My Heart Will Find Yours (14 page)

The preacher approached the podium carrying a well-worn Bible. He wore a three-piece suit as did many of the men in the room, and sweat beaded his brow. Why did the men dress so in this heat? Better yet, why was she tied up in this corset? She felt like a turkey ready for the oven. Most of the other women were decked out in similar outfits, but a few wore cooler, more comfortable dresses made of gingham checks and soft solids. It didn’t look like they were wearing corsets either.

“Folks, let’s everybody take a seat so we can get started.”

The chatter quieted as people settled on the pews.

“Let us bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, today is indeed a wonderful day. Not only did you send us beautiful weather, but you also returned Texanna to our flock. We thought you had called her home, that we’d never see her again. Thank you for this wonderful blessing. We are eternally grateful, Lord.”

Amen’s echoed around the room.

Texanna tried to scoot lower in the pew, but her body wouldn’t bend. Royce squeezed her neck. He was going to pay for this. He could’ve warned her. She tried to catch his eye, but he refused to look at her.

“And you returned another to us, Lord, one who was lost but now is found. He lost faith in your love and mercy, his burden was heavy, and the weight bore him down. But you’ve lifted him up today, Lord, and we thank you. Welcome home, Royce, we’ve missed you, son.”

Royce nodded.

The amens grew in volume and number.

The words hissed from the side of Texanna’s mouth as she tried to whisper. “What is he talking about?”

“I haven’t stepped foot in a church since I gave up the search for you three-and-a-half years ago.”

Texanna closed her eyes in hopes darkness would help her not think about the agony Royce must have felt. And Pearl—did she lose her faith somewhere along the way? No, she’d been strong and faithful in her convictions all Texanna’s life. Prior to that, she couldn’t say.

“Jesus, let us learn from this situation. We don’t always understand why tragedy strikes us, and we grieve and ask, ‘Why, Lord, why me?” We fight against the restraints you put upon us and want problems to be resolved immediately,” he pounded his chest, “on our schedule. Help us to remember, Lord, that your plan will be revealed to us in a matter of time. Amen.”

The preacher’s words reminded her of Pearl’s note just before she died. What kind of special purpose could God have for her? If saving Royce’s life was His goal, anyone could have come back and changed history—well, they could if they knew the secret of time-travel.
What are you thinking? They’d have to possess the magical stone in the locket.
You’d think God would have prepared her by seeing to it that she knew how to prepare something decent on that old iron cookstove.

A giggle escaped her lips to be nipped in the bud by the pinch of her corset, making her choke. She started coughing and gasped for air trying to stop. Royce looked at her with concern and pounded her on the back. If she didn’t stop, the strings on the device choking her would snap and she’d bust out of this dress. With both arms, she hugged her waist.

Hell, this whole affair didn’t make a lick of sense. Oh, shit...darn...here she was, after vowing to do better, cussing in church.
Forgive me, Lord.

Chapter Ten

After the closing hymn, folks began to file from the pews. A crowd formed around them, greetings for Texanna coming from all directions. With his arm around her waist, Royce moved them along with the group.

A voice from the back rose above the others. “Move back. Let me through.”

Royce couldn’t keep the grin off his face when Edna Murphy swooped down on Texanna like an eagle protecting its young.

“Ya’ll stand back now, you’re crowding the girl.” Edna pushed through the crowd and took Texanna’s arm. “Come on, sugar, let’s get outside, and then you won’t feel so confined.”

Texanna turned to Royce with pleading eyes. “Here, Edna. Let me help you.” He closed in on the other side of his wife, and they jostled their way to the door.

They stopped for a minute, and Edna leaned in to whisper something to Texanna. Afraid he’d miss something important, Royce put his head close to theirs, but the feather from Edna’s plumed hat tickled his ear. He swatted it away like a fly.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, child. I’ve made sure everyone in this town knows you’ve lost your memory, so don’t be afraid to say ‘I don’t remember.”‘

Royce saw Texanna visibly relax and a smile begin on her face. “Thank you, ma’am. That was very kind of you.”

Edna snorted and gave Royce the evil eye. “Well, it’s the least I could do.” Her face flushed. “I wasn’t very nice to you before. I’m sorry.”

“How come?”

“How come I’m sorry, or how come I treated you poorly?”

“Why weren’t you nice to me?”

“Cause I was a snooty, old woman. Thought I was better than everybody else. Still do in some ways.” She eyed the group of people waiting to join them. “But the Lord has delivered my comeuppance, and I’ve changed my ways. Most of ’um least ways.”

She flashed Royce a smile. “And when the marshal here asked me to try to stem the gossip,” she lowered her voice, “which really surprised me because we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, I felt it was my opportunity to make amends.”

Preacher John Riley huffed his way toward them, his face red from exertion. “Why Edna, you just whisked this young lady by me so fast I didn’t get a chance to say hello.”

“John, she looked faintish, so I wanted to get her outside.”

The preacher looked at Texanna, then back to Edna. “Well, she looks fine now. Royce, bring your wife over, and let folks say hello.”

As they approached, the group stopped talking and pressed around them. Royce received his share of handshakes and slaps on the back, but the folks wanted to talk to his wife. He stepped back and watched. They were all good people, and he was grateful they were glad to see Texanna.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Matthew with Molly, his arm around her shoulder. His sister-in-law was petite, too small, in his opinion, to be having a child with Matthew. He worried about her and knew Matthew did also. His brother had fought his love for Molly, but the woman persisted and they’d married. She looked like a ripe watermelon ready to pop.

“Hello, darlin’. How’s my favorite sister-in-law?” He hugged her gently and placed a kiss on her forehead.

“How do I look?” She held up a hand. “No, I don’t want to hear that line one more time. I
am
not glowing. I’m fat and ugly, and I’m your
only
sister-in-law.” Her voice broke on her last words, and her face scrunched with threatening tears.

But to Royce she was radiant. Her dark brown hair held a sheen that enhanced her creamy skin and brown eyes. Matthew’s hair was almost black so their baby would be dark-headed, but would it have her brown eyes or Matthew’s blue ones?

Royce knew from experience the last month of pregnancy was hard on a woman. Pearl had been so hard to live with right before Garrett was born; he’d wanted to leave the state. Molly needed a distraction, something to keep her mind off her burgeoning body.

“Molly, I’m sure Matthew told you Texanna doesn’t remember any of us. She may need you to help her learn some things, like needlework and cooking.”

She hiccupped and then giggled. “You mean she’s forgotten how to cook? How can anybody forget something like that?”

“I don’t know, but she’s also got some weird behaviors. Don’t be offended at some of the things she says.” He stuffed both hands in his pockets. “And just so you know, Garrett calls her Texanna, not Ma.”

Their shock was obvious, but Matthew merely nodded and turned to Molly with concern. “Come on, honey, you need to get off your feet.” He turned to Royce. “Collect Texanna and Garrett, and meet us at Maybell’s. Jason’s bringing Sally.” His face split into a grin. “Should be a lively meal with Sally there.”

Royce snorted. Lively was right. The girl was a handful, and if Jason married her, he was afraid she would lead his young brother around by the nose.

The crowd around Texanna was dwindling. She’d probably scorch his ears for leaving her by herself. He moved into the group and took Texanna’s arm. “We need to leave, folks. We’ll see you all at the July Fourth picnic.”

Just as they moved away, Royce glanced up to see Danielle Stokes standing in their path. His step faltered, but he quickly recovered and moved Texanna forward.
Might as well get this over with.
Hopefully, the woman wouldn’t make a scene. From the pinched look on her face, it was doubtful.

He nodded. “Hello, Danielle, is your father with you?”

Her eyes never left Texanna’s face. Her expression remained brittle. “No, he wasn’t feeling well this morning.”

He turned to Texanna. “Sweetheart, this is Danielle Stokes, Judge Stokes’ daughter.”

Texanna extended her hand. “Hello, Danielle, it’s nice—”

“Don’t think for one minute you can pull the wool over my eyes,” she spat. “Just when Royce starts paying attention to me again, you show up. I’m not fooled by your ridiculous story, and before long the rest of this town will know the truth too.”

Royce felt Texanna stiffen. She snapped her parasol closed and squared her shoulders. “Just what are you saying?”

Danielle drew herself up to her full height, chin in the air. She stood several inches taller than Texanna. “You’ve been off whoring, and now you’re back and want to take my man—”

Texanna jerked free of his grip, and before he could yank her back, she’d grabbed a handful of Danielle’s bodice and pulled her face down level with hers. “Who are you calling a whore?”

Danielle shrieked and shoved her attacker away. The sound of ripping fabric made Royce cringe. He stepped between them. “Stop it, both of you. You’re making a spectacle.”

Texanna struggled to get around him and get at Danielle. If he wasn’t so embarrassed at her behavior, he’d laugh. He was tempted to turn Texanna loose on the hateful woman. Lord, the woman was deluded—her man? He’d just asked her to a dance.

Edna Murphy witnessed the scene, as did a few other shocked church members. Edna hustled over from her buggy to collect the sobbing Danielle and drew her away. She looked back at Royce, rolled her eyes, and grinned.

Texanna crossed her arms and refused to budge. “Just what was that all about?”

Before he could answer, Garrett ran up. “Gol-leee, you showed her, Texanna. Guess she was jealous ‘cause Pa’s been courtin’ her some.”

“Courtin’, huh?”

“Yeah, but that was before you come back, huh, Pa?” Royce ushered her toward the buckboard, lifted her onto the seat, and Garrett climbed up beside her. “You’re much prettier, and he likes you lots better. I can tell.”

Royce wisely didn’t comment, just climbed in beside her and twitched the reins.

****

Danielle sat in the buggy beside Edna Murphy. The old woman had thrown a shawl over her shoulders to cover her torn dress. Mortified beyond belief, she hid her muffled sobs behind her handkerchief.

Edna slapped her on the leg making her jump. “Stop caterwauling right this minute. You’re lucky you got off with just a torn dress. Could’ve lost some of that hair you’re so proud of.”

Too stunned to respond, Danielle stared at the old biddy for a minute. Finally, she found her voice. “Royce would’ve married me if she’d not come back, I know he would have. He was taking me to the July Fourth dance.”

“But she did come back, and your behavior today didn’t endear you to anyone in this town. You’ll never land a husband with your hateful ways.”

“I don’t want just any man, I wanted Royce. He’s going to pay for treating me like he’s done.”

“Young woman, there is nothing you can do to Royce to hurt him. You’ll just make a bigger fool of yourself.”

That’s what you think, old woman. I’ve already got revenge on Pearl, Texanna, whatever the hell name she went by.
Hiding her smirk behind the handkerchief, she crushed it in her hand, the locket hidden in the folds biting into the tender flesh of her palm.

****

Texanna was surprised when they walked into Maybell’s to find Matthew with his wife and Jason with Sally at a table waiting for them.

“Texanna, you remember Molly, Matthew’s wife?”

Molly’s smile was warm and welcoming. She was pretty and dainty, probably not much over five feet tall. Her body was round with pregnancy. “Hello, Molly.”

“It’s so good to see you. Royce, I do believe she’s prettier than she was before she left.”

Color flooded Texanna’s face. To make matters worse, Royce stood there and studied her. She had to restrain the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

Texanna turned to Jason and the pretty young woman at his side.

He stood, hugged Texanna, and kissed her cheek. “My, you look lovely in that dress.”

“You and Royce have nice taste in ladies’ clothing.”

He grinned. “Well, thank you, ma’am.”

Jason introduced Texanna to Sally, and then she and Royce took chairs beside Jason.

So this is the pretty, blue-eyed blonde Royce called mule-headed.
Texanna swallowed the giggle that threatened to erupt. What Royce meant was she wasn’t all sugar and spice. She had a mind of her own.

Sally extended her hand. “Hi, Texanna. I’m glad to meet you at last.”

“Thank you. You too.”

Garrett bounced in his seat. “Uncle Jason, you shoudda seen Texanna whup—”

Royce put a hand on the boy in mid-bounce. “Not now, Son.”

“Ah, Pa, can’t I tell.”

“No, you cannot.”

Texanna thought she’d sink through the floor. Her face burned with embarrassment, but by golly, the woman called her a whore. She met the curious glances of the others at the table. “I’m sure Royce will fill you in later.”

“Marshal, don’t you think every woman should know how to handle a gun?” Sally’s blue eyes nailed Royce’s, and he looked at Jason. Texanna was grateful everyone’s attention turned to the cute blonde.