The Lightkeeper's Bride (30 page)

His rough hand smoothed her hair and he kissed her forehead. How had she endured life without him in it? His warmth enticed her to burrow deeper against him, but she must be strong. She closed her eyes and composed herself, then drew away and lifted a smile into his face. “I know you’re exhausted but I believe I know where we should look for the gold!”

He raised a black eyebrow. “What have you discovered?”

She clasped her hands. “The bird had the clue all along.”

“Paco?” He frowned. “What are you talking about? That dumb bird only knows two things to say.”

“Exactly. It’s the cake.” She knew it sounded quite ridiculous so she rushed on. “Wedding Cake Rock. The rock out in the bay where we found the ship.”

“I remember seeing it.”

“The bird says, ‘Step away from the cake.’ And ‘six feet back.’”

“Over and over,” he agreed, his smile coming quickly.

“What if it’s a clue to where the gold is hidden?”

“You mean the cake refers to that rock?”

She nodded. “Indeed. I think we should check it out.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Katie, that’s hardly likely, is it? That thing is all rock and gets lashed with storms. I can’t see where they could hide anything there.”

She hadn’t thought of the storms. Her certainty faltered. “Still, there could be something there.”

“It’s possible, I suppose.” He yawned again. “Let me get some rest and we’ll run out there this afternoon.”

His tone indicated he was only humoring her. “All right. You get some sleep.” She stepped away and his arms fell to his sides.

“A good night kiss?” he asked, reaching for her.

She went back into his arms willingly and lifted her face for his kiss. He bent his head, but she heard footsteps coming up the steps and drew back.

He dropped his arms. “Later,” he whispered and shut the door.

She stepped briskly forward toward the stairway and met Lady Carrington at the top. The older woman had Jennie in her arms. The baby reached for Katie and she took her. Jennie grabbed at the comb in Katie’s hair. “I think I’ll go see my mother,” she told Lady Carrington.

“I thought Will wanted to speak with her.”

“I’d like to warn her so it isn’t such a shock. Will and I have something else to do when he gets up anyway.”

“Splendid idea,” the other woman said. “I was about to put this little one down for a nap.”

Katie kissed the baby’s pudgy cheek then handed her to Lady Carrington. “I shall return in a couple of hours. Do you need anything from town while I’m out?”

“I believe we’re fine, my dear. Give my regards to your dear mama.”

“I will.” Katie went down the stairs and out the door where she hitched the buggy and started to town.

When she’d talked to her mother last night, she’d discovered the doctor said she no was longer contagious. Katie was eager to see her well. As the buggy rolled through town, she noticed more people out and about. People waved and called to her. She stopped to speak with Nell a moment and discovered the other telephone operator was eager to get back to the office. The infection truly seemed over.

Which meant she could move home within days.

The very thought filled her with dread. Her mother would expect her to come home. She
should
go home. But the thought of leaving Will and Jennie . . . It was no use. Lady Carrington was bound to want to return to her own home, tomorrow or the next day at the latest. And Katie couldn’t stay at the lighthouse without her.

Smiling stiffly at passersby, she turned the horse onto her road.

Moments later, she pulled up outside her house and clambered down.

Adjusting her hat, she put on a happy expression and went up the steps to the front door.

The house was quiet when she entered the foyer. “Mama? Where are you?” She crossed the polished wood floor to the parlor and found her mother seated in the chair by the front window. Her head dipped to one side and she snored lightly. The pox on her face had faded, though some were still an angry red against the pale skin. A wave of love washed over Katie as she watched her mother. She crossed the few steps to the chair and knelt by it.

When she touched her mother’s hand, the older woman’s lids fluttered up. “Hello, Mama,” Katie said softly.

Her mother straightened and clutched at Katie’s hand. “Darling, I’m so glad to see you!”

Katie embraced her. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Her mother fingered the fading marks on her cheeks. “I still can’t believe they’re gone.” Her eyes brightened as her gaze roamed her daughter. “You look quite well, my dear. Blooming, in fact. Has your young man declared himself?”

Katie had intended to tiptoe into the subject, but the words spilled out before she could help herself. “Mama, I love Will Jesperson.”

A frown crouched between her mother’s eyes. “The lightkeeper? Oh no, no, Katie, that’s ridiculous. You’re much too precious for me to allow you to marry a man with no prospects.”

Katie managed to keep her smile in place. Her mama just didn’t know Will. “Wait until you meet him. He’s quite wonderful.”

Her mother took her arm in a firm grasp. “You haven’t broken it off with Bart, have you?”

“Well no, not yet. There’s been so much going—”

“Oh, good. And what about my sister? Is she still in town?”

“She is. But Mama, I didn’t come to talk to you about them. It’s about Will. He wants to speak with you himself.”

She heard a footfall in the hall and turned as her father entered the room. “Papa, you’re home too?” She embraced him and found him thinner and much more frail. “How are you feeling?”

He dropped heavily into a chair. A livid scar still marred his forehead. “What are you saying about the lightkeeper, Katie? I’ve already promised your hand to Bart. He asked for my permission. Of course, I was delighted.”

“Without even discussing it with me?”

“I thought you had feelings for Bart,” Albert said, frowning. He shook his head. “You’ve always been a good girl, Katie. Your mother and I have done so much for you.” He passed his hand over the beads of perspiration on his forehead. “Don’t fail us now over some silly romantic notion.”

“It’s not a silly notion, Papa.”

“You must talk her out of this, Albert,” her mother said.

He patted her hand. “Katie has always done her duty. I’m sure she will do so this time as well.”

“What about Florence?” Katie’s mother asked.

“I’ll handle Florence,” he said, his voice grim.

“I love Will,” Katie whispered.

“It’s out of the question.” Her mother smiled. “Let’s not continue to speak of such unpleasant things. Let’s celebrate being a family again.” She smiled at Katie and Albert, her eyes bright. “I’ll ring for tea.”

The sun refused to be restrained behind the curtains, which meant the bright rays kept coaxing Will from any kind of restful sleep. He groaned, rolled over, and glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantel in his bedroom. Only a little after twelve. He hadn’t shut his eyes for more than fifteen minutes at a stretch. Every time his lids closed, he saw Katie’s face. So earnest and excited about her so-called “clue” and he’d disregarded her conclusion.

He swung his legs out of bed, quickly washed and dressed, and then went in search of Katie. He saw Lady Carrington in the yard with Jennie. Lady Carrington was rolling a ball and Jennie was trying to toddle after it. The kitten pounced after her.

A family man. That’s what he’d become in this past month. And it felt good. His brother and sister had been teenagers when he took over their care. This was different. Jennie was as much his child as anyone’s, and he couldn’t imagine giving her up now. But what court would grant custody to a bachelor?

He grabbed his hat and stepped into the yard. The baby squealed when she saw him and lifted her hands. He scooped her up and she planted an open-mouthed kiss on his face. He grinned, quite ridiculously pleased at her obvious affection.

“Katie isn’t here?” he asked Lady Carrington.

She shook her head. “She went to town to see her mother.”

She hadn’t waited for him. What did that mean? “I believe I’ll join her if you’re all right with the baby?”

“I’m doing splendidly. We just had lunch, and we’re enjoying the sunshine. Run along, dear boy.”

He handed Jennie off to her and went to the barn at the foot of the hillside. Katie had taken the horse, so his only option to get to town was to ride the bicycle. He set off on it. It was hard going in the gravel at the side of the road, but he reached the edge of town and found it thronging with people, all eager to get out now that most had been let off quarantine. By the time he reached the main street, he was hot and thirsty. Hungry too. He parked the bike at the café beside the roller rink and went inside. He ordered ham and potato salad. Halfway through eating his lunch, he noticed Katie’s beau two tables over by the window.

Bart saw him at the same time. He rose and walked to join Will. “Mr. Jesperson,” he said. “It’s not often we see you in town. Is Katie with you?”

“No,” Will said. He could have told the smiling young man where she was, but he had no intention of allowing the man to interfere in the coming interview with Katie’s mother.

“A shame,” Bart said. “I’m quite eager to speak with her.” His smile beamed out. “I picked this up a few days ago and it’s burning a hole in my pocket. I’m quite eager to see how she likes it.” He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a glistening diamond ring nestled in velvet. “I’ve been waiting on some backers for my new business. The groundwork has all been laid and I can finally see my way clear to supporting a wife.”

Will recognized when he was being warned off, but he didn’t have to like it. “Congratulations,” he said, his tone sharp.

Bart seemed not to notice Will’s curt manner. “This union of our families was something both of us have wanted for several years.”

“An arranged marriage? How archaic.”

Bart flushed then. “Hardly just an arranged marriage. I quite adore her. Any man would be most fortunate to have Katie as a wife. I received her father’s consent yesterday.”

“Congratulations,” Will said shortly. “I must go.”

“If you see Katie, don’t tell her,” Bart called after him. “I want to surprise her.”

Will didn’t answer as he strode out the door. Did Katie know her father had made these arrangements? She’d never mentioned it. He mounted the bicycle and rode out to her mother’s house. The buggy was still parked in front of the stately manor by the ocean. The roar of the sea soothed his agitation. He laid his bicycle in the grass and went up the walk to the front steps. The windows were open, and he heard the low murmur of female voices, though they were too soft to make out any words. Then a man spoke. Her father? His gut tightened at the coming confrontation.

He rang the bell. A maid in a white apron over her gray dress opened the door to him. He gave her his card and she had him wait in the entry while she went to announce his presence. A few moments later he heard Katie’s light step.

She rushed into the hall. “Will, what are you doing here?”

“I understood you to say we were going to speak to your mother together,” he said.

She practically wrung her hands. “I’m not sure today is the right time,” she whispered. “Papa just returned home and—”

As if to contradict her, her mother’s voice floated from the parlor. “Katie, bring that young man in here.”

Katie pressed her lips together and she looked near tears. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

He took her arm. “Let’s just see, shall we?”

“Very well,” Katie said.

She led him down the hall with its richly flocked wallpaper to a large parlor papered in green silk. The woman seated in the damask armchair wore a stern expression. Her back was straight and her chin high. He recognized the challenge in her gaze and knew this interview was not going to go well. Her husband was in an armchair. He seemed to look Will over and dismiss him.

Katie glanced from her mother to Will. “Mama, Papa, this is Will Jesperson.” She stepped into the room and settled on the sofa.

When Will started to sit beside her, her mother gestured for him to take the other armchair closer to her. Will glanced at Katie then did as he was bid. “It’s good to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Russell. We’ve prayed for you both every night during family prayers.”

“Family prayers?” Mr. Russell blustered. “Hardly, Mr. Jesperson. Katie is not part of your family, and neither is Lady Carrington.”

Will glanced at Katie. When he saw the appeal in her face, he bit back his initial heated response. “I meant nothing by the comment, sir. Just that we prayed for you and your wife. We’ve been very concerned.”

“Thank you,” Mrs. Russell said, her tone frosty.

Will leaned forward and concentrated on the woman. Surely she could be swayed by how much he loved Katie. “Mrs. Russell, I love your daughter very much.”

Her father interrupted with his hand held up. “Enough, Mr.

Jesperson. You’re hardly of the same social standing as Katie.”

“My grandfather was Thomas Jesperson, founder of Jesperson, Texas, Mr. Russell. He came from very old money. I assure you that I can provide for a family.”

His smile was condescending. “It’s all been arranged, Mr. Jesperson.”

Katie visibly swallowed. Will didn’t like the way she wilted in her chair. He understood duty, but this was something more.

T
HIRTY-TWO

K
ATIE AND HER
parents stood on the front porch as Katie took her good-byes. There was no room in the buggy, so Katie had to let Will ride his bike back to the lighthouse. She’d read the disappointment in his face as he said his farewell.

“He’s a nice enough young man, but he’s not for you, Katie,” her mother said when Will was out of earshot. She patted her daughter’s arm. “I must lie down for a bit. Go collect your things and I’ll arrange for the groom to pick you up.”

“I can’t leave Jennie,” Katie said.

Her mother looked at her father. “You deal with this, Albert. I’m exhausted.” Her mother went inside.

“You need to stop this nonsense. Your mother is quite right,” her father said. “Bart will make a much better husband. He’s going to take over the haberdashery and turn it into a Macy’s. You own a quarter of the block, and it’s the perfect location.”