With Autumn's Return (Westward Winds Book #3): A Novel (26 page)

As Harrison’s carriage approached, Jason’s expression remained solemn. “It’s hard to let go, isn’t it? There are times when I worry about my clients, especially those I know are in difficult circumstances. Let’s try to put them aside today, though. I want this to be a special day.” As he pronounced the final words, Jason’s lips curved into a smile so genuine that Elizabeth could not help returning it.

Her smile broadened as she watched Rose insisting on being the first out of the carriage. As soon as she was on the ground, the little girl raced to the horse that was still hitched to Jason’s carriage and began speaking to it. Gwen and Harrison followed at a more decorous pace, but the flush on Gwen’s cheeks left no doubt that she was as excited as her daughter.

“Well, ladies, what would you like to do first?” Jason said, addressing Elizabeth and Gwen. “It’s your day. Harrison and I are here to make your every wish come true.”

“Eat! I wanna eat!” Though she’d been yards away, apparently intent on her conversation with the horse, Rose had heard Jason’s question.

Gwen gave her daughter a fond smile. “I guess you’ve got your answer.”

“And I’ve got the perfect place.” Harrison pulled a blanket from the back of his carriage and spread it on the ground near the lake. Though a number of other families were taking advantage of the warm Sunday afternoon and were strolling around the lagoons and lake that were the park’s primary attraction, no one else seemed to be picnicking here.

Harrison gestured at the blanket. “If you ladies would like to sit, Jason and I’ll get the food.”

“Are you sure I can’t help?” Gwen’s question left no doubt that she was uncomfortable being waited upon.

“You’re our guests,” Harrison insisted.

Rose, who’d been watching the exchange intently, tugged on his pant leg. “I can help.”

“You’re a guest too.”

When Rose wrinkled her nose, Harrison relented. “All right.” His hand snaked out, as if he were going to pat Rose’s head. At the last second, he drew back and laid his hand on her shoulder. “You’ll be a big help,” he told the little girl.

“Rose seems to have lost her fear of Harrison,” Elizabeth said as she arranged her skirts around her legs. Though her family had had occasional picnics in Vermont, it had been a long time since she’d sat on the ground.

“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” Gwen straightened a wrinkle from the blanket before she settled onto it. “Sometimes Harrison seems like a different man from the one who visited Barrett last year. That one was gruff, and every time he looked at me, I felt his disapproval.”

This was the first time Gwen had said anything like that. “You must have been imagining it. Why would he disapprove?”

“I don’t know, but I’m glad it’s over.”

“I haven’t seen anything that resembles disapproval,” Elizabeth told her friend. “To the contrary, it appears to me that he’s attracted to you.”

Gwen stared at the lake, her expression wistful. “I wish that were true, but I don’t think it is. He . . .”

Before she could complete her sentence, Rose arrived, holding a plate in each hand. “Look, Mama. They let me carry the plates.”

“I see. That’s because you’re a big girl.” As Rose preened, Gwen held out her hands. “Now, give them to Mama.”

When Rose had complied, she scampered back to the men.

“Are you certain we can’t help?” Elizabeth called out when she saw both Jason and Harrison apparently rummaging in the back of their carriages.

Jason turned. Placing his hand on his hip, as if he were annoyed, he asked, “Aren’t we moving fast enough for you? Patience is a virtue, you know.”

“It’s not that.” Although it was true that patience was not her dominant virtue. “I just thought you might like some assistance.”

“Harrison already told you that you’re guests, and guests don’t work. Besides, we’re almost ready.”

Matching his actions to his words, Jason hauled a basket from the carriage and brought it to the blanket. Harrison followed with another equally large basket. As they unpacked the bounty, Elizabeth stared in amazement. Fried chicken, baked beans, yeast rolls, apple butter, jars of cool tea and water, and two delicious-looking pies. There was a seemingly endless supply of food.

“Which of you is responsible for this feast?” she asked, her gaze moving from Jason to Harrison and then back.

The two men shared a conspiratorial smile before Jason said, “Both of us.”

“You both cooked?” Gwen couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Who said anything about cooking?” Jason demanded. “You asked who was responsible. I arranged for one of my clients’ wives to prepare the chicken and beans.”

“And I recruited the daughter of one of the men who worked on the store to bake.”

“Clever!” Elizabeth admired their ingenuity.

“And delicious too,” Gwen added. But though she appeared to enjoy the food, Elizabeth noticed that she took no more than a bite of each dish.

“Are you feeling all right?” Elizabeth’s voice was little more than a whisper, for she did not want either the men or Rose to overhear her question.

“Of course. Why did you ask?”

“You’re not eating much.”

“I’m not hungry.” The words came out louder than Gwen had probably intended, for Harrison frowned in apparent response and stared at Gwen’s plate with its barely touched food.

“I am!” Rose started to reach for another piece of chicken, then stopped to look at Gwen for approval. When Gwen nodded, she grabbed the meat and began to gnaw on it as if she’d been starving.

Elizabeth took another spoonful of beans, smiling when she saw Gwen cut a piece of chicken and place it in her mouth. She must have been mistaken. It was only Elizabeth’s imagination that Gwen’s appetite seemed diminished, for she accepted a small slice of apple pie and ate every bit.

When the meal was completed and the remains stowed in
the carriages, Harrison suggested a walk. He helped Gwen rise, while Jason extended the same courtesy to Elizabeth. It was nothing more than a polite gesture, and yet the touch of Jason’s hand on hers made Elizabeth’s pulse accelerate, and the smile he gave her sent waves of warmth flowing through her veins.

Apparently unaffected by their proximity, Jason turned to Rose, who’d started to grab her mother’s hand. “Would you like to walk with Aunt Elizabeth and me?”

Harrison shot Jason a grateful smile as Rose shrieked, “Yes!” While her mother and Harrison headed out on one of the paths that ringed the lake, Rose looked longingly at the water. “Can we go in a boat?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Not today. The water’s too cold.” Though she’d seen a few boats on the lake, the occupants had been adults, not active children like Rose who’d want to lean over the side and might tumble into the water.

“Is not!” As if to prove it, Rose raced to the edge of the lake and thrust both hands into the water. “It’s warm,” she insisted. “Please, Mr. Nordling, can we go?”

Jason gave Elizabeth a look that said he was unaccustomed to dealing with a dynamo like Rose. “It’s your decision,” he told Elizabeth. “Would you like to go boating?” As if on cue, two boats approached, and one looked as if it were going to be docked.

“I don’t know how to row,” Elizabeth admitted. There was no reason to confide that she’d never been in a boat.

“Then let’s remedy that gap in your education.” Jason strode toward the water and engaged in a brief conversation with a couple who were in the process of docking their small rowboat. When the man nodded, Jason returned to Elizabeth
and Rose. “These nice people have agreed to let us use their boat for a few minutes.” He lifted Rose and placed her on the middle bench. “You need to sit quietly. Don’t stand up, or you’ll rock the boat. Aunt Elizabeth might fall in,” he said with an exaggerated frown. “We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

“No, sir.” She attempted to match his frown but wound up giggling.

A minute later, Elizabeth was seated in the front of the boat facing backward, while Jason plied the oars from the other end. Rowing was quieter than she’d expected. Although there was a rhythmic creak as the oars moved in their locks, the boat made little noise as it glided through the water. Even normally garrulous Rose was silent, as if awed by the fact that she was moving across the lake.

At first it had seemed strange, riding backward and seeing the surroundings only after she’d passed them, but Elizabeth soon discovered there was an advantage to her position: she could watch Jason. He’d removed his coat, and as he rowed, she could see that his arms were well-muscled. It was true that she’d seen his bare arms and chest when he’d been her patient, but this was different. Today she was seeing Jason as a man, a handsome, virile man.

“Do you want to try rowing?” he asked when they’d completed two circuits of the lake and had ventured into one of the lagoons.

Though she was tempted, Elizabeth shook her head. “Another time.” Enraptured by the boat, Rose had been remarkably calm, but Elizabeth recognized the signs of impatience returning. It was time for the girl to be on dry land, running.

The middle-aged couple who had lent them the boat
were waiting as Jason docked it. Both were well-dressed, the woman in a gown that bore Charlotte’s distinctive double box pleating, the man in a perfectly tailored suit. Both had kind faces, but what drew Elizabeth’s attention was the man’s moustache. It was longer and more elaborately curled and waxed than any she had seen. She only hoped that Rose, who was notoriously outspoken, would say nothing embarrassing.

Jason took the man aside, and the woman approached Elizabeth, a welcoming smile on her face. “Your daughter appears to like boating.” The smile lines that had formed at the corners of the woman’s mouth deepened. “I remember when our Anna was that age. She wouldn’t have sat still for so long.”

“I probably shouldn’t admit it, but Rose surprised me. She’s not always that well-behaved,” Elizabeth said. “She’s also not my daughter.”

“I wondered. She doesn’t resemble either of you.”

“Rose is the daughter of a good friend. We gave her mother a short break.”

The woman chuckled. “I wish I’d had a friend like you when Anna was three or four.”

Rose, who’d been bouncing up and down next to Elizabeth but who’d been surprisingly quiet, spied her mother rounding a corner of the path. “Mama, Mama!” she shrieked as she raced toward her. “Aunt Elizabeth and Mr. Nordling took me on a boat! It was fun.” She tugged on Gwen’s hand. “You gotta come see it.”

“You were a lucky girl, weren’t you?” Gwen’s voice floated across the still air.

“Come, Mama. You gotta go on the boat too.”

Elizabeth smiled at the woman. “That’s the real Rose,
lovable but lively.” She extended her hand. “I want to thank you for lending us your boat. As you can see, Rose enjoyed it, and so did I.”

“Make that unanimous. We all did,” Jason said as he and the mustached man approached Elizabeth. Jason smiled at the woman. “Did Elizabeth introduce herself?” When she shook her head, he continued. “Mrs. Mullen, this is Dr. Harding.”

“The lady doctor I’ve heard so much about?” Mrs. Mullen shook Elizabeth’s hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, more than you might guess.” She gave Jason a quick look. “I’m glad to see that the nicer rumors are true.” Turning back to Elizabeth she said, “Our Anna’s sixteen now, and she’s put up a big fuss about going to the doctor. Horace and I want her to see one, but she refuses.” Mrs. Mullen’s expression became determined. “Anna and I will be in to see you next week.”

As the Mullens left, Jason grinned. “That worked out well, didn’t it?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Mullen seemed very pleasant,” Elizabeth agreed, “and of course I’m happy about the prospect of two new patients.”

“It’s my first time meeting them, but your brother-in-law liked Mr. Mullen well enough. He bought Charlotte’s ring from him.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened as she realized what Jason had said. “He’s that Mr. Mullen?” When she had admired one of Miriam’s brooches, Miriam had said it had come from Mr. Mullen’s shop.

“Indeed. Horace Mullen is one of the city’s finest jewelers. If his wife is satisfied with your care, you’ll probably get more patients.”

“I can’t have too many of them.” Elizabeth’s practice had
been slow, particularly the last few weeks, but that was a thought she did not want to entertain today. Instead, she turned to look at Rose, who’d grabbed her mother’s hand and led her to the lake’s edge, perhaps to demonstrate that the water was not too cold for boating. Gwen shook her head and said something to Harrison. A minute later, they were standing next to Elizabeth and Jason.

“I’d better get her home. Rose will never admit it, but she’s tired.”

Lifting Rose onto his shoulders, Harrison turned to Jason. “There’s no need for you to leave. I’ve heard that sunset’s pretty here.”

Though she wasn’t certain this was the best place in the city to view the sunset, Elizabeth wasn’t about to argue, not when it gave her an excuse to spend more time with Jason. It had been a wonderful day so far, one that she would add to her memory box, and she wasn’t ready for it to end.

“I’m in no hurry to get home,” she told Jason when he asked whether she wanted to walk around the lake. Strolling in the park with him would be like walking home from her office. But it wasn’t.

Elizabeth wasn’t certain how long they walked. She wasn’t certain what they discussed. At the time, it seemed like everything and nothing. What she knew was that nothing had ever felt so good—so right—as strolling around this small lake, her hand tucked in the crook of Jason’s arm. As they walked, he’d look down at her and smile, his eyes sparkling when his gaze met hers, and she’d smile in return. There was no need for words when a smile conveyed her contentment at being here with this very special man.

The first time they circled the lake, Elizabeth saw a few
families enjoying the scenery, but as they completed their second circuit, the others were gone. Minnehaha Lake had become a private sanctuary for her and Jason. And then the sun began to set, turning the sky a brilliant orange as it descended below the horizon. The clouds that had been snowy white became a vibrant reddish orange with slender fingers of yellow emerging from their bases, while the tops turned as dark as charcoal. Elizabeth stared, enraptured by the beauty, not daring to take her eyes from the sky, for it seemed to change with each second. More quickly than she had thought possible, the orange faded to pink, then blue, until finally the sky was gray. Night had fallen.