Love Blooms in Winter Read online

  “Over here, Mae!”

  Hobbling faster, she veered away from the bank and followed the sound through frozen undergrowth. “Jeremy?”

  “Down here!”

  Easing closer to a drop-off, Mae peered over the edge. “What are you doing down there?”

  Shrugging his shoulders, the boy said, “I was looking for Seven. I found him here, but when I crawled down to get him he got out. He’s fast, Mae.” He looked up at his sister. “Now I can’t get out. It’s too slippery.”

  “Okay.” She glanced around for a long branch. “I’ll find a stick and help you up. Pull your hat down closer to your ears so they’ll stay warm.”

  “I’m sorry, Mae.”

  “It’s okay, Jeremy. I know Seven is feisty.” Her mind worked to overcome paralyzing fear, and she suddenly realized everything was quiet. That meant the runaway had stopped. What damage had it done to their community, and where was Tom? Had he been in the train when it derailed? Was he at this moment lying dead somewhere? A tight fist of fear squeezed her stomach as she picked up a sturdy limb. The weather was worsening. Heavy snow fell in clumps like cotton. Returning to the edge, she called, “I’m going to have to climb down a ways so you can get hold of this.”

  “Be careful. It’s slippery.”

  She started to ease her body slowly into the ravine. She’d only moved a short distance when her left boot encountered a patch of ice. Pain shot through her injured ankle, and she bit back a cry. She bumped the rest of the way down on her backside. Landing at the bottom, she saw stars.

  “Uh-oh. Mae, are you okay?”

  “Yes.” Dusting off her hands, she sat trying to collect her thoughts. Someone would come along soon. People had watched her leave in search of her brother. Pauline—Oh, please be in your right mind at this moment and send someone to look for us.

  Drawing the shivering boy to her side, the two huddled together to keep warm.

  “What was that noise, Mae?”

  “The train—it derailed.” She closed her eyes and prayed that some of Dwadlo was spared. From the destruction she’d heard, she had her doubts.

  “Again?”

  Nodding, she sighed. “A different one this time, and closer to town.” In many ways Pauline was right. Railroad service was both a blessing and a curse, and certainly their recent troubles were costing the railway a small fortune.

  “Is Tom Curtis safe?”

  Funny how he hadn’t asked about Jake first. “I don’t know, Jeremy. He and Fisk left to try to stop the train.” She blinked back sudden hot tears as the noise and earlier confusion came back to haunt her. Nobody inside that locomotive could have survived the crash, could they? “I don’t know if he was on the train when it came through Dwadlo.”

  “He wasn’t. He would have jumped off before then.”

  “Perhaps.” He was a dedicated railroad man, but she hoped what Jeremy said was true. She could picture him frantically trying to fix the throttle even as time ran out.

  “Mae.” Jeremy straightened. “I don’t think you should marry Jake. I think you should marry Tom Curtis.”

  Pulling him back into her arms, she smiled. Maybe her brother was right. “Tom hasn’t asked.”

  “He might—if you weren’t going to marry Jake.”

  “You don’t like Jake?”

  “I like him well enough, but I like Tom Curtis better. He’s different in a nice way. He treats me like a man—gives me men’s jobs. Jake treats me like a baby. Sometimes like a stupid baby.”

  A male voice called from the distance, the wind making it hard to hear. “Mae!”

  Struggling to her feet, Mae pressed against the hillside. “Down here!” Tom? Relief rendered her weak. He was alive!

  “I’m coming!”

  Turning around, she leaned against the wall of dirt. “It’s him. He made it.” Giddiness snatched away her breath. Thank You, God. Thank You, God…

  “Yea!” Jeremy yelled.

  Yes, yea. Double, triple yea. They heard heavy footsteps making their way to the incline. Cold—so very cold. Mae’s teeth chattered.

  “There you are. Thank God.”

  She lifted half-frozen lids to see…Jake? Her heart threatened to stop. Not Tom. Jake. She swallowed back disappointment. “H-how did you find us?”

  “Someone said you and Jeremy were chasing one of the mutts and I came to investigate. Why are you in the ravine?”

  Because I like it here, she wanted to scream. “I…can you just get us out, Jake? I’ll explain later.”

  “Of course.” His gaze wandered the site as he buttoned up tighter. “What should I do?”

  “Get a long stick.” She paused and thought about what had just happened to her. “Forget it. You’ll need to do something else.”

  “Okay. Shall I go back for help?”

  “That isn’t necessary. If you’ll climb down a bit I can grab onto your hand.”

  His eyes scanned the rugged terrain. “I don’t know about climbing, Mae. And I’m wearing new oxfords. There’s no need to scuff them. Perhaps if I lean close and extend a hand?”

  Mae gauged the distance he would need to achieve to pull her up and shook her head. “That won’t work. You’ll have to come down here and hoist us up.”

  “What if I become trapped after you get out?”

  “You won’t be in here for long. I’ll go get other men to come and help you.”

  “Why don’t I do that now?”

  “He doesn’t want to come down here.” Jeremy stated the obvious under his breath. “Tom Curtis would.”

  Leave it to a young person to speak the truth even if it hurt. “Shush.” She turned back to Jake. “I’ve wrenched my ankle. Please climb down halfway and help me out of here.”

  “Oh, darling.” He shook his head. “I was worried. I feared you hadn’t made it to the river.”

  Great. Now he was going to act as if he were concerned. Was he serious? All she wanted was to get out of this hole. “Thank you for your concern, Jake. Just step on those large roots—there, in the center. They should hold your weight.”

  “You know what a mistake you’ve made.”

  It wasn’t a question. It was a rather forceful statement. “Yes. I should have gone for help instead of trying to rescue Jeremy alone.”

  “No. You surely realized the moment you left my office that breaking our engagement isn’t the answer. I’ve thought about your accusations, and you’re right. I have neglected you of late, and I’m deeply sorry. When I get you out of there, I’m going to put that ring back on your finger, Mae Wilkey, and we’re going to forget about all this nonsense.”

  She glanced at her little brother. He shouldn’t be hearing this. “It’s not nonsense, Jake, but now is certainly not the time to have this discussion.” She looked up and saw that he was glaring down at her.

  “Clearly there’s a misunderstanding between us. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. We can’t let an inconsequential tiff destroy what we’ve enjoyed for years.” His tone turned pleading. “Mae, I promise to be a dutiful husband. I’ll give you material possessions beyond your wildest expectations. The finest clothing. Jewelry. Travel. Name your desire.”

  “Get me out of here.” She heard him groan. “I don’t want to marry a bank account, Jake. I have a job.”

  “I only meant that my practice is thriving and you’ll want for nothing.”

  Mae fell silent. Her ankle ached like blue blazes, and she’d give her nose for a cup of hot coffee. His words registered. Business was thriving these days? He’d failed to mention that. “Jake, it’s freezing down here. Are you going to help us up or are you not?”

  “Not until you promise to accept my ring.”

  “I can’t promise that.”

  Jeremy pressed closer. “What’s he talking about, Mae?”

  “I’ll explain later, Jeremy. Jake, get us out of here!”

  Twenty-Nine

  Jake’s teasing side definitely chose the wrong time to appear. H
e wagged his head, becoming even more annoying. Mae wondered what she’d ever seen in him.

  “Say you’ll be my bride first.”

  “She don’t have to!” Jeremy yelled.

  Jake smiled, pulled something out of his pocket, and tossed it at her. “But she will.”

  Mae’s hand quickly covered her younger brother’s mouth before he could say anything more. She glanced down and saw the ring she’d given back to Jake in the snow at her feet. Now she was really getting mad. “You can’t blackmail me, Jake!”

  His tone tightened. “I understand you’re under duress, darling, but I’m deadly serious. Promise you’ll accept that ring and we’ll never mention this again.”

  A pair of brown eyes appeared at Jake’s side. A pink tongue lolled as the missing dog peered over the rim. His tail shot up and he barked when he spotted Jeremy.

  Jeremy pushed Mae’s hand away and grinned. “Seven!”

  “Mae, stop this nonsense. I’m cold too, you know.”

  Drawing a deep breath, Mae took off her glove, bent down to pick up the ring, and placed it on her finger, knowing full well it wouldn’t stay there. She met Jake’s gaze and said firmly, “Jake Mallory, I’m going to put this on for the time being, but you had better get someone to save us and do it now or, so help me, when I get out of this hole your life won’t be worth a plugged nickel.”

  He tilted his head back and looked down his nose at her. “Fine. I accept that.”

  “You’d better accept it, mister, and fast.”

  Straightening, he took one final sweep of the area. “There’s no use ruining a new pair of shoes and getting trapped myself. I’ll go for help.”

  “We’ll be here when you get back.”

  He started off and then turned. “Would you like anything? Perhaps something warm to drink?”

  Now he was testing her. Putting her glove back on, she gritted her teeth and spoke through pursed lips. “Just…get…me…out…of…here! Get Lil—and Esau.”

  Shock registered on his features. “You want me to bring that dirty, cumbersome beast down here?”

  She wasn’t sure whether he was referring to her best friend or the elephant. “Lil can handle him. Go get her.”

  “I’m sure she and the smelly thing shouldn’t be too hard to find—”

  “Jake!”

  “Don’t let Seven get loose,” Jeremy called.

  The lawyer turned and carefully stepped around a growing snowbank. “Mangy mutt.”

  “I heard that! He is not a mutt!” Jeremy turned to Mae. “He isn’t mangy either.”

  “Don’t worry, honey.” Mae sank to the ground again. When he sat beside her, she drew him close. “There’s only one mangy mutt around here, and we both know who it is.”

  Snow and ice continued to fall, deepening drifts. Mae listened to the sounds coming from Dwadlo. Shouts. Chaos. Closing her eyes, she prayed softly, “God, I plead for Your mercy. Stop this relentless weather.” Tom. Where are you?

  “Mae?”

  “Yes, Jeremy?”

  “Is it true? You don’t want to marry Jake?”

  Sighing, she gathered him closer. “It’s true.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t love him. Not the way I should.”

  “Not the way you love Tom Curtis?”

  Drawing back, she looked directly into Jeremy’s earnest eyes. “Wherever did you get the idea that I’m in love with him?”

  “I figured it out all by myself. You look at him funny. It’s true, isn’t it?”

  “I…” She refused to lie to the child. She never had, and she didn’t intend to start. But had she been lying to herself? She realized she’d been ignoring what her heart had known all along. She was in love with Tom Curtis. “Tom is never to know of my feelings.” She put a hand on each of the young man’s cheeks. “That means you can never tell him I love him.”

  Jeremy reached up, took her hands in his, and pulled them down. He gave her a big grin, like the cat that swallowed the canary. “I don’t have to tell him, Mae. I think he already knows and loves you too.”

  She hugged him again, mainly because she didn’t want to see the innocence in his eyes.

  “He loves you too.” The words were like stakes driven in her heart. Why had they waited so long? Why hadn’t one or the other reached out to claim what was so obvious?

  Jeremy had always been brutally honest. Leave it up to someone special like him to figure out how adults should act. She could only hope it wasn’t too late to make things right.

  She heard heavy footsteps crunching through ice and snow again. The earth shook slightly—it had to be Esau.

  “Mae, it sounds like Lil and the elephant are coming.” Jeremy helped her to her feet again, which felt frozen inside her boots. Lil, perched on top of Esau, came into view.

  “We’re down here!”

  Lil waved. “You in a ditch?”

  “Does it look like I’m in a ditch?”

  “Don’t be smart, missy. I’m your only way out.”

  It might not be the right time, but she had to know. “Have you heard anything about Tom? And Fisk?”

  “Nary a word. I got a look at the town, and it’s gone. Fires are burning everywhere. It’s a real sight.”

  Mae’s heart sank. Everything was destroyed? Seven stuck his nose over the edge again, whining when he focused on Jeremy.

  “How’d you get in there?” Lil called.

  “Does it matter? Just get me out!”

  “Hold on to your britches.” Esau trumpeted as Lil urged the animal closer to the steep drop-off.

  “Are you sure no one’s seen Tom?” Mae called, aware that Jake was standing off to the side. Despite being upset with him, her heart ached when she saw his betrayed expression. She had never meant to hurt him. The good Lord knew she didn’t. They had meant too much to each other over the years, but dreams and hearts change.

  Lil shook her head. “Ain’t found any remains yet. It’s a mess up there. Took out everything—the station, the store—almost every house in town. And what the train didn’t get, the fires probably will.”

  Of course there would be fires with all the woodstoves stoked to their fullest in midwinter. Pain seared Mae’s heart. Deep, agonizing hurt at Dwadlo’s loss. And no sign of Tom. She tried to tell herself that his absence didn’t mean he hadn’t jumped clear when he knew the train couldn’t be saved, but she also couldn’t be sure he had time to react and survived leaving the train before it crashed.

  “I’m going to throw a rope down, and you and Jeremy need to tie it around your waists. Esau will hoist you up.”

  Nodding, Mae wondered if her freezing hands would be able to grip a rope well enough to tie a knot. A moment later the line slid over the side, and she reached for Jeremy to tie the twisted hemp around his waist.

  “I can hold on,” he protested.

  “I know you can, but this way we can be absolutely sure.” She jerked the knot tight and then called. “Okay, Lil! Be careful. Jeremy’s coming up first.”

  Giving a sharp whistle, Lil spoke. “Back!”

  The elephant placed one foot behind him, then another. The rope tightened.

  “Again!”

  The animal complied and Jeremy slowly rose to the surface, propping his boots against the hillside as he assisted the mammoth beast during the ascent. Within moments the boy emerged at the top, untied the rope, and pitched it back to Mae.

  “Are you hurt, Jeremy? Anything broken?” Lil asked.

  “I’m all right. Let’s get Mae.”

  Esau lumbered closer to the rim. “Tie on.”

  Grabbing the rope’s end, she tied it around her waist. Drawing a deep breath, Mae called, “Now!”

  The line tightened and she slowly started to ascend. She couldn’t feel her hands through the heavy gloves. Please don’t let me lose my hold. Someday she would look back on this horrendous day and know that God had not failed her.

  She could only pray that all of the town
speople had made it to the river. Pauline was safe, Jeremy was safe, but was Tom safe too?

  She had to find the man who owned her heart.

  Mae joined the crowd as they searched through the smoldering ruins. Her breath caught as she stared at the carnage. The Dwadlo she knew no longer existed. The train station was a pile of lumber. The General Store was gone. Shiny pieces of the mail cage were scattered about the area like children’s toys. Her house was destroyed.

  She frantically searched through the store wreckage, tears rolling down her cheeks. The overturned pickle barrel reeked of vinegar, but the brine was a better smell than the heavy smoke filling the air. Dale’s office chair sat atop a heap of rubble with one leg missing. A hundred yards beyond what had once been the town, the engine lay on its side, steam still rolling from its stack. Boxcars lay flattened on their side. The distinct odor of fish mingled with the stench of fire and oil. So much for Joanne Small’s happy wedding. So much for life in Dwadlo.

  When Mae caught sight of Tom’s coat, hanging on a shredded hunk of metal, her heart nearly stopped. Grabbing it, she held the garment to her chest, breathing deeply of his scent. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, and she slumped onto a pile of rubble.

  Pauline came to sit beside her. “You can’t know that sonny’s not safe. ’Pears to me he’s a purty smart man, and so is Fisk. They are not gonna stay aboard a runaway train.”

  “Tom would.” Mae could barely choke out the words. “He would be so involved in fixing the valve that the town would be upon him before he’d give up.”

  “Well.” Pauline sighed. “I could have told ’em something like this would happen, but that young whippersnapper wouldn’t listen. If they’d put the station on my land, they could have run the line straight through to Pine Grove, but they were stingy. They refused to pay me what I wanted, so they bought Dale’s land instead, and now look what happened. The station sets in a swamp hole. That train had nowhere to go but in the ditch.” She shook her head. “That’s a pure shame. Guess I’ll get what I’m asking now. Might even up the price.”

  Mae shook her head. Whoever had thought Pauline was a fool had another think coming. Her memory might hinder her waning years, but the lady still had a pirate’s heart.