Boldly Chapter Sixteen

 Chapter Sixteen

Good News and Bad News

"Lorna… is something wrong?" Ilse stopped her as she walked past. "You look… as if you haf seen a ghost! And… why, Lorna, you're crying!"

"Och, Ilse, I'm all right," Lorna brushed the tears from her eyes and smiled bravely, even attempting a laugh. "I'm just tired… I need t' gae home."

"The lieblings and I will walk with you," Ilse offered, glancing back at Benjie who was blissfully playing in the dirt.

"Nae, dinna bother," Lorna shook her head. "I'll see ye on Sunday, Ilse."

"Wait, Lorna…" There was something in Ilse's voice that caused her to turn back and she noticed a light in her friend's eyes that had never been there before. "I… want to tell you something first."

"Ye must have good news?" Lorna smiled again as she stepped back and Ilse seized her hand, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Jah… the very best of news. Lorna… I just found out… I'll be having my very own kleine liebling… in the summer! Can you imagine… how wonderful… a baby of my very own! I love Laura and Benjie so very much but… oh, this is different. This is… wonderful! I'll be a real mother, Lorna, think of it!"

"An' I am so very happy fer ye, my caraid dileas… dear friend!" Lorna laughed as Ilse nearly smothered her in an embrace. "Let me ken if ever ye need anythin' an' I'll help ye all I can."

---

In spite of her happiness for Ilse, the thought of Jason… and the look in his eyes when she refused him… cast a shadow over Lorna as she walked slowly back to Mrs. Sullivan's boarding house. She walked with her head down, lost deep in thought… not even paying attention to the path before her. She knew the way well enough, she had walked it a hundred times. But she suddenly stopped short, narrowly missing a collision. There, in the road before her, stood a stranger. A tall stranger with iron grey hair and narrow black eyes. She recoiled instantly, just at the sight of him, for something in those narrow eyes of his frightened her horribly.

"Och, excuse me, sir." She attempted to walk past him but the man grabbed her arm and jerked her back. She lifted her head higher, determined not to show fear before this man.

"Can I help ye?"

"Ya'd better," the man spat, narrowly missing the hem of her skirt, and stepped forward, threateningly. "I have a feelin' that ya know somethin' that I'd like t' know."

"I… I can't imagine what," Lorna tried to laugh, more to hide her nervousness than because she felt that he was being ridiculous.

"Don't play coy with me, missy. D'ya know who I am?"

"Nae, sir, canna say that I do," Lorna half-smiled in spite of herself. But then her smile froze and disappeared… for she suddenly remembered where before she had seen those eyes. "What d'ye want from me?"

"Yer Jason McCulloch's gal, ain't ya?"

"No." Lorna frowned and tossed her head. She certainly wasn't going to take this from this man, of all people. She made another attempt to move away, but his fingers tightened around her arm, clenching into her skin.

"D'ya know he's a murderer?" And the man cackled as if this was a delightful statement. Lorna shivered in horror and her eyes flashed sparks.

"How dare ye? Comin' here an'… an' accusin' an innocent man! We dinna want trash like ye 'round here!" Without thinking, she slapped him across the face… hard… with her free hand. He stared at her, eyes flaming with rage, then took a deep breath as if to compose himself and chuckled softly. A terribly irritating sound and Lorna shivered again, involuntarily. But her Scottish temper was flaring up again and she was, at the moment, fearless.

"Got some fire t' ya, don't ya, gal. Now see here. All I want from ya is t' talk t' the sheriff. Tell him about McCulloch. He'll listen t'ya. Iffen ya don't believe me, I kin give ya proof too. I was there… when th' Carter Bank Robbery happened. I saw McCulloch shoot Carter dead, with my own eyes. An' I got three witnesses who'll swear t' that effect. It's yer duty t' the town… t' tell them what ya know."

"I dinna know anythin' about it. I've merely heard a couple of dirty, lying rumors. I dinna care what ye say or what ye do… I've nae use fer a man like ye. Excuse me, did I say man? What I meant was snake." Lorna jerked away, breaking his hold on her arm, to turn and run down the street.

---

Lorna never spoke to anyone of her meeting with Slade. She simply hoped desperately that nothing would come of it. And, for the next few days at least, nothing did. The week dragged by and her students seemed to be struggling more than usual. She became frustrated with them and it was a constant battle to keep her temper from uprising. But she succeeded, thank the Lord, and her students were lucky to escape

Ilse brought the kleine lieblings to visit on Saturday afternoon and they had a grand visit. Mrs. Sullivan promptly turned into a grandmother and occupied the children for three full hours while Ilse and Lorna talked and laughed and looked at little patterns of baby clothes, chose soft yarns and fabrics, and shared their unfortunate ignorance of changing diapers and three o'clock feedings.

Sunday came, and Lorna went to church reluctantly… something she had never done before, for she loved the Lord's day and had always before went with a joyful heart. But she was reluctant this time… because she knew Jason would be there.

And he was. She slipped into church quietly, just a few minutes late, hoping he wouldn't see her. But he seemed to sense her presence and looked back over his shoulder as she sat down in the Danby's pew, next to Ilse, and met her eyes for one brief moment.

She met him after church, accidentally on her part, but purposefully on his. But the conversation was forced… and awkward. He stuck strictly to small talk and said at least three times that it was a beautiful day. But just before he turned to leave, she interrupted him.

"Jason, I… I canna accept yer gift any longer. I feel terrible about it an'… I'm so sorry. If ye'll drop by Mrs. Sullivan's, I'll give Leannan back. I… canna keep her now since…" her voice trailed away and she looked down.

"Lorna, I'm not taking her back, no matter what happened. I didn't give her t' ya t'… win yer favor. It was a gift. She's yours now. Fer always."

"God bless ye," Lorna whispered. "Let's… let's stay friends, Jason. But… from a distance… if it's all right with ye."

Jason smiled… a slow, sad smile.

"It's not yer friendship that I want, Lorna. But… if that's all yer offerin', I'll take it, gladly."