Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

She was just about to go inside to find Kjell's comfort when the sound of a wagon approaching caused Lydia to look up. She didn't recognize the horse as it rounded the bend, but the driver appeared to he the young man who worked for her husband. There was a woman at his side, but Lydia couldn't see who it might he. She was carrying something, so perhaps Zerelda had arranged a delivery of goods.

Lydia dried her eyes on the edge of her apron and drew a deep breath. She got to her feet and was just about to go inside when for some reason she felt compelled to look once again at the passenger beside Josh. There was something familiar about her. As the wagon drew closer, Lydia felt as if she recognized the blond-haired woman.

Unable to move, Lydia waited by the door as Josh brought the wagon to a stop. He reached up to take hold of the woman's bundle. That was when Lydia realized the stranger was holding a baby.

The young lady climbed down from the wagon and took the infant hack in her arms. She saw Lydia and approached ever so slowly Smiling, she spoke.

" Lydia ' It's me, Evie. Evie Gray-remember?"

Shaking her head, Lydia felt bile rise in her throat. She studied the woman again. She knew those eyes. Those haunting blue eyes. A passing memory of a painting came to Lydia. A woman who looked very much like this one stared down at her with those same eyes.

She took a step away from the door and scrutinized the young woman. She said her name was Gray Just like the name of the stepson who had taken away her child.

"I know this must be a shock to you," the woman continued. The baby began to fuss, and she shifted him to her shoulder. When she did, the blanket fell away.

Lydia looked at the child and then at the stranger. "Evic," she repeated the name.

"Yes. And this is your son. I've brought him back to you."

A scream filled the air, but Lydia didn't realize it had come from her own throat until Kjell bounded out the door and took her in his arms.

"What's wrong" he asked.

Lydia felt herself falling as darkness engulfed her vision. " Dalton," she whispered and then knew nothing.

Lydia opened her eyes to find everyone watching her. There were tears in Zerelda's eyes, and Kjell's expression was concerned. She shook her head, trying to clear away the confusion in her mind.

"Let me help you sit up," Kjell told her. "Zerelda, get a cold cloth."

He gently eased Lydia up against the hack of the davenport. She spied the young woman and suddenly remembered why it was she'd fainted. The baby began to cry, and Lydia extended her arms.

"Bring him to me… please."

It was only a moment before mother and son were reunited. Lydia stared down in wonder at the boy and put him to her shoulder to comfort him. "There, there." She patted his back and he calmed.

Lydia breathed in the scent of him and felt a rush of emotions. The smell evoked a feeling of happiness and calm. She marveled at the wonder of the moment. The child she had forgotten was now home in her arms.

"I am so sorry for what Marston did to you," Evie said, kneeling down beside Lydia. "When I learned the truth, I did what I could to bring Dalton back to you."

Lydia looked at the young woman. She had the vaguest recollection of knowing her. "It wasn't your fault," she said, somehow knowing the truth of her statement.

Evic nodded. "But my family-they've never treated you right. I care for you, however, and I hope my actions here today have proven that."

"It goes without saying," Lydia assured her. "I wish I could remember the things from the past, but after I was injured, I lost most of my memory."

"There's a part of me that's actually glad about that. I was beside myself with grief, imagining you suffering over Dalton 's disappearance," Evie confessed. "I couldn't hear to think of you sitting here crying for him and having no solace." Tears formed in her eyes.

Lydia reached out and patted Evie's hand just as a knock sounded on the door. Kjell got up and went to see who it was. Lydia heard muffled talk and then saw the man she'd been introduced to as Captain Briar enter the room.

"Ma'am." He looked at the baby and then at Kjell. "I came with word from Kansas City, but perhaps it is unimportant now."

"Nonsense," Kjell declared. "Tell us what you know."

"It seems rather moot in light of your son being returned to you. The authorities have sent a letter. It came today on The Constantine. They've investigated Mr. Gray as you suggested but found no sign of your son. Obviously, if he is here with you now, he wasn't taken by Gray"

"That's not true," Evie interrupted. She got to her feet and looked from Lydia to the men. "I am Marston Gray's sister. He brought me the child several months ago and told me that Lydia was dead. He asked me to raise Dalton, and I agreed. He is guilty of having taken this baby and of trying to murder Lydia."

Briar's eyes narrowed. "And how do you know all this for a fact?'

A heard him admit it." She glanced down at Lydia. "My husband and brothers were talking. They didn't know I could hear them." She turned hack to Briar. When I learned the truth, I took Dalton and came here immediately"

Briar looked at Kjell. "I find this all rather confusing."

"There's no confusion at all," Evie declared. "My brother is guilty, and I will testify to that. I will tell you everything I know, just as I should have years ago when my father threw my mother off the roof to her death."

Lydia gasped. "Floyd killed her?" The name came back all at once. She remembered the angry face of her husband as he stood over her with a whip. He had just beaten her and his first words to her were, " Charlotte never learned to obey mne, either, and von see where it got her."

The scene passed just as quickly as it had come.

Evie came hack to Lydia. "He did. I saw the whole thing, but I never told anyone. I'm sorry now that I didn't. Maybe things would have been different. Maybe you would never have had to suffer under his hand."

"It's not your fault, Evie," Lydia said, reaching up to take her hand. "It's not your fault. You were just a child."

Captain Briar cleared his throat nervously. "I suppose now that we have a witness more reliable than Sidorov, we can hardly ignore Gray's part in this crime. I will contact the authorities immediately and see what can be done. Where can I locate you, Mrs…

"Gadston. Genevieve Gadston."

"She'll be here," Lydia interjected. "She'll stay with us, if that's all right with you, Evie."

"Truth he told, I was going to ask you for just such a favor. You see, I can't go home. None of them will have me hack after this."

"What of your husband?" Kjell asked.

"Thomas has never cared about me. He'll probably he relieved to have me out of his hair. With any luck at all, he will give me a quiet annulment, and if not, then I'll simply live out my days apart from him."

Kjell nodded. "Then stay with us, by all means."

"It's settled," Lydia said, looking into the inquisitive face of her son. Somewhere deep inside her there was a sense of recognition a certainty that he belonged to her. "It's settled."

Watching her sleeping baby, Lydia marveled at the way the child seemed undisturbed by all that had happened. He slept so easily, so peacefully. She stroked his fine hair and somehow knew she'd done this a hundred times before.

"Is he asleep?" Kjell asked.

"Yes." Lydia straightened but refused to leave the side of the cradle. "He settled right down after I fed him."