22

Cassie scanned her mother’s opening sentences containing polite inquiries about her health and a report on the weather. When she read the first lines of the second paragraph, her breath caught in her throat.

Rand is away more than he is at home. He did warn us that would be the case, but I didn’t realize how empty this little house could feel. Mr. Fitzhugh and Reverend Greeley have done much to make the lonely days here bearable. The good reverend seems to have made me a special mission project. He calls almost daily. Quite often we discuss passages of Scripture that he feels are particularly relevant to my situation.

Poor Mr. Fitzhugh is at loose ends with school dismissed for the summer. He, too, is lonely, since he has no wife. I must confess I’ve mentioned your name to him several times in that regard. If only you would join me here, I believe the two of you would find much in common. He’d be a far more suitable match than anyone you’ll find in Noble Springs. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten the fine home the Fitzhugh family possesses in St. Louis.

Cassie stared at her mother’s words. Humiliation rocked her at the image of the three of them plotting her future as though she were a pawn in a chess game. No matter what her mother said, she would not return to Calusa.

Her gaze dropped to the next paragraph.

As much as I value their companionship, I sorely miss having another woman to pass the time with. In hindsight, the days we had together at your Uncle Rudy’s were blessed. In some ways I wish we’d never left.

I’m doing my best to be brave here in this desolate town. At church this week, Reverend Greeley introduced me to a woman who operates a boardinghouse. I’m trying to decide whether to call on her. If only you were here, dearest Cassie, I could abide the wind and the incessant dust.

I remain,
Your loving Mother

The letter slipped through her fingers and drifted to the floor. She wouldn’t give up everything she’d accomplished here to run to her mother’s side. She owed her mother honor, yet in what manner?

Guilt gnawed at her conscience. Mother had to be miserable to look back on life at Uncle Rudy’s as a pleasant experience. She’d wanted to find her brother, and now that she’d done so, she was still miserable. Cassie considered the thought that perhaps her mother would be miserable no matter what her circumstances, then pushed the idea aside as disloyal.

The gravel path outside her door beckoned. She had questions, and she prayed Rosemary could supply the answers. She shoved the letter into her handbag and covered the distance between her cabin and her friend’s home with brisk strides.

Cassie stood on the doorstep listening to footsteps hurrying in response to her knock. Belatedly, she hoped she hadn’t disturbed the baby’s nap.

A wide smile lit Rosemary’s face when she opened the door. “What a joy to see you! Come in.” Her hair was pulled back in an untidy bun, and lavender shadows smudged the skin beneath her eyes. “You picked a perfect time to call. We’re having a little rest.” She led the way into the sitting room, where her two-week-old baby slept in a cradle in front of the sofa.

Cassie knelt beside the cradle and ran a finger over the infant’s soft black curls.

“Josephine Amanda is such a sweet name. Will you call her Josie?”

“Elijah already does. Josephine was his late mother’s name, but it’s a mouthful for such a wee one.” She sank onto the sofa.

Cassie kissed Josie’s forehead before standing. Now that she was here, she wasn’t sure how to ask her questions.

Her friend patted a spot beside her, at the same time setting the cradle to rocking with the toe of one shoe. “Come, sit.” A grin teased at the corners of her mouth. “So, Jacob must have given you the afternoon off. And Faith told me he came to church with you yesterday, along with a handsome blond stranger. You’re cutting a swath through Noble Springs.”

“Not quite.” She hugged her arms across her chest. “But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Did Faith tell you who the blond man was?”

“Garrett Fitzhugh’s brother, Patrick. How remarkable that your paths crossed. I don’t recall that you ever mentioned him.”

“I didn’t even remember meeting him. He said he saw me at Garrett’s funeral, but everything was such a blur at that time.”

Rosemary laid her hand over Cassie’s. “Of course it was. Faith also said he brought news of your mother. I pray she’s well.”

“Apparently her health is fine.” She dug Mother’s letter from her handbag and thrust the pages at Rosemary. “After you read what she has to say, I’ll tell you about Mr. Fitzhugh’s visit.”

Rosemary read the letter, then sent Cassie a look brimming with compassion. “She doesn’t make things easy for you, does she?”

“It gets worse.” She rose and paced across the room, then swung around to face her friend. “Apparently Reverend Greeley has convinced Mr. Fitzhugh that as Garrett’s brother, it’s his biblical duty to marry me in order to carry on the family line.”

“Impossible!”

“I agree, but that’s exactly what Mr. Fitzhugh told me. He referred to a passage in Deuteronomy. His preacher friend claims Old Testament law is still valid. I wondered if any war widows you knew had done such a thing.”

Rosemary shook her head. “No, none that I ever heard of. Of course the Old Testament is still valid, but those laws were written to specific people at a specific time. Those days have passed.”

“That’s what I said. But he seemed so sure.”

“The reverend who’s advising him sounds like a fanatic. We’ll pray the two of them stay in Calusa—far away from you. And you stay right here,” she said in a stern voice, then patted the space next to her again. “Now tell me about you and Jacob. How did you get him to go to church with you?”

Cassie explained her Sunday morning, then relayed the story of the picnic at Pioneer Lake. Tears gathered beneath her lashes. “We had such a perfect afternoon, then Mr. Fitzhugh’s words this morning spoiled everything. I ruined nine pies, lost my temper with Jacob, and selfishly threw away good food without thinking of anyone but myself. That’s why he gave me the afternoon off. He’s probably regretting ever letting me come to work for him.”

“I doubt that. Will you tell him what Mr. Fitzhugh said?”

“No. We agreed to let the past stay buried.”

“Secrets between couples have a way of exploding at inopportune times.”

“My former engagement is no secret. As for the rest, Mr. Fitzhugh’s notions will only upset Jacob. Right now, he’s upset enough with me as it is.”

A week and a half following Cassie’s pie disaster, Jacob entered the kitchen soon after breakfast had been served. Six pies were lined on the worktable ready to go in the oven. The tangy-sweet aroma of hot blueberries rose from four more cooling beneath a window.

Cassie beamed at him and blotted perspiration from her forehead with a corner of her apron. “Six orders today, plus pies for dinner. Independence Day is keeping us busy.”

“That’s what I came to see you about.” He moved closer, lowering his voice. “There’s a fireworks display tonight at Pioneer Lake. Would you like to attend?”

“Oh, yes! I’d love to.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ll hurry home after work and change my dress, then we can leave whenever you say.”

He squeezed her hand, ignoring the presence of the other two women in the kitchen. “If we leave by seven, we’ll have plenty of time to find a good vantage point.”

“I’ll be ready.”

The look she gave him swirled through his insides like hot butter. Tonight couldn’t come soon enough to suit him.

With reluctance, he left the kitchen to return to the grocery. When he’d crutched halfway through the dining room, the street door to the restaurant opened. Two well-dressed men paused on the threshold.

He pointed to a sign on the wall stating mealtimes. “Dinner seating won’t be for another two hours, gentlemen. Please come back then.”

The taller of the two, a beefy redhead, took a step inside. “We’re not here to eat. I’m looking for Jacob West. Are you him?”

“I am. What can I do for you?”

“You can show me around this fine establishment.” His boots thudded as he wove his way around the empty tables. When he reached Jacob, he extended his hand. “Keegan Byrne.” He pointed at his companion, a skinny man with greased-down hair. “My assistant, Lenny Ruggero.”

Jacob’s heart threatened to stop beating. He couldn’t be sure, but something about Ruggero’s appearance seemed familiar. He shrugged off the notion. The fact that Keegan Byrne had come all the way from Boston was concern enough.

He clasped Byrne’s hand with what he hoped passed for sincerity. “Welcome. Never expected to see you here. Colin was content with written reports.”

“It’s bad business to step into something sight unseen. Colin told me you had a small operation. Then you send me a letter about opening a bake shop and got my curiosity going.” His ice-blue eyes bored into Jacob’s. “In the two months since I bought his share from Riley, you’ve added three new workers. Kind of cuts into profits, doesn’t it?”

“A necessary expense if we’re to increase business.” Jacob pivoted toward the grocery entrance. “Please come with me. My office is this way. I’ll show you how income has grown.”

“I don’t want to see your numbers. Show me why you need so much help.”

He tightened his grip on his crutches. In spite of Byrne’s attempt to dress like a gentleman, he resembled a street brawler. Why Colin had agreed to sell his business to such a man was a mystery.

“Very well. In here’s the grocery.” He led the way into the spacious room, lined on three sides with floor-to-ceiling shelving. His clerk, Timothy, glanced at them before grabbing a duster and attacking a display of tinned milk.

Jacob waved his hand at the array of tins, bottles, and boxes on the shelves. “I sell everything ladies need to keep their families well fed. Since my wealthier customers learned of the bake shop, trade has increased. They come in to order a pie, and end up buying an additional item or two.” He felt a flash of pride in Cassie’s efforts. In the beginning, he’d hired her out of a charitable impulse and had been rewarded with a helper of uncommon skill. The greatest reward had been opening his heart to her, something he’d never anticipated.

Byrne gave the well-stocked shelves a brief survey. “So, let’s see this bakery.”

“Straight through the dining room.” He retraced his steps, with Byrne and Ruggero close behind.

Cassie had her back to them when they entered. Her fingers moved rapidly around the rim of a pie plate as she crimped the edges of a crust together. When she saw Jacob, she turned her head and smiled. At the sight of his two visitors, her expression changed to one of curiosity.

Across the room, Jenny paused, chopping knife in hand. Becca rested her hands on the edge of the dishpan.

Jacob broke the waiting silence. “Gentlemen. This is Miss Haddon, the baker; Mrs. Fielder, the cook; and Becca Rowan, their helper.” He pointed at each in turn. “As you can see, they’re fully occupied with tasks. I couldn’t offer three full meals a day and sell pies in the grocery without them.”

Byrne leered at Cassie. “I can see why you hired this one. And she can bake too?”

Fire raged in Jacob’s gut. One more word and he’d whack the man with a crutch. He took a deep breath. “Now that you’ve seen everything, I hope you’ll have a comfortable trip back to Boston.” He stomped through the entrance as fast as his leg would allow.

“Not so fast, Mr. West. I based part of my decision to buy Colin Riley’s share on the reports you sent him. Since I’ve come all this way, I’d like to see some of the businesses you mentioned in your letters. A cooperage, and you said something about a brickyard?”

Jacob slowed. “Yes, but the brickyard is several miles north of town. I’ll have Timothy, the clerk in the grocery, show you around.”

“I’d rather you accompanied us. I have a rented carriage out front.” Byrne and Ruggero moved to stand on either side of him. “Shall we go?”