Page 11 of Inventions of the Heart

By then Laura had already been married, but although Caleb had some bad things in his past, including a prison term, he’d made his peace with the Lord and felt the calling to be a parson. He was a good and decent man. Laura loved and trusted him.

She swung down off her horse and handed her reins to Pete with her thanks. She and Caleb ran together up thebroad front steps. The door was unlocked, and Laura hurried inside.

“Mama! Mama, I’m home.” The grand entrance was three stories, peaking in a turret. Stairs led up to the right, then a second set of stairs led to the turret with a balcony, where a person could stand looking out at the grand landscape of mountains and forest.

Stepping inside was glorious—and frightening.

Seconds later, Mama came running from the morning room, where they ate breakfast. It wasn’t that early, but Mama sometimes wrote letters or read in the beautiful, sunlit room.

“Laura? Laura, you’re home.” Mama ran toward her, looking joyful and best of all unharmed.

Laura met her halfway, and they clung to each other.

The feel of those strong arms! Laura never felt so safe as when she was in her mother’s arms. Except now she had Caleb’s arms. His strength and decency were her haven, and a dearly loved one.

Nick followed Mama at a distance. He managed to be a protective presence while, at the same time, he didn’t inject himself into the reunion. Tears came to Laura’s eyes to see him here, standing as a sentinel for Mama.

The hug went on for several minutes, and even then, it was all Laura could do to ease back, smile at her precious mother, and say with a grin she knew took over her face, “Mama, meet my husband, Parson Caleb Tillman.”

Caleb came up at Laura’s right side. He rested one strong hand on Mama’s arm. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Laura has told me so much about you. I’m glad we could come and see that you are all right.”

“Home, are you, Laura?” The cold voice rang with a sneering anger as Edgar stepped out of the office her papa had furnished with such care. “High time.” Boot heels clicked on the hallway tiles. “You’re finished, then, with your childish stunt of running away? I’ll send a wire to Myron Gibbons, the man who has agreed to take you off my hands. I’ll finally get at least one of you wretched girls settled.”

A chill went down Laura’s spine. She’d seen Myron Gibbons at social events in San Francisco. He was huge with thick, slack lips, and he’d come up to her once or twice when he shouldn’t have. She’d read the hunger in his eyes when he looked at her.

I’m safe. I’m safe. I’m safe.

It ran through her head as a simple prayer. And yet to see the arrogant cruelty in her foul stepfather’s eyes, she couldn’t quite believe she was safe.

Caleb deliberately moved to stand with his shoulder in front of Laura, between her and her stepfather.

Nick came up behind Mama to face Edgar with his arms crossed.

Edgar could do nothing to her or Mama. A curl of savage pleasure awakened in Laura, and she said with quiet satisfaction, “Edgar, I’m no longer available to marry a man of your choosing. I’m now Mrs. Caleb Tillman.”

With Caleb in front of her, it was easy to rest one hand on his shoulder. “This is my husband, Parson Tillman.”

Edgar’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw went so tight she expected his teeth to crack.

She’d never be so fortunate, of course. Edgar was a handsome man. Part of the reason Mama had become involved with him was his tall, dark good looks.

“You know, Edgar, you really are a fool.” Laura felt almost giddy to speak to Edgar this way. She’d wanted to so many times, but fear had ruled her.

I’m safe. I’m safe. I’m safe.

She was starting to believe it.

“You are obviously capable of being kind and charming. Mama wouldn’t have married you if she hadn’t seen that in you. Why didn’t you continue behaving like that? You could have had a good life with Mama and my sisters and me. Instead, you couldn’t contain your true nature. And now you are surrounded by a family that holds you in contempt. That’s the life you chose with your ugly behavior.”

Nick extended his hand to Caleb. “Congratulations. You’ve managed to marry one of the finest young women in the world.”

Every word rang with sincerity. For a moment, Mama looked at him with affection, then turned to Edgar. “Your presence is not welcome here.”

Then she turned away to address Caleb. “A parson? What a wonderful calling. I trust you’re planning to stay here permanently?”

“Laura and I have come to live in her home.”

Mama linked her hand through Caleb’s elbow. “It’s early for luncheon, but you must be hungry after your ride. Would you like something to eat? Coffee and cake maybe? We could have bread and cheese, maybe some cold meat, made up quickly. Or do you and Laura want a bit of time to settle in?”

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