Under the Midnight Sun

by Tracie Peterson

  That was just what he needed.

  4

  Margaret Johnson placed her hands on her ample hips and felt the heat rising to her face. That man! After all these years, he still thought he could get away with the same shenanigans. “Daniel Ferguson, if you think for one minute I’m going to let you rearrange my kitchen again, you’ve got another think coming!”

  The fiery, redheaded man stopped in his tracks. His eyebrows rose.

  Cassidy brushed up against her side and said under her breath, “And possibly a cast-iron skillet upside his head?”

  Margaret couldn’t contain her laughter as the image formed in her mind of giving good ol’ Scottish Chef Ferguson a wallop with her skillet.

  This time, it was the large, bearded man’s turn to put his hands on his hips. “And just what is so funny, lass? I’m just tryin’ to be efficient.”

  Not about to back down, Margaret quieted her laughter and gave him “the look.” The look that made every other person who had ever stepped foot in her kitchen obey. “The thought of my skillet swinging toward your head if you mess with my kitchen, that’s what. Now get your ornery self back to work and don’t even think about rearranging anything. I don’t care about your efficiency. It all works just fine the way it is.”

  The man’s mustache twitched, and his eyes sparkled their merriment. “Aye, Chef.” His brogue thicker than molasses, he bowed and went back to his station. Ever since he came to help in the Curry kitchen while Cassidy was laid up three years ago, he’d kept Margaret on her toes. For the longest time, she couldn’t wait until the man left. Now she didn’t know what she would do without him. Other than keep her sanity.

  She turned to face Cassidy. “Oh, that man loves to get my dander up.”

  Cassidy just giggled. “You like it and you know it.” She wrapped her arms around Margaret’s neck. “I had to come down and see you for a minute. The boys are down for a nap and Collette came up on her break, so I thought I’d give you a hug and have two minutes of adult conversation.”

  This girl was so dear to her. Like a daughter. “What? You don’t enjoy the babble of the boys?”

  “I love it. But there are times I wish I understood what they were saying. They make all kinds of noises with their toys and jabber away to each other. They carry on conversations and understand everything. To me and Allan, well, if it isn’t mama, daddy, ball, dog, please, thank you, or toy, the majority is gibberish. But they think they’re making sense. One of these days, I’m sure it will all sound like words. Although, I’m pretty sure they’re trying to master Grandma Maggie, but for now it just sounds like ‘gammamag.’”

  Margaret laughed—something that only ever happened when Cassidy was around. The rest of her crew knew she was no-nonsense and could bark out orders like an army sergeant. But Cassidy had been second-in-command for a long time—until she took a tumble down the stairs while she was pregnant and the doctor put her on bed rest. Even though Cassidy was no longer a full-time fixture in the kitchen, she made her presence known a lot, and Margaret could tell that the staff loved to see her.

  Of course, Margaret also knew that her staff loved to see her loosen up—something reserved for a special few. Like Cassidy and the twins. And Thomas. Why, that boy had been such a thorn in her side for so long . . . but now? He was like a son to her as well.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Cassidy nibbled on a shortbread cookie, her eyebrows raised.

  Margaret lifted her chin. “I was just thinking about how special it is to have family again. But don’t you go telling anyone. I don’t need them thinking I’ve gone soft.”

  Laughter filled the space around her. “Oh, there’s not any chance of that.” Cassidy moved in closer and spoke in a hushed tone. “But what about Mr. Ferguson? Any chance you’ll soften toward him? I think he’s interested in being more than your assistant chef.”

  “Now you hush, child. I won’t have any of that.” But her heart lifted a bit at the thought. Daniel Ferguson’s attention was hard to ignore. But was she ready for that?

  Cassidy smirked and lifted an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. I don’t believe that for a minute.” She leaned in and kissed Margaret’s cheek. “I’d better get back to the boys. Laundry is never-ending with those two, but I’ll be back to whip up the chocolate mousse when MaryAnn comes to watch the boys after their nap.”

  “Believe what you want, you cheeky girl.” Margaret did her best not to smile. “But you best keep your opinions to yourself, or that skillet might come looking for you.”

  Cassidy’s giggle drifted back as she headed out of the kitchen and waved.

  “Don’t forget to send Collette back down. I’ve got a ton of bread she needs to make.” Shaking her head, Margaret thought of the joy that now filled her life. Ever since Cassidy had forced her way in and gotten her to open up. She felt a smile lift her lips.

  “Ah, lass . . . it does my heart good to see you smiling.” How Daniel had sneaked up on her, she’d never know. The man was as big as a lumberjack.

  “Don’t you have work to do?” Her tone held an edge, but he was used to it. At least he should be by now.

  “I’ve finished it all, so I came to see if you needed my assistance.” His mustache twitched.

  Ban it all! That man got under her skin like no other. And he didn’t have to seem so happy about it either. “There’s puff pastry to be made. And the gratins need to be prepped for dinner.”

  “Pea?”

  “Yes.” Despite how much the man infuriated her, he was brilliant in the kitchen. But she wouldn’t ever tell him that. He had a knack for always anticipating her next move. They worked well together.

  “One of my favorites of your fine recipes, Chef Johnson.” He moved around the kitchen with ease.

  Margaret found herself watching him out of the corner of her eye. She had to admit, he was a handsome man. Even if he was Scots-Irish and meddled in her kitchen.

  But there was no way she would open up her heart to a man again. No. Way.

  FRIDAY, MAY 3—YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

  The handwriting on the letter in Tayler’s hand was all too familiar. Mother. Again.

  With a sigh, she headed to her room and prayed for wisdom. Joshua had sent one letter to her apologizing for not being there and telling her it was fine to keep her job at Yellowstone, but he didn’t think that marrying Emerson was a good idea. He was reserved in the note, and Tayler knew he was holding something back. Like he had been for months. She just didn’t know what it was. But he’d always been there for her . . . that wouldn’t change, would it? Or had it already? The thought made her sad.

  Mother, on the other hand, had written daily—reprimanding her and scolding her for her behavior and for leaving without saying good-bye. And it wore Tayler down.

  Why the push to come home?

  While she didn’t understand the motivation behind her mother’s wishes, she knew that Mother loved her. At least she had. The woman who now ruled the Hale house was like a stranger. Tayler was glad her mother hadn’t just wasted away after Dad’s passing, but the creature who’d taken her place was hard-hearted and infuriating. Tayler wondered more than once if that person had always been there but was merely subdued. Now without Dad there to balance her mother’s demands, Tayler was up against her mother’s mandates that she marry and do so soon. Why the rush? That was what she couldn’t figure out. And Emerson? Her parents had always wanted the two to wed, but her mother seemed fixated on it now.

  Tayler’s insides cringed every time she thought about marrying Emerson. The more she prayed about it, the more she felt at peace in her decision, but her spirit did urge her to work things out with her mother. But how? They were on opposite sides of the spectrum.

  Yes, she was twenty-three years old and all of her friends were married. Yes, Mother surely wanted grandchildren. But what about Joshua? Shouldn’t she be trying to marry him off before she did it to her? Tayler fisted her hands, then relaxed them again. Why couldn’t she be left
to live her life as she pleased? She had an inheritance from Dad, and she didn’t ask for more. Let Mother run the family corporations and investments. Tayler didn’t care who managed them or whether they were successes or failures. With Dad gone, none of that mattered as much.

  As she unlocked her bedroom door, she shook her head. Weary from another long day of work, she wasn’t sure she was up for reading the letter. She plopped down onto her bed and looked at the ceiling. What do I do, Lord?

  With a sigh, she sat back up. Tearing into the letter, she decided to get it over with and then she would write Mother a simple note back. She could tell her that she was fine—very busy—but not respond to anything else.

  But when she opened the sheets, she noticed it wasn’t just a letter from her mother. There was one from Emerson as well.

  A quick scan of Mother’s letter showed her the same thing that had been in every other letter. Tayler needed to come home. Mother was very disappointed in her behavior and reprimanded her for the way she spoke to Emerson and the way she sneaked out of the house. She’d been very rude to the Pruitt family by leaving, and they’d had to cancel the engagement party. The list went on and on.

  Tayler folded her mother’s letter back up and sighed. There wasn’t any way to please the woman, other than to go home. Something Tayler wouldn’t do.

  Then there was the letter from Emerson. Half tempted to burn it, or simply throw it away, she considered how foolish it would be to not read it. What if he realized the error of his ways and released her? Wouldn’t that be a welcome word?

  Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and opened the single sheet of paper.

  Dearest Tayler,

  I pray you’ve had time to calm down and think about your actions. My love for you hasn’t changed. I’m sincerely sorry for all the heartache I caused you when we were younger. Please forgive me.

  That being said, my desire—and the desire of your family and mine—is for us to marry at the end of the summer. I will be coming to Yellowstone at the end of the month. So please gather your things and make arrangements with your boss for a replacement. You will need to have your affairs in order so that we can promptly return to Denver. There is much to do.

  I look forward to the future together.

  With all my heart,

  Emerson

  Tayler wadded up the paper into a ball and threw it into the wastebasket. What was Emerson’s game? It didn’t make any sense. Why settle down when he was happy to chase other women and carouse around?

  Well, it didn’t really matter, did it? Because it sounded as if he was coming whether she agreed to it or not.

  Tayler stood and paced the room. Time was of the essence. She stopped in her tracks as only one real option came to mind.

  She needed to be gone before Emerson got here.

  Tired of it all, she wanted to just leave without a trace. Maybe then, over time, the world would right itself—Mother would be back to her old self, Emerson would leave her be, and Joshua would return—and she could come back to her beloved job. Shaking her head, Tayler wondered if that future was even possible. But the fact remained: she had to leave.

  Where could she go? An idea struck—maybe there was another national park she could go to. She wasn’t hurting financially. She had her inheritance, and Joshua had promised she would be taken care of and insisted she should not worry about their mother’s push to marry. And it wasn’t like she didn’t wish to marry one day—if God brought her the right man. A faithful one. But she did want to work. She loved what she did. Dad had encouraged her to follow her dreams and study what she loved, and so she did. She’d never known how he’d convinced her mother to let her attend college. Tayler could still remember her mother’s unhappiness at her choice.

  “This will be a terrible inconvenience and horrible embarrassment for our family,” Mother had told her more than once. Tayler argued that lots of women were going to college and getting educations.

  “It’s not normal, Tayler. Others in our social status will consider it quite out of line.”

  It might have been out of the norm for a woman of her status, but what did social status really matter?

  She shook her head to rid herself of the memory. Mind made up, she rushed out of her room and headed down to her boss’s office. He always worked late, so hopefully she could catch him.

  With a deep breath and a knock to his door, Tayler prayed for guidance. Lord, I don’t know what You want me to do, but I need You to guide my steps.

  “Come in.” Mr. Cunningham’s voice came through the door.

  Tayler entered. “Sir, I’m so very sorry to come to you like this.” She twisted her hands in front of her, but a calming peace flooded her and she put her hands at her sides. “But I have some extenuating circumstances . . . and I need to know if you’ve heard of any other national parks that need a naturalist like me.” There. She said it.

  Mr. Cunningham came around his desk and shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “Any other day, I would have thought you were joking with me because I know you love it here, but I just received a letter from your mother.” He picked up the letter, waved it, and then dropped it back onto his desk.

  A groan left her lips. “I’m sorry, sir. I can only imagine—”

  He held up a hand. “No need to apologize. She might be a formidable woman, but she has no sway in my dealings here.” He smiled and took off his glasses. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he shook his head. “In fact, I must say that your timing is quite interesting, Miss Hale. As much as I hate to think of you leaving, I can’t believe this happened by coincidence.”

  Tayler furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

  He held up a small yellow slip of paper and put his glasses back on. “I was just reading a telegram from a friend of mine up in the Alaska Territory. Apparently, he sent this to his friends who work at the national parks. Bradley is the manager of a hotel up there, and they offer excursions and hikes to the tourists. Some even into the McKinley National Park. They are in desperate need of another staff member. A naturalist and interpreter just like you to help lead nature walks and hikes and to help with the larger trips.”

  Her eyes widened as her breath caught in her chest. Could this be? She closed her eyes and breathed a prayer of thanks heavenward. “Mr. Cunningham, do you think I would be a good fit for the job? Would you recommend me? How soon do they need someone?” Her words tumbled out.

  He chuckled. “I’ve had ten more young men apply for jobs here, but I’m not sure any of them could fill your shoes. Like I said, I hate to lose you, but if you’re of a mind to do this, I can send a telegram back to Mr. Bradley directly. Hopefully, before anyone else jumps at the position.”

  “Oh yes, please.”

  “Are you quite certain? It’s a long way from home.”

  Exactly what she was looking for. “I’m sure. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if you telephoned your friend right now.”

  Cunningham chuckled again and shook his head. “I would do that if the telephone lines were more reliable in Alaska. A telegram will have to do. I’m sure I’ll receive a response in the next day or two. And I’m sure it will be positive. Bradley trusts me, and it sounds like they are in desperate need.” He offered her his hand. “I’ve never had a staff member work as hard as you, or be as knowledgeable as you, Tayler. It will be a great loss to Yellowstone National Park, but I had a feeling I would lose you one day.”

  She took his hand and shook it. “Thank you, sir. That means a great deal coming from you.”

  “I’m serious. Don’t let anyone doubt your talent or abilities. I will gladly write you a letter of recommendation.”

  “Thank you, sir.” His praise gave her confidence that this was the right thing to do. “You’ve been an incredible teacher and mentor. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

  “You are well deserving of the position you have here, and of my recommendation for this new job. I’ll be excited to hear of
your progress and how you change the world up in Alaska.”

  His words made her smile. He’d always been such an encouragement to her, challenging her to learn new things and giving her books on plant life around the country. “It will be hard to leave, sir, but thank you. Thank you so very much.”

  “You’re welcome.” Then the smile left his face and he looked thoughtful. “I know how difficult it has been to lose your father.”

  She nodded, fighting the sting of tears.

  “Is everything all right? Your mother sounded . . . well, I’m not quite sure how to describe it.”

  “It’s hard to explain. I understand what you’re saying.” Tayler looked out the window for a moment. The deep hues of the sunset were almost gone. “I’m not sure if everything is all right, but I know this is something I must do.” She glanced back at him, and the fatherly way he looked back at her almost broke her heart. How she missed her father! “I need to ask you to keep my whereabouts a secret. Can you do that for me?”

  His face softened even more. “I’ll do everything I can. No one else needs to know where you’ve gone.” He put his index finger to his lip. “But I would advise you to not keep it a secret from your family for long. Even in difficult situations like this, it’s best to try to mend your differences.”

  Nodding again, Tayler swallowed. Unsure of the future before her, she prayed she would be able to. But how? “Thank you, sir.”

  “You will be greatly missed, Tayler. Please stay in touch.” He gave her a fatherly hug and then patted her shoulder.

  Afraid to say anything else and let her emotions get the best of her, she turned around and left his office, pulling the door closed behind her.

  A few hours ago, she’d had no idea what direction her life would take. She’d had no idea about the letters, nor about the telegram her boss had received.