What they saw, as they stared at Mandy’s flushed face, made their hearts overflow. Gone was the look of despair and unsureness on her face. In its place was peace and the knowing look of a person who need not fear for tomorrow.
Amy spoke past the lump in her throat as her eyes filled with tears. “Welcome home, Mandy.”
“Thanks, Amy,” she said as her own tears began. “It’s so good to finally be here.”
32
The month of July sped by with alarming speed, and before anyone could take a breath it was the middle of August. In that time Mandy and Carrie developed a special routine with Silas and Amy. Each evening after the younger children were asleep, the four of them would sit down at the kitchen table to study the Bible. Silas led the study as they worked their way through the book of Galatians.
First reading a few verses, sometimes only one, Silas, and often Amy, would explain to the girls what God was saying to Christians and how they could apply it to their lives.
One night when they were just finishing and it was time for prayer, Silas told the girls something that had been on his heart for a few weeks.
“It’s been wonderful praying with you girls, and I’m blessed each time you remember to pray for your family’s salvation. But I’ve noticed you don’t often pray for yourselves. Amy and I pray for you, but I don’t want you to be afraid to ask God for things.
“So, beginning tonight I’m going to ask God to show you, in His time, who He has for life mates for you girls.” It took a few seconds for that to sink in.
“You mean husbands?”
Carrie’s voice was so astounded that Amy laughed. “Silas doesn’t mean right now, Carrie.”
“Definitely not right now—maybe never. But if and when the time comes—and Mandy, with your being 18, it might be sooner than you think—you’ll want God’s leading because it’s a most important decision; certainly not one to be taken lightly.”
The girls looked at one another, and Carrie could see that Silas’ words were not that great of a surprise to Mandy. She would have been amazed if she’d known all of her older sister’s thoughts. Mandy never once let on that she was in love with Ross Beckett. Yet privately, any talk of marriage immediately conjured up his face in her mind.
She hadn’t seen too much of him lately and had an uncomfortable feeling as to why. It was obvious Ross had been concerned about her soul, and for that Mandy was grateful, but anything beyond, such as a romantic attachment, was plainly out of the question.
Mandy clearly remembered the Sunday she had told him she’d understood and believed in Christ. He’d impulsively hugged her, and Mandy thought her heart would burst. But he hadn’t been around much after that. She’d see him at church but not usually close enough to talk with him, and only one Sunday did he come to Grandma Em’s for dinner.
Mandy would have held out hope, even through all of those signs, but the day she’d driven into town with Amy and saw Ross walking down the street with Candy Hunter was the day she decided to stop loving Ross Beckett. How naive she had been. If only it was as easy to do as it was to say.
“Now I don’t want you to take what I’ve said as a subtle way of telling you I want you married and out of the house,” Silas cut into Mandy’s painful thoughts.
“We didn’t think that,” Mandy told him with a smile.
“Good. Now I think we best get to prayer because my wife is falling asleep.” Amy was drooping and didn’t argue with his statement.
“It’s a good thing I wasn’t in bed. You’re making enough noise to wake the dead.”
“I tripped on something inside the door. I think the rug is turned up.”
“How’s Candy?”
Ross didn’t answer.
“Ross, how many times do I have to tell you I don’t care for her that way? She asked you to supper. I don’t think you’re moving in on my gal because Candy isn’t my gal. What I do think is that you’re seeing her to keep your mind off another young lady in town, and that’s not fair to you, Candy, or anyone else.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ross called up to his housemate, who had turned from his place on the stairs and gone up to his room. Ross checked the front door and ran up the stairs behind Pete. He didn’t bother knocking but just opened the door and leaned on the jamb.
“What did that cryptic little remark mean?”
“Let me see now,” Pete looked up at the ceiling as though picturing the events in his mind. “First you’re praying for Mandy because you know she’s not saved. Then you spend the Fourth with her and talk to her about Christ. The next day she makes a decision and tells you on the following Sunday that a lot of what you said helped her to that point. You go to Grandma Em’s one Sunday after that, and now you’re having Sunday dinner with Uncle Preston and myself. When you’re at church you’re careful to keep as many people as possible between you and Miss Jackson.
“Ross, old buddy, you’re avoiding Mandy Jackson like the plague, and I wish I knew why.”
“I wish I did, too.”
“Now it’s your turn to explain your cryptic remark.”
“Pete, do you have any idea of what it’s like to have a girl look at you the way Mandy looks at me?”
“It’s probably the same way Carrie looks at me when she thinks I don’t notice.”
“Carrie? She’s 15!”
“Tell me about it.”
They were both silent then; there didn’t seem to be anything else to say. Both young men sought their rest with hearts full of questions about the future.
33
“I feel like I haven’t seen you for days.”
“That’s why I came in a little early from the barn. We have two more buyers coming in this afternoon, so I’ll be tied up again.”
“I hate to ask you this, Si,” Amy said with her arms around her husband, “but the boys want to be with you so badly, and I can’t get them to stand still and try on some pants. School starts in two weeks.”
“We’ll take care of it right after lunch.”
They were just finishing with their food when Silas announced that the boys would try on some clothes immediately following the meal.
“But we want to go with you to the barn,” Clovis’ eyes pleaded with Silas to say yes.
“You can go to the barn with me, just as soon as you stand still for Amy and with a good attitude.”
The boys were careful not to reveal their boredom and were in new pants in the living room when Mandy answered a knock on the front door.
“Pa!”
Amy’s eyes met those of Silas’ where he sat in a chair with Becca. A look of resignation passed between them.
“I found your note, Mandy. Where’s your ma?”
“Please, Mr. Jackson, come in.” Silas arrived at the door on those words and Mandy was spared, for a few moments, the agony of telling her father that her mother was dead.
“I’m Silas Cameron and this is my wife, Amy. Would you like to sit down?”
The hard-looking man glanced down at his dusty clothing and declined. “I’ll stand.”
It was a pitiful scene. The children standing silent and unsure of themselves, and Silas and Amy desperately wanting to convey friendship to this man without forcing him to conclude that they were stealing his children. Mr. Jackson was clearly uncomfortable in this house and room. His eyes darted warily between Silas and his oldest daughter.
“Where’s your ma, Mandy? Why’re you here?”
“She’s dead, Pa.” The words were whispered. “Silas and Amy were worried about us staying alone and asked us if we wanted to stay here. I didn’t know what else to do, so I said yes.”
When Ward Jackson did nothing more than stare at Mandy, as if her words were incomprehensible, Mandy went to him and placed her hand on his coat sleeve.
“Pa?”
“When—how did she die?” Her touch seemed to jolt him.
“It was in June. She just got real sick and couldn’t get out of bed. It was
over fast. The sheriff couldn’t find you.”
“I’ve been out West.”
“We’ll get our things, Pa, and come home with you. Just give us a few minutes.”
But the hard-bitten man did not acknowledge her statement. He moved and sat down in the nearest chair. “It was all going to be so different this time. I had plans, and things were going to be different for your ma and me.”
The words were spoken to no one in particular, and Silas stepped forward and put his hand on Ward’s shoulder.
“We’re very sorry about your wife, and we wanted to do what we could. But your family can have their things gathered very quickly and go with you.”
The words removed some of the cloud that seemed to have settled over the grieving man, and he looked to each of his children. Rebecca stood uncertain by the chair she’d shared with Silas and gave her pa a small smile when his eyes met hers.
“Hi, Pa.” Clovis spoke the words softly when his father looked to him, but Levi, his hands at his sides, did nothing more than return his pa’s stare. Carrie moved her hands selfconsciously when her father’s eyes swung to her and said hello in a voice that sounded strained, especially to her own ears.
Mandy was the last to come under his scrutiny. She saw how tired and how much older he appeared. She also understood for the first time how little they knew this man; it was like meeting a stranger.
“You look like your ma when she was young. The way she looked when I first met her.” His head moved to take them all in once again and then rested briefly on Amy.
“They all look good, real good. I thank you for seeing after my younguns.”
“It was our pleasure.”
“Well, the truth is I hadn’t planned to be in town very long.” It was obvious to everyone this was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“They’re welcome to stay with us for as long as they need,” Silas broke in quickly, wanting this man to know exactly where they stood.
“It might be for the best if they stayed then, I mean with me moving on and all. There’s no problem with that is there?”
“No, Pa,” Mandy answered when he addressed the question to her. “Only—if you want us to come, we will.” Her eyes swept over her siblings and they all nodded. This had been discussed before and each child knew their place was with their pa.
“No, this is best. You look good. I’ll probably stop and see you before I go. Was she buried proper?”
“Yes, Pa. At the cemetery. Pastor Nolan said the words. Lots of people came, and it was real nice.” Mandy couldn’t go on. Her heart ached for this man, and she knew if she had to stand there much longer and watch his broad shoulders droop much lower she was going to start to cry.
Two months ago she’d have screamed at him for not being there when they needed him. Her heart was changed now, and all she felt was deep compassion for this man who seemed not to have the slightest idea how to be a husband and father.
“I’ll go now. You all behave.”
Mandy and Carrie walked him to the door and the look of surprise on his face when they both went up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek was enough to start their tears. Tears he misinterpreted.
“Don’t cry now. It’s better this way. Your ma would be glad to know you’re doing fine. I’ll be in touch.”
They stood and watched as he mounted an ill-used nag and rode away without a backward glance.
34
The sun was sinking low in the sky by the time Ward Jackson finished the letter to his daughter. He banged on the doorjamb of the general store for a few minutes before a woman let him in.
“Can’t you see the sign? We’re closed!” The words, said in exasperation, were ignored.
“I need to post a letter.”
“Come back tomorrow.”
“I’m leaving town tonight.”
“Oh, alright,” the woman said with ill-disguised irritation.
A few minutes later, Ward was back astride his nag and headed for home. He had a few things to do, and then he’d put Baxter behind him. Everywhere he looked he saw his wife’s face. He had to get out of town, fast.
The house had a cold feeling about it, and Ward felt no comfort in the familiar surroundings. He wasted no time in being about his business. Within seconds he had the tools he needed, and was headed off to a rocky place among the bluffs to the west of his few acres.
“When did he get into town?”
“Just this afternoon.”
“Where is he now?”
“He headed toward his house.”
Aaron Marks said nothing and gave no indication that he was even aware of the other man leaning against the bar.
“Are you going to follow him?”
“I don’t know if there’s any point in that.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Mr. Marks. He just mailed a letter to someone and said he was headed out of town.”
Aaron Marks looked at his informant with new respect. He put his hand out then and shook the other man’s hand. No one saw the bills that passed during that casual shake. Just as casually, Aaron Marks made his way to the door and out onto the dark streets of town.
Ward Jackson walked back to his house. He was sweating and his hand was cut from the splintered handle of the shovel, but he was satisfied. His wife would have been proud. He felt a deep pang within him as he pictured his children in the fancy room of the Cameron home, but instantly told himself it was the best thing for them. His wife would have wanted the best for them. He was rounding the corner of the building with the pick and shovel still over his shoulder when a shadow moved in the yard.
“I’m disappointed, Ward. I somehow thought you’d come to see me the moment you were in town.”
“There wasn’t much point. Your claim was worthless. I didn’t find a thing.”
“Is that a fact? And I suppose you’ve been out working in your garden with that shovel.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” The voice was deadly. For a moment Marks knew real fear and questioned his own action of coming out here alone.
“The truth is, Marks, I did strike it rich,” Jackson went on casually. “But I meant it when I said it wasn’t on your claim. I won what was believed to be a worthless stake in a poker game, and it was on that stretch of creek that I struck it rich.”
“You’re lying.” The words were spat out through clenched teeth.
To Marks’ surprise, Ward laughed. “You don’t like to be wrong, do you Marks? Well, you are. Just think of all the people you must have cheated over the years and call yourself even.” As if he hadn’t a care in the world, Ward swung the tools down and leaned them against the house.
He heard Marks move, but never suspecting violence from this man, was unprepared for the blow of the shovel on the side of his head. The weight of his body pushed the partially opened door wide and Ward Jackson died on the threshold of his run-down shack.
“Aaron, we were just looking for you. We need your money in this poker game.” The men around the table laughed, and Aaron Marks pulled out a chair and joined them.
“Where’d you go? We had to wait the game for ya.”
“A man’s got to answer the call of nature sometimes.” The words were said with good humor and again the laughter around the table was too loud, the result of “a few too many.” Had the vision of the men been a little less blurred, they might have noticed the ashen complexion of Marks’ face, and how his hand shook as he lifted his glass to drink and then picked up his cards.
35
Mid-morning of the next day, Luke and Silas were working with a buyer from Delton. A bit of light dickering over the price of a mare was taking place when Silas looked up to see Rufus Collins entering the barn. Silas met him near the door, and the men spoke in quiet tones.
“What’s happened, Rufus?” With his heart pounding, Silas asked the question directly. The look on the face of Baxter’s sheriff was foreboding.
“Ward Jackson was murdered sometime last night—hit ov
er the head with a shovel. Sorry to tell you like this, Silas, but I knew you’d want to be the one to tell those kids.”
“Who would do such a thing?” Silas was stunned.
“We don’t have any suspects at this point. Jackson had just arrived back in town.”
“We knew he was here because he came by yesterday looking for his wife and kids.”
“I never did locate him. How’d he know to come here?”
“Mandy left a note for him at their house.”
“So he knew about his wife?”
“No, Mandy told him after he got here. He decided to leave the kids with us. He told us he was headed back out of town and that he’d be in touch.”
“When was this?”
“Just after lunch. When do you think he died?”
“I can only assume but I’d say not too long after sundown. The palm of one hand was cut and the shovel laying next to him had a splintered handle.”
“What would he have been digging?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Who found him?”
“Aaron Marks.”
“Aaron Marks?”
“Yeah. Said he had business with Jackson and heard he was back in town. Said when he went out there this morning to see him, there he was—dead on the doorstep.” They talked for a few minutes more, and then Rufus headed back into town.
Silas was caught off guard when Mandy came out to the barn only a few minutes after he’d left.
“Why was the sheriff here, Silas? Has something happened to my pa?” Her face told him she suspected the worst.
“He’s dead, Mandy.” Silas said the words gently, wishing he’d had more time.
“Oh, Silas, no! He just got back. We didn’t get to see him at all!” Silas reached forward and drew her into his arms. He saw that Luke had discreetly taken their customer to the far side of the barn. Silas led a crying Mandy over to a nearby bench.