Shelter in Seattle (11 page)

“Why do you have fear inside you?” Morning Star questioned.

Julianne’s hands shook as she sought for simple words her friend would understand. How did you explain to someone from such a close knit tribe as the Suquamish, that your own flesh and blood might do you harm. Before she could form the words Morning Star continued.

“You hur, hurreee,” Morning Star stumbled over the new word, “to finish wash and only give small time to play. To hide from your man, yes? I do not understand.”

Julianne watched a quizzical look cross her friends face.

“Your man, he is not man of honor?”

The very question cut to the core of Julianne’s heart. She’d thought Morning Star was talking about her uncle; instead she’d picked up on the very root of Julianne’s deception.

“Caleb is an honorable man, Morning Star. The very best.” Sorrow ate away at Julianne. She’d cast an unfavorable image of her husband, the man she’d come to love with all her heart. Her own lies had caused this damage.

She jumped to her feet, pacing the river’s edge. How could she have done this to a man who had shown her the best things life had to offer? And he’d freely given his trust. What kind of person repaid such kindness like this?

A slight tug on her sleeve drew her attention.

“I did not mean to upset my friend.” Morning Star extended her hands toward Julianne. “Please, to have my lunch.” She offered her food as an apology.

Julianne smiled and placed an arm around the other woman’s shoulder.

“No, you eat your food. You did not upset me.” Julianne struggled to maintain an even conciliatory tone, when she wanted to howl and cry in frustration. “I have been dishonest with my man, and I am ashamed.”

“Then you must honor him with your trust. A warrior cannot fight if there is doubt that his woman is loyal.”

They parted as friends, but Julianne felt she’d lost respect in Morning Star’s eyes. Her friend would never show anything other than devotion to her husband, yet Julianne had already dishonored her marriage vows with lies that seemed only to multiply.

Julianne still felt uncomfortable keeping the secret from Caleb, but she would soon have enough money to pay him back, and then could reveal what she’d been doing. If at that time Caleb forbade her from taking trips to the river alone, she would bend to his will.

Until then, Maggie would continue to drop off the laundry two or three times a week and pick it up every Friday with payment for the work done.

Julianne pulled her thoughts back to the time she spent with Caleb. Her favorite time of the day was the end when her husband would come home.

As Spring had turned to Summer and the days had grown longer, she loved the long walks in the woods after supper. But, what impressed her the most, was when he gave her his total attention and shared what he’d done during the day.

It seemed like once a week he’d bring home something new for her. First, it had been May Bell, the cow. Then he’d brought home a dozen hens and two roosters. Seeds for the gardens were next, both vegetable and flower.

She’d learned her husband was quite good with a knife and wood. He’d made several more nipples for Jonathan, a rocking chair carved with the same markings as the baby’s crib and her headboard. But, her favorite piece was a box.

Caleb had given it to her a few days ago as a one-month anniversary gift. She loved the rich ash wood. He’d carved two doves flying with a vine in both their beaks.

Was he trying to tell her that together they could make a home just as the birds building their nests? A smile touched her lips and she uttered, “I hope so.”

Caleb was a man of God. He read from the Bible every morning upon rising and every evening before going to bed. And sometimes at night Julianne listened to his soft spoken conversations with his Lord.

She felt foolish for her earlier fears of Caleb. He was nothing like the men of her past. Caleb was strong, handsome, wise and kind.

Her uncle slipped unbidden into her thoughts, gnawing away at her new-found serenity. The one time she’d mentioned him to Caleb, he’d assured her that her uncle could no longer harm her. He promised he’d protect her and for whatever it was worth, Julianne felt secure in that knowledge.

Was her uncle still looking for her? Julianne doubted it. Even if he was, she’d changed her name. Living so far from camp and town, Julianne was sure he’d never find her even if he still searched.

She wasn’t too worried about Marcus now, either. Caleb had told her that Marcus took a job in town as the saloon bartender. She shuddered at the memory of the evil in Marcus’s eyes.

He was a wicked man. Everything in her being told her to stay far away from him. She didn’t see where that would be a problem considering he worked in the local saloon.

Julianne looked down at little Jonathan as he slept. He had grown quite a bit. The baby was lucky to have a man like Caleb as his uncle. She carried him to his crib and laid him down.

The smell of roast duck cooking made her taste buds salivate. Julianne looked about her home. Her home. She exhaled a long sigh of contentment. Everything was perfect. Well, almost.

Her gaze moved to the bag of laundry that taunted her from the far wall.
There’s your problem
, her conscience accused. Maggie hadn’t come by to pick it up today, and Julianne couldn’t stand to look at it anymore. She needed to get it out of sight, out of her home. She’d find a place outside, where it wouldn’t constantly remind her of her deceitfulness, and where Caleb was sure not to see it.

Julianne ran her index finger over the carving of the wooden box. She felt it fitting to save the money she’d earned from doing the logger’s laundry in the box her husband had made just for her. Once that debt was paid, then the deception would come to an end, and she would be the true wife Caleb deserved.
Lies and sin
, that same little voice of conscience nagged.

She carried the box to the table. Julianne sat down and opened the lid. Her fingers shook as she counted the money. Thanks to Maggie, and a lot of hard back-breaking work she almost had enough to pay back Caleb.

They could use the money to start the apple orchard Caleb dreamed of some day owning. “Won’t he be surprised?” She spoke quietly to herself so as not to wake the baby.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the wash that still needed to be taken outside. Julianne sighed.
The laundry isn’t going to walk out by itself.
Placing both hands firmly on the table, she pushed up out of the chair. She had no intention of permitting a sack of laundry to create such havoc in her life. She scooped up the laundry bag and headed for the front door.

The cow bawled. The sound traveled on the late afternoon air. Julianne propped the bag against the back of the cabin and hurried to the barn.

“Caleb’s late again this evening, May Bell. I guess it’s just you and me.” She looped a rope over the cow’s head and pulled her out into the center isle to milk.

May Bell stood patiently observing while Julianne got the bucket and stool. Her tail twitched from side to side. Julianne sat down on the stool and began the milking.

****

The smell of roasting meat met Caleb’s tired senses as he entered the cabin. It had been a long day. He looked about the empty house. Disappointment immediately assaulted him. He’d been looking forward to seeing Julianne.

Jonathan woke up with a cry, his movements rocking the cradle at the foot of Julianne’s bed. Caleb moved toward it. Julianne seldom let the baby out of her sight.

He figured she was in the barn milking May Bell. It wasn’t the first time he’d come home late and found her there. With her outside, he’d have a chance to hold his nephew.

Caleb smiled down at the baby and picked him up. Jonathan immediately stopped crying, his eyes focused on Caleb’s face.

Carrying the baby back to the rocker, he bumped the box causing it to fall off the table. Its contents scattered across the kitchen floor, and he gasped at the amount of coin and bills.

“What in the world… “

Holding the baby in the crook of one arm, he bent to pick up the money. Where had it come from? Doubts about his wife, formed with each piece he touched.

His thoughts winged back to the day she’d arrived at the camp. Sloan had accused her of stealing his money. Had she? Was he holding the stolen money now?

What did he really know about his new wife? Over the past few weeks he’d told her everything there was to know about himself, but she hadn’t revealed much information at all.

Was Julianne the thief Sloan had made her out to be?

He put the money back into the box. She’d left it out in plain sight. Maybe his wife planned on telling him about it tonight.

Caleb closed the lid on the box and sat in the rocker. It wasn’t right. The box had been facing the other way. He stood up and positioned it just the way it had been, and then settled back down in the rocker with the baby.

Would she tell him where she’d gotten the money? He prayed she would.

He didn’t have long to wait. Julianne brought the bucket of milk through the front door.

Her eyes darted from him to the oak box. Caleb’s heart sank as she sat the milk on the counter then picked up the box and carried it into her room.

She chattered as she did so. “How was your day, Caleb? When I left, Jonathan was asleep. I hope you didn’t find the little tyke crying?” She left the bedroom and hurried back to serve the evening meal.

Caleb listened and watched her move about their home. In disbelief, he realized she wasn’t going to mention the money. “No, I think I woke him when I came in.” He stood to his feet.

Julianne finished setting the table. “Here I’ll take him.” She held out her arms for the baby.

“I’ve got him.” Caleb pulled his nephew closer.

Suddenly, he didn’t trust her, and the knowledge pained him. He’d thought they were growing closer, but how could he trust her when she revealed nothing of herself to him?

Chapter 13

Over the next few weeks Caleb watched the money grow in the little wooden box, and with it grew distrust of his wife. Where was the money coming from? What did Julianne do to get it?

Didn’t she understand the meaning of the box and the carving he’d etched into it? If they were ever to be a real husband and wife, she would have to be honest with him. Why didn’t she understand that?

Julianne acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary. She fixed meals, took care of Jonathan and kept their home clean. But could it really be called a home?

Caleb finished dressing and headed downstairs. His gaze landed on Julianne. She stood in a blue calico dress with small blue laces at the front. The blue brought out the sky color in her eyes. He’d never seen the dress before. Where had she gotten it?

“You look handsome this morning.”

Her compliment took him by surprise. He watched the color fill her cheeks before she turned back to preparing breakfast.

He listened as she hummed happily. Funny, the more the money grew, the happier Julianne became, and the more miserable he became. They needed to talk. Caleb decided that after church he and his wife were going to discuss the contents of that box.

Caleb walked over to where Jonathan played in the crib. The baby smiled up at him happily. He couldn’t stop himself from looking toward the box.

The box he wished he’d never made; the box that held the money and filled his heart with doubt.

“Breakfast is ready, Caleb. Would you bring Jonathan with you when you come?”

“Come on, little fella.” He scooped up Jonathan into his arms and went to the table.

After he said grace, Julianne asked. “Do you think one apple pie and one peach cobbler will be enough dessert, Caleb?”

“It’ll be plenty. Those men will just have to be happy with what they get.”

Julianne took Jonathan from him. “I know, but they do so love my pies and cobblers.” She sat down with the baby and gave him his bottle. “I should have baked more.”

“Why didn’t you?”

He watched a gamut of emotions cross her features and there was a slight hesitation in her eyes before she answered him.

“I was busy with the baby and lost track of time.”

A frown marred her delicate features. Caleb could tell the lie tasted bitter in her mouth. He wondered what the real reason was for her not baking more. Did it have anything to do with the money that plagued his thoughts night and day?

 They ate in silence. The food tasted like sawdust in his mouth. He finished the meal then picked up his Bible and led his little family to church.

 Julianne hated the silence that surrounded her and Caleb. She hated lying to him. But she hadn’t known what to say. It was no excuse, and she knew it. Lying was wrong no matter the reason.

Caleb helped her down from the buggy when they got to the church. She held his gaze as he sat her down on the hard ground. His eyes begged her to confide in him, but she couldn’t.