Josephine

  While Adam mounted Douglass, Jo adjusted her skirt over the trousers she wore beneath for modesty’s sake, then she and the mare followed Adam and Douglass back to the main road.

  The “long way” incorporated the backwoods paths they often took during their childhood: tracts and trails that led to lush, hidden glades; small, fish-filled creeks; and over hills and dales that would eventually lead home. But Adam and Jo rode slowly, enjoying the silence of the beautiful green countryside, and each other’s company. They spied hawks and deer, beavers and butterflies. They eyed untouched stands of multicolored wildflowers, then stopped and ate their way through a small patch of wild strawberries. Mounted again, they passed the tree where the boys had tied Jo up and used her as bee bait. The river nearby seemed an ideal place to water the horses and rest them for a moment, so they dismounted.

  After seeing to the needs of the horses, Jo and Adam sat silently on a felled log near the riverbank. The silence around them was total.

  Jo threw a few pebbles into the water and said, “I wouldn’t come down here for a long time after you all tied me up back there. Every time I did, all I could think about was how mad I was after being honeyed and then rubbed raw.”

  He smiled. “You’re not still mad now, are you?”

  She shook her head. “I should be, but no, I’m not.”

  Suddenly Jo saw a large brown trout jump up out of the river and into the air to catch an insect for a late-evening snack before diving sleekly back into the depths. She smiled. When she was a little girl, her father once told her that nature always supplied gifts if one waited and watched. Jo took the sight of the magnificent fish as the day’s gift, and silently sent up a prayer for God to watch over her father and Dani and keep them safe. “Do you think the war is ever going to end?”

  “I think it will. According to the papers, General Sherman is bringing the South to its knees. Shouldn’t be long now.”

  Jo certainly hoped he was right.

  “Worried about your father and Dani?”

  She nodded. “I try not to, but it’s hard.”

  “I know. I worry about Jere, too—all the time. I tell myself he can take care of himself, but it would be better if I could see him and know for sure how he’s faring.”

  Jo agreed.

  Silence settled between them and Adam found himself unable to look at anything but her. He admired the way she’d styled her hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your shop. Can you give me a tour sometime?”

  “Sure.” Jo realized that George had never expressed any interest in seeing her place. Yet another reason why they weren’t suited?

  “What does George think of your enterprise?”

  The innocent question threw her. She searched for a way out without having to reveal the truth.

  When she didn’t respond right away, Adam peered at her, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Would you rather not talk about it?”

  Jo nodded tightly.

  “All right.” It didn’t take a genius to deduce that the question made her uncomfortable. Adam wanted to know why, but didn’t press her for an explanation. He sensed something wasn’t right, however.

  Jo realized she should have given Adam an answer, but she didn’t want to tell him the truth and then maybe have to listen to him crow about how right he’d been about George not being the one for her. She knew Adam wouldn’t intentionally hurt her feelings, but he was a boy, and boys liked to win and brag no matter what, or at least that was her assessment of how they acted.

  The silence was suddenly pierced by a woman’s cry for help. Adam and Jo got to their feet and looked around.

  “Which direction?” Adam asked.

  Jo was already running to Sassy.

  The cry came again.

  “That way!” Jo yelled, pointing east.

  She and Adam mounted up and rode in that direction.

  They found, of all people, Old Lady Donovan. Jo hadn’t seen her since the day she refused to pay Jo for doing her hair and then bragged about her hair to a friend. Now was not the time to hold grudges, Jo told herself. Mrs. Donovan was lying on the ground. From the scratches and scrapes on her face, she appeared to be hurt.

  “Oh, thank goodness.” The woman gasped. “He tried to take my buggy.”

  Jo saw the buggy and the mule standing a few paces away.

  “Who?” Adam asked with concern on his face.

  “A man. I’ve never seen him before.”

  Jo helped Adam get Mrs. Donovan into a seated position and Jo asked, “Are you hurt?”

  “He pushed me from the buggy seat to the ground and I injured my ankle in the fall.”

  They assisted her to her feet, then guided her over to a large boulder where she could sit and recover.

  Jo passed her the canteen she’d just filled at the river. Once Mrs. Donovan calmed, Adam said, “Now, tell us what happened.”

  “He was there in the middle of the road. He appeared nice enough. I thought he was lost or needed some assistance, but when I stopped, he jumped for the reins and produced a big kitchen knife.”

  She looked up at Jo and Adam. “He told me if I didn’t get out he’d cut me into little pieces.” Old Lady Donovan began to cry. “I’ve never been so afraid in my life. Never. But Lady over there refused to move. She must’ve known he was a bad man. You can’t make a mule move if they don’t wish to go.”

  Jo said gently, “Can you describe the man? The sheriff will need to know what he looks like.”

  “Oh, yes. I’ll remember that face until I’m placed in my grave.” She went on to describe him. Jo got the willies again. The man was Dred Reed.

  Adam said gently, “Let’s get you home, Mrs. Donovan.”

  She blew her nose into a handkerchief. “I don’t know what I would have done if you and Josephine hadn’t happened along. It seems like I was lying there for hours.”

  Jo was glad they’d happened along, too. Not even Old Lady Donovan deserved to be terrorized and left to fend for herself.

  They tied Sassy to the back of the buggy, and while Jo got Lady the mule and the buggy under way, Adam rode beside them, scanning the countryside for any signs of the knife-wielding Dred Reed.

  Seventeen

  Jo had never been to the Donovan home before, so when they reached the house she was surprised to find the place so run-down. Mrs. Donovan had always sashayed around as if she owned gold mines. Apparently not, Jo thought to herself as she eyed the sagging porch and the badly patched roof.

  The inside of the small two-room house was empty but for a table and chair, a small hot plate and a pallet on the floor. There were no knickknacks or prints on the walls, no cloth on the warped wood table. Poverty lived here—poverty and its companions hunger, loneliness and despair. Jo wondered if her mama and the other ladies at the church knew of Mrs. Donovan’s desperate straits.

  When Jo turned back, Mrs. Donovan was seated on the room’s lone chair, and she was staring Jo right in the face. “You and your young man are the first people I’ve let inside in many years. I’m sure you can see why.”

  Jo did. She also wanted to tell Mrs. Donovan that Adam was not her young man, but decided that didn’t matter, not right now.

  Mrs. Donovan was speaking. “You may have saved my life today, and because you did, I owe you at least the truth.”

  Jo was confused. “About what?”

  “That day in your shop. In reality, you did a beautiful job on my hair despite what I said afterward.”

  “Then why—”

  “Because I have no money.”

  Jo’s heart broke. “Why didn’t you tell me that, Mrs. Donovan?”

  “Pride, my dear. Terrible pride.” Tears filled her eyes.

  Jo looked over at Adam. He appeared to have been affected by the revelation, too.

  Jo asked with deep sincerity, “Do you have family anywhere, someone you could write to for assistance?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve a daughter. Last I heard she was in St. L
ouis but that was before the war. We don’t speak, so I doubt she’d come even if I could find her.”

  Jo thought about her own mother and couldn’t imagine anything coming between them that would be disastrous enough to cause such a rift. “Well, I’m going to have Bea Meldrum stop in and look at your ankle.”

  “There’s no need. Bea has enough to do. I’ll soak it for a couple of days. It’ll be fine.”

  Jo asked her pointedly, “Do you want me to send my mama instead?” Jo refused to let Mrs. Donovan suffer alone a moment longer.

  Mrs. Donovan smiled for the first time in Jo’s memory. “You are just like that formidable mama of yours. Do you know that?”

  Jo smiled in reply. “Thank you.”

  “All right, send Bea by. She’s probably the lesser of the two evils.”

  Jo agreed. “I’m worried about you being here alone, though.”

  “Don’t be. I’ll be all right.”

  “But you have no neighbors, Mrs. Donovan,” said Adam in a reasonable voice. “Suppose you fall or need help with something else?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve managed up until now.”

  Jo still didn’t like the idea of the old lady being so isolated. “Are you sure you’ll be all right here by yourself?”

  “Yes, Josephine. Now go on home before that mama of yours calls out the sheriff to find you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jo sensed that Mrs. Donovan’s pride was returning, and Jo didn’t want to start an argument, so she asked instead, “Do you mind if I come by and visit with you every now and again?”

  Mrs. Donovan smiled. “I’d like that, Josephine. Very much,” she replied softly.

  “Then I shall see you soon, and your next hair appointment is Friday. I’ll be coming here to do it.”

  Mrs. Donovan said softly, “I don’t need your pity.”

  “But you need your hair done, right?”

  Mrs. Donovan chuckled. “Yep, just like your mama. All right. I’ll be expecting you on Friday.”

  “Good.” Jo looked to Adam. He seemed reluctant to leave, but they had no choice. In fact, he said, “Mrs. Donovan, you make sure you let Mrs. Meldrum help you when she stops in.”

  “I will,” she replied.

  “Promise?”

  Mrs. Donovan grinned. “Who could resist such a handsome young man? Josephine, he’s the one for you. I can feel it.”

  Jo rolled her eyes. “Thanks, Mrs. Donovan.”

  Jo and Adam left shortly after.

  On the way home Adam asked, “Do you believe she’ll let Bea Meldrum into the house?”

  “Nope. That’s why I’ll be telling Mama about her as soon as we get home.”

  Adam smiled at Jo’s astute assessment of Mrs. Donovan. He didn’t believe she would let Mrs. Meldrum in, either. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  “Don’t worry. Mama will take care of everything.” Jo wondered who would take care of Bert, however.

  Dusk had fallen by the time they returned to the Best home. When they rode up, Mrs. Best was seated on the big swing in the yard, enjoying the evening quiet.

  “How was the visit?” she asked, rising to meet them.

  While they dismounted, Jo told her about Mrs. Donovan’s frightening encounter with Dred Reed.

  Cecilia’s hand went to her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. I’m so glad you found her. I know you don’t like Mrs. Donovan, Josephine, but—”

  “No, mama, I like her fine now. She told me why she didn’t want to pay me that day.” Jo then revealed the conditions Mrs. Donovan was living under, and the bad times the elderly woman seemed to be having. “She doesn’t have any money. I don’t think she even has food in the house.”

  Cecilia shook her head sadly. “I wish she had let someone know.”

  “Apparently she didn’t want to. Her pride, I suppose, but she needs help. I worry about her being by herself.”

  Cecilia’s eyes shone with love for her second child. “You have a heart of gold. Bea and I will go over and see Mrs. Donovan first thing in the morning. If Bea’s busy, I will go alone. We’ll figure out a way to help her, don’t worry.”

  Jo was glad to have such a caring mama.

  Adam wanted to help out, as well. “Mrs. Best, if there’s a need for funds, I’d like to pledge mine. Purchase whatever Mrs. Donovan needs, and bring the bill to me.”

  Jo turned and stared.

  Mrs. Best said, “Adam, I don’t think that will be necessary—”

  Adam wanted her to hear him out. “You told me that you and Mr. Best have been saving money for years in anticipation of the war and him being called away to fight, am I right?”

  “Well, yes, that’s true.”

  “So the money you have saved is finite?”

  “For all intents and purposes. Yes.”

  “You need your money to keep this household going and to do your work. My mother left me quite a large inheritance when she died, and I’m sure she’d insist that some of it be used to help my fellow man. In this case an old lady.”

  Cecilia smiled.

  Adam added, “You shouldn’t have to beggar yourself to do a good deed, Mrs. Best, when I have so much at my disposal.”

  Cecilia studied him. “Handsome and mature,” she noted. “You have grown up, haven’t you?”

  Adam nodded, pleased by the compliment.

  “All right then. I’ll bow to your request.” She then added in a serious voice, “Somewhere your mother is very proud of you, Adam Morgan.”

  Jo was proud of his giving spirit, as well. Having to add generosity to his already glowing list of attributes only made it harder for her to keep her feelings for him at bay.

  “Jo?”

  Jo turned her eyes from Adam and trained them on her mother. “Yes?”

  “Did you hear me?” Cecilia asked gently.

  Jo shook herself back to reality. “No, Mama. I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  Cecilia smiled knowingly. “I said, go and bed down the horses, and I’ll see you in the house.”

  An embarrassed Jo hadn’t meant to be caught staring at Adam. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Cecilia walked toward the house. Jo and Adam led their mounts to the barn to remove the saddles and put the horses in their stalls.

  Once that was done, Jo headed toward the barn door, only to have Adam gently capture her hand. The contact made her resonate like the peal of a bell. “I have to go in, Adam.”

  “I’ll keep you only a moment. I promise.”

  Jo trembled like a leaf in a gentle wind. “All right.”

  “I know that in a few days George is coming over to tell you how he feels, but I have something to say, as well. No one—and I do mean no one—in this whole world cares for you as much as I do.”

  Jo went instantly still.

  “No one has more respect, more admiration, or will feel more passion for you than I, Josephine.”

  Jo’s barriers began melting away.

  “I know you’re having a difficult time with the thought of us being together, but imagine how I feel. Do you honestly believe I’m looking forward to the interrogation I’m going to receive at the hands of your father and your brother?”

  She smiled slowly.

  “Dani will probably hit the ceiling when I tell him I want to court you, and Lord knows what your father’s going to say. But for you—” his voice softened, yet seemed to intensify “—I’d face a thousand William Bests, and ten thousand Daniels.”

  Jo couldn’t speak.

  “When the war ends, this country is going to be filled with new opportunities for folks like you and me. It’s going to be an exciting time, and I want to see those times with you. No one else. Trust me, Jo. If I ever break your heart, I swear I’ll cut out my own and give it to you on a platter.”

  His declaration had been so unexpected and so moving, tears were standing in Jo’s eyes.

  He reached out and gently thumbed away a tear from her dark cheek. “Don’t cry.”

&n
bsp; Jo dashed away the water with her palms. “I…don’t know what to say.”

  Adam told her then, “I don’t want you to say anything right now. I just want you to think about it. All right?”

  Still wiping at the dampness on her cheeks and in her eyes, Jo nodded.

  Adam looked at the young woman he planned to love far past the time when he became old and gray and smiled softly. “Go on back to the house. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

  As Adam watched her walk away, it came to him that for the first time in his life, he might not get the young woman he’d set his cap for.

  Lying in bed that night, Jo looked up at the dark ceiling and thought back on Adam. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected to hear such a passionate declaration directed her way. The words had been so moving, they made the hair on the back of her neck stand up and gooseflesh run up and down her arms. Even now, remembering the soft timbre of his voice made her a bit breathless.

  So, what to do? In all fairness, she had to speak with George first. He deserved to know that his feelings weren’t reciprocated. Jo wouldn’t mind being friends with him because he was a very nice young man, but he hadn’t engaged her heart the way Adam seemed to have done. Jo hadn’t wanted a beau when all this began, but Cupid’s arrows seemed to have pierced her anyway.

  Everyone was seated at breakfast the next morning when a knock sounded on the door. It was followed by Trudy calling excitedly through the screen, “Mrs. Best! Jo, come quick! I’ve something you need to see!”

  Everyone put down their napkins and hurried to the door. Sure enough there stood Trudy looking happy as a child at Christmas.

  Mrs. Best asked, “Trudy, whatever is the matter?”

  Trudy could hardly contain herself. “Look!” she squealed while pointing at the road.

  The Bests and Adam stepped out onto the porch. They saw a mounted Bert, and beside him on another horse sat the trussed up and gagged Dred Reed. Jo’s jaw dropped.

  “Oh, my goodness.” Mrs. Best gasped.

  Adam whispered, “Well, I’ll be.” With a smile on his face, he and his stick hobbled fast down the steps to congratulate Bert.

  Jo met Trudy’s eyes. The two friends grinned, embraced and did a jig. Trudy cried, “He did it, Jo! He did it!”