A Family Arrangement

by Gabrielle Meyer

  Charlotte’s hand fluttered to her chest. “What I say?”

  He scooted forward on his chair. “Charlotte, ever since the day I met you, I’ve admired you.” He paused and swallowed, as if redirecting his approach. “Abram has asked me to stay here and pastor the church, and I told him I would have to think and pray about the decision.”

  “You’d give up your travels?”

  He moved so far forward, he came off his chair and bent down on his knee in front of her.

  She backed up as he reached for her hand. “I would, if you’d agree to marry me,” he said. “I never considered marriage, because of my transient lifestyle, but if I stay in one place, I would desire marriage—marriage to you.”

  Charlotte inhaled.

  “I’ve prayed about this decision,” Ben said, his handsome face lighting with a smile. “And I believe this is the right thing for me to do.”

  “Ben.” She wished she could catch her breath. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Then don’t say anything yet.” He gently rubbed her hand. “It took me over a month to come to this decision. I couldn’t very well ask you to make yours quickly. I know you’ll want to pray and seek the Lord.”

  She stood, forcing him to stand, too. “I have plans to go back to Iowa City.”

  “Plans can change.” He grinned. “Isn’t my revelation proof? I thought I’d live and die on the trail, but sometimes our plans are not God’s plans.”

  “Yes, but sometimes they are.”

  He nodded, his face growing serious. “You’re right, and I would never ask you to go against God’s will.” He took a step back and lifted his hands. “It’s up to you to seek Him and discover for yourself what His will is for your life. I don’t want to pressure you.”

  She couldn’t help but tease him. “You said you have a big decision to make, and it largely depends on what I say. You don’t think that’s pressure?”

  He laughed, and it was good to see his confidence return. “You’re right. I suppose that was a bit serious of me.”

  She took a deep breath. “So, you plan to stay on at the church?”

  He twisted his hat. “I do.”

  “Which means Abram has his preacher, his teacher and his doctor.”

  “Now he need only finish the school.”

  Charlotte turned from him and looked out the window at the sawmill and new gristmill. “He’s meeting with Mr. Cheney and Mr. Hubbard this afternoon, and he’s going to request funds to complete the project.”

  “It looks as if you have a lot of seeking to do, Charlotte.” Ben’s voice was gentle.

  Yes. With the last of her requirements in place, she was faced with two decisions. Either return to Iowa City, alone, to start her business. Or stay here, with Ben, and become his wife, which would allow her to see her nephews on a regular basis.

  It also meant she would see Abram, as well, unless he became restless and moved on to a new adventure. But she would be here for the boys if that happened, and that was the most important thing to consider.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Go ahead and finish your school,” Cheney said to Abram. “I suppose it’s considered a necessary structure for a community.”

  Abram almost let out a sigh of relief. After several hours of heated debate about how to spend their capital, finally he and Cheney agreed on something.

  “I only want the bare essentials,” Cheney added, his large mustache twitching. “A chalkboard, benches and a stove. The families can provide their own primers.”

  “Benches?” Abram asked. “The children will need desks.”

  Cheney rapped his finger on the ledger sitting on Abram’s desk. Hubbard had kept their records with meticulous accuracy. “We spent forty thousand dollars on logs over a month ago,” Cheney said, “and they’re sitting in the millpond waiting to be milled. Once the logs are milled and sold, you can have your desks, but not a minute sooner.” Cheney glanced from Abram to Hubbard. “I’m warning both of you. All of this could fail in the blink of an eye if we’re not careful. I know you’re eager to make this an appealing community, but we must focus first on the necessary projects that will make us more money. Everything else will come in time.”

  “I think roads are necessary.” Hubbard pointed at the ledger. “This expenditure is for the road running east of town where several people have started farming. We need a road for them to come to town, don’t we?”

  “If we have no lumber or flour to sell to them, what will it matter?” Cheney asked.

  Abram stood, tired of the incessant arguing. “I’ll finish the school and get the lumber milled, and then I’ll focus my attention on expanding the dam.”

  “That’s another thing,” Cheney said, rising from his seat to look Abram in the eyes. “Without the dam, we have no power, and without power, we can’t sell river lots to other entrepreneurs. We need that dam expanded across both the east and west channels of the river. Put men on the project right away.”

  “I can’t oversee the project until I finish the sch—”

  “The dam has top priority.” Cheney closed the ledger and let out a frustrated breath. “I wish I wasn’t needed in St. Anthony. I’d stay here and oversee it myself.”

  Abram reminded himself that he had invited these men to invest in his dream, not the other way around. He owed them a great deal and needed to keep them happy. “I’ll get right to work on the dam in the morning, and I’ll put some men on the school and the logs.”

  “Good.” Cheney took his hat from the hook near the door. “I need to get going or I won’t reach St. Anthony before nightfall. Goodbye, gentlemen. I’ll be back next month.”

  Abram and Hubbard also grabbed their hats and the three men walked out together.

  They said their goodbyes and then Abram turned toward home. His insides felt wound up and his temper was short, but he’d held himself together during the long morning and afternoon.

  Right now, all he wanted was to go home and see his children and tell Charlotte about the surprise he had waiting for her.

  As Abram neared his house, Harry was by the pigpen, finally fixing the loose post. The mama pig and her piglets grunted inside and rolled around in the mud.

  Harry glanced up and then looked back at his work. “I think it’s time I take my leave, Abram.”

  Abram hitched his foot on the pen and leaned his elbows on his knee, not surprised by Harry’s announcement. “For good?”

  Harry stomped the dirt into place and nodded. “The place is getting too crowded. A man can’t breathe with all these people crawling about. I didn’t mind when it was just a few of us here. No one was telling me what to do or where to go or what to believe.”

  “Does this have something to do with Charlotte?”

  Harry glanced at the house, but instead of the same look of disgust, Abram recognized fear in Harry’s eyes. “I don’t like when people go changing on me. It makes me uneasy.”

  “Changing?” Abram looked over at the house, too—just as Ben and Charlotte exited. Ben put his hat on and dipped his head at Charlotte. She remained near the open door, one hand on the knob. Something about the way she stood and interacted with Ben made Abram’s pulse pick up speed.

  “I think I’ll pull out tomorrow,” Harry said.

  Abram looked back at Harry. “Tomorrow? Where will you go?”

  “Duluth.”

  “Why Duluth?”

  “Several men are getting rich mining copper. I heard there’s an abundance of it up there. They’re expecting a land rush, and I aim to be one of the first to stake a claim. I figure if someone gets to make money, it might as well be me.”

  Abram dropped his foot to the ground and put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. “If I can’t change your mind, I wish you well. I couldn’t have done
any of this without you.”

  Harry shrugged away from Abram’s hand and started toward the barn without another word.

  Ben and Charlotte still stood by the open door, their gazes intent on one another.

  Abram strode across Wood Street and cleared his throat.

  “Abram.” Charlotte looked around Ben, but she didn’t offer the smile he’d become accustomed to. “How was your meeting?”

  “I got the money to finish the school. I hope to have it enclosed by the end of this week.”

  “That’s good news,” Ben said as he turned to Abram. “And I have more good news for you.”

  Abram looked between Charlotte and Ben, apprehension snaking around his throat. “What’s that?”

  “I’ve decided to accept your offer and stay at the church.”

  Abram grinned and reached for Ben’s hand, pumping it up and down. “You will?”

  Ben laughed. “I was just telling Charlotte.”

  Abram glanced at Charlotte, who was quieter than usual.

  Of course—this meant he had achieved all his goals and just in time.

  Abram dropped Ben’s hand and became serious. “That’s it, then.”

  “I suppose it is.” Charlotte looked down. The toe of her shoe slipped out from under her skirt and played with the dirt. “You’ve done something I thought was impossible, and you did it much faster than I imagined.” Her voice was filled with a mixture of sadness and respect.

  “The teacher hasn’t arrived yet,” Abram said. “And the school isn’t built.” He dipped his head to get her to look at him. “It isn’t September. There’s still time for me to mess up.”

  She finally looked up at him and tried to offer him a smile, though her lips trembled.

  “Charlotte.” He itched to reach for her but felt the presence of Ben looming near.

  Maybe Abram could cheer her. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “A surprise?”

  “I’d like to take you out for supper.”

  Charlotte’s eyebrows dipped. “Go out to eat?”

  Abram chuckled. “Some people do that on occasion—especially in civilized societies like ours.”

  Charlotte’s countenance brightened but then dimmed. “What about the boys?”

  “I thought we could ask Mrs. Hubbard to watch them for the evening.”

  Charlotte glanced at Ben. “Would you like to come?”

  Abram’s smile fell. He hadn’t anticipated a guest—but he should have realized he couldn’t extend the invitation to Charlotte with Ben standing there, unless he wanted Ben to join them.

  Ben glanced at Abram and then back at Charlotte. “How about I stay with the boys and you two can go enjoy the evening?”

  “Are you sure?” Charlotte’s voice dropped lower than normal.

  Ben nodded. “I think you and Abram have a great deal to discuss.”

  She smiled at Ben. “Thank you.”

  “I feel like I’m on the outside, looking in.” Abram crossed his arms. “Is there something I need to know?”

  Ben looked at Charlotte, his eyes intense. “Is there?”

  Charlotte shook her head and swallowed. “Not yet.”

  “What?” Abram asked, impatience rising up his spine.

  Ben put his hand on Abram’s shoulder. “Go and enjoy yourself. Take all the time you need. I’ll stay with the boys.”

  Abram didn’t like what was going on, even if he didn’t know what it was—or especially because he didn’t know.

  “I’ll go and change,” Charlotte said. “There’s bread, butter and fresh pickles in the pantry for supper, Ben. I hope that’s okay.”

  “We’ll be fine.”

  Charlotte offered Ben one last smile and then left the two men standing in the doorway.

  “What was all that about?” Abram asked when she was out of sight.

  Ben’s face had become serious. He closed the door and stepped away from the house. “If Charlotte isn’t ready to talk about it, then neither am I.”

  Alarm scattered throughout Abram’s mind like little fragments he couldn’t pick up and put together. “Did you ask her to marry you?”

  Ben glanced at Abram and then paced away, clearly not as confident as he had seemed in front of Charlotte. “If she wants to tell you, she may.”

  Abram took one giant step toward him and put his hands on Ben’s chest to stop his pacing. “Did she say yes?”

  Ben paused, clearly surprised by Abram’s actions. “No. Not yet.”

  “So she’s thinking about it?”

  Ben nodded.

  Abram dropped his hands and stared at his friend. “Do you think she’ll say yes?”

  “I hope she will—but I really don’t know.” Ben tilted his head toward the house. “Why don’t you go inside and get ready? I’ll see to the boys. Maybe I’ll take them up to the Hubbards’ after all, so they can play with the other children.”

  Abram walked away from Ben and entered the house, but he hardly saw anything in his path. What would he do if Charlotte said yes to Ben? It was hard enough to imagine Charlotte leaving...but even worse to imagine her staying as Ben’s wife.

  * * *

  Charlotte put on the dark blue silk dress she wore the night of the barn dance. She didn’t have time to curl her hair, but she did restyle it, using the ivory-handled brush Abram had given her for Christmas, securing it with several pins. Her hands shook as she pinched her cheeks and then slipped on her gloves.

  Ben’s proposal still echoed in her mind, giving her much to think on. She admired him, and found him to be handsome and kind—but that was all she felt. He didn’t send her pulse skittering or cause her stomach to fill with butterflies at his appearance. She didn’t look for him when he was gone, or try to be near him when he was present. She enjoyed their conversations, but he didn’t challenge her—not like Abram did.

  Could she marry a man she didn’t love? Many people did, and some found happiness—but could she? It would allow her to be near the boys and to be present if they needed her.

  A knock sounded at her door. “Are you ready?”

  Abram.

  She closed her eyes and willed her heart to stop fluttering. It was simply a dinner, like all the other meals they had eaten together.

  So why was she so nervous? Why did she anticipate the evening with excitement and dread?

  “One minute, please.”

  She looked at her reflection and took several deep breaths. Abram was all wrong for her. She couldn’t allow herself to even contemplate these feelings budding up inside. She must force her guard up once again and resist the twinkling in his eyes, the teasing in his tone. She must not notice the way his hair curled at the nape of his neck or how his voice dipped deeper when he laughed.

  She must simply not think of Abram.

  Charlotte opened the door, determination making her bold, and stopped short, her breath catching in her throat.

  Abram leaned up against the door frame leading into his room, his hands in his pockets, his feet crossed at the ankles. He had shaved, giving his face a youthful look, and combed his hair to the side. When she appeared, he stood straight and the look in his eyes made her knees grow weak.

  “Charlotte.” He took a step toward her, his eyes roaming her appearance. “You’re...beautiful.”

  Every reasonable thought left her and all she could think about was how wonderful it felt to be noticed by him. For far too long she had tried to resist the feelings his compliments elicited, but at the moment, she wanted to bask in his praise. “Thank you.”

  His eyes filled with pleasure and he grinned. “You’re welcome.” He extended his arm toward the stairs. “Shall we?”

  She took a tentative step into the hall, hoping her legs woul
d hold her up, and then she descended the steps, as carefully as she could, breathing a sigh of relief when she made it to the bottom without tripping.

  He came down after her and together they walked into the kitchen. Charlotte glanced around the empty room. “Where did Ben and the children go?”

  “He took them up to the Hubbards’ for the evening, so they could play with the other children.”

  “That was kind of him.”

  Something darkened Abram’s mood and he didn’t respond. Instead he opened the door and extended his elbow. She hesitated for only a moment and then slipped her gloved hand around his arm.

  They took their time and walked up the old wagon road toward Main Street and then turned left. A new restaurant sat across the street from the Northern Hotel and, from all appearances, it was doing a good business. Dozens of men walked in and out of the restaurant, many of them casting appreciative glances in her direction.

  “Do you think there will be room for us?” Charlotte asked.

  “It looks pretty crowded in there.”

  Across the road, the Northern Hotel gleamed under the sun with its white clapboard siding and dozens of windows. It was an impressive building, long and narrow, built in the Greek Revival style.

  “Richardson finished the hotel today and Jude Allen at the American Hotel is livid,” Abram said. “Richardson won the right to have the first ball, which will be held one week from tonight. August thirty-first.”

  “August thirty-first.” The day before their agreement ended.

  He took a deep breath. “I was wondering if I may escort you to the ball.”

  Charlotte glanced at him and caution prevented her from saying yes. There was still the matter of Ben and his proposal hanging between them—yet she had made no commitment to Ben. She nibbled on her bottom lip and allowed herself to imagine being in Abram’s arms as they danced. The thought sent a warm sensation flowing through her midsection. “If you escort me, does it mean you’ll finally dance with me?”

  The twinkle returned to his beautiful blue eyes. “More than once, if you’ll allow me the honor.” His free hand came up, rested on the hand she had wrapped around his elbow, and he squeezed it. “I’ll be the happiest man in the room.”