Because of Rebecca

chapter Twenty-Five

Josephine walked to the corner where she always met Ancil before going to Mass. He was late, or was she early? It was hard to tell. The hotel suite had felt so alone since Charlotte and Lucas left earlier to go to Oak Hill.

Rebecca had married Mr. Hollingsworth without even letting her know. But then, why should her niece have consulted her? Rebecca was a grown woman and could do as she pleased. Still, Josephine would have liked to have been included in this decision.

“Why are you frowning, my dear?” Ancil asked joining her at the corner. He carried his doctor’s bag.

“I was thinking about Rebecca. She married so quickly. Shouldn’t she have consulted me?”

Ancil smiled. “One rarely consults family members when they elope, my dear.”

She sighed. “I suppose you are right. It isn’t like I oppose her choice in a husband. And I voiced my approval before she made her sudden trip to Memphis, so perhaps she thought she already had my blessing.”

“See there. You are fretting over nothing. Come, let’s walk to St. Anna’s.” He offered his arm and she took it.

“I see you carry your bag. Have you been to see a patient already this morning?”

He nodded. “Only a routine visit on an elderly couple. I try to check in on them every week or so. They have no children.”

Josephine sighed again. “I hope we are blessed with children, Ancil. You don’t think I’m too old to conceive do you?”

He stopped walking and looked at her, a grin forming at his mouth. “You simply amaze me, Josephine Davis. Where is the rigid, too tightly laced-up woman I was called to examine when we first met? She is gone and like the caterpillar that sheds its cocoon. You’ve turned into an amazing butterfly that I have the good fortune to spend the rest of my life with. I never thought I’d marry and now to hear you say you want us to have a child…I can’t even begin to express my happiness.”

“Oh, hush.” She swatted his arm.

“And to answer your question about whether you can have a child or not we’ll have to wait until we’re married to find out.”

Josephine blushed and he added hastily. “Medically speaking, you’ve had one child so there shouldn’t be a reason you couldn’t have another, but if it doesn’t happen within time I know a specialist we could see.”

Her blush faded and she gave him a shy smile. “So you don’t think I’m too old?”

“No. I’ve seen women older than you conceive and deliver. Of course they had been birthing babies for years, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen for you.”

Josephine slipped her arm around his, and they began walking again. “I’d like to try.”

“When should we speak to Father Bohannon about the wedding? Rebecca’s home now and we’ve told them of our plans.”

“I’d like to have the wedding as soon as possible, Ancil. There is no need for me to move all the way out to Oak Hill only to move back to town. I don’t want to stay at the hotel alone for long either. Would you be opposed to having a small ceremony three weeks from this coming Saturday if Father Bohannon is agreeable? That should be sufficient for the reading of the banns.”

The grin quirked at the corner of his mouth again. “I think three weeks from this Saturday is fine. Are you certain you’ll be ready by then?”

“Y-yes.” Josephine frowned. “I already have my dress picked out.”

“What is it?” he asked.

She pointed down the street at two men walking in their direction. “Isn’t that Mr. Hollingsworth with that gambler?”

Ancil turned and looked at the two men. “That isn’t Jared.”

“It looks like him.”

“Yes it does, but Jared has a cousin that could be his identical twin if you didn’t know the difference.”

“You don’t say. What is this cousin’s name?”

“Rory Hollingsworth. He’s a free-spirit, but I didn’t realize he was back in town. I think the last time I saw him was when his mother passed away. Once her will was read and he received his inheritance he left, bidding Jackson and Jared good-bye. I wonder what brings him back now.”

“Interesting. You know, that man he’s with looks vaguely familiar for some reason.”

Ancil laughed. “You think you know that gambler?”

“Good Lord.” Josephine stopped and clutched at his arm as the men came closer. “That’s Stuart Delaney. The man who…the man who…seduced Mariah.”

Ancil dropped his bag and caught Josephine as she fainted, collapsing against him. “Josephine. Josephine.”

“Doctor Gordon, do you need help?” Rory asked, running toward him.

“Yes.” He glanced at Rory. “In my bag there are smelling salts.”

Rory knelt and opened the bag. He rummaged around until he found what he was looking for. “Got them.”

Ancil took the vial and removed the lid, waiving it underneath Josephine’s nose. She jerked and sputtered, blinking madly.

“Wh-what happened?”

“You fainted, darling,” he explained, recapping the vial and handing it to Rory. Ancil helped her stand on her own, but kept a supportive arm around her waist in case she had another spell.

“I thought I saw…” her words stopped and her eyes enlarged as she saw the man standing beside Rory.

“Hello, Miss Davis,” Delaney said. “I almost didn’t recognize you without your rosary.”

“I still have it,” she retorted. “What are you doing here?”

“Last time I checked it was still a free country for white men. That means I have the right to go and do whatever I like.”

“Let’s go, Ancil. We’ll be late for Mass.”

“Yes, run away to your precious church. You were always good about that. Did you know Mariah despised you for it?”

She gasped.

“Come on, Delaney.” Rory advised. “You’ve upset Rebecca already. You don’t have to upset her aunt as well today. Besides if we don’t go now, you’ll miss your train.”

Delaney checked his pocket watch. “Quarter till twelve. Another few minutes and that whistle will blow as the train pulls out. I guess I could stay in town another day.”

“I think not.” Rory grabbed his arm and urged him forward. “I don’t relish the idea of going back to Oak Hill and informing Jared you are still in town. If he didn’t do you bodily harm, Rebecca might scratch your eyes out. I’ve never seen her so upset.”

Delaney chuckled and nodded toward Josephine. “Good day, Miss Davis.”

When they were gone Josephine turned to Ancil. “He’s been to Oak Hill. What if he’s seen Lucas?”

“There’s only one way to find out. We must go to Oak Hill immediately.”

*****

Jared and Rebecca were coming from the back of the house to the verandah when a carriage pulled to a stop. Ancil jumped down and helped Josephine out.

“Your aunt doesn’t look happy,” Jared said.

“No. She doesn’t. I’d better go see what’s wrong.” Rebecca rushed over to them. “I’m so glad you came. Charlotte said you’d be out after Mass.”

“We didn’t go. I had to come see you and Lucas were safe.” Josephine paused to take a breath. “I saw Stuart Delaney in town.”

“Oh. You did?” Rebecca planted her hands on her hips.

“Yes. That man is still unpleasant to be around.”

Rebecca nodded. “He was supposed to be catching a train.”

“He did, or at least Rory was trying to make sure he did,” Doctor Gordon offered.

“What happened, Rebecca? Rory said Delaney upset you. Please tell me that man didn’t see Lucas,” Josephine said.

“Everything is fine. Delaney did upset me, he was still here when Lucas arrived, but he paid little attention to him. The good thing is Delaney’s gone now. Hopefully we will not see him again. Come inside. We’ll have some sandwiches and lemonade and I will tell you all about it.”

Josephine nodded, wiping moisture from her eyes. “A part of me wishes the man knew so we didn’t have to keep the secret. I’m tired of secrets.”

Rebecca swallowed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Then let this be my secret to bear the burden.”

After they ate, Rebecca took Josephine upstairs to see the nursery. Lucas was sitting on a blanket in the middle of the large carpet with Charlotte, playing with his blocks.

“It’s a nice room. I know he will be happy here.” Josephine went over and picked him up. She kissed him and he squealed in protest. “He’s got a temper.”

“I think that goes with his hair coloring,” Rebecca said. “Don’t you agree?”

“Yes.” Josephine smiled, putting her grandson back on the floor. “Are you liking your new home, Charlotte?”

The maid looked up. “Yes ma’am. So far it is heavenly here.”

“I’m glad.” Josephine walked to the doorway and looked back at Lucas. “He’ll do just fine here.”

Rebecca closed the door and they returned downstairs to the parlor. “I never imagined when we came to Jackson for Elizabeth’s wedding that our lives would change.”

Her aunt laughed, settling on the settee. “And to think I protested about us making this trip. I shudder now to think how alone I would have spent the rest of my life if we hadn’t come.”

“Would you like more lemonade?” Rebecca asked. “I’ll be happy to get you a glass from the kitchen.”

“No, dear. I’m fine. I wonder where Ancil and Jared have gone?” Josephine asked.

“Having cookies in the kitchen,” Mary said, coming into the parlor. “Would you like to join them?”

“Thank you, Mary. We’ll be right out.”

They walked arm in arm out to the kitchen where their men sat at the wooden table eating cookies and drinking coffee.

Josephine took the chair beside Doctor Gordon, but Rebecca went over and sat on Jared’s knee. She kissed him on the cheek. “Life couldn’t get any sweeter than this.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “But we can spend the rest of our life trying.”