A Place of Her Own (Heartsong Presents #728)
By Lynn A. Coleman
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Jamestown, Ky. 1845
“Auntie Katherine!” The bedroom door rattled in its hinges. “Daddy says you half-ta cook breakfast," her four-year-old nephew, Tucker, cried out.
Katherine O’Leary pulled the covers up over her head.
Last night, little Elizabeth Katherine, her newborn niece, had kept the whole household up awake, crying. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time. Oh, to have solitude. If only God would grant such a gift. But how?
Elizabeth’s colic wasn’t the only thing that had interrupted Katherine’s sleep. The tragic events of the past still marred her dreams. Occasionally she’d wake from a nightmare, but Prudence and Pamela encouraged her to not accept those thoughts, to allow God’s grace to wipe them clean. And she believed He was able to do that. But the fear remained.
How could the MacKenneth family love her and her brother, Urias, as their own? Oh, it made sense with Urias, she supposed. He’d been with them since he was fourteen. But why her?
“Auntie Katherine!” The door rattled again.
She took in a deep breath, tossed the pillow aside and pushed her body up to a sitting position on the edge of her bed. Urias had spared no expense in making her the four-poster bed and bedroom set. “I wish I had my own place," she grumbled, slipping her slippers on her feet and sliding into a robe. But how could she earn the money to even buy the materials required to build her own house? Let alone build one.
If I were married… The developing knot in her stomach tightened another notch.
In the kitchen, Katherine sliced up some bacon. It began to sizzle in the pan. On the table was the morning basket of eggs fresh from the hen house. She chopped up a few potatoes and fried them in the bacon drippings, adding a touch of onion and some salt and pepper to taste.
“Smells wonderful. Thank you, Katherine,” Urias remarked as he stepped into the kitchen, pulled out a chair and sat down.
“How’s Elizabeth and Prudence?” she asked, and scooped the potatoes out of the cast iron frying pan.
“Sleeping. I didn’t want to wake either, that’s why I sent Tucker in. Have the boys come in from their chores?”
Chores were a part of farm life. Everyone pitched in from the time they could walk. “I’m assuming Vern fetched the eggs. But I haven’t seen Tucker in from milking the cow.”
Her brother put his fork down and leaned back in the chair. “You look tired.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t get back to sleep for a long time last night.”
Urias narrowed his gaze. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Katherine placed the hot pan on the counter and sat down. “I’m just tired, 'been thinking foolish thoughts, like wanting my own place, that’s all.”
“Ah, well, all in good time, Katherine. You know you’re welcome here.”
“I know. Thank you.” How could she make him understand the deep desire within her for her own place?
“Truthfully, I considered sleeping in the barn last night.” Urias chuckled.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Sleeping on a bed of hay would have been better than not sleeping at all. She’d have to remember that the next time Elizabeth couldn’t sleep.
Urias winked and picked up one more biscuit. “Thanks for all the help, Katherine.”
Katherine picked up the remaining breakfast from the table. Did she want to be truly alone? Would she even bother to make a meal if she were by herself? She took the kettle off the stove and heated the water in the sink.
“Aunt Katherine!” Tucker came running into the room. “Vern’s stuck.”
* * *
“Father, I’ve taken care of all your business deals as best I’m able.” Shelton held a tight reign on his emotions. They’d been arguing for the better part of an hour. “I’ve sold every bit of livestock and managed to keep a small piece of land for you and mother to have a roof over your head. You’ve not only put yourself in a terrible standing with your friends, but you’ve ruined our reputation in the area.”
Hiram Green slumped in his chair and put his hands over his face.
“Father, I’m sorry. I know this is hard, but the only way the creditors would even extend the credit to me was if your name was no longer on the property.”
“I know, I know. Moving is our only option. Your mother can’t live with my shame.” Tears filled Hiram’s eyes.
“I’ll return as soon as possible. Urias claims there are many business opportunities arising in his area. Perhaps I’ll be able to purchase some land over there. I honestly don’t know. We have so little left.”
“What about selling some hogs, like Urias did?” Hiram asked.
“I thought about that, and I might have to do it—and anything else I can do to help this family—but your life won’t be like it was before.”
“I know, I know. You’re mother will never forgive me.”
Shelton placed his hand upon his father’s shoulder. “We’ll get through this some how.”
“I’ve managed to maintain one servant for mother but, apart from that, necessity will require you to do everything around the house while I’m away.”
Hiram Green nodded. Shelton hated to see his father in this position, and if it hadn’t been for the dire straights the family were facing he wouldn’t leave him alone. It just didn’t seem right that a man who was so skilled in business could ruin himself gambling on a few horses. After the bank auditors went over his father’s books with Shelton it became painfully obvious that Hiram Green had been juggling the finances for years to cover for his debts. Every penny Shelton had brought into the family paid those whom his father had kept at bay for so long.
Shelton had two reasons to go to Jamestown, Kentucky. One was to find a place where his parents could resettle without the stigma of their loss in their social standing and, two, to find out if the love he still held in his heart for Kate was real. For years he’d been praying for her and to be rid of these foolish young boy fantasies. Instead, his attraction to her had deepened. It didn’t make sense. He hadn’t seen her in five years. Prudence barely mentioned her when she visited. Of course, Shelton had kept his questions to himself, not wanting to appear overly curious.
“Son, I know I’ve shamed the family, but don’t you shame us further.”
Shelton’s back stiffened. Only once had he ever mentioned his love for Kate, and his father had over reacted. Shelton received the longest and the loudest lecture on their family's precious standing in society, and how one couldn’t lower himself by marrying someone of a lower social class. His father had even sent him away for several months to visit with cousins. It had been during that time that Urias had found Kate, purchased her bond to set her free, and married Shelton’s sister, Prudence.
“I don’t believe you have the right to speak on this matter, Father. If God works out a relationship with me and any woman, no matter what her standing in society, I would be honored to take her, if she would have me. Don’t you see you’ve ruined any chance of my ever having a wife who could fit your social standard?”
A deep sigh escaped his father’s lips. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
Shelton worried about the downcast mood his father seemed to be in since Hiram’s world came crashing down three months back. He’d lost all his interest in the salt wells and every business he’d invested in. For the past four years, Shelton’s primary duties revolved around the earning potential of his stud horses. Now, he didn’t know what he could or would do. He only hoped that by going further west his family could find a place to call home.
“Are you certain you and mother don’t want to come with me? Prudence must have had her third child by now.”
“Not right now. Perhaps in a month or two. Send a message when you’ve found appropriate housing and we’ll come as soon as possible.”
Shelton wondered if they really would come, but tried to ignore the “appropriate housing” reference. He wondered how his father would survive the ridicule of not being the man he had so preciously built himself up to be. But the reality was, his father was not the man he appeared to be. His business savvy had ended years ago when he started gambling on the horses. All of his father’s business dealings from that point on seemed to be based on whether or not he could hedge his bets on the horses. Shelton fought down the next wave of anger.
For years he’d been the one bringing in the family income, and he never knew it. If it hadn’t been for his hard work, his father’s business would have gone under long ago. And his father had been less than generous in his compliments. Shelton’s only prayer these days regarded his father’s humility and his own need to extend grace. Grace to a man who’d done precious little to do anything constructive for himself. Thankfully, the bank examiners saw Shelton's financial prowess long before his father acknowledged it.
He still had one stud horse, plus one mare that would bring a foal in the spring. Between the two he could earn enough income to keep his family fed through the winter. He had heard of large herds of wild horses roaming the plains out west. Catching a few more mares would be the only way to increase a breeding farm again. Oddly, Shelton had little interest left in horses and their breeding. Developing another skill for income might be advantageous but he had an eye for horse breeding, no question. Horses now represented all his father’s vanity and self-destruction. He needed to find his own way in this world, but he also had responsibilities to care for his parents. Someone had to protect his mother from his father’s foolishness, and he was the only son. Digging a salt well had produced some income, but salt wells were little challenge. He wanted a fresh start. The idea of moving to Jamestown or parts further west excited him.
He’d never given much thought to his social standing in the way that his parents had. He often reflected on how Prudence seemed content in her simple life with Urias and the children. She had found a man who loved her for who she was and how God had knitted her together, not how society felt a woman should behave. Shelton longed for that same acceptance.
“I’ll expect to arrive in Jamestown in a couple of days. I’ve heard a man can sell anything in Creelsboro. Perhaps I can find something there.”
“Perhaps.” Hiram stood up and faced Shelton for the first time. “I’m sorry, Son.” He extended his hand.
Shelton grasped his father’s hand and pulled him into his embrace. “It’s going to work out. I promise.”
Hiram Green nodded and walked away.
Shelton followed his father’s slow movements. “Father God, bring peace back to my father.”
Taking in a deep breath, Shelton scanned the old den. Few of the lavish furnishings remained. Anything of value had been sold to pay off debts. Behind the far wall, Shelton had squirreled away one prized family heirloom. He hated keeping it a secret from his father, but if he knew about it, and if the sickness to gamble on the horses returned, Shelton knew his father would give in and sell it. He slipped his hat upon his head and flung his leather saddlebags across his shoulder. If he wanted to get a jump on his journey…I’d better leave now.
Kate’s lively green eyes and head full of red curls flitted across his memory. Shelton closed his eyes trying to get a longer glance. Lord, I love her and she doesn’t even know it. Show me if I’m carrying on like a lovesick puppy.
* * *
Kate wiped her hands on the towel and answered the front door. “Hello, can I help you?” she asked.
In front of her stood a rather handsome man with broad but slight shoulders who stood about four inches taller than herself.
“Kate?”
She gripped the doorknob tighter and simply nodded.
“You don’t recognize me, do you?”
Tucker ran in from the sitting room. “Uncle Shelton!” he screamed in excitement.
“Shelton Green?” His hair had darkened to a rich brown hue, like a fine dark walnut stain on a piece of oak.
He knelt down and captured his running nephew into his arms. “Tucker! How’s your mommy and daddy?”
“Fine. Daddy is in the fields. Mommy is upstairs with ‘lizabeth.”
A deep smile spread across his face. “You have a sister?”
“Uh huh.”
Realizing she was keeping the man standing outside, Katherine stepped back. “Come in. I’ll get Prudence.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to see you again, Kate.”
The rich tones of his voice sent a shiver across Kate’s belly. Shelton Green did not appear to be anything like the young boy she’d known when she left his home. Now he was a man, and a rather handsome one at that. Not that she had the right to notice, she silently scolded herself.
“Uncle!” Vern sang.
By the time Katherine reached the top of the stairs, she found Prudence already on her way down with Elizabeth in her arms. “Is he really here?” she asked. Her eyes lit with excitement.
“Yes, although I didn’t recognize him.”
Prudence looked puzzled, then relaxed. “Oh, right. Of course you wouldn’t have seen the changes. I was pretty shocked myself. He’s matured into a rather distinguished young man.”
Katherine blushed.
Prudence giggled. “It’s all right, Katherine. Your secret is safe with me.”
Secret? What secret? That she found the woman’s brother attractive? The heat on her face intensified.
“Excuse me while I go find out what’s brought my brother all this way.”
Katherine stood at the top of the stairs. She would like to know the answer to that question too, but it was none of her concern. She slipped into her room to give the family some time to be with one another. Shelton, of course, had never treated her like a servant—well, except for that one day when he...Katherine stopped herself from recalling that memory. No one knew about that, and it was better left in the past.