“I’d like to take Grandfather’s armchair. Do you think you and Conner could load it in the wagon?”
Making a sound of exasperation, Dawson went to do her bidding.
Annie climbed the stairs to her own room. She paused to look around, an ache the size of a vast desert sucking her heart dry. This had been her room as long as she could remember. She’d spent happy hours here dreaming. No more dreams for her. She’d cried her share of tears on the bed. There’d be no more tears either. She’d stared out the window searching for something to fill her heart. A smile smoothed her tension. She’d found what she needed and pulled the sampler from the wall.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21.
The sampler included a stitched house and the date she’d finished making the hanging. March 15, 1887.
She’d been fifteen and struggling to cope with the pain of loss from Ma’s death and the heavy load of responsibilities in trying to take her place. Working the words of the verse had helped her deal with it all. Her treasure was in heaven. In her faith. In God’s love.
She touched the red roses she’d embroidered in front of the needlework house. How many hours she’d spent on this project. She’d started the project right after Christmas and finished as the trees burst into leaf that spring.
Christmas! It was only four weeks away. If she proved herself, she would have made a loveless match by then but with her own home. She would do everything in her power to make the season special for her very own family. Her heart swelled with anticipation and she smiled as she put the sampler in the bottom of the satchel she’d brought from the hall closet and then opened the wardrobe to choose what to pack.
“You’re sure this is what you want to do?” Kate stood in the doorway, Ellie perched on her hip.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“Is this because Conner and I moved into the house?”
Annie folded a warm woolen skirt and added it to the contents of the satchel, considering her answer. “You need your own space but it’s more than that.” Not that she was sure she could put it into words. “It’s time for me to move on.”
Kate continued to look troubled. “But you’re prepared to enter into a loveless marriage if Hugh agrees?”
“Seems to me love is only asking to be hurt. Besides, it’s not that he’s ugly or a criminal or anything.”
Kate chuckled low in her throat. “It sounds like you better be careful if you’re hoping to avoid love.”
Oh, she’d be careful. She had no intention of falling in love. “We both understand the terms of our agreement.” She kept her attention on her task. “Which at this point does not include marriage. I have yet to convince him it’s the perfect solution.” Satisfied she had enough clothing, she glanced around the room, picked up her brush and hand mirror, her Bible and the picture of Mama and Pa on their wedding day. She tucked those into her bag. “I’ll get the rest of my things later.”
“We’ll miss you,” Kate said as they descended the stairs.
Annie encountered her brothers as she made her way to the outer door.
“You’re sure this is what you want to do?” Conner asked. Dawson hung over his shoulder, silently echoing the question. “There’s only one reason to get married,” Dawson said.
Conner nodded. “If you love the person so much you can’t imagine life without him or her.”
The two of them silently challenged her.
“This is my chance to pursue the life I want.”
They backed down in the face of her determination.
“I’ll take you to town,” Conner said.
Dawson elbowed him aside. “I’m taking her. I’m the oldest plus you have a wife and baby.” He chucked Ellie under the chin, winning him a giggle.
“You have a wife and a daughter as well,” Conner pointed out.
“Yes, but Mattie is old enough to be of help to Isabelle.”
Annie pushed past them. “You two can stand here arguing all day but I want to get back before dark.” She hurried to the loaded wagon. By the time she climbed aboard, Dawson joined her and took up the reins. “Guess it helps to be the oldest.”
“It’s got its perks. I wish I could change your mind.”
“Grandfather will worry if I’m not back soon.”
“Fine.” They made the trip to Bella Creek with little conversation. Dawson seemed to have accepted Annie’s decision.
In town they went directly to the parsonage. Dawson lifted Annie down and hurried her inside to the warm kitchen, where Grandfather and Hugh sat at the table and little Evan remained huddled in the corner.
Annie had explained about Evan but Dawson still looked a little shocked to see the boy in such a state.
“You need a hand with things?” Hugh asked, and at Dawson’s affirmative reply, went out to help carry in Grandfather’s chair and the other things Annie had hastily packed.
The bags were taken to two of the rooms down the hall. The previous preacher had six daughters and two sons so there were plenty of bedrooms to choose from. Annie chose one close to the kitchen with Grandfather next door. Hugh indicated the second hall where he and Evan slept.
Annie said goodbye to Dawson then turned to consider the kitchen. Mentally she began to plan the evening meal and how to take care of Evan.
Hugh returned from waving goodbye to Dawson. “Annie, could I please speak to you in my office?”
At the hard, flat tone of his voice, Annie’s heart sank. Had he changed his mind?
Hugh waved Annie to a chair across the desk from his own. He waited for her to sit. Instead she crossed her arms and gave him a look full of challenge. He sighed. Seemed this discussion was to take place while standing and with her all set to argue. If this was the way it would be to have her here he already regretted agreeing to her “perfect solution.”
He perched on the corner of the desk. His position allowed him to see through the adjoining rooms to where Grandfather sat watching them. So far Evan hadn’t objected to the older man, perhaps interested in his canes or knowing the man posed no threat if only because he couldn’t move around too quickly. Evan had not had the same reaction to Hugh. It had taken Hugh two hours to persuade Evan to let Hugh take him home and then he’d had to bodily move him and hold him firmly the entire way to prevent the child from throwing himself to the ground.
Or perhaps Evan respected the air of authority from the older man. Hugh almost smiled as he thought of how Grandfather Marshall ruled with just a firm word and a look that stalled men in their boots. His smile faded to a worrisome thought. Seemed Annie had inherited some of her grandfather’s stubbornness
