Reluctant Brides Collection

by Cathy Marie Hake

  “I was just about to bring you some hot water when you came out,” Alvira said.

  Percy smiled. “Thank you, but it’s been years since I had anyone to bring me hot water in the morning. I suppose I’ve given up the habit.”

  Alvira looked puzzled. “Don’t you heat it for yourself? I’ve never had anyone bring it to me at all, least not regular.”

  Percy blushed and looked away. Why did she let such things slip out? “It was a long time ago. At this time of year, the water doesn’t turn icy overnight, so I don’t really mind. But it was sweet of you to think of me.”

  “Why don’t you sit down here and let me put some breakfast in front of you? You can have the first of the flapjacks and eat while they’re fresh. I don’t think you eat nearly enough, for someone who cooks for a living.”

  Percy briefly considered her waistline. Her skirt still hung awkwardly, but not so badly as last year. The hard-earned weight she had lost when she first arrived had come back. If Alvira only knew how bad things had been at one point in time. She glanced at the bacon, tempted.

  “Alvira, you’re a wonderful help,” she said, “but you must not overwork yourself. You’re here to help me, not replace me. There is plenty of work for two.” She reached for an apron and tied it over her gray dress.

  Alvira turned several strips of bacon and added some new ones to the pan. “I’m so grateful for this job. I just want to be sure I do right by it.”

  “You’re doing just fine. I don’t know how I ever got along without you.”

  “It’s my first job, you know. I never really had a job before.”

  “You don’t have a thing to worry about. You’re wonderfully competent at everything you put your hand to. I only wish I could have said that about my first job.”

  “A fine lady like you ought to be livin’ in a nice house with folks to look after her,” Alvira said. “I know what brought me here, but I can’t quite fathom how you ended up here. I can tell you have more breedin’ than most.”

  Percy took a stack of tin plates from the cupboard and set them on the rolling cart that she would later push into the main dining room. If she were to tell Alvira about her father and what had become of her family, her new friend might not think so much of her fine breeding.

  “I suppose we all just do the best we can,” Percy said casually. “Perhaps breeding has little to do with how we fare.”

  “I knew it!” Alvira’s eyes lit up. “You are a lady of fine breedin’ but something awful happened. That’s what brought you here.”

  “I needed a job, and the camp needed a cook,” Percy said flatly. “That’s what brought me here.”

  Alvira turned back to the flapjack batter. She splattered a drop on the griddle to test the temperature; it sizzled appropriately.

  “My TJ believes that God brought us here to find Miss Lacey. He’s believed that ever since that day that she told him God had made it her business to look after him, even when no one else would stand up to Bert and his ways. Can’t say that I argue with Him.” She dropped a generous spoonful of batter on the blistering griddle. “It does seem that God made the way plain for us to find her again, and now look at us. Sally’s back in school and TJ and me are workin’.”

  Alvira prattled on as she made one batch of flapjacks after another and Percy assembled plates, cups, and silverware on the rolling cart. There was no question that Alvira had blossomed during the last two weeks. She was beginning to gain needed weight, despite all her vigorous work, and her cheeks were almost rosy. Alvira talked more every day, making Percy think that she had bottled up her thoughts and feelings for years. Now nothing could keep everything that was in her from streaming out uncensored.

  Percy remained guarded. It would be easy enough to be caught up in Alvira’s gushing. The story she told reminded Percy far too easily of her own. Alvira seemed not to mind if everyone knew the smallest details of her life. Years of being afraid of what others thought of her because of her husband faded quickly into a natural infectious gregariousness. Still, Percy chose her own words carefully.

  After breakfast Josh appeared. Alvira was quick to offer him the last of the flapjacks and bacon. “I promised Lacey I would check up on you,” Josh said to Alvira as she scurried around the kitchen. “If you would slow down a minute, I might like to check your pulse and have a look at your eyes.”

  Alvira waved him away. “I’ve never felt better in my life. I don’t need doctorin’.”

  “You’ve been under a great deal of stress the last few weeks, what with leaving your home and the long journey up here. We have to be careful about your health.”

  Alvira set a plate down in front of Josh. She sobered suddenly. “No, you got that wrong. I was under a heavy burden before we ever left Tyler Creek. But it’s been lifted away by folks like you.”

  Josh squeezed Alvira’s hands. “We are but vessels of the One who bears your burden. God brought you to us, and we’re grateful.”

  Alvira turned away to hide the tear in her eye. Percy swallowed the lump in her throat.

  “How’s that man you been tendin’?” Alvira asked.

  “Troy Wilger? He’s coming along nicely, actually. He should be able to go back to work in a few more weeks.”

  “Is he as cantankerous as ever?” Percy asked.

  Josh smiled and nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

  “Someone always seems to come for his meals, so I haven’t seen him in quite awhile.”

  “I’m sure he prefers it that way,” Josh said. “He still bellows on and on about how much he hates progress. Some of the men have been referring to our little strip of buildings as ‘town’ and he hates that. We’ll always be a camp in his mind.”

  “I don’t see how it much matters what you call yourselves,” Alvira said. “Camp or town, you’re the folks that took me and my children in when we had no place to go. That’s what matters, that you folks have tender hearts.”

  “That was beautifully put,” Josh said. “Thank you, Alvira.”

  Alvira turned away, embarrassed. “I got chores to do.”

  “Alvira, take a short rest,” Percy said. “You’ve been working for hours already.”

  “Not till the washing is hung,” Alvira said. “I’m going to find the scrub board.” And she left.

  “Do you want any more to eat?” Percy asked. “We have a bit of cold bacon left.”

  Josh shook his head as his eyes followed her around the room. “How are you, Percy?” he asked. “Alvira is not the only person I wanted to check on.”

  “What do you mean?” Percy asked.

  “We haven’t seen much of you lately, and when I have seen you, you seem withdrawn.”

  “Do I?”

  He nodded. “I was hoping Alvira’s help would make things easier for you.”

  “It has, tremendously.”

  “Then why does it seem that you’ve gone deeper into your shell since she arrived? Alvira and Sally have been visiting in the evening, but Adam is wondering why the lady from the street doesn’t have time for a game of checkers. I am, too.”

  Percy looked into Josh’s dark, pondering eyes and nearly let go. Fleetingly, she wondered what it might feel like to tell her story, to unleash the stirrings within her.

  “Tell Adam I’ll come over soon.” She avoided looking at Josh, moving instead toward the sink with his empty dishes.

  “What shall I say when he asks why you have not come before now?”

  She sighed. “It’s a long story, Josh.”

  “My morning is unscheduled.”

  She looked at him again. If she could tell anyone, it would be Josh. But no, she could not. She was on her own now and she had to stay that way. Telling him the truth would ruin everything.

  Percy shook her head. “I’m sorry, Josh. Let’s talk about something else. How is work on your clinic coming?”

  Josh paused a long moment before answering. Percy pumped some water into the sink to cover the silence. “The lumber is piling
up,” he finally said, “and I believe we have agreed on a final version of the drawings.”

  “Will you have good living space?”

  “I’ll have two rooms in the back, a bedroom and a small sitting room, with space for a small kitchen. The front of the building will be a waiting room and an exam room, plus another bedroom for caring for patients who require an overnight stay. Peter’s plans are drawn in a way that would make it easy to add on a second story later.”

  “It sounds like a very good arrangement,” she said stiffly. She was sincere, but could not control her voice.

  “I’m trying to convince Peter to use any scraps or cast off boards to help improve Alvira’s situation.”

  “That’s thoughtful of you. Perhaps he could build her something more adequate than the shed.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping. It shouldn’t have to cost a lot.”

  They conversed for another fifteen minutes. Percy could feel Josh’s eyes on her the entire time, no matter where she moved about the room. Working hard to keep her tone light, she dared not look him in the eye for fear that her story would tumble out against her will.

  Chapter 21

  And after that,” Percy said a week later as she and Alvira finished their midmorning coffee, “we should take an inventory of what is left in the cellar. Travis will be sending for supplies soon. We need to have a list ready.”

  They sat together in the vacated mess hall, their empty coffee cups on the table between them, along with evidence of blueberry muffins and a coveted orange.

  “I’ve been thinkin’ that—” Alvira did not get to finish her thought. Outside, a stack of lumber thundered to the ground, making them both start. Alvira gripped the edge of the table.

  “That’s the wood for Josh’s clinic!” Percy said. She jumped up and scurried toward the window. “It was stacked next to the dining hall temporarily. I wonder what would make it fall.”

  “An animal, maybe,” Alvira offered.

  “I hope no one was hurt.”

  “Woman! Get out here!” bellowed a voice.

  Percy stopped in her tracks, midway across the empty dining room.

  Alvira gasped and jumped out of her chair. “It’s Bert!”

  “Your husband?” Percy was incredulous. “How did he find you?”

  “I didn’t think he could,” Alvira said weakly. The color drained from her face. “We were careful and moved around every couple days till we got here.”

  “Are you sure that’s him?”

  Alvira nodded, her jaw clenched tight. “When you live with a man like that for twenty years, you know his voice even before he opens his mouth.”

  “Woman! Don’t try to hide from me. I know you’re here!”

  “Nothing will stop him now,” Alvira moaned. “I might as well go out there and spare everyone a lot of trouble.”

  “Don’t you dare! You haven’t come this far to give up that easily. He can’t even be sure you’re here.”

  “He might have spoken to one of the men out at the work site,” Alvira said. “I just pray he didn’t see TJ.”

  A multitude of scenarios flashed through Percy’s mind. “TJ is safe as long as he stays with the other men. It’s you I’m worried about. And Sally.”

  “Sally!” Alvira gasped anew. She began to run toward the front door.

  Percy grasped Alvira’s elbow as she flew past and stopped her. “You can’t go out there,” Percy said firmly.

  “But Sally!” Alvira protested.

  “We’ll find her. She’s at Lacey’s for her lessons, isn’t she?”

  Alvira nodded mutely.

  “Lacey won’t let anything happen to her.”

  Outside, drunk and full of rage, Bert Richards kicked violently at the tumbled lumber, sending several planks clattering down the street. “I know she’s here somewhere!” he shouted. “Bring me my woman!”

  Motioning to Alvira to stay in the center of the large room, Percy moved stealthily toward a window on the front wall. If she ever wished there were curtains, it was now. She pressed herself against the wall and peered out into the street for her first glimpse of Bert Richards. He was about fifty, with gray-streaked brown hair that grew well beyond his collar and matched a beard that had never been trimmed. In one hand was a bottle, and he gulped greedily from it. When he had drained it, he smashed it to the ground.

  “Woman!” he yelled.

  Just then Travis and Josh emerged from the lumber office and, with confident strides, approached Bert. He took an angry swing, which Josh ducked.

  Secretly relieved to see Josh but also anxious for him, Percy turned back to Alvira. She was determined that the frightened woman would not see her own fear. “Travis and Josh are out there. Let them try to talk to him. This is our chance to go out the back and go get Sally.”

  Alvira needed no further prompting; together they hurried across the dining room, through the kitchen, and out the back. Then they ran and in less than a minute, they arrived at Lacey’s home and pushed open the back door.

  Startled, Lacey looked up from the kitchen table where she was bent over a book with Sally.

  “Your daddy’s here,” Alvira blurted out to her daughter.

  Sally burst into tears.

  Lacey pushed her chair back and jumped up. “Don’t worry! We’ll hide you!”

  “Where?” Alvira asked weakly, bending to put her arms around the sobbing Sally. “He’ll find us here sooner or later.”

  “But you won’t be here. I sent the boys over to Abby’s this morning so I could work with Sally. There’s nothing to keep us from leaving right now.” She slammed her textbook shut and took off her apron.

  “Where are we going?” Sally asked, wiping her face with the back of one hand.

  “To my father’s. Bert won’t find you there.”

  “What about our things?” Alvira asked.

  “We can’t worry about that now. We just have to get you out.”

  “I want to take my books,” Sally said, having regained her composure. “I want to keep studying.”

  Percy looked at the thin girl with the big eyes. Three weeks of tutoring had changed her countenance. Fear had momentarily overtaken her, but Percy could still see the striking difference that lessons with Lacey had made. Sally’s face exuded determination and perseverance.

  Lacey nodded. “Yes, take your books. If you need anything else, I’ll bring it to you later.”

  “Shouldn’t we get horses?” Percy asked, imagining the long miles to the lighthouse.

  “There’s no time,” Lacey responded. “We can’t risk being seen.”

  She was right, of course.

  “How long we gonna be there?” Alvira asked.

  “As long as you need to be.”

  “With your pa? Alone?”

  Percy saw the panic of scandal in Alvira’s eyes. “Alvira, you have to keep yourself safe. You’ll be safe with Mr. Wells.”

  “You won’t be alone, Mama,” Sally said. “I’ll be there, and Miss Lacey’s brother is there.”

  Alvira still looked uncertain.

  “We have to get out of here,” Lacey insisted. “I don’t know how long Josh and Travis can hold him off. You must stay with my father and brother until we can manage something more suitable.”

  Mutely, Alvira nodded.

  And they were out. They flew across the yard and found a trail. Years of trekking back and forth had taught Lacey every inch of the landscape. Now she guided the small entourage through the untrampled forest bed paralleling the main road but hidden from it.

  Percy stumbled along behind the others, not sure why she was going—Sally and Alvira were safely in Lacey’s care and there was little more Percy could do—but compelled nevertheless to go. Her feet tumbled along in an irregular rhythm. The group spoke little; all energy was focused on moving quickly and quietly through the forest, out of range of Bert Richards’s raucous shouting. At the same time as she hoped in her heart for Alvira’s safety, Percy hoped th
at it would not come at the expense of Josh or Travis. Had they been able to turn Bert away? Or had he harmed them and set off on a rampage through the woods?

  When she caught sight of the lighthouse, Percy slowed her step for just a moment. Its majestic white, red-trimmed tower rising above the lake was just as Josh had described it once, and it beckoned to her now, calling her to safety, just as it beckoned to the ships that faced treacherous winter waters. Perhaps it meant that the story of Alvira and TJ and Sally would end in a better way than the story of Percy and Ashley and Myra had. Perhaps they would find the solace and refuge that Percy and her sister and mother had not found.

  Long before they reached the house, the back door opened and Micah and Daniel Wells emerged and hurtled toward them. “What is it?” Daniel called when he was within shouting distance. “I can see that something is wrong.”

  “Papa, I need your help,” Lacey said breathlessly as she allowed her father to embrace her. “This is my friend, Alvira, and her daughter, Sally. They need a safe place to stay.”

  Daniel nodded. “Joshua mentioned them when he was here last week. What’s happened?”

  “Bert’s found the camp,” Lacey said. “How he managed to track them here, I can’t imagine, but he has. But he doesn’t know where the lighthouse is. Maybe he doesn’t remember that I came from here.”

  Micah relieved Sally of her burden of books. “If he shows up here, he’ll have to get past Papa and me. And that won’t be easy.”

  “I’m counting on that.”

  With tears in her eyes, Alvira looked at Daniel. “I’m a stranger and you’re taking me in. How can I ever make it right with you?”

  Daniel touched Alvira’s shoulder gently. “There’s no need to worry about that. Let’s just pray that you’re safe here.”

  Micah’s mind was already figuring. “I’ll move downstairs to Lacey’s old room, and Alvira and Sally can have the big room upstairs.”

  “Oh, I hate to put anyone out,” Alvira protested.

  “I don’t mind,” Micah assured her. “It will be fun to have company in the house.” He glanced sideways at Sally. “Especially someone near my own age.”