Faith blinked back tears. “How can I ever thank you for such an elegant gift! Does my mother know?”
“Yes, we asked her permission first, and she was reluctant but then agreed. You’re like a part of our family, and we wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you did that, all right.” If only she were truly a part of the family, she’d be the happiest young woman in the world.
She spent another half hour with Clara and Mrs. Bennett before the seamstress declared she had all she needed and would have the dresses back to them next week. After she redressed, Faith gathered up her belongings to go back home. Home. How nice it would be to sleep in her own bed tonight. As much as she loved Aunt Ruby’s house, it wasn’t home.
When she and Clara descended the stairs to the foyer, Tom greeted them at the bottom.
“I’m here to take you home. We don’t want you walking in the dark alone.”
Papa had planned to come pick her up, but this was so much better. “Thank you, I’d like that very much.”
He escorted her out to the street where his father’s buggy sat hitched and ready to go. “Pa was happy to loan out his buggy this evening.” He helped her up onto the seat then went around and climbed aboard. “I even have an extra quilt in case you get cold. Supposed to be another good frost tonight.”
A quilt wouldn’t be necessary. Just being this close to Tom provided all the warmth she needed. Forget being good friends. She wanted that and so much more.
The horse took off in a lazy trot, clip-clopping along the bricked street leading to the bakery. Tom pulled on the reins to keep the black horse to a slower pace, which suited Faith fine. The longer the ride home, the longer she’d be next to Tom. The moon on the verge of being completely full offered a silvery night light in a cloudless sky that sparkled with a million gems.
“I’m glad you’re back in your home. They did a good job of getting it rebuilt before the holidays.”
“I’m glad too. The carpenters worked a few extra hours to get us back in by this weekend. Aunt Ruby’s house is plenty big enough for all of us, but being back in our own place is so much better.” Why were they talking about her aunt and the bakery? Words she’d like to say lodged in her throat and wouldn’t budge.
Tom cleared his throat. “Um . . . I’ve been meaning to talk to you about what I said after the Christmas tree lighting.”
Faith’s nerves cringed, and a vise gripped her heart. Suddenly the words poured out of her in a rush. “I understand what you were trying to say. You want us to remain good friends even though you want to be with someone else.”
He jerked the reins and halted the buggy. “What? Want someone else? That’s not what I meant at all.”
Hope fluttered in her chest. “Well, what did you mean?”
“Will you listen and let me finish and not interrupt?” He gripped the reins in one hand and faced her with his other hand on the back of the seat.
“Yes, I will.” No matter what he had to say, she’d be polite to the end. After that she couldn’t promise anything.
He dropped the reins and took both her hands in his. “You’ve been one of the best friends a person could ever want in a lifetime, but . . . ” He breathed in deeply.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the “but.”
His breath expelled in a swoosh. “I want more than friendship with you. I want to court you properly and call on you at your home.”
Faith’s eyes flew open, and her head jerked back. “What did you say?”
His hands squeezed hers. “I . . . I love you, Faith Elaine Delmont.”
Love for Tom filled her heart to the point of bursting. “I thought I’d never hear you say that. I love you too, Thomas Dyer Whiteman.”
With the moonlight glowing on his face, Tom reached up to cup her cheeks between his hands. He leaned forward, and she did the same to meet him halfway. His lips touched hers, lightly at first, and then his hands moved and his arms went around her in an embrace she’d remember the rest of her life.
As the kiss deepened with great promise, every year of waiting had been worth every moment to bring them to this point.
Tom pulled away. “I have to get you home now, or I can’t be responsible for whatever happens.” He grabbed up the reins and flipped them to get the buggy moving again.
Faith slipped her arm under his and snuggled against his shoulder. A smile tickled her lips. As much as she enjoyed his kisses, he did need to get her home before her heart simply burst with joy. Aunt Ruby, Mama, and Katherine had all been right. Now this Christmas would be her happiest ever.
At the top of the stairs leading to the Delmont home, Tom kissed Faith one more time before she closed the door behind her. Tom wanted to shout, run, laugh, and kick up his heels. He loped down the stairs and back to the buggy.
David had been right. Her response had been more than he ever dreamed. The moon couldn’t shine any brighter than his future did. Maybe it had taken longer to get up the nerve to express his feelings, but the result exceeded anything he could ever have imagined or dreamed.
CHAPTER 30
FAITH SIPPED PUNCH and gazed about the room. This had been the most beautiful wedding she’d ever attended. Ma and Aunt Ruby had outdone themselves. The cake and other delectable sweets filled the table and beckoned people to come and enjoy. Because she was a part of Clara’s wedding party, Faith had been given the night free of any duties at the reception.
The ballroom at the hotel glowed from the gaslight chandeliers. Greenery and candles decorated tables set around for guests to enjoy the refreshments. A string quartet provided music for both listening and dancing. As far as Faith could tell, over half of Stoney Creek attended the wedding of the doctor’s daughter and the mayor’s son.
The ceremony had been so romantic. Theodore and Clara exchanged their vows in the glow of candles with the light of love shining bright in their faces.
A hand tapped her shoulder. “Your eyes have stars in them, my friend.”
Clara’s words sent heat rising up Faith’s neck to her cheeks. “Only because your wedding was the prettiest I’ve seen. You look even more beautiful in your dress today.”
Clara leaned close. “And maybe you will wear it someday in the near future.”
Faith’s eyes opened wide, and her mouth fell open. Clara giggled. “I’ve seen the looks between you and my brother. You’re as much in love as Teddy and I are. A wedding isn’t too far off in the future for you.”
Warmth wrapped around her heart and filled it with love for Tom. He had declared his love, but no proposal had come with it. “He hasn’t even asked me to marry him.”
“Oh, but he will; you wait and see.” She grinned and grabbed Faith’s hand. “Now, come on and let’s find those men of ours.”
Faith set her punch cup on the tray for used ones and allowed Clara to pull her across the room where Tom and Theodore conversed with Reverend Weatherby. A smile lit up Tom’s face when she reached his side, and Theodore pulled Clara closer to him.
Reverend Weatherby chuckled. “Looks like you young men have much better company now, so I think I’ll find Mrs. Weatherby and enjoy some of that cake.”
Theodore kissed Clara’s forehead. He winked at Tom and said, “Hope you don’t mind if I steal my bride away for this dance.”
The nearness of Tom after all that had happened last weekend turned her insides upside down. This was the first time they’d had a chance to be alone together this week. Once again Tom had been out of town covering state news and had only arrived back in town yesterday. She would have joined him at the ranch with his family last night if she hadn’t stayed in town to help Ma and Aunt Ruby with the last-minute preparations for today.
“I missed you last night.” Tom’s breath stirred the curls above her ears.
“I missed you as well.” She leaned closer to him.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and took her hand in his free one. “Shall we join Theodore and Clara?” Before she could a
nswer, he’d swung her onto the dance floor.
The heat of his hand at her waist sent tremors of delight up and down her spine and into her heart. Her grandest dreams had begun to unfold in even more wonderful ways than her dreams ever portrayed. They had danced at many a town social, but this time his love for her spread through her with a rhythm that didn’t come from the music.
The quartet ended the set, and couples moved off the floor. Faith couldn’t be sure if the heat surrounding her came from the nearness of Tom or the liveliness of the dance. Whichever it was, she needed a cool breath of air.
As if reading her mind, Tom led her to the lobby of the hotel and the sofa there. “It’s cooler out here, don’t you think?”
“Yes, it is.” How she wished for the fan that lay with her other belongings back in the ballroom.
Tom held her hands in his. “I’ve missed you this week, not just last night. It’s been the longest week of my life.”
“I know. If we hadn’t been so busy at the bakery, I’d have died from loneliness. How did the trip go?”
“Fine. The government has shut down now for the holidays, but they had a few bills to get passed before the recess. What about your week?”
“It was so much better with that new stove. Ma and Aunt Ruby outdid themselves with the baking, and the tearoom stayed so busy I hardly had time to sit down.” Why were they talking about the bakery and the government?
Tom must have thought the same for he leaned close. “If this were not such a public place, I’d kiss you right here and now.”
“And I’d let you.” She lifted her chin, but someone called their names.
“Here you are. I’ve been looking for you two.” Gretchen hurried toward them waving a piece of paper in her hand.
She stopped to catch her breath and handed the paper to Tom. “This came in the mail today from my father. It’s from a friend of his in Chicago.”
Faith leaned over to see the picture Tom now held. An elderly man with a beard stared at them from a news photo. The caption said that Joseph Mayfield, a prominent businessman from northern Illinois, had been missing for several months.
Tom turned the picture over. “This is dated from last summer. Could this possibly have any connection to our Joe?”
Gretchen sat down in the chair next to them. “It doesn’t really look like him, but it’s the closest thing we’ve had to a lead.”
Faith tried to imagine the man in the picture without the beard. Something was familiar. The eyes. That was it. “Look closely at this man. Those are Joe’s eyes.”
Tom peered at the photo then handed it to Gretchen. “I think she may be right.”
Gretchen stared a moment before nodding. “I agree, but how can we get him to admit it? We can’t just go up to him and say we know who he is. What I want to know is why he’s keeping his identity a secret.”
“I do too, but let’s go slowly with this. I’ve got an idea.” He leaned forward. “But we need to keep this among ourselves. Don’t show anyone else that picture. Not even Mr. Blake.”
Joe slumped against the wall next to the doorway to the lobby. They’d found him. He had to leave before they started nosing around too much. Tom had lowered his voice, but Joe had heard enough to know they’d learn his secret if he stayed in town. Tom and Gretchen were both too good at their professions to leave this alone.
He made a mental checklist. The sets for the Christmas play were built and ready for painting. The letters for Tom and the town were safe in the hands of Mr. Swenson. The sterilizer for Doc Whiteman had been ordered. He’d picked up his last prescription from the doctor. All the funds he’d requested had been transferred to the Stoney Creek Bank. Mr. Hightower had drawn up the legal documents, and Joe had signed them.
Joe straightened his shoulders and stood tall. His work was done. He could leave with assurance that Stoney Creek would be in good hands. He made his way to the kitchen, hoping to slip out unnoticed from the back door.
Mayor Gladstone caught Joe’s arm at the kitchen entrance. “I’ve been looking for you. Mrs. Gladstone wants to add some cabinets in our kitchen. You did such fine work for Mrs. Hutchins that we thought maybe you’d do the same for us.”
“I’m not sure, Mayor. I haven’t felt well these past few weeks, so I can’t make any promises. I will think on it and let you know.”
“Oh, I’m sorry you’ve been ill. No one has said anything.” He patted Joe’s shoulder. “I sure hope you feel better soon, and I’ll be waiting to hear from you about those cabinets.”
After the mayor walked away, Joe glanced around to make sure no one else noticed him before he slipped through the deserted kitchen for the back door.
Once outside he headed for the depot to check the train schedule. A lone gas lamp illuminated the chart hanging by the ticket window. Just as he’d thought. No trains on Sunday. The first one headed north wouldn’t be through here until late Monday morning. Where would he stay, and what would he do until he could slip out, get his ticket, and be on his way home?
He trudged back to the boardinghouse with these questions crowding his mind. Slowly a plan formulated.
Light shone from the windows of the boardinghouse. Mrs. Hutchins must be back from the wedding party already. When he stepped into the entryway, she greeted him.
“I see you’re home from the party early too.”
“Yes, I’m not feeling well at all. I’m going up to my room. If I’m not down for breakfast, don’t worry about me. I most likely won’t make it to church either.”
She laid down her sewing and looked up. “I’m sorry to hear that. What is it? Your stomach? Your throat?”
“It’s nothing, Mrs. Hutchins. I got chilled yesterday, so I may be coming down with a cold. Nothing for you to fret about.”
“If you say so, but you let me know if you need anything. I can call Doc Whiteman for you, and he’ll come check on you.”
“No need for that. I’ll be fine. Think I need some rest, that’s all.”
“Well, you have been working mighty hard on those sets for the Christmas program. I say it’s time for you to quit working so much and get your rest.”
“Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going upstairs.”
Once in the privacy of his room Joe found his old knapsack and set it out to fill in the morning while everyone was at church. He sat on the edge of the bed and slipped off his shoes. The pillow behind him looked very inviting. After pulling back the quilt, he slipped between the covers, fully clothed. Remembering he had on the suit Zachariah had made, Joe rose from the bed and undressed. This was the suit he planned to be buried in, and from the way the past two days had been, that day would come sooner rather than later.
After taking Faith home and sharing a good-night kiss, Tom drove the buggy past the boardinghouse on his way home.
He pulled up on the reins and stopped in front of the house. He stared up at the window in Joe’s room. “Who are you really, Joe Fitzgerald? Are you behind all the good things that have happened in Stoney Creek? I think you are, but how can I prove it?”
Tom sat in the quiet of the night and contemplated the old man who had become a good friend to the town. All the contradictions he, Faith, and Gretchen had noticed now made sense. Joseph Mayfield was a wealthy man and, according to the news article, very active in many charitable activities. He’d been married but lost his wife and only daughter. Everything said about Mayfield matched what they had seen in Joe except the money. If either Gretchen or Tom approached Joe and began asking too many questions, they’d most likely cause him to leave town. The plan he’d devised tonight with Gretchen and Faith wasn’t the best, but it was all they had for now.
His plan called for them to treat Joe the same as always, but whenever any of them were with him or talked to him, the conversations would include comments about things that had been done for the town like the stove for the bakery, the town emergency fund, and the extra money in the Kirk family’s bank account. Then they wou
ld watch for Joe’s reaction to the comments.
Gretchen had a great sense of people’s ideas and feelings from observing them in various situations, and Tom’s friendship with Joe would help as well. Faith didn’t have the expertise, but she did have an uncanny ability to get people to open up to her. He counted on that for her time with Joe.
His mind drifted away from Joe and onto Faith. Contentment and happiness flowed together to fill his heart with love as he snapped the reins and headed home. Why had he waited so long to tell her he loved her? Thinking it would spoil their friendship had been as dumb as David Weatherby had made it sound. That didn’t matter now. He’d told her, and she loved him back. He hadn’t asked her to marry him yet, but he wanted the perfect moment, and that would be Christmas Eve, the most magical night of the year.
CHAPTER 31
JOE’S PLAN HAD worked perfectly. He’d left the house early on Monday before breakfast and hastened to the depot, where he’d purchased a ticket to Dallas, planning to stop there and buy another ticket to Chicago. He’d then returned to the boardinghouse in time for breakfast. No one had seen him leave and return, so no one questioned him.
While others spoke of their plans for the day, Joe had sat quietly eating his breakfast. Mrs. Hutchins had inquired about his health, and Herb Spooner had inquired as to Joe’s plans for the day. He’d been evasive but had given the impression he’d be about town like he had been most days.
He’d paid one last visit to Mr. Swenson at the bank to make sure everything was in place to carry out the plans they’d made together. Once assured that all was in order, Joe had gone to the depot, where he stashed his knapsack and hid out until the train arrived.
Now he stared out the window at the countryside as the train pushed on. He wouldn’t need the ragged clothes he’d worn into town, so those had been left behind for Mrs. Hutchins to dispose of later. Now he was clean-shaven and wearing a pair of trousers, shirt, and jacket Doctor and Mrs. Whiteman had provided for him.
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