Heaven Must Wait

  Chapter Five

  Pa and Ma rose from their chairs and went inside. The boys wrestled and chased one another in the pasture beyond the porch. Her sisters went to play checkers on the kitchen table. Leann rose from the steps and sat on a rocker. She waited, watching the road for a horse and rider. The sweet scent from Ma’s sweetheart rosebush beside the steps wafted through the humid air. Dusk turned to dark. The moon and stars shone brightly in the night sky. The boys tired and soon went to bed. They had early morning chores.

  Ralph didn’t come. Her heart turned as heavy as the large boulder down by the creek.

  Ma stood in the doorway. "You need to come on inside, Leann. Don’t fret. Something happened to keep Ralph from coming to see you. He’ll come when he can."

  Leann rose without saying a word, went to her room, dressed for bed, and crawled between the cool sheets. Tears spilled from her eyes. She wiped them away with the corner of the bed sheet. Her sisters came into the room.

  Sue stood beside Leann’s bed, looking down at her. "Are you crying?"

  "No," she responded through a somewhat stuffy nose.

  Mary Jane sat on the edge of Leann’s bed while Sally changed to her nightgown. "I’m sorry Ralph didn’t come to see you like he promised. Something dreadful must have happened to keep him away." Mary Jane patted her arm.

  Leann didn’t want to talk about Ralph. Her heart felt too heavy. She turned over on her side, away from Mary Jane and Sue. The two girls left to change into their nightclothes.

  Sally came to stand beside Leann and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Sis."

  Leann took her sister’s small face in both hands and kissed Sally’s pink cheek. "I love you, sweet Sally."

  The three girls settled into their beds and soon began breathing heavily with sleep. Sleep didn’t come to Leann. She prayed and asked the Lord to heal her heart. If Ralph didn’t want her, help her to live without him.

  The next morning, Leann woke with a plan. She would go to Ralph and talk to him. He would have to say to her face that he did not love her. She would be crushed to hear him say so, but she must know the true feelings of his heart. She needed to get on with her life and try to forget him, if he didn’t want her.

  Leann dressed and went into the kitchen. Her mother worked at the stove cooking eggs and bacon for breakfast. The aroma of buttermilk biscuits emanated from the oven. Leann grabbed an apron from the hook beside the stove and quickly tied it in place. Her heart raced with anticipation. Hopefully, Pa was in a good mood this morning.

  Ma turned to her. "Set the table and pour the milk, Leann. The men will be in soon."

  She took plates and glasses from the hutch beside the stove then began setting the table when her sisters entered the kitchen.

  "Good morning, Ma and Leann." Sue happily opened a hutch drawer, took out knives and forks, and set the flatware beside the plates.

  "Good morning to you girls," Ma said as she dished up the eggs from the pan.

  Mary Jane hummed while taking a jar of blackberry jelly from a shelf and placing it on the table. "How did you sleep last night, Leann?"

  "Just fine, Mary Jane. Thanks for asking," Leann answered, trying to mask the quiver in her voice. She glanced toward the stove and noticed Ma watching her. She turned away and finished setting the table.

  The sound of stomping feet echoed from the stoop off the kitchen. Pa and the boys were cleaning boots before coming inside. Her brothers entered the kitchen and washed their hands at the kitchen sink. Tom took his seat at the table while Pa placed a bucket of milk on the kitchen counter and washed his hands. Luke slapped Stewart with the hand towel. Stewart socked Luke on the arm.

  "Stop hitting each other in this kitchen," Ma told the boys, while dishing up food and placing the eggs, bacon and biscuits on the table. The two boys took their seats. The girls joined them, while Leann poured fresh milk into each glass. Ma poured coffee for herself, Pa, Tom, and Leann. Leann tried to avoid her father’s eyes.

  "How are you this morning, daughter?" he asked when she sat down.

  "I’m fine, Pa." She looked up at him. He seemed to be reading her mind. She quickly looked away, picked up her napkin and placed it in her lap.

  "I’d like some coffee, Ma," Luke said.

  "When you get fifteen, you can drink coffee," she answered.

  "I’ll be fifteen next month." Her brother's mouth turned down into a scowl.

  Without saying a word, Ma took another mug from the hutch, filled it with coffee and handed it to Luke. The scowl turned into a broad smile as he took a sip and set the mug on the table. Pa bowed his head. The family followed suit.

  Pa gave thanks for the Lord’s many blessings, the food, and his family. He asked the Lord to keep all of them healthy and safe. "And Lord," he added, "help Leann know Your will in her life. Give her peace and help her realize she’s too young to get serious over any man."

  Leann raised her head to lock eyes with her father. She didn’t smile and neither did he. She spooned eggs on her plate and then passed them to her sister. The family ate breakfast with the usual conversation about the farm, prices of wheat, cutting the hay, canning the vegetables, and health of the animals. Leann didn’t eat much. After the breakfast dishes were washed and the kitchen cleaned, she went to her father, who sat on a bench in the mudroom pulling on his work boots.

  "Pa, may I use the buggy today? I would like to go into town and visit with Ginger." She brushed at a strand of hair on her face.

  Her father looked up. His brow furrowed and his eyes scanned her face. "I guess so. I’ll send Luke with you. He can buy our supplies and chicken feed while you visit."

  Leann tried not to show disappointment. She knew her father would not change his mind. She would swear Luke to secrecy. "Okay. Can he be ready to leave soon?"

  "He’s out in the barn, but I’ll send him on in." Pa finished pulling on the second boot and stood up. He looked directly at Leann. "I know you’re disappointed about Ralph not coming to see you last night, but he’s a farmer. Things come up on a farm. Just mark my word, I’m sticking to what I said about the two of you getting too serious until you turn eighteen."

  Leann averted her eyes from his. The heat of anger rose in her face. Pa didn’t have to keep reminding her that he still considered her a child. She had no choice but to obey him, unless Ralph would elope with her. She planned to find out exactly how he felt today.

  Pa left the house. She went to find her mother and tell her the plans for the day. Ma found a pencil and small piece of paper to make a list of supplies she needed from the General Store. Leann went to her room, rearranged her hair, and changed to a more attractive dress. She wanted to look her best for Ralph. She waited for Luke on the porch. He soon brought the wagon around to the front of the house and climbed down to help her to the wagon seat.

  "I wanted to take the buggy," Leann said while getting settled. She could drive the horse and buggy with no difficulty, but managing two horses and the wagon was harder.

  "Pa wants me to get some feed and a sack of flour. Can’t carry heavy sacks in the buggy." Luke took his seat, clicked to the horses, and snapped the reins.

  Leann handed Luke the paper with Ma’s list. "You need to buy these supplies at the General Store for Ma."

  Her brother turned to look at her. "What’s wrong with you buying the supplies?"

  "I need to use the wagon while you buy the supplies. I won’t be too long. You can visit with some of your friends in town while I’m gone."

  "Pa said you wanted to visit with Ginger. What do you mean while you’re gone?" Luke turned back to the horses and popped the reins.

  She slipped her arm inside Luke’s. He turned to look at her again. She smiled. "You need to keep a secret for me, Brother."

  "Now look, Leann. I’m not taking part in any of your schemes. You’ll get us both in trouble." He moved her arm and clicked to the horses.

  "I’m going out to see Ralph." There, she said it.
>
  Luke turned to her with wide eyes. "What? Are you out of your mind? Pa will have your head and mine. I don’t want no whipping because of your love life."

  "He won’t know if you don’t tell him." She slipped her arm in his once more.

  "I don’t know, Leann. You’re treading in dangerous waters."

  "I’ll take full responsibility."

  "Yeah, and I’ll get the whipping for letting you take the wagon." Luke flicked the reins. The horses jumped and Leann’s head jerked backward.

  "Luke stop that. Just tell him you thought I was going to Ginger’s." She straightened her bonnet.

  "It’ll take three hours for you to go out to Ralph’s and back. We’ll be too late getting home." Luke's voice cracked when he tried to raise it. He cleared his throat.

  "Not if you have all the supplies bought when I return." Leann patted his arm and smiled when he turned to stare at her.

  Luke didn’t answer, but she knew he would agree and keep her secret. This brother was her pal. Tom, at eighteen and the oldest, was reserved and quiet, harder to talk to. Luke, although two years her junior, was fun-loving, open, and confided in her often. They talked a lot. She could tell him things she would not dare tell her sisters.

  By mid-morning they arrived in the town of Cuba. Luke guided the wagon to the General Store, handed the reins to Leann, then jumped down. His hazel eyes narrowed. "Be careful, Sis, and don’t take all day getting back here." He handed her his leather gloves.

  Leann smiled while pulling on the gloves. "Don’t look so glum. I’ll be back before you know it. I’ll bet you can find a friend to talk to."

  Luke didn’t say more, just turned toward the store. Leann snapped the reins to move the horses forward. She walked the team through town, looking straight ahead, and pulled her bonnet closer around her face. Hopefully, no one would recognize her. At the edge of town, she hurried the horses along. Usually, while riding in the wagon, she let her eyes roam the beautiful countryside, but today she gave her full attention to driving the team of horses and getting to Ralph’s quickly. Thank goodness Pa’s horses were gentle, and the two pulling the wagon had pulled together for several years. They were easy to manage if no unforeseen trouble came their way.

  Ralph’s cabin came into view. Smoke curled from the chimney. He must be preparing lunch for himself. He could cook the essentials like stew and soup, but didn’t have a stove. All of his meals were cooked in an open fireplace. She asked him why he didn’t buy a stove for his cabin, and he replied he didn’t need one. His mother kept him provided with food, and he could cook whatever else he needed in the fireplace. He said he planned to buy a stove when the cabin was finished. Right now, there was little time to do much cooking.

  Leann guided the team to the front yard. She expected Ralph to walk out on the porch to greet her. He didn’t. She tied the team to a large oak tree, removed her bonnet and gloves, leaving them on the wagon seat, and climbed down. She made her way to the front door and knocked. The door opened with her knock. Standing in the doorway, she couldn’t decide if she should enter, call, or just go inside. She took a step inside the cabin and started to call to Ralph when she heard his deep voice coming from the bedroom off the kitchen. Then a soft female voice spoke. She couldn’t understand the words. Her hand flew to her mouth to smother a cry. She must leave, but her feet froze to the floor.

  After several minutes of listening to the voices, they grew silent. Leann made her feet move and turned to leave. She reached the front door when Ralph called her name. She turned to face him. He stood in the doorway of his bedroom holding a tray with dishes. He quickly put the tray on the kitchen table and rushed to her. She turned to leave again, but he grabbed her arm, pulled her against him and held her in a tight embrace. Tears stung her eyes.

  "I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your house last night." He spoke into her hair.

  "I need to go home." Tears dampened the front of his shirt. She tried to pull away.

  "Stay. I want you to meet someone." He lifted her chin, kissing her lips with such fierceness, her heart skipped several beats. She couldn’t help but return his kiss.

  He lifted his head, smoothed her hair, and led her toward the bedroom. He moved aside for her to enter first, then followed. Leann wasn’t prepared for what she saw—the mangled face of a young woman no older than herself.

  "Oh my goodness," she cried.

  The woman stared at her with one eye wide with fear. The swollen one remained closed. Both were dark with shadows and bruises. A large sutured cut, painted orange with iodine, crossed her forehead. Dirty hair hung limply across her shoulders and lay glued with dried blood around her face. She wore a man’s nightshirt opened down the front, exposing a large bruise on her chest.

  Ralph walked to the other side of the bed. "Leann, this is Pearl. I found her on my doorstep yesterday. Someone beat her real bad and cut her forehead, but she won’t tell me who. Doc Reynolds sewed up her forehead."

  Sympathy for the woman filled Leann. She had never seen anyone so badly beaten. Leann looked at Ralph, his face grim and gray.

  Her gaze slid back to the woman’s matted hair. "Would you like for me to help wash the blood and dirt from your hair?"

  A faint smile appeared. "Yes, that would be real nice. It feels so grimy."

  "Can you stand and bend over the wash basin?" Leann asked.

  "I’ll try." The woman swung her feet off the bed and tried to stand. Ralph helped her.

  Leann could see Pearl’s womanly curves through the nightshirt and didn’t like the thought that Ralph had probably seen more than the curves of her body through a nightshirt. "Ralph, if you’ll heat some water in the tea kettle and excuse us, I’ll help Pearl."

  He left Pearl standing beside the bed, gave Leann a kiss on the cheek as he passed her, and left the room. Leann went to Pearl and helped her walk to the bedroom’s washstand. She moved the straight chair to the front of the stand and helped Pearl sit down facing the bowl. Leann picked up the used towel, put it back on the rack, and searched the lower shelf for clean ones. Locating two towels, she placed one around Pearl’s neck and one over the edge of the washbasin to catch stray water, and then examined the soap. Two bars lay beside the basin—a bar of lye soap and a bar Ralph had purchased from the General Store that smelled of chamomile. She chose the chamomile bar, wishing Ralph had shampoo, but knew he didn’t. He must use the lye soap on his hair, it was so unruly.

  Ralph returned with a kettle of water and handed it to Leann. He smiled at her and formed the word, "Thanks," with his lips. She returned his smile as he left the room.

  Leann helped Pearl bend her head over the basin, poured warm water over the woman’s hair, then took up the soap and lathered the matted locks. Pearl protected the wound on her forehead with the towel. Leann gently massaged the soap into the dirty hair, rinsed it with the warm water, and wrapped the towel around Pearl’s head.

  Leann helped Pearl into the bed and searched for a comb. She found one small comb in front of the mirror on the bureau. After swishing the comb in warm soapy water and wiping it with a towel, she uncovered Pearl’s hair then gently combed the tangles from the tresses. Pearl winced twice, but her hair was very tangled.

  The clean hair shone as the sun’s rays danced across strands of gold, yellow, and red. How pretty. Pearl’s hair looked like the gold of a wheat field at midday. Leann returned the comb to its place, then helped Pearl get settled into the bed to take a nap. The lady looked completely exhausted.

  Pearl said, "Thank you so much for your kindness."

  "You’re welcome." Leann patted Pearl’s hand, tucked the covers under her chin, and then left the room.

  Ralph rose from the kitchen table to meet Leann. He wrapped big arms around her, holding her close. Her anger melted away as her heart filled with love for him.

  "What will you do with her?" Leann asked, afraid of the answer.

  "I’m thinking of fetching Ma. She can help until Pearl can trave
l." He gazed down at her. "Do you want some coffee?"

  "I can’t stay. Luke is waiting for me in town, but I had to see you." She snuggled against his chest. His heart beat strong and fast.

  Ralph raised her chin and then kissed her lips with fire and passion. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with the same fervor. One of his hands found the small of her back and the other the middle. He crushed her to his chest until she could hardly breathe. She should push away, but couldn’t find the strength when his lips left hers and caressed her neck and then an earlobe, then back to her lips. All of her strength evaporated in his embrace.

  The sound of wagon wheels and horses' hoofs crunching rock came from the front of the house. Ralph quickly released Leann and went to the front porch. She followed. Two riders and a wagon pulled into the front yard, almost reaching the porch before stopping. She recognized Mac and Paul Henry as the riders, their sheriffs’ badges shining brightly on denim shirts. Pistols in holsters were strapped to their hips. A strange lady, dressed in a leather skirt with a fringed leather jacket, and a leather hat pulled down over her eyes, was driving the wagon.

  "Hello Mac, Paul, Lil," Ralph said, stepping forward to the edge of the porch.

  Leann stayed behind him. What would they think of her being at Ralph’s home unchaperoned?

  Mac and Paul removed their hats. "Hello, Ralph," Mac said, nodding toward Leann. "Hello to you, Leann." She nodded back.

  Mac returned his gaze to Ralph. "We’re out looking for one of Lil’s girls. She came up missing yesterday morning. Someone kidnapped her during the night, took her out to the woods not far from here. He must have beaten her up, from the looks of the trampled grass and blood on the ground. She gave him a run for his money too. Torn pieces of clothing are all over the place. Have you seen the woman?"

  Leann wondered what Ralph would tell his friend.

  Ralph hesitated then spoke, "I found the woman on my doorstep yesterday afternoon. She had a gash on her forehead where someone cut her with a knife. Her back and buttocks are black and blue with a man’s belt marks. She’s in pretty bad shape. I put her in my bed and went for Doc Reynolds. He stitched her forehead, gave her some medicine and put iodine on the welt marks. She’s in the bed sleeping right now. Leann helped her wash the blood and dirt out of her hair."

  Lil set the brake on the wagon, wrapped the reins around the brake handle, removed her leather gloves, then climbed down. "I’ve come for Pearl."

  "Now hold on," Ralph said. "She may not want to go. She’s in pretty bad shape."

  Lil reached Ralph on the steps and looked up into his eyes. "She’s my girl. I’ll take care of her."

  Ralph didn’t flinch. "We’ll let her decided if she wants to go with you or not. Nobody’s leaving my house if they don’t want to. She wouldn’t tell me who beat her, or I’d have her file charges and get Mac, here, to arrest him. Whoever did such a thing needs to be behind bars the rest of his life, or maybe strung up."

  "Well, let me see her," Lil said.

  Ralph started toward the door then turned back to Mac and Paul. "You want to come in?"

  "We’ll stay here unless there’s some trouble," Paul said.

  "Suit yourself." Ralph opened the door for Lil and Leann to enter the house, then followed. "She’s in here." He led the way to the bedroom. Leann followed Lil.

  Pearl lay with her eyes closed, her breathing even in sleep. Ralph moved around the bed. Lil bent over the sleeping woman with wide eyes, shaking her head. "My goodness, what a mess he’s made of her face. She won’t be any good to me now."

  Leann felt appalled. Pearl almost died from a severe beating, and all this woman could think about was Pearl’s usefulness as a prostitute.

  "She could have died," Leann said and moved to stand beside the bed just as Pearl opened her one eye.

  Leann recognized stark fear in the injured woman when she spied Lil. Pearl curled under the bedcovers like a frightened child.

  Ralph patted Pearl’s head. "Now, you don’t have to go nowhere you don’t want to, Pearl. I’ll take you to my folks and they’ll be glad for you to stay with them until you get better."

  The open eye of the frightened girl flitted from Lil to Leann to Ralph. She clutched the covers, knotting them with white fingers. Lil patted Pearl’s hand. "Come now, Pearl. I ain’t gonna let nothing happen to you. We’ll go back to St. Louis 'til you get well, then we may head on down to New Orleans on one of those paddlewheel boats. You’d like that wouldn’t ya?" Lil turned to Leann and Ralph, "Pearl’s like my daughter. I’ll take care of her."

  "Some mother you are." Fiery darts shot from Ralph’s eyes. "Hiring her out as a whore."

  "I didn’t say she was my real daughter. All my girls are like daughters to me. I treat them real good. She don’t have no one else, or nowhere to go but with me."

  "She can stay here and make a new life for herself. My family will see to it." Ralph spoke between clinched teeth.

  Lil laughed. "The people in Cuba ain’t gonna let Pearl make no new life for herself here. Whoever beat her up, and I have a good idea who did, won’t let her rest." Lil patted the white hand again. "Come on, Pearl. You, Trish, Ruby, and me are going to New Orleans. I’ve made up my mind standing here talking to you. Cuba will have to get along without us. I didn’t like it here no ways."

  Pearl continued to hold fast to the bed sheet pulled under her chin.

  Lil placed her hands on full hips and spoke to the frightened girl with impatience. "Have I ever mistreated you, Pearl?" The girl shook her head. "I treat you girls real good. But let me tell you this. The other girls and me are leaving Cuba. I’ll say it again. I don’t like it here. That man who beat you is still around. He won’t let you alone or give you no peace. Do you want to maybe get killed the next time? This guy, here, can give you a place to stay, but he won’t be able to watch you day and night." Lil studied Pearl. "Are you coming with me or not? I ain’t waiting here all day. Besides, the sheriff’s outside. He’ll want to talk to you about what happened, and you won’t have me to help you out."

  Pearl looked at Ralph, pushed the bed sheet back, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Ralph moved out of the way and helped her stand. "Sure wish you’d stay here."

  She reached up and gave Ralph a hug. "Someday, I’m gonna pay you back for all you did for me," she whispered. Walking to Leann on wobbly legs, Pearl hugged her. "Thanks for being so kind. You didn’t have to help me." She looked from Leann to Ralph. "I can see the two of you love each other. Don’t let it slip away."

  Lil removed her leather jacket and put it around Pearl’s shoulders. "You’ll be as pretty as ever. I’ll see to it." Lil reached into her dress pocket, pulled out a small red velvet bag, and extracted two silver coins. She took Ralph’s hand, placed the coins inside, then closed the fingers around them. "Thanks for helping my girl."

  Ralph opened his hand and looked at the coins for a moment. "This is too much. I didn’t pay the doctor near this much." He tried to hand one of the coins back to Lil.

  The woman shook her head. "This girl's worth every cent. She’s like a daughter to me." She smiled at Pearl.

  Some mother, letting her daughter work as a prostitute. Leann moved out of the way of the two women as Ralph placed the coins in his pocket. Leann and Ralph followed Lil and Pearl outside. Mac jumped from his horse and helped the women into the wagon—Lil in the driver’s seat and Pearl in the wagon bed. He spread out a quilt, helped Pearl lay down, then covered her with another. Lil pulled on her gloves, flicked the reins, and drove the wagon toward town without looking back.

  Ralph and Leann watched from the porch. She felt his arm slide around her waist, pulling her close. He spoke to Mac and Paul, "I have a pretty good idea who beat her up, but you probably do too."

  "I don’t know, Ralph. Wesley got fired from the sawmill and left town last week," Paul said.

  "He could’ve come back," Ralph insisted.

  "Maybe he did and maybe he didn
’t. My hands are tied if Pearl don’t press charges." Paul patted the neck of his gilding when he snorted, anxious to follow the wagon.

  Mac spoke up, "Thanks for taking care of her and getting the doctor. She would’ve died if you hadn’t taken her in. She lost a lot of blood. I figured she’d be here. Last week when I was in the Golden Goose, she asked a lot of questions about you—where you lived, your name, and such. I guess she ain’t had nobody to take up for her like you did."

  Leann looked at Ralph. His tender heart couldn’t stand for anyone, even a prostitute to be mistreated. The brawl in the saloon took place because someone mistreated Pearl. A burst of renewed respect for this man filled her heart. Oh, how she loved him.

  Ralph ran a hand through his already rumpled hair. "I just hate to see her go back to that way of life. No telling what will become of her."

  "I hate it, too, but it’s her choice." Mac tipped his hat to Leann. "Leann, it’s good seeing you. Thank you for helping Pearl. I feel sorry for the woman, but she has to make her own decisions."

  Leann smiled and nodded toward Mac and Paul. Paul tipped his hat, and the two men turned their horses toward town. Leann and Ralph watched until the men rode out of sight, and then Ralph took her hand and led her into the house.

  "I need to go. Luke is waiting for me," she managed to say before he embraced her and found her lips with his.

  After a long, passionate kiss, he lifted his head to look into her eyes. His brown eyes dark with desire. "I want you, Leann."

  "We have to wait, Ralph," she managed, while pushing away from him. If she didn’t leave now, her will power would be completely gone.

  "Tell me you love me and you'll be my wife. I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I’ll wait like your Pa said," he whispered with a raspy voice.

  She answered with all her heart, "I love you and will be your wife."

  They kissed again with fervor and desire. Leann pushed away and Ralph released her. She smoothed her hair and dress. "I must go. Luke is waiting." She turned to walk outside with Ralph beside her.

  He helped her to the wagon seat. "I’ll see you in a few days. John Clark can tell us to stay apart all he wants to, but I’m not listening anymore. I’ll come when I can."

  "We could elope," she found courage to say.

  "I thought about it, but I don’t want your family mad at you. It wouldn’t be right for you to marry without your family. We’ll just have to wait until your Pa lets us get married."

  She lovingly pushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "I love you, though."

  He smiled. "I love you, too, with all my heart."

  Leann flicked the reins and turned the team toward town. She looked back. He stood watching her, then lifted a hand to wave, and she did the same. "Lord, please help us."

  ***

  The End