Love's Story (48 page)

“I'll think about that, Mrs. Williams. Thank you.” Chase and Mrs. Williams continued silently along the lakefront, both lost in their hopes and prayers for Rachel's future.

“Breakfast was wonderful, but I feel like a lumberjack,” Rachel remarked.

“Maybe that's because you ate like one,” Maria teased as she stretched to place the last dish into the cupboard.

“Maria Lathrop, that baby is making you feisty,” Rachel said, placing her hands on her hips in mock hostility.

“I think we should all go for a walk,” Robert said. “With what we ate this morning, we could all use it. Go get your coats,” he directed, calling for Seth to bring his boots.

The women were chattering excitedly about their gifts as they walked through the hallway and came to the doorway, happy and expectant. The foursome bundled for the chilled morning air and emerged from the ranch house brimming with Christmas spirit.

Seth ran ahead of the group, and Robert, overly protective since the lake incident, sprinted to keep up with him. Maria seized the opportunity to speak to Rachel alone, and confronted her gently: “Have you decided what you're going to tell Chase about the painting?”

Rachel's heart seemed to overflow. “Maria, I want to tell him, ‘Thank you, you couldn't have given me a more perfect gift,' but I think what I need to tell him is that the painting belongs in his home,” Rachel answered.

“Are you in love with him?” Maria asked bluntly.

Rachel searched for the answer in her heart. Her instinct told her to say no, but something choked back the words, and Rachel was forced to examine her feelings more closely. She thought about all of her encounters with the dashing Chase Dylan: in Redwood; at Mrs. Steele's; in the woods; by the lake. And she thought about his character; how he had overlooked her pride to protect her in the woods; how he cared for Henry Steele; how he had commissioned the gift of the painting. She closed her eyes and saw his sharp jawline and handsome, rugged features. She sighed in happy appreciation.

“Yes,” she finally answered.

“What did you say?” Maria was incredulous.

“I said, yes. I am in love with him.” A huge sense of relief flooded Rachel with the admission, yet she was stunned at the revelation, her body experiencing a mixture of confusion and excitement.

“Oh Rachel!” Maria clapped her hands and hugged her friend closely. “How happy I am to hear you say that!”

“Maria, what if he doesn't love me? What if the gift was simply Chase being the resident peacekeeper?” Rachel remembered the words spoken to her of Chase in Redwood.

“Then God has something better for you.” Maria's sweet face came close and her eyes spoke truth. Rachel was struck by the sincerity she saw there and felt convicted for the first time in many months. Perhaps Maria had been right about God. Perhaps He
did
know what was best after all.

“Maria, look who I found.” Robert's voice jolted Maria and Rachel from their deep discussion. Mrs. Williams and Chase, Seth happily riding upon Chase's broad shoulders, were coming toward them along the lakeshore.

Rachel flushed with hot embarrassment, feeling her expression gave her recently disclosed feelings away. She found it difficult to breathe and dared not meet his gaze.
I must thank him for the gift, but not now. I'm just not ready to meet him yet.
She concentrated wholeheartedly on Mrs. Williams and went straight toward the older woman, ignoring the tall man next to her.

“Mrs. Williams, what a pleasure to see you again. I was hoping I would get the chance to thank you for your hospitality in Redwood City. I still haven't forgotten your incredible chicken and biscuits.” Rachel clasped hands with Mrs. Williams. She knew she must bring up the painting, but remained silent on the subject. She was completely ignorant of how to discuss it without her emotions failing her.

Chase watched Rachel closely. She wouldn't look up at him or even at Seth, who giggled relentlessly from above. He frowned and carried Seth off to the path for a free-flying “pony-express” ride.

“Did you like the painting?” Mrs. Williams asked.

Relieved that Mrs. Williams had waited until Chase was out of earshot, Rachel's voice became animated. “Oh Mrs. Williams, I love it. It reminds me of every breathtaking morning I spent gazing from that window. You captured the light, the tranquillity… well, everything is just beautiful. I had no idea you were such an artist. Those paintings over the registration desk at the American House, they must be yours.” Rachel fondly remembered the detailed paintings of Redwood's wharves that hung in the hotel's lobby.

“Rachel dear, I'm glad you like my artwork, but I was really more interested in what you thought of the gift
giver
.” The question was pointed, and Rachel saw no escape. She glanced at Chase and back at Mrs. Williams. She could feel the heat rising from the back of her neck.

“Mr. Dylan has been a perfect gentleman, and I constantly get the opportunity to appreciate his thoughtfulness,” Rachel said cryptically, hoping her answer hadn't given too much away. Mrs. Williams had the kind of face and open personality Rachel felt she could trust, but after her recent experience with gossip, she held her tongue.

“Well, that tells me a lot of nothing. I am an old woman, Rachel Phillips. Please get to the point.” Mrs. Williams amiable face creased with laughter, and Rachel joined her, amused by her friend's directness.

“Mrs. Williams, I think the gift was far too expensive for the type of casual acquaintance Mr. Dylan and I share. I plan to give the painting back to him this afternoon. I want you to understand, though, that it has nothing to do with the artwork itself. I
love
the painting, but I simply can't accept it. It wouldn't be proper.”

Mrs. Williams's voice became soft, “Rachel, I think you should do what you think is right.” The older woman patted the younger woman's sleek hands. “Far be it for me to interfere. But you should know, the gift was from his heart. Chase Dylan wouldn't have it any other way.”

“It's just that it must have been expensive, and…”

“Money really isn't an issue here. In case you haven't noticed, Chase is not governed by money. He has simple tastes. Made his money during the gold rush and hasn't spent hardly a nickel of it, except to buy that mill.”

“The gold rush? Chase was in gold country?” This new information both shocked and delighted the schoolteacher, knowing they shared a similar background.

“Well, not
in
gold country exactly. In Redwood, he and a friend named Littlejohn invented that there, oh now, what d'ya call it? A scale of some sort. It measured the gold; made a right fortune on it, I believe. So you see, honey, when Chase Dylan decides to splurge, he does so because he wants to.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Williams. I'll keep that in mind.” Once again Rachel dared to hope that Chase Dylan had stronger feelings for her. He certainly never ceased to amaze her. Besides being admirable and generous, he was also intelligent and resourceful.
An inventor,
she thought dreamily.
Pa would have loved him.

“Rachel, it's time for Seth's nap. Are you ready to head back?” Robert called from the lakeshore.

“Certainly. Mrs. Williams, I hope we'll be able to get together soon. I'd love to hear about the hotel and the changes you and your husband have made.”

Mrs. Williams nodded. “I'd enjoy that.” The two said their good-byes and each headed along the shore in a separate direction. Seth parted with Chase, who said he'd be over later in the afternoon for supper.

Seth was contentedly settled in bed for a nap when Maria came into the parlor, where Rachel was reading in the late afternoon sun.

“Where's Robert?” Rachel asked.

“He's out with his first love, the horses. Can't seem to shake them from his system. Says he just loves to appreciate their lines and graceful movements.”

“He must have really loved you to leave his job as a vaquero,” Rachel said with a marked accent, much to the delight of Maria.

“Yes, I know. And the best part is he tells me every day that it was all worth it.”

“What about you, Maria? Was coming to Searsville worth leaving the only life you'd ever known?” Rachel now embraced the new relationship she shared with Maria. Their newfound closeness reminded her of the friendship she shared with her mother.

“When I first came here, I couldn't imagine what I'd done. The women treated me frightfully from the moment they saw me. I can't say I was ignorant of the reason, I'd seen the other
rancheros
treat the Indians the same way due to their skin color, and it hasn't been that long since the Mexican-American war. The battle for California certainly hasn't helped my cause. So, in answer to your question, I can't say coming to Searsville was worth it. But coming here with Robert,
that
was worth it.” A wide grin crossed her face and the two began to giggle.

“Maria, you are a sight. Your tummy shakes so when you laugh.” Rachel placed her hand on her friend's tummy. “Oh my, the baby's moving!” Rachel yanked her hand away abruptly.

“Someday, Rachel Phillips, you'll be as round as me, and I'll have no mercy,” Maria said, wagging her finger.

Melancholy overcame Rachel, as her first thoughts were of Chase. Would she ever know a love like Maria and Robert's or her own mother and father's? Rachel desperately hoped so.

“Rachel, I'm sorry if I…”

Rachel inhaled at length and calmed herself. “No, no. There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm just doing a lot of thinking and remembering, and that won't do on Christmas day. It's a day for celebrating.”

“I'm so sorry your family couldn't come. But there's always next Christmas, and you'll see them during the summer. Hotel owners just get busy, I suppose,” Maria said.

“Maria, I have a confession to make. My mother didn't cancel their trip to Searsville… I did.”

“Why would you do such a thing? You were looking forward to their visit. It's all you talked about.”

“I'm humiliated at how my path has turned. I'm living with a happily married couple due to have another baby in three months. I've invaded their son's room and have nothing to call my own. Nothing except the elaborate dresses my mother sends me. If my stepfather were to find out about my ‘scandalous behavior,' be it true or otherwise, he'd disown me immediately. I know he would.”

“Rachel, I'm sorry you didn't tell me this before. This must have been hard for you to keep inside. But I think you're wrong about your stepfather. I think he loves and cares for you very much. When he interviewed Robert about the job, he was very concerned about every detail of your living arrangements,” Maria said briskly.

“He interviewed Robert about my position?” Rachel asked dumbfounded.

“Absolutely. He asked Robert when he came to know Jesus as his Savior, how long we had been married, anything and everything that might affect you during your stay in town, under our supervision. That was another thing. He made sure you wouldn't be alone, that we would keep a very close eye on you. That's why you never had a home of your own. Robert was prepared to build a home for the new schoolteacher behind the schoolhouse, but Mr. Winsome didn't want you staying alone.”

“I had no idea.” This new information about her stepfather was incredible to Rachel. She had never seen anything remotely close to caring on his part, and to learn that he had overseen her entire placement was simply unbelievable. She thought he had merely thrown her into the first available position.

“Trust me, Rachel. He was very thorough; that's why we felt you were such a perfect match for our town school. I'm just so embarrassed at the way our village has treated you.”

“I'm going to pray. I feel like praying.” Rachel surprised herself by the sudden urge, but she wanted to talk to God. Possibly He could answer the many questions that filled her head.