Christine Johnson - All Roads Lead Home

“I manipulated him?” He tsked audibly. “Seems to me Hendrick Simmons is a grown man with a mind of his own. He made a decision. The fact that I happen to agree with him doesn’t make me manipulative.”

Normally, Mariah kept her emotions in check, but Gabe and Hendrick had sent them catapulting out of control. “Why can’t you accept that I can do this myself? The fewer people involved, the better. You said so yourself.”

“Hendrick’s a good, honest man. You can’t deny that.”

She couldn’t.

“I trust him to keep the secret.”

“And Anna?” Mariah pointed out. “Do you feel the same way about her?” Even as she said the words, she recalled that Anna had been infatuated with Gabe when he first arrived. A shy girl then, she’d pined for him and must have suffered when Gabe chose Felicity.

“She’s a good girl,” Gabe said softly, “and has grown up a lot since you last saw her. Yes, I have faith in her.”

Mariah sighed. He was not going to let her out of this. “You know how difficult this will be.”

“I know, sis, but you’ll manage. You always do.”

They’d reached the river, flowing gently at this season. To the left, mostly out of sight, a footbridge crossed to the other side. In the low light, the water below looked black and endless, but once they’d climbed down to the water’s edge, it turned silky green.

“I’m afraid, Gabe,” she whispered as they made their way to the rocky sandbar that was exposed this time of year. She wasn’t just afraid for Luke or all the problems that might happen on the trip, but for her heart. The old longing had returned with a fierceness she hadn’t expected, but a life with Hendrick could never be. One impossible obstacle still loomed between them, and his remarks tonight confirmed that it was still there. He wanted children of his own. Children she could never give him.

Gabe hugged her shoulders. “I know.”

Her shoes scrunched against the stones, sinking in slightly as they made their way to the center of the sandbar. They both looked downstream. For years she’d watched over Gabe, making sure he was all right. Now their roles were reversed. He was trying to take care of her. She bit her lip to stem the tide of emotion.

“It’ll turn out all right,” Gabe said with another brisk hug. “It always does for those who love the Lord.”

The corner of her mouth twitched at that reminder. “Are you preaching to me?”

He bent and picked up a stone. “I’ve been teaching Luke how to skip stones. He can beat me now.” He let the stone fly. It bounced once, twice, three times before sinking beneath the surface. “Are we stones that sink to the bottom or twigs that float on the surface? Do we succumb to trouble or are we carried wherever the water flows?”

“I’d like to think we’re boats, able to navigate treacherous waters.” Mariah was used to her brother’s philosophical musings, but this one deeply touched her soul. “You’re afraid, too.”

He bowed his head. “Of course. Losing Luke would break my heart, but knowing he’d be beaten down by someone who’s supposed to love him would kill me.”

He swiped at his face, and she knew he’d lost control of his emotions. She hugged him around the shoulders, as she used to when he was a boy.

“I won’t let that happen,” she said, softly at first but with growing firmness. “God won’t let Frank Gillard take Luke.”

“I hope you’re right,” he gasped, his shoulders shuddering as he gave in to tears.

Behind them, a plank of the bridge creaked, telling her that they were not alone. She turned.

Hendrick Simmons was watching.

“Mariah. Pastor.” Hendrick knew she’d seen him.

He’d come to the bridge to think, to let the steady flow of water help him sort things out. Instead, he’d heard the real reason for Mariah’s trip west. That changed everything. Someone had threatened to harm Luke, and she was going to Montana to stop him. Now he had to go with her.

“Hendrick,” called out Gabriel. “Wait there.” He led his reluctant sister up the riverbank, and in minutes they appeared on the bridge. “Nice night, isn’t it?”

Mariah hung back.

Hendrick didn’t know if he should tell them he’d overheard their conversation. It had been so personal that he felt as if he’d been eavesdropping. He decided to pretend he hadn’t.

“Needed to get some air.” Hendrick leaned against the rail and watched the river flow. “Water’s down for this time of year. Hope we don’t have a drought.”

“That’s something to pray for,” Pastor Gabriel said softly. “I’m glad you’re going to Montana with my sister.”

Mariah didn’t say a word. She stood on the other side of her brother, staring straight ahead.

“Ma gave Anna permission to go.” He didn’t bother saying that he’d thrown a wrench into the plan, since he wouldn’t be going to New York now.

“Good,” Gabriel said. “Then you two have a lot to talk about. See you at the parsonage, sis.”

“Gabe,” she cried. “I’ll go with you. I might get lost.”

Pastor Gabriel laughed and shook his head. “Hendrick knows these woods better than I do. Get her home safely, okay?”

That’s precisely what Hendrick intended to do, after he got her to Montana.

The pastor hiked up the path and vanished into the woods, leaving Hendrick alone with Mariah, who watched her brother’s departure before turning to him.

“How much did you hear?”

Hendrick heard the accusation in her words. “Enough.”

She swallowed, looking more like a frightened girl than the confident woman he was used to seeing. “Please don’t tell anyone.” She clutched her arms around her midsection. “Felicity can’t know.” Her eyes looked haunted, desperate. “Please.”

He nodded. “I promise.”

Relieved, she collapsed against the bridge railing, and he thought for a moment that she was going to cry. Instinctively, he reached to comfort her, but she flinched, and he backed away, confused.

“I just wanted to say it’s all right,” he said, struggling to find the right words. “I’ll help you all I can.”

“I know.” She lowered her face so it fell in the shadows. “But we can’t relive the past. Do you understand that?”

He set his jaw. “I’m not asking to go back in time, Mariah. I’m talking about getting you safely to Montana so you can help Luke.”

She shushed him. “Don’t say his name.”

He nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.”

They stood in silence for long moments, each staring downstream, headed in the same direction yet miles apart.

He licked his lips. “What can you tell me?”

She continued to watch the river. “We’re going to Brunley, near the Rocky Mountains. The rest I’ll tell you once we leave Pearlman.”

He understood. She couldn’t take a chance that anyone would overhear.

She breathed deep, squared her shoulders and turned to face him. “I owe you an explanation.”

He frowned. Hadn’t she just said she couldn’t tell him anything until they were on the road?

“Not about our trip,” she clarified, “about last time. Why I left. I shouldn’t have run off.”

He couldn’t agree more, but he had the sense not to say that. Instead, he waited for her.

“It’s my work,” she finally said. “Helping the orphans is my calling. I couldn’t leave them. I’ll never stop helping them. Do you understand?”

He didn’t. Didn’t all women want their own children? Others would step up to help the orphans, but she couldn’t let it go.

“It’s not that I don’t care for you. You’re a wonderful…friend.”

He steeled his jaw. “You, too.” He’d never let her know how much she affected him. “Besides, I have a chance to work at Curtiss Aeroplane. I’ll be heading to Garden City as soon as we return.”