~Earl Douglass
SUNDAY, JULY23, 1916•JENSEN
Sunday morning dawned bright and warm. As Eliza watched the sun rise, she reread the article from yesterday’s paper—an article that had originated in New York, which meant the whole world had seen it by now.
Paleontologist Lies about Authorship of Paper!
The author compared her to Cope and Marsh, and her deceit to their underhanded dealings. Then the writer of the article dared to throw her faith in there. What a shame the good little Christian girl couldn’t tell the truth. What else was she hiding?
The paper even mentioned that her dearly departed grandfather was close friends with Andrew Carnegie and she worked for the Carnegie Institute—implying she’d gotten the job on that merit alone.
No matter how many times she read it, she couldn’t denywhat was there. Yes, it painted her in a very bad light and twisted the story to give support to the author’s opinion, but nevertheless, it was true.
It. Was. True.
She’d lied. Plain and simple.
The man impersonating Dr. Masterson was behind this. But she couldn’t help wondering ... who was behindhim? He was obviously a talented actor. So who was pulling the marionette’s strings?
Eliza folded the paper back up and tossed it aside.
Another sleepless night. She needed to be in church today. No matter what she looked like. No matter how she felt. Devin had been correct about her fear and trust. His words had been all she could think about until that wretched article appeared.
Devin.
The crux of their conversation before he left came back to her with such force that she had to close her eyes. He loved her, but they couldn’t be together. Why? Because of money? Because he didn’t think she loved him? It didn’t make sense.
After all these years, all the time they’d spent with one another ... he’d loved her like that for more than a decade? Why hadn’t he ever said anything before now?
Images of him flowed through her mind and heart. How he listened and shared life with her ... how he was willing to challenge her and say hard things ... the look in his eyes when he saw her...
Eliza shook her head.That’show she should have known. He’d shown her every day how much she meant to him. The more she examined her own heart, the more the truth sank in.
The only man she’d ever wanted was Devin.
Had she ruined everything in spectacular fashion like always, or could she do something about this?
As she dressed for church, she allowed the tears to fall. She’d been afraid, so she hadn’t been honest. But could shehave been? All those years ago? Would her papers have been published if the powers that be had known she was a woman?
At this point, she’d never know.
Then there was Devin. Her confidante. Her best friend. Her “partner in crime,” as Devin’s father used to always say.
She washed her face and squeezed her eyes tight against all the memories.
Every major point in her life, every big accomplishment, every low point ... Devin had been there.
The Adamses had been awfully quiet after the paper arrived. She’d been too exhausted to talk to them about it. And yet, the small buggy was ready for her as usual. Their kindness and hospitality warmed her heart. Perhaps they weren’t judging her like she’d assumed everyone would.
She drove the small conveyance to her new church and allowed all the beautiful reminders of Devin to keep her occupied. She refused to focus on the fact that he’d told her good-bye. Her heart couldn’t take it. Had he really meantgood-byegood-bye?
Once she arrived and had her horse and buggy secure, Eliza slipped into a chair at the back of the room at the ranch house. Because the congregation was so small, it was difficult to sneak in unnoticed. Still, she was thankful they were singing a hymn. Less attention would be directed at her tardiness. Or her presence in general.
The liar.
The pariah.
Taking a deep breath, Eliza focused on the words being sung.
