Ingrid (Walker Creek Brides Book 2) Page 7

  “I’m sorry we’re running behind—”

  “Yes, Miss Hagen, you’ll never believe it!” Emily said breathlessly as her father dismounted first and then lifted her to the ground. “Papa slept in the stable all night long on a pile of hay and then he needed a bath because he was itching so badly, and then breakfast was late because we were waiting for him and—”

  “Emily, isn’t it time for school to begin?” Joshua interrupted his daughter, bending down so she could give him a hug before she darted up the steps to disappear inside. He straightened and tipped his black hat at Ingrid. “You look lovely today, Miss Hagen…or might I still call you Ingrid?”

  You look lovely today? She stared at him incredulously, as taken aback by his compliment as his unexpected smile.

  Had he forgotten everything he’d said to her last night? Rejecting her so soundly and in so harsh a manner that she hadn’t been able to sleep for half the night?

  “Very well, Miss Hagen for now, just as I deserve. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have no wish to forgive me—”

  “There is nothing to forgive, Sheriff Logan. You’re entitled to how you feel and my family was wrong to thrust me upon you yesterday. Of course you would wish to make yourself clear, very clear, to prevent any misunderstanding. Believe me, I know just where you stand. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

  She didn’t wait for a reply, but turned around in a swirl of mauve skirt and white petticoat and went inside.

  To stand for a moment with her back against the door, all of her students looking at her curiously, while she felt her heart was about to pound its way out of her chest.

  Why, oh, why had he gone and smiled at her? Why did he have to be the handsomest man she’d ever seen? Why was everything suddenly so confusing when last night, it had all been so hopelessly clear?

  She tried to regain her composure even as she heard the creaking of his leather saddle when he mounted Blaze.

  “Miss Hagen, while you’re standing there, I’ll be waiting when school is done with the buckboard to give you and Emily a ride home. It’s going to be another hot day, and I don’t want a recurrence of what happened last week. Does that suit you?”

  “Fine, Sheriff, fine!”

  To her amazement, she thought she heard a chuckle…something she had never heard from Joshua before.

  “A good day to you, then.”

  She didn’t answer, but smoothed her skirt and squared her shoulders and walked briskly to the front of the class.

  “Good morning, Sheriff. Anything I can do for you?”

  Joshua shook his head at Old Man Beckham, disappointed that he wouldn’t be alone in the cemetery while he visited his wife’s grave. He dismounted and walked toward the neatly tended stone, grateful nonetheless for the undertaker’s care and tending of the grounds. Posies of fragrant wildflowers dotted the more recent graves, including his wife’s, which made Joshua say over his shoulder, “Thank you for the flowers.”

  “It’s no trouble, Sheriff. I like to keep things looking nice…even for the worst of them out here. Just pounded in a wooden cross for Cormac Sutherland. Not sure if heaven’s where he’s headed, but everyone deserves a marker. I’ll leave you alone now with Mary.”

  Joshua nodded, waiting until the undertaker had climbed into his buggy and driven away before he took off his hat and bowed his head.

  Shame filled him that he hadn’t come out more often, and he wasn’t sure why he’d awoken with such a compelling sense that he needed to visit her today, but here he was. He sank to his haunches to prop the flowers against her stone and gaze at the simple epitaph.

  Remembered with Love

  Had he, though? His throat tightening as fresh remorse swept over him, he shifted onto his knees and splayed his hand on top of the stone. A wetness stung his eyes as he thought of all the anger, all the pain, and most of all, his wretched stubbornness that had helped to lay her in an early grave.

  “Forgive me, Mary. Forgive me…”

  A sudden flash of memory came to him again…or was it from a dream?

  Mary has forgiven you, but you must forgive her, too.

  He gripped the stone all the tighter, her last words flooding back to him, yet such compassion suddenly filled his heart for everything she had suffered that they held no sting. Tears streaked his face, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “I forgive you, Mary. God rest you forever. I forgive you.”

  He could not say how long he knelt there, his forehead resting against the stone, when he thought he heard an answering whisper like the lightest breeze.

  Be happy, Joshua. God bless you…

  “Do you have any questions, Davy?” Ingrid asked, using a cloth to erase the sums she’d written for him on the slate board she’d brought from school. When he shook his head, she smiled at him. “You did very well today. I’m glad to see that you’re walking better on your crutches, too.”

  “I practiced in the house with Inez,” he murmured, though then he sighed. “I wish I could go to school again. I miss my friends.”

  “They miss you, too, but you’ll be joining them in no time, I’m sure of it.” She reached out and squeezed his hand when he still looked dejected. “I’ll leave the slate board with you so you can practice your sums, all right? Hmm…and how about a lemon candy stick?”

  Davy perked up so fast that Ingrid couldn’t help laughing, the boy grinning from ear to ear as she pulled out the treat from the basket she used for school items and handed it to him. “Not before supper, though.”

  “Are you staying to eat with us?” he asked, glancing past Ingrid as Joshua walked into the parlor.

  “Yes, we’d be pleased if you’d join us. Inez just told me everything’s almost ready. Davy, why don’t you go wash your face and hands and call Emily in from the backyard.”

  Davy nodded and rose from the chair next to Ingrid’s to maneuver quite expertly with his crutches, while she sat there stiffly, not knowing quite what to do.

  Riding alongside Joshua in the buckboard had been awkward enough, but thankfully Emily had chattered the whole way to the Logan house so that Ingrid hadn’t felt the need to say much of anything. She glanced out the front window, trying to ignore his gaze as the mantel clock chimed four o’clock.

  “It’s early for supper, I know,” he added, “but I’ll have to return to my office within an hour or so to check on things, so I can drive you home then—”

  “No, I don’t wish to stay!” she blurted, jumping up when she sensed him drawing closer. She twisted around, reaching for her basket on the table, but wedged her foot suddenly against the leg of the chair. She cried out, losing her balance, only to find herself not falling at all but looking straight into Joshua’s eyes after he caught her.

  Caught her and pulled her close…as close as he’d held her in the hotel, though she stiffened at once and tried to push herself away.

  “Ingrid, don’t fight me, please. If you’ll just listen. I’m sorry I spoke to you so harshly last night, but I’ve had a lot of time to think since then—”

  “So have I!” she countered, still trying to wrest herself free, balling her fists against his chest. “I’ve never felt so horrid, so foolish! Let me go, Joshua. I understand why you don’t want me—why you don’t want any woman in your life! Isn’t that enough?”

  “No, it’s not enough, not anymore. I know that now, Ingrid. If you’ll give me another chance and let me show you that it’s you I want in my life…need in my life…”

  She froze in his arms, so stunned by what he’d said that she could but stare up at him as he lowered his head to kiss her. She drew in her breath, her hands no longer balled into fists when his mouth touched hers…but splayed against his chest as he drew her closer, his strong arms tightening around her.

  “Ingrid, sweet Ingrid, I love you…”

  His whispered endearment like a taste of heaven on her lips, his mouth moving slowly over hers, Ingrid felt all hurt and confusion melt away and she wound her
arms around his neck—

  “Papa, Miss Hagen, supper’s ready!”

  They had already jumped apart by the time Emily skipped into the parlor, Ingrid flush-faced and nearly tripping again only to have Joshua catch her arm. Her trembling hand flew to her hair to pat any loose strands back into place while Emily giggled.

  “Were you kissing?”

  Chapter 9

  “I’m so happy for you, Ingrid! I knew you and Joshua were meant for each other, I just knew it! Anita, doesn’t she look beautiful?”

  Anita nodded and smiled as she circled Ingrid, both of her sisters oohing and aahing over the silk wedding dress that the town’s premier seamstress, Mrs. Margaret McMaster, had fashioned for her. It seemed the three women were swirling around her for all their smoothing, tucking, and admiring, Ingrid’s head beginning to spin.

  Or perhaps she just felt giddy with happiness, a smile constantly on her face for the past twelve days.

  From the moment Joshua had said he loved her, he had done everything he could to show her how much he wanted her in his life.

  Starting with a marriage proposal that very day in front of Emily and David, who had been delighted when Ingrid accepted, their smiling faces a blur because of her joyful tears.

  Joshua hadn’t stopped there, but had spoken to Andreas as soon as he’d taken Ingrid home that day. Her brother had looked bemused at first, given how she and Joshua had acted toward each other the night before, but then had shrugged his broad shoulders and laughed and given them a hearty blessing.

  Ingrid hadn’t wanted Joshua to leave, though he was anxious to ask for Caleb’s blessing as well before the day was done. It was only right since he’d become like a father to their entire family, Ingrid making a wish as Joshua drove away in the buckboard that the days until they became husband and wife would fly by.

  So they had, but there had been more of them than she’d imagined, Kari wanting her and Joshua to have as lovely a wedding as she and Seth. Ingrid was more than grateful for all the exciting preparations and Caleb’s generosity in offering to pay for everything, but she could have married Joshua in a simple ceremony the night he proposed!

  “Look at her blushing!” Anita clapped her hands together, glancing from Ingrid to Kari. “Aren’t weddings wonderful? I can’t wait for mine—”

  “You’ll need a groom first,” Kari broke in, smiling indulgently at Anita. “And you’re barely turned eighteen and an aspiring actress to boot, determined to conquer the world.”

  “I can have a groom and my career, though I’ll probably wait until I’m a bit older and start touring the country. That’s how it works, you know, according to my acting teacher, Mrs. Rose. She met her late husband in Baltimore when she was starring in a musical revue. Who knows where I might meet mine?”

  “Oh, Anita, why are you so anxious to leave us?” Ingrid said as Mrs. McMaster ushered her behind a screen and began to help her out of the dress. “You could be happy in Walker Creek, too. There’s the playhouse and I’m sure any performers coming to town would make room in their programs for you to sing a song or to recite a monologue from a play. I’ve seen the posters about that famous actress traveling all the way from San Francisco to perform here next Saturday night.”

  “Lily Talbot! I know, isn’t it exciting?” Anita exclaimed, but then she rushed forward to peek around the screen. “Forgive me, Ingrid, nothing’s as exciting as your wedding tomorrow, truly. It’s just so curious for you to bring all of that up today. When I was walking from the playhouse to meet you and Kari, an older lady no taller than my chin stopped me to say there was nothing wrong with being a big fish in a little pond!”

  “An older lady?” came Kari’s query as Ingrid donned the yellow gingham dress she’d worn to the final fitting.

  “Yes, quite old,” Anita replied. “Though you would never know it from how spry she was. I was astonished when she came up so suddenly behind me and I never even heard her footsteps! She wore the most peculiar clothing, too, a style unlike anything I’ve seen before. A brown dress and a matching brown bonnet—”

  “That sounds like the same woman that stopped me from stepping in front of that wagon,” Ingrid murmured, buttoning her bodice as she came around the screen. “Silvery hair? A lilting voice with a Norwegian accent?”

  “Yes, exactly!” Anita blurted, while Kari had seemed to turn a little pale.

  “I thought you said Joshua shouted for you to stop, Ingrid.”

  “He told me he did, but I would swear the same woman that spoke to Anita cried out to warn me just in time. I was so upset and not paying attention, I can’t be sure—”

  “I saw her, too, on the train into Walker Creek. She said her name was Kari, just like mine.” Kari sank into a chair, shaking her head in disbelief. “I told her I’d been christened after Mama’s great-aunt, Tante Kari. Don’t you remember Mama talking about her? The cardamom cake she always made for us was her great-aunt’s recipe. I think she said Tante Kari came over from Norway with Solveig, her niece and our grandmother. When Solveig died giving birth to Mama, Tante Kari helped to raise her until she passed away when Mama was six.”

  “Heavens, that was thirty-four years ago,” Ingrid murmured, glancing from Anita to Kari. “This woman looked very much alive, though now that I think about it, she never once touched me. Maybe I imagined the whole thing! I wanted to thank her for saving my life, but I didn’t see her anywhere. I thought she’d gone into a shop.”

  “I thought she’d stayed on the train, but Seth saw her, too. She came up to him on the platform and told him it looked like I was lost and needed his help. Then we both saw her at the back of the church after our wedding, and I wanted to greet her—but she vanished. Seth said I even looked like her…and that maybe I had a guardian angel.”

  “A guardian angel?” Now Ingrid sank into the chair opposite Kari’s, while Anita clasped her hands together with excitement.

  “Oh, my, what if it’s true? You saw her several times, Kari, and then Ingrid and now me! Maybe Mama prayed for special help from heaven to watch out for us after she was gone. Do you think it’s possible?”

  “Anything’s possible,” Margaret McMaster broke in, securing with string an oblong box that held Ingrid’s wedding dress. “I believe a guardian angel saved my granddaughter Pearl’s life when she was nearly carried away by a tornado. She’ll be coming to visit sometime this year and you can ask her about it.”

  “A tornado! I’m so glad Pearl was spared, Margaret, but guardian angels? I don’t know what to think.” Kari rose from the chair as the seamstress stacked the box atop two others on the counter. “The elderly woman I spoke to seemed very real, and godly, too. She told me to trust in the Lord with all my heart, even in my darkest moments, which gave me great comfort when Seth went missing in that terrible storm.”

  “Exactly what a guardian angel would say!” Anita blurted with exasperation. “Don’t you see that she helped to bring you and Seth together? Maybe she’s not our only angel, either. You said yourself that you saw Mama’s face when Caleb came so close to taking his own life, and that he kept saying her name over and over as if he’d seen her, too!”

  “Anita, I shared that with you in confidence!” Kari objected as Ingrid gasped, both of them glancing at Mrs. McMaster.

  “Don’t worry, girls, I’ve heard plenty of secrets in this shop and haven’t breathed a word of them to anyone. I’ve never mentioned what happened to Pearl, either, until today. You’re all blessed to know such love that heaven would intervene on your behalf. Speaking of Mr. Walker, weren’t you meeting him for lunch at the hotel? It’s almost noon.”

  Ingrid’s heart seemed to jump as she glanced at the ornate clock atop a shelf, not because she feared being late for lunch but that she’d told Joshua she would visit him for a few moments after her fitting. She couldn’t wait to see him!

  “Thank you so much for the perfect dress,” she said to Mrs. McMaster, giving her a big hug. Her sisters did the same, smiling and l
aughing again as they gathered up the boxes with their own dresses for the wedding and hastened out the door.

  “Just pile them in the back of the carriage,” Kari directed. “They’ll be fine while we eat lunch.”

  Ingrid obliged her, but then stepped back onto the sidewalk. “You and Anita go ahead. I promised Joshua I’d stop in to see him after we were done here. I won’t be long.”

  “Tell the new mayor we’ll see him at the church tomorrow!” Kari called out, Ingrid already hurrying on her way as her sisters climbed into the carriage.

  New mayor.

  Ingrid couldn’t help smiling, her happiness made complete by Joshua’s recently appointed position. His tenure as sheriff had ended only days after he’d asked Caleb for his blessing to marry her, Caleb encouraging the former mayor, Ronald White, to retire a few months earlier than planned so Joshua might have the job.

  She would have supported him wholeheartedly if he had wanted to remain as sheriff, knowing how seriously he had taken protecting the citizens of Walker Creek. Yet she couldn’t deny her immense relief when Joshua had accepted and relinquished his duties to one of his deputies.

  It hadn’t been Joshua who had run Cain and Connor Sutherland and their three surly ranch hands out of town a few days ago when their two-week jail sentence was up, but Sheriff Luke Braun.

  A cousin of the deputy Cormac had killed, and as dead serious about keeping the town safe from ruffians and law-breakers as Joshua had been.

  That hadn’t been enough for Caleb, though. As chief director of Walker Creek Bank, he foreclosed upon the Sutherland ranch for non-payment of debt. Then he vowed to set the Texas Rangers on the brothers and anyone who’d worked for them if they ever showed their faces again in the county.

  Ingrid shivered at the memory of those men ogling her, but shoved the unpleasant thought away as she came to the door of the mayor’s office. She didn’t readily go in, but stared up at the two-story brick building on the same block as the bank and the Frederick Hotel, pride filling her.