Alice broke into tears again. She doubted anything could be resolved. She and Jake had parted with angry words spoken between them. Her mother and sisters knew something had happened, but they had no idea what the problem was. How could Alice tell them she thought Jake might be into counterfeiting? They would be crushed. They adored Jake.
And what if she had judged him wrongly? The thought brought on a new batch of tears.
“I’ve prepared a bath for you,” Mrs. Gardner said. “Once you clean up and get out in the fresh air, you’ll feel better.”
Alice didn’t think anything could make her feel better unless she could relive Saturday and have a better talk with Jake. She hadn’t really given him enough time to explain himself. What did he mean when he said he bought the book of sonnets by washing dishes? That didn’t make any sense, but nothing really made sense anymore.
After bathing and eating, Alice set out for town with her mother driving and her younger sisters in the back seat. She barely looked at Fern and Beth; seeing their downcast faces was too much to bear. Mrs. Gardner dropped Alice off in front of Mrs. Stribling’s home and told her she’d be back for her in three hours. Alice climbed the front steps with a heavy heart. It was nice to feel clean again, and she was certainly thankful to breathe fresh air, but she couldn’t shake off her heartache.
Mrs. Stribling took one look at her and coaxed Alice into the kitchen where she placed a steaming cup of chamomile tea in front of her. “Do you want to talk about it, or should I mind my own business?” Mrs. Stribling asked, patting Alice’s hand. “We old fogies missed you at the Saturday night dance, and I knew you had so looked forward to it with Jake returning home. I can tell by your countenance that things must not have worked out as you hoped.”
Alice leaned her elbows on the table and covered her face. “Things didn’t work out,” she choked out. She looked up with tear-filled eyes and took a deep breath. She hadn’t confided the details of Jake’s and her disagreement to her own mother, not wanting her mother to think the worst of Jake. Dared she confide in Mrs. Stribling? She felt like she might go mad inside trying to sort things out by herself. “I . . . I’m not sure what to say. I wouldn’t want anything I said to be repeated to another soul.”
Mrs. Stribling patted Alice’s hand again. “You’ve no worries there, my dear. All your older sisters confided in me when it came to setbacks in their love life before they married. You can be sure I never repeated a word of what they told me to anyone. If my Walter were still alive, I wouldn’t have even told him. I admit, I’ve a propensity to listen to the local news that gets shared around town, but if someone speaks to me in confidence, I honor that. You’ve never heard one of your sisters complain about me breaking a confidence, have you?”
Alice giggled and it felt good to have one happy moment. “Oh, Rolla. I’ve never heard any complaints about you.”
“See there. Now what’s got you so downhearted? Let’s figure out some way to bring a smile back to your lovely face.”
“I don’t know if that’s possible,” Alice said, her countenance falling once again. But she took a sip of tea and started in. She told Mrs. Stribling everything from Reed’s concern about the phony bill to her talk with Jake on their picnic and how badly that had ended.
“So, do you think Jake is buying counterfeit money?” Mrs. Stribling asked when Alice finished.
“I don’t know,” Alice whined. “I think he might be, but I’ve gone over what he said a hundred times, and I just don’t know for sure. I wish I could talk to him again, and not be so quick to judge him.”
“Hmm,” Mrs. Stribling said. “Let me think about this. There must be something we can do to help you through this. In the meantime, look what I have. Another letter from my sister. Will you read it to me? She’s so demanding, always telling me what I should do. I need your help to decide what I want to do.”
Alice took the letter and began in a voice that lacked enthusiasm. “Dear Rolla,” she read. “Change of plans. Meet me in St. Louis for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition on the opening day. April thirtieth. St. Louis is closer to you than Chicago, so you won’t have to travel on the train so far. Think of it, Rolla, seven glorious days at the World’s Fair with your favorite sister.”
Alice stopped reading and smiled. “I know, Rolla. You’re her only sister.”
They both chuckled, and Alice felt some of the tension drain from her.
“Now cheer up, dear girl,” Mrs. Stribling said after Alice finished reading the letter and handed it back. “Have faith that things will turn out for the best. I don’t believe that Jake Weston is into counterfeiting; but if he is, he’s certainly not the man for you.”
“But what am I to do?” Alice asked. “I love him so much.”
“The first thing you need to do is clear your mind of Jake for a while so you can think objectively. You need a change of scenery and I have a perfect solution for that.”
Alice looked at her friend quizzically.
Mrs. Stribling’s eyes brightened. “Come to St. Louis with me as my traveling companion! You just read that my sister wants me to meet her there on April thirtieth, the opening day. It’s coming up soon. I can’t travel alone, and the trip would be the best diversion in the world for you right now. Naturally, I would pay all our expenses. What do you think?”
On the way home, Alice clung to the mail her mother had picked up at the mercantile. On top of her father’s newspapers and surveying periodicals lay a letter from Jake. Both Fern and Beth watched Alice expectantly, but there was no possibility that Alice would open the envelope until she was in the privacy of her own room. Did Jake hate her? Was he happy to move on without her? Had he met someone else in Boise? The suspense ate at her all the way home.
As soon as Alice took care of the horses, she ran upstairs to her room, crawled onto her bed, and held the letter to her chest. She had been so quick to cut off their relationship, but her heart had yet to stop aching. She wept as she slowly opened the envelope and removed the letter. No matter what this letter contained, she still loved him, and had to accept that this might be her last correspondence from Jake. With tear-filled eyes and shoulders that hunched over her chest she began to read.
Dearest Alice,
When your letter came last week, I just grabbed it and went straight to my room, and there all by myself I read it over and over and cried. Yes, I cried. You have no idea how much that letter hurt. Please know how terribly sorry I am for getting upset with you when we were together. You were absolutely correct about counterfeiting being wrong and how Dusty was a bad influence on me. At the time, I didn’t want to see the truth of it, and I let Dusty sway some of my beliefs and actions.
I wish I could tell you all that has happened this past week. I’ll just start by saying that Dusty was caught in a raid on the banker’s home. Both he and the banker are sitting in jail for possession of counterfeit money. I’m sorry to admit that I nearly went down that same road, but thanks to your goodness and your influence, I didn’t go there.
I feel terrible that I can’t come home for a few weeks and tell you everything that’s happened. It will be at least two weeks before I can get away. Dusty is no longer working for the newspaper office, so the rest of us are terribly busy covering the counterfeiting bust and all the other news items that take place in this bustling city.
Is there any chance that you might forgive me and that we might pick up where we were before I almost followed Dusty to ruin? I have confessed my bad choices to God and promised Him that I will seek to follow the example of His son for the rest of my life. I understand if you’d prefer to look to Frank Baldwin or Reed Browning for a more exemplar man to consider for your future husband. You deserve someone of the highest character.
Sincerely, your devoted admirer and one who loves you dearly.
Jake
What was Alice supposed to do now? She felt so confused. She needed that change of scenery that Mrs. Stribling offered more than ever.
&n
bsp; Alice knelt beside her bed and poured out her heart to the Lord, asking for guidance.
13
One week later, Jake sat at his desk in the newspaper office working on his article about counterfeiting in Idaho. The headline was entitled: Illegal Tender. It was a follow-up article to the glaring headline and article earlier in the week about the Secret Service coming in and breaking up a counterfeit ring. Jake’s article was about the debilitating effect counterfeiting had on communities, the nation, and individuals. The two other reporters worked across the room, one at his desk and the other typing away on the typewriter. Jake stopped working after a while and leaned one elbow on his desk. How could he concentrate on his article when all he could think about was Alice and how much he missed her and longed to hold her in his arms?
Would Alice even speak to him again when he could get away and go to her? If he were to catch the next train to Clover Creek and beg for her forgiveness, would she still be willing to marry him? So much had happened, and unfortunately, Uncle Lyman had piled the workload onto Jake and the other two reporters.
Less than an hour after Jake had walked away from Dusty and the prospect of buying counterfeit money, he learned there had been a raid on the banker’s house as Dusty was leaving. Both Dusty and the banker were arrested. Jake had quickly learned that counterfeiting was not only morally wrong, it was illegal. Instead of helping the economy, counterfeiting threatened the stability of the whole nation. Jake had never heard of the Secret Service until that day but was quickly enlightened during his hair-raising interview with one of the operatives.
The man had wanted to know everything Jake knew about Dusty, including Jake’s relationship with him. Jake acknowledged that Dusty had spent counterfeit money on him, trying to entice Jake into the business. He told the operative about the two counterfeit bills that Dusty had traded to him. He admitted that he planned to take a real two-dollar bill to the mercantile in Clover Creek to make up for the fake one he had unknowingly given them. He also admitted that he had torn the other counterfeit bill into pieces and thrown it away.
“Well, let this be a lesson to you,” the operative had said in his unsmiling, starchy manner after he had searched Jake’s room to be sure Jake was telling the truth about not having any more counterfeit money. “And bear in mind that the Secret Service will be keeping an eye on you in the future.”
Now Dusty sat in a jail cell awaiting a prison sentence and Jake uttered prayers of gratitude every day that he had finally come to his senses and chosen to walk away from Dusty and the counterfeit money. Alice had been right all along, and Jake couldn’t wait to tell her so in person. Uncle Lyman had promoted him to a full-fledged reporter to take Dusty’s place. A promotion with a raise.
Jake could afford to get married now, but would Alice have him? They wouldn’t have a lot of money, but enough for their needs. If only he could get back to Clover Creek and beg her to forgive him before Alice was swept off her feet by Frank Baldwin or Reed Browning. That fear tore Jake apart while he was stuck with the responsibilities of his new job. The very job he had hoped for.
He jumped to his feet and started pacing.
Soon after the other two reporters left for their midday meal, one of the ladies that Jake had interviewed for the Local News came strutting into the newspaper office. The second she saw Jake she rushed over to him.
“There you are, the fine young man who wrote such an excellent article on etiquette. Now I have another matter that I need written up.”
Jake tried not to let his frustration show. He had missed breakfast in order to come into the office early, wanting to finish his article before noon. Now that he had nearly completed it, he was starving. He wanted to rush back to the boarding house in time for a full dinner.
“How can I help you Mrs...?”
“Mrs. Drummond. I need to run an advertisement for something rather personal and I’d like your opinion on how best to word it.”
Jake groaned inwardly. He was positive he did not want to work on something of a personal nature with Mrs. Drummond. Besides, he didn’t want to be late for dinner and miss another meal. Nevertheless, Jake picked up his pencil and a pad of paper and prepared to take down the information.
Twenty minutes later, Jake had a good deal more information than he needed for the advertisement. Mrs. Drummond had a cottage behind her home that was coming up for rent in a few weeks. She was a widow lady who was afraid to live alone in her home without someone she could trust nearby. She had just explained that the rent could be reduced considerably if the person was willing to help with yard work when Jake heard the outer door open.
When he looked up his heart stopped. He slowly stood, beholding the most beautiful sight in the world in front of him. “Alice,” he whispered, his heart beating so loudly, he wondered if Mrs. Drummond could hear it. After several impossible to believe moments, he turned to Mrs. Drummond and helped her to her feet. “I might know of a dependable young man to rent your cottage. Actually, it might possibly be a young married couple. I have another appointment right now, but I’ll come out to your house to discuss the matter with you. If an agreement works out to your satisfaction, you won’t even need to spend the money to place an ad.”
“Does this young man have good references?” Mrs. Drummond asked.
“Absolutely,” Jake replied. “Excellent references.”
“Is he trustworthy?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh, perfect,” Mrs. Drummond said as Jake eased her toward the door. He opened the door for her and said, “I’ll be in touch within a day or two.”
She waved, and he smiled.
Closing the door slowly after Mrs. Drummond walked off, Jake turned to face Alice. She looked so beautiful in a dark green traveling suit, standing with her hands clasped and an angelic look on her face.
Jake’s heart was still racing as he stepped forward, took her in his arms, and simply held her close.
Every concern that Alice had weathered on the train ride to Boise melted away when Jake took her in his arms. She leaned into his chest, wrapped her arms around him, and savored the intoxicating smell of him. Being in his arms, and knowing she was welcome was such a beautiful answer to her prayers.
“I had to come and see you,” Alice finally murmured, still clinging to Jake and not moving except to speak. Tears coursed down her face, but she didn’t care. After all the heartache she had endured, after all the mental anguish she had been through, she wanted to hold onto this moment forever. “I had to come.”
“I’m so thankful you did,” Jake whispered, holding her for several more precious moments before finally walking her toward his desk. They sat in two chairs, facing each other, holding hands, smiling. Understanding seemed to pass between them as though they had never quarreled or been apart.
“I’m sorry . . .” Alice started to say, but Jake placed a finger to her lips.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said, sliding his fingers to her chin and caressing her face tenderly. “I’m the one who is sorry.”
“But I didn’t really give you a chance to explain. I was so quick to judge.”
“And I’m thankful you did. You judged correctly. I nearly went down a dishonorable path, but that’s all behind me now. I never want to go in that direction again.” He dropped his hand to hers and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I can’t believe you came all the way to Boise to talk to me! You are truly amazing, Alice. I want to throw open the window and tell the whole world about you. How did you get here? Surely you didn’t travel all this way on your own.”
“Mrs. Stribling and I traveled together.”
“Mrs. Stribling?”
“Yes. She’s waiting outside, wanting to give me a few moments alone with you before she comes in.”
Jake leaned forward and took Alice’s face in his hands, kissing her softly.
After three more sweet kisses, he smiled. “I’m surprised that Mrs. Stribling was willing to just up and trave
l like this at her age.”
Alice chuckled. “We’re seeing if we like traveling together. She wants me to accompany her to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition when it opens. She’s meeting her sister in St. Louis.”
Jake’s mouth dropped open. “Surely you jest.”
“I’m not,” Alice said, shaking her head. “I committed to be her traveling companion to St. Louis, and then, after I received your letter, I went back and asked her about the possibility of taking a little trial run together.” Alice paused and a bit of mischief filled her eyes. “After all, I had to see if I liked Boise. I offered to pay of course, with the money I’ve earned from working for her, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She told me she’s a romantic and a wealthy romantic at that. She insisted on paying for everything.”
Jake leaned forward and kissed her again. “Alice, you might find this hard to believe, but I’m going to the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Dusty was supposed to go for our newspaper, but now my uncle is sending me in his place. Our other two reporters have prior commitments. Perhaps we can travel together with Mrs. Stribling. I could help with your luggage.”
“If I know Rolla there will be scads of luggage.”
“Perfect,” Jake said. He slipped out of his chair onto one knee. “Shall we try this again?” he asked, his eyes seemingly pleading. “After all that I’ve learned the hard way, and after all the grief that I’ve put you through, would you still consider becoming my wife? I have a regular job now, with a raise, and possibly a nice little cottage available to rent. It won’t be an extravagant lifestyle by any means, but—”
“Jake, I don’t need a lot of money or fancy things to make me happy.”
“I know, but you do deserve a man who is honorable and trustworthy
A Cherished Gift Page 11