When had his little sister become so intuitive? He was the big brother. She was supposed to come to him for advice, not the other way around. But he’d certainly made a mess of things where Tessa was concerned. Maybe Martha was wiser in matters of the heart. Either that or she’d simply had enough of his grumpy disposition.
He set his cup down and leaned on his elbows. “It’s not that easy, honey. I said something I shouldn’t have, and now I don’t know how to make it right.”
Martha’s eyebrows arched a little. “‘I’m sorry’ usually works well. And if it’s your pride that’s keeping you from apologizing, remember living with nothing but your pride can be awfully lonely.”
Oh, being wrong was tough, especially when one’s little sister pointed out the obvious. A week’s worth of loneliness grated on him with relentless condemnation.
His reasoning sounded completely logical to him: He couldn’t leave the store. There wasn’t enough privacy to talk at the hotel. Besides, the last time he spent a few minutes talking to her while she was working, she almost got fired. Going to speak to her after work at her little dwelling wouldn’t be appropriate since it was located in a back alley. All those points made perfectly good sense during the day. But at night, as he fought with the bedcovers, the feeble excuses tormented him, and there was no one to blame except the man whose face peered back at him from the mirror every morning.
Martha rose and brushed a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t wait too long, Gideon. The longer you put it off, the harder it will be. And from what you’ve told me about her, Tessa’s a nice girl.” She picked up her towel. “You’re going to a great deal of trouble downstairs in the storeroom to give Tessa a place to work for herself instead of for Henry Kilgore. I don’t suppose you were doing all that work just to pass the time.”
Gideon leaned back in his chair, pressed his lips together, and narrowed his eyes. He was about to tell her to mind her own business when she sealed her case.
“I’m sure after you’ve prayed about it God will tell you what to do.” She patted his shoulder and returned to the breakfast dishes.
How was he supposed to refute that? He stared into his coffee cup. Sure, he’d prayed about it. He prayed God would bring Tessa into the mercantile so they could talk. But she hadn’t come in—not for a whole week—and he was beginning to get the idea God wasn’t going to bring Tessa anywhere. Like Martha said, he just needed to go talk to her.
“But I don’t know what to say to her,” he mumbled under his breath. “I wounded her. She probably never wants to see my face again.” He stood and scraped his chair back across the wooden floor, continuing to mutter as he descended the squeaky stairs to the store. “She was beginning to trust me, and I hurt her.”
“You aren’t the one she is supposed to trust.”
He halted in midstep. “God, You must get awfully tired of me trying to handle things on my own.”
He stepped inside the storeroom and knelt by the worktable he’d built for Tessa. “Father, I told Martha I didn’t know how to make things right between Tessa and me, but that wasn’t true. I know I owe Tessa an apology. I just don’t know how to make it happen. I owe You an apology, too, Lord. You’ve nudged me in Tessa’s direction, and if I’d listened to You, maybe I wouldn’t have said those stupid things. I doubted You, Father, and I didn’t wait like You told me to do. Forgive me, and please work it out so I can talk to her today.”
Business remained slow most of the morning, giving Gideon plenty of time to carry on a running conversation with God. Now, as he scowled at the paper in his hand, he had to admit God certainly had interesting ways to test his perseverance. Not that he was complaining. He’d simply have to exercise some faith and trust.
The bell jingled announcing the arrival of a customer.
A surge of hope quickened his pulse. Tessa? He looked up, but it was Pearl Dunnigan’s sunny smile that greeted him.
“Good morning, Gideon.”
His shoulders sagged in disappointment, and he mumbled, “Morning, Miss Pearl.”
The woman chuckled. “What kind of welcome is that? Should I go back out and come in again?”
Gideon sent her an apologetic smile. “Sorry.” He held up the paper. “The stove parts have been shipped.”
“Wonderful. How soon before they get here?”
Gideon sighed. “That will depend on how soon I can go get them.”
Miss Pearl frowned. “They’re not coming here?”
Gideon handed her the telegram. “I wired the freight office in Dubuque to see if the parts had come in. They’ve arrived, but the next shipment for this area isn’t due for another week and a half. I can get there and back in three days on horseback.”
She looked over the missive and returned it to him. “Who would run the store?”
“Martha. She’s worked in the store plenty of times along with Pa and me. She can do it for three days.” He shrugged. “I’d like to get those parts as soon as possible. Even so, it may all be for naught.”
“Why, Gideon? Didn’t Tessa like the idea?”
Gideon pulled the pencil from behind his ear and thumped it on the counter. “I haven’t had a chance to show it to her yet. Miss Pearl, I’ve really messed things up.”
Miss Pearl arched her eyebrows. “You want to tell me about it?”
By the time he finished the whole story, she stood with arms folded, tapping her foot. “Gideon Maxwell, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Oh, I am.”
“I’m appalled that you’ve let an entire week go by without going to apologize. And you’re waiting for God to simply do your bidding and bring Tessa to you?”
“But Miss Pearl, it’s not—”
“How do you think that poor girl felt when you asked her if she was working at that awful place?”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I know your pa taught you better than that.”
“Miss Pearl, I—”
“If you don’t march yourself over there this minute and talk to her, I’ll go myself and bring her back here with me!” Miss Pearl ended her declaration with a snort and her hands on her hips. “Well?”
Gideon took in a breath and held it for a moment. Maybe Miss Pearl had something there. At any rate, Tessa would likely be more receptive to Miss Pearl than to him at the moment.
He reached out and took Miss Pearl’s hands in his. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. When are you going?”
Tessa stood with her mouth agape, staring at the stove and the work space in Gideon’s storeroom.
Large mixing bowls, baking pans, pie plates, and utensils lined the sturdy table. Sacks of flour and sugar crowded under the table while spice tins occupied one of the shelves. The stove sat proudly in the corner, polished and waiting.
She shook her head. “Gideon, I can’t do this. You know I don’t have the money to pay you for these things.”
She watched Gideon glance at Miss Pearl who stood to one side. The woman smiled and nodded, and he took a deep breath like he was preparing to plunge headfirst into a rain barrel.
“Tessa, it’s a business arrangement. You sell your baked goods out of the mercantile, and I get a small percentage until the cost of the materials and equipment is met. After that, your only expense would be your baking supplies. In addition, you supply Miss Pearl here with baked goods for the boardinghouse in exchange for your room and board. Not only can you quit your job at the hotel and work here full-time, you’ll have a pleasant place to live.”
Her mind staggered in an attempt to fully comprehend all Gideon had done on her behalf. Business arrangement or not, he’d gone to a great deal of trouble, and she only had one question.
“Why?”
His hopeful expression drooped. “Why? Well, because … you … you’re …” His shoulders rose and fell.
She remembered the only other time she saw him so befuddled and speechless was a week ago when she stormed out the door. This simply didn’t make sense in the light
of his earlier assumption that she’d taken the saloon job. “Gideon, I don’t understand why you would go to so much trouble for someone like me.”
A grimace distorted his features. “Tessa—” He seemed to forget about Miss Pearl as he took a step closer. “Tessa, this might come as a surprise to you, but it shouldn’t. I care about you. I care what happens to you, and I care how you’re treated. You’re a lady deserving of respect.”
He fidgeted a moment, staring at the floor. “Tessa, the other day when I jumped to conclusions—I was wrong.” He looked up and locked his gaze on her face. “I should’ve known you’d never do something like that. I apologize for even considering the possibility. Please forgive me.”
Forgive? Gideon was asking for her forgiveness? It was too much to take in, and she turned toward the worktable. Of all the men she’d ever known or come in contact with—Papa, Mr. Kilgore, the hotel desk clerk, even the awful man outside the saloon—Gideon was the last man she believed needed to ask for forgiveness. Her gaze traveled over the equipment, the baking supplies, and the stove.
“Tessa, please?”
She pulled her attention back to the man standing before her. His eyes remained fixed on her as if willing her to accept his declaration. She believed he was truly sorry for the misunderstanding, but she couldn’t let Gideon shoulder all the responsibility.
She glanced over at Miss Pearl who, judging by her smug though teary-eyed smile, was enjoying every minute of this. But Tessa had to clear up one thing. “There’s something I have to say.”
The anticipation etched on his face faded, but he didn’t interrupt her.
“I found a verse underlined in my mother’s Bible that says, ‘Abstain from all appearance of evil.’ If I had used better judgment, I would never have gone near the saloon for any reason. And if I hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have drawn the wrong conclusion. So I’m sorry, too.”
Tenderness spread across Gideon’s countenance.
Her guarded hesitation melted away, and a slow smile crept into her face. Did she dare allow herself to hope?
“Ahem.” Miss Pearl stepped forward. “Does this mean I have a new boarder?”
How did one say thank you for such generosity and kindness? “I just can’t believe you did all this—for me.” She couldn’t keep the tremor from her voice.
Miss Pearl patted her hand. “For us, dear. You’re helping me by doing the baking. I’m getting too old to stand in the kitchen all day. And you’ll be helping Gideon by bringing more customers into his store.”
She liked that idea. If she could repay Gideon for all the kindness he’d offered her, then it would be easy to agree to the arrangement. “It sounds like I’ll benefit more than either of you. But if you truly want a three-way partnership, then my answer is yes.”
Gideon pulled a small painted sign from a shelf and held it up for her approval.
“TESSA’S BAKERY. Oh my goodness!” She clapped her hands.
“There’s just one small delay.” Gideon crossed the space and pointed out an area on the stove and chimney, explaining that two connecting pieces were missing. “The parts are in Dubuque. I’m leaving first thing in the morning to go get them.”
Tessa nodded, still barely able to take it all in.
Miss Pearl slipped her arm through Tessa’s. “Since you’ll be using my kitchen to do the baking for the boardinghouse, I’d like for you to move in today, if that’s all right with you.”
Tessa gave the woman an impulsive hug. Her throat was too tight for any other reply.
Miss Pearl beamed. “Gideon, can you help Tessa move her things to the boardinghouse this evening?”
He gave her a silly schoolboy grin. “My pleasure.”
Gideon loaded Tessa’s trunk onto Cully’s old wheelbarrow and dusted his hands on his pants. “Is that everything?”
Tessa stepped out the door of the shed with the kitten in her arms. Her smile set Gideon’s heart tumbling. “Everything except Daisy.”
He reached out and scratched the cat behind the ears. “You want to put her in the trunk?”
“Of course not,” Tessa sputtered. She threw a defensive look at him and broke into a giggle at his teasing grin. “I’ll just leave her in the shed, and as soon as I’ve finished talking to Mr. Kilgore, I’ll come and get her.”
The mention of Kilgore’s name dampened the anticipation that had been skittering through Gideon’s middle all day. “Do you want me to come with you?”
She shook her head. “No. You go ahead to Miss Pearl’s with those things. This won’t take long, and I’ll meet you over there.”
Doubt nipped at Gideon. If he knew Kilgore, the man would do his best to intimidate her. Gideon wanted to insist on accompanying her, but her independent spirit waved like a flag on the Fourth of July. “All right. But if you don’t show up at Miss Pearl’s place in a few minutes, I’m going to come looking for you.”
The moment he arrived at Miss Pearl’s back door, the woman bustled about, directing him to carry Tessa’s things to a small but clean room just off the kitchen.
“This quilt has always reminded me of spring flowers,” she said as she smoothed the cover over the bed. “I hope Tessa likes it.” Miss Pearl fluffed up the pillow and straightened the rag rug on the floor.
Gideon nodded. The room was a startling contrast to the dismal shed. He set down the last of Tessa’s belongings and left Miss Pearl to fuss over her preparations. As he descended the back porch steps, he caught sight of Tessa coming through the shadows.
She smiled a greeting and deposited Daisy on the porch. “Thank you, Gideon, for carrying my things.”
“It was my pleasure. Did Kilgore give you a hard time?”
A tight-lipped smile tugged a dimple into her face. “He told me I couldn’t quit because I was fired. Again.”
He could only imagine the pompous man’s bluster. “Either way, you don’t have to deal with him anymore.”
“Thanks to you.”
The evening breeze lifted sandy strands of hair across her cheek, and an unseen hand pressed him a step closer. His fingers took on a mind of their own as they reached to brush the wisp of hair from her face. She raised widened eyes to his, and his heart rolled over in his chest. Twilight’s fading rays fell across her, casting bronzed reflections in her eyes. Muted sounds of the evening hushed as he focused his gaze on her lips. The blood rushed in his ears. He gently cupped her chin and started to lower his face to hers.
When his lips were mere inches from hers, she turned her head and pulled back. “Thank you again, Gideon. For everything. Miss Pearl must be waiting for me.” She darted like a scared rabbit up the porch steps and through the door.
Chapter 13
Tessa couldn’t stop staring at the cozy, cheerful room that was her new home. It wasn’t much larger than the shed, but the difference made her feel as though she’d just been released from a dungeon to live in the king’s palace. The blue flowers on the pitcher and basin reminded her of the blue in Mama’s eyes, and the colorful quilt smelled of fresh lavender. A crisp white curtain hung at the small window.
Miss Pearl stood in the doorway. “I hope it’s not too cramped, dear.”
“Oh no, ma’am. It’s…it’s…” Her eyes traveled around the space until they came to rest on the oil lamp on the small dresser. “It’s wonderful.” She crossed the room and touched the sparkling glass globe of the lamp. “May I really use this?”
Miss Pearl laughed. “Of course, dear. There’s a box of wood matches in the top drawer of your dresser. Now, you must be tired, so I’ll leave you to get settled.”
Tessa thanked her and eased down on the bed, relishing its softness. She wondered if she’d be able to sleep on a comfortable bed after sleeping on nothing but her tattered quilt on the hard ground for so long. She looked forward to finding out.
There weren’t many things in her trunk or cabinet to tuck away or hang, but she extracted each item and smoothed it with her hands before giving it
a home on one of the wooden pegs or a dresser drawer. She reached into the cabinet and pulled out the cracked coffee mug that served as her candleholder. The pitiful short stub of melted wax in the bottom of the cup was no longer needed now that she could sit and read by lamplight.
As she pushed the nearly empty trunk to the foot of the bed, the memory of Gideon touching her face crossed her mind like a web of silken threads. The touch of his fingers against her cheek sent flutters through her stomach. She could still feel his breath on her face.
She closed her eyes and tried to imagine how it might have felt if she’d not turned her head. Gideon’s face lowering to hers caught her completely off guard. It never occurred to her that he might wish to kiss her.
“Why did I pull away from him?” No answer was forthcoming. “I wonder what was going through his mind.” One thing was certain: She couldn’t begin to describe what was going through hers.
Tessa lay awake half the night tussling with worrisome thoughts. Her new bed was comfortable enough to invite sleep, but nagging images of Gideon loomed every time she closed her eyes. His tender expression and gentle touch lingered softly in her mind—like a melody she didn’t want to forget. But her response to his touch drove her brow into a furrowed frown.
When she finally drifted off, she startled awake what seemed like only a moment later. The conversation she’d overheard between Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Behr prodded her conscience. She’d fretted all week, wondering whether or not she should tell Gideon what she’d heard. But then she’d have to admit to eavesdropping. She’d almost made up her mind to tell him last night when he carried her belongings to the boardinghouse. When he leaned down, appearing like he intended to kiss her, everything flew right out of her head. She hadn’t given the overheard conversation another thought until now.
Giving up on sleep, she rose, dressed, and padded softly to the kitchen to stoke the fire in the cookstove. By the time Miss Pearl joined her, the fragrance of cinnamon spice coffee cake, fluffy biscuits, bacon, and coffee filled the air.
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