Grace And Heart
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“You’re not going to believe this.” Grace looked up from the letter she was reading. “What?”
Heart smiled at her friend’s excitement, but it wasn’t a good kind of excitement. She knew exactly what Grace meant by that statement. It was bad news and she didn’t want to hear it either. The last thing they needed right now was another problem in their lives. They were already working too hard trying to solve the first one.
“I think you should sit down,” Grace said as she handed over the letter.
Heart took it and sat on the edge of her bed. “It can’t be anything serious.”
“No, I don’t think so. But we’ll find out soon enough.”
The envelope contained only two sheets of paper, both written in the same handwriting. One read: Miss Heart,
I have been sent here with your husband’s final request. Please meet me at the train station tomorrow morning at nine o’clock sharp. If you are late, he will die.
Please hurry if you wish to save him. Yours truly,
“Who is this man?” Heart asked as she unfolded the second sheet of paper.
Miss Heart,
This is no joke or prank. You must come alone. No one else knows about this meeting. If you bring anyone else, he dies. He has told me everything and there is nothing more for us to discuss. Meet me at the train station tomorrow morning at nine o’clock sharp. If you do not, he will die. Do you understand?
Heart nodded. “Yes, I understand. What does all this mean?”
“He wants you to meet him at the train station and then leave town immediately afterward. He doesn’t care how long it takes you to get home, but he says he won’t wait any longer than that.”
“That’s odd. Why would he say that? Does he know something we don’t?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. We need to figure out what to do next. Can you stay here tonight until we decide our course of action?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Then I’m going to go pack my things. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay.” Heart watched as Grace left the room. When she was gone, she picked up the letter again. “We’re running away from a killer. That’s never happened before.”
She shook her head. “But why did he send these letters to me instead of you? Did he know we were married when he came here?”
“I don’t think so. He probably just assumed since you were his wife, you’d be the one who would take care of him after he died.”
“So he thinks he’s dying?”
“Not necessarily. He could be wrong. Or maybe he really is dying. Who knows?”
Heart put the letter back into the envelope. “Well, whatever the reason, he needs help and we’re the ones to give it to him. So let’s get packing.”
***
Grace waited for Heart outside the train station. She had packed an overnight bag and was ready to go. The sun was setting behind the hills and the air was cold. There weren’t many people around, which made it easier to keep her eyes on the woman standing across from her.
Heart wore a dark blue dress with white lace trimming along the collar and cuffs. Her hair was pulled tightly back in a bun. Grace couldn’t remember seeing her wear anything like this before. It suited her well; it showed off her strong features, making them stand out even more.
A small group of men stood near the tracks, talking among themselves. A few horses grazed nearby while others wandered aimlessly through the dirt. Some of the men waved at Grace, but none seemed to pay much attention to the woman waiting patiently.
Finally, the whistle sounded. The train began to pull forward, stopping at each of the four platforms. As the engine reached the end of the line, the conductor climbed down and walked toward the platform where Grace waited.
“Miss Heart, are you ready to board?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Your ticket please.”
“Here you go.” Heart handed over the ticket.
The conductor took the ticket, glanced at it briefly, then handed it back. “There seems to be some mistake. This is the wrong train.”
“Excuse me?” Heart stepped closer. “What do you mean?”
“This is the train headed east. You’re supposed to catch the westbound train.”
“Oh, yes, that’s right,” Heart replied, looking confused. “I forgot. We changed trains in Denver. We didn’t make it to Cheyenne. Are you sure this is the correct train?”
“Yes, ma’am. I checked your tickets myself. I also called ahead to confirm. I’m sorry, but you missed your stop.”
Heart frowned. “How far is it to Cheyenne?”
“About six hundred miles.”
“Six hundred miles! How could we miss our stop? I’ve traveled this route many times and never once did I forget to change trains.”
“You might have been distracted by someone or something. I can’t imagine what it could be.”
“It was nothing. I’m sorry for wasting your time.” Heart turned to leave.
“Wait!” Grace grabbed her arm. “Let me explain. I’m not trying to cause trouble. I only wanted to help. Now, please, let me show you to the other train.”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you anyway.”
Heart started to walk away again. Grace followed her. “Please, Miss Heart, let me help you. If you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
“I appreciate the offer, but there’s no need to worry yourself. Everything will work out.”
“I’m worried about you. Don’t you realize how dangerous it is out here alone?”
“I do now. But I refuse to let anyone else die because they couldn’t follow simple directions. Let’s go.”
Grace led the way to the train. They boarded the next car and sat together. The train lurched forward, picking up speed.
“Why did you come all this way to find us?” Heart asked.
“Because I knew you’d be here. I thought if we met face-to-face, we could clear the air between us. I still don’t understand why you left me at the ranch house.”
“I told you, it was a mistake. And I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Just tell me what happened.”
“After my husband died, I decided to start a new life. I sold everything except for a few personal items and moved to Colorado. That’s when I met Tom. He was a good man and treated me well. At first, I enjoyed being with him, but as time passed, I realized I wasn’t happy.
I needed to know if I could ever be truly happy again. So I went back home, hoping to find peace. Instead, I found out he’d married another woman.”
“That must have hurt.”
“It did. But I didn’t stay long. After a couple of months, I returned to Colorado. I rented an apartment in Denver, thinking I would give it one last try. Then I met John. We were attracted to each other almost immediately, so I gave up on finding happiness and settled into a comfortable routine.”
“And then you came back to Kansas.”
“Yes. I wanted to see if I could finally get past the pain of losing my husband. It worked, but I soon learned that the best thing I could do was move on with my life.”
“But I—”
“I know, but I think you should hear the rest of the story from someone else. Please, let me finish.”
“All right, but promise you won’t blame yourself.”
“I won’t.”
“Then let me continue.”
Heart nodded.
“When I got back to Kansas, I met Tom again. He had remarried, too, but his wife didn’t treat him very kindly. She seemed jealous of me. One day, she tried to attack me. Fortunately, I was able to defend myself and escape.”
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
“Thank you. I felt terrible, though. I hadn’t meant to hurt her. I just wanted to protect myself. When I saw how badly I’d hurt her, I decided to leave town. I didn’t want to put myself in any more danger.”
“Did you find your father?”
“Yes, he lives in California. I haven’t seen him since I was a child. I’m planning to visit him later this year.”
“California. You’re going west again?”
“Yes, I’m afraid I am. My heart has always belonged there.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“Me, too. But I’m not leaving forever. I’m only going to take some time off. Maybe I’ll even come back someday.”
“Maybe I will, too,” Heart said softly. “If you ever need anything—anything at all—you only have to ask.”
The train picked up speed. Grace leaned closer. “I’ve never known anyone like you. I admire you. Your courage and determination are admirable.”
“Thanks.”
“You have a kind soul, too. I wish I had half the strength you do.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m not sure I could stand up to anyone without backing down.”
“It takes a strong person to admit they made a mistake. And you did. I’m proud of you.”
“I don’t deserve such praise.”
“I beg to differ. Now, please, let me finish the story.”
“Of course, Miss Heart.”
“Tom’s wife was killed by a runaway horse. I didn’t know about it until after I left town. I guess I should have stayed longer, but I was afraid I might say or do something that would make matters worse. I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting anyone else, especially Tom.”
“What happened to Tom?”
“He was charged with murder. I couldn’t believe it. He was innocent. I knew it. I just didn’t have enough evidence to prove it.”
“So you left town.”
“Yes. I didn’t know what else to do. I decided to go to California and look for my father. I hoped he could help me. I also wanted to find out if I could ever be happy again.”
“How did you meet Tom? Did you run into him in Colorado?”
“No. I ran into him here, in Kansas. The night I arrived, I heard someone crying outside my door. I opened the window and discovered a young boy sobbing. I asked him what was wrong, but he wouldn’t answer.
I told him I was a friend of the family and I would help him, so he agreed to talk to me. His name is Sam. I took him to my room, fed him, and offered him comfort. I was surprised to learn that he was Tom’s son.”
“Sam was your brother?”
“Yes, I adopted him when I got back to Kansas. He was four years old, but he looked older because of all the hardship he’d endured.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t apologize. I understand now why you didn’t tell me. I’m grateful that you didn’t. I don’t think I could have handled another loss.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“After I found out about Tom, I decided to stay in Kansas. I didn’t want to leave Sam alone. So I started looking for work as a ranch hand. That’s where I met Tom again. We were both hired to work on the same farm. It wasn’t long before we fell in love.”
“And you married?”
“Yes, but it didn’t last very long. I think Tom realized that I was still grieving over losing my husband. He tried to be patient, but he eventually grew tired of waiting. After a few months, he left me.”
“Why did you marry him then?”
“I loved him. I thought I could change his mind. I was wrong.”
“Are you still in love with him?”
“Yes. I hope one day he’ll realize that I’m ready to try again.”
“But you won’t give up.”
“No, I won’t. Not until Tom realizes that he can count on me forever.”
The train slowed to a stop.
“We’re here,” Grace said softly.
“Thank you, Miss Heart. This has been an enjoyable trip.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Morgan.”
***
Heart stood outside the depot, watching the train pull away from the station. She was sad to see her ride end. Her heart felt lighter than it had in many years. There was no doubt she was ready to face the future.
She turned to head back to the boardinghouse but stopped short when she saw a familiar figure walking toward her.
“Miss Heart!” Sam called. “I was hoping I’d get to see you.”
“Hello, Sam. How are you doing?”
“Not bad. I’m feeling better these days.”
“That’s good.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You don’t seem to have any trouble finding work.”
“None at all. I’m working as a cook.”
“Cooking! What a surprise. I always figured you would grow up to become a lady doctor.”
“Well, maybe someday I will. But right now I like cooking. I’ve even learned how to bake bread.”
“Bread? That’s wonderful. I wish I could taste some of your creations. Maybe you could send me a loaf.”
“You know you can have anything you want. All you need to do is ask.”
“I’ll remember that.”
They walked together down the street, talking about their lives. When they reached the boardinghouse, Sam paused to look around.
“It looks different since the last time I was here. The porch is new, and there’s a sign above the front door that reads ‘Casa de los Santos.'”
“Yes, the house belongs to us. I bought it after I returned home from California. I’m renting out rooms to make ends meet. I also take in boarders when I can.”
“That’s great news. I’m proud of you, Miss Heart. I never expected you to come back to Kansas, let alone buy a house.”
“Neither did I. I’m not sure what made me decide to return, but I’m glad I did.”
“Me too. I’m happy to be living with you again.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I feel the same way.”
“I wonder if you remember the first time I came to this house?”
“Of course I do. I was only six years old, but I remember everything.”
“I wanted to show you something inside, so I went ahead and unlocked the door. Then I told you to wait while I went into the kitchen.”
“I waited.”
“Then I took you by the hand and led you through the dining room, past the parlor, and into the kitchen. Do you remember?”
“Yes, I do. I followed you everywhere.”
“That was the night I met Tom.”
“Tom?”
“Yes, Tom. He was the man who lived next door. He was a widower, and he needed help caring for his children. I offered to watch them every evening. I guess I must have done a good job because he asked me to marry him. And that’s why I moved to Texas. I couldn’t stand being separated from him anymore. I knew I belonged with him.”
“So you did marry Tom?”
“Yes, I did. For three years we were happily married. I hoped that one day Tom would realize that he could count on me forever. I thought he might change his mind once he saw how much I loved him. I was wrong. He didn’t change his mind. He left me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds as though you two were meant to be together. I’m sure you’ll find someone else.”
“Maybe you’re right. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“What happened to Tom?”
“He died. He got sick and passed away before I ever realized he was ill.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you. I miss him terribly, but I have hope that someday I’ll find another man to love.”
“Someone like my father, perhaps.”
“Who’s your father?”
“My name is Jack. I’m the son you gave birth to.”
“Oh, yes. I remember now. Your mother told me about you. I’m pleased to meet you, Jack.”
“I’m honored to meet you, Miss Heart.”
“Come inside and have some lemonade. I think you deserve a treat for coming all the way to Kansas to visit me.”
***
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m looking forward to seeing your ranch.”
“Good. Let’s go then.”
She drove along the road until she reached a small dirt path leading to a farmhouse. She parked the buggy and climbed down. They walked toward the house. As they neared the front door, Sam stopped and turned to face her.
“Miss Heart, I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“When you said you had no family, I assumed you meant you didn’t have any brothers or sisters. But I was mistaken. You have a brother.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m your brother.”
“Your what?”
Sam laughed. “Don’t you recognize me? My name is Sam.”
“No, you’re not. I don’t have a brother named Sam.”
“You do now. I’m your younger brother.”
“But—”
“Please, Miss Heart. Don’t say anything. Just listen.”
“Okay.”
“We grew up in California. Our parents were killed in an accident when we were young. That’s why I came to Kansas to live with you. I was hoping you’d adopt me.”
“Adopt you?”
“Yes, I want to be part of your family.”
“Why didn’t you mention this before?”
“I didn’t know you well enough yet. I wanted to get to know you better before I told you about myself. Now I can ask you to take care of me. Will you please?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Will you take me in as your adopted son?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I wish you could stay here with us forever, but I know you’ll need to leave eventually.”
“It won’t be soon. I plan to stay here for a long time.”
“Very well. When you decide to move back to California, let me know and I’ll send word to Tom. He should still be in town. I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear from you.”
“Thank you again, Miss Heart. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
“Let’s go inside and talk. I want to learn more about you.”
They entered the house. The first thing Sam noticed was the smell of cooking meat. He looked around and spotted a large table filled with food.
“That smells delicious,” he said.
“Tom made it. He’s quite a cook.”
“Can I try some?”
“Of course. Sit down at the table and I’ll bring you a plate.”
“Thank you.”
As they ate their meal, Sam asked questions about her life.
“Did you always live in Kansas?”
“Yes, I did. I moved there after Tom and I got married. Before that, I lived in California.”
“And you never saw your brother before?”
“Not until today. I met him for the first time when I opened the door.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Me too. I would have liked to have known him. I’m certain he was a good man.”
“Yes, he was. A lot like you.”
“Like me how?”
“He loved animals. In fact, he helped me rescue them. And he also rescued me.”
“Really? What happened?”
“A couple of men tried to rob my store. They shot one of the horses. It died instantly. We couldn’t afford to replace it so I took in boarders to help pay off our debt. One day a woman named Sarah brought her horse into the stable. I was surprised to see a beautiful black stallion. I thought it belonged to someone else, but it wasn’t. It was mine.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you weren’t hurt.”
“I was, but not badly. The bullet hit me on the side. Fortunately, I only suffered a minor injury.”
“Was it painful?”
“Yes, it was. But I’m all right now. Thank God.”
“So, what happened next?”
“The men who robbed my store showed up at my house. I hid in the bedroom closet. Then I heard gunshots. I peeked out the window and saw two dead bodies lying outside. I ran downstairs and found Tom and the other man injured. They both needed medical attention.”
“Where was the woman?”
“She was nowhere to be seen. She must have escaped.”
“What kind of gun did she use?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see it.”
“Did you ever find out who those men were?”
“No, I didn’t. But I think I know why they attacked me. I’m pretty sure they were hired by a ranch owner to kill me and steal my property.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know his name, but I have a feeling I’ll meet him someday.”
“Do you plan to tell anyone about this?”
“Only if I’m threatened again.”
“You’re very brave.”
“I’m just doing what needs to be done.”
“I agree. You are courageous.”
“Thank you. I’m proud to have you as my father-in-law.”
“Thank you for saying that. I’m honored.”
“I’m glad you’re going to stay here for a while. I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.”
The End