… is Tom Barkley's son as well! I'm not going to say I'm sorry for sending the telegram, nor am I going to try to stop any meeting from taking place!" She'd then turned and left the room before her long-time friend could say another word.
Rachel came out of her thoughts as she watched 'Little John' climb out of the wagon. Why they gave the child such a nickname was beyond Rachel. He was growing like a weed, and John wasn't even his legal name. Then again, the nickname might have something to do with the child's wild imagination and love of books…especially any version of Robin Hood and his merry men, especially Little John. The twins, Leah and Mariah, were right behind their brother. "When you find out what I did," she thought as she watched their father take the baby from his wife, Annie, and then -holding the infant in one arm, held the woman's hand while she climbed out of the wagon. The raven haired, light blue eyed beauty had turned every head in town, but she'd never had eyes for anyone but 'that Thomson kid'…as most of the adults in town said. "Please, understand." Rachel had no more time to think as Little John barreled through the door.
"I have a present for Grandma Leah!" The young child held up a small box and ran for the back bedroom. Before Rachel could stop him, Annie and the rest of the children walked through the door.
Annie didn't have to ask why Rachel was looking at the open doorway. "He's not coming in. He's going to take the wagon into town." While she'd been talking, Annie walked over to a cradle that set next to the 'new' couch that sat in the living room and laid down her infant son. The furniture was actually five years old only her husband had worked out a deal with the original owner who wanted it out of their house. Her husband had thrown out their old one. "And, before you ask, yes, he's going to check into the rumors about the mines."
"He's not a miner!" Rachel snapped out of frustration.
"I know that!" A normally patient woman, Annie turned on Rachel-mostly because she was tired of hearing what she already knew. "He doesn't want it either only jobs around here are scarce! The only sure way to get another job; the only chance he has of earning enough money to live his dream is to move and Mother can't take that!" She almost added 'It's been years since Miss Leah could handle a move' only she thought better of it and refrained from making the statement out loud.
"I'm sorry for raising my voice." Rachel sighed as she sat down at the table, knowing Annie spoke the truth. "Only," she shook her head, "Leah has lived her life; she had some of her dreams come true…not all, but some. Your husband deserves to live his dreams as well. He has the talent for what he wants to do."
No one had to tell Annie what her husband wanted, had wanted for years. The two of you need to break this relationship off for now!' Mentally, Annie shook her head. Her mother had been against the relationship from the beginning. The woman claimed it was because the young couple would only be holding each other back. She sighed as she remembered standing in her parents living room. Her mother was speaking. 'If you marry now, he won't pursue any work outside this town, not with his mother's health going up and down the way it does! You have your own dreams to follow as well! In spite of what her mother claimed, everyone knew what was the true motivation for the woman's objections- her husband's illegitimacy. Only, no one would admit it out loud. If her father had shared the same attitude, life for the young couple would have been worse. As it was, he'd horrified his wife by signing the papers needed for his sixteen-year-old daughter to marry the love of her life. "He'll get his dream…some day. I know he will." Annie walked over to 'Aunt' Rachel, patted the older woman on the shoulder and let out her own sigh. "We just have to believe it."
For a split second Rachel thought about confessing what she'd did only changed her mind. Tom Barkley was on his way to Strawberry, if he hadn't already arrived. All she could do was pray that she hadn't wasted her time in revealing the truth to the gentleman.
