A Measure of Mercy (8 page)

Astrid picked up the brush and began brushing, her fingers working any tangles out as she brushed.

“Oh, that feels so good. I don’t think anyone has brushed my hair since you did it last.”

“You don’t get together with the other teachers like we used to at our girl parties?”

“No. I’m the youngest on staff, and some of the others are married. My closest friend is Olivia, and she wears her hair short.”

“Like I saw in the magazine?”

“Yes. She says it is much easier to care for.”

“Well, she misses out on brushing, then.” Laying down the brush, Astrid divided the hair, picked up a blue ribbon, and began braiding it in with the hair. When finished with the braids, she wrapped them in a figure eight at the back of Grace’s head and pinned them in place. She handed Grace a hand mirror. “What do you think?”

“Beautiful. You want yours the same?”

“Of course. Just like we used to. Remember when Sophie cut her hair in a fringe?”

Grace nodded. “Only Sophie. But now many women are wearing a fringe or wrapping their hair around a rattail and wearing it poofed up in front.”

“I tried it, but I didn’t like it.”

When they descended the stairs, Astrid in blue dimity with white daisies and Grace in yellow with darker ribbon trim, they found Ingeborg packing the last of the food in the boxes and baskets, ready to load the wagon.

“You two look like flowers right out of the garden,” she said, handing Astrid a basket. “Put this right behind the seat.”

SOMETIME LATER, INGEBORG surveyed the barn to make sure everything was just right. Fried chicken filled the white-dotted, blueenameled roasting pan sitting in the middle of the table. So many platters, bowls, and plates covered the table that the white sheet could only be seen down the sides. Desserts covered another table. Both tables were made of long boards held up by sawhorses. Chunks of ice floated in a tub of red punch, along with fresh strawberry and lemon slices.

“It looks great,” Kaaren Knutson said, stopping beside her dear friend and sister-in-law. They both watched the musicians tuning up at the piano, which had been hauled over from the schoolhouse and drawn by pulleys up the ramp to the haymow through the big front door. “I feared they’d drop that piano for sure.”

“If you want something done right, ask those men of ours. They’ll do it every time.”

Lars had his fiddle out of the case and was tightening the strings. Haakan was putting the gut bucket together: an old washtub turned upside down with a rope running from a hole in the washtub up to the end of a rake handle. Plucking the rope and moving the rake handle gave the different tones.

Since Joseph Baard died, they’d not had a guitar at the community events. Tonight Joshua Landsverk was already causing the young girls to twitter. Ingeborg’s gaze roamed the laughing crowd. Where was Astrid?

Finally she located her helping Ellie with baby May. Grace had Carl in her arms and was watching Jonathan at the piano. Elizabeth usually played for the parties, but tonight she and Jonathan would trade off so both could have more fun. The smile he sent to Grace brought a lump to Ingeborg’s throat. The two were so in love it lit up the entire haymow. And such an unlikely pair. He, though having a wealthy New York family, now wanted to farm, and she, who never wanted to leave Blessing, was now teaching at a prestigious school for the deaf in the East and loving it. Yet they planned to return to Blessing and expand the school for the deaf that Kaaren had started all those years ago into something larger and finer.

Thank you, Lord, for Mr. Gould, who took me under his wing all
those years ago and has been our benefactor ever since. Father, you have
put so many wonderful people in our lives.
Her gaze roved those gathered here to celebrate. All ages were here, from the babies like Dorothy’s newest to those going gray, like Haakan and Mr. Valders. Family and friends as close as family, and of course some of whom she was not quite so fond. Although she had to admit Hildegunn had definitely been softening since her son’s recent marriage.

She chuckled to herself, then turned as someone called her name. “Coming.” She joined Astrid, who was smiling up at a young man who did indeed look familiar.

“Mor, you remember Joshua Landsverk,” Astrid said. “He sold you some cows a few years ago.”

She felt a click in her mind. “Of course. I knew you looked familiar. Welcome home to Blessing.” Interesting that Astrid had not mentioned this visitor before, for that surely was a look of interest in his eyes when he smiled at her daughter.

“Thank you. It does indeed feel like home.”

“You are planning on staying?”

He nodded. “I’m hoping there is work of some kind waiting here for me.”

“He says he doesn’t want to go back to farming,” Astrid said with a slight wrinkling of her nose, as if anyone could think there might be something better than farming.

“Well, there is plenty of other work around here. You might want to talk with Hjelmer when he and Penny get here. Between Hjelmer and Thorliff, there is always something going on.”

“Did I hear someone mention my name?” Thorliff stopped beside his mother and looked at the newcomer. “Don’t I know you?”

“Ja, I am Joshua Landsverk. I once owned land south of town.”

“Of course.” Thorliff eyed the guitar strung over Joshua’s shoulder. “I take it you are going to join our musicians?” He clapped Joshua on the shoulder. “Good for you. Make a place here for yourself right quick.”

“He’s looking for a job,” Ingeborg said with a smile at the dark-eyed man.

“Good. Let’s talk after church tomorrow. Right now I have to make sure Inga doesn’t lead some of those other young ones on a merry chase.” He glanced at his mother. “Invite him for dinner tomorrow?”

“To be sure. Please come.” Interesting how Astrid was trying to act so uninterested in the man beside her. Ingeborg thought back to whether Astrid had ever met Mr. Landsverk. Unlikely, since she’d only seen him that once before he left for Iowa. Life was never boring. That was for sure.

“Thank you for the invitation. I’d be delighted to come.”

Ingeborg had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. He might be talking to her, but his eyes were talking to her daughter.

6

W
hat is the matter with me?

“He is handsome; that’s for sure,” Sophie said, stopping at Astrid’s elbow.

“Who?”
Silly, you know who she is referring to. You haven’t taken
your eyes off him all evening.

Sophie nudged her with an elbow. “You know who I am talking about. If he’s not playing his guitar, he’s dancing with you. I’ve heard several comments that he’s not asked anyone else to dance.”

“Oh.” Astrid wished for a fan. Surely the sun was burning her skin in spite of it being after nine—and inside the barn. The setting sun was tinting the horizon from lemon to azure as the eye traveled upward. Maybe she’d gotten a touch of sunburn during the day.

“You can see that Grace and Jonathan are besotted. Love is just flying through the air.” Sophie looked besotted herself. In love with
love
is what came to Astrid’s mind, not that she knew much about love between a man and a woman, other than what she’d seen with her mor and far.

“How come Maydell is dancing with Toby?” Astrid asked her friend.

“She wants to make Gus jealous.”

“From the look on his face, it’s working. Someone better warn Toby.”

“Oh, he knows what’s going on. Toby’s no fool.”

“I wish he’d find someone.” Remembering Sophie’s comment, Astrid jerked her gaze away from Joshua, who was laughing at something someone had said.

“You mean Toby or the man you keep looking at?”

“I do not.”

“Astrid, this is Sophie you are talking to.” She turned to smile at the man who stopped beside her. “Yes, I’d love to dance with you.”

Astrid smiled inside. Even Sophie’s voice changed when Garth came up. Although they’d been married almost a year now, they still acted like newlyweds a good part of the time. Sophie was married; Grace was spoken for or engaged—even if not officially yet—Rebecca was married, though only a couple of weeks ago. Ellie and Andrew had been the first to marry, so that left only her and Deborah of their group. Oh, and Maydell, but she was a latecomer. Astrid frowned. Her feelings toward Maydell were still a little prickly after Carl’s broken arm. And now she was trying to stir Gus up, not realizing Toby could get hurt. Or someone could get hurt. When was Maydell going to start acting like a grown woman?

And I’ll soon be leaving. Or will I?
The thoughts intruded again, as they had for the last days.
Will I or won’t I go to Chicago?
At a tap on her shoulder, she turned to see her cousin Samuel grinning at her.

“You said you wanted to dance with me.”

“That I did.” She held out her hand. “Thank you for asking.” They took their places in one of the squares, and Lars announced the dance, “Texas Star.” The musicians swung into the tune, and Mr. Valders called, “Swing your partner do-si-do.” One had to pay attention to the caller, even if you’d been dancing this one for years, or you might make more than yourself stumble. Astrid laughed at something Samuel said as he claimed her for a partner again after they’d moved in opposite ways around the circle. At sixteen, Samuel was no longer one of the children, but not really one of the adults yet either. But he was her favorite of the male cousins.

The dance ended with everyone laughing and puffing. A movement at the dessert table caught Astrid’s attention. There was Inga taking cookies off a plate and handing one to Carl, who was getting a lot of attention with his broken arm strapped to his body. The two ran giggling over to the side and sat down against the wall to enjoy their booty. Astrid glanced around to see where the parents were. She saw Andrew and Ellie talking with Mr. and Mrs. Aspland, so newly arrived in Blessing from Minnesota. Since there were no babies around, someone must have taken them up to Andrew’s house, where they would be laid out like cordwood on one of the beds with an adult watching over them. Oh yes, Tante Kaaren was missing. She loved being with the babies.

Astrid swayed slightly as the music slowed to a waltz.

“May I have this dance?”

Even his voice gave her the shivers. “Of course.” She stepped into Joshua’s arms and laid her hand on his shoulder. “You play so well.” They moved together in the pattern, one hand warm at her waist, his other holding hers gently.

“Thank you. You suppose that will help me be welcome here?”

“Oh, I think you needn’t worry. The people of Blessing always welcome those new to the area.”

“You have to admit, I’m not exactly new.”

“True, so then welcome home.”

“You’re the second person to say that.”

“Really? Well, I guess that’s part of Blessing.”

“And the people who live here.”

“Well, without the people, we wouldn’t have much of a town.”
Astrid Bjorklund, can’t you think of something more brilliant to say?

“True.” Joshua swung her in a circle so that her hand clutched his shoulder.

“What brought you back here?”

“It’s a long story. Someday I’ll tell you.”

“Oh.”
Who taught you to dance? This is heavenly
. “Do you have any brothers and sisters?”

“Yes. I have one sister, Avis, who is the oldest, and two brothers. I am in the middle of my two brothers. Avis was, or rather
is
not happy that I left. She wanted me to marry her best friend and settle on the farm next to that of my folks.”

I’m glad you didn’t
. She barely caught the thought before it became words and made it out of her mouth. “I’m sure they miss you.” There, that was far more proper.

“Perhaps.”

She tilted her head back to look up at his face. Was that unhappiness she saw in his eyes? Possibly, with such an enigmatic comment. She watched as his face cleared and he smiled down at her.

“Will you be in church tomorrow?” he asked.

“Unless we have a medical emergency. It has happened more than once.”

“I heard about the young man who died.”

Astrid blinked. One more reminder. “Yes.” Even to her ears her voice sounded curt. Who would have been filling him in on the news of Blessing? Most likely Sophie. What else had she told him? What a blabbermouth. Ignoring the argument that wanted to take over her mind, she nodded up at her partner, enjoyed one more turn, and as the music stopped, stepped out of his arms.

“Thank you.” His voice sneaked in past the guard on her mind and made itself at home.

She nodded and turned at the sound of a male voice, raised in what surely sounded like anger.

“Toby Valders, you stay away from my girl.” The frown on Gus’s face matched the tone of his voice.

Toby stepped back, his hands raised. “We were just dancing. Since you weren’t here, I . . .”

Astrid almost laughed at the glint in Toby’s eyes. For certain he knew what he was doing, and Gus had fallen right into the trap. She nudged Grace, and the two grinned at each other with a slight nod.

“I . . . ah . . .” Maydell stamped her foot as her fists slammed into her waist. She glared back at him. “If I am your girl, and I’m not saying for sure I am right now, then you better act like I’m your girl and not go off with the fellows, smokin’ and doin’ whatever out behind the barn.”