Spring Creek Bride (17 page)

T
he following afternoon Mick called for Ida to meet him upstairs in the kitchen. He needed her assistance with a project, one he could not unveil just yet. He knew his unusual request would upset her, but figured it would be worth the risk, especially if everything went as planned. She entered the room cautiously.

“Did you want me, Mick?” She wiped her hands on her apron.

More than you know.

“The shop is full of customers and Dinah needs my help,” she said.

Indeed, something about Dinah seemed amiss today. He’d noticed it early on. Her eyes had a misty glow about them, a sure sign that she’d been crying. And a somber expression replaced her usually bright countenance. Something felt wrong.

“Nellie’s gone for the day,” Ida continued. “She took the morning train to Houston to fetch her mother.”

“I see.” After a brief pause, he continued. “Well, I am sorry to interrupt, but this will only take a moment. I wonder if you would be so kind as to call for your father. I have a business matter to discuss with him.”

“Papa?”

“Yes.”

“Is this about lumber?” The expression on her face hardened as she spoke the words.

“Perhaps.” Mick offered up a smile as he thought about his new plans. A visit from Mr. Mueller would prove to be essential, as would some private time with Johnsey and Dinah. And the local banker. Yes, with the help of others, his dream of a new building would become a reality.

Ida crossed her arms. “I could call for Papa if you like, but it hurts my heart to do so.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I suspect that you are reconsidering the gambling hall. Hoping to acquire funds to rebuild?”

“Well, to be honest…” How much should he tell her?

“Mick, I just think it’s a bad idea, especially now.” Her eyes misted over and he wondered at her sudden outburst of emotion.

How could he begin to explain his motives if she resorted to tears? Standing up to a tearful woman had never been his forte.

Ida’s features hardened before he could say a word. “Mick Bradley, I’m ashamed of you.”

“Excuse me?” Would she not even let him get a word in edgewise?

Her cheeks now flamed. “The Lord has spared your life. Given you a second chance. And you’re going to take advantage of that by returning to the very thing that drove you from Him in the first place? Don’t you see? Building that place will be your ruin.”

He was more frustrated than ever. Obviously, she didn’t care to listen to his explanation, though he had carefully planned just how he would break the news. “Apparently, speaking with you about this is useless, at least right now. Maybe we can talk again later.”

“I’m begging you to reconsider. This is not the direction you should be headed. Remember what you said about the Promised Land?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“Only good things await people in the promised land,” she emphasized.

“But how do you know what I’m contemplating?” he asked. “What makes you think it’s bad?” Honestly, if she would just slow down, he would convince her that his motives and his actions were anything but.

“I can’t see into your heart.”

“Well, that’s a shame.” He shook his head. “I’m convinced you would change your mind if you could.” Indeed, she would put an end to this arguing right away.

Mick tried to stand, but lost his balance as the bad leg gave way beneath him. She rushed to his side, and caught him as he started to go down. They stood
in a tight embrace, her flushed cheeks now at his shoulder level.

He glanced down into her tear-filled eyes and for a brief moment wanted to draw her close, wanted to trace a tear down her cheek with his fingertip, wanted to run his hands through that beautiful blond hair. If he told her everything would work out fine in the end, would she believe it? He had the urge to kiss her on the spot—surely that would leave a much better memory than bickering.

He managed a few words, whispering into her ear. “It seems you’re always saving me from falling.”

“I’d like to save you again,” she whispered back. “But only the Lord can do that. And I pray you will open your heart to Him and allow it. You must see that building the gambling hall is in direct opposition to His will. Please don’t do this, Mick.”

“Ida, calm yourself.” He eased back down onto the chair once again, dejected. “Just call for your papa and I will fill you in on the details later. In the meantime, I’m just going to have to ask you to trust me. Can you do that? I know I haven’t given you much reason to do so in the past, but you will find that I am trustworthy, I assure you.”

She stood in strained silence, her cheeks flushed. Ida’s emotional response had shaken him to his core. Why would she respond in such a way? Had she really noticed no change in his life—his attitude—at all?

She went back downstairs to the store, and within an hour, Mr. Mueller arrived. Mick gave the best pre
sentation he could manage, speaking animatedly about the revenue his new building would bring to the community. If Mr. Mueller would just see fit to front him the lumber, that was.

“Young feller, I don’t see as you’re in any shape to be building anything. Looks to me like you should be recuperating, not working.”

“I can do both,” Mick argued. “And I plan to stay put in Spring Creek. If you’ll do me the favor of trusting me with the lumber up front, that is. If you don’t…” Mick couldn’t finish the statement. He had no idea what he’d do if this plan fell through.

Mr. Mueller’s face softened and the crinkles around his eyes deepened as a smile lit his face. “You’re doing this for my girl, aren’t you?”

“I am, sir.” Mick did his best not to let the grin spread too far. He wanted Ida’s father to take his request seriously, after all.

“I take that to mean you love her.” Dirk Mueller’s mustache twitched.

“I do, sir.”

“Well, in that case, how could I possibly say no?” The older man gave Mick a bear hug, and patted him on the back. “If you love her half as much as I think you do, she’s going to be one happy woman. Now let’s get busy and build that building!”

Ida made the journey toward home as the sun began to set. She drew in one deep breath after another, trying to remain calm and levelheaded. Only
one problem—she didn’t want to remain calm. She wanted to scream. To kick something. To shout to the skies, “Once a wolf, always a wolf!”

Mick Bradley. What had she ever seen in the man? And whatever made her think he’d change, just to make her happy? Had he been toying with her emotions all along? Did he own a host of gambling halls from North to South? Was there an Ida in every town between here and Chicago?

Just the thought of it sent a shiver down her spine. “I should have heeded my own warnings,” she muttered under her breath as she drew near the tracks. Yes, dressed in sheep’s clothing he’d somehow wormed his way into her heart. And she’d let him. Simple as that. She had no one but herself to blame. Somehow, knowing that made her even more angry.

“Ida!”

Ida turned and saw Sophie coming toward her.

“I missed you at the mercantile. Dinah told me you’d just left,” Sophie said, trying to catch her breath. “Is Dinah all right? She looked quite sad.”

“Yes, something is not right with Dinah today. She wouldn’t talk about it, however.”

“I see.”

They continued on in silence for a moment.

“Did you enjoy the picnic yesterday?” Sophie asked.

“I did. I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to speak,” Ida said. “I was…”

Sophie waited for her to continue. When Ida didn’t, Sophie smiled.

“Ida, I want to talk to you about Mick.”

Ida was surprised by the rush of jealousy that came over her. The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Sophie, I know that you think Mick is very handsome. You’ve made no secret of that. But you must know that he is not the man we would wish him to be. He is planning—”

Sophie put her hand on her friend’s arm. “I think you’ve misinterpreted my feelings. Yes, he is a handsome man, but I’m not interested in him. I never have been. Ida, I’ve known you a very long time. Almost our entire lives. And I feel I must tell you that I have never seen you look at a man the way you look at Mick Bradley. All those comments I made about him were just my way of trying to get you to see him, Ida. To truly see him. To look beyond his gambling hall and see the way he looks at you. He’s never had eyes for anyone in this town but you, Ida. Don’t doubt that for a minute.”

Ida was so stunned by her friend’s words that she couldn’t come up with a reply.

“Please, Ida, don’t let this chance pass you by. Mick is a good man. Even if he is a bit misguided at times.” Sophie pulled Ida into a hug. “Life is full of wonderful opportunities but you have to recognize them in order to take advantage. Do not miss this one because you’ve got blinders on.”

Ida wiped a tear from her cheek as Sophie released her. Sophie gave her hand a final squeeze and headed toward her home. Ida stood frozen in place, speechless.
What a fool she’d been. Her best friend had probably known how she felt about Mick long before she herself did. And to think that Sophie would try to win Mick for herself was absurd. Had Ida no faith in their friendship? She felt she scarcely knew herself anymore.

She began to walk. As she came upon the railroad tracks, she had a sudden realization and a wave of guilt washed over her. July 5. Larson had died two years ago today in this very spot. No wonder Dinah had looked so somber today. That one night had changed everything for Dinah—for all of them. These tracks served as an ever-present reminder. And yet, Dinah was falling in love. She was allowing herself to fall for Johnsey Fischer—she was moving forward and taking a chance, trusting in her feelings.

Can I not do the same? Is God showing me a path, showing me His will—and I’m ignoring the signs?

Ida looked down at the tracks in front of her. With a deep breath, she lifted her foot and took a step across.

As soon as Dirk Mueller left the mercantile, Mick started putting together a plan for how—and when—the new building would come together. And just how he would let Ida know. Sooner was probably better than later, given her earlier response.

He summoned Dinah to his room. Mick smiled at the look of hopeful expectation in her eyes when he gave her the particulars of his new plan, and her excitement seemed to grow when he asked if she would send word for the reverend to come tomorrow. She
scurried off with a smile on her face—the first he’d seen all day.

Ida’s words came rushing back to him after Dinah left.
“It’s not your bones that haven’t mended—it’s your heart. And until it does, until you’ve made your peace with God…”

The words had felt like an accusation at the time, but now they blanketed him, bringing hope. In spite of his failings, Mick wanted to believe the Lord could change things, turn things around. Could God do that…for him? For his relationship with Ida?

Maybe his train needed to be on a different track, headed off in a completely different direction.

The words to the hymn Mick had sung last Sunday came back, stirring his heart to action.

Mick looked down at his leg, and then shifted his gaze to the crutches leaning up against the chair. He believed now that his leg would mend in time. Someday he would look back on all this as nothing more than a distant memory.

Oh, but when he thought of Ida—when he remembered the way she’d felt in his arms, heard again the sound of her voice as she chided him, thought about the sparkle in her blue eyes, the determination in her voice—he could hardly contain himself. This
was a girl sent straight from heaven. What was the word Johnsey had used? Manna. Yes, manna from heaven. And he would win her over with this new plan, for he’d placed her in the very center of it.

He’d made other plans in the past, and things had ended badly. When he’d been in charge, the situation had spiraled out of control.

What could he do to prevent that from happening this time around? Only one thing came to mind—the one thing he’d avoided most of his adult life. With a heavy but hopeful heart, Mick Bradley bowed his head and began to pray.

I
da arrived at the mercantile at exactly two o’clock for once. She found the place busier than usual. There seemed to be an excitement in the air—something she couldn’t put her finger on, exactly. For one thing, Dinah looked surprisingly happy today. More so than usual, in light of her sober countenance yesterday.

“What’s happening here?” Ida asked as she reached for her apron. “Papa’s been whistling all afternoon, and you’ve got a smile that would light up the town.”

“Do I?”

“You do. So fess up. What’s going on?”

Dinah shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Ida fussed with her apron strings. “I figured you’d be overwhelmed, what with Nellie and Johnsey both being gone.”

Ida glanced out the window at the throng of people passing by. Sure, the train from up North had brought
in newcomers. Likely they’d venture into the store before heading on to their final destinations. “What time do you expect Nellie and her mama?”

“Any time now. I’ve got their room ready upstairs. And Johnsey will be in on the afternoon train with his father. I’m looking forward to meeting him in person—I’ve heard so much about him.”

Ida nodded, her gaze shifting toward the stairs. She longed to ask about Mick, but didn’t want to appear anxious. What in the world had Mick said to her father to put such a spring in his step and song in his heart?

“Yes, he’s still here.”

“What?” Ida turned to face her aunt.

“I’m guessing you were thinking of Mick,” Dinah whispered, “and he’s still here for another few days.”

“And then?”

“I’m not sure of his plans, only that he said he will stay through the end of the week. And in the meantime, he’s holding court with someone up there.”

Ida felt her stomach knot up. “Papa?”

“Your father is expected to return any moment,” Dinah explained, “but right now Mick is busy talking to—”

“Excuse me, miss, I wonder if you could point me toward the soda crackers.” An unfamiliar railroad worker interrupted their conversation. Ida led him to the aisle with the soda crackers, wondering about Mick’s visitor.

Papa soon arrived and headed up the stairs. If Ida
hadn’t been so busy, she would have been tempted to march up there and find out what was going on.

Nellie and her mother arrived at two-thirty, and were welcomed at once. Dinah ushered them up the stairs, taking the frail woman’s bags and offering encouraging smiles. Nellie looked hopeful and nervous. Ida imagined she was longing for her mother to be well and whole, for this new venture to work.

After getting them settled in, Dinah returned with a shimmer in her eyes. Very rarely did Ida see her aunt cry.

“Is everything all right?” she whispered.

Her aunt turned back with a shrug. “I don’t know how long Nellie will have her mother with her on this earth, is all. And it put me in mind of my mama. And yours.” She brushed away a tear and went back to work. Ida did her best to pay attention to the customers, but Dinah’s words had touched a deep place in her heart, one she hadn’t visited for some time.

She did long for her mother, more than she’d admitted. Somehow it helped to know that Dinah—a spiritual giant in Ida’s eyes—struggled with the same feelings. Together, they would help Nellie through this. Whatever time the dear girl had with her mother would be spent happily.

At quarter till three, a voice at the front door rang out in exaggerated volume, causing everyone in the place to look up in surprise.

“Dinah Mueller.”

Ida looked across the room and noticed Johnsey
standing there alongside an older man. Carter, who sat on the floor playing with his marbles, scrambled to his feet and ran to Johnsey, leaping into his arms with joy written all over his face.

“Well, hello there, son.” Johnsey gave him a warm hug then placed the youngster back on the ground. “I’d spend more time saying hello, but I’ve got some business to take care of with your mother.” Johnsey eased his way through the heavy crowd and drew near the register.

“You cut in line, sir,” Dinah said with an embarrassed smile.

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Can I help you?”

“You can. Come on around here to this side of the register.”

She looked at the crowd of people and shook her head. “I have customers to wait on.”

The folks in line all eased their way back, likely curious to see what Johnsey would do next. He strode behind the register and met her face-to-face.

She looked up at him with whimsy in her eyes. “You’re up to something.”

“I am.” He put his hands around her slender waist and lifted her to sit on the heavy glass showcase.

Dinah gasped and her cheeks pinked. “Put me down from here,” she said in a whisper. “What are you doing?”

“Exactly what the Lord placed on my heart to do.” Reaching into his pocket, he took out a ring.

Several in the room began to chuckle and the color in Dinah’s cheeks deepened.

Johnsey cleared his throat to quiet the crowd. “I’m glad you could all join us today,” he announced. “Want to make this news public. All good news should be.” He turned to face Dinah, his voice softening. “You have the best heart of any woman I’ve ever known, and I’m asking you—no, I’m begging you—to share it with me. I promise to take care of it, to the best of my ability. I will love you till the day I die, Dinah.”

Ida swallowed hard at those words, remembering Larson. Just as quickly, she reminded herself that this was a new day, a new opportunity for happiness for Dinah.

“I will care for you and for Carter,” Johnsey added, “if you’ll have me. Will you, Dinah? Will you marry me?”

Dinah threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on each of his cheeks, then uttered a resounding, “Yes!”

Johnsey slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her squarely on the lips. The crowd let forth a roar, along with a round of applause.

Carter raced to his mother’s side, jumping up and down. The elderly man who’d entered with Johnsey stood with a smile on his face, watching the scene. Johnsey quickly made the introductions, and everyone was pleased to meet his father at last. Ida found him to be an amiable man, the twinkle in his eye re
sembling his son’s and his smile nearly as broad as his thick mustache.

Just as the crowd thinned, Ida noticed a group coming down the stairs. Her heart seemed to lodge in her throat. Papa led the way, assisting Mick. Intrigue set in as Reverend Langford’s smiling face appeared after Mick’s. As they moved her way, she heard one thing that stopped her in her tracks.

“Thank you so much for your help, Mr. Mueller.” Mick released his hold on one of the crutches and slipped his hand into Papa’s for a firm shake.

“Well, son.” Mr. Mueller gave him a nod. “How could I turn you down, especially now that the reverend’s on board? If he says this is a good idea, it’s a good idea. Plain and simple.”

Ida’s thoughts whirled ’round in her head. Off to her right, her aunt Dinah stood arm in arm with her new fiancé. To her left, the good reverend offered a hand of congratulations to Mick Bradley for building…a gambling hall?

Could the day possibly get any more peculiar?