Ben laughed and patted him on the back. “Of course, you can. I’ll never deny a good worker.”
Relieved, Isaac relaxed. “What do you want me to do?”
Ben thought for a moment and then said, “We can use someone who’ll deliver lumber.”
“I can do that.”
“Great. When can you start?”
“Well…” Isaac considered his options. If he didn’t have time to court Emily because his father would never approve of her and his father was determined to find him someone else, then it seemed best to marry Emily sooner rather than later. If he was going to do that, he needed to find a place to live, too. “Will I need to own a wagon to do this job?”
Though Ben furrowed his eyebrows, he shook his head. “No. We can provide one.”
“And is there a good place to live around here?”
“You’re leaving home?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s fine. I reckon I should tell you since I won’t be showing up to work until I get settled in. I’m getting married.”
“You are? I didn’t know you were courting.”
“Well, I’m not. Not really.” With a shrug, he added, “I haven’t even asked her to marry me yet, but I will later today.”
“You’re sure she’ll say yes?”
Isaac nodded.
Ben dug his hands into his pockets and sighed. “You seem to be in a hurry to do this.”
Since he was, he didn’t argue. He sensed that Ben wished to say something more, so he held his tongue and waited for him to speak.
After a long moment, Ben said, “My advice, if you want it, is to make sure you have everything ready when you marry her. In addition to getting a job and a place to live, do you have enough money set aside to get things set up? You know, money for food and incidentals.”
“I’ve saved some money. It’s not much, but I think it’s enough to get us started.”
“Alright. If you’re looking for a nice apartment that’s affordable, I suggest going to the one three blocks down that way. Arch and Evelyn Patrick are the owners. They’ll treat you right.”
“Thanks, Ben.”
“Anytime. So, when should I expect you to come to work?”
“I’d like to start as soon as possible.”
“Well, you’ll need to get settled in first. Come in next Monday at eight.” Ben gave him another pat on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Thanks. Again,” Isaac said as Ben headed back to work. Taking a deep breath, he whispered, “I can do this,” put his hat back on his head, and left for the apartment Ben mentioned.
***
Neil didn’t consider himself to be the most astute observer, but even he could tell Emily had been in a surprisingly good mood for the past couple of days, especially since she’d been told to either do the report on the book Miss Connealy wanted or leave school. He didn’t blame Emily for leaving. She was smart enough to decide what she wanted to read or not read, and based on her argument for picking the book, he saw nothing wrong with it.
But to appreciate her reason for sticking with the book, a person would also have to understand her. Emily was a strong, independent thinker, and once she determined her course, it’d take an act of God to stop her. He often took comfort in knowing that because she wouldn’t allow anyone, especially young men, talk her into doing something she didn’t want. And, more importantly, given the circumstances surrounding her real mother and the gossip that even to this day still lingered about in circles of busybodies who had nothing better to do than to meddle in someone else’s business, Emily’s strength was what she needed to keep her head held high.
“You’re in an awfully good mood tonight,” Sarah told Emily, interrupting Neil’s thoughts.
Elizabeth shot Emily a knowing look, and Neil glanced at Sarah who, also noticing the silent exchange between the sisters, raised her eyebrows. Yes, something was up and, if Neil’s fatherly instinct was right, it had to do with a young man. He didn’t recall anyone coming by to talk to Emily, and Sarah didn’t mention anything.
Sarah set down her fork and motioned for Stan to stop playing with his food before she asked Emily, “Do you want to share the good news with us?”
Emily’s face turned pink as she set down the glass of milk she’d been drinking. With a shrug, she said, “I’m just glad I don’t have to bear through Eva’s boring lectures anymore.”
Sarah’s eyes met Neil’s and he sighed. Yep, Emily was in love alright, and the fact that she didn’t come out and say it either meant she didn’t want to say anything in front of her siblings or this might not be the kind of man he and Sarah would approve of. The latter reason worried him more.
He picked up his cup of coffee and finished it. Boy, was Tom Larson ever right all those years ago when he said a pretty daughter could worry a father to no end. He’d laughed off Tom’s comment while Cassie was pregnant with Emily, but he wasn’t laughing now.
His mind turned in another direction as his family continued to eat and talk about what Luke and Stan learned in school that day. He still saw Tom Larson from time to time. Of all the Larsons, the only one who refused to talk to him was Dave, and it was because of Dave that he hadn’t worked with them or a couple other neighboring families at harvest time. Not that it mattered, really. He hired farmhands and got along better than he did back then, but it only served to remind him of a period in his life he could never undo no matter how much he wanted to. He rubbed his eyes. It didn’t matter. There wasn’t anything in the past that would impact his future, so why waste time on things that didn’t matter?
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Blinking, he straightened in his chair and looked up at Sarah who pointed to his plate. “Are you done?” she asked.
With a glance at the remaining bit of food on the plate, he picked it up with his fork and ate it. “I am now. Thank you.”
She smiled and took the plate from him.
He wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin and decided he’d better talk to Emily. Sure, it might be technically Sarah’s place to talk to her about finding a suitable man, but given his past, he figured he had a responsibility to warn her about the type of men who might be after her, especially since she was a striking beauty.
“Emily, let’s talk in the parlor,” Neil said.
“Sure, Pa,” she replied and finished her milk before she carried her dishes to the sink.
He stood up while the others helped Sarah clean up the table. Walking over to Sarah, he touched the small of her back and whispered, “Can you keep the others out of the parlor for about ten minutes?”
She nodded and softly said, “You knew this day was going to come sooner or later.”
“I know, and I probably shouldn’t have waited this long to talk to her.”
“It’ll be fine, Neil. Emily’s a smart girl.”
He nodded and walked over to Emily who waited for him at the edge of the table. He studied her for a moment, thinking of how much she looked like her real mother. There was some of her real father in her, he was sure, but when he looked at her, he saw Cassie coming off the train all over again. Thankfully, the similarities ended there.
“What do you want to talk to me about, Pa?” she asked as they left the kitchen and walked to the parlor.
He waited until they were at the doorway of the parlor and glanced over his shoulder to make sure none of the other children had followed them. Sure enough, Sarah kept them with her in the kitchen. Clearing his throat, he motioned to the couch. After she sat on it, he settled into the chair across from her and tried to determine the best way to begin. Finally, he opted to just get to the point. “Emily, has a young man caught your fancy?”
She seemed hesitant to respond, and that worried him even more.
“Look Em, it’s very important you choose the right kind of man. I realize my example isn’t a perfect one, but I’d like to think I can help you pick a good husband.”
“I don�
��t care what anyone says about you. You’re a good man, and you’ve made Ma happy so you’re a good husband, too.”
Touched that she thought so well of him, he smiled. “I appreciate that.” He waited for a moment and kindly added, “You didn’t answer my question, though. Do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes,” she softly replied as her gaze turned to her hands folded in her lap.
Alright. That part was established, and now that his heartbeat picked up in dread, he could continue with the next question. “Who is he?”
She shifted on the couch and said, “You’re not going to like it.”
His gut tightened. “You’ve prepared me. Who is it?”
“Isaac Larson.”
His first inclination was to breathe a sigh of relief because Isaac was known for doing everything respectable men did. But in the next breath, another realization dawned on him. Isaac was Dave Larson’s son, and Dave Larson would be angry if Isaac married Emily. Really angry. Now Neil was the one who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Emily, honey, I don’t think it’s a good idea to pursue anything with Isaac.”
“I know his pa doesn’t approve—”
Neil let out a bitter laugh. “That’s an understatement.”
“But Isaac doesn’t care and neither do I.”
He stopped laughing and sighed. “I’m not sure how I can best explain this to you, but things happened right after you were born—things that were my fault—and it’s led to the tension that’s between our families today.”
“I know all of that, and so does Isaac. It doesn’t matter to us. In fact, it doesn’t have anything to do with us.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Em. It does affect you and Isaac. Marriage is hard enough without there being bad feelings between in-laws.”
After a tense moment of silence, she asked, “Do you forbid me to be with Isaac?”
“Well, no. I think Isaac is a good man who’ll do right by you.”
“Then there’s no problem.”
“Yes, there is a problem. His father will never approve, and it would create hard feelings between him and Isaac, not to mention how it would put you in the middle of an awkward situation. Then you and Isaac could end up fighting because of everything going on between him and his father. It’s not an ideal situation.”
“It might not be ideal, but it’s not impossible. There’s no one else we’d rather be with, and isn’t it better to be with someone you love than to be with someone you don’t just because of what others say? You and Ma had a group of people out here who didn’t want you two to get married, but you did anyway and you’ve been happy together. Just think of what would have happened if you two decided to listen to the naysayers.”
He stared at her for a long moment, taking in the hope of youth and the innocence brought on by inexperience. How he wished she could remain in such a state forever. For her, love could overcome anything. And she wouldn’t be entirely wrong. As she pointed out, he and Sarah made it work. Taking a deep breath, he said, “It wasn’t easy, Em.”
“I didn’t say it’d be easy for me and Isaac. I’m just saying that it’s worth whatever comes our way to be together.”
He drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair and debated the best course of action. How could he fault her reasoning? Yes, she was young and naïve, but so was Isaac. He’d heard about Isaac enough to know he was an upstanding young man. If it weren’t for his father, there would be nothing stopping him from giving her his blessing on the match.
Maybe if he talked to Dave Larson, they could resolve the matter between them. Or even if they couldn’t resolve the issues in their past, they might be able to come to an agreement that wouldn’t interfere with their children’s lives.
With a sigh, he patted the arms of the chair and nodded. “Alright.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, she asked, “Alright?”
“I’m going to talk to Isaac’s pa this week and see what I can do to make things easier for you two to be together.”
“Really?”
Smiling at her incredulous expression, he said, “Really.” He stood up. “But tonight, I have to take care of the animals.”
“I’ll help Ma,” she said.
For a moment, he recalled Emily as a little girl and how she’d rush out of the house to help him with the outdoor chores. Now she was grown up and preferred to do things that women did. It was proof that his little girl wasn’t little anymore, and he had to swallow the lump in his throat so he wouldn’t tear up. In all his years, he never imagined how hard it would be to give her to another man.
Just as he thought she was going to head for the kitchen, she went over to him and hugged him. “I love you, Pa.”
Fine. So now he was tearing up. But he didn’t mind it so much. Maybe his daughter was grown up, but she still loved him. He knew she did, but it was nice to hear the words. “I love you, too, Em.”
She smiled at him before she left the parlor. His heart a little lighter and sadder, he grabbed his coat and boots to head out for the evening chores, deciding that tonight, he wouldn’t ask Luke and Stan to go with him.
Chapter Seventeen
After she washed the dishes, Emily brushed her hair in her bedroom and thought of Isaac. It seemed ever since Saturday, she’d been unable to think of anything else. He had kissed her and held her and told her things she longed to hear him say for so long. Part of it still seemed like a dream, but it was much better than a dream.
Something tapped at her window. Curious, she looked at the window and saw a couple of pebbles hit the pane. She went to the window and looked down, surprised when she saw Isaac in the moonlight. Peering up at her, he motioned for her to open the window, and with a glance behind her to make sure she was alone in the room, she did.
“Can you come down here?” he asked in a loud whisper.
“I think so. I’ll try.” As she was about to shut the window, he called out to her, so she stopped and peered out the window again. “What is it?”
“Bring your clothes.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, she asked, “Why?”
“I’ll explain when you’re down here.”
She thought to press him further, but the sound of her brothers laughing as they ran up the stairs stopped her. She quickly shut the window and made her way to the doorway of her bedroom in time to see Luke and Stan heading for their bedroom. “What are you two doing?” she asked them.
“Getting the checkers,” Luke said. “Why?”
“Are you two going to play up here?”
“No. We’re going to play in the parlor.”
“Well, hurry up. I want to be alone up here,” she replied and then shut her bedroom door so they wouldn’t see her as she grabbed a few articles of clothing.
She gathered her brush and a few personal items to slip into her carpet bag. Then she sat at her desk and wrote a quick note to her parents telling them she eloped with Isaac so they wouldn’t wonder where she went. She figured that was what he intended, and she wanted nothing more than to marry him.
Her heart beat fast in her chest as she grabbed her carpet bag and opened the door a crack. Luke and Stan had already gone back down the stairs. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door all the way and tiptoed across the hard floor. She stood at the top of the stairs and listened for the voices of her family members to gauge where everyone was. At the moment, it sounded like they were all in the parlor. Relieved because she could leave through the kitchen door without being seen, she quickly made her way softly down the steps and went to the kitchen door, grabbing her coat and boots as she did.
She slipped out the kitchen door and shut it silently behind her. Breathing a sigh of relief, she put her coat and boots on before she picked her carpet bag up and hurried to the side of the house where Isaac was waiting for her in the moonlight. He looked wonderful, and he was standing right here waiting for her. Unable to stop the smile forming on her lips, she cleared her throat to get his attention.
&nb
sp; When he saw her, he smiled and rushed over to her. “Hi, Emily.” Before she could answer, he cupped her face in his hands and brushed her cheeks with his thumbs. “I don’t want to be with anyone else. I think of all the time we lost, and I hate myself for letting it happen. If I keep doing what my pa wants, I don’t think I’ll be happy. I’m happy with you, Emily, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too.”
“I hoped you’d say that.” His smile widening, he continued, “I got a place in town. It’s an apartment. It’s small but nice. And I got a job so I can support you. My uncle’s a judge and can marry us tonight. That is, if you’ll marry me.”
Isaac's Decision Page 16