Love Blooms in Winter (34 page)

“He shares your devotion?”

She shrugged her shoulders. Their shared kiss was a powerful indication that he didn’t think of her as his sister, but he’d never voiced exactly what he thought of her. Of them as a couple. She could be putting too much credence in one kiss from a man who’d just escaped death. Truthfully, he might have kissed a donkey in relief. Rubbing warmth into her arms, she said, “We haven’t discussed our feelings, but I think he shares an attraction. Perhaps not with the same hope for a future together, but my woman’s intuition tells me that he feels something more than friendship.”

Nodding, Jake said softly, “He’s in love with you, Mae.”

“Do you think so?” Her eyes searched his. “Honestly?”

“I’ve watched a growing attraction for you from the moment I met him. He looks at you as though you’re water to a thirsty man.”

She reached out and hugged him. “Thank you! I’d like to believe that.”

“Believe it.” He leaned his head back, closing his eyes. “I’m a man and I know the look well. He looks at you the way I should have. You’re right, Mae. We have changed. We are more like brother and sister. We could never have made each other happy.” He opened his eyes and looked at her. “I’m moving to Philadelphia.”

“Oh?” His statement came as no big surprise. Jake wasn’t meant for Dwadlo; he was destined for the big city. This town didn’t inspire his mind or stretch his intellect. She still loved him the way she loved Jeremy, but he needed bright lights and elegant culture. Women would flock to this smart, savvy man, and he deserved someone who would appreciate him for who he was. A good man, but not her man.

“I’ll be leaving in the morning. If Fisk has a chance to round up some of his stock, I’ll purchase a horse from him.”

Leaning back, Mae rested her eyes. A numbness settled over her bones. “I wish you nothing but happiness, Jake.”

“Thank you. I wish you the same, Mae. Tom’s a good, solid man.” He looked her in the eye. “I should have ended our relationship long ago.”

She nodded. “I suppose you’ll open an office in Philly?”

“Yes. As soon as possible. A new start—that’s what I need.”

“You’re a fine lawyer.” She noticed that he didn’t ask her about her immediate plans, but then he’d never really cared about what she wanted, and she couldn’t have told him anyway. She had no home, no job. Just a boy and Pauline to feed and clothe.

She and Jake could talk about their childhood all afternoon, but their adulthood could be summed up in a few short sentences. It hardly seemed fair, but then sometimes life wasn’t fair.

God never intended it to be.

D
ale waded through ankle-deep rubble, shaking his head. When he approached Tom, the man had tears in his eyes. “Everything is gone.”

Surprised that he was finally speaking directly to him, Tom nevertheless reached out to steady the pastor. “You can rebuild.”

“I’m not worried about material possessions. It’s the
memories
, Tom.” Dale’s eyes swept the devastation. “So many memories of my mother, my childhood. Gone.”

“Memories are stored in the heart,” Tom reminded him. “Nothing can take those away from you.”

The man nodded, tears openly streaming down his cheeks. “Can you sit a spell? I’d like to tell you something.”

The invitation was too good to ignore, regardless of circumstances. “Sure.” They found comfortable seats by the store’s broken steps. For a moment they sat in silence before Dale began.

“I want to thank you, Tom.”

“Thank me?” A humorless chuckle escaped him. “What on earth do you have to thank me for?”

“Your goodness.” The pastor’s eyes softened. “I know that doesn’t sound very manly, but the word fits you. You are a good man. I’m aware that I’m a bit eccentric, and I haven’t tried hard enough to get to know you. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m basically a shy man. The only time I can find my tongue and express my feelings is in the pulpit. I don’t like my personality, but the good Lord saw fit to make me this way, and I’m not in the habit of doubting His work. Casual conversation comes hard for me, even with people I know well. And I guess my mother spoiled me rotten….or so I’ve heard.” He lifted his head and offered an apologetic smile. “I became accustomed to the pampering, but I want you to know that I’m deeply indebted to you for the personal risk you took in trying to save our town.”

The man sitting beside him, quietly struggling to express himself, touched Tom. Every man had his flaw. And Dale’s could be worse.

“You have a lot of friends here, Dale. Mae thinks the world of you.”

“She’s the daughter I’ll never have,” he confessed, wiping away his tears with his hand. Tom reached into his back pocket, pulled out a clean handkerchief, and offered it to him.

“I appreciate your thanks, but they’re not necessary. I’m sorry your store and home are gone.”

“I’ll rebuild.” He blew his noise loudly. “You?”

Him? Tom didn’t know where he’d go or what he’d do. Life was suddenly a big mess. Since coming to Dwadlo and meeting Mae, nothing was the same. He thought he’d had everything all figured out. Work for the railroad until he couldn’t board a train anymore.

Maybe God had a different thought.

He reached over and slapped Dale on the back. “What say you and me help these folks get settled for the night?”

Nodding, Dale reached to shake his hand. “I appreciate…and love you.” He paused to wipe his nose. “It’s okay for a man to tell another man that he loves him, isn’t it?”

“It’s okay for this man.” Smiling, Tom firmly shook his hand. “You’re a good man, Dale. Don’t let yourself ever tell you any different.”

Returning to the accident site, Mae spotted Tom among a crew of men clearing timber from the railroad station. She supposed they would rebuild the platform first so that once new rail was down the train could arrive with supplies. There would be a massive town rebuilding project, but she was confident the residents of Dwadlo were up for the challenge, and with the grace of God they would succeed.

Straightening, Tom waved her over with a big grin on his face. She carefully picked her way through the rubble to reach him.

“Look!” He bent and lifted a wooden crate. “Root beer and not a single broken bottle!”

Shaking her head, she smiled. “The blessings just keep flowing.” What else could she say?

“Hey.” He waded through debris to take her arm and move her carefully over the carnage toward the general store. “I have something I want to show you.”

“More root beer?”

“Just follow me.” They made their way up, over, and through broken boards and shattered glass. They were clear of the train station now, but rubble stood deep in the streets. The General Store sign was upside down in the middle of the road. Dale, with a broom in his hand, quietly swept glass from what remained of the porch steps. In the background, the store and post office were in complete rubble. The gut-wrenching sight pierced her heart. Nothing looked familiar. Canned goods littered the ground. A roll of white butcher paper was caught in bare tree limbs. The barrel that had held ice, sarsaparilla, and root beer had been blown into an empty field. “Come on.” He urged her up the store steps and past Dale to where the postal cage once stood. On top of a small wooden box, the telegraph machine sat.

Her jaw dropped. “Oh, how could that be?”

“Can you believe it? It doesn’t seem to be damaged—and the line’s still up.” He stepped to the machine to peck out a message, and her mind absorbed the familiar cadence.

C
OULDN’T STOP TRAIN
S
TOP
L
OST ANOTHER LOCOMOTIVE AND CARS
S
TOP
N
O INJURIES
S
TOP
P
LAN TO STAY AND HELP REBUILD
S
TOP
W
ILL HAVE THE STATION UP AND RUNNING WITHIN A MONTH
S
TOP
S
END TWENTY-FIVE TENTS IMMEDIATELY, PLUS FOOD, CLOTHING, BLANKETS, AND WORKERS
M
ORE ROOT BEER
S
TOP
A
ND A WEDDING CAKE
S
TOP

Closing her eyes, she experienced an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It warmed her to her toes. No wonder she loved this man. With all the things on his mind, he had the forethought to order Joanne a wedding cake. “That is so kind, Tom, but Joanne doesn’t need a cake. She needed the herring.”

“She has her fish.” He pointed to what was left of two barrels and the herring that lay everywhere. “Folks can help themselves.”

The most miserable night of Mae’s life was nearly over. A few folks still had homes and took in as many as they could, but Pauline had refused to be separated from Mae and Jeremy, and so the three of them, Tom, and a pack of dogs and cats huddled around a blazing campfire that drove away the worst of the chill but failed to completely thaw frigid bones. Mae’s twisted ankle no longer bothered her; brutal winter weather was the enemy. The citizens of Dwadlo struggled to survive the overnight temperature, praying for dawn’s light.

When a weak sun crested the skyline, Mae was thankful they had gathered supplies from the work site. Coffeepots were simmering, and by midmorning the townsfolk had found enough edible food to feed the children. Adults had to wait for the supply train.

By midafternoon they learned the new supply train had arrived safely beyond the wreckage site. A bunch of burly men went to meet it, and soon they were back and unloading from the wagons much-needed supplies: tents, cases of canned goods, blankets, and warm clothing.

Sitting with a group of women, Mae tried to locate Tom. Dogs and cats roamed the site, sniffing out tasty treats left by small children. Jeremy, ropes tied around his waist, struggled to control the animals and keep them away from the crowd.

Tom’s eyes caught sight of the woman who filled his heart. When he realized the train was going to wreak havoc on Dwadlo, his only worry had been for Mae, Jeremy, and Pauline. He’d become very fond of the lovely postmistress. No, it was far more than that—he loved her. There, he’d admitted it. He loved Mae Wilkey. Now he had to decide what to do about it.

Actually, he knew exactly what needed to be done. He had to talk to her before he did one thing more. He needed to settle a large part of his life, and it couldn’t wait. “Mae.”

She turned at the sound of his voice.

“Will you come with me, please? I need your help with something.”

He heard the other women telling her they were fine and for her to go with him. She approached him looking more tired than he’d ever seen her. He put his arm around her shoulders, and they began to walk up the street. “How’s Pauline?”