The knock was gentle but firm, just like Frank. Gerda opened the door. The man who stood there took her breath away. He was not the cowboy or the lawman. Frank was dressed in navy twill trousers and a navy-and-white-striped shirt. Without his hat, guns, and boots, he looked younger, more carefree. She liked what she saw.
“Gerda, you look wonderful.” His eyes showed his appreciation.
“So do you.” Gerda stood there for a minute, just looking at him. “Would you like to come in?”
Frank glanced past her. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. You’re here alone, aren’t you?”
His thoughtfulness touched Gerda’s heart. “Do we need one of my quilts to spread on the ground?” She turned to go get one.
“I brought one. Let’s go down to the buggy.”
Frank closed the door behind her and held her arm as they descended the stairs. The warmth of his touch spread up and down her arm, tingling as it went. When they rounded the corner of the store, Frank gestured toward a surrey with a fringed top. Its horse was tied to the hitching post.
“I haven’t seen this buggy at the livery stable. Where did you rent it from?”
Frank helped her down from the boardwalk and up into the buggy. “It’s mine, Gerda. I went to Minneapolis on Wednesday. It took me awhile to find just the one I wanted and the right horse to pull it. I drove it back yesterday.” He untied the animal and climbed up on the seat beside her. “I couldn’t take you places on my saddle horse, and I didn’t want us to have to walk everywhere.”
Gerda could hardly believe it. Frank had bought a buggy to take her places. The thought brought visions of being with him through all the seasons of the year—with autumn leaves falling, in the snow, when spring flowers were budding. . .
All the way to Lake Ripley, their conversation was light and refreshing, but she was constantly aware of the lithe man sharing the seat with her. His hands on the reins were skilled at controlling the horse, and muscles in his arms rippled as he moved with the action of the surrey. Occasionally, when the buggy hit a bump in the road, their shoulders touched. Each time it happened, Gerda’s heart leaped. She hoped she wouldn’t be breathless by the time they reached the picnic area.
The day was perfect. Although the sun shone brightly, it was cool under the trees where a gentle breeze blew across the lake. They spread their quilt near other members of her family. Soon everyone was visiting. At about eleven o’clock, the men decided to play a baseball game before lunch.
“I’ve never played before.” Frank looked doubtful.
“That’s all right.” Gustaf clapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll teach you.”
Gerda was proud of Frank. It didn’t take him long to get the hang of it, and he could hit the ball farther than any of the other men. As she watched him run and play, something inside Gerda melted. This man was amazing in every way.
Olina sat down beside Gerda. “I was surprised to see you come with Frank. Is he calling on you now?”
“This is the first time he has asked me to go anywhere with him.” Gerda felt a blush creep over her cheeks.
Anna smiled. “I think it won’t be the last.”
I hope not. Gerda didn’t dare say her thoughts aloud. She didn’t want there to be too much talk about them.
Frank’s team won the game. She was glad that her brothers were on his side.
The men jumped around as if they were boys. They clapped each other on the back and shouted.
“Playing baseball is hot work.” Frank took his handkerchief from his back pocket and mopped his brow.
“Let’s go wash up.” Gustaf led the way to the stream that fed Lake Ripley.
The men washed their hands and faces in the cool, clear water. Gerda enjoyed watching the way Frank interacted with the others. He wasn’t the sheriff today. He was just a man enjoying his friends, and it was a good thing. When the men returned to where the quilts were spread, water droplets decorated Frank’s hair, looking like diamonds nestled in the curls.
The men had brought Pastor Joseph to eat with them. Before they said the blessing, Frank asked if he could tell them something. Gerda stood back and listened to every word he said. Each syllable sounded as if it came straight from his heart.
“I want to thank Joseph for the sermons he’s been preaching, especially the one last Sunday.” He nodded at the pastor. “And I want to thank August and Gustaf for taking the time after the service to answer all my questions. Because of these three men, I have accepted Jesus as the Lord of my life.”
Everyone clapped and cheered. Other groups scattered around the lake looked at the ruckus, probably wondering what was going on.
After Joseph said a blessing for those gathered near, he sat on the quilt with Gerda and Frank. She was glad their pastor had joined them. The discussion centered on the Bible, and she enjoyed hearing what they talked about.
“Frank, have you thought about being baptized?” Joseph asked.
Frank put down the piece of fried chicken he was eating. He sat for a moment mulling it over.
“I think I’d like that.”
“We could do it before we leave today. In Lake Ripley. The water isn’t too cold, and I wouldn’t mind riding home in wet clothes. They would probably dry out pretty quickly.”
Frank looked at Gerda as if asking her permission. She knew it wasn’t her place to tell him what to do, but she wanted to let him know that it was fine with her. She gave him a slight nod.
“All right, Preacher, we’re going to have a baptism today.”
❧
As neighbors wandered from quilt to quilt, Frank relished the intervals when he and Gerda were by themselves. They shared stories of their childhoods and youths. The more he heard about Gerda, the more he loved her. He only hoped that the same was true for her.
As she talked, he watched the expressions that flitted across her face. She was so animated. He loved everything about her. The wind blew tendrils around her neck and face, and he wished that it would be appropriate for him to push them out of her way. He could imagine the feel of her silky hair in his fingers. One day, maybe it would be his right to touch her in such an intimate way. He could hardly wait.
About four o’clock, Joseph returned, bringing quite a crowd with him. He had found three more people who wanted to be a part of the baptism. Soon everyone who had scattered around the lake joined them on the side that held a small beach. The pastor took the four candidates for baptism to the edge of the water and decided what order they would go in. The sheriff would be last.
Frank watched as the man of God waded out into the water until it was up to his waist. Each person went to him, one at a time. He spoke solemn words over them then helped them bend over backward until they were completely under the surface of the lake. As they each came up out of the water, their faces beamed. When it was his turn, Frank went to his pastor and good friend. He listened to the words the man spoke over him and relaxed in his arms. When Frank came up out of the water, he knew that his face was shining, too. It was as if the symbolic baptism magnified the cleansing he had received when he accepted Jesus as his Savior. Some of the water streaming down his face wasn’t from the lake.
Gerda stood on the bank holding his quilt ready to wrap him in it, but he didn’t need it. He wanted to just drip dry.
“Why don’t you put it on the wagon seat? That way, I won’t get you wet as we drive home.”
A heavenly melody was playing in his heart, and he knew it would continue until the day he died.
❧
Frank often called on Gerda after the picnic. They spent time with her family or took walks in the evening or they drove through the countryside in the surrey. Every time they were together, they bonded on a deeper level. Gerda knew she didn’t want to think about the possibility of Frank ever not being a part of her life.
Finally, one day, Frank put his arm around her when they were driving in the country. He pulled her against his side. Gerda thought she might faint f
rom the wonderful way it felt to be so close to him. Every time he held her arm to help her across the street or her hand as they walked in the twilight, the connection had caused her to melt inside. But to be so close to him was heavenly. She sighed and nestled closer.
Although June and July had been cooler than usual, August was a scorcher. People were uncomfortable in the heat and disagreements often broke out, keeping Frank busier than usual. He even had to lock a couple of troublemakers in the jail, so he had to keep an eye on them. It had been a couple of days since Gerda had seen him, and she was missing their times together. Frank was becoming a necessity to her.
Gerda went into the mercantile to ask Marja Braxton a question. While she was there, a young man with low-slung guns came through the door. When Gerda first saw him, a shiver of apprehension coursed down her spine. Something wasn’t right about this man. The two women watched him as he made his way around the store. He didn’t really seem to be looking for anything in particular. Finally, he arrived where they were standing by the cash register. Because he made Gerda uncomfortable, she decided to go back to the dress shop. She could keep an eye on what was going on from there. When she turned to go, he pulled his guns and pointed one at her and one at Marja.
“You’re not going anywhere.” His harsh words brought Gerda back to stand near her friend.
“How much money do you have in that?” He nodded toward the register, never taking his eyes off of Marja and Gerda.
“Not very much.” Gerda could tell from the sound of her voice that Marja was just as scared as she was. “We haven’t been very busy today.”
Gerda glanced at Marja, and she looked pale. Gerda inched closer to the older woman in case she fainted.
The gunman had to be in his teens, he looked so young. He pulled a dirty pillowcase from inside his shirt. “Put all the money in this.” Then he shoved it toward Marja.
Marja was shaking so badly, Gerda didn’t think she would be able to move. “I’ll do it for you,” she whispered to her friend. Marja nodded, and Gerda took the bag from his hand.
She opened the drawer and removed the bills from each compartment, stuffing them in the case. Then she scooped up the coins and put them into the bag. She tied a loose knot in the end to keep the money from coming out. She didn’t want anything to upset the man. He might shoot one of them. He took the bag and stuffed it back inside his shirt. Now it wasn’t as flat as it had been when he came in. Through his shirt, it looked like a tumor on his stomach. Gerda almost giggled at that thought, but she knew it was because she was close to becoming hysterical.
“Lay facedown on the floor.” His words sounded harsh.
Gerda was getting tired of this. She hadn’t seen a robbery in all her life until this year. Now she had experienced two. She got as close as she could to Marja and slid her hand over to clasp Marja’s icy one. They heard the robber clomp to the door.
❧
Frank was sitting in his office, thinking about Gerda. One day soon, he was going to ask her to marry him, but he wanted to plan the right time to do it. It had to be perfect. . .for her.
Hank from the livery ran to the door of his office. “Come quick, Sheriff! Someone’s robbing the mercantile!” The man was so excited his voice trembled, and he was almost gasping for breath.
Frank jumped up and grabbed his guns. “How many men? I didn’t hear a gang ride into town.”
“It wasn’t no gang.” Hank hurried along with Frank as he went toward the store. “I was just going in when I noticed a man in the back holding his guns on Marja and Gerda. I ran over here as fast as I could.”
Frank’s heart dropped to his toes when he thought about a man holding a gun on Gerda again. For a moment, red-hot anger swelled within him. Then reason returned. Frank was a lawman. He had to think rationally. Besides, he didn’t think a Christian should be having such hateful thoughts. This was the hardest thing he’d had to face since becoming a believer.
Why had he taken so long to get around to asking Gerda to marry him? He hadn’t wanted to rush her, but what if the man’s trigger finger got itchy? He might shoot either one of the women with very little provocation. Frank hoped he’d get there in time to avert a tragedy.
❧
When the man ran through the door, Gerda got up and rushed to look out the windows at the front of the building. She got there just in time to see the gunman run straight into Frank. The two men crashed to the boardwalk in a tangle of arms and legs. In the struggle to get free from the mess, the thief’s pistol fired, even though he seemed to be trying to shove it into his holster. Frank went still. The kid jumped up and sprinted across the street. Hank and the stationmaster tackled him before he reached his horse. They held him and looked back toward the boardwalk.
She could hardly believe her eyes. Frank was lying in a pool of blood. She ran to him and dropped to her knees, frantically feeling for his pulse. At least it was strong.
Gerda shouted to Hank. “Please! Go get Dr. Bradley!” The pool of blood didn’t seem to be getting any larger, and Gerda was afraid she would hurt him if she tried to move him. Then she began to weep over the man she loved with all her heart.
❧
Frank could hardly believe it. That juvenile robber shot him while he was trying to catch hold of him. His shoulder felt like it was on fire. He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes. Before he opened them again, Gerda had dropped to the boardwalk beside him and she was yelling for someone to get the doctor. He relaxed and kept his eyes shut. There was nothing else he could do until the doctor got there.
Gerda’s hot tears began falling onto his face, and she started praying for him. Her prayer warmed his heart.
“Oh, God. I love Frank and can’t live without him. Please make sure he stays alive.”
Oh, he was alive all right. He hurt a lot, but he was alive and aware of every word she said.
Frank slowly opened his eyes and gazed into Gerda’s troubled face. “Gerda, will you marry me?”
She looked startled, but she nodded just before Doc took her place beside him.
Fifteen
You’re lucky, Sheriff,” the doctor said as he finished bandaging Frank’s shoulder. “It’s just a flesh wound. It bled a lot, but it wasn’t that bad.” He started putting his supplies back into the cabinet.
“Thanks, Doc.” Frank grimaced. “It hurts, even if it is a flesh wound.”
The doctor walked back toward him and grinned. “I didn’t say it wouldn’t hurt. I just meant it’s not as bad as it could have been if it had torn the muscle or hit a bone.”
Frank started to stand up so he could put on his shirt.
“Stay seated, Sheriff,” Doc said as he helped Frank ease the shirt over his shoulder. “You might want to be careful for the first week. Give it time to heal.” Dr. Bradley picked up a large square of white cloth. “You should wear this sling for at least that long.”
He folded the cloth into a triangle and tied the ends around Frank’s neck. Then he helped slide Frank’s arm into the fold. It did take some of the pressure off the wound.
“I’ll give you some laudanum to take for the pain. Wait until you get home then put a few drops in a glass of water. It’ll help you sleep.” The doctor handed Frank a small, brown glass bottle with a cork in the top. “While you sleep, your body will begin to heal. The longer you stay up fighting the pain, the longer it’ll take.”
Doc walked over and glanced into his waiting room. “Are one of these men going to take you home?”
August must have been watching, because he quickly came to the door. “I’ll take him.”
“He doesn’t need to ride a horse right now.”
Frank tried to smile at them. He wasn’t sure it worked. “I didn’t ride my horse to the office today. I walked.”
“I’ll go get your buggy. It has the best springs of any in town. It should ride smooth enough if we take it slow.” August quickly went out the door.
Frank was glad when they got up the stairs in
his house. August helped him out of his clothes and into bed. Then he went downstairs to get a glass of water for the laudanum. While he was gone, Frank tried to ignore the excruciating pain burning in his shoulder by thinking about Gerda. He couldn’t believe he had blurted those words to her out in the street. She deserved better than that. Besides, he really wanted to tell her how he had fallen in love with her over the time he had been in Litchfield. She needed to hear all of it. When he was better, he would rectify that.
❧
All Gerda thought about that afternoon were Frank’s last words to her. She wondered if he knew what he had said. He had been shot, and he had lost quite a bit of blood. Besides, he had to be in a lot of pain. Maybe he was out of his head. She wanted to see him so she could know whether he meant it.
When it was almost evening, Anna came to see Gerda.
“August told me that Doc said Frank needed strong beef broth today. I’ve made some. Would you like to go with me when I take it to him?”
Tears rolled down Gerda’s cheeks, and she hugged Anna. “Thank you. I wanted to see how he is doing, but I knew I couldn’t go see him alone.”
August met Gerda and Anna at the house. He went up to check on Frank while the women put the pot of broth on the stove to heat it some. It shouldn’t be too hot for Frank to drink, but it needed to be warm. Gerda was surprised to see how clean and neat everything was. She knew how messy her brothers had always been. If they lived alone in a house, she was sure it would have looked messy most of the time. Maybe Frank paid someone to clean for him. She hadn’t heard anyone say they were doing it, but surely a man wasn’t this neat. There weren’t even any dirty dishes in the sink. She would have expected him to leave his breakfast dishes until later in the day. Maybe she didn’t know Frank as well as she thought she did.
August came downstairs. “You can take the broth up to Frank now.”
Anna picked up a tray with a mug of the steaming liquid on it. Gerda followed her, carrying a napkin. August accompanied them back upstairs. He went in the bedroom first and helped Frank sit up against his pillows.
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