Tracie Peterson - [Land of Shining Water 02] (27 page)

“If that should happen . . . we’ll elope,” Tavin told her with another kiss.

“Aye,” she promised. “We will do exactly that,” she said when she next was able.

It felt wonderful to once more be in church without having to sneak away. Emmalyne looked at her family sitting beside her in the pew and wanted to weep all over again. She had always known that God was able to do anything, but her faith had been small and weak. To see her mother and father together in God’s house was something Emmalyne wasn’t sure she would ever see.

After a message that seemed to sparkle with insight and
application for the Knox family—for the entire congregation, actually, Emmalyne thought—Reverend Campbell stepped to the pulpit for the benediction. Emmalyne bowed her head. Peace washed over her as the pastor prayed.

“And, Father, we pray also for the upcoming marriage of Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan. May your hand be upon them and your blessings pour forth on both their families.”

Emmalyne heard little else. She found herself silently adding to the pastor’s prayer,
God, make me a good wife to Tavin. Let me be the godly woman you’ve called me to be. Let me care for my parents with a tender and loving heart. And, God, thank you for what you’ve done for my father. I ask that you would continue to help him and draw him closer to Mother. Her joy has been lovely to see, her strength and energy so much improved. I want them to be even happier than they were when they first decided to marry.

Angus nudged her with his elbow. “The service is over, Emmy.”

She looked up, feeling a bit embarrassed. People all around them were departing. “I was caught up in my prayers,” she whispered.

Angus grinned. “Praying about your wedding?”

She shook her head. “Oh, I did at first,” she said, reconsidering. “But mostly I was praying for Mother and Father. Oh, Angus, they seem so happy now. Father isn’t nearly so gruff and impatient. Mother is very nearly a new woman. I’ve never known her to be so content.”

“I see it, too. God’s blessing is finally upon our family.”

“I don’t think it really ever left us, Angus. I think we might have shunned it, might not have noticed the ways He was at work, but God never removed His blessing from us.”

Angus escorted her from the church, where she was immediately joined by Tavin. “Sorry I was late. Fenella has been in quite a state. Mother needed my help, and Father also decided to remain at home with her and see to the boys.”

Emmalyne shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Tavin. I know it cannot be easy to watch your sister suffer as she does. It grieves me deeply, knowing her to be only a shadow of her former self.”

Dr. Williams joined them and extended his hand to Tavin. “Congratulations are in order.” He looked at Emmalyne and offered his hand to her, also. “Although I cannot deny they are rather bittersweet in their delivery.” He cocked his head to one side and looked back and forth between them.

Emmalyne shook her head. “Do not feel so, Dr. Williams. I have waited over eleven years for the world to be set right again.” She smiled up at Tavin for a moment, and he squeezed her arm he was holding.

The man nodded and sobered. “I know you have. I am happy for you, Miss Knox. And for you, Mr. MacLachlan.” Looking at Tavin, he continued. “I have the final papers prepared for your sister. Are you still of a mind to travel with us to St. Paul?” he asked Tavin.

“I am. I think it would give my mother comfort to know Fenella had a family member with her. It will be hard enough for Fenella to understand what is happening.”

“That’s true.” The doctor’s expression turned even more serious. “You know, it will probably be a difficult experience for you, as well.”

“I have considered that,” Tavin said with a nod. “Em and I have talked about it at length. I originally was against sending Fenella anywhere, but knowing there’s a possibility she can
be helped and understanding the impossible situation my mother has been facing . . . well, I’ve changed my mind on it. It will be difficult to see her leave us, but my prayers and hopes are that she might one day regain her sanity.”

“There’s only a slim chance, you realize,” Dr. Williams cautioned. “I wouldn’t want you to be unfairly hopeful. These doctors are doing good work with their patients. However, your sister has been in this state for a considerable length of time. She’s grown progressively more violent, and in speaking with the doctors in St. Paul, I can’t pretend that her condition will be easily resolved.”

“But, Doctor, you sounded rather promising not so long ago,” Emmalyne interjected.

“I know I did,” he agreed, “perhaps too promising. And yet, I want to believe there is a possibility for healing.” He shook his head. “The mind is such an unknown territory for science. We are learning more all the time, but it remains a mystery. As I told Mrs. MacLachlan, there is simply no possible way to know what the outcome will be for Fenella. But we will continue to have hope.”

“She was quite a handful this morning,” Tavin said. “I hope you have something stronger for the trip than the medicine you’ve been using. If we’re going to put her on a train with civilized folks and not raise a terrible ruckus, it will need to be more powerful than what she has right now.”

“I know. The doctor at the home sent a mixture of medicine for me to inject. It should cause her to sleep for the most part. I’ve spoken to the depot master about putting us in a car with few, if any, others. He has suggested maybe something in one of the baggage cars. Perhaps even set up a cot for your sister.”

“That was smart thinking, Doc,” Tavin said, nodding his approval. “That would definitely suit us better than having folks staring and asking questions.”

“I agree.” He looked again to Emmalyne. “And how has the horse worked out?”

“Quite well, although of course we will return him once we wed.”

“No,” he said with a nod, “I think I’ll make it a wedding present.” He turned to Tavin. “So long as your betrothed doesn’t disagree.”

Tavin smiled and put his arm around Emmalyne. “It suits me just fine, so long as Emmy is happy . . . and doesn’t ride off too far away from me.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. For so long joy had been absent from her life, and now it seemed to overflow. “I am happy,” she told the two men. “Happier than I’ve ever been.”

The sound of a fast-approaching rider drew the attention of all the congregants still visiting after the service. Robert MacLachlan galloped onto the church grounds, reining the horse to an abrupt stop near Emmalyne and Tavin.

“Tavin, you must come home,” his father called out. “Fenella is missing!”

Emmalyne frantically looked between Tavin and Dr. Williams. “How did she get away? Where could she have gone?”

“We’d better go there immediately,” the doctor said. “I’ll get my bag and ride out.”

Tavin nodded and touched Emmalyne’s arm. “Come to the house and sit with Mother. She’ll be beside herself, and the boys could use your attention.”

“Yes, I’ll do what I can to help. Father and Angus will also help look for Fenella, I’m sure.” She gave Tavin’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll see you as soon as I can.”

Emmalyne could already see her parents hurrying toward them, no doubt wondering what was happening.

“Fenella has gone missing, Father,” she called to them. “The MacLachlans are frantic with worry.”

“It wiltnae bode well for the lass out there alone,” her father said. “Yer brother and I will help search. Let’s leave quickly.”

“I told Tavin I would go and help with the children.”

Mother said, “And I’ll sit with Morna, maybe offer some comfort. Let’s just head right over there now.”

Father didn’t spare the horses, urging them onward at such
a rapid pace that Emmalyne had to hold tightly to the side of the wagon to steady herself. She prayed fervently over the miles.

Lord, please keep Fenella in your care. Let the men find her,
she pleaded over and over.

Angus’s expression was grave, and Emmalyne was certain it reflected his concerns about the dangers around a quarry. Emmalyne had heard accounts of loose, unstable ground, deep waters, and snakes the length of a man—only a few of the things that might cause problems for Fenella. Or she might have headed away from the quarry toward the river.

As they passed the Knox property, Emmalyne realized the thick forest of trees could easily hide someone as small as Fenella. “She might be out here somewhere,” she told her brother. “We’d do well to keep our eyes open.”

He nodded. “I’ll keep watch in this direction. You look that way.” But they saw nothing of the young woman.

After what seemed an eternity, they finally pulled up to the MacLachlan house. “Has she been found yet?” Emmalyne called to Tavin as he ran up to the wagon.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m sure glad your father is here. He’s the best tracker among us. If anyone can find her, my money is on him.” He quickly helped Emmalyne and her mother out. “Father’s trying to look for evidence of which direction she’s gone, but he’s so upset I fear he’ll have little luck.”

Morna appeared with the boys. Gunnar looked ashen. Emmalyne went to him immediately and lifted him in her arms. He clung to her while Lethan fussed in Morna’s embrace.

“Oh, Emmy, I’m so glad you’re here. I widnae ken what to do without you.” Morna’s words were a near whisper.

Mother joined them. “We’ll do what we can to see you through this.”

“It happened so quickly,” Morna said, shaking her head as she held Lethan close. “Fenella had finally calmed down. I thought she’d fallen asleep. Gunnar had gone to feed the wee pup, and Lethan was playing in his crib. I decided to fetch some clean clothes for Fenella—she’d torn the others in a fit. I shouldnae have left her door open, but I was only gone a minute or two. I went to my room to get the clothes, and when I came back, she was gone. She’d been sleeping—from the medicine. I gave her a heavy dose. She shouldnae have been able to even walk. . . .”

“We understand, Morna,” Mother assured her. “Let’s go inside and rest a spell. The men will handle this well enough.”

Emmalyne ran her fingers through Gunnar’s hair, then led the boy back to the porch. “I’m going to go look for her, too.” She touched Gunnar’s cheek. “You stay here and keep the ladies safe. All right?”

“I wanna help look for my mama.” His lower lip trembled.

“I’m sure you do, Gunnar, but you need to stay here with your little brother. My father is very good at this. He’ll find your mama, and then we can spend some time playing. Would you like that?”

Gunnar nodded. “We can play with Scotty.”

Emmalyne smiled. “Aye.”

She headed out. Robert was beyond the barn, and it looked like he and her father were searching the ground for indications of tracks. Tavin looked up at her, then nodded his understanding.

“She has no shoes on,” Robert was explaining. “The footprints will be hers, but I cannae seem to find any sign.”

Emmalyne watched her father carefully scrutinize the area. He paced off several steps in half a dozen directions. From time to time he knelt to the ground and touched the brush or rocks.

“We looked for her on the road,” Emmalyne told Tavin. “No sign of her there.”

“I know. We did the same. Father had already searched it on the way to the church in case she might have headed that way.”

“Here!” Father called out from a spot between two aspen trees. “There’s a wee bit of fabric here.” He held up a tiny piece of blue cloth. It wasn’t much, but Emmalyne could see by the expression on Robert MacLachlan’s face that it was Fenella’s.

Father pressed farther into the brush. “Keep yer eyes open,” he admonished them.

They set out through the forest, kicking through the first of newly fallen leaves. Emmalyne stared so hard and long at the ground around her that she lost track of the others. She could hear them just ahead of her or maybe just to her right.

“There are broken branches over here,” Father called out. “She’s gone this way.”

They moved in the new direction, each following Luthias Knox at a reasonable distance so as not to complicate his tracking. He led them deeper and deeper into the woods. When they came to a boggy area, he frowned and raised his hand to halt the group.

“She walked through here. See the prints?”

Emmalyne craned her neck to see the footprints her father was pointing out.

“Then we go through here, too,” Robert declared.

“Could be dangerous,” Tavin remarked. “Maybe I should
go through the water and the rest of you could skirt around the worst of it and pick up the trail on the other side. It’s not that far.”

Tavin’s father looked out across the wetlands. “I suppose you’re right. That way if she dinnae make it . . .” Emmalyne shuddered as Robert’s words faded away.

Tavin set out through the bog while the others hurried around the edges to the other side. Emmalyne watched as Tavin appeared to search the water. Her father and Mr. MacLachlan, in turn, studied the shoreline.

“She came out here,” MacLachlan called out. Emmalyne could see from the marks in the wet ground that Fenella had fallen to her knees, then crawled a short distance before regaining her footing.

“This is going to take us around to the quarry,” Tavin murmured under his breath.

Emmalyne looked at him. “The quarry? Oh no . . .” She couldn’t even finish for the fear that gripped her.

Robert nodded. “Fenella used to come out to bring lunch to her husband from time to time. She would have taken the road back then, but in her current state of mind . . .” He fell silent.

Luthias was already well ahead of them, so they hurried through the woods to catch up. Just as Tavin had figured, they came through the brush and trees to find themselves on rocky terrain near the main area where the men had been cutting granite the previous year.

And across the open expanse on the opposite ledge was Fenella.

Emmalyne put her hands over her mouth. Tavin and the others had spotted her, too. “What do we do?” she whispered.
Fenella was sitting on the ground very near the edge. Very much in danger.

Then the sound of singing caught their attention. Emmalyne recognized the song. She’d heard the Scottish tune sung quite often by her mother when they were young.

“Dance to your daddy, my bonnie laddie, dance to your daddy, my bonnie lamb! And you’ll get a fishie, in a little dishie. You’ll get a fishie, when the boat comes home.” The voice was weak, but the tune and words were unmistakable.

“She used to sing that to Gunnar when he was a wee lad,” Tavin’s father told them, his voice hushed. “I haven’t heard her sing since Sten died.”

“We have to get her away from the edge,” Tavin said quietly, staring at the distant figure rocking slightly back and forth as she sang. “What do you think we should do?”

“When she was on the roof,” Emmalyne said, “Dr. Williams had me talk to her while he came up from behind to grab her. Do you suppose that might work again?”

“It’s worth trying,” Mr. MacLachlan replied. “I have no better idea.”

“If I walk in from Fenella’s right side and call to her,” she continued, “Tavin could go around behind and come in from the other way.”

“First we have to get over there without upsetting her,” Tavin said. “Father, why don’t you and Mr. Knox go back and bring the wagon. We’ll need it to bring her home. Angus, you and I will move around to the far side while Emmy goes to talk to her.”

Her father looked at Emmalyne “Haste ye now, and God be with ye.”

She drew a deep breath. “Haste ye back.”

She walked slowly around the quarry, keeping to the trees and brush where she could. When only open rock was left to her, Emmalyne paused to consider how she should approach. Fenella was still singing and sat some fifty yards to the left—far enough away to give Fenella time to see Emmalyne and become agitated. The last thing Emmalyne wanted was for Fenella to get flustered and do something drastic.

“What do I do, Lord?” she whispered.

Fenella ended her song and began to sing another round. Emmalyne decided to join in. Perhaps if Fenella heard her singing, then saw her coming, it would pose no shock.

“Dance to your daddy, my bonnie laddie, dance to your daddy, my bonnie lamb,” Emmalyne sang, slowly emerging from the bushes. “And you’ll get a fishie, in a little dishie.”

Fenella caught sight of her and smiled. She continued singing in perfect pace with Emmalyne. “You’ll get a fishie, when the boat comes home.”

Emmalyne’s heart felt like it was in her throat, but she made herself finish the song.

Fenella waved. “Oh, Emmy. ’Tis you. I knew you’d come.”

Emmalyne returned the wave, shocked at hearing Fenella speak. “I’m here, Fenella. I’m here.” She picked up her skirts to better navigate the rock. For the most part the granite was fairly smooth, but it would be treacherous if she were to slip over the edge.

“You must come meet my husband. He’s a wondrous man,” Fenella announced, looking to her left as if Sten Edlund were sitting at her side. “I wanted you to come to the wedding.”

“I would have liked that.” Emmalyne continued walking toward her friend, her hand slightly outstretched.

Fenella seemed to change in the blink of an eye. She looked
back at Emmalyne and shook her head from side to side. Grabbing her head in her hands, Fenella moaned and muttered something. Emmalyne stopped moving immediately.

“What’s wrong, Fenella? You can tell me. We’re good friends, remember?”

The bedraggled, wild-looking woman paused her frantic movements and stared hard at Emmalyne. The slightest motion behind Fenella turned out to be Angus and Tavin splitting up to approach Fenella from different directions. Fearing the woman would hear or see them, Emmalyne took another step forward and called to her.

“Fenella. Fenella, aren’t you going to come and embrace me? It’s been ever so long since we’ve seen each other.”

“The days,” Fenella muttered. “The days are gone. The days.” She slowly got to her feet and looked around.

Emmalyne shook her head. “We’ve plenty of days, Fenella. Plenty of time.”

“No! No! No! No!” Fenella let out a scream that chilled Emmalyne to the bone.

Holding out her arms, Emmalyne begged, “Please come to me. Please, Fenella. I so long to see you.”

Fenella seemed to calm for a moment. She surprised Emmalyne with a smile. “Sten is here to take me home. We have to go,” she said.

“Oh, please wait,” Emmalyne said, taking another step toward her. “We haven’t had a chance to talk.”

Fenella swayed. Her eyes seemed to roll back, and without warning, she collapsed in a heap over the quarry’s edge.

Tavin ran to Fenella, grabbing for her as her form tumbled off the ridge.

Emmalyne screamed Tavin’s name as he reached both
hands for his sister. She heard fabric ripping, and then a heartrending bellow escaped Tavin’s lips. A moment later he pushed up and crouched at the edge, a piece of the blue cloth clutched in his hand.

Emmalyne stumbled to his side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, shaking with sobs. “Tavin, we were so close,” she wept into his ear. “And she was talking, Tavin. Did you hear her?”

“Aye. I heard.” He pulled her close and held her tight against him.

“She said Sten had come to take her home. Then she fainted.”

“I know,” he said, stroking her back. “I heard.”

Emmalyne moved out of his embrace to peer over the edge, but Tavin stopped her. “Don’t. You don’t want to see her that way.”

“I’ll go below,” Angus said from behind them. His expression was full of sorrow and deep regret as the two looked up at him.

He turned to leave, but Tavin said, “Wait.” He got to his feet and helped Emmalyne up, too.

Tavin drew Emmalyne away from the rock and led her to Angus’s side. “Take your sister to the road. Our fathers will be here momentarily with the wagon. You need to break the news to them. I’ll go to . . . Fenella.”