My Darling,
I’m so grieved as I write this, torn between my promise and desire to return to you with all speed and the grief of learning my father is ill. More than ill, if one can believe the physician. Mere months from death. I can’t credit it. My father has always been the picture of health and was so when I left him last summer. That a lung condition could slay him so quickly seems impossible. Nevertheless, I’m needed at his side. Either to find a doctor able to treat whatever malady truly ails him, or to comfort my mother as she loses the rock she’s depended on for nearly two score years.
My cousin Harvey brought the news to me, coming in person when they couldn’t locate me by telegram. His steamship was the last to paddle the Missouri before the final freeze, so we have hired a guide to help us travel east by horse. I know the journey will hold its challenges, but I cannot delay a single day.
If the worst happens, I’m sure I will be needed to handle arrangements and settle matters with the business also, and I pray I can find competent hands in which to leave it. But rest assured, my love, I will return to you and our daughter the moment I am able. We will have that wedding we spoke of, and my name will be yours forever, just as my heart is in full already.
Give our sweet Mary Ellen a big hug for me and tell her Papa misses her and will be back as soon as he can.
Yours always,
Eric
The words blurred behind the tears that she finally stopped fighting.Eric. Oh, Eric.
She squeezed her eyes shut against the wrenching in her chest. The awful knife piercing through gashes that had only just healed over.
He’d left her. Even admitting how very much he loved her, he’d left.
And Harvey—once again—was the villain driving the wedge between them with an iron mallet.
God, why?
Her heart screamed the question. Hadn’t she and Eric learned from last time? They’d not allowed an indiscretion this time. They’d kept themselves chaste. Why were they being punished again? She should have told him the truth about Harvey. None of this would be happening if she’d gathered her courage and been honest.
She sucked in a breath, still keeping her eyes closed. She had to control her emotions with the others around. A few tears could be overlooked, but she couldn’t break down completely. That would have to wait until later.
For now… She forced her eyes open. Forced her mind to think about what she should do.
Heidi rested a hand on her shoulder, probably for comfort. Naomi needed to tell them her concerns about Harvey. She couldn’t say why, but they could help decide the next step.
She turned and faced all three of them. “What Jonah said is right. Eric’s cousin Harvey came to Fort Benton to find him and bring him back to Washington D.C. The river is frozen, so they hired a guide and left to travel over land.” She inhaled a breath. “I know Harvey. I have had…past dealings with him.” Her voice trembled a little, but she pressed on. “He can’t be trusted. I’m not even certain the story about Mr. LaGrange’s illness is true.” Should she have said that aloud? Would it be disrespectful toEric’s father if he really was deathly sick? “I can’t know, of course, but I do know Harvey is a danger. He’s the reason Eric and I never received each other’s letters back when he left Wayneston. Whatever he wants, it must be significant for him to come all this way to get Eric, then be willing to travel back on horseback through winter storms.”
Had she explained the situation clearly? Her mind had formed such a muddle, she couldn’t sort a clear plan.
“What are you saying?” Jonah demanded. “You think Eric’s cousin would hurt him?”
She turned that question over in her mind. “I…I don’t know if he’d hurt him physically. But he has something underhanded in the works. Something that will help him, no matter how badly it hurts other people.”
Jonah’s gaze narrowed, as though he was thinking hard.
Heidi said, “Eric surely knows this about his cousin, don’t you think? He’ll be cautious. Maybe he’ll even turn around and come back if he realizes Harvey concocted the entire scheme.”
Fresh tears welled in her eyes. “That’s the problem. Eric is blind to his cousin’s evils. I tried to tell him before… I-I wish I’d told him everything. I should have. I just… I wish I’d let him see exactly how wicked that man is.” Her voice rose with her words, but she couldn’t control it. She’d worked hard to put what Harvey did behind her. But she’dnotstand by and allow him to destroy a second time her chance for happiness with Eric.
She squared her shoulders. “I’m going after Eric. God warned me about this in dreams. He made it clear I’m to go after Eric and bring him back.”
She gave the others a minute to respond. Surely Two Stones and Heidi would ride with her, at least to Fort Benton. They’d have to move faster though. She needed speed to catch up to him.
Heidi exchanged a look with Two Stones, but before either could speak a word, Jonah said. “I’ll go with you.” His tone was low. Absolutely certain.
She met his gaze, hoping he saw the gratitude in her eyes.
“Of course we will too,” Heidi said.
She took in all three of them as she offered a weak smile. “Thank you.”
Jonah nodded, then reached down to release the wagon’s brake. “Let me turn the team and we’ll head out.”
