Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

"Then he shouldn't have done it," Kjell muttered. Captain Briar fixed him with a stare. Kjell drew a deep breath and swallowed his rage. He wasn't helping matters.

"We did not see Mr. Gray for a long time, but when he found us again, he said he would pay us a lot of money for helping him reclaim what belonged to him. He wanted us to take the baby and bring it to him on the far side of the island.

"It was raining hard, and the storm was very bad," Ioann continued. "We barely got our boat to shore when the worst of it hit. Anatolli told me to let him go first. He was bigger and thought this would scare the women-make them… cooperate."

"But they didn't, did they?"

Ioann shuddered. "No. When we came in the older woman shot at us. Anatolli knocked the gun from her hand. She was not seeing me, as I was behind her. When Anatolli went up the stairs, I hit her hard over the head. I did not want to kill her, or I could have shot her."

"Why didn't you want to kill her? You were there to do just that, were you not?" Captain Briar asked.

"I was not there to kill. I wanted to help Anatolli get the baby so that we would get the money. Mr. Gray promised us a thousand dollars."

"And you believed him?" Briar questioned in disbelief.

"We did. He had a great deal of money"

"What happened next?"

Ioann frowned. "After I hit the woman, I saw the blood and got scared. I told Anatolli to hurry and get the child. I thought I had killed the woman, and I wanted to run before someone found out. I heard some gunfire from upstairs and knew Anatolli had probably killed Mrs. Lindquist. He came down with a hag of things and the baby wrapped up in some blankets. He told me the baby's mother was dead, and we left."

Kjell found himself gripping the sides of the chair even tighter. The man spoke of his actions as though they'd been nothing more than accounts of a day spent fishing. How could he he so callous in regard to human life?

"Where did you go?" the captain asked.

"Back to the boat. The storm was had, though. We had much trouble and only got a little ways at a time. Anatolli finally decided it was too much, and we put to shore and walked instead. We knew it would he only a short time before Kjell would get home, and we had to get to the cabin where we had promised Gray to meet."

"We found your cabin. We also found the body of your brother not far from it, as well as debris. What happened?"

Ioann frowned. "Mr. Gray shot Anatolli and would have shot me, but I ran. He tried to find me, but I hid very well."

Briar leaned toward the man. "And what of the baby?"

"Gray took him. He always planned to take him hack to where he lived. He had a boat and supplies waiting to take him south. He knew the mail ship would come that way, and he would board it and go home."

"And you are certain the baby was alive?"

"Yes. Gray wouldn't harm him. He seemed quite pleased to have him."

Briar looked to Kjell. "I suppose it's time to send the authorities to find Marston Gray"

"It was time for that months ago," Kjell said, not even attempting to hide his ire with the man. "I told you that Gray was behind this and that he would have the child if at all possible." He got to his feet. "Now it's time to get my son hack."

Lydia found herself humming a song and wondered how she knew it. It was a lovely melody soft and sweet, gentle like a lullaby She couldn't help but wonder who had taught her the song and whether or not she could play it on the violin.

A glance across the room drew her attention to the idle case. She hadn't tried in a long time to play the instrument. The few times she had attempted it, the only sounds she could draw from the strings reminded her of screeching jays.

She heard the wagon approach and knew that Kjell was home. After checking on supper, Lydia pulled off her apron and went to greet him. Lydia waved at her husband, but he barely acknowledged her. His mind was clearly preoccupied. She could see that much.

Making her way hack to the corral, Lydia watched as Kjell unharnessed the horses. He hadn't yet realized she was there. His hands went quickly to the work at hand, but Lydia could see that he was muttering the entire time.

"Is something wrong, Kjell?" she asked.

He startled, which in turn caused the draft horse to sidestep and knock him against the rail fence. Lydia gasped and covered her mouth to keep from crying out. If Kjell was injured, it would he her fault.

The horse calmed as Kjell spoke soothingly. He nudged the beast hack and slipped from between him and the fence. Kjell offered her a smile. "I'm all right. Really"

Lydia waited in silence while he finished with the horses. Kjell led the animals to their stalls and gave them ample food and water before coming to join her. He tried to make light of the situation, but Lydia knew he was concerned about something else.

"I'm sorry to have spoken out like that," Lydia said.

He put his arms around her. "It's all right. My mind wasn't on my work as it should have been." Pulling her close, he kissed her and buried his face against her hair for a moment. "I missed you today."

Lydia thought there was almost a sound of desperation in his voice. "Kjell, what's wrong?"

He pulled hack and looked at her. "Why do you ask?"

"You aren't yourself. I can see that much for myself."

Offering her a smile, he reached up and smoothed hack her hair. "It was just a very busy day."

She stepped hack and frowned. "You're lying to me. I asked you not to keep the truth from me, but I can see that you are."

His expression changed. "Liddie, please listen to me. I want to tell you everything, but I just don't know what it might mean to your getting well."

"I am well. My memories are the only thing missing, and maybe if you and Zerelda would he honest with me, my memory would come back."

He studied the ground for several minutes. Lydia thought to leave, but something kept her fixed to the spot. "Why won't you just tell me? I'm stronger now," she told him. "I can deal with whatever it is."

The silence stretched between them and when Kjell did finally look up, Lydia saw there were tears in his eyes. Panic spread through her like a wildfire. What was he upset about? What was so troubling that he would cry?

She stepped hack another pace. Maybe she didn't want to know the truth. Maybe she should leave well enough alone.

Kjcll seemed to sense her fear. " Lydia, please just trust me a little longer. It's not all had-in fact, it might well he something very good."

Nodding, Lydia wrapped her arms to her body. She felt so alone, but there seemed no other choice. "All right, I'll trust you."

Marston Gray bounded out of his carriage and into the three-story brick house that he called home. He longed for a drink to calm his nerves. All day long, he'd been on edge, and when finally his worst fears were confirmed, Marston knew he would have to act quickly.

Word came to him through a business associate, who told Marston in no uncertain terms that someone was snooping around, trying to get information about him. They were asking all sorts of ridiculous questions about whether Marston was married and had recently had a child horn to him. The man had laughed it off as assuming it was someone with a case of mistaken identity, but Marston knew better.

"Lindquist." He nearly choked on the name. Stalking through the house and ignoring his staff, Marston secluded himself in his study and locked the door.

He considered the brandy for a moment, then instead poured himself a liberal amount of whiskey and took a seat behind his desk. He tossed down a good portion of the drink, all while trying to figure out what he should do. If Kjell Lindquist had contacted authorities, then why didn't they simply come to the house and question him?