The Fugitive Son (34 page)

By this time, Isaac had joined them, wanting to know what all the sobbing and shouting was about. Putting his hands on Elsie’s shoulder, he told her, “He’s telling the truth. Shortly after we met in southern Utah, Andy told me most of this. And listening to him cry out and seeing him wake up in cold sweats night after night was enough to tear out my own heart.”

Elsie looked at him skeptically.

“I didn’t say anything to you because I figured it was Andy’s story to tell when he was good and ready. It’s not something you want to relive and share with the world,” Isaac continued. “And when we studied the Bible together and Andy got through the trappings of Mormonism and saw the light of the true Gospel, he became a new man. Doesn’t the Good Book say, ‘Old things are passed away and all things are become new?’”

Elsie listened intently as Isaac and Andy described the horrors Andy had witnessed as images of her friends also flashed through her mind. Then she slowly pulled the beautiful sapphire ring from her finger and handed it to Andy. “Maybe what you’re saying is true, but I could never marry someone who had been a Mormon. And especially not one who took part in the cruel death of my friends.”

Isaac reached out to her as she started to walk away. “Elsie, be reasonable,” he urged. “Would I have tried so hard to get you and Andy together if he were a bad person? I know him to be a man of integrity and honor. A man who loves the Lord and wants to do right by him. It’s not Andy’s fault he was raised in a false religion. As soon as he heard the truth of the Gospel and God spoke to him through the Word, Andy became a new creation.”

Elsie pulled away from Isaac’s grasp. “No!” She stomped her foot. “I will not forgive him for lying to me!” She headed toward the front door. She needed some fresh air. And time by herself to think.

“When did I lie to you, Elsie?” Andy called after her. “I honestly answered every question you asked me.”

“You didn’t tell me you were a Mormon!” she charged, looking back over her shoulder.

“I am not a Mormon anymore. And I don’t remember ever discussing anything about Mormonism with you. Had you asked, I would have told you…”

She gave him one last parting glare and walked out of the merc.

Feeling as if he had been kicked in the gut, Andy winced as the door of the store slammed shut behind Elsie. “Guess I’d best pack up and leave,” he said, still trying to understand what had just happened. Losing Anne Marie had been hard, but the thought of living life without Elsie by his side was more than he could bear. He just wanted to run, to get as far away as possible from the pain.

Trip agreed. “She won’t come around, I can promise you that. Somewhere she’s picked up a real hatred and fear of anything Mormon. In our travels, whenever the subject came up, she spoke of Mormons with disdain and anger. And now, this mess with the Fancher Party has only hardened her dislike. She became really good friends with them this summer and isn’t likely to forgive or forget those who hurt them.”

Ignoring Trip’s comments, Isaac turned to Andy. “But where would you go? Doesn’t seem to me there are too many safe havens out West for a man the Mormons are looking for.”

Andy shrugged. “God will take care of me. He promised that his plans for me were good and not for evil. I had hoped that plan was with Elsie here in Santa Fe, but maybe not. Maybe God wants me to head down Mexico way to take the Gospel there.”

“Before you up and leave, let’s spend some time praying about it,” Isaac suggested. “Stick around for a few days until you get some direction.”

The jangling of the bell over the front door announced a customer was coming in. “Anybody here?” Peter’s voice called from the front.

“We’re back here in the office,” Isaac responded. “Come and join us.”

Strolling toward them, Peter glanced back toward the front door. “What’s got Elsie so upset? I just passed her stomping down the street, and she didn’t even see me. Looks like she’s got her dander up about something.”

“Or somebody,” Andy answered, hanging his head. “She’s through with me, and I was just telling the fellows here I’m going out to the ranch to pack up. I can’t stay here, being reminded of what might have been at every moment of the day.”

Peter held up his hand, as if to put a stop to Andy’s leaving. “Don’t know what caused the ruckus between you two, but you’re not going anywhere. As a matter of fact, that’s why I came in to talk to you today. Ned got tossed off a horse he was trying to break a bit earlier, and Doc says he cracked some ribs and has to lay around for a few weeks. I was hoping they could free you from the store for a few days so you can help me wrangle the herd until Ned is up to it again.”

“Sorry Ned got banged up,” Isaac said. “Andy would be happy to help you out. From what I hear, he’s a great horse wrangler. I’ll take over his responsibilities here at the merc until Ned’s better.” He looked directly at Andy. “And without seeing you every day, Elsie should have time to cool her heels, settle down, and think this thing through. She’ll come around sooner or later, I’m sure of it.”

Andy hesitated. “I don’t know. She sure seemed determined. And I don’t want to be a constant reminder of what happened to her friends. She needs time to grieve.” He shuddered as the memories of the massacre flooded his mind. “I suppose we could work it out to keep me out of her way, at least until Ned’s back on his feet, and then I can go on my way. Instead of joining you all for meals at the house, I’ll eat with the wranglers out in the bunkhouse.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Peter replied. “Elsie can be a stubborn one, but I hope and pray this all works out. Seems to me you two are right for each other.”

“Even though Andy’s a Mormon?” Trip asked.

“Mormon, Schmorman. He may have been raised a Mormon, but he is now a true brother in Christ, and that’s good enough for me!” Peter answered.

“You knew about Andy’s past?” Trip asked.

“Of course! You don’t think I’d encourage a romance between my baby sister and just anybody, do you? Andy told me his story shortly after we hired him, and I did some checking up on him. If I have anything to do with it, Andy will soon be my brother-in-law.”

Exhausted by her grief over the murder of her friends and her emotional rage at Andy, Elsie slowed her steps. An icy chill settled in her bones as she vacillated between anger and reason. She knew her rage at Andy was irrational, yet how could she possibly be in love with a Mormon, especially after what his father had done to her friends?

Sitting on a bench near El Santuario de Guadalupe church, she watched as cassock-clad priests placed farolitos along the walkway and prepared a crèche for display in the courtyard. A light snow fell, dusting everything with a soft mantle of white. Glad she had grabbed her cloak off its peg in her haste to leave the merc, Elsie pulled it closer around her, snuggling into its warmth.

She sat there for hours, longing for sanctuary from her tortured thoughts. The mellow, flickering light of the farolitos glowing against the adobe church in the gathering winter twilight lent a hushed, reverence to the scene. The aura of peace settling over the Plaza stood in sharp contrast to the turmoil raging in her soul.
God, please help me!
Elsie prayed.
I know you are the God of all peace, but why then is my soul so troubled?

Memories of earlier Christmases washed over her, bringing on a terrible siege of homesickness. How she missed Mama and Papa. How she would love to run to them with her problems and questions. Her parents had been so much in love, so in tune with each other. She knew they would be able to help her. If only they were alive!

Elsie had always thought that she would share that same deep love and devotion with her own husband some day. But how could she share that kind of intimacy with a Mormon who might want multiple wives? She remembered all the things she had heard about the false religion.

Fighting off the sting of more tears, she looked away from the peaceful crèche. She felt almost disappointed with the babe in the manger.
You’re supposed to be the Prince of Peace,
she thought.
So where is my peace? I believed in you, prayed to you, and trusted you. And where has it gotten me?

A tiny stirring in her heart brought her up short. “Enough of this self pity!” she said aloud, realizing her thoughts were wandering into dangerous territory. Without her faith, what would she have left? “Forgive me, Lord,” she whispered. “But I feel so alone right now, so lost.”

For some reason, her thoughts returned to Papa. How kind and attentive he had been. Always worrying about his little girl. Kissing away her scrapes and bruises. Listening intently to her problems. Working so hard for his family. Teaching them, loving them, caring for all of them. Out of the darkness, she thought she heard Papa’s deep, soothing voice, “Can’t you see that Andy is so much like me. He cares for you just like I did.”

Startled, Elsie jumped up from the bench and looked around, half expecting to see Papa standing nearby. Only then did she realize the Plaza was packed with joyful crowds coming to the church to celebrate the first day of the Christmas season, the traditional Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe, the invitation to prepare for the coming of the Christ child. In her emotional state since Trip had shared his bad news this morning, she had forgotten that today was December 12.

The pealing of the church bells, ringing gaily in the frosty night, coupled with the piles of red roses placed on the crèche and the happy crowds swarming around the shrine gave ample testimony that this was, indeed, the night to give homage to the virgin mother. Elsie grinned, forgetting her troubles in the majesty of the Christmas season. For quite some time now, she had eagerly looked forward to attending the fiesta, as the locals had done for the past three centuries. Yet at this moment, she wasn’t sure she was in the right state of mind.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Isaac calling her name through the crowd. “Miss Elsie, Miss Elsie!”

She ran to him, glad to see a familiar face.

“We done thought you was lost,” Isaac said, reverting to his slave voice in his worry.

She quietly corrected him. “You don’t ever need to use that ruse again, Isaac. We’re safe here!”

He lowered his eyes. “I know, but sometimes I forget when there’s so many folks around.” He straightened to his full height as he took her arm and steered her through the crowd. “We were all so worried about you. You’ve been gone for hours. I was afraid something bad had happened to you when you didn’t show up for dinner.”

Elsie apologized for the worry she had caused. “I had so much to think about and to pray about. I’m so upset; I don’t really know what to do.”

“Why don’t we just go home and let the dust settle,” Isaac suggested. “God will surely show you the way.” He put his arm around her protectively. “You’ve had a mighty rough day. Remember that Bible verse your pa taught us? ‘Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning!’”