Something was wrong.
Maggie had cooked what she thought was her best supper yet. Pounded steak over rice with thick gravy. Rutabagas, canned beans, pickled beets, fluffy biscuits. Daniel hardly ate. Keeping his eyes downcast, he barely spoke to Izzy or her.
Picking up her father’s mood, Izzy toyed with her food and asked to be excused. She went into the parlor to play with her doll.
No longer able to bear the gloom, Maggie set her fork on her plate. “Is something wrong?”
He finally made eye contact. “It doesn’t look like it’s going to work out.”
Her heart squeezed, fearing something had happened that would make him take Izzy and leave immediately. There would be no ball. No Christmas, just the three of them. She’d never see them again.
“What happened?”
He pushed his plate back and, resting elbows on the table, rubbed his temples with his fingers like his head pained him. As it probably did. “I ran into my former cousin-in-law, Sidney Wicker. He’s going to the Belter’s ball, and he made it pretty clear he was going to convince Mr. Belter I’m not the man for his job.”
“Why would he do that?”
Daniel drew in a deep breath and clasped his hands together into a tight fist. “It’s a long story, but you’ll hear it anyway. Theron Wicker, Helen’s father, is a wealthy shipbuilder. When Helen and I became engaged, he took me aside and mapped out my future with his business. But I had other plans and told him so. He tried to break the engagement, but Helen defied him.
“Mr. Wicker is the type of man to exact revenge rather than forgive and forget. He disinherited Helen.”
“How terrible for her—and you.”
“It wasn’t so bad. Mr. Wicker is a controlling man, and I thought, good riddance when he dropped out of our lives. He didn’t make any more trouble until we adopted Isabelle.”
“Why would he have cared?”
“Helen was his only child, and she couldn’t have children. After we adopted Izzy, he made her his heiress.”
“Izzy?” Maggie felt her hackles rise to think anyone would use that sweet child to get revenge.
“Yes. He’d never forgiven Helen for marrying me, but he started interfering after Izzy came, and by that, I mean, he came back into our lives, making Helen believe he’d had a change of heart. Only later did we realize he wanted to control Izzy’s upbringing, plan for her future, with or without our permission. He was subtle about it, and I only understood what he intended when Helen died. He even tried to legally take Izzy away.”
“But he couldn’t do that.”
“Understand, he’s a powerful man. But no, he failed in that.” He threw his arms apart. “Anyway, that’s when I decided I should move away from his reach before he had the chance to poison Izzy against me as he promised to do as she grew up.”
“He’d never be able to do that. Izzy adores you. Does this mean you won’t be attending the ball?”
He gave her a look like she’d taken leave of her senses. “Of course not. I don’t intimidate easily. If this job doesn’t work out, I’ll look for another. It’ll take more than Sidney to defeat me. He’s just trying to get into Theron Wicker’s good graces, but the Wickers don’t own every businessman in the country.”
She laid her hand over his. “Will it cause…complications for me to go? I don’t have to.” But she would be more disappointed than he could guess.
Daniel closed his hand over hers, sending the now familiar flutter to her stomach. “You won’t cause any complications, I assure you. I apologize for my gloomy mood. It has nothing to do with you. I’ll be able to shake it off by tomorrow. We’ll catch that train as planned.”
He held her gaze until she ducked her head, unable to withstand his scrutiny without giving herself away. Surprisingly, he leaned in and rested his forehead against hers, forcing her to look straight into his eyes. “We won’t allow a bitter old man to ruin our plans. You and I and Izzy will go to this ball, business or not, and have a wonderful time.”
Staring into his blue eyes, she knew she’d cherish every moment.
Chapter 12
Train travel had exploded after the great war ended, and now rails spread out in a net all the way into Canada. Except for the last ten miles from the small town nearest the Belter farm, they could have traveled all the way by rail without incident. It was too early in the year for a blizzard to have covered the tracks.
But Daniel felt Maggie would enjoy the scenery better to travel by way of steamboat on the Missouri River. She’d mentioned never having been on any ship. It was somewhat out of the way, but he’d planned the trip so they’d spend the night on the river. Private cabins would be much more comfortable than sitting on train seats all night.
It did snow. Big flakes that quickly covered the flat landscape.
They boarded the steamboat right before nightfall and the lights against the water delighted both Maggie and Izzy.
The strangers they met assumed they were a married couple, and not even Izzy set them straight, even when an old man offered her an apple if it was all right with her mama. Color rose in Maggie’s cheeks but she merely nodded and Izzy took the apple with a thank-you.
Daniel had secured two cabins, and gave Maggie and Izzy the larger one. They ordered dinner to be served in their rooms since it was getting late for Izzy to be up, but when he was sure his little daughter had been tucked in bed, he knocked softly on their cabin.
Maggie opened the door immediately like she’d been waiting for him. “I’m sorry. Izzy is already asleep.”
She’d have assumed he came to kiss Izzy good-night. However, it was another kiss he was thinking of. “That’s fine. Would you like to step outside to watch the scenery? The moon looks beautiful on the snow.”
She glanced back inside the room, uncertainty clouding her brow.
“We won’t go any further than the deck railing,” he said. “We’ll be able to hear Izzy if she needs us.”
“Well, if you think so. Let me get my shawl.”
She left the door ajar and returned within seconds. He smiled and offered his arm. “Izzy was right. You do look like an angel in that shawl.”
They stepped only as far as the railing. The river was smooth and the full moon reflected off the water. On the bank, the snowfall coated trees, lending a fairytale glow to the scene.
He watched her gaze travel to the sky, and a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a very long time caught him unaware as he beheld her lovely profile. “You are beautiful, Maggie. I don’t think I realized how beautiful until this moment.”
That soft laugh he’d come to identify as distinctly hers sounded. “It’s the shawl, I’m sure. I’m certainly not beautiful and never will be.”
“And so you leave me wondering why you think that. From the first I’ve wondered why you think so little of yourself.”
She flinched and took a step back like he’d struck her. “I don’t, but I know my attributes, and beauty isn’t one of them. Not that I care. I hope the man I marry will be able to see beyond the physical.”
“Why do you think I refer to the physical? I see a beautiful soul, but a wounded one as well.” He could tell he’d touched a nerve and should have stopped there, but he couldn’t stop until he’d forced her to see the truth. “Don’t you believe you deserve admiration? To be loved by a man? By God?”
“I believe God loves me, yes, not that I deserve it. When I turned my life over to Jesus at sixteen, I accepted God’s grace to love me. Not that I deserved it.”
“But Jesus is the truth. Doesn’t He expect you to love yourself as He does?”
She shook her head. “I don’t go into the metaphysical. Believing as a child is as far as I need go.”
“Ah, yes, if only we could retain that childlike faith.” He took her flaying hand. “Izzy doesn’t question my love for her or that she’s worthy of that love.” He slipped his other arm around her and she leaned into him. “Who has hurt you, Maggie? Who made you feel yo
u don’t deserve happiness?”
Her mouth worked but she couldn’t get the words out. With their eyes locked into a soul-searching gaze, he felt her need. His need too.
He touched her lips with his. Softly. Tenderly. To his surprise, she put her free hand around his neck and drew into a deeper kiss.
As if coming out of a daze, she jerked back. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Why not?”
“It will make…things…difficult for us.” A nervous laugh slipped out. “I never expected you to be a philanderer.”
The word pierced him and he probably showed it. “Is that what you think of me?”
She shook her head. “No…no. Of course not. I’m just joking. You’re one of the most honorable men I know. But I also know we are to pretend to be a courting couple, and it might…be impossible to…pretend with you behaving like this.”
He released her and gripped the railing. The same moon floated on the water, but the magic of the moment had gone. “Maybe you’re right, Maggie. Good-night.” With a final glance and smile, he left her there.
***
Maggie fell back against the cabin door. What is wrong with me?
Why couldn’t she believe Daniel would be attracted to her? Why was she so rigid? Unanswerable questions banged against her mind like birds trying to escape. She didn’t trust her own instincts nor the motivations of others. Never had.
Cries coming from the small bedroom caught her attention, and Maggie fled to its source. She gathered Izzy in her arms. “What is it, my precious?”
The little girl clung to her. “I had a bad dream. I dreamed you left me like Mama did.”
Maggie had trouble swallowing the lump in her throat. How could she comfort this child? She wasn’t going to leave, but Daniel would, taking Izzy with him and soon.
Getting her emotions under control, she took the edge of the sheet and wipe Izzy’s sweet, little face. “I’m not going to leave you like your mama.” That was true, but still a dishonest answer. All Izzy would know when they parted was that Maggie had gone out of her world. “I’m sorry you had a bad dream, sweetie. Those are scary, but they’re not real. Do you want me to get your papa? He’s not far away.”
No fresh tears spilled from the child’s eyes. “I’m not afraid when papa leaves anymore because he always comes back.”
Again Maggie choked, but she forced a smile. “That’s right. Your papa will always come back.”
“Will you sing to me, Miss Maggie. You forgotted last night.”
“Of course. Get back under the covers and close your eyes.” As she spoke, Maggie tucked the child in.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong.
Izzy’s even breathing and the peaceful expression on her face let Maggie know she was fast asleep. She bent over and kissed the little girl’s forehead.
She crossed the sitting room to lock the door, but opened it instead, listening to the slosh of the water wheels. Her eyes lifted from where the moon shone on the water skyward. She touched her lips, the feel of Daniel’s kiss still lingering.
Please God, make a way for us to stay together.
Chapter 13
The Belter farm stretched out for miles. Maggie didn’t know how many acres it covered, but it lay bare now under a thin layer of snow. The time from the growing town of Smithville took just under twenty minutes to the farm. She knew because she checked her lapel watch.
They traveled the last leg of their journey by comfortable coach, and Maggie couldn’t hold back a gasp at the size of the farm complex. Buildings scattered on either side and in back of the main farmhouse, a two-story sprawling white building that looked austere compared to the Sollano ranch house.
The coach stopped in the cobblestone drive. Wind whipped around them as they descended the conveyance. Holding Izzy on one side, Daniel wrapped his other arm around Maggie several moments longer than needed to steady her.
“The wind blows almost continuously in the winter,” Daniel said as they followed a servant to the porch that ran the expanse of the house. “But it’s not too bad except in a blizzard, which is more common in North Dakota.”
“Aside from the winds, the land is beautiful.”
“Yes, it has a varied topography for the plains. The grassland is being cultivated by large and small farms and ranches. There’re ample rivers and streams, and where water is missing, wells have sprung up.” He pointed toward the fields to the east. “Those tall structures are the many wells on the Belter farm.”
“Why are these called bonanza farms?”
“Men of wealth buy up large tracts of land and hire workers to grow enormous crops of wheat, corn, oats, alfalfa. The owners rarely live on the land like the family farmer who cultivates small tracts they’ve attained under the Homestead Act.”
“So they hire managers to run these farms. Is that the job Mr. Belter has offered you?”
“I’m one of the candidates he’s considering for that job, yes.”
They must have been right on time since a friendly housekeeper met them at the door and directed a maid to take them to their rooms. Behind the smiling blonde stood another servant who could have been her twin. She held a little girl about Izzy’s age by the hand.
When the children saw each other, they let out a happy cry and ran to each other. Daniel whispered to Maggie, “That’s Lilly, Izzy met her this past summer when she stayed with the Belters while I was on a business trip. The two were inseparable.”
Maggie remember her childhood best friend, Irma. They too had been fast friends until Irma’s parents moved away. She studied Lilly’s governess, Miss Harkness, and judged her to be one of those teachers who truly cared for her charges. The anxiety she’d felt for Izzy in this strange place evaporated, and she followed the other Miss Harkness down a long hallway to a comfortable suite of rooms.
Daniel had disappeared in the opposite direction, and Maggie decided to rest until called for dinner.
That night she didn’t sleep—never could in a strange bed. She kept yawning when Daniel took her for a turn around the property. After she asked him to repeat himself for the third time, he laughed. “I think you’d best take a nap before the ball.”
“Oh, yes. I want to enjoy every moment.”
A heavy luncheon later, the short nap she promised herself turned into three hours long. When she awoke, the room had darkened.
Mrs. Belter’s personal maid came to help her dress and to arrange her hair. It was like watching Cinderella being changed into a princess. Well, that might be exaggerating, but she knew, as she regarded her reflection in the gilded mirror, she’d never looked so good.
And like Cinderella, her time was limited. Today was the twenty-first. Only four more days and her midnight would strike. But for tonight, her prince waited.
He spotted her as soon as she entered the ballroom.
She spared one glance around the beautifully decorated place with a twenty-foot spruce tree, bedecked with lit candles and ornaments she wanted to examine up close before the night ended.
Then Daniel reached her. “You are beautiful.”
A flush heated her face. “You’ve told me that several times, but I admit tonight is the first time I feel beautiful. Though I can’t compete with most of the ladies here.” She might look shabby compared to the other ladies, but it didn’t matter. Daniel didn’t care. Why would he? After all, she was only Izzy’s nursemaid.
He took her arm. “Maybe if I tell you often enough, you’ll come to believe, and it’s the other ladies who can’t compete with you.” The music struck up. “Would you like to join the reel?”
A line of couples were taking their places. “I might embarrass you. I’ve only been to barn dances in the past.”
“Come on, I’ll describe each move, and who cares if you miss a step or two. We aren’t trying to impress anyone.”
She missed more like a dozen steps, but forgot her
self in the dance, and when it ended, laughed as she came up from a curtsey opposite Daniel. “I need to find a chair,” she said, laying a hand on his arm.
“Oh, no you don’t. The next is a waltz. Sitting on the side is for old ladies with their pince nez.”
“If they did have a pince nez, they’d have them raised to me, not believing what they saw.”
“Do you care?”
“Not at all.”
The slow waltz began, allowing for conversation, and Daniel pulled her into position, one hand resting lightly around her waist, the other enclosed over her hand. She couldn’t imagine a better place to be than right here, in Daniel’s arms, a kaleidoscope of colors flashing past them as they swept along the outer edge of the dance floor.
She was glad he led because the look in his eyes, the deep tenor of his voice, and the spicy smell of his cologne captivated her to the extent, she didn’t recognize the other couples gliding by.
Closing her eyes to shut out all but his touch, she let the dreamy strains of the violins lift her into the clouds of a place she’d never been. And never wanted to leave.
“The orchestra is exceptional. It’s Vivaldi, isn’t it?”
“It is,” he said. “My favorite composer.”
“I think I favor Beethoven more, but Vivaldi can’t be beat for expression.” She noticed the astonishment on his face and added, “I know most prairie schoolteachers aren’t familiar with the great composers, and I wouldn’t be either, except the Western Gates has four concerts every year, and I’ve gone to all.”
“I’d like to take you to one of the concerts in Boston.” He spoke like one actually courting her. Tonight she wouldn’t question his motives.
It ended all too soon.
A faster waltz followed, such as she was familiar with, leaving her breathless and as giddy as if she’d drunk from the fine wines offered, which both she and Daniel declined.
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