Lightning and Lace

chapter 24

Travis knocked on the heavy door of Heaven’s Gate. He glanced at Bonnie, who offered a trembling smile. She should have stayed clear of this wolf’s den until the truth met the light of day. The fear in her blue eyes tore at his heart.

“I wish you’d have let me handle this,” he said.

“We’re in this together—my son . . . the gossip.”

“I’d like to spare you from every unpleasantness of this world. It—” He closed his mouth abruptly. Already he’d said too much.

About the time he decided to walk her to the parsonage and handle this alone, the door slowly opened. Rosie blanched at the sight of them.

“We’d like to talk to you and Laura,” he said.

“I—I don’t know.” She stole a look behind her.

“Are you ladies alone?” He smiled.

She glanced at her feet, then back to him. “Laura and Daisy are working right now. But—”

“Are you not supposed to talk to us?” he said.

Rosie nodded.

“Just a few minutes,” Bonnie said. “I think you, Laura, and I have more things in common than you may realize.”

Rosie tilted her head. The turmoil on her face spoke of years of suffering. He’d seen the indecision and confusion in Felicia when confronted by the haunting of her past.

“I’m afraid, too,” Bonnie said. “We have to stop him, or others will be hurt.”

A tear slipped from Rosie’s eye. “We could talk for a little while before I go to Mrs. Hillman’s.”

Inside the house, Rosie led them to the parlor. Travis seated himself in a chair while Bonnie and Rosie sat on the sofa. Polite conversation filled the air, but Travis longed to be finished with it. Heaven’s Gate still made him uneasy. He hoped that would change someday.

“I know why you’re here, and I’m sorry.” Rosie turned to Brother Travis. “You’re a fine man, and Bonnie is good and proper. I realize those rumors are lies.”

“Do you know who started the gossip?” Travis said. “I simply want to understand why anyone would want to hurt Mrs. Kahler and discredit me.”

Rosie stared down at her folded hands. Perhaps she reflected on Travis halting Lester’s brutality.

“Did Lester insist you, Miss Laura, or Miss Daisy spread the rumor?” he said softly.

“I ’spect you thought it was me after—”

“I’ve told Mrs. Kahler what happened the other night with Lester. So did he force you to make the claim about us?”

“I refused him,” Rosie said. “I couldn’t spread lies about you two no matter what Lester threatened or did.”

“I’m proud of you for standing up for what is right,” Bonnie said. “Especially when I’ve learned he’s beaten you.”

Travis stole a look at Bonnie. His silent message told of his caring and how he fretted over her safety. She needn’t display bravado on his account.

“He’s threatened me, too,” Bonnie said. “But I ignored him and clung to God to help me. You did what pleased God by not letting him force you.”

“I’m not a good person.” Emotion clung to her words like cobwebs in barn rafters. “And I must find a place to go, far away where he can’t find me. Like Martha did with her sons.”

Bonnie placed an arm around the young woman’s shoulder. “How long has Lester been beating you?”

Rosie leaned her head against Bonnie’s shoulder and sobbed. “Since Martha left. What he wanted from me is wrong. He claims I’m a wicked woman and will never be able to give up my past ways.”

“You’ve been forgiven,” Travis said. “He has no right to tell you such lies.”

“I keep thinking about how Ellen Kahler left the brothel and is so happy with Frank and her little son. I love Jesus, but I’m afraid of Lester.”

“Will you go with us to talk to the sheriff?” Bonnie said. “He’ll protect you, and I’ll help you find a place to hide.”

“I can’t. Do you have any idea how this would hurt Mrs. Hillman? And I don’t have any money. Lester is supposed to pay me for cleaning and cooking at their house, but he hasn’t. He tells her he doesn’t know what I do with the money, when the truth is that he keeps it all.”

“Sheriff Arthur will not let Lester hurt you, and someday Mrs. Hillman will learn about her husband’s actions. Better it be now when he can be stopped than later after he’s tried to destroy other people’s lives,” Bonnie said. “Brother Travis, don’t you think we could talk to Morgan about finding a place for her and Laura to stay?”

Rosie gasped. “How did you know about Laura?”

Travis saw the wisdom in not revealing what Zack had heard and seen. “We have the word of someone else—about Lester’s temper. Did she start the gossip?”

“No,” Rosie said. “Not Laura.”

“Miss Daisy?” Travis said.

Rosie said nothing, and he understood all three of the residents of Heaven’s Gate had been living an earthly hell. He concluded Lester had used all three of them to meet his physical needs. The words to delicately state the truth jumbled in his mind.

“Does he force all of you to conduct your lives as you once did?” he said.

“Yes, sir.”

“Are there other men involved?”

Rosie’s sobs kept her from speaking. Travis and Bonnie exchanged glances. Bonnie’s eyes moistened, and she blinked back the wetness.

Rosie lifted her tearstained face. “Yes. He makes the arrangements while we are in Bible study. Except for me.”

Travis’s stomach churned. He dug his fingers into his palms. The image of what Lester was doing made him want to stomp through the bank doors and haul him out into the middle of the street.

God might not appreciate Travis passing judgment and punishment, but the thought sure gave him a bucketful of satisfaction.

“Brother Travis and I would be happy to accompany the three of you to the sheriff’s office,” Bonnie said. “And from there, we’d go see Morgan to secure a safe place for you to stay until Lester is behind bars.”

She nodded as though another place to live was the answer. “You must understand that I can’t leave without Laura and Daisy. He’d be very hard on them.”

“Of course,” Travis said. “I’d like to talk to all three of you. When do you think that would be possible?”

She sighed. “Perhaps after church tomorrow night. We could talk there without Lester getting suspicious. But the sheriff might not appreciate us bothering him on a Sunday night—”

“Let me handle the sheriff, and I’ll alert Morgan to what is happening so he can make arrangements.”

“I don’t think any of us would feel comfortable staying at Heaven’s Gate because the . . . the men come here late at night.”

“We’ll take care of you.” Travis would help her deal with a probable baby once they were away from Lester. “And we’ll be praying. In fact, let’s pray right now for God to shelter you ladies with His protection and peace.” His attention rested on Bonnie. God help him, but he’d fallen in love with her. He prayed aloud as his mind and heart ushered him to the front door of the troubles that had caused him to leave Tennessee.

*****

For Travis, Sundays normally sped by with a worship service in the morning, a noon meal spent in the company of a church family, and then the evening service. Today, however, the time dragged at a snail’s pace. The day before, Rosie had stated she was ready to stop Lester’s tyranny at Heaven’s Gate. Oh, how he prayed she had convinced Laura and Daisy to join her.

One thought tormented him: How did Lester keep his actions from Sylvia? She was highly educated with a remarkable memory for names and places. Could she love him so much that she ignored his sinful ways? Travis shook his head. Sylvia was a plain woman, and Lester struck a fine image. Could it be she chose to abandon her conscience for the sake of keeping the role of Mrs. Lester Hillman?

As soon as the evening service concluded and the congregation slowly ambled from the church, Travis searched for Rosie, Laura, and Daisy. They sat in a pew near the middle of the church. Bonnie and Zack replaced hymnals while Morgan and Grant talked and laughed with their families. Unfortunately, Lester and Sylvia lingered beside him.

“I have a problem with my girls at Heaven’s Gate,” Sylvia said. “Oh dear, I don’t mean to be complaining. I simply need advice.”

“What is it?” Travis’s mind whirled with the three young women discussing the change in their future—their destiny.

Sylvia offered a thin smile. “All three of them work either for us or at the bank. Lester pays them handsomely for what they do, but none of them ever have any money. When Jenny Andrews asked me to oversee the home, our goal was for it to become self-sufficient.” She shrugged. “If I didn’t supply them with food, they’d have nothing to eat.”

“I advised her to let them go hungry,” Lester said. “A few days without eating would instill good stewardship in them.”

Travis barely contained his anger. He’d witnessed how Lester treated Rosie, and Zack had reported the same treatment of Laura. How could the man look in the mirror when he bought and sold these women like slaves, then refused to give them money?

“I don’t mind talking to them about the problem.” Travis nodded in their direction. “I’ll do so before they leave here tonight.”

“Bless you, Brother Travis,” Sylvia said. “Lester said we could count on you. I’m very upset about giving all my free time to those who don’t try to help themselves.”

Lester chuckled. “He knows how important it is to have us in agreement with what goes on at Heaven’s Gate, especially with the rumors of late concerning him and Bonnie Kahler.”

Sylvia gasped. “Lester, we’re in church.”

“Can’t think of a better place to talk about the reputations of God-fearing people,” Lester said.

“I understand you were the first to hear it,” Travis said. “Where did the rumors begin? I want to talk to that person so the lies will stop.”

Lester pointed to the three young women. “Right there. Said they’d witnessed the indiscretion. Can you imagine? Here you and Mrs. Kahler volunteer your time to see to their physical and spiritual needs, and they spread gossip.” He patted his wife’s arm and leaned in closer to Travis. “Sylvia and I have tried to direct them toward the ways of our Lord, and look how they repay us.”

“That will be another matter for me to talk about,” Travis said. What was Lester attempting to do? At times, he doubted the man’s sanity.

“Tell Brother Travis the rest of what we’ve decided,” Lester said to Sylvia.

She took a deep breath, and Lester supported her waist. “Unless the situation changes in the next month, I will have to cease my work there. I plan to tell Jenny in the morning.”

“Her resignation also means a withdrawal of financial support,” Lester added. “We believed in what we were doing at Heaven’s Gate, but it has become a thankless and weary job.”

“I understand,” Travis said. “And I’ll share your decision with the young women in question.”

Lester toyed with the brim of his felt hat. “Come along, Sylvia. Brother Whitworth has plenty to do this evening.” He took his wife’s arm and nodded at Travis with a smile that more resembled a sneer.

The man puzzled Travis. He couldn’t figure out why Lester involved himself with such treachery. Was it the money? He already had more than anyone else in town. Travis took in a deep breath. I should be trying harder to reach him for the kingdom of God. His past efforts had been met with contempt, but Travis refused to give up on him.

While the Andrews and Kahler children enjoyed cobbler at their grandparents’, their parents visited in the back of the church. Travis approached Rosie, Laura, and Daisy. He had noted Daisy appeared to be the shyest of the three, and she rarely made comments in Travis’s presence. Her timid personality kept others at a distance, or had she given up on life?

“Have you reached a decision?” Travis said of the three.

“What did Lester want?” Laura’s pallor told of her fright.

“He and Sylvia are concerned about none of you having any money to pay for the expenses at Heaven’s Gate.”

Rosie nearly stiffened. “How dare he when he refuses to pay us for all our work?”

“I’m trying to figure out the same thing.” He glanced into the face of each young woman in turn. “Sylvia plans to resign from her work there if the money situation doesn’t change.”

“Lester can then do anything he wants without her finding out,” Rosie said.

“Another reason why he must be stopped. If you’re ready, we can see the sheriff now. Morgan and Grant Andrews have homes large enough for all of you.”

“I want to stop him,” Rosie said. “He’ll only continue beating me.”

Laura slid her a sideways glance. “I’ve tasted his fists once too often myself. I’ll go to the sheriff as long as Brother Travis can keep us safe.”

“What if he starts beating Mrs. Hillman instead of us?” Daisy’s large dark eyes held the haunting story of agony and defeat.

Rosie shook her head. “I hadn’t thought of that. I couldn’t bear to have her hurt.”

“We deserve what happens to us,” Laura said, “but not Mrs. Hillman.”

“You’re wrong,” Travis said. “What’s stopping him from beating her now? Has he abused all of you?”

Each young woman nodded.

“Then put a halt to this now,” he said.

Rosie and Laura exchanged glances, but Daisy looked away.

“Daisy, I believe your friends are willing. What about you?”

“I can’t.” Daisy’s gaze focused on the stained-glass window, the one depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

“Why not?” Travis said. “Are you afraid?”

“Not for me. Mrs. Hillman has been like a mother to me. Better than mine ever was. I can’t expose Lester or humiliate her or have him angry enough to hit her. I can’t. I refuse. Besides, Mrs. Hillman loves her no-good husband.” She stood and, without looking at Rosie or Laura, whisked past them and on to the door.

“Daisy, please,” Travis said. “Let’s talk a little more.”

The young woman paused for a moment, then continued out of the church.

“We can’t go to the sheriff without her.” A sob escaped Rosie’s throat. “I’m sorry. Maybe she’ll change her mind. God help me, but I understand how Daisy feels.” She stood, and her body trembled. Laura joined her.

“You have no idea what Mrs. Hillman means to us, Brother Travis,” Laura said. “We are condemned if we stay, and we condemn Mrs. Hillman if we leave. I’d like to do what you ask, but all of us fret over that dear woman.”

Travis stared long after the young women left. Desperation and a fear for the residents of Heaven’s Gate, who loved Sylvia more than their own lives, yanked at his heart and mind. He had a miserable feeling about the outcome of this situation because it looked like no one was willing to testify about Lester’s evil nature.

A hand clamped on his shoulder. “From the look on your face, it appears they’re too frightened of Lester to stop him,” Grant said.

“They are,” Travis said. “Rosie and Laura would go to the sheriff tonight, but Daisy loves and respects Sylvia too much to risk her getting hurt or humiliated. Sylvia is the reason the other two are hesitant.”

“There will be a special crown in heaven for Sylvia Hillman.” Grant turned and motioned to Jenny. She stepped to his side and hooked her arm into his. “I’ve told Jenny all that we’ve discussed. We’re trying to figure out if there is anything we can do since the house belongs to us. As of yet, nothing has come to mind. We had no luck in speaking to the girls, either.”

“Prayer is all we can do,” Travis said. “And hope the girls change their minds. I do understand how they feel about Sylvia, but it doesn’t make the situation right. Although they have such low opinions of themselves, they are risking their lives for the sake of a beloved woman. How many others in this church would be willing to sacrifice their lives for another?”

Morgan and Casey walked toward them. “I can guess tonight’s outcome,” he said. “Am I assured in believing none of us have given up?”

“We can’t,” Travis said. “Lester is pretty confident right now that no one will expose him. He’s done a good job of preying on those who cannot hurt him, but I believe if we bide our time, he’ll make a mistake. Right now, would you join me in a prayer for guidance and wisdom? I’m real concerned about those young ladies.”