Chapter 20

Eleanor enjoyed her time with the Brunswicks, despite her being with them because of Marvella’s machinations. Sarah and Jacob treated her like a part of their family, and she couldn’t have been more welcome. Jacob shared stories of their lives in Kansas. Dramatic tales of prairie fires and tornadic storms and of the two married daughters they left behind when they moved to Montana in 1885. They had come in search of an adventure.

At one point, she dared to ask her question. “So why does one farmer need twenty thousand acres to grow wheat?”

Jacob Brunswick hadn’t been the least bit offended, much to her relief. “Because there are millions of hungry people out in the world. Each acre of wheat produces roughly thirty-seven bushels.”

Carter jumped in at this. “And each bushel of wheat produces about forty-two pounds of flour. More than that if it’s not extra refined.”

“And forty-two pounds of flour can make an equal number of one-pound loaves of bread,” Sarah added with a smile. “One thing this family knows, is wheat.”

“No matter how much I plant, it seems the world always needs more,” Jacob finished off. “Wheat keeps the world from starving to death.”

It made so much sense. What would the world eat if there wasn’t a healthy crop of wheat each year? Some poor families lived almost exclusively on bread and whatever else they could manage to get.

Still ... “But couldn’t the government own the land and keep it public, rather than having a lot of independent farms? Then when storms or insects destroyed the crops, you wouldn’t bear the repercussions alone.”

Jacob gave a laugh. “Have you ever known anything where the work was done by one person, overseen by another, and owned by a third to ever work well? I know the land like the back of my hand. I tend to it and keep it as healthy as possible. This year part of our acreage will go fallow to rest. Next year another part will be set aside. We even rotate and plant different crops every so often. If we didn’t manage the land in a responsible way, we’d end up with nothing. The land wouldn’t even grow grass properly.”

“What’s more,” Carter added, “if the government owned the land and leased it out, they might not allow for that kind of responsible management.”

They really did know what they were doing. And yet, no one treated her in a hostile manner for her thoughts or questions. These were good people. Maybe they would become friends for a great many year—

Years? Eleanor’s mouth dropped open a bit. When had she started thinking in terms of years in Kalispell? She wasn’t sure, but these people ... this place...

Yes, she could see herself living here for years.

When lunch was finally over and everyone had had their fill, Eleanor excused herself to return Marvella’s dishes and claim her father for their walk. As she approached the table, she was glad to see he was already finished with his meal and sat chatting with the mayor and Mr. Hill. George Grinnell was nowhere in sight.

Father saw her and got to his feet, as did the other men. The courtesy touched her.

“Ellie, I need to put off our walk for a little while. Mr. Hill wants to show me something at the depot. We won’t be long.” He surprised her with a kiss on her cheek. “Please be patient with me.”

So much for them standing out of courtesy. “Of course.” She hid her disappointment as Hill and her father headed off and the mayor moved out in the opposite direction.

Mrs. Ashbury was nowhere to be found. Neither was the Judge. Eleanor put Mrs. Ashbury’s dishes down with the others just as Nora approached.

“Don’t worry about these things, miss.” Nora gathered the dishes. “I’ll take care of everything.”

And just like that, Eleanor was not needed.

Anywhere.

She walked away. What should she do with herself? Oh, wait. There was Carter. She gave him a wave and he was quickly at her side.

“It seems Father is busy for a time, so if you’d like to take that walk now, I’m free.”

“I’d be delighted.” He offered her his arm, but she refused.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” There was really no need for him to support her, and she didn’t want people to talk.

They walked past where the band was assembling. They were going to play a tribute to John Philip Sousa and his marches, according to Marvella. Eleanor looked forward to the music. She enjoyed concerts and bands and so seldom heard them.

“Looks like the band is getting ready.” Carter nodded toward the gathering of men and instruments.”

“Yes. I was just thinking about how much I enjoy hearing bands and orchestras play. We so seldom ever go to concerts. Father is always exhausted at the end of the day. He’s never been one to enjoy a lot of society gatherings.”

“This town always loves to celebrate Independence Day. It’s important to our country, don’t you think?”

“I do. I was raised to be patriotic.”

Carter hummed, a noncommittal noise if Eleanor had ever heard one. Still, letting silence settle between them wasn’t all bad. For the first time in Carter’s presence, Eleanor didn’t feel stressed out. Or defensive. There was peace between them.

Imagine! Peace!

Of course, it was because there was peace within her now. A wide grin spread across her face. So this was what Mama was talking about when she mentioned “peace that surpassed understanding.”

“Now just what is that pretty smile for, Ellie?” Carter’s warm voice brought her out of her thoughts.

She blushed and tucked her hands behind her back. Where to begin? Though she had wanted to share her news with Father first, she wanted Carter to know what happened to her, too.

“I read a lot of the Bible last night. I read stories of Jesus healing and of Him raising Lazarus. I read about His kindness to women who sought Him or were brought to Him. Some knew what He could do for them, while others didn’t have a clue.” She dropped her hands to her sides, her fingers slipping into the folds of her skirt. “My mother knew what Jesus could do for her. She knew that this world was not the end of her life, but that something glorious and wonderful awaited. She told me that.”

Eleanor met Carter’s gaze. “It was hard for me as a child to understand how she could believe when things were so bad, but now I realize that her belief was all that got her through the pain and suffering. Her faith was so strong that she wasn’t afraid of where that pain was leading. I want that kind of faith for myself.”

The words slid out and she held her breath.

Carter might have done a flip had he known how! Her words were a balm to his heart. “I’m mighty glad to hear you say that, Ellie.”

The rosy color in her cheeks deepened. “Thank you.” The words came out low and sweet.

He had a million questions. He could tell something was different. That agitated restlessness was absent. And she didn’t seem like she was waiting for a fight to break out between them over ... something.

Still, he didn’t want to rush her. His mother had made it clear that Ellie would need time to figure things out, time for God to impress upon her what she lacked and what He could do for her.

“Let the Spirit speak to her heart. Let her see the truth of Jesus and accept it for herself before you barrel in and impose your charm on her.”

Carter smiled. His mother knew him so well.

They walked on in silence, while in the background he could hear the band tuning up. He didn’t want to get too far away since Ellie had already commented about looking forward to hearing the band play. “Maybe we should head back.”

“I suppose so. Thank you for not trying to push me into getting ... well ... saved. Mrs. Ashbury is enthusiastic about it. She was determined I should make everything right over breakfast, but I explained that I wanted to speak to Father about it first.”

“Are you afraid he’ll be angry?”

“Angry? No.” She glanced at the ground and shook her head. “The fact is, with all that seems to be changing in our relationship, I don’t know if he will even care. On the other hand, I want him to accept God as well. We’ve both been so lost since Mother died. She was the center of everything in our family, and when she died, it was as if we died as well. Coming to Montana, I saw a spark of life in Father that I’ve not seen since she passed. I think Montana has changed us both.”

Carter chuckled. “It has a way of doing that.”

Grant fidgeted as he waited with the horses. Him and Alvin had eaten lunch with the other men in Alvin’s posse, sticking mostly to themselves away from the crowd. Alvin said there was no reason to miss out on the best feast of the year, so they would wait to take Hill until after lunch. Somehow Alvin had learned that Hill intended to board his private train car that afternoon to head back to Columbia Falls and then onto the new tracks that would head toward Whitefish.

Alvin gave his gang a grin. “We’ll take him before he leaves Kalispell.”

After lunch Alvin and the others started shadowing Louis Hill, while Grant made his way to collect the horses. He was to take them to the rail yards. Alvin figgered with everyone at the celebration, this would be the perfect place to head out.

Grant had tried one final time to convince Alvin it wouldn’t work—that James Hill had dealt with tougher men than Alvin’s gang. His brother hadn’t cared. He was convinced this would change everything.

Grant didn’t believe it. Hill’s family would hire guards—maybe even get the Pinkertons looking for the men who took his son. Grant should have left when Alvin first started talking about this scheme. But Grant promised their mother he’d look out for Alvin.

Of course, lately Alvin seemed tougher than Grant. And meaner. He’d never have any trouble taking care of himse—

Grant stiffened. What was that sound? He shushed the mounts and moved them into the shadows between two buildings.

Ah. Alvin and his men. They came toward him ... and Alvin had a man over his shoulder. The man’s head was covered in a hood.

Alvin’s grin was triumphant. “We got him at the depot. Come take him while I mount my horse.”

The others beat a quick path to take their reins from Grant. He went to Alvin, who maneuvered Hill onto Grant’s shoulder, then snatched his reins and jumped into the saddle.

“Hand him up. Face down in front of me.”

Grant followed Alvin’s instructions and settled Hill on Alvin’s lap. The man didn’t move. Must be unconscious. At least ...

That’s what Grant was hoping.

Alvin took up his reins. “We’ll head up to the cabin and get him tied up, then the boys will come back to town. Come to the cabin when you have Hill’s answer. Don’t delay.”

“I won’t.” Delay? He wanted this over as fast as possible.

“We left a note in the pocket of the man Hill was talking to. Knocked ’em both out at the same time.” He chuckled. “It was like we’d practiced it. They dropped like flies.”

“You didn’t kill either one of them, did you?” Grant studied his brother’s face.

“Not hardly. Now go send the telegram.” Alvin straightened in the saddle. “That note won’t be enough. The mayor might not think to send a telegram to the old man.”

What choice did he have? “I’ll go right now.”

“Oh, and Grant ... don’t be the reason this doesn’t work.” Alvin fixed him with a cold, dead expression.

Had he ever really known his little brother? This man seemed an utter stranger. And a threatening one at that.

“I won’t.”

They slipped off through the rail yards. They would clear the tracks and buildings and then head north and east toward the river.

Grant shoved his hands in his pockets. Not that there wasn’t plenty yet to worry about. Someone might have seen them. Someone might already have found whoever it was Hill was with. Even if they hadn’t, it wouldn’t take long before someone missed them.

He hurried to the telegraph office and managed to get inside. No one had even bothered to lock up. He sent the message—a very lengthy one—to James Hill, St. Paul, Minnesota.

And then he slipped outside again ...

And ran.