Undaunted Hope (28 page)

“No, you don't!” he shouted. “You don't have to leave if you don't want to.”

Samuel's agitation was beginning to draw the notice of those around them. Tessa glanced with embarrassment at Victoria and Mr. Cole, who were watching her exchange with raised brows. She returned her attention to Samuel's profusely sweating face and tried to think of some way to calm him. “Maybe someday I'll come back to visit—”

“No-o-o!” he howled, stomping his feet and sounding altogether like a two-year-old having a tantrum.

Percival was passing nearby with the company of men and prisoners. At Samuel's cry of distress, Percival held up his hand and stopped the group. “Sam,” he called. “Calm down or you'll need to go back to the store at once.”

Samuel took a deep shaky breath and lowered his voice, clearly trying to obey his brother. “Please don't go, Miss Taylor.”

She wanted to brush past Samuel and reach out to Alex, who was now less than a dozen paces away. Instead she squeezed Samuel's arm. “I know this is difficult for you to understand, Samuel, but I have to go with Alex and Michael.”

“Then let them stay too.”

She caught sight again of Alex's face but only briefly. Weariness pulled the muscles in his face taut. She had no doubt he was weak from his days of near starvation and inactivity. And now here he was carrying Michael.

“They can go back to the lighthouse,” Samuel said, as if that solved all the problems. “And you can go back to being the teacher.”

She sighed. If only things were that easy. “Remember, Alex and Michael have been accused of causing the warehouse fire? They have to go to Detroit for their trial, and I have to go to help find a lawyer to defend them.”

Samuel shook his head, obviously not understanding. She couldn't explain the injustice of it herself. Sadness washed over her, and she didn't want to prolong her good-bye to Samuel any longer than she had to.

“Good-bye, Samuel,” she said. “You've been a good friend and I'll miss you.” With that, she spun away from him.

Then a shriek rent the air—Samuel's shriek. The sound of it was long and loud enough to wake up any animals still in hibernation. As it continued on, Tessa's heart dropped. She'd had no idea her parting would be so hard on Samuel.

“Sam!” Percival yelled.

Samuel's shrieking ceased abruptly and was followed by an eerie silence.

“Go back to the store. Now.” Percival spoke to his brother in his firmest tone.

“I know how Miss Taylor can stay!” Samuel said, a thread of excitement coloring his voice. “Michael and Alex don't have to go!”

“Yes, they do,” Percival said.

“No, they don't! They didn't start the fire—”

“Of course they did.” Percival's frown deepened into a warning.

“I saw you leave the store with the oilcan from the lighthouse,” Samuel said almost happily, oblivious to the murmurs that arose at his declaration.

“You saw no such thing!” Percival retorted.

“Yes,” Samuel insisted. “It was the same oilcan you had hidden away in your office.”

More murmurs and gasps punctuated the air.

Tessa was too stunned by the revelation to breathe. Instead she could only stare at Samuel with an open mouth. He smiled at her in obvious delight. “So you see, Miss Taylor, Michael and Alex didn't start the fire. And now they don't have to leave Eagle Harbor.”

“Samuel Updegraff, go back to the store this instant.” The harshness of Percival's words bit into the air and went straight into Samuel. His smile disappeared, his shoulders slumped, and he began to drag his feet toward the rutted path.

A rush of panic pulled Tessa out of her daze. “Wait!” she shouted. “That's the evidence we need to set Alex and Michael free.”

Several ayes rang out among the crowd. She wanted to shout out her thanks because she knew how much courage those ayes had cost the men who'd voiced them out loud. But she didn't want to draw attention to anyone in particular.

Percival gave a scoffing laugh. “You don't mean to tell me you're going to believe Samuel? He's a good man, but he doesn't know what he's talking about.”

Samuel hung his head and didn't attempt to contradict his brother.

“Sounds like he knew well enough,” Mr. Cole said, searching Percival's face as though it contained a map that would help lead to the truth.

“He's just trying to keep Miss Taylor from leaving,” Percival said smoothly. “She's obviously got Samuel under some kind of spell.”

“It's called friendship,” she said. “Something you wouldn't know anything about since you have no friends.”

“My men will support me.”

“Only because you bribe them with favors.”

“Face it, Miss Taylor, you're the one who doesn't have any friends.” Percival glared at her and added, “No one wants to be friends with someone having your soiled reputation.”

Embarrassed heat rushed to her cheeks. She was sure his intent was to humiliate her in front of everyone again, especially Mr. Cole and Victoria. And it was working.

“You're dead wrong about Miss Taylor not having any friends here,” said someone from among the group of miners.

Tessa stood on tiptoes and scanned the crowd, hoping to thank and also caution the speaker at the same time.

Mr. Benney was already shouldering his way through the men until he stood in front of everyone. He spread his feet and crossed
his arms over his chest. His jaw was set with a determination, which told her she was much too late to warn him. She could only swallow the lump of fear for what Percival would do to Mr. Benney later, after he returned from Detroit.

“Miss Taylor has a heap of friends here in Eagle Harbor,” Mr. Benney said. “No matter her past, she's a fine lady.”

The words washed over her like a sweet honey poultice soothing the deep burn in her soul. She smiled her thanks to him.

“Yes, sir, she's a real good lady.” Gratefulness shone from Mr. Benney's eyes. “She taught me son even when that cack, Mr. Updegraff, forced him to minch school.”

“Minch?” Mr. Cole stepped forward and raised his brow at Percival. Tessa was tempted to interpret the Cornish word that meant to skip school, but before she could explain, Percival spoke up.

“He was old enough to work in the mine,” Percival explained matter-of-factly. “And we had a shortage of labor.”

“Miss Taylor didn't just do extra to help learn our cheldren.” Mr. Benney's voice rose higher in strength. “She cared about the rest of us folks too. She gave up her time to start the evening class that Mr. Updegraff eventually stopped too.”

Mr. Cole's forehead furrowed into a deeper scowl, but again Percival had a ready answer.

“I had to institute longer shifts,” he said.

The mine owner studied both men as though weighing their words. Tessa held her breath and prayed he'd see the truth for what it was.

Even when Percival shot a dark look at Mr. Benney, the tall miner didn't look away or back down. Tessa's heart quavered at the thought of the consequences he'd likely face for speaking up, yet she was thrilled that someone was finally willing to take a stand against Percival, regardless of the cost.

“It wasn't right to fire her from her teacher job,” Mr. Benney said, turning to Mr. Cole. “Every folk here will agree with me.”

“I completely agree,” Alex said.

Mr. Benney didn't look to the miners behind him. He didn't move either to encourage or shame them into saying anything. If the others would oppose Percival, they must do it on their own—because they wanted to, not because they were coerced. They, like Mr. Benney, had to be willing to face whatever punishment Percival would mete out. For there was no doubt about it. He would make them pay severely.

For endless seconds no one else spoke. The men stood mutely, staring at the ground. The chatter of nearby deckhands combined with the slapping of the waves, filling the awkward silence.

Percival folded his arms across his chest and glowered at Mr. Benney with a look that said he was a dead man. Tessa didn't blame the other men for not agreeing with Mr. Benney. The risk was too great for them to defy Percival. She started to guide Ingrid toward the waiting steamer when a shaky voice sounding a lot like Mr. Rawlings spoke up. “I agree.”

“Me too,” said someone else more loudly. “I agree. Miss Taylor shouldn't have been fired.”

“I agree” came another, and then another, until all of the men were voicing their opinion to Mr. Cole.

Tessa pivoted around. Her gaze bounced from face to face as the miners stepped forward and listed out loud their complaints about Percival in his presence. There wasn't a man among them who stayed silent. Soon their voices escalated until they were almost yelling their frustrations and calling for Tessa to be given back her teacher job and Percival to be fired instead.

Percival shook his head vigorously and began shouting back his excuses, the same excuses he always offered for why he domi
nated Eagle Harbor with such a heavy hand. He was doing it for their safety and well-being. Someone had to make sure the community ran smoothly. If he didn't discipline them, then they'd have anarchy on their hands.

Tessa could only watch him with a sad kind of amazement. How could he not see how awful he was and how damaging his methods were? How could he offer excuses at all for the atrocities he'd committed among these people?

Several of the miners strode past Mr. Benney and began to close in on Percival, anger chiseled into every line of their faces. Alex called out a warning, cautioning the men not to do anything they'd regret.

“Hold on now, everyone,” Mr. Cole yelled, but his voice was drowned out in the commotion.

Not an ounce of remorse came from Percival as he continued his tirade at the miners opposing him.

One of the miners was about to pounce on Percival when Alex crashed through and yanked the man aside before he could put his hands around Percival's throat. The miner was left with no choice but to stumble away.

Alex stood before Percival, his breath coming in gasps from the exertion in his weakened condition. He held up his chained hands, the chafed skin at his wrists showing beneath his dirty shirt sleeves. He waited for silence to descend.

When the gathering finally tapered to a hush, he said, “If we take justice into our own hands, then we're no better than Mr. Updegraff. What's to separate us then from the same crimes he's perpetrated?” Slowly Alex looked from one miner to the next, piercing them with his gaze. “I know what it's like to suffer injustice and mistreatment at Mr. Updegraff's hand. But I also know that as tempting as it is to wrap these chains around
his neck and choke him, I can't do that. I can't repay evil with evil. We have to let justice be served the right way. If we have any hope of turning our community into a law-abiding and safe place for our families to live, then we have to start now by being law-abiding ourselves.”

Several nods and grunts of agreement swept over the gathering.

Mr. Cole stepped next to Alex and clasped him on the shoulder, gratefulness and relief etching his features. “It appears to me that I need to delay my departure and investigate the situation here further.”

A murmuring arose again from the miners.

Mr. Cole spoke quickly. “I'll make myself available to anyone who wishes to express their concerns regarding Mr. Updegraff's conduct or any other issues. And I'll stay for as long as it takes to hear everyone and to see that justice prevails.”

Tessa's heart swelled as she saw the hesitant yet hopeful smiles begin to form on the smudged, weathered faces of the miners. They'd done it. They'd taken a stand against Percival and broken the chains that had bound them.

“And it would appear that we have chained the wrong man,” Mr. Cole continued, squeezing Alex's shoulder again before turning to Percival. “Would you like to tell us all how you came to have the lighthouse oilcan in your possession the night of the fire?”

An ache pushed at the back of Tessa's throat, and tears stung her eyes. Overwhelming relief pulsed through her, making her legs weak. She wanted to crumple to the ground and sob but instead pressed a fist to her mouth to stifle the outburst.

Ingrid had already left her side and was limping her way through the men to where Michael lay on the ground. He
stretched out his arms weakly toward her, unable to manage more than raising himself a few inches from the ground. What he lacked in strength, however, he made up for in his smile. It was bright and overflowing with love for the little girl who tripped and stumbled her way toward him.

When Ingrid reached her father, she dropped to her knees, threw her arms around him, and buried her face in his chest. Tears trickled down Michael's cheeks as he wrapped his arms around the frail body of the little girl who adored him.

“What's wrong with her leg?” Victoria stood next to her, watching Ingrid and Michael's reunion.

“Nothing that surgery won't cure,” Tessa said, wiping at the wetness on her cheeks.

“Then why hasn't she had it?” Victoria asked.

But Tessa couldn't respond. Her gaze had collided with Alex's. Bear and Wolfie were at his side, licking his hands and rubbing against him. Though he was still chained, that didn't stop him from scratching the heads of both dogs.

His eyes were filled with tenderness for his niece as she embraced her father. But there was something more there, something directed at Tessa—a desperate, almost agonizing need for her. He studied her face as if feasting on every feature. Her heart nearly stopped at the love that radiated in his expression.

Then, in that same moment, he glanced at Michael. Tessa watched as his shoulders sagged, his head dropped, and he didn't turn to look at her again.

A
lex leaned against the trunk of the red maple, letting its low branches and new leaves hide him. The school yard was full of families who'd come to celebrate spring with the box-lunch social Tessa had organized.

New life finally came to Eagle Harbor again, with the grass, the trees, the flowers, even the weeds all adorned in green. After the bleakness of winter, the colors of spring always struck him as so much brighter than any other place he'd lived. And Tessa in her green dress looked vibrant and full of life as well, mingling among the families. As the men purchased the box lunches as instructed by their wives and sweethearts, families and couples had begun to spread out blankets in preparation of eating.

Only two boxes remained on the makeshift table next to the schoolhouse. Both boxes were the prettiest of the day, and it was no secret to whom they belonged. One was Tessa's, the other Victoria Cole's. They were almost identical in size and style, and Alex didn't doubt that Victoria had a hand in helping Tessa put hers together.

Victoria stood next to her father, who sat in the desk chair that had been brought out of the school especially for him. The ribbons on her hat fell down past her shoulders and flapped in the breeze coming off the lake.

Tessa stood near Victoria, a smile gracing her beautiful face. In the last week, after sorting through all the statements and evidence, Mr. Cole had reinstated Tessa to her teaching position. Not only that, but he'd fired Percival Updegraff and had him locked up for starting the warehouse fire, as well as a dozen other crimes against the miners.

Samuel's statements would have been enough to convict Percival of setting the fire, but in the end others had come forward and testified against Percival. Several had seen him at the warehouse not long before the fire. Alex was grateful so many had stood up for him and shared examples of the many ways he'd served the community over the years. He supposed the celebration today was one of freedom—freedom from the tyranny and oppression that had reigned over the town for as long as Percival had been the mine clerk. Mr. Cole had appointed Mr. Benney as the new supervisor and Mr. Rawlings as his assistant, and already there was a renewed sense of gladness and peace that hadn't been in the community in a very long time.

After a week's delay, Mr. Cole and his daughter were leaving tomorrow with Percival in tow. Alex had to admit, he'd always resented the mine owners for their distance and superiority. But he was learning that Mr. Cole was different. He had conducted himself with integrity and fairness, showing that he truly cared about the people who worked for him. For that alone, Alex respected him.

“Let's start the bidding on this lovely box,” called Mr. Benney
from behind the table. He held up a white box covered with big green polka dots and tied with an enormous green bow.

At the announcement, Tessa ducked her head almost shyly, easily giving away the fact that the box belonged to her.

Alex straightened, almost bumping his head against a branch. His mouth turned as dry as fish bones baked in the sun. Although he'd told himself a hundred times since he'd arrived earlier that he wouldn't bid on her box, the need to be with her had carved a deep aching hole in his soul that wouldn't go away no matter how hard he tried to fill it with thoughts of other things.

Several of the other single men tossed out their good-natured bids.

Alex glanced nervously toward Michael, who was relaxing on a blanket with Ingrid and Gunnar. Michael smiled down at Ingrid and laughed at something the girl had said. He didn't seem to be paying any attention to the bid for Tessa's lunch. In fact, Hannah and her young son, Jeremiah, sat on a blanket adjacent to Michael, and Alex had noticed his brother talking to the pretty widow from time to time.

“I could give her a
lifetime,”
Michael had told him,
“but she'll always
love you more than me.”

All week long, Alex had wanted to approach Tessa, to ask her if she loved him more than Michael, to find out if she could really love him, even though he wasn't nearly as educated as she was. But they'd both been busy trying to put their lives back together. She'd returned to the Rawlings house and had commenced classes again for both students and adults. He'd been occupied with running the lighthouse while Michael attempted to regain his strength. And Wolfie finally had her pups, so Alex had his hands full tending to the eight newborns.

Deep inside, though, Alex knew those were all excuses. The
truth was, he'd seen something in Tessa's eyes on a couple of occasions. He was afraid to call it love, yet he was convinced that she felt something for him. Too bad he'd spurned her and turned away from anything she might offer him so that Michael could have her.

And now he was afraid to approach her for fear that she'd reject him all over again. It would serve him right for having neglected to win her when he'd had the chance, though part of him knew he'd make the sacrifice for his brother again, if Michael showed even the slightest inclination toward her. But all week Michael hadn't mentioned her name once. He'd poured out all of his attention on Ingrid and Gunnar, spending more time with them in one week than he had since before Rachel had died.

As another young man with a toothy grin called out his bid on Tessa's box, Alex took a step away from the tree. Now was his time. He needed to capture her undivided attention and, while he had it, make his declaration of undying love.

He stuffed his hand in his pocket and fingered the wad of bills he'd brought with him. Twenty dollars. It was everything he'd saved from offering sled rides over the winter, plus the deposits some of the miners had put down on the pups.

It wasn't enough to pay for Ingrid's surgery, but they were getting closer to the goal. With the way Tessa had cleaned up the keeper's cottage during her stay, they had a good chance of winning the superintendent's Efficiency Star and the cash reward that came with it. Only another month's wait. By summer's end they should have enough money saved for the surgery.

He shoved the wad deeper in his pocket. He couldn't spend any of it now, not when they were nearing the point of having enough.

“I'll pay twenty-five dollars” came a voice Alex knew all too well.

Gasps arose from the crowd at the exorbitant amount. When most of the other boxes had sold for mere pennies, twenty-five dollars was a serious amount.

Alex jerked back under the tree and stared at the speaker—Michael. His brother was standing and handing an openmouthed Mr. Benney a roll of cash similar to the one Alex had in his pocket. Michael must have cleared his half out of the canister in the cottage and brought it today too.

The smile of delight that lit Michael's face sent Alex's pulse skittering on a wild downward spiral. Speechless, he could only watch as Michael took the elegantly decorated box from Mr. Benney and then made his way over to Tessa.

Tessa smiled at him with a relief that cut through Alex's heart. He fell back against the tree trunk. He wanted to pull out his money and outbid his brother. On second thought, even if he'd had more than twenty-five, he wasn't sure he could walk over and claim Tessa away from Michael. He longed to have her for himself. He loved her and needed her. But if Michael needed her more, how could he selfishly stand in his brother's way?

Burying a cry of despair, Alex ducked away from the tree. And without a backward glance, he started down the path that led away from town.

“Father, you should have let someone else have a chance to bid on my box,” Victoria said with a smile.

Mr. Cole chuckled. “What, and give up the opportunity to enjoy lunch with the prettiest lady and the prettiest box here?”

Tessa was still too shocked to speak. Mr. Cole had bid one hundred dollars for Victoria's box. One hundred dollars that would go toward a new house the community had agreed to
build for the Eagle Harbor schoolteacher. In fact, they'd already drawn up plans and had a plot picked out for the house just a block away. All the proceeds from the box-lunch social would go to help defray the costs.

Her heart swelled with thankfulness at all that had happened over the past week. She gazed with satisfaction at the families seated on blankets all around the yard, then at the children playing Fox and Geese in front of the school. All of them had come out to support her and raise money for her new home.

Thank you, God
. Again her heart whispered the prayer that had been ongoing all week.

Mr. Cole had given the miners several days as paid holiday, so that everyone would have the chance to speak their piece about Percival if they wanted. The line to meet with Mr. Cole had stretched out the front door of his house for three days straight.

Percival was locked up in prison, awaiting his transport downstate, which Mr. Cole had promised to personally oversee. She was sad to see Samuel readying himself to accompany his brother. He was confused and worried and certainly had no idea that he'd been the one to set the changes in motion with his simple confession about the oilcan.

Nevertheless, Tessa was proud of all her friends for finding the courage to come forward. She'd never cried, laughed, or hugged so much as she had that week with Nadine, Hannah, and all the others who'd finally been able to find forgiveness and release for all the hurt they'd experienced over the years.

Although they thanked her for bringing about Percival's demise and for instituting some long overdue changes in their community, she thanked them for showing her the true meaning of grace. They'd accepted and loved her even when they'd known
the worst about her. She realized she had as much to learn from them, perhaps even more, than they had to learn from her.

“Are you ready?” Michael asked as he stood patiently by her side, holding her boxed lunch. His smile was gentle, somehow different. Tessa could tell that the weeks in jail had changed him, had given him an inner strength that hadn't been there before.

She nodded and tried to push down the disappointment before he could take note of it. She hadn't expected Michael to bid. He'd seemed content on his blanket, talking with Hannah next to him. In fact, she'd even noticed Ingrid sitting on Hannah's lap at one point and wondered if perhaps Hannah would ever consider trusting a man again. Certainly she'd find no one better than Michael.

Tessa had prayed and hoped for Alex to step forward and bid on her lunch. She'd noticed him hovering at the back of the crowd in the shade of a tree, watching the festivities with an amused smile.

When the bidding had started for her box, she'd held her breath and waited for him to shout out his claim. She hadn't wanted to share the lunch with anyone but him. Of course, he hadn't made a peep. She shouldn't have been surprised or disappointed that he'd let her go again. Not after the way he'd resisted her all week.

But she was disappointed anyway, even though she knew it was for the best. She'd have to give up her teaching job to be with him. And even at the present she missed him enough that she might just do it, she couldn't keep from wondering if eventually she'd resent the sacrifice.

She stifled a sigh and forced a smile for Michael. At least Michael had given the highest bid. If she had to eat with anyone else, she much preferred Michael. After paying so much money
for her boxed lunch, he deserved a nice meal with her, not one where she was distracted and thinking about Alex the whole time.

“Are you sure you don't want Ingrid and Gunnar to join us?” she asked.

Michael glanced to where the children were running and playing games. Ingrid was hobbling on her crutch but was giggling along with the other girls. Tessa had never seen Ingrid so happy and carefree. A lump formed in Tessa's throat. Michael's love was the best medicine for his daughter. Even if she was never able to have surgery, she'd be happy as long as Michael was there showering his love on the little girl.

“I'd like a few minutes alone with you, Tessa,” Michael said. “If you don't mind.”

Victoria's smile widened knowingly. “Father and I will keep an eye on the children,” she offered with a wink at Tessa. “Now be on your way and enjoy yourselves.”

She wouldn't dampen Michael's or Victoria's enthusiasm now by telling them she wasn't interested in Michael. She couldn't today, not with all the excitement and happiness that surrounded her. But she would need to break the news to Michael at some point, and soon.

It wasn't that she resisted the idea of marrying a lightkeeper anymore. In some ways, she sensed that God found some humor in taking her
I
won't ever
's and turning them into
I will
's. She wasn't about to say no to God again. If He wanted her to be a lightkeeper's wife, she'd do it. Just not with Michael, for she wasn't in love with him.

Tessa took several steps after Michael, then stopped. “Wait,” she called to Victoria as she hurried to a supply basket she'd stashed under the table. She lifted the cover, and her fingers brushed against the rough grain of wood.