Shelter in Seattle (6 page)

Maggie dragged a big bag across the threshold. “It’s about time you opened that door. A woman could die of heat stroke while you dallied around in here.”

“I’m sorry. I was cleaning and didn’t hear you. Besides, it’s not hot out there.”

 Maggie dropped into a chair. “No but it was a nice trip to make on a sunny day. I’m parched.”

Julianne shut the door and turned to face her visitor. “What’s in the bag?” Julianne pushed her hair out of her eyes.

“A couple of the men sent their laundry for you to do. You still want to take in laundry, don’t you?”

Julianne dipped out a cup of cool well water and gave it to Maggie. “Of course I do, but I’d rather we not tell Caleb just yet.”

She watched Maggie tip the dipper and drink its contents before handing it back to her. “Why in the world would you want keep it a secret from Caleb?”

“Well, he’s a proud man, and I feel really bad that he had to pay Sloan the money for my passage. I want to earn the money back and that way we will have it as a nest egg.”

Julianne accepted the dipper from Maggie. “Would you like more?”

Maggie waved the offer away. “Naw, I still don’t understand what difference it would make if you told Caleb you’re doing laundry for the men.”

Julianne studied the creases between Maggie’s eyes. The woman really didn’t understand. “Maggie, if you had a husband, how do you think he would feel if he knew you were cooking for over fifty men a day, three times a day for money.”

She watched as understanding dawned on Maggie. “Are you saying it’s an issue of pride?”

Julianne nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. After I make enough money to replace what he paid, I’ll tell him what I’m doing. Then, if he doesn’t want me to continue working, I’ll quit.”

Maggie slapped the table and laughed. “Okay gal, I’ll help you. As far as those mule heads in camp know, I’m doing their laundry and none will be the wiser.” She stood to go.

“Thanks Maggie.” Julianne hugged her new friend close. “I promise I’ll let Caleb in on our little secret as soon as I can.”

The older woman seemed uncomfortable with the hug, but didn’t push her away. “Just be sure that you do. I don’t like deceiving, Caleb. He’s a good man.”

****

Hours later, Caleb wondered what he’d find when he returned home. Would his new wife cower from him?
Lord, please let her learn not to fear me.

He opened the door a crack. “Is that beef stew I smell?” A quick glance took in the spotless cabin and Julianne standing at the stove with a big ladle in one hand and Jonathan cradled in her other arm.

“It’s about ready. Have you washed up?” Julianne stirred the contents of the big pot.

“Sure did. Here let me take this little fellow off your hands.” Caleb walked across the room and took the baby. He sat down in his chair and really looked at the baby.

Jonathan had a wide forehead, aqua colored eyes and a round face. “He looks like Kathleen.”

Julianne dished up two bowls of stew and set them on the table. “He sure is sweet.” She turned to the counter behind her and placed fresh bread on the table.

“That he is.” Caleb watched the baby’s eyes slowly shut. “I’m going to lay him down, and then we can eat.”

He carried the baby into Julianne’s bedroom, noticing the neatly made bed and her things put away. A warm feeling washed over him. The baby was well taken care of, the house clean, and dinner smelled delicious. It was what every married man wanted when he came home from a hard days work.

Caleb returned and took a seat at the table. She surprised him by asking, “Will you say grace, please?”

 As he prayed aloud over the meal, he silently prayed for Julianne.

“Lord, thank you for this food and the nourishment for our bodies.”

And thank you for Julianne.

“And, bless the hands that have prepared it.”

Lord, bless my wife and help her no longer to fear me.

“Keep us safe, in Jesus name. Amen.”

 Caleb raised his head and met her clear blue eyes.

She smiled, and a tender look came over her face. Was she thankful she’d married him? He hoped so.

Julianne fiddled with her ring. “Thank you.”

He felt her gaze upon him as he took a bite of the cornbread. Sweetness coated his tongue. Her Mama must have taught her that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach.

“This is great.” He chewed and swallowed the tasty treat.

“Thank you.” Again she played with the ring on her finger. “Oh, I forgot your coffee.”

She was up in a flash. Julianne grabbed the coffee and cup all in one action. Caleb watched her pour the hot liquid before returning the pot to the back of the stove.

As soon as she was seated again he asked her. “Do you know what that ring stands for, Julianne?”

Her gaze moved to the ring in question. “It means I’m your wife.”

He set his spoon on the table and reached across to capture her hand. Caleb turned the ring watching the gold reflect the sunlight that streamed through the only window in the house. “Yes it does. What else does it mean to you?”

She tugged on her hand but Caleb refused to release her. “It means I’m yours. I clean the house, cook the meals, and watch after Jonathan.”

“Anything else?” He raised his head and searched her face.

“It means I am to do anything you ask me too.” She whispered and lowered her lashes.

Caleb rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, enjoying the softness of her skin. “Come with me.” He pulled her to her feet.

“But the food will get cold.” She tried again to pull her hand out of his but he hung on tight.

“We won’t be gone that long, Julianne. I just want to show you something.” Caleb pulled her up and around the table. He led her to the door and outside. On the porch he stopped and pulled her in front of him. He dropped her hand and put both hands on her shoulders.

“See the land?”

She nodded.

“It’s yours.”

“See the garden?”

Again he waited for her nod.

“It’s yours. Everything I have is yours.”

He dropped his hands from her shoulders and grabbed her hand again. Caleb led her back into the house. He took her into the bedroom. Julianne stiffened by his side. “See the bed?”

Caleb waited several long moments while she worked up the courage to nod. When she did he announced. “It is yours until you are ready to share it.”

He pulled her to the foot of the bed where Jonathan lay sleeping. “See the baby?”

Julianne kept her gaze on the baby and nodded.

“He is yours.”

Caleb led her back to the kitchen table. “Julianne, this cabin, the land, even the children are ours. Not just mine, not just yours. We are married, and to me that means everything I have is yours. You are not my slave, and I’m not your master. We are partners, and some day, I hope that we will become best friends.”

He watched a tear trickle down her face. Gently he led her back to her seat. When she was seated again he knelt beside her and picked up the hand with her wedding band on it. “My grandmother gave me that ring when I was a little boy. She told me to wear it on a chain around my neck so that it would always be close to my heart until the day I found the lady who would hold my heart and the ring.”

 A tear fell and ran through both their hands. “That ring means more to me than you will ever know. It means you are my wife, my friend and the woman who holds my heart.”

Her head snapped up. “You don’t love me.”

“You’re right. But I plan to. Love is more than a feeling; it’s actions too. Try to forget about the past, Julianne, and try to trust me a little. Can you do that?”

Chapter 7

The next morning Julianne pulled her robe on, deciding to make a more concentrated effort to be the kind of wife she thought Caleb wanted. She began to prepare breakfast long before she heard rapid movements overhead.

He descended the stairs in a rush. “You didn’t have to make breakfast for me. I could have grabbed something at the cook’s shack.”

“I know. I wanted to.” She set a bowl of gravy and a pan of hot biscuits on the table.

Caleb pulled a chair out and sat down. “Merciful goodness. This is manna from heaven. Thank you.”

His smile warmed her insides.

“I was thinking about going to the river and doing some laundry today.” Julianne handed Caleb a plate. She dipped a ladle into the gravy for him. “If you’ll collect your dirty clothes, I’ll wash yours, too.” She sat down across from him.

“I’d rather you wait until I get home this evening. I’ll go down with you.” He ladled gravy over the three biscuits he’d just split apart.

Julianne tore off a piece of bread. “Why?” She watched him chew his food slowly before answering. Would he be angry with her for questioning his decision? She felt heat fill her face as he studied her.

“There are wild animals in the forest. To get to the river, you have to go through part of the woods. I’m worried you might stumble upon a bear with cubs or a snake, or maybe even a cougar. I’m asking you to wait for your own protection.” Caleb didn’t continue eating until she nodded.

She didn’t want to stumble upon those things either, but she had promised Maggie the laundry would be ready after lunch. Julianne chewed on her bottom lip. Maybe if she carried a big walking stick and made lots of noise nothing would bother her.

“Are you afraid to stay alone, now?”

Julianne raised her gaze to his. “No. If I stay close to the house, do you think I’ll be okay?”

He gathered up his coat and hat. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t pick up any cute or cuddly animals.” Caleb opened the door to leave.

“I won’t.” She followed him out onto the porch.

Caleb turned to her. “Are you sure you’ll be okay? You can always come with me, and I’ll drop you off at the cook’s shack.”

Julianne dusted imaginary flour from her apron. “No, I’ll be fine here.” She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you tonight, then.” Caleb released her and headed for the barn and his horse.

Was that a flicker of pride she’d seen in his eyes?

Julianne didn’t think he’d be too proud of her if he knew her plans for the morning.

As soon as he rode away and she was certain he wasn’t coming back, Julianne rushed back inside to her bedroom. She pulled the bag of dirty clothes from under her bed.

The odor from the soiled clothes stung her nose, and she made a mental note to hide them someplace else. What if Caleb got a whiff of them?

 
“Jonathan, you and I have a lot of work to do today.” She peered in the crib, talking in a soothing voice, hoping he would wake in a good mood. “I’m glad you can’t talk. You’d tell on me for sure.” The baby hadn’t played a part in her earlier plans, so now she had to figure out how to do the laundry and watch him at the same time.

She peeped into the crib again and sighed. For sure, this morning when she needed him to, he wouldn’t wake on his own. She warmed her hands over the water heating his bottle then hurried to change his diaper. Untying the drawstring gown, she couldn’t help the smile on her face as he stretched his little body then stiffened as he felt her hands on him. She unpinned the diaper, pulled the top away from him for just a second then quickly placed it against him again. He lay still as cat watching a mouse, and then she felt the cloth getting warm and wet. His eyelids fluttered, and she waited ‘til he opened them before removing the diaper.

“Good Morning, Little Man. How’s my boy this morning?” She carried Jonathan to the kitchen and took the bottle from the hot water.

“You’ll just have to come with me.” She squirted a couple of drops of milk on the inside of her wrist to test that it wasn’t too hot. Satisfied, she popped the bottle into the baby’s mouth. Her mind worked as he drank, and she softly discussed her plans with him. “I can pull the bag behind me and carry you. But how am I going to get the clean clothes back without dragging them and getting them dirty again?” Julianne gently chewed the inside of her lip.

Jonathan emptied the bottle and his eyes began to drift shut.

“Oh no you don’t, little man. You have to be burped first.” She draped a towel over her shoulder, and then laid the baby against it. She kissed the side of his head, loving the mixed smell of baby and powder. As she patted his back, her gaze moved about the room.
A large basket sat in one corner full of blankets and extra bedding.

Jonathan burped and grabbed a strand of her hair. Julianne untangled his fingers then placed him on her bed.

She picked up the basket and dumped its contents beside him. “This will work nicely.” She scooped him up, blankets and all and laid him in the basket. “There you go, Little Man. Today you can pretend to be Moses.” Satisfied he would be okay, Julianne picked up the basket and baby.