Songs in the Night - Wyldhaven, Book 6, Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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Aurora McClure wished she had the courage to march to Parson Preston Clay’s house, throw her arms around him, and give him a kiss that would knock his indifference right into the next county!

Instead, she sat here in the barn with her forehead pressed against the warm flank of the Holstein, mind wandering as the milk rang into the bucket. She had a good life here, living on the Rodantes’ farm, but a restlessness had plagued her for the past several weeks. Okay, months.

But especially since Liora had given birth to little Lawrence Robert. One look into that little fellow’s scrunched-up, wrinkly face, and a maternal longing had exploded inside Aurora.

Would she ever have a little one of her own? Certainly not at her current rate of progress!

There was only one man she was interested in, and for a few moments last Christmas, she’d thought maybe there might be some hope of gaining his interest. But ever since then, any time she’d been around, Parson Clay had buttoned up tighter than a logjam. He’d made it more than clear that there could be no future between them.

And that left her despairing of ever having a child of her own, because could she give her heart to someone else? Certainly not while she remained here in Wyldhaven. For some reason, no matter the lectures she gave herself about moving on and giving quarter to another, her heart just didn’t seem to get the message.

This was what had her mind traipsing this morning. She’d finally decided that she needed to move on, and now she had to find the strength to break the news to everyone.

She hated to leave Joe and Liora after all they’d done for her, and especially now that they had the new little one. But Eliza and Ada—women that Liora had coaxed from local brothels and was ministering to—were helpful and hardworking, so it wouldn’t be as if she were leaving Liora to do all the work around here on her own. And if she gave up her room, there would be one more bed for Liora to fill with a rescued girl who would also pick up some of the slack. So the decision to leave the Rodantes hadn’t really been all that difficult.

It was leaving her position as the pianist for the church that would fill her with the biggest disappointment, and yet was also the main reason she needed to leave. Her weekly afternoon of music practice with Parson Clay had become like a torture session. He’d grown distant in the past several months, and she knew it was all her fault.

If only she’d listened to Kin Davis that day when he’d told her that Parson Clay wouldn’t want a puppy. A puppy that was now a well-trained dog that traveled with the parson everywhere he went. Yet when Aurora considered the tension that had sprung into their relationship, it all went back to the day she’d given him the dog. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say it stemmed from the day after. Because on the actual day she’d presented him with the puppy named Allegra, the parson had seemed surprised, yes, but pleased. Grateful, even. He’d gone so far as to cover her hand and ask her to call him Preston. Yet from that moment to this, his attitude had shifted. The next time she’d seen him, he’d been stiff and formal. She’d never again dared to call him by his given name, and he’d never again invited her to.

She’d tried on numerous occasions to resign herself to only thinking of him as a friend, but her heart didn’t get the message her mind tried to instill. So now there was nothing for it but to make her escape.

She blew out a breath, pushed back from Garnet, the cow, and carefully extracted the bucket of milk. Taking Garnet’s lead, she guided her out of the barn into the streaming sunshine and paused to lift her face to the rays. It was one of those late-summer days that made one grateful to be alive.

Thank You, Lord, that I have You with me always, no matter where I go. I’m still uncertain of Your will for me right now. Please, if this is right, give me peace about this decision? And be with those I leave behind.

After returning Garnet to pasture, she took the milk inside and set it on the shelf in the icebox. By tomorrow morning there would be a thick layer of cream for Ada to churn into butter.

The scent of apples and cinnamon filled the air. Aurora’s stomach rumbled. “Mmm, that smells good!”

Liora stood at the stove, jouncing Lawrence on one arm and stirring apple butter with her free hand. She looked up and smiled. “Morning.”

Aurora folded her hands and returned her smile, glad to see that neither of the other women had made an appearance yet. “Morning.”

“I’m making this for the tarts I plan to bring to Washington’s send-off.”

“Oh yes. That’s tomorrow after church, isn’t it? I’d almost forgotten. Tonight I need to finish knitting the socks I’m making for him.”

“Oh, I saw those on your nightstand when I took your laundry in the other day. The fine wool yarn you chose will make a nice warm pair.”

“Thank you. I hope he’ll like them.” Aurora cleared her throat and pressed ahead before she lost her nerve. “I’m glad it’s just you and me. Do you have a minute to talk?”

The arch of Liora’s brow revealed her curiosity. “Of course. This apple butter is mostly done anyhow. Do you mind?” She pointed to the jars that already sat waiting on the sideboard.

“Sure.” Aurora quickly washed her hands, then took up the pot of steaming sauce and moved to fill the jars. She spoke in a rush. “I’ve come to a decision and need to let you know. I’ve applied to the Territorial University of Washington, and, happily, have been accepted into their music conservatory.” If only the thought of going to study music gave her a measure of peace. Nothing seemed to be the right direction for her these days.

Liora gasped. “You what?” The sparkle in her eyes revealed a pleasure. And that at least filled Aurora with relief.

She scooped the last of the sauce into the final jar. “I’ll first study violin and piano.” She set the pot into the sink.

Lawrence fussed, and Liora started across the room in the bouncing minced step that seemed to have become her regular gait the past few months. “You’re so good at both of those that I can’t imagine anyone being able to teach you anything!”

Aurora blushed at the compliment as she wiped the lips of the jars clean and clamped the seals into place. “I hardly believe that can be true. But at any rate I’ll be able to learn so much about writing music, instruments I don’t currently play, and maybe even conducting an orchestra.” She ought to be thrilled with the prospect, but really, though she loved music with all her heart, none of the opportunities excited her like they should.

She tried not to be envious of Liora, she truly did, yet the woman had everything Aurora wanted—a man who adored her, a healthy child, and a loving home. Aurora’s problem was she wanted all those things with a man who most certainly didn’t want them with her in return.

Liora assessed her. “You don’t seem terribly excited.”

With all the jars sealed, Aurora pumped water into the pan and set to scrubbing it. She lifted one shoulder. “A bit overwhelmed at all I need to consider, I suppose. The term starts in just two weeks.”

“Two weeks! Oh my! Have you told Parson Clay yet? I’m not sure who he’ll get to play the piano come Sundays.”

Aurora swallowed. “I wanted to tell you first. I plan to head into town in just a few minutes to talk things over with him.” She paused and studied Liora. “You’re sure it’s okay that I leave? I mean I know with the baby my timing might not be the best.”

Liora blew a sound of dismissal. “Don’t you worry about a thing. We’ll be just fine. I mean, I’ll miss you like crazy, but I’m so pleased that you are following your heart!”

Aurora pressed her lips together and turned the pot upside down on the drain board. Following her heart?

More like running from the crack in her heart that was gaping wider and wider, before it got so large it consumed her.

 

***

Kane Carver paused at the base of the church steps and took a calming breath. He gripped his Stetson in both hands and tapped the brim against the staccato beat of his heart as he stared at the double doors above. “Just get your sorry hide up there and ask him.” He gave himself a nod and took the stairs two at a time.

The parson’s dog, Allegra, lay in the shade on the church’s covered porch. She lurched to her feet and wriggled over to him for a scratch.

After ruffling the dog’s ears, he gave the doors a quick knock that was more a warning that he was coming in than a request for entry, and then stepped into the church foyer. A wall filled with cubbies and coat hooks—used mostly by the Wyldhaven students that utilized this building during the week for school—blocked his view of the sanctuary. On Saturdays, the parson used the building to study for his Sunday sermons.

“Parson?” He poked his head around the wall. The church aisle stretched toward the front, and just as he’d suspected, the parson sat at the desk on the platform with his Bible and papers spread before him.

Parson Clay offered him a smile. “Kane. Morning.” The man glanced at his pocket watch. “I guess it’s closer to noon now, isn’t it? What can I do for you today?”

Kane swallowed as he stepped more fully into the room. “I’d like to, ah . . .” His throat closed off, and he studied the wood grain on one of the pews, silently chastising himself for every kind of a weak fool.

The parson rose and stepped from behind his desk. “You okay?”

Kane forced his gaze to meet the parson’s. “Yes, sir. Yes. It’s just . . . I spoke to Joseph Rodante, but he told me I should likely ask you since you were more like Aurora’s pa than he was.”

A frown immediately slumped the parson’s brow. “Aurora? What’s this got to do with Aurora?”

Kane swallowed. Great. He’d already upset the man, and he hadn’t even got to the heart of his request yet.

“Is Aurora injured? Sick?” The parson strode a couple steps toward him. “Does she need Doc?”

Kane raised one hand. “No. No. Not at all. It’s just . . . I’d like your permission to . . .”

“My permission to what?”

Had he ever noticed before how stony the parson’s expression could turn when he was upset? Kane slid his hat brim through his fingers. Swallowed. “I’d like your permission to call on Aurora.”

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