“Of course,” Fred grins. “How could I be so stupid. She’s with the dead soldier’s family? Perfect, then I can take care of all of them at once.”
Lucas starts to cry again, drawing Fred’s glance, and Kristin attacks. She leaps at him shoving the stick straight at his eye, and the weight of her body knocks them both back away from the carriage and onto the ground.
Fred screams, releasing the gun and grabs at his eye with both hands. Kristin grabs the gun and points it at Fred. “I’m taking my son!”
Stumbling to his knees and holding his eye Fred, shouts, “I’ll kill you now, bitch!”
Kristin swings the handle of the gun and strikes Fred, sighing with relief when he crumples to the ground. All she can think is to get Lucas to safety. She tucks the pistol inside the pocket of her dress drags her son from the carriage and unties his feet. “Come on baby, let’s get out of here.”
“My hands, Mama?”
“No time, baby, we have to go!” They scramble up to the driver seat, and she puts an arm around his shoulder. “I need you to be brave, Lucas!” With a snap of the reins they flee. Fear sends her fleeing to the only place she can think of, Eli.
Chapter 24
“I hope you’re happy with yourself,” his mother snaps when he walks into the kitchen late the next morning.
“What are you on about Mother?” Glancing around the kitchen, Eli wonders where Savannah is. “I didn’t mean to sleep so late,” he grumbles. “Where’s Savannah?”
“She’s gone, Eli.”
“What?” he turns to look at her.
“I had Rooster take her to town, at her request. She said her goal has been accomplished. What did you say to her last night?”
“Mom! We spoke about Oliver, and she gave me his bags of photographs from the war.”
“Did you accuse her of trying to pry more money from us? Or maybe you accused her of stealing from a dying man, again.” Eli drops his head down in shame.
Curiosity had him going through a few of Oliver’s pictures last night. Savannah was right, they were harsh, real and stunning. He left feeling pride in his brother and his talent that can’t be described in words. After seeing the images first hand, he understands why it took her so long to get the job done.
If he was that wrong about his brother what about Kristin? He pulled out her letter from the dresser drawer and sat down to read. When he finally closed his eyes, images seemed to chase him for hours of Kristin running and Oliver yelling at him, but he is unable to hear.
“Mom, what have I done?”
“Kristin left you with a big hole in your heart, Eli. You’ve allowed that bitterness to stain your view of everyone. It’s time to let it go and start seeing people for who they really are. Neither one of them deserves this.”
“I know Mom,” he hugs her. “Last night I stayed up late and read Kristin’s letter. All I can do is hope they will forgive me.”
“Eli, you don’t know how I’ve prayed for this!” She hugs him, and he smiles pressing a kiss to her temple. “If nothing comes out of this, you must learn that God’s timing is always perfect. We have to trust in the path and seek him first in everything.”
“I’m not saying it will be easy, but I will try to accept that,” Eli replies.
“Good I can’t ask for more than that. Something else is bothering me about all of this, Eli.” She sits in the chair and stares at him. “Savannah came here of her own free will to complete a task for your brother. For some reason, Oliver wanted you to have these images. He wanted it badly enough to secure a death-bed promise from her. Why?” His mother demands.
Eli frowns, “Why?” he murmurs. “Oliver wouldn’t have done that without a good reason. She could have mailed it or sent it home with his body,” he says.
“Exactly. Instead, he makes a woman he barely knows promise to bring them to you and place them in your hands. It doesn’t make sense.”
Eli agrees, “Why Oliver?” he asks and hears his brother say, ‘Finally.’
“How long has she been gone?” He rushes to the front door to grab his boots with his mother behind him.
“An hour. Rooster just got back. Savannah was talking about taking the train to Indiana, then back to Pennsylvania. I doubt she could get a ticket this quickly. Go straight to the train station.”
Kristin stops a few miles outside of town to care for Lucas who is openly sobbing. She sits him on a large boulder and struggles to stop her shaking hands. “It’s okay baby,” she unties his hands and rips a piece of her skirt to wipe at the blood on his lip.
“Lucas, I know you’re scared, but I’m gonna keep you safe, okay?” he wraps his arms around her and buries his face in her neck, shaking and crying.
The sound of a horse approaching sends fear scurrying through both of them. “Get behind the boulder!” she snaps and draws the pistol. The sun is behind the rider, blinding Kristin to the man.
“Stay back!” Kristin shouts.
Eli pulls back on his reins and takes in her condition. Split lip, bruised cheek, messy hair and trembling hands pointing a gun at his heart! He dismounts slowly and lifts his hands walking towards her, “Kristin I know you’re angry at me, but please don’t shoot me before I can kiss you.”
“Eli?” Kristin drops the gun and throws herself into Eli’s arms.
Eli soothes her, holding her as sobs shake her frame, “Eli,” she sobs, and he pushes her back to lift her
