The Lightkeeper's Bride

  “This appears to be the only place where the wedding cake is accessible,” she said. “The other avenues are straight up.” She no longer cared about her finder’s fee but the joy of solving the case and returning the stolen property.

  “Paco always says, ‘Step away from the cake,’ and ‘six feet down,’”

  Will said. He thrust the shovel into the shallow, rocky soil. “I doubt we can even dig in this stuff.”

  Katie stared at the various boulders and ledges. She’d hoped to find a cave or something similar that would house the gold. The space would need to be large enough to hold stacks and stacks. She stepped forward and scrambled a few feet up onto the side of the lopsided wedding cake. When she looked back toward Will she saw it. A jutting rock prevented spying the opening from below. “Will, a cave,” she called. It was to her right and down three feet.

  “Wait for me.” Will scrambled up the sliding rocks to join her. “You can’t see it from below,” he said when he saw the slit of the opening. “Wait here.”

  “Oh no, I insisted we come out. I wish to see it with my own eyes.” She slid down after him until they stood at the opening to the cave. The only way in was on her hands and knees.

  Will lit the lantern and thrust it into the cave. A golden gleam bounced back at them. Stacks of gold lay in front of Katie’s dazzled eyes. “So much gold,” she breathed.

  “It would have stayed here forever if you hadn’t been so sure the bird knew about it,” Will said. “Let’s get to town and tell the constable to come retrieve it.”

  “We did it, Will,” she said, turning to him. “We found the gold and the ship. Everything.”

  He touched his fingertips to her chin and stared into her eyes. “It’s amazing. And it’s largely due to you.”

  Katie wished he would kiss her, declare himself, but he just rubbed his thumb along her chin, dropped his hand, and turned back toward the boat. Maybe her indecisiveness had cost her his love.

  The buggy rolled through Mercy Falls. The town looked different to Katie now. She’d wanted so desperately to be someone, to be a person who was looked up to. Now she knew who she really was. Her worth was not in an earthly husband but in her heavenly one. Even if she never married, she would be who God created her to be. She vowed never to forget that.

  Will stopped the buggy in front of the constable’s office. “I’ll be right back. Do you want to come?”

  She spied Florence across the street. “There’s something else I need to do first,” she said. When he disappeared into the building, she climbed down from the buggy and stepped across the street to where the older woman stood examining a dress display in the department store window. She paused. They were all dignified, respectable dresses, nothing like what she was wearing. Could her mother be yearning for something . . . different?

  Florence turned and saw her. “Well, you certainly fell on your feet,” she said. “I wish I could say the same for myself. I expect the law to arrest me any time. It’s a good thing you didn’t marry that man.”

  “God was looking out for me,” Katie agreed.

  Florence studied her face. “Something has changed about you. You don’t seem as angry.”

  “I wanted to tell you that I forgive you,” Katie said. Her hand went to her mouth when she realized what she’d said and that she actually meant the words.

  Florence’s smooth face didn’t change but her eyes did. First there was a slow blink then a gathering of moisture in their blue depths.

  Her mouth trembled a little. “That’s very good of you, Katie,” she said, her voice husky. “I did the best I could.”

  “I know that now. Things could have been much worse.” Katie reached out and embraced the woman who bore her. “Thank you for that.” The familiar scent of the older woman’s lilac sachet brought a wave of nostalgia.

  Florence clutched at her and a sob burst from her throat. “I’m sorry for everything. Sorry I tried to get money out of you. I’ll do just fine on my own. I always have.”

  She saw Dora Curry approaching. The woman owned the soda shop and was the biggest gossip in town. Dora’s brows rose when she saw Katie speaking with a woman dressed like Florence, and Katie smiled. “Good afternoon, Dora. I’d like you to meet my real mother, Florence Muller. She is Mama’s sister and has been gone from town a long time.” She felt rather than saw Florence start with surprise.

  Dora’s steps faltered a moment but she stopped and extended her hand. “Delighted to meet you, Mrs. Muller. Katie is a wonderful girl. We love her very much.”

  Katie saw how much Dora meant her kind words and her throat tightened. She’d been so worried about impressing people that she’d failed to see genuine love and respect when it was right in front of her face. “Thank you, Dora,” she said, her voice choked. “I realize more and more how very blessed I am to have grown up in this town.”

  Dora pressed her hand. “I must get back to the shop.” She glanced at Florence again. “You have a very special daughter.”

  “I think so too,” Florence said.

  Katie saw Will step out of the constable’s office. She waved to him, and he started across the street, dodging a fast-moving horse and wagon. “I want you to meet my young man, M–Mother,” she said. “He’s the handsome one across the street.”

  Florence’s eyes brightened at the term. “I’d be most honored.”

  Will reached them. His dark eyes went from Katie to Florence. “I do believe this must be your mother, Katie. You look very much like her.”

  Katie didn’t even wince. “Yes, Will. Florence, I’d like you to meet Will Jesperson. He found the pirates and the ship.”

  Will took Florence’s gloved hand. “I’m delighted to meet you, but I don’t deserve all the credit. Thanks to Katie, the gold was recovered today as well.”

  Florence’s expression turned flirtatious. She glanced at Katie. “You said your young man was handsome, but I do believe he looks like a pirate himself. No wonder you’re quite smitten.”

  Will grinned. “She said I was handsome? I like the sound of that.

  I like smitten even more.”

  Heat rushed to Katie’s cheeks and she avoided the light dancing in his eyes. “We must go. It’s nearly time for tea and I don’t want to interrupt Mama in the middle of it.”

  “Do you think I might come as well?” Florence asked tentatively.

  “I should like to see my sister.”

  “I–I’m not sure she would be ready for that without preparation,”

  Katie said. She could only imagine the explosion when the two sisters reunited.

  “I think she should come,” Will said. “It’s time the old feud was laid to rest. They are sisters.”

  Katie clutched her hands together. “Very well. As long as we are all prepared to face a situation that might not be what we’d hoped.”

  “I’m ready,” Florence said, adjusting her hat. “Thank you for making it possible. Perhaps Inez can forgive me as well.”

  As they walked back to the buggy, Katie prayed they would find her mother in a forgiving frame of mind. She cast a sidelong glance at Will. If only he would declare himself so she could broach that subject with her parents as well.

  THIRTY-SIX

  THE SCENT OF chocolate wafers wafted on the breeze when Will helped the ladies down from the buggy. He longed to have Katie to himself, to discuss their future, but there hadn’t been the right moment.

  Katie led the way to the front door. “Wait here a moment,” she told Florence. “I want to prepare them.”

  Will nodded and escorted the older woman to a rocker on the porch. “We’ll be right back,” he said. “Enjoy the birdsong and the sound of the sea.” He took Katie’s hand and they stepped inside and found her mother in the parlor. The tea had not yet been brought out from the kitchen.

  Her mother saw her and held out her hand. “Katie, my dear girl. Did you just arrive?”

  Katie crossed the plush carpet and took her mother’s hand. “
Just in time for tea, I hope. I smelled the chocolate wafers.”

  “You’re always in time. I suspected you might come by and instructed Agnes prepare for guests.”

  “Where is Papa?”

  Her mother’s eyes filled with tears. “He went to see the constable. To confess.”

  Katie gasped and turned to Will, groping for him. He stepped to her side and put his hand on her back. He wanted to embrace her but feared offending her mother.

  “He’ll go to jail,” she whispered.

  Her mother nodded. “After you were nearly killed, he couldn’t stand by and say nothing.” Her eyes welled. “I shall never be able to hold my head up here again.”

  “Your friends know and love you, Mama. I’ve discovered what God thinks of us is more important than admiration from mere acquaintances.”

  Her mother dabbed at her eyes with a hanky then glanced at Will.

  “I thought you might come with her.”

  Katie sank onto the sofa beside her mother. “I wanted to make sure it was all right to bring him in. You’re still not quite well and I didn’t wish to overtax you.”

  Mrs. Russell reached up and took Will’s hand. “I want to thank you for saving Katie’s life. After she called last night, I lay awake for hours wishing I’d been kinder to you.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe Bart would behave in such an uncivilized manner. I quite misjudged him. And you, too, young man.”

  It was a start. When she released his hand, Will shoved them in his pockets. “It’s quite all right, Mrs. Russell. Katie is very precious to everyone.”

  Katie leaned forward and took her mother’s hands. “There’s another visitor, Mama.”

  Her mother’s smile faded. “You sound so serious, Katie. Who is it?”

  “Your sister.”

  Her mother paled. “Florence is here?”

  “On the porch.”

  Her mother rose and wrung her hands. “How could you bring that woman here?”

  “I realized she made mistakes, but she did the best she could, Mama. I think it’s time for all of us to sit down and talk. To forgive and forget. I’m thankful she didn’t stand in the way of letting me grow up with you and Papa.”

  “I can’t see her,” Mrs. Russell said, her voice rising.

  “You can and you will,” Florence said from the doorway. “You stole my daughter from me, Inez. That’s the real problem you don’t want to admit.”

  Bright spots of color appeared on Mrs. Russell’s pale cheeks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She glared at her sister again. “I’d like you to leave, Florence. I told you I never wanted to see you again, and I meant it.”

  Tears glistened in Florence’s eyes. “You stole her, Inez. You had Albert pay me to disappear.”

  “You took the money,” Katie’s mother said. “You could have come here and demanded her back but you didn’t.”

  “You’d been waiting for a chance to get your hands on her from the day she was born.”

  “You didn’t deserve her! Always gone with your men friends. Never a thought for what Katie needed. She was better off with us.”

  “I don’t deny that,” Florence said. “But you can at least be grateful. Thanks to me you had a daughter you were never able to bear yourself.”

  Will stepped between the two women. “Let’s all sit down and have some tea,” he said. “I think we can all agree that Katie turned into a remarkable young woman. The past is over. Let’s all move forward.” To his relief, the women moved stiffly to separate sides of the room like boxers squaring off. At least the verbal sparring had ended. Katie sat with her mother on the sofa while Florence took the armchair by the fireplace. He decided to play it safe and sit on Katie’s other side.

  The maid entered with a tray of chocolate wafers and a teapot with teacups. She served them all through a silence as thick as the fog on a cold night. Will balanced the ridiculously tiny teacup on his knee and wondered how he might help mend the breach dividing them.

  Florence put down her cup. “No one can ever say I lacked courage, so I’ll say it, Inez. I’m sorry. I’ve made some poor choices in my life, but it was my life to ruin. Not yours.”

  Mrs. Russell said nothing at first. She sipped her tea. “Mama?” Katie said, her voice encouraging. “I forgive her. I want you to do the same.”

  “Leave us, Katie,” Mrs. Russell said finally. “I wish to speak to my sister in private. Take your young man for a walk. Show him the azalea garden.”

  Katie put down her tea. “Very well.” She glanced at Will.

  He rose and extended his hand. She took it and rose from the sofa. “Call us when you are ready.” She led him down the hall to the back porch and out into the garden. The azaleas were in bloom.

  Her destination was a stone bench in the middle of the garden. “I hope they don’t come to blows,” she said when they reached the bucolic spot.

  He kept hold of her hand. “I think they’ll work it out. They both care about you.” How did he bring up the subject of their future? Just launch into it or ease up to it gradually? He decided to take his cue from her. If she didn’t care for him, he’d fade into the background and do whatever made her happy.

  Hummingbirds darted from red blossoms. Katie plucked a white azalea bloom and caressed the silken petals. She couldn’t look at Will.

  He’d said nothing and there had been ample opportunity.

  She plucked the blossoms. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me.

  “Katie, are we going to talk about us?”

  She hardly dared to raise her gaze to meet his. He looked so handsome in his white shirt and black pants. His dark hair gleamed in the sunlight. “Is there an ‘us,’ Will?” she asked.

  “I’ve told you how I feel. Several times. You’ve skirted the subject. Is it that you don’t think I have the means to provide for you?”

  She smiled. “Since last night, I’ve realized that only God can provide for me in the end. Anything we have is from his hand. This life is temporary, and I was too focused on the here and now.”

  “I see peace in your eyes,” he said, taking her hand. He tossed the remains of the flower to the grass.

  “It’s about time, don’t you think?” She clutched his fingers. “I love you, Will. I didn’t want to say it because I was afraid, but I’ve loved you for a long time.”

  His black eyes lit with joy. He raised her hand to his lips and pressed them to her palm. “What if I tell you that we’re moving to Texas to take a lighthouse there?”

  “I’ll go wherever you go,” she said, keeping her voice steady even though her heart sank within her.

  “What if I want to move to Chicago to work with the Weather Bureau?”

  “I think you’ll have to buy me some new clothes to deal with the cold,” she said.

  His grin widened. “What if I tell you I’m staying in Mercy Falls?”

  She just barely managed not to squeal when she saw the assurance in his eyes. “Really?” she whispered.

  He nodded. “The new Weather Bureau has asked me to provide them with data from the coast. It doesn’t pay much, but it’s a nice supplement to my salary as lightkeeper.” He leaned over and kissed her nose. “Your parents will be able to live on our reward money.”

  “You wouldn’t mind? By rights, it is ours.”

  “I’ll provide for my own wife,” he said. “I rather like the sound of the word wife.”

  Her pulse stammered at the smoldering passion in his eyes. She leaned forward and brushed her lips across his. He slipped his arm around her, and in the next moment, she found herself on his lap. His kiss intensified and she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back with every bit of love she’d longed to express. His hands took the hat from her head and removed the pins from her hair until it all lay on her shoulders. She knew she should object. Her mother would be quite horrified when she went inside in obvious disarray, but she didn’t care as she kissed him back.
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  He suddenly jerked his mouth from hers and stared into her eyes. “We need to slow down or I fear I might lose my head,” he said.

  She leaned her head against his chest and heard its wild pounding that matched the beat in her own. Gulping in air, she finally lifted her chin and stared into his tender eyes. “So do I get to help you tend the lamps and rescue people?”

  “I don’t think I can keep you safely in the parlor now that you’ve learned to let your adventurous side go,” he said. “Jennie will learn early to explore her world.”

  Katie’s elation faded. “What about Jennie? What if Bart’s parents want her?”

  He shook his head. “I saw them in the constable’s office and they were quick to take me up on my offer to keep her. They promised to have the papers drawn up quickly if I would keep quiet about her real parentage.”

  “So she is ours?”

  “She is indeed. We shall see about adding some brothers and sisters for her.”

  Heat ran up her neck at the expression in his eyes. Though things were a bit uncertain right now, she realized she rather liked the unknown. One thing was quite sure, life with her lightkeeper would shine as bright as his Fresnel lens. “I think I should have another kiss,” she said, pulling his head down to hers. “A budding bride needs the practice.”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  IT IS SUCH a privilege to do another project with my wonderful Thomas Nelson family. Publisher Allen Arnold (I call him Superman) is so passionate about fiction and he lights up a room when he enters it. Senior Acquisitions Editor Ami McConnell (my friend and cheerleader) has an eye for character and theme like no one I know. I crave her analytical eye! It was her influence that encouraged me to write a historical romantic mystery, and I’m glad she pushed me a bit! Marketing Manager Jennifer Deshler brings both friendship and fabulous marketing ideas to the table. Publicist Katie Bond is always willing to listen to my harebrained ideas. Fabulous cover guru Kristen Vasgaard (you so rock!) works hard to create the perfect cover—and does it. And of course I can’t forget my other friends who are all part of my amazing fiction family: Natalie Hanemann, Amanda Bostic, Becky Monds, Ashley Schneider, Andrea Lucado, Heather McCoullough, Chris Long, and Kathy Carabajal. I wish I could name all the great folks who work on selling my books through different venues at Thomas Nelson. You are my dream team! Hearing “well done” from you all is my motivation every day.