pulled a stool close and set it there.
“Does this look familiar?” he asked.
“It’s a satchel.”
“Have a closer look at it.”
“Is it mine?” Her voice trembled.
“Look inside.”
She did so and removed a water-damaged Bible and a packet of hairpins. She ran her fingers along the inside. “That’s all? Was there nothing else? My clothes? Something to indicate who I am?” She had a desperate look in her eyes.
He did his best to sound more encouraged than he felt. “This is all I found.” He’d searched the stagecoach and a wide circle around it, but apart from trampled grass and the imprint of an oddly shaped horseshoe, he’d found nothing. If he ever saw a hoofprint with that contour, he’d know what its rider had been up to the first week of July. “I can’t think why they took personal belongings.”
A sharp object—likely a knife—had damaged the satchel. He guessed the robbers did not want any reminder of God in their possession and had tossed aside the Bible and satchel. Nothing else remained of the stagecoach’s contents or the belongings of its two occupants.
“May I?” She asked permission to open the Bible.
“Yes, of course.” He’d hoped for eagerness and recognition, but she showed neither.
She opened the book and read the name inscribed on the flyleaf. “Emily Smith.” She looked at Jesse. “Is this me?”
“I hoped it was and that it would bring back your memory.” He rubbed his neck. “I didn’t find the men responsible for your accident, nor any proof of your identity.” He’d failed and was disappointed with himself.
She slowly turned the pages. “Maybe something in here will tell me who I am.” Many of the pages were stuck together from being wet and she carefully pulled them apart. Two were thick and refused to separate. “It feels as if there is something between these. But I don’t want to tear the paper. I can’t bring myself to purposely damage the Bible.”
He sensed tears and frustration close to the surface and gently took the Bible from her. “Let me try.” Jesse could not get the pages apart. “There’s certainly something there. Maybe steam will work.” He headed for the kitchen.
“I’m coming.” She moved cautiously, swayed a little.
He stopped, caught her arm and guided her into the kitchen where Mikey played with some of his old toys and Gram stirred a pot on the stove.
Gram saw Emily. “Should you be up? You look pale.” She gave Jesse a sorrowful look. “I should have insisted she rest. Instead, I dragged her around the house showing her every room.”
“I’m fine, though I don’t mind sitting.” Emily sank into the nearest chair.
Jesse showed Gram the Bible and explained his plan to separate the pages.
“It’s worth a try.” Gram pulled the kettle forward to the hottest part of the stove and they waited for it to boil.
“Okay, here goes.” He steamed the edges of the pages until they softened then slowly pulled them apart. “It looks like a letter.” He handed it to Emily.
She stared at the folded paper and drew in her lips.
He sat across the corner from her. “Isn’t it better to know?”
“Maybe.” Fear, hope and caution threaded through her voice. “Or maybe I’ll regret what I discover.” She laughed, a mirthless sound. “Of course, we have no idea if this is even mine.”
He squeezed her hands. “There’s one way to find out. Open the letter.”
With trembling fingers she unfolded the page and read it aloud.
Dear Abigail and John.
The bearer of this note is Miss Emily Smith. I have entrusted her with the special task of bringing to you Michael, also known as Mikey. When you asked me regarding adoption I knew he was perfect for you even though he isn’t an infant. He’s affectionate, easygoing and a real joy. Please accept him as your own. It might help him settle if you allowed Miss Emily to stay with you a few days.
I am looking forward to a letter from you expressing your delight at the child I have chosen for you.
My sincerest regards,
Your Aunt Hilda
She stared at the letter. “So, I’m Emily Smith?”
“It would seem so.”
She lifted her face, her blue eyes darkened with despair. “But who is Emily Smith?”
He didn’t have an answer for her.
Emily looked down at her clothes and grimaced. “What am I going to do?”
He knew she meant more than her missing clothes. Her loss of memory mattered far more, but he couldn’t do anything about that. However, he could do something about the other.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find something. I’ll go ask the preacher’s wife to help.” He ignored her protest as he headed for the door.
His grandmother waved him away. “I’ll keep an eye on her. Little Mikey is content to play with the toys.”
Jesse shifted direction and knelt in front of the boy, recalling how lost he’d felt when his mother left him. Mikey was with strangers and a woman who didn’t remember him. It had to be frightening. He patted Mikey’s head.
Mikey looked at him solemnly.
“You’re a good little boy,” Jesse said.
“’Kay.” Mikey studied him a moment. “Mem, mem, mem.”
Jesse wondered if the boy meant to say Emily or was he asking for his mama.
He nodded. “’Kay.”
His answer seemed to satisfy the boy, who returned to the toys. Jesse left the house and headed toward the church and the manse that stood next door to it. It hadn’t rained as hard in town as it had at the robbery site, which was unfortunate for his search efforts. He said hello to Evan, the preacher’s four-year-old son who played in the yard with his dog, and then knocked on the door.
Annie opened and greeted him. “Hi, Jesse.”
Annie’s maiden name was Marshall. Jesse had been best friends with her brother, Conner, for more years than he cared to count. Annie was like a sister to him. Funny to think that all three of her brothers were now married and she had married the preacher.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Come
