September Wind (39 page)

             
George sighed and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Okay, but you’d better be right. Hey, wait a minute. We don’t have a telephone, so how do you get a hold of me if there’s trouble.”

             
“
Listen, George, I’ve been in worse spots. Please, just trust me.”

             
“
Well, okay, but I’m sending the folks uptown to talk to a lawyer.”

* * * *

When Emily arrived home, she went straight upstairs, and as she approached Maria’s room, she heard crying. She swung the door open and found Maria sitting on the floor, drenched in tears.

“Oh, Emily,” she wailed, her voice shaking with sobs, “Uncle Bud’s dead, and now father’s sending us away.”

              Emily closed the door and hurried over. “I’m sorry, Maria, I’m so sorry.” She sat beside her, reached for a tissue, and wiped her tears. “Your uncle seemed like such a nice man, and he loved you guys so much.”

             
“
We loved him too, and now he’s gone… just like Mommy.” She started to cry harder, and Emily took her into her arms, brushing her hair back, patting her shoulders.

             
“
Maria,” she said after a few minutes.

             
“
Mm?”

             
“
Cry for them if you want, it’s okay, but it would hurt them to see you so upset. They would want you to be happy. And... I really feel they’re okay.”

             
Maria looked up. “Really? You do?”

             
“
Yes, I do.”

             
Maria began to sniffle again. “But we’re being sent away, and we won’t ever see you again.”

             
“
Are you sure?”

             
“
Yes. I heard father tell Pearl he and Otto were going to the funeral. When Pearl asked if we were going, he said ‘no’, that she was to pack our things up because we were leaving.”

             
Emily tried to stay calm, but this was all happening so fast. “Oh, Maria, I don’t know. Did he say anything else?”

             
“
No, except that someone would be here to pick us up at eight-thirty tomorrow night. When I heard that, I came up here.”

             
Emily was sickened, and yet she wanted to believe the children would be better off wherever they were going.               “I’m sure he’s sending you somewhere very nice.”

             
“
But I don’t wanna go off to a strange place, especially not without you.”

             
“
I’ll find out where you are and I’ll go see you,” Emily said, although she was afraid she would never see them again.

             
“
You promise?”

             
“
I’ll do whatever I have to.”

             
But she was sickened and in a quandary, because if Uncle Bud hadn’t died, the children wouldn’t be leaving. She wondered what plans Donald had for her.

             
She thought of going back over to the Trutmans, but she couldn’t leave the children, especially Maria, not like this. She would wait until the next night and get a license plate number off the car they left in. Then she would go.

That night, after the children were asleep, she lay in bed, still not convinced Donald hadn’t seen her beneath the steps back at the sawmill. Maybe he kept it to himself so word wouldn’t get out he had a motive for doing away with her, and if he had seen George, him too.

              Her imagination kept her awake all night, and just before the sun came up, she dressed and stepped out into the hallway. All was quiet except for the soft patter of her shoes on the floor. She made it halfway down the stairway when there was a clicking sound like a door, or maybe footsteps.

She stopped and looked back up, waiting for the next sound. When it didn’t come, she hurried down the steps, out the door, and to the barn.

Ten minutes later, she rode bareback, gloves on, a shovel in her lap, and just enough light from the approaching dawn to see her way across the corral. When she reached the tree where she witnessed the man dragging something through the brush, she tethered Star to the fence and climbed over.

It didn’t take long for her to find the recently overturned earth, and even though she was shaking from limb to limb, there was an overpowering need that forced her to dig.

              She began to work the shovel with all the power she could muster, jab after jab she slammed it into the dirt. With each crunch of the blade, an eerie quiet filled the air.               Her arms were up ready for another hit when she sensed someone watching her. She drove the blade into the ground and quickly scanned the wooded area. But there was nothing, only the sound of birds singing.

She raised the shovel high as her arms would go, and as dogs began to bark in the distance, she drove in another vigorous jab. This time she hit something. She got a good grip on the handle, heart pounding as she scraped dirt aside, just enough to reveal a red and white checkered shirt, and part of a hand. A chill shot through her, but there was no time to react.

              A branch snapped off to her right, and out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow move toward her. She dropped the shovel and raced through the trees, letting her instinct lead her to Star. When she reached the fence, she sailed over in one quick motion. She yanked the gloves off; then struggled to untie the rope, fingers clawing, shaking.

Finally, it was loose. By then hoofs thudded behind her.

              She hurled herself onto the horse, looking back as Paul headed her way, his voice threatening as always, only angrier now.

             
She quickly dug in her heel, and Star shot off in the other direction.

As she neared the fence next to the barn, she realized she had no choice but to go over. She had just lined up Star for the jump when Paul grabbed the reins and brought her to a stop.

              “
Hey, what’re you trying to do?” he said. “That horse isn’t ready for a jump like that.”

             
She looked around, expecting to see the other man join them. Only why would he have to when Paul was there to take care of her. She noticed him glance in the direction where the dogs were still fussing.

             
“
Emily,” he said, turning to her again. “I can only guess why you resent me so much, but I could think of better reasons to hate someone.”

             
She nudged Star, ready to try another jump, but he tightened his grip on the reins and brought the horse in closer.

             
“
Look at me, Emily!” His order took her by surprise.

             
Unable to stop herself, she looked into his eyes. Even in her desperation, she couldn’t see any sign of cruelty. That miserable look was replaced by something else. Could it be his eyes had always revealed a mixture of fear and concern instead of intimidation?

“I think she could’ve made it over,” she said, sliding from Star. She handed him the reins, and was surprised he didn’t stop her as she climbed the fence and started for the house.

              She left her muddy shoes at the back door and scrambled up the stairway.

             
Finding Nathan already up and dressed, she grabbed his hand and took him to Maria’s room.

             
“
Okay, you guys.” She was shaking so hard she didn’t know how she could do this. “I have to be quick, so please listen carefully, and no questions. I’m leaving right now, but I’m sending someone to pick you up.”

             
“
What’s wrong with you?” Maria said glaring down at her muddy clothes. “Where’ve you been?”

             
Emily put a hand on her shoulder. “Never you mind. Just go down and tell Pearl that neither of you feel well. Bring back a snack and both of you stay here in your room.”

             
“
But, where’re you going?”

             
Emily glanced at the door. “I don’t have time to explain. Just do as I say. I mean it. I love you guys.” She gave them each a hug and then rushed from the room.

             
Once in her bedroom, she pushed a chair under the doorknob. She had just finished stuffing her things into her bag when someone tried the knob. When the door wouldn’t open, the banging began.

             
“
Open up.” Donald shouted. “Open this damn door!”

             
When she didn’t answer, the banging got louder. She ran to a window and as she looked down at the grass below the door flew open, knocking the chair against the bed.

             
“
What did I say about staying out of my business?” He stormed across the room and stood with his fists clenched. “You had it so good but then you, of all people, had the nerve to go out and snoop where you don’t belong. What is it with you women nowadays?”

             
She tried to back away, but he moved with her. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do with you, young lady.” His fist came at her before she could duck.

             
She hit the wall and slid to the floor.

             
He stood for a moment glaring, and then left, locking the door behind him.

             
She dragged herself off the floor and trudged to the bathroom. When she looked in the mirror and saw the pitiful image, she was too stunned to cry. She wet a washcloth and dabbed blood from her bottom lip, touched the swelling round her jaw, then went in and lay across the bed and closed her eyes.

When she heard someone unlock the door and walk in, she didn’t bother to raise her head.

              “
Get up,” Maria whispered.

             
Emily opened her eyes and leaped off the bed, and pushed Maria toward the door. “Get out before your father finds you here.”

             
“
Please, Emily, you have to leave before he hurts you again.” Maria was sobbing, and Emily did all she could to keep herself strong.

             
“
I’ll go as soon as you’re back in your room.”

             
“
Okay, but…”

             
“
Go, now. And remember, I love you, no matter what.”

             
When Maria hesitated, Emily gave her another shove, waving her away. “Go, hurry.”

             
“
I love you too,” Maria said, and then ran off to her room.

             
Emily stuffed her belongings back into her bag. She pulled the strap over her head, tucked the bag under her arm, and then dashed into the hallway.

             
Donald was waiting for her, and she ducked past him and headed for the stairs. He caught up with her, and grabbed her by a shoulder. She managed to free herself, but she lost her balance, and before she could stop herself, she was tumbling down the stairway.

* * * *

Donald stared at the heap at the bottom of the stairs. Paul came out of nowhere, picked her up and hurried from the house.

             
The dogs were heading their way now as Paul carried Emily to the bunkhouse. He snatched a blanket off a shelf, and then rushed out to the waiting horse. She moaned and tried to open her eyes. When he draped the blanket over her like a sling, she settled back against his chest.

He placed a foot in a stirrup lifting them both into the saddle. Then he reached under the blanket, wrapped his fingers around the strap of her bag that still hung around her neck, and then pulled it down to her waist so that the bag sat on her lap.

              The dogs were in the backyard now, beyond the island of trees, and he quickly looped the strap of her bag around the notch at the front of the saddle. He tucked the blanket under his legs to keep her close, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and then gave the horse a nudge.

They leaped from hiding and raced across the lawn, out the front gate and onto the property south of the long drive, over rolling hills and valleys, around fallen trees, gopher and groundhog holes, and over rocks and shrubs.

Still, the dogs seemed to be gaining ground.

             
Then Paul tightened his hold on Emily, dug his heels in, and headed for a brook. Moments later, they forged through the water, downstream and up the bank on the other side.

             
They came upon an area of downed fence where they crossed to the other side of the highway. When they reached a farmhouse, Paul freed the strap on Emily’s bag and, with her still in his arms, he slid from the saddle and carried her up the steps. He struck the door several times with a foot.