Lightning and Lace

chapter 22

Travis glanced up at Zack. “I need to send you on an errand so I can talk to your uncles.”

“This must be about Lester Hillman.” Zack dipped the ladle in the water bucket and drank deeply. “I’d like to listen.”

“I understand,” Travis said. “But I’d rather talk freely and not involve you. You’re real close to being a man, but these are serious matters.”

Zack nodded. “Grandma was baking pecan pies for tomorrow. I’ll go see if she needs a little company.”

Once he disappeared, Travis thought through what he’d experienced with Lester and the questions on his mind.

“I’m amazed at the change in Zack,” Morgan said. “You will always have my gratitude.”

“Thank the Lord for what He’s done, not me,” Travis said. “I had no training for dealing with him. However, he is a fine boy.”

“Guess we don’t need to be looking for a military school,” Grant said. “And I told him he’s welcome at my house anytime.”

“We’ve been talking about his future, what the Lord wants for his life and his talents. Zack’s doing fine, real fine. He likes ranching, but he’d like to go to college first. He even talked about being a doctor or a lawyer. Then he said he wanted to be his own man.”

The brothers laughed. They all understood the strange workings of a young man’s heart and mind.

Travis took a breath and forged ahead. “I’d like to have a conversation with you that can’t go any further than right here.”

Morgan smiled. “I have many of those conversations.”

Grant chuckled. “So do I.”

“I want to know all about Lester and Sylvia Hillman. I’ve heard bits and pieces already, but since I’m being accused of behaving improperly with your sister, I want to know what I’m fighting.”

Morgan rubbed his palms together. “Do you have information of your own to tell us?”

“Yes, but I need to state what’s on my mind first. Lester’s a proud man who is fond of being the largest contributor to the church. Most folks think he’s a saint because he gives to so many good causes, but I question the reasons why he puts up such an outstanding front. Zack doesn’t like Lester, and he has good reasons not to. I need the truth about him before I tell you what I’ve seen and heard.”

“Go ahead, little brother,” Morgan said. “You know more about the whole situation than the rest of us.”

Grant appeared to deliberate the request. He stood from the chair and paced across the room, opened the curtain, and stared out into the street. Finally he turned around. “I’m not one to gossip. Despise it. Y’all know that. So what I’m about to tell you is the truth, just like you asked.”

“I feel the same way. I don’t hold any stock in hearsay.” Travis hoped and prayed what he’d experienced last night with Lester could somehow be explained away.

“Before Heaven’s Gate was built, a brothel stood there. Lester and the woman who owned it were involved for several years. I had firsthand knowledge about their relationship because they had two sons together. I delivered them but kept my mouth shut until a few things happened here in town, and I confided in Ben Kahler, who was sheriff at the time. Through a series of unfortunate incidents, Sylvia found out about Lester and his relationship with the brothel’s owner, but she didn’t leave him. Shortly afterward, the brothel burned to the ground.” He held up his hand. “I know what you’re thinking. Sylvia didn’t set it on fire—a scoundrel managed that all by himself. The mother of Lester’s sons left town, and Sylvia and Lester supposedly worked out their problems. He got back into church and has been a model citizen ever since—despite his past. Our town is a forgiving community. Many fine folks. You already know that Sylvia works tirelessly at Heaven’s Gate, a good, good woman. Lester does quite a bit of work there, too, but mostly he tries to find work for the girls and contributes money to keep it running. In the beginning, there were six young women. The other three moved away from town.”

“You’ve confirmed one thing I believe—Sylvia must love Lester more than I could imagine,” Travis said. “Or she loves God more and would not consider breaking her marriage vows.”

“Probably both.” Grant eyed him curiously. “Has Zack given a reason why he dislikes Lester?”

“He’s made a few comments. One of which puzzles me. He said everybody thought Lester was a fine church man, but there were things about him that folks were afraid to say. Later he said he didn’t like the way Lester looked at his mother.” Travis stopped. “Zack knew about Lester supplying his mother with wine.”

“He’s got good reason to dislike him. But stating a man is evil implies Zack has witnessed something else,” Morgan said. “He’s a twelve-year-old and too young to remember what happened a few years ago. Grant, have you left anything out?”

Grant shook his head. “I never cared for the man and his showy ways, but that’s my personal opinion. And the more I learn about what he’s doing, the more I’d like to lay a fist alongside his jaw. Pardon me, Brother Travis.”

Travis had long since felt the same sentiments, but he dared not reveal it. God was already dealing with him about not loving Lester like he should.

Grant raked his fingers through his hair. “Disgracing Bonnie makes my blood boil, and I can’t seem to make sense of him taking offense to her refusing his wine. Unless . . . bringing her the wine guaranteed him a visit there without Sylvia. If he really wanted Bonnie’s affections, those visits increased his chances to convince her to his way of thinking.”

“So everyone thought he changed after the woman left town and took his boys,” Travis said, his thoughts taking voice. “He and Sylvia are real active in the church, but I don’t believe for one minute that his heart is committed to God. There’s too much about him stating otherwise.” He wondered if he’d said enough. Some folks would consider his observations akin to gossip, and he should stick to preachin’.

“You seem to know something you’re not saying,” Morgan said.

“Must be a lawyer in the midst of us.” Travis attempted to add a little humor to the bleak situation. “I hate to keep making accusations against the man without knowing the whole truth, which is why I wanted to have a little more information.”

“Since we told you what you asked, what have you experienced?” Morgan said.

Travis dampened his lips. “Weeks ago when the reverend and I went to see Rosie, she made a statement that stayed fixed in my mind. I’ve mulled it over, and after last night, I think I understand.”

“Don’t leave us dangling like two possums,” Grant said.

Travis offered a thin-lipped smile. “Lester had just left the room after reading scripture to the three young women housed there. The reverend and I visited briefly with them, mostly Rosie, since she’d just been beaten the night before. As we were leaving, Rosie said the reverend was like Jesus to her, then she added Mrs. Hillman, Jenny, Bonnie, and Casey. But she didn’t mention Lester, and he’d just left the room.”

Morgan set his jaw. “Want me to look into it a little deeper?”

“I sure do. I know I’m a preacher, not a lawman, but we’re talking about folks who are a part of my flock.”

Grant blew out a heavy sigh and turned to his brother. “Morgan, can you get someone to tail him?”

“That may not be necessary,” Travis said. “I caught him at Heaven’s Gate last night. I’d forgotten the list of prayer requests and was on my way back to the church when I stepped into a hornet’s nest. Lester was talking to Rosie, more like trying to persuade her to do something. Of course it was pitch dark and fixin’ to storm, but I recognized both of their voices. She refused his request, and he hit her. I shouted at him to stop. Let me just say, he didn’t appreciate my interfering in his business.”

“Rosie needs to report what happened to the sheriff,” Morgan said.

“I tried to make her see that, but she wanted me to stay out of it. You gentlemen may have already figured this part out, but Lester is the one who beat her.”

“No surprise to me,” Grant said. “He has to be stopped.”

“Well, Rosie isn’t the one who’ll help us,” Travis said. “I’m convinced she’s more concerned about Sylvia learning about Lester than her own safety. She told me if I went to the sheriff, she’d deny it. Anyway, Lester told me the church would believe him before they’d believe me. He also said I needed to learn a lesson. The gossip must be what he was referring to.”

“Trust me, gentlemen, Lester Hillman has met his match when he takes on this family.” Morgan’s ice-cold stare gave no doubt to his position. “I will find out his motives for all of this, and I’ll put an end to the preying on the womenfolk of Kahlerville. His affair with Martha is not old enough for folks to have completely forgotten what he did to his wife. Let him initiate more gossip, even church discipline for Brother Travis. But he doesn’t have the hand of God on his side.”

“Amen,” Travis said. “Tomorrow is a day of thanks, but I think for us it needs to be a day of prayer for what lies ahead and which road we should take. Bonnie has things she knows. You two have had different encounters with him just as I have. I’d like for us to write down all we’ve experienced so we can compare the findings.”

“Sounds like you should have been a lawyer.” Morgan laughed.

Travis joined him. The laughter eased the seriousness of their conversation. “Well, if Lester is successful in his plans, I might need a job.”

Grant walked back to the table. “I’ll write down all I know, including what I learn at Heaven’s Gate today. I’m not so sure I want Jenny there anymore without me. If Lester is threatening Bonnie, Rosie, Brother Travis, and whoever else might get in his way, then my wife might be next.” He paused. “Poor Sylvia. I wonder if she really knows her husband.”

“I imagine she does.” All Travis could think about was Bonnie. Oh, Lord, haven’t we been down this road before? I’m not good at defending women. The last time I lost. But as much as he vowed he’d never become involved in separating gossip from truth—and then taking a stand—here he stood knee-deep in it again. His heart ached for Bonnie’s happiness and peace of mind. She’d come far, just like Zack, in climbing out of a well of despair and trying desperately to live for the Lord.

Surely Lester had more sense than to hurt her. Morgan and Grant were God-fearing men, but they’d not put up with any more of Lester’s tricks. He’d hurt Rosie more than once, and Travis believed she most likely started Lester’s gossip—out of fear. Travis had heard the threats. Would the man do the same to Bonnie? What was his motive in all of this?

Sweet Bonnie. She was no match for the man . . . so tiny and frail . . .

*****

Thanksgiving had not been the celebration Bonnie had envisioned, but the entire family was together, and she felt whole for the first time in years. As the children played outside, the women chatted in the parlor and the men walked to the horse barns. Bonnie found it hard to concentrate on women-talk. Recipes, new babies, weddings, and quilt patterns interested her today about as much as a man enjoyed embroidery.

“So are we going to discuss the snake pit here in the middle of us, or pretend the creatures will slither away?” Casey said.

“Oh, you mean Lester Hillman,” Jocelyn said in such a matter-of-fact tone that it was almost amusing. “If I wasn’t sixty-six years old, I’d fill his backside with buckshot.”

“You’re sixty-eight, Mama,” Bonnie said. “And is that any kind of talk for a preacher’s wife?”

“I was a mama and a wife and handling the recoil of a rifle and shotgun long before the reverend asked me to marry him.”

Jenny giggled. “If some of my old friends from back in Ohio could hear our conversation, they’d be mortified.” She shrugged. “Until I met Grant and got introduced to real women, I’d have been the same way.”

“What are your thoughts about the whole thing?” Bonnie said to Jenny. “Other than packing our guns and running Lester out of town?”

Jenny paused a moment. “I’m remembering why I originally came to Kahlerville. My sister had run away from home, become a woman of questionable employ, and given birth to a baby girl before she passed on. My heart goes out to all the women who have ever found themselves a slave to prostitution. That’s why Grant and I built Heaven’s Gate.” She looked around quickly. “Goodness, all the children are outside, aren’t they? I can’t believe I was so blunt.”

Casey waved her hand. “Yes, we’re alone.”

“My point is that Heaven’s Gate was established to protect those women from the ugliness of that life and to help them get started with changed lives. Lester has taken advantage of his position in the community and church—along with Sylvia’s kindness—to frighten Rosie into a life far too similar to what she led before. He makes me want to do things a good Christian woman shouldn’t ever consider. Sometimes I wonder about Sylvia. Does she ever let him know that he’s not following God’s path?”

“Probably not,” Mama said. “Why she loves that man is far beyond me.”

“You might have noticed that he hasn’t been bothering me,” Casey said. “For once, I’m glad my past reputation as an outlaw has scared him off.”

The women laughed, and Bonnie thanked God for her precious family.

“Honestly,” Jocelyn said. “I feel badly about Brother Travis. He’s in the heart of a mess that he didn’t bargain for in accepting the call to pastor Piney Woods Church.”

“I cannot let the day go by without giving him my personal condolences regarding all the trouble I have brought his way,” Bonnie said. “I owe him my gratitude for what he’s done for Zack. Instead, he’s a victim of gossip.”

“Are you sure those are your only feelings?” Jocelyn said. “Daughter, you have changed considerably since Brother Travis arrived.”

Bonnie sensed a deep flush rising up her neck. “Mama, I had determined to live for the Lord and not myself before he came.”

“He’s a good man,” Casey said. “And I think there is more to him than—”

“Hair and beard?” Bonnie said in an attempt to make light of the conversation. Odd, Juanita had stated the same thing about him the day of the twister. Suddenly she felt ashamed of herself. “I’m sorry. He is a jewel.” She stood. “I’m going to talk to him now before you three embarrass me any further.”

“If you are embarrassed, then it must be the truth.” Jocelyn covered her mouth, but a laugh still escaped. “Marrying Brother Travis means your brothers wouldn’t worry about you any longer.”

“Hush, Mama, before someone hears.” Bonnie hurried from the room before she had to explain the heat flooding her face. Besides, a good walk would help the uneasiness in her stomach—not from eating more than she should but from all the turmoil in her family.

The men all leaned against the corral like young cowboys bragging about all the horses they’d broken and the young girls they’d impressed.

“Are you admiring my horse stock?” she said.

“Possibly,” Morgan said. “Somebody’s done a fine job.”

She laughed. “I’ll give Thomas the credit. He’s attempting to teach me ranching, and I’m trying to learn.” She glanced about. “I’m sure he could tell you our plans for raising thoroughbred quarter horses.”

“We saw him earlier, walking with Juanita,” Grant said.

“Ah, best leave them be,” she said. “I suspect a wedding in the future.”

“Thomas and Juanita?” Morgan said. “There’s a bit of an age difference there.”

“To quote our mother,” Bonnie began, “love isn’t measured in years.” She then remembered her mother’s words from a few minutes before. Mama didn’t have all the answers. Did she?

“What brings you out here, pretty lady?” the reverend said.

Oh, my. “I wanted to tear Brother Travis away from you for a little while. I’d like to learn a little more about my son and his schooling. That is, if he doesn’t mind.” Why did her heart beat faster than a hummingbird’s wings? This was ridiculous.

“I’d welcome a walk after all the wonderful food,” Travis said. “Let’s head toward the river.” He grinned. “Do you suppose we can escape a twister?”

“With everything that’s happened lately, I doubt it,” she said.

As the two turned and walked toward the path leading to the river, she heard her brothers laughing. Now, what could be so funny?