The Lumberjack's Bride (13 page)

When had she started crying? Had anyone seen the tears?

She glanced over her shoulder back to the church. No one had followed her so she sank down at the base of the large pine tree.

Julianne changed Jonathan's diaper and began to talk to God. Her hands did the work while her heart did the talking.

“Lord, I didn't think this lie would hurt Caleb. I never wanted to do that. Father, please forgive me. Forgive me of all my sins and come live in my heart so that I won't do it again.” A peace like no other filled her. She savored the feeling of being wrapped in warm loving arms. “Caleb said you love me so much you sent your son to die for me. I believe him, and I realize now that the only way he will ever believe me is if I stop lying to him. I'll tell Caleb everything. I don't know how, but I will. I promise.”

She wiped the tears from her face and gathered the baby close. Julianne looked up into the sky that peeked through the many trees.

“I'll tell Caleb after lunch. Lord, please let him forgive me, too.”

The sound of male voices singing “Bringing in the Sheaves” carried out the church doors. Julianne slipped back inside. Everyone was standing, so she took her place beside Caleb.

He leaned over and whispered. “Is the baby okay?”

Julianne tucked her hand into his. “He's fine. Everything is fine.” She rocked Jonathan in time with the beat of the song.

For the first time in her life, she felt free. The song ended and Julianne handed Jonathan to Caleb. She quickly gathered their things and joined the loggers and the few families as they made their way out of the small church.

She hurried to help the other women set the food on the tables for the picnic. Julianne wanted to tell Caleb of her new commitment to God and to confess her lie to him so they could go back to being comfortable with each other. He hadn't said anything, but Julianne sensed he knew she was hiding something from him.

“You're awful chipper.” Maggie commented, setting a large potato salad on the table.

Julianne felt the older woman studying her face. She tried to hide her newfound joy from her friend. Caleb should be the first one to be told.

“You've changed. There's a sparkle in your eyes that weren't there this morning.” Maggie moved in front of her.

Julianne was forced to look the older woman in the eye. She opened her mouth to deny the truth of Maggie's words and then stopped. Her lying days were over.

“I really want to tell Caleb first, Maggie.” She whispered, leaning toward her friend.

Maggie clapped her hands with joy drawing attention to them. “You're with a wee one, aren't you?” She grabbed Julianne and hugged her to her breast.

Over Maggie's shoulder Julianne watched as Caleb's face turned as white as new-fallen snow.

One of the men from the sawmill burst into the churchyard, yelling, “We need every man on the west side. A fire is blazin' and it's headed this way!”

His shout drew everyone's attention from Julianne, except Caleb's.

Maggie ran to where Caleb and the men stood. “I'll come and help.”

Caleb handed Jonathan to her. “No, Maggie we need you here to send food and water up to us. Would you see my family gets home okay?”

“You know I will.”

Chapter 12

J
ulianne watched Caleb leave with the men. She had to explain it to him. Surely, he didn't really think she was with child. What must he be thinking?

She found herself silently praying.
Lord, what a mess this is. Please comfort my husband and keep him safe as he fights the fire.

Maggie carried Jonathan back to Julianne. “I'm sorry. I wish it had been a better time to tell Caleb about the babe.”

“I'm not having a baby, Maggie.” Julianne took Jonathan.

“Oh, well.” Concern filled her voice. “I'm pretty sure Caleb thinks you are. Maybe you are and just don't know it yet.” Maggie offered as she began filling a plate with food. “But since you don't know fer sure, it will be a simple thing to straighten out when he gets home. Who knows, maybe he'll think about it and decide he likes the idea.”

Julianne felt tears prick her eyes. She refused to cry. Maggie had no way of knowing their marriage wasn't real or of the anguish she had just caused Caleb.

She followed Maggie to one of the many trees that surrounded the churchyard. Maggie spread out an old blanket, and the two women sank down on it to eat lunch.

Jonathan fell asleep to Julianne's gentle rocking. She lay him down on the blanket beside her and looked about.

Two women with small children sat together talking in soft whispers. Julianne couldn't hear what they were saying but was pretty sure they were voicing their concern for their husbands. Another woman sat by herself. She held a new baby to her breast and sang “Amazing Grace” in a quiet, soothing way.

“Well, if you weren't happy 'cause you're with child, what put that new sparkle in your eyes?” Maggie took a bite of fried chicken.

Julianne thought of the moments she'd spent in the presence of the Lord. She really wanted to tell someone and since Caleb wasn't there…why not tell Maggie?

“Maggie, I opened my heart to Jesus this morning.” The words came out a whisper.

“Well, glory be! It's about time.” Maggie set her plate to the side and hugged Julianne.

Surrounded in the happiness of her friend, Julianne poured her heart out. “All these months I've been afraid my uncle would come and snatch me away. Maggie, it was as if God took that fear away.” She hesitated, “Don't get me wrong. I'm still scared he'll come, but now I know God will protect me.”

Maggie took both Julianne's hands in hers and searched her face. “This uncle, he's the reason you been doing laundry and making money? If he came, were you going to leave Caleb and that baby behind and just keep running?”

“Oh, no, I'd never even thought of that. I wanted to repay Caleb. He's been talking about starting an apple orchard, but we don't have enough money to buy the seedlings right now. I'm going to give him the money.” Julianne stared at her friend. She saw the doubt in Maggie's eyes.

“You still think I took Sloan's money don't you?”

Maggie dropped Julianne's hands and picked her plate back up. “It don't matter none.”

Julianne's heart constricted. It felt as if Maggie had taken a knife and twisted it. It did matter. If Maggie still doubted her, did Caleb? She wasn't sure.

“I'm going home.” Julianne stood. She picked up Jonathan and her plate of untouched food.

Maggie jumped to her feet. “I'm going with you. I promised that man of yours I would keep an eye on you while he was gone.”

Julianne felt hurt turn to anger as it welled up and spilled over. She turned to the older woman. “I don't need a babysitter, Maggie. Jonathan and I are going home alone.”

She didn't give Maggie time to respond. Julianne put Jonathan's things into their wagon and laid the baby down on the floor then climbed up. The blue sheet slipped easily over her head. Julianne picked up the baby and gently laid him in the folds. Then, she took the reins in her hands and turned the animals toward home.

Tears filled her eyes. How was it that everyone still thought she was a thief? Even after all these weeks, they still condemned her for a crime she hadn't committed. Julianne thought they'd grown to know and love her. Now she realized it was all just an illusion.

Julianne heard a horse following her. She was sure it was Maggie. Maggie was a woman of her word. It gave her some comfort to know her friend cared some for her, even if she didn't trust her.

* * *

The next morning Julianne rose with a headache. She wasn't sure if the headache was from worrying about Caleb fighting the fire all night, or if it was from the tears she'd cried when he hadn't come home. “Probably both,” she told Jonathan, taking him from the crib. Her nerves were frayed from all the soul-searching she'd done. Had Caleb been injured in the fire or simply been fed up with his wife's lies?

“You and I are going to the river today. I'm going to do this last basket of laundry, and then I'm telling Maggie I'm out of the clothes-washing business.” She continued to talk to the baby as she prepared.

“Things are going to change around here. I've had a lot of time to think about this mess, and I've decided to tell Caleb everything.”
If I get the chance.

Jonathan cooed up at her as she gently slipped him into her sling. “I know what you're thinking. But I have to tell him that my uncle must have taken Sloan's money. I couldn't tell him before because I didn't want anyone to know I was running away from home. Someone might have felt compelled to send word to my uncle. Now I need Caleb to know the truth and to trust me. If we are to be a real family, there should be nothing between us.” She lifted the basket and closed the cabin door.

Heading down to the river, she continued with her conversation. “I also told God I would tell Caleb about our little jaunts down here.” The baby smiled up at her.

“Oh, you like the sound of that do you?” She entered the clearing and looked up into the clear blue sky. “I just hope he doesn't get too upset with me.”

Julianne set down the laundry and hugged the baby to her for several long moments. Thoughts of Caleb fighting the fire troubled her. She decided to pray for him.

But how did one pray? Really pray?

She thought back to the many nights that Caleb had prayed for them both before going to bed each evening. His prayers had sounded like he was talking to someone right there in the room with them. Julianne took a deep breath and began.

“Lord, please watch over Caleb and protect him while he fights the fire.” Julianne opened her eyes and stared down at Jonathan. His sleepy eyes reassured her.

Feeling as if someone were watching her, Julianne looked over her shoulder. The bush behind her moved ever so slightly.

Julianne saw Morning Star's doeskin dress. She smiled and opened her mouth to greet her friend.

The Indian woman shook her head
no
and raised a finger to her lips. Her dark eyes darted toward the tree line and she repeated her earlier actions.

What was wrong with her? Morning Star had never hidden before. The two women always worked fast and then spent several hours sitting on the bank with their feet in the river playing with the baby.

Julianne looked about her and listened. For the first time, she noticed the silence. The birds weren't singing. When she looked back to where her friend had stood, no one was there.

Her stomach rolled. Something was terribly wrong. She turned to pick up the laundry.

“Well, well. Look what I found.”

The voice came from behind her. Julianne froze. She felt icy fingers of fear trickle down her neck. Every hair seemed to stand on end as his name ricocheted off the walls of her mind.

Marcus.

Had he seen Jonathan? She lifted the sling over her head and wrapped the sheet around the sleeping baby.
Lord, please don't let him hurt Jonathan
.

“What'sa matter, Julianne? Don't you recognize me?” The words were playful, but the meaning was not.

Her throat closed with a terror she'd never known before. Her mouth went dry. She heard his boots crush the gravel as he came closer.

Julianne prayed he wouldn't hear the fear in her voice. “Hello, Marcus.” She laid the baby in the basket and turned to face her enemy. Julianne purposely moved away from the basket, praying he'd not pay attention to the precious bundle she'd just deposited inside.

“‘Hello, Marcus'?” His voice mocked her. “That's all you have to say? ‘Hello, Marcus'?”

Morning Star moved silently behind him. She knelt to pick up a large rock.

Marcus grabbed Julianne by the throat. His fingers closed, shutting off her air. Julianne's arms flailed through the air, and she clawed at his face.

Her vision blurred as she vainly tried to suck in air. Morning Star melted back into the forest. No help there. She swatted at Marcus, her strength waning.

“Marcus! I'm not paying you to kill her.”

Her uncle's familiar voice seemed to come from a great distance away. The vise around her neck released and she staggered. Julianne would have fallen, but Marcus jerked her forward and pinned her back to his chest with one easy sweep.

Julianne gasped for breath. When she raised her head all the air she'd pulled into her lungs moments before burst back out in a whoosh.

“Didn't expect to see me did you, Julie girl?”

Chapter 13

C
aleb made his way home. His arms ached, his back hurt, and his heart felt as if it had been stomped on and thrown to the dogs. For two days, as he fought the flames, the thought of Julianne being with another man tore him apart.

He couldn't bring himself to believe she had been unfaithful. Maybe she'd been pregnant when they got married and hadn't known it.

Had she been married before? Was she carrying a baby that was conceived before she came to the territory? It was possible. After all, what did he know about her life before she'd come here?

The horse picked up the pace as it neared the cabin. Caleb slumped deeper into the saddle. The canopy of branches further darkened his mood as he passed under them.

Why hadn't she told him? Did she think he would throw her out? Could it be she still didn't trust him? The questions troubled Caleb.

Well, his wife would find out that she could trust him. He loved her and had promised to protect her, in sickness and in health. Caleb sat up straighter in the saddle.

He urged the horse toward home. It was time he and Julianne put all their doubts and fears behind them and settled a few things. It was time he told her he loved her.

Caleb stopped the horse.

He loved her.

The thought took him by surprise. But, it was true. Caleb Hansen was in love with his wife. Not the mushy kind of love his sister had talked about before she'd married, but the deep, soul-searching kind.