His Brother's Castoff

by Lena Nelson Dooley

  At the sound of a deep chuckle, Anna looked up into the eyes of the person she had been talking about for the last half hour. Did their words cause him to arrive? She felt breathless and comfortable all at the same time.

  ❧

  August couldn’t believe his good fortune when Anna practically ran into his arms. He knew she was in a hurry to get somewhere and hadn’t noticed him. But the feeling of her against his chest was wonderful. He wanted her to stay there forever. Please, Lord.

  Anna looked up at him. After stepping back, she murmured, “Sorry,” and the color in her cheeks intensified.

  “That’s all right.” August chuckled. “I enjoyed it.”

  Anna hurried around him and headed toward Marja Braxton. What was she running from—him or her own emotions? He hoped it was her emotions. Maybe his prayers and showering her with love were making a difference.

  He entered the Dress Emporium. When Gerda wasn’t in the showroom, he continued on to the workroom.

  “How’s my favorite sister?”

  Gerda was ironing something soft and white. “I’m your only sister.” She placed the flatiron in its holder on the stove and turned around. “What brings you to the shop today? Not more presents?”

  August shook his head slightly and looked out the window. He hoped his sister didn’t notice how embarrassed he was. He hadn’t wanted her to realize what he was doing. Anna was supposed to be the one to notice. “Gustaf came by the smithy this morning. Mor is having one of the hired hands bring dinner to their house tonight so Olina won’t have to cook. She said that she’d fix enough for me, too.” He moved closer to the window so he could look the other way down the street.

  “Anna isn’t here right now.”

  “What?”

  “Anna isn’t here right now.”

  When August turned to look at her, she was grinning at him. “Why did you say that?”

  “That’s why you come so often, isn’t it? To see Anna.”

  His sister was much too perceptive, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

  ❧

  Gustaf had told August to come right in when he arrived, so August opened the door and walked in. Taking a deep whiff of the tantalizing aroma of his mother’s cooking, he followed his nose to the kitchen. Gustaf had Olga in the high chair that August had built for her. She was banging a spoon on the table while her father set the plates around the edge.

  “Do you need some help?” August lifted Olga from her perch.

  “Unka!” she screamed before throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing. “High.”

  August swung her up and down while Gustaf finished getting the food on the table. “You’re pretty good at that.”

  Gustaf looked up from what he was doing. “Kitchen work is awkward for me, but it’s one way I can help Olina.” He folded his arms across his chest. “She’s miserable today.”

  “Is she coming down for supper?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll go ask.”

  While Gustaf was upstairs, August started feeding his hungry niece.

  After the meal was over, Gustaf started back up the stairs. Olina hadn’t wanted to eat when everyone else did. She told him to see if she was hungry when they finished.

  August took Olga to the parlor.

  “Horsey, Unka.”

  He had been heading for the rocking chair, but he chose the settee instead. He sat down and crossed his legs. After lowering Olga to sit on his top foot, he kept a tight hold on her hands and started moving his foot up and down.

  “Ride a little horsey, up and down.”

  The trouble with starting this game was that Olga never wanted to quit. It was one of her favorite things to do. After what seemed like a thousand times of kicking his leg up and down giving Olga a ride on his foot, August was glad that his brother finally returned. Gustaf rubbed his hand over his eyes as he came into the room.

  “Does Olina want her supper now?” August pulled Olga up into his lap. His leg was tired, so he was glad for this reprieve.

  “No.” Gustaf reached down and took his daughter. He hugged her tight. “She has gone into labor. I feel so helpless, watching her hurt.”

  August stood. “I’ll take Olga to town. I’m sure Anna would be glad to spend time with her. I can bring Gerda back. Then I’ll go to the farm to get Moder.”

  ❧

  Anna had taken her hair down to prepare it for bed. She brushed it out before making a long braid. She liked to have it out of her way when she changed from her everyday clothes to her nightdress. When she finished brushing, a loud knock sounded on the door to the apartment. Who could that be? Maybe Gerda would see.

  “Anna,” Gerda called through the wall. “Can you answer the door? I’m not dressed.”

  The knock sounded again, more insistent this time. It must be important. Anna pushed her hair behind her back and hurried across the parlor.

  “Who is it?” she called through the door.

  “August.”

  What could he want at this time of night? Then Anna heard a tiny voice. She pulled the door wide to allow August to enter with his burden. The night was cool, so Olga was bundled into a quilt. Anna took her and started unwrapping the large cover.

  “Why are you and Olga on our doorstep?” Anna glanced to where August had stood, but he had disappeared out the door.

  Olga began whimpering again. Anna pulled her close and hummed as she patted her back. This little girl should be asleep by now.

  Gerda came into the parlor. “What are you doing with Olga?”

  “I don’t know.” Anna dropped a kiss on the little girl’s droopy head.

  Gerda went to the door. When she opened it, August arrived at the top of the stairs with his arms full.

  “Olina is going to have the baby soon. I brought Olga to you, Anna.” He placed a large cloth bag on the settee. “Here are all the things she’ll need tonight. Do you mind taking care of her?”

  Anna looked at August’s concerned expression. “Of course not. I love Olga.”

  “Are you going to take me to Olina?” Gerda was already heading toward her bedroom. “That’s wonderful.” She turned back and hugged her brother before she left the room. “I’ll throw together a few things in case I have to stay with her awhile.”

  When August and Gerda left, Anna sat in the rocking chair until Olga slept soundly. She laid Olga on the carpet in her bedroom while she pushed her bed against the wall. Then she put the little angel on the bed close to the wall. After changing her own clothes, she climbed in beside her and started praying for Olina.

  ❧

  Anna decided not to open the shop the next morning. She wanted to wait until she heard from Gerda. After she and Olga had breakfast together, she spent the morning playing with the little girl. Every time she picked Olga up, her heart longed for a child of her own.

  Anna knew that her whole being reacted whenever August was around, and it had seemed that he might be interested in her, but she couldn’t trust those feelings. Her relationship with Gustaf had seemed strong, but it wasn’t enough for him to love her. Then, when she was going to marry Olaf, she loved him, but he didn’t love her enough to heed her warnings. No, feelings weren’t enough to overcome whatever it was that was wrong with her that kept a man from loving her enough.

  After lunch, Anna rocked Olga so she would take a nap. When she was asleep, instead of putting her down on the pallet, Anna held her and imagined that she was holding her own child. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she grieved for what she would never have.

  Anna heard the key turn in the door before Gerda quietly stepped into the room. Anna was thankful that Gerda probably knew Olga would be napping. She turned her face away, trying to hide the tears. With one hand, she wiped her cheeks before she greeted Gerda.

  “Has Olina had the baby?”

  Gerda sank onto the settee. “No. She’s having a long, hard labor. Mor told me to come help you with Olga.”

  She reached to take her niece
from Anna’s arms. After hugging her softly, she laid her on the pallet in Anna’s bedroom. When she returned to the parlor, Anna had finished drying her cheeks. She hoped there weren’t too many other traces of crying on her face.

  “Do you want me to stay with Olga, or should I go open the shop?” Gerda hid a yawn behind her hand.

  “Did you get any sleep last night?”

  Gerda shook her head.

  “Why don’t you take a nap while Olga does? She should be tired enough to sleep a long time. We played all morning.” Anna started for the door. “I’ll go to the shop.”

  ❧

  The sun was starting to go down when August rode into town. All day he had a hard time thinking about anything but Anna with her beautiful hair hanging down her back. When he had seen her, for a moment it chased all other thoughts from his head. He wanted to touch the waves that tumbled like a waterfall down her back. He was sure the strands would feel soft as silk. He had had to leave abruptly to retrieve Olga’s things. It allowed him time to take control of his longings.

  Anna was locking the door to the shop when he stopped in front of the store. She quickly turned. “Have you heard anything yet?”

  He dismounted and came to stand by her. She stepped farther into the waning sunlight.

  “Olina and Gustaf have a son.” A smile split his face.

  “How is Olina?”

  “Mother and son are doing fine. Do you want me to take Olga now?”

  Anna shook her head. “Why don’t we keep her here another night? That will give everyone time to get a little rest.” She quickly turned and headed toward the stairs at the side of the building.

  August wished he had some reason to accompany Anna to the apartment. But he felt as if she had dismissed him from her presence. Would he ever understand that woman?

  When August went to the post office to pick up his mail, the postmaster asked if he wanted to take Gustaf’s to him. Olina had received a fat packet from Sweden. August thanked the man and headed to the boardinghouse. The mail could wait until morning.

  After August had eaten, he fell into bed. Even though he was exhausted, sleep eluded him. Lord, what am I going to do about Anna?

  August didn’t expect an answer, but a quiet voice spoke into his mind.

  Love her.

  How was he supposed to do that? He thought that was what he had been doing.

  Pray for her.

  Somehow, lying on his back didn’t seem the right way to pray. So August got up and opened his Bible on the edge of the bed. Then he dropped to his knees on the floor beside the open book. He prayed for Anna’s heart to heal and for her relationship with the heavenly Father to increase. And he prayed that somehow Anna would come to love him as much as he loved her.

  ❧

  It was early afternoon before August could pick up Olga to take her home. This time, he rode his stallion. Olga always enjoyed being cradled in August’s lap while he was on the big horse. They had often ridden this way, with her snuggled close against his chest.

  When they arrived, Gustaf was already waiting at the hitching post. August knew that he had missed his young daughter, and Olga lunged into her father’s arms with a squeal. August hoped that someday he would have a daughter who loved him as much.

  He followed Gustaf into the house, carrying Olga’s bag and the mail, which had been in his saddlebags. “The postmaster gave me your mail. Olina received something from Sweden.”

  Gustaf put Olga down, and she ran into her grandmother’s arms. “Olina will want to see this. Why don’t I take it up first? We’ll bring Olga to see her moder and baby brother later.”

  He bounded up the stairs. August stayed in the kitchen with their mother. Soon Gustaf returned.

  “The letter is from Olina’s mother. Her great aunt Olga passed away, and she left Olina quite a bit of money.” Gustaf went to the stove and poured a cup of coffee. After taking a sip, he continued. “I’ve been saving to build onto the house, now that we have two children and are planning to have more. Olina wants me to start as soon as possible.” He turned a chair backwards and straddled it with his crossed arms leaning on the back. “I don’t suppose you’d be able to help me any time soon, would you?”

  Since Gustaf has already drawn plans for the rooms he wanted, August agreed to help him. Even working only part of each day, they should be able to complete it in less than a month.

  It took two weeks for all the building materials Gustaf ordered to arrive. When August finished work that afternoon, he rented a wagon from the livery and drove a load to Gustaf. It took them two more trips with both that wagon and Gustaf’s to retrieve all of it. August promised to take the next day off to help get the framing up.

  Gustaf clapped August on the shoulder. “Why don’t you come for breakfast? Mor is still here, and I know she’ll be glad to make enough for both her sons.”

  “I’ve never been known to turn down my mother’s cooking.”

  They had finished enjoying thick slabs of ham, red-eye gravy, mounds of scrambled eggs, and piping hot biscuits dripping with butter when several men on horses rode up to the house. Gustaf excused himself from the table and went to see who it was. August started to help his mother clear the table.

  “You go on now. I’ll take care of this.” Ingrid Nilsson had to stand on tiptoe to kiss her son’s cheek.

  August went out to join Gustaf. About a dozen men from their church were milling around the front yard. August wondered how they found out that Gustaf needed help. He was sure Gustaf hadn’t told anyone else. But secrets were hard to keep in this close-knit community. Everyone cared about his neighbors. Probably Johan told them that the supplies had arrived. With all this help, they would finish the addition quickly.

  Gustaf divided up the work among the men, according to their areas of expertise. When everyone started work, Gustaf and August worked side by side.

  August tried to keep his mind on the rooms they were building, but he had a hard time not thinking about Anna. Sometimes, he even whispered a prayer for her when she made her way into his thoughts.

  At noon, several women arrived, bringing food for the whole crew. August had enjoyed all the talk the men engaged in when they worked, but after he filled his plate, he sat down under a tree away from the crowd. Soon Gustaf joined him.

  “You’ve been distracted today, haven’t you?” Gustaf picked up a piece of fried chicken and bit into it.

  August finished chewing before he replied. “Yes. At least it didn’t interfere with my work.”

  “Is it Anna?”

  August nodded. “I’ve been praying for her every day. And I try to go by there as often as I can. I’m not sure how to get through to her.”

  Gustaf laughed. “I hear you’ve been taking presents to the girls—especially Anna.”

  “Did she say something about that?”

  “No.” Gustaf picked up half a roll dripping with butter, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it up. “Gerda has noticed that everything you do directly affects Anna.”

  August looked up from his plate. “Do you think Anna knows?”

  “I’m not sure. I think you would be good for Anna, and I want to see her happy. I’m going to start praying more earnestly for the two of you. That God would show you His will for your lives.”

  Ten

  In early May, Anna changed the navy wool suit that was in the window of the shop. Many women had asked about the new fashions for spring and summer. Anna and Gerda kept up with the new clothing, hats, and accessories offered in the catalogues and fashion magazines they received. Anna had made herself a new spring outfit, but she was going to leave it in the window for awhile before she wore it. Made of soft creamcolored lawn, it was sprigged with tiny blue flowers. The clean lines looked good on Anna’s tall frame, but the style could be adapted to many figure types. When she returned the dress form to the window, she glanced at the traffic outside. As the weather warmed, the streets were often filled with people moving about—on fo
ot, on horseback, or in a variety of conveyances.

  Her gaze drifted to a buggy she had never seen before. The brass fittings were shined until they sparkled. Even though it came from the direction of the road out of town, the vehicle was so clean, it looked as if it had recently been washed.

  The man driving it was dressed in a suit that would have looked good on a banker back East. With his cravat arranged in that manner, Anna thought she could see the sparkle of a diamond nestled in the folds. Surely he wasn’t wearing a diamond stickpin in Litchfield, Minnesota. Anna had never seen one before, but she had read about them in the fashion magazines she and Gerda subscribed to.

  Sitting beside the man was an exquisitely beautiful young woman. She looked much too young to be his wife. Maybe she was his daughter. Anna couldn’t help wondering what had brought them to this Midwestern town.

  “Did you see that couple?” Anna hadn’t realized that Gerda stood behind her until she spoke.

  “Yes. I wonder who they are.”

  Anna didn’t have to wonder long, because later that afternoon, the newcomers entered the mercantile. After browsing through the merchandise for half an hour, they came into the Dress Emporium. Anna was rearranging several of the displays on the small tables that were scattered around the room and on the sideboard by the wall.

  “Oh. . .Father. Look at this wonderful shop.” The young woman released her hold on the man’s arm and picked up a triangular lacy shawl. She pulled it around her and tried to look over her shoulders to see the back.

  “We have a large mirror.” Anna pointed toward the cheval glass.

  When the young woman walked over, Anna tipped the top of the frame forward a little so the girl could get a better look. She preened before the mirror. The soft blue shawl set off the color of her eyes. When she shook her head, black ringlets tumbled down her back. Anna had seen pictures of china dolls that looked like this girl.

  “I like it.” The young woman smiled at the man who had been standing to the side watching her every move. “May I have it. . .Father?”