Tracie Peterson - [Land of Shining Water 02] (11 page)

“Oh, I could never walk that distance,” Mother replied. “But you go ahead. I’m just as surprised that Morna hasn’t come to visit, but perhaps she’s been too busy. Surely she still considers us friends.”

“Of course she does.” Emmalyne moved to the kitchen counter and took up a plate of shortbread. “We can walk slowly, Mother. We can rest along the way if need be.”

“No, you go ahead. I’m feeling very tired. I think I’ll just rest awhile.” Mother got to her feet and plodded off toward the bedroom. Emmalyne watched until Mother had closed the door behind her. The house suddenly seemed too quiet.

Emmalyne wondered if remembering the past had caused her mother even further grief. Remorse washed over her.
Perhaps I should remain home. Mother might need me.

She vacillated between visiting and staying home. If she left and something happened to her mother, Emmalyne might never be able to live with the consequences. On the other hand, Dr. Williams had encouraged Emmalyne to allow Mother to do more for herself. But Emmalyne couldn’t help but wonder why Morna and Fenella had not been by to see them. Perhaps seeing her would only be a painful reminder of Tavin.

“But I might also be able to find out how he’s doing.” She looked at the plate of shortbread.

Indecision tore at her, and finally Emmalyne decided to just be done with it and go. If she met with a cool reception, she would at least know where she stood. She took a peek at her mother, who seemed to be asleep, whispered a prayer that this was the right choice, and headed down the lane.

The MacLachlan house and quarry were two and a half miles to the west, according to her father. She surmised she could make the walk in three-quarters of an hour if she put
her mind to it. With the decision made, she picked up the plate of shortbread and set out at a brisk pace. She was only about half the distance when a horse and buggy approached from behind. She stepped to the side of the road, then turned to find Dr. Williams driving his horse quite fast. He pulled the animal to a slow walk just a short ways from Emmalyne.

“Whoa,” he called, pulling back on the reins. He looked down at Emmalyne and smiled. “Good day. I’m glad I caught up with you.”

“How did you know I’d be here?” she asked.

“Your mother told me. I arrived just after you left. She must have heard my knock from her bedroom, and she said you were on your way to the MacLachlans’.”

“That’s right. I wanted to take them some shortbread I made.” She held up the plate.

“I can take it for you,” he told her, “but I cannot allow you to visit them just yet. They’re in quarantine. I thought your father might have told you.”

“Quarantine? For what?”

“Measles,” the doctor replied. “There’s been an outbreak in the area. You’d do well to just stay home.”

“Well, I’ve had the measles myself.” Emmalyne frowned. “Who all is taken with the sickness?”

“The two young boys and their mother.”

“Fenella?”

He nodded. “She was the last to come down with it. They’ve all been quite sick.”

“And she has two boys?”

Again he nodded. “Yes. The oldest is four and the youngest is a little over a year. A dangerous age to have the measles.”

“I’m sure any age would be a risk.” Emmalyne shook her
head. “I can’t imagine how awful this must be. Are you certain I couldn’t go and see if they need anything?”

“I really would prefer you didn’t. We need to keep the disease from spreading; there are already quite a few cases in the area. I’ll see to it that they have everything they need,” he assured her.

“I suppose then I will give you these—and please tell Morna how sorry I am not to be able to bring them myself,” Emmalyne said, moving toward the buggy and handing him the plate.

“And, of course, I get to have a sample as my pay, right?” He threw her a big grin.

“Of course,” she said. “The worker is worth his wage.”

Jason laughed at this and took a sample. He closed his eyes and smiled in pleasure.

“I’m glad you are enjoying yourself, Doctor,” Emmalyne said wryly. “Now, I suppose I shall make my way home and get back to my chores.”

“Perhaps one of those chores,” he said, looking at her with a twinkle in his eyes, “might be making shortbread for the doctor of the community. I happen to know that he will happily take baked goods in lieu of payment.”

Emmalyne chuckled. “I suppose that could be arranged—after all, we do owe the doctor quite a debt.”

He sobered and shrugged. “Perhaps we could discuss further payment sometime over . . . shortbread and coffee.”

A shiver of delight rippled through Emmalyne. It had been so long since a man had paid court, and while she knew this must never amount to anything more than friendship, she found herself very much enjoying the attention.

“I shall be happy to discuss the matter with the doctor at his convenience,” she said archly, turning to go.

“I’m sure he will waste little time in attending to the matter,” Dr. Williams called after her.

Emmalyne smiled and began to hum.

Deep inside, however, a voice seemed to warn her against feeling too happy.
Nothing can ever come of this
, the voice told her.
Just as you had to deny yourself Tavin’s affections, you’ll have to deny Dr. Williams’s interests, as well.

Tavin looked at his father in disbelief, then back at the young man before him. Angus Knox seemed no less stunned. Robert was unconcerned. “I ken ye both are surprised to find the other one here. I thought by now yer faither would have told ye Tavin was back, Angus.”

“Well, he didn’t.” Emmalyne’s brother turned a wary gaze on Tavin. “No one has said anything.”

“For that I’m sorry,” Tavin’s father continued. “But I need the two of ye to fetch a load of supplies from town. It cannae wait, and ’tis too much for one man.”

“I can handle it alone,” Tavin said quickly.

“I wiltnae hear it. Ye go together. The horses know Angus and will work better for him.”

Tavin realized his father wasn’t going to change his mind. “Very well,” he said, heading to the door. He blew out a long breath.

“Ye’ll need this list,” his father said behind him.

Stopping midstep, Tavin drew in another breath and turned back to get the list. Angus wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and looked to the floor. For just a moment Tavin thought the younger man might refuse.

“I’ll bring the team around,” Angus finally said.

He hurried from the room, leaving Tavin to question his father. “Why me? You know I wanted to stay as far away from the Knoxes as I could.”

“And I did ma best to see it so,” his father told him. “I’m sorry, son. This cannae be helped. I trust ye to get the things I need, and I trust Angus to handle the team. Sometimes a man has to do what is unpleasant.”

“It would seem that is especially true of me.”

His father’s tone was stern, but his expression turned sympathetic. “I need ye to work together this once. Mebbe it won’t be so bad.”

List in hand, Tavin nodded, knowing there was nothing else to be said. He slammed the door behind him, then threw a brief glance toward the far end of the building where he knew Luthias Knox kept his office. A part of Tavin wanted to go confront the older man and demand answers to eleven years’ worth of questions, while the other part simply wanted the Knox family to go as far away from St. Cloud as possible.

Within a few minutes Angus pulled up with a matched team of Belgian geldings. The large horses were needed for the heavy work of pulling the granite, and Tavin knew that in the wrong hands the beasts could be quite unmanageable. He supposed it only made sense to have Angus’s help, but he sure didn’t like it. Apparently Angus didn’t like it any better. He looked for all the world as if he’d been sucking on sour grapes.

Once Tavin climbed into the wagon seat, Angus flicked the reins and guided the animals toward the town road. Tavin tried to relax, despite the fact that Angus sat stiffly with reins in hand and kept his focus straight ahead. For a good long time neither man said anything. Tavin was just as glad for
the silence, but at the same time, he felt a nagging impulse to ask after Emmalyne.

“I didn’t know you were back,” Angus said, breaking the silence without warning. “Em doesn’t either.”

“It’s just as well.” Now that Angus had opened the subject of Emmalyne, Tavin felt it only fair to ask, “Is she . . . well?”

“She is. But when she hears this news, I can’t say how she’ll be.”

“So the family tradition lives on, I take it?”

Angus threw Tavin a side glance. “If you mean is she still caring for our father and mother, then the answer is yes.” Angus looked back to the road. “She’s honored her word.”

“I suppose that’s all that matters,” Tavin said, unable to hide his bitter tone.

They rode on in silence after that. Tavin wanted to say more, but Angus seemed content to keep his thoughts to himself. In fact, the younger man looked rather pale. Tavin couldn’t help but wonder if it was from the shock of seeing him or from the worry that Emmalyne would get hurt all over again when she learned the truth.

Maybe she won’t even care
.
Just because I still feel the pain doesn’t mean that she does.
It was probably just as well to let go of his memories and pretend she was still far away. After all, in matters of the heart, she was completely out of his reach.

In St. Cloud the hardware store had everything Robert MacLachlan had requested. Tavin was informed that the items could be loaded in less than an hour’s time, and he and Angus could have lunch in the meanwhile. Since it was noon, Tavin saw no way around the suggestion.

Without a word, he and Angus walked to a small café two blocks away and took a table near the open door. The waiter
brought them the daily special—thick slices of roast beef, fresh bread, and a large bowl of gravy. Tavin ordered coffee and was surprised when Angus asked for a glass of water instead of the stronger brew.

“Don’t you like coffee?” Tavin asked, thinking it a safe enough subject.

“It’s fine enough.” Angus rubbed his eyes. “I’m feeling kind of parched and figured water might help. Fact is, I’m feeling a bit odd.”

“Are you ill?” Angus looked up, and Tavin could see the man looked flushed, where earlier he had been a pasty white. Maybe it was the heat of the day. “You might have gotten too much sun. It’s easy enough to get heat stroke in the summer. Water is the best thing for you.”

The man returned with their drinks, and Angus immediately downed half a glass of water. Tavin was already eating his first bites of roast and gravy before Angus even managed to serve himself a single piece of the roast. He seemed indifferent toward the food.

Tavin suspected the poor fellow was probably much sicker than he was letting on. “You want some gravy on that?” Tavin asked, pushing the bowl toward Angus’s side of the table.

Angus gave a short nod and spooned some of the dark brown gravy onto the meat. But after doing so, he barely picked at the food. Tavin ate his fill while Angus moved the meat around on his plate. By the time a half hour had passed, Tavin had consumed more than his share and Angus hadn’t eaten more than a few bites.

Tavin paid for the meals, not waiting to see if Angus would offer. As they made their way back to the wagon, Tavin was almost certain Angus was fighting dizziness. He seemed to
weave a bit in his walk, and his steps seemed less sure than normal.

They climbed up into the wagon, the items stacked behind them, and Angus took up the reins. He drew a deep breath and seemed to be all right, so Tavin said nothing. They were hardly past the edge of town, however, when Angus began to slump toward the side. Had Tavin not reached out to pull him back, the younger man would have fallen headlong from his seat.

“Angus, are you all right?”

Angus looked at Tavin with glassy eyes. “I don’t know what’s wrong. I think I’m gonna be sick.” He no sooner said the words than he began to heave over the side of the wagon.

Tavin held on to him while Angus lost what little contents his stomach held. Through the thin material of Angus’s shirt, Tavin could feel that the man was burning up.

“You have a fever. You need to get to bed.”

“Can you get me home?” Angus asked, leaning back hard against Tavin. “I can’t see so well.”

Tavin took the reins from Angus. “Lean against me.”

He put the team into motion, grateful that the animals didn’t seem to notice the change in drivers. Tavin knew from what his mother had said that the Knox house was on the same road as their own, so rather than take the northerly road to the quarry, Tavin continued west.

His thoughts were in a whirl of torment. Would he see Emmalyne again? Could he somehow avoid it? He had no desire to come face-to-face with the only woman he’d ever loved, the one who had rejected his love. He’d spent eleven years trying to forget the details of her heart-shaped face and pert little nose. The memory of her cinnamon-colored
hair and blue eyes caused his heart to pick up speed. Tavin felt his chest tighten.

I can’t do this.
Perhaps Angus would be all right if he were dropped off at the edge of the Knox property. But even as the thought crossed his mind, Tavin knew better.

He approached the Knox house much like a man heading to the battlefield. Dread and raw anxiety washed over him. Emmalyne would be in the house or in the yard. He would see her again, and his heart would be pierced. Tavin squared his shoulders and made a decision. He would see to it that Angus got to the porch, and then he’d leave. Hopefully the man wouldn’t collapse as soon as Tavin walked away. With any luck he could get Angus to the door and make a run for it. Maybe the women wouldn’t feel a need to come outside in greeting. Maybe they’d be hard at work in the back and not even hear the wagon.

His plan seemed to be going well enough when he brought the team to a stop. Angus straightened, looking a little better. He climbed down from the wagon, but sank to his knees. Tavin knew he had no choice but to help the man into the house. He secured the brake and reins, then climbed down to help Angus to his feet.

“Sorry,” Angus whispered.

“No matter,” Tavin told the barely conscious man. He glanced toward the open door, grateful that there was no one staring back at them. “Come on. I’ll get you to the door.”

“Em . . . Emmalyne . . . she doesn’t . . .” Angus’s words faded.

Tavin secured his arm around Angus’s shoulders. “I know.”

Emmalyne heard the wagon outside. It was far too early in the day for her father and brother to be returning from work. She also knew it didn’t sound like the lightweight buggy Dr. Jason Williams drove. Curious, she opened the door a crack to find her brother staring at her.

“I’m . . . sorry . . . Em . . .” He sounded nearly incoherent.

“What’s wrong, Angus?” she gasped. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m sick,” he said, his eyes seeming not to even see her. “Gotta . . . tell you . . . something else.”

His frame suddenly tilted, and just as Emmalyne reached for him, his knees buckled and he fell backward into the arms of another man. Before she even had time to wonder who it was, she reached out to grab her brother.

Emmalyne first noted her brother’s pale face, then gently touched his cheek. He was burning up. She looked up and stared into a pair of dark green eyes. Eyes she knew as well as her own.

“Tavin,” she whispered.

He said nothing. For a moment Emmalyne couldn’t even move, but then she realized that Tavin was just standing there, holding her brother.

“Bring him this way.” She led them to Angus’s room and hurried over to pull back the covers on his bed.

Tavin carried him across the room and laid him down. Emmalyne lost no time in tending to her brother’s feverish body. She struggled to pull his boots off, and without a word, Tavin stepped forward to free the boots from Angus’s feet.

Seeing that done, Emmalyne ran to fetch a basin of water, then began wiping him with the wet cloth. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. He got sick in town and asked me to bring him home.”

“Would you fetch some more cool water, please?” Without waiting to hear Tavin’s reply, she turned her attention again to Angus. He opened his eyes, looking blankly at her.

“Angus, I’m going to take off your shirt and pants. You’ve a high fever, and I must get you cooled down.”

“Sorry.” His voice was barely audible. “So sorry.”

She didn’t know if he was apologizing for being sick or for the fact that Tavin had brought him home. It didn’t much matter. One thing was pretty much as bad as the other.

Unfastening the buttons on his shirt, Emmalyne pushed the front open and immediately noted the splotches of red that dotted his chest and stomach. “Oh, Angus, I think you’ve got the measles.”

He moaned and closed his eyes. “My head is killing me. The light just seems to bore right through me.”

Emmalyne put aside the cloth and hurried to pull the curtains. Once the room was darkened, Angus seemed to rest better. Emmalyne quickly rid him of his clothes and took the cloth up once again. She looked around for Tavin. Had he stayed? Was he waiting to speak to her? Her heart skipped a beat and a myriad of questions came to mind. When had he returned? Would he remain in the area? Was he happy to see her again? Or . . .

“Where do you want this?” Tavin asked from the doorway. He held out a bucket.

“Over here, please,” Emmalyne instructed. She pulled Angus’s quilt from the bed. “I’ll be right back.” She found the trunk where they kept clean bed linens. Taking up a sheet, she hurried back to her brother’s bedroom.