Lightning and Lace

chapter 34

Sylvia wept silently for several minutes before she lifted her dampened face. “I’m sorry, gentlemen. I will do better.”

“It’s all right.” Travis squeezed her hand lightly.

She glanced straight ahead, not at any of the men listening, but beyond Heaven’s Gate to a place where agony twisted at her heart. “I expected him to have affairs. He’s an attractive man and needed . . . those indiscretions. I ignored them with an understanding that without me, he had no funds to grow his business. He’d never leave me. The hardest one to endure was his relationship with Martha. When I learned her sons were his, I thought he might leave me. He threatened, but she left town before he could stop her. He never forgave me. Thought I’d given her money.”

“Did you?” Travis said. “Not that anyone could blame you.”

“No. She didn’t need me. Martha was a strong woman. She came to see me the same day she left town. Told me that she had to leave—because of the boys. She’d decided to tell them that their father had died so they’d never be branded with being fatherless. I was very angry with her and Lester.”

“Can I get you a glass of water?” Travis said.

She tilted her head. “What a dear man you are. No, I don’t need any water. If I stop for too long, I’ll not have the courage to continue.”

“I wish all this wasn’t necessary. I see what it’s doing to you.”

“But we must. You are here because the truth must be spoken.” She lifted her hand to Morgan and Grant. “I have a lawyer to hear my story, a doctor to help me when the pain becomes unbearable, and a man of God to walk with me through this living hell.”

Travis swallowed hard.

“I believed Lester when he asked me and the church for forgiveness. He said he’d made his peace with God and would never be unfaithful again. And for a long time I trusted him. Jenny and Grant are saints to have built this house where the brothel once stood. When she asked me to direct it, I was thrilled. My days were often long, and it not only gave me something to do, but I also had purpose and something to talk about with Lester. He encouraged me and then asked if he could help. I was pleased. So very pleased.”

*****

Bonnie tried desperately not to show her fright, but fear nearly paralyzed her. Juanita and Lydia Anne were in the house. “Why, Lester? I don’t want to have a relationship with you.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve had every woman I ever fancied.”

“Even the ones who abhorred you?”

“None do after they have a taste of my affections.”

Bonnie backed up toward the house. “What happens when a woman refuses you? Or is that why you killed Rosie?”

He chuckled. “Can’t pin her murder on me. I had nothing to do with it.”

“She was carrying a child. Was it yours?”

“If it was my child, why would I have killed her?”

“Sylvia.”

“You have no idea what you are talking about. But I didn’t kill her.”

“You can tell that to all the folks when they learn what really happened. You killed Rosie, and it’s only a matter of time before the people of Kahlerville find out.”

An odd look passed over Lester. Was it regret? Or remorse? But the look quickly faded to arrogance. He waved his revolver. “Do you really want me to use this in front of your daughter and Juanita?”

“The ranch hands would hear.”

He raised a brow. “None of them are around. I looked real good before I rode in. Now we’ll step inside so you can pack Zack’s things.”

“You know he lives with Brother Travis.”

“When will Zack arrive? Don’t tell me he isn’t coming this afternoon, because I heard the good reverend and Brother Travis talking about it yesterday.” He laughed. “To think you are such good friends with that revolting-looking man.”

“Why do you need Zack? I thought it was me you wanted.”

“Oh, it is pretty lady. Having him with me is a deposit on my requests from you. You won’t talk to a soul as long as I have your son.”

“There is no military school, is there?”

He laughed. “Believe what you want.”

“You are an animal.”

“I’ve been called worse. Sylvia has a wonderful vocabulary when it comes to labeling me.” He raised the revolver. “Inside.”

Bonnie trembled. She remembered years ago when an outlaw had held her, Mama, and Casey at gunpoint. Grant had been shot trying to help them. His blood had splattered the kitchen floor. At the time, she’d nearly fainted with fright. Not this time. Lydia Anne’s and Juanita’s lives were at stake.

The door behind her opened, and Lydia Anne rushed to her.

“Mama, I can’t wait to tell you what happened with my kitty,” she said. “Juanita said for me to take a nap, but I wanted you to tuck me in so’s I could tell you.”

“Of course, sweetheart.” Bonnie bent and kissed her cheek.

“You’re shaking.”

“I’m a little cold.” Her throat constricted as though a snake coiled around her. Indeed, he had.

Lydia Anne peered up at Lester. “Hello, Mr. Hillman. Nice to see you.”

“I have a cinnamon stick for a sweet little girl.” He reached into his pocket and bent down to hand it to her.

He’s a demon.

Lydia Anne smiled and took the candy. “Thank you.”

“Your mama just offered me a cup of coffee. We’re going to have a nice chat while you’re sleeping. Can you save the story about your kitty until later? I might still be here, and I want to listen, too.”

“I can tell you now.”

He touched her cheek, and Bonnie wanted to kick him in the face.

“Oh, sweet girl, you look so very tired.”

She yawned as though he’d directed her every move. “All right. I will nap now.”

Dear Lord, help me. I don’t know what to do. How long would Thomas be gone? Why had she sent Jesse with the others?

Bonnie took Lydia Anne to bed, tucked her in, and gave her a big hug. She wanted to cry and hold her little daughter. Instead, she shut the door and made her way back down the stairs.

*****

“Lester has a soft spot for children, and I thought of the girls living here as my daughters. I thought he did, too. I was not blind to what their lives had been like at the brothel, but God had given them new life, and I wanted to, also. They were my little girls—the babies I never had. I gave them all of me. Just like I did Lester. Then I stumbled onto the truth.”

“And what did you learn?” Travis said.

“That he had his way with Rosie, Laura, and Daisy. I’m not sure about the others who once lived at Heaven’s Gate.”

“Sylvia, I understand this is so very hard, but we must hear the whole story to help you.”

Her lips quivered, but she finally managed a faint smile. “I suspected it all along, but it wasn’t until Rosie was beaten the first time that I put the pieces together. You see, my girls love Jesus. They were finished with the sordid life, and Lester wanted them as before. I was so stupid to believe Lester had changed, such a fool to believe he wanted to lead them in Bible study because of concern for their souls. And then he started using them—putting them to work just like Martha had. Except this was worse. My precious girls wanted freedom, and I did nothing. I covered it up in hopes the sin would stop. I prayed. I really prayed.”

“What happened to Rosie?

“She had such dark moods, and I worried about her. When I asked her what was wrong, she’d say nothing. The other girls claimed they had no idea. One day, she and I were alone here at the house, and I begged her to tell me what tormented her so. She cried and said she had to leave Heaven’s Gate, but that was all. I suggested a long walk, perhaps a picnic. She laughed. Said it was too cold for a picnic, but we went anyway.”

“Did you wear Lester’s boots?”

Sylvia sucked in a breath. “How did you guess?”

Travis patted her hand. “I assumed it yesterday.”

“They’re an old pair, and I don’t like to get my shoes dirty. It had been raining earlier, and my shoes, well, I didn’t want to ruin them.”

“So you went on a picnic?”

“Yes, I wrapped a loaf of bread with a bit of ham.”

“And the knife?”

“No, I forgot the knife, so we stopped at my house to get one. We walked out to the woods north of town. Well, you know where.”

“What happened?”

“We talked for a long time, and then she began to cry. I held her and told her that whatever was wrong, I could help her. When she confessed to me that she was with child, I knew the child had to be Lester’s.” Sylvia stiffened then shook her head.

“I’m so sorry. What did you do then?”

“I walked away and left her there crying. When I got back to my house, I told Lester. He left and returned several hours later.”

“Have you told me all of it?”

“Yes, Brother Travis. The next thing I learn is . . . she’s dead.” She buried her face in her hands. “Lester must have killed her.”

“Are you ready to talk to the sheriff about this?”

“What will happen to him?”

Travis turned to Morgan. “I think you could answer her question much better than I.”

Morgan cleared his throat. “With your testimony, the sheriff will arrest Lester. I imagine Laura and Daisy will testify, too. He’ll be held in jail until trial.”

Sylvia clutched her hands to her heart. “Morgan, could you represent him? I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“I’ll see what I can do. I’m not Lester’s favorite lawyer. But if he asks me, I’ll represent him.” Morgan walked over to her and bent down to his knees. “You have to be prepared for a harsh penalty.”

Sylvia paled. “But I’m sure it was an accident.”

“A young woman is dead, and she was carrying his child.” Morgan stared into her face.

Travis waited. Time seemingly stopped. He hoped Morgan and Grant were praying for the truth. “You know this means that Lester will face trial for Rosie’s murder,” Morgan said.

“What will happen to him?”

“He’ll be executed, or he could get life in prison.”

Sylvia gasped. She stood up from the swing and walked across the porch. “Lester has hurt me badly for all the times he was with other women. When I hurt the most was when he gave money to the poor. That was his way of saying he was sorry.”

Morgan walked to her side. “Now is the time to talk to the sheriff. I’ve already asked him to come by here. Lester needs to be arrested.”

She nodded. Long moments passed. She shook her head while tears flooded her eyes and streamed over her cheeks. At last she took a deep breath and looked at Travis. “I thought I could blame him, but I can’t.”

Travis stood on the other side of Sylvia. “Loving someone when they have done something wrong is hard.”

She shook her head. “I can’t do this, not even to Lester. I—I lied,” she whispered. “I—I stabbed Rosie. I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t bear the humiliation of Lester fathering one more illegitimate child. He sold the other two girls to those men, but he kept Rosie for himself.”

Travis wanted to believe his suspicions had been wrong, but by her own admittance, Sylvia had killed Rosie.

“I threw the knife as far as I could,” she said. “The boots had drops of Rosie’s blood on them, so I wiped off the blood and set the boots in the garden. I couldn’t look at them.”

“Are you covering up for Lester?” Travis said. “Do you love him so much that you would take the blame for something you didn’t do?”

She shook her head while tears flooded her eyes and streamed over her cheeks. “I thought I could blame him, but he’s innocent of Rosie’s death.” She peered into Travis’s eyes. “What will happen to me?”

“I’m not sure, Sylvia, but I will be with you all the way. And so will God.”

“Can He ever forgive me?”

“All you have to do is ask Him.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt Rosie. I was slicing the bread, trying to distract her so she’d say what was on her heart. When she told me, I seemed to lose my senses. And then I listened to Lester claim you or Bonnie’s precious boy had killed her. I said nothing, too scared to admit I was a murderer.”

“I’ll help you,” Morgan said.

“Do I go to jail now?”

She sounded more like a little girl than a grown woman. Lester had hurt her beyond any human comprehension. She’d been pushed to murder, and now she must suffer the consequences.

“I imagine the sheriff will be along shortly,” Morgan said.

She nodded. “I suppose y’all knew I did it. The guilt was torturing me. I kept seeing Rosie with blood all over her chest. I hated myself, but I couldn’t take back what I’d done.”

They sat with Sylvia on the front porch of Heaven’s Gate. She and Travis swung in the glider. Back and forth. Like the mountains and valleys of life. No one said a word. Travis grieved and prayed, and from the looks on Morgan’s and Grant’s faces, they did the same. She clung to his hand, and Travis wondered when the last time was that Lester had touched her in tenderness.