A thought came to mind. At first it was just a thread of an idea, but within a moment of its inception, Victoria had the answer to all her troubles.
“I’ll take Caleb from her.” Victoria smiled. “I’m prettier and know far more about men than she does.” She glanced down at her black dress. “I’ll rid myself of this ugly thing and get out one of my prettier gowns. I’ll do up my hair and appeal to his masculine nature.”
The sound of a wagon approaching caught her attention. Victoria turned and found Caleb driving the wagon toward the warehouse, an automobile following directly behind him. She decided there was no time like the present to put her plan into play. She hardly waited for him to stop the wagon and climb down before she went to him.
“Caleb, would you help me?” She made her voice soft and sweet.
He looked at her in surprise. “If I can.”
The car came to a stop beside the wagon. “Is this where you want it, Caleb?”
“That’s fine, Micah. I’m just glad to have it back.” He looked at Victoria. “The army confiscated my car just after the earthquake to help with their transportation needs.”
Micah gave them a wave. “I’m going to speak to Kenzie.”
Caleb nodded, then turned back to Victoria. “What is it you need from me?”
She put on her most sorrowful expression. “I’d like to see my family’s house. I know it’s been burned, but I need to see it. Their graves too.”
“I can arrange that.”
“Would you go with me? I’m afraid, with all the time I’ve had to think about things, that I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.”
He smiled. “Of course. I’d be happy to take you. Let me take care of few matters, and we can leave directly.”
“Thank you, Caleb. I know I haven’t been very cooperative, but ... well, I’m trying to face this the best I can.”
“I understand. I just want you to know that we truly have your best interests at heart. No one wants to see you unhappy.”
She sniffed as if about to break into tears. “Thank you. I see that now.”
“I’ll see if Judith wants to join us.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. I’d like a few private moments with my grief.” Victoria hurried to explain. “I don’t like public displays of tears and such. They make me uncomfortable.”
Caleb nodded. “Very well. I’ll let Judith know what’s going on and tend to a couple of other things, and then we can go.”
An hour later, Victoria stood at Caleb’s side, looking at the blackened remains of her once-stately home. Seeing it like this and knowing this was where her father and brother had met their demise struck a chord deep inside her. She wasn’t sad as much as displaced. Her entire life had been lived here, and now it was gone.
All that she’d known here, all that she’d enjoyed, was like a veiled memory. She couldn’t pull anything good from those thoughts, with the exception of distant memories of her mother. Thoughts of Mother always made her melancholy. Mother was the last person Victoria had ever loved, and when she died, Victoria had been determined never to love anyone else. She had put up a shield of indifference around her heart, and it remained firmly in place.
Mother had loved her. She had perhaps been the only person who truly did. Everyone else had been far too concerned about Cora and Aunt Edith. The kidnapping of Judith had ruined any hope that Victoria might become the favorite. But Mother had assured Victoria that she was her pride and joy and that no one else would ever mean as much to her. Not even Bill.
Mother’s death had been harder than anything else in Victoria’s life, and even now, the loss of the house and remaining family hurt only because it severed her final connection to the woman who had loved her most. Tears came to Victoria’s eyes, and she used them to her advantage.
“It’s just too terrible.” She buried her face in her gloved hands.
As she had hoped, Caleb put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Victoria. I’m sure it must be very hard for you.”
She raised her face, lifting her eyes in a way that she knew would be appealing. “I thought I didn’t care. I thought I could avoid the pain.”
He gave her a sympathetic smile. “We all do our best to avoid pain, but rarely are we successful. I know your family wasn’t overly interested in God, but He is my mainstay and the one I turn to at times like this. He gives me peace and comfort when no one else can.”
Tears slipped down her cheek. “I’d like to know more about God. Would you be willing to tell me about Him? I would like to have that peace and comfort.”
“Of course.” He gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Come on. Let’s leave this place, and I’ll share a little with you about God’s love.”
He led her back to the car, and Victoria did her best to hide her delight. Things were going better than she could have hoped. It had never occurred to her that winning Caleb would be easier if she appealed to his religious nature. He was devout in his beliefs and would never deny an opportunity to share them with another. She could easily manipulate this for her benefit.
