Morning Sky Read online

  Bentley! If it hadn’t been for his philandering ways, she’d still be living in New Orleans. She’d heard stories through the years that Bentley had other women, but she’d ignored the remarks, choosing to believe it was mere jealousy that had delivered the unwelcome news to her doorstep on numerous occasions. However, it had been impossible to retain her aloof countenance when Sephra had knocked on her door and announced she was Bentley’s favored woman. A sudden fury had embraced Lilly as the young, beautiful woman stood before her, attired in the latest fashion and holding her young son by the hand—a tawny-skinned boy, though Lilly refused to admit any noticeable resemblance to Bentley Cummings.

  When Bentley arrived the next day and exhibited no remorse, Lilly angrily informed him a curse had been placed upon the woman. Oh, how she wished she had never uttered those words! For when Sephra’s body was discovered in a nearby swamp one week later, Bentley immediately placed all blame upon Lilly, threatening to have her thrown into an alligator-ridden bayou if she didn’t tell him what had happened to his young son.

  Though she had no idea where to locate the child, Lilly promised to produce him by first light. And although convincing Bentley required her to draw upon all of her womanly wiles, Lilly finally succeeded in her ruse. By the time he finally departed her bungalow, she was exhausted. However, there was no time for rest. If she was to survive the ordeal, a hasty exodus would be required. She bribed the coachman who delivered her to the train station, though she was afraid he would be most pleased to take a few extra coins and divulge any information if Bentley might inquire.

  As she shifted her weight, seeking a more comfortable position in her new bed, Lilly continued to hope Bentley and the coachman would never cross paths.

  The night was warm, and the smell of honeysuckle clung to the light breeze wafting through the small window near her bed, yet she pulled on the crisp white sheet until it completely covered her head. For the moment, Lilly felt invisible, even a bit safe. Wouldn’t the folks back home be amused to find her hiding under the covers?

  Down in New Orleans, people believed she possessed the special powers of a fearsome witch or voodoo queen, but Lilly knew the truth and she could admit it—at least to herself. Why, she was as frightened by life and its mysteries as anyone else. Yet it had been the fear of those special powers that had earned her a measure of control and respect among her peers. That, and the fact that she was Bentley Cummings’s courtesan.

  And now what was she? Even more, who was she? An aging woman with no true identity, self-exiled to this vast wasteland called Kansas—but for what? To be tracked down and returned to New Orleans? To be made the fool by Bentley Cummings? Or to be forced into servitude to reimburse him for the years of upkeep he’d so willingly paid throughout the years? He would enjoy such an ending. That prospect alone would undoubtedly fuel his resolve to leave no stone unturned in his quest to find her and make her pay.

  “Who is she?” a teeny voice whispered.

  “How do you expect me to know? Maybe she’s here to help Mama clean the house and cook our food.” The second voice was slightly deeper and more authoritative—likely the older brother, Lilly decided.

  “That can’t be right, ’cause she’s still in bed and Mama’s cooking breakfast,” the hushed girlish voice argued.

  Lilly remained perfectly still with her eyes pinched together while the children’s whispers floated overhead. With a scrap of luck, the Nelson children would soon depart her room. Otherwise, she might be forced to frighten them away from her bedside. Several ideas immediately came to mind, but she forced the notions aside. She had better not test Mrs. Nelson’s forbearance just yet. The lady of the house might not tolerate such behavior from a newly employed housekeeper. Lilly inwardly cringed at the title.

  “Come on, before Mama finds out we’re in here.”

  Lilly forced herself to remain motionless until she heard the sound of feet clattering down the back stairway. With a sigh of relief, she opened her eyes and shifted to the side of the bed. Her feet had barely touched the floor when Lilly spied a pair of cornflower-blue eyes peering from behind the door.

  She leaned forward and pointed at the child. “What are you doing in my room?”

  With a muffled squeal, the girl skittered sideways and moved toward the doorway. Lilly leapt forward and encircled the child’s thin arm with one hand. “Why are you running off now? Why didn’t you leave with your sibling?”

  The child stared at Lilly’s painted fingernails. “What’s a sibling?”

  Lilly’s laughter filled the room. “Your brother. Why didn’t you go downstairs with him?”

  The girl’s eyes were wide with wonder as she looked up and down, taking in the length of Lilly’s form. “I wanted to see you.”

  “Well, now that you’ve seen me, I think you had best leave while I dress.” The child moved toward the door. “What’s your name, little girl?”

  “Alma.” The child raced out the door and down the back stairway.

  Alma would be easily enough handled—that much was obvious. But the boys. If they were like most of the little boys she’d encountered in her day, they would need to be infused with a smidgen of fear before they’d behave in proper fashion. And Lilly possessed the necessary tactics to instill apprehension in most anyone. After all, she didn’t intend to spend her days racing about after miscreant children. There would be better ways to fill her time, even in this remote setting. She would either teach them respect or scare them out of their wits.With her plan set, Lilly decided upon a pale yellow print dress and a hat with yellow ribbons for her stroll about town.

  When she finally walked down the front stairway, she knew she’d made the proper choice. Her clothing would be a unique complement to the bright summer day. She stopped at the oak-framed mirror in the lower hallway, admiring herself for a moment.

  “Is that you, Lilly?” Mrs. Nelson held a bowl in the crook of her arm and was stirring the contents as she walked down the hallway. At the sight of her new housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson stopped and pointed her wooden spoon at Lilly. “You aren’t planning on wearing that to do chores and care for the children, are you?” A dollop of batter dripped from the spoon as Mrs. Nelson awaited Lilly’s answer.

  “You don’t like this dress?” Lilly turned her attention back to the mirror and smoothed the lace-filled square neckline.

  “Of course, it’s lovely. However, it’s not what I’d expect anyone to wear while performing chores.”

  Lilly’s gown rustled softly as she approached Mrs. Nelson and placed a light pat on the woman’s shoulder. “You’ve forgotten that I don’t plan to begin my position just yet. I intend to spend the day visiting my niece and becoming acquainted with the town. In truth, I was thinking it might be best if I waited until the first of the week to actually commence working. Breakfast would be most welcome, though, before I depart.”

  Mrs. Nelson handed the mixing bowl to Lilly before stooping down to clean the batter from the wood floor. “I find your plan unsatisfactory. You’ll begin work tomorrow. And if you want breakfast, I suggest you come into the kitchen and fix it yourself.”

  Lilly silently chastised herself. She had misread Mrs. Nelson and pushed her too far. “You misconstrued my comment regarding breakfast. Why, I would never expect you to fix my meal. I merely thought that if there was a cup of coffee and a cold biscuit, I’d help myself. I don’t know if Mr. Nelson told you, but this is the first time I’ve met my nieces, and I’m anxious to spend time with them. I wouldn’t have accepted this position but for the fact that Truth lives in Hill City. You see, they’re my only family.”

  Mrs. Nelson’s features softened. “I didn’t realize. No, of course I understand.”

  Lilly followed Mrs. Nelson into the kitchen. “From the moment I met you, I knew you’d understand. A woman who has children of her own values the importance of family.”

  “Let me introduce you to the children. Alma, Georgie, and this is Joey.” Mrs. Nelson placed a hand ato
p each child’s head as she introduced them.

  None of them mentioned having been in Lilly’s bedroom earlier, though Lilly guessed it was Georgie, the older boy, who had accompanied little Alma into her room. He had a devilish gleam in his eyes. He would likely cause the most trouble. Lilly offered a brief greeting and then renewed her discussion with Mrs. Nelson.

  After listening to Lilly’s tale of woe, Mrs. Nelson scurried about the kitchen, now seemingly anxious to prepare the new housekeeper a hot breakfast. The food was edible, though not the fine fare Lilly had enjoyed in New Orleans. And Lilly was somewhat surprised at how easily she’d been able to bring Mrs. Nelson around simply by sprinkling in a few words about familial ties and misfortune. A short time later, Lilly departed, leaving a frazzled Mrs. Nelson and her children to fend for themselves.

  With her parasol raised, Lilly examined the Hill City dwellings as she made her way toward town. The frame houses were outnumbered by limestone and sod, though most were larger than the ones she’d observed in Nicodemus. Of course, the residents of Hill City had likely come prepared for life on the prairie. From the stories she’d heard from Jarena and Grace, tools and supplies had been in short supply when the Nicodemus settlers had first arrived. Therefore, the disparity wasn’t surprising. She continued onward, careful to maintain a lookout for either Moses or the newspaper office.

  At the sound of her name, Lilly turned to see Truth waving and running toward her at full tilt. Lilly waved in return and waited for her niece. Both Truth and Grace were vivacious and pretty enough, but

  Jarena was the real jewel of the family. Jarena had maturity on her side, but it was much more than that. Hidden beneath frayed collars and worn shoes, Jarena’s sense of style and class shone through—just like her own, Lilly decided.

  Truth’s gaze flitted back and forth between Lilly’s parasol and her hat. “When did you get to Hill City? Moses told me Mr. Nelson was going to go to Nicodemus to talk to you.”

  “I just arrived last night. I plan to spend the day acquainting myself with you and Moses, as well as this town.”

  “I thought you’d be hard at work caring for the Nelson children.”

  “I was coming to the newspaper office to visit with you and Moses. I thought you’d be pleased to see me. Instead, you’re staring at me as though you’ve seen a ghost. Mrs. Nelson and I have agreed I’ll begin my housekeeping duties tomorrow.” Lilly took Truth by the hand. “Why don’t you show me where the newspaper office is located?”

  Truth was only too happy to comply, eagerly leading her aunt down the street and proudly gesturing when they neared the building. They hadn’t been inside the office long when Lilly decided she would gain little attention from Moses. After a brief welcome, he had become completely absorbed in composing an article for the newspaper and totally ignored her presence. On the other hand, Truth had insisted upon explaining all of the intricacies of printing a newspaper—from setting the type to inking the handheld brayer and feeding the paper. It was when Truth suggested her aunt take up the composing stick and try her hand at setting type that Lilly made her escape. Though Lilly admired Moses’s dedication to his work, it was obvious she’d not gain his attention while he was in his office. Furthermore, with Truth’s youth and innocence, she would be more easily swayed than Moses. Lilly raised her parasol and walked off toward the general store.Where there’s a will, there’s a way: that was her motto.

  After making her way in and out of the various businesses in Hill City to explain her affiliation with Moses and Truth as well as her position with the Nelson family, Lilly strolled toward home. She had hoped to meet Dr. Boyle and elicit some information about his wife and family, but a note on his office door indicated the doctor wouldn’t return until later in the day. The message stated he’d been summoned to lend aid to the victim of a farm accident. Though she didn’t relish a return to the Nelson household so early in the afternoon, there was little else to occupy her time. At least that was true until she caught sight of a woman sitting on the porch of the Boyle residence.

  Lilly tipped her parasol to the side and stepped closer. “Mrs. Boyle?”

  The woman peered over the top of the book she was reading. She squinted her eyes and peered more closely. “Yes? Do I know you?”

  “No, we’ve never met,” Lilly replied as she stepped closer. “However, I was hoping to make your acquaintance. I’m Truth Harban’s aunt—Lilly Verdue.”

  Mrs. Boyle tucked a crocheted bookmark between the pages of her book and snapped the volume closed. “Ah, yes. Truth mentioned her aunt had come for a visit. She’s quite excited to have you here.” She waved Lilly forward. “Please sit down. I understand you’ve come from New Orleans. Do tell me more about yourself.”

  Lilly didn’t need any further invitation. She collapsed her parasol and perched herself on the wicker chair facing Mrs. Boyle. “I’m afraid you would be quickly bored by anything I have to say. Why don’t you tell me about yourself, Mrs. Boyle? No doubt your life has been filled with much more excitement than my own.”

  Margaret studied Lilly’s dress. “I’m not so certain. At the very least, it appears you’re more in style with the latest fashion than I.”

  Lilly touched a finger to the neckline of her dress, pleased Mrs. Boyle had noticed her refined attire. “Merely the kindness of a friend before my departure from New Orleans. Truth tells me you have a daughter who teaches school.”

  Mrs. Boyle nodded. “Yes—Macia. She’ll be returning at summer’s end, unless good fortune should smile upon her.”

  “You don’t want her to return home?”

  “Don’t misunderstand. I love Macia and truly don’t look forward to separation from her. However, I’d like to see her meet a suitable man who could provide her with a life of ease and comfort. The thought of Macia living the remainder of her life here in Kansas is not what I would wish for her.”

  Lilly listened attentively as Mrs. Boyle discussed Macia’s plan to return and possibly marry Jeb Malone. Although the older woman had convinced Macia to journey east and attend a summer session of classes in New York before making a final decision regarding marriage and her future, she held out little hope her daughter would ultimately be deterred from her plans.

  Mrs. Boyle took a sip of her lemonade. “Unfortunately, from the letters I’ve received, Macia has been suffering from ongoing bouts of illness since she arrived in New York. Distressing news, since she’s always enjoyed excellent health.”

  “She’s likely suffering from a touch of homesickness coupled with a change in diet and daily routine. Likely nothing to worry over.”

  Mrs. Boyle picked up her fan and snapped it open. “I truly hold out little hope Macia will be deterred from her plans. Jeb’s a fine young man, but Macia deserves a better life than he can provide.”

  Lilly nodded sympathetically. “I do understand. I hope the worry over your daughter hasn’t caused you undue anxiety. Truth tells me you suffer from occasional ill health. I trust having her help has proved beneficial to you and your family.”

  “Oh, indeed,” Mrs. Boyle said, fanning herself with enthusiasm. “I don’t know how I would have gotten by without Truth’s help. Once she marries Moses, we’ll have to find someone else, for I can’t seem to manage on my own. Perhaps Grace might be interested—I must remind Samuel to speak with Mr. Harban.”

  “I wouldn’t hurry to do that. After all, Truth’s wedding is months off, and who knows what might happen between now and then.”

  Mrs. Boyle’s eyes widened. “Are they having difficulties? Truth hasn’t uttered a word.”

  Lilly leaned close. “Trust me, Truth wouldn’t easily confide such a thing. But if she realized how much you need her, it might aid her in making a final decision about her future. Please don’t mention I’ve said anything. She would feel I’ve placed you in a compromising position.”

  “Oh, of course not. Poor girl. And to think I’ve been trying to reassure her I can get along without her these past months. I do f
eel terrible— my comments have likely been weighing heavily upon her. I’ll begin hinting about the problems I’m going to face once she marries Moses.”

  “The minute I laid eyes upon you, I knew you were a woman I could count upon.”

  Mrs. Boyle leaned back in her chair and feverishly fanned herself. “How can I ever thank you for taking me into your confidence? I am truly grateful you’ve arrived in Hill City. Surely between the two of us, we can steer Truth toward the proper decision for her future.”

  “Indeed we will, Mrs. Boyle. Indeed we will.”

  The Nelson house was quiet when Lilly walked into the foyer. Perhaps Mrs. Nelson and the children had departed for an outing. She smiled at the prospect. Having time alone to reflect upon her thoughts and plans was one thing Lilly relished. And finding time alone would likely prove difficult in the future. She walked up the front stairs and down the hallway toward her room, the sound of her footsteps muffled by the wool carpet. As she neared her bedroom, Lilly traced the tip of her parasol along the spindled railing that ran the length of the upper hall.

  Mrs. Nelson peered around the bedroom doorway, her unkempt hair sticking out in all directions. “Lilly! I wasn’t expecting you. I was bringing . . . checking . . . to see that you had enough linens in your dresser.” Plunging her fingers into her disheveled hair, Mrs. Nelson sent a hair comb flying down the hallway.

  “You brought me fresh linens when I arrived last night.Why would you think I’d need more so soon?” Lilly brushed past Mrs. Nelson and into the bedroom. “I don’t see any fresh linens, Mrs. Nelson.”