"Dawns Prelude" - читать интересную книгу автора (Peterson Tracie)

Chapter 16

Oh, but this is wonderful news!" Zerelda fairly danced a jig. Her pleasure at the announcement that Lydia had made peace with God and accepted Kjell's proposal was clearly evident.

Kjell grinned. "I thought you might approve." He put his arm around Lydia. "Not only that, but Liddie's hid for the property was acceptable to the agent."

"And does that meet well with you?" Zerelda asked, looking back and forth from Lydia to Kjell.

"Why wouldn't it?" he questioned.

Lydia looked at her aunt curiously. "Yes, why wouldn't it be acceptable?"

"Well, Kjell is a man, and he might find that it hurts his pride to have his wife provide the money to buy their home." She fixed her gaze on Kjell. "If that is something that bothers you, you should work. it out now."

He shook his head. "It doesn't bother me. God has always provided for me in one manner or another. I have nothing that hasn't been given me through Him. I'm not at all concerned about this transaction. I know Lydia has a great deal of wealth. It doesn't interest me, except that she is happy and has what she needs for the baby"

Lydia smiled. Floyd would never have agreed to such a thing. He might have taken her money and then conducted his own purchases, but he would never have allowed her to make any decision about their future.

It touched her deeply that Kjell was so different from the other men she'd known. If he could be different, then other men could, as well. The world wouldn't necessarily have to be filled with cruel tyrants who only wanted to use and hurt women.

"When will you marry?"

"The sooner, the better," Lydia said, surprising herself as well as the others.

Kjcll laughed out loud and gave her shoulders a squeeze. "I'm such a great catch, she's afraid I'll get away."

Zcrclda nodded with a smile. And well she should be. You are the best man in Sitka."

"Yes, but I have eyes for no one but Liddie. She needn't worry about me slipping away.-

"My honest concern is to marry before the baby arrives. I'd like for him or her to have the Lindquist name," Lydia declared.

"And so he shall," Kjell replied. "We'll marry tomorrow, if we can. The Russian priest can probably do the job, since we really have no other men of the cloth in Sitka. Then we can all move into the main house before the weather turns had."

"Oh, it would probably be best for the two of you to move into the main house on your own," Zerelda countered. "A couple needs time to themselves, and I have lived quite contentedly in this cabin for many years."

A know you have," Kjell told her, "but I have other reasons for wanting you close. I don't want Liddie alone-cspccially with Gray still in town. I don't want you alone, either, for that matter. The threat he presents is real, and I don't want something hap- pcning to you."

"Do you think he will dare come here again?" Lydia asked. He'd done nothing to again impose himself at the cabin.

"I think he's capable of about anything. I'm not going to risk him showing up while I'm working one day when you're alone. Together, you and Zee are capable of holding off a small army."

"Mainly because of Zerelda," Lydia said with a smile. "She's a fierce foe to be encountered."

Zerelda laughed. "Well, I have shot my share of beasts in the past. None were two-legged, but it could happen, I suppose. I usually find that men are willing to reason with the end of my shotgun."

Kjcll nodded. "So that is why I want us all under one roof. At least until Gray leaves. Would you be willing to do that, Zee?"

The serious expression on Zerelda's face left little doubt in Lydia 's mind that she fully understood the gravity of the situation. "I will do whatever you think best, Kjell. Especially if it means keeping Liddie safe."

Lydia slept very little that night. She thought of how things would he after tomorrow. She was about to marry again, and she had more than a little fear of what that would mean. Was she making the right decision?

She turned over slowly and tried to soothe her aching back with extra pillows. The thought of praying came to mind, but Lydia still felt awkward about trying it.

"I don't really know what to say," she whispered. "I know that I desire safety for myself and the child. Oh, and for Kjell and Zerelda, too." She thought for a moment. "I want to know you better, Lord. I know that my faith is weak right now, but Zerelda tells me that in time it will grow."

Thoughts of Marston gave her a shiver. "I wish you'd make him go away. I wish you would send him back to Kansas City and make him realize that he cannot force me to return with him. He frightens me, Lord. I can't help it." She rubbed her hand over her bulky stomach. "I fear for my child."

For a moment, Lydia paused. Praying was so very foreign to her. Was God really listening? Did He really hear the prayers of unimportant people? She frowned and closed her eyes. She wanted to feel as sure of her faith as Zerelda and Kjell did, but how did that happen? Was there something more she needed to do?

Lydia awoke the next morning feeling a sense of anticipation. For a moment, she didn't know what it was all about, but then Kjell's proposal came hack to her. They were to marry today! She drew a deep breath and cautiously maneuvered out of bed. She studied her wardrobe and knew there was little choice to he had. She had a simple navy-colored skirt, as well as a brown one, both of which had been styled to accommodate her pregnancy. There were also several full-cut pleated blouses that Zerelda had made for her.

"Not exactly like the grand wedding gown I wore when I married Floyd," she mused. But then, that marriage didn't turn out well, so apparently the finery didn't help."

Choosing her best white blouse to accompany the navy skirt, Lydia dressed and then styled her hair. She arranged the straight brown mass into a simple bun at the back of her neck. There was no full-length mirror to study her reflection, and Lydia could only hope that her efforts would suffice. Kjell would think her beautiful no matter what, and that thrilled her heart as nothing else could. Floyd had never thought her pretty, but Kjell looked at her in such a way that she had no doubt of his appreciation and approval.

"There you are," Zerelda said as Lydia exited her bedroom. "I thought maybe you'd changed your mind. My, but don't you look lovely"

"I was just thinking how very different this wedding would be to the one I had at sixteen. No expensive wedding gown or masses of hothouse flowers. But also, no pretense. No force."

Zerelda nodded and came to take hold of Lydia 's hands. "Only a man who loves you dearly. I'm blessed to see this happening, Liddie. I can't imagine a more perfect union."

"I hope so. I'm still frightened." She paused and thought about her struggle to pray. "I tried to pray about it last night, but it's all so new to me. I wish I had your faith, but I don't know God very well."

"It will come in time. Just trust Him, and He will reveal himself to you. Read the Word. I know Kjell takes time each morning to read the Bible, and I'm sure if you asked him, he would read it to you. Then maybe you could even discuss the meaning of the verses and what God wants to teach you through the Scriptures."

"I'd like that, I think. I want to learn. I really want that with all my heart. I've thought a lot about the things you've told me about God. It's hard to just let go of the past, but I'm trying. I'm trying hard to find a way to forgive, but it won't be easy."

"Just remember, forgiveness is a way of setting yourself free of the bondage put on you by others. There is liberty to he had in it."

They heard the wagon outside and smiled at each other. "That would he Kjell," Zerelda said, leaning forward to kiss Lydia on the cheek. "Let's see if he has managed to arrange everything."

Half an hour later, Lydia stood before the Russian Orthodox priest with Kjell at her side. The man's daughter and Zerelda stood as witnesses to the marriage, along with two elderly men who hoarded at the priest's home.

The ceremony was over quickly, and when Lydia turned to receive Kjell's kiss, she thought she might faint from the excitement of the moment. Kjell pulled her close and kissed her firmly. It wasn't lengthy, but it left Lydia weak in the knees, just as his other kisses had.

"Congratulations," Zerelda said, kissing Kjell on the cheek. "You are truly a member of my family now."

"And happy to be so, Zee. I can't imagine a better family"

With the ceremony and legalities concluded, Kjell paid the priest and motioned to the door. "Let's go. I have another surprise."

Lydia allowed Zerelda to help her into her coat, then followed Kjell into the hallway. She stopped, however, causing Zerelda to hump into her. Kjell and Marston Gray stood not a foot apart from each other.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Marston asked. "I didn't realize you knew I was staying here."

"We didn't," Kjell answered. He glanced back at Lydia and Zerelda. "We didn't come here today to see you."

"No? Then what was the occasion?"

Lydia stepped forward. "Our marriage. Kjell and I have married. So you see, you can go hack to Kansas City, assured that my child will have a father. There is no reason for you to any longer be concerned."

"You married?" Marston sounded genuinely stunned. He looked at Kjell a moment longer before turning his full attention on Lydia. "You married him?"

"I did."

Marston's anger was undeniable. Lydia watched him clench and unclench his jaw several times before speaking again. "This changes nothing. That baby is still a Gray."

Kjcll took hold of Lydia 's arm. "This baby is a Lindquist."

Lydia smiled up at her husband and drew strength from his reassuring expression. Marston could no longer hurt her. Not with KjeIl at her side.

"We will see about that," Marston replied. "There are laws about such things, and I will pursue them."

"Do what you will, Mr. Gray, but please do it as far from Sitka as possible," Zerelda said, pushing past him. "The army is in charge here, and I happen to know that none of the authorities think overly much of you and your bullying. You would do best to invest in a ticket on the first ship home."

Kjcll followed Zerelda with Lydia at his side. He said nothing, and Lydia refused to even look at Marston. An angry Gray man had a way of making everyone around him just as miserable, and that frightened her.

"So what's your surprise?" Zerelda asked.

"I arranged with Mrs. DuPont to serve us a little wedding luncheon," Kjell said, smiling. He seemed to have put the incident with Marston behind him already "She's waiting for us just down the street."

Lydia was grateful that they wouldn't have to climb back into the wagon just yet. The jarring ride had been a most uncomfortable affair, and she vowed to herself not to make another trip into town until after Christmas and the birth of her child. She clung to Kjell's arm and allowed him to lead the way, all the while begging God to send Marston Gray as far away from her as possible.

Kjell felt a sense of great accomplishment as he helped Lydia down from the wagon. Their new house awaited them, and while he still had his own things to bring up from town, he already felt this to be home.

"I have a surprise for you two," Zerelda announced. "I know I took matters into my own hands, but I'm hoping you won't mind."

Kjell eyed her curiously "What have you been up to, Zee?"

"Only this." She went up the porch steps and knocked. The door opened to reveal Joshua and several others-all good friends of Kjell's.

"We moved your things in from town. Lydia 's stuff is here, too," Joshua announced.

"And for this one night, you will have the place to yourself," Zerelda added. "I'm going to town to stay with my friend since you don't want me staying alone at the cabin. A newly married couple should at least have some privacy."

Lydia blushed crimson, and Kjell nearly laughed. He held hack, however, fearful that Lydia might take it the wrong way. In her condition, privacy was not going to be that important, but he wouldn't have traded the gift for anything. He looked forward to having Lydia to himself.

"Zee, this was a most thoughtful gift."

"I thought you might see it my way. Now come along, boys."

Kjell's friends followed her down the path. Joshua broke into a round of song, but Kjell couldn't quite make out the tune. He turned instead to Lydia. "Welcome home, wife."

She smiled. "Welcome home, husband."

They went inside, and Kjell couldn't help but marvel at Zerelda's efficiency There was even a fire burning in the hearth. On the stove, a pot of stew simmered with an enticing aroma alongside a pot of coffee.

"Looks like she thought of everything."

"Zerclda is like that," Lydia said, putting her hand to her back. "I knew she'd put a stew together this morning, but I didn't give it any thought." She yawned and added, She must have had the fellows bring it over with my things."

"Here, come sit down. You need to rest." Kjell guided Lydia to her rocking chair. Apparently Zerelda had thought it fitting to part with this, as well.

"I'm sorry there won't be any… well… real wedding night for you." Lydia flushed and looked away.

Kjell laughed softly and knelt on the floor. "Who says there won't be?"

She looked hack in horror, her eyes widened in fear. "But… the baby."

putting his hand atop hers, he shook his head. "Liddie, I would not hurt you. I merely meant that we would he together. I can hold you and caress your soft skin taste your sweet kisses. It will he special. And it can start right now." He began to unfasten her boots.

Patiently, he worked the hooks until he had each hoot off. Next, he began to massage her feet. Lydia moaned softly and closed her eyes.

"That feels good," she murmured.

"I thought it might. I remembered you saying that your feet hurt."

She met his gaze. "You seem to remember a lot of things."

He grinned. "Just the good ones, and you are always among them."

December 1870

December came in with cold winds and snow, and still no word of who had killed the Tlingit brothers or set fire to Kjcll's shop. The trajedies had been, it seemed, completely forgotten in the wake of holiday festivities. The damage done to the property had been minimal and had caused no harm to the rest of the town. This, coupled with the fact that the dead boys were Tlingit and not white, also served to lessen the interest of the authorities. Kjcll was determined to figure out what had happened, however. He owed it to those boys to see justice done.

He brought a cup of coffee to his desk and checked the time. He had come home to tend his ledgers and get caught up on bookwork while Lydia took a much-needed nap. The growing burden of the child kept her from sleeping well at night.

Kjell was glad that Liddie was content to remain home instead of going into town, as Marston Gray was still present. He had hoped the man would have left by now, and his presence worried Kjcll. What was the man waiting for? The only obvious answer seemed to be the baby's birth.

Would Gray truly try to take the child, as he had threatened? Kjell had talked to one of the town's two lawyers, who assured him Gray could do very little. At least not legally. This caused Kjell even more anxiety. He knew from Lydia 's stories and Marston's own actions that operating within the confines of legality didn't seem to he of a concern to the man.

A knock on the door sent Kjell to answer it before Lydia woke up. He found Joshua on the other side of the door, looking worried.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I'd better come share something I heard."

"Come on in but keep quiet," Kjell told Joshua. " Lydia 's sleeping."

Joshua nodded and removed his cap. "I was cutting ice today, and a couple of the fellows there were from the Double-Decker."

Kjell went to the stove and held up the pot. "Coffee?"

Joshua nodded. Kjell poured him a cup and handed it over. "Go on."

"Well, it seems they knew about the Sidorovs and the problems they'd had with you. One of them was commenting on how if he'd been hired to burn us out, there wouldn't be a stick of wood left standing."

Kjcll's eyes narrowed. "If he'd been hired… Is he implying the Sidorovs were hired to do the job? That they didn't just do it from their own desire for vengeance?"

"That's the way he talked, Kjell. I don't know who might have paid them to do something like that, but I figured you ought to know that you have an enemy out there somewhere. If it happened once, it could happen again."

"And what of the boys?"

"He didn't say anything about them, but it all fits together. If the Sidorovs were hired to burn us out and the boys were there, they would have had reason to kill them. They were the only ones who could have identified them."

Kjell clenched his jaw and fought to contain the anger welling within him. He felt confident that Gray had been the one to hire the Sidorovs, but how could he ever prove it?

"I'd best go," Joshua said, putting down the cup. "Fin sorry to bring this kind of news."

Kjell nodded. "You were right to come."

Upstairs, the bedroom door opened, and Kjell could hear Lydia making her way downstairs. "Not a word of this to her," he told Joshua.

The young man nodded and headed for the door. Lydia was halfway down when he turned hack to Kjell. "I'll see you at the mill on Monday."

"I'll he there," Kjell replied.

"Afternoon to you, Mrs. Lindquist."

"Afternoon, Joshua." She looked at her husband as the door closed. "What brought him all the way out here in the cold?"

"Nothing all that important," Kjell muttered and turned away. He didn't want Lydia to sense his concern.

"You're upset," she said, coming to touch his shoulder. "Is it had news?"

"No!" he snapped. He pulled away and went to pour himself a cup of coffee. "Just forget about it."

It wasn't until he'd taken a long drink that he turned. He saw the fear in Lydia 's eyes and immediately regretted his actions. He put the cup down and crossed the room to where she stood. To his surprise, she turned away as if to shelter herself and the baby from his blows.

"Liddie, I'm sorry"

Tears came to his eyes as she continued to hunch into the corner. Did she honestly think he would hurt her? He fought against touching her, fearing that she would fight him.

"Liddie, you don't need to be afraid of me. I'm sorry I sounded so angry. Joshua did give me some news I didn't expect, but it shouldn't cause you alarm. Please forgive me."

Lydia turned and Kjell's heart nearly broke at the sight of her tears. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry." She broke into sobs, and Kjell risked the situation to take her in his arms. She didn't push him away or fight. "I'm sorry, Lydia. I'm so very sorry."

She cried softly as he held her. Kjell felt like six kinds of fool. Trust did not come easily for this woman, and here he'd already caused damage.

After several minutes, he gently lifted her face to his. " Lydia, you never have to be afraid of me. I might not always keep my temper, but I will never hurt you or strike you. You have to believe me. I'm not Floyd. I'm not like him."

She nodded. "I know. It just scared me."

And knowing that breaks my heart." He smoothed back her hair and gently kissed her forehead. "I am devoted to loving you and protecting you. You have my pledge and word. I will never lay a hand to you. Please believe me."

She met his eyes and gave a little nod. "I believe you."