“The little girl was playing in the log boom,” Charlotte said to her husband. She turned to Elizabeth. “Bring her near the stove. We’ll hang her clothes up to dry.” She looked back at her husband. “Abram, will you run and get her one of the boys’ nightgowns?”
Abram left the kitchen as Elizabeth knelt before the large potbellied stove and set Rose on her feet. The little girl shook uncontrollably, but whether it was from cold or fear, Jude didn’t know. His own hands were still shaking from the whole ordeal.
Ben stood beside Jude and put his hand on Jude’s shoulder. “You look like you need a strong cup of coffee.”
“I could definitely use one right about now.”
Ben went to Charlotte’s cupboard and pulled out two mugs. He filled them from the large coffeepot sitting on the table and Jude took it gratefully.
Abram reentered the kitchen a short time later and handed the long nightgown to his wife. On his heels were the Cooper’s three sons, Robert, Martin and George. The oldest, Robert, was deaf. Compassion filled his eyes and he signed something to his father.
“She’ll be all right,” Abram said as he signed back. “But this is a good reminder not to play near the river.”
All three boys nodded as they looked at the little blond-haired moppet. The nightgown was huge on her, and Elizabeth had to roll up the sleeves for Rose’s hands to poke through.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said to Charlotte as she took Rose in her arms again.
“You’re most welcome. I’m Charlotte Cooper and this is my husband, Abram.”
“I’m pleased to meet you. My name is Elizabeth Bell and this is Rose.”
“Yes, I know.” She smiled at Ben. “Our friend here has told us all about you.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks filled with color and Ben’s eyes shone. “To be fair,” he said. “I also told them about your sisters, too.”
“These are the Coopers’ children,” Jude said quickly. He nodded at each one. “This is Robert, Martin, George and Patricia.”
Charlotte smiled at Jude and rested her hand on her stomach. She didn’t mention the unborn child, since women rarely spoke of such things, but the glow in her cheeks was all the mention needed.
“I’m happy to meet all of you.” Elizabeth took the mug of coffee she was offered and looked at Jude. “I will need to get word to everyone at the hotel that we found Rose. I’d hate for them to worry longer than necessary.”
“I’d be happy to go,” Ben offered.
Jude stood. “No, I’ll go.” He’d rather Ben stay with Elizabeth a bit longer.
“Are you sure?” Ben asked. “You still look a little shook up.”
“I’m fine.” As Jude started to walk toward the door, Elizabeth reached out and took his hand.
“Thank you,” she said.
He paused and squeezed her hand in return. Her touch meant more than her words, but he couldn’t find his voice, so he simply nodded.
Rose cuddled next to Elizabeth, but she looked up at him with those big brown eyes and he couldn’t stop himself from squatting down to face her.
“Please don’t ever go near the river without an adult again,” he said. “We were all very frightened.”
She shook her head, large tears forming in her eyes. “I won’t.”
Jude took one of her small hands in his—the one he’d grabbed when he pulled her out of the water—and saw the red marks his grip had left from rescuing her. He gently rubbed them and placed a kiss there. “I’m happy you’re safe.”
Rose leaned forward and fell into his arms, almost knocking him over. She wrapped herself around Jude and hugged him tight.
For the first time in Jude’s adult life, tears stung the backs of his eyes and he had to force them away.
“Thank you, Mr. Jude,” she whispered.
He cleared his throat, afraid he might not be able to respond, but he managed a weak “You’re welcome.”
Rose pulled away and reached for Elizabeth. Jude handed her back and then stood.
Without another word, he left the Coopers’ home, afraid his emotions would become too powerful to control in front of his friends.
Jude walked back to the Northern with the heat pounding on his back. He shoved his hands in his pockets, his gaze intent on the dirt road. In all the years he’d faced danger, he’d never been more afraid then when he saw Rose on that log. His heart still hadn’t returned to a steady rhythm, and the farther he walked away from the Coopers’, the more he wanted to go back and make sure she was truly okay.
He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if he had been too late or was unable to pull her out of that water. The very thought made the panic return.
Grace stood on the porch of the Northern and rushed out to meet him. “Is she all right?”
“Yes, she’s safe with Elizabeth at a neighbor’s home.”
Grace closed her eyes briefly, then forced a stoic face. “Good. We can get back to our other work now.”
Jude entered the hotel and found Martha in the lobby, her face pale. “Where is the little love?”
“At the Coopers’ with Elizabeth. We found her in the millpond and I had to pull her out of the water.”
“Thank You, Lord,” she prayed. When she finished wiping the tears from her cheeks, she said, “Will you go back to the Coopers’?”
Jude shook his head. “Ben’s there. He can bring them home. I have too much to do today.” It could be hours before Rose’s clothes were dry enough for her to put them back on, and no doubt Charlotte was making Elizabeth feel welcome in her home while Ben charmed her with his easygoing nature.
“Why don’t you just go back and get them?” Martha asked. “I can tell you want to.”
“It might be hours before they’re ready to come. Ben will bring them home.”
“Nonsense. I’ll run up and get a dry dress for Rose and you can go back and get them now.” She started up the stairs.
“What’s the point?”
Martha put her hand on the rail and turned to look at him. “You don’t fool me, Jude Allen. I can tell you care about Elizabeth and Rose, and you want to see them back here as soon as possible.”
“Of course I care about them. I feel responsible since Clarence sent them to me.”
“So go and get them.”
Jude nodded hello to a patron who came down the stairs and exited through the front door. There was work to be done, but it would wait for him. “Fine, I’ll go. But only because you seem just as anxious to get them back as I do.”
Martha chuckled. “Go on with you.”
Jude waited for her to get one of Rose’s dresses and then he left for the Coopers’. The whole way back, he chastised himself for returning. He wanted Ben to have as much time as possible with Elizabeth, didn’t he? Ben hadn’t been stopping by as much as he could, though he seemed happy to see Elizabeth whenever they were together. He resolved to talk to Ben and encourage him to court Elizabeth as fast as possible.
Jude pushed open the back door into the Coopers’ home and found Ben standing near the stove, pouring coffee into two mugs. No one else was in the kitchen.
Ben smiled. “I didn’t know if you were coming back.”
Jude walked over the threshold.
“Everyone is in the front room,” Ben said. “I came in here to refill Elizabeth’s mug.”
Jude didn’t want to put off what he had come to say. “I’d like you to start courting Elizabeth.”
Ben took longer than necessary to finish what he was doing. He finally looked at Jude. “Now, why would I do that?”
“To get to know her, of course!” Jude glanced at the closed door leading into the front room. He spoke quietly. “I need to find the Bell sisters suitable husbands so I can get on with my mission work. I gave Eliza
beth control over the budget and if she discovers what I’m doing with the money, she’ll want me to quit. Elizabeth poses a risk for my future plans.”
Ben stepped away from the stove and held the mugs in his hands. “I agree that Elizabeth poses a risk to your future—but not in the way you think.”
Jude crossed his arms. “What do you mean?”
“I see the way you look at her. I’d be blind not to notice.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Anger tightened his chest and he looked away from Ben. “I’m not looking at her any different than anyone else.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure.”
Ben became serious. “Then you’re serious about me courting her? If you’re interested, I won’t—”
“I told you I’m not.”
Ben studied him for another moment, and then he nodded. “I’ll ask her.”
“Fine.” Now that he’d accomplished what he’d set out to do, Jude had no desire to continue this conversation. “I’ll see if she and Rose are ready to head back to the Northern.”
He didn’t wait for Ben to respond, but walked around him and into the Coopers’ main room.
Elizabeth and Charlotte sat in rockers positioned on either side of the fireplace. Abram sat on a chair nearby, his daughter in his arms, while the boys played jacks in the corner. Jude swallowed the sudden jolt of longing that clogged his throat. He had never experienced a loving home with a mother and a father. And, until this moment, he hadn’t allowed himself to think about all he’d missed. He had always believed God had chosen a different path for him and he’d accepted it long ago.
But when Elizabeth looked up at him and Rose saw his return, their smiles tugged at his heart and made him long to be a part of a family for the first time in his life.
“You’re back,” Elizabeth said with a smile that made his insides ache.
He held up Rose’s dress. “I thought you might like to come back sooner than later, so I brought Rose some dry clothes to wear.”
“That was thoughtful. Thank you.”
Ben entered the room just behind him, and Elizabeth’s attention was stolen.
Ben handed her one of the steaming mugs of coffee and took a seat close by. He tickled Rose’s bare feet, prompting a charming giggle from the little girl, and asked how they liked Little Falls.
Suddenly, Jude felt like an outsider and he was reminded once again that he didn’t belong in a scene like this.
Chapter Nine
The heat continued to rise and the humidity intensified, but it didn’t dim the enthusiasm of the patriotic revelers on Main Street. Jude walked beside Elizabeth and Rose, enjoying the excited shouts of children setting off firecrackers, the squeals of greased pigs as they evaded capture, and the laughter of friends and neighbors visiting over glasses of lemonade.
“Can I have some lemonade?” Rose asked Elizabeth.
“May I,” said Elizabeth. “And no, you may not. We need to get back to help Martha as soon as possible.”
Rose’s bottom lip stuck out, but she didn’t ask again and her attention was soon distracted by the squealing pigs.
Jude glanced toward the west. The heat shimmered off the dirt street in waves. If he wasn’t mistaken, they were in for severe weather. Something needed to break the heat and humidity.
Elizabeth’s gaze followed his. “Will the weather hinder anyone’s plans?”
“Depends on what happens.” If it started to storm, they would have a packed house, as people would need a place to get out of the rain. Hopefully it would rain before evening, so the ballroom wouldn’t be suffocating with the heat and the humidity during the dance.
“Will people—?” Elizabeth paused midsentence as she stared across the street.
Rose glanced up at Elizabeth, who stopped walking and turned Rose to look the opposite way.
Jack Dew strolled down Main Street with two women on his arms. One looked quite pleased to be with Jack as she strutted along, enjoying the attention—but the other, the one named Gretchen whom Jude had met the night before, didn’t make eye contact with anyone. She was thin and pale, and looked as if she had not slept or eaten well in months.
“What?” Rose asked, but Elizabeth kept her turned away as Jack paraded by.
If he had any question regarding how Elizabeth felt about prostitutes, he didn’t now. He saw no compassion or understanding in her gaze. Only condemnation and contempt.
More than one mother did exactly what Elizabeth was doing and turned her children away. He didn’t blame them. They had probably never spoken to a prostitute and asked how she had fallen into her profession. Most people believed it was a choice, yet so many women he spoke to had had no choice at all. Some were sold into prostitution, some were desperate to stay alive and others thought so little of themselves, they didn’t know any other way.
Rose fussed and tried to turn, but Elizabeth held her tight. “Not yet. They’ll be gone in a moment.”
Gretchen looked up and her gaze fell on Elizabeth, and then on the other mothers, and her face became more ashen than before. Shame and embarrassment bent her shoulders. As she dropped her gaze, she noticed Jude. Recognition dawned in her eyes and for a heartbeat hope sprang forth. She paused and looked like she might approach him, but Jack yanked her to follow and she went along, the hope vanishing as they rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
Elizabeth looked to Jude, questions in her eyes. “Do you know that young woman?”
Did he know her? Not really. But he couldn’t lie, either. “I’ve seen her before.”
“May I look now, Lizzie?” Rose asked.
Elizabeth let go of Rose’s shoulders and the girl spun around, her eyes searching the street to see what she had missed.
“Who were those people?” Elizabeth asked.
“Jack Dew runs an establishment south of town.” He glanced around to see who might be listening, but everyone was speaking in hushed tones.
“But why did they come downtown?” she whispered.
Jude hated to admit what Jack was doing, especially because he had been guilty of doing the same thing on more than one occasion in St. Louis. “He knew there would be a large crowd out today, so he was...advertising the women.”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows came together. “Truly?”
Guilt rose up in Jude’s chest, but he pushed it down again. He knew he was forgiven, yet he hated the reminder of his former sins—especially when Elizabeth frowned with such disdain.
“Who was it?” Rose asked.
Elizabeth shook her head and prodded Rose to start walking again. “It was no one important.”
He knew what she meant, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that if Elizabeth knew about his past, she’d say the same thing about him.
They walked back to the Northern. Several county commissioners and territorial legislators had gathered on the porch as they prepared to give their speeches. Jude greeted all of them and then he went into the hotel with Elizabeth and Rose.
“Mercy, but you gave us a scare,” Martha said the moment she saw Rose in the kitchen.
Elizabeth took off her bonnet and hung it on the hook near the door. “She’ll never do it again. Will you, Rose?”
Rose shook her head with wholehearted conviction.
Jude prayed she would stay in the hotel, just as she promised. He was afraid his heart couldn’t handle another scare like today’s.
* * *
The humidity was still holding that evening when Elizabeth looked at her reflection in her bedroom mirror. She wore her old ball gown, which she had altered as best as she could to look modern and stylish. It had been a couple of years since she’d worn it last, but under the fading light of evening, the rich purple silk looked just as beautiful as she rec
alled.
“Can I come to the ball, Lizzie?” Rose asked as she sat on the bed and watched Grace and Elizabeth dress.
“No, you may not.” Elizabeth turned away from the mirror and picked up her long white gloves. “Mrs. Fadling will be here to sit with you tonight.” The older Mrs. Fadling was a widow who lived with her son and daughter-in-law above the grocer’s store. She had agreed to sit with Rose while the others celebrated the Fourth of July in the ballroom.
“I don’t want to sit with Mrs. Fadling.” Rose crossed her arms and frowned at Elizabeth.
“You are not old enough to come to a ball, Rose.” Elizabeth pulled on her gloves. “You will stay up here with Mrs. Fadling and mind what she says, do you understand?”
A knock came at the door and Grace walked across the room to open it. Mrs. Fadling stood in the hallway holding a large knitting bag in hand.
“Hello,” she said to Grace.
“Won’t you please come in?” Elizabeth moved to the door to welcome her. “Rose, will you show Mrs. Fadling to the sitting room?”
Rose’s face twisted in anger and she stomped to the sitting-room door.
Elizabeth gave her a stern look. “You be kind and respectful.”
“She’ll be just fine,” Mrs. Fadling said. “We’ll have a grand time, won’t we?”
Rose opened the door and marched into the sitting room without answering Mrs. Fadling.
When the sitting room door closed behind them, Elizabeth turned to Grace. “Are you ready to dance?”
Grace lifted a bored shoulder. She had accepted an invitation from a young man named Mr. O’Conner who had asked to escort her this evening. Elizabeth had accepted Ben’s invitation earlier at the Coopers’.
They left their room together and walked down the hall to the lobby. Ben and Mr. O’Conner stood at the bottom of the stairs and smiled eagerly when they appeared.
Elizabeth had a dance card dangling from her wrist and she was swarmed by men who wanted to be added to the list. She put Ben down for the first and last dances, as was customary for an escort, and soon filled all the other spaces—all but one.
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