Prologue

Morgan County, Illinois

1880

Anna slowly and carefully made her way from the small chicken coop to the kitchen. It was still dark out, but she had eaten early the previous night and her stomach was growling. Eggs were her favorite, and thanks to the five hens she owned, she never ran out. Anna didn’t mind cooking at all but eating alone saddened her. She missed her mother, who had passed away just over a month earlier, tremendously, and felt lost and alone.

Some of her dark curls had come loose from her braid and she quickly redid her hair. It had grown long, almost reaching to her waist. Anna preferred it like that; she had cut it to her shoulders once and regretted it immediately.

Placing the egg basket and her lantern on the wooden counter, Anna looked around the small kitchen. She could barely remember a time when she hadn’t prepared her and her mother’s meals. She had learned how to cook from a young age, at first it was fun to help her mother, but then her father passed away and her mother became ill.

Doing the chores, along with taking care of her mother, had quickly become the core of Anna’s existence. The problem was, with her mother gone, Anna had nothing to fill her days with. She had no job and no family. She felt alone and was desperate to find her purpose in life. She knew she wanted to help people but had no formal training and nobody was willing to hire her as a nurse without it. She had applied for other jobs as well, though she wasn’t too enthusiastic about them, but had no success.

Cleaning the small house, doing chores, and tending to the garden could only distract Anna for so long. She needed to find a job, preferably something that gave her some sort of fulfillment. She felt so lost spending her days all by herself, and she could really use the money too.

Anna quickly made a fire in the coal stove and filled the old copper kettle with water. She needed a hot cup of coffee. Eating alone wasn’t much fun, but she valued her health and made sure she ate three healthy meals a day.

As the kettle boiled, Anna made her way to her room to look for Lucy. The door screeched as she pushed it open and stepped inside. Her room was tidy, as always, and she smiled as she walked over to her bed and sat down on the blue and white wool blanket. It was the last thing her mother had ever knit, and she kept it even though it was full of holes.

Lucy was laying on her bed, wagging her tail, and sat up when Anna joined her. “Were you too comfortable to come out with me this morning?” Anna asked as she playfully hugged the big English Setter. Lucy replied with a bark and Anna engulfed the light brown and white dog in a hug. She’d had Lucy since she was a puppy, and the dog was the closest thing she had to a friend.

Getting up from the bed, Anna picked up her hand mirror from the chest of drawers and looked at her reflection. Her father’s dark brown eyes stared back at her, but she could barely remember what he looked like. All she knew was that she got her brown eyes and dark hair from him. The only resemblance she had to her mother was the wave of curls that she could never tame.

With a sigh, she placed the mirror back in its place and turned toward Lucy. “Come on girl, it’s time for you to take a walk outside.” The dog wagged her tale and jumped off the bed.

Anna smiled at her beloved dog and then made her way to the kitchen. Her white boots clicked on the hardwood floor and echoed throughout the empty house. Lucy followed closely behind her and quickly ran outside when Anna opened the door for her.

Anna loved Lucy; she’d had her for almost nine years now and the dog has been a great source of happiness to her and her mother. Lucy brought a sense of calmness to her mother and for that, Anna was immensely grateful.

A loud whistle let Anna know that the water had boiled. A few minutes later she was sitting at the small rectangular kitchen table enjoying her breakfast and a warm cup of coffee. A torn piece of newspaper was tucked in under an unused copper bowl.

Anna had found a job advertisement in the newspaper a couple of days earlier and sent an application. It was the perfect job for her, they were looking for somebody to take care of an elderly woman with dementia, the same illness her mother had suffered with for the last ten years before her passing.

Once Anna finished her breakfast and made sure that Lucy was fed, she did some chores around the house and then headed into town. It was a long walk from the ranch she lived on, but Anna enjoyed going for walks, especially with Lucy by her side.

The sun had started to rise, and a cool, crisp breeze filled the air with the sweet scent of wildflowers. Anna took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air, and let her eyes wander toward the fields of flowers. She had always loved the vibrant colors that came with Spring and despite feeling lost and alone, she found herself smiling.

The town wasn’t very big, but it had everything Anna needed. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner owned the butcher shop where there was always a variety of meat available. Next to it was the dairy, an old brick building that supplied fresh milk, cheese, and even butter.

Further down the road was the general store; it was the biggest store in town and the one Anna frequented most often. Walking past it, Anna remembered all the times she came to buy groceries with her mother. It felt like a lifetime ago, but she held on to the memories tightly.

Anna followed the dirt road, past the dressmaker, saloon, and sheriff’s office. The post office was the last building before the road led you back into the countryside. It was a small wooden structure and as always, Rose sat on the front porch, refusing to be cooped up inside the whole day.

“Anna,” she greeted with a huge smile on her face. Her long fiery red hair was twisted into a neat bun, and she had on a simple but beautiful red and purple dress. Rose and Anna used to be friends before Anna’s mother got ill. Rose was only a couple of months younger than Anna and would be celebrating her twenty-second birthday soon.

“Hello Rose,” Anna greeted, returning her smile. “How are you?”

“I’m doing well, but I reckon you’re going to be doing even better once you see what I have for you.”

Anna’s heart rate instantly sped up. It had been a few days since she applied for the job, and she had come to the post office daily ever since.

“Did I get a reply?” Anna asked, her eyes growing big with excitement as she followed Rose inside.

Rose laughed at Anna’s enthusiasm and for a second Anna wondered how different her life would have been if her mother never fell ill. Maybe she and Rose would have kept up their friendship.

“You sure did,” Rose replied, as she handed a white envelope to her. “I hope it’s good news.”

“I hope so too,” Anna agreed, swallowing hard. “I was actually starting to think I might not get a reply.”

Having waited long enough, Anna tore open the envelope with shaky fingers and read the content of the letter.

Her heart was racing in her chest as she scanned the words written in black ink on the lone sheet of paper. Mrs. Cummings was impressed with her hands-on experience and believed she was the perfect person to take care of Mrs. Gentry, the elderly woman suffering from dementia. She would be happy if she could start as soon as possible, and would be awaiting her arrival.

With happy tears forming in her eyes, Anna bent down and patted Lucy affectionately. “I finally got a job girl,” she whispered as she wiped at her eyes with her free hand. “I really hope Mrs. Gentry is going to love you as much as my mother did.” Lucy barked excitedly as if she understood, and Anna couldn’t help but laugh. Who needed a best friend when she had such a loving dog?

“I knew you would get the job,” Anna heard Rose say and turned to face her. “You took such good care of your mother, only a fool wouldn’t hire you.”

Anna’s heart warmed at Rose’s words. “Thank you for saying that. It truly means a lot to me.”

After saying her goodbyes to Rose, Anna and Lucy headed home. Everything looked a little brighter and for the first time since her mother passed away, Anna felt a glimmer of hope and excitement for the future.

Chapter One

Morgan County, Illinois

1880

Leaving the ranch where she grew up wasn’t easy for Anna. She had spent most of her days there, looking after her mother, but it was time for a new adventure. She had packed her possessions and arranged with one of the locals who owned a boxboard wagon to take her to her new home.

Mrs. Gentry lived on a ranch on the outskirts of Morgan County, and it would take them roughly two hours to get there. Anna was nervous, in fact, she had never been so nervous in her life. Her palms were clammy, and her breathing felt labored as they made their way through town. Lucy, however, looked perfectly content to go for a ride on the wagon.

Taking a deep breath, Anna reminded herself that she had nothing to be anxious about. She had taken care of her mother for years and was perfectly capable of taking care of Mrs. Gentry. That’s not actually the part that was bothering her. Anna had never been away from home before and didn’t know what to expect. She did however grow up on a ranch, so the fact that Mrs. Gentry lived on a ranch helped to ease her racing heart just a little. Surely, they would have a chicken coop and a vegetable garden that she could make use of. Maybe Mrs. Gentry even had some other animals.

Growing up, Anna loved all the animals they had on the ranch. They had many dogs, cattle, sheep, chickens, and even a few goats and pigs, but after her father died her mother sold most of them, opting to keep only the dogs, a few chickens, and the sheep. As time passed, so did the dogs, and eventually they were left with only Lucy, the five chickens, and the sheep.

They had a lot of sheep though, and it was by selling their wool that Anna and her mother managed to survive all those years without having jobs. Anna of course had to hire a couple of ranch hands every now and then to help with sheering the sheep and the general maintenance, but overall, she managed to run the ranch by herself. In the beginning, after her father passed away, Anna’s mother was still lucid enough to help, but as the years went by, everything fell on Anna.

The last few years had been extremely hard though and the money they were making from the wool wasn’t enough, so Anna had no choice but to sell the sheep. She earned enough for her and her mother to survive but knew she would eventually have to get a job.

With her mother gone, Anna not only needed to find a job but also her purpose in life. She had a feeling that taking care of Mrs. Gentry might just be it. She still had the ranch back home. She had planned to stay there when she found a job, but as she was going to live with Mrs. Gentry, she wasn’t completely sure what to do with it. She could keep it, and maybe rent it out, or sell it. Regardless, she didn’t have to decide right away. For time being, she simply wanted to concentrate on her new job.

Mrs. Gentry’s ranch wasn’t too difficult to find, but it wasn’t at all what Anna had expected. The road leading to the gate was rough and uneven and the wooden gate looked close to collapsing.

“I’ll get it,” Mr. Summers said as he clambered down from the wagon. He was a short and stout man, and although he was aging, he was always willing to help those in need. He ran the general store back home, and Anna had known him her entire life.

“Thank you,” Anna replied as she watched him carefully unlatch the gate and push open one of the sides. The hinges that held it in place protested and a screeching noise filled the silence. Mr. Summers battled to open the other side, having to push and pull on it to get it to move, but finally managed to get the gate open.

Once that was done, he got back onto the wagon, and they made their way down the overgrown path.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” he asked, as they took in their surroundings. The grass on both sides of the path was higher than the wheels of the wagon and there was a strange stench that was blowing on the wind. In the distance, Anna could see what was left of a wooden barn. The roof had fallen in on one side and debris was scattered all around it.

“Yes, the lady that hired me mentioned that the ranch needed some work, I just didn’t think it would be so dilapidated.” Anna was growing more anxious as she took in the state of the ranch and ran her hands through Lucy’s short fur to calm herself down.

The ranch was much larger than the small one that Anna had lived on her entire life. In fact, the place was enormous. Unfortunately, Anna didn’t see any animals and when the ranch house came into view, she sucked in her breath loudly. It was clear that the house had been neglected for years. Anna’s stomach twisted and she swallowed hard.

“It’s falling apart,” she breathed, looking over at Mr. Summers. His blue eyes looked like they were going to burst out of their sockets as he stared at the house they were approaching.

“Maybe it looks better inside,” he offered with a small smile as he brought the wagon to a stop.

“I’m sure it will,” Anna replied, forcing herself to return his smile. “Thank you for bringing me here. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re most welcome, but I have to get back to my store now. Are you sure you want to stay here?” he asked, concern clear in his voice as he eyed the dilapidated barn with narrowed eyes.

Anna wasn’t sure at all, but she had accepted the job and had been really excited about it. She also desperately needed the money and the idea of abandoning Mrs. Gentry, an elderly woman who couldn’t care for herself, caused her heart to ache. The inside of the house had to be better, right?

Anna was not the kind of person who gave up easily. She had to make it work. “Yes, I’m sure. I’ll be fine here. Thank you again for all your help.”

“Alright then. Let me help you with your luggage.” Mr. Summers replied as he clambered down the wagon again and lifted her suitcases and bag to the ground.

“Come on Lucy,” Anna instructed as she climbed down and walked around the wagon to where Mr. Summers had placed her luggage. Lucy jumped down from the wagon and started sniffing the ground enthusiastically.

Anna’s heart was racing in her chest, and for a second, she considered getting back onto the wagon but quickly pushed the idea away. She was hired to look after Mrs. Gentry and that is exactly what she was going to do.

Anna watched as Mr. Summers rode away and then turned toward the dilapidated house. She could tell that it was pretty once upon a time, but that time was long gone. The white paint wasn’t white anymore and was peeling off the wooden structure that looked like it was going to cave in at any moment. There was a big front porch with a few steps leading up to it. The balustrade was broken in places and debris was scattered across the front yard.

It was clear that nobody had done any maintenance to the place in a long time.

Taking a deep breath, Anna picked up one of her suitcases and started to lug it toward the house. The large leather suitcase was heavy, and she had to use all of her strength to move it. She got halfway to the porch before she stopped and looked toward the house again. She had told Mr. Summers that she would be alright, but she wasn’t sure that was entirely true.

“Anna Randall?” a female voice said from behind Anna, and she turned around to see a beautiful older woman dressed in a bright yellow, green, and white prairie dress. Her light blond hair was done up in an intricate bun and her blue eyes were bright even from a distance.

“That’s me,” Anna replied as she let go of her suitcase and walked toward the tall woman.

“I’m Velma Cummings, Mrs. Gentry’s neighbor and the person who employed you.”

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Anna replied with a smile. She didn’t know Velma at all, but she liked her instantly. She had such a friendly smile, and if she was willing to help her elderly neighbor by hiring somebody to take care of her, she had to be a nice person.

“You too, dear,” Velma said, looking between Anna, her luggage, and the house. “I might have been a little unclear on the condition of the ranch. Mrs. Gentry has been living here alone for a long time and as her condition worsened, she stopped tending to the place.”

“It’s alright,” Anna fibbed, though her stomach was twisting violently at the idea of staying in such a run-down house.

“Well, I am really glad that you’re here now. Mrs. Gentry needs all the help she can get.” Velma smiled, her face brightening, letting Anna know that she was happy with her reply.

“How far along is her illness?” Anna asked as memories of her mother flashed through her mind.

At first, Anna didn’t even realize that her mother was ill. It started off slow. She forgot where she put something or forgot that she had started dinner and wound up burning the food. When it became obvious that something was wrong, Anna had gone into town and asked Doctor Collins to stop by. His diagnosis was heartbreaking but not unexpected.

“Her long-term memories still seem to be intact at the moment, but her short-term memory has all but gone. She keeps on forgetting to do things and it has become dangerous to leave her alone,” Mrs. Cummings replied as she knelt down and patted Lucy. “Me and my husband live on the farm next door. We bought the place about five years ago, Mrs. Gentry’s husband passed away about a year later. He wasn’t a pleasant man, so we never came over to visit, but once he was gone, we started to notice the place going backward. I got so worried that I came over to check on Mrs. Gentry and noticed that something was wrong.” Velma’s voice was soft as she spoke, and Anna could see the concern on her face as she relived the experience in her head.

“It’s awful, I know,” Anna stated, shaking her head. “It’s so difficult for them, and I could see how frustrated my mother got at the start of her illness when she was still lucid enough to realize that she was messing up.”

“It truly is a horrible disease,” Velma agreed with a sad smile as she took hold of one of Anna’s suitcases. “I started coming around every day to help her, but it has become too much for me. She needs constant supervision, and I just can’t give that to her.”

“Doesn’t she have any family?” Anna asked, feeling sad for Mrs. Gentry. Anna knew what it felt like to be alone.

“I know she has a son, she talks about him all the time, but he hasn’t been home since we moved in. From what I can understand, he left to go to college and never came back.”

Anna could understand wanting to go to college, but she could not fathom the idea of leaving her family behind, especially if they needed her. Who would leave their ill mother to fend for herself without so much as visiting her? It was despicable. Whoever her son was, he didn’t seem to be a very nice person.

“Let’s get your luggage inside,” Velma suggested as she started dragging one of Anna’s suitcases toward the house.

“I can do it,” Anna said as she took hold of the suitcase next to her. She had brought three suitcases and a bag that contained her life’s belongings.

“I don’t mind dear, and I want to introduce you to Mrs. Gentry before I go home.”

“Thank you, Velma, I truly appreciate it, and everything you’ve done for Mrs. Gentry. I know it’s not easy to take care of somebody with senile dementia.”

“It definitely isn’t, but I’m just grateful I found you.” Velma smiled as they hauled Anna’s suitcases towards the porch.

Anna could feel her chest starting to burn and she had to stop for a minute to catch her breath. She took a few short, shallow breaths and then looked toward Mrs. Cummings who had come to a stop next to her.

The woman’s blue eyes were filled with concern as she looked at Anna. “Are you alright dear?” she asked, placing a hand on her arm.

Anna nodded her head and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the oxygen they needed. “Yes,” Anna breathed, “just a little short of breath.” Anna had never let her asthma come in the way of her living her life, and she didn’t intend to start now. Velma didn’t look convinced. “I have asthma,” Anna explained. “Sometimes I just need to take a little break, but I promise I am fine.”

“Just remember to take care of yourself,” Velma replied, seeming satisfied with her explanation.

It took a few minutes, but soon all of Anna’s luggage was standing on the porch. Some of the floorboards were loose and they creaked under Anna and Velma’s boots as they made their way to the front door.

“I keep it locked,” Velma said as she retrieved a key from a small bag that was secured to her waistband. “I’m scared she’ll wander off and get lost or hurt.”

“Safety first,” Anna agreed, “I kept all our doors back home locked as well.”

Velma unlocked the door and pushed it open, the hinges protesting against the movement. “This is yours now,” she said as she removed the key from the door and placed it in Anna’s hand.

“Come on girl,” Anna called looking toward Lucy, and the dog quickly came running and followed her into the house, sniffing the floor as she went. The front door led directly into the dimly lit living room. All the curtains were closed and the only light coming in was from the door behind them. It was a beautiful day outside though, and some light penetrated through the drawn curtains, allowing Anna to see an elderly woman sitting in an armchair.

“I’ll get the curtains,” Velma said as she quickly made her way across the floor and pulled open the curtains, allowing a stream of sunlight to light up the room. The living room was relatively clean and unlike the exterior of the house, it didn’t look like it was falling apart.

The elderly woman, whom Anna assumed to be Mrs. Gentry looked toward Velma and then quickly narrowed her eyes at Anna. “Who are you?” the woman asked, letting the knitting needle she had been holding slip from her hand as she pointed her finger toward Anna.

“This is Anna Randall,” Velma said, as she sat down on the dark beige couch next to the armchair. “She’s here to help you. She’s going to be cooking and cleaning and keeping you company.”

Anna was relieved that the inside of the house seemed to be in better shape than the outside, but she still felt out of place in the old house. This wasn’t about her though, so she pushed her own feelings aside for the moment and focused on Mrs. Gentry. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Anna said in a confident and friendly voice as she walked towards the woman whom she was going to be taking care of.

“Anna,” Mrs. Gentry repeated softly.

“Yes, Mrs. Gentry,” Anna replied with a smile as she crouched down in front of the elderly woman and took her hand in hers.

“Do you know when Gideon is coming home?” Mrs. Gentry asked, her voice slightly louder. She sounded uneasy and her grey eyes darted between Anna and Velma.

“Is Gideon your son?” Anna asked, wanting to make sure whom Mrs. Gentry was speaking of before she replied. Not that it mattered, she was going to give her the same answer regardless.

“Yes, my clever boy,” Mrs. Gentry beamed. “Do you know him? Do you know when he’ll be coming?”

“I’m not certain, Mrs. Gentry, but I’m sure he’ll come to visit soon.” Anna had no idea if her son ever intended to return home, but what she did know was that Mrs. Gentry had lost her short-term memory and would not remember anything she said within a couple of minutes. Mrs. Gentry reminded Anna of her own mother which saddened her but also caused her to feel very protective of the elderly woman whom she only let moment ago.

“Did he tell you he’s coming?” Mrs. Gentry asked, her eyes lighting up at the idea.

“No, but he loves you very much, so I just know it,” Anna smiled as the elderly woman’s whole demeanor changed. She looked so happy at that moment that Anna couldn’t help but grow even angrier toward Mrs. Gentry’s son for abandoning her.