Joshua's Heart
Chapter Three
A month earlier in San Francisco, Mr. Charles Wellington-Smythe and his son, James returned from a recent business trip and were relaxing in the drawing room. A maid entered and stood nervously waiting to speak to them.
"Well? What is it?" demanded Charles as he poured himself a brandy.
"The young miss, she's gone, sir."
"Gone?" snarled Charles and James added, "when did she leave? How did she get out?"
"We don't know, sir. We believe, sirs," she said acknowledging both men, "that she sneaked out in the middle of the night. We're not sure which night. She kept to her room so much."
Charles looked at his son, whose face was contorted with rage, and waited for the outburst that followed his taking in the news. Theresa was originally supposed to go with them on the trip; she went everywhere with them, and had done so, ever since she had become a ward of Charles Wellington-Smythes.
"She tricked me. She promised to marry me upon my return from this trip."James said. He paced the floor angrily. "That's the only reason I let her out of my sight. She's run away with some man."
"Your jealousy drove her away," his father accused. "But don't worry. I'll hire the best private detective agency in town. They'll find where she went."
"...where she went," his son snorted. "She must be in town. You control all her money."
It was true—Theresa had many assets of her own, but Charles Wellington-Smythes controlled them. There were not many places that a penniless maiden could go...perhaps, the local convent?
"Well, you see, sir, one of the vases is missing," the maid trembled as she spoke.
"We'll check every pawn shop in town. We'll find her, son. We'll find her and we'll get her back."
A few days after this conversation, a swarthy young man was in the drawing room, informing the Wellington-Smythes of what he'd discovered. "I found the pawn shop she went to. She got about a hundred dollars for the vase. I paid it and brought it back." He reported, producing the porcelain vase from the bag he'd brought with him.
"Then, she must be somewhere on the West Coast. A hundred dollars wouldn't get her further than that. Did you check with the stage lines." Charles did not acknowledge the vase, which a maid took from Smithers and carefully replaced it on the sideboard with its partner.
"I did. No one answering her description has been seen. The same with the shipping lines."
"Smithers, wire her description to the police in every town from here to Canada. I have a feeling she's gone north, she has some poor relations in Canada. Distant cousins or something. I'm sure they'll accept money to send her back."
"And she'll keep her promise, too. If I have to beat her within an inch of her life this time she's keeping her word to me." James added.
"You will be gentle with her until after you're married and her money is safely in our control or I will have you whipped." His father ordered. "After you're married, you can do as you like with her.
***
Back in Seattle at Lottie's, Aaron and Jason were discussing the new teacher. "Jason, why would a well dressed, well educated woman, accept a teaching position here in Seattle?" Aaron asked.
"As Candy stated she needs money to get to her relatives in Canada," Jason responded, pouring himself another beer.
"But there's something we don't know about her." Aaron said. "What is she leaving behind? She seems scared of something."
"Aaron, she has a right to her own business." Jason told him.
Candy and Jeremy joined them, soon followed by Joshua. "Aaron's right, Jason." Candy told them. "She is afraid of someone."
"Not something?" Jason asked her.
"Last night, I accidentally walked in on her while she was having a bath." Candy told them. "She had several old scars on her back. She's been beaten."
"Did she tell you that, Candy?" Aaron asked her.
"No, she said she fell," Candy said.
"Perhaps she did." Joshua suggested.
"No, Josh. There were too many and they were from cuts not scratches that you'd get from a fall. And they wouldn't just be on her back. Someone hit her and made sure to hit her where they wouldn't show," Candy insisted.
"What has she told you?" Jeremy asked.
"No more than she's told any of us." Candy said. "She's frightened of someone though. And whoever it is..., well, that's who she's running from."
"When she told me she was trying to get to Canada, she started to say 'get away', but stopped herself," Lottie informed them as she joined the group. She told them about her conversation with Theresa the first day she arrived.
"Well, Candy," Jason began, "I'd have Dr. Wright take a look at her scars. She'll know for sure if they're scratches or welts."
"I'll stop by Dr. Wright's on the way back," Candy replied. "Jeremy, would you like to walk me home?" Jeremy stood and escorted Candy to the door.
"I was going to wire San Francisco, but I won't just yet." Aaron said. We need to know more about her first. If we can get her to trust us, maybe she'll open up to us."
"You think she's running from her husband, Jason?" Joshua stated.
"It could be," Jason answered. "If she is, the women will find out."
Candy and Jeremy accompanied Dr. Wright in to the dormitory. Dr. Wright entered first.
"Good night," Jeremy said, before kissing Candy tenderly and walking home. Candy watched him go, then followed Dr. Wright inside the building.
"Theresa, this is Dr. Wright." Candy introduced the women. "I think she should look at your back."
Theresa exploded "You had no right, Candy." She ran upstairs followed by Dr. Wright.
"I apologize for the way this happened." Dr. Wright said. "Candy was concerned, and if it is as bad as she says, it should be looked at."
Theresa acquiesced and showed Dr. Wright her back. Dr. Wright examined the scars. "Some of these are only a few weeks old. Some older. Who beat you, Theresa?"
Theresa looked up tearfully.
"Was it your husband?"
"No. I mean I'm not married. Not yet." She stood resolutely. "Not ever, to him. It was my fiancè. That is he was my fiancè."
Dr. Wright nodded, understanding what had brought Theresa to as remote of a place as Seattle. She did not need to know the details, the scars told an all too familiar story. "You can trust the people here, Theresa."
"No more tonight. Perhaps I'll tell people in the morning... maybe. I need to rest now." Theresa said, "Please go. I need to think this over."
Dr. Wright moved towards the door. "Candy is very concerned," she said, stopping at the door.
"You can tell Candy she was right—I didn't fall. No more than that. Not yet, please." Theresa lay on the bed. "It's been a long time since I could trust people." It was a confession that was hard for her to make. "I'm very tired now, please leave me."
Dr. Wright left and a short time later Theresa fell asleep. She was still sleeping when Candy and the others came to bed.
