Peace Like River

*Osborne refers to the Squire not to his oldest as I still do not recall the man going by anything but squire in the book. And since the oldest son was often named after their father it made sense to use it.

** is a story that I have left up and

***, obviously, is a rewrite

**** It was not uncommon for an attorney in the 1800's to be referred as a solicitor.

Ch. 1

"Don't you think you should burn that writing journal? Someone's most likely going to believe that nonsense." Molly and I sit at an outdoor table at the Hamely Estate.

She is referring to the stories I'd written called **Roam No More My Lady, more particularly the second one ***Peace Like a River.

"They are good titles." I smile at my friend. "Why should I change them?" The tone I use as I speak speaks volumes; my friend has no trouble hearing my unspoken message.

"Keyona." Molly does not answer a question she knows is not seriously being asked, though she gives my attitude a slight rebuke when she says my name with just a tad bit of sharpness to it; a trait she'd obtained after her marriage.

"Relax." I waved my hand through the air as I looked at my friend. "I'm rewriting Peace Like A River. However, I like Roam No More My lady, so; no, I am not touching that one. Though, I must admit, I should have changed names when I wrote the stories. Why do you want me to get rid of the writing journal so badly anyway?"

"So, people will know you didn't go to America."

"I would have...if Roger's father hadn't been at the crossroads." I honestly had thought there was no way Osborne had seen through my mask. That is, until he'd pulled me out of ear shot of the driver of the coach.

"Give me a chance, six months. We'll keep it low key if you wish."

"Honestly? I thought he'd flipped his lid in spite of my own feelings when he asked me to do that. I had no money; no status, absolutely nothing."

"You came back." Molly admitted she and Roger had been floored when his father had told them he was going to go after Keyona.

"She's young enough to be your daughter." Roger was visibly upset. "Not only that; she has even less money than Aimee or Molly."

"What she does have is handled better than anyone I know." The squire dug his heels in. "You ignored social status and money, why shouldn't I?"

"If Roger was that upset with his father, I'm surprised he didn't fight harder for Osborne to stay put."

"He might have only I, along with my father, said the squire had a valid point. Roger – hesitantly – agreed to keep his mouth shut if you returned." She then asked about my first husband. "Was he really as bad as you painted him out to be in that journal?"

"Yes, and no." I lifted my hands and set them back down. "No, I didn't live quite like a pauper only, yes, I lived on a tighter budget than one might think I would need to. As to his treatment of me? I will admit the...man, while not nearly as abusive as some, was still quite harsh. So, no, I wasn't exactly shedding tears when he died."

"And your money? Does it really come from a rich uncle?" My friend kept her eyes on me as she asked the question. I can't help busting up laughing. I have no rich relatives. So, me getting any cash from them amuses me greatly. "I'll take that as a no." My friend crosses her arms and keeps a steady eye on me.

"I, unexpectedly, was told of the windfall after I'd married Roger's father." I sigh. "At first I had no idea who would leave me that kind of money until the *solicitor slipped and said the first half of my benefactor's name." It still amazed me and said as much. "I visited the dear lady more than once when my first husband was alive, did odd jobs as she had no children around. Her only son disappeared; word was he'd been lost at sea."

"Who was she?" my friend had a look of curiosity in her eyes as she spoke the question, and then added, "She must have thought a lot of you."

"I can't tell you, when I found out what she'd done for me I was also asked never to say her name. It turns out not many people knew just how rich their neighbor was, and she didn't want relatives causing me any trouble." I then shrug my shoulders as I think about my friend's added on comment. "You're right; she must have had me on her mind more than I'd thought" my mind turns back the clock as I remember my late benefactor. "The dear lady was a very gentle, but strong, soul." I shake the melancholy feeling that threatens to envelope me off and continue. "Her motives; I believe, considering there were strings attached to the money, she did not want me to be in dire straits again. Since she'd not met Osborne, but had heard about this estate, arrangements were made in a manner that made it so only I could touch the money."

The way things had been arranged when it came to the money made me smile. It had been invested into a couple of financial institutions, helping increase the amount I already had. A partial amount had been sunk into the land, including wages for the hired help. Absolutely none of it had been deterred to Osborne's hands.

"I trust you." The squire tapped Keyonna's nose. "I'm not your late husband. I'll not be trying to find a way for me to be handling your money. Whoever it was has, generously, helped to improve our situation."

"Do you think you will ever remarry now that Roger's father has crossed over?" Molly asked quietly. "While my stepmother has passed away, I haven't seen my father showing any interest in you as the story suggests." There was no anger in her voice, just confusion-and a bit of hurt at being left in the dark if that was the case.

"I might, but I honestly can't see it right now. I still have very strong feelings for the squire. I have a roof over my head, plenty of money and no need to work where I don't want to. Neither my son nor daughter, young as they may be, are in danger of going to an orphanage. And as to the subject of your father…" I chuckle, "… he makes a good character and I admire him. Hence, the good doctor got put in the story. You know what they say…. Nothing's safe around a writer." I think again about remarrying and continue speaking, "As already has been stated, I have peace like a river. Therefore, no, I haven't been in a hurry to take on another man's name." I suggest we go inside and not worry about the topic of me remarrying as being with the children and dinner sounds far more inviting. She agrees and follows me inside.

My taking on another name would eventually happen a few years down the road. The fact that the marriage would indeed be to Dr. Gibson was something I had no way of knowing at the time. It didn't really matter. At the time I was speaking with my friend, I had been telling the truth…there was peace like a river in my home.