Chapter 4

The winter weather had set in, more rain and some snow mixed in. It was chilly when Emily woke up. First, she checked on her little girl, and then went to prepare Abigail for her journey. She could not shake the feeling that there was something wrong with Mr. Beason.

Candy and Jeremy were both waking up. Jeremy lay there listening to the heavy rain on the roof. Jeremy reached over to pull her closer to him for one last snuggle before they got up. Candy was about to snuggle with him when she suddenly felt nauseous and went to the bathroom. Jeremy sat up and got himself dressed. Candy came out of the bathroom and did not look well.

"What's the matter Candy?" Jeremy asked concerned because he had never seen her look so bad in the morning. She got back under the covers and asked if he wouldn't mind having Molly cook breakfast, she did not feel well, and thought she was getting sick. He kissed her, covered her up, and went downstairs to see to the coffee, Molly was already up and had the coffee going and was just starting to cook the bacon and eggs. Christopher already had Michael dressed and bringing in the eggs and milk from the barn. Michael looked very happy.

"Molly how long has Candy been feeling this way. I haven't been home much, but I know that she was okay yesterday?"

Molly answered and said she has good days and bad. This has been going on for about a few weeks now.

"Jeremy, Candy won't want to eat any eggs this morning. I will bring her a piece of toast in about an hour with a cup of tea.

They all sat down to breakfast and Jeremy marveled at how easily Molly and Christopher had taken to helping with Michael. Especially Christopher who now at 13 was almost as tall as Jeremy himself. They sure had grown in the last few years.

A knock on the door made Jeremy come back to reality. He went to see who it was. It was Mr. Beason who had come for his daughter.

"Would you like to have a cup of coffee? Emily isn't here yet and we are just finishing breakfast." Jeremy said with a smile. Molly got up and said something to Christopher and he left while she was getting the dishes cleaned up, with Michael helping her.

Emily was just finishing dressing little Abigail when Christopher came to the door with Jason and Joshua. Emily carried Abigail and they discussed the feelings they had about Mr. Beason.

Jason, I don't feel right about giving Abigail to Mr. Beason, neither did Emily or Ben for that matter. Emily asked:

"Is there a way we can stall him for a few days more?"

Jason looked at Emily and was about to say something when Aaron came walking over to them.

"Good morning, Ben, Emily! Jason, Joshua. I have a request… Aaron started when Jason stopped him

"Aaron, if this is about our contract, we can discuss this later today. We have a little baby to reunite with…" Jason did not get to finish when Aaron interrupted and said:

"Jason, hear me out will you. I would like Ben and Emily to keep Abigail until I have an answer from the Oregon territory about this Mr. Beason."

Jason looked at Aaron, Joshua looked confused and spoke

"What is there to straighten out? The baby belongs to Mr. Beason!"

Well, she may belong to him. However, they were not sure about Michael, I had some inquiries made in with the governor's office in Oregon and it seems that the woman and her children were indeed with her father however, Mr. Beason may claim to be the father, but it seems that there is a problem with his legal status!"

Aaron showed them the wire that he had received as well as an official looking letter which had been sent by courier from Oregon.

Christopher, would you collect Michael and take him to Emily's as well? Come on Aaron, let's take a look into this.

Jeremy was sitting in the parlor with Mr. Beason and having a cup of coffee. Molly had walked in and said she would be with Candy if she was needed. She took Michael with her as well.

Candy was finally feeling better and was reading the diary of Millie Beason when Molly entered the room.

"Candy, are you feeling better?"

"Yes Molly, I am. In fact, after reading some of the things in Millie's diary, I am not sure that Mr. Beason is the father of her children. Just give me a few minutes and I will be dressed."

Molly said: "Jeremy is down there, with him now and I sent Christopher to get Jason and then get Emily with the baby. Michael is in Chris's room playing with some wooden blocks."

Candy asked Molly to help Michael clean up his toys and then come down the stairs. As Molly went past the parlor, Mr. Beacon looked at her and said:

"Why Miss Molly, Good Morning. How is this young rascal doing?" he got up from the chair and walked over to Molly and Michael. He made like he was going to pick the child up, but the child hid behind Molly and would not let go of her skirt. Mr. Beason looked at Michael and his eyes narrowed, and he said, surely you do remember me? Don't you Michael?

Michael hid even more behind Molly. Molly sensing something had happened between him and Mr. Beason, she said

"Jeremy, I will be taking Michael to go get his sister Abigail. She took their coats off the hook and said Good Day. As she was about to walk out of the house when Beason grabbed her and pulled out his gun.

Jeremy had just walked out of the parlor and would have stopped him if he had seen him. But now Mr. Beason had Molly, Michael would not let go of Molly and Candy was coming down the stairs.

"Well, isn't this a nice little family, do you know what, I think I will take little Miss Molly here and leave you with the little urchins. She will be very useful, and I can get a lot of money for her."

This shocked Jeremy and Candy who both rushed towards Molly and Mr. Beason, but little Michael came running from Molly's skirts and clung to Jeremy and spoke

"Pwease, pwease he tried to hurt mommy, he pushed her down some stairs, don't let him take Mowy too!" He was crying now, Jeremy picked him up and gave him to Candy who was on the first step of the stairway.