Faith returned home feeling frustrated. The candy store wasn’t open but promised to be in two days, and the ivory thread she needed was nowhere to be found. Fearing she’d have to give up, Faith had finally found it in a small dressmaker’s shop that was just closing when she arrived. Thankfully, the woman managing the place was eager for a sale and allowed Faith the after-hours purchase. Feeling bad because of the candy store disappointment, Faith then stopped by another store as it was closing and bought half a pound of peanut brittle. She had no idea if Mrs. Weaver and Alma would like it.
Nothing had gone right. At the meeting with her fellow students, she explained Lakewood’s threats. None of them wanted to cancel or even change the venue at first. Instead, Faith’s comments only served to drive the students forward in increased determination.
“How dare that old man dictate to us what we can and cannot do regarding charity,” Malcolm had declared. “I won’t have it, even if we should come to blows.”
Violet too had been livid. The others had agreed as well. Faith suggested that perhaps it might be wise to speak to a local pastor or two about holding the event at a church. She didn’t trust Lakewood and didn’t put it past him to make trouble. There was no sense in securing a venue at the college, only to be told at the last minute after all the flyers had been printed that they couldn’t hold their event on campus.
When she returned home, it was almost seven, and a light rain had begun to fall, leaving her drenched to the bone. She slipped into the house, grateful that everyone seemed occupied elsewhere. Taking refuge in her room, Faith quickly stripped out of her clothes and pulled on a warm cotton nightgown. Taking up a towel, she sat by the fire someone had thoughtfully lit in her hearth.
She pulled the pins from her hair and let the dark brown mass fall to her waist before drying it with the towel. She gazed into the flames and steadily massaged her hair.
Lakewood was a problem, and she knew it was probably best that she get some advice on the matter. Nancy had indicated he was dangerous, and Faith knew the time had come that she further investigate the matter. All she had hoped to accomplish before graduation in April were some charitable acts of kindness. She hoped that by helping fulfill the reservations’ medical needs, she could also introduce her abilities to the local authorities and thus be allowed to work with the Indians. It assuaged her guilt to remind herself that one day she would take all that had been allowed her because of her white heritage and use it to better life for the Indians. But Lakewood clearly wanted to stop her from helping the reservations.
She went to her dressing table to get her brush. As she maneuvered her hair back into a manageable plait, Faith contemplatedhow she might accomplish all she desired in spite of Lakewood. She’d had to deal with powerful men before. There was always a way, if one was smart about it.
Faith finished braiding her hair, then pulled on her heavy wool dressing gown. A cup of tea sounded like just the thing to warm her. Perhaps there would be a few cookies as well. Her light supper was nothing more than a memory at this point. She took up the bag of candy and made her way to the kitchen.
For the life of her, Faith couldn’t stop thinking about Lakewood and how quickly he’d turned on her. He was used to having everyone obey his directives. He wouldn’t be happy that she had defied him. In fact, she was almost certain he was even now plotting against her.
“I wondered if you’d ever made it home,” Seth said as she came into the kitchen.
“Just a little while ago. I thought a cup of tea would help me thaw.” Faith went to the teakettle and lifted it. “I see I wasn’t the only one who had that idea.” She nodded toward the mug he was stirring.
“We just finished supper, but there’s plenty left if you’re hungry. Bedelia insisted we leave a plate warming for you.”
“How considerate. I’m starved.” She grabbed a potholder and opened the warmer. “Mmm, fried chicken. It smells wonderful.” She placed the dish on the counter. “Are you working late?”
“No, Nancy and I decided a quiet evening together would be nice. This tea is for her.”
Faith considered this. “I wonder if I might come and speak to you both. I have an issue that must be dealt with, and I’m in need of advice.”
“Of course. I’ll take this to her, and we’ll anticipate you in a few minutes.”
Faith grabbed a fork and a glass of water, deciding to forgo the tea. She headed down the hall to Nancy and Seth’s bedroom, hoping they’d be understanding. She found them both by the fire, with Seth just pulling up another chair.
“Come sit and tell us what troubles you,” he said.
“Well, it’s not like you haven’t warned me about Samuel Lakewood.”
Seth frowned. “What has he done?”
Faith sat and balanced the plate on her lap while she took a long, needed drink of water. “He wants us to stop our plans to raise money for the reservations. We have a fundraiser scheduled so that we can speak about the poor reservation conditions. With the money we raise, we hope to buy additional medical and cleaning supplies.” She put the glass to one side and picked up her fork. “I believe he will insist that the college ban us from using the lecture hall. He made clear his intentions this afternoon as I was on my way to meet my friends.”
“Why were you with him?” Nancy asked.
“He offered me a ride, and since we’d had a pleasant enough time together earlier this morning, I thought nothing of it. He immediately made it clear that he didn’t approve of what we were doing. He told me there were consequences for sticking my nose into matters that weren’t mine to worry about.”
Seth heaved a sigh. “Look, you need to understand that Lakewood is just as corrupt as Gerome Berkshire. Berkshire at least pretends to be working for the government, which allows them to keep an eye on him, but I’m sure he’s told Lakewood what he’s doing. Lakewood is part of all this scheming to get the Indians to rise up and cause a war. Once they do that, the whiteswill have their excuse to take charge and demand the tribes be moved to a smaller reservation far away, where they can cause no harm. Lakewood and his friends will sell the reservation land to their cronies.”
“Listen to Seth, Faith,” Nancy pleaded. “He knows what he’s talking about. These men are dangerous and will stop at nothing to have what they want. They once snuck into my house and stole a book with Albert’s confidential maps. I wouldn’t put it past them to do most anything to see their plan succeed. The government and the army are our only hope of keeping them under control.”
“I won’t be bullied into walking away from a good cause.” Faith took a bite of chicken.
“Lakewood isn’t going to walk away from a challenge either.”
Faith shrugged. “There is more than just me involved in this. He can’t fight all of us.”
“He can and he will,” Seth replied without hesitation. “He doesn’t care how many of you there are. He has powerful friends, and together they made this town. They can certainly stop a few students.”
