by Sherry Kyle
Then again, Lars was a wealthy man and moving into town with every earthly longing at her fingertips would be a welcome change—a vacation, of sorts. Was Lars right?
“There you are, my dear,” Lars called to her. “Why don’t I take you home. The sooner Samuel and I go fishing, the sooner we’ll return.”
“Take all the time you need.” Elena grabbed Lars’s hand and climbed into the carriage.
Jonas rested a hand against the piano. “You don’t mind watching Willie?”
Anja Seifert gathered up the sheet music without looking Jonas in the eye. “I’d do anything to help you spend time with Yvette.” She fumbled the papers and several tumbled to the ground. “If you’ll give me a minute to talk with the pastor, I’ll take Willie home with me and put him down for a nap.”
Jonas bent down on one knee and picked up the papers. “Take all the time you need. Yvette and I will be waiting by my wagon.” He handed the sheet music to her. “I need to discuss important matters with Yvette and wouldn’t be able to if Willie were along.”
Anja’s forehead crinkled with genuine concern. “Nothing that would affect your upcoming wedding I hope?”
Jonas never knew Anja to be so forthright. Apparently she approved of both he and Elena marrying outside the small dairy community, something most people from the Valley didn’t agree with. Farming families stuck to their kind.
“No need to concern yourself.” Jonas tipped his hat. “We’ll meet you outside.”
Once he neared his wagon, Lars’s carriage pulled away. Jonas didn’t have a chance to say a word to Elena this morning. He chuckled. After the pastor’s prayer, he’d felt someone’s eyes on him. Sure enough Elena had been staring at him from down the row. The minute he took one look at her, she jumped back like she’d seen a snake. In all honesty, he was disappointed she didn’t glance his way again.
Yvette stood off to the side, Willie in her arms.
Jonas approached. “Elena’s mother said she’d watch Willie. She’ll be out in a minute after she has a word with Pastor Nef.”
“He can’t come along?” Yvette planted a kiss on her son’s forehead.
“I want you all to myself.” His mouth got ahead of his brain. He rested an elbow on the wagon, hoping his words didn’t give her the wrong impression.
She batted her eyelashes at him and laughed. “Jonas Bollinger, what do you have in mind?”
His hands grew moist. “Nothing improper. A picnic lunch and adult conversation.”
“Can we wade in the creek?” A wistful expression settled on her lovely features. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Only to our ankles.” He forced a grin.
Anja Seifert walked toward them. She stretched out her arms and collected Willie from Yvette. “I have no plans besides my usual chores. Take all the time you need.”
Yvette ran her finger down the baby’s soft cheek. “Did you happen to see Nicolas in church today?”
“I see everything from where I sit.” Anja shot Jonas a look. “But I didn’t spot your brother.”
“I wonder where he could be?” Yvette glanced over her shoulder.
Jonas dodged the question of Nicolas’s whereabouts and helped Yvette into the wagon. “Thank you again, Mrs. Seifert.” He climbed up beside her.
Anja waved them on. “Go on, you two. I’ll take good care of your boy.”
Ten minutes later, they spread a patchwork quilt on the ground. Jonas grabbed the basket filled with biscuits and jam, chicken drumsticks, cheese, and apple cider and set it on the blanket.
“I’ve never had a man make me a picnic lunch before. Not even Adrian.” Yvette’s eyes grew round as Jonas removed the food from the basket. “You know how to treat a lady.”
What would it would be like to sit beside Elena, enjoy a bright sunny afternoon, and share a picnic? He pushed the thought from his mind. No good could come from thinking about someone he couldn’t have, especially when he was engaged to another.
“But you don’t have me fooled.” Yvette lowered her voice.
The chicken drumstick made it halfway to his mouth. “What do you mean?”
“I saw you last night.” Yvette popped a small wedge of cheese into her mouth. “I know you were there when Nicolas and I were talking by the oak tree. I tried to keep his back to you.” Yvette took a sip of cider.
Yvette knew I was there and didn’t let on? A pang of guilt gripped him, forcing him to tell her the truth of her brother’s whereabouts. “I let Nicolas go today. Told him his time working my dairy farm was over.” Jonas searched Yvette’s eyes. Was she angry?
“I suspected as much when he didn’t show for church.” She fingered the edge of the quilt. “I wish you hadn’t let him go. Now, he’ll definitely go to work for the captain.”
“I didn’t catch every word of your conversation.” Jonas stabbed the spoon into the jar of boysenberry jam. “Was Captain Zubriggen the one who visited Nicolas at my home?”
“Yes, and now my brother is sure to fall under the captain’s authority. Nicolas mistrusts your father, and now he is hesitant to trust you.”
Jonas picked up a small rock and flung it in the creek. “What does my pa have to do with all of this?”
“Your father was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He overheard a conversation between my husband and the captain. Your pa knew Adrian was in trouble, but didn’t know how to help him.”
Leave it to his pa to get caught in the middle. A pinch of guilt wormed its way inside for being away in San Francisco. If only he’d stayed in Harmony, he could’ve helped Pa figure out a way to make things right.
Yvette wrapped arms around drawn knees. “Your father had no idea the captain acquired the shipment illegally. After the steamer was to arrive at the port, Adrian planned to go to Sheriff Donders and tell him everything. But the captain got wind of Adrian’s plan and had him killed.” Tears spilled down Yvette’s cheeks. “He’s threatened my life if I breathe a word of this to the sheriff.” She lifted her gaze and stilled. “The shipment of dairy cows was for your father.”
Jonas felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He slid his eyes closed and took a deep breath. His pulse hammered in his chest.
So that’s why his pa had such a burden for Yvette. It was his delivery that caused this woman to become a widow. How did Yvette survive the news with a new baby on the way? Admiration stole over him. She was a strong woman, and he’d underestimated her.
“I discovered this information recently in Adrian’s journal,” Yvette continued. “He wrote that he was wary the captain might try to kill him.” She squirmed, shifting her gaze. “Nicolas still remains true to the captain and believes Adrian was sick and died from disease on the steamer, but my grandfather and I know otherwise.”
A journal. Is that what the captain was looking for?
“You told me Adrian died from disease, and that shipment was his last. Why didn’t you tell me the truth before now?”
“I wanted to make sure I could trust you.” Yvette wiped her tears away. “Otherwise, I might be the captain’s next victim.”
“And do you? Trust me?” Jonas’s voice lowered a notch.
“Yes, I do.”
“So my father had nothing to do with obtaining the illegal dairy cows?”
Yvette shook her head. “No.”
“How could Nicolas work for me all this time with such hatred for my father?”
“It wasn’t until Captain Zubriggen showed up yesterday that Nicolas doubted you. The man is evil. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants—even murder.” Her voice trembled. “He took my husband’s life. And he may take ours if we’re not careful.”
Jonas spotted a carriage in the distance, driving toward them on the dirt road. Was Captain Zubriggen coming for them? Should they pack up and flee? Jonas shuddered.
“I’d like to wade in the creek now.” Yvette reached down and unlaced her boot.
“No.” Jonas’s voice was harsher than he intended
. “We have company, and it may be the captain.” He pointed toward the approaching carriage. His muscles tightened, determined to protect the woman beside him.
Jonas and Yvette quickly packed up the food into the basket. They grabbed the quilt and threw everything into the wagon. Jonas glanced one more time at the oncoming visitors and puffed out a reassuring breath when he recognized the black stallion.
The carriage came to a stop. Samuel climbed out with a fishing rod. “Lars and I are going fishing.”
“Where’s Elena?” Jonas called to Samuel, who was already digging in the dirt for bait.
“At home. She’s helping Papa with the afternoon milking.” Samuel yanked a large worm from the moist soil and slipped it onto his hook. “I’m going to catch me a big trout.” He tossed the end of the line into the water.
Jonas recalled long ago when he dug up enough worms to fill the bottom of a bucket so that he could fish while Elena sat on the edge of the embankment, dangling her feet in the water. He didn’t care that he didn’t catch anything. As long as he spent the afternoon with Elena, it was good enough for him.
“Can you take me home now?” Yvette caught him in his reverie. By her expression, it was as if she knew exactly where his mind had taken him.
“Sure you don’t want to wade in the creek?” Jonas gestured toward the water.
“And scare all the fish away?” Lars approached.
“I didn’t picture you as the fishing sort.” Jonas eyed him.
“I’m not.” Lars laughed. “But I promised Samuel I’d take him fishing the last time he worked in my shop.”
How strange that Lars would take Samuel fishing, leaving Elena to work on the farm. “What about Elena?”
Yvette shot him a curious look.
Lars halted the conversation with a hand. “Elena is helping her father. Told me to take all the time we need. It’s not often I get out in nature. Samuel, you and I must make a habit of it.”
“Lars treats me like a son because he doesn’t want children of his own. Isn’t that right, Lars?” Samuel tossed the shopkeeper a look over his shoulder.
Yvette gasped.
Jonas’s neck muscles stiffened. How could it be that Elena would consider marrying a man who didn’t want to father any children? Elena loved children. She wanted a house full—at least that’s what she told him when they were kids.
“We don’t need to discuss this now.” Lars removed his gloves and tucked them into the pockets of his waistcoat. He sat on a log, biding his turn for the fishing rod.
The line on Samuel’s fishing rod went taut, bringing all eyes on him.
“That-away, Samuel. Hold on,” Jonas said. “You must have caught a big one.”
Stepping back, Samuel pressed his lips together and held tight to the fishing rod.
“Come on, Samuel.” Yvette clapped her hands together. “I can already picture your catch frying in the pan.”
A foot-long trout sprang from the water. Samuel removed the fish from the hook.
Lars grabbed the line as the fish writhed back and forth. “At this rate, you’ll bring plenty home for dinner.”
Jonas expelled a breath and offered Yvette his arm. “Time for us to go, Yvette. Let’s leave these men to their fishing. Willie will be needing you soon.”
Yvette slipped her hand in the crook of Jonas’s elbow, and he escorted her back to the wagon. After she was settled, Jonas climbed up and took the reins. Why would Elena settle for such a boring, conservative businessman when she had so much life and energy? And love to give.
Yvette broke into his thoughts, her voice strained as the horses trotted forward toward the Seifert property. “Do you think Elena knows Lars wants a marriage in name only? That he doesn’t want to father children?”
Jonas shook his head. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Papa, you can’t mean that.” Elena tugged on the cow’s teat, and a thin stream of milk flowed into the pail.
“I didn’t want to throw a punch in front of Samuel. If Jonas hadn’t walked in when he did, that’s exactly what might’ve happened.”
“But to give Mr. Cavegn rights to the spring ... you might as well hand over our property too.”
“Now, let’s not get carried away.”
Her pail full, she stood and carried it to her father. “What right did Jonas have to settle the score? This feud between you and Mr. Cavegn has been going on since I was knee high. We all know he wants his cows to drink from our spring. But Papa, it’s our spring. Most of the time there’s only enough water running through it for our cows to drink.”
“You’ll be married soon. Samuel will be gone too. How can an old man like me keep up a dairy farm? It may be time for your mama and me to move on.”
“What are you saying, Papa? Are you going to sell?” Tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
“Not tomorrow, nor the next day.” Papa reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “But this place won’t be the same without my children here.”
Then what good would marrying Lars do for her family? Yes, they’d be financially set, but if it meant her parents would sell the dairy farm, a place they’d worked all their married lives, and a place she’d dreamed of running someday, she’d be foolish to leave Harmony Valley for a life in town—with a man she didn’t love.
Samuel.
A fierce protectiveness came over her. Ever since she was young, it had always come down to what was best for her brother.
Papa cut into her thoughts. “Mama and I are looking forward to a change of scenery. Might do my old bones good to live closer to the salty ocean air. And this way we can be near our grandchildren when they arrive.”
“But ... to sell the farm?”
“We haven’t sold it yet. For now, we’ve got to keep our eyes and ears open to find out who’s been stealing from us. And if Mr. Cavegn is able to locate the thief, then I say let him have rights to the spring.”
“What if Mr. Cavegn isn’t the one to find the person who’s taking our cows?”
“Then we’ll negotiate.”
A fire burned inside Elena’s belly. She must locate the cow thief. Her parents would not give up the rights to the spring or sell the dairy farm. Not if she could help it. And Jonas mustn’t know anything about this conversation.
A couple of hours later Elena’s eyes widened at the abundance of fish Samuel and Lars brought home. “Fourteen trout.”
“Jonas and Yvette saw me catch the first one, didn’t you, Yvette?” Samuel grinned like a proud puppy bringing his master a bone.
“I sure did.” Yvette winked. She stood from the rocking chair when Willie cried. He lay in the firebox in Elena’s bedroom. “Excuse me.”
“Let me get him for you,” Elena said.
Yvette’s eyes darted to Lars, then back to Elena. “He needs to be changed and fed, and that’s something I must do.” With quick steps, she left the room.
Why did Yvette glance Lars’s way? She searched his face for an indication of the silent message Yvette passed him. Nothing. He had an elbow propped on the fireplace mantel, his other hand relaxed by his side.
Elena filled in the awkward silence. “Lars, how many fish did you catch?”
“Two. Your brother caught a dozen. Of course, he fished longer.”
If Lars were there for the sole purpose of encouraging Samuel, then why didn’t he invite her along? She could’ve sat on the sunken log and enjoyed the sunshine. Truth was, she would’ve rather spent the afternoon milking cows with her papa. Besides, of late it appeared Lars enjoyed her brother’s company more than her own. Why wouldn’t he? She hadn’t given him any reason to be confident in their relationship. She must change that.
“Elena, can you come help me?” Mama wiped her hands on her apron. “We’ve got a boatload of fish to fry.”
Elena’s eyes widened. “We’re not cooking them all tonight, are we?”
“Fish won’t keep long unless we can put t
hem up in quart jars, and I don’t have enough. We’ll cook up the majority, but it might be nice if we could give some to the neighbors.” Mama waved her into the kitchen.
Elena passed Lars a coy smile. “Maybe we could take an evening ride after dinner. We could deliver the fish ourselves.”
“As much as I’d enjoy a carriage ride, I need to get back to Cayucos. I have accounting measures to attend to before nightfall ...”
Is this how their marriage would be? Lars working long hours while she longed for romance?
“ ...but a short moonlit stroll might be nice.”
That’s better. She worked up a smile.
“Elena?” Mama called.
“Coming.” She swept past Lars and Samuel and found her mother up to her elbows in fish.
After dinner, when the trout were cleaned and wrapped, Elena linked arms with Lars as they strolled outside. It was a clear night. Numerous stars sparkled overhead and a full moon hung high in the sky.
Lars stopped abruptly and tugged on her arm. “I forgot to thank your mother for the lovely dinner.”
Elena patted his arm. “I’ll let her know.” Truth was the fish was slightly burned and the glazed carrots were a bit too crunchy, but she appreciated the sentiment.
“Why don’t we walk over there to the oak tree?” He pointed.
She held fast to Lars’s arm, wanting everything to be right between them. The blades of grass bent to her every move as they swished along the path. A twinge of sadness shot through her. Their moonlit strolls in Cayucos would be on wooden boards down busy South Ocean Avenue. Elena shuddered to think how town life would change everything. She’d no longer witness the beauty of green and gold grass swaying in the breeze for miles around, as she did here on the farm in Harmony.
When they reached the tree, Lars grabbed hold of Elena’s shoulders with firm fingers, and planted a wet fishy kiss on her lips. No tender words, no delicate touches, no loving looks. It was neither enjoyable nor passionate.