The three of them took off like a shot, and Joel settled back in his chair and put his head in his hands. He’d made more of a mess of things than he’d realized.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to make amends.
He stood up, grabbed his hat, and left the office. He wasn’t a quitter, and this situation would be no exception.
Chapter Five
Evelyn pinned the last blanket on the line and stood back to survey her work. She’d started the laundry as soon as she came back from breakfast that morning, and after a day of hard work, four neat rows of clothing and linens stretched out in front of her, flapping in the breeze. There was more to do, but she’d finish another time.
“Afternoon, Miss Murray.”
She shielded her eyes from the sun and saw Joel walking toward her. To her great annoyance, her heart gave a little flip as he drew nearer. It just wasn’t fair that she reacted to him the way she did. “Hello, Corporal Clark.”
“I’ve come to see how you’re faring.”
“I’m well, thank you.” She motioned toward the laundry. “Just doing my part.”
“It looks like quite a bit more than your part, actually.”
She had to admit, she was quite worn out, but she felt pride in how much nicer the cabin was looking. When she left, she’d do it knowing that she’d made a difference in the Timmons’ lives, even if it was just for a short time. “I don’t mind,” she replied. “It feels good to stay busy.”
Joel nodded, then handed her a short branch covered in leaves of all colors. “It’s too late in the year for wildflowers, but I wanted to bring you something pretty, and I thought this might brighten up the table.”
She took it. She loved the smell of autumn leaves and inhaled deeply. “Thank you,” she said, touched by his unusual gift.
“Is that you, Mountie Joel?”
They both turned as Margaret Timmons came out of the cabin and tottered across the yard. “It is you! I understand you’re to be married. Congratulations—Evelyn here is a wonderful choice.”
Joel’s eyes flicked over to her, and she gave a slight shrug. Hopefully, he understood that meant she’d explain later. Of course, considering that they hadn’t communicated well at all since she’d arrived, that was a bit of a long shot.
Thankfully, he didn’t respond to that statement directly. “How are you and Mr. Timmons doing today, Mrs. Timmons?”
“Oh, we’re all right. Mr. Timmons’ memory isn’t everything it ought to be, you know, but we’re managing. And Evelyn makes the most wonderful biscuits. We’re feeling quite spoiled.” She motioned up toward the house. “Will you join us?”
Evelyn opened her mouth to stop the inevitable from happening, but she just wasn’t fast enough.
“I’d love to,” Joel said, giving both women a smile.
Evelyn raced through the house in her mind. She’d gotten the kitchen clean, but the sitting area hadn’t been touched yet, and there was dust all over everything. Perhaps Joel would just come in and sit at the table and wouldn’t go over by the fireplace at all. She forced a smile. “Wonderful.”
But just as she was about to usher Joel to the table, Mrs. Timmons took him by the arm and led him over to the fireplace. “Get up, Felix,” she said to her husband. “Give the good chair to the Mountie.”
“Of course I’ll give good cheer to the Mountie,” Mr. Timmons said, offering Joel a broad smile. “Welcome to our home.”
“Chair! Give him the chair!”
“Oh. I’m sorry, Mountie Joel. Please, have a seat.” Mr. Timmons hoisted himself out of the rocker and grabbed one of the kitchen chairs for himself.
Evelyn tried not to cringe as Joel sat down. He’d have a streak of dust on his dark trousers when he stood up.
“Now let’s finish making dinner,” Mrs. Timmons said to Evelyn. “We should make our menfolk proud.”
Evelyn smiled and nodded, wishing she could be anywhere else at that moment.
***
Joel glanced around as he visited with Mr. Timmons. He could see quite a lot of dust, as well as some cobwebs in the corners, but the kitchen looked clean, and the contrast was a little odd. Why would someone scrub down a kitchen, but leave the rest of the house in shambles?
Evelyn seemed ill at ease as she moved around in front of the stove. She kept glancing his way as though wishing he’d leave. That didn’t surprise him—the dinner invitation hadn’t been by her choosing, and she must want him gone quite badly. But he’d had to accept—he had to see if the place was as uncomfortable as Elijah had said, and he didn’t know what to think.
Mr. Timmons was rambling on about collecting maple syrup and sugaring off, but Joel was only listening enough to offer a polite nod or an “Is that so?” every now and then. His focus was on Evelyn. Funny how even while doing a mundane task like taking something out of the oven, she lit up the room with her presence. Could Miss Hazel possibly be right? Did he have a chance to fix his mistakes?
“All right, come and eat,” Mrs. Timmons said a moment later. Mr. Timmons moved the kitchen chair back to the table, and they all sat.
Joel felt Evelyn’s sleeve brush his arm as he picked up his fork. She pulled her arm back quickly and he knew it had been unintentional, but still, a sensation raced up into his shoulder like nothing he’d ever felt before. She was nearer to him than she had been since she’d arrived, and that closeness tingled at his senses. He wanted to close his eyes and drink it in, but he realized how very silly that would look, and he also realized that he was being ridiculous. Mounties did not drink things in.
“Mountie Joel, have some of Evelyn’s biscuits,” Mrs. Timmons said, passing him a bowl.
He took two, noticing how light they felt. Evelyn was studying her plate as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world, but he did see her eyes flick over to him as he took his first butter-slathered bite.
“Delicious,” he said after he swallowed. “Better than Jess’s.”
“No one’s biscuits are better than Jess’s,” Evelyn responded automatically. “Except maybe Tilly’s.”
“I’d like to be a judge at that contest,” Joel replied.
“She made a pie, too,” Mrs. Timmons added.
“My goodness. I should stop in unexpectedly more often if this is how I’m to be greeted,” Joel said, and Mrs. Timmons laughed.
“You know you’re always welcome, Mountie Joel. After the help you gave us last year, anything for you.”
Evelyn turned to him. “Oh? What help did you give them last year?”
“It was nothing, really. They had a leak in their roof, and I fixed it.” And yet he hadn’t set foot inside. He could only chastise himself for that so many times, but he did have to question it. Had he really paid attention to the people living in Squirrel Ridge Junction? Did he know how they lived and what they might need, or was he too focused on maintaining the laws and writing up paperwork? Would he have known that the Timmons needed help with their roof if he hadn’t been riding by and seen Mr. Timmons trying to climb the ladder? He needed to spend less time in the office and more time getting to know the people he served.
“That’s very kind of you,” she said.
“Just part of the uniform.” He didn’t feel like he could take much credit for it, considering these new realizations he was having about himself and the way he did his job.
“Well, I think it’s time for pie,” Mr. Timmons said, and Joel couldn’t agree more. The meat portion of the meal had been a little tough. He’d managed to swallow some down as long as he chased it with a bite of biscuit, but he was more than ready for this dinner to be over.
Evelyn rose from the table, and he immediately missed the warmth of her presence beside him. “It’s just a simple apple pie,” she said, sounding apologetic as she set it on the table. “I went for a walk and found some trees that still had a little fruit on them.”
“I love apple pie,” Joel responded, and she smiled briefly before turning to the task
of cutting slices and serving them.
The dessert was every bit as delicious as he’d hoped, and he gladly accepted the second slice that was offered. By the time he pushed away from the table, he was just as full of Evelyn’s baking as he could be, and he was satisfied except for one thing—he’d enjoyed the food, but was still at odds with the cook.
“May I speak with you for a moment?” he asked her as she began gathering up the dishes.
She paused, plates in her hands. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”
“I don’t know if it is, but I’d like to explore the option.”
She seemed to consider that for a moment. “All right.” She set the dishes down, then called out, “I’ll be right back, Mrs. Timmons, and I’ll do the dishes.”
“Fishes? At this time of night? I think you’d be better off going fishing in the morning, dear,” Mrs. Timmons returned from the fireplace, where she was stirring up the embers.
“All right,” Evelyn said with a smile, then followed Joel outside.
She walked with him to the edge of the house, then stopped. “What did you want to say, Corporal?”
He pulled in a deep breath and put his hands in his pockets. “I wanted to say that I’m very sorry about yesterday, and that I’d like to try again.” Bringing up their argument might not be the wisest idea, but he couldn’t think of any other way to resolve it. He’d always believed in tackling things head-on, and his previous idea of not discussing it wasn’t working.
She fiddled with the edge of one of her cuffs for a moment. “Do you think there’s a chance of setting this right? We obviously don’t like each other, and I’m not sure there’s a point—”
“Wait. What do you mean, we don’t like each other?” He shook his head. “Perhaps you don’t like me, but I find you completely fascinating.”
“You do?” She turned those green eyes up to meet his, and he swallowed.
“I do.”
“You don’t find me exasperating and frustrating and impossible?”
He had no way to answer that question. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.
She laughed, and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard. “I’m teasing you, Corporal. I know I’m a handful. The question is, are you willing to overlook my faults?”
“Are you willing to overlook mine?”
They considered each other for a moment, and then she smiled, big and genuine, and he felt something melt in the center of his ribcage. “I’d like to try again,” she said. “I’ve decided that I was too harsh, and I think a fresh start is exactly what we both need.”
He grinned. “I’m all for it.” He nodded toward the house. “I’m concerned about this situation, however. You’ve been doing quite a lot of work here, haven’t you?”
She shrugged. “Yes, but I don’t mind. It’s helped keep my mind off other things. And I feel like I’m doing some good.”
Joel hated knowing he was one of those things that she didn’t want to think about. “I admire that about you, Miss Murray,” he said. “It takes a good woman to offer service to complete strangers.”
“Mrs. Timmons is a good woman too, then—she took me in having never laid eyes on me before.” She ducked her head and then laughed. “She thinks we’re getting married. I tried to explain, but with her hearing loss, it didn’t work very well.”
Joel wondered if he dared say it, but realized that at this point, he had so very little to lose. “Perhaps she doesn’t need to be told just yet.”
Evelyn met his gaze in the moonlight. “All right,” she said softly.
He cleared his throat. One more minute and he’d be taking her in his arms, and it was much too soon for that. She’d only just now agreed to stop hating him. Instead, he nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He took her by the elbow and walked her back to the front door, conscious every second of her nearness. It was like drinking wine, although he’d never tasted it. He felt heady and light, and he was finally starting to understand why Theodore had turned into such a pudding brain when Jess arrived on the scene.
“Goodnight, Miss Murray,” he said, and she smiled.
“Goodnight to you, Corporal.”
Joel almost ran into a tree as he walked home, he was so inebriated with thoughts of Evelyn.
Chapter Six
The women all gathered at Tilly’s the next morning to wait for the Mounties to finish writing their reports. Rose, JoAnn, and Tilly were brimming with excitement about their grooms, but also shared some nervousness and feelings of insecurity in their new roles. Jess was doing her best to reassure them. Evelyn just sat there quietly, listening, not sure what to say.
“And what about you?” Jess said, turning to Evelyn and startling her. She’d hoped the focus wouldn’t shift to her at all—it would be much simpler that way.
“I really don’t know,” Evelyn replied truthfully. “It’s all been so confusing.”
“There’s still no wedding date set? Theodore said he saw Joel walking home from the Timmons’ last night, and he seemed quite happy about something.”
“No wedding date,” Evelyn replied. “I think we’ve called a cease fire at best.”
“And that’s wonderful,” Rose said. “It’s a good place to start, isn’t it?”
“A better place to start would have been with him meeting me at the train station, but yes, this is a positive sign.”
All the girls looked up as the front door opened and the Mounties filed in. These small cabins weren’t meant to hold so many people at once, but somehow, they all fit. Joel remained near the door, quietly waiting while each of his men collected their respective women and left.
“You finished the reports, then?” Tilly asked.
“Finally,” Joel replied. “It’s a good thing these men intend to get married only once in their lives—giving them the day off for it has thrown my schedule out of whack completely.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive it,” Tilly said with a smile. “May I offer you some coffee?”
“I’m fine, but thank you.” Joel looked across the room at Evelyn. “I wonder, Miss Murray, if you’d care to take a walk with me.”
Again, her heart gave one of those ridiculous leaps, and she didn’t know how to make it stop. “Yes, I’d like that.”
He nodded. “Excuse us, Tilly.”
“Of course,” she responded gaily. “Everyone else has gone off—I suppose you might as well too.” She smiled over at Nolan, who had taken a seat at the table.
Joel held the door open for Evelyn as she stepped out into the morning air. “How are you this morning, Miss Murray?”
“Well, for starters, I think we’ve reached the point where I could allow you to call me Evelyn.”
He nodded. “That sounds reasonable. Evelyn.”
She liked how he said her name, like it was a bit of honey. “To answer the rest of your question, Joel, I’m quite well. You say the reports are done?”
“They are, and my desk is entirely clear of paperwork. I suppose I needed to keep my mind occupied as well.”
Warmth rushed to her cheeks. He seemed so solemn, it was hard for her to imagine that she’d rattled him as much as he rattled her, but this seemed like a good indication of it. “I’m glad,” she said. “They say that a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.”
“I can speak to the truth of that. My mind has been quite cluttered for some time now, but I believe I’m finally starting to see some clarity.”
He motioned around, and she realized that they’d gone through the trees and entered a small clearing. It was simply beautiful. Some fallen trees created benches of sorts, and they sat near each other. She could smell pine coming from their surroundings, but she also smelled soap and mint and realized that was coming from Joel. It was tempting to lean in and take a deeper sniff, but she stopped herself sharply, realizing how very inappropriate that would be.
Although fun.
“You said that your father and
brothers are in the RNWMP,” he said. “Tell me about them.”
Oh. That was hardly the romantic conversation she’d thought they were about to have, but it was nice to know that he’d been listening. “Yes, of course. My father is Inspector Harold Murray, retired, of Ottawa. Then I have four brothers—Jonathan, who is stationed in the Yukon; Samuel, in Alberta; Richard, in the Northwest Territories, and Peter, who’s in Manitoba.”
“That’s very impressive,” Joel said. “And where do you fit in?”
“I’m the youngest of them all, and as such, I was treated very nearly like a brother. They were careful not to get too rough with me, but all the same, I played tag and ran footraces and did just about everything they did right alongside them.”
“It sounds like a happy childhood,” Joel said, sounding a little wistful.
“What about you?” she asked, wondering at his tone.
“I’m an only child. I would have enjoyed being from a family as large as yours.”
“Every day was an adventure, and I never ran out of playmates. It did make things awkward when it came to courting, however. My brothers insisted that no one would ever be good enough for me, and they ran off anyone who tried to catch my attention. Once I explained that I had different ideas, though, they seemed willing to back down a little bit.”
“And what were those ‘different ideas’?”
She winced. She’d hoped he wouldn’t ask that follow-up question—she never should have said so much. But they were starting over, and he deserved her best effort. “I decided a long time ago that I would never marry anyone but a Mountie. The uniform requires the best in a man, and I wanted the best in a husband. It seemed a natural fit.”
“And so when you arrived and I was at anything but my best . . .” Joel said slowly.
“I realize now that I was being unreasonable,” Evelyn said. “I should have known you would be under a tremendous amount of pressure, with the shooting in town and so forth.”
He lifted a finger. “Ah, but we’re not going to worry about that. We’re starting fresh, remember? No more regrets or apologies. The whole thing never happened.”
RNWMP: Bride for Joel (Mail Order Mounties Book 4) Page 3
