“That will take too long.”
E.V. furrowed his brows. “Too long for what?”
Last time, Willum had donated money from his own savings so the building could start. He’d thought it an investment in his own future. He took a deep breath. “I need you to do me a favor tomorrow.”
“Anything.”
“I need you to make arrangements at the sawmill to have my share of recent profits be converted into lumber and delivered to the church building site.”
E.V. frowned. “You’re going to supply all the lumber?”
“Apparently.” Willum took a sip of his coffee.
“You can go into the mill yourself and do that.”
Willum shook his head. He’d been a silent partner in the mill from the beginning to help E.V. get started. No one in town knew he was associated with the mill except as E.V.’s friend. “I don’t want anyone to know I’m back yet.”
“You mean Natalie.”
He didn’t want to talk about Natalie.
E.V. curled his hands around his cup. “I can put together a crew. Find a reliable foreman to report to you. You would never have to be at the church while it’s being built.”
He liked that idea. That could be the solution to his problems.
“No. You build My house. ”
Willum lowered his head into his hands. Alone, Lord? That will take a long time. Even Noah had his sons to help.
“This is not the ark. ”
This deal was getting worse by the minute. Willum shook his head. “No crew.”
“You aren’t going to build it all by yourself?”
Willum drew in a deep breath. “Apparently so.” He really wanted to be gone by Christmas. Could he get it completed by then, working alone?
“Why?”
Willum raised his head. “Don’t think I’ve lost my mind.”
“I won’t.”
“The Lord told me. I know it sounds crazy. Every night for a week and a half I was awakened at midnight. Exactly midnight.” He got up and paced. “I heard this voice. I heard it just like I hear your voice. But no one was in my room.”
“What did it say?”
Willum stopped pacing and looked E.V. in the eyes. “‘Build My house.’” It sounded ridiculous. “I said no several times. But I kept hearing, ‘Build My house.’ When I outright refused, the voice stopped.”
“So what changed your mind?” E.V. took a swig of coffee.
“I kept waking up every night at midnight. Like a silent plea. After another week of it, I said yes. That was the first night I slept all through the night. I woke up feeling more rested than I had in a very long time.”
“I’ll get the lumber ordered and delivered.”
“You believe me?”
“Of course. Look at what happened to Jonah when he refused the Lord’s calling. I don’t want you to end up in the belly of a whale, my friend.”
Chapter 8
Natalie stood across the street from the church ruins. Last night at supper, Isaac told Papa about the lumber being delivered to the church. Papa had claimed it was a miracle. Natalie knew Willum must be back. She had wanted to go see, but Papa wouldn’t let her wander around after dark.
A horse-drawn wagon full of plank lumber pulled up to the rock foundation. Four men jumped off the wagon, two from the front seat and two from the back atop the lumber.
Where was Willum?
She waited for a buggy to pass, and a horse with a rider then crossed. She stepped around several puddles. “Excuse me.”
One of the workmen turned her way. “Yes, miss.”
“Where is Mr. Tate?”
“Can’t say that I know.” He turned to the other men. “Anyone know a Mr. Tate?”
Each man shook his head no.
“Well, didn’t he order this lumber?”
The workman hefted the end of a stack of at least six planks. “E.V. gave us the order to deliver the lumber.”
“Mr. Renier?” How disappointing. She was sure Willum would be building the church.
“Yes, miss.” He slid out the planks and another man hoisted the other end.
“Is Mr. Renier at the sawmill?”
“Yes.” Together the men carried the boards to the pile of planks stacked up beside the foundation.
Natalie hurried to the sawmill and knocked on Mr. Renier’s office door.
“Come in.”
Natalie opened the door.
Mr. Renier looked up from the papers he had in front of him with his easy smile, but it faded ever so slightly. He stood. “Miss Bollen, what can I do for you?”
“The men at the church said you ordered the lumber being delivered.”
“Just filling an order.”
“Who ordered it? The church’s building fund was stolen.”
He stood silent for several moments. “One of the sawmill’s investors donated the lumber to rebuild the church.”
Of course it had to be an investor. Willum wouldn’t be able to just order a building’s worth of lumber. “Who’s going to build it?”
“That will be up to the investor. If that’s all, I have work I really need to complete.” He walked around his desk and held the door.
Natalie held her ground. “I’m sorry for taking your time. I’m just worried about Mr. Tate. He left without a word.”
Mr. Renier’s features softened slightly. “Willum has always been able to take care of himself. I wouldn’t worry about him.”
“Has he contacted you?”
Mr. Renier just stared down at her.
She wrung her hands together. “If you hear from him, would you tell him I’m anxious to speak with him? Thank you for your time, Mr. Renier.” She stepped outside, and Mr. Renier closed the door behind her.
Why would Willum leave town without telling her and possibly return in the same manner? Unless he was preparing a surprise for her. She headed off in the direction of his cabin. Maybe he was there.
Willum watched Natalie return from the direction of the sawmill. When she stopped briefly in front of the house, he took a step back from the upper window. He doubted she could see him, but just in case. She moved on down the street to the church building then headed in the direction of his cabin.
He’d been right not to go back to his cabin. But hiding out in the unfinished house made him feel like an outlaw. A house that would never be finished.
He waited until the supper hour when most folks would either be home eating or at one of the saloons. The fewer people who came out to see the spectacle the better. And in the evenings, he was sure Natalie would never come by. He strapped on his tool belt, took up his toolbox, and grabbed an unlit lantern. He wouldn’t light it until he needed it. He didn’t have much daylight left. He left the house and headed for the church. If there weren’t clouds threatening to rain on him, he could work for some time in the moonlight.
He laid out several more floor beams before he needed to light the lantern. When he turned around, three shadow figures stood outside the foundation. He crossed over to them.
Tuck was the first to shake his head then the other two followed. But it was Frederick who spoke. “You would get done faster if you worked during the daylight.”
E.V. said, “And if you’d hire a crew.”
Tuck put on an Irish accent. “People be talkin’. Some be jokin’ it be elves or leprechauns buildin’ in the middle of the night.”
E.V. said, “Children think it’s ghosts because it’s at night, and they don’t see them.”
“The more spiritual say it’s the Holy Ghost,” Frederick said.
Willum didn’t want to fool anyone into thinking he was some sort of deity, and certainly not God Himself.
Tuck leaned over the foundation wall and put a hand on Willum’s shoulder. “What are you afraid of? That she doesn’t care for you anymore? Or that you may discover that you don’t care for her? Or that you do care and don’t want to be without her?”
Leave it to Tuck to get t
o the heart of the matter. His heart.
E.V. said, “She seemed sincerely concerned about you when she came by the sawmill today.”
“You can’t avoid her forever,” Frederick said.
“I can try.”
The following morning, Natalie ate as quickly as she could and started in on the dishes. Matthew was still at the table poking along. She stood behind him, and when he stabbed the last of his fried potatoes, she swiped his plate and turned toward the kitchen.
“Hey!”
“I waited until you were done.” Natalie quickly finished the dishes, put on a cardigan sweater, and swung on a crocheted shawl. “Mama, I’m going into town. Do you need me to pick up anything for you?”
“You went to town yesterday.”
Matthew made a face at her. “She wants to see if Willum is back.”
Mama scowled at him. “That’s enough. You better hope that one day when you fall in love, your sister doesn’t tease you. Now you have work to do. You best be doing it.”
Matthew slumped out.
Mama turned to her. “With the way he acts, you would think he was five years younger than you rather than a year older. He is the most worrisome of all you children.” She set a basket of apples onto the table. “So Willum has returned?”
“I think so. He wasn’t at his cabin when I went out there yesterday, but I think he might be staying with one of his friends.”
“Natalie, you shouldn’t be going to a man’s cabin unaccompanied. We know Willum well, but it’s still not proper.”
Oops. She hadn’t meant to admit that. “I’m sorry, Mama. I won’t do it again.” She had been so excited to see Willum that she hadn’t thought about propriety. “I’m just going to go to the church and see the progress on the construction. May I go?”
Mama smiled. “If it is Willum, tell him we have all missed him at supper.”
“Thank you.” She kissed Mama on the cheek and hurried out.
Even before she could see the church, she heard the hammer’s pounding echoing through the trees. Hoping it was Willum, she picked up her pace. As she got closer, she could see a lone figure swinging a hammer. Even though his back was to her, she recognized him.
“Willum?”
He swung the hammer three more times before turning her way. He was back.
She smiled. “I’ve missed you.”
“I have a lot of work here.”
Did he want her to leave? No, he was probably just tired. She tried to sound perky. “I can see that. Where is your crew? Did they take an early morning break and leave you with all the work?”
“No crew. Just me.”
“You’re going to build the church all by yourself?”
He pulled a nail from the pouch hanging from his tool belt and held it to the board. “Apparently.”
“I’m sure Papa could find some men to volunteer. Men in the church.”
“No thank you.” He pounded the nail.
She waited until the nail had been driven all the way in. “Where did all the lumber come from?”
“Donated.” He pulled out another nail and beat on it.
She waited then said, “I know that. By whom?”
“People are tired of meeting in the schoolhouse. I have work to do.” He sounded cross and lifted a beam on one end.
“Are you mad at me?”
He stopped but didn’t turn toward her. He just stood holding the board.
“Do you not love me anymore?”
He dropped the board and ducked under the beams from the middle of the foundation area to her on the other side of the wall.
“I saw you with John Seymour.”
Natalie’s stomach knotted, and she felt the blood drain from her face. Mama’s words came back. God knows. If someone found out, would they be hurt? “I’m sorry. It didn’t mean anything.” She reached her hand over the nearly shoulder-high foundation to him.
Willum stepped back and into the first beam. “You gave him your hand. You were laughing. Not exactly fitting behavior for a girl who is being courted.”
It had been wrong. She knew it then and knew it more so now. “It was going to rain.”
“You love the rain. Probably the only person in town who does. Once upon a time, you came to see me in the pouring rain and four inches of mud.”
“I’m sorry. It truly meant nothing.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I can guarantee you it meant something to John. A young lady doesn’t accept a buggy ride from a man unless she’s interested in him.”
“I never should have accepted his offer. I’m sorry. Is that not enough for you?”
He stared at her for a long moment with hard creases around his eyes. “Three and a half years ago, before I came to Tumwater, I was engaged to be married to a beautiful lady who I loved with all my heart. She was charming and funny, and I was swept away by her.”
Natalie didn’t want to hear about his love for another woman. Why would he hurt her like this? Had he gone back to this woman? Is that where he went when he left?
“My friends tried to warn me about her. They didn’t trust her. I wouldn’t listen to them. I stood in the front of a church for half an hour waiting for her to walk down the aisle to me before her parents told me she’d run off with another man.”
“Oh Willum.” She wanted to reach out and touch him, comfort him. “That must have been terrible.”
“I won’t let it happen to me again.” His words were cold and bitter. “I saw the horrified look on your face when you came to my cabin with your father. I thought you just weren’t feeling well. But when the next day I saw you with John, I knew better.”
“Willum, you have to understand.”
He folded his arms. “Understand what?”
“I was scared. I panicked. I was a little girl again, hungry, cold, and scared. All by myself.”
“By yourself? You have a good family who loves you.”
She had to make him understand. “I never knew my father. My mother and I begged for food. She died when I was six. I was put in a horrible orphanage. The older children would lock me in a dark closet. When I was seven, I was put on an orphan train. I was sick with a cough and no one wanted me. Until the Bollens.”
His features softened. “You’re adopted?”
“You couldn’t tell? I don’t look like anyone in my family.”
“I thought you got your dark hair and eyes from a grandparent.”
“When I saw your cabin, I became that hungry, scared child locked in a dark closet. I didn’t want to go hungry again.”
“I understand. I’m sure John can provide well for you.”
“I don’t love John. I love you.”
He remained impassive. “You best find yourself a man that you know can provide for you in the way you want.”
“I don’t want someone else. I want you.”
“I’m sorry. How can I trust you not to leave if things get really tough? If we do go hungry?”
“We won’t. I’m sure of it.” Papa and Mama would always bring them food if it came to that.
“And if we did, you’d become that frightened little girl and run off. I can’t risk that. I had one woman I loved leave me. I won’t go through that again. I can’t. Go home.” He turned and ducked back under board after board.
Tears welled up in Natalie’s eyes. He couldn’t mean that. He was just scared like she was. She ran home, wishing she could change the past. Wishing she hadn’t reacted to his cabin. Wishing she hadn’t accepted a ride from John. Wishing.
Chapter 9
Three days later, Willum had finally finished placing all the floor beams. Several good men had stopped and offered help. He thanked them but declined. The Lord had been clear that he was the only man to build the church. Then there were the onlookers who whispered about him. Some called him touched in the head and nicknamed him Noah. He’d heard rumors of others who supported his work as long as they weren’t called upon to help or contribute any money for the
cause. He didn’t care what people called him, so long as they left him alone to do the work the Lord had unfortunately called him to do. Alone. In a town he wished not to be in.
And Natalie hadn’t been around either. He’d evidently gotten through to her. He hated to hurt her, but he couldn’t trust her. And that made him saddest of all. He hadn’t thought her flighty, but he understood. She needed a man she could trust fully, and he evidently wasn’t that man.
He reached down and lifted one end of a floorboard. He would get the floor down then raise the walls and roof. He raised his end up above the foundation to the floor level. He would have to walk along the board, keeping the first end on the foundation wall. When he felt the other end of the board lift, he looked down the length of it. Natalie smiled back at him.
He dropped his end. He hadn’t meant to, but it pulled the other end out of Natalie’s hands. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to help.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Yes you do. You don’t want the church to take as long as the house has for you to build alone.”
That stung. Was she goading him? “I should have the church completed in a few weeks, by Thanksgiving. Working by myself.”
“I don’t see how. Why won’t you let me help you?”
“The Lord told me that I was the only man to work on the church.”
Her smile broadened. “I’m not a man, so I can help.”
“Ladies don’t work in construction.”
She picked up a basket by the pile of lumber. “I brought lunch. Your favorite.” She pulled back a red-checkered cloth and lifted out a bowl. “Fried chicken.”
“I have work to do.” His stomach betrayed him with a loud growl. He didn’t want Natalie doing nice things for him. “Go home.” He needed her to go away and leave him alone, so he could build this church and forget about her.
Natalie would not be dissuaded. She had made a terrible mistake in a moment of weakness. She would prove to Willum that she was faithful to him. She would be at his side every day while he worked on the church. He would see he could trust her.
She planted her hands on her slim hips. “I’m not going away, so you might as well give in and let me help you.”
Cascades Christmas Page 24