While Love Stirs (20 page)

“We’re friends—at best.”

“Friends? Sugar, I may be old but I’m not blind. That man is considering some serious sparkin’ with the cook.”

“I doubt that. Every time we’re within a few yards of each other, we end up having words.”

“Uh-huh.”

She watched Joel and his partner row their boat out to the starting area. “He can be very stubborn. Closed minded too. He won’t even consider my ideas about the need for better nutrition in his hospital.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And you should see what he’s like in his office. Every object has to be in a certain spot. Not a fraction of an inch off. It’s very odd.” Charlotte’s pulse raced as she waited for the heat to begin. “And he sure knows how he thinks things should be. Safe. Nothing out of place.”

“And yet he came to find you.” Molly caught Charlotte’s eye. “Wonder why that is?”

The gun went off and the rowers dug their oars into the water. Facing backwards, they headed for the end of the course. How could Joel and his partner tell where they were going? The two of them took an early lead, but one of the other teams seemed to be closing the distance.

“Why are y’all letting the other team catch up?” Molly shouted, waving her handkerchief in the air. “Hurry, sugar! Hurry!”

Charlotte bit her lip. “They seem to be slowing. Perhaps they’re tired already.”

The gentleman beside her cleared his throat and stuck his thumbs in his vest pockets. “Ladies, allow me to explain. Rowing depends on a combination of immense strength and stamina. Each team must set a pace that will give them the most speed and distance from every stroke, yet retain enough energy for a strong finish.”

“Then they’re all right.” Charlotte didn’t take her eyes from the race but bounced on her toes as excitement coursed through her. “Thank you, sir.”

“You’re most welcome.” The man tipped his hat.

The other boat was now neck and neck with Joel’s. They still had half a course to cover. Would Joel and his partner have the stamina to finish strong?

As they neared the last third of the course, Joel and his partner nosed ahead by half a boat. The other team soon joined them. The two boats seesawed back and forth, first one in the lead and then the other. Charlotte shouted along with the rest of the roaring crowd. With only a few lengths left, she could almost feel Joel and his partner push harder, the steady rhythm of their oars digging into the water with increased intensity.

She held her breath. Their boat lunged forward.

Joel had won!

“He did it!” She whirled toward Molly.

Her traveling companion pressed her hand to her chest. “And he gave my poor little ol’ heart palpitations in the process. Goodness gracious. That’s too much excitement for an old lady.”

They had been on their feet for quite a while and were feeling fatigued. “Let’s find a place to sit,” Charlotte said.

They secured a bench, and Molly eyed Charlotte. “You ready for a night on the town, sugar?”

That was right. His win meant she’d be staying and Molly would
be going. How could she have forgotten already? Now who was having heart palpitations?

She glanced up to see Joel approaching, his alarming smile glinting. Her chest heaved as if she’d been the one rowing. She should never have made that agreement.

He stopped in front of her. “I think you, Miss Gregory, owe me one fight-free evening.”

“Do you honestly think we can do that?”

He shrugged, but his eyes bore into hers. “I’m willing to give it a try if you are.”

She looked from Joel to Molly and back to Joel. Her pulse pounded in her ears. Could she refrain from arguing with him for a whole evening? Only time would tell.

23

Being an aunt still seemed odd to Tessa. With her fussy niece in her arms, she swayed back and forth as she’d seen Hannah do. How long would Hannah and Lincoln stay upstairs with Aunt Sam? Didn’t they realize she was not experienced in the care of an infant?

When she’d protested about them leaving Ellie alone with her, Hannah had assured her she’d do fine. “You play a maid, don’t you?”

“One who lets the children fly out the window,” Tessa called, but her sister kept on climbing the staircase as if she’d not heard her.

That had been half an hour ago.

“Ellie, sweetie, if you keep crying, they’re going to think I’m not up to the task of caring for you.” She switched the infant to her shoulder and patted her back. “And while we both know that’s true, perhaps you could pretend it isn’t so.” She sat down in a chair and held Ellie at arm’s length so she could look into her eyes. “I pretend all the time. You’ll find it’s easier the more practice you get.”

The baby quieted, so she went on in a singsong voice. “Would you like to hear a little Shakespeare?”

Ellie’s tiny mouth quirked in a bit of a smile.

“Am I holding a budding thespian?” She smiled at the baby. “You’ve been acting upset with me all this time when in fact, you like me. Isn’t that right, my sweet little niece? So, let’s see, how about some lines from
Macbeth
? No, that’s a bit much for a baby.
Hamlet
? Too depressing.
Romeo and Juliet
? We’ll talk about that when you’re older.” Ellie’s eyes drooped a little, so Tessa cradled her against her side but kept talking. “I know the perfect lines. They’re from
The Tempest
. One of my favorites.”

The baby’s eyes drooped further.

“In
The Tempest
, the heroine is strong. In his comedies, all of Shakespeare’s heroines are strong. He probably thought the idea of a strong woman was funny, because in his tragedies, things seldom go so well for the ladies. We’ll read
The Tempest
together someday, you and I.” Tessa’s voice grew soft as Ellie’s eyes closed. “‘We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.’”

The steady rise and fall of Ellie’s tiny chest told Tessa she’d done it. She’d gotten the baby to sleep. The act, while simple, left her with the most satisfying feeling. Was that what it meant to be an aunt?

Hannah joined her in the parlor and smiled. “You did it. You conquered the mighty Ellie.”

“I think she conquered me.” Tessa stroked her niece’s milkweed-soft cheek. “‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’”

“
Much Ado
About Nothing
?”

“
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
. Act two, scene three.” She rolled her eyes. Apparently it would be up to her to educate her niece in life’s most important matters. “Don’t worry, Ellie, Aunt Tessa will teach you everything you need to know.”

For a minute, Joel feared Charlotte would change her mind and refuse to accompany him to the dinner that evening. To his relief, she kept her word.

He wasn’t sure why he felt so strongly about her remaining with him at the lake today. He’d spent hours praying about it last night. The only answer God seemed to press on his heart was he needed her to stay.

After the Minnetonka Yacht Club’s awards ceremony, he’d
helped the two women pack up their supplies and arrange the shipment of their trunks. He waited with Charlotte until Molly boarded the streetcar back to the city, then suggested they take a tour of the lake on one of the streetcar boats before dinner.

Once he’d purchased the tickets, he and Charlotte boarded the
Stillwater
. Since Charlotte preferred the seating on the top deck, he followed her to the indoor staircase. “Careful.”

“I’ll be fine.”

And she was.

Too bad. He rather liked the idea of having to catch her.

The only seats available were in a row where a man sat with his arms outstretched, taking up at least three spaces. Charlotte stood at the end of the bench. “Sir, would you mind moving down a bit so we can share your bench?”

The man huffed and moved about a foot to his right.

Charlotte glanced at Joel and whispered, “Maybe we should sit down below.”

“The boat is for everyone.” He kept his voice low. “Go ahead and have a seat. I’m sure he’ll move on down.”

Charlotte slid in, but the man didn’t budge an inch. Joel sat down beside her and placed his doctor’s bag beneath the bench. He leaned around Charlotte to speak with the man. “Sir, would you mind giving the lady a few more inches?”

The man crossed his arms over his chest. “She sat here. I’m done moving.”

Joel’s jaw clenched, and Charlotte laid a hand on his arm. “It’s okay. It’s not a long ride.”

He lifted his arm over her head to rest on the bench and pulled her toward his side. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d rather you be next to me than next to him.”

Her cheeks colored. “Thank you. You do realize we’ve gone several hours now without a cross word. That’s twice now.”

“If you hadn’t stopped me, I might have had a few cross words for Mr. Friendly there.” He smiled at her. “But the night’s not over.”

The wind began to pick up and he glanced upward. Where the sun had been only a half hour ago, clouds now moved swiftly across the sky. The air felt heavy. Were they in for a thunderstorm?

He’d planned on the two of them riding to Spring Park to catch a glimpse of the famed Hotel Del Otero and then returning to Deephaven, but maybe they’d make an early departure to be on the safe side.

“I think we’re in for a storm. Let’s get off at Excelsior. We’ll get back on when the storm passes.”

“But you’ll be late for your dinner.”

“I’d rather miss it altogether than let you get hurt. Being on the water during a thunderstorm is dangerous.”

“The wind is picking up.” She pressed a hand to her hat and smiled at him. “I guess I won’t argue.”

He winked at her. “About time.”

By the time they reached Excelsior, rain had begun to fall. The boat’s steward told everyone the boat would remain docked there until after the storm, so they should all seek shelter on the shore. While Charlotte didn’t relish the thought of making a dash in the rain, she also didn’t like the lightning that had begun to flash in the sky.

Joel grabbed his medical bag, then pulled her to her feet. A thunderclap broke the stillness and she jolted. “We’ll be off here in a few minutes.”

Behind her, the rude man pushed his way through. She fell against Joel’s chest. If not for his strong arms steeling her, she might have pitched right into the water.

Joel’s eyes grew fierce. “Someone needs to teach him a lesson. What kind of man doesn’t let a lady go first?” A lightning bolt cracked the sky. “Sorry. Let’s get going.”

The choices of where to seek shelter appeared limited. Most of the people headed toward the Excelsior Bay Hotel, but it seemed
the parlor couldn’t handle the influx and some were left standing on the porch.

“Over there.” Joel pointed to Steton’s Blue Line Café.

She, Molly, and Lewis had eaten breakfast there. Had that only been this morning? The run to the café would take longer, but they’d be assured a spot. A gust of wind tore her hat from her head and she gasped.

“Let’s go.” Joel locked his hand around hers, and they fled into the sheeting rain.

With her skirts hiked high, they ran down the boardwalk toward the restaurant. The sky darkened to a gray-green color. A tree branch cracked and gave way. Charlotte stumbled and Joel caught her about the waist.

“We’re almost there!” Joel urged her forward.

When she turned the door handle, the wind whipped the door from her grasp. It banged against the wooden building. She heard what sounded like a train and spun around. The roping tail of a tornado reached toward the earth. A scream died on her lips as Joel heaved her inside.

“Get under the table!” he ordered.

She fell to her knees, and he covered her with his body.

The train’s roar grew louder. Women screamed. Her body convulsed with fear.

Was she going to die in the arms of Joel Brooks?