Refining Fire (19 page)

“Goodness, no. He tells me he's quite besot with me, but I cannot conjure up even a decent feeling of friendship, much less of ardor. He tells me he will convince me in time, that he has the ability to woo me and win my heart, but grief, Wade, I simply haven't the heart to tell him that he . . . well . . . I just don't believe it will happen.”

Wade looked relieved. “I don't, either. He's not at all the type of man you could be happy with. He is power hungry and desires to have a name of importance here in Seattle.”

“Well, I suppose having a respected name is not something I can fault him for. Aunt Selma is always saying one's name is important and one should do whatever one can to keep it held in high regard. Although I will say having a name like Priam doesn't conjure up regard in my mind. Where do you suppose such a name comes from?”

“I have no idea. Neither do I care. I care about you, Abrianna. I don't want to see you hurt or . . . compromised. If he were to try anything untoward, I'm afraid I might well break his neck.”

His words first shocked and then amused her. “Oh, you are so silly. You wouldn't do something so awful. I've known you far too long to believe you capable of anything so base.”

“Just know this, Abrianna. I care very deeply about you.” His voice seemed edged with emotion, but for the life of her, Abrianna couldn't understand why he was so worried. “I promise you that I will always be here for you should you need me, even if it's just to talk.”

She popped up from her chair and placed a customary kiss on his cheek. “Stuff and nonsense. I know that. You are my very best friend in all the world. I am so blessed to have you in my life. You are kind to me and gentle in your rebukes. Well, most of the time.” She smiled down at him and touched his cheek. “I care very deeply about you, just as you do me. God gave us to each other for comfort and assurance, encouragement and
support. I cherish that, Wade, and want nothing to ever come between us—even my ill temper.” She paused. “Or when I disobey and you think me foolish, or when I sneak out to tend to business that you find less than important. I didn't mention it, but just the other night—”

Wade got to his feet and put his finger to her lips. “Enough. You've already aged me a dozen years with this food kitchen endeavor and your courtship of Mr. Welby. Pray do not bring up your hidden deeds to further my worries, otherwise I might be tempted to do something we would both regret.”

She pushed away his hand and raised her brow in question. “Like stop being my friend?”

“Hardly. I was thinking more of giving you a spanking.”

And in truth, Wade couldn't help but wonder if that was exactly what was needed. The old ladies had never laid a hand on her. Punishment was meted out in sending Abrianna to her room or denying her something that was important to her. Unfortunately for them, Abrianna easily adjusted and never seemed overly put upon no matter what was taken from her. Objects didn't mean that much, while her freedom was everything. That and her notion of what God wanted from her.

Wade kept mulling this over and over as he made his way back to his shop and the quiet little room near the docks. It was the Lord's Day, so he wouldn't work on any of his projects, but perhaps if he spent some quiet time in prayer, he might come up with some answers as to why he felt like he'd just fallen off a cliff.

To his surprise, Thane stood leaning against his door awaiting his arrival.

“I thought you were spending the day with Militine.”

A grin spread from ear to ear as he pushed off from the door. “I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.”

“What? So soon?”

“It's never too soon when you know you're in love.”

Wade unlocked the shop and stepped inside before asking, “And how can you be so sure it's the right kind of love, a marrying kind of love?”

Thane followed him inside and laughed. “Because she's all I think of these days. When I'm at work I think of how wonderful it will be to leave and go help out at the food house, because then I'll see her again. When I'm with her, all I want is to go on being with her. And when I kissed her this afternoon, I felt I might well explode in joy.”

“Abrianna makes me want to explode, but not necessarily in joy,” Wade muttered, not really wanting to discuss it with his friend but also not able to remain silent on the subject.

“That's because you're in love with her,” Thane said directly.

Wade looked at him and shook his head. “I can't be in love with her.” It was a hard lie to speak, but he feared if he said otherwise, Thane would only encourage the matter.

Thane grinned. “It's a good thing you don't perform on the stage. You're terrible at lying.”

Wade pushed back his hair. He knew Thane could see right through his protests. “She's courting Priam Welby, of all creatures. So it matters little what I feel for her. She's not in love with me.”

“Then perhaps you should persuade her to be. Why hand her over to Welby? We both know he will only hurt her in the long run. If you love her as much as I think you do, you will fight for her. Maybe you should marry her.”

Wade felt a rush of confusion and fear. What if she could never love him that way? Love him the way a wife would love a husband, with a heart of devotion and desire. He did his best to shrug off the emotions. He wasn't about to let this control him.

“There are a lot of kinds of love, Thane. I do love Abrianna.
She's precious to me, and I intend to keep her safe if I can. But just because I love her doesn't necessarily mean I should marry her.”

Thane shook his head, as if not believing a word of it. “Well, maybe, my friend, you need to reconsider what it does mean.”

T
hursday, June sixth, found the bridal school in a flurry of activity. “No one has retrieved the trunk of costumes,” Aunt Miriam declared. “I must say that with all these affairs of Abrianna courting Mr. Welby and the reappearance of her father, I had quite forgotten about them, and the rosettes we need are surely to be in that trunk.”

“Oh dear.” Aunt Poisie shook her head in a most sad manner. “We are doomed to failure.”

“Nonsense, Sister. Not failure, but it will spoil some of my plans. I recall that those large rosettes of red, white, and blue are also in that trunk.”

Aunt Poisie continued to shake her head. “A tragedy.”

“Don't fret so. I will attend it after feeding the poor,” Abrianna told her. “I'll have Wade walk us over, and Militine and I can bring back the trunk on the streetcar.”

Aunt Poisie put her hands together, her expression changing to glee. “We are saved!”

“I suppose I will have to allow for it,” her aunt replied. “We must not ask Wade, however. He is busy finishing our omnibus and plans to deliver it this afternoon. And your father is off with Selma looking at horses up north.” She went to her purse. “Here
is the fare. Pray do not tarry and, Militine, you will go with her. Perhaps once you find the trunk, Mr. Welby can drive you both home. If so, I would prefer that. I do not like the thought of you on the streetcars like common . . . common . . . well, unescorted females on the streetcar can be dangerous.”

Abrianna kissed her aunt's cheek. “We will be back before you know it. Oh, and I've already told the men that there will be only bread and cheese tomorrow. Wade said he would go down and hand it out so Militine and I might stay here and help with the last-minute touches for the ball.”

“That's awfully good of him. He is such a dear man. I keep thinking one of our young ladies might do for him, but he never shows any interest.”

“And why should he?” Abrianna laughed. “He has all of us.”

Aunt Poisie interjected, “Yes, but a man needs a wife, and Wade looks quite lonely sometimes, much as my dear Captain once looked. God rest his soul.”

“Amen, Sister. Now really, we must be about our business. Sister, go and see if the table decorations have been completed.” Poisie scurried off in her manner, seeming delighted to have a task to perform.

The idea of Wade needing a wife momentarily threw Abrianna into a state of confusion. Wade? Lonely? She'd never really given it much thought. He was at the school often enough that it seemed impossible he could be lonely.

Aunt Miriam continued. “Poisie is right. The Bible says it is not good for man to be alone, and frankly, I believe Wade would benefit from a wife and family. Since he is closest to you, Abrianna, perhaps you could suggest one of the girls. Clara, for example, is coming along quite well. She will be ready to dance at next year's ball, and that would give them time to court.”

The thought of Wade marrying and no longer being able to work with Abrianna and the others at the food house made her
uncomfortable. In fact, the very idea of Wade giving all his time and attention to another woman made her feel very nearly cross. Not understanding the feelings of perplexity, Abrianna picked up a basket with ingredients for tomorrow's lunches and, without commenting on her aunt's suggestion, headed for the door.

“We will be back as soon after two as we can.”

Militine followed her outside, bringing a large basket loaded with bread. Wade hadn't yet arrived, but Abrianna knew it would only be a matter of minutes.

“I'm so nervous about tomorrow,” Militine said, shifting the basket to her left arm. “Just think, after the ball I will be Thane's wife.”

“It is a wonder,” Abrianna said, trying hard to push aside her irritation. “I do wish you would reconsider and wear one of Lenore's gowns.” Her words sounded harsh and critical. “Oh bother. I'm sorry. You are entitled to wear whatever you'd like to your own wedding.”

“Thank you, but I appreciate that you want to make everything perfect. However, Thane and I aren't at all worried about appearance. Your aunts helped me earlier in April to make my dress for the ball, and it's a lovely piece. I rather like that I made it with my own hands.”

“I know you will be beautiful.” Abrianna craned to see if Wade's wagon was yet approaching. It wasn't, and for reasons beyond her, that just irritated her all the more.

“What about you? Will tomorrow be perfect for you with Mr. Welby coming to share the evening?”

“Bah! I'd just as soon he stay home,” she admitted. “I told him I would be busy helping to see that things ran smoothly. He said he didn't care, that he intended for us to have several waltzes, even if he had to bribe Aunt Miriam.” She shook her head at the thought. “The man can be positively exasperating, and once Aunt Miriam found out that he was willing not only
to come, but to pay the admission, she has been at me since. She tells me I must look my best and dance as much as possible so that I might get to know him better.”

“What about Wade?”

“What about him?”

Militine shrugged. “Will he get any waltzes with you?”

“You do ask the silliest questions. If I'm to dance all the time with Mr. Welby in order to know him better, I'll have no time to worry about anyone else. Besides, Wade will probably be enamored with one of the other young ladies. I saw him having a deep conversation last Sunday at the dinner table with Clara. I think she's sweet on him.” Abrianna frowned. Again, such a thought caused her uneasiness, and her stomach tightened. Perhaps she was coming down with a summer cold. Yes, that would explain a great deal.

“I don't think he's sweet on her,” Militine replied.

Wade's wagon appeared down the street. The single chestnut horse clip-clopped at a slow pace, as if they were both out for a summer ride to take the air.

“Goodness, I wish he'd put the horse to a trot. It's very nearly ten, and I need time to cut the bread for today and tomorrow.”

“Good thing you put the soup together yesterday.”

“Thank goodness for the icebox. It's a wreck of a piece, but it does the job.” Thane had managed to round up an old icebox for them to keep foods from spoiling. Better still, he'd found some ice to put inside. It made things much easier for them to have the next day's soup cooking while feeding the poor their lunch. Abrianna had already decided she would press Mr. Welby first thing to provide a very large icebox for the new facility.

Finally the wagon drew even with them, and Wade set the brake. Militine and Abrianna hurried to put the food in the back. Militine surprised them both by jumping up to seat herself on the back of the wagon.

“I'm just going to ride here today. Mind the holes in the road so I don't fall off.”

Wade laughed. “I don't think Thane would appreciate it if I lost you in one of those pits.” He turned to Abrianna. “May I assist you in taking your seat?”

He didn't look so lonely. Instead, he looked quite happy, and he was clean-shaven and smelled good. She smiled. “I would be thankful for the help. Although I have donned my serviceable clothes, I would hate to have my skirt catch and tear,” she said in a sophisticated manner and then broke into laughter. “Help me or not, Wade, I'm sure I can manage either way.”

He smiled and handed her up before taking his seat. “Just look. There isn't a cloud in the sky. I recall your aunt Miriam saying that the ball might be moved outdoors to the gardens if the weather stayed nice.”

“It's been nice for so many days that she has decided it will last at least one more. Already she has the girls setting up decorations in the garden, and every table that was in the house has been dragged outside.”

“She should have waited for Thane and me to help.”

“My father—goodness but that's still hard to get used to—my father helped a good deal, and most of us gals are as strong as oxen, and you well know it.

“Still, I'm glad. I think it will be cooler outside. It always feels so warm with formal clothes and so many people stuffed into one room.”

Abrianna cast him a sidelong glance. “Wade, can I ask you something?” She lowered her voice as they moved into traffic. She hoped the activity around them would muffle her voice so that Militine wouldn't overhear.

“Sure. What do you want to know?”

“Do you find yourself . . . well . . . interested in any of the girls at the bridal school?”

He looked at her in surprise. “What a question. Tell me first why you ask.”

“Well, it's really not important. Someone mentioned that one of the girls might be sweet on you.”

“Really.” He sat back with a cocky grin. “Is that so? Which one?”

Abrianna frowned. He wasn't helping matters. “It's not important. Forget I asked.”

He laughed. “You are a funny creature, Abrianna Cunningham.”

After the rush of lunch and cleanup at the food house, Abrianna was more than ready to return home. First, however, there was the duty of retrieving the costume trunk. “Aunt Miriam wants us to get that old trunk of costumes that we left behind at the Madison Building.”

“I can't take the time just now,” Wade said, looking worried. “I promised her I'd deliver the wagon, and it's just about ready.”

“You needn't worry. We already discussed that very fact. Aunt Miriam gave us fare for the trolley but suggested that if Mr. Welby wasn't busy, he could bring us home instead.”

He looked unhappy. “She honestly said you two could manage it on your own?”

“Yes. I wouldn't lie to you. If I were of a mind to do something underhanded, I certainly wouldn't announce it to you. You know me well enough to realize that.”

“I suppose I do. Well, I can at least walk you over. It's only a couple of blocks.”

“That would be exactly as my aunt wished it.” Abrianna grinned. “However, I wasn't going to tell you that part, just in case you were too busy. Speaking of which, when are you headed up to deliver the wagon?”

“I'm attaching the sign, and then I'll head up. It'll probably take me about forty minutes or so. I hope to be there by three, and then I'll be staying to help with the decorating. Your aunt even invited me to share supper and stay the night. They're to set me up in the carriage house with your father. I thought it all rather easy, since they have taken the care to ready all my formal clothes.”

“Wonderful. I can hardly wait to see the wagon. I've wanted to sneak over to your shop several times just to have a peek. Will it really seat ten?”

“It will.”

Without thinking, she reached up and pushed back a lock of his brown hair. Goodness, but he looked so handsome. No doubt Aunt Miriam was right. Someone, somewhere, would want him for a husband. “You need a haircut and—”

He grabbed hold of her wrist as if it were reflex. Abrianna met his gaze, but for the life of her she couldn't remember what else she was going to say. Her stomach tightened again, just as it had on the trip to the docks. Whatever was wrong with her, Abrianna could only hope it wouldn't interfere with the ball.

“We should go,” he finally said, dropping his hold.

Abrianna nodded and headed for the door. Her confusion seemed to double. “I promised Aunt Miriam we would hurry home. We might beat you there.”

The walk took only a matter of minutes, and once they were at the doors to the building, Wade made his excuses and turned back toward his shop. Abrianna couldn't imagine what had gotten into him. He'd scarcely said a word on their walk.

“Oh bother.” She wasn't going to worry about his moodiness. “Let's go.” She opened the door and held it for Militine before following her into the building.

When they reached Mr. Welby's office on the first floor,
Militine made way for Abrianna to enter first. A man looked up from a typewriter and seemed confused.

“May I help you?”