Aunt Hortense took a step back and said, “No need to be rude, young lady. The truth is often difficult to hear.”
“Truth,” Amalie snapped back. “You wouldn’t know the truth if it actually spoke to you.”
“Now see here,” Aunt Hortense retorted. “I have a report from a very reliable source that every word is true.”
Amalie moved closer and looked Aunt Hortense straight in the eye. “I want you to give me that report, and I’m going to give it to my husband. Do you know who my husband is? He’s a retired bounty hunter, and his name is Deke Sperling. Just the name Sperling strikes fear into the hearts of criminals across this country. I’m going to have him travel to St. Louis and find all these liars, and they’ll all end up in jail.”
Aunt Hortense couldn’t move back any further and tried to move to the side but came face to face with Faith. “Amalie is right. You’re lying. I grew up with Eliza, too, and I’m married to Deke’s brother. I’ll send Nate along with Deke, and anyone who told these lies will be sorry they ever heard your name. How much did you pay them to lie?”
Deke and Nate moved up behind their wives and gently convinced them to walk away from Aunt Hortense, and Blake demanded to see what information his aunt had.
Aunt Hortense shook her head. “That is my personal business.”
“All right,” Blake said. “I have a friend who is a Pinkerton agent in Denver. I’ll telegraph him and asked him to have someone in St. Louis investigate whoever you hired. I want you to pack your things and leave my home.”
“You can’t mean tonight? It’s too late, and I need time to pack my things.”
Blake, barely able to contain his anger, stared at his aunt. “All right, I will give you until the day after tomorrow. One of my men will have the carriage ready to take you to town at sunup and not a minute later.”
Constance began to cry, and Blake turned to her. “You are welcome to stay. I don’t believe you played a part in this scheme of my aunt’s.”
Aunt Hortense stormed from the room, and Constance followed.
Blake turned to find Eliza being comforted by Ethel Wilbey and heard her say, “Don’t you worry, dear. We know the truth. You’re a welcome addition to our town. You should join the quilting circle at church and come visit me at the mercantile. I’m always there working.”
Eliza did her best to smile and said, “Thank you. I’d like that.”
Everyone offered their thanks for a lovely meal and hurried on their way. Blake sat next to Eliza and did his best to comfort her and try to explain away his aunt’s behavior.
“It’s not your fault, Blake. You don’t need to apologize, but I’d like to go to my room and lay down. I have a headache, and I think my dress is ruined,” Eliza said, holding the stained fabric in her right hand.
Sarah heard her and said, “Let me help you off with that dress, and you can lay down. I’ll soak it, and we’ll see if we can get the stain out.”
“If not, I’ll see to it that Florence makes you another. That dress is too nice not to be saved or replicated. You look lovely beyond words,” Blake promised.
“Thank you,” Eliza said, her sad eyes betraying the smile on her face.
Chapter 13
After the previous evening’s disastrous ending, Eliza was happy to see Sarah in the kitchen making breakfast. She’d slept too late, but thankfully her headache was gone.
Eliza blew a loose curl from her forehead and confided in Sarah. “I don’t understand why Constance hates me. She can’t possibly be in love with Blake. The last time she saw him, he was fourteen years old. He barely remembers her.”
“It’s not Blake that young woman loves, it’s his money, and the more his aunt speaks about what he’ll inherit from her, the more Miss Constance’s anger grows. She can’t believe that Blake loves you instead of her. You just cling to Blake, and the two of you will stand strong together,” Sarah explained. “He’s needed someone like you in his life for a while now.”
Eliza blushed at the kind words knowing that she and Blake were lying to nearly everyone even if they were secretly courting, but if she had a choice, she’d remain his wife forever.
“I think I’ll go outside and take a walk. I could use some air to clear my thoughts,” Eliza said before pulling her shawl and bonnet from a hook near the back door.
Sarah smiled as she watched the young woman who was already a large part of the family close the door and disappear onto the back porch.
Eliza sat on the swing that faced the western border of the property. It was her favorite place to watch the sunset each evening. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Constance walk up behind her.
“Look at you sitting here acting like the lady of the manor,” Constance spat as she walked around the swing.
“Constance,” Eliza quipped. “I’m surprised you’re awake this early. You usually sleep until ten.”
“You can’t possibly expect me to rise with the sun the way you and that hired woman do. What can you possibly do that early in the morning?”
“First, that woman’s name is Sarah. She’s not hired help. She’s a friend of the family that works for Blake. You should wake up early one morning, and you could accompany me to the barn. I could teach you to milk the cow,” Eliza said, smiling.
Constance visibly shuddered. “That will never happen, and when Blake and I return back East with Miss Hortense, you can live in the barn with the cow for all I care.”
“What is wrong with you?” Eliza questioned. “I’m Blake’s
