by Barbara Goss
She had amnesia, and he’d treated her terribly. Miles claims she would have come back to him if she hadn’t fallen, and gotten amnesia. Would she have returned and assured him that her proposal was real? The thought of her lying alone, unconscious in a field, made his heart ache.
The sad look in her eyes continued to haunt him. Yet, he’d promised himself not to fall for any more emotional tricks. He knew sensitivity was one of his biggest weaknesses. Had she only returned to get more money? Those thoughts kept tickling his sensitivity.
He tried to keep busy with work and his workshop, so that he didn’t have time to mull over his weakness, or to see the hurt on Julia’s face in his mind.
On his way to Pete’s for a dinner he didn’t have to warm up, he ran into Miles Croft. After greetings were exchanged, Miles asked Caleb to have dinner with him at Pete’s.
“Sure, that’s where I was headed.” Caleb said. “It beats warming up what my housekeeper leaves me.”
When they were seated at Pete’s and had given the waiter their orders, Caleb asked Miles. “So what’s on your mind?”
“I want to ask Violet to marry me,” he said.
“And—you need my permission?” Caleb grinned.
“No, advice,” he said. “How do you go about asking a woman to marry you?”
“I’ve only done it once, Miles, and never got a definite answer, so I’m no expert.”
“Do you kiss her before or after you ask her?” Miles asked.
“Both if you’re lucky,” Caleb said with a grin.
“What bothers me is that she’s due to get her teaching certificate soon, and if she gets a job away from Abilene—what would I do? Has she ever expressed a desire to just be a wife?”
“No.” Caleb said. “But a proposal might be enough to keep her here.”
Their dinners were placed before them and they both ate hardily.
“You know that Julia finally regained her memory, don’t you?” Miles asked.
“No!” Caleb almost choked on his chicken. That comment had taken him by surprise. “I haven’t talked to you or Violet in a while.”
“Yes, she had a flash of memory during church of you kissing her by a river,” Miles said. “She asked me to take her to the river after church. She saw a large boulder and sat on it. She claims it all came back to her.”
Caleb dropped his fork and rubbed temples. “Our first kiss was there,” he said slowly and sadly drawing out each word. A stabbing pain pierced his chest where his heart was located.
Oblivious to Caleb’s pain, Miles continued. “She now has a job at the Ace Hotel, as a maid and claims she’ll pay you back every penny if it takes her the rest of her life.” Miles laughed. “At ten cents an hour, if she lives to be a hundred, she might make it.”
Caleb had resumed eating but didn’t taste a thing. Julia worked—just to repay him—at ten cents an hour, unbelievable. It seemed to him like a sincere gesture, but he didn’t trust himself to believe her motive. Here he was sitting on more money than he could ever spend, while Julia broke her back trying to pay him back. He pushed his plate away. He’d lost his appetite.
When the waiter brought the check, Caleb grabbed it before Miles could.
“I wanted this to be my treat,” Miles said.
“Not a chance,” Caleb said. He paid the bill and left a generous tip.
“Thank you,” Miles said.
“Save your money for your wedding. Oh. And don’t forget to ask her father first.”
Miles grimaced. “He knows the story about my sister and Caleb—do I really have to?”
“I’m afraid so,” Caleb said.
“I bought the ring for Violet, I just need to get up the nerve to ask her. I’m afraid if I ask too soon, she’ll refuse, and that will set my courage back to zero. But, if she is waiting for me to ask, and I don’t—she may think I don’t care enough for her.”
“You know what I think?” Caleb asked. “We both think too much.”
Chapter 14
It was a rainy Friday, and Miles had taken a half day off and invited Violet to lunch. Billy had gotten a job as a ranch hand on a local farm, and Julia was working at the hotel. He knew it wouldn’t be proper, so he hired a maid for the lunch. Caleb had assured him that Ingrid Smith would be there and even cook the lunch. Ingrid Smith was Zoe’s nanny, but now that Zoe was in school, she had more free time.
Ingrid arrived on time with a pot of chicken and dumplings. She set the table while Miles put on his best shirt, and slicked down his hair.
Violet arrived, shook her umbrella outside of the front door, and then slipped inside. She greeted Ingrid, whom she knew well from visiting Jonas and Ivy.
Miles escorted Violet to the dining room table.
“My!” Violet exclaimed. “The table looks terrific.”
Miles smiled. “I hope you like chicken and dumplings, it’s a favorite of mine.”
“I love chicken and dumplings. This is just what I needed today to cheer me up. I always feel sad on rainy days.”
“Some people love rainy days, but I’m with you. They are very dismal, indeed.” Miles squeezed her hand. “I’m so glad we could do this today.”
Ingrid came in and set the chicken and dumplings down on the center of the table with a ladle stuck inside the bowl. “You can help yourself,” she said. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me,” she winked at Miles.
He’d told Ingrid his plans and she promised to stay in the kitchen unless called.
After they’d eaten, Miles came around to her chair and pulled it out. “Let’s take our tea in the sitting room,” he said.
“Lovely,” Violet said. She carried her cup and saucer into the sitting room and set it down near the end of the sofa on a table.
Miles sat beside her and set his cup down on the coffee table. “Well, here we are,” he said.
“Where’s Julia and Billy?” she asked.
“Working,” He answered.
“Really? You never said they had jobs.”
“You usually get upset when I mention Julia, so I try hard not to,” he said
“Oh. We’ll make an exception today, since I’m curious. Where does she work?”
“She’s a maid at the Ace Hotel, and Billy’s working at the Hodge’s Farm.”
“Oh,” she said.
“They plan to pay Caleb back all the money, but Julia’s getting ten cents an hour and Billy’s getting twelve cents an hour. So it may take about fifty years to see the debt paid.”
“I didn’t know, but I have to admit, that’s very noble of them.”
“She also regained her memory completely.” Caleb went on to tell her the whole story of Julia’s memory returning at the river and why.
“How romantic,” Violet said with a sigh.
“Do you like romantic things?” he asked.
“I do. I love anything romantic.”
“How’s this for romantic?” Miles slipped down on his knees before her and said, “I love you more than any words can say. I don’t want to ever live another day without you. I want to wake up to you each morning, and end my day with you by my side. When I look into my heart, I see only you. If you look into your heart and see only me—will you agree to spend the rest of your life with me?”
Violet’s surprise showed clearly on her face. She hesitated so long that Miles began to worry. His heart sounded like an old clock, it beat so hard and fast. He looked at her and raised his eyebrows.
Violet held her breath. She hadn’t expected this, or even thought about having to respond to a proposal. She didn’t know how to answer. The look on his face was so pathetic. How could she turn him down? She quickly analyzed her feelings. She loved him, and trusted him. He’d done nothing but prove his loyalty and devotion to her. His company always made her happy, and she couldn’t imagine life without him. She supposed that was her answer.
“Yes,” she said clearly. “I will. I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone but you.�
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He let out the breath he’d been holding and smiled. He stood to dig her ring from his pocket. She stood also, and held out her hand. Poised to put the ring on her finger, he said, “With this ring I pledge to you my undying love and devotion, and please don’t make me wait to long to be your husband, for I’m dying to make you mine completely.” He slipped the ring on her finger.
“Oh, Miles! Now that’s romantic. Will you always remain romantic? I love it.”
“If I ever stop being romantic, just remind me, okay?”
Violet held out her hand. The ring was gold with five small diamonds in a row. “It’s beautiful.”
“This isn’t all there is to becoming betrothed you know,” he said.
“What else is there?” she asked.
“This—” Miles crushed her to him and kissed her passionately. She returned his kiss with the same passion, and suddenly her knees weakened and she fell back onto the sofa pulling Miles with her. They stayed that way, side-by-side, unwilling to be the first to break the kiss. Finally, she gently pulled away from his lips, but not from his arms. She laid her head on his chest. “ I do love you, Miles.”
“I’m now the luckiest man in the world.” Miles pulled her up. “How long do we have to wait?”
“I’ll talk to my parents. They didn’t make Ivy wait long. I’m sure we can have a fall wedding.”
“I hope so,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Or else it will be a shotgun wedding.” He dove in for another passionate kiss.
“Hmm,” she purred. “I think we’ll push that date up a bit.”
“I finally got up the nerve to ask your father for your hand. He didn’t smile at first, and I worried that he’d hold the whole incident with Julia, against me. I was afraid he’d remember it was I who pointed Julia to Caleb. Yet, he’d finally smiled and gave his blessing.”
“Of course he would. I’ve been telling him all about how sorry you are, and how you are doing everything to gain back my trust. My father teaches forgiveness and mercy, he surely wouldn’t withhold that from anyone.”
Caleb had done even more thinking. His job of transferring numbers all day, gave him plenty of time for thought.
He remembered Julia’s reaction to his limp. What had she said? “It feels like there is something I should remember, and it warms me, and fills me with anxiety simultaneously.” So when she saw a person limp she felt anxious and warmed… it’s the warmed part that made him think. Warm—cozy, maybe comfortable. That wasn’t the same as love, though. Her plan had been to definitely return to Abilene, but maybe not to him. How would he ever know that?
It bothered him that she cleaned up after people, scrubbing floors, and who knows what else in order to repay him. Heck, he didn’t need the money for which she worked so hard. He decided that should be the first thing he’d stop.
He looked up, and as if his thoughts had produced her, she walked into the store.
“Good morning, Mr. Armstrong,” she said.
Her words were so cold Caleb nearly shivered. He supposed he’d done the same to her last time.
“It’s a lovely morning, Miss Croft,” he said in a cheerful tone. “How can I help you?”
She handed him an envelope. “My first installment on repaying the loan.”
Caleb took the envelope but kept his eyes on her. She looked at him with recognition in her eyes this time. She looked lovely, dressed in a sheer pink summer dress, with her strawberry blonde hair pulled back with a ribbon that matched the dress. She carried a parasol that she’d closed when she walked in.
He offered the envelope back. “I don’t need the money. You and Billy keep it. I have more than I know what to do with.”
“I insist!” she said firmly. “It’s not just for you, it’s for me. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t repay you.” She refused to take the envelope back. “I did a terrible thing, I’m also trying to teach Billy a lesson. We will both put half our pay in an envelope for you each week.”
Caleb hesitated, deep in thought. “Would you consider quitting your job, and working for me to repay the loan?”
“What kind of job would that be?” she asked. Her face showed she thought he was joking.
Caleb had to think fast. “My housekeeper up and quit on me. You can be my housekeeper.”
“That doesn’t sound appropriate, Mr. Armstrong.”
“Elsie, my previous housekeeper, reported for work each morning about the same time that I leave for work in the morning. By the time I return home, she’s either gone, or on her way out the door.”
“What would I have to do?” her face showed more hope than before.
“My laundry, cleaning, and cooking my dinner. The pay is fifty cents an hour,” he said.
Her mouth appeared to drop in surprise. “I’ll take it.”
Caleb nodded. “There are several ways we can handle your pay. Either you take no pay until the debt is paid in full, or I will pay you twenty-five cents an hour, and put the other twenty-five an hour onto your account.”
“What about Billy’s contribution?”
“Billy is a kid yet. I wouldn’t blame him for getting mixed up with the wrong people. But if you insist, then put whatever he gives you away, and give it to him when he really needs it.”
“I’ll take ten cents an hour, you put forty toward my loan. Miles doesn’t charge me board, so I need just a small amount of pocket money,” she said. “When do I start?”
“Give the hotel your notice tomorrow and you can start the day after,” he said.
She smiled at him then, and his heart pounded louder than the saws in the mill.
“I‘ve never been to your house, could you give me directions?”
“Miles knows how to get there,” he said.
“Very good, then. I shall see you about eight on the day after tomorrow?” she asked.
“Perfect, but sometimes I leave earlier, so I’ll show you where I hide the key on your first day—I’ll also show you around the place.”
“See you then, Mr. Armstrong.” She walked to the door.
“Good day, Miss Croft,” he said as she slipped out of the store. Caleb hoped and prayed he hadn’t made a mistake in offering her the job. She’d still be cleaning, but not for strangers, and if his plan worked, not for long.
Now, what would he do with Elsie? She’ll be out a job. He’d keep paying her. Why not? Eventually, she’d get her job back if all went well. He’d need the help of a few of his family and friends, but his plan was the only way he’d know, without a doubt, that he could trust Julia’s feelings, as well as his own.
He sincerely believed Julia was sorry, and that she still had feelings for him. He could sense it by the look in her eyes and her facial expressions. He was suddenly filled with elation, because he knew it wouldn’t be long before he had his Julia back in his arms again.
Miles usually walked to work, so he gave Julia the use of the buggy to go back and forth to her new job. As she pulled onto the dirt path that led to Caleb’s house from the main road, she was surprised. It was a lovely red brick, one-story home, with a large red barn to the left of it. There were no other houses in sight, just fields and trees. Several large shade trees encircled the home on three sides, leaving the front open. The front door had an inviting arch over it. She parked her buggy, alighted, and walked to the front door.
Caleb must have been watching for her because the door swung open before she reached it. He held it wide. “Come right in.”
She entered into a sitting room, with a sofa, end tables, coffee table, and two armchairs. The room was neat and clean. She knew housekeeping for one man would be easy.
“After today, you can use the side door around to the left. That leads directly to the kitchen. That will give me a warning in case I haven’t left for the day yet. I’ll show you where I hide the key,” he said, opening the front door again. He led her around to the side door that faced the barn. “We generally use this door.” He pointed to the flowerb
ed. “See the rocks that trim the bed? One of them has a red drop of paint on it.” He pointed to the rock, and lifted it. Beneath it was a key. He replaced it.
“If, when you arrive the door is not locked, that means I’m still home. Elsie usually then starts washing my dishes from the night before.” He showed her into the kitchen.
Julia looked around. The kitchen was large, and more modern than Miles’ kitchen. It had an indoor pump over the sink for water. His stove was newer, and he had a wooden table and chairs that were painted a shiny white. She thought the kitchen warm and bright. It would be a delight to work here.
He showed her where the firewood was kept, how to prime the pump for water, and how to light the stove. As he turned from the stove his arms brushed her shoulder. Goose bumps appeared on her arms from his touch.
The house had three bedrooms, two were empty, and one was his.
He led her to his bedroom. “You’ll make my bed in the morning, and here is the basket where I throw my dirty clothes. Other than dusting, that’s all for this room. Next I’ll show you the laundry room.”
“Laundry room?” she asked. “I won’t have to scrub the clothes outside?”
“No, never.”
The room was small but it had a sink and another pump. She saw a washboard in the sink and soap on the shelf above. There was a worktable, and a rack in the corner for hanging clothes on a rainy or cold day. The rack stood near to a small fireplace, the back of which was the sitting room’s fireplace. The house was perfect.
“One more thing, I need to show you the root cellar where we keep most of the food,” he said, leading out of the side door. He headed for the back of the house. As they walked she noticed a neat vegetable garden. Between two large trees she saw a large mound of packed dirt with a door in the center. He opened the door and beckoned her to follow him.
