Secrets & Charades Read online

  SECRETS AND CHARADES BY CINDY ERVIN HUFF

  Published by Smitten Historical Romance

  an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

  2333 Barton Oaks Dr., Raleigh, NC, 27614

  ISBN: 978-1-946016-14-0

  Copyright © 2017 by Cindy Ervin Huff

  Cover design by Elaina Lee

  Interior design by Karthick Srinivasan

  Available in print from your local bookstore, online, or from the publisher at: lpcbooks.com.

  For more information on this book and the author visit:

  https://jubileewriter.wordpress.com.

  All rights reserved. Non-commercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of author, provided the text does not exceed 500 words. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: “Secrets and Charades by Cindy Ervin Huff published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Used by permission.”

  Commercial interests: No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher/author, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination or are used for fictional purposes. Any mentioned brand names, places, and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, bear no association with the author or the publisher, and are used for fictional purposes only.

  Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

  Brought to you by the creative team at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas: Eddie Jones, Shonda Savage, Kathy Davis, Andrea Merrell, Molly Realy, and Brian Cross.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Huff, Cindy Ervin

  Secrets and Charades / Cindy Ervin Huff 1st ed.

  Printed in the United States of America

  PRAISE FOR SECRETS AND CHARADES . . .

  I have watched Cindy at conferences, laboring to perfect her work and honor our Lord with her writing, and I am proud to introduce her published book, a delightful, tender story of honesty and integrity that demands truth before passion. Two wounded people learn to love, and thus to trust, to build a beautiful marriage.

  ~ Charlotte S. Snead, Author

  His Brother’s Wife, Invisible Wounds, and Recovered and Free

  Secrets and Charades by Cindy Ervin Huff is an engaging post– Civil War Western that captures a reader’s interest from page one. Author Huff does an excellent job of weaving complexity into the simple life of the rugged Texas terrain. A captivating novel of the Old West, Secrets and Charades should find itself on the bookshelves beside many long-loved Western classics.

  ~ Elaine Marie Cooper, Author

  Saratoga Letters

  As a man who writes for men, I’m not one to pick up a romance book. But this one had plenty of hair on its chest. Huff is a superb storyteller. She does a marvelous job capturing the moods and actions of pioneer men and what it must have been like for folks in a world not quite ready for strong, godly, educated women. Adventurous, humorous, and filled with tension so strong I was pulled in and often spoke aloud to the characters on the page.

  ~ Tez Brooks, Author

  The Single Dad Detour (Kregel)

  A mail-order bride. A marriage of convenience. Jake is determined to find a woman to be a mother figure to his young niece. He gets more than he bargained for in Evangeline. Filled with all the adventures and struggles of the West during the post–Civil War years, Secrets and Charades is an engaging read. Most striking is the reliance on God each of the main characters display in all circumstances, both good and bad. Cindy Huff is an author to watch. I look forward to reading her next work.

  ~ Rebecca Waters, Author

  Breathing on Her Own

  Fans of Western Historical Romance have a fantastic new author to love. Cindy has woven delicate threads of authentic human emotion into the sturdy fabric of high-tension action. A must-read.

  ~ Linda W. Yezak, Author/Editor/Speaker

  Triple Edge Critique Service The Circle-Bar Ranch Series: Give the Lady a Ride and The Final Ride

  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cindy Huff ’s Secrets and Charades, her wonderful historical romance set in Texas. How Cindy wove together the lives of her story’s characters and the challenging threats they faced captured my interest and held me to the end. Exceptional debut novel.

  ~ Beth Ann Ziarnik, Author

  Her Deadly Inheritance

  Cindy Huff ’s amazing ability to bring to life her characters, attracted me to her debut novel first off. I could see them in my mind’s eyes: Jake’s slow-moving, thoughtful speaking and actions and Evangeline’s determination to make her own decisions. I particularly liked the way she created their responses to each other. Scene upon scene, chapter upon chapter, Huff built the confidence and trust Evangeline and Jake found in each other. Secrets and Charades is a lovely story for all those who adore historical romance. Huff has a wonderful writing future ahead of her.

  ~ Carole Brown, Author

  Hope Shining Through the Shadows of Suspense

  Dedication

  In memory of my little sister, Carol Ervin,

  who read the very first rough draft of this novel and pronounced it good.

  If she can watch this world from the next, I’m sure she is smiling.

  Special Thanks To …

  My mom, Audrey Ervin, who always told me I could do anything

  I put my mind to.

  My sister, Linda Ervin, who also read the rough draft and believed in me.

  My awesome husband who corrected grammar, asked helpful questions,

  and listened to me talk about my imaginary characters as if they were real.

  Beloved, without your support this novel would still be images in my head.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  A Gift for You

  Thank you for investing in this book. As a thank you, LPC Books would love to offer you advance review Kindle copies of our forthcoming books. These Kindle ebooks will be delivered to your Kindle reader. We release around 40 books a year. You pick which ones you wish to receive. Visit the link below to sign up for our FREE Kindle ebook subscriber list:

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  CHAPTER 1

  Missouri

  March 3, 1873

  “Young lady, my marital status is none of your concern.” Evangeline Olson paced about her medical clinic. “W
hat possessed you to answer an ad in the Matrimonial Times on my behalf?”

  “Aunt Evie, please,” Maggie said.

  Evangeline steeled herself from Maggie’s doe-eyed pleading. “No.” She waved a dismissive hand. “You got yourself into this mess, and you can get yourself out.” Her heart was beating a tempo perfect for flight, and she reached the door to her bedroom at the back of the clinic before Maggie could respond. Without a backward glance, Evangeline slammed the door. The pounding in her head muffled Maggie’s pleas through the closed door.

  “Aunt Evie, I have all of his letters. Read them.”

  Evangeline slid to the floor, back against the wall, forehead in her palms. At twenty-eight she had chosen a career over marriage. A headache thumped in her temples. Deliver me from interfering family.

  “Are you listening? Please, I’m begging you. Just read them. If you don’t like what you read, I’ll write him an apology.”

  Evangeline remained silent.

  “They’re on your desk. Mother says the truth is easier to remember than a lie. You’ll find a journal on the desk where I copied all my correspondence to Jake.”

  ***

  Charleton, Texas

  March 8, 1873

  From his bedroom window, Jake Marcum could see the sunlight spill down the hillsides. His body dripped with sweat from another battlefield nightmare. He massaged his forehead, attempting to dislodge the visions of cannon fire and the echo of screams. Bending over the porcelain basin to wash his face, he touched the jagged scar across his left cheek.

  The clanging of the oven door and the aroma of coffee pulled him away from his haunting memories. When he reached the kitchen, the housekeeper was already busy with breakfast. “Mornin’, Selena.”

  “Buenos dias, Señor Jake.” She pulled steaming-hot biscuits from the oven.

  Cookie Slade’s morning ritual of humming did nothing to ease Jake’s restless thoughts. “Want some coffee, Boss?”

  Jake took the cup and headed outside. Cookie limped along beside him.

  The porch stretched across the front of the house, unprotected by the overhanging roofline. Cookie lowered himself to the top step, careful not to spill his coffee, and Jake plopped down beside him. They gazed for several moments at the mountainous vista before them. Jake appreciated Cookie’s patient silence. Both men faced forward—their usual position for serious conversation, something eye contact tended to obscure.

  “Ever since you sent that proposal to Miss Olson, you been off your feed.” Cookie tasted his brew and waited.

  Jake watched the soft, billowy clouds move across the morning sky. “It’s in the Lord’s hands now.”

  “Sounds like you need a mite a convincin’.”

  Jake studied an ant crawling across his boot. “You know I gotta do this for Juliet. She needs more book learnin’, more genteel ways.”

  “It ain’t like you jumped into this.” Cookie adjusted his stiffleg. “You been writin’ this woman for a year. Why her? You had a passel of desperate gals respond to your advertisement.”

  “Right enough. But Evangeline was the only one who wanted to write for a while. She wanted to get to know me first.”

  “Speaks kindly of her character.”

  “Yeah, it does.” A familiar longing deepened his heartache. “Life in this place took my family, Cookie. Juliet’s all I got. My brother and his wife woulda wanted their daughter raised like a lady. They’d want her to get a better education.”

  “True. And neither of us wants to see Juliet sent off to boardin’ school.”

  “I’m not ready to have more family taken from me, not even for boardin’ school.” Jake savored his cooling coffee. “What if Evangeline hates it here?” He pulled her picture from his pocket. “I been lookin’ at this picture of her and her niece every day since she sent it.” He’d memorized her features: high cheekbones, full lips, taller than her niece. In her letters, she’d described her eyes as green that changed with her moods, and the color of her hair as not red, but burgundy. Jake turned the picture slightly for Cookie to see before securing it in his shirt pocket once more.

  “She’s a looker.” Cookie’s eyebrows lifted, and his smile revealed a missing tooth.

  “Makes me wonder why she ain’t married. Her letters are cordial and friendly. Her writin’ don’t tell me if she has a disagreeable nature. I hope marryin’ her makes things better for Juliet.” Jake stared into his coffee mug as if searching for confirmation he was doing the right thing.

  Lord, I can’t turn back now. Either she says yes, or she don’t. I’m trustin’ you.

  Jake’s eyes drifted toward the grove of trees shading the cemetery.

  Maybe this ain’t in the cards for me. You know I only loved one woman, and that be Nora. It hurt to have that love throwed away. But if it’s Your will for this woman to become my wife, help me truly learn to love her.

  ***

  Jordan, Missouri

  March 12, 1873

  Evangeline knelt at a simple wooden cross marking the grave of her dearest friend. Fiona MacDougal had been her comforter, healer, and faith restorer. But most of all, she knew the truth and loved her anyway. The dear woman often said Evangeline’s past had no hold on her future.

  “Oh, Fiona.” Evangeline’s voice broke.

  The Irish brogue whispered through her memories, taking her back to their last bedside conversation. Fiona seemed to have drawn closer to her Lord near the end. Her eyes had sparkled with heavenly light.

  “Evangeline, I have seen a vision.”

  “Yes, Miss Fiona?” She perched on the edge of the bed, giving her full attention.

  “I saw ye in a new place with large mountains and wide plains, and the wind was blowing ye hair. Thy face be more serene than I ever seen it afore. Ye seemed younger, and love glowed from thine eyes, the love a woman has for a man.”

  “Ha!” The word flew from Evangeline’s lips before she could check it.

  Fiona’s scowl rebuked her. “Don’t be like Sarah and laugh at a word from the Lord.”

  “Please forgive me.” Evangeline touched Fiona’s cool, thin hand. “Are you sure this isn’t your wishful thinking?”

  “No, lass, I had the feelin’.”

  Evangeline stayed quiet. Her friend’s sincere belief in the feelin’ and the visions that accompanied it were discounted by some as a symptom of old age. Fiona’s feelin’ had always been on the mark. But maybe this time …

  “In that new place, lass, the Lord promises healing and wholeness. The thing ye have been resisting, the gift He desires to give, is there. Open the eyes of thine heart and the ears of thy spirit and be prepared when the call comes. I know in me spirit it will be soon.”

  Evangeline patted Fiona’s hand. “We will wait and see.”

  “Evangeline Felicity Olson, don’t patronize me.”

  “Forgive me. I meant no offense.”

  “Please, child, I have such an urgency in me heart for ye to understand that this vision is truly meant to be. Promise to keep thine heart open.”

  Evangeline kissed her cheek. “I promise to try.”

  “I will pray it will open very wide to His will.”

  The memory of Fiona’s intense look lingered as Evangeline gazed at the grave. Moisture trickled down her cheek. “Miss Fiona, I need you so much. I’m scared. Whether I like it or not, your vision may be coming true.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand, then traced the deep grooves forming Fiona’s name. A shiver of loneliness coursed through her body. Her legs cramped from kneeling. “I’ve been reading the rancher’s letters. Perhaps this is the answer to my dilemma. Maybe a new start is the right thing. He is a man of faith. At least he writes of faith.” She sat upright and began pulling weeds from around the tombstone.

  “Yesterday, I compared the date on Maggie’s first letter with the date in my journal where I recorded your vision. The dates match. Maybe that’s why I am drawn to his letters. You told me to keep my heart open. You know too well
my resolve never to marry. Going West to find love, is that even possible for me? Jake wrote that he needs someone to help his niece Juliet become a lady. I think I could be a good mother to a twelve-year-old, but a wife is another matter entirely.”

  The approaching night air chilled her as she gazed at the sunset between the trees. The shadows and light blended together to form what looked like a cross between the branches. Evangeline felt peace wash over her as Fiona’s words filled her heart.

  Lass, the Lord will guide ye. Don’t forget that wherever ye go, He will go with ye.

  CHAPTER 2

  Charleton, Texas

  March 15, 1873

  Jake Marcum stood outside the Charleton General Store envisioning Cordelia Hanks watching for him. His letters to Evangeline had become the talk of the town thanks to the nosy woman.

  The store was long and narrow, stocked from floor to ceiling with a variety of goods any rancher, farmer, or miner might need. Like a cat about to spring on a mouse, Cordelia always guarded the door.

  Jake felt foolish staring into the window waiting for the right moment. Jedidiah Wood and his daughter, Bertha, had entered the store only moments ago. He hoped the additional customers would distract Cordelia so he could take care of business with her husband, Angus.

  The tinkle of the doorbell was drowned out by Cordelia’s caustic words. “Jedidiah Wood, I hope you don’t expect Angus to extend any more credit to you and your half-wit daughter.”

  Bertha appeared oblivious to the insult as she greeted the proprietors in her usual repetitive manner. “Howdy, Miss Cordelia. Howdy, Miss Cordelia. Me and Pa come in to get a few things.” She handed the proprietress her list with an innocent smile.

  Jake removed his Stetson and smacked it against his leg to remove the dust. He wiped his boots on the mat near the door. Discomfort wrapped around his gut as he waited. Get your business done and get out. Don’t look her way, just …

  Cordelia gave the Woods a dismissive nod as she handed their list to her husband and turned her full attention to Jake. “My, my, I like a man who is considerate of others. Most men just track filth all over my shop.” She ambled toward him, managing to maneuver her round body and billowy skirt down the narrow aisle to greet him. “You’ve come for your mail.” She lowered her voice, obviously for effect. “You’ve received more than usual—a telegram from your lady friend.” She extracted the letter and telegram from her pocket and handed them over.