“Follow me and we’ll find out what we’re to do,” Robert instructed while holding Owen’s arm for balance.
They were greeted by a robust, bearded middle-aged man with a toothless grin.
“Right this way, folks.” He waved them in. “How many tickets for the baths? Three?”
“Two,” Robert replied, then looked at Grace. “Unless you plan to enjoy the springs.”
“No. I won’t be going in. Perhaps I can watch?” Grace asked the proprietor.
“Yes, ma’am, you can. There’s a few benches to sit on outside.” He looked to Robert. “That’ll be three dollars for the two of ya, and you’ll find a place to change right down the hallway there.” He nodded in the direction of the men’s changing room at the end of the short hallway. “When you’re done, come back and I’ll show you out to the baths. The springs are a nice 105 degrees today.”
Grace took the money from her reticule and handed it to him. “I’ll wait for you here, Pop.”
Owen and Robert walked in the direction of the changing room, and after a few minutes, Grace meandered to the large area at the back of the log house. Where windows would normally be placed there was an open frame to the outside for viewing. The springs were vast pools resembling a swimming hole, and steam formed above the pools. Both ladies and gentlemen in bathing attire were in the springs, but the men were separated from the women.
Grace stood watching as a woman about her age attempted to persuade a young girl to step into the bath. The child was frightened, and when she finally stood, Grace gasped at the sight of her deformed lower legs below her bathing dress. The mother caught Grace’s stare through the open space and gave her a look of frustration.
Grace couldn’t help herself. She hurried outside. “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, hoping she hadn’t overstepped her bounds.
“Do you mind taking her arm? Susie isn’t sturdy on her feet, and that’s why she’s afraid she’ll fall in. Isn’t that right, Susie?”
“Yes, Mama. Please, Mama, don’t let go.”
“Susie, I promise I’ll keep holding your arm, but if you want the springs to help your legs, you must get in.”
Grace pushed up the sleeves of her dress, then bent down to take Susie’s other arm. The little girl reminded her of Sarah. She looked up at Grace with trepidation and Grace gave her a smile of encouragement. “You can do this. I was told by the proprietor that the water is nice and warm.”
Susie gave her a lopsided smile, and between the child’s mother and Grace, they helped her walk to the edge of the pool.
“I’ll get in first, so keep holding my hand,” the mother instructed. She stepped down into the pool and said, “The water’s warm and feels good. Come on, now.”
“Okay. Here I come,” Susie mumbled. She got one leg in the water, but held a death grip on Grace’s arm and wouldn’t let go, and as she took a sudden leap into the pool, she pulled Grace right in with her with an enormous splash.
Grace’s dress and petticoats were immediately soaked, and she lost her hat in the mêlée.
The girl’s mother was horrified. “Oh my goodness! Susie, you were supposed to let go of the lady’s arm.”
Embarrassment hit Grace as other patrons chuckled. Mortified, but trying to cover her embarrassment, Grace wiped the water from her eyes and face. “I’m okay, really,” she said good-naturedly, laughing. She didn’t want the little girl to get upset.
“I’m sorry. I was only afraid I’d fall in and drown,” Susie whined. “I’m sorry.”
“We wouldn’t let that happen, Susie.” Her mother tsked, shaking her head at her daughter and then turning to Grace. “I’m so very sorry. You’ve ruined your dress. You must take my dress and change.”
“I couldn’t do that. You’re much tinier than I am. Anyway, the water does feel very nice, don’t you think?”
“It does,” Susie agreed. “Can you stay in here with us?”
“No, she can’t,” a firm voice from the pool’s edge spoke. It was the man in charge. “The pools are for paying customers and bathing attire is required. I told you that, miss,” he griped.
The three of them laughed. “I’m afraid I yanked her in,” Susie explained, “but I didn’t mean to, sir.”
“Makes no difference to me. Just get out,” he ordered Grace.
“I’m coming.” Grace didn’t like his bossiness. Her father and Robert came outside as the burly man was pulling her by the arm out of the pool.
“Grace!” Owen yelled. “What happened?”
Grace tried to ignore Robert’s open stare as she stood dripping. “It was an accident.”
The lady in the pool looked at the proprietor. “Please, my key is by the towel next to the bench. Give it to her so she can dry off and change into my dress.”
“No, I’ll be just fine drying right here in the sun for a while, but thank you—?”
“Nadine Johnson.”
“I’m Grace Bidwell. Please go on and enjoy your time in the pool.”
Nadine nodded, saying, “Thank you for your help.”
Grace walked over to a bench placed in the direct sunlight and plopped down. She leaned forward to squeeze out the water from the bottom of her skirts. Someone from the pool had retrieved her hat and had given the soggy, limp mess to Robert, who handed it to her. She could tell he was stifling a laugh, but she didn’t care.
“Grace, are you all right?” Owen had a worried look, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
“Go ahead you two and have a good laugh, then get on in the pool while I dry out. I assure you I will not melt.”
Robert smiled at her, his face softening, she supposed, because of her predicament. Then he and her father walked slowly to a pool nearby. She watched for a few moments after they got in.
The sun was hot and though her clothes stuck like glue to her, she endured the stares of the patrons. Leaning her head against the log wall, she closed her eyes to the sun’s rays while the afternoon passed.
32
On the way home from the springs, Grace sat up front with Robert so her father could stretch out and doze on the backseat. Owen seemed worn out, so Grace knew they wouldn’t know immediately whether the one visit helped. Grace’s dress was still damp when they finally left the hot springs, so she wrapped a blanket about her that she kept in the carriage when they left. In the shade, the dampness of her dress chilled her.
“Your father really enjoyed taking the waters, but he’s tuckered out. We could stop in town and have a light supper at the boardinghouse or somewhere before I take both of you back to the farm,” Robert said, keeping his eyes on the road.
“That won’t be necessary. Besides, I need to get into some dry clothes.”
He glanced sideways to look at her. “I suppose so. Tell me what happened back there.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Okay, but no laughing.” Before she finished with her tale, Robert was chuckling while trying to keep his laughter down so as not to wake Owen.
“I said no laughing,” she reiterated.
“Ah, but I didn’t promise. I can’t help it. That was funny, but I’m sorry you had to sit around in wet clothes.”
“The nice lady, Nadine, offered me her change of clothing, which I hadn’t a prayer of fitting into. I wouldn’t have used them anyway since she needed them herself. Thank you for coming with us. I fear my dad is heavier than I can manage sometimes.”
“Glad I could help out. Anytime, just let me know. I believe he’ll have to make more than one visit to the springs from what the other men said today. They swear by it.”
“I hope you’re right. I guess he told you what Dr. Avery and Stella believe he has?”
“Yes, he did. But what’s the prognosis?”
“I’m not sure they know, but it does answer some questions the doctor and we had. I don’t think there is a cure.”
“I see. At least he has you and Stella. She’s very important to him, I gather.”
“And y
ou, Robert. He admires you and I can’t thank you enough for being his friend.”
They were nearing the outskirts of town, and he took the fork in the road toward Bidwell Farms. “It was a natural thing—me and your father. He’s more like my own father.”
“What happened to your father? I’ve never heard you speak of any family.”
Robert sighed and answered, “I was just a teenage boy when my parents died. I wound up fending for myself. I was angry. Maybe that’s part of the reason me and Tom got off to a bad start.”
Grace was glad that he was opening up to her. “I can understand that, especially since the children were thrust on you the way they were.”
“Yep, but the truth is, they’ve been good for me. Made me think about my own youth and foibles. I want to do what’s right by them.”
“That’s very admirable of you, Robert. I’ve come to care about the children like they were my own.”
“I can see that, but I’m not surprised. It’s the way you are, caring and giving.”
They continued on in silence for another mile until Grace became braver to broach the subject on her mind.
“Robert, about yesterday morning . . . I think we have a misunderstanding and I want to explain, if you’ll let me.”
He jerked around to look at her. “There’s nothing to explain, Grace. I know I’m not what you’re looking for, and I have little to offer so forget I even said anything.”
“Who says I’m looking for anything? Or anyone? I’d like love to happen naturally. Wouldn’t you?”
“I haven’t been too lucky when it comes to love. I’d like love to come with commitment—you know, someone I can grow old with. That didn’t happen for me the first time. Shucks! I’m already getting old.”
“I’d like to believe that’s what all couples want and need. Both of us have loved and our lives were suddenly changed forever, but I’d like to think we still have years ahead of us. You’re not that old. Anyway, I started out by trying to explain about yesterday—”
“You said the kiss was a mistake.”
“It’s because I was taken by surprise. I didn’t mean that the way it came out, and I wasn’t sure that it meant anything at all to you. I believe you took my hesitance as a rejection when you asked me about a proper date. Pop made me see that sometimes I give off the wrong impression.”
Robert harrumphed, staring ahead at the dirt road. “I guess I don’t understand women at all.”
She turned in her seat to look at his profile. “I was upset with how things had gone with Warren the other day. I came to the realization that I couldn’t trust him and was wasting my time. I have a feeling that you don’t trust women since you married without knowing your first wife had children.”
“I wish you would give me the benefit of the doubt.” He clenched his jaw. “I’m not that shallow. Just so you know, I knew Ada long enough to know that I loved her, but it was very unfortunate that she kept such a big secret from me. It changed me for the worse for a while, I agree, and I was angry. I felt I was either duped or just plain stupid. To make it all worse, my own town scoffed at me. That’s the real reason that I left.”
“I’m really sorry for that. Please don’t think I’m judging you. I hope I didn’t sound that way.” Grace turned back to face forward in her seat again and saw that they were nearing the farm. Did I only make things worse now?
“Listen, Grace. Why don’t we call a truce and see where this leads? We’re not youngsters anymore, but adults with a past that we’ve been trying to mend. In many ways, sometimes I feel God must have led me here at this time and place because of how you love the children . . . I mean, my children.”
Grace considered Robert as he spoke, and nodded briefly. “I agree, and I’d love it if you’d take me for a turn down the lane . . . alone,” she answered.
Robert chuckled. “Then how about tomorrow?”
———
Owen had awakened a few miles back, but in his drowsy state he continued to lie still and listened to their conversation. He looked at the two of them through a slit in one eye and thanked God they had reached some sort of agreement. Thank You, Lord. It’s been a good day.
After assisting Owen back inside the house, Robert put the carriage and horses away. He set off on horseback for town again, thankful he had time alone for reflection. It had been a productive day in his mind, in more ways than one. Owen had become like a father to him these past few months, and he was honored to be able to help him out today in the hot springs. While they were sitting in the hot springs, Owen had told him how worried he’d been about his health and his concern over his daughter.
Owen revealed that meeting Stella had taken the focus off of his own health. “I think God’s had a hand in all this, Robert—me meeting Stella—you and Grace. You see, I’ve been praying someone would come into her life that was dependable and stable who may be able to give her children. Your children were proof of that,” Owen had told him. “She adores them, and I think she really cares for you, although she won’t be the first to say it.”
Robert was surprised and hadn’t answered, so Owen added, “Don’t look at me like you have no idea what I’m talking about because I think you do.”
Could it be that Owen was right? After their talk on the way home, Grace not only had apologized, but wanted a truce of sorts. He wouldn’t deny that he was beginning to care for her but he was shocked that she might even have the tiniest feeling about him.
Out of the blue, he let out a whoop, and his horse skittered sideways. Robert patted his neck. “Sorry about that. Guess this is the first time I had something to look forward to in a long time.” His horse snorted, then tossed his head in agreement, making him chuckle.
Days later, the potato vines were growing well, but keeping the weeds down was a continuous aggravation. It was backbreaking work, but Robert knew he had to stay on top of it if they were going to produce a good crop. He’d dusted for aphids a week ago, and today he took his time checking for cutworms, removing them when he spotted them. The fat worms could destroy a plant in a matter of hours.
It was nearly noon, so he stood up to stretch his back, shoving his hat back to see better. From across the field, Grace and Tom were busy doing the exact same thing. The more he thought about it, he decided wheat farming was somewhat easier, but this lush valley held perfect conditions for growing beets and potatoes. Grace waved, and he lifted his hat in a wave—their signal that the morning’s work was done.
He almost wished he didn’t have to go to work at Eli’s today. Since their talk, he wanted to be around Grace more. It had been hard for him to open up to her, but they’d seemed to come to an understanding of sorts. He couldn’t help but smile when the vision of Grace sopping wet at the hot springs in her pretty dress and hat came to mind. One thing he had to say—she had certainly dealt with it in a ladylike fashion. He had a lot to learn about her, and he was so glad that she was part of his children’s life. Robert was beginning to have a good feeling about the future.
33
Owen lingered over his morning coffee. Was it just his imagination, or were his legs somewhat stronger? He still had weakness and fatigue, but some days he was a little more stable when he walked. Either way, he and Stella were going to go back to the hot springs. He might just make this a routine—as long as he thought it was making a difference.
“Hello, Mr. Miller, are you here?” Tom called from the front door. “Grace said I’d find you in the parlor. Should I come back later?”
Owen set his cup down. “Tom, come on in. I’m just relaxing and ruminating.”
“Good. I can’t stay but a minute or Robert will come looking for me. I have to muck the barn this morning, but I wanted to give you something I made.” He brought his hand around from his back, holding out a cane in front of him. “I hope you like it.”
Owen took the cane with surprise. “You made this?” He ran his hand over the smooth carving of wood with a crook at its top for his ha
nd. “I’m mighty impressed, and of course, I’ll get a lot of use out of it. Let me try it out.”
It took a moment for him to stand after sitting so long, but Tom immediately assisted him from the chair. The cane was sturdy and the smooth, hooked neck fit nicely in his palm. Owen walked across the room, leaning on it for support. Tom’s broad smile told him that he was very pleased with his workmanship.
“Tom, this is just about the nicest thing anyone has done for me.” Owen paused next to him, then gave the youth a bear hug. “I wasn’t aware that you liked carving, and you did a great job, my boy.”
Tom’s face flushed and he shrugged his scrawny shoulders. “Aw, it started out with whittling a long time ago to pass the time, then I got the idea to try something larger and I thought you could use a cane. I read somewhere that you should use it on the side that is the strongest. I think that’s what you did.”
Owen stared at him. “Right you are. Makes sense to me. You should consider apprenticing to a wood-carver.”
Tom shook his head. “No, that’s just a hobby to pass the time. I think I want to be a doctor. Miss Stella loaned me a couple of medical books, and I like reading about all that stuff.”
“Is that so? That’s a noble occupation—but remember it’s a lot of hard work.”
“That’s exactly what Miss Stella said, but she also said anything worth pursuing will involve hard work.”
“Smart lady, that Miss Stella. Where are your sisters this morning? In town?”
“No, they came this morning to help Miss Grace bake cookies.” Tom started for the door. “I gotta run or I’ll get yelled at.”
Owen lifted the cane with a wave as he left. A deep warm feeling flooded him. He might be the grandson I always hoped for.
Trusting Grace Page 18
