“Yes, sir,” Aunt June replied. Beth tried not to let her mouth drop in a very unladylike way at the way Aunt June responded without a well-placed retort, her usual spunk replaced with sheer respect.
Abner turned to the big bugs and motioned toward the mill. “If you will, gentlemen, we can talk about the contract with your company.”
The men turned and ambled toward the mill, leaving Abner and his daughter to follow.
Victoria grabbed on to her father’s arm and hugged him close. As she turned with him and started to walk, Beth overheard her croon, “Garrett will make the best husband, Father, just you wait and see.”
Garrett sent Beth a long stare, his eyes pleaded for something, but she wasn’t convinced he even knew what he asked for. After a moment, he turned toward Luther and shoved him forward. “Walk.”
Beth’s heart dropped to the deepest pit of her stomach. Never in her life had she wanted to be proven false what she knew to be truth. Garrett couldn’t be truly engaged to Victoria. Back there in the forest, a part of her truly believed that the betrothal was a misunderstanding. A figment of a lovestruck female’s imagination.
“Well that was quite exciting!” Carrie exclaimed.
“You got off lucky, girl,” Aunt June scolded. “I’d have taken your head, even if you did save the company. If you ever want a job as cook, all you have to do is ask. I’ll get old Abner to agree, but no funny business this time.”
“I think I’m set with adventure for now, Aunt June, but thank you.”
Aunt June eyed Beth silently, and then turned toward Carrie. “You too, Ms. Carrie. You’ve grown into a fine young woman.”
Beth smiled when Aunt June glanced back as she escorted the girls toward the awaiting carriages. Aunt June’s lips twitched as if she held back a proud grin. Inside, Beth wanted to cry, but she didn’t know whether it was out of relief, exhaustion, or grief over the loss of a love. She guessed the latter, or a combination of all three, but it didn’t matter. She couldn’t let herself shed a tear. She must remain strong. The only way she knew how to be.
Chapter 25
“I’ve checked every journal since we got home a month ago, and I haven’t seen an engagement announcement.” Carrie snapped the newspaper to straighten it out. Beth’s heart twisted when her well-intentioned friend spoke.
“Have you seen him?” Carrie asked. Beth followed her gaze across her nana’s parlor to where her brother sat at the same large wing-backed chair he’d been in since the day he got home. Unlike the brother she had known before the accident, this Simon stayed in nights and retired early to bed. His scarred face was gray from days without sun, and she suspected little sleep.
The only fire he showed was when Carrie would stop by, but it wasn’t like the fire he used to have. This fire was fierce and aimed directly at Carrie, and she didn’t back down.
“I haven’t seen Garrett since the day you returned to Missoula when he came by to visit,” Simon answered. “He hasn’t been back since.”
“It’s no matter to me,” Beth said. “What’s done is done, and there is no dwelling on what you can’t change.”
The words were lies. A knife pierced through her heart every time she thought of Garrett and the season she’d had with him. For the rest of her life she would live with a hole in her soul.
“Is Wall going to come courting?” Carrie asked, a little more cheerful than Beth wished she would be.
“Aren’t you tired of the courting scene?” Simon directed his words toward Carrie. “Don’t you have men coming and going from your parlor all hours of the day and night?”
“Yes. And I tell them I am too busy coddling a grumpy fool to be courted.” Carrie turned her attention back to Beth and raised her eyebrows in a silent question.
“No. Wall isn’t courting me.” After they returned to town, he had been by twice, but his presence was more than she could take. Knowing she had given her body and heart to Garrett, she couldn’t bring herself to lead Wall to believe they could work. He deserved a woman who would love him and treat him with the same passion he would her. Wall deserved more than Beth could give.
“Goodness gracious, Elizabeth,” Carrie chided. “I’ve had quite enough of your moping around. We’re going to go to a ball, and we are going to have fun doing it.”
Beth shook her head. “I’d rather not.”
“You two are as fun to be around as a badger in a trap.” Carrie dropped the newspaper onto her lap. “I swear, there’s no mistaking this family resemblance.”
Beth caught Simon scowling at her friend once more. “Will you quit that? What is wrong with you anyway? You’d think you’d get used to having Carrie visit us by now. She’s been here every day for a month.”
“He’s just upset that he can’t scare me off with his surly disposition like he can everyone else who’s visited.” Carrie faced Simon. “You don’t frighten me with your new, and quite frankly irritating, temperament. Now go get your best suit ready. You’re coming with us to the mayor’s house tonight.”
Simon grumbled something only he could understand and stood to stomp out of the room.
Beth waited until Simon slammed the door behind him and turned to her friend. “I know he was affected by the mauling, but I don’t understand why he seems so different now than when he was recovering in the cabin.”
Carrie grew serious. “I don’t think it hit him until he saw his reflection, and coming home made it worse.” She waved toward the mountains, visible through the large bay window of Nana’s parlor. “Out there a person can just be. He can disappear into the woods and exist. Here, in town, is a cutthroat world of judgment and speculation. What he doesn’t understand is no matter what he looks like, some of us will always be here for him. Whether he wants us to be, or not.”
“When you put it that way, I don’t want to go out tonight either.”
“But you’re going.” Carrie gave her a look that dared her to argue, but Beth didn’t have the desire. She’d let her friend cart her around wherever she wanted, just as long as it wasn’t near Victoria and Garrett.
* * * *
Darkness settled over the land as Beth stepped out of Carrie’s buggy. Her dark blue gown flowed around her feet like a rose petal in the midst of bloom. The tight bodice hugged her curves, and her puffed short sleeves slid off her shoulders to reveal a neckline that accentuated her more womanly attributes. Her hair had been a little trickier to decorate tonight, but somehow, with Carrie’s help, they had managed to arrange it to fit the style of her dress. If her grandmother noticed her new fashion, she’d failed to make mention of it.
She wasn’t here to catch a man, but to humor her dear worried friend.
“Next time we’re forcing Simon to come.” Carrie flitted past Beth as she entered the golden light of the mayor’s home. “Even if we have to drag him out by his coat tails, but he’s going to come out, and he will enjoy himself.”
“I don’t want to be in the parlor when you tell him.”
People crammed into the ballroom, making it hard to move without bumping into someone. Beth grew dizzy at the cramped space so different from the open air of the mountains.
“Do you want to find a corner to stand in where we can watch the people?” Carrie asked.
“Why do we come to these things if all we do is stand in the corner?”
“Because it’s the proper thing to do, and we are proper women.”
Beth gave her a look of disbelief, and Carrie tittered. “Well, I am proper. You are Elizabeth Sanders.”
“Elizabeth,” Garrett’s pained voice breathed behind her. She turned toward the sound that had haunted her dreams since the day they departed from the mill.
His solid, lumberjack form fit well into the tailored suit he wore. His hair was shorter, and face void of the days’ growth he’d seem to keep while on the mountain. He stood with an air
of refined confidence overshadowed by a wounded soul.
“Garrett.”
Despite the buzz from the crowd of dancers and gentle hum of the orchestra, the room grew quiet with the exception of her deep, desperate breath. She clutched her stomach to force her mind to take in much-needed air. The damned corset.
The ache in Garrett’s eyes bore a hole in her heart and bled her soul.
“Elizabeth. I’m glad you came.” Victoria stepped next to Garrett and slid her arm through the crook in his elbow.
Beth stilled.
She forced her feet to remain rooted to the ground as she waited for her mind to right after the devastating arrival of Garrett’s fiancée. What she wanted to do was run home and bury herself in bed again.
“I finally get to see you at a ball.” Victoria flittered her fan before her face.
“Yes.” Beth forced a smile, but she knew it failed to show in her eyes. She flicked a quick glance to Garrett—his face now stone solid.
“Garrett and I are to announce our engagement tonight. I wasn’t positive it would happen since Garrett was called away on business, but he managed to get back in time, just an hour ago. He knew how important the engagement announcement was for me. Isn’t that delightful?” Victoria sent her a triumphant smile as Beth fought the tears struggling to break free. She swallowed hard to clear the lump in her throat.
“How delightful.” The hole in her heart ripped and she clutched her fan in front of her chest. How was she going to get through the night?
“I do hope you’ll save a dance for Garrett. There are an exceptional amount of hungry debutants gracing the dance floor tonight. I’d rather he be in the arms of someone I know won’t try to steal him away.” Victoria sent her a stare that boasted of victory and warning.
Beth’s breath failed her once more as she fought the emotion she couldn’t show.
“What a wicked plan you’ve concocted.” Carrie masked her double entendre with a smile, but Beth knew better. Her dear friend had once more come to her rescue. “The women of Missoula will be highly disappointed to not dance with Mr. Jones, I must say.”
“They will get over it.” Victoria searched the crowd. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, my father calls.”
Beth followed Victoria’s gaze to where her father beckoned them with a wave.
“I’ll be there in a moment.” Garrett bowed his head as, with one last smile, Victoria left.
“Beth.” Garrett’s voice shook with emotion so slight, she may have missed it had she not felt the same. “I’m sorry. I’ve studied the contract, but—”
She waved off his apology, and opened her mouth to speak only to be interrupted by Carrie. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to sit. I’ll be in our usual spot.”
Garrett bowed as her friend walked away, and then turned back to her. “Beth…Elizabeth… I don’t…”
Beth held up her hand to stop the words she couldn’t bear to hear. I’m sorry. I love you, but I can’t betray my family. Words that would destroy her.
“It’s fine, Garrett,” she snapped, but swiped at the single tear that found its way down her cheek. At this moment if he whispered even a single confession of his love, beg her to run with him, she would. Before the sun rose over another lonely day, she would board a train headed for happiness, and never look back. Even after he broke her heart by leaving. She pinched her lips together.
“I know how this must look. I’ve wanted to see you since the moment we parted, but I had to go back up the mountain. I’m working on something, Beth. Something big that will ensure our—”
“Garrett,” Victoria called from across the room.
Garrett watched her for a second before dipping his head low next to Beth’s ear. “I can’t live without you. Wait for me.”
Her heart skipped, and her breath grew even shallower. Wait for him tonight, or forever?
* * * *
Garrett approached his intended. Victoria, with all her brazen snobbery, stood next to her father and smiled—as if she hadn’t just dug her fingernails into Beth’s heart, and ripped it in half. He saw the hurt in his beloved Beth’s blue depths when Victoria had flaunted their betrothal. This wasn’t the woman he wanted for a wife. One who would stop at nothing to get her way.
He wanted Beth, and by God he would have her even if it took moving the entire Rocky Mountain region south.
“There you are.” Victoria smiled and sidled closer to him.
“Abner,” he greeted her father.
“Papa was saying after the governor’s speech, he will take the stage to announce our engagement.”
“How long?” He had to talk to his father before that. Get him to delay the announcement.
“Half of an hour?” Victoria asked her father.
Her father smiled. “My dear, I know you’re anxious to get the news out, but I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait for an hour.”
“Where’s my father?” Garrett’s heart beat so hard he was certain those around him noticed. He couldn’t marry Victoria, and the less complications there were in breaking the betrothal, the better chance he had to succeed.
“Over by the orchestra, I believe.” Victoria pointed to where his father stood, brandy in hand, and talking to a round man in a vest.
“If you’ll excuse me.” He bowed to Victoria. “I have a pressing matter that needs my attention.”
“Of course.” She nodded in return, and he left.
In less than two breaths, he drew close enough to his father to garner his attention. “We need to speak.”
The importance of the situation must have registered on his face because his father’s smile faded and he nodded toward the hallway. Garrett followed his father as he navigated the sea of people crowding the ballroom.
They slipped into the hallway and headed toward a nook far enough away to not be overheard by prying ears.
“You’re not one to circumvent the truth, so I won’t either,” he began. “I cannot marry Victoria.”
The shock on his father’s face showed only for a second before the older Jones masked the emotion. His father stood taller and rocked back on his feet. “I’m afraid the deal is done. You have no choice.”
“I’m in love with someone else, and I can’t live without her.”
“Well then you can take her as your mistress, but I’m afraid you’re legally bound to Victoria. There is nothing you can do.”
“I will have Elizabeth as my wife, or not at all.”
“A mistress is not unheard of, son. In fact, your grandmother was your grandfather’s mistress until his first wife died. And I believe you’ve met Matilda. She lives quite comfortably while waiting for me to visit. Set her up with a nice home and an allowance, and you’re set. You live the life of a wealthy businessman with the perfect wife, and then visit your mistress at night once your wife is asleep.”
Garrett had no words for what his father suggested. His stomach burned with anger and the pain of deception. What men were these who cast women in such a light? Surely not the ones who he’d admired all these years.
“I could never do that to Victoria, let alone Elizabeth.”
“Well then, you are destined to be unhappily married to Victoria. You cannot get out of the contract without legal action taken against you.”
Garrett’s heart beat at his father’s words. “I cannot.”
“You must.” His father stated with finality, and brushed past him. His heels clicking against the polished tile as he made his way back into the ballroom.
The happiness Garrett felt when he’d seen Beth on the dance floor turned into desperation. He needed to find her and beg her to have patience. He’d asked her to wait for him, trusting his father would see his way and release him. But like so many other things as of late, he failed. For now. There was one more way to get out of the contract. He hoped.
One foolish decision to agree to an arranged marriage, made for instant gratification at the beginning of the logging season, could destroy any chance at happiness for him and Beth. He should have told her how he felt years ago and spared them both the pain. He should have trusted in his heart, and not feared living in poverty.
He walked into the ballroom, only to have instant dread hollow his core. His father stood next to Abner on the stage while the orchestra sat watching the spectacle.
“Here he is.” Abner motioned toward him, garnering the attention of the room. “The groom, and his lovely bride.”
An hour had yet to pass, yet they’d sped up the announcement. Garrett slid his gaze to his father, who lifted his chin as if to make a point.
He searched the room for Beth while his heart sank to the deepest pit in his stomach.
Victoria appeared next to him and looped her arm through his elbow to tug him farther into the crowd and toward the stage. “Where have you been? Father decided to announce a little earlier than intended. We need to get to the stage.”
At least he’d have a better vantage point in which to locate Beth. He searched the crowd as Victoria paraded him to the stage. After a few moments of searching, he caught a glimpse of Elizabeth’s skirt as she rushed out the doors, followed closely by Carrie. The crowd began to clap and Victoria beamed as she hugged his arm.
The crowd closed in, and he struggled to break free to follow Beth. It wasn’t until Victoria finally relinquished control of his jacket that he was able to force his way through the crowd, toward the door.
Night engulfed him in a false sense of peace as he rushed down the front steps of the mayor’s mansion, searching the darkness for Beth, but to no avail. She was gone.
He turned to look down the sidewalk when a movement near the door caught his attention. Victoria took a single step outside, her body silhouetted in the faint light from within. Never before had he felt the urge to let emotion take control, but tonight he finally understood why women broke down. Despair hit his soul like an ax to a tree trunk. She lifted her chin and watched him.
White Water Passion Page 27