Her eyes widened, and for a moment he lost his thoughts. She seemed unable to speak while he assessed her. She was dressed in a simple cotton dress of blue with her hair pinned atop her head. He thought she’d never been more beautiful.
“When did you arrive?” she finally managed to say.
“Just today. I wanted to clean up before I came looking for you.” He grinned and swept his arm down his body. “What do you think?”
She smiled. “You look very . . . nice. Very different.”
He decided to get right to the point. “I was hoping we could talk. It’s important. Might we go somewhere more private?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but instead Alex heard a man calling her name. The tall, blond-headed stranger looked vaguely familiar as he approached.
He didn’t even acknowledge Alex. “Grace, I asked the reverend about marrying us at the end of November, and he said he would.”
Alex felt the wind go out of him. He saw Grace grimace. “This is Nigel Grierson,” she said to Alex. “I don’t know if you remember him or not, but he was at the mission for a short time.”
Alex nodded. “I thought you looked familiar.”
“Nigel, this is Alex Armistead.”
Nigel extended his hand, but the look on his face was suspicious. “I’m Grace’s fiancé.”
Grace lowered her face and again shifted her basket. Alex could see she was uncomfortable and hated that he was the cause of it. Uncertain what he could do, Alex forced a smile and tipped his hat.
“Congratulations.” He forced the words out. “I’m glad to see you doing so well, Grace.”
He turned and walked away, although it took every ounce of determination he had. She was going to marry Grierson, and Alex had no right to interfere with her happiness. Even at the cost of his own.
Chapter
25
Days after her encounter with Alex, Grace was still trying to figure out what had happened. Why had he come back, and why did he want to talk to her? He’d said it was important and yet walked away without another word. She’d thought he might try to come to her later that day, but when he didn’t, she began to search for him. She went to the City Hotel and learned that he had already checked out. None of the other merchants had seen anything of him since that day.
Nigel had been unhappy at Alex’s arrival and made no attempt to hide his feelings. He told Grace it wasn’t appropriate that a woman engaged to marry one man should be traipsing all over town looking for another. Grace felt sorry for Nigel. She had a feeling he knew full well that she was in love with Alex.
“I have to find him.”
“Did you say something?” Mercy asked, looking up from the bowl she’d been stirring.
“Nothing important.” Grace pulled off her apron. “I think I’m going to change my clothes.”
“Do you want me to keep making cookies?”
“Yes. That would be good.” She left the kitchen, intending to head upstairs, but stopped when the front door opened.
“I’ve found something I think belongs to you—to us,” Uncle Edward said, coming into the house with a large carpetbag under one arm. He stepped aside, and Hope entered.
Grace couldn’t contain her joy or surprise. “I can hardly believe you’re here. Just look at you!” Grace hugged Hope close, then stepped back. “You look somehow changed and yet the same.”
Hope shrugged. “I suppose I am exactly that.”
Mercy came running. “Hope! I’ve missed you so much, but now you’re back and you’ll be here for the wedding!”
“Wedding?” Hope looked at Grace.
Uncle Edward laughed and deposited Hope’s bag on the floor. “Yes, indeed. Your sister is gettin’ hitched.”
“Uncle Edward is marrying also, but I don’t believe they’ve set a date.”
“Grace is marrying Mr. Grierson at the end of the month.” Mercy frowned. “He’s coming for supper tonight.”
Hope’s expression turned to one of disgust. “Nigel Grierson? You can’t stand him.”
Grace shrugged. “I find him better company than I did on the trail. Besides, that’s not important just now. Tell me how you’re doing. How did . . . well . . . how did everything go?” She hadn’t told Mercy about the pregnancy and wasn’t at all sure Hope would want her to know.
“Mr. and Mrs. Browning have a beautiful baby girl they’ve named Faith.”
“Oh, that’s a pretty name. I like that,” Mercy declared. “No wonder you went to help. I didn’t know they were going to have a baby. Beth said her mama is going to have a baby next year. I think it’s so wonderful. I can’t wait until I can be a mama.”
“I hope that isn’t true,” Hope replied.
Mercy looked at her oddly. “What do you mean?”
“You said you can’t wait, but I hope you will. You need to grow up first and then wait until you find a good man to marry.”
“Both of you are certain to have your share of beaus. The town is full of single men,” Uncle Edward said, shaking his head. “I suppose we’ll have our hands full.”
“Hopefully not for a long time,” Grace countered.
Uncle Edward shrugged and smiled. “Well, my lovely nieces, I must bid you farewell and get myself back to town. I have a meeting with Dr. McLoughlin. He’s feedin’ me tonight, so don’t wait supper for me.” He headed for the door and turned. “It’s good to have you girls all together again.”
Grace agreed as Uncle Edward disappeared. Things hadn’t seemed right without Hope. “I’m so glad you’re back with us.”
She studied Hope again. Her prettiness had developed into a more refined beauty. She seemed to have aged considerably during her absence. Gone was the flirtatious girl, and in her place had come a woman.
Hope nodded. “I’m glad to be here, but not so glad to hear you’re marrying Nigel. Why are you doing that? I know you don’t love him, and after the Right Reverend Martindale, I thought you’d given up the idea of loveless marriages.”
Grace cringed. She couldn’t very well lie. “It’s a long story, and I don’t have time for it now. Nigel is on his way to take me to see the house he’s building us. It’s big enough for all of us.”
Hope shook her head. “Why can’t we stay here?”
“Uncle Edward is getting married,” Mercy said, looking displeased. “That means we can’t stay here.”
Grace felt Hope’s look of disapproval before she saw it. She hurried to speak before Hope could voice her thoughts. “Don’t say anything to him. We don’t want him to worry about us. Uncle Edward is marrying a lovely widow with three little boys. I think they will be very happy together.”
“I don’t remember much about Uncle Edward,” Hope replied. “I didn’t know him when he came to me in town.”
“I wish you had told us you were coming. We could have all been there to greet you.”
Hope shrugged and ran her hand along the back of the wooden rocking chair. “I didn’t want any fuss. When I arrived and explained who I was, someone pointed me out to Uncle Edward. I wasn’t at all sure of him, but when he laughed, it reminded me of Mama.”
“He has some wonderful stories of when he and Mama were young. I’m certain you’ll enjoy them,” Grace said. “Now, we’re all three upstairs. Uncle Edward fashioned two more small beds, and they fit quite nicely. I’m sure they’ll be perfect to accommodate his family after he marries.” She grimaced and turned away. She hadn’t wanted to turn the conversation back to the reason she was marrying Nigel. “Are you hungry? I can fix you something to eat.”
“Hello!”
It was Nigel, with his customary call from the open doorway. Grace grimaced. There was no time to change her dress. She hurriedly gathered her sunbonnet and crossed the room to greet him.
“Nigel, look who’s returned. You remember Hope, don’t you?”
He smiled and gave a nod. “I do. I’m glad you made it back safely, Miss Hope. I suppose Grace has told you that we’re to be married.”<
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Grace looked at Hope and prayed she’d not say anything untoward. The last thing she wanted was further comments about their upcoming wedding.
“She did mention it,” Hope replied.
“Good.” Nigel seemed pleased. “I’m taking her to see our new house. It’s not far from town, and I think you’re all going to like it.”
Hope said nothing more, and Grace was grateful. “I won’t be gone long. Mercy, don’t forget you promised to finish baking those cookies.” She dared a glance at Hope and saw the disapproval in her expression. “Hope, feel free to get settled in upstairs. If you need anything, just ask Mercy.”
Alex wandered around Fort Vancouver, uncertain what he should do next. He’d left Oregon City like a man fleeing the law—barely remembering to collect his things from the hotel before riding out. He’d never been one to run away from a fight, but the news that Grace was engaged made him desperate to distance himself. The miles between them, however, had done nothing to ease his misery. He hadn’t slept much since learning that Grace was to marry another. If only he could have talked to her first.
Once he’d calmed down and had a chance to think about it, he felt certain that she didn’t love Nigel. No doubt she was marrying him out of necessity, and the more Alex thought about that being the reason, the more determined he was to return and stop her.
“Alex,” one of the fort workers called, crossing the commons. “I have a letter for you.”
His heart skipped a beat. Could it really be true?
The man approached, waving the missive. “It must have come a couple weeks ago, because I found it at the bottom of the mail pouch just as I was getting ready to fill it with letters to send out.”
Alex took the letter and saw it was from his sister. He whispered a silent prayer of thanks. No matter what she’d written, at least she had been willing to write.
“Thank you.” He made his way back to his room and opened the letter.
Alex had never made the trip to Oregon City faster than he made it that Friday. He could scarcely think straight since reading Adelina’s letter. It was more than he could have hoped for, and now he could go to Grace and offer her his hand. He knew Grierson would be livid, but he didn’t care. He loved Grace, and she needed to know it. Everything else could be sorted out another time.
He arrived at Edward Marsh’s house and couldn’t keep a silly smile from his face. Grace would be surprised to see him, but even more dumbfounded to hear him propose they marry. He dismounted and tied off his horse.
“Well, old boy,” he said, patting the horse’s neck, “this is it.” He stepped up to the front door to knock.
When the door opened, Alex took off his hat to greet Grace’s sister. “Good day, Hope.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I suppose you’ve come to talk to Grace.”
“I have.”
“Better late than never.” Her tone seemed reprimanding.
“What do you mean?”
“Grace is out with Nigel Grierson. He keeps taking her out to see the house he’s building—for her.” Her tone was full of disgust. “You do know he plans to marry her at the end of the month, don’t you?”
“I do. I met up with her briefly last week. I heard Mr. Grierson say something to that effect.”
“Then you’re a fool.”
Alex frowned. “Why?”
“Because she loves you, but you’re going to let another man, whom she doesn’t love, steal her away.”
“Oh, am I?” He laughed, finally understanding Hope’s hostile nature. “I don’t think you have that right.”
Her expression softened as she cocked her head to one side. “Really?”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” He glanced around. “Point me in the direction of this new house.”
Grace listened to Nigel as he proclaimed all the wonderful details of the house he and his brother Winston were building. She had to admit it was large—more than enough space for all of them. Just beyond the house stood a small cabin that she knew Nigel shared with his elder brother Winston while his brother Lionel was off with the militia.
“The windows won’t arrive until next year, but we’ll manage,” Nigel told her with a smile.
Grace couldn’t work up the same level of enthusiasm. “It looks very nice.”
She couldn’t stop thinking about Alex and felt certain Nigel knew this. There was no sense in pretending otherwise. She had considered backing out of their engagement at least a dozen times since she’d seen Alex but so far hadn’t been able to muster the courage. Not that Nigel would listen to her. His confidence knew no limits when it came to the certainty he could win her.
“It won’t be many years until this area is filled with people. I know this spot may seem far from town, but it’s only a few miles. Once the city starts to build up even more . . . well, this will probably seem far too close for comfort.”
Grace nodded. She couldn’t help remembering Hope’s plea that she rethink her plans. “It’s very nice, Nigel, but I need to get back. I have a great deal of work to do. With the weather changing more every day, I need to collect some tree bark.”
“I don’t mind helping.” He smiled, and his blue eyes seemed to twinkle. “I love being with you.”
Grace sighed. “Be that as it may, I need to concentrate on what I’m doing, and you would be a distraction.”
“A good distraction, though, right?” He chuckled.
She said nothing as she walked back to her horse and took up the reins.
“Wait, I’ll help you mount.”
“I’m not going to ride. It’s hard to collect bark on horseback.”
His expression turned sheepish. “Of course. I wasn’t thinking.”
Grace nodded and tugged the horse forward. She should say something in parting, but nothing came to mind. What she really wanted to say, she hadn’t been able to find the right moment for.
But I must. I cannot deceive him anymore. I cannot marry him.
She heard Nigel bid her good-bye. Grace gave a little wave without looking back. There was no easy solution—no easy answer. She loved Alex, but Nigel knew that. She wanted to spend her life with Alex, but that didn’t seem possible.
“And it isn’t possible to make a living on my own that would support Hope and Mercy, much less myself.”
She had tried to speak to Uncle Edward a few days earlier, but he was so distracted that Grace gave up trying to figure out his plans. He just kept saying how happy he was for her to marry. It seemed that the matter was settled.
Grace continued to walk, the gelding plodding along in step. She wove her way through the trees, looking for just the right samples. Her mind, however, was on the present circumstance.
If I break the engagement and refuse to marry Nigel, how will I take care of Hope and Mercy? Dr. McLoughlin might have some ideas. He’d been so kind to them since their arrival. Perhaps she could sell the sheep and return with her sisters to St. Louis. But there was no more there for them than there was here. In fact, there was less.
“Grace.”
She looked up and found Alex standing only about ten feet away. She chided herself for not paying better attention to her surroundings.
“Alex.” It took all her strength not to run to him.
He crossed the distance between them in a few long strides and took hold of her arms. “You can’t marry Grierson.”
She found it difficult to breathe at his nearness. Hadn’t she prayed for this moment? Now he was here, and Grace wanted nothing more than to be in his arms.
“Did you hear me?”
Grace nodded. “I did, but I don’t understand.”
Alex’s lips curled ever so slightly. “You can’t marry Grierson. What’s hard to understand?”
“Why can’t I?” She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his dark eyes.
“Because you don’t love him.”
The mist in her mind refused to clear. “How do you know that?” She shook her head.
“How can you know?”
“Because you love me.”
Chapter
26
And I love you,” Alex said after a very long pause.
Grace felt her mouth go dry. “But . . . you said . . .”
“I said a lot of stupid things, but I had my reasons. Grace, you must understand that I love you as I’ve never loved anyone else. I’ve known that for a while now, but my past held me back from saying it.”
“Your past?” Her heart raced and she bit her lower lip to keep from blurting out additional questions.
He let go of her arms. “I was ashamed of my past.”
Grace listened as he detailed all that had happened ten years ago in New Orleans. It was clear why he’d felt himself in bondage.
“Oh, Alex. I’m so sorry. What a terrible burden to bear alone.”
“It was, but it was my own doing. I know that now. I should never have run away from my problems. I should never have run away from you.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “I wanted to tell you how much I loved you, but without having the past resolved, I knew I couldn’t. I never intended to let myself fall in love, but with you, it just happened before I knew it.” He chuckled and reached out to touch her cheek. “You’ve been all I could think about.”
Tears came unbidden and Grace reached up to wipe them away, but Alex beat her to it.
“Don’t cry. I’ve come back because the past is no longer a problem. When I came to you last week, I wanted to ask you to wait for me. I figured I’d have to go back to New Orleans and settle my affairs. I’d written to my sister earlier this year but had heard nothing. But when I returned to Fort Vancouver last week, I was given a letter from her.”
“What did it say?”
He cupped her cheek. “Adelina told me how happy they were to finally hear from me. After ten years, they had thought me dead. She said there were no charges against me. Justice’s father knew what his sons had done. Marshall, the one who burned down my parents’ house, was forced to admit his guilt and went to prison, and their father said he wanted no more trouble. He demanded his other sons put the matter to rest and do nothing to further harm my family. Adelina said there have been no issues between the families for years.” He grinned. “So you see, I’m finally free.”
Treasured Grace Page 26
