“I–I don’t think so.”
“Well, I hope you can forgive me, ma’am.”
Emily’s gaze finally reached the man’s tanned and golden-whiskered face. Shaggy blond hair framed his face, and blood stained the corner of his mouth. The stranger looked out of place for Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in his canvas duster and matching trousers. But odd costumes weren’t totally uncommon, given the city’s lively port.
And yet he seemed a bit familiar too . . .
“Unhand that girl, you hooligan!” Mrs. Hopper rushed forward and whacked the man on the shoulder with her cane.
He winced and released Emily. “I meant her no harm.” As Emily staggered backward slightly, the man caught her elbow. His velvety-brown gaze bore into hers as if to ask yet again if she’d been injured.
Funny how she guessed at his thoughts.
“I’m just shaken.” Emily glimpsed the remorse in his eyes before he bent and picked up the dark-blue capelet that Bestamor, her grandmother, had knit for her. He gave it a shake before handing it over.
“And what about my hat?” Sadly she pointed again to the street.
The man collected its colorful but irreparably flattened remains.
“A travesty!” Mrs. Hopper’s age-lined face contorted in rage. “A travesty, I say!”
Travesty indeed! It had taken months for her to save for that fine bit of millinery with its silk ribbons, Chantilly lace, and pink roses on a velvet bandeau. Now Andy Anderson would never see it. She took the mangled remnants from the stranger’s hand. “I certainly hope you plan to reimburse me for this. I paid a dollar and a half for it.”
“A dollar fifty? For a hat? I could buy a shoulder holster, cartridge belt, and ammunition for that sum.”
Unimpressed, Emily extended one hand of her torn netted glove. Another casualty.
Resignation softened his gaze before the man reached into his inside pocket and then placed two dollar bills into Emily’s outstretched palm. “This should more than cover it. Again, I apologize.”
“Thank you.” Emily smiled. “Apology accepted.” She folded the money and put it in her reticule, still attached to her wrist. Mrs. Sylvia Hopper sniffed indignantly, but Emily caught the approving light in her eyes. She’d known the elderly woman for a long while, as she had been Bestamor’s best friend back in Norway. She’d come to America just before Poppa was born, and now her granddaughter, Iris, was Emily’s best friend.
A small crowd pressed in on the boardwalk to gawk, and Emily’s gaze moved to the man who lay sprawled out and unmoving several feet away.
She quickly turned away. “Is he dead?”
“Probably not.” The stranger bent and grabbed his dark brown, wide-brimmed hat that lay nearby and gave it a whack against his thigh. “My compliments. You took that tumble a far sight better than he did.”
“Who is he?”
“A man wanted in five counties.”
Emily glanced at the motionless figure again. He didn’t look familiar.
“It’s actually amazing that you’re not out cold yourself. For a moment I feared I’d killed you.”
“And you could have killed her, you low-life hooligan!”
“Please, Mrs. Hopper . . . ” She glanced around, hating to be the subject of such a scene. “I’m fine. No need to worry.”
Muttering, the elderly woman walked to where several women stood a ways down on the boardwalk, holding parasols and whispering behind gloved fingers.
Emily felt suddenly unnerved. “I guess I’m sturdy for a woman. Even so, I haven’t taken a hit like that since my brothers jumped me and I fell off my horse. Those rascals pretended they were US marshals and I was one of the James’s gang.” Emily moistened her lips, her gaze fixed on the handsome stranger. “They flung themselves at me from a tree limb. It’s a miracle we didn’t all break our necks. ”
A moment passed, and Emily wondered why this moment seemed sealed in time.
The man narrowed his gaze.
“Forgive my prattling.” She hadn’t meant to go on like that. “The fall must have shaken my tongue loose.”
Despite the injury to his mouth, he grinned, and Emily could swear she’d seen it before.
“Both you fellas are paying for this damage to my front window!” Mr. Fransmuller stomped out of his restaurant and saloon. Emily knew him and his family, as young Hans had been in her class just the year before. “Look what your brawl has done!”
Emily took note the gaping hole where the two men had exited.
Mrs. Hopper limped over to the tavern owner. “There ought to be a law against such barbaric behavior in our town. Someone’s going to get killed. Why, Mr. Fransmuller, you should be ashamed, serving strong drink at this hour of the afternoon. Women aren’t safe to do their shopping in broad daylight anymore!”
“Just for the record, I wasn’t drinking,” said the familiar stranger. “Just playing cards is all.”
“And gambling, most likely.” Mrs. Hopper hurled another angry glare at him. “Gambling is a dirty sin.”
Fransmuller frowned and wiped his beefy hands on the black apron tied around his rounded belly. “Now, Mrs. Hopper, don’t start in on one of your holier-than-thou rants.”
“I beg your pardon?” Mrs. Hopper brought herself up to her full height of four feet nine inches. “How dare you speak to me in such a way, Mr. Fransmuller!”
“I’ve got a business to run, and I pay my taxes.” He threw a thumb over his shoulder. “But just look at my front window!” He gave a wag of his nearly bald head. “And you should see the saloon! One big mess!” Mr. Fransmuller marched up and stood toe to toe with the man beside Emily. “Who are you? I want your name. You’re paying for half the damages to my business!”
“Yes, sir.”
Emily watched as the stranger moved his duster to one side. She glimpsed the gun strapped around his narrow hips before he produced his billfold and a silver badge. “Deputy Marshal John Alexander Kirk Edgerton at your service.” After a courteous dip forward, he counted out several large-sum bills. “Will this cover my portion of the damages?”
Emily ran the man’s name through her memory, and her heart beat a little faster.
Mr. Fransmuller appeared impressed. “Yes. This will do.” The fight went out of him, and he nodded his thanks before walking back into his establishment.
“Jake?” She eked out his nickname, scarcely believing it was him. “Jake Edgerton?”
His gaze slid to her, and he smiled. “Well, well . . . Emily Sundberg.” He didn’t look surprised. Obviously he’d recognized her before she’d figured out his identity. “Look at you, all grown up—you even turned out pretty.”
“Hmph! Well, I see you haven’t changed!”
“It was a compliment.”
She bristled. It didn’t sound like a compliment. What’s more, she recalled that Jake was part of that US marshal stunt her brothers pulled.
Jake Edgerton was trouble, trouble from the time they were thirteen and fifteen.
Mrs. Hopper moved down the boardwalk and continued her conversation with the other ladies.
“So what are you doing in Manitowoc?”
“Attending my granddad’s funeral.”
Emily felt a sting of rebuke. “Oh, I–I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d passed. I mean, I knew Mr. Ollie had been ill for a long while, but . . . ”
“Happened just yesterday.” Jake eyed her speculatively, and Emily guessed the questions swirling around his instigating brain.
“Just for the record,” she mimicked, “I’m a schoolteacher here in town. I only get home on Sundays.”
“A schoolteacher, eh?”
“That’s right.” She lifted her chin, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Seconds later she thought of Mr. Ollie. “Again, I’m sorry for your loss. Your grandfather was a good neighbor to our family.” Emily knew that at one time Jake had been especially close to the old man. Oliver Stout, fondly called Mr. Ollie by Emily and her brothers, had been a respect
ed attorney, one who’d boasted many times over the years that his only grandson would one day take over his law practice.
But it didn’t look that way. Not if Jake was a deputy marshal.
“I appreciate the condolences, Em.”
Such familiarity galled her. “So you’re a gambler as well as a lawman?” Emily could only imagine Mr. Ollie weeping in heaven. A God-fearing man, the late Mr. Ollie would have never been involved in a barroom brawl!
“I partake in a game of cards on occasion.”
“Family funerals being one of them?” She couldn’t squelch the quip.
Jake inhaled, but then seemed to think better of a reply. Instead he guided her the rest of the way to the bench.
Emily tugged her capelet around her shoulders and sat. She eyed the crowd, praying no one would recognize her as Maple Street School’s third grade teacher or Agnes Sundberg’s niece or Jacob Dunbar’s cousin . . . or Captain Daniel Sundberg’s daughter. With so much family surrounding her in this town, Emily knew the odds were against her anonymity.
“Once again I am terribly sorry you got in the middle of this whole mess.”
He couldn’t be sorrier than she!
Mr. Fransmuller began sweeping up glass and shooing people away from the scene. Then all at once her best friend, Iris Hopper, came shrieking from the department store.
“Emily! Emily Sundberg!”
She cringed as embarrassment filled her being. So much for hiding her identity.
Iris spotted Emily and came running across the street. She held her hat in place on her head with one of her slender hands. In the other she clutched her wrapped purchases.
“What’s happened? Oh, my stars!” A pale blue dress hugged Iris’s wispy frame as she hurried toward Emily, while her wire-rim glasses slipped down her long nose. “I heard there was some barroom fight and you got trampled half to death. What would I do if I’d lost my very best frie—”
Iris’s gaze lit on Jake, and she slowed her steps. Giving him a timid smile, she let go of her hat and pushed up her glasses.
He touched the brim of his hat. “Ma’am.”
Iris leaned toward Emily. “Is he the one who ran you over?”
“That about sums it up.” Emily pushed to her feet. “But I’m fine, so let’s finish our shopping, shall we?”
Iris didn’t budge. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” She nudged Emily, who felt a new soreness in her ribcage.
Jake spoke up before she could. “US Deputy Marshal Jake Edgerton, ma’am.”
“Deputy marshal? How impressive.” Iris’s smile grew. “I’m Miss Iris Hopper and Emily’s best friend, going on eight years now. Right, Em?”
“Right.”
“My parents were killed in a horrible mudslide in South America, where we were missionaries. I’ve lived with my grandmother ever since.”
“Sorry to hear of your loss.” Jake’s gaze, the color of the brandy he denied drinking, shifted to Emily. “As for Em and me, we go way back.” A slow grin spread across his mouth. “Ain’t that right? And I must admit it’s been a pleasure, um, running into you today.”
Shut up, Jake. She looked down the block, wondering if he had any idea how much heartache he’d caused her over the years. Because of him and his big mouth, she’d spent half her life proving her moral integrity to this entire town! Worse, Jake never forgave her.
“How’re your brothers?” He gave a nostalgic wag of his head. “That summer I visited Granddad and met all of you Sundbergs was the best in all my life.”
“Eden and Zeb are fine. Just fine.” She couldn’t get herself to say any more. “We’re all fine.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Emily’s never mentioned you.” Iris’s pointed features soured with her deep frown. She leaned closer to Emily. “I thought we told each other everything.”
“No? You never mentioned me, Em?” Jake’s dark eyes glinted with mischief.
Tried half my life to forget you! She clenched her jaw to keep back the retort and realized that it hurt too.
His expression changed. “Maybe you ought to see a doctor, Emily.”
She wished he hadn’t picked up on her wince. “No, I’m fine.”
“She always says that,” Iris tattled. “She’s always ‘fine.’”
“How far’s the doctor’s office from here?”
“I don’t need a doctor, Jake. But thanks, anyway.”
“Well, goodness, Em, you certainly did take the worst of it.” Iris brushed off the back of Emily’s capelet. “And, oh, my stars! Just look at your hat. It’s ruined.”
“Yes, I know. But Jake reimbursed me.”
“How thoughtful.” After a smile his way, Iris examined Emily’s face like she was one of her fourth graders. “If I’m not mistaken, a bruise is already forming on your left cheek.” Iris clucked her tongue. “You’ll be a sight at the spring dance tomorrow night. But if you need to stay home now, I will too.”
“No, we’re still going.” Emily knew her friend looked forward to this community event as much as she did. Andy Anderson would be there, and maybe seeing her in the new dress Momma and Bestamor had sewn especially for the occasion, he’d finally notice her, and not just as another of her brother Eden’s friends but as a young woman.
“Andy won’t give you the time of day if you’re all banged up. You might as well stay home.”
Sadness descended like a fog rolling in from off Lake Michigan. Emily fingered her sore cheek. A bruise? On her face? Tears threatened.
“Might help if you go home and put a cold compress on it,” Jake suggested. “I’ll bet no one will be the wiser by tomorrow night.”
“Sure, that’s right,” Iris quickly added. “Besides, it’ll be dark.” Her gaze softened. “Perhaps Andy won’t see any bruising. And we can put some of Granny’s concealing cream on your chin.”
Emily’s cheeks burned. How could Iris speak about such personal things in front of Jake?
“Excuse me, but are you speaking of Andy Anderson by any chance?” Jake hiked his hat farther back on his head.
“Yes.” Again Iris seemed happy to provide all the information.
However, the last thing Emily wanted was Jake to get involved in her life. “We should be on our way, Iris. Let’s catch up with your granny.”
“Well, I’ll be . . . ” Jake leaned against a hitching post. “Andy Anderson . . . what’s that rascal doing these days?”
“Andy works over at the aluminum factory.” Iris pointed somewhere beyond Jake’s left shoulder. “He’s not married yet, right, Em?”
She swallowed a lump of chagrin.
Jake pursed his lips, seeming to mull it over, then looked at Emily. “I wondered if I’d see him while I was in town.” His gaze slid to Iris. “Andy and I go way back too.”
Every muscle in Emily’s body tensed. If only Mr. Ollie could have waited just a week longer to pass from this world to the next. Her hopes ran high for the spring dance tomorrow night, and it galled her that Jake might have the power to destroy her well-laid plans.
“Emily is counting on Andy to ask her for a dance tomorrow night, but—”
“Iris!” Aghast, she gave her friend’s arm a jerk. “I’m sure Deputy Edgerton doesn’t care about such things.”
“Sure I do.” He straightened, still grinning. “And I’ll tell you what, Em; if Andy doesn’t dance with you, I’d be happy to.”
“Thank you, but I can’t possibly accept.” She tamped down the urge to scowl.
“It’s the least I can do.” After another charming smirk, he glanced at Iris. “What time’s the grand affair?”
“Aren’t you in mourning?” He just couldn’t show up.
“Of course I am.” Jake rolled one broad shoulder. “But I know Granddad would want me to go.”
Emily looked skyward.
Iris gave him the details, and Emily wanted to scream. She hated the thought of Jake Edgerton being anywhere near her and having any chance to intrude on h
er and Andy—if only there was something to intrude upon. But that’s what tomorrow night was supposed to be all about. Catching Andy’s eye. Telling him how she felt about him. If Andy just knew of her romantic interest in him, then perhaps he’d want to court her and . . . marry her.
“I know it’s uncommon to hold a dance on Friday night, but it was the only time the committee could reserve the hall. I warned them to reserve it earlier so the dance could be held on the third Saturday of May, just as in years past.” Iris cleared her throat. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t asked to be on the committee this year.”
“I’m sure I can make it,” Jake said.
“Of course you must save a dance for me.”
“Iris!” How could her friend be so bold?
Jake didn’t seem offended. “It’d be my honor, ma’am.” He smiled rather sheepishly.
For pity’s sake! Emily had heard enough. More than enough! She turned and strode down the walk, passing Mrs. Hopper and the other women. Her heels clicked hard on the weathered planks. While she walked faster than a lady should, if she didn’t hurry, she’d lose her composure here and now—and in front of the very man who’d nearly ruined her life!
Threads of Faith Page 27