Free Tabitha by Vikki Kestell Page A

was
strangling Rose’s hand in her effort to stay composed.
    O’Dell stared at the floor. “You asked what it means that we
have found no further witnesses to Morgan’s route.”
    His voice softened, “It means we have no leads to follow at
present. From Pueblo, Morgan could have gone in any direction. It is unlikely
that he turned north, of course, but he could have gone in any other
direction.”
    The small room lapsed into silence for a time.
    Finally Joy murmured. “I see.”
    “I would like us to pray,” Rose’s suggestion was too
strongly worded to be ignored.
    O’Dell again took his seat and the three of them bowed their
heads together.
    “Lord, we can do nothing apart from you,” Rose prayed. “This
task, this mission to find Edmund, is beyond our abilities—but O Lord, nothing
is too difficult for you . We confess that we trust you, Lord, and we
commit Edmund into your care.”
     
    After three days, everyone in the house knew that Shan-Rose
had recovered from her illness when her energy returned and she refused to stay
still. The next day the child, as was her custom, accompanied Mei-Xing to Mrs.
Palmer’s house, where the housekeeper generally watched her.
    However, that same morning, Joy came down with a severe
cold. Tabitha confined her to her bed in the cottage out back of Palmer House.
    “You likely caught this cold from Shan-Rose, Joy, but you
must understand that you are more susceptible to illness at this time, while
you are still grieving,” Tabitha admonished her friend. “Sarah, Corrine, and
Billy have the shop in hand, so do not worry. Only rest.”
    “It is hard to rest,” Joy murmured, “when my mind refuses to
let me.”
    Tabitha placed her hand on Joy’s forehead and made light,
soothing circles on it with her fingers. “I can only imagine that is so. Still,
you are running a fever, Joy. You must rest—and you must not expose the
remainder of the house to your illness, particularly Marit.”
    Palmer House’s beloved cook was very pregnant with her
second child.
    “Oh! You are right, of course.”
    Joy sighed and turned on her side. Tabitha pulled the covers
up around Joy’s shoulders. She sat beside Joy, stroking her back until Joy’s
even breathing and relaxed muscles told Tabitha that her friend had slipped
into slumber.
    “She is sleeping now,” Tabitha whispered as Rose peeked
through the doorway. They tiptoed from Joy’s little cottage together.
    A week later when Joy returned to work, Rose and Tabitha
again convened in the great room.
    Rose perused her notes. “I have managed, stealing little
bits of time here and there and staying up a little late at night, to write a
draft from my notes up to when Opal moved her ‘business’ to Silver City. But
please, continue with your story.”
    Tabitha nodded. “Yes. Time is moving toward the new school
term more quickly than I imagined it could. I do want you to have all you need
to write my complete testimony.”
    Rose turned to the last used page in her notebook. “Let me
see. You left off at such an important place—on the road to Denver with this
Jock Jacobs person. Just after you heard the roadside preacher.”
    Tabitha smiled. “With the word ‘wait’ warming my insides,
the rest of the long journey to Denver was a little easier. When we arrived in
the city, Jock installed us in a cheap boarding house. Then he went on the
prowl for a “buyer” for me. He left me chained to the bed with strict
instructions to the landlord that ‘his wife was ill and was not to be
disturbed.’ He made sure that I did not call out for help by forcing laudanum
on me before he went out.”
    Tabitha sniffed. “I do not know how many days I spent in an
utter haze, but I do not believe they were many. One morning Jock did not force
the drugged drink on me. Instead, he had me bathe, dress, and fix my hair.”
    She glanced at Rose. “We got into his wagon. When we arrived
at our destination, I looked up and read the sign: Silver