Shining Water 01 - The Icecutter's Daughter (22 page)

“I’m telling you I didn’t push her,” Rurik told the police chief, shaking his head for emphasis. “I had gone upstairs to see if she and her brother Nils Olsson would join me for a discussion in the dining room. Nils wasn’t there, so I told Svea I’d like to speak to her. She agreed, and as we walked down the hall toward the stairs she started yelling at me and accusing me of . . .” He fell silent.

The officer’s brows rose and other onlookers seemed to lean in. “Accused you of what?”

Rurik could see that everyone waited anxiously for his response. “She accused me of trying to get rid of her.”

“And were you?” the lawman asked. “Were you trying to get rid of her? Trying to kill her?”

“Absolutely not.” Rurik looked to where the doctor was tending to Svea. She was still lying near the foot of the stairs, moaning and sobbing as the doctor arranged for a litter to carry her back to his examination room.

Rurik noted that Uncle Carl had arrived. He saw his uncle’s concerned expression as their glances connected. Carl pressed
through the crowd to reach Rurik. “What happened? They said you were in trouble.”

“Svea lost her balance and fell down the stairs, but they think I pushed her.”

“She was mighty upset with you,” the hotel clerk declared. “I heard it all. Saw some of it, too.”

“Did you see me push her?” Rurik demanded, his frustration getting the better of him. “Of course not, because I didn’t. She was upset with me, I’ll give you that much. But in her frustration, she lost her balance and fell.”

“I saw your hands stretched out,” the clerk declared. “Looked like you were pushing her.”

“I tried to reach out to save her, but it was too late.”

“Seems kind of convenient to say she just lost her balance,” the police chief said, fixing Rurik with a stern expression.

“This makes no sense, Zed, and you know it,” Carl said, turning to the police chief. “My nephew would never hurt anyone—much less this young lady. He’s known her from childhood. And even if he were so inclined, why on earth would he do it in sight of others?”

“They are supposed to marry, as I understand it,” the lawman said, obviously avoiding the question.

“They were,” Carl countered. This drew distinct murmurings in the crowd. “Miss Olsson ended the engagement prior to my nephew joining me here in Waseca,” Carl added, his voice raised.

“She’s lost consciousness,” someone called out. Everyone turned to look to where Svea lay completely still.

“Is she dead?” another voice questioned.

Rurik felt sick to his stomach. She couldn’t possibly be . . . dead. He groaned, and his legs barely could hold him upright.

He’d only wanted to speak to Svea and urge her to tell the truth. How had this happened? He rubbed his head, unable to make sense of anything.

“She’s not dead,” the doctor announced, “but we need to get her to my office right away.”

There was a bustling of activity as several helped to get Svea secured on the litter.

Carl stepped closer to Rurik and asked in a low voice, “What happened?”

“Like I was telling the police chief, I came here to talk to Svea and Nils about tomorrow. I went to their hotel suite, and Svea came to the door. She said Nils was gone. I told her we needed to talk about telling the church leaders the truth. I said I’d meet her downstairs in the restaurant.”

“And then . . . ?”

Carl’s tone seemed almost urgent, and Rurik hurried on, “I didn’t want to be the cause of any further harm to her reputation nor add more questions about my own, so I immediately headed down the hall. She flew out the door after me. She grabbed my arm and begged me to just make things right. I told her I’d done nothing wrong and that I had nothing to make right where she was concerned. I continued toward the stairs, and she kept trying to stop me. She wanted me to come back to the hotel room to talk, but I told her that wouldn’t be appropriate. She continued to pull at my arm and when I tried to disengage from her it only caused her to become more vocal.”

“Is that when you pushed her?” the police chief asked over Carl’s shoulder.

Rurik wanted to punch the man square in the nose, but he knew that wouldn’t help his case. Besides, the man was only trying to do his duty. “I did not push her,” he said once more, each word distinct. “She was ranting and saying something about how I had to marry her—that I had to save her reputation. I stopped long enough to tell her that her behavior was causing a scene—that she needed to calm down before we went to the restaurant.”

“But she wouldn’t be quiet, is that it?” The man watched him with a trained eye.

“That’s true, she wouldn’t. She only got louder. I don’t even remember what all she was yelling, but I decided to get downstairs and, if necessary, leave the hotel altogether. I started down the stairs, and Svea rushed past me and turned on the step in front of me.”

The lawman nodded. “And then?”

“And then she lost her balance. I tried to pull her back, but she fell away too quickly.”

Rurik looked at his uncle, who was frowning. When Carl put his hand to his chest, Rurik feared the shock of the matter might be too much.

“Are you all right, Uncle Carl?”

The older man looked at him and nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

The police chief turned to the hotel clerk, seemingly unaware of Carl’s condition. Rurik heard him ask the clerk if this was what he’d seen.

“It looked to me like he was pushing her,” the man told the
official. “I heard her screaming, like I said. It was an awful thing to witness.”

“I didn’t push her,” Rurik reiterated. “I couldn’t do something like that.”

The doctor had instructed the litter bearers to carry Svea away. He came over to where the police chief stood. “I’m taking her to my examination room. She’s fainted, but it’s probably for the best. She may have a broken leg. She said her head hurt, too, so there might be additional damage.”

The man nodded and glanced toward Rurik. “Will she live?”

Another jolt of fear and shock went through Rurik, but he fought to stand still and straight.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to examine her first. She could have all sorts of internal injuries, especially if she fell from the top of the stairs.”

Rurik didn’t know when Merrill arrived, but when he looked again at his uncle, he found her there. Her presence, although comforting, was not what Rurik wanted. He hated for her to be in the middle of this madness—to hear the accusations and wonder at his actions. He bowed his head.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to take you in,” the chief told Rurik. “Until we can determine what really happened, whether Miss Olsson is going to live or die, you’ll have to be locked up.”

Carl grabbed his chest and began to stagger. Rurik and Merrill reached out to catch him at the same moment.

“His heart,” Merrill exclaimed.

The doctor hurried forward. “Put him on the ground, flat out.” He knelt beside the older man. “Carl, is it like before?”

“More painful,” Carl gasped out through the labored breathing. Rurik had never seen anyone with such a white face.

Rurik looked at Merrill as the officer took hold of his arm. “Merrill, will you stay with him?”

“I will.” Her gaze met his. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Rurik could see in her expression that she knew he was innocent of any wrongdoing. However, when he glanced around at the others, he found accusation and condemnation. He felt like he had fallen into a nightmare from which he might never awaken.

Heartsick, Merrill watched the police chief lead Rurik away. But her more immediate concern was for Carl Jorgenson. Kneeling, she put her hand on his arm.

“Uncle Carl,” she said, hoping the familiarity would console him, “I’ll be with you, and I’m praying for you.”

He opened his eyes for just a moment. “Ja. You need to pray,” he said through stiff lips.

The doctor directed a couple of men to take Carl by the shoulders and legs. “Carry him to my place.”

“I’m coming with him,” Merrill said, her tone leaving no room for argument. The doctor merely nodded.

The short walk to the doctor’s place gave Merrill little time to think. She had to admit the sight of the unconscious Svea Olsson had been disturbing.

Oh, God,
she prayed
, please don’t let her die. Please let the truth be known, and please, I beg you, may Rurik’s good name be cleared
.

The doctor’s examination room was small, and because Svea was already in there, the doctor directed the men to carry Carl into another room. “I’ll be with him soon,” the doctor told Merrill. “I’m going to find something for his heart and check on Miss Olsson.”

Carl’s pain had intensified, and Merrill could see that his pale skin had taken on a grayish-blue hue. His eyes remained closed, and she wasn’t certain if he was still conscious or not. As soon as he was positioned on the bed, she went to his side and took hold of his hand. Praying for the older man, Merrill felt a sudden sense of peace wash over her. She could feel God’s presence at the bedside.

After some time, Merrill felt Carl stir. “Merrill?” he said in a weak voice. She quickly bent over him. “What is it, Uncle Carl?”

“Rurik . . . he . . . he wouldn’t hurt her.”

Merrill nodded. “I know. I know he wouldn’t. Soon the truth will come out and everyone will realize that.”

“I don’t . . . I don’t think . . . I’ll be here to . . . see it.”

She frowned. “Please don’t say that. Rurik needs you. We all need you, Uncle Carl.”

Carl gave just one shake of his head and closed his eyes. “He has . . . you.”

The doctor came in with a small glass of dark liquid. “Get him to drink this. It should help.”

Merrill took the glass and slipped her other arm under Carl’s neck. “What is it?”

“A foxglove tea. I’ve made it strong, so hopefully it will
help settle his heart. Have him drink it all. It may cause some stomach discomfort, but that’s normal.”

“I’ll see that he drinks it.”

“I’m glad you’re here, Miss Krause. You tend to him while I see what I need to do for Miss Olsson.”

“You should know . . .” Merrill stopped, uncertain of whether she should say something about Svea’s condition or not. No doubt he had heard the rumors along with everybody else. Still, if it helped Svea to survive, Merrill didn’t want to hold back. “Miss Olsson is with child.”

The doctor raised a brow. “Are you certain?”

“That’s what she’s told us,” Merrill said.

They both looked at Carl when he murmured, “She . . . did.”

The doctor grimaced. “Well, a fall like she’s had probably will put an end to that.” He shook his head. “Let me know if Carl’s pain gets worse, Miss Krause.”

Merrill watched him go, feeling a sense of utter helplessness. She helped Carl to raise his head and take a drink of the medicine. She could see even that small movement caused him pain. “I’m sorry to be hurting you more, Uncle Carl, but it’s necessary for you to drink all of this.”

He did as she instructed, never once complaining. Merrill eased him back onto the pillow and watched for any sign of relief. Carl remained ashen, his hand still clutched to his chest. He probably was more worried about Rurik than himself. Merrill wished she could say something to ease his concerns.

What would become of them all? It seemed their world had suddenly gone crazy.

Time dragged by as Merrill waited for Carl to feel better or for the doctor to return. She supposed that since she was with the older man, the doctor was putting his time and efforts into the ministrations of Miss Olsson. Even so, Merrill would have felt a whole lot better had the doctor been there to watch over Rurik’s uncle.

Carl’s breathing did seem a little less strained, but Merrill couldn’t be certain. His face was still a ghastly gray, making her wonder if perhaps this was the end for him. She remembered her mother’s pale face. Granny had called it a death pallor.

Merrill struggled to gather her thoughts to pray for Svea. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the young woman to live—she truly did.

“If Svea dies, they will accuse Rurik of murder.” Putting it into words nearly did her in. She covered her face with her hands and began to sob.
God, I’m afraid I don’t feel too kindly toward that woman
, she finally began.
I want to care about her, but it’s so wrong what she’s done. She’s hurt so many people with her lies.