Shadow of Deceit (Shadow #2) (12 page)

It was a rainy Friday, and Miles had taken a half day off and invited Violet to lunch.  Billy had gotten a job as a ranch hand on a local farm, and Julia was working at the hotel.  He knew it wouldn’t be proper, so he hired a maid for the lunch.  Caleb had assured him that Ingrid Smith would be there and even cook the lunch.   Ingrid Smith was Zoe’s nanny, but now that Zoe was in school, she had more free time. 

Ingrid arrived on time with a pot of chicken and dumplings.  She set the table while Miles put on his best shirt, and slicked down his hair.

Violet arrived, shook her umbrella outside of the front door, and then slipped inside. She greeted Ingrid, whom she knew well from visiting Jonas and Ivy.  

Miles escorted Violet to the dining room table. 

“My!” Violet exclaimed.  “The table looks terrific.” 

Miles smiled.  “I hope you like chicken and dumplings, it’s a favorite of mine.”

“I love chicken and dumplings. This is just what I needed today to cheer me up. I always feel sad on rainy days.”

“Some people love rainy days, but I’m with you.  They are very dismal, indeed.”  Miles squeezed her hand.  “I’m so glad we could do this today.”

Ingrid came in and set the chicken and dumplings down on the center of the table with a ladle stuck inside the bowl.  “You can help yourself,” she said.  “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me,” she winked at Miles.

He’d told Ingrid his plans and she promised to stay in the kitchen unless called.

After they’d eaten, Miles came around to her chair and pulled it out.  “Let’s take our tea in the sitting room,” he said.

“Lovely,” Violet said.  She carried her cup and saucer into the sitting room and set it down near the end of the sofa on a table. 

Miles sat beside her and set his cup down on the coffee table.  “Well, here we are,” he said.

“Where’s Julia and Billy?” she asked.

“Working,” He answered.

“Really?  You never said they had jobs.”

“You usually get upset when I mention Julia, so I try hard not to,” he said

“Oh.  We’ll make an exception today, since I’m curious.  Where does she work?”

“She’s a maid at the Ace Hotel, and Billy’s working at the Hodge’s Farm.”

“Oh,” she said.

“They plan to pay Caleb back all the money, but Julia’s getting ten cents an hour and Billy’s getting twelve cents an hour.  So it may take about fifty years to see the debt paid.”

“I didn’t know, but I have to admit, that’s very noble of them.”

“She also regained her memory completely.” Caleb went on to tell her the whole story of Julia’s memory returning at the river and why.

“How romantic,” Violet said with a sigh.

“Do you like romantic things?” he asked.

“I do.  I love anything romantic.”

“How’s this for romantic?” Miles slipped down on his knees before her and said, “I love you more than any words can say.  I don’t want to ever live another day without you.  I want to wake up to you each morning, and end my day with you by my side.  When I look into my heart, I see only you.  If you look into your heart and see only me—will you agree to spend the rest of your life with me?”

Violet’s surprise showed clearly on her face.  She hesitated so long that Miles began to worry.  His heart sounded like an old clock, it beat so hard and fast.  He looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

Violet held her breath.  She hadn’t expected this, or even thought about having to respond to a proposal.  She didn’t know how to answer.  The look on his face was so pathetic.  How could she turn him down?  She quickly analyzed her feelings.  She loved him, and trusted him.  He’d done nothing but prove his loyalty and devotion to her.  His company always made her happy, and she couldn’t imagine life without him.  She supposed that was her answer.

“Yes,” she said clearly.  “I will.   I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone but you.”

He let out the breath he’d been holding and smiled.  He stood to dig her ring from his pocket.  She stood also, and held out her hand.  Poised to put the ring on her finger, he said,  “With this ring I pledge to you my undying love and devotion, and please don’t make me wait to long to be your husband, for I’m dying to make you mine completely.”  He slipped the ring on her finger.

“Oh, Miles!  Now
that’s
romantic.  Will you always remain romantic?  I love it.”

“If I ever stop being romantic, just remind me, okay?”

Violet held out her hand.  The ring was gold with five small diamonds in a row.  “It’s beautiful.”

“This isn’t all there is to becoming betrothed you know,” he said.

“What else is there?” she asked.

“This—” Miles crushed her to him and kissed her passionately.  She returned his kiss with the same passion, and suddenly her knees weakened and she fell back onto the sofa pulling Miles with her.  They stayed that way, side-by-side, unwilling to be the first to break the kiss.  Finally, she gently pulled away from his lips, but not from his arms.  She laid her head on his chest.  “ I do love you, Miles.”

“I’m now the luckiest man in the world.” Miles pulled her up.  “How long do we have to wait?”

“I’ll talk to my parents.  They didn’t make Ivy wait long.  I’m sure we can have a fall wedding.”

“I hope so,” he said with a mischievous grin.  “Or else it will be a shotgun wedding.”  He dove in for another passionate kiss.

“Hmm,” she purred.  “I think we’ll push that date up a bit.”

“I finally got up the nerve to ask your father for your hand.  He didn’t smile at first, and I worried that he’d hold the whole incident with Julia, against me.  I was afraid he’d remember it was I who pointed Julia to Caleb.  Yet, he’d finally smiled and gave his blessing.”

“Of course he would.  I’ve been telling him all about how sorry you are, and how you are doing everything to gain back my trust.  My father teaches forgiveness and mercy, he surely wouldn’t withhold that from anyone.”

Caleb had done even more thinking.  His job of transferring numbers all day, gave him plenty of time for thought. 

He remembered Julia’s reaction to his limp. What had she said? 
“It feels like there is something I should remember, and it warms me, and fills me with anxiety simultaneously.”
  So when she saw a person limp she felt anxious and warmed… it’s the warmed part that made him think.  Warm—cozy, maybe comfortable.  That wasn’t the same as love, though.  Her plan had been to definitely return to Abilene, but maybe not to him.  How would he ever know that? 

It bothered him that she cleaned up after people, scrubbing floors, and who knows what else in order to repay him.  Heck, he didn’t need the money for which she worked so hard. He decided
that
should be the first thing he’d stop.

He looked up, and as if his thoughts had produced her, she walked into the store.

“Good morning, Mr. Armstrong,” she said. 

Her words were so cold Caleb nearly shivered.  He supposed he’d done the same to her last time.  

“It’s a lovely morning, Miss Croft,” he said in a cheerful tone. “How can I help you?”

She handed him an envelope.  “My first installment on repaying the loan.”

Caleb took the envelope but kept his eyes on her.  She looked at him with recognition in her eyes this time.  She looked lovely, dressed in a sheer pink summer dress, with her strawberry blonde hair pulled back with a ribbon that matched the dress.  She carried a parasol that she’d closed when she walked in.

He offered the envelope back.  “I don’t need the money.  You and Billy keep it.  I have more than I know what to do with.”

“I insist!” she said firmly.  “It’s not just for you, it’s for
me
.  I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t repay you.”  She refused to take the envelope back. “I did a terrible thing, I’m also trying to teach Billy a lesson.  We will both put half our pay in an envelope for you each week.”

Caleb hesitated, deep in thought.  “Would you consider quitting your job, and working for me to repay the loan?”

“What kind of job would that be?” she asked.  Her face showed she thought he was joking.

Caleb had to think fast.  “My housekeeper up and quit on me.  You can be my housekeeper.”

“That doesn’t sound appropriate, Mr. Armstrong.”

“Elsie, my previous housekeeper, reported for work each morning about the same time that I leave for work in the morning.  By the time I return home, she’s either gone, or on her way out the door.”

“What would I have to do?” her face showed more hope than before.

“My laundry, cleaning, and cooking my dinner.  The pay is fifty cents an hour,” he said. 

Her mouth appeared to drop in surprise.  “I’ll take it.”

Caleb nodded.  “There are several ways we can handle your pay.  Either you take no pay until the debt is paid in full, or I will pay you twenty-five cents an hour, and put the other twenty-five an hour onto your account.”

“What about Billy’s contribution?”

“Billy is a kid yet.  I wouldn’t blame him for getting mixed up with the wrong people.  But if you insist, then put whatever he gives you away, and give it to him when he really needs it.”

“I’ll take ten cents an hour, you put forty toward my loan.   Miles doesn’t charge me board, so I need just a small amount of pocket money,” she said.  “When do I start?”

“Give the hotel your notice tomorrow and you can start the day after,” he said.  

She smiled at him then, and his heart pounded louder than the saws in the mill.

“I‘ve never been to your house, could you give me directions?”

“Miles knows how to get there,” he said. 

“Very good, then. I shall see you about eight on the day after tomorrow?” she asked.

“Perfect, but sometimes I leave earlier, so I’ll show you where I hide the key on your first day—I’ll also show you around the place.”

“See you then, Mr. Armstrong.” She walked to the door.

“Good day, Miss Croft,” he said as she slipped out of the store.  Caleb hoped and prayed he hadn’t made a mistake in offering her the job.  She’d still be cleaning, but not for strangers, and if his plan worked, not for long.

Now, what would he do with Elsie?  She’ll be out a job.  He’d keep paying her. Why not?  Eventually, she’d get her job back if all went well.  He’d need the help of a few of his family and friends, but his plan was the only way he’d know, without a doubt, that he could trust Julia’s feelings, as well as his own.

He sincerely believed Julia was sorry, and that she still had feelings for him.  He could sense it by the look in her eyes and her facial expressions.  He was suddenly filled with elation, because he knew it wouldn’t be long before he had his Julia back in his arms again.