She resisted the urge to stomp her foot. Why must the Stevens brothers be such a noble lot?
Daniel ran a hand through his hair. “Of course, I’m delighted to see you, Alice. I’m surprised, is all.” He shifted his stance and raised the carpetbag, then gestured toward the trunk waiting beside him. “I was on my way to be with you.”
She dropped her chin. A tiny crab burrowed into the wet sand. Had she truly bemoaned his nobility? Daniel was too good for her.
Mr. Davidson stepped forward. “Then it’s a very good thing we arrived when we did.” He surveyed the area. “Now, tell me. Where is my niece?”
Daniel squared his shoulders. “She’s in the mountains, sir. With her father and his new wife.”
Mr. Davidson blinked, his eyes wide. “New wife? Jim has remarried then, has he?”
Daniel nodded. “His new wife is”—he lowered his voice—“in the family way, and I understand she’s had a very difficult time of it the past few months.”
Mr. Davidson rubbed his chin. “Well, I guess that explains it then. How does she fair now? Better, I hope?”
“Yes. She’s much improved, even in the few days since Eliza and I arrived.”
“Good for him.” Mr. Davidson clapped his hands together. “He was happy to see his daughter, I trust?”
“Extremely.”
Mrs. Davidson faced her husband. “You see, I told you there was no need to worry. Absolutely no need to place your businesses in the hands of managers and come all the way down here.”
A seaman stepped closer and pointed at Daniel’s trunk. “This going on board?”
Chapter 37
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. How should he answer?
He tried to catch Alice’s gaze, but it seemed fixed to the sand. “What do you think, Alice? Are you prepared to board the ship and continue the journey…”
He’d intended to say home. But the word stuck in his throat.
Alice peered over her shoulder to the ship. “I suppose the captain could marry us.” Her fingers fluttered at her collar. She flicked a glance at Daniel before returning her gaze to the sand.
Her tone was not that of an excited bride eagerly anticipating her union with the man she loved. Nor did she seem delighted to see him, despite having braved an ocean voyage to join him. Was it possible…?
Had she changed her mind?
In spite of himself, his heart lifted. If Alice no longer wished to marry him…
He’d be free to return to Eliza.
Daniel cleared his throat. Why wouldn’t Alice look at him? “Would you prefer to remain here for a few days, Alice? I’m not sure whether the priest will marry us, since we’re not Catholic, but I believe someone mentioned an army chaplain who holds services in the courthouse. Perhaps we can prevail upon him to perform the ceremony.”
“Yes. I’d like to stay.” Still scrutinizing the sand, Alice wrinkled her nose. “Are there proper accommodations to be had in this place?”
“It may not equal what you’re used to, but I’ve been staying at a nice hotel.” He gestured to where the seamen were stacking several bags and trunks on the shore. The one who’d inquired about Daniel’s trunk had moved on to other tasks. “Let’s gather your things and I’ll show you to it.”
Mrs. Davidson’s face twisted as she lifted her skirt to step over a clump of kelp. “Do you mean to say we must walk to town?” The rich brown fringe dangling from the bottom of the woman’s tan skirt was coated in wet sand. No doubt the impractical garment hid useless, expensive shoes.
Alice’s wide gray skirt was equally sand-caked, though it at least lacked the silly fringe. What sort of footwear did it conceal? Had she come in the fancy things he’d seen her wear in Boston, or did she consider his descriptions of California and make a more practical choice? Was there any chance she’d chosen sturdy boots?
He counted the number of layers on Alice’s skirt. Four. And in place of Mrs. Davidson’s fringe was a white stripe with delicate flowers trimming each layer. Not exactly practical travel wear.
Probably no boots, then.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I apologize. I was not thinking. You must be tired after your journey. If you’ll wait here, I shall return to town and see about hiring a wagon to come and fetch you.”
Eliza’s breath fogged the crisp afternoon air as she held the second post upright in her gloved hands. Pa swung his sledgehammer to sink it into the hole in the bunk. The short length of log would keep the posts upright without the hard labor of digging into the hard-packed hillside. They had already sunk one post into the other end of the bunk. The side-by-side vertical posts created a slot into which they would slide their fence rails.
Across the yard, Andrew pulled another log from the pile. Straddling it, he hammered a wedge into its chopped end. When he had a long split running into the log, he took a second wedge and placed it where the split stopped. He exchanged his hammer for a sledgehammer, which he swung in a high arc over his head and brought down to slam the second wedge into the wood. With each swing and hit, the split grew. He moved his wedges along with it.
The loud hammering echoed over the hills. Could the echoes be heard in the valleys below?
Seven days had passed since Daniel left. By now he was aboard a ship bound for Boston. She dipped her head so Pa wouldn’t notice her tears. She blinked to keep them from falling down her cheeks.
Pa finished pounding the post into the bunk and set his sledgehammer aside. She released the post.
Maria rounded the cabin carrying a stack of cups and the coffee pot.
Eliza hurried to relieve her of the stacked cups. She handed one to Andrew and one to Pa, keeping one for herself. Maria poured them coffee and their breath fogged the air between sips.
The temperature had dropped several degrees overnight, and Eliza awoke to a dull gray sky that grew darker as the day wore on. Despite the chill, Pa and Andrew both wiped sweat from their foreheads.
Pa squinted at the clouds, which sank lower with each passing hour. “What do you think Andrew? Think we’ll see snow tonight?”
Andrew considered the sky. “Certainly looks that way.”
“Does it snow as much here as up north, Pa?”
Pa cocked his head at Andrew.
Andrew scratched his beard. “I haven’t been up north in the winter, but from what I’ve heard it’s much milder here. Still, it’ll get mighty chilly and I wouldn’t advise walking around in the thick of it.”
A wind gust sailed through the yard and snaked down her neck into her coat. She shivered. The last time she’d been this cold, Daniel was with her.
“This is nothing compared to the winter winds we have back home. There isn’t even any snow. You never would have made it if you’d come home with me.”
Now he was going home without her. She’d never know what it was like to waltz with the man she loved.
Had she made the right decision?
Another shiver slid down her body and she clenched her jaw. It didn’t matter. He was gone now. Lord, help me to accept the consequences of my actions and to trust you to use them for good.
Andrew handed his empty cup to Maria and returned to his log pile.
Pa and Eliza followed suit.
An hour later, Pa tapped the first blow on the last post as tiny white flakes began drifting down from the sky.
She adjusted her grasp on the post. “I’m glad we’re not planning to go anywhere right now.”
Pa grunted as he took another swing. “I’d hate to be caught out in a snowstorm. Let’s finish and get inside.”
After seeing Alice and the Davidsons settled at the Exchange, Daniel bought back the same horse he’d sold four days ago. Then he rode to the mission.
He spoke with the chaplain, who agreed to perform the ceremony that afternoon.
As he rode back to town, the feeling that something was wrong grew until he could no longer ignore it. He reined his horse to a stop and scanned the gloomy sky above. “Wh
at am I missing, Lord? What is it that You want me to see? I’m trying to obey Your Word, so why does it feel like I’m doing something wrong?”
He waited, but no answer came.
After several minutes of silence, he nudged his horse forward.
Daniel found Alice sitting in the front room of the hotel, staring into the fire.
Mr. Davidson sat on a nearby bench reading a copy of the San Diego Herald. He lowered the paper. “Ah, Mr. Clarke. Were you successful in your endeavor?”
“I was, sir.” He pivoted to Alice. “Things are all set.”
She made an ambiguous sound, her stoic expression unchanging as she continued regarding the flames.
He ran a hand through his hair. Things had not been this awkward between them when he left Massachusetts. Was she upset that he had escorted Eliza?
He sat on the chair across from her and checked that the three of them were alone in the room. They were. Nevertheless, he dragged the chair forward until their knees were inches apart and kept his voice low. “I can understand how my decision to aid Miss Brooks in her search for her father might be concerning to you. But please trust my honesty when I tell you absolutely nothing untoward occurred.”
A near-kiss did not count, no matter how many times he’d remembered it.
She twisted the glove in her hands. “I have never doubted your loyalty, Daniel.”
Yet she still didn’t look at him. How could he set her at ease? Perhaps if he shared the details of their plans... “The army chaplain has agreed to marry us this afternoon.”
At last she regarded him, her hand fluttering to her collar. “So soon?”
Mr. Davidson shook his newspaper and lifted it close to his face, despite wearing his glasses. Did he need a new set of lenses?
Daniel shifted in his chair, refocusing on Alice. “I thought you’d be pleased.”
“I am. Of course. But I…” She watched the fire again. “I need time to prepare.”
“The chaplain won’t be here for a few hours yet. I’m sure there’s plenty of time to change and do whatever else you’d like to do beforehand.”
“Yes. I’m sure you’re right. Only…” She wrung the glove in her hands.
Daniel leaned forward. “Only…?”
“Nothing.” She thrust the mangled glove into her lap. “Forget it.”
Perhaps if he waited, she would elaborate.
Three minutes ticked by.
Or not.
Clearing his throat, he mentioned the idea that had occurred to him as he’d ridden past the restaurant. “I know you have a lot you want to accomplish between now and when the chaplain arrives, but I thought it might be nice to enjoy a meal together. I’m sure you’re hungry and—”
“Actually, I’m still quite tired from the journey.” She stood and backed out the door toward the stairs. “I think I’ll go to my room and rest.”
Before he could reply, she hitched up her skirt and sprinted up the stairs.
A rest? Hadn’t she complained of not having enough time to prepare?
Something was not right.
Daniel drummed his fingers against his thigh.
She’s hiding something.
When he left Alice in Massachusetts four years ago, she had been a confident, outgoing young woman, who adored being the center of attention. Her letters to him were filled with words of love and her eagerness to become his bride. Yet in the several hours since her arrival, she’d wrung the life out of her glove, avoided eye contact, and seemed to have no interest in spending time with him.
He checked the mantle clock again. Two hours had passed since his fiancée’s odd departure. The chaplain would be here soon.
He must speak with Alice before the chaplain arrived. He strode across the room.
At the foot of the stairs, he paused. What if he was wrong? What if everything he was seeing was a young woman nervous about marrying a man she hadn’t seen in four years. Much could change in such a long period of time. It didn’t explain her reluctance to dine with him, but perhaps he’d suggested the wrong activity. If she were as nervous as she seemed, her stomach may be unwell.
He swiveled away from the stairs and crossed to the front door.
“Daniel?”
He pivoted.
Alice dashed down the stairs. A telltale puffiness surrounded her red-rimmed eyes.
Did nervous brides cry? He took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Alice, what is it?”
For the first time since her arrival, her gaze held his. “Is there somewhere we may speak in private?”
Should he take her to the river? No. Too many memories. Another idea came to mind. He placed her hand on his arm. “Come.”
Alice allowed Daniel to guide her out of the hotel and through the plaza toward the south. Once she and Daniel passed the half dozen or so houses situated south of the plaza, the wide, undulated land stood empty. A few abandoned buildings stood—apparently on the verge of collapse—down by the south end of the bay, but not a single person could be seen on the road between.
The silence was suffocating.
This is madness. Confessing risks everything I’ve planned and hoped for. It was one kiss. Daniel doesn’t need to know.
He was everything she wanted in a husband. Not only could he give her the life she dreamed of, but he was certain to treat her and their children with kindness and respect. He would never leave her to pretend all was well while he disappeared for days at a time with whatever strumpet caught his attention. The idea that his actions with Mr. Davidsons’ niece were anything but honorable was ludicrous. Daniel was nothing like her father. Daniel was everything true and good and noble. Why should she risk losing him?
Tell him.
No! Go away!
Her conscience had been driving her mad since she stepped off the boat this morning. Why must she tell Daniel? It would hurt him to know his brother and fiancée had betrayed him and what good would it do? She’d witnessed enough of Mother’s crying spells to know the damage truth could cause. Some things were better left unsaid.
She swallowed the bile in her throat. Was that why her father had stopped explaining his absences? Did he tell himself what mother didn’t know couldn’t hurt her? It made her sick to think she was anything like him. Yet confessing the truth to Daniel might end their engagement and damage his relationship with Benjamin.
No, the kiss did the damage. Confession means accepting the consequences.
But would Benjamin forgive her for revealing their secret? What if, by telling the truth, she lost them both?
She tripped over a small rock in the road, but Daniel caught her and kept her from falling. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
As he drew his hands away, they were shaking. His attention was fixed on the vacant road ahead of them. What was he thinking?
Tell him.
She ignored the voice and studied Daniel. His lips were pressed together as he rubbed his palms against one another. Why was he so nervous? “What aren’t you telling me?” The question popped from her lips without forethought. Did she just insinuate that he was being less than open with her? How ironic. Daniel was the most honest person she knew. It was she who could not be trusted.
Something flickered in Daniel’s eyes before he spoke. “Me? You’re the one who asked to speak in private. You’re the one who’s been avoiding looking at me. What is it you aren’t telling me?”
Wait a moment… Had that been guilt in his eyes? Surely not. What could Daniel have to feel guilty about? Unless he’d lied about Miss Brooks.
No. This is Daniel. He would never—
There it is again. “Daniel, what did you do?”
He whirled away from her and silence reined for several tense seconds.
He is hiding something.
Then he turned, his face crumpled and his shoulders hunched. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for it to happen. I—”
“How could you?” Her hand flew to her mouth. This isn’
t happening. Not with Daniel. He’s different. Except he isn’t. Is every man like Father? “I trusted you.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.” He held his hands out to her. “Please let me explain.”
She stepped back. “To think I was feeling guilty about one little kiss, and the whole time you were… You’re exactly like him.”
Daniel’s eyes grew to the size of Mr. Davidson’s spectacles. “What? No! That’s not what I meant. I give you my word, nothing like that happened. I— Wait, what kiss?”
“Don’t you try to turn this around, Daniel Clarke. You know my family’s secrets. I know guilt when I see it. How can you expect me to believe you when I can see the guilt written all over your face? What else could you have done?”
His mouth opened and closed several times. Then he shrugged. “I fell in love with Eliza.”
Oh. “You fell in love with her?”
He raised his hands to squeeze his head. “I tried not to, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“But you didn’t kiss her or…?”
He waved his arms in front of him “No! I couldn’t—wouldn’t—do that to you.”
She studied him, waiting for his gaze to falter, his hands to fidget the way her father’s did when he was lying. Daniel held her gaze, his hands limp at his sides.
He’s telling the truth.
She grabbed her skirts, whirled, and ran.
Daniel blinked. Where is she going? He sprinted after her.
She stopped and he caught up to her.
Clutching at her bodice, she gasped for air. Her face was an alarming shade of red for such a short run. She pulled at the collar of her dress and undid the top button.
He whipped his head away as her fingers moved to the next button.
Waltz in the Wilderness Page 28