Cascades Christmas

by Mildred Colvin

  “I understand. I don’t mind at all.” Kathleen smiled and touched his arm. “You go ahead. I have a way home with my parents.”

  “All right.” Jeremiah returned her smile and headed outside where the others waited.

  Anna breezed past him as if he were standing still. “Anna,” he called out when he should have kept his mouth shut.

  She froze for a second before turning with the fakest smile he’d ever seen. What was wrong with her?

  “Hello, Mr. Tucker. What are you doing?”

  He frowned. “What happened to Tuck?”

  She waved a gloved hand in front of her face. “Oh, I think Kathleen wouldn’t like me calling her beau that.”

  “Why would she care? She seems agreeable.” A lot more than her little sister. A lot more boring, too.

  Anna laughed. “Yes, she’s agreeable most of the time. Well, nice talking to you. I need to get home.”

  She crossed the street before Jeremiah got his breath. He might have watched her until she was out of sight, but Frederick called to him. “Hey Tuck, we’re heading out. You comin’?”

  “Yes.” Jeremiah turned on his heel and followed the men.

  E.V. dropped back beside him. “Sure you know what you’re doing, buddy?”

  Jeremiah glanced toward Anna hurrying down the road. The muscle in his jaw ticked, but he nodded. “I’m positive.”

  “I hope so. Your girl is pretty, but her sister is, too, don’t you think?”

  “Yes.” Jeremiah nodded. “Pretty young.”

  E.V. gave a sad shake of his head. “Is that what you think?”

  Jeremiah drew his brows together and lengthened his stride. Maybe he didn’t really think that, but it made a good excuse. He’d been hurt enough for one lifetime.

  He followed the others in the diner where his stomach rebelled against the tasteless food they complimented. Their conversation turned from friendly banter to deeper issues as the food disappeared.

  “The talk about statehood’s been getting serious lately.”

  Willum leaned back after cleaning his plate. “Won’t be long until it’s signed, sealed, and delivered.”

  What difference did it make? Jeremiah pushed his plate away. At the moment, he didn’t care one way or the other what became of Washington. Territory or state, it was all the same to him. If he was going to talk Kathleen into accepting his proposal, he needed to go. No wonder he’d been unable to eat. He was nervous. Perfectly normal reaction. He just wished the unease stirring his insides would stop. Maybe when she agreed to marry him, it would.

  He stood. “Sorry, but I promised Kathleen we’d go on a walk this afternoon. I’m due to pick her up pretty soon.”

  Frederick lifted his eyebrows. “Sounds like things are getting serious.”

  Jeremiah shrugged.

  E.V. met his gaze, looked as if he might speak, but didn’t.

  A quick nod and Jeremiah headed toward the Wilkins’ house.

  After greeting Anna’s—or rather Kathleen’s parents, he walked beside her down the street. Anna hadn’t been at the house. Or hadn’t made herself known. After church, when he stopped her, he recognized the hurt in her eyes, as if he’d disappointed her. But he couldn’t think about Anna now. Not when he intended to ask for Kathleen’s hand. “I thought you might like to go out to the falls. It’s always nice there. You’re warm enough, aren’t you?”

  She gave him a sweet smile and clutched her coat lapels with both hands. “Yes, I’m fine, and I’d love to see the falls.”

  “Good.” He lapsed into silence to match hers.

  As the falls came into sight, he slowed and Kathleen did, too. He turned to face her, only then taking her hand in his. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, watching him with wary eyes. Wary? Why? Surely, she wasn’t afraid of him. He attempted a smile. “I have a farm not far from town. My friend, Willum Tate, has been working on a small house out there. It isn’t finished. He can only work between jobs that pay better, but progress is being made. Do you like the country?”

  Her gaze skittered away for a moment before returning with her nod. “Yes, but not as well as Anna does. She’d live in the woods if she could.”

  “Yes, that’s probably true.” Why did she say that? Didn’t he have enough trouble keeping Anna from his mind? He shook his head. “But I’m talking about you. You and me. I want to know if you’d consider marrying me.”

  Kathleen sucked in her breath as if he’d surprised her. Surely, she’d had some suspicion of his intentions. Of course, he was rushing things.

  “I know we haven’t had a lot of time together. We’ve known each other only a few months, but I’m serious about this. If you need to see the house first, I understand. I just thought maybe we could be engaged right now. There’s no rush to marry.” He gave a quick laugh. “I mean the house isn’t even built yet. It will be soon, though. Definitely by spring.”

  When she only stared at him, he tried again. “Kathleen, will you marry me?”

  She nodded, her eyes wide and solemn. The word whispered through her lips. “Yes.”

  That one word slammed into his midsection then wrapped around his heart as if he’d been chained. His voice sounded rough when he spoke. “That’s good.”

  Her eyes puddled with unshed tears until one and then another rolled from her lower lashes to slide down her cheeks. She covered her face with her gloves. “I’m sorry, Jeremiah. I thought I could do this, but I can’t. I just can’t.”

  Sobs shook her shoulders. He pulled her into his arms and let her cry against his chest. He’d never asked a girl to marry him before, but surely this wasn’t a normal reaction. He hated when women cried. He patted her back then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and tucked it into her hands. “What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

  “I can’t marry you. I love s–s–someone else. I love G–Garrick. He s–scarcely looks at me. If I try to talk to him, he stammers and leaves.”

  Garrick? Did Garrick feel the same for Kathleen? Images filtered through Jeremiah’s head as he remembered Garrick standing nearby more than once when he’d been with Kathleen. Garrick scowling at him, and he hadn’t known why. But what about Anna? Didn’t Garrick want Anna? Why else would he have been holding her that way in front of the feed store? Poor Kathleen. He knew what it was like to love someone you couldn’t have.

  Anna sat on the Leonard’s front porch in the cold December air, her back propped against a corner post, her coat wrapped around her bent legs. If they were lucky, it would snow.

  Garrick leaned against the opposite post. “Life isn’t always fair, Anna. The both of us might as well face it.”

  She blinked the burning from her eyes. Abigail had been her excuse for this visit, but she’d been glad when Garrick told her the girls weren’t home. He was the one she wanted to see. He understood. She knew why when he admitted he loved Kathleen.

  Anna shrugged. “I guess, but if that’s true, how does anyone ever find happiness?”

  “Not by the abundance of the things you possess, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Garrick met Anna’s gaze. “I guess that means you don’t need everything or everyone you want. All you need is God.”

  Anna giggled. “You’re wonderful, Garrick. I’d love for you to be my brother-in-law, but you need to study your Bible a little more. You got the verses mixed up.”

  “I did?” Garrick frowned. “So my meaning isn’t right either?”

  “No. I mean yes.” Anna giggled again. “The meaning is right, especially if you consider both verses. The first was from the Gospel of Luke. It really says, ‘A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.’ The other is in the New Testament, too. I don’t remember where, but it’s where Jesus was being tempted by the devil. ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ You memorized verses when you were little. I know you did.”

  “Sure, how else w
ould I have known those two?” Garrick lifted his chin as if offended.

  “And thought they were one.” Anna grinned at him then dropped her chin to her knees. “But you’re right. It doesn’t matter how much we love someone. The important thing is our love for God. I guess what we need to do is forget them.”

  “How?” Garrick looked as glum as she felt. “I’ve loved Kathleen since I was a kid. She’s beautiful and kind. Sweet, gentle, and smart. She never looked my way, and I was afraid to tell her how I felt. Good thing I didn’t. She’d have broken my heart. ‘Course, she did anyway. At least, I’ve had most of my life to prepare for this.”

  Anna searched his face and saw sincerity. “I never knew you loved my sister.”

  “No one knew but me.”

  A long sigh escaped Anna’s lips. “I’m in love with Jeremiah, and I haven’t had any time to prepare. I wish I could go to school now. What are we supposed to do while they keep company right in front of us?”

  Garrick’s mouth curved. “I guess we could get married. We’re good friends, we get along, and who else are we going to marry? How about it, Anna? Think that’s a good idea?”

  Anna’s heart skipped a beat. She looked into Garrick’s eyes and the little patient smile that begged for acceptance. What would it be like being married to Garrick? Pleasant for sure. He was right. They liked each other, even loved each other. As friends. But maybe they could learn to love as husband and wife. Not everyone married for love. Why not?

  A smile tugged the corners of Anna’s mouth upward. “You have a point. If you think you can put up with me—”

  At the sound of a familiar voice, Anna stiffened and turned to look out toward the street beside Garrick’s house. Jeremiah and Kathleen. They walked past as if lost in their own world. She couldn’t hear more than an occasional rumble from Jeremiah then Kathleen’s soft tone answering. Neither looked toward the house. Kathleen clung to Jeremiah’s arm as if she belonged there.

  The sharp pain shooting through Anna’s heart brought tears to her eyes. She brushed them away to see the stricken look on Garrick’s face. “Garrick.” She called his attention back to her. “If your offer still stands, and I can get out of going to school, I think I’d like to accept.”

  Chapter 10

  Jeremiah woke far too early and stared into the darkness above his cot, wrestling with the same tormenting thoughts that had kept him awake the night before. Snores from the men sleeping around him vibrated the bunkhouse, but they hadn’t awakened him. Visions of Kathleen’s tears and Anna’s pain-filled eyes danced through his head. What sort of mess had he gotten them all into? He should have stayed in Seattle. Maybe after Christmas he’d pack up and go back.

  He huffed a laugh. Go back to what? There was nothing in Seattle for him anymore. That’s why he’d jumped at the chance to go south when Willum suggested it. In one night and a raging fire, his entire family had been taken from him. The house was gone and most of their belongings. Only the stock, barn, and farm equipment had survived. And the land he’d sold for a new start.

  Anna.

  His heart yearned for the young woman with the heart-shaped face, the pert nose, and ready grin. How had he fallen in love with her? A girl in love with another man. The memory of her sitting on the Leonard’s front porch with Garrick taunted him. He’d tried to ignore them, but he’d seen just the same, and his heart had twisted at the sight.

  So Anna loved Garrick, and Kathleen confessed her love for Garrick, too. Unless he was mistaken, Garrick loved Kathleen. Poor Anna. Maybe sending her away to school was the best thing her father could do for her. Maybe then Garrick and Kathleen would tell each other their true feelings.

  Jeremiah watched dark shapes of the night take form and color as dawn crept into the sky. He sat up and buried his face in his hands. Lord, I’ve made a mess of things. You are sufficient to meet our every need. I pray for Your will to be done. Seems the only two who might find happiness here are Kathleen and Garrick. They’re good people and need Your blessing. Jesus, help them find each other and happiness in serving You together. Amen.

  At breakfast, everyone seemed to be ignoring everyone else. When Jeremiah went through the line, he recognized Kathleen’s red-rimmed eyes for what they were. She was grieving over Garrick. All Jeremiah had done was open an old wound for her.

  Anna didn’t meet Jeremiah’s gaze. Garrick followed him into the mess hall, but sat across the room from him. The only time their eyes met, hostility glared from Garrick’s. Jeremiah ate eggs, sausage, biscuits, and gravy, but scarcely noticed the taste. If he wasn’t the villain here, he didn’t know the meaning of the word. Someone needed a happy ending and since it wouldn’t be him, he’d better see what he could do to help Kathleen and Garrick.

  When Garrick got up to leave, Jeremiah stuffed the last bite of biscuit into his mouth and followed.

  “Garrick.” Jeremiah ran to catch the departing form of a man he still considered a friend. “Wait. I’ve got something to tell you. Something you’ll want to hear.”

  Garrick looked over his shoulder but didn’t slow his pace. “Not interested, Tucker. Keep your news if it makes you happy.” He stopped then and turned around. “Oh, speaking of news. I’ve got some, too. Yesterday, Anna Wilkin and I decided to get married as soon as we get her father’s blessing.”

  Jeremiah stopped as if he’d taken a hit to his gut. Garrick laughed and strode away.

  “Tucker, come on.” One of the guys from his crew called, and Jeremiah turned toward the sound. Pain twisted his heart. Anna couldn’t marry a man who loved her sister. Her life would be miserable. A rock settled into the cavity where his heart should be. He needed to talk to Garrick, but he probably wouldn’t see him until evening.

  Jeremiah joined the other men heading to the work site. While he manned one end of the bucksaw to cut slices from a log, Garrick’s face stood before him. Garrick hadn’t understood Jeremiah’s news. He thought he was going to announce his engagement to Kathleen.

  Had Garrick been serious about marrying Anna? No, he’d only been trying to get even. What a mess. Jeremiah’s grip on the saw slipped, jerking him back to his job.

  “Hey, watch it!” Henry, his partner on the saw, yelled. “This is the second time you’ve done that.”

  “Sorry. My hand slipped. I’ll pay better attention.” If he didn’t, he could get himself or someone else hurt. He’d seen injuries happen when men were careless. He’d have to deal with Garrick later.

  The sound of something crashing through the forest brought the men’s work to a halt. Jeremiah turned to watch a horse and cart hurry past. In the back of the cart, calking boots below a blanket-covered form told the story. A man had been hurt. How bad was hard to tell. Who it was remained a mystery. Jeremiah sent a prayer for the man toward heaven as he went back to work until the lunch whistle blew.

  On the short walk back to camp, Jeremiah listened to the buzz of speculation about the injury. He followed the others into the mess hall and met Anna’s gaze. She stood behind the serving table, her eyes luminescent and red rimmed.

  When he stood in front of her, he searched her face. She’d been crying. “Anna, what’s wrong?”

  “Oh Tuck, it’s Garrick.” Two big tears hovered on the edges of her eyelids before rolling down. “He’s hurt. His leg—” She sucked in a breath.

  Her tears tore at his heart. He ached for her, but he also ached for himself. She loved Garrick, not him. “Little Bit, don’t cry. He’ll be okay. How bad was it?”

  “I don’t know. Papa and Kathleen went with him to the hospital. Oh Tuck, they said he wasn’t paying attention and a limb hit him. He fell, and his ax cut his leg. What if he dies?”

  “We’ll pray and he’ll be fine. They’ll take good care of him.” Jeremiah longed to take Anna in his arms and wipe the tears from her eyes. He wanted to make her forget Garrick and love him instead. Each silent tear trailing down her face burned his heart, but he was powerless to stop them. She belonged to Garrick now.
He let her fill his plate then moved to a far corner to eat.

  Jeremiah ignored the conversation around him and dug into food that held no appeal. Anna finished serving and moved into the kitchen. Her mother covered the bowls and pots on the table.

  Where was Kathleen? When he didn’t see her, Anna’s words came to the surface of his mind. Kathleen went with Garrick to the hospital. Kathleen? Why not Anna? Just this morning Garrick said he and Anna were getting married. Something didn’t add up.

  Still puzzling over his discovery, Jeremiah left his unfinished plate and walked into the woods to be alone. He wanted to pray for Garrick, but soon the cleansing power of repentance poured from his soul. He’d been out of God’s will in pursuing Kathleen. While he admired her, he didn’t love her. She might like him, but she didn’t love him, and was smart enough to realize it. But that wasn’t where he’d failed God. No, he was like Abraham, who’d moved ahead of God’s will for his life when he took Hagar as his concubine. Jeremiah’s reason was different, but the lack of trust was the same. His fear of losing another loved one seemed foolish under the ray of God’s loving conviction. Why hadn’t he trusted God to take care of Anna? To take care of his hurt. Now he’d lost her without her ever being his.

  He fell to his knees. “Lord, I’m sorry for not trusting You. I ask Your forgiveness. Maybe someday I’d have lost Anna, but at least she’d have been mine for a while. Now I’ve lost her anyway. I’m sorry.”

  Jeremiah lifted his head and rose. The hurt was still there, but God forgave him, and he’d do his best to trust Him from now on, even if he never married.

  Garrick might die. Hot tears ran from Anna’s eyes and dripped into the dishwater. She turned her face first one way and then the other to blot them on her shoulders. Her heart ached for Garrick. And for Kathleen. She’d never seen her sister so worked up over anyone as she was Garrick. Mama was shocked but adjusted well when Kathleen confessed her love for Garrick. She said it was better to find out now than later. Anna agreed.