A Bride for Noah (13 page)

Ethel stepped forward, her eyes fastened on the child in Mary's arms. “Thank you for taking us in.” She bent forward and smiled into the little face. “What a lovely little lad. May I hold him?”

“This is Rolland,” said Mary as she handed the little boy over, and Sarah and Lucy immediately crowded around, cooing and chucking his chin.

“They've made a friend in Mary, that's for sure.” The voice beside her lilted with laughter, and the young woman turned toward Evie. “I'm Louisa, Mary's sister. Arthur told us of your soggy arrival last night, and of the crew's response to you. He said they fell all over themselves trying to help you ashore.” A mischievous spark twinkled in her eyes. “That had to be entertaining.”

Grandfather used to say he could form an impression of a man within ten seconds of meeting him. At that moment, Evie believed him. In spite of herself, she was drawn to Louisa's wit and ready grin.

She couldn't stop a chuckle. “It was rather comical, though I wouldn't admit that to Ethel. She was quite upset by the whole thing.”

With a laugh, Louisa tucked her arm inside Evie's and pulled her close. “You and I are going to be friends, Evangeline. I can see that already.” She spoke over her shoulder as she guided Evie toward the cabin. “Noah, bring the ladies' things inside, will you?”

A backward glance showed her that Noah stood staring after them with heavy creases on his brow. For some reason, his bemused expression stirred up a giggle that she had to swallow to keep in check.

She fell into an easy step with her new friend. “You can call me Evie.”

Seven

H
is Indian companions helped Noah unload the mule, though he noticed they were careful to leave the ladies' belongings piled neatly outside the cabin door. Apparently Chief Seattle had followed through on his promise to prohibit his tribesmen from entering the white women's home. After thanking them in their language, Noah opened the half door and entered.

While he and the others worked the women had talked nonstop, their female chatter drifting outside. Unaccountably, the sound had lifted Noah's spirits. It had been several days since he'd heard Evie's voice in anything but a sharp tone.

Correction. Evangeline. I haven't been granted permission to become that familiar.

The thought frustrated him, but as he entered her delighted laughter filled the cabin, and the sound settled lightly in his ears. Not once during the journey on the
Commodore
had he heard that happy tone from her.

“What's so funny?” he asked.

She turned with a start and the laughter evaporated, her lips tightening into the arrangement he had come to recognize as her annoyance with him.

Louisa's answer floated on a giggle. “Evie was telling us about
the first time she heard of Elliott Bay and the Oregon Territory, when you wrote to your uncle asking him to bring a wagonload of women here.”

Mary gave him a playful scowl. “Did you really say that, you naughty man?”

Noah dug a toe in the hard-packed dirt floor. “It was only a joke.”

Evangeline's dry voice came from the corner where she had retreated. “Not a very funny one, to my way of thinking.”

He met her gaze warily. “I never thought he would take me seriously. I was trying to needle Aunt Letitia.”

The corner of her lips twitched. “Did it ever. You should have seen her expression.” They exchanged a grin, the tension sinking away with a chuckle.

Sarah, Lucy, and Ethel had each claimed a stool and a child, and were happily engaged in playing with the family's youngest members near the fireplace.

“Noah, come sit next to me.” Mary vacated a chair at the table and scurried across the confined space to the iron stove in the corner. “Louisa made an extra big batch of biscuits this morning and we opened one of the last jars of strawberry jam we brought from Illinois.” She bestowed a twinkling smile in his direction. “I know how you love my jam.”

“Only save some for David.” Louisa adopted a mock-stern expression. “I'll not have you shorting my beloved to feed your own greed.”

Evangeline started to full attention. “Your beloved?”

“Yes.” Louisa paused in the act of wrapping biscuits in a linen napkin, a dreamy mist settling over her features. “David Denny, the most handsome man in the world.” She drew and expelled a deep breath. “Have you met him?”

“No, not yet.” She glanced at Noah.

“Oh, just wait.” Louisa's enthusiasm practically bubbled. “He is wonderful, and intelligent, and works harder than any three others. He is clearing a plot on his land to build our cabin, and then we'll be married.” A happy sigh escaped as she smeared jam on a fist-sized
biscuit and set it in front of Noah. Then she turned back to Evangeline with a teasing grin. “Only I'm a bit apprehensive to introduce him to someone as pretty as you. I wouldn't want him getting any ideas.”

Everyone in camp knew that David Denny's affection for Louisa Boren was true and unbendable. Noah started to voice his opinion when his gaze fell on Evangeline and he saw her as David would, with fresh eyes. She was quite beautiful today. A becoming rose-colored blush rode high on smooth, round cheeks the color of rich cream. She'd fixed a ribbon in her hair at the back of her head to pull her tresses out of her eyes but left dark waves cascading down her back, their ends dangling at a waist so tiny he could easily encompass it with his hands.

With a start, he realized he was staring, and that Louisa was watching him with a secretive curve to her lips.

Mary, perched on a stool near the fireplace, shook her head. “David is smitten with you, Louisa. You know that.”

Dimples creased the girl's cheeks as she handed another biscuit to Evangeline. “I know. And I him.”

Evangeline took the plate to Ethel, who appeared to be enraptured with little Rolland. When she turned, she caught sight of something at the door and gave a tiny scream.

The three Indian braves who had accompanied them from camp stood there, crowded together to stare inside the cabin.

“Oh, them.” Louisa patted Evangeline's arm. “Don't worry. You'll get used to them. They show up from time to time to watch us.”

Evangeline raised a hand to her throat. “Watch?”

“They seem fascinated with everything about us,” said Mary. “That's why we keep the bottom half of the door closed. When it's open they wander right in for a closer look.”

Amused, Noah watched her rise from her stool, cross to the stove, and take three biscuits. These she distributed to the Indians with a smile.

“Here you go,” she said, handing them out. “We're going to close the door now. No offense intended. Goodbye.”

Though they obviously didn't understand a word, the men took the offerings, bobbing their heads in unison as she closed the top half of the door. Darkness settled over the cabin, with the only light coming from a small glassless window in the back wall.

“They'll come around the back,” said Mary as she lit a lamp and set it on the table in front of Noah. “It's a nuisance on a sunny day like today, but they don't mean any harm. At least these don't.”

Evangeline turned a wide-eyed look her way. “What do you mean?”

Noah broke off a piece of biscuit. “They're from the Duwamish tribe. Their chief is a peace-loving man who is committed to maintaining good relations with the white settlers. Some of the tribes to the north, though, are not of the same mind. It's a good idea to stay clear of them.” He raised his eyebrows in Evangeline's direction to ensure that she understood the gravity of his caution.

She sank into the empty chair across the table from him, lost in thought. She was a gutsy woman. “There are some things about the Oregon Territory that we must get used to.”

He nodded and put the biscuit in his mouth. As long as she understood, perhaps she would act wisely, even if he wasn't nearby to make sure she did.

Evie stood in the beautiful little clearing for several long minutes after Noah left, staring at the place where he and the mule had disappeared into the trees. Their Indian companions had left with him, and the cabin felt strangely bereft with only the women and children there. Though he'd been nothing but a trial since she laid eyes on him in San Francisco, she'd grown accustomed to his presence.

Louisa came up beside her. “Noah is very handsome, don't you think?”

“He's comely enough, I suppose.” She avoided Louisa's gaze. “Though he's prickly as a cactus most of the time.”

“Oh? I haven't noticed that. He's always struck me as polite and courteous, though guarded. I suppose the hurts of his past have affected him.”

Evie gave her a sharp look. “Hurts of his past?”

She nodded. “We've gotten to know him a little since he joined our party in Portland last November, but he has never spoken in more than generalities. I gather he was in love with a lady he met in California, and the relationship ended badly.”

Suffering from a broken heart? That was a new aspect of Noah that Evie had not considered. Yes, he was polite enough, but he seemed to use courtesy as a shield behind which he allowed no one. Courtesy for others, anyway, and a wall of cold stone for her.

“Ethel and the girls would agree that he is handsome as well as mannerly.” She grimaced sideways at her new friend. “Apparently it's only me who brings out the beast within the man.”

Louisa stared at her a moment. Then she bent down and plucked a wildflower from the grass at their feet, twirling it absently as she talked. “When I was a little girl in Cherry Grove, there was a neighbor boy who took great pleasure in teasing me. He pushed me down in the dirt and pulled my hair in church. Every time I saw him I ended up running home in tears. For a full summer he was one of the terrors of my childhood.” She wore a dreamy, far-away look as she ran a finger softly over the flower's delicate petals.

“What happened?” Evie asked, interested in spite of the fact that she knew a lesson would be forthcoming.

Louisa emerged from her reverie with a start. “My papa spoke with his papa, who made him apologize and promise to treat me nicely from then on.” She leaned forward and tucked the flower behind Evie's ear, her grin broad. “A promise he has kept to this day, and vows he will for the rest of our lives.”

Realization dawned. “The boy was David Denny.”

She nodded, and then looked at the barely discernible path by which Noah had left. “Perhaps…” She shook her head, and spoke brightly to Evie. “Come and help us figure out where we shall all sleep. We'll be cozy for sure.”

Evie lingered for another moment, thinking about what she had learned. Someone had broken Noah's heart. That did partially explain the guarded manner he assumed whenever they spoke. Perhaps she reminded him in some way of the lady, the same color hair or other feature that pained him to see. The thought left her a little sad.

“Coming, Evie?” Louisa asked from the doorway of the cabin.

Plucking the flower from her hair, she turned toward the house. There was plenty to do without worrying about Noah's broken heart. She had a restaurant to build.

And finally she had an inkling of how to go about it. Surely six capable and determined women working together could accomplish anything they set out to do.

All she had to do was to convince them to help.