“Oh, well…” Maisie turned as pink as her dress. “I know I wasn’t to tell, but it’s simply Gilbert. He would never share with a soul. I promise.”
“Fair enough,” said Victoria, inwardly cursing herself for trusting her new friend with too much information. She should have kept her story to herself. She hadn’t told Callum, so why had she told Maisie? She had been so desperate for a friend that she had overshared. “Please be sure he knows to keep it to himself. It’s important.”
“Of course,” said Maisie with a slight laugh. “You’re overthinking this. Now go find your new man, and let’s join the fun! While I did rather prefer Callum, this one will do as well.”
Her new man? Oh yes, Dr. Hampton. Victoria had forgotten.
She saw him coming back toward her.
“Would you care to dance?” he asked hesitantly.
“Of course,” she said, though she was not nearly as confident as she sounded.
But Sarah had been right about one thing. Dances here certainly were different than in England. In London, dances were about elegance and performance and moving gracefully across the floor — attributes that did not play to Victoria’s strengths. Here, the music was fun and lively and while some of the dancers were familiar with the steps, others were simply doing their best to move around the floor in a somewhat respectable manner. The exuberance in the air reminded Victoria of the dancing on the ship.
Dr. Hampton was somewhat restrained in his movements, but even still, Victoria felt alive. She laughed as she passed Maisie, and could feel the energy flowing throughout the room. Dr. Hampton had broken out into a sweat by the time the first set finished, but he insisted on continuing to a second.
Perhaps, Victoria considered, just perhaps — she had finally found somewhere she might belong.
* * *
Callum entered the wide south doors of the barn with a smile on his face. The liveliness and excitement in the air with the community spirit reminded him of home. Children ran around the outskirts of the barn as their parents and other adults swung each other around in the middle of the floor.
The smell of fresh-cut pine filled the air, and sawdust could be seen drifting through the light. The dirt floor had been packed down to a hard surface, and wood was stacked in one corner, in preparation to build bays on the floor for threshing. The barn was banked, with access in one corner to the upper floor, which would be used for storing and processing. Aside from people, the barn was mainly empty, as the celebration was taking place just days after the building had been completed, and yet before the farmer moved in his animals and supplies — perfect timing for an occasion like this.
He saw many gazes were turned toward the middle of the dance floor, and he craned his neck to see what they were staring at, knowing what, or rather who, he would find.
It was her — of course. A vision in purple, her hair had, of course, started falling out in curly tendrils around her face. Her laughter was infectious, and she had caught the attention of many people in the room, in particular the man she danced with. He looked infatuated with her, his gaze never leaving her face.
“She is something, is she not?” asked a woman beside him, her voice wistful.
Callum turned to see Mrs. Johnson and smiled in greeting.
“She’s the girl — Sarah’s niece.”
“Aye, we’ve met,” said Callum, determined not to show any emotion. “Who is that with her?”
“Oh, that’s the doctor,” said Mrs. Johnson. “Sarah says he’s wonderful. She’s encouraging Victoria to allow him to court her. She feels the two of them would be just the perfect match. It would take away some of Sarah’s responsibilities if the doctor had more help in the clinic, and Sarah would like someone to look after the girl. The two of them do look well suited, do they not?”
“Aye,” Callum said, his good mood evaporating. “Perfectly.”
He couldn’t help himself as he abruptly left Mrs. Johnson and his feet took him onto the dance floor toward the couple. He took a breath to rein himself in before he politely tapped the doctor on the shoulder, though his poke may have been a little forceful.
“May I cut in?”
* * *
When Dr. Hampton stopped moving, Victoria looked up to him to see what the matter was. It was Callum — of course. He stood behind the doctor, and Victoria had never seen such a look on his face. His eyebrows were drawn low in a vee, and his eyes had turned an even darker blue than usual. His smile was all brittle politeness as he respectfully requested the dance. Her heart thumped hard in her chest as she stared at him while he kept his gaze on Dr. Hampton.
The doctor looked disappointed, but let go of Victoria and with a nod as he answered, “Of course. I have monopolized her for far too long.”
Callum took his place, settling a hand on Victoria’s waist as she stood looking warily up at him.
“Evenin’, lass,” he said, his gaze unreadable.
“Good evening,” she responded, her eyes at his chest as they started to move to the ballad that had just begun, played by a ragtag group of musicians in the corner. “I’m conveniently available to you again?”
“Excuse me?”
“You haven’t sought me out — not even to say hello — for a week following our … encounter in the woods.”
“Aye,” he answered tersely. “And for that I apologized. I told you that shouldn’t have happened. And I accept your apology for chasing me through the woods.”
“I never chased. … Never mind that,” she said, annoyed as she tilted her head back to look him in the eye. “There’s nothing wrong with what happened. Why should it not have occurred?”
“’Tis complicated. It would not work between us,” he said, his eyes not meeting hers but wandering around the barn.
“Are you married? Is there someone else?”
“No, of course not,” he replied, his gaze whipping around to her intently. “I would never…” He sighed. “I’m not here to stay, Victoria. I’ll be returning to Scotland. I’ll not take back an Englishwoman as a wife, and you’re too much a lady for anything else to occur between us.”
Victoria felt like she was on the ship again, rocking back and forth between emotions. No wife, no other woman, but he was leaving, and still holding the fact she was English against her.
“You came all the way here to leave? Why?”
“As I said, it’s complicated.”
“Well this is ridiculous,” she said, her voice becoming heated. “It’s one thing to joke about secrets, but this…”
“And why are you here Victoria? Would you care to share?”
“No, thank you.”
“My point exactly.”
They finished the dance in silence, holding each other tensely.
“I thank ye for the dance,” he said at the end, releasing her hand.
“And to you.”
15
They danced the rest of the night, although not with each other and not with much enthusiasm, as Victoria noted Callum seemed equally miserable. Victoria spent time with the doctor, and while he was kind and polite and a lovely man, all she could say was that he was an amiable acquaintance. She had left England in pursuit of her own destiny and, should she ever decide to marry, her own husband. Sarah had her best interests at heart but Victoria wasn’t about to go against her own vow.
Victoria could never have imagined just how welcoming a community could be. It was as though she had been part of Qu’Appelle for years and not just a few days. Nearly everyone who lived in and around the town was there, including patients from the clinic and a few of the people Victoria had traveled with.
After one lively spin with Maisie and some of the other women, Victoria, perspiring from the heat of the dance, stepped outside the barn for fresh air. She moved away from the revelers around the corner for a moment alone, gazing out on the dark expanse of field and prairie in front of her. She leaned back against the wall, smelling the pine of the barn and the whiff of veget
ation just beginning to spring to life in the ground. She tilted her head back, gazing up at the stars. She had wondered before how they would look here in the Northwest Territories and her question was now answered. It was interesting — they barely changed halfway around the world. They were situated a little differently, but still the same stars she had seen back in England.
“We’re continuing to investigate.”
She jerked aware as she heard voices coming from her left. She sank back deeper in the shadows, not wanting to be caught alone outside.
“Yet nothing,” came the reply in a familiar voice. Callum.
“Nothing to speak of.” This voice had a Scottish bur nearly as thick as Callum’s own. Victoria peeked out to see a tall, rather stately looking man talking to Callum — the man from first the train, and then the barracks.
“I do not understand how a man suddenly disappears,” Callum said, frustration lacing his voice. “One day he’s here, one day he’s not? ’Tis not rational. Could the Cree or the Saulteaux have gotten to him?”
“No, that would not be reasonable. They would not take him without a trace. Besides, we’re friendly with them. In fact, close to peace with them. They’d have no reason to take your cousin.”
As they walked off, Victoria could hear less and less of their conversation. It had re-sparked her interest, though. With just one kiss, she had become distracted from her intent of uncovering Callum and his reasons for being in Qu’Appelle. But now, between the comments Callum had made to her and the conversation she had overheard, she was more curious than ever as to his motives for traveling to Qu'Appelle. Callum was here for a purpose. And she was going to find out what it was.
Victoria slipped back into the barn a few minutes after Callum did and watched him as he began saying his goodbyes. He circled the room, shaking hands, receiving slaps on the back, and conversing with people who, as far as she knew, had been complete strangers to him up until a couple of weeks ago. He seemed to fit in so easily and had made so many friends. She had made far fewer. Besides Maisie and Sarah, many of the women in town were fairly cold and distant toward her. Sarah told her it was because she was attracting the attention of most of the young men in town, but Victoria had hardly even spoken to many of them.
She looked on, moving closer as Callum introduced himself to Aunt Sarah, who was sitting beside the dance floor with Mrs. Johnson.
“Mrs. Carter, ’tis a pleasure to meet you,” he said, taking her hand and flashing that charming grin of his upon her.
“This is Mr. McDougall,” added Mrs. Johnson. “He’s one of our boarders. He’s looking for land in the area.”
“Aye. I’m ensuring this is where I’d like to settle before actually purchasing any land myself,” said Callum, surprising Victoria. It was a simple enough reason to travel here — one that many men would share. Why couldn’t he have shared such a thing with her? Unless he wasn’t being entirely truthful.
“He arrived the same day as your Victoria,” said Mrs. Johnson, breaking through Victoria’s reveries.
“Oh, you know Victoria?” asked Sarah, and Victoria sighed when she saw the interest cross her aunt’s face.
“Aye, we’ve met,” he replied politely. “She’s a lovely young woman.”
“Well,” Sarah said, seemingly flustered. “Do you know her well?
"He..."
Victoria’s cheeks grew hot as she could only imagine what Callum was thinking. Was he upset that she hadn’t mentioned him? But whatever was she supposed to say to her aunt? That she had met a stranger upon her journey here, a man who she could not push from her mind, despite the fact he seemingly ignored her, unless you count the time he had kissed her? Hardly.
“Well, I won’t keep you,” said Sarah, finally seeming to sense his discomfort. “I hope to see you again soon.”
Victoria finally decided to make her presence known, but Callum was already quickly striding away toward the door. She hesitated for but a moment before determining that she must take advantage of this opportunity to speak to him further, but when she began to follow him, her path was blocked by Maisie, who by now had imbibed one too many cups of spiked cider.
“Just one moment, Maisie, I’ll be right back,” she said, placing her hands on her friends shoulders before scurrying around her friend and out the door.
By the time she made it through the throng of people to the barn’s exit, Callum was already riding down the road into the distance. Victoria was trying to decide between turning around to go back inside or to follow him — although to do or say what, heaven only knew — when the whispers of three men caught her ear.
She should really go back inside. This was no business of hers, and she had enough to worry about without adding to the woes of other inhabitants of the town. Her feet couldn’t seem to follow her command, however, as she stayed rooted where she was to better hear the clandestine conversation nearby.
Victoria’s mother had always told her that curiosity would get the best of her one day. She had always tried to ignore Maxine, but maybe, in this instance, she was right. Really, though, she consoled herself, she was just learning more about this town she was making a home in. What was the harm in listening to some innocent chitchat?
She hugged the wall, and peeked out through the shadows.
“He knows nothing,” one of the men gruffly whispered. “All he knows is his cousin is gone. He thinks it was the Cree.”
“We should have just left the man,” answered another. “This has become too complicated. Too many people are suspicious, and the Mountie could be trouble.”
“’Tis what it is now,” said a third voice. “There’s nothing we can do at the moment but keep the new Scot close. Anything else would draw too much attention to us. Besides, he seems otherwise occupied at the moment — did you not see him tonight? Anyway, enough of this for one evening. Tomorrow we will decide what to do with him.”
They headed out, following Callum down the road, and Victoria’s mind raced with possibilities. She knew most would likely say she was being fanciful — dreaming up stories like those she read about in her books. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all connected somehow. These men had discussed a cousin, as Callum did with the tall policeman. Should she talk to Callum and let him know what she had overheard? She would have to admit she had eavesdropped on him earlier, but might he forgive her once he realized she was trying to help?
No longer in the dancing mood, Victoria returned to the barn. Finding that Sarah and Charlie were leaving, she bid her own farewells to Maisie and Gilbert, and asked Dr. Hampton to take her home. He looked disappointed, and Victoria decided they needed to have a frank conversation before this continued any further — this, which never should have even started. He helped her into the carriage then turned it toward Sarah’s home. He and Victoria spoke of the night, commenting on who was in attendance and all of the dances they had partaken in, until the town grew close.
Dr. Hampton cleared his throat, though he seemed too uncomfortable to look at her.
“Victoria, I’ve had such a lovely time,” said Dr. Hampton, keeping his gaze straight ahead, though Victoria could see him swallow hard, as though he was nervous. “Would you mind if I—”
“Dr. Hampton,” she interrupted, gently placing a hand on his arm. “I had a wonderful evening as well, and you could not have been more pleasant of company. But I must tell you…”
“Yes?”
“You are a wonderful man, and I am pleased tonight provided us the opportunity to come to better know one another. I also very much enjoy working with you in your clinic. However, while I hopefully look forward to your continued friendship, this must be our last … umm … potential romantic time together.”
“Romantic?”
“Well, you know … a time when we … or, that is, maybe one of us, thinks that, perhaps, this could lead somewhere. I just mean that…” she struggled to find the words, to tell him the truth without causing him to feel any hurt
.
“Victoria,” he said softly, stopping her. “I understand. You do not want to pursue anything with me.”
“Precisely!” she exclaimed, then tempered herself, seeing the glum look on his face. “It’s only, you are a wonderful man, but I’m not interested in a suitor or marriage, or anything of that sort.”
“Not interested? In me you mean? Or with anyone?”
“Well, with anyone for the foreseeable future. However, I would dearly love to remain good friends with you, if you will have that. And if you’ll allow it, I would be happy to continue to help in the clinic. I do enjoy it, and perhaps Sarah could then have more free time.”
“Certainly, Victoria,” he said with a gentle smile, breaking her heart. “Friends are fine. As is the work. We can discuss it further tomorrow.”
They continued the last couple of minutes in silence. He helped her down from the wagon with a rueful smile.
“Goodnight, Victoria,” he said with a nod. “Thank you for agreeing to accompany me tonight.”
A chorus of emotions washed over Victoria as she let herself into the house. Dr. Hampton really was a wonderful man, and he would make a good husband, but for someone else. She had done the right thing, she told herself, despite how terrible she felt at the moment.
“Victoria!” Sarah was there to greet her as Victoria inwardly groaned, not wanting to have to explain the evening’s events to Sarah.
“How was your night? Did you and Dr. Hampton get along? Isn’t he wonderful?”
Victoria forced a small smile on her face. “Yes, Aunt Sarah. He’s wonderful. However, he’s not for me. Goodnight.”
Victoria walked past her aunt, trying to ignore the guilt that filled her upon Sarah’s disappointed face, and climbed the stairs. As she began preparing for bed, emotions swirled through her chest. She felt guilt for the situation with Dr. Hampton, and for not being more trusting of Callum, who, she could admit, she longed to see once more.
Callum’s Vow: The Victorian Highlanders Page 10