Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 1) (10 page)

      Rebecca tried to pull her hair across her forehead and wandered away towards the back of the shop as Elgerson avoided the view of the girl and attempted an explanation to the shopkeeper.

      “She’s from out of town and has had some trouble and has lost her belongings. If possible could you perhaps supply her with something of a proper wardrobe and possibly a suitable gown for the party?”

      “Oh yes, yes, the gathering! All of the ladies in town have been to visit me looking for gowns for your gathering. It is good that you are having the parties again. It’s always so good for the business you know!” The woman’s eyes twinkled at Timothy. Such a handsome example of a man she thought, and always so generous as well. “But of course, I cannot supply a full wardrobe today, but I can outfit her appropriately for the time being. Is that acceptable to you?” The woman tittered with excitement.

      “That would be perfect,” Timothy replied.

      “Rebecca, I’ll pick you up when I’ve finished my errands,” the man announced.

      Rebecca hastened to catch him as he left the shop. “I cannot possibly pay for this and I cannot…”

      “Just go with Anja, Rebecca. She’s a good friend and very discreet. Trust me. I think it would be best if you were more suitably attired. We can make arrangements that suit us both at another time.”

      Timothy bowed slightly to the tiny shop owner and left the store, always uncomfortable with spending time in the tiny dressmaker’s and the sight of Rebecca with her hair tumbling free still making him even more uneasy.

      The seamstress shuffled the young woman into a tiny, cluttered back room strewn with pins and bits of fabric and began to help her disrobe.

      “The dressing rooms, they are prepared for fitting appointments, we are okay here, no? Oh my, you have lost your undergarments as well! Not to worry.” She quickly recovered from her shock. “I have just the thing!” Shuffling through a stack of boxes in the corner she returned with a lacy armload and continued removing the boy’s clothing from the young woman.

      “Ahhh,” she turned her head to the side examining Rebecca’s naked form carefully. “Poor Miss,” she sighed. Then, looking Rebecca unflinchingly in the eyes, unable to ignore the welt from a large handprint on the girl’s pale derriere and several bruises, “Such terrible marks, and on such a lovely girl. Do not be concerned, my dear. I will have my girls make you such a gown that shows only your beauty and makes all of ‘dis easily forgotten! You’ll see. It will be much better.” Her eyes were open and sympathetic and Rebecca sighed deeply, comfortable in the women’s kindness and understanding.

      The little woman was a flurry of activity, measuring and commenting to herself. Rebecca stood silent in mortification, not uttering a word while the lady helped her step into a lacy pair of silk bloomers and slipped a beautifully adorned camisole over her head.

      “These you take now, though such a shame I cannot do more until tomorrow.”

      Rebecca felt the delicate silk against her body and sighed. She had always appreciated fine lingerie and these lacy pieces were of a quality she never had been able to afford. She groaned at the thought of how she might pay for such finery.

      “Tomorrow I will have your corsets ready and enough petticoats for any gown you might choose.” Pulling heavy bolts of cloth from the shelving on the wall the woman tried to balance them on a nearby chair.

      “Oh, let me help you!” Rebecca exclaimed, afraid the tiny woman might be buried in the yards of cloth.

      “Why, child, you’re British! My late husband and I traveled to England once, many years ago. How delightful!” The dressmaker was bursting with questions about Rebecca and how she had come to be in the company of dear Timothy. She had hoped that the girl was not a relative of the man, believing that it was time he found another wife. The petite girl was so very beautiful and they would make such a fine looking couple, the girl with her dark hair and delicate green eyes, and Timothy so fair and rugged.

      “I have just the thing for the party gown,” Anja announced, unfurling a rich emerald velvet across Rebecca’s chest. “Also there is a piece one of my girls has designed, such a clever girl she is, with embroidery I’m sure you’ll be pleased with! I’ll get my girls to work up some others as well for your wardrobe, a bright clover perhaps and maybe a lovely shade of claret as well. I’m sure you will not be disappointed. Colors are so lovely for gowns, no?”

      “Of course you will need bonnets and you must have gloves for fall as well,” the dressmaker bubbled on. “And I’ll get Gustov to measure you for suitable footwear, oh stockings, yes, plenty of stockings. I promise you will be very pleased.”

      Rebecca stammered, but she could not bring herself to complain or offer up resistance. The fabrics were all so fine and the woman was so sweet and her work so beautiful. There was also mention of a party. Rebecca’s head swam.

      “I’m sure everything will be very beautiful,” she acquiesced. The young woman felt so much more civilized for having something, even the lingerie to wear. She dreaded slipping back into the boy’s clothing, but after a long expanse of time while the woman prattled on and draped her in an endless secession of fabrics, Rebecca began to hope for Timothy’s return.

Chapter Fourteen

     
T
imothy
Elgerson gathered the horses and he and the boy set out for the Evens house situated just on the edge of town. Elgerson worried that he may be confronted with a grieving widow and although he did not enjoy the thought, he knew at least he would need to pay his respects to Nils’ dear wife.

      To Timothy’s shock and relief, Catherine Evens met his knock at the door warmly and beckoned him and Mark inside.

      “How wonderful to see you, Mr. Elgerson, and you as well, Mark! How can I possibly thank you?” Mrs. Evens held Timothy’s arm affectionately.

      “I take it Nils has survived his ordeal. How is he?”

      “Oh, he’s doing so well! Please come see for yourself!” She led Timothy up the stairs while announcing his presence and showed him into a room bathed in the sunshine of the late afternoon.

      Nils Evens sat partially upright on a mountain of white and buttercup yellow blankets, pale, but clearly alive.

      “Tim!” Evens beckoned from the bed. “So good to see you’re back and looking well. Did you ever find that shack? Please, have a seat. Cathy, bring us something to drink!”

      Catherine Evens gave her husband a stern look but then smiled warmly, rolling her eyes for Timothy and set off for refreshments.

      Timothy Elgerson pulled a chair up beside the bed and gestured to Mark to do the same. The boy had known Nils Evens since his mother’s marriage to Elgerson and he was thrilled to see the man alive, as well as being asked to join in the men’s conversation.

      “It’s so good to see you well,” Elgerson took his friend’s hand and pressed it briefly, both men knowing how badly their ordeal could have ended.

      Mark watched the two men’s interaction and noticed a gentleness he had not seen his father display in a long while.

      “Oh, I told you I was fine, Tim!” Evens laughed stiffly. “The boys got me down the mountain alright. I don’t remember most of it actually, probably just as well. Doc pulled that bullet right out, says I’ll be good as new!

      “Never did get the fella though. Damn shame I got hit, we would have had him by now you and I.” Evens shifted carefully on the big bed. “But, like I said, I’ll be up and around pretty soon and let me tell you Tim…” Evens leaned towards Elgerson and whispered, “Could have been a lot worse you know. Another couple of inches and the Missus would be pretty disappointed.”

     The two men laughed and Mark blushed, pleased and embarrassed to have been allowed to hear the man’s remark.

      Catherine appeared in the doorway bearing a tray of three snifters, two generously filled with a rich brandy and one filled nearly to the brim with a dark grape juice. The boy held his beverage carefully between his upturned fingers and toasted proudly with the men.

      Elgerson thanked Catherine as they were leaving, Evens having grown tired with the excitement of the visit.

      “Take care of him, Catherine,” Timothy spoke softly. “I feared when I left him up there he wouldn’t be here now.”

      “I know,” Catherine replied pensively. “He was so bad when they brought him down the doctor suggested I say my goodbyes. But, you know Nils, he’d hear nothing of it!”

      “You take care of yourself, too.” Elgerson stepped out onto the porch.

      “Thank you,” she waved. “And Mark, you make sure your Pa brings you around again!”

      “I will,” the boy called back as he and his father mounted their horses and set out to the office of the sheriff.

      “Good seeing you, Tim, and you too, Mark!” Deputy Albertson exclaimed with relief as Elgerson strode into the headquarters, the boy at his side.

      “Ben’s up north and is headed back. I don’t expect him until later this evening. How’d you make out at your cabin? Everything all right?” The deputy continued.

      “There’s some kind of shack up there and I’d like to get a few men together to check it out. I brought both horses down. There are only a couple of chickens are up there now that I’ll get later. Shack is just north of my cabin. It looks like it was thrown together and built in a hurry. I never got inside of it so I can’t be sure what it was being used for.” Timothy decided to leave the girl out of his story until he talked to Carson personally. “The boy never saw anyone headed up that trail, but he may have heard them. I’d feel a lot more comfortable heading back up there with the boys, just in case.”

      “Well, you’ve got that party at your place tomorrow. I know Ben’s planning on being there, along with half the territory. Could be a good opportunity to get a group together and flush out the whole area up there, and back south of your place too. It’s one of the few places to hide out after the fire. I’m sure you could raise a good band of men then.”

      Elgerson should have had the thought himself. In the recent events he’d had too much on his mind to come up with such an obvious notion and he thanked Albertson for the suggestion. The gathering was the perfect chance not only to flush out the woods near the cabin, as well as the house, but a good excuse to make himself scarce at the party. He’d much prefer spending the evening planning a search party than fighting off Octavia’s advances and playing host. He bid his farewells to the deputy and he and Mark headed back towards the hotel and the tiny dressmaker’s.

      When he strode back into the overcrowded little shop, Rebecca was standing inside of the shop window, pale and exhausted, still clad in the boyish clothing. Anja Zweig was scolding her staff in brisk tones in the back of the store and rushed out at the sound of the bell.

      “It is so unfortunate that I can’t put a dress on the girl tonight,” she apologized to Timothy profusely. “The girl is so petite, but by late morning tomorrow I will have made adjustments to several pieces and I will have plenty to fit her then. Please forgive me. There is nothing I can do more quickly! My girls are working up her gown now and I’m sure it will be perfect for the party!”

      Elgerson was disappointed that the woman could not dress the girl more appropriately, but thought it was just as well that she remained in her current clothing until he got her home. He knew he had asked Anja to perform a miracle with so little time and assured her that her having clothing ready by late morning was more than he expected. He wasn’t sure exactly what to do with the girl, hoping to get suggestions from the sheriff who would certainly want to question Rebecca. He was glad that he had considered the possibility that the girl might be at his place the following night and that he had thought to procure her a suitable gown.

     The hiss of the gas streetlamps in the evening air made Rebecca shiver as Timothy led her and Mark to the nearby hotel.

    “I fear that the dressmaker is going to great extremes,” Rebecca ventured, as they walked along the shop fronts. “I have no coin, sir, and I…”

    “Let it be.” Timothy pointed to the hotel. “Here we are.”

      The tall, three story structure, one of the largest on the main street, featured clean federal lines of red brick and stone, with sizeable, warmly lit windows. Rebecca studied it as they crossed the street, relieved at the promise of sleeping in a room with flat walls. She hoped she’d never spend another night within the dark confines of rough-hewn logs.

      Mark followed Rebecca to the corner, and stood beside her in the lobby, as far as possible from the front desk, where she chose to linger discreetly while Elgerson checked them into their rooms. She could see from her safe distance that he was greeted warmly by the staff and, after a brief visit, he collected their room keys and gestured for her and the boy to accompany him on the stairs. Rebecca stole across the open room and Timothy thought her furtive steps were more obvious than her unusual clothing. To an uninterested party she might look like a friend of the boy’s until he caught sight of the edge of her lacy camisole beneath the back of her shirt. Elgerson shuffled her and the boy quickly up the stairs, no longer certain that others would make the same mistake as he had, not recognizing her as a woman. He led the pair quietly up the hall toward their rooms.

      “I think it would be a good idea if we talked to the sheriff tomorrow,” Timothy remarked as he showed Rebecca the door to her room. “If you come up to the house, we can do it there and then arrange for whatever travel you require.”

      Rebecca nodded silently, unsure of how she should respond. She expected there would be questions, and, knowing she had nowhere else to go, slipped into the room without comment.

      She stood with her back against the door in relief once deposited in the room. The space was opulent and open with heavy, wine velvet drapes over delicate white lace. A large mahogany four-poster bed, covered in thick quilts, stood invitingly against one long wall and the room radiated with warmth. At the foot of the bed an enormous chest held a crystal vase overflowing with wildflowers and a bowl of fresh fruit. Rebecca rushed to grab an immense apple and bit into it hungrily. She thought the accommodations heavenly, and was overcome with joy when she looked through an open doorway and discovered that the room had an indoor bath.

      She stomped around in eager anticipation of a bona fide hot soak and spent several minutes turning the faucet off and then on again in her excitement. As she kicked off her boots she heard a tap at the door and stood frozen for a moment, afraid of who might be on the other side.

      “Rebecca?” Timothy called as he knocked again.

      She opened the door a sliver and peeked out.

      “Mark and I are going down to the dining room for supper, maybe you’d like to join us?” Elgerson didn’t expect the girl would accept their invitation, but if she was nearly as hungry as he was, he hoped she might put her embarrassment aside in order to eat.

     Rebecca considered his invitation carefully, opening the door wider. The apple was delicious, but not enough to fill her and a hot meal was wonderfully tempting. Of course, so was the promise of a hot bath. Rebecca hesitated with indecision.

      “If anyone sees me like this, but I’m so hungry. There’s a lovely bath here you know…” she thought aloud.

      Timothy understood her dilemma, and though disappointed, suggested that it might be better to have her supper sent up to her room. She agreed with the man, though a little disappointed herself. The thought of a fine meal in a proper dining room sounded so elegantly delicious.

      Thanking him for the invitation, and feeling a bit ashamed at refusing his generosity, she returned to filling the bath, but her excitement at the discovery of indoor plumbing had dissipated.

      As she lounged in the glow of her warm bath she thought about the man and puzzled over who he really was. Mark was clearly respectful of his father, not quite fearful, but certainly unsure over how he might react sometimes. There was no question the man could seem like a monster, his attack of her clearly illustrating that he was not someone to be trifled with. Rebecca understood however, that his mauling of her was provoked by his concern that thieves had injured his boy. He seemed moody sometimes for reasons she didn’t quite understand, yet he was so attentive to notice her apprehension over her appearance. Custom clothing, or even a limited wardrobe from the fancy dress shop would be very costly and Rebecca grew nervous thinking about the man’s possible intentions.

      She imagined talking to the sheriff. Timothy obviously knew everyone here. If he found out she was a mail order bride… she pushed the thought from her mind. A party, he had mentioned she needed a gown for a party. It was all more than Rebecca could think about and she slid down under the water in the large bath.

      The young woman felt guilty and apprehensive. The man was being so kind and she should have at least accepted his dinner invitation. If he were not embarrassed to take her into the dining room then she should have accepted graciously, tolerated her outfit and gone along. And Mark! He had tried so hard to care for her. She might have died without his help had he not rescued her.

      “I should have joined them, even if just for the boy,” she sighed.

      Rebecca groaned to herself and slipped out of the steaming bath. She continued to scold herself even as she slipped into the silky robe provided by the hotel and combed out her hair with a quill from a feather she found in a vase.

When she heard a soft tap on the door she let in the porter with her meal. He rolled in a silver cart piled high with food, more food than Rebecca could possibly eat in a week! She was astonished at the presentation as the porter set the table swiftly, pulling out her chair gallantly and offering champagne.

      Rebecca felt spoiled and refined as she sent the boy on his way and began to devour the sumptuous meal. She imagined herself in a fine dining room, giggling charmingly as she delicately tasted the delectable cuisine. Remorse overtook her again as she thought of Mark and his father rebuffed by her pettiness and she finished eating gloomily. When the lad returned to collect the remains of her meal Rebecca was sure that, even though she had eaten past her fill, more food remained on the table than she had been able to consume.

      Climbing into the warmth of comfort of the lofty down bed, she promised herself that, in the morning, she would apologize to Timothy and Mark and show much more appreciation for their kindness.