Marilyn tucked the blankets even closer around her. "Here, then. Let's get some more hot tea down you."
Katie left to go back upstairs, saying a thankful prayer that the men in the house had decided to go back for the elderly ladies. She knew if they hadn't brought her in, Mrs. Billings wouldn't have made it until morning.
Father Michael was in his element. Katie watched as he greeted those who came in with his usual kind, jovial smile. She approached him in one of the quiet moments and put a hand on his arm. "Father Michael, you were born to do this, weren't you?"
His eyes twinkled down at her and he leaned against the outside wall near one of the windows. "Katie, I came to Strasburg as a young priest, quite sure I would be the kind of priest the people here needed. But I learned something, very quickly." He seemed deep in thought and was quiet for a moment, before continuing. "I've known these people for a long time now. I've learned so much from them since those first days of ministering, much more from them than they ever have from me. They've nurtured me, taught me, brought meals and looked after me when I was sick." He grinned. "And put up with me when I was learning. I think God has left me here this long so I could begin to repay them for all they've done for me."
Katie's eyes were misting as he continued.
"Now that I'm an old man, I've learned how to be gracious when my knees creak and how to be compassionate when someone is rude or curt to me. Because they almost always prove to have their own set of problems. And I might not become aware of them until much later."
Katie's glance moved to the pew she and Nick had been sitting in just the day before. "Like Miss Watson was to you yesterday in church when she disrupted Mass?"
He smiled. "And rude to you and Nick. Forgiveness is a hard thing to give when you believe a person has intended to hurt you. It's when you've been able to forgive in spite of them that you've made real progress."
Katie nodded. "I hope I can learn to do that," she whispered. "Father, would you like some more coffee? Or tea?"
He motioned to her to come toward the back of the church. "I would. But let me show you something. Don't feel as if you have to use it, but at least it will be available. You'll wear out your knees, too, if you keep running up and down the steps." He was teasing, and she laughed, following. It was on the left side of the pulpit, behind the organ.
"Captain Alley built the dumbwaiter for me just after the civil war ended, when my knees really began giving me trouble. He made it big enough so I can actually sit inside it and rigged it so I can pull myself up and down from the inside. But it's still hard, if I'm the only one here. Climb in, and I'll lower you."
Katie took a deep breath and climbed inside, waiting as he closed the door.
"Ready? I'll send you down."
"Thank you, Father." Katie hugged her knees to her chest as he began to lower her. It was cold between the two floors, and she found herself feeling claustrophobic before she made it to the bottom and her grandmother opened the door to let her out.
"Katie? What's wrong, sweets?"
She scrambled to her feet to get out. Her heart was pounding. "I think I'll send the coffee and tea up and down, but I prefer to take the stairs," she said, breathing deeply.
Checking on the ladies downstairs, she set the carafe into the lift.
"Here, sweets. I'll send it up, if you'll get it out upstairs."
"Yes, ma'am." She turned toward the stairway, stopping only to check on Mrs. Billings. Resting her hand on the little woman's forehead, she relaxed. It felt the way it should have, just warm enough. At the top of the steps, she went to the lift and opened it. Pouring his mug full, she found the priest, who stood looking out the window.
He motioned outside. "I see William and Zeke, bringing more cots this way. We'll be thankful for that, come nightfall. He left to open the door for them and led them to put the cots in the lift and send it back down.
"Where is Mrs. Gracie?" Katie wanted to know.
William stopped long enough to explain. "She's home. We decided to weather this one out. But we'll check on you all every day to see if there's anything you need."
The elderly couples were next. The upstairs began to fill with the husbands of the couples in their seventies and eighties, and Grandmother Thatcher kept teapots and carafes of hot coffee coming up for Katie to pass around.
Darkness was approaching, however, and she prayed that they would be able to get the older couples in quickly. Edward, the butler from the Andrews' house had come in and out several times, eagerly helping out and looking as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
Downstairs, she checked on Mrs. Billings once more, before going back up to deliver a fresh supply of coffee. The little woman seemed to be resting peacefully. Her lips were no longer blue, and there was a small bit of color showing in her face.
Upstairs, Father Michael was seeing to the needs of the men while Katie sent the dumbwaiter upward and raced up the stairs to open it. After passing the hot beverage out to several of the men, she looked up to see Nick watching her with a smile on his handsome face. She brought him a cup and grinned. "Coffee, Mr. Wellington?"
"I'd be delighted, Miss Adams. How are you holding up?"
Their hands touched as she handed him the mug, and she felt the familiar tingling sensation. "Very well. But you aren't. You look exhausted."
He chuckled. "It comes from not sleeping much last night, wondering if you would, yet again, refuse me."
"I didn't sleep, either. I've been terrible to you since you picked us up from school. I worried that you might be so upset with me that you wouldn't have me back."
"You need never worry about that." His smile down at her was gentle. "It's only keeping you in one piece that's worried me. I'm glad you're here right now, where I can keep an eye on you, and busy."
She glanced back toward the room. Coffee cups, along with blankets and pillows, had been strewn everywhere. "I suppose," she said softly. "I'd better start picking up. Would you like more coffee?"
"No. I'd better double check with Henson to make sure we've gotten everyone on the list. It would be dreadful to miss anyone." His hand reached out as he drew his knuckles down her cheek gently before disappearing outside.
Katie closed her eyes against the wind that blew harshly against her as the door opened and shut. How did the men stand it out there?
The door behind him opened, and Henson escorted in the Wilder sisters, one at a time.
"Welcome." Katie went to greet them. "Would you like to come downstairs? The ladies are cooking, and I think they have some stew ready."
"That sounds lovely, but Audra and I aren't used to having others wait on us. We can help out, if you'll allow it."
Katie smiled. "You could ask the ladies downstairs," she answered. "I'm sure there might be something you could do. This way, please?" She led them down the stairs, slightly worried that the shorter of the two might be more than the cot could hold, but when she got down to the bottom, Mrs. Andrews was waiting, so she let them handle where the ladies were to go.
Her grandmother was busy putting fresh carafes in the lift. "Sweets, I'll send these up, if you'll send the used mugs back down to wash. You might ask the men to hang on to their cups for us and re-use them."
Katie glanced backward over her shoulder as she started back up, wondering if she could get away with that. As she got to the top, she took the carafes out of the lift and stood there, with one in each hand.
"Umm, excuse me?"
The room silenced.
"My grandmother asked if it would be all right if…" She paused. Everyone was staring at her. "The coffee cups," she started again and stopped.
Grandfather Otho came to her rescue. "I believe what she's trying to say, gentlemen, is that you need to pick up after yourselves and keep up with your coffee cups. That way, the ladies downstairs won't have to keep washing them over and over."
A chuckle went through the crowd of elderly men. "That sounds like your wife, Otho."
&nbs
p; Katie watched as each of them wandered over to a coffee cup and picked it up. They really knew which one was theirs? She laughed.
But as she poured, she realized that Nick was still missing. So was Gleason. She stopped in front of Henson.
"Sir? Where's Gleason?"
"We sent him to the house to change out the horses and get them—and himself—warmed up." He crossed the sanctuary and looked out the side of the street that faced his house. "He really should have been here by now." He pulled his gloves on rapidly and ran out the front door.
Katie ran to the window, watching. He was slipping and sliding, trying to stay in the areas previously shoveled, but they'd been well-covered with snow. Her hand went to her mouth when she looked further down the street. In all the white, she could barely see two figures. One was helping the other forward, in the whirling snow, stumbling in the drifts.
Sheriff Andrews ran to meet them, getting on the other side. As she watched them grow closer, she ran toward the front of the church and threw the door open, holding it from the outside. The wind was cruel and fierce; she was surprised when the it caused the door to slam shut and launched her down the steps in front of the church.
"Katie!" Nick's voice, filled with alarm, answered her cry as she fell.
He left Henson holding onto Gleason and ran to her. Picking her up and holding her against him with one arm, he opened the door. Grandfather Otho and Father Michael met them just inside the door.
"Are you all right, sweetheart?"
"Yes, but, Nick, we need to get a cot ready for Gleason. He looks like he's—"
She didn't get to finish. Nick set her down with a, "Don't move!" as he dragged a cot up in front of the hearth and put on a blanket and quilt, managing to shove a pillow under Gleason's head just in time.
"Gleason!" Katie was immediately at his side. "What happened? Please tell me you're all right?"
"I fell," Gleason answered, although his eyes remained closed. "I had trouble getting back into the stables, and I couldn't walk far enough to get here. But I'm all right now."
Katie grabbed the nearest coffee mug, uncaring who it belonged to, and filled it with the hot liquid. "Here, sir. You need this to warm you."
He looked up at her, smiling. "That's just what I need." He struggled to rise, and Nick knelt down, helping him to lean upward far enough to drink his coffee.
"Ah." He nodded as he took the last sip. "Thank you, Miss Katie. I'll be fine now."
It was late that night, when Nick finally became satisfied that Gleason would be all right and wandered halfway down the stairs. He could see Katie sitting on her cot from the halfway point and sat down, clearing his throat.
She looked up, and a dazzling smile immediately lit her face. Looking around, she rose, glancing around the room to make sure she wasn't needed somewhere. Checking on Mrs. Billings, she was pleased to see that the woman was breathing deeply and felt warm to the touch. Then she moved toward the staircase and upward.
"How's my girl?" he said softly, patting the spot next to him, grinning when she turned and sat down.
"Good. You?"
He shook his head. "I had a terrible urge to see my sweetheart. There was a chance you might be awake, so I came down. Are you responsible for watch?"
"No. I just couldn't sleep. I'm worried about Gleason. He did so much hard work out there today. I mean, I know everyone did, but—"
"Yes, you're quite right, Katie. We all think of Gleason as invincible, but he's getting older, like so many of our loved ones in Strasburg. But I just checked on him. He seemed to be breathing well and he's sleeping soundly. I don't think you need worry. Tomorrow, we'll have to curb his activities a bit. He won't like it, but there it is."
She leaned against his shoulder, and he put an arm around her.
"Nick? What's going to happen tomorrow?"
He sighed. "It depends on whether or not the blizzard stops. I think the wind may have died down somewhat. I spoke with Sam Greene this afternoon at the General Store. He said he'd supply more blankets and pillows, if we needed them, and rope to go between more of the buildings. We'll see if we can get a few more supplies in. We could actually use a few more cots here. I'll need to check with Louisa at the dormitory and see if she thinks the girls need to be over here in the morning. If so, we'll have to go get them and send the men over there." He glanced down and met her eyes. It was obvious she hadn't considered Phebe might be coming over here. "Relax, sweetheart. I realize Miss Watson will come over with them, but I'll stay here to keep an eye on things. I won't let her bother you. If I have to, I'll put you on different floors to keep you apart." He pulled her toward him and kissed the top of her head.
"I guess I was hoping I'd never have to see her again," she murmured softly. "But if it can't be helped…"
"If I could manage that, I would. We do have to consider the ladies over there are probably all scared to death at the howling winds going on constantly."
She nodded. "I suppose so."
He hugged her. "And I wish there was a way to get word to your father and let him know you and Gleason are all right."
"You," she gulped. "Nick, you do think he made it home all right, don't you?"
"On horseback? Hunt's one of the fastest, and he doesn't rear at storms. I've no doubt he got your father home before the snow started, sweetheart. Don't worry. And I'm sure your father probably brought Kathleen to the house so she wouldn't be alone in this."
When Katie didn't reply, he looked down. Her eyes were closed, and her head rested against his shoulder. Knowing she was asleep, he held her a few moments longer before picking her up in his arms and taking her down the stairs to her cot. He covered her up and stood there, looking around. With the small windows above-ground covered in the deep snow, it seemed like a tomb down here. He checked the lanterns to make sure they were secure and had plenty of oil and stoked the fire in the hearth. Tomorrow, if the snow stopped, he decided he'd dig out around the windows so the ladies could at least get reflected sunlight in. That way, it wouldn't seem so claustrophobic.
Then, with one last glance toward Katie, he moved softly back up the stairs to check on things above.
A Temporary Reprieve
The sounds of people moving around the room and speaking in low voices awakened Katie, the next morning. She lay there a long time, listening, and feeling completely comfortable and relaxed before finally opening her eyes.
"Morning, sweets." Her grandmother was smiling at her. "A neighbor of Mrs. Martin's stopped by and brought us a huge amount of eggs. Would you like some? Everyone's already eaten. We let you sleep."
"Oh!" Katie threw back the covers, relieved that the room was warm. "Thank you, but I really should have been awake earlier."
"No, you shouldn't have, You're the one who ran up and down the stairs all day yesterday," Cinderella's voice spoke up. "The men in town have been up early shoveling a path to the dormitory, this morning. And those upstairs are preparing to move over. Nick and Henson have gone over to have the ladies get ready to come here. The men are quite happy. They'll get beds, most of them. And a bathroom. The girls will have to use cots when they get here, and they're complaining. Well, one of them is complaining. I won't tell you who it is."
Katie looked away. "I'll bet I can make a guess."
"Be nice, Kaitlynne." Her grandmother's voice brought her back to the present, and she looked up to see Grandmother Marilyn holding out a plate of toasted bread and eggs."
"Oh, my. I haven't had your eggs in way too long," Katie said.
"Enjoy, sweets. Tomorrow, we may have to have pancakes. The drifts are four feet high in some places. We may be here a while. We all left in such a hurry, yesterday, none of us have fresh gowns to change into. Edward brought us in a few buckets of snow this morning to melt and heat up for water to wash in. But the best news of all is that it stopped snowing early this morning."
Katie shouted with glee as many of the other ladies clapped. She ate breakfast quickly and made use
of the bath downstairs, and Betsy sent her up to meet the dumbwaiter upstairs to pass out the carafes of hot coffee and send the dirty dishes back down. She hurried upward, eager to see if she could see what was going on through the windows.
The men were seated on their cots and talking this morning, but their blankets were folded and their pillows lying on top. They looked ready to go.
A cheer went up as she appeared with more coffee, and she grinned. They began holding out their coffee cups as she moved from one to the other. Edward took one of the carafes from her and began helping.
"Thank you, sir," she said sweetly.
He smiled one of his rare smiles. "It's what I do best, Miss Katie. I feel like a fish out of water when I must sit and wait for others to serve me."
She smiled. "We could learn a lot from you, sir." Gathering up the breakfast dishes, she began putting them into the lift to send back down. She'd made her last trip when the door opened at the back of the sanctuary, and the ladies from the dormitory began piling in, carrying small bags of their belongings. The men followed with arms full of their bedding.
The first thing she heard was a familiar voice. "Thank you, Nicholas, you've been such a help this morning."
Katie closed her eyes, realizing Phebe Watson had made the comment aloud solely for her benefit. She felt someone brush by her as the voice said again, "You, tell me. Where do I put my things?"
Her mouth a straight line, Katie felt a big hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Nick.
His face was stern as he answered, "You know where the stairs are, Miss Watson."
Phebe glared at him but didn't move.
It didn't matter; Nick ignored her and tugged Katie toward the back.
"Katie, I apologize in advance for this. But listen to me. Whenever I'm not here, you're to stay near your grandmother and Mrs. Andrews. They'll make sure Miss Watson doesn't bother you too much. We'll put Louisa next to her. The second option is we can bring some of the ladies up here from downstairs and keep each of you on separate floors. I'll be staying here, along with Gleason and Father Michael. We'll put our cots in the office, but we can be nearby to keep the fire going and meet any heavier needs there are. Right now, I need to go outside and see if I can shovel away some of the snow from the basement windows. I really want you all to get some natural light down there. Will you be all right until I get back inside?"
Katie's Maverick (Strasburg: The New Generation Book 2) Page 14
