Morning's Refrain

by Tracie Peterson

  “I was just the one to clean it up—this time.” She felt tongue-tied, at a loss for words as she stared up into his face.

  “I’m glad to hear it. It seems like every time we’re together something or someone gets hurt.” The people directly around them chuckled, and Phoebe felt her face grow hot.

  “Now, don’t be picking on this poor girl,” Zee said, returning to Phoebe’s side. “She has been our right hand these last few weeks.”

  Dalton raised a brow. “Is that so? I suppose by now you’ve heard all my secrets—dreadful stories of my youth and mistakes I’ve made along the way.”

  Phoebe shook her head. “No. Your mother told me wonderful stories.”

  “I did indeed,” Lydia announced. “And all of them were true.”

  Soon others pressed in, demanding Dalton’s attention, and Phoebe went to find her flute, as Lydia’s orchestra was to play several songs of welcome.

  As the musicians awaited the arrival of the governor and his family, Yuri found Phoebe and without hesitation said, “I hope you’re going to give me another chance to court you.” His wide smile was confident.

  Phoebe looked at him for a moment and realized that while she found him sweet and very kind, he did not stir her heart the way Dalton did. “I’m sorry,” she said with a small shake of her head. “I don’t think I can.”

  Yuri frowned. “Are you still mad at me?”

  She wasn’t sure, but she thought she smelled liquor on his breath. “You know I’m not. I forgave you and told you so,” Phoebe replied. “It’s just that I don’t feel that way about you, Yuri. You are a good man, but …” Her throat seemed to dry up and words wouldn’t come.

  “But you want Dalton,” he said in a tone somewhere between resignation and disgust.

  She glanced up and nodded ever so slightly. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t bother.” He stalked off just as Lydia and Kjell returned with the others.

  “Let’s take our places,” Lydia directed.

  Phoebe could barely concentrate on the music. She knew she risked making the entire group sound bad, however, so she willed herself to focus. When it came time for her to play a solo, she was taut with fear that her mind would wander, but she managed to make it through without a single error.

  The governor spoke a few words after the orchestra concluded, but Phoebe was certain she had seen Dalton and Yuri slip outside. She longed to know what was being said between the two. Were they laughing at the memory of their little contest? Were they arguing over her? Yuri seemed upset after talking to her—what if his anger had caused them to come to blows? Suddenly Phoebe felt rather ill. She wanted to leave the party and go home.

  What if I’ve truly made a mess of things? She couldn’t help but feel that Yuri’s anger would not bode well for his friendship with Dalton. Slipping from the room, Phoebe paused in the kitchen to figure out what to do. Maybe she should go and talk to them—try to help them understand her feelings. On the other hand, maybe she should just leave.

  “But I can’t just walk home. It’s much too dangerous,” she muttered. She would simply have to wait until her parents were ready to leave. If that meant embarrassment and humiliation, she would have to handle it.

  “Can we talk a minute?”

  Dalton stood only a foot or so away, and Phoebe turned, her eyes widening at the nearness of him. When had he come back inside? Had he overheard her comment? She forced a nod but couldn’t form any words.

  “I very much enjoyed your solo,” he began. “I have always loved the music my mother and father make together, but I think I told you that once before. Anyway, the real reason I wanted to talk to you was to ask if you would be willing to see me tomorrow. I’d like to tell you about why I went away and what happened.”

  Phoebe nodded, feeling rather overwhelmed by Dalton’s presence and the way her heart accelerated when she was with him.

  He smiled. “Good. I’ll come to your house around ten, if that’s all right. Maybe if the weather is nice you’ll walk with me?”

  “Yes,” she managed to say before someone claimed his attention.

  Her mind whirled about one question: Was this the start of their courtship?

  Dalton was glad to see the last of the guests head home. He was weary from traveling and craved only his own bed. Excusing himself, Dalton made his way to his room. He was pleased to see that a fire had been laid in and started. No doubt his mother or Zee had seen to it. The room was warm and welcoming. The covers on the bed had been turned down, and a pitcher of water awaited him by the fire.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off first one boot and then the other. He found himself thinking about how beautiful Phoebe Robbins had looked that evening. Her smile was so infectious he couldn’t help but grin just thinking about it.

  Yuri, however, had been a disappointment. He had cornered Dalton and all but dragged him to the porch to announce that Phoebe knew all about their contest. He further added that she had been none too happy about it. Dalton found the words troubling but figured he could take up the matter with Phoebe tomorrow. A light knock interrupted his thoughts. No doubt his mother had come to check up on him.

  “Come in.” He smiled when he saw that he was right.

  “I wondered if you needed anything,” his mother asked.

  “No. I’m fine. You already thought of everything. I’m just glad to be home.”

  “I missed you more than I can say.” She came to sit beside him on the bed. “I tried not to worry, but I’m not very good at doing so.”

  “There was no need. I quickly saw for myself what everyone had warned me about,” Dalton admitted. “My Gray siblings are selfish, manipulative people. Marston is just as you said—an evil man with self-serving ambitions and notions.”

  Lydia frowned. “Still, I hope you found the answers you were seeking.”

  “I found the truth,” Dalton replied. “It wasn’t exactly as I’d hoped, but at least I know for myself. I am grateful for the fact that God interceded to make me nothing like my brothers. I credit you, of course, but also Father. He’s been the best man possible to raise me. I’m glad I’m nothing like my family in Kansas City.”

  Lydia patted his hand. “Kjell is a good man. He’s loved you since he first knew about you.” She smiled. “You have been a blessing to both of us, and we’re glad to have you home.”

  “But, Mother, I still feel like I’m struggling to know myself. All of this has caused me to question what I really want out of life.”

  “In what way?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I don’t really know that I can explain it, but I’ll try.” He was silent for a moment, then continued. “I can say that it reaffirmed my choice to be a Christian. Seeing what life is like for folks who don’t value God or His Word—I know that kind of life is not for me. Same for valuing family. Those people don’t have a clue about the strength and joy that can be had in loving each other and holding fast to the bond that connects one person to the other.”

  His mother squeezed his arm. “I’m blessed to hear you say such things.”

  He looked at her with a smile. “I will say I was surprised to learn the extent of my inheritance. I have plans that I hope you’ll approve of.”

  “And what are those?” his mother asked.

  “I’d like to hire Father to help me build my own business and house. I’d like to build boats, just as I have been doing. Maybe even make an arrangement with Mr. Belikov to expand his business and combine our efforts.”

  “I think that would be wonderful, but you know you needn’t move away. This will always be your home.”

  “I know, but my wife might have something to say about living with her in-laws.” He grinned at his mother’s startled expression.

  “Wife?”

  “Well, I don’t have one yet, but I have one in mind.”

  “Phoebe?” she asked softly.

  Dalton nodded. “She was all I could think about. I know it sounds
out of line, but—”

  His mother held up her hand. “Say no more. I believe you will find Phoebe quite open to the notion.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  His mother got to her feet. “I wouldn’t want to betray confidences. But let’s just say she spent the time you were away trying very hard not to ask or think about you. She failed miserably, if I’m any judge of the matter.”

  Dalton laughed. “Good. I’m seeing her tomorrow, and we shall discuss how we tried not to think about each other these last few months.”

  His mother paused at the door. “I like Phoebe very much, Dalton. I think she’s a wonderful young lady.”

  “I have prayed a great deal about this, Mother, just so you know.”

  She gave a chuckle. “So have I, Dalton. So have I. I have a peace about the entire matter.”

  “That’s good to hear,” he said, thankful to hear that his mother agreed with his thoughts. He had worried that his family would think him strange for falling in love with a woman he hardly knew.

  “Just trust God’s guidance in the matter, son. Take it at His pacing.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  Chapter 18

  So you see,” Dalton explained to Mr. Belikov the next morning, “I have the capital to either buy into this business, if you are of a mind to sell me a portion, or set up my own shop.”

  “That is remarkable news,” Mr. Belikov said, rubbing his chin. “My wife and I have been discussing the possibility of leaving Sitka in the spring. This could be the answer we’ve been looking for. If you bought, say, half of the business and I gave Yuri the other half, you could be partners, and we would have the money needed for our trip to Russia.”

  Dalton nodded. “I’m not in a hurry. We can take this slowly and figure out what works best. I would, of course, want you to talk it over with Yuri. If he didn’t like the idea, I wouldn’t want you to impose it on him.”

  “Bah, you and Yuri are like two sides of the same coin. You’ve been friends for so long, it’s hard to know where one ends and the other begins.”

  Dalton considered his employer’s words for a moment. “There is a girl between us now,” he admitted. “The woman I intend to marry.”

  “You what?” Yuri questioned from the door.

  There was no way for Dalton to know how long he’d been listening to the conversation. Yuri stormed into the room.

  “You haven’t even been here this summer, and you’re imagining you can just up and propose?” His blue eyes flashed with anger.

  “What kind of man are you?”

  Mr. Belikov intervened. “Yuri, sit down and talk this out like friends. This is uncalled for.”

  “You don’t understand,” Yuri told his father. “I’ve spent the summer trying to court Phoebe Robbins. She and I were getting along pretty well, if I do say so.”

  “Until you opened your mouth and told her about our contest,” Dalton threw in.

  “What is this contest he speaks of?” Yuri’s father questioned.

  Yuri shrugged. “It wasn’t important. We both found Phoebe to be attractive. We spoke of which one of us could win her over first.”

  “You wagered on this?”

  “No,” Dalton said. “We both knew that wouldn’t be acceptable. Still, Yuri upset her by telling her we had talked about it like a game.”

  “Matters of the heart are never to be played in such a way,”

  Mr. Belikov said.

  “I agree. That’s why I’m not playing a game anymore.” Dalton got to his feet. “As far as I’m concerned, the contest is long over.

  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to finish before I leave. You can let me know about that other matter when you’ve had a chance to discuss it with Yuri.”

  Dalton left, even as Yuri asked his father what that was all about. In time, he hoped Yuri would calm down and let go of his anger. Yuri had always had a quick temper, but usually he was good to let the matter drop once he reconsidered the situation. Dalton prayed this time would be no different.

  He finished uncrating the things he’d purchased in Seattle and gave them a good inspection to make certain nothing had been damaged. Everything looked as it should, with the exception of one lamp fixture that had a broken chimney.

  Satisfied, Dalton made his way from the building and headed for Phoebe’s house. Yuri’s demanding tone let him know he was still in discussion with his father, so Dalton hadn’t bothered to say good-bye. He hoped that by the time he came to work the following morning, Yuri would have forgotten about Phoebe in the wake of possibly co-owning his own business.

  Phoebe paced at the window, looking for some sign of Dalton. She was about to give up her vigil when she spied him strolling up to the house. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. Her heart skipped a beat. She longed to run out the door and throw herself into his arms.

  “Goodness, but wouldn’t that be shocking,” she mused.

  She ran to the hall and made a quick assessment of her appearance in the mirror. Frowning, she wondered if she should have pinned her hair up instead of simply pulling it back in a casual braid.

  “Will he think I don’t care about my appearance?” She glanced down at the dark brown wool skirt. It was the same one she had chosen for her picnic with Yuri. Maybe that wasn’t such a wise choice. Would it somehow taint her time with Dalton?

  “Stop being so silly,” she chided.

  Dalton’s knock put an end to her appraisal, and she opened the door to find Dalton waiting with a smile. “Hello.” She suddenly felt very shy. “Let me get my coat.” She grabbed the matching suit jacket and was rather surprised when Dalton reached out to take it.

  “Allow me.” He helped her into the coat, then offered her his arm as she turned. “Shall we?”

  Phoebe nodded. She was almost afraid to speak. Dalton didn’t seem to notice, however. He quickly picked up the conversation.

  “I have so much I want to tell you,” he began. “First of all, I’m sorry that I didn’t have a chance to say good-bye before I went south. It was such a quick decision.” He frowned for a moment as he looked at her. “It wasn’t entirely a pleasant matter. We got word about my sister’s husband being sick.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I suppose I didn’t realize Evie’s husband was still alive, what with her living up here.”

  “He died before we arrived in Kansas City. It’s a long story, but it’s enough to say Evie’s marriage was never one of love. She only came here to bring me back to my mother.” He shook his head.

  “I’m getting ahead of myself.”

  They walked away from the center of town and beyond the place where all of the fishing boats were docked. Phoebe could see that Dalton was struggling with what he wanted to share with her.

  “There is quite a scandal in my family background. I think it’s important for you to know about it.”

  Phoebe looked up to find him watching her closely. She couldn’t help but smile. “You aren’t the only one, you know.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “With a family scandal.” She had been forced to maintain silence about the subject for so long that she immediately felt guilty for the comment. “But please continue.”

  Dalton nodded. He explained about his mother’s tragic marriage and his birth. As he continued and gave her the details of what had happened the night he was kidnapped by his brother’s hirelings, Phoebe was more than a little intrigued. This was far more exciting than her family history.

  Leading her to a rock, Dalton suggested they sit for a time. “I felt I had to go to Kansas City with my sister because I needed to know about my family there. I learned a great deal, but not all of it was good.”

  “I’m sorry, Dalton,” Phoebe said. “It must have been very hard on you.”

  He stared deep into her eyes. “It might have completely devastated me had I not had something—well, someone—else on my mind, as well.”

  “What are you ta
lking about now?”

  Dalton gave a light laugh. “I was thinking about you.”

  Phoebe looked away quickly. She had longed to hear him say as much, but now that he had, she was rather embarrassed.

  “I know we haven’t spent much time together, but you were often present in my thoughts. I started praying about you.”

  “Hoping God would get me out of your mind,” she teased, still not looking at him.

  “Hardly.” He reached out and lifted her face. “Phoebe—”

  “So you’re just going to haul off and ask her to marry you?” Yuri interrupted. “I can’t believe you are so bold as to approach my father and try to steal my inheritance, and now this.”

  Phoebe startled at the comment. Was Dalton really going to ask her to marry him? Dalton moved away from her to intercept Yuri. The two men halted within inches of each other.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” Dalton asked.

  “You tell me. You offered my father money to steal what should only belong to me.”

  “I did no such thing. I discussed the possibility of buying into the business—to be a partner with you and your father. He told me of his plans to leave in the spring for Russia and said my timing was perfect. The money I could provide would allow him to move and would make you and me partners.”

  “I don’t want to be your partner—you are a cheat. You went behind my back to dangle your newfound wealth under my father’s nose. You wanted to rob me of what is rightfully mine.”

  Dalton shook his head. “You aren’t even making sense, Yuri. I wanted to work with you, not against you. We’re friends, Yuri.”

  “Not anymore.” Yuri threw a punch that took Dalton completely by surprise.

  Phoebe gasped as Dalton fell backward and landed on the ground by her feet. Yuri started to walk away, then returned and hauled Dalton back to his feet and pushed him away from Phoebe.

  “I suppose you’re telling Phoebe all about your money, as well.

  Well, I may not have money, but I like her, too, and you knew that. You talk about being friends, but then you do this.” He walked up to Dalton and pushed him backward again. “You can’t go around buying everything or everyone.”