My Hope Is Found: The Cadence of Grace, Book 3 (28 page)

He thought of Lonnie when he’d left her, hands rosy from laundry. Feet weary from the never-ending work. He loved every bit of her for it. She would never complain, but life would take sides whether he wanted it to or not.

What he wouldn’t give to have comforts to offer her.

The woman with the pearl earrings laughed and rested her cheek on her husband’s shoulder. Gideon swallowed hard.

“Cat got your tongue?” he heard Cassie ask.

The woman unfolded her napkin and caught his gaze. Her kind smile in his direction was so soft, it took him a moment to realize he was staring.

Shaken back to the moment, Gideon quickly looked down at his plate.

“Did you hear me?” Cassie asked.

“Sorry.” Gideon ran a hand over the back of his neck. “What was it you asked?”

“About coming home. I bet everyone was surprised to see you.”

“That they were.” He sipped his tea, if only to draw moisture to his suddenly parched throat.

“And Jacob. Tell me about him.”

“He’s grown.” Gideon’s heart swelled at the thought of his son. “He’s a good lad. I missed him terribly. More so when I saw him again—so much time seemed to have passed.”

Cassie’s eyes glistened. “I’m so glad you are back in his life.”

“Thank you, Cassie.” It was a debt he didn’t know how to repay.

“And Lonnie?”

Gideon sipped his tea. “You don’t have to ask, Cassie.”

“I want to.”

He could tell she meant it. “Um … Lonnie.” He blew out a quick breath. “Let’s just say that trouble has a way of following me, it seems.”

Cassie’s eyebrows shot up.

“Lonnie was engaged. Is still. Sorta.” At Cassie’s surprised expression, he continued. “It’s been the last thing in the world I wanted to come back to …”

“But life works that way sometimes,” she finished for him.

He nodded, feeling a soft smile surface. “Does that …” He searched for the words and began again. “Cassie, does that change how you feel about tomorrow?”

She pressed her fingertips to her lips, thoughtfully. With mischief in her eyes, she studied him intently.

Gideon felt his face warm.

“You’re blushing, Gideon O’Riley.”

He chuckled.

Letting his curiosity wonder a few moments longer, Cassie finally spoke. “No. It doesn’t. I’m not saying that this isn’t bittersweet, but this is as it should be.”

He squeezed her hand.

“So what now?” she asked.

“I’m not sure.” His eyes shifted to the woman who smiled up at her reverend husband. Gideon cleared his throat. “Not sure.” Though he was no longer hungry, he took a bite of his supper and then another. Cassie did the same. They chatted here and there until their plates were clean. Gideon slid several coins onto the table, and when Cassie snapped open her reticule, he held up a hand.

“Please. Let me.”

The candle had burned down to a stub. She pushed her chair back and reached for her shawl. “We ought to get back before it gets too late. The judge asked me to return to the courthouse by nine in the morning.”

“Nine o’clock. I’ll walk you over.”

“And where will you be staying?”

His hand on the small of her back, he led them through the restaurant and out into the night. “I have my own special place.”

They strode across the street in silence. A thousand stars winked in the black spans overhead. The temperature must have dropped, for Cassie shivered and pulled her shawl tighter. Gideon felt none of it. He wasn’t sure how his feet carried him to the yellow house, but before he knew it, he was bidding her good night.

“Until tomorrow,” he said, picking up his pack.

“Until tomorrow.”

“Sleep good, Cassie.”

In one quick motion, she rose on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “And you too, Gideon.”

Gideon sat in the lobby at Cassie’s side. Hat in hand, he leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. A repeated
thunk
sounded somewhere nearby, and he realized he’d been bouncing his foot against the bench.

“Are you all right?” she whispered.

Too nervous to speak, he simply nodded. Two minutes to nine.

Cassie patted her hair that was done up in a puffy bun. She snapped open her reticule, searching for something. A moment later, it snapped closed. Gideon glanced around. The thunking started again. A trio of men stood against the far wall talking softly, and he felt Mrs. Peterson watching him over her spectacles. Unable to sit a moment longer, Gideon stood and started to pace. He hadn’t taken but three steps when the judge’s door opened and the older man waved them in. Gideon turned and nearly crashed into Cassie when she rose. He gripped her arms to keep from knocking her back.

“I’m so sorry.”

She squeezed his wrist. “Take a deep breath. It’s going to be all right.”

Moistening his lips, he swallowed. “I don’t know how to thank you for this, Cassie. I don’t deserve it.”

“Then think of it for Jacob.” A sorrow filled her eyes as her gaze shifted against his. He wondered if this was harder for her than she was letting on. She squeezed his wrist again. Her words were whispered but bold. “Think
of it for Jacob. The boy needs his papa.” Quickly, she kissed his hand, gripping it tight.

His chest expanded so fiercely, it hurt. “Thank you.”

Her hand still clasped around his, she motioned toward the open door. “Come on. The judge is waiting.”

With Jacob’s small hand holding tight to her fingers, Lonnie let him walk part of the way home from Gus’s. They’d spent the morning visiting the goats, and she’d savored every quiet moment of it. They’d had a joyous time, especially with her little nanny she’d named Anne. The morning passed quickly, and Lonnie was ever so glad.

For she was trying very hard not to think of Gideon and what was happening.

She stopped walking when Jacob bent to pluck a piece of grass from between his little shoes. He slid it in his mouth, and Lonnie pulled it out before swinging him up into her arms. She gave him a tight hug. “You don’t have to eat everything, my son!”

He kicked his feet and laughed.

“Like the carrot that was supposed to be for the goats.” She patted his belly, clad in his warm wool sweater. “You’re just like your papa. Always hungry.”

Gideon.

And there went that idea.

She blew a lock of hair from Jacob’s forehead, glad they’d reached
home. The cool breeze tickled her arms and stirred her hair. A cup of tea would be just the thing to chase away the chills from this early spring day.

The kitchen door was ajar, Elsie no doubt inviting in the sweet air. At chatter coming from the parlor, Lonnie carried Jacob through the kitchen and spotted Addie playing with her doll in the center of the rug. Elsie sat on the sofa, mending in hand. She looked up and smiled when Lonnie walked in.

“How was your morning?”

“Lovely, thank you.” Lonnie settled Jacob down on the rug. She sat a few minutes, and when Jacob ran a fist over his eyes, Lonnie pointed to the nearby book. “Why don’t I read you two a story?” Lonnie tucked her legs beneath her and pulled Jacob close. Within moments, Addie snuggled up against her side, the picture book in her small hands. Sliding an arm around her sister, Lonnie called a thanks to Elsie, who rose to make tea. The fire crackled in the hearth.

“Which story should we read?”

“I like the one about Robin Hood!” Addie called with glee.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He’s so brave and so good … even though he’s kind of naughty.”

Laughing, Lonnie squeezed her sister tighter. “That about puts it right. Well then …” She turned to the story, nearly passing it, but Addie was quick to help her find the right place. “Shall we begin?”

Addie nodded quickly, her dark curls dancing against Lonnie’s shoulder.

Lonnie read where she could, making sure to stop whenever Addie had a question or Jacob tried to turn the page, so eager he was to move on to a new activity. When he tried to tear a piece from the book, Lonnie lifted him from her lap and set him on the floor, where he toddled to his
basket of blocks. Her lap free, she patted her skirts for Addie to sit down. Elsie bustled in with two cups of tea and settled back on the sofa.

Lonnie read, stopping only when Addie leaned her head against her shoulder with a contented sigh. Peering down, Lonnie saw that she had fallen asleep. She set the book aside, happy to just hold Addie and watch Jacob play. Anything to keep from thinking of Gideon. Yet still she wondered if he’d made it to the courthouse all right.

And if Cassie would be there.

Had the judge decided? Lonnie glanced toward the window, yearning for answers, but all the while knowing the wondering and worry would drive her mad. She took another sip of her tea and was glad when Elsie spoke.

“I hope Gideon made it there safely.”

“I do too.”

Jacob rubbed little fists against his eyes again, and Elsie bent to pick him up, cradling his sleepy head against her shoulder. When his dark lashes fluttered, Lonnie knew he was moments from drifting off.

With her hands clasped around Addie, her fingertip played a slow circle over the skin where Gideon’s tin ring had once lain. She imagined it in the box in her dresser drawer. The metal cold. Remembered the tears that had spilled down her cheeks as she’d tugged it from her hand and pressed it away. Pushing it from her life forever.

Or so she had thought.

“You’re quieter than usual,” Elsie said, holding a sleeping Jacob.

After reaching for her teacup, Lonnie glanced at Elsie over the rim. “Am I?”

“You have much on your mind, I’d say.”

Leaning against the sofa, Lonnie closed her eyes. “Gideon promised to come back no matter what.”

“Would it be to say good-bye?” Elsie’s words held a power that Lonnie wasn’t ready to face, but she knew the wisdom she felt there.

And it was best to prepare her heart. For any outcome.

Feeling Elsie watching her, Lonnie nodded. “Possibly. But”—she glanced up—“oh, Elsie, I hope not.”

“And so we shall watch the road.” She kissed the top of Lonnie’s head. “For him to come home.”

Walking backward, Gideon casually held out a hand when a wagon approached. The sun was warm on his shoulders, but winter’s chill still clung to the breeze. Ever so eager to get home, he smiled to himself. When the wagon neared, the driver tugged on the reins, slowing the horses.

“Afternoon, there,” the man said.

“Afternoon.”

“Where ya headed?”

“Fancy Gap.”

“Hop on in, and I can take you as far as the fork.”

“That’d be great, thank you.” Gideon shoved his pack across the narrow wagon bed, the backboard missing. Long since gone, he thought, seeing the splintered wood and rusted hinges that hung haphazardly at odd angles. With a flex of his arms, he lifted himself into the wagon and sat.

The driver flicked the reins once. The wagon jolted forward.

They hadn’t gone but a half mile down the road when the driver turned in his seat. He couldn’t have been more than a year or two older than Gideon. His black, wiry beard was trimmed close to his face.

Gideon pulled off his hat and set it beside him.

“Recognize you from someplace.”

The cuff of his pants leg was turned up, and Gideon straightened it. “Yeah?”

“You’re that fella who played at the wedding.” His voice fell to a mutter. “The one who kept taking all the pretty girls.”

Twisting his mouth to the side, Gideon wasn’t sure how to respond.

The man turned back around. Content to just enjoy the quiet, Gideon folded his arms over his chest and tilted his face to the sun.

“So tell me.” The man’s words pulled him back. “And be honest, now …” He glanced over his shoulder again. “Is what they say true?”

Gideon squinted at him and forced himself to sound interested. “What do
they
say?”

“That you went to jail.”

“No,” he indulged in a chuckle. “I didn’t go to jail.”

“I heard you’ve been in a heap of trouble.”

Kicking his feet out, Gideon crossed his ankles. “I’ve had my fair share.” And he wasn’t proud of it. Maybe walking would be a better idea. He glanced at the road. A few hours until he got home by wagon. He wouldn’t make it today any other way.