Shelter in Seattle (18 page)

Now that he was dead, Julianne realized she could be a real wife to Caleb and a real mother to Jonathan. She closed the lid on the box. Would Caleb want a real wife? Or was he happy with things the way they were?

“How do you feel?”

Julianne jumped. When had he awakened? She turned to Caleb and looked through one eye. “I’m sore.”

He sat up in the bed and rubbed his eyes. The quilt slipped down to his waist. His chest was bare. She saw the top of a pair of his clean pants. He must have bathed after she’d fallen asleep.

Julianne carried the little wooden box to the bed and sat down on the edge. “I’m sorry, Caleb.”

****

Caleb raised his head. His gaze fell to the box. Was she going to tell him about the money now? Or was she going to tell him she was leaving? He swallowed the lump that suddenly developed in his throat.

He’d heard Marcus confess that her uncle had taken the money for her passage to Washington. And now, with her uncle dead, Julianne had no reason to stay with him. She no longer needed his protection.

“So am I.”

“There are so many things I need to tell you.”

He watched her rub the lid of the box. Caleb scooted off the bed. “You don’t have to tell me anything. With your uncle gone, you don’t need my protection. I won’t hold you to the marriage, Julianne.” He pulled his boots on over clean socks.

“You don’t want to be married to me?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He shut his eyes and kept his head down, knowing that hurt and longing would lay naked in his eyes. “Without your uncle threatening you, I’d think you would be ready to move on.”

He hurt.

His chest hurt, his throat hurt but most of all the pain in his heart left him empty. He couldn’t meet her gaze.

“I see.” Julianne dumped the money on the bed. “So I scrubbed other men’s dirty clothes for nothing.” He heard the bitterness in her voice.

What was she talking about? Caleb raised his head and saw the money on the bed.

Julianne jerked her bag out from under the bed. “I’ll leave here with nothing more than what I brought with me. I thought you might learn to love me, Caleb Hansen. I thought you wanted to start an apple orchard and a family with me. I’m such a fool.” Her words were loaded with self-ridicule and held a tinge of sourness.

 “I’m giving you your freedom.” His eyes stung. Why was she acting as though he’d done something wrong?

She stopped shoving clothes in the bag and turned to face him. “Why?”

The whispered question hung between them.

He took a step closer to her. “I thought that was what you wanted.”

“Why would I want to leave the only man I ever loved? I have washed clothes almost everyday since I married you to raise money. First, I thought it was to pay you back the money you paid Sloan. Then, it became a way to make your dream come true. To start the apple orchard.”

He took another step forward. “You did that for me? You love me?”

At her half nod Caleb swept her into his arms.

He buried his face in her hair. He tightened his hold as she clung to him.

After long moments, he drew away so he could look in her eyes.

“Julianne, I didn’t realize how much I loved you until you were gone. I thought I would go out of my mind when I realized someone had taken you from me.” He rained kisses across her forehead, his hands encircling her neck. “I never want to lose you again. You have become my life, my reason for being.” He cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her. When he pulled away, he whispered against her lips, “my best friend.”

An exclamation of intense pleasure broke from his lips when she leaned back, smiled, and pulled him gently back to the bed.

Chapter 19

Julianne’s heart pounded an erratic rhythm as she took the first step to consummating their marriage. She basked in the knowledge of her power and felt newly awakened to life. But when the intimacy began, she felt an unwelcome blush start in her cheeks, intensely conscious of his scrutiny. The boldness she’d felt only moments before, fled, revealing her ignorance.

Caleb took charge with quiet assurance. There were no shadows between them. No more lies. Everything took on a clean brightness. Julianne felt as if she floated on air.

Later, as she lay in his arms she could feel his heart thudding beneath her own. She would never forget this day, and pondered the amazing sense of completeness she felt.

She stretched, and her stomach growled noisily.

“I’m hungry.”

“You’re hungry.”

They spoke simultaneously then Julianne giggled like a child. Caleb tickled her until she ran from the bed and grabbed her shift that hung across Jonathan’s cradle. She felt ravenous. She placed a cast iron pan on the stove, and then realized the food in her icebox would have spoiled by now.

“Caleb, will you get us a slab of meat from the smokehouse?” She turned and squealed as Caleb swept her off her feet depositing her back in the bed.

“You stay put.” He chucked her under the chin, his head came down, and he lingered for a slow, drugging kiss. Blood pounded in her brain, leapt from her heart and made her toes curl.

Caleb groaned. “Woman, quit tempting me.” He popped her on the hip. “I need sustenance. Now be good, and I’ll serve you supper in a jiffy.”

“Supper?”

Julianne’s gaze shot to the window in the living room and realized the sun shone on the western side of the house. They had slept away the day.

“Oh, Caleb, I have to get dressed. Morning Star will be here any minute with Jonathan.” She slipped from the bed and crossed to the nightstand that sat beside her bed. She poured water in the basin, dipped a cloth and began to wash her face.

Warm hands slid around her waist, and she leaned back into Caleb’s hug. His lips explored the soft skin on her neck, his breath whispering along her cheek.

“Just take it easy, Sweetheart. I don’t want anything happening to my girl. You’ve had a rough week. You need time to recuperate. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

Julianne turned into his embrace, savoring the feel of his strong arms. She stood on tiptoe and touched her lips to his.

She stared until the door closed behind him, then in a flurry of motion, finished her toiletry, made the bed, and put on a pot of water to boil. Minutes later, she dropped sliced potatoes in the water and placed a lid over the top. She would fry whatever meat Caleb brought in, and they’d have stewed potatoes and relish.

They had just finished their meal when a low whistle sounded outside. Julianne rushed to the door but Caleb got there first, pulling the heavy door wide.

Morning Star and Runs Swiftly stood at the bottom of the porch steps, huge grins on their faces. Julianne raced down the steps in a hurry to get to her baby. Only Caleb’s quick response saved her from tumbling to the bottom.

Julianne reached for Morning Star and Jonathan at the same time. They ended up in an awkward hug, tears of joy filling their eyes.

“Oh, Morning Star. I’m so happy to see you.”

Caleb clasped hands with Runs Swiftly as Julianne pulled Morning Star into the house.

Both men followed on the women’s heels as if unwilling to let them out of their sight. Grateful for how safe such attention made her feel, Julianne touched Caleb’s hand, hoping to silently convey her acceptance and joy at his hovering.

Julianne kissed Jonathan’s cheek then snuggled him close to her breast. She breathed in his warm, baby scent, her heart rejoicing that the Lord had protected him.

She spoke to him in soft, gentle words, and he stilled as if listening to her voice. When he grinned suddenly, she gasped and glanced quickly at Caleb to see if he noticed.

She shared a look of love with him, and he stepped closer his arm slipping around her waist. Julianne dared to look at Morning Star again and found a knowing smile on her friends face.

“How are Little Eagle and his mother?” Caleb asked Runs Swiftly.

“My sister sent you this as a token of her thanks.” He pulled an object from the pouch he carried over his shoulder and handed it to Julianne.

She un-wrapped a beautiful, leather papoose. “This will make it so much easier to carry Jonathan around. The blanket was so bulky.”

Julianne smoothed a hand over the soft leather. “But I have no gift for you, and you have done so much for me.”

Morning Star spoke rapidly to Runs Swiftly.

Runs Swiftly interpreted. She says, “No gift is greater than your friendship,” A tender look of love passed between him and Morning Star at her next words.

“We have news for you.” She reached up and took Runs Swiftly’s hand, motioning for him to finish her words.

He placed the other hand on her shoulder, a look of pure devotion on his face. “When there are six full moons, we will have a child.”

Julianne swept her friend in a fierce hug, knowing that had been the desire of Morning Star’s heart since she lost her first baby in childbirth.

“God has truly blessed us, Morning Star.”

“Someday soon, you must tell us about this God and how he can bless us, but now we must return to our tribe.” Runs Swiftly nodded to both Julianne and Caleb. He took Morning Star’s hand and pulled her outside to his awaiting horse.

As they stepped out on the porch, Julianne was overcome with thankfulness that Morning Star was alive, and that she had taken such good care of Jonathan.

“Wait.” Her voice came out firm and strong. “I
do
have something for you.”

She handed Jonathan to Caleb and hurried into the cabin. She returned to the porch and placed the intricately carved box into Morning Star’s hands.

“Caleb made me this box, and I love it, but it’s become a symbol of something I never want in my home again. It’s so lovely, and his work is perfect; that’s why I can’t give it to anyone else. I know you will treasure it as I do.”

Morning Star opened the box and gasped at the money inside. “But my friend. Why you give me this thing so close to your heart?”

“Because we are starting anew, and I want Caleb to build a hope chest as a reminder of the hope God has granted us this week.”

“I thank you with many thanks, my friend.” Morning Star closed the lid, she handed the box up to Runs Swiftly and allowed him to pull her up onto the horse.

Julianne stood with Caleb and watched their friends leave.

“Do you mind that I gave the box away?” Julianne felt strongly that it had been the right thing to do, and even felt relieved that the thing that had caused her so many problems no longer sat in her house.

But Caleb might feel otherwise, and that troubled her heart somewhat. With the Lord’s help, she would never again let lies and deceit get a stronghold in her home.

“I don’t mind at all. Actually I feel the same way about the box, but woman, did you have to give the money away, too?”

Julianne heard the humor in his voice before she glanced up and caught the merriment shining in his lovely eyes.

She raised her hand to playfully slap at him. He ducked and ran into the house. She followed. He quickly placed Jonathan in the cradle.

Caleb grabbed her and rolled her underneath him on the bed, tickling her mercilessly. “You killed my apple orchard, and now you have to pay the piper.”

He stopped suddenly and sucked in a ragged breath. Caleb propped himself on one elbow and studied her seriously.

“I am in such trouble.” His spoke in an odd, yet gentle tone.

“What do you mean?”

“I just realized that my wife gave away three months worth of pay, and I’m happy about it.” He ran a finger down the buttons on her dress. “Does that mean I’m hen-pecked, and that you can get by with anything?”

Julianne pushed him off her and sat up cross legged on the bed. She leaned towards him, needing to impress upon him the earnestness of what she felt.

“No, Caleb. That means we are both deeply in love and wish to please one another. It means we pledge to protect our love from all that might harm our home and family. We will tell each other the truth, even if it hurts.”

They stared at each other, an understanding of the vulnerable position they were in passed between them sealing their bond of love. Julianne knew he held her happiness in his hand and from what Caleb just admitted he felt the same way.

He took her hand and raised it to his lips.

“I love you, Mrs. Hansen.”

“And I love you, Mr. Hansen.”

“Just so we’re clear, though, I am the boss, and there is still this matter of payment you owe for giving away our money.”

He pulled her to him with a slow secret smile she fully understood.

“Oh, but you’re so mistaken, boss.” She place a hand on his chest her lips just inches from his. “I did
not
give away
our
apple orchard.”