He glanced at her and smiled before he looked back to his aunts. “I’m going to guess that my mother did not take well to Marissa marrying her father.”
Bett fidgeted and Ari shook her head. “No, she didn’t. Mildred hated her. Mama was young and pretty, and full of fun, but she was also from a poor family. Mildred had to teach her the skills necessary to interact with the people in Daddy’s business circles. Mildred also resented the fact that Daddy married Marissa out of love, not duty, like he had her mother. The two women, the two circumstances, were as opposite as could be, but Mildred was beyond reason. She had spent too many years with Daddy all to herself and she didn’t want to share.”
“By the time I was born, Mildred was past the age of marriage,” Bett explained. “She refused to have a thing to do with us, her own baby sisters. One day, after she’d had quite a row with Mama, she’d gone outside for a walk and ran into a handsome young cowboy from the West who just happened to be strolling near our house.”
“My father,” Fred muttered, easily picturing what transpired. “He no doubt wooed the spinster daughter of rich and well-known John Baker, hoping to get his hands on the family fortune.”
“Sadly, yes,” Ari said, shaking her head. “Daddy was beside himself, trying to convince your mother Joe was just after her money, but the man had captivated her so completely, she couldn’t see the truth. When Mildred told Daddy of her plans to wed the man, he warned her if she followed through with it, she wouldn’t get a penny of his money. She ran off with Joe the following day, leaving behind a note. She informed Daddy she never wanted to see or hear from him again.”
“But why did my father marry her if she didn’t have any money? Wasn’t that what he wanted?” Fred asked, confused.
“Mildred had her own money. Not only had Daddy paid her for the work she’d done with him, she’d also inherited her own fortune when her mother passed away. She had no need for the money until then, but she took it. Daddy later learned, through an investigator he hired, that she’d used her money to purchase a lot here in Hardman and paid to build a modest home. She didn’t want anyone to connect her to the Baker family of Philadelphia. After you were born, she did write a few times. Once, she even sent a photograph of you as a little boy. Daddy proudly showed off that picture to anyone who would listen to him boast about his grandson. Although you never met, you held a place in his heart, Fred.” Ari reached over and patted his arm again. “Did your father spend all of your mother’s money?”
“I don’t think he did. I’m not sure he knew about it. I had no idea she’d paid for everything.” Fred thought of all the things he’d reviled, thinking they’d been purchased with money his father had stolen. Most likely, his mother had paid for everything with her own money. Why had she kept her previous life a secret from him? Especially when he struggled so hard during his teen years.
What had his mother done with her fortune, as Ari called it? Fred had no desire for the money, but he did wonder if she’d hidden it from Joe, knowing he’d spend it on booze and loose women.
“How much money did Mother have when she left Philadelphia?” Fred asked, unable to subdue his curiosity.
“Daddy didn’t say outright, but she’d inherited close to a million dollars when her mother died. That, with her other funds, would have left her quite wealthy. Daddy could never understand why she chose to settle in such an out-of-the-way town like Hardman. She could have lived in a mansion in a big city, surrounded by every luxury.” Ari gave Fred a long glance. “I assume she never let Joe know just how much money she truly had.”
“I don’t think she did. If she had, he’d have spent it all within a year.” Fred had so many questions. Questions no one alive could answer. His mother had quietly taken the truth with her to her grave. Had she known his father was an outlaw? Had she cared? In spite of everything, he knew she loved Joe Decker. Was she so desperate for love, for scraps of affection, she settled for what he had to offer?
A gentle squeeze on his hand brought him back to the moment and drew him from his thoughts. Elsa gave him an encouraging smile and tipped her head toward Ari who appeared to be waiting for him to respond to a question.
“I’m sorry, I got lost in my thoughts,” Fred said, looking apologetically to his aunt. “I can’t begin to understand why my mother loved my father. I know she did, but none of it makes any sense.”
“I can’t even imagine, Fred, but I think we’ve given you enough to think about for one evening.” Ari motioned to her sisters and the three of them hurried to carry dishes into the kitchen.
Elsa followed and grinned as the women looked around with a hint of awe at the stacks of baked goods lining the counters. “Please, don’t worry about the dishes. It won’t take me but a moment to do them.”
“Oh, we’d be happy to help you,” Bett said, then grinned at her sisters. “I haven’t washed a dish in years.”
“Me either,” Ari said, then gently pushed Elsa aside and rolled up the sleeves of her exquisite Worth gown. “Come on, Claire. You can dry.”
Before Elsa could protest, the three sisters turned the task of drying dishes into a fun escapade while she and Fred cleared the table and set the front of the bakery back to rights.
“They are wonderful, Fred,” she whispered to him as they walked back into the kitchen.
He grinned and nodded. “They truly are. I’m so glad they came.”
In no time at all, the dishes were washed, dried, and put away. Fred had helped his aunts on with their coats. While they tugged on gloves and wrapped scarves around their necks, he shrugged into his coat and bent to whisper in Elsa’s ear. “Thank you for dinner and making this evening possible.”
“You’re most welcome, Fred. Thank you for all you did to help me today.”
“That was my pleasure. If your brother needs to be punched in the nose again tomorrow, let me know. I’m more than happy to handle the job.” He grinned at her then escorted his aunts out into the frigid evening air.
After he left them at the boardinghouse with a promise to take them to see his place in the morning, he marveled at the turn of events a single day could bring. No longer alone in the world, he grinned, recalling the warmth and love he experienced the moment he met his aunts.
Chapter Twelve
Elsa crawled from beneath the warm nest of quilts on her bed and shoved her feet into her slippers. The first night in the apartment went better than she expected.
Although she struggled to fall asleep, her weary body and mind soon succumbed to a peaceful slumber. Now, it was time to begin her day. The apartment was chilly and she realized she would have to figure out a way to get more heat to it or end up half-frozen. She might have asked Ethan about it, if they were on speaking terms. Perhaps she could impose on Fred, again, to help her.
She’d hoped Ethan would apologize at some point yesterday. When she at last turned out the lights in the bakery and made her way upstairs to bed, she realized he wasn’t coming. It was the first time in her life she’d gone to bed livid at her twin. Sure, she and Ethan had their share of sibling fights, but they’d always made up quickly and moved on. Even the residual anger and disappointment she’d felt since he returned from Portland was nothing compared to the boiling hostility she experienced yesterday.
This was far different than one of their sibling squabbles. And it was no longer just the two of them. Yesterday’s confrontation included Lottie and, whether he wanted to be involved or not, Fred.
As Elsa splashed her face with cold water and brushed her teeth, she recalled the moment when Fred had punched Ethan so hard, it knocked her brother clear off his feet and right onto his backside in the snow.
In spite of the seriousness of the situation, she couldn’t help but giggle. She hoped Fred leveling Ethan with one blow would take a little wind out of her brother’s suddenly inflated sails. Had he always been so obnoxious? Had she failed to notice? Or had the self-important dandy arrived the moment Miss La-De-Da said “I do.”
Whatever the reason or cause, she couldn’t deny Ethan was acting like a blunderheaded idiot, one she didn’t particularly like. How dare he accuse her of having relations with Fred! Even if she was that sort of girl, which she most assuredly was not, when did that stupid brother think she had time for those sorts of shenanigans? Ethan had left her with everything to run for more than a week. If he continued to cavort around town with his wife as though he hadn’t a care in the world, then she’d have no choice but to refuse to share the profits with him. She would initiate proceedings to buy him out as well as hire some much needed help.
In fact, she would hire some help today. A very slim possibility existed that she’d make it through the holidays without having extra hands in the bakery. Considering Lottie’s were useless and Ethan was currently no better, she’d have to hire one or two people to assist. But who?
Her first thought was to ask Fred.
Annoyed with herself, she realized she relied more and more on the man and that would never do. No matter how much she cared for him, how eager she was to see him or spend time with him, she needed to get her thoughts in order and focus on her business. And that meant standing on her own two feet, not allowing Fred to support her.
Regardless, she had immensely enjoyed the time she’d spent with him recently. Oh, but his aunts were great fun. She hadn’t meant to intrude on their family time last night. In fact, she’d almost suggested she go up to her apartment while he spoke with his aunts, but Fred had taken her hand in his and held it like he’d never let go the entire time the three women told him what they knew of his family history.
It must have been hard for him to hear his mother was driven by jealousy and bitterness to accept his father’s proposal. From the little Fred said on the subject, it sounded like Mildred really had loved Joe Decker. Then again, perhaps he had been something of a hero to her. Elsa tried to envision what it would be like for a woman well beyond marrying age who had all but given up hope of being courted to suddenly have a handsome, charismatic man paying attention to her, flirting with her, making her feel desirable and lovely.
If Joe Decker had been even half as handsome or charming as Fred, it was no wonder Mildred had fallen prey to his charms.
Elsa was glad she knew the truth about Fred’s family. She’d heard enough of the gossip in town, to have a basic understanding of what had happened in his past, but she had no idea his father had beaten him nearly to death. What else had Fred endured at the hand of his father? It didn’t sound like Joe had ever beaten Mildred, though. Elsa wondered if Joe had beaten Fred on other occasions. Surely, if Mildred had known of it, she would have done everything in her power to protect Fred.
As her thoughts tumbled around the unexpected arrival of the three aunts, the mess of her brother’s making, and her growing feelings for Fred, Elsa made her way downstairs to the bakery kitchen.
She turned on the lights, stoked the embers in the stove into a cheery flame, and was soon elbow-deep in a bowl of yeasty bread dough. The aromas of bread, coffee, and spice created a decadent perfume in the air as she worked.
A few minutes before six, she washed her hands, tucked a few strands of loose hair into her braid, and changed into a clean apron. With a deep breath, she straightened her spine, marched to the front door of the bakery, and unlocked it. She’d barely made it back to the front counter when the first customers of the day walked in. For the next two hours, Elsa barely had time to think as she served them.
To her surprise, Fred stopped in at half past eight.
“Good morning,” he said, greeting her with a friendly smile that set her heart fluttering.
Irritated with her wayward heart and thoughts where the good-looking man was concerned, she smiled in return. “I didn’t expect to see you today. Aren’t you taking your aunts out to see your farm?”
“I am, but I thought they might like something to eat mid-morning. Could you box up some sweets for me to take along?” Fred asked, leaning an elbow on the counter.
“I’d be happy to,” Elsa hurried to place an assortment of pastries into a box then closed it and tied it with a piece of jute string. “Would you like anything while you’re here?”
Fred’s gaze roved over the contents of the display case. “How about a big slice of that braided bread? What flavor is it today?”
“I used preserved raspberries,” Elsa said, knowing it was Fred’s favorite. Had she subconsciously been thinking of him when she’d made it? She certainly hoped not. Fred filled her thoughts far too often as it was.
“How was your night?” Fred asked, lowering his voice as a few patrons walked behind him on their way out the door.
“Fine, thank you. I actually slept through the night, which is more than has happened since, well, you know.” Elsa’s cheeks pinked as she thought about the reason she’d not been able to sleep since Ethan brought home his bride.
“Have you talked to your brother?”
Elsa shook her head. “No. I haven’t heard a word from him or her.”
Fred couldn’t blame Elsa for being angry with Ethan. The things he’d accused her of were disgusting and wrong. Still, he knew the two siblings had always been close and hated to see something come between the special bonds they shared.
However, he sensed Elsa needed time to sort out her thoughts without her brother or anyone else around.
“Do you need help today?” Fred asked, glancing behind him at the tables with dirty dishes. A mound of dishes no doubt awaited Elsa in the kitchen.
“I’ll get by,” she said, handing him the slice of fruit-filled bread. “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone interested in working for me part-time? I could use some help for an hour or two in the mornings and then again in the afternoon.”
Fred appeared to be considering the possibilities then shot her a grin. “Let me get back to you. I have a few people in mind. Do you care how old they are?”
“As long as they can do the work, they could be nine or ninety. It wouldn’t make any difference to me.” Elsa grinned. “Well, maybe not those two extremes, but I would hire a student or someone elderly if it came down to it.”
“Okay.” Fred took a bite of the bread she’d wrapped in paper. “This is so good. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Fred. I hope you enjoy spending time with your aunts today. They’re just lovely.”
“They are lovely and I’m glad they came. I can’t quite imagine them being related to my mother, but I guess that’s to be expected when they are half sisters to her.”
“Yes, I suppose so.” Elsa glanced outside and saw the three women strolling down the boardwalk with Murtag. “And there they are. Have a wonderful day, Fred.”
He nodded and hurried to the door. “I will, Elsa. Thanks again!”
She watched as he stepped outside and his aunts excitedly greeted him. Elsa grinned as he bent over to allow his aunts to hug him, his brawny form and height towering over their slim figures. Fred motioned toward something down the street and the women, along with Murtag, left with him.
Pleased for Fred and his newfound family, Elsa smiled all the while she cleaned the tables and made a big pot of potato soup for lunch.
While it simmered, she washed the dishes, dried them, then made several spice-filled pear cakes.
The heavenly scent of the cake filled the bakery and made Elsa’s stomach growl. Suddenly, she realized she’d not taken time to eat breakfast, so she made herself eggs and toast and sat down with a cup of steaming tea at the table in the kitchen. She’d just finished the last bite when the back doorknob rattled.
Assuming it was her brother coming to apologize, she remained at the table, unwilling to unlock the door for him. A moment later, when a man’s scarred face peered in the window next to the door, Elsa bit back a scream and silently stood, pressing herself against the wall where he couldn’t see her. How she wished Fred, or even Ethan, was there.
What was that man doing and what did he want? He rattled the doorkno
b again, uttered a foul curse, then the noise quieted.
Elsa lifted her skirts and sprinted to the front door, turning the lock on it then racing back to the kitchen before the man had a chance to enter the bakery through the front.
Frightened and alone, she didn’t know what to do. How could she get word to the sheriff? Was it safe for her to go outside?
She waited five excruciating minutes, grabbed her coat and gloves, then went out the front door. Hastily locking it behind her, she hastened to the sheriff’s office. In the year and a half she’d lived in Hardman, she’d never had a reason to step inside, but when she did, the sheriff rose from his desk and greeted her with a smile.
“Howdy, Miss Lindstrom. What can I do for you today?” the man asked, moving around his desk and motioning for her to take a seat in one of the two straight-backed chairs in front of it.
She ignored his offer and pointed in the direction of the bakery. “A little while ago, a strange man tried to come in the back door of the bakery. Thank goodness, it was locked, but he tried to turn the knob several times then peered in the window. He had a long scar across his left cheek.”
“Is that right? Did he come in the front door? Threaten you or anything?” the sheriff asked, leaning against his desk.
“No, sir. As soon as he quit trying to get in the back, I ran around and locked the front door. I waited a few minutes then came directly here. I didn’t think he’d try anything in broad daylight with people walking all around town.” Elsa spoke so fast, she felt winded by the time she finished.
“Most likely not. It might just be a fella who got an early start on his evening celebratin’ at the Red Lantern Saloon.” The sheriff pulled on his coat and pocketed a key then walked over to the door and held it open for Elsa. “Let’s go back to the bakery and I’ll have me a look at the alley.”
The Christmas Confection (Hardman Holidays Book 6) Page 14