Mistaken

by Karen Barnett

  “Something extra?” Her eyes locked on Daniel. “I thought I said . . . ” She glanced up at her father, her words faltering. She looked back at Daniel. “I apologize, Mr. Shepherd. It’s been a long day. I must have left my manners back at the switchboard office.” She cleared her throat. “Thank you for the delivery, unnecessary though it was. I planned on returning in the morning.”

  Daniel felt his temperature rising. Was there no way to impress this woman? He stepped past her through the gate. Turning, he lowered his voice for her ears. “Well, if you do decide to still come to town in the morning, you’ll be pleased to know that I have the day off. I’m going to do a little fishing.”

  She raised a brow. “Is that what they call it now?”

  Ray Burke left the porch and came toward them. “Laurie was just gonna warm up some stew for supper. There’s plenty, if you’d like to join us, Mr. Shepherd.”

  Laurie gasped, her hand fluttering to her chest. “Dad, I’m sure Mr. Shepherd has better things to do.”

  Her father turned toward him. “Do you?”

  Laurie’s blue eyes rounded, her lips drawing back from even, white teeth.

  For a moment he considered walking away, just to ease her apprehension. He steeled himself. “No, I really don’t have anything else to do. Thank you, Mr. Burke. I’d be honored.”

  No, no, no, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. Laurie followed her father and Daniel Shepherd through the front door into their dilapidated house. She hadn’t even invited Amelia over in the past four years, always finding some excuse to meet her elsewhere. She didn’t want anyone in her house—or close to her father.

  And Daniel Shepherd, of all people?

  She glanced around their bare walls, seeing cobwebs she’d left undisturbed and the afghan lying crumpled on the floor next to her father’s chair. A stack of papers, including her sketchbook, cluttered the kitchen table and the breakfast dishes still soaked in the sink. Her stomach churned.

  She pushed past the two men and retrieved the blanket from the floor, shaking it gently and draping it across the back of the sofa. “Please, sit down, Mr. Shepherd.”

  “Only if you call me Daniel.” He smiled, a dimple showing in his left cheek.

  For a brief moment, she was back on that windswept bluff. That smile could make a girl forget the man was a rumrunner.

  She nodded. “Laurie. You can call me Laurie.”

  Her father sank into his chair with a grunt. “I’m Ray. As I said before, I never liked being called ‘Mister’ anything. Never took much to those kinds of manners. We’re plain, simple folk, Daniel. That’s how the Good Lord made us and that’s how we’re going to stay.”

  Laurie’s gaze swept across the untidy kitchen. Simple is right. That’s exactly how we must look, too.

  The springs of the sofa squeaked as Daniel sat down. He and Dad chatted while she gathered her sketchbook and the other papers from the table and moved them to a nearby footstool. After setting the stew to bubbling on the stove, Laurie snatched up a dishcloth and made quick work of the tabletop and counter.

  She retrieved the bread from the breadbox and popped it into the oven to warm. Opening the cupboard, Laurie frowned at the odd collection of mismatched plates and bowls. She located three that almost matched and arranged them on the table. Pulling open the bottom drawer, she considered their stash of stained napkins, digging to the back for the ones her mother had reserved for special occasions. They hadn’t strayed from the drawer for years—not since Laurie last used them as tablecloths for her dolls.

  Laurie’s attention kept darting back to her father, bitterness simmering in her stomach like the stew on the stovetop. He appeared comfortable and relaxed, chuckling at something their guest said. She ran a hand over the waves in her hair, wishing she had time to go to her room and check them.

  Instead, she turned back to the pot. The stew bubbled merrily, filling the small kitchen with a rich fragrance. She wetted a second dishcloth and discreetly pressed it against her face and neck to calm her frazzled nerves.

  By the time she finally called the men to dinner, she had filled the table with good food. Besides the stew and bread, she had butter and some of Mrs. White’s homemade jam and applesauce, candied carrots, and salad greens from the garden. She silently thanked Amelia for sending home half of the strawberry pie from her failed picnic with Johnny.

  As Daniel walked toward the table, he stopped and stared at the footstool where her sketchbook still lay open to the drawing of the bluff over Crescent Beach. He glanced at Laurie with questions in his eyes.

  Dad noticed his interest. “Laurie’s quite an artist, isn’t she? She must have picked that up from her mother. She certainly didn’t get it from me.” He pulled out his chair and waited as Daniel joined them.

  The two men set down while Laurie added the last dishes to the table. She slipped into her seat just as her father bowed his head.

  “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen.”

  “Amen,” Laurie and Daniel echoed softly, in unison.

  She looked up at Daniel, his smile warming her heart for a brief moment before she pulled her eyes away.

  Laurie ladled the stew into bowls and passed them around the table.

  Daniel leaned over his bowl and took a deep whiff. “This smells amazing. I can’t wait to try it.”

  “Don’t wait, man. Dig in.” Her father buttered his bread and took a big mouthful.

  Daniel lifted his spoon, taking a small sip of the stew, a smile spreading across his face. “Wonderful.”

  Laurie’s heart quickened, her cheeks warming. Her stomach had been growling on the walk home, but now it took all her strength to manage a small sip of iced tea.

  Her father dipped his bread into the stew, wiping it along the lip of the bowl before bringing it up to his mouth. “My girl’s a good cook, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, sir. The stew is delicious.”

  “So, you’re helping Miles with the store?”

  Daniel nodded. “I used to work for him back in high school, but I left for the University and haven’t been back much since.”

  Laurie spun the spoon around the bowl, watching the carrots pirouette in the dark broth. “What brings you back?”

  “I hadn’t really planned on coming back. I was working at a pharmacy in Seattle. But when I got Granddad’s letter . . . ” A tiny crease formed between his brows. “I knew I couldn’t just tell him, ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ I owe him so much. My mother and I came to live with him and Gran after my father died. If it weren’t for them . . . ” Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “Not sure where I’d be now.”

  Her father helped himself to a second slice of bread. “Families got to stick together. That’s what folks up here do. We look out for each other. Right, Laurie?”

  Laurie choked down a mouthful of stew, her fingers wringing the napkin hidden in her lap.

  “Even though I hadn’t planned on coming back to Port Angeles, I’m enjoying it more than I did as a boy.” His eyes met Laurie’s. “I didn’t appreciate its beauty back then.” Daniel’s words hung in the air like the steam drifting from the stewpot.

  Her gaze lingered on his chin—clean-shaven, but still a hint of shadow along the jaw. Her fingers itched for a pencil. And the dimples. She hadn’t seen them since the night on the bluff.

  “It is beautiful, that’s a certainty. Though I don’t get out to see it as much as I used to.” Dad rubbed his hand through his thinning hair. “I used to take the kids fishing and hunting, back when they were little tykes. But they’re too busy for that sort of stuff now, I suppose. It’s a shame really.”

  Laurie pushed away the troubling sensation that she was listening to someone else’s father.

  Daniel wiped his chin with the napkin. “I was thinking of heading out for Lake Sutherland tomorrow. I haven’t seen it in years.”

  Laurie set her spoon back into her bowl. “Hasn’t it been a little cold the last few da
ys for that? There could even be snow up there.”

  Daniel’s eyes gleamed. “I was kind of hoping there would be. I thought it would be fun to see it all frosty and white.”

  Her father bobbed his head. “It’s nice in the snow, but the road’ll be muddy. You shouldn’t go by yourself.”

  Daniel’s eyebrows rose. “Maybe you two would like to join me?”

  Laurie’s heart caught in her chest. “No, we couldn’t possibly. Dad works at the mill, tomorrow.”

  Dad grunted. “Yeah, too bad.” He chewed his mouthful of bread and gave the napkin a sideways glance before mopping his face with it. “But, Laurie’s probably free.”

  She struggled for breath, a flush climbing her neck. “Daddy—”

  Daniel leaned forward. “I’d love it if you could come, Laurie.”

  She clenched the napkin between her fingers. “No.”

  His face fell. “Are you sure? It’s going to be a lovely day.”

  “I don’t think it would be a good idea.”

  Footsteps on the back porch brought the discussion to an abrupt end. Johnny burst through the door, “Laurie, why’s there a car . . . ” He came to a quick stop, his eyes widening.

  “Daniel, what are you doing here?” He crossed the kitchen in a few strides, a rare smile lighting his face.

  Laurie sat back in her chair. Why did this man receive such uncommon welcome in her house? First her father and now her brother.

  Daniel stood and pumped Johnny’s hand. “I just dropped some prescriptions by, and your father invited me to supper.”

  Johnny’s brows lifted. “He did?”

  Laurie gathered another plate and bowl. Thankfully, she had only dished herself a half a bowl of the stew, leaving enough for all of the men. She could grab a snack later.

  “You two know each other?” Dad cocked his head.

  Johnny nodded as he sat down and picked up a spoon. “Daniel and I went to school together, Dad. I was glad to see him back in town. We went fishing together a few days ago.”

  Laurie tucked her skirt under her as she sat. So, they do call it fishing.

  “Well, that’s perfect,” Dad chuckled. “Daniel here was just looking for company for a trip out to Lake Sutherland tomorrow. Johnny’s got the day off tomorrow, too.”

  Johnny reached for a chunk of bread. “Yep. First day off in a while, in fact. I’ve been pulling double shifts the last couple of weeks.”

  Laurie set her spoon down, trying not to think about Johnny’s other activities.

  Daniel smiled. “I was just trying to talk your sister into coming along. Maybe if you come, she’ll relent and join us.”

  Johnny took a bite and chewed. “Sounds like fun. We’ll swing by and pick up Amelia, too. She’s been on me to take her somewhere.”

  Laurie sat back in her chair. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

  Johnny and her father turned and stared, as if they had just noticed her presence. The corner of Daniel’s mouth turned up in a bemused smile.

  I thought Johnny wanted me to stay away from the rumrunners. Then again, she had pestered him to spend more time with Amelia. The dimple in Daniel’s cheek made her heart jump. It’s only one afternoon. What could it hurt?

  She dropped her napkin into her lap with a resigned sigh. “Fine.”

  16

  The next morning dawned unseasonably warm, as if God had purposely designed the day for an outing. Laurie stood on the White’s front porch, swinging her picnic basket rhythmically as Johnny and Daniel made some adjustments to the automobile.

  Amelia squeezed her arm and whispered, “You schemer—what happened to Samuel?”

  Laurie rolled her eyes. “This is all Johnny’s doing.”

  Her friend smiled, sparkles rising in her brown eyes. “Daniel’s a good looking man, though. Not quite as knock-you-over handsome as Samuel, sure, but he’s attractive. He’s got a winner of a smile.”

  Laurie followed Amelia’s gaze and watched as Daniel opened the automobile’s hood. “Yes, he does have a nice smile.”

  The two men bent their heads together, looking down into the mysterious mechanisms inside the automobile’s innards. Johnny rolled his sleeves and reached both hands into the recesses of the engine. Her brother had yet to meet an engine he couldn’t master.

  She turned to Amelia. “And to think, he wanted to drive me to Lake Sutherland alone. What if we’d had engine trouble on the road?”

  Amelia’s trilling laugh drew smiles from both men. She winked at Laurie. “Well, you might have had a lot of time to get to know each other, if you know what I mean.”

  Laurie’s stomach knotted.

  “Johnny and I were out driving one time and the car broke down, over by Miller’s pond. He had the thing fixed and running in about ten minutes.” Amelia huffed. “Not even enough time for a peck on the cheek.”

  “Amelia!”

  “Well?” The woman tipped her head. “Don’t play all coy with me, Laurie Burke. It’s not like you’ve never been kissed.”

  Laurie sighed. “Never by the right man.”

  Amelia nudged Laurie’s arm with her elbow. “Daniel seems the respectable sort.”

  Laurie bit her lip. She couldn’t tell what she knew about Daniel without exposing her brother’s involvement. “He’s not my type.” I prefer men who aren’t crooks.

  “Then Samuel is?” Her cherry-red lips turned up into a teasing smile. “This little adventure might just make him jealous.”

  Laurie reached for the doorknob. “This was a mistake. You go with them, I’m going home.”

  Amelia grabbed her arm. “Come on, I was only teasing.” She pulled Laurie’s hand from the door. “You know I just want to see you as happy as Johnny and me.”

  Her words broke into the recesses of Laurie’s heart. She turned and looked into her friend’s pleading eyes. “Fine, I’ll go. But no more of that kind of talk. I’m not interested in Daniel Shepherd. I’m doing this as a favor to you and Johnny.”

  Johnny covered a yawn with a grease-stained hand and gestured at Daniel to give the motor another crank. Apparently one night’s sleep wasn’t enough to make up for so many late nights on the water. As the car engine revved to life, he whooped in triumph.

  Daniel strolled up the front walk with an easy grin. “We’re in business, ladies. I need to get Johnny to teach me a few of those tricks.” He reached for the basket, his fingers brushing against Laurie’s.

  A rush of warmth shot through her at the touch. Laurie released the handle, rubbing both palms down her sleeves to chase away the tickling sensation. She turned her gaze away, a flutter rising in her stomach.

  Daniel’s pulse quickened as he gazed at the lovely young woman on the porch, the breeze sending the hemline of Laurie’s yellow polka-dotted dress dancing around her knees. Her downcast eyes seemed to hide a hundred secrets and his heart ached to know them all.

  Daniel strapped the baskets to the back of his Buick, Johnny holding the rear door open for Amelia. Laurie’s bottom lip puckered as Johnny moved to follow Amelia into the back seat. Daniel leaned against the rear of the car. “Johnny, it’s been years since I’ve been to Sutherland. How about you sit up front and help navigate?”

  Johnny paused, one foot already in the rear compartment. “Sure. I can do that.” He stepped back onto the dirt and gestured for Laurie to take his place.

  The beaming smile on her face almost made up for sitting beside her on the drive. Please God, no more car trouble. Daniel retrieved his jacket from the hood of the car and jammed his arms into it before sliding behind the wheel. “The engine has never sounded this good. Where did you learn that?”

  His friend wiped his hands on an old cloth. “I tinker. They all basically work the same way. It’s real helpful at the mill. They always need a fellow who can fix things.” Johnny covered a yawn with the back of his hand before folding his long frame into the front seat.

  Daniel drove out onto the main road and stopped, waiting as a few other auto
mobiles hurried past. He sneaked a glance back at the girls. Laurie stared out at the scenery, her hands clutching the edge of the seat.

  Daniel cleared his throat. “What about you, Laurie? What types of things do you like to do?”

  Her gaze swung forward, her eyes guarded. “I don’t know, really. I take care of my father. I work.”

  Amelia’s voice carried through the car. “She’s an artist.”

  He remembered the drawing he had seen at her house—a rendering of a familiar moonlit beach, if he wasn’t mistaken. “What types of art?”

  “Just sketches, mostly.” Her voice barely rose over the engine noise. “People, animals, scenery. Whatever catches my imagination.”

  “Did you bring your book with you?”

  She nibbled her lip. “Yes. It’s in the basket.”

  He smiled. “Good. Maybe we’ll find something to catch your imagination today.”

  When Johnny yawned again, Daniel turned toward him. “We get you up too early this morning?”

  Johnny rubbed a hand across his eyes. “Nah, I was just out late last night helping some friends with a job.”

  Laurie’s hands twisted her pearl necklace as if it were a noose. She pressed her bright red lips into a firm line.

  17

  You went out last night? I thought I told you not to!” Laurie dragged her brother down the muddy trail on the pretense of retrieving her sweater, leaving Daniel and Amelia waiting on the lakeshore.

  “And since when do I answer to you?” He leaned against Daniel’s Buick.

  “You promised.” Her throat ached from swallowing so hard. She wanted nothing more than to dig her hands into Johnny’s shirtsleeves and shake some sense into the man.

  “I did no such thing. I said I wouldn’t go to Crescent Beach.”

  She stopped and caught her breath. “Then, how—”

  He grinned. “We landed at Freshwater Bay. It’s a nicer cove there, really. It’s quiet and closer to town. We may switch permanently, in fact.”