by Bess McBride
“It was,” she said. “I like Kaskade. I’m actually glad I got to see it.”
“Are you from the area?”
“No, not really. I’m from Seattle. I was just driving by.”
“An automobile? And you were simply passing by? Did you stop? Yes, you must have stopped.”
“I did. My car was acting up, malfunctioning, and while I waited for the tow truck driver, I climbed up the hill to look at the school.”
“Which is why Luke found you,” Jefferson said with a sage nod.
“Yes.”
Jefferson exchanged a look with his sister.
“No, I’m not going to stay and marry Luke,” Emily said with a wry smile. “I just thought I’d throw that out there.”
Jefferson opened his mouth in surprise then started laughing. Leigh and Martha joined him.
“That was certainly forthright!” he said, still chuckling. “Then you know the reigning theory? That people are brought back in time to meet their soul mates?”
“Aww, soul mates,” Leigh said. “I don’t think I’ve used that term, but that’s the theory most of us have.”
“Well, it’s not going to work with me,” Emily said. “Whether I stay or go, the schoolteacher who found me is not in the equation.”
Jefferson blinked. “What has Luke done to offend you? It is evident by your words that he has.”
Emily’s cheeks burned. “I shouldn’t pick on him. I’m sorry. He’s a very nice man. I apologize if I sounded negative. I really meant that I am not going to marry someone just because Kaskade snapped me up. This is so awkward!”
“Yes, I am sure that it is,” Martha said. “Jefferson, stop teasing her.”
“I did not know that I was,” he said, sobering. “I did not mean to embarrass you. I should not have asked.”
“Emily is going to work with me here at the house!” Martha announced.
Jefferson lifted an eyebrow and looked at Emily. “Here? What will you be doing?”
“She is going to help me cook and serve the meals.”
“How very fortunate for you, Martha,” Jefferson said. He turned to Emily. “She is terribly overworked here, but she has not sought help before now.”
“Well, I’m the lucky one,” Emily said. “I asked her for a job, not the other way around.”
“Will you be staying here at the boardinghouse with us then?” Jefferson asked.
“No. Leigh and Jeremiah have very kindly welcomed me into their house, but I do need to work, and I waited tables in my time.” Emily was very careful not to use any derogatory words as she had earlier.
“You are a waitress! How very interesting!”
Emily smiled crookedly. “Not really, but I enjoyed it. It paid the bills.”
“Indeed,” he said. “I am happy to know that we will see more of you!” His grin was absolutely charming.
Leigh and Martha exchanged a glance, and Emily bit her tongue. She could see them matchmaking, but she wasn’t having any of it. Leigh knew why, and Emily suspected her friend would eventually tell Martha why Emily wasn’t interested in marriage anytime soon.
“Regretfully, I must go change my shirt and then return to the office,” Jefferson said, rising from the table. “When do you return, Emily?”
“I start in the morning.”
“Oh! That is soon. We shall see you in the morning then!” he said. “It was so good to see you again, Leigh. Tell Jeremiah hello for me.”
“I will, Jefferson. Have a nice day!” Leigh replied.
“Good day,” Jefferson said to all as he left the room.
The three women looked at each other without saying a word for a few moments.
“No.” Emily finally broke the silence. “No matchmaking. I already told Leigh. I just got out of a horrible relationship only a week ago. Thank you, Kaskade! I can’t even imagine wanting to enter another one. Your brother is a doll though!”
Martha’s fair cheeks turned rosy. “He is an absolute delight,” she said. “All right. I will not tease you about Jefferson anymore. I am so very sorry to hear of your past misery. You sound grateful to be far from it.”
Emily hadn’t expected to tell a stranger all her troubles so soon, but she and Martha wouldn’t be strangers for long obviously. “I am. I didn’t know how to leave him, and my life was not my own. While things may seem out of control here, and I had no choice about coming to Kaskade, I feel more in control than I have in years. I’m not sure I should say this, but it’s possible Kaskade knows what it’s doing in its recruitment strategy.”
“Recruitment strategy!” Leigh repeated as she started laughing.
Martha chuckled, and Emily joined in. She had missed the company of women since her friends and coworkers had faded away given Carl’s constant overbearing presence.
They finished their coffee and chatted a bit more about the house and the boarders until Leigh announced she had to get back to Jeri. With a promise to return promptly at seven in the morning, Emily left on a high note.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” Leigh asked. “I know you said you wanted to apply at the restaurant and café first, but I thought Martha would be a better fit for you, and I think she is. You can be you, you don’t have to pretend to know how stuff works—because you won’t—and I’d just feel better if Martha was watching over you. And Jefferson!” Leigh finished with a teasing laugh.
Emily nodded. “I think it will work out. I think I’ll be so busy that I won’t really have to interact with Luke too much. Besides, I don’t think he means to be cruel. He’s just confused and not handling it very well. At least, that’s the impression I get from everyone. Even Martha said she’s always thought of him as kind and thoughtful. I thought he was when I first met him too, even when I was frightened and rude.”
“You’ve got a big heart, Emily,” Leigh said. “It would be nice if Luke was half as understanding as you.”
Emily reddened, feeling like a fraud. “Oh, no, Leigh. I’m not a very understanding person at all. Patience is not one of my virtues. But Luke could have left me there angry and confused, and he didn’t. He didn’t abandon me when I ranted and raved, though I could see that he wanted to. Did I tell you that I made him promise not to leave me at your house if I was uncomfortable there? He said he wouldn’t abandon me there, and he didn’t...not really.”
“Are you unhappy with us, Emily?”
“No! Not at all! But you know how it is on arrival—confusing and frightening.”
“I do know that. And we cling to the first person we meet.”
“Yes, a lifeline, I guess.”
Leigh opened her mouth as if about to say something, then she pressed her lips together.
“What?” Emily prompted.
They turned onto Lakefront Lane. Leigh looked at Emily with a wince.
“Not that I like to think of our house as being a scary place, but didn’t Luke abandon you, to all intents and purposes? That’s why I think you’ve got a big heart. He ran when he found out who and what you are, how you got here. I can’t tell you how much that hurts me to see.” Leigh linked her arm through Emily’s. “You’re like a time traveling sister to me, a familiar person from home. I don’t want to see you hurt, and I can’t help but judge him harder than you do.”
“Oh, Leigh,” Emily murmured with a sigh. She covered Leigh’s hand with her own. “That’s a pretty warm heart you’ve got there yourself, girl.”
Chapter Twelve
Washed and dressed, Luke descended the stairs to eat breakfast. Having slept poorly, he awakened late and had little time to enjoy one of Martha’s large breakfasts, but he wanted a cup of coffee and a piece of toast.
The house was particularly noisy that morning as the boarders moved about. He met Mary Woodhouse in the foyer. A charming young woman, she had been accepted into nursing school in Tacoma in the fall. He had written a letter of recommendation for her, as had Jeremiah, Martha and Jefferson, as well as others.
“Good
morning, Mary. How is your mother?”
“Good morning, Luke.” She smoothed her ash-brown hair. “She is well. She has come down to breakfast this morning.”
“She has?” he asked in surprise.
“Oh yes!” she exclaimed with a vigorous nod. Her eyes glowed golden brown. “Martha has hired a new helper, and Mother wanted to meet her.”
“That is exciting!” Luke agreed. “Martha has long needed more help. I am afraid I will not have time to introduce myself to her new helper this morning, as I am running late. You said it was a lady?”
“Yes, I have not met her yet, but Mother is in the dining room now.”
“How are your plans coming for school in the fall?” Luke asked as they walked down the hall to the dining room together.
“I have not done much yet. I am worried about leaving Mother.”
They arrived at the dining room and entered to find the usual boarders on hand, with the addition of a small wizened old woman, Mrs. Woodhouse, who had taken the chair at the head of the table. Mrs. Woodhouse had been ill the year before but had improved and appeared to be in good health. She generally preferred to keep to her room, and Luke was surprised to see that she bestirred herself for a kitchen employee.
He nodded at the other boarders and sat down almost on the edge of his chair to pour himself a quick cup of coffee. As usual, Martha had laid out platters of food on the table, and they were to help themselves. Martha generally did not join them, as she was usually busy in the kitchen.
The food looked delicious, but Luke felt rushed. He took up a slice of toast, added blackberry jam and ate quickly. The buzz of conversation around the table seemed pronounced, overly loud, and Luke wondered why.
The general hum stopped suddenly, and Luke looked up from his coffee. There at the door stood Emily, her cheeks mirroring the rose gingham of her dress. An apron covered her skirt, and she carried an urn of coffee. Her eyes flew to Luke, and she nodded a faint greeting and stepped into the room. Flabbergasted, Luke stared at her as she set the pot in the middle of the table.
All eyes joined him in watching her, a curiosity in Kaskade. Certainly people came and went, especially in the logging camps, but none shared Emily’s beauty. Her pink dress highlighted the rosiness of her cheeks, which in turn set off her shining auburn hair and shoe-button brown eyes. Luke had noticed that she seemed entirely unaware of how lovely she was.
She smiled widely at the table. “Do you need anything else?” she asked.
Murmurs abounded. Martha normally served the food briskly and wished them a good day. She never asked if they needed or desired anything else from the kitchen. She simply did not have the time.
“No, thank you,” Luke said, rescuing Emily. If his fellow boarders had their way, they would have her running back and forth to the kitchen to fetch all manner of condiments, extra silverware or additional napkins. He had lived in the house long enough to realize why Martha never asked if aught else was needed.
“Some lemon in my tea would be nice,” Mrs. Woodhouse said in a hopeful voice.
Emily hesitated and looked toward Luke, as if uncertain about the possibility of such a thing as fresh lemon to be served with tea. He gave her a subtle nod. Given Mrs. Woodhouse’s terrible battle with pneumonia the previous year, Luke had recalled that Martha said she acceded to her every whim.
“Right away, ma’am,” Emily said.
She hurried from the room, and Luke forgot that he had been in a rush to leave the boardinghouse. His first-hour students were not likely to tear up the schoolroom in the few minutes that they were unattended.
Emily returned in a few minutes with several slices of lemon on a plate.
“That’s fine. Thank you, young lady,” Mrs. Woodhouse said. “Tell me, what did Martha say your name was when she introduced you?”
“Emily Alexander, ma’am.”
“Emily,” Mrs. Woodhouse repeated. “I am Mrs. Woodhouse, and that is my daughter, Mary. She’s going to nursing school in the fall.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Woodhouse. Mary.”
Several other boarders introduced themselves, while others were content to eat and watch the newcomer to Kaskade in silence.
Emily repeated their names as she was introduced, as if committing them to memory.
“You’re new to Kaskade, aren’t you?” Mrs. Woodhouse asked.
“Yes, I am,” Emily said, again looking toward Luke, as if for guidance.
He nodded approvingly.
She turned to leave, but as Mary had said, her mother had come down specifically to ogle the help.
“Where did you live before, Emily?” Mrs. Woodhouse asked. “What brings you to Kaskade?”
“I am from Seattle, ma’am. I had heard how beautiful Kaskade was, and I wanted to move down here.” Emily recited her sentence as if she had been practicing.
Again, Luke nodded approvingly when she looked at him. She was managing quite well.
“Beautiful?” Mrs. Woodhouse hooted. “I can’t agree with you there. Seattle is beautiful. Tacoma is beautiful. Kaskade is just a little timber mill town with too many people, not enough trees and a dismal future. It’s never going to amount to anything.”
Luke had heard Mrs. Woodhouse disparage Kaskade before. She’d wanted to move away after the death of her husband two years before, but he believed that she could not leave until Mary was gainfully employed as a nurse and able to provide for them.
At that moment though, he hated the picture Mrs. Woodhouse painted of the town he had come to love. Worse yet, he did not want Emily to become influenced by such pessimism.
He looked at Emily and saw that her eyes were wide as she stared at Mrs. Woodhouse. The older woman was not incorrect, as Emily well knew...as he had most recently learned. Kaskade did have a dismal future. He hoped Emily would not argue the point. To do so would raise questions.
“Yes, ma’am,” Emily said obediently. She nodded before turning to leave the room.
Luke finished off the last of his toast and followed her to the kitchen. Martha busily washed pots and pans, and Emily gathered up a dishcloth to dry.
“I had no idea you were going to work for Martha, Emily,” Luke said.
The two ladies turned to face him, both drying their hands on their aprons.
“Good morning, Luke,” Martha said with a smile. “Yes, Emily has come to help me, and I am ever so grateful. Already this morning, she has been worth her weight in gold.”
“I needed to work, and Martha was kind enough to give me a job,” Emily said. “Thank you for the help in there.”
“I said nothing.”
“What help was that?” Martha asked.
“Luke let me know silently that Mrs. Woodhouse could have lemon with her tea. I wasn’t sure you even had lemon or whether you served it. I’m used to getting the customer anything they want, and when I asked if anyone needed anything else, the boarders seemed shocked.”
Martha laughed. “I haven’t had time to cater to their every whim. I still do not think that I will have that sort of time, but yes, Mrs. Woodhouse can have anything she asks for if I have it. We have been trying to fatten her up.”
At that moment, Jefferson stepped into the kitchen.
“Good morning, all!” he said in a congenial tone. “Emily! You are here! I hoped that you would be. What a pleasure!”
Luke drew his brows together. Jefferson seemed quite at ease with Emily, who handed him a cup of coffee.
“Thank you,” Jefferson said. He pulled out his pocket watch and consulted it. “Good morning, Luke. You are running late, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am,” Luke said. “I must be going.”
“Yes, you should,” Jefferson said unexpectedly.
At Jefferson’s dry tone, three pairs of eyes turned to stare at him. Jefferson drank his coffee with aplomb, seeming not to notice.
“I beg your pardon?” Luke snapped.
“I believe that you heard me,” Jefferson said, eyeing
him steadily.
Luke snorted. “See here—” he began, when Martha spoke.
“Gentlemen! Whatever has gotten into you, Jefferson? Good day, Luke.”
Luke looked at Emily, who stared at them wide eyed before he whirled away and stalked from the house. He did not slow down until he reached school, his entire walk consumed with anger toward Jefferson’s imperious behavior and confusion as to why Jefferson would behave in such a manner.
He taught classes that morning in a mechanical fashion, most of his attention focused on the boardinghouse. He would have returned to the house at lunch had he not had some papers to grade. The afternoon passed far too slowly for his comfort, and he hurried out of the school with the intention of returning to the boardinghouse. Once outside, he paused.
“We will see what that nonsense was about,” he said aloud as he turned, not toward the boardinghouse but toward Jefferson’s office, housed in a two-story wooden building near the mercantile.
He reached Jefferson’s office in twenty minutes and knocked. Jefferson opened the door and lifted an eyebrow.
“Luke!” he exclaimed.
“I hope you do not mind the intrusion. I thought I might ask what perverseness caused you to speak to me as you did this morning. Have I done something to offend you?”
Jefferson stood back. “You had better come inside,” he said, allowing Luke to pass.
Luke entered a well-appointed office filled with attractive yet simple furnishings—a large wooden desk, shelves lined with books, a dark-brown sofa and several easy chairs. Three windows let in a goodly amount of light. Luke stood in the center of the room twisting his derby in his hands.
“Sit,” Jefferson said, indicating one of the easy chairs.
“No, thank you,” Luke said.
“Very well,” Jefferson said. He leaned against the edge of his desk and crossed his arms. “You want to know why I was so abrupt with you this morning. I apologize. It was not my place. But I cannot guarantee that I will not do it again.”
“What business is it of yours when I leave the house? You have never concerned yourself with that before, and I cannot see why you would now.”
