Philip knew Bella had reservations about moving. Her stance, the tenseness of her face and the sadness in her eyes spoke volumes. He crossed the room and hugged her close. “If you don’t want to move, Bella, we can stay right here.” Even though he didn’t want to stay there, Philip realized he’d do so to make her happy.
She pulled out of his arms. “Oh, Philip, it’s not that. I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’m just feeling a little moody today.” Bella offered him a sweet smile.
He leaned down and gently kissed her lips. What was it about this woman that brought out the protective side of him? And the warm fuzzies in his brain when he kissed her? She returned his kiss, turning the simple offer of comfort into something much more and something he didn’t want to analyze.
Philip inhaled and then gently set her away from him. She smelled of vanilla and cinnamon. “Thank you for being so sweet. I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy in town, Bella. You’ll see we’ll have a great life there.”
The front door opened, sending cold air into the room. He stepped away from Bella and turned to see who had walked into his home without knocking.
Hazel followed the boys inside. “Knock, knock. We’re back.”
Mark ran and hugged Bella around the waist. “Did we miss dessert?” he asked, looking up at her.
Philip laughed. “No, but you did miss dinner. Have you eaten?”
Hazel shut the door and hung up her coat. “Of course they’ve had dinner. What kind of great aunt do you think I am?”
Bella grinned. “Great aunt?”
Caleb wasn’t about to be left out of the conversation. “Uh-huh. She can’t just be an aunt like you and Aunt Josephine. She’s too old.”
“Caleb!”
Hazel laughed. “Don’t get onto my sweet boy. He’s right. So we decided I’d be great. That makes me even better than you and Josephine. Right, boys?” She walked to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee.
“Right,” both boys agreed. They followed Hazel to the kitchen like a couple of puppies. They climbed up on their logs and smiled happily at her.
Philip laughed. “You two are a mess.”
Hazel added her agreement. “That’s what happens when you go to a great aunt’s house. You come home a mess.”
He wondered how Hazel was going to feel about their moving to town. Philip’s gaze sought out Bella’s. Especially since she already knew Thomas and Josephine would soon be moving also. He decided now wasn’t the time to tell her. “If you ladies will excuse me, I believe I’ll go check on the horses before it gets too late and unload the wagon.”
Bella asked, “Do you have to do it now? I made fried pies earlier today.”
He lowered his hand from his coat. “No, I don’t have to, but I’d like to before it gets any colder.”
She nodded. “All right, I’ll save you a pie. You’ll want something warm when you get back.”
Hazel frowned. “Philip, do you think we’re in for more snow?”
He pushed his arms through his coat sleeves and then buttoned it up. “Could be. Those clouds looked like it earlier today.”
Caleb climbed down from his log and walked to Philip. “I can help you with the wagon.”
Philip stooped down to his level and whispered, “I appreciate the offer, but I need you to stay in here and protect the women while I’m gone. Can you do that for me?”
At Caleb’s serious nod, Philip stood. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Caleb hurried back to the table with a wide grin.
Bella had just placed a plate full of moon-shaped fried pies on the table. Philip motioned for her to come to him. She looked to Hazel and the boys, and seeing they were busy talking and serving themselves, she did as he asked.
Philip took a step toward her and inhaled her sweet scent. He gently pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear, “Don’t say anything to Hazel about the move just yet.” He buried his face in her hair for a second longer and then pulled back enough to look into her pretty face.
“All right,” she whispered back, stepping out of his embrace.
Hazel laughed. “I thought you were in a surefire hurry to get to your chores,” she teased.
“What can I say? I got distracted.” Philip turned and opened the door. He glanced back to see Bella’s face turn bright red.
He pulled the door shut behind him. Philip Young, get ahold of yourself. Bella really was becoming a distraction. He found himself thinking about her all the time and missing her when they were apart. Philip sighed. Yet another reason to move to town. With a new business, he’d be too busy to think about kissing his pretty wife again.
* * *
Later that evening, Bella sat on her bed brushing out her hair. So many things had pulled at her today that she felt emotionally exhausted. Philip’s kiss and Marlow’s disappearance were the two things that kept troubling her mind.
How many times would she ask herself what Marlow was doing? Had he pretended to leave town to torture her into doing his will? And why had Philip kissed her? Even worse, why had she kissed him back?
She heard the front door open upstairs and knew that Philip had returned from taking Hazel home. He hadn’t been gone long. Had he only taken her partway home? Normally, he wouldn’t be back this quick.
His footsteps above her head caused dust to fall from the ceiling. Bella sneezed. A few seconds later, she heard him coming down the stairs.
Philip walked slowly, as if he was unsure of himself. Was he hurt? Bella slipped from the bed and pulled on her dressing gown. She moved around the curtain and came face-to-face with Marlow.
A scream built in her throat, but then she remembered the boys were on the other side of the curtain. Bella dashed around him and motioned for him to go back up the stairs.
He grinned and followed her up.
In the kitchen she turned on him like a mother bear. “What are you doing sneaking around in my house?” she demanded, furious that he would have the gall to just come in.
“You weren’t coming out.” He leaned against the doorway between her and the boys downstairs.
“You can’t stay here. Philip will be home any minute now.” She couldn’t imagine what her husband would think if he found her ex-fiancé standing in his kitchen and her in her nightgown.
“No, we have a little time to talk. Him and the old lady haven’t been gone but a couple of minutes.” He moved to the table and straddled one of the logs, sitting down.
Bella had no choice but to turn and face him. “Philip said you left town.”
He sighed. “Well, with no real business in Dove Creek, doesn’t it make sense that I mosey on? I mean after all, sooner or later folks would want to know why I was hanging around. What would you have me tell them?”
She couldn’t begin to imagine what he would tell them. “Where are you staying?” Bella pulled her dressing gown tighter around her waist. She knew he couldn’t see anything but also knew it wasn’t proper for him to see her in her nightclothes.
“There’s a house not too far from here. Looks like the owners are gone for the winter, so I moved in.”
Revulsion filled her. “You just moved into someone’s home?”
“Sure. There’s not a neighbor for miles. Not the most comfortable place, but it will do me until you make up your mind what you’re going to do.” He traced the grain of the wood with his finger. “I was kind of hoping you’d already decided, but after watching the house over the last couple of days, I think you might be a bit too comfortable here.”
Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. “I told you, this is going to take a little time.”
He pushed the log back forcefully and it fell over and rolled across the floor. Marlow moved with the speed of a cat. He stood before her and growled into her face, “And I told you, we don’t have a lot of time.” He grabbed her around the waist and ground his mouth into hers. Just as quickly he released her and stormed outside.
Bella startled when she saw Caleb approach her. “Aunt Bella? Are you all right?” His big blue eyes showed his concern. The little boy’s eyes then darted to the kitchen door.
She walked to the log and rolled it back to the table. Caleb helped her stand it back up. His eyes searched hers. “Was that Mr. Brooks?”
Bella swallowed. She wanted to lie but knew she couldn’t. “Yes, he came to say goodbye.”
“He kissed you,” Caleb accused.
Her gaze darted to the closet. How much had he heard and seen? She motioned for him to sit down at the table.
Caleb did as she indicated.
She sat down beside him and sighed. “I know you don’t understand. I really don’t, either. But Philip would understand even less.”
Caleb frowned. “Are we going to leave with Mr. Brooks?” His sad face tore at her heart. He shouldn’t be worrying about things like this.
“No, I need to talk to Philip. I’m just praying he doesn’t think badly of me when I do.” An unbidden tear trickled down Bella’s face.
He climbed down from the log and then hugged her around the waist. “Don’t cry, Aunt Bella. Philip will know what to do.”
She kissed the top of his head. “You’re right. He will. But, Caleb, will you let me tell him when I’m ready?”
Caleb nodded against her side. “What if Mr. Brooks comes back?” He leaned back and looked up at her. “He scares me.”
“I’m sorry, Caleb. I promise I will never let him hurt you or Mark.” She hugged him tight once more. They heard a horse come into the front yard. “Go back to bed. I’ll talk to Philip soon. You don’t have anything to be afraid of.”
He nodded and went back to the closet and down the stairs. Bella locked the kitchen door and then followed her nephew. She watched as he entered the bedroom he shared with Mark. Then she crept back up the stairs.
Philip came through the door and quietly closed it behind him. She slipped back down the stairs. Bella couldn’t face him tonight. She had no idea what she was going to say when she did tell him about Marlow.
Instead of climbing back into her bed, Bella kneeled down beside it and silently prayed. She stayed on her knees for a long time, simply asking God to help her find a way to tell Philip about Marlow’s threats.
The next morning, she woke early. Philip and Caleb were both gone. She opened the front door and heard hammering coming from the barn. Shutting the door, Bella decided to make oatmeal for breakfast with lots of butter and sugar.
She warmed the bread in a skillet over the fire. Still unsure how to approach Philip about Marlow’s threats and demands, Bella prepared breakfast. At the last minute she decided to add a few strips of bacon to their morning meal.
Mark came up the stairs. The boy had a nose for bacon, she thought, smiling. He was so small and full of life. His hair stuck out in all directions. He looked around the room. “Where’s Caleb and Philip?”
“In the barn working. Hungry?”
He ignored her question and stared at the door with a frown on his face. “Why didn’t Caleb wake me up?”
“You’ll have to ask him,” Bella answered, setting the table with bowls and spoons. “Why don’t you run and tell them breakfast is about ready?”
He walked to the door and pulled on his coat and boots. “I wish we could go to town today.”
“Oh? Why?” Bella asked, setting glasses of milk on the table.
He looked up with a grin. “I want to ride Snowball again.” Then Mark left.
Bella grinned. Mark would probably love living in town, where he could ride the white mare. Caleb would go to school and avoid working outside. It amazed her that one of her nephews loved animals and the other acted as if he feared them. They were as different as two brothers could be and still cared deeply for each other.
“I smell bacon,” Philip said, coming through the door.
Caleb and Mark followed after taking their shoes off at the door. The three of them went to the washbasin to clean up, then returned to the table, where Philip quickly said grace.
Bella watched them eat and talk. She caught Philip watching her and smiled at him.
“Aunt Bella, can I have more bacon?” Mark asked.
She got up and walked to the skillet. “You sure can.”
Bella felt a warmth at her back and turned to find Philip standing within inches of her.
He whispered, “Do you think we should tell the boys about our move?” His breath teased her bangs.
“I don’t see why not.”
He turned around and returned to the table. When she was seated, Philip said, “Boys, your aunt and I have something to tell you.”
Caleb’s head shot up and he looked at Bella. She knew he was thinking she’d told Philip about Marlow’s nighttime visit.
Then he looked to Philip.
“What?” Mark asked with shiny lips.
Philip smiled at them. “We have decided to move to town.”
Relief washed over Caleb’s face. Bella wasn’t sure if it was because he preferred town life, or if it was because Marlow wouldn’t hurt any of them there. She looked to Mark. Sadness filled his face. Why would he be disappointed?
“What do you think?” Philip asked, also looking from one boy to the other.
Caleb answered, “I like it. Does this mean we get to build furniture in town and sell it like we did at the store?”
Philip nodded. “It does. We’re going to go to town in a couple of days and see if we can find a house and a store.”
Mark looked down at his plate. He didn’t join the conversation, but Philip and Caleb didn’t seem to notice. Bella’s heart went out to her younger nephew. Things had already changed so much in his young life and now they were changing again.
Her life was about to change, too. There was no way she could stop it. Marlow had crossed a line when he’d come into their home, at night, uninvited. She just prayed Philip wouldn’t be too angry with her when she told him everything.
* * *
Two days later, Philip saddled up three horses. Mark had proven he could ride a horse with very little assistance. Caleb could ride with Mark, Bella or Philip. The boy didn’t seem to like the idea, but it would be much easier and faster if they all rode horses instead of taking the wagon.
He walked to the house to see if his small family was ready. Caleb sat at the table writing on a slate with chalk and Bella was packing a cheesecloth with sandwiches. She turned and smiled at him. His heart did a little dance.
Dark circles rested beneath her eyes. He worried she wasn’t getting enough sleep, but every night when he came in from taking care of the livestock, she and the boys were already downstairs. Philip hoped she wasn’t coming down with a cold or the flu.
“About ready?” he asked.
Bella placed the wrapped sandwiches into a flour sack that could be tied to her horse’s saddle horn. “Just about.”
Philip looked about. He didn’t see Mark, so he told Caleb, “Go tell Mark we’re about ready to go.”
Caleb climbed down and walked to the front door. He pulled his coat off the hook, all the while keeping his eyes downcast.
Philip exchanged puzzled looks with Bella. “Where are you going?”
In a small voice, Caleb answered, “To the river to get Mark.”
Bella’s face faded to white. “The river?” she squeaked as if all air had just been shoved from her body.
“Uh-huh.”
Philip ran from the house. What was Mark doing at the river? The boy had been quiet and reserved over the last few days, but they had just thought he was coming down with a cold. His heart beat in his chest as he ran. The silent prayer of Please, Lord, please, Lord, please, Lord ran through his mind as his boots slid on the wet ground.
He burst into the clearing beside the river. Frantic, Philip looked for the little boy. “Mark!”
He saw Bella crash through the woods. Her hair had come out of the combs she’d pulled it up into and flowed about her shoulders in disarray. “Mark!” she screamed.
Philip didn’t want to, but he looked to the half-frozen river. Water flowed on the edges, but ice still covered the center. He searched for any sign of Mark. Then he saw what looked like a large hole off to one side. “Stay here,” he ordered, sure that if he didn’t Bella would try to follow him out onto the ice.
He found a thick place in the ice and then used his boots to glide across the ice to the hole. His heart sank when he saw blond hair floating to the top of the water in the hole. A stick with yarn tied to the top lay close to the hole.
Philip fell to his knees and grabbed Mark around the shoulders. He heaved the little boy’s limp body out of the ice and water, all the while praying the ice wouldn’t break further.
Mark’s lips were blue. But his small chest still rose and fell. He carried him toward Bella. “Go to the house and heat up water, bricks, anything that you can find to warm him up,” Philip called.
Bella spun and ran back toward the house.
It was all he could do to hold the child and walk across the ice at the same time. Once back on dry land, Philip laid him down on the ground and pounded on Mark’s back. The little boy coughed up some water. Not sure what else to do, he picked the boy up. Fear and heartache propelled him back to the house. He ran as fast as he could and prayed the whole way.
Caleb was watching for him and held the door open. Philip carried Mark inside. Bella had piled quilts and blankets beside the fireplace. She had the fire blazing and was heating up a couple of bricks. He noticed she’d also placed dry rice and beans in a pot. Philip laid the little boy down on the quilts.
“Get him out of those clothes and boots.” She looked to Caleb. “Help him.” Then she turned back to the fire and stirred the rice and beans.
Philip and Caleb wrestled Mark out of his clothes. The little boy groaned his discomfort even though he never opened his eyes.
Bella ordered, “Tuck him between the bedding.” She began pouring rice into a long shirt sleeve. When it was full, she tied off the top and then tucked it on one side of Mark, then put the covers back on top of him.
“Caleb, lie down by him and hug him close. You need to share your body’s warmth with him.” She turned back to the fireplace and the cooking rice and beans.
Philip stood helplessly by while Bella filled another sleeve. Caleb cried as he held his little brother close. She looked up at him. Tears streamed down her face as she worked.
His heart felt as if it was breaking. Philip refused to believe that Mark was going to die. He silently prayed over the little boy as they all worked together to warm up Mark.
Philip placed the bricks, wrapped in towels, around his feet and legs. Bella continued to warm up the sleeves of rice and beans while keeping him covered. And Caleb shared his body heat.
Fear thickened the tension in the room. Philip knew that Bella was thinking the same thing as him. Would they ever get Mark’s little body warmed up?