Catching Kent Read online

  As she approached Harriett, she couldn’t help but wish her sister wasn’t so terribly shy. If she joined in the fun and mingled about, Stan wouldn’t even know which twin he was interested in.

  Harriett looked up at her as she tied a ribbon in Esther’s hair. “Is it time to go?”

  “Yes. Ma sent me to get you,” Rose replied. “I like your braid, Esther.”

  “Harriett did it for me,” she said.

  Rose glanced at her sister. “Harriett did a good job.”

  “Come along, Esther,” Rose and Harriett’s oldest brother, Isaac, called out.

  They waved as Esther headed over to her father.

  “Can you believe Esther’s going to be fourteen later this year?” Harriett asked as she and Rose headed for their parents’ buckboard wagon. “One of my earliest memories was the day Isaac and Emily brought her to our house. Ma and Pa were so excited to see their first grandchild. Do you remember that?”

  “A little. We were only four at the time.”

  “I know, but I remember thinking Esther was more fun to play with than a doll because she moved and laughed and cried.”

  “You were a born mother, my dear Harriett,” she teased. “I hope you have a house full of babies because I don’t think you’ll be happy otherwise.”

  “I have to find the young man to marry first. I’m not as fortunate as you to have my pick of men.”

  “It does no good if the men aren’t ones I care for.”

  “What’s wrong with Stan?”

  “You noticed he was talking to me?”

  Despite her blush, Harriett nodded.

  “I don’t want to encourage him.” Rose sighed. “He was telling me his plans to get land and a house. It struck me with considerable terror.”

  “You exaggerate.”

  “I do not!” They climbed into the wagon and settled into the back with Eli, giving their parents plenty of room up front. She sat close to Harriett so she wouldn’t have to speak loud enough for Eli to overhear. “It’s a burden when men want to be with you but you don’t want to be with them.”

  Harriett snorted. “Some burden.”

  “It is. Do you know how hard it is to tell them you’re not interested? Stephen and Nathaniel still won’t speak to me. They used to be good friends, too. At school they would tell the funniest stories.”

  “Well, you’re not in school anymore, so it’s not like you have to see them.”

  “Yes, you’re right.” She shifted so that she could spread the bottom of her dress around her. That was more comfortable. She leaned against her sister and kept her voice low. “Do you think the stranger in our house will wake up today? I prayed he would.”

  “You must be patient,” her sister kindly admonished her. “He’ll wake up when he’s ready. He’s lucky he hasn’t sustained worse injuries. From what Pa said, the men were merciless to him. It makes you wonder what kind of world we live in when people do such horrible things to others.”

  “It does. The poor man.” She glanced at Eli who had his back turned to them as he watched the rolling hills in the distance. “Have you noticed how handsome the man is?”

  “I don’t believe you. He’s gone through an awful experience.”

  “I know, but it doesn’t take away from how attractive he is.”

  “But Stephen and Nathaniel were attractive too, and you weren’t interested in them. The same is true for Stan.”

  “I never said they weren’t good looking. There’s just something different about the man in our house. He has a noble face, the kind of face that draws your attention and makes you want to stare at him for hours.”

  “I have no such desire when I look at him.”

  “Oh. Then maybe it’s just me.”

  Harriett sighed and brushed back a few strands of blonde hair that fell from her bun. “I’ll never understand you, Rose. You’ve had young men ask to court you and another who wants to. But you’re interested in the one who hasn’t said a single word to you.”

  “You don’t have to speak to someone to know there’s something special about him. Sometimes you just know.”

  “All you know about him is what you imagined up there.” She tapped Rose’s head. “You must’ve dreamt up some pretty good stories about him to be so enamored with him.”

  “I’m not enamored with him.” Yet. “I just think it’s more than a coincidence that he’s here. There must be a reason our pa happened to find him in the alley.”

  “Maybe it was to save his life. Who knows if anyone else would have found him?”

  “See? It’s fate.” When Harriett shook her head, she continued, “You know what your problem is? You’re not romantic.”

  “What you mean is that I don’t spend all my time daydreaming.”

  “I don’t believe romance and daydreaming have to go together. Come on, Harriett. You can have a romance of your very own.”

  “Not until a young man takes interest in me.”

  “It’ll happen.”

  “Maybe.”

  “It will,” Rose assured her, slipping her arm around her sister’s and smiling. “Your one and only true love is out there somewhere and one day, your paths will cross. It’ll be wonderful.”

  “It must be nice to have your outlook on life, Rose. Nothing makes you sad.”

  “You have your happy moments.”

  “Yes, but you are happy all the time.”

  Rose giggled and squeezed her sister’s arm affectionately. “That’s because I’m trying to be happy for the both of us.”

  Her sister laughed and hugged her. “You’re my dearest friend. You know that, don’t you?”

  Smiling, she embraced her in return. “That’s why you don’t mind it when I daydream.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  Through the rest of their trip home, they enjoyed a comfortable silence.

  Chapter Four

  Images flashed in Kent’s mind as he slept. A piano, a mansion, his uncle, the Statue of Liberty, a train, two men and an alley… His eyes flew open and he tried to jerk up, but his wounds made him settle back on the bed. He winced. He knew he had bandages wrapped around his ribs and his right leg. It was hard to move, but with the help of another man, he’d been able to relieve his bladder and sip on some water when thirsty.

  He hadn’t stayed awake for more than a few minutes. But this time was different. He felt more alert. As long as he remained still, there was a blessed absence of pain. He closed his eyes and released his breath. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was too dry. The door creaked open and he turned his gaze to the young woman who entered the room.

  “Oh good! You’re awake.” She ran over to him and sat next to the bed. “I’ve been so curious about you. Who you are, where you’re from, where you’re going. My pa found you in the alley. He brought you here, and we’ve been doing everything we can to help you heal. I’m Rose Larson. I have six brothers and sisters. Well, actually it’s two sisters and four brothers, but only four of us live in this house. The rest have married and are living in their own homes. My sister Harriett is eighteen. Then there’s Adam who’s twenty-five and Eli who’s thirteen. We live on a farm just outside of Omaha. That’s where you arrived when those men attacked you. I hope you don’t think we’re all like them. We’re not, I assure you. My family and I want you to get better. I promise you that you’re safe here.” She took a deep breath and smiled. “Now, tell me all about yourself.”

  He blinked several times as he struggled to process everything she’d just told him. For the most part, her words came out as a jumbled mess.

  “Rose, I told you not to come in here,” an older woman said as she carried a pitcher of water into the room. When her gaze settled on Kent, she offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to forgive my daughter. She’s been eager to talk to you all week. But,” she looked at Rose, “there’ll be time for that later. I’m sure the young man needs some water, maybe some pain medicine, and to tend to other
things.”

  Though she sighed, Rose stood up. “I’m sorry, Ma.” Glancing at Kent, she said, “I’m sorry, Mr… What’s your name?”

  “Rose!” her mother called out, exasperated.

  “I was only trying to apologize to him.”

  “You can wait to find out his name when he’s good and ready to tell us. Right now he needs to rest. Go get Adam to help him.”

  “Yes, Ma.” With one last look at him, she added, “I’m glad you’re going to be alright.” Then, before her mother could say anything else, she hurried out of the room.

  Her mother shook her head but chuckled. “My daughter is a little eager to get to know you. She’s been talking nonstop about who you are. Anyway, I bet you could use something to drink.”

  He nodded and tried to sit up, but even though he was careful, he still couldn’t manage it.

  She set the pitcher on the table and rushed over to him. “Don’t push yourself. You’ve been through a lot. Here. Let me help.” She placed the pillow against the head of the bed and helped him sit up.

  He settled his back on the pillow, aware of how sore his muscles were, partly from having been assaulted and partly from lying down so much. Accepting the cup of water she offered, he drank all of it in one large gulp.

  “You poor thing,” she said as she quickly poured him another cup. “If I’d known you were that thirsty, I would have had Adam give you more this morning.”

  After he drank the water from the second cup, he coughed and waited until she gave him more to drink before he cleared his throat. “I just woke up. I haven’t been thirsty for long,” he said, ignoring his sore jaw as he smiled. “Thank you.”

  She poured more water in the cup until the pitcher was empty. “I’ll get more water and bring it up. Are you in any pain?”

  “A little but it’s not bad.”

  “Well, there’s no reason why it should get worse.” She grabbed a bottle of medicine from the table and handed him a spoonful of it. “My brother-in-law’s a doctor. He’ll be coming out tomorrow to see how you’re doing.” After he swallowed the medicine, she took the spoon and set it on the small table by his bed. She set the medicine beside it and a pocket watch. “You’re allowed to take one spoonful every four to six hours, depending on how you feel. I’ll make sure you have a glass of water within reach at all times. Are you hungry?”

  “Not yet.” He smiled again. “Thank you. For everything.” He’d hate to think of what shape he’d be in right now if this kind woman and her family hadn’t been taking care of him. “How long have I been here?”

  “Six days.”

  He released his breath and leaned the back of his head on the headboard. “Are any of my things here?”

  “Just the clothes you came with. You’re wearing Adam’s clothes right now. He’s about your height.” She paused. “The clothes you were in were damaged beyond repair. I couldn’t do anything to save them.”

  “That’s fine.” He had more than enough money to replace the ones he lost except for one item. “You didn’t find a pocket watch in my clothes, did you?”

  “No.”

  So the one tangible thing he had from his uncle was gone. He swallowed and lowered his gaze, noting the extent of his injuries. His uncle would rather have him be alive than have the pocket watch, but even so, tears stung his eyes. After all the things his uncle did for him, he had nothing else to remember him by except for his inheritance. But money was an empty consolation.

  A young man came into the room and Kent looked up. The woman gestured to him. “This is Adam. You two will be seeing a lot of each other while you heal up.” She turned to leave but stopped and chuckled. “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Mary Larson. If you need anything, just ask.”

  “I’m Kent. Kent Ashton.”

  “Despite the circumstances, we’re glad to have you here.”

  He thanked her again before she left then turned his attention to Adam who wiped the sweat from his forehead with a bandana. He glanced at the open window. Though he couldn’t get a good view of the land outside, he saw he was out of town. “We’re on a farm?” he asked Adam.

  Adam tucked his bandana into his back pocket. “Yep. Do you remember coming to Nebraska?”

  “Yes. I got off the train and,” he shrugged, “thought I was going to help someone but ended up getting robbed and beaten.” And all for what? A gold pocket watch, a suitcase full of clothes, and just enough money to see him to California? Was it really worth those men beating him up over? He grunted. What people wouldn’t do for money. He returned his attention to Adam. “I don’t think the men who did this,” he motioned to his body, “realized how little I had on me.” His uncle suggested he keep his money in a bank, and Kent knew better than to ignore his uncle’s advice. But he wished he had his uncle’s pocket watch.

  “It’ll be alright,” Adam assured him. “Men like that will get what’s coming to them. Maybe not in a place where you can see it, but they’ll get it all the same.”

  “I’m not interested in revenge,” Kent replied. “I just want to live my life in peace.”

  “That’s a good way of looking at it.” Adam knelt next to the bed and pulled out a chamber pot. “Do you need to use this?”

  “Yes, I should.”

  “Do you need any help or can you do it yourself?”

  “I think I can do it myself.”

  Adam nodded and headed for the door. “Call out when you’re done, and I’ll be back to help you wash up and get in clean clothes.”

  As he closed the bedroom door, Kent thought of how repulsed his parents would be if they could see him now. Bound to a bed, unable to do most things on his own, looking as poor as a church mouse. Well, at the moment, he had nothing to his name. He didn’t even have his own clothes. But it probably worked in his favor that no one knew how much he was worth. Two men saw his uncle’s pocket watch and came for it. He rubbed his eyes and let out a bitter laugh. Things hadn’t changed at all since leaving Virginia. He couldn’t help but wonder if coming back to America had been a mistake.

  ***

  “Did you talk to him? What did he say?” Rose asked, jumping up from the porch swing as her mother opened the front door.

  Her mother jerked and let the storm door slam behind her. “Rose, I almost dropped this.” She motioned to the pitcher in her arms. “You should be careful when you say something. I didn’t even know you were there.”

  “What are you doing with the pitcher?” Rose followed her mother down the porch steps.

  “Kent needs more water.”

  “Kent? Is that his name?”

  “Yes. It’s Kent Ashton.”

  Rose’s smile widened and she clasped her hands together. That was a lovely name. And she’d one day be Rose Ashton. It sounded equally as lovely, romantic even.

  Her mother stopped at the well and shot her an uneasy look. “What’s going through that head of yours?”

  Heat rose to her cheeks. “Nothing.”

  “I don’t know. You almost seem like you’re besotted with someone.”

  “That’s silly. I don’t even know him.”

  Her mother’s eyes grew wide. “Rose! You can’t be thinking of Kent in that way. As you said, you don’t even know him.”

  She offered a slight shrug then glanced at the pitcher. “You want me to get the water for you? I’m between chores and have nothing to do.”

  “If you’re bored, Harriett could use some help with the laundry.”

  She grimaced but quickly smiled when her mother looked expectantly at her. “That’s a wonderful idea. I’ll do that after I get some water.”

  Her mother stopped her before she could grab the pitcher from her. “Nice try, Rose, but I know what you’re up to. You said you’re behind on the chores and I gave you something to do.” She hesitated and narrowed her eyes at her. “Didn’t I tell you to help your sister with the laundry an hour ago?”

  “Oh, well, yes. And I did.”

  “You t
wo can’t be done so soon.”

  “I had to go to the privy.”

  “I don’t recall the privy being in the house.”

  Rose bit her lower lip and tried to explain why she had to go into the house. “I had to get something for Harriett, so I went to our bedroom.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes.” Inspired, she nodded. “Pins for her hair. You know that bun of hers is always falling apart. She didn’t want to get her hair wet in the water.” She grinned, impressed with her ability to think quickly in an awkward situation.

  “And I suppose while you were getting pins, you checked on our guest to see if he was awake.”

  “Of course. Everyone else was out of the house except for you, and you were busy cleaning up after lunch.”

  “I also suppose you put the pins in your pocket because I didn’t see any pins while you were telling Kent your life story.”

  She laughed, not sure if her mother was baiting her or helping her with her lie. “It wouldn’t have made sense for me to wave the pins in front of his face, would it?”

  “Did Harriett hang up the blanket on the stronger clothesline like I asked her to?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t been back yet.”

  “So Harriett has been in need of new pins all this time, but you still have them. Show them to me, Rose.”

  Her smile fell. Drats! Her mother had been baiting her. Curse her inability to think fast enough!

  “Rose?”

  With a heavy sigh, she said, “Alright, so I wanted to see how Kent was doing and snuck away from the laundry to do it. But there was no one up there to see if he needed something.”

  “Enough excuses, young lady. I want you to get back to the laundry right away.”

  “Yes, Ma.”

  Shoulders slumped, she trudged to the other side of the house where her sister was scrubbing a sheet on the washboard. Rose glanced at her brothers’ bedroom window. At the rate things were going, she’d never learn all about Kent and what he was doing in Omaha.

  “That was the longest trip to the privy I’ve ever seen,” Harriett called out.