Yellow Rose Bride (22 page)

“Oh, Vonnie, thank you for coming so quickly. Poor Franz. I don't know if he can endure this. Go on in.”

The front door was ajar. Pushing it open, she stepped inside the foyer. She found Franz in the kitchen, sitting at the kitchen table with his face buried in his hands, sobbing.

At the sound of her footsteps, he looked up with glazed eyes.

“Franz, I'm so sorry.”

Shaking his head, his face crumpled. “She's gone…Audrey is gone.”

Coming to kneel by his chair, Vonnie tried to comfort him. “It's so hard, Franz. I know how I felt when Daddy passed.”

Her own wounds were still very tender.

Looking up, Franz's eyes suddenly hardened. “It's your fault.”

Vonnie drew back. “Franz…”

“You killed her. If Audrey had had her piano, she would have stayed with me longer.” He suddenly turned wild. “If I'd only had more time, I could have found the jewels, bought the Steinway back. Carolyn would eventually sell. I'd make her…”

He was rambling, Vonnie realized. His grief was so intense that he wasn't thinking coherently.

“She would have played, like before, lost herself in her music. I would have had more time with her.”

“Time wouldn't have helped, Franz,” Vonnie comforted.

Tears rolled down his weathered cheeks. “My Audrey loved to play, the music flowed from her. You saw it, how she made the keyboard come alive.”

Vonnie reached out to him, but he jerked back. She understood the rejection. He had loved Audrey so deeply it was impossible to imagine life without her.

“You did everything you could, Franz. Audrey loved you.”

“She didn't know,” he said. “No one knew where I hid them. Just me. Now it's too late. Too late to help her. Oh, why can't I find them? Why can't I remember?”

Vonnie heard the despair in his voice and her heart ached. If only she had the words to lighten his grief. Later, he would realize that he'd done everything that could be done.

People started arriving, the church women to help lay out Audrey's body, the Women's Missionary Circle with food, neighbors, close friends. The small house filled, and Vonnie, knowing her immediate help wasn't needed, went home to break the news to Cammy and Eugenia.

When Eugenia heard the news she broke into tears.

“Oh, the poor, poor soul. 'Tis a far better place she is now.”

“Franz is beside himself. He feels he's not done enough for her.”

“Everyone feels that way at times like this. There's so little anyone can do.”

“He was rambling. He kept saying he wished he could have gotten her piano back for her. If she could have played her piano she'd have lived longer. How odd he would think the piano would have made the difference.”

“Grief does strange things to a body. I remember when
my John passed on, I kept thinking of things I could have done, should have done. Silly things. Like, I didn't ask if he wanted a second cup of coffee that morning. And I'd thought to fix his favorite dinner the night before, but I hadn't because I'd been at a church meeting that afternoon and didn't want to take the time to catch a chicken, and clean and fry it. If only I'd done that, I thought, then he'd have known how much he meant to me.” Eugenia dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. “As if a scrawny chicken could have made a difference.”

“Franz has always regretted selling that piano. Audrey didn't feel half as bad about it as Franz did,” Vonnie mused. “And Carolyn has a bit of a selfish nature.”

“Time will lessen his pain, child. Just as time will allow your mother to pull herself together.”

“I hope so, Eugenia.” Vonnie sighed. “I'm hoping this move to San Francisco will help.”

“I hate to see you go,” Eugenia gathered up her belongings. “But you must do what you think is right. Now, if you don't need me anymore, I'll go see what can be done at the Schuyler house before I go home.”

“You go along. I'll go up and tell Mother.”

“Oh, I let that foolish dog of yours in the house. Nearly chewed off the back door wanting in.”

Vonnie smiled at Eugenia's description of Suki which wasn't exactly affectionate. She was a dear little dog in spite of her excess amount of energy.

“I was going to take Beth's dress off the form, but I didn't know what you wanted to do with it.”

“I'll take care of the remains.”

“It's a shame. A cryin' shame that somebody has to be that spiteful.”

“You think that's what it was? Someone jealous of Beth?”

“Why, of course. Don't you think? I mean, why would someone do such an awful thing if it wasn't jealousy? She was planning to marry one of the most sought after men in the county.”

“I'd never considered that.” Pressing her fingertip to her lip, Vonnie considered the implications. She had assumed the vandalism had something to do with the birds, but maybe not. “But who would be jealous of Beth and Adam?”

Who, except her?
And every other single woman in the county. But Adam was available again.

“I'm sure I don't know, but you have to admit, it's a drastic thing to do. Well, I'm off. You're sure you'll be all right here?”

“I'll be fine. I've got Suki, remember?”

“That fool dog,” Eugenia chuckled, walking to the door. “You be careful, child. What with dead birds, ruined dresses, rocks through the windows,” she muttered. “What will be next?”

Yes. What would be next?
Vonnie didn't want to speculate. She'd had enough surprises for the year.

I
t was nearing dark when Adam rode into the Taylor farmyard. Handing the reins to Genaro, he took the stairs two at a time.

Vonnie answered the door.

“Hi.”

“I guess you know about Audrey?”

“Yes, I'm on my way to pay my respects.” Adam looked past her shoulder. “How did your mother take the news?”

“Hard. Five minutes later she was saying she didn't know how to tell Daddy.”

His features sobered. “Is it true what I hear?”

“I don't know. What do you hear?”

“You've decided to sell to Tanner.”

Leaning against the door, she wiped her hands on her apron. “Mother and I are going to San Francisco at the end of the week.”

“Permanently?” His eyes locked on hers.

Vonnie tried to keep her heart cold and detached. “Permanently.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Is this about you and me, or about your mother?”

“All three.”

“What about your business?”

“I'll start a new one in California.”

His voice dropped, but his eyes never left hers. “Did your father ever talk about the jewels that started the feud?”

“Jewels?” She frowned. “Nothing other than that they were dirty money. Something he wanted nothing of.”

“You're sure?”

“Of course I'm sure. Why?”

“We need to talk. Privately. Later. After I've paid my respects to Franz.”

“All right. Is something wrong?”

He gave her a dubious look. Well, she supposed
everything
was wrong.

“Are you going to the Schuylers' later?” he asked.

“Yes, I have a cake in the oven. I'll bring it over. Momma will want to be with Franz.”

Their eyes met again.

“Don't go to San Francisco.” The startling request hung heavy between them.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn't.”

“I can't do that. Not until I find out what started this feud.”

“Does it really matter?”

Silence. Then.

“We need to talk about that, too.”

“Will talking change anything?”

“No, but it will get a lot off my conscience.”

“You want me to purge your soul?” She laughed.

“I'm sorry, Vonnie. I'm doing the best I can. I took your rejection that morning to mean you had second thoughts, that you didn't love me. I was young too.”

His eyes met hers and she saw the old Adam.

“I wouldn't let you go that easily today.”

She had been too young and easily intimidated, afraid to tell the truth, fearing the look of betrayal in Teague's face.

Adam's eyes searched hers for an answer. She had none. Not one.

He shifted, looking away. “That afternoon I felt less of a man. To this day I blame myself for not standing up for us. Even more, I blame myself for not honoring sacred vows we spoke before the Lord. I let you down and I disappointed my Maker. We might have married in the middle of a road with a judge frying bacon for supper, but I loved you and I meant every vow I spoke—and I know you did too. I can't change the past. I can only hope to change the future.” His gaze softened. “If you leave, that won't be possible. I'm trying my best to get to the bottom of this senseless feud and destroy it before it destroys other lives.”

She sighed. “What good will it do to identify the source? We know that our fathers were involved in a hei
nous crime, one that changed their lives forever. Daddy took his sin to his grave. I believe God forgave him, but Teague never forgave himself. Nor do I believe that your father has forgiven himself. But if they refuse to tell us what happened, or happened when they rode away that day, how can we defuse this insane hatred? It's not possible. And now Daddy's dead.”

“I spoke to El Johnson yesterday.”

“And?”

“He told me the same vague generalities. A family was killed, jewels taken. El forced the pouch off on Teague, but then the pouch disappeared. I think Teague buried it, disposed of it—did something to it and it made P.K. even madder, but I can't prove it.”

She shrugged, frustration building. They could talk about it until they were in their graves and nothing would change. She loved him too much to stay in Amarillo and fight this mess until there wasn't a breath of life left in her. She would not subject her children to the same heartbreak she'd endured. A new start. She had to concentrate on a new start, away from Potter County and the endless feud.

Closing the door a moment later, she sagged against the heavy wood, allowing tears to fall. Suddenly she flung the door open and shouted at Adam's retreating back.

“It wasn't entirely your fault! I allowed my father's feelings to sway me from honoring our vows. If I was old enough to know that I loved you with all my heart
and soul—and I knew that clearly—I was old enough to leave Father and Mother and cling to my husband!”

Shifting, Adam turned in his saddle. A slow grin spread across his features. “So what are you going to do about it?”

She quickly slammed the door before she blurted out her true wishes. The future was set. She was moving to San Francisco.

Clearing the table later, she carried the empty frosting bowl to the sink. A fresh chocolate-fudge nut cake sat waiting to be delivered to the Schuylers'. Cammy was upstairs dressing. Vonnie could hear Suki barking as her mother moved around her room.

She wasn't sure if Cammy understood the significance of the visit they were about to make. It was hard to tell these days what she retained and what was lost in her confused state.

As she turned from the sink, a movement in the doorway caught her eye.

“Franz? Wha—My goodness!”

Franz stood there, viewing her paternally. “Why, Puddin'? Why didn't you leave?” Vonnie carefully laid the dish towel aside.

Tears trickled down the old man's cheeks. “You were always here, always coming to the cellar to see how I was doing, always checking on me. If you'd left me alone, I could have found them. Then, I could have bought Audrey's piano back and everything would have been good again.”

“I don't understand.” A cold chill raced through her. When he'd confronted her earlier, she'd supposed grief was causing him to be so distraught. Now, it seemed to be even more serious. She suddenly wanted him to leave.

“The jewels. I couldn't remember where I buried them.” He held his head in both hands. “I've tried to remember where I buried them—even drew a map, but I can't find them. So many years have passed—my memory—I can't remember like I once did. Teague wanted no part of those jewels. He threw them away, but I saw where they landed. I got them later. I didn't want them, either, little one. They were blood money, but I took them because your daddy was so upset. Later, I thought, when the grief passed, we might feel differently, might need the money they'd bring. Times were hard. We had families to rear. So one day I buried the bag of jewels in Teague's cellar, knowing nobody would ever think to look there. But then…” He looked up, tears rolling from the corners of his eyes. “Then P.K. started to have financial troubles, and my Audrey's time was growing close. I decided to dig them up and sell them. I wanted Carolyn to sell me Audrey's old piano. She isn't a mean-spirited girl, and I knew she would eventually give over and sell if I offered enough. When I told P.K. what I wanted to do he agreed. He was surprised that I had the money, but so many years had passed…Said he could put the money to good use. What was done was done. We couldn't change a thing. And the money from
the jewels could give Audrey a measure of happiness. She was innocent to the whole matter.”

“P.K. agreed to let you dig up the jewels?”

Franz nodded. “Said the money could be put to good cause.”

“But daddy never knew the jewels were buried in his cellar.”

“No, he never knew. He'd have made me dispose of them, like he had.”

“And the other men involved?”

Franz turned, confused, distant. “Other men? We didn't discuss…I can't find the jewels. I have to remember…”

Vonnie's stomach churned. P.K. would take blood money? To what avail, and for what good?

Adam. He would be hurt by this knowledge.

Franz's eyes glinted with madness. “All I needed was a little more time. They're here someplace. But Audrey left me, and now you've sold the ranch. Oh yes, I know about that. Tanner let it slip. Now it's too late. I'll never find them. I have to find them, don't you understand—” His head dropped. “It's too late. Audrey's gone.”

“There are no jewels here, Franz.” Adam's earlier visit raced through her mind. Jewels. Where were these mysterious jewels? In the cellar? Impossible.

“They're here. I buried them,” Franz shouted.

He was ranting now. “Buried the jewels somewhere down there.” He looked up plaintively.

Grief had driven him out of his mind, Vonnie real
ized, just as it had her mother. She searched her brain for a way to distract him and go for help.

“Franz, you're not thinking straight. Come sit down and—”

What was he talking about? His ramblings didn't make sense, but she had the awful feeling that his words were somehow connected with the strange things that had happened at the ranch recently.

“It was so long ago. No one will know, and Audrey can play again. She can play again.”

His thoughts changed in a breath. Vonnie knew his mental state was becoming even more unstable.

“Audrey needs her piano. If she has her music, she'll get better. You'll see. She'll be her old self again. I need that piano. I must find the jewels.”

Lunging forward, he caught Vonnie by the arm. Her cry was smothered by his free hand as he twisted her arm behind her back and propelled her out of the kitchen, toward the attic stairs. He was much stronger than Vonnie had imagined.

Forcing her up the stairway, he jerked her when she stumbled and pushed her past the second-floor bedrooms toward the attic workroom.

“Franz, no, let me go. You're not thinking straight. You don't know what you're doing!”

“I have no time. Audrey's waiting for me.”

Pushing open the attic door, he shoved Vonnie inside. She stumbled to her knees, catching her hand on the edge of the sewing machine.

“Franz—”

“Hush,” he hissed. “I must look for the jewels.”

“Please,” she tried again. “You don't know what you're doing. Please.”

Softening, he reached out, briefly touching her hair. “My lovely baby girl. I would never, never hurt you. You'll be safe here. Franz will let no one hurt you.”

He whirled and disappeared through the doorway before Vonnie could struggle to her feet. Reaching the door just as it slammed shut, she heard the ominous thunk of the heavy wooden bar dropping into place on the other side.

“Oh, please!” she whispered, resting her face against the rough wood. “Don't do this.”

Only one window in a dormer across the east wall allowed light in, and with the fast-approaching twilight it would be dark soon. And the window was painted shut. There was no way out. She shivered with apprehension. What did Franz intend to do? What if Cammy wandered downstairs? Would Franz hurt her?

Were there really gems hidden somewhere in the cellar?

If what Franz said was true, then the trouble between P.K. and Teague was a tragic misunderstanding. Adam's father believed Teague had willingly taken and used the jewels. Why were two close friends so stubborn they hadn't bothered to learn the truth?

Knowing she had to keep a clear head, she pulled herself to her feet and began to search for a way out.

“Got to search—” Franz mumbled as he made his way back down the narrow stairs. “Clive will sell the piano. I must hurry. I'm hurrying, Audrey, don't leave me.”

Suki's bark startled him as he neared the bottom of the stairs.

“Go away. I have to look—”

Suki leaped up, greeting him enthusiastically. Franz lost his footing and slipped on the step, his feet flying out from beneath him.

Throwing out his arms to catch himself, he hit the burning oil lamp on the hall table, sending it crashing to the floor. Oil splashed out on the carpet and onto the drapes at the parlor window.

Suki obediently ran over to lick his face.

There was a crackling sound as flames reached the drapes, the tongues of fire licking up the patterned material and inching their way across the flowered wallpaper.

Franz struggled to his feet. Confused, he turned in a circle. “Cammy!” he cried softly. “Vonnie? Puddin'? Audrey…Audrey…”