Vivid

  "Oh, my Lord..." Abigail gasped.

  "Horrible, horrible things," Mrs. Rand said.

  To try and save her child, Delia used some of her funds to hire a Pinkerton to find Mrs. Rand.

  "I went to the house and Delia asked me to be her midwife. She knew from working in my shop that I'd done it occasionally so I said I would. But she wanted me to say the baby had died in hopes of throwing Evan off the scent. I did just as she asked. After she gave birth to Miss Satin, I wrapped the little body completely in a blanket and announced to Evan the baby was dead. You should have seen that little toad grin. I hated him for life at that moment; for life."

  "So where'd you go?"

  "Boston. I have a sister there. Miss Satin and I lived with her until six months ago. Delia sent money for her care all these years and I kept her safe."

  "Did Delia ever visit?"

  "Never. She was too afraid Evan would somehow find out."

  "So she never saw either of her daughters again," Vivid said.

  "No."

  A silence settled over the kitchen. Vivid could see tears in Abigail's eyes.

  Nate asked, "So why did you send the note to me?"

  "I'm dying, Mr. Grayson, and Evan knows Satin is alive."

  Nate stilled. "How?"

  "When Delia died unexpectedly six months ago, Mrs. Cole's old butler wrote to tell me of her death. He said Evan handled the burial and the disposal of her things. In the process he found her ledgers. Written in them were the recordings of the payments she'd been sending all these years. Delia must have taken the butler into her confidence because he warned me Evan was on his way to Boston. I packed, and we left the next day."

  "Will he come here?" Abigail asked.

  Mrs. Rand said, "I believe he will. The bulk of her estate went to charity, but if he can produce Satin for Mrs. Cole's solicitors, he will be declared guardian until she comes of age and they will turn the money over to him."

  "But how will they be sure the Satin he produces isn't a fraud? The baby supposedly died."

  Mrs. Rand asked, "Does Majestic have a strawberry birthmark on her left shoulder?"

  "Yes, she does."

  "So does Satin. All the Cole girls do, according to what Delia said."

  Nate found all of this very troubling. "How could he know about Majestic, though?"

  "According to the butler, after Evan found the ledgers he began an intense search through her belongings for more clues. He found Majestic's birth paper hidden in the bindings of Delia's Bible. Written below it was your name and the name of this place."

  Vivid asked, “Delia knew about Nate?''

  "Yes, she told me that a few weeks after she moved into Mrs. Cole's, she went back to the hospital and asked after the baby. She told one of the nurses she'd read about the abandoned baby in the newspaper and was simply curious about what had happened. The nurse told her about a soldier from Michigan who'd taken the baby home. Delia asked if she had the soldier's name and hometown because she wanted to write a note to bless him for being so caring, so the nurse gave her the information."

  Mrs. Rand looked to Nate. "Delia said she prayed for you and Majestic every night. She also wanted Satin to be brought here should anything ever happen to me. She said she knew in her heart you would not object."

  She was right, Nate realized.

  They talked until very late. Finally, they all sought their beds.

  When they awakened the next morning, they found Mrs. Rand dead. She'd evidently accomplished her life's mission, and having done so, had slipped into the arms of the Lord. Nate took both girls into his study to explain the situation to them and to tell them they were sisters.

  The two girls were having a hard time getting along.

  When Nate took Magic aside a few days after Satin's arrival to ask why, Magic said, "She's bossy, Pa, always trying to tell me what to do. She wears those stupid velvet dresses and those dumb little white stockings. She never ever gets dirty and talks like she's got cotton stuffed up her nose."

  Vivid, who'd joined them for the conference, smiled at the description. “How are the other children treating her?"

  "Like she was some princess in one of Pa's stories. Only she's not brave at all. She's scared to death of Hector, never been fishing, and says girls shouldn't play marbles because of the dust."

  "You should try and be friends, Majestic," Nate pointed out.

  "I know, Pa, but it's hard to be friends with somebody that doesn't know how to do anything except act pretty."

  Vivid had to admit she agreed with Magic on Satin's daily choice of attire. When Vivid drove back from town that afternoon, Satin was dressed in a beautiful blue velvet dress and spotless white stockings. The slippers on her feet looked as if they'd never been worn outside, and Vivid, like Magic, wondered how on earth that could be. Nobody kept herself that clean. Even Vivid's older sister, Alicea, who had gone almost her whole life without soiling her clothes or mussing her hair, fell off the wagon now and again. Vivid, dressed in her trousers, boots, and old floppy man's shirt, felt terribly unkempt next to the immaculate youngster.

  One day near the end of September, Vivid was in town sweeping off the walk in front of her office. The crisp air flirted with her skirt hem and blew away the bits of debris brought up by the broom. Autumn filled the air. Vivid paused to watch Vernon and his wagon go by. Beside him on the seat sat a strange man dressed as if he were en route to church. He had on a crisp black suit, his white collar starched and the hat on his head proclaimed that he was from the east. Vivid eyed the man, who tipped his hat and she nodded politely in reply. They drove by and Vivid resumed her task. Everyone in town had been alerted to look out for strangers because of the dangers facing Magic and her sister. Vivid didn't think the man on the wagon could be Evan Cole because if he were he would have been riding in the bed of the wagon trussed up. Vernon was Majestic's godfather and was especially incensed that someone would actually want to harm his godchild.

  It didn't take long for the word to spread about the identity of the stranger who'd ridden in with Vernon. Vivid got wind of it later that evening and stormed into Nate's study. He wanted to run and hide, but he tried to calm her down instead. "Viveca, I—"

  "Don't you Viveca me, Nate Grayson. You sent for another doctor!"

  "Let me explain. I—" Nate had forgotten he'd sent those letters.

  "You led me on, you—you—if I had my rifle now, I'd shoot you just for the satisfaction of hearing you yell when I extracted the bullets from your hide. You want another doctor, then fine. If you're lucky, he'll marry you, too. I quit!"

  And she stormed out.

  Nate removed his spectacles and rubbed his weary eyes. He'd really stepped into a bear trap this time.

  Vivid was still angry when dressing later that evening for dinner at Mr. Farley's. She knew she'd eventually be calm enough to hear Nate's explanation, but damn him, she hadn't reached that state yet. Supposedly the new doctor had received his degree from the university on the other side of the state. Vivid looked at herself in the glass. She'd opted for one of her fancier dresses, not to impress Mr. Farley but to keep herself in check. In a fancy dress and with her hair up she would probably be less likely to stride across the grass and punch Nate Grayson in the nose.

  She was surprised to see she was not the only person Mr. Farley had invited that evening. She'd mentioned her interest in billiards to him one day in passing. To her delight, he informed her of his own fascination with the game and invited her to play on the table he kept under tarps in his barn. They'd played on and off throughout the summer. Tonight's invitation had been issued last week and she wondered why the other men were there.

  She'd been in the Grove long enough now to recognize which wagon belonged to whom. From the wealth of conveyances and teams lining the tract in front of Hiram's place, most of the Grove's male population was inside. Vivid eased her mule and wagon into a spot a short distance from the barn.

  She could hear the laughter an
d voices spilling into the night as she approached. The entrance glowed with the lights of lanterns. When she stepped through the door, the silence made her pause. All the men seemed frozen in position as they stared.

  Eli approached with a glass in his hand and a smile on his face. He took a quick look over his shoulder at the men at his back, then asked her, "What are you doing here?"

  "I'm here to play billiards with Hiram."

  That brought the men to life with a buzz.

  Hiram then walked over to her with a puzzled smile. "Dr. Lancaster, what are you doing here?"

  "We had a date, remember?"

  He hit his hand against his forehead. "Oh, that's right. I'm sorry, Dr. Lancaster. Tonight's Men's Association meeting night."

  She looked around at the men watching so curiously.

  She saw Hiram glance at the case she held in her hand, then heard him say, "And you brought your stick, too."

  The man whom Vivid had seen in Vernon's wagon strolled up and said, "So you're the little doctor."

  Vivid looked him up and down and saw a man entirely too arrogant for his own good. She asked coolly, "And you are?"

  "I'm Dr. David Hatcher, University of Michigan."

  Hatcher was a handsome brown-skinned man.

  Vivid replied, "Dr. Viveca Lancaster."

  "And what is that you're carrying?" Hatcher asked.

  "It's a billiard cue. I'm not very good, but Mr. Farley has been kind enough to give me some pointers."

  Nate, standing in a corner with Adam and Paul Crowley, looked at his companions with a knowing smile. Hatcher had been a royal pain in the rear from the moment he'd arrived. Nate couldn't wait for the man to leave town. Hatcher had spent the day looking down on folks and bragging about the more lucrative offers he'd received from cities like Chicago and Denver. Why he'd not taken advantage of these offers had never been made clear. Adam said, "Two bits says she'll have him bleeding to death in, oh, a quarter of an hour."

  Nate shook his head. "I'd be a fool to bet any other way. I've never seen her play, but I've heard her stories."

  Meanwhile, over by the door. Vivid asked Hatcher, "Do you play, sir?"

  "Oh, most definitely. In fact, I'd be willing to give you a few pointers," he replied, smiling devilishly.

  Vivid felt Eli stiffen at her side. To prevent Eli from leaping to her defense Vivid called out to the other men in the barn. "I didn't come to interrupt your evening, gentlemen, but would you mind if Dr. Hatcher and I play a game or two? Then I'll leave."

  Over the buzz set off by her request, Adam Crowley's voice boomed out, "Be our guest, Doc."

  Nate watched her stride to the table in that beautiful dress. He took great exception to the way Hatcher appeared to be observing the swish of her skirts as she walked, but Nate held himself in check for now. He'd let Viveca get in her shots first.

  While the audience took bets, Vivid unsheathed her stick. She saw Hatcher's eyes widen as she firmly screwed the sections together.

  Hatcher borrowed one of the sticks Hiram kept for guests, then walked up to the table. Vivid stood emotionlessly while he explained to her that for this competition the winner would be the player able to sink the most balls.

  He looked over and said, "I will insist upon dinner when I win, Dr. Lancaster."

  Vivid smiled and replied pleasantly, "And I will insist upon your leaving town in the morning when you don't."

  Hoots rent the air from the men watching the exchange. Hatcher stared around coolly, then said, "Ladies first."

  Vivid took advantage of his graciousness and stepped to the table. She remembered the first real lesson she had ever received in billiards from a fancy Denver gambler when she was ten. He instructed her that before playing she should pick up each ivory ball individually and heft it to determine its weight. Next, look for nicks or cracks. She didn't think that necessary tonight because she knew Hiram kept his balls in good condition. The levelness of the table did cause concern. To test it, she slowly rolled a ball down the table's surface. It pulled to the left as usual but she could compensate. She'd played on worse.

  In the end, it didn't take long.

  As she sank the last three balls, the crowd cheered with each shot she made. Her very angry opponent never even had a turn at the table. Vivid silently set her stick against the table. As the bets were paid off among the onlookers, Hatcher insisted the competition be extended to the best two out of three. Vivid didn't quibble. She could best him playing with a spoon. She even let him go first.

  It didn't help.

  He potted the first three and missed the fourth. Vivid smiled sympathetically at his plight, then took a moment to study the configuration of the remaining balls. Stick in hand, she cozied up to the table's edge and proceeded to sink them all without mussing a hair on her well-coiffed head.

  After re-casing her stick, Vivid peered into the furious eyes of Dr. David Hatcher, University of Michigan, and said, "Been nice playing with you."

  Then she exited with a smile.

  Chapter 19

  The next morning brought Vivid joy as her parents arrived. Vernon had barely helped her mother down from the hired coach before Vivid came running across the yard to greet her with tears in her eyes. Her mother met the embrace tightly, turning her this way and that as they rejoiced in their reunion. "Oh, Mama..."

  Vivid got the same intense hug from her tall, handsome father. They were all in tears by the time the greetings were done.

  Vivid couldn't help grinning at her parents. She couldn't believe they were actually there. Her mother must have been equally as elated because she pulled Vivid back into her arms and held, and held, and held, tight.

  With Adam Crowley's assistance, her parents and their luggage were moved into the Grayson house. Abigail met the visitors with a smile, then showed them to the rooms they would have during their stay.

  Lunch consisted of sandwiches made of the leftover ham from last night's dinner and melt-in-your-mouth slices of Abigail's bread and cold, tart lemonade. It was hardly a feast, but the guests thought the hastily prepared repast worthy of kings after the train food they'd been consuming.

  Vivid's father asked, "Abigail, what is in this bread? This is magnificent."

  "Oats, mealed corn, some honey. I'll write down the recipe for you before you return home, if you'd like."

  “Please do, and when I serve it back in San Francisco I will call it Abigail Bread."

  Abigail smiled, pleased.

  "We need to have a dinner, Joseph, to celebrate Viveca's engagement," Francesca declared. "You can cook—"

  Vivid looked down at her plate.

  "Viveca, darling, what's wrong?"

  "Nate and I have something to settle first, Mama, before you make any plans." She still hadn't heard his side.

  Vivid looked into her mother's beautiful eyes.

  "You haven't called off the wedding, have you?" Francesca asked her softly.

  "Vivid, did you make the boy run off already?" her father asked.

  Everybody at the table chuckled.

  "No, Papa," Vivid said, giving him a smiling look. She'd missed his teasing nature in the months she'd been here.

  Francesca shook her head at her husband and his wry sense of humor and asked, “Is this something serious?''

  "I'm not sure."

  Vivid looked into the face of the woman who'd given her birth and heard her say in Castilian, "Come. Let's take a walk."

  They walked to Vivid's cabin and sat out back on the swing.

  Her mother asked, “Do you like this place?''

  "I love it here, Mama," Vivid replied with feeling.

  Vivid then told her all that had happened since her arrival. She ended by telling her about Nate and David Hatcher.

  "How did you ever keep from boxing his ears?" Francesca asked hotly.

  "I put on my best dress to remind myself to be a lady."

  "Good idea. Although that hadn't helped a bit at your eighth birthday party. Do you rem
ember?"

  Vivid grinned at the memory. She'd had a fight with Dickie Pearson and he'd gotten angry over having to be taken home with a nosebleed after being punched in the nose by a girl.

  "You need to talk to him, Viveca."

  "I will."

  "Where is he now?"

  "In town at his office. You'll meet him later."

  "And my grandbaby?"

  "You now have two."

  "Two?"

  Vivid explained the intrigue and worry brought on by Satin's arrival, and Francesca listened closely, then asked, "And this Evan Cole is on his way here?"

  "Mrs. Rand thought so, yes."

  The only thing Mrs. Rand hadn't done was describe Cole. No one had any idea what he looked like, and that brought the most worry.

  Nate returned later that afternoon. He'd picked up the girls from school and as they went into the house he crossed the field to Lancaster's cabin. He owed her thanks for sending obnoxious David Hatcher packing. He also hoped she'd listen to his explanation of why he'd sent the letters. He knocked at the cabin door, calling, "Hello, princess, can we talk?"

  Vivid walked to the door and let him inside.

  "I—" He stopped as his gaze met the coal-black eyes of a small, elegantly attired Black woman seated at Vivid's desk. She had skin the color of rich dark coffee and a face so beautiful it nearly took his breath away. He knew without introduction that she had to be the venerable Francesca he'd heard so much about. "Mrs. Lancaster? I'm Nathaniel Grayson. Welcome to Michigan,' Nate said as he walked over to take her hand.

  She smiled up at him and responded in English, “So pleased to meet you." Then she turned to Vivid and proclaimed in Castilian, "Viveca, he is so handsome. He will give me beautiful grandbabies."

  "Mama!" Vivid exclaimed.

  "What did she say?" Nate questioned, smiling.

  Vivid could only laugh at the impressed look on her mother's face, then told her fiancé, "Nothing, Nate, she's just being her outrageous self. Behave, Mama."

  Nate then made the acquaintance of Vivid's chef father, who to that point had been content to watch. He looked Nate over slowly, then asked, "How much do you love my daughter, Nathaniel Grayson?"