She gave him a questioning look.
“I love you, and I—” Mike never finished his sentence. Instead, he took Kelly in his arms and kissed her upturned mouth. Her lips tasted sweet as honey, and it felt so right to hold her.
When Kelly slipped her hands around his neck and returned his kiss, Mike thought he was going to drown in the love he felt for her.
Kelly was the first to pull away. Her face was bright pink, and her eyes were cloudy with obvious emotion. Had she enjoyed the kiss as much as he?
She placed her trembling hands against her rosy cheeks. “I ... I think it’s time to go.”
“But we haven’t picked any wildflowers for you to use as watercolors,” Mike argued.
She stood and dropped her art supplies into the pocket of her skirt. “I shouldn’t have let you kiss me. It wasn’t right.”
Mike jumped to his feet. “It felt right to me.”
She hung her head. “It wasn’t, and it can never happen again.”
Mike’s previous elation plummeted clear to his toes. “I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the kiss.”
“I did,” she surprised him by saying. “But we can never be more than friends, and I don’t think friends should go around kissin’ each other.”
So that’s how it was. Kelly only saw him as a friend. Mike felt like a fool. He’d read more into her physical response than there was. He’d decided awhile back to take it slow and easy with Kelly—be sure of her feelings before he made a move. He’d really messed things up, and it was too late to take back the kiss or his declaration of love.
“Forgive me for taking liberties that weren’t mine,” he said, forcing her to look him in the eye, even though it pained him to see there were tears running down her cheeks.
When she didn’t say anything, Mike bent to retrieve the picnic basket and blanket. “I think you’re right. It’s time to go.”
***
All the way back to the boat, Kelly chided herself for being foolish enough to allow Mike to kiss her. Now she’d hurt his feelings. It was obvious by the slump of his shoulders and the silence that covered the distance between them. On the way to the pond, he’d been talkative and whistled. Now the only sounds were the call of a dove and the canal waters lapping against the bank.
I was wrong to let him kiss me, but was I wrong to tell him we could only be friends? Should I have let him believe I might feel more for him than friendship? Do I feel more?
Kelly’s disconcerting thoughts came to a halt when they rounded the bend where the canal boats could be seen. In the middle of the grassy area between Mike’s store and the boats that had stopped for the day, two men were fistfighting. One was Patrick O’Malley. The other was Kelly’s dad. Several other men stood on the sidelines, shouting, clapping, and cheering them on. What was the scuffle about, and why wasn’t someone trying to stop it?
As though Mike could read her thoughts, he set the picnic basket and blanket on the ground, then stepped forward. “Please, no fighting on the Sabbath. Can’t you two men solve your differences without the use of your knuckles?”
Pow!
Papa’s fist connected on the left side of Patrick’s chin. “You stay outa this, boy!” he shouted at Mike.
Smack!
Patrick gave Papa a head butt that sent him sprawling on the grass.
“Stop it! Stop it!” Kelly shouted. Tears were stung the backs of her eyes, and she felt herself tremble. Why must Papa make such a spectacle of himself? What did Mike and the others who were watching think of her dad?
The men were hitting each other lickety-split now, apparently oblivious to anything that was being said. Closer and closer to the canal they went, and when Papa slammed his fist into Patrick’s chest, the man lost his footing and fell over backward. He grabbed Papa’s shirtsleeve, and both men landed in the water with a splash.
Mortified, Kelly covered her face with her hands. How could a day that started out with such promise end on such a sour note?
After the fight was over and the two men settled down, Kelly learned the reason behind the scuffle. It had all started over something as simple as whose boat would be leaving first come Monday morning.
After the way her dad had caused such a scene, Kelly didn’t think she could show her face to Mike or anyone else without suspecting they were talking behind her back. It was embarrassing the way her dad could fly off the handle and punch a man for no reason at all. Men didn’t make a lick of sense!
***
As summer moved into fall, Kelly saw less of Mike. Papa kept them moving, wanting to make as many loads as possible before the bad weather. He refused to stop for anything that wasn’t necessary.
It was just as well she wasn’t spending time with Mike, Kelly decided as she sat upon Hector’s back, bone tired and unable to take another step. After Mike’s unexpected kiss the day they’d had a picnic by the Millers’ pond, Kelly hadn’t wanted to do or say anything that might cause Mike to believe they had anything more than a casual friendship. What if Mike was thinking about marriage? What if he only felt sorry for her because she worked so hard? Kelly wasn’t about to marry someone just to get away from Papa.
“I wish I didn’t like Mike so much,” Kelly murmured against the mule’s ear.
***
It had been a long day, and Mike was about ready to close up his store when Betsy Nelson showed up. She seemed to have such good timing. Mike had just finished going through a stack of mail brought in by the last boat, and he was feeling lower than the canal waters after a break. He’d gotten another letter from his brother Alvin. This one said his other brother John had also found himself a girlfriend. There was even mention of a double wedding come December.
“Sorry to be coming by so late in the day,” Betsy panted, “but Papa’s real sick, and I need some medicine to help quiet his cough.” Her cheeks were red, and it was obvious by her heavy breathing that she’d probably run all the way to Mike’s store. Mike knew Preacher Nelson didn’t own a horse, preferring to make all his calls on foot.
“Come inside, and I’ll see what kind of cough syrup I’ve got left in stock.” Mike stepped aside so Betsy could enter, and she followed him to the back of the store.
“I haven’t seen you for a while,” Betsy said as Mike handed her a bottle of his best-selling cough syrup.
“I’ve been kinda busy.”
Her eyelids fluttered. “I’ve missed you.”
Mike swallowed hard. Betsy was flirting again, and it made him real nervous. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but the simple fact was he didn’t love Betsy. Even though Kelly had spurned his kiss, he was hoping someday she would come to love him as much as he did her.
As lonely as Mike was, and as much as he desired a wife, he knew he couldn’t marry the preacher’s daughter. She was too self-centered and a bit short-tempered, which probably meant she wouldn’t be a patient mother. Kelly, on the other hand, would make a good wife and mother. It wasn’t just her lovely face or long brown hair that had captured Mike’s heart. Kelly had a gentle spirit. He’d witnessed it several times when she tended the mules. If only she seemed more willing.
Maybe I should quit praying for a wife and get a dog instead.
“Mike? Did you hear what I said?”
Betsy’s high-pitched voice drove Mike’s musings to the back of his mind. “What was that?”
“I said, ‘I’ve missed you.’”
Mike felt his ears begin to warm. “Thank you, Betsy. It’s nice to know I’ve been missed.”
She looked at him with pleading eyes. No doubt she was hoping he would respond by saying he missed her, too. Mike couldn’t lie. It wouldn’t be right to lead Betsy on.
He moved quickly to the front of the store and placed the bottle of medicine on the counter. “Is there anything else you’ll be needin’?”
Betsy’s lower lip protruded as she shook her head.
He slipped the bottle into a brown paper sack, took her money, and handed Betsy her purchase. “I hope your dad is feeling better soon. Give him my regards, will you?”
She gave him a curt nod, lifted her head high, and pranced out the door. Mike let out a sigh of relief. At least she hadn’t invited him to supper again.
***
The last day of November arrived, and Kelly couldn’t believe it was time to leave the Lehigh Navigation System until spring. When Mama said she needed a few things, Papa had agreed to stop by Cooper’s General Store. Kelly felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. Even though she wanted the chance to say goodbye, she dreaded seeing Mike again. Ever since the day he’d kissed her, things had been strained between them. She was afraid Mike wanted more from her than she was able to give. He’d said once that he wanted a whole passel of children so he could teach them responsibility. Did he think making children work would make them smart?
“I wonder if he wants kids so he can force ’em to labor with no pay,” Kelly fumed to the mules. All the men she knew who put their kids to work paid them little or nothing. It wasn’t fair! No wonder Sarah ran away and got married.
“’Course if Sarah hadn’t run off, I wouldn’t have been left with all the work. Maybe the two of us could have come up with a plan to make money of our own.”
They stopped in front of Mike’s store, and Kelly secured the mules to a tree while she waited for her parents to get off the boat. A short time later, Mama disembarked.
“Where’s Papa?” Kelly asked her mother.
Mama shrugged her shoulders. “He said he thought he’d take a nap while we do our shoppin’. He gave me a list of things he needs and said for us not to take all day.”
Kelly followed her mother inside the store. She was glad to see Mike was busy with a customer. At least she wouldn’t have to speak with him right away. It would give her time to think of something sensible to say. Should she ask if he still planned to write her while she was living in Easton? Should she promise to write him in return?
She thought about the paintings she had in her drawing tablet, which she hoped to give Mike before she left. Trouble was, she didn’t want Mama to see. Could she find some way of speaking to Mike alone?
As if by divine intervention, the man Mike had been waiting on left the store, and about the same time, Mama decided to go back to the boat. She said something about needing to get Papa’s opinion on the material she planned to use for a shirt she’d be making him soon.
Kelly knew she didn’t have much time, so when the door closed behind her mother, she moved over to the counter where Mike stood.
“Hello, Kelly,” he said, offering her a pleasant smile. “It’s good to see you.”
She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “We’re on our way to Easton for the winter and decided to stop by your store for a few items.”
When Mike made no comment, Kelly rushed on before she lost her nerve. “I’ve got a few more paintings to give you. That is, if you’re interested in tryin’ to sell them.” She reached into her pocket and withdrew the tablet, then placed it on the counter.
Mike thumbed through the pages. “These are great, Kelly. I especially like the one of the two children playing in a pile of fallen leaves.”
Kelly smiled. That was her favorite picture, too. She’d drawn it in charcoal, then used a mixture of coffee shades, as well as some carrot, onion, and beet water for the colored leaves.
“I’ve sold a couple more pictures since you were last here,” Mike said, reaching into his cash box and producing a few bills, which he handed to Kelly.
“What about your share of the profits?” she asked. “Did ya keep out some of the money?”
Mike gave her a sheepish grin. “I thought with you going to the big city and all, you’d probably need a little extra cash. I’ll take my share out of the next batch of pictures I sell.”
Kelly was tempted to argue, but the thought of having more money made her think twice about refusing. She nodded instead and slipped the bills into her pocket.
“When do you think you’ll be back?” Mike asked.
“Sometime in March, whenever the ice and snow are gone.”
“Is there an address where I can write to you?”
“We’ll be staying at Mable Flannigan’s Boardinghouse. It’s on the corner of Front Street in the eight hundred block.”
“And you can write me here at Cooper’s General Store, Walnutport, Pennsylvania.”
“I’ll try to write if there’s time.” That was all Kelly could promise. She had no idea where she might be working or how many hours she’d be putting in each day.
“Mind if I give you a hug good-bye?” Mike asked. “Just as friends?”
Kelly wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t want to encourage Mike, yet she didn’t want to be rude, either. She guessed one little hug wouldn’t hurt. He did say it was just as friends. She nodded and held out her arms.
Mike skirted around the counter and pulled her into an embrace.
Kelly’s heart pounded against her chest, and she feared it might burst wide open. What if Mama came back and saw the two of them? What if Mike decided to kiss her again?
Her fears were relieved when Mike pulled away. “Take care, Kelly McGregor. I’ll see you next spring.”
***
Winter came quickly to the Lehigh Valley, and a thick layer of snow soon covered the ground. Mike missed Kelly terribly, and several times a week he walked the towpath, as he was now, thinking about her and praying for her safety. He knew she cared for him, but only as a friend. If he just hadn’t allowed himself to fall in love with her. If only she loved him in return.
Kelly had been gone a little over a month, and still not one letter had he received. He’d written to her several times, but no response. Was she too busy to write? Had she found a man and fallen in love? All sorts of possible explanations flitted through Mike’s mind as he trudged along, his boots crunching through the fresh-fallen snow.
God would need to heal his heart if Kelly never returned, because Mike was in love with her, and there didn’t seem to be a thing he could do about it.
I shouldn’t have let myself fall for her, Lord,
he prayed.
What
I thought was Your will might have only been my own selfish desires. Maybe You want me to remain single.