THE PATH TO A PROMISE Chapters 25, 26, & 27

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE 

Olive fought the headache as she rode the trolley home. It was early afternoon. If she packed a small suitcase and hurried to Mary Jane's house, she knew she could stay there until she figured out what to do. She had to decide exactly what to say to Jimmy when she saw him again.

But that was just it. She didn't want to see him now that she knew his secret. For Pete's sake, he was running a still in an abandoned warehouse in the middle of Joplin! How could he do that and not have the law after his hide?

The trolley let off passengers, and Olive walked the block to the apartment. But another surprise awaited her. The scene before her was shocking when she entered the room. Thick air with pungent scents of tobacco smoke and the heady aroma of whiskey and beer hung like a low cloud. Boisterous laughter and clinking of glasses mingled with the small crowd who invaded her home. A couple of men in rumpled suits stood at the makeshift bar where liquor bottles and glasses holding the amber liquid lined up.

Olive looked around the trashed room and caught sight of Lloyd. His eyes met hers, and he nearly dropped his drink. Surprise and apprehension flickered on his face. Olive caught them red-handed. A woman with a brown cloche hat covering her blonde hair chuckled, put her painted fingernails to her ruby-colored lips, and stood beside him, but he pushed her back. The woman held out her hand and smiled, but Lloyd stepped away.

Slamming the door, tears threatened to overtake her. A mixture of fear and betrayal raced through her heart. Could the day get any worse? At that moment, Olive knew she was quickly becoming entangled in Jimmy's web of illegal activities. She pulled her father's knife from her pocket, but kept it hidden.

"Lloyd! How dare you! What are you doing?"

With the slamming door, the room fell silent as all eyes turned to watch her.

"Olive! You're supposed to be at work!" Lloyd recovered and advanced toward her. A Smith and Wesson Triple Lock revolver, known for its strength and accuracy, was in a shoulder holster.

Seated at a small table near the kitchen, three men were involved in a card game. "Hey, what's going on, Lloyd? What —" The voice was loud, boisterous, mean, and angry. The man was a murderer, one who should have been held responsible years ago, but was freed.

Olive’s head throbbed, and she grew lightheaded. Joe Tanner, with his flushed face, sat before her. His disgusting body invaded her house! As shock turned into anger, she wished she had a gun. But the only weapon she had was Pa's knife.

"You!" Olive’s voice held contempt as she flashed the knife.

"Olive, let me explain. And give me that knife!" Lloyd reached her and tried to take her arm.

"Where's Jimmy?" She shrank back from him, wanting to hear the lie Lloyd would surely make to cover for her husband.

"He's doing some business. He told me to stay here until he returned." His lips curved into a weak smile.

"Well, well, well," Tanner sneered, his lips twisting into a cruel smirk. He sized Olive up with predatory eyes. "What do we have here? Looks like the little missus stumbled into a hornet's nest." He shook his head. "What the Sam hill are you doing here? Looking for your brother?" His laughter smacked her face.

Olive shoved her emotions aside and swallowed hard, steely determination replacing fear and anger.

Aware of the danger, she refused to be intimidated by the blackguard and held the knife for all to see. "I'm going to talk with Ben soon! And you're in my home; get out now!"

At that moment, the door crashed open, and Jimmy strode through, pulling his Colt .45 from his waistband. Slamming the door behind him, he glared at everyone in the room. His face darkened with anger, his eyes narrowing into an icy glare. With a clenched jaw, the muscles in his neck tensed as he struggled to contain the brewing fury within. He saw the knife and moved to stand beside Olive.

"What in blazes do you think you're doing? Why aren't you at work?"

Ignoring his question, she accused, "There's a murderer in our home!" She looked at Tanner, "You’re going to admit that you killed Dan Winters, and I'm going to the police with your story!"

As she yelled at Tanner, Lloyd moved back to the kitchen counter near the woman with red nails.

Tanner pushed the cards aside on the table and flattened his beefy hands, hoisting himself up. "Looks like the game's over, boys." He eyed Olive with a mean stare. "What are you doing here anyway?"

At that moment, Olive knew that their lives would never be the same again, and she prepared to face the challenges ahead, even if it meant confronting the darkest corners of his secret world.

"Do you want to tell him, or should I?"

"She's my wife." Jimmy jerked the knife from her hand and pocketed it before Olive could retaliate.

"Wife?" The roar of Tanner's voice rushed through the room. At that, he downed his glass of moonshine. "Ah, the kick of bottled sunshine." He laughed again, menace lacing the words. "Good medicine!"

Lloyd positioned himself with his back to the kitchen counter. A whiskey bottle made a good club if needed.

"Maston, you married this little dame?" Tanner's smirk widened into a malicious grin, and his gaze darkened with undisguised contempt. Sudden thoughts lit his boozy eyes. "She's Ben Johnson's sister!"

"Joe, it's time to leave," Jimmy said, gripping the Colt and placing it in his waistband.

Laughter shook the ceiling. "Smart move, Maston! Using her to get to old man Johnson's stills. I'd never thought of that!"

His words sent a chill down Olive’s spine. Her throat constricted, but she stood her ground.

Surrounded by menacing figures, she forced herself to meet their gazes and refused to show weakness. Her breath caught as she took in Tanner's remark. The truth was glaringly real, and it hit her heart. Was Papa involved?

"I hate you, Joe Tanner! If I never do anything else, I'll see you are locked away forever!"

"Olive, shush," Jimmy hissed.

"You think you're too good for the likes of me and my family. I remember how it all went down. Yeah, I shot Winters for what he did to me. Blackballed me from the Farmer's Union! He had it comin'." Tanner's voice dripped with venom. "But now, since you're in our town, we're callin' the shots. You'll keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you."

Jimmy took Olive by the arm and shook her, "Quiet, woman!" Looking at Lloyd, he commanded, "Clean this mess up and clear outta here, Lloyd." He eyed the other two men drinking quietly at the counter. "Jerry, Beefer, out."

Lloyd's eyes met Olive's; then he moved to obey. The woman with him grabbed a crate and placed the bottles inside.

Tanner laughed, taunting Lloyd, "Ain't he pullin' those strings a bit too tight, Lloyd?"

The two men at the card table rose and gathered their belongings. "We're outta here, Maston."

Jimmy grunted. "Tanner, time to leave. Now."

Running a hand through his dark hair, Tanner snorted. "Make sure your little lady doesn't spill the beans on the operation, Maston. 'Course your daddy'll take care of her if she decides to talk."

He ran his wide hand across his face. "I don't want trouble. I've got a job to do." Gathering the cards, he put his suit jacket on and threw his cigar stub in the sink as he eft.

The apartment cleared out within minutes, and Olive and Jimmy were alone among the evidence of a mid-day party.

The smell did not help her headache. Olive’s mind raced with the information she had just discovered from Tanner. He admitted to killing Dan, but it had been a few years ago. Would the information hold up now? 

***

When the door closed behind the last man, Jimmy whirled to glare at Olive. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at work!"

"I've got a headache, and Mr. Parker sent me home!" she explained. You've got a lot to explain, Jimmy!" She reached out her hand. "I want my knife that Pa gave me."

Jimmy moved to pour a drink from an open bottle on the counter, and he downed it in a gulp. Sensually smacking his lips, he savored the taste, "My, that's good and smooth."

Pouring another glass, he settled in an easy chair, leveling his gaze on his wife. "I saw you at the warehouse, O. But you're going to forget what you've seen."

"Is it true that Pa and Ben are supplying you booze?"

Jimmy crossed his legs and blew out a noisy breath. Rubbing his hand over his mouth, he shook his head and smirked. "If this doesn't beat all…" He pulled her knife from his pocket and lay it on the table.

Olive moved to scoop it up. "I thought you were better than this!"

Her husband's lips curled into a sneer as a bitter laugh escaped his throat. "You have no idea what it takes to survive in this world. No idea what it takes to fight for what's yours. Money is king, O. And I'm the prince of money. You don't know the danger you'll be in if you don't lay low and keep your mouth shut. Tanner is dangerous."

"I know about Tanner! What I want to know is if Papa is involved. Answer my question!" She picked up the knife and hid it in her coat.

"No, your father has no idea what's going on. But your brother's paying off a debt to Tanner by supplying him with some of your father's moonshine. From what I heard, it's a done deal now, paid in full." He looked at her, his eyes a light red, haunted, drunken.

"How did you find the warehouse?"

"I was walking to catch the trolley when I saw you drive by and followed you. Jimmy, your business isn't something I want to be involved in. And I'm not bringing my son to live here with this going on. You've got to stop, or…"

Jimmy scoffed; his voice grew loud. "Or what, O?"

How handsome he was! With his dark, good looks and immaculate clothing, Maston was suave and debonair. From his sleek raven hair to the shine on his shoes, Maston knew how to play the world. He truly thought of himself as a prince.

"I may not know what it takes to survive in your world," she declared, her voice rang with a quiet strength. "But you won't drag me into darkness and deceit." Her words hung in the air like a challenge, daring him to defy her resolve.

"This is my world, it's all I've known, born and raised in it. And you're right about one thing. Your boy can't come here to live."

The sting of his words pierced her inner being. If her son wasn't welcome with him, then she wasn't either. All she was doing in life was for Peter. Peter needed her, and it wasn't right for her to depend on her parents to raise him forever. In that instant, she knew what was going to take place. Jimmy Maston was another mistake she had made. Another wrong decision and a bad choice.

"Where Pete's not welcome, neither am I." She squared her shoulders and met his gaze.

The harsh realities of life in Joplin's shadowy underworld settled around her. Her heart sank like the Titanic, taking her hopes, dreams, and happiness to the depths of despair. She was such a failure! To think that marrying a man would bring love and happiness when all it did was cause more trouble. Her second marriage was ruined and sinking like the great ship that struck the dreaded iceberg.

"There’s always the Children’s Home for your boy,” Maston smirked as if he was being clever. He hung his head and sighed deeply, swearing under his alcohol-soaked breath. "You shouldn't have married me…"

"How dare you talk about my son going to an orphanage!” Olive screamed. Tears gathered, but she swiped at them.

Taking a quick drink, he choked, wiped his mouth, and his next words were calm. "I shouldn't have bothered marrying you. You're no fun."

She stepped forward, a surge of confidence bolstering her against his words despite the tears. “You’re the one who talked about us having a life together.” Emotion spilled from her lips as she accused him. “It's all lies. I can’t believe I fell for it!”

“You’ll be gone by morning?” Maston asked, hope rimming the words.

“Way before then.” Marching to the closet, she reached high. Pulling the mustard yellow suitcase down, she filled it with her clothing. Despite the ache that racked her forehead, somehow, she had the strength she needed to stand up to this man who was acting insane.

The clock on the wall chimed four o'clock. She wanted to get to Mary Jane's house quickly. When she carried the suitcase into the living room, Jimmy stood at the kitchen table surrounded by a pile of money, two guns, and a fresh bottle of whiskey. He tossed a bunch of bills at her. "Here. You're going to need this."

She didn't catch the money; instead, it dropped to her feet. "I don't want that dirty money!"

Jimmy rolled his eyes and smirked. "Get a divorce, woman! Go see Horace Bingham. His firm is over at Alba. Best lawyer I know."

A hot rush ran the length of her, and she felt her stomach knot. Her breath caught as the words sank into her mind. She was a bother to him! To this man who insisted they get married, have fun, and enjoy life together.

Tears of shame washed down her cheeks.

Another mistake.

Another man who made her a fool.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX 

The next morning, the Golden Maiden was set to open in half an hour, and Charlotte was supplying ice for the ice boxes. George held a dishpan with an ice chunk and iron tongs, while Charlotte placed the chunk inside the ice box and shut the door. Repeating the action, the iceboxes were ready. Turning away, they saw Olive walking toward them.

A grin covered George's chubby face as he greeted her. He placed the last dishpan into the sink and rubbed his hands on the white apron covering his ample front.

"Olive, it's so good to see you!" Charlotte cried out. Her voice was as cheerful as ever, and her green eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned to the side, showing off her fresh new hairstyle. Her ruby curls were cut to chin length, and a crystal headband circled her hair. Bobbed hair was all the rage.

Olive stopped midstride, and her mouth opened. Charlotte was adorable in her new look. A short sheath dress covered by the work apron silhouetted her figure. "My, don't you look gorgeous! Are you going out on the town?"

Charlotte laughed and twirled once more, then grabbed Olive’s arm. "Perhaps tonight. I've met a man! And oh, I do believe he's captured my heart." Her coy look said it all. She whispered in Olive’s ear, "And perhaps my soul!"

"Well," Olive said dryly, "we do need to talk. I have news." Her brow lifted, and she looked at George.

"On break, I'll tell you all about my adventures." Charlotte gushed.

"And I'll tell you mine."

George added, "Any chance I can join you and hear your happy news?"

"No!" Both women chimed in at once.

George's grin dropped like a walnut falling from a tree. "Happens all the time." He turned and went to the kitchen.

When Charlotte unlocked the Golden Maiden's doors, the tables and booths filled to capacity, one by one. The lunch crowd was boisterous on this day. Loud laughter and murmurs and hushed whispers mingled with the clink of silverware, glasses, and patrons walking on the wooden floor. George bussed the tables, helping the girls out with their duties.

When the last customer, a couple celebrating a special occasion, left, Olive and Charlotte threw their soiled aprons in the dirty bin and headed outside for a break. Olive carried a plate of carrots and celery, and Charlotte brought a bowl of roasted chicken.

Olive crunched on a carrot stick to hopefully soothe her rumbling stomach. She hadn't eaten a bite since yesterday when she became ill. Sitting on the benches under the shade tree, they began to eat and talk.

"Do you like my new cut?" Charlotte asked, eyeing her friend as she took a bite of chicken and then a sip of water.

"You're a dilly, Charlotte."

"Thank you. I had such a great time with Mama. She had a copy of The Saturday Evening Post, and when I saw the picture of Clara Bow with her sweet hair, Mama insisted that I go to the salon and do it. I feel free!"

Olive nodded. "I bet it does feel nice not to have all that hair to care for." She drew a breath. "Charlotte, I'm going to leave Joplin. Jimmy and I…" Tears misted her eyes and she put a handkerchief to her mouth. She waited to speak again for fear she'd choke.

"Oh dear, what in the world has happened? Can I do something?" Setting her plate aside, Charlotte took one of Olive’s hands.

Olive looked her friend in the eye. "Yes, you can do something for me. Tell me the truth about Jimmy. And I'll be honest with you, I now know enough about him to know if you are lying to me."

She saw fear spark in Charlotte's eyes and color blush her cheeks.

Charlotte looked down at her shoes and slowly lifted her gaze to Olive. Swallowing and licking her mauve lips, she said, "What do you want to know?"

"I saw his operation in the warehouse on Wall. And I walked in on a little social gathering in my house yesterday!"

"His operation…oh." Charlotte drew a deep breath, swallowed, and avoided Olive’s eyes.

"Where is Jimmy from? Where does his father live? And are you involved with his illegal activities?"

"Tulsa," Charlotte swallowed, then answered. "Jimmy actually lives in Tulsa with his family; Joplin is a waypoint for contacts to hook up. He rents the apartment here to have a place to stay while he's on business. His brothers work in Oklahoma and points south, while he works north to Kansas City. And no, I'm not exactly involved."

Charlotte's eyes grew misty and round. "I relay messages to those who come in and need to know."

"I see," Olive remembered the paper Charlotte placed in her apron pocket that day when Lloyd came in the Golden Maiden. She told Charlotte what transpired but stopped when she almost told her about Claretta Brier's phone call. She thought better of it; that way, Jimmy, Tanner, or any of the gang would not know where she was. Staying in Joplin was dangerous.

Last night, William called Lydia, and Olive explained the situation to her. She planned to pack her belongings and catch the train to Kansas, where Lydia would be waiting for her.

"But that does involve you, Charlotte. If you talk to any of the gang, aren't you afraid one of them could hurt you?"

"Olive, it's the family business, darling. I will never be hurt. And if for some reason I am, there'll be dead men for sure." She swallowed and changed the subject. "So, what are you going to do?"

"Jimmy begged me to stay, but I said no. Then he told me to get out, gave me money for a divorce, and I'm going home as soon as I can." The lie sounded good.

Tears ran down Charlotte's cheeks. "I'm so, so sorry. I never thought Jimmy would do this to you. I feel responsible. Please forgive me. Is there any reason to hope you were both just angry and that you two can work this out?"

"No way, Charlotte. Money is necessary to live, and I understand that. But I draw the line when you're doing illegal things to get it. I'm not sure I've had enough time to fall in love with Jimmy anyway." Olive paused, drank some water, and bit into a chicken leg.

"I hate this!" Charlotte drew a breath. Her perfectly pretty face drew into a frown, and she pouted, "And I'm going to miss you!"

Olive swallowed the meat. "Then Jimmy told me Peter's not welcome; that pretty much said it all. I intended to bring him here to live with us. In fact, can I be honest with you?"

"Of course!"

"That's why I married Jimmy. He has money, and I needed it. I needed the money for Pete's doctor bills, not for me. And I wanted to bring my boy to live with me and relieve my folks of the burden of caring for him. He's my responsibility, but I've failed."

Charlotte grimaced. "Don't say that! It's not your fault you don't have your son with you. You've been dealt a bad deal since your first marriage. And I'm sorry Jimmy's not working out. I wish I could change things. I thought you two would be good for each other."

"I don't blame you, Charlotte. But it's my fault for deceiving myself by thinking that marrying for money would make my life all rosy and sweet. When you sin, there are consequences. I'm going to straighten out my life. I let Henry dupe me into marriage when all he wanted was his inheritance. I did love Henry, and he hurt me awful. And now marriage number two is ruined."

She looked at Charlotte, a little smile rimming her lips. "No more marriages for me. I'll tell Mr. Parker this afternoon I'm leaving. I'll be gone as soon as I can." 

                                                   ***

Mary Jane took Olive into her home once again. Olive continued to work at the Golden Maiden while she waited for the divorce to be declared. She never saw Lloyd or Vince again in the restaurant. She figured Jimmy told them to stay clear of where she was at all costs.

Maybe that was Jimmy's way of protecting her and letting her know she needed to forget what she saw and move on with her life. And she was relieved and thankful. She did want to forget what she witnessed and wanted no part of the trouble.

Lydia and Ansel made trips to Joplin to see Olive. They were a great comfort to her, sitting with her, keeping her spirits cheerful, and distracting her from Lizzie's death. The family missed Lizzie, and life was not the same now that she was gone.

William and Amy lived with Mary Jane, and Olive made fast friends with William's beautiful new wife. William bought a Ford Model T motorcar, and the family enjoyed outings both in the country and around town.

Amy asked Olive to teach her how to cook. She tried new recipes, and Olive taught Amy the magic of baking bread, pies, and egg noodles. Most days, the kitchen looked like a flour bomb had landed on the counters.

On of her days off, Olive found Horace Bingham, Jimmy's lawyer, and filed for divorce. Bingham advised her it might take a while as the courts had a backlog of cases. Bingham chatted with Olive about her side of the story, told her he would contact Jimmy, and then made an appointment with them. Bingham knew the Maston family, having worked with Jimmy on business matters.

A few days later, after interviewing Jimmy and Olive in the afternoon, Bingham pushed the case ahead, declaring the grounds for the dissolution uncontested and amicable. Bingham knew the Mastons desired trouble-free dealings as much as possible.

After the interview, Bingham declared Jimmy and Olive were state residents. Since there were no children for custody rights and no property division in Missouri, and Olive didn't request alimony, it was an open-and-shut case.

Olive paid Mr. Bingham his attorney's fee and the court costs and, on a bright sunny afternoon, walked out of the courthouse, a single woman with her maiden name restored.

Two months had passed since Claretta called Olive about the job in Kansas. Would the job still be open, or had it been filled? When she talked to Lydia, Lydia assured her that the job was still available, and Claretta's cousin looked forward to meeting her. From the cash Jimmy gave her, Olive had enough money in her pocket to start a new life. She bought a ticket and said goodbye to Mary Jane, William, and Amy one morning. 

***

Olive watched the countryside pass through the window on the passenger train ride to Kansas. Although she hadn't slept last night, today she was too busy thinking about what she would need to do once she arrived at her destination. She was calm and excited to leave Missouri behind. Last night, while awake, she prayed for God's forgiveness for making such wrong choices and bad decisions. She knew what the Bible said about forgiveness. But especially, she had to forgive herself. That was hard to do. She desperately needed to forgive many people and those things she had experienced in the past years. She wanted to find a church and start attending services.

Henry came to mind first. She did not know where he was or what he was doing, and she didn't care. But she did care about finding it in her heart to forgive him and leave the past behind. In her way, Olive still loved Henry because they had a child together. She decided not to tell her parents anything until she had settled and had more information.

Jimmy came to mind next. She learned a hard lesson about him. She allowed him to woo her into a situation that could have ended badly. Still, she forgave him and vowed not to think about it again.

The world was changing with new inventions, innovations, the war, motor cars, telephones, and corruption. She was appalled by the way women were suppressed and taken for granted. Money ruled lives, and people would do almost anything for it. She was thankful for those people who watched after her. Now, she was embarking on a new way of living.

Olive opened her eyes when she heard the train whistle and the conductor calling, "Next stop Lakefield, Kansas!"

While praying and thinking, she had taken a needed nap. Now, she was at her destination. She closed her eyes, quickly said a prayer, and mentally prepared for a new day.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN 

Harvest time in Kansas, 1915 

As the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific train chugged its way into the bustling town of Lakefield, Olive leaned next to the window. The rhythmic clacking of the wheels against tracks echoed mile after mile of travel.

The train depot came into view, its gray arched facade front with the town's name, Lakefield, etched on the curve dominating the September skyline. The block building adorned with ornate trimmings stood like an imposing protector of the town against the endless prairie. Clusters of people gathered on the platform.

When the train slowed to a stop, Olive adjusted her hat, pushed her hair under it, gouged the glass jet-black hatpin through it all, gathered her bag, and walked the aisle to the open door.

Stepping onto the platform, she looked for Lydia and Ansel, but they were nowhere to be seen. Glancing up at the sun, she guessed the time to be about two o'clock in the afternoon.

The Lakefield Depot bore signs of the community's patriotic spirit. An American flag hung above the open doorway, and red, white, and blue bunting adorned the tall windows. The air was alive with scents of freshly cut hay and horses and mingled with the faint tang of coal smoke from the locomotive. Birds chirped merrily in the distant trees, their cheerful melodies adding to the warm welcome that enveloped the small town.

A group of people walked past Olive as steam hissed from the train. A little boy cried out to his father, running into his arms as his mother hurried to keep up. Olive moved closer to the station house, scanning the crowd, hoping for a familiar face among the strangers.

"Olive! Olive Johnson?" a voice called from behind her.

Relief flooded her, and turning, she expected to see her friends. Instead, Edward's brother waited a few feet away. Dressed in a white Navy uniform, Will Brier waved heartily, a big smile spreading across his face as their eyes met. A dark neckerchief tied around the collar of his uniform waved with the breeze. He moved toward her.

"Yes, I'm here!" She pulled her bag tightly to her as if that would stop her racing heartbeat. Relief spread through her at his friendly face.

Will stepped to her, shaking her hand. "It's good to see you again! You do remember me; I'm Edward's brother, Will Brier."

"Yes, it's been a while since we last spoke. But I'm expecting Lydia and Ansel Fitzhugh." She looked around. "They don't seem to be here."

"I guess it's sort of a mix-up," Will explained. "Ansel and Lydia are out of town and asked Edward to fill in for them. But then Ed’s little boy fell off their porch and he and Claretta rushed him to see the doctor. I apologize for all of them."

"I see. I hope the baby's going to be okay." Olive stepped back from Will.

"I'm sure he will be. You know how children are. Running around like chickens with their heads cut off!"

A smile framed Olive’s face at his choice of words. She envisioned the scene of killing chickens at home, where you either chopped off the chicken's head with an ax or wrung its neck, throwing it to the ground and letting it bleed out. The yard was always filled with flopping chickens, blood spattering everywhere. She could almost smell the wet chicken feathers and dripping blood. She grimaced at the memory and replied, "Yes, well, killing chickens is something I won't soon forget."

Will laughed. "Let's get your luggage, and I'll take you to Ed's to get settled."

"Oh, I'm staying with Lydia and Ansel," her voice faltered. "I…think." When she saw Will's look, her heavy eyebrows rose in amusement. "Unless they've changed that, too."

"I have no idea. But I'm sure it'll be straightened out." He started toward the luggage hold. She followed him.

"Will, are you in the Navy?" She noted the faint tremor in her voice. Now was not the time to panic, so she tamped it down. She could trust Will Brier. Couldn't she? A niggling voice reminded her she had trusted Henry and Jimmy and look where that had led her. Olive chided herself, shooing the voice from her head.

Will’s eyebrows gathered together, and he nodded, looking down at his uniform. “That’s me, Sailor Will. Most of us got called when the U.S. joined the fighting. Edward and I went to the Navy. I’m a gunner’s mate and just graduated from gunner school. I’m home on leave for a few days to get the crops in.” He gathered her luggage from the baggage hold and put it in the buckboard wagon.

Olive settled on the wagon seat, spreading her calico day dress so it would not wrinkle.

The day was ending with big surprises. Suddenly, her energy drained from her like a bucket with a hole in it. She needed a cool cloth over her eyes, a nap, and something to drink. Her mouth felt as dry as the landscape before her.

She watched Will load her three trunks on the wagon, remembering the day in Arkansas in Rachel Hammontree's dress shop when she met Ansel, Edward, and Will. Clearly, Will must have been taken with her. And she had noticed him, too. Especially his impeccable manners and overall demeanor.

She had not attended his brother's wedding. But Lydia and Ansel had, and Lydia talked about the magnificent event. If Rachel and Claretta Hammontree were involved, then the event would naturally be over the top. Things might have been different if she had traveled here to Kansas to attend the wedding. She glanced at Will's left hand; he was still single. Lucky man, she kept the chuckle to herself.

Will climbed up next to her on the seat and set the horses on their way. As they turned down Main Street in town, Olive noticed the houses mixed with businesses that lined the streets. Lakefield, Kansas, was a small farming community in the southwestern part of the state. The summer climate was windy, hot, and dry, while the winter brought heavy snows but moderate temperatures, or so Lydia had told her during one of their many phone conversations.

Southwestern Kansas was a bit different than the Southwestern Missouri Ozarks.

Talking about the town's history, Will told Olive all about it, from the early railroad days to the discovery of gas west of the town. "Lakefield was the broom corn capital of the world until hard winter wheat replaced it. The county boasted livestock and agriculture. The town got its name from the man who settled here. He gave free water to weary travelers along the way and they swam in the lake in a large field. He built a general store and a post office near the railroad and named the town for the lake."

Olive learned that Will owned a farm near his parents. Edward's farm was close by on the edge of town, and Anna's farm was located to the north. The Briers were farmers who came to the United States from Germany in the 1880s. But Herman Brier, Will's father, died soon after moving to Kansas, and Dora, his mother, had remarried to a man named Charlie.

"Father spoke broken English, but mother has never learned the language. However, she knows quite well how to communicate. Charlie is a good husband, and I'm quite fond of him. Mother does well in church and volunteers at all the functions, which is important to her."

They rode along the long dirt road, wheat fields bordering both sides and stretching for miles. The golden shafts of wheat moving with the brisk wind seemed to welcome her to the great state. The land was relatively flat where they were, and all one saw was the farm fields with houses, barns, and silos setting along here and there. The wind blew across the plains, pushing up piles of dust around anything in its way.

Will pointed down the road and to the right. "See that windmill in the distance? That's Mother's farm. We aren't too far away now. I bet Claretta can't wait to see you. That's all she's talked about since you accepted the job offer in Edgar's hotel."

Olive was glad her hat was pinned into her hair. The wind blew ferociously at times, lifting the edges of the hat and threatening to send it bouncing down the dirt road. She drew in breaths of the clear sunshine and breeze. She had no idea that the state of Kansas was so flat. She was used to Missouri's rolling hills and deep hollows with caves, tall oak trees, and walnut groves.

Was Kansas the place God wanted her to be? Would she find her way in life with the promise of a new beginning? Going to Joplin was supposed to be the new beginning for her, but that turned out to be a disaster. Lizzie died, and her marriage was a farce.

And she still didn't have Peter with her. As the years passed and her son grew up, would he want to live with her? It had been a while since she talked to him. Homesickness reared its ugly head, and she pushed away the tears so Will wouldn't see what threatened to spill out of her.

As they passed Will's mother's farm, a massive field of green and yellow caught Olive’s eyes. The tall green stalks crowned by large yellow petals and brown centers basked in filtered sunshine. One golden bloom after another regally stood tall and straight. A field of sunflowers!

A gentle hum of bees flitted from one golden bloom to another. Most of the flowers had turned, following the sun’s path toward the light. The field stretched out endlessly; a sea of greens, yellows, and brown centers popped throughout. The rich earth looked soft and reminded her of coffee grounds. Olive could almost feel the sunflowers' joy as they soaked up the sunlight. A delight skittered through her as she gazed upon the serene haven where nature’s beauty took center stage.

Olive gasped and looked at Will, who was smiling as the horses plodded past the show of flowers. "I've never seen such a gorgeous sight!"

"Do you like them?" Will asked. He slowed the horses, and the wagon ground to a stop. "This is my field."

"Yours?" Olive’s eyes opened wide, and her brows lifted at the revelation. "Sunflowers are my favorite flower in the whole wide world." Her hand went to her throat as she gazed over the sea of yellow. Will was certainly a farmer!

"A few fellows and I experimented this summer to see how they grow and how easy or hard harvesting will be. I decided to plant only one field until I know exactly what I'm getting into." Will's eyes scoured the flower field. "They're beginning to rest and dry now. See how wilted the petals are? It's a sign to harvest."

"Magnificent!" Olive gasped again.

Will hopped down from the wagon and sprinted to the edge of the field. Cutting a bloom with his pocketknife, he returned to the wagon and handed the yellow stalk to Olive.

"Thank you!" She took the prickly stalk in her hands and admired the beauty.

Climbing back onto the seat, they moved toward the house. "I'm reporting to Virginia in two days, so I won't be here to harvest them. I've been helping in the wheat and corn fields. Ed's going to do the flowers for me."

A few minutes later, he said, "This is my place." He stretched out his arm to the left as they passed. A modest farmhouse with a screened porch stretched on the front sat far from the dirt road. Behind the house, Olive saw two barns, two silos, a windmill, a chicken coop, and a horse barn. Farm implements sat around the barn. A garden stood to the left.

"Your barn reminds me of my Pa's back home."

"I've got one hundred acres of corn and one hundred seventy acres of wheat growing back in the back. We can't wait to see how the sunflower crops do. I've been reading up on growing, and while it's taking off overseas, it's relatively new here in the States. Sunflowers are a rotation crop, so I have to have enough fields to support it. And, since sunflowers are tasty, crop pests are abundant. I'm supposed to check the field morning and night. We're working with the Kansas State Ag College. Researchers are interested in finding out what all sunflowers will produce in the way of food consumption."

"What will you do with them when you harvest?" Olive listened as Will filled her head with lots of agricultural information. Yep, he was an ag man for sure.

"My crop is oil seeds, so I'll use them for silage for poultry this time. I'm not a gambler, so I don't want to invest in something that might not turn out well. Although taking a risk for this project didn't cost me much."

Olive’s face fell at the word gambler, and panic seized her chest, bringing back thoughts of what she had just gone through not too many weeks ago. What would Will think if he knew about her marrying a bootlegger and all the shady dealings he was involved in? She hoped her face didn't portray the feelings of utter devastation. Pulling the sunflower close, it hid her emotions. 

***

The horses pulled into a yard where a modest house sat, and Will stopped at the rail fence, setting the wagon brake. Jumping down, he went around and helped Olive to the ground, then got her luggage. Olive held the drooping sunflower in one hand and her bag in the other. She felt like the flower, withered and dry, needing a taste of cool water.

The door to the white clapboard house opened, and Claretta came running down the porch steps with her arms open wide. Her long dark gray skirt dragged on the dusty walkway and she grabbed one side as she ran. Her cameo locket bounced from side to side as she ran.

They met at the gate, both women hugging and speaking at once. "Herman's sleeping now after seeing the doctor. He has a slight summer cold, a stuffy nose, and all. But he checked out fine," she explained. "How was your trip? I bet you're exhausted after that dreadful train ride! I've got supper almost ready to serve."

Olive smiled as she listened to Claretta chatter on. Weary from the trip, she wanted to clean up, redo her hair, and change clothes. She looked at her black shoes. They were covered in dust. She ignored the dirt, and with a cheerful smile plastered on her mouth, she answered, "I can't tell you how grateful I am for your hospitality, Claretta. And for your cousin's invitation to work at his hotel."

"I believe in God's intervention," Claretta's chocolate eyes snapped with sassiness. "He supplies all of our needs just in the nick of time."

Edward took her baggage into the house, and Will came around the corner leading his quarter horse, a chestnut mare with a white star between the eyes.

Olive went to meet the horse. She extended her hand and gently patted the side of the horse's face. "Beautiful." She breathed in the smell of hay and horse that tickled her nose.

"Her name's Star," Will said, holding the leather reins with gloved hands.

Olive spoke softly, patting and caressing Star. Her fingers smoothed Star's neck as she whispered nonsensical words to the beautiful beast.

Will's smile lit his eyes. "She likes you."

Olive snuggled her muzzle. "I like her; she's a gorgeous horse!"

Star whinnied softly and flecked her tail, moving into Olive’s embrace.

"You might lose your horse, brother," Edward said and laughed. "Looks like they're a pair."

Claretta stepped closer. "Lydia told us you like horses, so we have chosen a couple you can get to know and might choose one for yourself. But first, let's get you settled in for the night."

Taking Olive’s arm, they stepped toward the brick walkway.

"I bet you're exhausted from the travel," Edward said, "Mom's made some chicken and her special egg noodles." Turning to Will, he invited, "You might as well stay, Brother. Tie Star to the fence. There's plenty to go around."

"Yes, stay!" Claretta offered, looking between Will and Olive.

"As much as I love Mom's egg noodles, I need to get back and check the sunflowers. I'll be over in a day or two before I have to leave out." Will mounted Star, and the horse danced around in the squishy dust as if she were happy.

"Welcome to Kansas!" Bill called. He saluted and then rode away.

Olive answered, "Thank you, Will!" and watched the horse and rider grow smaller and smaller as they rode out of sight. She was glad that Will Brier had come to meet her at the train station.

The ride to Edward and Claretta's had been enlightening as he talked about his family and the new ag project he took on. Smiling, she thought of the briars back home that were prickly thorns; folks called them stickers. Will Brier. Willy Sticker was a good nickname for him. She smiled, and the anxiety she experienced earlier melted away.

The reason that brought her over four hundred miles away from her home was long gone. She could relax. Jimmy nor the gang did not know where she was.

She needed to contact her mother soon. She had promised Mary Jane and Amy she would call when she had time. There was much to do.

She couldn't help but wonder how much the Briers knew about her. That was the first question for Lydia when she saw her again.