Love Blooms in Winter Read online

  “Thankfully, he is.”

  “So where’s the cute railroad man? You know, the one who’s got you all dewy-eyed?”

  “Lil! That’s a terrible thing to say. You know Jake and I are—”

  “Nothing! That’s what you and Jake are to each other. He don’t look at you with that sparkle in his eye any more than you look at him that way. Who are the two of you kidding? A blind man could see y’all aren’t in love. He’s just your bad habit.”

  “Lil, don’t you be saying those things. I love Jake and we’re going to get married. You know we are, so stop talking about us like that.”

  “Okay. Because you’re my friend and always will be, I’ll shut up.” Lil lowered her feet and leaned forward in the chair. “Now, tell me where Tom is. You know, the man you’re not interested in.”

  Mae knew Lil well, so she chose not to respond further to her teasing. If she said anything more, Lil would keep on about it all day, and she wasn’t in the mood. “Early this morning the supply train was waiting for Tom just before the accident site, where the track is still intact. He was the first man out there, and he had to come back to tell Dale so he could hurry the men along.”

  Mae wouldn’t dare tell Lil that she had been able to chat with Tom over her first cup of coffee—with the sun just peeking over the horizon—and that for her the day had begun beautifully. She closed the box lid. “Now that the site is clear of the wreckage, the crew has started the repairs. It shouldn’t be but a few days before the train is running to the depot again.”

  In a way the thought pleased her. On the one hand, it meant that Tom could go back to his work in Chicago, but on the other hand a nagging sense of emptiness filled her when she thought about his leaving. But that would be for the best because Jake had started to make accusations. He’d found her and Tom together too many times in what he called “questionable situations.”

  Lil cracked another peanut. “Heard you and the boss got in a snowball fight yesterday.”

  Her friend’s statement brought back last night’s argument with Jake. He had openly accused her of being attracted to the railroad man. She presented her best argument, but even she realized her words rang hollow.

  She needed to change the subject. “Did you hear about the dogs falling through the ice?”

  “Yeah.” Lil tossed a shell in the direction of a wicker basket. “Twelve and Fourteen? I heard Curtis saved the day.” Reaching for a tin box, she searched in it until she found a red button and stuck it in her overall pocket.

  “Please. Help yourself to anything you need,” Mae said dryly, deliberately picking up the credit book and dutifully recording an additional four cents on her friend’s account.

  Closing the book, she eased around Lil and the puddle on the floor and stepped out of the cage. Mrs. Pryor had brought in five dozen eggs earlier, and she had yet to put them on the counter. “Jeremy was beside himself when the dogs fell through the ice, but Tom solved the problem. He was quite helpful.”

  “I’m sure he was. Unlike Jake.”

  “Tom was there at the time, Lil. Jake wasn’t. Well, he was, but he didn’t do anything.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me. He’s never there. He hates those dogs.”

  “Yes, but he loves my brother, and he would have helped.”

  “Not if it meant getting dirty.”

  Lil knew Jake too well, and unfortunately so did Mae.

  For some reason she felt as though she’d known Tom Curtis all of her life too. Her mind skipped to the coming evening when Jake would be over. Last night he’d insisted on seeing her, even though they hadn’t been able to have their regularly scheduled dinners together since she had started staying in Dale’s quarters. She assumed she’d be in for another stern lecture on “proper etiquette.”

  She understood that discovering one’s intended playing in the snow with another man would be disconcerting for someone with Jake’s conservative nature. She had already explained and apologized for her insensitive actions and didn’t want to go through it again, but Jake had given her that look, the one that said he didn’t believe a word she said. A headache bloomed at the base of her neck. The telegraph machine beat a rat-a-tat-tat and she moved to accept the message.

  “Who’s gittin’ a telegram?” Lil asked.

  Mae motioned for her friend to keep quiet. She wrote as the erratic beats came in, copying the message twice. When the machine fell silent, she turned toward Lil. “It’s for Tom—from the railroad.”

  Lil shelled another nut. “I knew it couldn’t be for anyone from around here.” She brushed empty shells off her lap. “When was the last time anyone in Dwadlo got a telegram?”

  “Hmm…” Mae returned to the counter. “I don’t know. Probably a couple of years ago when Mr. Anderson’s mother passed.”

  “Oh, yeah. That came all the way from Philly, didn’t it?”

  Nodding, Mae put the last of the eggs on display, her mind on the recent wire. The railroad wanted the track finished by Wednesday of next week—just seven days from now. Tom would be leaving shortly after that. His earlier words flashed through her mind: “There’s a whole big world out there.” Until she’d met him, she hadn’t thought much about what she might be missing, but it didn’t matter anyway. Her life was here, and it always would be.

  Lil stood and stepped out of the cage and said, “Want to eat supper at the café tonight?”

  “I’d love to, but since I’ve been at Dale’s, I haven’t had dinner with Jake, and he’s coming here tonight.”

  “I forgot. This is Thursday.”

  “Yes. His regular night.” Sighing, she remembered that Dale was low on baking soda. Jeremy would make biscuits, even though Jake favored white bread. She often wondered if Jeremy liked to play with the lawyer’s mind by purposely irritating him.

  “Well.” Lil stretched. “Guess I’ll mosey on out to the work site and pester Fisk awhile.”

  Shaking her head, Mae smiled. “You two do love to annoy each other.”

  “Yep. It’s the only fun I get anymore.”

  The front door opened, and Mae turned to see Joanne Small’s mother walk into the store.

  “Hello, ma’am. What brings you out this morning?” Mae knew the reason, but she had to be polite to the woman. She’d been in twice since the accident to check on the herring shipment.

  “Is the track repaired?” The full-bodied woman paused before the counter.

  “No, ma’am, but they’re working on it. I believe it will be in plenty of time for Joanne’s wedding.”

  “Are you certain?”

  Mae understood the woman’s concern. “I can’t promise, Mrs. Small, but the work is coming along nicely. Supplies have arrived, and it should only take a few days to lay temporary track.”

  “A few days? That’s all the time I have.” The woman glanced around the store and then back at Mae. “I haven’t slept a wink since the train derailed.” She drew a handkerchief to her mouth. “Oh, for the days when weddings were a simple occasion. When a man and a woman took vows before their family and just a few friends. Joanne’s guest list grows every day.”

  Mae reached out and patted Mrs. Small’s hand. “I know you’re concerned, but the herring will arrive on time. Go home and try to rest.” She gave her a brave smile. “I’ll send Jeremy to let you know the minute the track is finished.”

  “Thank you, dear. I know I’m a bit of a pest, but this wedding has me all aflutter.”

  “I understand. It will work out. You’ll see.”

  “Thank you, dear,” she said again. Mrs. Small walked toward the door and then turned. “You will send Jeremy the moment the train is running?”

  “The very moment. I promise.” Mae sighed when the woman pulled the door closed. “Poor thing. She’s making herself sick with worry.”

  “What if the fish don’t get here?” Lil pitched another shell and missed the can.

  “Pick that up. If the herring doesn’t arrive, Joanne’s big day will still g
o on. It wouldn’t be the end of the world to have the wedding without it.” Mae walked over to where Lil stood.

  “I’ve never heard of a wedding with herring. Have you?” Lil dropped more peanut shells on the floor.

  “You know Joanne. She likes things fancy. Are you going?”

  “Where?”

  “To the wedding.”

  “I don’t like them shindigs. Besides, I use herring as bait. I don’t eat it.”

  “It’s considered a delicacy.”

  “It’s bait. Just because Joanne’s papa has enough money to burn a wet mule don’t mean that I’m gonna take a bath in rose water, put on a dress, and force bait down my throat.”

  “Don’t blow your corset. I was only asking.” Mae changed the subject. “You must have been proud of Esau.”

  Lil’s face beamed like a proud mama’s. “He’s a dandy. I bet Pauline was coming out of her skin watchin’ my elephant work and knowing I’d outbid her on the animal.”

  “I didn’t notice.” She’d been too focused on Tom—according to Jake. “The last thing Pauline needs is an elephant.” An elephant to worry about in addition to the stray dogs and cats would surely have sent Tom over the edge. “What would Pauline do with an elephant when she can’t care for the animals she has?”

  “Why, she could put him in the new pen you and Tom are buildin’.”

  Mae groaned at Lil’s statement. She should be used to the way word spread in Dwadlo. Turning a cynical eye on her, she said, “Weren’t you on your way to annoy Fisk?”

  “Well…yeah, that’s where I’m headed.” Tipping her battered hat, Lil grinned. “When you get a free evening, let’s eat supper at the café—once you get your man problems figured out. Fisk eats there every night. I wanna see the look on his face when I walk in.”

  “You’re hopeless. Fisk is a good man, and he’s still obviously grieving for his wife.”

  “Maybe if he’d open his stubborn eyes, he’d notice there are other women around who might treat him as good.”

  Mae turned. “Why, Lil Jenkins. You actually like the man.”

  “I do not.” She shoved her hands in her pockets. “And don’t you be spreadin’ that around.”

  Grinning, Mae shook her head. “And all this time you’ve had me convinced you thought the blacksmith was cow droppings.”

  “I never said that.”

  “You’ve implied it a hundred times—”

  “Can we change the subject? I’m getting sick to my stomach.”

  “Because you’ve eaten too many nuts.”

  “Because my best friend is a nut. Can you go to supper or not?”

  Mae raised her eyebrows. “Not tonight. Jake, remember?”

  “Oh, right. Mr. Wonderful.”

  Twenty-Two

  The scent of baking biscuits filled the store as Mae hung the “Closed” sign. She’d seen Jake’s buggy pass a while ago, but last-minute customers had detained her. He would be displeased that she wasn’t there to greet him when he arrived at Dale’s quarters.

  “Hello!” she called cheerily when she brushed past Jeremy and headed for the small living area. Jake was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. No doubt his mind was on something other than the beef stew simmering on the stove.

  “Good evening, Jake. Sorry I’m late.” She leaned toward him to give him a peck on the cheek, but he moved his head away from her before she touched him. He stopped pacing and stared at her.

  “It’s ten after.” He showed her his pocket watch and tapped the face. “I said six o’clock, Mae. That does not mean ten after six. It means six o’clock.”

  Mae silently growled inside, but she didn’t dare show Jake she hated being treated like an errant child. “Mrs. Wetlock ran low on salt, so she came in right at closing. Then another telegram came in for Tom. I had to write it down and would have had to deliver it, but thankfully Mrs. Wetlock offered to take it to him on her way home. So I could have been even later.”

  He paused to focus on her, glaring. “Is that right?”

  She wilted beneath his harsh scrutiny. The mere mention of Tom’s name caused a ruddy tint to creep up his neck. His eyes hardened, and she recognized the impatient glint all too well. She was puzzled. Being late was no reason for him to get this angry.

  “Can’t Mr. Curtis fetch his own wires? Why should someone have to deliver them?”

  “He wasn’t aware he had a message, and because it was from the railroad, I thought he’d need to read it right away.” She gently placed her hand on his arm. “Let’s eat. Something smells glorious.”

  Ordinarily a good meal distracted him, but not tonight. He pulled his arm away from her touch. “I don’t believe you understand how it looks when you spend time alone with another man.”

  “I wasn’t alone with him. I sent the message with someone else.”

  “You were alone with him yesterday. I caught you.”

  She clenched her teeth and suppressed her objections to his ridiculous statement. “I’m sorry, Jake. It won’t happen again.” He stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, and then he paced a couple more times. He stopped in front of her again, and she wasn’t sure what to expect.

  “First, I accept your apology. Second, I have business I’d like to get out of the way before we consume our evening meal.”

  “Oh? Well, if you don’t mind, I need to sit down first.” Mae stepped over to the couch and sank onto the cushion, nudging off her boots. She’d been on her feet for hours. Unfastening a few hair pins, she allowed her hair to cascade down her back. “All right.” She couldn’t recall any pending business that affected both her and Jake, but then so many things were on her mind these days.

  He eyed her sudden personal disorder with apparent disdain, absently straightening his shirt points. Normally she’d have taken the time to put a bit of rouge on her cheeks and a little powder, but her disheveled appearance was one more penalty for being late. She was just plain weary tonight.

  Jake cleared his throat. “Shall we get down to business?”

  “Let’s.”

  “It has come to my attention recently that a certain woman in town is acting most improper for a woman betrothed to a man.”

  She scratched her scalp vigorously. It felt so good. “Mmm—who’s that?” Couldn’t be Lil. She always acted improperly, and she wasn’t betrothed to anyone. Mae chuckled, recalling their earlier conversation. “Jake, do you know that Lil has her eye on Fisk? All this time she’s pretended to argue with him to get his attention. Can you imagine? That girl is—”

  “Mae!”

  She glanced up and immediately sobered at the disturbed look on his face. “What?”

  “I am talking to you.”

  “Yes.” Her hand dropped. Why was he acting so contrary? He seemed more serious tonight than usual. She had a lot of comments about his present behavior, none of which he would appreciate. She sighed. “Go on.”

  “It has come to my attention that you have been spending entirely too much time with that railroad man.”

  “Tom?”

  “Is there another railroad man in town of whom I am not aware?”

  He was using his lawyer’s voice on her now. She straightened. “Of course not, Jake. You can’t be serious.” She’d never known him to show an ounce of jealousy, but then she’d never given him a reason to warrant his concern. She’d been completely faithful, even though officially she wasn’t engaged to him.

  “People are starting to talk.”

  “Who? I can’t imagine anyone in Dwadlo who would find fault with my behavior.”

  “You’re telling me that allowing a man to drip water on your head is appropriate conduct?” Jake shook his head. “How about the snowball fight? Do you think that was appropriate? If you do, then I have to say I question your judgment, Mae Wilkey.”

  She was too tired to argue, and she had to admit she’d made some mistakes, especially in Jake’s eyes. “I suppose you’re right.” He was still making an
ugly face at her, and she knew he wanted her apology spelled out and acknowledged. “You are right, Jake. My behavior was improper, and I regret it. I used poor judgment, and that will never happen again. I’m sorry.”

  “Indeed. Then you would agree that folks have a reason to talk?” He stood in front of her. “It grieves me to have to speak to you about this, Mae. You must understand that as my intended wife I cannot have you running around like a common strumpet.”

  Her jaw dropped. How could he think that after knowing her almost all of her life? “Strumpet? Jake, that’s most unkind.”

  “How else would I define your recent behavior? Cavorting around with a man who appears to have no morals—”

  “Tom has morals. Why would you say such things?”

  “Because a decent man doesn’t try to move in on another man’s territory.”

  Mae stood up and took a few steps toward the kitchen area. Jake’s accusations stung, but they were not without warrant. Her mind turned to Tom. She did act differently when he was around. He made her feel young and carefree, and he was without judgment and constant criticism. But Tom was not her suitor, Jake was, and she’d managed to make him angrier than she’d ever seen him.

  “In the future, I will expect you to act in a respectable manner, Mae. There will be no more playing in the snow, and no more time spent alone with Curtis. Do we have an understanding?”

  “Yes,” she murmured.

  “Very well.” He crossed the floor and took her by the shoulders. “I have given this careful thought, and I’ve reached a solution I feel is best for all concerned.”

  Her heart thumped. Shock—and then relief—filled her. He was going to break their six-year relationship, and she had no one to blame but herself. A sudden giddiness bubbled inside her.

  “I am fully aware that women expect, shall we say, more adequate surroundings, but then I know you’re not like most women.”

  His pinched look gradually faded into a pleasant smile when he let go of her shoulders and reached into his coat pocket to withdraw a small box. Her eyes focused on the object.

  “Mae Wilkey.” He popped the lid open to reveal a sparkling diamond. Not too big to be gaudy, but not so small to be tasteless. “Will you be my bride?”