Her fingers trembled against him, and he wished he could reassure her that everything would work out fine, that he'd be home soon. But he couldn't lie to her.
“Uh-oh, uh-oh,” Samuel said, sounding near to tears. He was pacing behind Tessa and throwing his arms up in the air. “We have to go now.”
She took a reluctant step back, giving him no choice but to release her. She studied him for a long moment, as though she were trying to memorize every line and feature. Then Samuel nudged her toward the office door.
She stumbled away.
Alex clutched the bars with both hands and wished he was strong enough to tear them away and go after her.
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I lit the lantern last night.”
He knew he should be relieved that the lighthouse was in operation. Michael had fretted about it when he'd learned the lake was mostly thawed, and he'd begged Alex to write a note to Tessa asking her to turn the lantern on. Alex hadn't wanted to bother her, not when he knew how much she loathed lighthouses and how it would stir up painful memories for her.
However, as usual, he hadn't been able to say no to Michael.
“How are you?” he asked, searching her face for the agony she was sure to be feeling.
“I have to admit I wasn't thrilled about doing it.” A pained smile formed on her lips. “But I know God is using it to work in my life where I most need it.”
He wanted to ask her more, but before he could, Samuel propelled her through the door. Long after she was gone, he stood staring through the window, trying to envision her, savoring the memory of her face and the touch of her skin.
“You really do love her, don't you?” Michael finally croaked, the sound breaking the silence and startling Alex.
He turned slowly, bent and picked up the bundles of food she'd delivered. “It doesn't matter now.”
Michael didn't respond.
Alex tossed the packages of food toward his brotherâfour bundles altogether. They landed near Michael's hand. “Eat up,” he said, sliding down the wall to the spot on the floor he'd occupied for most of the week.
Michael didn't move a muscle or open his eyes even to look at the food.
The smell of the trout caused Alex's stomach to rumble loud enough to echo off the cell walls. “If you don't get going, you'll force me to start.”
“Go ahead.” Michael turned his face toward the opposite wall.
Anger spurted through Alex. He sprang forward and said, “Come on, Michael! You just got through telling me that you need to stand on your own two feet.”
Michael's back stiffened.
“If you're going to stand on your own two feet, then prove it to me right now. Prove it to me by eating the food.” Alex fumed. If Michael didn't make an effort, he'd open up the bundles and shove the food down his throat.
“She loves you,” Michael said so quietly that Alex almost didn't hear him.
For a minute he was tempted to pretend he hadn't heard. But something told him they were going to have this conversation about Tessa whether he wanted to or not. He sighed and then finally spoke. “You don't knowâ”
“It was very clear.” Michael rolled over and looked at his brother, resignation in his eyes. “She loves you, Alex. Not me.”
“Don't jump to conclusions.”
“I'm not.”
“She cares about both of us.”
“She didn't ask how I was doing.” Michael's voice was flat and stopped Alex's retort. “She didn't look in the cell to see me. She didn't talk to me. I doubt she even realized I was here.”
“That's because I was the one who came to the window first.”
“No. It's because she loves you,” Michael said. Alex started to shake his head, but Michael cut him off. “I need to stop fooling myself into thinking she could ever care for me.”
“Well, she won't care about me either. I'm too uneducated for her.”
“Tessa doesn't care if you can read or not. She's too kind to let something like that stand in her way.”
Deep inside, Alex knew Michael was right. But that didn't stop him from wishing he had more to offer her.
“Just give her time,” Alex insisted. Even though he couldn't keep from feeling a measure of relief that Tessa had been excited to see him instead of Michael, he knew he had to convince his brother that Tessa still cared about them both. He couldn't risk Michael falling into a melancholy, not now while he was barely hanging on as it was.
“I could give her a lifetime,” Michael said, “but she'll always love you more than me.”
“It doesn't matter how much she loves me. We're not meant to be together and that's all there is to it.”
Michael gave a short, scoffing laugh. “Stop it, Alex. You're not going to convince me that Tessa will ever love me more than she does you.”
“You and the children need herâ”
“What I need is for you to stop trying to fix my life and make everything all better.”
Michael's words stabbed Alex and flattened him against the cold cell wall. For a long minute he couldn't speak past the pain. It almost sounded as though Michael resented him and his involvement.
“I'm sorry,” Michael said, his tone less harsh. “I didn't mean that the way it came out.”
Alex wanted to call Michael a liar, to tell him that he had meant every word. But he was suddenly tiredâtired of fighting, and tired of attempting to save Michael from every problem he faced.
While Michael's declaration stung, maybe it was the truth. Maybe Alex had to stop trying so hard to make Michael's life better and let his brother do it for himself.
T
essa forced herself not to look at the oranges in the bucket near Percival's feet. A sign written in Samuel's childlike print marked them at the outrageous price of fifty cents apiece. But like everyone else, she was willing to pay a month's salary if need be for the fresh food. Unlike everyone else, she wasn't allowed to shop in the company story anymore, and even if Percival had allowed her to buy the newly arrived produce, she didn't have any money.
She pressed a hand against her stomach and quelled a rumble of hunger. “You've jailed them unlawfully for over two weeks,” she said. “What you've done is illegal. The American Constitution guarantees a fair trial.”
Percival hadn't moved from where he leaned against the doorframe of his office. “Out here on the frontier of civilization, sometimes we have to take the law into our own hands so that people stay safe.”
Tessa repressed a cry of frustration. She'd tried numerous
times to gain an audience with Percival since he'd locked Alex and Michael up in jail. But he'd turned her away every time.
Until today.
Samuel stood behind the counter wiping the glass top with vigorous circles. From the way he'd been sneaking glances at her and Percival, she guessed he'd been listening to every word. She didn't know how much he understood about why the Bjorklund brothers had been locked up. She'd attempted to explain it to him on several occasions, hoping he'd have more sympathy and allow her to see Alex again.
But after the first visit, Samuel had been adamant that she not go back to the cell again. No matter what she said or how she bribed him, she couldn't get him to change his mind. However, he'd been more willing to continue to deliver the food she brought.
Percival smoothed his hand over his mustache. “They'll get the justice they deserve once we head down to Detroit and they stand trial for their crimes.”
“And when will you stand trial for
your
crimes, Mr. Updegraff?” The words slipped out before she could stop them, but once they were out, she didn't care. He'd already fired her. He'd ostracized her within the community, and now he was preventing her from buying the food that had just arrived by wagons from Copper Harbor only yesterday.
The
Iron City
had tried to sail into Eagle Harbor but couldn't make it in on account of a severe wind. Instead it had sailed back to Copper City and docked there. Men had gone over to retrieve as much as they could, including the oranges, a few cattle, and fresh salted pork.
Even if the steamer hadn't been able to dock in Eagle Harbor, the sighting had given the townspeople hope. Their days of starvation were nearing an end.
Unfortunately that didn't include her, the two children, or Alex and Michael. She'd used up the last of the food stores in the lighthouse pantry, and they desperately needed the new food supplies as much as the rest of the community. Since she'd prohibited Gunnar from going in a boat out on the lake by himself, he'd taken to fishing inland on some of the streams where there were still snowbanks and the water was ice cold.
Most days he had what the men in the area referred to as fisherman's luck: a weary leg and a hungry gut. But all it took was one good day, like the morning he caught fifteen trout. She'd taken a feast to Alex and Michael that afternoon.
Thankfully, Josie continued to sneak provisions to her, usually in the early morning or at dusk when the shadows hid her. Tessa had been surprised by how many of the townspeople had begun to reach out to help her, albeit as secretly as possible. On one occasion she'd bumped into Hannah walking down the street. The young woman had slipped something into Tessa's hand. Once she returned home, she discovered a wedge of old cheese. On another occasion, Mrs. Benney had given her two wrinkled apples. And several other students and their parents had left items outside the lighthouse door.
Maybe the townspeople weren't brave enough to fight against Percival, but she was grateful for the small things they were doing to show they still cared about her in spite of her tainted reputation.
“Miss Taylor,
you
asked to see
me
,” Percival said, sliding a hand up to his necktie and loosening it. His expression was impassive, although something dark lurked in his eyes. “I don't appreciate you coming in here and slinging insults at me.”
Insults? She almost laughed. He hadn't heard any insults yet. Just wait until she really got started. Then he'd learn the true meaning of an insult.
“Why don't you get to the point of why you came here today?” He stretched his neck, pulled out his bow tie, and unhooked the top button of his shirt.
“You know very well why I came.” She forced herself not to inch toward the door in case she needed a quick escape. She couldn't run away like a scared rabbit every time she was around this fox. This was perhaps her last chance to plead for Alex's release and she had to stay strong. “I want you to release Alex and Michael. Today. Right now.”
Percival tossed his bow tie onto the counter, disrupting Samuel's wiping. Samuel looked up at him with curious but trusting eyes.
“You know as well as I do that neither of those men started the fire,” she continued. “You're getting back at Alex for hitting you. And you're punishing me by hurting the men I care about.”
“You should know, Miss Taylor, that since the night of the fire we recovered an oil container from the ruins that's stamped with the words
U.S. Lighthouse Establishment
.”
All brass lighthouse ware was either stamped or had official plates affixed to them. Because she'd grown up in lighthouses, she was accustomed to such labeling. There was no ignoring the stamp. “That doesn't mean Alex was there or that he was the one who started the fire with the oil.” She knew in her heart that Alex was innocent, no matter what kind of evidence Percival came up with.
“We also have two witnesses who stepped forward, claiming to see Alex and Michael going into the building well after dark.”
Tessa shook her head, the frustration tearing at her insides. How would she ever prove their innocence? Percival was making it impossible, and they both knew it. “Why don't you just tell
me what I need to do in order for you to drop these ludicrous charges?”
Percival perused her slowly, and as he did a sickening heaviness settled over her. Would he really demand that she hand herself over to him as he'd wanted all along? Was that what this was all about?
When he began to walk toward her with calculated steps, she almost shrank backward. How far was she willing to go to save Alex? She shuddered at the thought.
Percival stopped in front of her, and she caught the whiff of tobacco and oranges lingering on him. Again he studied her, as if deciding whether she was worth the bargain.
Was this why Hannah and the other women Percival victimized had gone along with him? Maybe their husbands hadn't allowed or supported their choice after all. She'd been so sure that the men had been weak and unloving to sit back while Percival used their wives. But maybe, like her, the other women had decided the sacrifice was worth it in order to save the men and families they loved. Maybe they'd been willing because they so desperately wanted to protect their families.
He took a step nearer so that his body almost touched hers. “If you want to work out a deal,” he said in a low voice, “then you can meet me back at my house in one hour.”
What should she do? If she didn't give in to Percival, Alex might die. If she did, she'd truly become tainted. She would become the loose woman she'd tried so hard to run from. Yet if everyone already thought she was loose, what difference would it make if she really was?
Percival lifted his hand to her cheek and stroked along her jawline.
At the touch she couldn't hold back another shudder. Before she could stop herself, she slapped his hand away.
He struck her back, swift and hard, his palm smashing into her nose.
She cried out in pain as blood dribbled from her nose onto her lips. She lifted a hand to her mouth and pulled it away, the bright crimson smeared on her fingers.
“Percival?” Samuel's voice from behind the counter wobbled. “Why are you hurting Miss Taylor?”
Percival scowled at her. She'd defied him and now he'd punish her even more. She had to run. She had to get away from him while she still could. She couldn't go through with his demands, not even for Alex. As much as she loved him, she wanted to do the right thing before God. She had to stay strong and pure and then trust that God would honor her choice.
“Is Miss Taylor bleeding?” Samuel came from around the counter, his eyes round, his face horrified.
“This isn't your concern, Samuel,” Percival said. “Go back to your work.”
Samuel stopped, but tears welled in his eyes. “Percival, please don't hurt Miss Taylor. She's my friend.”
Blood dripped from her lips onto the floor, making a splattering of dots near the oranges. She cupped her hand over her nose to prevent any more mess. She didn't want to make this more traumatic for Samuel than it already was.
Percival glanced at Samuel just as a tear rolled down his flushed cheek. Percival swore under his breath and took a step away from her.
Tessa didn't wait for another opportunity to make her escape. She slipped around Percival and hurried toward the door. Stepping outside, the early May sunshine blinded her. A few of the trees had buds beginning to show. She'd even heard birds singing when she walked the path from the lighthouse to town
earlier. In spite of her hunger and the problems she faced, she'd allowed herself to rejoice that spring was finally arriving. At long last maybe she could say good-bye to winter. But now, as she stumbled down Center Street, her vision blurred. The dingy gray of the buildings and surrounding woodland brought her no comfort. The chill breeze blowing off the lake sliced through her garments as if to remind her that even if spring had come, this northern land was still cold, harsh and unforgiving.
“Miss Taylor, are you all right? What happened?”
Tessa's footsteps faltered at the sight of Mr. Benney coming down the mine path. He was staring at the hand covering her nose. It was covered in blood.
Several other men stopped behind Mr. Benney. They were attired in their dusty miner's clothing and wore their miner's caps. Mr. Benney looked around before stepping back into the shelter of brush and beckoning her to join him. Once they were secluded, he gazed with concern at her face. She guessed he could see the remnants of fear left in her eyes and knew that what had happened to her was no accident.
“Did someone hurt you, Miss Taylor?”
“Percival Updegraff hit me.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before Mr. Benney turned and muttered angrily at the men behind him. They argued in whispers for a moment before Mr. Benney's voice rose. “That cack's murdered enough folks here, including me son. We have to stop him before he hurts more.”
A spark of hope lit inside Tessa. She grabbed Mr. Benney's arm. “Will you help free Alex and Michael Bjorklund?”
When he looked at her again, she glimpsed sorrow in his eyes, the same hollow look he'd worn the day of Henry's funeral. But
just as quickly a hot, almost wild, anger surged in to replace the sadness.
“We might not have the fitty means to save the lightkeepers,” he said, “but a steamer has just docked with the owner of Cole Mine.”
Tessa nodded at the news, already devising a plan. She would go to Mr. Cole, tell him everything that had happened, and beg him to release Alex and Michael. Surely he'd have the power to make Percival listen to reason, especially if Mr. Benney and the other miners went to the owner with all of their complaints.
“Why don't you go to Mr. Cole first,” she said. “Tell the owner all of Percival's misdeeds. And then I'll go after you. He'll be more willing to listen to my complaints if he's already heard yours.”
Mr. Benney glanced at the other men. “Stop the gawky indecision, you,” Mr. Benney pleaded. “The daft Cole is our only hope.”
They shook their heads, their faces wreathed with worry.
Once again Mr. Benney turned and argued with the men, but from the stubborn shakes of their heads, Tessa could see they were too afraid to do anything. She could almost read their thoughts. What if they failed to convince Mr. Cole of Percival's crimes? What if Mr. Cole was every bit as evil as Percival? What would happen to them then? If Mr. Cole didn't fire them, then surely Percival would. They couldn't take that chance.
After the men continued on their way, Tessa followed after them at a distance. Even though she knew she should return to the lighthouse and clean her hands and face, she couldn't resist the pull to gather near the docks to watch the
Illinois
and Mr. Cole. As the crowd swelled, it seemed half the town had the same idea.
She didn't cheer with the rest as the gangplank came down. The boat was low in the water, which meant more supplies for the famished community. She watched expectantly as the passengers began to disembark. A middle-aged man dressed in a tailored gray suit was one of the first to descend the gangplank. A young girl walked next to him, her gloved hand in the crook of his arm. She looked to be about Josie's age yet decidedly prettier. Her lavender skirt had layers of ruffles, and her matching bodice was cinched at the square neckline by a ribbon. The girl took dainty steps and carried a parasol above a fancy hat that was perched on her perfectly coiled blond hair.
As soon as the man and girl reached the end of the gangplank, Percival stepped forward and greeted them. The ingratiating smile on the mine clerk's face told her that the man was important, most likely the mine owner, Mr. Cole himself.
They strolled the dock together, Percival doing all the talking with Mr. Cole nodding now and then. When they stepped onto land and began to pass the group of assembled miners, including Mr. Benney, Tessa inwardly shouted at them to rush up to Mr. Cole and expose all the atrocities Percival had committed in their community.