Amy must have been staring because he spoke again, this time that perfect voice was filled with amusement.
“Is this the Nolan farm?”
“Oh yes, I’m sorry.” Amy felt flustered and moved within arms’ reach, her hand outstretched. “I’m Amy Nolan, and Silas is in the field with my dad.”
“Good. I’m glad to know I have the right place. Maybe if you could point me in the right direction—”
“Oh certainly. You can go out, but they’ll be in for supper anytime now if you just want to wait here at the house.”
Centering her gaze on his evidently-new shoes, Amy thought, “They’ll lose that shine very quickly if he walks all the way out to Silas and back.”
“I’m not really dressed to go out, am I?” The amusement was back in his voice, and Amy looked up to see him smiling at her. “My word,” she thought, “he’s almost as good-looking as my Silas.”
He was easily as tall, although his build was slighter, and his hair was just as dark, cut close to his well-shaped head. He was clean-shaven and Amy couldn’t decide what was more appealing: his blue eyes with just a touch of green in them, or that full, smiling mouth filled with perfect white teeth.
Paul Cameron was doing some admiring of his own. Grandma Em had said there was someone special, but Silas had shared little with her and, other than the fact that the situation was not ideal, Gram knew next to nothing about the woman Silas loved.
Paul’s first impression was how pretty she was—about Susanne’s build, but her hair even more blonde. The dress she wore was a pale pink-and-white stripe. It seemed to put color in her cheeks even as her warm, blue eyes smiled kindly at him.
When Amy spoke, it was her turn to be amused. “Would you like to wait in the house?”
Paul grinned at her, totally undaunted by the fact that he’d been caught staring.
“Yes, Amy Nolan, I believe I will wait in the house. I hope my arrival won’t put you out in any way.”
“No, you’re more than welcome. By the way, is Silas expecting you?”
“No,” Paul answered as he held open the kitchen door. “I just made a surprise trip home to Baxter. It wouldn’t have been a surprise if I had written ahead to see if everyone was home. I’m headed up north and, when I found out where Silas was, I decided I’d just stop in on the way.”
“Well, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.” Amy took his coat and bag and saw him settled in the living room with a cup of coffee. She then went to the kitchen to finish supper and Paul forced himself not to pace as he waited for the brother he longed to see.
38
Amy put a silencing finger to her lips as her father looked from her to the stranger standing in the doorway leading from the living room. Silas’ head was still bent over the basin.
Paul watched his brother reach for a towel and vigorously rub his face and neck. Silas had just rehung the towel when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a fourth presence in the room.
At the first sight of his younger brother, Silas only stared, but then a slow smile began to break across his face. An answering smile was stretching across Paul’s and, within seconds, the brothers were laughing and embracing, their words falling all over each other.
“When did you get here?”
“Your beard!”
“Have you been home?”
“Why didn’t you write?”
“You look great!”
“So do you.”
The men stopped trying to communicate and simply looked at one another and laughed. Silas took Paul’s arm and led him further into the room.
“Grant, this is my brother Paul. Paul, this is Grant Nolan. And this,” Silas’ voice held pride, “is Amy. Have you met Amy?”
“Oh Si, you have got it bad,” Paul thought as he studied the look on his brother’s rapt face. “And I ought to know the signs.”
Paul reached across the table to shake Grant’s hand. “It’s good to meet you, Mr. Nolan. And yes, Silas, Amy and I have met.”
The two shared a smile and Amy said, “How about some supper?” The four of them talked and shared news during the meal and everyone left the table in good spirits. Silas hung back and insisted on helping Amy with the dishes.
“But Silas, you’ll want to visit with your brother. He said he’s leaving tomorrow.”
“You’re right, I do want to visit with him, but I also want him to hear you play, so I’m going to help you with these dishes so you can come out and entertain us.”
“Oh Silas,” Amy said, “I’m sure your brother doesn’t want to hear me play. I’m sure he’s heard countless piano players and I sincerely doubt he wants to hear another.”
“Alright,” Silas said, “I’ll make a deal with you. My brother has always enjoyed hearing me play. If he asks me to play, then you’re on. If he doesn’t say a word, then I won’t either.”
“Deal,” Amy said, and by the smile on Silas’ face she knew she’d been had.
Amy would have loved knowing the actual amount of seconds it took Paul to ask Silas to play. Surprisingly, Silas didn’t tease her at all.
“Well, Paul, I’d be only too glad to play, but you’ve never heard Amy play the piano and I know you would enjoy it.”
Paul was sincerely delighted with the idea, and Amy cast an almost-shy smile at Silas as she moved to the keyboard.
The men sat quietly as Amy played, each one letting the music flow over him and basking in the sound of Amy’s God-given talent. Grant’s head lay on the back of his chair with his eyes closed, a slight smile on his lips.
Paul studied the small hands that moved so effortlessly over the keys and produced such celestial sounds, making him think of the way music might sound in heaven.
Silas’ eyes never left Amy’s face. He studied her lovely arched brows and the slight flush on her high cheekbones. His love found her flawless and lovely beyond compare.
Amy was nearing the end of a beautiful old hymn when she allowed herself to look about the room. Paul had joined Grant in tipping his head back and closing his eyes, but Silas was watching her, his expression loving.
Something inside of Amy began to open and grow, like a small flower beginning to bloom in the warm spring sun. “He’s so wonderful and kind, and he loves me.” The real truth of this fact hit Amy for the first time. The knowledge gave her such a warm, secure feeling she felt tears sting her eyes. Silas was God’s child and she was God’s child and together they could have a wonderful life with His blessing and beneath His watchful care. Unbidden upon the heels of this miraculous thought surfaced the doubts. “Could it really be that wonderful? Would he really love me for the rest of his life?”
Had Amy been able to tell Silas of her feelings and her fears, he would have answered all her questions and assured her of his love. But it was not to be on this night. With her father and Paul in the room, she knew there would be no time for talk. And when the evening came to an end, she had no choice but to head to bed with everything locked inside her. By morning she knew she would have talked herself out of approaching Silas.
“We haven’t shared a bed for a long time—do you snore?”
“It wouldn’t matter if I did, little brother. This is my bed, keep that in mind.”
“I take it that means you intend to hog the covers.”
The men had just climbed into bed, and Silas tugged gently on the quilt in teasing. They lay quietly for a time, shifting once in a while for comfort, but neither one was close to sleep.
“Do you definitely have to leave tomorrow?”
“Afraid so. I’m already later than I said I would be.”
“How many people in your congregation?”
“About 15, but the area has such potential, Silas. I just know God’s going to use me up there.” Paul’s voice held all the enthusiasm he felt.
“I have no doubt He will, Paul, and you know I’ll be praying.”
“Thank you, Si. You know how much that means to me.” Silence fell again.
br />
“Silas?”
“Yea.”
“Do you want to talk about Amy?”
“How did you know?”
“Grandma Em and I talked. She didn’t tell everyone, but we were discussing you and she shared what you had told her. Do you want to tell me?”
“I don’t know, Paul. Amy is definitely my favorite subject, but sometimes I just can’t see the point. She’s just not interested in me.”
“Are you sure of that, Silas? Are you sure she’s not interested, or is it possible she’s scared?”
“Scared of what?”
“Hasn’t she been engaged before?”
“Yes, she has. The guy broke if off with her earlier this year.”
“Why did he break if off?” Silas didn’t answer. “Was it another girl?”
“I know what you’re after, Paul, but she can’t think I would do that to her.”
“It doesn’t appear to me that you really know what she’s thinking. You haven’t talked to her.”
“When did you become such an expert?” Silas’ voice was growing cross.
“I’m in love, too.”
Silas said nothing for a long time, but questions were swarming through his head. He decided to pose his questions as Paul had done.
“Do you want to talk about her?”
Paul laughed. “I’m not sure you should get me started.”
“Does she love you?”
“Yes.” Paul’s voice was apologetic, and Silas exploded.
“Paul! How could you think for one minute I wouldn’t want your happiness?”
Following Silas’ outburst, silence fell once again in the small attic room. Finally Paul said, “I’m not sorry she loves me, but it seems cruel to talk about my happiness when things are not settled between you and Amy.”
“I appreciate your thoughts, Paul, but I think things are settled. I can’t force her to love me, nor would I want to. I want her to come of her own accord—out of love, not pity or gratitude. Now please tell me about—”
“Corrine.”
“Please tell me about Corrine—where you met, everything.”
Paul’s voice took on an almost dreamy quality as he spoke. “Her full name is Corrine Maria Templeton. I met her up north. She and her family are members of the church I’ll be pastoring.
“We’ve really had very little time together, but I guess it was love at first sight. I was staying with her aunt and uncle while I was speaking up there, and we met when she came to see them.
“We would have had more time together, but she wasn’t feeling very well and her dad insisted she go home. But it doesn’t really matter. We had enough time to know how we feel about each other.”
“So it’s really serious.”
“Is it ever! I want her for my wife. She loves God and is just as excited about the people and the work up there as I am. She’s beautiful, too—tall like Christine, only very slim and willowy. Her hair is even lighter than your Amy’s, almost a white blonde. I’ve never seen it down, but her aunt told me it’s very long.”
Paul’s voice trailed off, and Silas was sure he was thinking of the woman he loved. Silas’ thoughts were on the same track. “Your Amy,” Paul had said. “Your Amy.” He liked the sound of that.
“I can’t give up, God,” Silas prayed in his heart. “I love her so much. If there’s even the slightest chance of us having a life together, I can’t give up.”
The brothers talked only a little while longer, a full day catching up with them. Tomorrow would bring good-byes which, though never easy, a good night’s sleep would certainly help.
39
Amy’s knife was putting the finishing touches on the chocolate cake she was frosting. The first thing her father had said upon seeing her puppy was, “She’s as black as the cocoa you use to make my favorite cake.” Amy thought the name very fitting and wasted no time in trying to come up with something better. Now, as Amy worked over the cake, she had to agree: The frosting was rich and indeed almost black in color.
She hoped Silas would enjoy it. He had taken Paul into town after breakfast to catch the train, and Amy had an inkling he might be upset or a little down when he got back. Realizing he was a little late now, Amy hoped everything was alright. She knew the cake certainly didn’t make up for Paul’s absence, but Amy wanted Silas to know she cared and was thinking of him.
About an hour later, Amy had really begun to wonder what had become of him when Silas drove quickly into the yard. Amy stepped onto the front porch in time to see Silas carrying Cocoa from the yard into the barn.
He was back out within seconds and striding quickly toward her, his face grave. As soon as he reached the porch, he took her hands and held them tightly in his own. Amy began to experience fear at his foreboding expression.
“Amy, I put Cocoa in the barn. I need to take you into town. As I drove Paul to the station, I could tell something was up. All through town I heard talk about your family. As soon as Paul’s train left, I went straight to your uncle’s. He was just on his way to get you. Your Aunt Bev is asking for you. She’s been arrested for being connected with the robberies in the area.”
All the color drained out of Amy’s face upon hearing Silas’ words. Swaying, she would have fallen but for his strong hands gripping her own.
“There must be a mistake.” Amy’s voice was little more than a thready whisper.
“I hope there is. Evan said she would talk to no one. The sheriff was kind enough to spare her the humiliation of the jailhouse, so she’s at home with one of the town deputies.”
Silas began to let go of Amy, intending to lead her into the house, but she clung to him. “Come inside, Amy. I need to go out and tell your dad. I’m sure he’ll want to go with us.” But still Amy would not let go of his hands.
“Please don’t leave me, Silas.”
Upon hearing the fear in her voice, Silas gathered her tenderly into his arms. He felt her tremble as he rested his cheek upon the top of her head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’ll go into town and get the whole story and I’ll be right beside you.”
God’s hand was certainly on the Nolan family this day, for Silas looked over Amy’s head to see Grant coming in from the fields. “Here comes your dad. Let’s go tell him.” Silas’ large hand held Amy’s as they walked past the barn to meet Grant. Silas told him all he knew and Grant insisted that Silas and Amy leave immediately.
“I’ll saddle a horse and come in as soon as I clean up. If Bev is asking for you, then you need to get right in there.”
Amy was nearly in a state of shock as Silas drove the team toward town. “Amy, I don’t know what you’re going to find when you get to your aunt’s. But if she sees you so disturbed, it’s just going to make her more upset than I’m sure she already is.”
Silas’ words penetrated Amy’s painful confusion over this disastrous affair, and she started to pray. She began by thanking God for the fact that Bev had asked for her. This in itself was encouraging. Amy had prayed for years that by her word and deed her loved ones would come to understand their need for Christ and just maybe, as tragic as all of this was, it would be an open door to that end.
Amy spoke just as they entered the main street in town. “Thank you, Silas. I’m not sure what I would have done without you. If my Aunt Bev has no objections, will you come in with me?”
“I’ll stay by your side as long as I’m able.”
The scene in front of the Randall mansion was as close as Amy had ever come to living a real-life nightmare. Townspeople crowded everywhere. Snatches of conversations floated to the occupants of the wagon as Silas maneuvered the horses, attempting to skirt the crowd.
“If she’s guilty she should be in the jail.”
“The rich don’t get treated like the rest of us do.”
“I think she’s been framed.”
“It’d be easier to believe if it was him; he’s certainly a cold fish.”
“That’s right, she just doesn’t se
em the type.”
“Yea, she sure doesn’t need the money.”
Some of the sheriff’s men and Bev Randall’s two gardeners tried to restrain people as they trampled the landscape. Amy recognized one of the more zealous intruders as a man who worked for the town’s newspaper. Unfortunately he spotted her at the same instant and began to run toward the wagon. Amy quickly directed Silas to drive to the back of the huge house. Again Amy felt God’s hand on them when she saw that the guard at the back door was a man who had known her since childhood and immediately gave them entrance.
Two maids, both with swimming eyes and crushed handkerchiefs, were in the kitchen as Silas and Amy walked through. To save time, Amy headed for the back hall and stairway. The main staircase led directly to her aunt’s room, but Amy was in a rush to get to the second floor and she nearly ran through the upstairs hallway to get to the spacious landing outside the master bedroom.
She stopped short, Silas nearly colliding with her, at the sight of a man standing at the door, a shining badge pinned smartly to the pocket of his shirt. His expression not at all welcoming.
Silas stepped in with the protective instincts of a mother bear. “This is Amy Nolan, Bev Randall’s niece. I understand Mrs. Randall has asked for her.”
The lawman eyed Silas’ size for a moment before reluctantly opening the door and speaking quietly to someone within. Evan came through the door in the next second.
“Oh Amy, I’m so glad you’re here. She won’t talk to me.” Amy had never seen her uncle so emotional, he was completely distraught. “All she’ll say is ‘I want to talk with Amy.’ ”
Amy nodded, and Evan stepped aside to let her in. Silas hesitated, but Evan gestured so he followed Amy. Evan closed the door from the outside.
Bev Randall stood in the small windowed alcove in the corner of the room and looked at the crowd below. Without turning, she spoke. “Thank you for coming, Amy. Is Silas with you?”