An Unexpected Annulment (The Colorado Brides Series Book 3) (4 page)

“I will. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me. I know you have a lot on your plate, because there are many families struggling in Denver City.”

“We’re all looking forward to the new school. You have a passion when it comes to children, and I just know you’ll be an excellent teacher.”

I hadn’t expected that praise. “That’s nice of you to say. I hate to see children suffering, especially when it’s their parents who are responsible. If I ever see Mr. Montgomery again…ouf…I have a few choice words for that man.”

Pastor Bailey tried valiantly not to smile. “I’m sure you do. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on that wall.”

“Louisa!” called my sister, Paulina. “We’re waiting for you.”

I turned, seeing a pregnant woman, who held a baby in her arms. “I’m sorry. I’ll be right out.” We were due to have brunch at Paulina’s house with her husband, Samuel. I had kept them all waiting. “I’ll be right there.” I rushed down the aisle, hurrying for the door.

Having taken up this new responsibility, I made a habit of regularly leaving a basket of food by the side of the road near the turn for the Montgomery residence. I had some income, as Henry had given me a settlement, which he needn’t have, but he had done so anyhow. He had pulled me aside after our marriage had been annulled and said, “I’ve misrepresented myself, Louisa. I want you to know that I never wanted to marry you. I thought it a horrible idea from the start, but mother kept at me for weeks until I relented. Please accept this small token, as an apology. You might need these funds one day.”

I hadn’t wanted to take the money, but I did so reluctantly, using it to see me safely to Denver City. I’d offered to pay my sister for feeding and housing me, but she wouldn’t take a dime. I had secretly paid for a few things, and I would continue to do so, but she would be affronted if she knew.

It was several days later that I had taken the wagon out for a ride, intending to leave another basket; although this time, I saw Annie sitting by the side of the road, with her forehead on her knees. She failed to look up as I approached, and I pulled on the reins, stopping a foot or two from where she was.

“Annie?” I climbed down. “Are you all right?” When she lifted her head, I gasped. There was a huge bruise on the side of her face. “Oh, my gracious. What happened?” I knelt before her.

“There’s a bad man at our house.”

“What?”

“Pa went into the woods to mine. He left us with Sally. She brought the bad man over.”

Panic gripped me. “Where are your brothers?”

She shrugged. “They got beat too, worse than me. They’re hiding.”

“Oh, my God!” I glanced towards the house, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, although there was a wagon out front. “You have to come with me. You can’t go back.” I held out my hand. “Come on. You can stay with me.”

“What about Oscar and Hugh?”

“We’ll come back and get them.” Just looking at her broke my heart. She was so thin and now…there was a horrible bruise with a fair amount of swelling. How someone could strike a small child such as this left me feeling ill with anguish. “I’ll help you up.” She sat on the seat next to me; her thin arms were around her tummy. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“No.”

Turning the wagon around, I headed back the way I came, forgetting to leave the basket of food. I would beg Nathan to find the boys, and, if I had to throw myself at his feet to do it, I would. It was ten minutes before we reached the farm. I didn’t need to help Annie down, as she jumped from the seat. Maria had been in the henhouse, and she ambled over, holding a bowl of eggs. She caught sight of Annie, who now sat on the porch.

“Oh, my. What happened to that child? Her face looks terrible.”

“Some…” I bit my tongue…“man hit her.”

“No, that’s not good. She needs ice. I’ll break some off from the block in the cellar.” She shook her head, murmuring, “
Esto no es bueno
.”

Hannah came to the door, holding Letty. “What’s happening?”

“Where’s Nathan?”

“Having lunch.” She held the door open, her gaze resting on Annie. “You brought the Montgomery child here.”

“Yes, I did. I need to speak to Nathan.”

Annie got to her feet, facing Hannah. “Oh, my…oh, what happened to her face?”

“That’s what I’m going to speak to Nathan about.” I rushed down the hallway, entering the kitchen. “I must talk to you.”

He was eating a sandwich, his mouth working. “What is it?”

“I know you’ll be angry, but I found Annie by the side of the road. Her pa’s gone mining, and he left them with some woman, some Sally person. Anyway, she brought a man over, and he’s beating those children!”

Annie appeared in the doorway. The huge purple bruise took up all of her left cheek. The swelling had begun to bring up the skin beneath an eye, producing an unsightly bulge. Nathan stared at her, while Maria drew near, holding ice in a cloth.

“You need to come sit down, girl,” she said. “Put this on your face.”

“What happened, Annie?” asked Nathan.

“Bad man hit me.”

“Where are your brothers?”

“They’re hiding.”

“Your pa went to the woods?”

She nodded, while holding the ice to her face. “Yes.”

Nathan took a deep breath, while getting to his feet. “Lunch is over.” He strode from the room without another word. Hannah had been listening in the doorway, and we followed him down the hall. He retrieved a shotgun from a case in the parlor, holding it firmly in his right hand. Hannah glanced at me, her expression concerned. Nathan left the house, his booted feet clunking on the porch.

“Jerry!” he shouted.

“Yes, Mr. Weaver?”

“We’ve got some boys to find! Saddle up the horses.”

He spied the shotgun. “Right away, sir.”

“What are you going to do?” asked Hannah.

“Goin’ to get them boys. I’ve had enough of this now. I won’t stand by while some mudsill beats on children. That’s where I draw the line about sticking my nose in somebody’s business.”

“I know you’ll get them, but please just be careful.” She went to him, her face a mask of fear.

He held her. “Nothin’s gonna happen to me, darlin’. I’ll be fine. Jerry and I are gonna flush ‘em out. We’ll take care of it. There’s room in the bunkhouse for the boys.”

I stood on the porch, feeling elated that Nathan had taken matters into his own hands. “Annie can be with me,” I said. My mind flooded with all the things I wished to do with the children, starting with baths and haircuts. Then Maria and I would see about clothes and shoes. “I’ll say a prayer for your safe return, Nathan. You’re doing a wonderful thing.”

Jerry brought out two horses, and Nathan took the reins of a brown mare. “I’ll be back.” He glanced at Annie, who stood on the porch. “You think they’re near the house or further out?”

“In the woods behind the house. We have a fort there.”

He smiled. “I bet you do.” His booted foot slid into a stirrup, as he pulled himself up. Jerry did the same, and they galloped off, the hooves kicking up a fair amount of dirt.

“Hurry back.” Hannah wrung her hands.

“They’ll be fine,” I said. “Everything will be fine.”

“You just never know what other people will do. Whoever hurt these children is a violent person.”

“Denver City’s in dire need of lawmen. The innocent and the infirm need protecting.”

She nodded. “So, Annie, have you had lunch today?”

“No.” The little girl wore a torn dress, while the bottoms of her feet were nearly black.

“I think some food’s in order and then a bath.”

Her eyes lit up. “I haven’t had a bath in months.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

I went to her, holding out my hand. “Come on in, Annie. Your brothers will be here in a few minutes.”

“Will they get food too?”

“Of course. As much as they can eat.”

Maria said, “I get the tub ready, Mrs. Weaver. I need to boil water.”

“Thank you, Maria.”

“It’s no problem.”

Hannah and I made eggs and bacon, along with sliced fresh bread and butter. Annie held the ice pack to her face, although the bruising wouldn’t go away for days. She ate heartily, murmuring her appreciation. My sister was worried about Nathan, as she glanced up whenever she thought she heard a noise. It wasn’t until Maria had the bath ready for Annie, that the sounds of voices reached us.

“I’ll feed the boys in the dining room,” said Hannah. “That way Annie can have her bath in here.”

The metal tub was partially filled, the little girl sitting in the water, while I poured water over her head from a small pitcher. Maria and I lathered her with lye soap, which was harsh on the skin, but it worked wonders for filth removal. The water in the tub was dark grey by the time we were finished rinsing Annie. I was relieved to find no other bruises on the girl, other than scraped knees. A towel was over her head, while I rubbed vigorously.

“What do we have for her to wear?”

“I might have a shirt,” said Maria. “She can wear it until I clean the dress.” The torn and soiled garment was in her hands. “Oh, this is not good. I might be able to mend it, but…these children need new clothes.”

“A trip to town’s in order.”

“
Sí
, Ms. Hoffman. I mean, yes.”

Annie sat before me in a chair while I combed out the tangles. “Well, at least you don’t have lice. Things could be worse.”

Nathan appeared in the doorway. “Where’s the soap? I’m gonna take the boys to the pond.”

“It’s in the bucket over there. Did you have any trouble finding them?”

“No. I had a little talk with Howard Granger while I was at it. He’s the person responsible for hurting the kids. I’m reporting him to the mining district later today. Somebody’s gotta do somethin’ about what’s happened here.”

“I hope they’ll take action.”

“It’s doubtful, but I can’t keep quiet about this.” He grasped the chunk of soap. “I’ll be at the pond, if Hannah asks where I am.”

“Will do.”

He glanced at Annie. “She sure cleaned up nice. I had no idea she was a blonde.”

“It’s amazing what a little soap and water can do,” I laughed.

“That’s what I’m about to find out.”

I helped Maria mend clothes, while she scrubbed them over the washboard. The water in the tub was filthy. The garments were rung out and hung on the line; the heat of the sun would dry them within a half an hour. The boys were rambunctious, and Nathan and Jerry had their hands full in that regard. I tried to get them to settle down, so I could cut their hair. They sported various bruises as well, and Hugh had a chipped tooth. This had enraged Nathan, as he had sworn up a storm in the backyard, venting his anger at the situation. It was strange, but Annie remained by my side no matter where I went. If I was on the porch, she was there. If I went into the kitchen, she followed. It was like having a silent shadow, but I didn’t mind.

When we sat down for dinner, there were so many of us that Hannah and I brought in the kitchen chairs to use in the dining room. It was a jovial affair with candles, gleaming plates, and plenty of food. There was chicken, ham, and steak, which Nathan had grilled over a fire in the backyard. The boys weren’t accustomed to using forks and knives; their manners were atrocious. These would be things that Hannah and I would have to teach them.

After dinner, we sat in the parlor; while Nathan played the banjo, the refrains of “There is a Happy Land Far, Far Away” filled the room. This was followed by other hymn tunes, while we clapped and laughed. The boys seemed in awe of Nathan, beaming at him with fresh faces and shiny, clean hair. Even Annie smiled, although her face looked awful. The unsightly bruise broke my heart whenever she turned her face towards me.

When it was time for bed, Annie was with me, after having brushed her teeth. She was unaccustomed to doing this; her grooming skills were nonexistent. It wouldn’t be long before the Montgomery children were versed in manners and cleanliness. The boys were in the bunkhouse with Jerry, but they had to be corralled like wayward sheep, as they had run around after dinner, not wanting to get ready for bed. At one point, Nathan had picked Oscar up by the back of his pants, holding him off the ground, while saying, “Lord in heaven! Pipe down before you get a swat on the butt, boy. It’s bedtime.” He’d brought him to the bunkhouse with his brother, but sounds of talking could still be heard, as my bedroom window faced that part of the yard.

“You can sleep with me, Annie.” I patted the bed. She crawled onto the mattress, wearing one of my shifts, but it was far too big for her. “We’re going into town tomorrow. You need clothes.”

“I’ve got some at home.”

I lay back, bringing the sheet up to my neck. “I’m not going to that house ever again.”

“Can I go home when my pa comes back?”

“If he’s proven fit enough to be able to care for you and your brothers.”

“Pa isn’t a bad man.”

“No, of course not.” I turned to look at her. Huge blue eyes stared at me. “I’m sorry that bad man hit you, Annie. It shouldn’t be like that.”

“He was a bad man.”

I moved hair away from her eyes. “You’ll be safe with us for a spell, and then we’ll figure out what happens next.”

She sighed, her mouth forming a circle, as she yawned. “This is a nice house, Louisa.”

“Let’s say our prayers real quick, and then we can go to sleep.”

“Prayers?”

“I say mine every night.”

“What do you pray for?”

“I thank God for another wonderful day here on earth and for all the good things in my life.”

“Should I do that?”

“Don’t you think you have something to thank God for?”

“I sure do. I’m so happy I’ve got food now.” She sat up, surprising me. “I’m thankful that you came and fed me all those times. Those baskets were so nice, Ms. Louisa. I’m also thankful for that dog, George. He’s the softest animal I’ve ever felt. I know he and me are gonna be good friends. I can’t wait to pet that cat. She’s…what’s her name again?”

“Cottonball,” I laughed.

“Do you think she’s out in the barn hunting mice right now?”

“I’m sure she is.”

“I’m so happy to be here in this pretty house. Amen.”