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Cascades Christmas

Page 2

by Mildred Colvin


  “Please stand for the benediction.”

  Anna rose with the others and bowed her head. As soon as the amen sounded, she darted into the aisle.

  Garrick stopped her. “Where are you headed in such a hurry?”

  The light of curiosity in Abigail’s eyes cautioned Anna. If she told them about the fishing contest, Garrick would want to come. Then Abigail might tag along. She didn’t want anyone but Larkin there, and Abigail could never get along with Larkin. “Home for dinner of course.”

  “You must be hungry.” Garrick moved closer.

  Her stomach growled on cue, and she grinned. “I am.”

  She turned toward the back. Already a line of folks had formed at the door to speak to the minister and his wife. Mama and Papa had just reached them. Kathleen stepped out the door—with Jeremiah.

  A fist of dread slammed into Anna’s midsection. Kathleen had taken over Jeremiah last night at the party, and she was doing the same today. It wasn’t fair. Just because Kathleen had Mama’s dark auburn hair and porcelain skin and everyone said she was beautiful didn’t give her the right to take Anna’s friends away.

  She couldn’t take Jeremiah if he didn’t want to go.

  Anna ignored the voice of reason in her mind. Men always liked Kathleen best.

  She turned back to her friends. “I really do need to go. The preacher’s family is coming for dinner today, and Mama will need my help.”

  Abigail fanned herself with her lacy white glove. “That means the Bollen sons will be there. If your mother needs extra help, let me know.”

  Anna laughed. “All right, but it isn’t likely.”

  She hurried past several people waiting to talk to Reverend Bollen. She couldn’t honestly say she knew what he’d preached about today, so she slipped past.

  Jeremiah stood in the churchyard, grinning at Kathleen as if he’d been smitten just like every other fellow in Tumwater. Oh! If Anna wasn’t such a lady, she’d stomp her foot—right on top of Jeremiah’s toes. Obviously, Kathleen hadn’t dragged him out of the church and held him hostage. She wasn’t even touching him.

  Anna ran to catch her parents. “Papa, I’m going to walk home today.”

  He nodded. “All right. Be careful.”

  “I will.” She turned on her heel and set a brisk pace through an unusually sunny day. Too bad Kathleen had to put a damper on it. She’d probably talk Jeremiah into doing something else this afternoon and the fishing competition would be cancelled. As if she cared. She’d have won anyway. She’d turned on Division Road when footsteps pounded behind her.

  “Hey Miss Wilkin, wait.” Jeremiah skidded to a stop.

  Anna looked past him, but didn’t see Kathleen.

  “So are we still going fishing?” His lopsided grin held her attention. “Or did you chicken out? Decide you don’t want to touch a worm after all?”

  “Ha! I’m not the chicken here. I’ve probably baited more hooks than you have.” Anna glared at him, one fist landing on her hip.

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Not likely, little one. I’m going to eat with my friends, but I’ll see you after that—if you show up.”

  “I’ll be there.” Little one? She’d show him little when she caught more fish than he did. He was halfway to the church when she called after him. “My name’s Anna.”

  She didn’t wait for him to respond, but set her mind to getting away from the house. If she was lucky, she’d be able to slip out after dinner. Of all days for the Bollens to come, why did it have to be today?

  Anna rushed about, setting out the pies Mama baked the night before. She started the dishwater and had the pots scrubbed clean before Mama called her into the dining room. The fact no one seemed to notice the work she’d done should have bothered her, but today she didn’t care. She only wanted to have dinner over with so she could be on her way to the river.

  Reverend Bollen ate the last of his potatoes then leaned back in his chair “Mrs. Wilkin, you’ve outdone yourself today. Everything was delicious.”

  Mama’s cheeks grew pink, and she smiled. “Thank you. My girls are a big help.”

  Anna began clearing the table. Maybe if she washed the dishes, Mama wouldn’t say anything about her leaving in a few minutes.

  Kathleen stood and motioned for Natalie. “Come upstairs, and I’ll show you the pattern I was talking about.”

  In Godey’s Lady’s Book, no doubt. Anna carried the first load of dishes to the kitchen while the others left the table.

  Mama hurried after her. “Anna, we don’t need to clean up right now. We’ll let it rest and visit. I’ve already told Mrs. Bollen we don’t need help.”

  Anna set the stack of plates on the counter beside the sink. “I don’t mind, Mama. You and Mrs. Bollen go visit. I’ve already done the pots. The rest will be easy if I do them now before they stick.”

  Mama took a couple of tea towels from the drawer. “If you’re sure you don’t mind. I’ll cover the table in case anyone wants something later.”

  “Mama, I promised Larkin I’d be over this afternoon.” Anna held her breath.

  “Are you coming?” Papa stuck his head in the kitchen.

  Mama ignored him. “Anna, you need to stay here while the reverend is visiting. How would that look if you up and run off?”

  Papa gave Anna a wink. “Anna’s done her duty. This is Sunday. The day of rest. The reverend will understand her need to get out of the house on such a pretty day. See that sunshine out the window? Days like this are few and far between. Makes me dream of a fishing pole on the riverbank.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing.” Papa touched Mama’s shoulder. “Come. Your company’s waiting.”

  “Thank you, Papa.” Anna’s held breath rushed out.

  He gave her another wink and ushered Mama from the kitchen.

  Anna washed dishes faster than ever then carried the water to the back door and threw it out. Would Jeremiah still be at the lake? She’d taken far too much time, but what else could she do? If she hadn’t offered to clean up, Mama would never let her go. And if Papa hadn’t intervened, it wouldn’t have mattered how much cleaning she’d done.

  In the garden shed, Anna changed from her dress slippers to the work boots she wore at the logging camp. She grabbed her fishing pole and held it so her body shielded it from the house. If Kathleen looked out an upstairs window and saw it, she’d be sure to tell Mama. Anna didn’t relax until she turned the corner and the house was no longer in sight. Then she set long strides to Larkin’s house and found her ready to go.

  They walked to the edge of town, stopping not far from the lake. “Next to go is this skirt,” Anna said. She stepped behind a tree to shed her skirt and petticoat, revealing the trousers hidden beneath. After rolling them together, she propped them in the fork of a tree.

  Larkin smiled and shook her head. “If your mother saw you now, what would she do?”

  Anna shrugged. “I imagine she’d faint dead away. But Mama doesn’t understand how important fishing is. She doesn’t love the forest, the trees, and the river the way I do. If not for Papa, I’d have to act just like Kathleen.” She spotted Jeremiah by the lake and grinned. “Can you imagine anything more dreadful?”

  Jeremiah found a likely spot on the riverbank and baited his hook. A quick flick of his wrist, and he sent the worm into the water. He leaned back against a tree, letting his muscles relax. So Miss Wilkin didn’t show after all. She’d looked so cute boasting about being the best fisherman. He chuckled. Sure would’ve been fun to show her up. Like he used to do to Rebekah. Of course, no one could take Rebekah’s place, but it might be fun to have a substitute sister.

  By saving every penny he could from his job, he’d soon have enough to start building a new house on his land. He sighed. A home of his own without the bad memories.

  A tug on his line alerted him to a bite. He grinned. The only thing missing was a certain female to listen to him gloat.

  He reeled in his first fis
h and dropped it in a pail of water beside him. A quick glance down the trail toward town revealed nothing. She wasn’t coming. He might as well give up. He sank another worm and leaned back to do some serious fishing.

  Kersplash! Jeremiah jumped a foot off the ground. Water arched from the lake and soaked his feet and legs. His heart took off running without him. Something had hit the water right in front of him, and it wasn’t a fish. He swung around at the sound of giggles—out-of-control giggles.

  Miss Wilkin and the Whitworth girl stood behind him, clasping hands and laughing at him.

  He deliberately placed his pole to the side and anchored it with a rock. Keeping his quarry in sight, he rose, speaking in a low tone. “Did you throw something at me?”

  Anna’s eyes grew to twice their normal size, and the other girl stepped back. A squeal such as he hadn’t heard in a long time almost shattered his eardrums. Anna took off running with him right behind. He caught her waist and swung her around as a loose pebble threw him off balance. He fell, taking her with him. This time when she slammed against him there was no bustle to knock the breath from his lungs.

  She hadn’t stopped giggling. Her laughter was just as contagious as Rebekah’s had been. He could never stay angry with his sister. Looked like his substitute sister would be the same in that respect. His laughter joined hers. He released her, letting her scurry away.

  “You little scamp. What’d you throw at me?” He sat up and rested his arms on his bent knees.

  She shook her head, still laughing. “Nothing. Not at you. I threw a big rock in the water.”

  “You could’ve hit me.” He took a second look at her. “What is this? Does your father know you’re wearing trousers?”

  She stuck her pert nose up. “Maybe. Mama doesn’t know I went fishing though, and she wouldn’t understand if I came home with dirt and grass stains on my skirt.” She grinned and tugged at her pant legs. “She’ll never see these, so it’s okay to get them dirty. Come on, I want to fish. Larkin has already started.”

  Jeremiah watched Anna and her friend bait their own hooks, and his eyebrows rose. Within minutes Anna pulled a fish as big as his from the river. He shook his head. Rebekah would have loved going fishing with Anna. Larkin was a nice enough girl, but Anna seemed to bubble with fun. “You know what?” he asked.

  She turned her pretty dark brown eyes on him, and her lips curved the least bit. “Not unless you tell me.”

  He grinned. “I think I’ll call you Little Bit. Yep, that’ll be my special name for you. Miss Wilkin sure doesn’t fit.” He laughed for no special reason, but he’d done a lot of that this afternoon. “Little Bit fits you just fine.”

  A wide smile lit her face. “Okay, then I get to call you Tuck like I heard your friends doing.”

  He chuckled. “Sure, but you’d better be careful around your mother.”

  She rolled her eyes, and he laughed long and loud.

  Chapter 3

  Here, Papa.” Anna handed the hatchet she’d been using to her father. A misty rain hung in the air, but she didn’t mind. She’d rather work in the rain with Papa any day than be cooped up inside cooking. “I need to go. Mama will have a fit if I’m late again. She sure didn’t like it when I was late on Tuesday.”

  He set the hatchet aside and grinned. “She runs a tight ship, does she?”

  “Oh, you can’t imagine.” He was teasing, but Anna shuddered as if she took him seriously. “Between her and Kathleen.”

  “Maybe I work you too hard. This isn’t a job for a girl.”

  Now this was no joking matter. “I like working with you, Papa. I love the woods and the fresh air.”

  “Next time I need some help, I’ll see if I can get you another hour of freedom.” He chuckled as she started away. “You got a skirt stashed around here somewhere?”

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” Anna turned and ran back to the stump where her skirt lay. She quickly pulled it on over her trousers. Mama would have more than a fit if she showed up looking like one of the lumberjacks. At least Papa let her be herself. On impulse, she gave him a hug. “Thanks, Papa.”

  She ran toward the logging camp, her father’s love as warm and secure as his arms had been around her. At the large mess hall, she walked in the back door. Kathleen didn’t bother to greet her—she just handed her a potholder. “Take one end of this pot and help me carry it to the serving table.”

  Anna hung her jacket and ignored her sister’s glares. She carried her end of the large pot of pinto beans through the kitchen door to set it inside the dining area. What was the matter with Kathleen? Anna had permission to help Papa.

  “You’re late.” Kathleen whispered the words.

  “I am not.” Anna took her place behind the serving table as the outside door opened.

  Men poured into the crude building, forming a line where the tin plates and utensils sat. They grabbed what they needed, and the first man held his plate out toward Kathleen just in time to keep her from scorching Anna’s ears. Anna grinned at Garrick for saving her, but he was looking at Kathleen, reaching for the slice of bread she held. Their fingers touched, and Kathleen blushed. Good, she should be embarrassed for almost yelling in front of the men. She could be a real prude.

  That group of men had no sooner cleared out than another came in on their heels. Anna dipped a ladle of beans and plopped them on Jeremiah’s plate. “Hey Tuck, how ya doin’?”

  She almost giggled at Kathleen’s lifted eyebrows.

  He grinned. “Good. How about you, Little Bit? Been fishin’ lately?”

  This time Anna did giggle at the soft gasp from her sister. “Not for a few days.”

  “Then how about Sunday afternoon? I plan to be at the lake then if the weather holds. Maybe I could give you some fishing tips.” He took the corn bread she handed him.

  She hesitated, but couldn’t think of anything she’d like better. Why not go? Papa would let her even if Mama didn’t like it. She flashed a quick grin at him. “All right, but you’d better plan to learn a few things from me.”

  Jeremiah’s laughter brightened her day until movement to the side let her know Mama had returned. The scowl on Mama’s face told of her disapproval more than her rebuke might have. Nothing unusual about that. When did Mama ever approve of her? It wasn’t that Anna disliked ladies’ activities. She enjoyed making her own clothes, and she loved to embroider. Cooking and cleaning were okay. But what she absolutely loved the most was being outdoors and running through the woods or sitting on the riverbank with a fishing pole. She felt useful when she helped Papa with his chores.

  Anna turned to the next man in line. She’d find some way to go fishing Sunday. Tuck was fun. Even more fun than being with her best friend, but she wouldn’t tell Larkin that or she might not go with her.

  Jeremiah ate his lunch and watched Anna bustle about helping her sister and mother. Little Bit. He chuckled under his breath. That name fit her perfectly. Little and as pretty as a china doll, she looked just as feminine.

  He walked out of the warm mess hall and back toward work with the other buckers. Yep, Anna was a little thing, but he had a suspicion she was also a bit of trouble just waiting to happen. The question was what kind of trouble.

  “Hey Tuck!”

  Jeremiah turned toward the sound and realized he was walking beside the railroad track leading into the woods. His mind had been so locked on Anna, he hadn’t seen Frederick or the Shay locomotive he drove to haul logs to the sawmills around Tumwater.

  “I’ve been yelling at you. Anything wrong?” Concern covered Frederick’s face.

  “Naw, just getting back to work after a good meal.” He couldn’t tell his friend he’d been thinking about a little slip of a girl. He’d never understand. “You getting a load ready to take down?”

  Frederick nodded. “I’m heading into the woods here in a minute. Want a ride? Beats walking in the cold.”

  “I would, except you’re going the wrong direction for me.” Jeremiah waved and starte
d walking again. “I’ll catch you Saturday. I’m staying in town with Willum so I can go to church.”

  “Okay, see you then.” Frederick turned back to his locomotive, and Jeremiah went on.

  Nope, Frederick wouldn’t understand his fascination with Little Bit. She continually popped into his head. Had since they’d gone fishing. He needed to get her out of his mind and start looking for a suitable wife. Saturday he’d talk to Willum about building a house. The other men would pitch in to help, too, when they had time. The desire for home and family filled Jeremiah’s heart. He had neither anymore. Only memories that impressed on him the longing to replace what he’d lost.

  Although Anna stayed fresh on his mind, he shoved her image aside and replaced it with one after another of the girls he’d met since moving to the area. He thought of the birthday party he had attended in that big, fancy house. Larkin. She was attractive and seemed nice. Then there was Abigail Leonard, Garrick’s sister. Anna sat with her at church Sunday. He shook his head, pushing both Abigail and Anna from his mind. What about her sister, Kathleen? While the other girls were pretty, Kathleen was beautiful. Yet he felt drawn toward Anna.

  Jeremiah picked up his ax. He’d be helping cut a log into sixteen-foot lengths for boards this afternoon. If he didn’t keep his mind on his job, he might cut something besides a tree. He didn’t need Anna intruding in his mind so much. Yep, the little bit of trouble he sensed about her could be something more than a physical injury. She had the potential to cause pain in his heart. He needed someone who wouldn’t tear his heart out if she left the way everyone else he’d loved had done.

  Chapter 4

  Anna pushed from the table and, like the Sunday before, began stacking plates.

  Kathleen stood. “Mama, we can put the food away. You go relax with Papa.”

  Mama smiled. “You girls are spoiling me, but I’ll take advantage of it this time. I don’t think we’ll want anything until later. Thank you.”

 

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