Treasured Grace Page 23

  This thought led Grace to a place she had tried to avoid. True love. She couldn’t think of that without thinking of Alex. He had been gone from her life for months now, without any word. She wondered from time to time where he was and what he was doing. Mostly she wondered if he ever thought of her.

  “Mercy told me I’d find you out here,” Nigel announced as he made his way to the clothesline. “I put the milk inside the house. There’s a lot of cream.”

  “Thank you,” Grace said, forcing Alex’s image from her mind. Nigel hadn’t stopped by for several weeks, and Grace had begun to hope he’d given up trying to woo her. “I need to make butter.”

  “I brought you some eggs as well.”

  Grace smiled. Nigel really was a good man. He worked hard and had a good reputation. He continued to watch over her sheep, given there was no place to keep them here at her uncle’s place.

  “I have some extra bread I can trade you for the eggs and milk. If I’d known you were coming, I could have had more.”

  “I’m sorry for not being by sooner. It’s been very busy. There are six new lambs.”

  “In addition to the five that were born earlier?”

  “Yes. And most of them are female. I knew you’d be pleased.”

  Grace nodded. “I am. I see hope for the future.”

  Nigel shrugged. “You could have a great deal of hope for the future if you would just consent to marry me. You know I’ve come to care for you deeply.”

  Yet another proposal. Grace wished he would just give up. She had no desire to marry him, and if necessary she would find someone else to manage her sheep.

  “How are your cows doing? Have they all calved?”

  Nigel frowned but answered her question. “Yes, they’re fine. That’s the biggest reason I haven’t been around lately. That and the fact that we’ve been clearing land. My brother sent me here to see about getting a length of chain he ordered as well as new ropes. We have lots of stumps to pull and have worn our ropes clear through.”

  “I imagine it’s not very easy to bring the stumps out.” Grace went back to hanging clothes, hoping Nigel would take the hint that she was busy.

  “It’s hard work,” Nigel said, repositioning himself so that Grace had to look at him. His height made him a head taller than the line. “But it’s worth it. This is good land, and it won’t be so many years before we have a fine farm.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.”

  “Grace, I want you to be a part of that farm. My brothers are taking wives. Women are coming from back east to marry them. They’ll arrive just before winter, God willing. If you would only consent to marry me, then we would be completely set. Just think of all we could do together.”

  She gave a heavy sigh. “Nigel, you know I do not love you.” She hoped her matter-of-fact statement would discourage him.

  He nodded, and as she reached up to pin the end of a sheet to the line, he closed his hand over hers. “I do know that, but I’m convinced that in time you will. For now, I have enough love for us both.”

  She hated hurting him. He was so kind and always respectful. “I can’t marry you. I have to wait for my uncle to return.”

  “But he may never return. He might even be dead. The Indians have been causing problems to the south of here, and he might well have been captured or killed.” He grimaced. “I don’t say this to upset you, just to make you think. If he is dead, you will need someone.”

  She knew he was right. Even when her uncle returned, she couldn’t expect him to take care of her forever. She couldn’t go on expecting charity, and she wasn’t making enough money with her herbs and tonics to provide much in the way of food. Had it not been for the help of the good people around her, Grace knew they’d be in a bad way.

  Nigel seemed to sense she saw the truth of his words and pressed on. “I will care for you and your sister. I will care for your other sister as well—should she return.”

  “She will return. She’s currently helping my friends in California, and then she’ll come back to join us.”

  He seemed pleased with her statement. “And I will be able to care for all of you. Me and my brothers. Together we will make good on our dreams.”

  She pulled her hand away from his. “But they aren’t my dreams, Nigel.” She saw his crestfallen face and wished there was some way she could force herself to love him and accept his proposal. “I’m sorry. I really must get these things up to dry. Mercy will be back soon, and we have other chores to tend to. Please try to understand.”

  Grace prayed he wouldn’t argue or force her to endure more of his talk of love and dreams. Her dreams were tied to a dark-headed trapper, and even if it seemed unlikely for them to come true, Grace couldn’t bring herself to cast them aside.

  “Very well. But I don’t intend to give up.”

  Neither do I. She didn’t bother to speak, knowing he wouldn’t understand.

  To her relief, he departed without saying anything more. Grace hurried to get the laundry on the line and was just gathering the basket and leftover clothespins when she spied a stranger coming from the far side of the house. He was in sorry shape. His clothes were well-worn, and his beard and hair were desperately in need of trimming.

  “I wonder if you might share a meal with a weary stranger,” he said, his head bent toward the ground as if he were ashamed to ask.

  Grace felt sorry for him. “Of course. I’ll find you something.”

  He looked up and a smile broke across his face. “Grace Flanagan, don’t you recognize me?”

  She looked at him. No one here would call her by her maiden name. Recognition dawned and her eyes widened. “Uncle Edward?”

  He laughed. “One and the same, although I’m sure I gave you a fright, looking as I do.”

  Grace dropped the basket and pins and ran to embrace him, mindless of his filthy, unkempt state. “Oh, Uncle Edward, I’m so very glad to see you.” Tears came to her eyes as she hugged him close. “You have no idea how happy this makes me.” She pulled back and wiped her eyes.

  He raised a brow as he studied her for a moment. “I surely didn’t expect tears.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, but so much has happened that you don’t know about. So much tragedy and sorrow, but now that you’re here, it all seems unimportant.” She hugged him again. “You are an answer to my prayers.”

  Chapter

  22

  I can’t tell you how good it is to be with family again.”

  Uncle Edward smiled and reached out to take a hunk of bread. “Glad to be back and pleased as I can be to have two of the prettiest girls for nieces.” He winked at Mercy. “You look just like your mama did when she was your age.”

  “Truly?” Mercy seemed excited by the connection. “I miss her so much.”

  “I do too, darlin’. Your mama was a great lady. Loved Jesus more than most folks—knew Him better too. More than most preachers I’ve known, in fact.”

  Mercy nodded. “Mama always told me that Jesus was the only one who loved me more than she did.”

  “I’m bettin’ that’s true.” He sopped gravy from his plate with the bread. “Grace, you’re a fine cook. I can’t say when I had a better meal.”

  Grace smiled. “Does that mean you’re too full for pie?”

  Her uncle laughed. “I ain’t never been too full for pie. What’d you make for us?”

  “Mrs. Cranston traded some apples she’d canned for a tonic to help her rheumatism. I thought apple pie would be perfect to welcome you home.”

  “Been home a week now, but I ain’t complainin’,” he said, reaching over to tweak Mercy’s cheek. “I don’t reckon I’ll mind it much at all.” He leaned back and rubbed his chin. “Sure glad you gave me a haircut and shave, Grace. I almost feel human now.”

  “You look human too,” Mercy said. “Before, you resembled a grizzly bear.”

  Grace smiled and brought the pie to the table. “But I was happy to see you no matter what you looked like.” She cut
a big slice of pie and put it on her uncle’s plate.

  He wasted no time in taking a bite. His look of satisfaction assured Grace that the pie met with his approval. She put a piece on Mercy’s plate and then cut a small piece for herself before retrieving the coffeepot to refill her uncle’s cup.

  She felt a sense of safety and happiness in being reunited with her uncle. She hadn’t known him all that well due to him coming west when she’d been younger than Mercy, but they were making up for the lost years.

  Mercy quickly consumed her pie, then jumped to her feet. “Can I be excused? I want to go see Beth Cranston.”

  “She’s Mrs. Cranston’s granddaughter, isn’t she?” Uncle Edward asked.

  “Yes. I go to school with her, but since this is Saturday, she invited me to come to her house to help quilt.”

  “Her pa is a good person. Her mama too. I don’t reckon there are much better folks in all of the country.”

  “Well, with Uncle Edward’s approval, I’d be hard-pressed to say no.” Grace motioned to Mercy’s plate and fork. “Clear those and then you may go.”

  Once Mercy was gone, Grace decided to speak to her uncle about their situation. “I want to thank you, Uncle Edward, for letting us stay here.”

  Before she could say more than that, someone knocked on the front door, and she sighed. That conversation would have to wait.

  “I’ll get it,” she said. “You enjoy your coffee. Would you like more pie?”

  Uncle Edward gave her a grin. “Does a cat want cream?”

  She laughed and left to answer the door. Opening it, she found Nigel smiling back at her. He pulled off his hat with one hand and thrust out a bouquet of wildflowers with the other.

  “I thought you might like these. Picked them on my way to town.”

  Grace forced a smile. “They’re pretty. Come on in. I expect you’d like to meet my uncle.”

  Nigel nodded. “I would. I’ve heard a great deal about him.”

  Grace led the way back to the kitchen. “Uncle Edward, this is Nigel Grierson. Nigel, this is my uncle, Edward Marsh.” She took the flowers to the counter, uncertain what she could use for a vase.

  The two men exchanged handshakes, and Uncle Edward motioned for Nigel to take the chair vacated by Mercy. “Would you like some coffee? Maybe some pie? Grace is quite the cook.”

  “It smells wonderful. I’d enjoy some of each.”

  Grace put the flowers in a glass jar. “Let me give these flowers some water first.” She wasn’t happy to have to entertain Nigel, but she did want her uncle to meet him since Nigel had been so helpful with her sheep.

  She took Nigel a cup of coffee, then went back to the counter for a plate and fork. She dished him up a generous portion of pie.

  “I hope you enjoy it.” She set the plate in front of him and then reclaimed her seat.

  “I’d enjoy anything you made.”

  Grace saw her uncle’s raised brow and felt her face flush. She’d have to explain about Nigel after he left, but for now she could at least give her uncle a bit of insight.

  “Nigel and his wife were on the wagon train west with us. His wife died, and not long after, my husband passed. When the girls and I decided to stay at the mission and wait to hear from you, Nigel was good enough to bring my sheep here along with his dairy cows.”

  “I’m glad to meet any friend of Grace’s, but especially glad when that friend has done such a kindness.”

  Nigel looked at Grace. “She’s easy to be kind to.”

  “Well, be that as it may,” her uncle continued, “I appreciate what you did for my girls.”

  “I’d like to do even more,” Nigel admitted.

  Grace didn’t want to give him a chance to explain, so she hurried to continue. “I was glad that he’d taken the sheep. We lost the oxen and the wagon, along with most everything else, when the attack took place.”

  “Bad business that attack. The Cayuse have never been friendly towards settlers, but I never expected anything like that. I was mighty sorry to hear about it.”

  “Well, I’ve no doubt they’ll be dealt with,” Nigel countered. “We formed up a large number of men to hunt them down. One of my brothers joined the militia. I don’t know how that’s coming along, but I do hope to see those folks avenged.”

  Grace wanted to say something about God being the one who should avenge, but she remained silent. She knew her sisters probably felt much the same as Nigel.

  Uncle Edward nodded. “We had some trouble in California too. There were some attacks on us as we came north, but we were able to deal with it. The Indians weren’t well armed, and each of our men had rifles and pistols.”

  “Well, it’s a relief you’re back, Uncle Edward. Once Hope returns from helping the Brownings, I’ll feel even better.”

  The men finished their pie and coffee, and to Grace’s surprise, Nigel rose and excused himself. “I have a load of lumber to pick up at the mill and best get to it.”

  “I’ll show you to the door.” Grace quickly made her way to the front room so as to give Nigel no time to change his mind. Once he was gone, she made her way back to the kitchen and gave a heavy sigh, which caused her uncle to laugh.

  “I can see you’re less than interested in that poor lovesick young man.”

  “He asked me to marry him the same day we buried the Right Reverend Martindale.” She sat down at the table. “He continues to propose every time he sees me.”

  “He seems nice enough.”

  “He is. But the last thing I want to do is marry him.”

  Uncle Edward smiled. “Is there someone else?”

  Grace flushed. “Well . . . I . . . that is . . . no, not really.”

  “I don’t abide lyin’. You want to try that again, and this time tell me the truth?” His questioning look was emphasized by the raising of his right brow. “Your mama was no better at keepin’ stuff from me than you are.”

  Grace shrugged. “I do have feelings for a man, but he doesn’t feel the same for me. So I’m not really lying when I say there’s no one else.”

  “Who is this young man? Do I know him?”

  “I believe you do. His name is Alex Armistead. He’s a trapper.”

  Her uncle’s smile faded. “I do know Alex. He’s a good man. Honorable and trustworthy, but . . .”

  Grace felt the uneasiness of her uncle’s long pause. What troubled him so much about Alex?

  “I don’t think he’s the type who will ever settle down,” Uncle Edward finally said. “He’s a troubled soul. I know his friend Gabriel Larquette better than Alex, and Gabe told me there was a lot of sadness and regret in Alex.”

  “Gabe is dead.” Her mouth clicked shut. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just blurted it out like that. I was there when he died.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Gabe was a good man. We were friends for a long time, even trapped together for a spell. What happened?”

  “He had a wound that festered and then fouled. I tried to treat him, but Dr. Whitman was angry about my interference. He bled Gabe, and in his weakened state, Gabe couldn’t recover his strength. I blame myself more than Dr. Whitman. I didn’t realize the wound was so infected.”

  “Well, blame won’t bring him back. God rest his soul. I know he knew the Almighty. He was always sharin’ his beliefs.”

  Grace nodded. “He told me Alex was troubled. In fact, Alex told me himself that he has issues in his past. So I’m not completely unaware.”

  “But you’re not giving up on him either.” Her uncle smiled at her.

  “No. I suppose I’m not. But I’m also not counting on anything to ever come of it. I just know I can’t marry Nigel when I love someone else.”

  “Love’s a tricky thing, to be sure.”

  She couldn’t help laughing at his comment. “Are you in love, Uncle Edward?”

  “Could be.” His grin broadened. “Could be. Just don’t ask me to tell you her name. We have an understanding, but I haven’t done much abou
t it.”

  “Very well. Instead I’ll pray for you. Oh, and I want to finish what I started to say before Nigel came. I really appreciate that you had the foresight to tell Dr. McLoughlin to let us stay here. I’m so grateful for that and for the credit you left us at Fort Vancouver.”

  Uncle Edward frowned. “While I did leave word with John to let you stay here, I’m afraid I had nothing to do with any credit left you at the store. I made ’em pay me out in cash when I went south for the cattle. I wanted to buy a few head for myself.”

  Grace knew immediately that if her uncle hadn’t provided the credit, it must have been Alex. But before she could say as much, another knock sounded on their door.

  “Goodness, I’ve had more company today than in all the years I’ve been here.” Uncle Edward got up and went to the door. After a few minutes, he called to Grace. “You have something here.”

  She went to the front door, where a stranger stood with her uncle. “You have something for me?”

  The man nodded. “I was asked to bring you this horse and saddle. That is, if you’re Grace Martindale.”

  “I am.” She stepped outside and saw the Right Reverend’s horse. Sam had taken the horse to his village when she and Alex had to go on foot to the fort. She hadn’t thought she’d ever get the animal back.

  She turned and nodded. “This is my horse and saddle.”

  The stranger nodded. “I’m glad to get him back to you.” He turned to go.

  “Wait. Isn’t there a letter or something?”

  He turned and shook his head. “No. The man just told me to bring the horse to Oregon City and find you. That’s all.”

  “I see.” Grace felt a lump in her throat. Why couldn’t Alex have at least penned a few words? Did he truly care so little about her?

  “Well, it was good of you to come all this way just to return a horse,” Uncle Edward said, digging into his pocket. “Have this for your trouble.” He flipped the man a coin.

  The man caught it but handed it back. “No sir. I’ve been well paid. Good day to you both.” He headed back along the river toward town while Grace stared after him.

  “That was mighty nice of Alex,” her uncle said. “I’m guessin’ I need to build a lean-to and a pen for the horse. Can’t have a fine animal like that wandering around.”