His Brother's Castoff

by Lena Nelson Dooley

  He came to stand behind her and looked over her shoulder at her reflection in the mirror. “How could I deny my precious daughter anything her heart desires?”

  The question sounded innocent enough, but Anna wondered at the undercurrent she sensed pulsing between the two. Then she was distracted when the man walked toward her.

  “May I introduce myself?” His smiling eyes sought out Anna’s. He extended his hand toward her. “My name is Pierre Le Blanc, and this is my daughter, Rissa.”

  When Anna reached to shake his hand, he instead grasped the tips of her fingers and lifted them to his mouth. When his lips touched her, shivers went up her spine. She had never had a man kiss her hand before, but she had read about it in books. His moist lips moved ever so slightly against her fingers, causing his moustache to tickle her.

  Anna didn’t know what to think about this. It wasn’t unpleasant, but the awkwardness she felt made her stand aloof. She hoped that he would recognize that she didn’t welcome his advances. Unfortunately, that aloofness seemed to draw the man more than if she had fawned over him. When Anna moved toward the counter, Mr. Le Blanc followed her. She stepped behind the wooden structure, hoping to put space between them, but the man leaned casually on the counter, as if he were trying to get closer to her.

  ❧

  August had taken a horse back to the livery stable when the fancy buggy pulled in the door. The dandy who was driving it looked down his nose at the big blacksmith. August didn’t like to feel like some sort of insect being flicked away by the man. Who does he think he is?

  “Here’s the horse I shod.” August addressed Hank, the owner of the livery, and ignored the newcomer. “Do any of the other horses need shoeing?”

  When Hank shook his head, August returned to the blacksmith shop. He hurried to finish his work because he wanted to go to the Dress Emporium and see if Gerda or Anna knew who that man was. For some inexplicable reason, August had the feeling that the man was up to no good.

  When August finally arrived at the shop, Anna was nowhere around, but he found Gerda in the workroom. “Did you see the new man who came into town this morning?” August didn’t mean for his question to sound harsh, but it did.

  Gerda looked up from her work. “Hello, Brother, I’m glad to see you, too.” She put the garment she was hemming on the table and went to hug him. He was sure she was glad that he took time to clean up before he came to see her. “Now what is this about the new visitors in town?”

  “Did they come here?”

  Gerda nodded, but looked away from her brother’s scrutiny.

  “So what are you not telling me?” August leaned his shoulder against the doorframe and crossed his ankles. He hoped he looked relaxed, but he didn’t feel it.

  “Mr. Le Blanc and his daughter came into the shop earlier.” Gerda turned toward August.

  “He has a daughter?”

  “Yes, her name is Rissa. Kind of a strange name, isn’t it? And she’s very beautiful—in a china doll kind of way.”

  August digested that piece of information. “How old is his daughter?”

  “I don’t know. She was very dainty. At first, I thought she was only a girl, but after she was here awhile, I realized that she was probably a young woman. Why are you so interested in them?”

  August stood up away from the door facing and walked over to look out the window, with his arms crossed over his chest. “I didn’t see the girl. Only the man. . .and he wasn’t very friendly.”

  Gerda laughed. “He wasn’t very friendly to me either, but he was to Anna.”

  August felt a slow burn start in his stomach and move upward inside him. A return of the old jealousy? “Just how friendly was he?”

  Gerda liked to tease her brothers, and she took the chance to do it now. “Well. . .he did kiss her hand.”

  August whirled around to face her. “Kiss her hand?” burst from his lips. “Why did he kiss her hand?”

  Anna walked in the room in time to hear the outburst. “It was only a friendly gesture.”

  August glared at her. “Friendly gesture? Well, here’s a friendly gesture for you.” He stomped toward Anna, took her by her shoulders, and pressed his lips to hers.

  It was a brief kiss, but suddenly everything changed for August. He hurried out the door as if he were being chased. Why in the world did he do that? Anna looked shocked, and he felt as if his heart had been ripped out. He wanted the first time he kissed Anna to be special. Tender, soft, and a prelude to a long life together, not a jealous gesture in anger. Now he had ruined everything. His inability to control jealousy had caused Anna pain.

  ❧

  While August ran away, Anna stood touching her lips with the fingertips of her right hand. Why had August done that? She had begun to feel drawn to him, and here he had kissed her in anger. What had she done to make him angry? When she looked at Gerda, she had returned to hemming the dress, and a smile covered her face. What was there to smile about?

  Before Anna could ask her, the bell over the door of the shop jingled. Anna went to see who had entered and found Mr. Le Blanc and Rissa.

  “My daughter would like to order some dresses.” When the man smiled at her, Anna felt it in the pit of her stomach.

  The man, who had started all the problems with August, intrigued Anna. She decided to try to get to know him better. Nothing would come of it, but he did seem to be interesting. She had never been one to flirt, but there could be a first time for everything. We’ll see what August thinks of that!

  “What did you have in mind?” Anna should have been asking the girl, but she turned toward the man.

  Although he smiled at her, it didn’t reach his eyes. They were piercing, intense, with some secret hidden in their depths. “Whatever Rissa wants is all right with me. She knows what she likes.”

  Anna took Rissa to the counter where several fashion magazines were stacked. While the girl leafed through the pages, Anna often glanced toward the man. Every time she saw him, his gaze was on her. Soon she began to feel uncomfortable. No man had ever concentrated on her for such a long time.

  “I want to have four summer outfits made.” Rissa drew Anna’s attention from her father. Anna glanced down at the magazine she had open. “I like this dress.” She turned the pages to show Anna two more styles. Then she waved a hand toward the summer frock on the dress form in the window. “Can you make that style in my size?”

  “Of course.” Anna had taken a tablet from under the counter. She wrote down the page number in the magazine. Then she added the style from the window. “You need to pick out what fabrics you want us to use.”

  “Do you need me to help you?” Gerda stepped through the door.

  Anna turned toward her. “I’ll let you help Rissa choose her fabrics, and I’ll talk to her father about the costs involved.”

  The man raised one eyebrow at Anna’s words. “Oh, it doesn’t matter how much they cost. I want Rissa to have what she desires. We can afford it.” A mocking smile crossed his face.

  “I didn’t doubt that for a minute.” Anna smiled at him then.

  While Gerda and Rissa continued to look through the stacks of fabric, Mr. Le Blanc started asking Anna about the town of Litchfield. The conversation was a pleasant one, but after the Le Blancs left the store, Anna realized that she hadn’t found out anything about them. And once again, Mr. Le Blanc kissed her hand before he left the store. His gallantry was a pleasant change from what Anna was used to, but she liked the kiss from August better, even if it hadn’t meant anything to him. Strong emotion had been the reason for it, even if it was the wrong emotion.

  ❧

  August was across the street and one block down before he turned to look back at the store. That’s when he noticed that the Le Blancs were in the Dress Emporium. He wanted to go back but knew he had no reason to go into the women’s store. Maybe he should go to the mercantile. Surely there was something he needed to pick up.

  When August entered the establishment, h
e was glad to see that both Johan and Marja were busy with other customers. He casually made his way to the side of the store nearest the dress shop. He browsed through the merchandise while keeping a close eye on what was transpiring in the next room.

  He didn’t like the way that man looked at Anna. When she was busy with his daughter, his eyes raked Anna from the top of her head to her feet. And he spent too long on specific parts of her body. August’s blood began to simmer. The nerve of that man.

  August wished that he hadn’t made such a fool of himself earlier with Anna. He knew that she wouldn’t listen to a thing he said about that snake oil salesman. A man like him had to be planning some kind of scam. August decided to keep a close watch on him.

  Over the next three weeks, Mr. Le Blanc and his daughter insinuated themselves into Litchfield society. They attended church every Sunday. August noticed that they were always slightly late, and when they arrived, they didn’t slip in quietly. Everyone in the room knew when they arrived. They invited key people to small soirees, as Rissa called them, in their hotel suite. Everyone who was invited was someone important—such as the mayor, the banker, the sheriff, the stationmaster, and the owner of the hotel.

  Unfortunately, since Anna and Gerda were business owners, they were often included in the festivities, especially Anna. However, although he was the owner of a business, August was never invited. Neither were Hank or any of the farmers. Only people Le Blanc thought had quite a bit of money. . .and Anna.

  When the parties were held downstairs in the hotel, August was able to keep an eye on the proceedings. But when they were in the sitting room of the Le Blancs’ hotel suite, he could only guess what went on. What August observed didn’t make him change his mind about the man. Something wasn’t quite right about him.

  ❧

  The Dress Emporium had received a new shipment of fabrics, and Anna was arranging them on the shelves when August arrived. He came into the shop and leaned on the counter.

  “I’ve come to apologize to you.”

  Although Anna kept her back to him, she was aware of his every move. She had tried to stay out of his way ever since that unfortunate kiss. Now here he was only a few feet from her. So close she could feel the heat emanating from him, helping her remember the feel and taste of his lips.

  “And what do you have to apologize for?” Anna didn’t think her heart could take him saying he was sorry for kissing her. There had been only short periods of time since that fateful day when she didn’t remember every nuance of that connection, even though it was brief.

  “Anna, please look at me.” When she turned around and their gazes connected, he continued. “I’m sorry I was angry when I kissed you.”

  He hadn’t said he was sorry that he kissed her, only that he was angry when he did. That was interesting.

  “Why were you angry? I hadn’t done anything to upset you.” Anna crossed her arms and stood her ground.

  He nodded. “You’re right. I wasn’t angry at you. It was that man.”

  Anna took a deep breath. “Mr. Le Blanc?”

  “Yes.” August stepped back from the counter and stuffed his hands into the back pockets of his denim trousers.

  ❧

  “You never have liked him, have you?” Anna’s question caught August off guard.

  “No, I don’t trust the man.”

  Anna looked as if he had said something bad about her. “What did he do to make you not trust him?”

  How could August make her understand? He knew that he was right. The man never looked August in the eyes. He had a smooth way of talking, but when August looked at his eyes, there was no light in them. Only a confidence man talked that smoothly. August had seen them at work on more than one occasion. The man had to be a confidence man, but August had no way to prove it.

  “That man is up to no good.”

  The sound Anna made wasn’t very ladylike. “I think you’re jealous because you weren’t invited to any of the parties.”

  “Jealous? Of that man? Hardly. . .but he’s not honest.”

  August could tell that Anna was getting exasperated. “He was totally honest with Gerda and me. He spent a lot of money in this store. How can you say he’s not honest?” Anna was raising her voice a little more with each word she said.

  August did the same. “That man is up to no good. Mark my words. You’ll see that soon enough.”

  Anna came around the counter and stood toe to toe with August, and her finger on his chest punctuated each word. “I can’t believe you’re so pigheaded. He was kind to me, and I won’t let you say bad things about him.”

  “I’ve seen the way he looked at you when you didn’t notice. He was devouring you with his eyes in a very unsavory manner. No decent woman would want a man looking at her like that.” August knew that he was shouting, but he couldn’t stop himself.

  Anna turned and marched to the door of the workroom. There she whirled around. “I can’t believe you would stoop so low as to say something like that. I guess you’ll be glad to know that he and his daughter left town this morning after picking up the dresses we made for her. We’ll probably never see them again.” When Anna went through the door, she slammed it shut behind her. The sound reverberated off all four walls of the store.

  August stood there stunned. He had done it again. Lost his temper with Anna. What in the world was wrong with him?

  ❧

  Thankfully, it was time to close the shop. When August walked out, Anna came from the workroom and locked the door to the mercantile. She grabbed her coat, gloves, and handbag and hurried out the front door. She didn’t want to cry until she got in the apartment, but it took every ounce of strength she had to hold the tears inside. After fumbling with the lock and key, she finally secured the front door.

  When Anna closed the apartment door behind her, her reserves were gone. She dropped into the rocking chair and covered her face with her hands. The tears she had been holding back came in a flood, as if a dam inside her had broken. With a keening wail, she rocked and sobbed. Why had God done this to her?

  That’s where Gerda found her when she returned home, rocking and crying. Anna wished that she had thought about going to her own bedroom. Maybe then Gerda wouldn’t have been so concerned about her.

  “Anna!” Gerda dropped the bags she was carrying and hurried to the rocking chair. She knelt on the oval braided rug and took Anna’s hands in hers. “What happened?”

  Anna had carried this load too long by herself. She was tired. Without thinking, the words tumbled out.

  “August is angry with me. . .and he doesn’t like Mr. Le Blanc. . .and he yelled at me, and—”

  “Who yelled at you? Mr. Le Blanc?”

  “No, August yelled at me, and he was angry when he kissed me, and—”

  Gerda stood up and put her hands on her hips. “August kissed you again?”

  “No!” Anna knew that her thoughts were jumbled, and what she was saying didn’t make much sense.

  Gerda pulled Anna up from the chair and wrapped her arms around her friend. After hugging her for a moment, she led Anna to the settee where they both sat down. Then Gerda began to pray.

  “Fader Gud, Anna is upset. Please bring a peace and calmness to her, so we can discuss what is bothering her. Give us wisdom as we try to discern Your will in the matter. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  Inexplicably, Anna felt a calmness descend upon her. After sitting still for a short time, her thoughts began to make sense.

  “Now, Anna,” Gerda said. “Start at the beginning, and tell me what’s wrong.”

  Anna stood up and removed her coat while she explained what had happened in the store earlier with August. Gerda sat quietly and listened.

  “I think maybe August is jealous of the attention that Mr. Le Blanc is giving you.”

  That was a new thought to Anna. August jealous? Why would he be jealous?

  “Haven’t you noticed how attentive he is to you?” Gerda asked.

&nbs
p; Anna hadn’t thought of August as being attentive to her. He was only a good friend, wasn’t he? “Why do you think he’s paying any attention to me?” Anna sat down again and clasped her hands in her lap.

  “Oh, Anna.” Gerda put her hand over Anna’s. “I’ve suspected for some time that August is interested in you. Before Mr. Le Blanc came, I even thought you might be interested in him. Now I’m not sure.”

  Anna sat for a moment, deep in thought. Then she stood, walked across the room, and looked out the window, staring at nothing in particular. “I can’t let myself think about a man that way.”

  “Why not?” Gerda came to stand beside her. “Every woman looks forward to marriage someday.”

  Anna looked at Gerda with a stricken expression on her face. “That’s not God’s plan for me.”

  Gerda put her hands on her hips. “Why do you say that?”

  Anna took a deep breath. Gerda had been her best friend long before they were partners in the business. If she couldn’t tell her, who could she tell? Maybe Gerda’s prayers would help her accept what was happening to her.

  “I don’t know when it started, but I do know that there is something wrong with me. Something that keeps a man from loving me enough.” For a moment, the words hung in the air between them.

  “Anna, how can you say that?” Gerda pulled Anna into her arms and patted her back. “Nothing’s wrong with you.”

  “Gustaf couldn’t love me enough. . .even though we were together for years.” Anna tried to speak the words evenly, but her voice had a catch in it.

  “You know that Olina was the right woman for him, don’t you?”

  Anna nodded. “Olaf didn’t love me enough either. I knew that he shouldn’t go on the hunting trip. I begged him not to go. . .if he loved me. He went anyway, not even considering my feelings.”

  Gerda dropped onto the settee. “I’m so sorry, Anna. I didn’t know. But that doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you. He wasn’t the right man to love you the way God wants you loved.”

  “If you say so.” Anna wasn’t convinced. She walked over to the table by the rocking chair and started straightening the doily on top.