Love Everlasting (16 page)

“But he should have come home by now,” Abrianna argued. “Even if he went straight to work after seeing my father, he would have come home for supper.”

“Perhaps there was an emergency in the city,” Aunt Poisie suggested. “Very often things happen that we cannot anticipate. Look at what happened with my dear Captain.”

“God rest his soul,” Aunt Selma murmured, looking up momentarily from her embroidery.

“Amen,” Poisie replied, hardly pausing for breath. “I certainly never thought when I waved good-bye to him on that fateful day that I would never see him again. There was no accounting for the storm that capsized his ship and took his life.”

“Poisie, I do not think your words are of a calming nature. Abrianna looks as though she is ready to set out in search of a shipwreck.”

“I can't help but think something is terribly wrong.” Abrianna began to pace the room and tried to rationalize the situation. “He said he would go straightaway to the armory, where they are keeping the prisoners. He promised to talk to Kolbein, as well.” She snapped her fingers. “That's it. Maybe he was kept overlong at Kolbein and Lenore's, and they offered him supper.”

“That's a possibility.” Aunt Selma gave a slight smile. “I wouldn't fret, Abrianna. Wade is a well-respected man who is
known for his caution. I'm sure it will just be a matter of time before he comes to tell us all the news.”

Hours passed and Abrianna couldn't bear the thought that something might have happened to Wade. She begged Aunt Miriam to let her go in search of him, but all three of her aunts refused. Aunt Miriam even threatened to set up vigil outside Abrianna's bedroom to keep her from sneaking off alone.

“Flora, he would have sent word.” Abrianna shook her head. “And it's not so far that he wouldn't have come home for the night.”

“Hold still. I can't braid your hair with you bobbing your head about.”

Aunt Miriam had ordered them to bed, but Abrianna was not able to put her mind at peace. At the moment she was even calculating how difficult it might be to climb down the waterspout, given that everyone in the house had been ordered to keep watch on her.

With the ribbon finally secured to hold Abrianna's braid in place, Flora stepped away. “There. Now you may shake your head and move it about.”

Abrianna got to her feet and went once more to the window. The carriage house remained dark. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying. It would serve her no good purpose to lose control now. “I fear this is my most arduous moment in life.” She toyed with the drapery and continued to stare into the darkness, as if wishing Wade there could make it happen. “I have never felt so completely helpless. I don't like it at all.”

“My mama used to say that when things look like they could never get better, God always steps in with a plan. I think He probably has a plan, even for this,” Flora offered.

Abrianna let go the drape and turned to nod. “I know you
are right and correct to remind me of God's faithfulness. It's just that this is increasingly hard to bear. Wade wouldn't even be out there if not attending to business on my behalf. If something has happened to him, I will never be able to forgive myself.”

“You mustn't fret so.” Flora took hold of Abrianna's hand. “I know I'm not your dear friend like Mrs. Booth, but I try to imagine what she might say at a time like this. I believe she would encourage you to take your rest and put your fears in God's hands.”

Abrianna appreciated the younger woman's attempt to ease her mind. “You are a very dear friend, Flora Ledbetter. Much better than I deserve. Certainly such that I shouldn't pose the request I'm about to pose.”

Flora looked at her oddly. “Which is what?”

“I'm wondering if you would help me climb out on the roof and down the waterspout.”

“I thought you'd never ask. Of course I will. Should we wait until everyone is asleep or go now?”

Abrianna smiled. “You are perfectly wonderful.” Abrianna went to the wardrobe and pulled out her old wool skirt. “This should suffice. I used to have a pair of boys' britches, but Aunt Miriam threw them out when I wasn't here to protest.”

Flora went to her trunk and took out an old skirt similar to Abrianna's. Just then the door to the bedroom opened, and Aunt Miriam entered. She assessed the situation and shook her head.

“It's just as I suspected. Abrianna, I believe you would rest easier tonight if you were to share my bed.” She crossed the room and took hold of Abrianna's arm. “Leave the skirt. You'll have no need of it. Flora, I will have this room checked on the
hour, and if you aren't in bed asleep, you will be expelled from the school.” She paused at the door with Abrianna at her side. “Do I make myself clear?”

Flora nodded and looked to Abrianna for suggestions. Abrianna shook her head. “Just go to bed. We have no choice in the matter.”

A
brianna paced the room and went once again to the front room window. “I cannot bear all this waiting.” She looked for any sign of Wade. At breakfast she had gone to Lenore's in hopes that Kolbein would still be home. He had already left, but Lenore sent the Booths' gardener to find and instruct him to go at once to the school. Kolbein came promptly and commanded Abrianna to wait until his return, but that had been two hours ago, and now her patience had run out.

“I'm going to go to the jail myself,” she declared to her aunts. “And no one is going to stop me. I'm sorry, Aunt Miriam, but sometimes a lady has to take matters into her hands.”

“But you put Mr. Booth to work on the matter,” Aunt Poisie reminded. “It would hardly seem beneficial for you to leave and be at some unknown place when he returns.”

“But he should have already returned to let me know what was going on.” Abrianna shook her head and took up a shawl. “I will just walk down to the armory myself and demand answers.”

“You cannot do that, Abrianna,” Aunt Miriam said in her patient but stern manner. “The men down there are more of
the sort you dealt with at the real estate office. Men in general are not going to do business with a lady. You must wait.”

A sigh escaped Abrianna. “It isn't fair. What is the use of coming of age and having money if you can't get anyone to do what you want them to do?”

“But you did,” Aunt Selma countered. “You hired Mr. Booth, and he is seeing to the matter. He has proven himself quite capable, despite having come from Chicago.” She looked at Poisie, who nodded in approval. Turning her glance back to Abrianna, she continued. “Now you must wait, and though that is most taxing to your patience, it is for the best.”

“But I can't just stay here and do nothing.”

Liang appeared in the small parlor. “Mr. Booth, he come back.”

“Where?” Abrianna hurried to where the young girl stood. She pointed behind her in the hall. Abrianna could see the grim look on Kolbein's face. “What is it? What's happened to them?”

Kolbein pushed past Liang and took hold of Abrianna. “Come and sit down.”

“No. I don't want to sit down.” Abrianna gripped his arm. “I'm about to lose all reason. Tell me.”

He pressed his lips tight and nodded. Nevertheless, he led Abrianna into the parlor. Nodding to the older women, Kolbein appeared most uncomfortable. Finally he spoke. “The news is quite grave, I'm afraid.”

“Is he . . . is Wade . . .” Abrianna couldn't even say the words. The thought of him being dead was unthinkable.

“He's alive but injured. Someone hit him over the head.”

“Take me to him,” Abrianna demanded. “I know you've been long away from Lenore, but I must insist. Take me to Wade, so I can assure myself he's getting proper care.”

Kolbein frowned and cast his glance to the floor. “I can't.”

His refusal wasn't at all what Abrianna expected. “Then tell me where he is. Where my father is. I will attend to the matter myself.”

“Abrianna, perhaps if you give Mr. Booth a chance, he can give you the entire story,” Aunt Miriam said.

She squared her shoulders. “He can tell me on the way to the stable. My father showed me how to hitch the smaller carriage, and I will take that to get me wherever I need to go.”

Kolbein took hold of her and gave Abrianna a slight shake. “Stop it. You aren't going anywhere. Your father is in jail, and Wade is, too.”

“Whyever would they put our Wade in jail?” Aunt Poisie asked. “He is the most virtuous of men and quite well received among people of high regard. Goodness, he even owns two pairs of shoes.”

Aunt Selma spoke up. “It must be some kind of a mistake. Perhaps it was another man with the same name. Although I can hardly imagine there being two Wade Ackermans in the same town.”

“Perhaps not even the same state,” Aunt Poisie added.

Abrianna shook her head and kept shaking it. “Jail? But why? I mean, I understand my father being there, but why is Wade there? What reason did they give?”

“He's been arrested,” Kolbein said, then gave a long pause before finishing. “He's been arrested for murder.”

Abrianna felt her knees give way. Kolbein's hold on her tightened, and he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the settee. Abrianna fought back blackness. It wouldn't serve anyone if she were to faint. She searched Kolbein's face for some sign of hope. There was none.

“Mr. Booth, do tell us everything.” Aunt Miriam came to sit beside Abrianna on the settee. She took Abrianna's hand and rubbed it in a tender fashion. “Everything, Mr. Booth. Do not leave any detail out.”

Kolbein remained standing. “Apparently Wade found your father in jail and couldn't get him released because they said he'd been uncooperative and had fought with them. Not only that, but Mr. Greene . . . was pressing charges of attempted murder.”

He paused and Abrianna let the words sink in. She nodded, staring at the floor. “Go on.”

“Wade went to see Mr. Greene. He wanted to see if he could talk the man out of pressing charges against your father. Greene was livid that Wade would approach him and demanded he leave. Wade did, and once outside, someone . . . someone hit him over the head and knocked him unconscious.”

“If Wade was unconscious, how could he have harmed Mr. Greene?” Aunt Miriam asked the very question on Abrianna's lips.

“Mr. Greene's house servant said that Wade came there threatening and ranting. He said it so frightened him that he hid in the pantry while Wade took advantage of his master. He said that in the end, Wade fought with Mr. Greene, and Greene in turn fought back as best he could.”

“And he said that Wade killed him?” Abrianna questioned, finally raising her eyes to Kolbein's face.

“Yes. He said that he didn't actually see the murder, but that when everything fell silent, he made his way out to the office room and found Mr. Greene bludgeoned to death and Wade unconscious in the backyard. He believed Wade was attempting to flee the scene.”

“Then if he didn't see it, isn't it possible someone else might have done them both in?” Aunt Selma asked.

“It is,” Kolbein assured. He squeezed Abrianna's hand. “I know it looks bad, but I think just as you do. I believe someone else was involved. You and I both know that Wade isn't capable of murder.”

Her stomach churned, and bile rose in the back of her throat. Abrianna fought it down and tried to steady herself. All of her life Abrianna had prided herself in being strong, in trusting God, but never had a situation been this horrific.

“Is there anything at all I can do?”

“No,” Kolbein replied. “It's best you stay out of it and leave this to me. I already have some men looking into the matter. They will help me collect information and hopefully find other witnesses. I need you to just stay calm and out of the way.”

Another time she might have protested, but given the severity of the matter, Abrianna knew it was best she listen and obey. “All right. But you will be thorough, won't you? I can pay you to hire as many people as you need.”

He shook his head. “I don't want or need your money. Wade is my friend, too. I'll handle it. I just need to know that you'll be here . . . safe.”

“We will see to it that she stays here,” Aunt Miriam said. “Abrianna can be quite determined, but I've never known her to refuse counsel when placed in such a grave situation.”

“Oh, but this is such a tragedy.” Aunt Poisie blew her nose into a lace handkerchief. “I am quite overcome. Do you suppose we might send him some cookies? He has always liked cookies.”

“I can't take him anything,” Kolbein replied. “They won't allow it.”

Aunt Selma spoke up. “If there is anything that any of us can do to help, Mr. Booth, you will let us know, won't you?”

“I promise you that I will.” He looked Abrianna in the eye. “I will come here every day and let you know what I've learned.”

A kind of void engulfed Abrianna's mind. Rational thought was impossible. Nothing in her life had ever prepared her for this moment. Nothing had ever been as seemingly hopeless.

Oh, God, where are you? Why have you let this
happen?

Those two questions echoed over and over, but the answers didn't come.

Despite the tragedy Aunt Miriam said that they had to go on with a pretense of normalcy for the sake of the others in the school. With that in mind, the monthly reception for the bridal candidates was held the following Saturday. The day turned rainy and windy, which kept them from hosting the reception outdoors as they had originally planned.

“I know this is difficult, Abrianna,” Aunt Miriam began, “but I want you to help at the refreshment table.”

Abrianna knew better than to argue. Besides, she didn't have the strength. “All right.”

Aunt Miriam took hold of her and hugged her close. “Dear child, I know you think me cruel for forcing you to do this, but I assure you I am not. I, too, have dealt with tragedy in my life, and keeping busy was much better than sitting and imagining all the things that have gone wrong.”

Already Abrianna had imagined such hideous things happening to Wade and her father that she couldn't share such worries with Kolbein, much less Aunt Miriam. She held tight to
her aunt for a moment and then straightened. “I'm sure you're right. Thank you for directing me.”

She took her place behind the refreshment table.
God, please give me strength to
endure this
. She bit her lip to keep from dissolving in tears.
I have always been strong and capable. Now,
more than ever, I need to draw on those abilities.
It will do Wade no good for me to be
otherwise focused.

The reception dragged on for nearly an hour, with all of the students preforming their various musical talents. Abrianna filled cups with punch and offered her best chitchat when someone came for refreshments, but all the while she wanted to run from the room in tears.

“Um, Abrianna, I need to talk to you.” Flora's whispered words came as a surprise. “That man, Mr. Welby . . . you know, the one with the big ears?”

Abrianna nodded. “What about him?”

“He wants to see you. He's standing at the back of the room and said to tell you he will meet you downstairs in the first-floor parlor.”

Looking out across the ballroom, Abrianna spied Welby in the corner near the door. He nodded her way then left the room. Abrianna had no idea why he'd come, and she was in no mood to deal with any of his nonsense. Even so, she pulled off her apron and decided to go see him, knowing that if she didn't, he was just rude enough to make a scene.

“Do you want me to come, too?” Flora asked.

“No. That won't be necessary. If any of the aunts ask after me, tell them I had to attend to something and I'll be right back.”

Abrianna made her way from the room, taking the back stairs in case Welby had paused on the way down to wait for her.
She wanted a moment to compose her thoughts. An idea came to mind. Welby was a powerful man with many connections in the city. Perhaps he could help her. The murder and accusations toward Wade had been splashed across the newspaper, so no doubt he knew all the details of the matter. It gave her a flicker of hope that quickened her steps. She was very nearly breathless when she came to the large parlor and found Priam Welby standing by the hearth, a bouquet of flowers in hand.

“You wished to speak to me?”

“I heard what happened to your . . . to Mr. Ackerman.”

She nodded. “No doubt everyone has.” She didn't know whether to remain standing at the entry or to take a seat. Perhaps he was only here to offer his condolences, but then again, he hardly seemed the type to waste time on such matters. “Is that all?”

“No.” He motioned her to the settee. “These are for you.” He handed her the flowers. “I thought it might cheer you.” She looked down at the flowers as he continued. “Please sit. I want to discuss something with you.”