The Shepherd's Voice (31 page)

“I love you,” he whispered against her parted lips.

She smiled. Her eyes glittered in the lamplight as she leaned back and looked up at him. “See? You’ve got nothing to worry about. Loving your child’s mother is the first step toward being a great father.”

TWENTY-TWO

“Praise be to God!” Jane proclaimed when she heard the news about the baby.

The older woman hugged Akira, nearly crushing the breath from her lungs. Then Jane repeated the action with Gabe. In moments, word ran through the members of the congregation, and more folks came to congratulate the happy couple. Men shook Gabe’s hand and slapped him on the back. Women hugged Akira and kissed her cheek.

Watching the men congratulate Gabe caused Akira’s heart to well with indescribable joy. Their acceptance of Gabe—despite what had happened the night of the Candleberry barn dance—revealed their hearts. Truly, a tree was known by its fruit, and the tree called Ransom Methodist Episcopal Church was bearing good fruit this morning.

“Akira,” said Wallis Greer, known far and wide as the best seamstress in the valley. “You must come to my home before the baby arrives. When my sister moved away, she left a trunk full of infant clothes. She would be pleased as punch if you’d make use of them. I know she would.”

Thomasina Attebury leaned forward. “I have a lovely perambulator my father brought from England when I was a mere
baby myself. It’s gathering dust in my attic. Goodness knows, those children of mine seem to have no intention of making me a grandmother.”

Akira imagined strolling around Dundreggan in her overalls and floppy-brimmed straw hat, pushing a black baby carriage. It made an amusing picture in her mind, but she swallowed her laughter lest she offend Thomasina.

“God willing,” Violet Neville said, “we’ll have a new doctor in Ransom before your child is born.”

“Amen to that,” Jane responded.

“Goodness.” Thomasina shook her head. “In my day, women didn’t have doctors fussing over them when they gave birth. Why, when my oldest boy was born …”

Akira knew she would be listening to several stories of other women’s childbirthing travails before she left for home.

Standing at the back of the church with several other men, Gabe waited for one of them to answer his question regarding old automobiles.

Richard Martin scrunched up his face in thought and tapped his chin with his index finger. Then his eyes widened and he grinned. “I know. Looney Lindy. That’s who you need to see.”

“Looney Lindy?” Gabe echoed, glancing from Richard Martin to Simon Neville to Zachary Sebastian. “Who’s that?”

“Lindy Jones.” The reverend frowned at Richard. “She’s a widow woman who lives up on Bobcat Mountain with her children. Never comes to town, not even when her husband, Ned, was still living.”

“She’s a strange one,” Zachary offered. “There’s no getting around that.”

“I hear Looney Lindy’s got a bunch of old cars ’round her place.” Richard studiously ignored the reverend. “Don’t any of ’em run, more’n likely. Her husband was a worthless cuss who never had two cents to rub together, but he did like to collect things. He was forever draggin’ junk back to that place of theirs. Don’t know if she’d be willin’ to sell any of them. Zach’s right—she’s a strange one.”

“Where exactly is Bobcat Mountain?”

Zachary pointed out the window. “South of your place, maybe another ten, fifteen miles by road, I suspect.”

“The word ‘road’ is a generous term.” Richard released a derogatory laugh.

The others nodded in agreement.

Zachary explained, “It’s more of a trail than a road. The Joneses didn’t ever much care for visitors. Liked to keep to themselves.”

“Well,” Gabe said, “I haven’t got anything to lose by going to see her.”

“Unless Looney Lindy tries to shoot you,” Richard commented dryly “She’s a crack shot with that rifle of hers. Or so I’ve heard tell.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Zachary patted Gabe on the shoulder again. “I’d better haul my sister away from Akira and get us back to the farm. The sky’s starting to cloud over. Could be in for more snow.”

Simon rubbed his elbow. “My joints say you’re right about that.”

A short while later, the church had emptied of all but Gabe and Akira.

He looked across the sanctuary to where she was standing near the window. She met his gaze. He smiled. She smiled back.

“They’re good folks,” he said.

“That they are.”

He moved toward the center aisle between the two columns of pews.

She did the same.

He embraced her.

She hugged him close.

“It’s time for me to go see Hud,” he whispered into her hair.

“I’m going with you.” She pressed her cheek against his chest.

“I think you should wait here.”

“Think what you like. I’m going.”

He sighed. They’d had this discussion before coming into town. He hadn’t won the first round. He didn’t suppose he’d win this one, either.

“Besides,” she added, “I want to see Pauline. Mrs. Neville says this is the first Sunday she’s missed in weeks.”

“Okay,” he said, resigned. “Let’s go.”

He took her by the arm and escorted her outside.

“Sir?” came the butler’s voice from the hallway.

“What is it?”

The study door opened a fraction. “You’ve got callers.”

“Callers?”

“It’s your son, sir. Gabe. And his wife too. I showed them to the drawing room.”

Gabe and Akira? Here?

Hudson rose from his leather desk chair, wondering about this unexpected visit. It could be they’d come to their senses and were ready to sell Dundreggan, but he suspected not. Akira Macauley was as stubborn as her grandfather before her.

“Tell Mrs. Talmadge to come down from her room,” he told
the butler. “Then get our guests something to drink. I’ll be out shortly.”

“Right away, sir.” The door eased closed.

Hudson flicked at an imaginary piece of lint on his jacket, his eyes narrowing as he mulled the various possibilities that might have brought Gabe to his door. Maybe he’d come to ask his help in discharging his parole. After the Peck incident, he would need all the help he could get.

“Well, he won’t get it from me,” he muttered, adding a few coarse words for good measure. Then he frowned. His influence with people of power had waned over the summer. Much as he hated to admit it, he doubted he could help Gabe even if he wanted to, which he didn’t.

He opened the door and listened for Pauline’s footsteps. He hadn’t long to wait. She knew better than to defy him again.

He left his study and crossed to the base of the stairs. She hesitated briefly when she saw him. A flicker of fear flashed in her eyes, and her complexion paled. He liked the reaction.

“Come along, Pauline,” he said softly. “We have guests awaiting us.”

She continued her descent.

He took hold of her arm above the elbow, tightening his grasp a little more than necessary. “Remember your loyalties, my dear.”

She didn’t look at him, didn’t acknowledge his comment.

“Remember your loyalties,” he repeated as he propelled her forward.

Gabe’s last visit to his father’s house hadn’t ended well. For an instant he wondered if he’d done the right thing, coming here today.

As if reading his thoughts, Akira squeezed his hand, offering silent comfort and encouragement.

He might have spoken to her if his father and Pauline hadn’t entered the room right then. They stopped just inside the entrance.

Gabe stood, his gaze locked with Hudson’s. It seemed vitally important that he not be the first to look away. His father thrived on finding a person’s weakest point and then attacking. Gabe was determined to show no weakness. Otherwise, there was no hope Hudson would listen to what he’d come to say. If it was a battle of wills his father wanted, he would get it.

“We missed you at services this morning, Pauline,” Akira said.

Her voice broke the silent battle between the two men. Both of them looked at her.

She smiled at her father-in-law. “Good afternoon, Mr. Talmadge. You’re looking well.”

There was true moral courage, Gabe thought, feeling ashamed of himself. Unlike him, Akira wasn’t out to prove anything. He wondered if Hudson recognized grace when he was looking at it.

“What brings you here?” Hudson asked gruffly. “Money trouble? Or is it that business with Peck I heard about?”

“Neither one.”

Hudson escorted Pauline to the sofa. She sank onto it, never raising her eyes from the floor. There was something about the way she moved, about the way she looked …

What was it that bothered Gabe about Pauline? When Akira squeezed his hand again, he knew she’d noticed it too.

“Well?” Hudson sat on the end of the sofa.

Gabe glanced over his shoulder, locating a pair of brocade chairs. He motioned for Akira to take the one closest to the fireplace, then he sat in the other.
God
,
help me
, he prayed silently.

“You’re wasting my time, boy. Speak your peace or leave.”

Gabe nodded. “I know we parted on hard words last time I was here.”

Hudson grunted, a sound of affirmation.

“Look, I know we can’t undo the past, but I …
we
,” he amended, glancing at Akira, “hope we can make things better between us in the future.” He took hold of her hand. “You know, of course, that Akira and I are married.”

“So I heard. What’s it to me?”

Akira placed her free hand on Gabe’s shoulder. With a slight shake of her head, she stopped him from answering. Then she turned toward Hudson, saying, “Mr. Talmadge, you’re going to be a grandfather. Next June. We wanted you to know. We hoped you might —”

“How do we know it’s his child?”