The Widows of Braxton County Read online

  “I love you.” He hugged her close. “Our son will run this farm someday.”

  “Joe—” Kate began, then jerking away.

  “Don’t say it,” he said and pulled her against him. “We’ll have another child.” He released her abruptly and knelt in front of her. “I have an idea. If we have a good yield this year and the markets stay firm, what do you think of taking a cruise this winter? Maybe to the Caribbean? I can get away then.”

  She flung her arms around his neck. “That would be great,” she exclaimed. “But I thought money was tight.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure out a way to pay for it.”

  Kate smiled as visions of warm nights, moonlit skies, and the soft ocean waves filled her brain.

  Joe leaned forward and drew a finger down her cheek. “Who knows? Spending that much time together is bound to have results,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

  Kate felt as if she were wrapped in a soft glow. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was Joe’s promises. Whichever one, she didn’t care as she collapsed happily into the arms of her husband.

  Chapter 10

  Early fall 2012, the Krause family farm

  The hope Kate held for establishing a bond with her mother-in-law after Trudy’s revelations withered and died. The more attention Joe paid to Kate, the more Trudy’s resentment simmered. Within a few short weeks, the snubs had returned. Joe’s attitude shifted. The night in the orchard was forgotten as the strife seemed to drive him away. He spent less and less time with both women. Kate fretted, but felt powerless to resolve the situation. It took all of her strength to finally make the phone call that she’d been avoiding.

  Her grandmother picked up on the second ring.

  “Hi, Gran,” Kate said with forced brightness.

  “Well, you’re still alive.” The snarky tone made Kate’s jaw clench. “I haven’t heard from you in so long that I was beginning to wonder.”

  “Um . . . sorry. I’ve been under the weather.”

  “Really, Kate, is that an excuse to ignore me?”

  “I lost the baby,” Kate blurted out.

  Silence met her confession.

  “Are you still there?” Kate finally asked.

  “I’m here.”

  “Aren’t you going to say something?” Kate crossed her fingers and made a wish for kindness.

  “What do you want me to say?”

  Kate uncrossed her fingers. “That you’re sorry for my loss?”

  “I knew no good would come of this. Didn’t I tell you not to expect children at your age?”

  Kate’s grip on the phone tightened. “I’m not that old . . . Dr. Adams said that I can still have children,” she said defensively.

  “And we both know that doctors aren’t always right.”

  The veiled reference to her mother’s illness and death shook Kate’s confidence. What if Dr. Adams was wrong and there’d be no other pregnancies? What would that do to her marriage?

  Her grandmother continued. “I think your wisest choice would be to realize your mistake and come home where you belong. You can’t handle the life you’ve chosen.”

  “I love my husband.”

  “You barely know your husband,” her grandmother replied swiftly. “You married in a rush and now this. It’s a sign that it’s not meant to be.”

  Gran’s words reminded Kate of her first morning in her new home and the conversation she’d overheard between Joe and Trudy. She shoved the thought away.

  “I don’t believe in signs,” Kate answered stubbornly.

  “Maybe you should.”

  “Give it up, Gran. I’m staying with Joe.”

  “You’re just like your mother.”

  Here we go. Kate ground her teeth and waited for the tirade she’d heard a hundred times.

  “She wouldn’t listen to me either, and look where it got her. Married to a worthless man who was dumb enough to get himself killed and leave her alone with a baby to support.”

  “My father wasn’t worthless and it wasn’t his fault he died,” Kate said in a small voice. “It was an industrial accident.”

  “Right. And your mother could’ve been set for life if she’d done what I told her and sued that company.” Her grandmother sniffed. “But, oh no, she had to do it her way and wound up with nothing.”

  Kate drew a weary hand across her forehead. “There’s no point in dredging up the past. I need to focus on my future, and my future is with Joe.”

  Her grandmother switched tactics.

  “What about me? What about my future?” she asked in a whiny voice that set Kate’s nerves on edge. “The doctors are worried about my heart, and my arthritis is so bad I can hardly get up in the morning.” She gave a long-suffering sigh. “We were the ones who took you in after your mother died, and this is the way you repay me?”

  The guilt Kate had suffered since childhood began to creep in. She shoved it away.

  “I’m sorry that you’re not feeling well, but your home health-care aides are there to help you.”

  “Them?” she sniffed. “I don’t trust them to clean my bathroom floor. I know they’re stealing from me.”

  Kate stifled a groan. The malpractice settlement they’d won after her mother’s death had disappeared. Spent long ago on worthless crap. And unless the aides had an abnormal desire for plastic figurines of Elvis, her grandmother didn’t have anything worth taking.

  Her grandmother’s voice weakened. “I guess if you won’t help me, I can go to the county home. God knows, I can’t afford to go to somewhere nice.” She sighed again. “I’ll at least get fed three times a day. Never mind that all their food smells like cooked cabbage.”

  “Gran, you’re not going to the county home,” Kate said, exasperated.

  “Why?” Her voice sounded brighter. “Am I going to move in with you?”

  Kate almost dropped the phone. Her grandmother and Trudy in the same house? No way. Her life wouldn’t be worth living.

  “Sorry, Gran, my cell phone is dying and I didn’t hear that last part,” she said in a rush. “I’ll call back later.”

  Kate hit the end button and chucked the phone onto the couch. Scrubbing her face with her hands, she shuddered.

  Would she never be free of mean old ladies?

  Two days later, Kate felt the house pressing in on her. Joe had been withdrawing even more and new lines of worry etched his forehead. The more she tried to be a partner, the more short-tempered he became. Now she had to deal, not only with Trudy’s resentment, but with Joe’s coldness, too. Was he falling out of love with her because she’d failed to give him a much anticipated child? She had to prove to him that she had value.

  She found Trudy out in the garden picking green beans.

  “Where’s Joe?”

  “In his office,” she said without looking up. “Where did you expect him to be?”

  Kate ignored her short remark and hurried off to find Joe. He was sitting at his desk, staring at the computer screen. Frown lines snaked across his face and Kate longed to wipe them away.

  “Hi,” she said, trying to capture his attention.

  He stayed focused on the screen. “Is dinner ready?”

  “No.” She sauntered over next to him and leaned against the desk. “I’ve something that I’d like to discuss.”

  He groaned. “I’m not taking you to Flint Rapids.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to discuss.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know you’re worried about the farm and I’ve an idea that might help.”

  Pushing away from the desk, he tilted back in his chair. “You have an extra forty thousand lying around?”

  “No.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I turned my savings over to you when we got married.”

  He reached out and squeezed her knee. “I know and I appreciate it. I was teasing.” Smiling, he rocked back in his chair. “So, what’s your idea?”

  “Umm . . . well I’ve always been good at ha
ndling money and I thought maybe I could help you with a budget and investments—”

  Joe rocketed out of his chair and Kate slid off the desk. “Who’s been talking to you? You think you know more about the markets than I do?”

  She backed up. “No . . . no, that’s not what I meant at all. My savings came from the investments I’d made, and I did fairly well.”

  “That doesn’t make you an expert on farming.”

  “I never said it did,” she tried to keep her voice reasonable. “I know I don’t know much about money when it comes to farm management, but I could learn.”

  “No, you can’t. It takes years. You think you can waltz in here and tell me what to do?” He took an angry step away from the desk.

  “I don’t want to tell you anything—I want to help you,” she pleaded.

  He kicked his chair across the room. “I don’t need your help. Go back to the house where you belong.”

  Kate whirled to hide her hurt and hurried to the house. Slamming the back door, she studied the key rack hanging next to it.

  “Which keys are for the car?”

  “The set with the red tag,” Trudy answered from across the kitchen.

  She grabbed them and started out the door.

  “Hey, that’s Joe’s car,” Trudy called out.

  “And I’m his wife, in case you didn’t notice,” Kate said, picking up her purse from the counter and hurrying out the door.

  She didn’t calm down until she was almost in Dutton. Reason had set in once her temper cooled. She let out a long, shaky breath and thought how she had handled it all wrong. When she walked into the office, it was obvious that Joe was troubled. But instead of waiting for a better time, she’d steamrolled ahead and made the situation worse. When would she learn to pick her moments?

  Another thought struck her. Joe never talked about the miscarriage. She had been so wrapped up in her grief that she’d been oblivious to his. After promising herself to be more understanding, she began looking for a spot to turn around and head home when a sign caught her eye.

  KRAUSE HARDWARE.

  In spite of her resolution to be more patient, her defiance still simmered. After parking the car, Kate got out and strolled into the store. A little bell from above the door jingled.

  Long aisles stretched to the back of the store and the air smelled of turpentine and fertilizer. Hoes, rakes, and other yard implements hung along one aisle while another held cans of paint, racks of brushes, and sandpaper. A sales clerk, a tall dark man, stood behind the counter, waiting on a customer. The clerk wore a navy shirt with KRAUSE HARDWARE embroidered on the pocket.

  “Here you go, Ed,” he said, handing the customer a gallon of paint and a couple of stir sticks. “If this isn’t enough, give us a call and we’ll have it ready and waiting for you.”

  The customer gave a curt nod and with an “excuse me” to Kate, headed out the door.

  After watching the man exit the store, Kate looked back at the clerk and tried to think of a reason for wandering into the store.

  The excuse fled her brain as she found herself staring into the same green eyes as her husband’s.

  Chapter 11

  Early fall 2012, Dutton

  Kate’s breath hitched and the man smiled.

  “It’s the eyes, right? Strange twist of the old DNA, isn’t it,” he said as he held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Will, and you must be Kate.”

  At a loss for words, she shook his hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you . . . unexpected, but nice.”

  Where was the animosity Will’s side of the family supposedly felt? It wasn’t apparent in the smiling man who stood in front of her.

  “Ahh . . . nice to meet you, too.”

  His eyes twinkled. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “I hope it was good,” she replied.

  Will laughed. “Around here one never knows, do they? But it was. Doris Hill had nothing but kind words to say about you.” His face sobered. “I’m sorry to hear about your loss.”

  Kate cocked her head and studied him. No “it was meant to be,” but a simple acknowledgment of her grief. She instantly liked him in spite of the feud with her husband.

  “Is there something in particular you need?” He leaned in, and in a conspiratorial voice, whispered, “If you do buy something, get rid of the sack before you get home. Joe wouldn’t let anything with ‘Krause Hardware’ on it in the house.”

  Kate smirked. “I have been told not to shop here.”

  “I’m sure you have,” he said and gave a low chuckle. “You must be a bit of a rebel.”

  She drew back. “Who me?” Kate thought of the many ways that she’d tried to please both Joe and his mother. “No . . . no, not at all.” She shifted nervously. “Maybe I should go.”

  Will held up a hand. “No, please let me show you the store. I think this is the second time in our history that one of the ‘other Krauses’ has had the gumption to come inside. This is a momentous occasion, let’s celebrate it with a cup of coffee,” he finished with a grin.

  “Okay,” she said with a shrug as she followed Will down one of the aisles. “Exactly how are you and Joe related?”

  Will glanced over his shoulder. “Have you heard about old Jacob yet?”

  “The one found murdered?”

  “That would be the one.” He winked. “And,” he said, deepening his voice, “he who is the herald of misfortune and who will not rest until his killer’s found.”

  “Got ya,” she said and stole a look out of the corner of her eye. “Do you believe in that family curse?”

  “No. Jacob was my great-great-grandfather, too, and I can’t say my family has suffered an unusual amount of trouble . . .” He paused. “No offense intended, but I think some of the Krauses invented that story to explain their bad luck when it was actually their greed backfiring on them.”

  Suddenly Kate felt disloyal standing here with Joe’s cousin. “You know . . . I think I’ll pass on that coffee. I’d—”

  “Wait. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made that remark about greed.” He motioned for them to continue to the back of the store. “Let me explain how we’re related. Joe and I share Jacob as an ancestor, but Joe is descended from Joseph, Jacob’s oldest son, and I’m a descendant of Willie, the second son and the one Jacob had with his second wife, Hannah.”

  “So both you and Joe are named after your great-grandfathers?”

  “Yeah. Weird isn’t it?”

  “Are you, also, going to explain how Joe’s great-grandfather cheated yours out of his inheritance, Will?”

  Kate pivoted to see Rose Clement standing at the end of the aisle.

  “I’d better go.” She looked down at the floor. “This was a bad idea.”

  “Hold on.” His attention turned to Rose. “You’re bringing up ancient history, Rose. What happened back then doesn’t matter.”

  “Yes, it does,” she replied, joining them. “The past always matters, especially when you get to be my age.” She focused on Kate. “If there’s a family curse, it’s because of Joseph. He lied, cheated, and spoiled several lives, including that of his little brother.”

  “No,” Will objected. “He didn’t ruin Willie’s. According to my family, Willie had a long and happy life.”

  Rose eyed him skeptically. “Maybe Willie did overcome the misfortune of his early years, but it was no thanks to his brother.”

  “Rose . . . stop.” He glanced at Kate, then at Rose. “You’re talking about Kate’s new family.”

  “Right.” She pointed at Kate. “And her husband is just as sneaky as the first Joseph.”

  Will stepped in front of Kate. “You’ve gone too far, Rose.”

  “So has her husband.” She peeked around Will at Kate. “Haven’t you heard Joe Krause is leasing the land next to mine for a hog confinement?”

  “I’ve heard rumors, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do it,” Will replied.

  “Are the rumors true?” she aske
d Kate.

  “I don’t know,” she mumbled, not meeting Rose’s stare as she edged away. Finally looking up, she found Rose’s eyes drilling into hers.

  “Your mother-in-law has made some enemies over the years, but it’s nothing compared to how this town is going to react if your husband proceeds with his plan.”

  After delivering her parting shot, Rose marched out of the store, leaving Kate and Will standing there in silence.

  Will was the first to break it. “I’m sorry, Kate,” he said, his face red. “Rose really is a nice lady, but if what she says is true, it’s going to hurt her financially.”

  “How?”

  “Like most people around here, her assets are tied up in her farm and she’s worked hard managing it ever since her husband died.” He frowned. “If a hog confinement is built near her place, her property values will drop. She’d have a hard time finding a buyer if she ever decided to sell. Hog lots stink and the flies are terrible. Who’d want to live under those conditions?”

  “Was she right about the town’s reaction?” Kate asked softly, sympathizing with Rose’s predicament.

  Will shrugged and didn’t answer.

  Kate drove home, still boggled over the situation between Rose and her husband. Her dream of belonging was in danger of crashing. She hadn’t lived in Braxton County long, but it was long enough to appreciate how far people’s memories stretched. My God, they were still gossiping about something that had happened over a hundred years ago. Joe’s actions would stigmatize not only her, Trudy, and Joe, but also her future children. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to make him see reason.

  As she pulled into the driveway, she noticed a strange pickup sitting back by the machine shed. Upon exiting the car, she heard voices raised in anger. Following the voices, she rounded the corner of the house to see her husband squaring off with a stranger dressed in bib overalls and wearing a green cap.

  “I’ve tried to be reasonable, Ed, but if you won’t move that fence line, then I’ll have to take legal action.”

  The other man, Ed, snorted. “From what I hear, you ain’t got the money for no lawyers.”