Mama’s skeptical stare caused Katherine to flinch. “Simply promise me you won’t elope with him.”
Katherine’s throat dried. “Really, Mama. You’re being ridiculous.”
“If you don’t promise, then I shall continue to worry. Andrew is unsuitable for you. He’s a gentleman, but to put it bluntly, he’s not of our social set. He’s been dependent upon Georgia and Clarence since his parents passed away. If it weren’t for the Clarkes’ generosity, you wouldn’t even know him. He was well brought up, but he has almost no money. What kind of life could you possibly have with him?” Mama’s face looked as red as her crimson roses.
A fine life, she thought. We might be poor, but we’d be happy.
She didn’t dare say it aloud to Mama, but in her heart, she knew it was true.
Katherine scoured the chalet in search of her father and finally found him shooting targets at the sighting range he’d set up for himself and his friends. Set by a small, empty field near the edge of the woods, Papa’s range boasted ten shooting positions. He stood beside Randy’s father, Clarence Clarke. Papa was peering intently through his sight one hundred yards away from his target.
Katherine halted by her father’s side. “Papa, I’m sorry to interrupt, but may I have a word with you?”
He nodded. “What can I do for you, sweetheart?” He placed his rifle on the bench rest with the barrel pointing downrange.
“It’s private.” They moved away from the shooters to an area where they couldn’t possibly overhear. The crack of gunfire shattered the quiet.
When they stopped near a clump of evergreens, Papa cocked his head. “What’s wrong, Katherine? You look pale.”
“I just spoke to Mama about Randy. She practically ordered me to turn my affection toward him. She fears I’ll revert to my old, impulsive self and run off with Andrew. Can you imagine?”
When Papa hesitated, Katherine felt the knot in her heart twist like a rope. “You don’t agree with her, do you?”
Papa shifted his bulk from one booted foot to the other. He scrunched his face as if he didn’t know how to answer without offending her. When he sighed, Katherine swallowed hard and steeled herself for a response she didn’t wish to hear.
“Sometimes your mother exaggerates, and she’s often an alarmist. Yet I do believe this time she’s hit the mark. You may not have seen the look in Andrew’s eyes, but we have. Without a doubt he’s fallen in love with you. And your mother won’t have it.”
“Have you questioned Andrew, or are you merely guessing?”
Papa shook his head. “I’d never be rude enough to ask him directly. He’s my employee, after all.”
Katherine nodded.
“But I have to agree with your mother. I suspect he’s always been half in love with you, whether he realized it or not.” Papa narrowed one eye and stared at her with such skepticism, she glanced toward the woods. “I can’t believe you haven’t noticed, princess. Surely you must be well aware of his interest.”
“I, uh . . . well, yes.” Heat burned through her and scorched her cheeks. “Have people been gossiping?” She dreaded his answer.
“You know how our set is. Some people delight in gossip.”
“Do you suppose Andrew and Randy have heard it?”
“Perhaps not, although I really can’t say. But you ought to carefully guard your reputation.”
“You don’t think I’ve been inviting idle talk, do you?”
Papa winced and rolled back on his heels. “I don’t know about such things. You’d have to ask your mother her opinion.” He glanced toward the gun sighting range with longing in his eyes. He stepped toward it as if he wanted to excuse himself and bolt.
But she wouldn’t allow him to go yet. “Papa, please tell Mama that if I marry, I don’t want her to choose my husband for me.”
Her father shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but I can’t put myself between you and your mother. You’ll have to work out your own disagreements.”
Katherine’s jaw dropped and tears blurred her vision. “But, Papa, you’ve always stood between Mama and me.” She stopped. No, she was mistaken. Papa always listened to her complaints and murmured his understanding, but he never once took her part against her mother. He was a mere sounding board, not an advocate.
Gazing down at her with deep regret, Papa gently touched her shoulder. “Your mama asked me to fire Andrew, not because he’s doing a poor job, but because of his fondness for you. In her mind, he’s interfering with her plans for your future with Randy.”
Katherine gasped and gripped his arm. “You wouldn’t dismiss him, would you?” She couldn’t believe her beloved father would do such a terrible injustice to a loyal employee.
“No, but that’s why I’m sending him to California, in all haste. It’ll be better for all of us if he’s gone for a while. While he’s an excellent worker and I admire him greatly, there are hundreds qualified to take his place.” He held up his hands to shush her retort. “You have to understand that I’d hate to lose him. I’d like to promote him, actually. But I’ve only got one wife and I intend to keep her happy. She’s irreplaceable. I’m sorry if I’m disappointing you, Katherine.”
Her breathing came in short gulps. “I was counting on you to help me with Mama.” She shook her head in disappointment. “Just promise me you won’t fire Andrew.”
He shook his head too. “I’m sorry. I can’t, princess. If he continues to pursue you, and if you encourage him in any way, I’ll have no option but to let him go. Believe me, I won’t want to, but I will do it.”
“So you’d send Andrew packing simply because I enjoy socializing with him? Doesn’t that seem a bit punitive?”
He studied her. “I shall not take any action if you keep your distance from Andrew and allow Randy to begin courting you now. You’ve put Randy off for too long. It’s not good for a man’s reputation.”
“His reputation. My reputation. Do you ever feel as if all we consider are our reputations? What about passion? Direction?
God’s path?”
He opened his mouth and then clamped it shut. “I’m sorry about all this, but now you have a firm understanding about where your mother and I stand. I trust you will tell Randy he may begin to court you.”
Mr. Clarke called out to Papa, and he glanced over his shoulder and then back to her. “Excuse me, Katherine. I must return to my shooting.” He tipped his cap and strode back to the range, leaving her behind.
Katherine’s legs weakened. She wrapped her arm around the thin white bark of the birch tree and struggled to regain her composure. What choice did she have except to follow Mama’s wishes? She couldn’t allow her stubborn ways to lead to Andrew’s dismissal. Lord, Lord, please help me see the path You’ve laid before me. Please.
She strained to hear even a whisper from the Lord, but she only heard the call of a loon, flying toward the lake.
Chapter Twenty
On the way out of the dining hall that evening, Andrew brushed by Katherine and slipped a tightly folded paper into her hand. Her pulse quickening, she eased it into the folds of her skirt, excused herself, and made her way to her cabin.
Safely inside, she unfolded the paper and read the note.
I’ve received important information from Marston Voyles. If you’re able, take your swim tomorrow morning to reach Pine Point by 7 a.m. I’ll be waiting.
With thoughts of her father’s subtle threats about firing Andrew alive in her mind, she shredded the note and tossed the strips into the wastebasket.
Early the next morning Katherine waited for Aunt Letty to leave for breakfast before she donned her bathing costume, a black wool dress with a white sailor collar, big bow, stockings, and slippers. She assumed Andrew would walk to their meeting place, and given that she liked to take morning swims, no one would think twice about her heading west along the shore—nor would they consider she might be meeting up with Andrew at the thickly wooded, secluded peninsula.
As she rolled up one of her black stockings, a large rip down the front caught her eye. Apparently Bridget had forgotten to mend it. Katherine pulled it off and searched through her bureau drawers for another pair. But she couldn’t find more thick black stockings of the type she wore for swimming.
The mantel clock struck six forty-five. If she was late, he might be gone by the time she arrived. He didn’t dare arrive later than eight for work, especially now with her parents on edge about his interest in her. Katherine huffed. She’d have to go barelegged and hope no one spotted her and reported back to Mama. No lady appeared without stockings in public, even garbed in a calf-length bathing dress and bloomers. She’d just have to chance it. She simply had to know what he’d heard from Marston Voyles. And truth be told, she was dying to see him. To verify a certain inkling in her heart . . .
She slipped out of her cabin and glanced around the yard, still deeply shaded and deserted. Rushing across the small patch of lawn to the beach, she glanced back and breathed easier when she didn’t see anyone. Without tarrying a moment longer, she hastened to the narrow strip of beach.
Without wind to ruffle the water, the lake shone like a sheet of blue tinted glass. All around its edge, forested hills and mountains rose, one behind the other, into the distance. Birds twittered in the branches of yellow birch trees that hugged the shore, and bushy-tailed squirrels skittered across the lawn and scrambled up tree trunks.
Gingerly she stepped across the coarse strip of sand and into the crystal clear water, immediately invigorated by its chill. She hugged her chest as goose bumps broke out on her arms. She waded out into the chilly water and dived in. When she’d rounded the corner, she spotted Andrew in the distance, swimming toward Pine Point, and she began treading water, wondering if this was a mistake. She’d been certain he’d walked . . . What if someone saw him head out, and then her following?
She looked back over her shoulder, remembering the vacant yard, the guests likely to still be slumbering for some time yet. With luck, no one had seen either of them. Committing, she settled into her breaststroke, enjoying the feel of the water and the exercise—in her opinion, the perfect way to begin any day.
Ten minutes later she reached the peninsula. When she spotted Andrew resting in the sun on a giant boulder by the foot-wide strip of sandy dirt, she waved. Invigorated but shivering, she waded toward shore.
He came forward, took her hand, and helped her over the rocks and protruding tree roots. His arms and legs, usually covered by his shirt and trousers, displayed strong muscles and pale blond hair lightly covering his tanned skin. He wore a bathing costume with fashionable navy blue and white stripes, which exposed more flesh than she usually saw on a man. Although standards at camp were more relaxed, Mama would never approve of this secret rendezvous. Not that she’d approve of any rendezvous at all with him, so what option did she have?
She leaned against the sun-warmed boulder and noticed his brows were furrowed. “I’m glad you could come, Katherine. I looked for a few moments to speak to you alone last night, but you were always surrounded by a crowd.”
She nodded. “I’m afraid I can’t stay long, so we must be quick. What did Marston say? I’ve been so worried I could hardly sleep last night.”
“He sent me a telegram late yesterday. He says Harriet is on her way to Raquette Lake. She might even be here already.”
Katherine lifted her hand to her chest and felt her heart racing.
He reached out and gently took her other hand. “You must be prepared to meet her—unless you’d like me to go in your place. I’d be glad to take care of all this for you.”
She clasped his hand. “Thank you. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately and trying to decide.”
“And?”
She sighed. “I want to meet her in person. I’m curious about what she’s like.” Katherine pictured her as a scarlet woman, a femme fatale.
“Are you certain she won’t upset you?” he asked, pressing her hand.
“No, I’m not at all sure. But I’m afraid if you went in my place, Papa would miss you. How would explain your absence?”
He shrugged off her concern. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. It’s you I’m worried about.”
She smiled, not a bit surprised he placed her welfare above his own. “I just want this meeting with Harriet to be over and done with.” Shuddering, she crossed her arms over the bodice of her wet bathing costume.
He pulled her toward him and wrapped her tightly in his embrace. She warmed in the comfort of his arms and nestled her head against the top of his damp swimming suit. Her mind spun, knowing that if they were caught, there’d be a steep price to pay. But her heart won out. He cares for me. He truly cares.
She forced herself to ease away, feeling their parting like a physical tear, and the tears came too fast to curb them. “Forgive me,” she said, wiping them away in embarrassment. “My whole world is crashing down on me at once, and you’re the only one who truly understands how I feel.”
“I’m glad you know that.” His eyes didn’t leave hers, and he smiled with more fondness than she’d ever seen in anyone’s gaze before. He wasn’t bothered by her messy, dripping hair half concealed by a ruffled cap, or the soggy frock, or even her bare legs.
Her bare legs. She fought the desire to turn and hide them. In the moment, she’d completely forgotten that she was without stockings. Her scar, bright red and thick as dress cording, stood out against the white of her legs. But he didn’t stare at her disfigurement.
Her tears stopped as suddenly as they had begun and she stared up at him in wonder. “Thank you for not caring,” she murmured.
“What are you talking about? I do care, Katherine, very much.” He looked puzzled.
“But not about my scar. You hardly noticed.” She pointed toward it, silently daring him to look. His gaze traveled right to it, but he didn’t flinch.
“Katherine, someday you’ll tell me about how you got that. But you need to know—you’re beautiful to me, every bit of you.”
“Thank you.” Tears blocked her throat again; she blinked them back. Her eyes lingered over his mouth and she yearned to press his lips against her own. She moved closer, but then her better judgment forced her to step away.
“I ought to go back before anyone catches us together.” Glancing toward camp, she glimpsed two tiny figures standing at the edge of the pier. From the height of the two she guessed they were Mama and Mrs. Clarke, though they were too far away to be certain.
Andrew’s gaze followed hers. “You’d best go now. I’ll wait until you lead them away.”
Katherine nodded. She tucked her hair into her mop cap and waded into the water. She took slow, easy strokes, but she arrived back at camp much too soon. Pasting on a smile, she trudged toward the beach and lifted her chin. But her heart still pounded with the powerful beat of what she’d nearly done.
“Hello, Mama, Mrs. Clarke.” Katherine picked up a towel she’d left lying on a rock, dried her arms from her elbows to her wrists, and then patted her face and blotted her hair. As she dried off, she waited for them to explain why they’d come looking for her when they knew she’d soon join them for breakfast.
When she looked up, Katherine noticed her mother’s jutting jaw and cool, appraising expression. Her eyes narrowed when she saw that Katherine had gone out without stockings. “We’d like a few words with you, dear,” Mama said with a sniff.
“I assumed so, given that you could hardly wait for me to even return from my morning constitution.”
Mrs. Clarke stretched up to her full height, towering over Mama. “Katherine, we’d like to encourage you to speak to Randy as soon as possible. You’ve delayed long enough that keeping company ‘over the summer’ only leaves several precious weeks. There really is no room for further delay. He’s counting on you.”
His pampered ego would take a dreadful beating, but Katherine felt sure if she rejected him, he’d regain his pride and optimism
soon enough. He never seemed to care about anything intensely enough to stay dispirited for long.
When Katherine didn’t reply quickly, Mama raised a warning brow. “What do you have to say for yourself, Katherine? You know the consequences of—”
“I spoke to Papa,” she interrupted, “and he told me what would happen to Andrew if I refused. That’s unconscionable, Mama.”
Her mother’s face flamed. “Be that as it may, you now understand the penalty for rebelling. And you’re getting off the subject.”
Katherine turned and walked up the hill, the women following behind her.
“We are only looking out for the happiness of our children,” Mrs. Clarke said in a more conciliatory tone. “I deeply believe that once you allow Randy access to your heart, you’ll see what a fine young man he is. He truly cares for you, my dear. And our Andrew . . . well, he will be fine. There is some other girl out there for him.”
Katherine supposed Randy did care for her, in his own way. But she feared his affection lacked real depth. But so did her own. What a terrible situation their parents had forced upon them. Her impulse to challenge Mama grew stronger by the second. But she couldn’t endanger Andrew’s position at the railroad.
She cleared her throat and looked skyward. “I’ll talk to Randy again. But I must speak to Andrew first. He deserves an explanation.”
Mama nodded. “If you must, I suppose it’s all right. But be brief. I’ll not have camp tongues wagging about you two flirting. It’s unseemly.”
“I won’t, Mama.” They’d reached her cabin and she turned to face them.
“I’m relieved you’ve finally come to your senses.” Mama managed a small smile and rubbed Katherine’s arm. “I’m sorry you don’t realize we’re only encouraging you to make the right decision. Getting to know Randy in a more serious way will certainly bring you the most happiness.”
A Path Toward Love Page 21
