He couldn’t understand what it was about her that drew him. But something did. Olina filled his thoughts as Anna never had. He couldn’t remember thinking about Anna so much while he was working. He had a hard time concentrating on making the rows straight while his thoughts were in captivity to Olina.
What was he going to do? He knew that everyone, including Anna and his family, expected him to ask Anna to marry him. He wasn’t sure he could do that now. How could he hurt her that way? Anna had meant a lot to him for a long time. But did he love her enough to marry her? That was a question he would have to answer soon. When he tried to bring her image to mind, Olina’s face sometimes took its place. A lot of good his thoughts of Olina were. She didn’t trust him, and he didn’t know if she ever would. How could he have said those things to her in New York? What had he been thinking?
Gustaf didn’t know what he was going to do. He knew that what he already felt for Olina was a major impediment to his stagnant relationship with Anna.
Gustaf worked even harder trying to clear the thoughts from his mind, but they wouldn’t leave. He was glad when he finished the last row of the field. After unhitching the plow, he drove the horses into the barn before removing their harness. While he rubbed them down, he decided to go to the creek to take a swim before supper.
Because his mind was on other things, he didn’t notice that the prairie grass, on the way to the grove of trees, was trampled down. It never entered his mind that someone had beaten him to the quiet haven.
As Gustaf walked the path through the underbrush, he pulled down his suspenders. Then he stripped off the sweat-soaked shirt and threw it onto a bush near the end of the path. He had started unbuttoning his trousers when he emerged from the woods and first heard the soft murmur of feminine voices. Startled, he froze just as Olina turned her eyes toward the rustle he made coming through the brush.
Shock registered on her face as her gaze swept from his unbuttoned waistband across his naked chest to his face. Blood rushed to color her cheeks, and she swiftly looked away.
Gustaf’s first inclination was to cover up, but his shirt was nowhere near him. So he dove into the deep swimming hole formed by a small cove on the creek. He didn’t even take time to remove his work boots. He was thankful that the creek wasn’t over his head there because his heavy boots pulled his feet to the bottom, and he stood chest high in the water.
“Gustaf, what are you doing here?” Gerda started gathering up the scattered papers and putting them in her bucket. “We didn’t know you were coming for a swim.”
“I didn’t know you were here, either.” Gustaf pushed his wet hair back over his head.
“Is that why you went in swimming with your boots on?” Gerda covered her mouth to hide a giggle.
Gustaf looked down into the clear water. “Well, so I have. No wonder I’m having trouble swimming.” He burst out laughing. The sound reverberated from the rocks and trees that surrounded them.
Gustaf noticed that Olina was laughing, too. A high musical sound. It was wonderful to hear. Before they had left Sweden, she had been a happy, fun-loving girl. He had often heard her laugh peal across the fields as she and Lars, or she and Gerda, were playing. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed the sound of it until it wafted across the water to him. Maybe his being all wet was a good thing if it could start her laughing again.
Gerda and Olina both pulled their feet from the water and picked up their shoes and stockings. After looping their buckets over their arms, they started back toward the path.
“We’ll let you swim in peace.” Gerda smiled at her brother before following Olina through the opening in the bushes.
As they walked away, Gustaf could hear them giggling as if they were little girls. He was sure they were discussing him, but that was all right. Olina was laughing again.
❧
The day after they washed the clothes, Mrs. Nilsson wanted to wash all the sheets and towels. Olina was glad to help her. While the water was heating, she went upstairs and started taking all the sheets off the beds. She made a pile in the hall at the top of the stairs. When she finished in the last bedroom, she spread out one of the sheets and placed the others on it. After pulling the corners together, she tied them in a soft knot and picked them up to carry downstairs. It was hard to see around the large bundle, and her mind was on her problem.
When Olina had gone down about half of the steep stairs, her foot slipped, and she was unable to regain her balance. Her elbow struck one of the stairs, and a pain shot up and down that arm. She shut her eyes and groaned as she hit another step.
Something stopped her descent, and a concerned voice sounded near her ear. “Olina, are you all right?”
Olina opened her eyes and stared up into Gustaf’s face, which was very near hers. “I think so.”
She lost her precarious hold on the bundle, and it fell to the bottom of the stairs. Gustaf eased himself down on the step beside Olina. He reached up and wiped a tear that had made its way down her cheek.
“You’re crying. Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
Olina rubbed the elbow and couldn’t keep from wincing. It did hurt. “I hit my elbow on the stairs.”
Gustaf carefully assisted her to stand. “Is that all that hurts?”
“I think so.”
“Can you walk?”
Olina nodded.
Gustaf helped her the rest of the way down the stairs. He took her into the kitchen and pulled out a chair. “Sit here. Let me look at your elbow.”
His touch was gentle as his fingers probed the area. “I think your arm is swelling.”
He went to the sink and dipped a towel into cool water. When he came back, he made a pad with the wet cloth and tied another around it to keep it on her arm.
Olina watched all these ministrations with interest. This man was different from the man who met her in New York City. She would have never thought that Gustaf could be so caring, especially to her.
“Thank you.” Olina started to get up.
His hand on her shoulder kept her in the chair. “You need to sit here and let the cool water ease your pain.”
“But your moder is waiting for me to bring her the sheets to wash.”
Gustaf glanced to the bundle that lay in a heap in the hall between the kitchen and the parlor. “I’ll take them to her. She would want you to take care of yourself.”
Olina watched in amazement as Gustaf hefted the bundle onto his shoulder as if it were as light as a feather and carried it out the back door. Maybe she should rethink her opinion of him.
❧
Gustaf wasn’t sure why he went into the house at that moment, but when he saw Olina’s foot slip, his heart jumped into his throat. He rushed to stop her from tumbling all the way to the bottom of the stairs. She would have hurt more than her elbow if that had happened. Something deep inside him reached out to her. It wasn’t just her beauty that called to him.
Olina had faced her terrible dilemma with more strength than most men would have had in the same circumstances. He admired the way she fit right into the family, sharing the workload with Mor and Gerda. Of course, she was kind of quiet when the family was all together, but he was sure she had a lot to think about. It would be awhile before she had an answer from her father. Gustaf hoped that when it came, Olina’s troubles would be over. But something within him didn’t want her to leave Minnesota.
❧
After supper, the family went into the parlor. Mrs. Nilsson picked up her knitting, and Mr. Nilsson read to the family from the newspaper he had picked up in town. Gerda and Olina sat on the sofa. Gustaf sat on the floor beside it.
“How is your arm, Olina?” he asked when his father stopped reading out loud.
She looked down at his upturned face. “It’s much better.”
“I’m glad.”
Mr. Nilsson folded up the newspaper and laid it on the table beside his chair. “What happened to Olina?” He sounded compassionate.
; “She was helping me,” Mrs. Nilsson told him, “and she fell on the stairs.”
“But Gustaf stopped me from going all the way down.” She turned back to Gustaf. “I didn’t thank you, did I?”
This was the first time Olina really took part in the conversation. She felt more comfortable and a part of the family.
The next day, Olina was helping Mrs. Nilsson once again. Several times during the day, Gustaf came by wherever she was and spent a few minutes talking to her. Soon this became a daily habit. The friendship continued to develop, but Olina wanted to be careful. Of course, it was just a friendship. Gustaf was spoken for, wasn’t he?
Seven
Olina had been in Minnesota for three weeks. The Nilsson family planned a party to introduce her to the neighbors. Olina dreaded that celebration. She didn’t know how she could face all the people when they found out that she had come to America to marry Lars. Maybe if she had a headache or stomachache or something, she wouldn’t have to go. Everyone else could enjoy the gathering whether she was there or not. Then she found out that the doctor was coming. If she pretended to be sick, Mrs. Nilsson would have him look at her. He would surely know that nothing was wrong with her.
Things had gotten better since the day she and Gerda had the picnic. Maybe she could make it through the party. If things got tough, she could remember how Gustaf looked when he jumped into the water, the way the cool stream had darkened his white blond hair to a honey color. But that memory also recalled his broad muscular chest liberally sprinkled with blond hairs. With that picture came feelings that Olina didn’t understand, a tightness deep within her that she had never felt before. It made her feel breathless. She had to remind herself that she didn’t trust men. Besides, Gustaf was promised to Anna, wasn’t he?
At least the party would bring one good thing. She would finally get to see this Anna. What would she look like? She wondered if Anna was prettier than she was. What did it matter? She didn’t mean anything special to Gustaf, and he wasn’t special to her. Was he?
❧
The schoolhouse looked festive when Olina and Gerda walked in. Whenever there was a party, the whole farming community helped. Chains made from colored paper draped around the rafters, and lanterns hung on hooks all around the walls. The young women were drawn toward long tables made from lumber laid across sawhorses and covered with tablecloths in various colors. Holding down the cloths were fancy dishes containing all kinds of goodies. Everyone must have brought their most cherished glass plates and bowls. Cakes and pastries took up half of one table.
Olina loved pastry, especially munk. The fried pieces of slightly sweet dough were especially good when they were rolled in sugar as soon as they came from the kettle. She could even see that one plate held äppelmunk, tasty doughnuts filled with apples and cinnamon before they were fried. She couldn’t identify all of the kinds of cake, but she did see gräddbakelse. This cream cake was a favorite of hers. Olina knew she would have to be careful not to eat too much or she would look just as she had when she first went to live with Tant Olga.
Every one of the neighbor women had fixed several of their best recipes for the party. Olina decided that a large crowd must be coming to eat that much food.
“How many people will be here tonight?” she asked Gerda as they hung their shawls on two of the empty hooks on the wall near the door.
Turning around, Gerda looked across the group that already filled the room. “Everyone is here.” Then she looked again. “But I don’t see Anna. The Jensons are late as usual. I think Anna likes to make an entrance.”
The two friends walked over to the table where Mrs. Nilsson was pouring apple cider into a variety of cups. “Here, Olina.” Gerda handed her a cup before she took one for herself. “Mrs. Swenson, Merta’s mother-in-law, makes the best cider.”
Just as Olina reached for the proffered beverage, a large family came through the door accompanied by a lot of noise.
“There are the Jensons.” Gerda took a slow sip of cider. “The one with the dark hair is Anna.”
Olina was surprised. Anna Jenson was pretty enough, with bright eyes and a smiling face, but she stood tall and sturdy. Olina could tell by looking at her that she was a hard worker and strong. Her upswept hair braided and looped into a figure-eight bun low on the back of her head. Her laugh, though infectious, was a little too loud.
Olina looked around for Gustaf. She was surprised that he hadn’t gone to greet his intended. If Olina were promised to someone, she would want him by her side at a party, especially one given to introduce a new girl to the community. Now why was she thinking about that? It didn’t matter to her what kind of relationship Anna and Gustaf had, did it?
The night was a great success. Olina enjoyed meeting the neighbors, and they welcomed her with open arms. Some of the neighbors had emigrated from the same area where she had lived in Sweden. She renewed acquaintances with them. After inquiring about her family, they moved on to asking her how she liked Minnesota. No one wondered why she came, so she soon relaxed and enjoyed herself, pushing to the back of her mind and heart the fact that she was still hurting. She needed to get on with her life. Maybe soon her visit would be over, after her reply from her father arrived.
❧
When Anna and her family came in the door, Gustaf started to go to her, but his attention was drawn to Olina, where she stood by Gerda, drinking cider. He couldn’t keep from comparing the two women.
Anna was familiar and comfortable. Olina caused something inside Gustaf to tug his heart. The last week or so, their friendship had grown, and he liked that. But would a man who intended to marry one woman develop such a strong friendship with another? Of course not. He knew he couldn’t pursue the feelings Olina caused until he talked to Anna. He would wait until the end of the evening and ask if he could drive her home. Gustaf didn’t want her hurt at the party, and what he needed to say to her would be upsetting. He knew that if he loved her as a husband should love his wife, he wouldn’t be so interested in Olina. Anna deserved more than that from the man she would marry.
❧
During the evening, Gerda or her mother made sure Olina met everyone in attendance. When the dancing started, accompanied by a fiddle and an accordion, playing some American music and some Scandinavian music, Olina was never without a partner. All the young men, and even some of the older men, asked her to dance. All the men except Gustaf.
That Gustaf didn’t dance with her shouldn’t have mattered, but it did. Why did he stay so far away from her? Olina watched him covertly all through the evening. He didn’t dance with Anna any more often than he did with the other young women. Maybe Gerda was wrong. Maybe there wasn’t an understanding between them. And what difference did that make to her? Nothing. Not any difference at all.
However, several hours later while the women were gathering up their nearly empty dishes, Olina noticed Gustaf talking earnestly with Anna. Anna stood smiling up at him. Although Anna was a tall woman, he was several inches taller. After a moment, they walked together to the hooks along the back wall. Gustaf took a long blue cape off one hook and draped it around Anna’s shoulders. Then they left together.
A dull ache started in Olina’s heart. Trying to hide it, she helped Mrs. Nilsson gather up all the things they had brought.
“Where is a broom?” Olina asked as she put the last tablecloth in the basket. “I’ll sweep the floor. Most everyone is gone.”
“Oh no, you won’t.” Gerda took the basket from her hands and started out the door to take it to the wagon. “You were the guest of honor. You won’t be cleaning up,” she called back over her shoulder.
“It’s all right.” Mrs. Nilsson was standing beside Olina now. “Tomorrow Gerda and Merta will come and clean up the schoolhouse. No one wants to stay tonight, and they already planned to do it that way.”
Olina allowed herself to be led out of the warm building into the cold of a spring midnight in Minnesota. Stars twinkled in the clear inky sky above. Shi
vering, she pulled her woolen shawl tighter around her and threw the loose end across her shoulder. She had done a good job of not thinking about Lars, but for a moment, she couldn’t stop thinking how good it would feel to have his arms around her to help keep out the cold. She imagined glancing up into his gray eyes, but instead the eyes she saw in her mind were glittering, icy blue.
❧
Anna smiled up at Gustaf. “I missed you while you were on your trip to New York. I’ve been surprised that you haven’t come over since you returned. You’ve been back three weeks, haven’t you?”
Gustaf’s nod was accompanied by a grunt of assent.
“I suppose you’ve been busy catching up with the things that didn’t get done while you were gone.”
“That’s right.” Gustaf steered her toward the door. “I’m glad you wore this cape. It’ll be warm on the ride home.” Gustaf was trying to change the subject, but this was not a good subject to change to.
“Well, you could keep me warm,” Anna purred in a voice unlike her usual clear one.
It was a good thing Gustaf was walking behind her. She couldn’t see him gritting his teeth. How was he going to do this without hurting her too much? Even though the cold air caressed them as they walked to the buggy, Gustaf was beginning to sweat. This night was going to end in disaster. It wouldn’t end well for him and not for Anna, either.
After helping Anna into the buggy, Gustaf walked around in front of the horses, giving them an encouraging pat as he passed. When he climbed up on the seat, he noticed that Anna was sitting closer to the middle than the side. Gustaf didn’t want to sit so close to her.
He didn’t want her upset the whole way home. It would take about half an hour to get to the Jenson farm. He would wait until they were within sight of the farmhouse to talk to her.
Other Brother Page 5
