The Letter (Carter Sisters Series Book 4) Read online

  The Letter

  Morgan Dawson

  Contents

  Introduction

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2018 by Morgan Dawson

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Erin-Dameron Hill

  Edited by Meg Amor

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  For the people who helped to make this book possible, and supported me every step of the way. My mom, Erin Dameron-Hill and Meg!

  Also to my readers who have taken the time to read my book. Thank you!

  Introduction

  The Letter is the 4th book in the Carter Sisters Series by teen author, Morgan Dawson.

  You can find the links to the rest of the books in the series by going to https://kaypdawson.com/morgandawson

  Follow the Carter family as they face life on the frontier, losing people they care about and finding love along the way.

  *All books can be read as stand-alone books.

  Prologue

  After a long day of cleaning and preparing supper, I’m finally able to sit down at the table. I smile. It’s my eighteen birthday and my whole family surrounds me.

  I’m the oldest of us children in the house now, which means my responsibilities have become larger. After Genevieve and Joel got married about a year ago, she moved out. They have a new home now on a farm just outside the small town of Riverbend.

  It left me, my sister Hazel, and my two step-brothers Douglas and Bradley at home with my pa and step-ma, Freida. We’ve all been happy for the most part.

  My oldest sister Darlene and her husband Robert are here as well with their two children Alice and Levi. I can’t believe Alice is three now and walking and talking. Even baby Levi is no longer a baby anymore, he’s one and starting to crawl.

  Adeline, my other sister, sits with August, and their twins, Isaac and Charity. The two have grown so much in the past year. We don’t see Adeline as often as the rest of my sisters because it’s often a struggle for her to get the one-year-old twins to behave in a wagon all the way here. I mostly only see her on Sunday when we go into Riverbend for church.

  It’s nice having all my sisters seated at the table with me again and the meal goes by so quickly. Soon, we’re done eating and begin to clean up—Darlene, much to our protests, because she’s pregnant again—insists on helping with the dishes. Even though it’ll be a few months before the baby is born, we don’t want her overdoing it. Adeline dries them and puts them away, while Hazel wipes down the table.

  “So, Lydia, how are you doing?” Darlene smiles at me.

  “I’m good. It’s so odd being the oldest child at home now. I feel so responsible, but I’m really not.”

  She chuckles, setting a cup down for Adeline to dry. “You get used to it.”

  “How are you doing?”

  Darlene smiles, looking down at her stomach. “Good, but it seems I’m always pregnant lately.”

  “Because you are,” I tease.

  “What can I say? I like kids.”

  I smile, my eyes meeting her bold, blue eyes. “Yes. You’re a wonderful ma.”

  “I like to think so.”

  Eventually, all the dishes are put away and we’ve cleaned up from supper. The men and Freida are by the fireplace visiting but Freida is mostly keeping the four children under control, and we all join them by the warmth of the fire. It’s a chilly spring night and the walls of our tiny home seem to trap the cold in.

  Alice is wrapped in a blanket on Robert’s lap, and Levi is asleep in Darlene’s arms. August and Adeline have gone home already since it was beginning to get cold. They didn’t want the twins to catch a chill on the way home.

  I watch as Genevieve rubs at the pendant around her neck. She always does this. It’s a picture of Ma and must be a nervous habit for her. With her other hand, she reaches for Joel’s hand, and he takes it smiling.

  Eighteen was around the age all my sisters got married. But I’m eighteen and not feeling like I’m ready for such a thing. I don’t even know where my life is going. All I’ve got to work with is my weaving. I make pieces, and Pa takes them to a big city when he makes the trip every year, to sell them. He says everyone just adores my pieces, but I don’t see anything special about them. I do enjoy weaving however, and I do it quite often.

  “How’s Julie?” I ask Genevieve, thinking of Joel’s sister, who has become such a close friend of mine.

  “Oh, she’s doing well. Eager to get out of the house, though. She wants to get married so much. And Stephen and Albert are eighteen now, so it won’t be long until it’s just Joel and me in the house. They’ve found jobs in Riverbend they’re interested in.”

  I smile. “That’s nice.”

  “What about you, Lydia? Where do you think you’ll be in a year?”

  “I haven’t the faintest idea,” I reply, laughing.

  She smiles, seeming to understand. “I know the future seems scary sometimes, Lyd, but just follow your heart.”

  I ponder her words for a while and soon everyone is packing up to leave. We all hug goodbye as if we’ll never see each other again, even though Darlene and Robert live only five minutes away, and Genevieve lives close to Riverbend, which isn’t that far.

  With everyone gone, I’m seated back in my rocking chair, pulling out my current weaving piece. I’m making a headpiece. An extremely difficult and intricate one to test my abilities. With practice, though, this pattern has gotten easier.

  Pa comes out of his room with something behind his back.

  Freida reacts quicker than me. “What is it you have there, Lawrence?”

  “Something for Lydia,” he says, setting a yellowed and ripped envelope on my lap.

  “For me?” I ask hesitantly, setting my weaving on the ground.

  He lets out a breath as he sits down in his chair. “Yes. Your ma insisted I give you this letter when you turn eighteen. I haven’t read it, but she wrote it when she was getting sick. And now’s the time.”

  My hands are trembling. Ma wrote me a letter? Why me? My older sisters never got one when they turned eighteen.

  “Go on,” Freida says softly, tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. “Open it.”

  My fingers still trembl
ing, I carefully open the envelope. This letter was written five years ago, before my ma died. That world seems so far away.

  I pull the folded-up paper out of the envelope and open it.

  Dear Lydia,

  It reads.

  You’re eighteen now. I sure wish I could’ve been there to see it. I told your pa to give this to you. I hope he can follow those simple instructions, but you know him. How’s Hazel doing? Please tell her to be careful when climbing those trees. I don’t want her breaking an arm. I guess she’s around seventeen now, though, so she shouldn’t still be doing those things.

  And your other sisters Darlene, Adeline, and Genevieve. I wonder where they are now. Maybe some are married. I bet Darlene has kids. You know how she loves kids. Anyway, this letter isn’t about your pa or your sisters. It’s about you, my quiet, sweet Lydia.

  Tears begin to blur my vision, but I quickly blink them away.

  I’ve noticed how shy you are. You prefer to stay away from people you’re not close to. You’re very kind to others and you’d never hurt them, but I’m worried you’ll be the one to get hurt, Lydia. This life can go by so quickly and if you wait to do something, you may never get a chance to do it.

  I told myself I’d wait a few months before going to visit my ma and some friends back home. I said I’d wait until you girls were older, and could handle me being away for a while, and when we had enough money. Now look at me.

  Don’t hesitate to jump into an adventure, Lydia. Yes, you can be cautious and nervous, but you must live.

  I’m unable to stop myself at this point. The tears run down my face, and Hazel reaches over to take my hand. I keep reading.

  I have an adventure for you, Lydia. Whether you choose to accept it, is all up to you. Basically, I want you to pack up and leave wherever you are. I’m guessing at home still. Anyway, tell everyone where you’re going and what’s going on.

  As soon as you can, I want you to leave Nebraska and go to Kansas. To be exact, Northwood, Kansas. Yes, where I grew up. It’s a very big town and there’s a lot to see there. I don’t care how you choose to get there. Try something new perhaps?

  Oh, be sure to go alone. I want this to be your adventure.

  When you get there, ask around for Anna Harris. Don’t be too shy. Anna was one of my closest friends when I lived there, and she will give you a place to stay and help you out. Then try and complete as many things as you can on this list.

  1) Go to my childhood home. (Anna knows where this is.)

  2) Find Mrs. Taylor’s bakery. (I used to go there every day when I was nine, and Mrs. Taylor would give me a free pastry because I was her favorite customer.)

  3) Go to Autumer School. That’s where I got my first teaching job when I still lived there.

  4) Visit Grandma. I’m not sure what’s happening, but if she still is alive, do pay her a visit.

  5) Ask Aunt Beatrice to take you to Wentworth Hill.

  6) Find the cobbled bridge. And look over the east side. That’s where I was the day I met your pa.

  Anna knows where most of the places are. So if you’re ever lost or confused, ask her.

  I really hope you go on this trip, Lydia. You don’t have to stay there forever. I just want you to see my childhood. And I also want you to do something I know you’re terrified of doing. I could’ve asked one of your other sisters, but their bubbly nature would’ve made it easy for them.

  Just know whatever you decide, I love you. I wish I could’ve seen you grow up to be the beautiful girl I know you are. Just remember, life goes by so fast.

  Love always, your ma.

  I set the letter down on my lap, and Hazel looks at me, her eyes searching mine. “What did it say?”

  Hesitating, I look up at Pa. I’m not sure I even want to go on this journey. I know if I tell everyone, they’ll all want me to go. I want this to be my choice.

  “It just says how she wished that she could’ve been here to see us all grow up. And she said she hopes Hazel has stopped climbing those trees before she breaks an arm.” I smirk, looking over at her. “And she said how she hoped Pa could follow the simple instructions to give me the letter.”

  Pa lets out a small, disheartened laugh.

  Freida reaches out to touch my arm gently. “That’s such a nice thing for you to have, dear.”

  “Yes, I think I’m going to go for a little walk and think about some things for a little while. I’ll be back soon.” I stand with the letter still in my hand and walk out the door.

  I don’t wait for anyone to object as I walk out into the now dark night. I have no shoes on as usual as I walk down the path, the letter still clutched in my hand. I don’t want to go too far because you know, the dark. And bears. And evil people in the bushes waiting to jump out and get me. I’m sometimes told I imagine the worst too much, maybe they’re right.

  It’s nearly a full moon out and the light from it spreads across the whole ground, lighting it up. The grass is cold on my feet, and I realize I should’ve brought something to wrap around me.

  I shiver, looking down at the letter. Rereading it once more, just in case I imagined it the first time around. How could Ma possibly think, that me of all people, should go on this journey? I know I’m more introverted and reserved than my sisters, but why me? I don’t want to let her down, though.

  I now realize I’ve got a very hard decision to make. And I know just who could help me.

  Chapter 1

  I rub my arm with my other hand, making my way to Darlene’s. Light comes from the house, so I figure they must still be awake. I knock softly, though, knowing Alice and Levi are likely asleep.

  Hearing muffled whispers, I take a step back from the door and it opens halfway, revealing Robert standing protectively in front of Darlene.

  He smirks, opening the door all the way. “Oh, it’s just you.”

  Darlene pushes her way past him and grabs my arm, pulling me inside the warmth of their house. “Lydia. What’re you doing? It’s rather cold out, you know. Here, sit down by the fire.”

  I take a seat in Darlene’s rocking chair and feel the warmth from the fire run over me.

  Darlene’s eyes are locked on the paper in my hand. “What’s that?”

  “A letter Ma wrote for me. Pa gave it to me because I’m now eighteen,” I whisper.

  She smiles. “Oh, Lydia, that’s such a lovely thing. Have you read it yet?”

  “Yes.” I look down at the ground.

  “Well what did it say?”

  I smile faintly, remembering Ma’s words. “She said how she thinks you’re already married and have kids because you love kids so much.”

  She laughs lightly, and Robert sits down in his chair.

  “And, Darlene. She said in the letter how she wants me…” I stop, feeling hesitant. I remind myself that Darlene is my oldest sister and has always been there for me. And so has Robert in the time I’ve known him.

  “Wants you to what?”

  “She…she wants me to go to Kansas.”

  I watch as Robert looks up at me, and Darlene just nods slowly.

  Finally, her eyes meet mine. “Why?”

  “Because she said she was worried about me being too shy or something.”

  “Well, you kind of are.” She smiles, her eyes sparkling.

  I scowl down at her. I’m not shy.

  Darlene lets out a breath. “Come on, Lydia. You know you’re hesitant around strangers.”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m shy.”

  “I know that, and I’m not saying you are. But you aren’t the first to jump at the opportunity to go out and socialize. You prefer being home with your family.”

  I set the letter down on the table beside me and cross my arms over my chest. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Oh nothing. Obviously, nothing, but…here let me see the letter.” Darlene grabs it off the table before I can stop her, and her eyes begin to flutter across the page.

  After a while she smiles
, handing the letter back to me. “Lydia. This looks like it could be so much fun. You’ve been given the chance to learn about Ma’s childhood. Something none of the rest of us have gotten to do. I think you should go, but it’s up to you.”

  “Darlene. Do you realize how big Northwood is? It’s bigger than the large town we go to every six months. I will be so helplessly lost, and there will be so many people!”

  “Lydia. It’s a new experience. And if you go, it’s okay for you to be scared. But I like to think if you’re scared to do something, you should go for it.”

  I laugh, my eyes meeting hers. “If I’m afraid to walk into a fire, you’re saying I should go for it?”

  Darlene chuckles. “Think of it like this. Fear and danger are completely different things. Fear is produced by the thoughts you make in your mind. And danger is real. Fear however, can be a choice if you let it.”

  I feel my mouth tighten into a thin line as I process her words. I begin to say something, but she stops me.

  “No. Don’t say anything. Just consider what I’ve said and think about it for a while, okay?”

  “Okay, Darlene.” I sigh happily, folding the letter back up and standing. I pull her into a hug, and Robert opens the door for me.

  “Good night, Lydia.” She smiles, walking over and wrapping her arms around Robert. “And you really should be wearing shoes when it’s this cold out.”

  I smile. “Good night. And I know I should be, but I always forget. And thank you, Darlene, for helping me all the time.” I walk out into the cold night, looking up at the star filled sky.

  I don’t look back, but I hear the door shut behind me. It’s late, and I begin to imagine the creatures that could be lurking in the bushes. This thought is enough to get me running in the direction of home.

  Chapter 2

  As my familiar house comes into view, I feel my panic disperse. When I enter, only Pa remains seated by the fire. Everyone else must’ve gone to bed.