Lucinda couldn’t help looking right at the Needles. Colin still wouldn’t meet her gaze, but Mrs. Needle stared back as if daring Lucinda to say something. Didn’t Gideon know that the witch had been trying to change his will only a few nights ago? Why hadn’t Ragnar or someone else told Gideon about that? Did they expect her and Tyler to do it?
“You see,” Gideon continued, “I understand now that it’s not just my farm-it belongs to everyone in this room. In fact, most of you have nowhere else to go. None of you came here by choice-not exactly-and without the farm, your existence here in this world, this time, would be difficult and maybe even impossible. Not to mention all of our animals that can only survive here, where we’ve learned how to take care of them.
“So here is what I’m going to do. After much thought, I am making Lucinda and Tyler my heirs. When I’m gone Ordinary Farm will be belong to the two of you-but only if you agree to abide by my terms and honor all the responsibilities that go with it.”
Even in the midst of such an amazing moment, something about what he said nagged at her. “Responsibilities?” Lucinda asked. “Like feeding the animals? Of course we’ll take care of them just like you have, Uncle Gideon. We know all about that.”
“Not quite.” The old man held up his hand to hold back more questions. “No, part of what it means to own Ordinary Farm is to protect Ordinary Farm-and all the people on it. If you agree to be my heirs, you must also solemnly promise me that everyone here will always have a home at Ordinary Farm.”
“Everyone?” asked Lucinda, astonished. “No matter what they do?” Even if they try to brainwash or kill people? she wondered. How could she and Tyler promise to let Patience Needle stay when they already knew she would go to any length to take the farm for herself and Colin?
“Ummm… ummm… ” Tyler was fidgeting like someone who needed to use the bathroom-it was clear he was feeling a painful need to share his own secret. Lucinda hoped he’d keep his mouth shut about Grace until they could find out whether Gideon really meant what he’d just said.
“You mean even if we’re in charge someday, we can’t ever kick out anybody here?” She avoided looking at Patience Needle, but everyone in the room except Gideon knew who she was talking about. “No matter what they do? We can’t say yes to that, Uncle Gideon.”
“Come, come,” he said, frowning. “I’m not asking you to do anything I haven’t done myself. It’s simple, child-do you promise to abide by my rules?” His displeasure turned to surprise. “Tyler, what are you doing? Where is he going? Come back here!”
But her brother was already slipping between the Three Amigos, hurrying out of the parlor. Once again, Lucinda wished Tyler would think before he acted. Now she had only a few moments before he showed up with Grace and that would probably be the end of any real conversation for the day.
“I’m very unhappy with your brother’s irresponsible behavior,” Gideon said. “And speaking of irresponsible, what on earth are you trying to say? I’m offering you an amazing gift-nothing like it has ever existed before. Why can’t you just do as I ask?”
She cleared her throat. “We’re really grateful, Uncle Gideon. It’s just that some of us… feel that not everyone here on Ordinary Farm… has your best interests… the farm’s best interests
… ” She turned to Ragnar, Sarah, and the kitchen women. “Isn’t anyone else going to talk? Hasn’t anybody told him anything…?”
But before another word could be said Tyler burst through the doorway leading his surprise. She was dressed in a simple dress from twenty years or more gone and her hair was brushed and shiny.
“Look, Uncle Gideon,” Tyler said, half tugging her toward the old man’s bedside. “Just look who we found for you while you were sick! Look who’s here! It’s Grace!”
Gideon looked at her, his face slack with confusion and growing wonder. Then it somehow slid right past wonder and back into pure confusion. “What? Who is this?”
“It’s Grace, Uncle Gideon!” Tyler was almost jumping up and down in his worried excitement. “Your wife!”
Gideon stared at the woman for a long moment, then turned to Tyler. “What are you talking about? That isn’t Grace.”
Tyler was clearly getting panicky now. “Just look at her again, Uncle Gideon! It’s been twenty years and she was stuck in a real bad place-but it’s her!”
Gideon looked at the white-haired woman again, who seemed nervous just returning his gaze, blinking and leaning away from him. He shook his head. “No. Not my Grace.”
Tyler turned to Ragnar and the rest. “Maybe he doesn’t recognize her because he’s been sick…!”
“No, Gideon speaks the truth,” said Mr. Walkwell from the couch. “I am the only other person here who knew her.” He shook his head wearily. “That is not Grace Goldring.”
Chapter 44
If Colin Needle hadn’t been in such a miserable mood he would have taken a great deal of pleasure from the expressions on Tyler Jenkins’ face as it became clear that no amount of insisting on his part was going to turn this confused old woman into Gideon’s long-lost wife, Grace.
Even better than that, the younger Jenkins had completely distracted everyone just when Lucinda had been about to tell Gideon about the things Patience Needle had done. Colin might have his own doubts about his mother but he couldn’t imagine anything good could come from her being denounced in front of everybody. Still, the danger was by no means gone, just delayed, and Colin could sense something behind his mother’s carefully composed features that he’d hardly ever seen in her before, a shadow of distress or even fear.
This new realization struck Colin like a blow-his mother didn’t know what was going to happen next! The situation here was actually beyond her control. He had never imagined such a day might come and he didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified.
“But if this lady’s not Grace,” Lucinda suddenly asked, bringing a little quiet to the noisy room, “… then who is she?”
While everyone else had been arguing, Gideon had been staring at the newcomer. Now he blinked and sat up straighter in his bed. “My goodness,” he said, “I’ve just realized… I think it’s Dorothea! She used to live here with us. Dorothea, is that you?”
“Dorothea?” asked Tyler, as deflated as Colin Needle could ever hope to see him. “Who the heck is Dorothea?”
“Grace’s cousin, Dorothea Pence-but she left and moved back east years ago! What’s she doing here?” Gideon leaned toward the woman. “Dorothea, is that really you?”
She at first only looked confused, but at last she nodded. “Dorothea. Yes, that’s my name. I… I had forgotten… ”
“But where did she come from?” Gideon demanded. “Did she just wander onto the property? Dorothea, when did you come back?” He turned to Mr. Walkwell. “Simos, do you know anything about this-no, you’ve been sick, too. Ragnar?”
The Norseman spread his hands. “Tyler found her. As he said, he
… brought her back.”
“Tyler?” Gideon’s voice had an edge now. “And you brought me Grace’s necklace, too, didn’t you? Told me you find it in the library. Well, you’d better tell me everything-and this time, I want the whole truth, boy.”
“I… but I don’t… ” Tyler hesitated, then looked at his great-uncle in a pleading way. “Really?”
Sweat dripped down the back of Colin Needle’s neck. His guts felt heavy, and it was all he could do not to look over at his mother. If Tyler Jenkins started talking, who was to say where he’d stop? Did anybody in this room really want Gideon Goldring to know the whole truth?
“The mirror on the washstand?” Gideon seemed astonished. “The antique washstand that was in the library, in Octavio’s retiring room? That mirror?” He turned to Mr. Walkwell. “What do you think of that, Simos? Strange, eh?”
Mr. Walkwell was sitting up on his makeshift bed, paying close attention to everything being said, but he didn’t reply.