Shining Water 01 - The Icecutter's Daughter Page 16

  Carl was saying something about painting customized window shutters, and Merrill realized she hadn’t been listening.

  “I’m sorry. I let my mind wander,” she apologized. “I’m glad you both like the work, and I will look forward to seeing what else you have in mind,” she said. “Now tell me, how are you feeling these days?”

  Carl Jorgenson straightened a bit. “Better. A little stronger all the time. Rurik coming here was a gift from God.”

  “I’m sure you feel that way.”

  He nodded and sat down to the kitchen table where he’d been drinking coffee. “I know your father has benefitted, too. He told me the other day that he had never seen anyone take to the ice as well as my nephew.”

  “Yes, Father said he works very hard.”

  “Ja, that’s for sure.”

  “What do you know about Nils Olsson?” Merrill asked, trying her best to sound casual.

  “Nils? Oh, I don’t know him so much. You’d do better to ask Rurik. They’ve been friends for a long time. I met Nils long ago back in Kansas, but never had many dealings with him or his family. Why do you ask?”

  She shrugged and placed the strudel on the counter before she picked up the empty basket. “No reason. I just wondered how things were working out for you . . . with him, I mean.”

  “He seems to know what he’s doing. He’s learning fast enough.”

  “I’m glad. I’m glad, too, that you have the extra help. I’m sure it’s been a great concern to you.”

  “Having Rurik here puts my mind at ease. I signed papers to make him a full partner, you know.”

  She nodded and forced a smile. “Well, I need to go. I promised Granny Lassiter that I would spend some time with her and Corabeth today.”

  “Could you do something for me?” Carl asked, heading over to the cabinet. “I have a couple of her dishes. Would you mind taking them back?”

  “Not at all.”

  He brought her two plates. “Tell her she can refill them anytime she likes.”

  Merrill took the plates and headed to the door. Carl followed after her. “Thank you for the food. God has definitely provided for my every need through the hands of the townswomen. You ladies are definitely serving His purpose.”

  A frown edged her lips, but Merrill didn’t turn. “I hope so,” she murmured. But after her earlier encounter, she wasn’t at all sure.

  Rurik let his anger settle down while he focused on sanding the top of a sideboard. He didn’t want his rage to ruin the piece, nor did he want to dwell on his earlier encounter with Merrill. He wasn’t at all sure why things had gone as they had. It was obvious that Merrill had been thinking about the matter for some time. At least where the issue of Svea was concerned.

  He knew without a doubt exactly when it was she’d overheard him speaking to Carl. It was that day that they’d come back to the house and found food in the kitchen. Carl had mentioned it was Merrill’s doing, but he hadn’t thought her to be in the house when they’d returned. No doubt when she heard their discussion, she’d exited by way of the back door so as not to be seen or to cause them discomfort. He supposed, given the conversation, she had a right to assume him to be at fault. Even so, she could have just confronted him about it rather than hurl accusations.

  “Of course, I might not have handled her assumptions and questions any better,” he muttered.

  When lunchtime came, he put aside his work apron and decided to go to the post office and pick up the mail. Maybe there’d be a letter from Aron, although he doubted his brother would have had time to get back with an answer already.

  At the post office, Rurik waited behind two other customers before asking for his mail. The postmaster nodded and went to retrieve it.

  “Looks to be all business today,” he said, handing three letters over.

  Rurik looked at the addresses and nodded. “It does at that.”

  “So have you set your wedding day?” the man asked in a casually friendly manner. There was no one else in the store, so he’d already gone back to sorting through a stack of mail. “I’m sure you and that pretty little Olsson girl are going to make a nice couple. Will you live here in Waseca?”

  Rurik forced his anger back. “I’m not getting married. I’m not even engaged.”

  The man looked up from his work. “Do tell? I was sure I heard that little gal tell someone that you two were to be married.”

  “We were once in an arranged betrothal, but that was ended before I came to Waseca. If anything else is being said . . . well, it’s not true.”

  “I see. I’m sorry if I raised some unpleasantness,” the man said, seeming to watch Rurik for his reaction.

  “Gossips will say what they will. I hope you’ll do what you can to dispel such rumors.”

  The man nodded and scratched his chin. “I reckon if anyone else comments on it, I will set the record straight.”

  Rurik tucked the letters in his pocket. “Thank you.”

  He left the post office and tried to figure out what he should do. He needed to make it clear to everyone that he had no intention of marrying Svea Olsson. The thought of standing up in church to make a declaration came to mind. Maybe that would settle things once and for all. Of course, it would be very embarrassing for Svea, and it wasn’t his desire to draw attention to her and her condition.

  Then without warning, there she was, standing in front of him. Rurik felt like he was seeing a ghost. He frowned down at her.

  “You look terribly unhappy, Rurik. Whatever is wrong?” She smiled sweetly and reached out to take hold of his arm. “Why don’t you come with me? Nils and I were just going to have some lunch.”

  Rurik pulled away brusquely. “Don’t touch me.”

  She looked at him oddly. “What is it?”

  “You know full well. You are spreading rumors about us being engaged. I want it to stop. I am not going to marry you, Svea. Not now. Not ever. I do not love you.”

  She looked around rather nervously. “Rurik,” she said in a hushed voice, “this is hardly the place.”

  “Maybe it’s exactly the place. After all, I’ve asked you in private to return to Kansas. I’ve asked you to stop lying about me. You’ve done neither. If privacy hasn’t worked, perhaps a public setting will.”

  “You are being cruel.”

  “I’m being honest—something you refuse to be.” Rurik shook his head and took a breath to calm himself. “I have always cared about you and Nils. You know that. But I am not going to marry you. I’m sorry. Sorry for your condition and the shame that is upon you, but I can’t pretend to love you. You need to go home.”

  Svea stared at him, her eyes wide and lips pursed. She looked as if she might start to cry, but Rurik refused to allow her emotions to sway him.

  “I intend to make certain everyone knows that our engagement has long been broken,” he said firmly. “If need be, I’ll declare it in church on Sunday. You would save yourself a lot of embarrassment by leaving as soon as possible. If you need my assistance in purchasing train passage, have Nils let me know.”

  He left her standing there and made his way across the street. A handful of people watched him, no doubt having overheard at least some of the conversation. Rurik felt guilty for having made such a public spectacle, but at the same time, he was so weary of dealing with the deception. He had tried to be kind and gentle. He’d tried to leave the matter in Svea’s hands so she could save face in whatever manner she chose. Nothing had worked.

  “I didn’t have to be so mean about it,” he muttered, feeling that perhaps he should turn back and apologize. He drew a deep breath and paused to glance over his shoulder.

  She was gone.

  Chapter 17

  Merrill sat at the kitchen table with Granny and sipped at a cup of hot tea. She had just explained what had happened with Rurik and now waited for the older woman to comment.

  “I wonder why you are so willing to believe the words of a stranger over a young man you’ve come to know
over the last few months.”

  Her comment left Merrill speechless. Searching for the right words she finally said, “I suppose . . . well . . . given the fact that Rurik himself has done nothing to deny his engagement to her is one of my biggest reasons. The first time he came to dinner after church the comment was made by his uncle that he was betrothed. Rurik never denied it or corrected him.”

  “Perhaps he thought it too personal a matter for public discussion—after all, he’d just arrived in the area,” Granny suggested. She pushed a plate of sugar cookies toward Merrill. “My guess is he wanted to tell his uncle in private and hadn’t yet had a chance.”

  “I suppose that is possible,” Merrill replied, “but he’s had plenty of time since then.”

  “Have you ever asked him outright if he was engaged?”

  “Of course not. I didn’t see that it was necessary. When the Olssons first got here, they came immediately to the furniture shop. I was there. Svea made a grand display of telling everyone that she was engaged to Rurik. He didn’t correct her.”

  “He was probably shocked by her unexpected appearance. Didn’t you say that he hadn’t expected either of them to show up in Waseca? Then again, he might have felt sorry for her and wanted to save her from embarrassment. If he was sparing her feelings, that’s certainly no reason to hold a grudge against him.”

  Merrill nibbled on a cookie and tried to figure out what disturbed her so much about his not correcting things prior to her outburst. “I’m just so confused.”

  “Is that maybe because you have feelings for Mr. Jorgenson?”

  Merrill’s head snapped up. “What?” She felt her cheeks grow hot. “Why would you ask that?”

  Granny chuckled. “Corabeth herself asked me if I’d seen the way you look at him. She said you were watching him whenever you could at the winter party. So is it true?”

  She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t acknowledged her feelings for Rurik to anyone. She’d even tried to convince herself that her misguided belief in his good character negated any feelings she might have had for him. But of course it wasn’t true. The reason his character mattered so much was because she had fallen in love with him.

  “I do have feelings for him,” she finally admitted. “But I beg you to keep my secret. I cannot bear the thought of others thinking me a mooning schoolgirl.”

  “Your confidences are always safe with me, Merrill Jean. You know that.” Granny leaned forward and patted Merrill’s arm with her wrinkled hands. “I think it’s quite possible Mr. Jorgenson has feelings for you, Merrill Jean. Corabeth said he positively lights up when he sees you at church. He was telling everyone about the magnificent work you’d done on the furniture and how wonderful it was to have you in the workshop.”

  “But that doesn’t mean he has feelings for me. I’m benefitting the business, so naturally he’s pleased.”

  Granny smiled. “Child, you have a lot to learn about young men. Did it ever occur to you that maybe Rurik spoke against Nils to Tobe because he truly feels Nils is unworthy of you? And further, that maybe he wants to court you himself?”

  Merrill shook her head. “I have no reason to believe that. Just because I have feelings for him doesn’t mean the man has to return them. In fact, given Svea is here trying to win him back suggests to me that their engagement is far from over.”

  “She came here to convince him—not the other way around. Miss Olsson’s behavior is quite bold, but if she is with child, as you say, it makes sense. She’s probably feeling most desperate. Poor woman knows the kind of condemnation that will come down on her for such a thing.”

  “Obviously there’s a man somewhere who participated in that matter. He also should face justice for his actions.”

  “While that’s true,” Granny replied, “it’s often not the way things work out. The woman cannot deny her condition or hide the fact for long. A man can refuse to acknowledge his part in the matter, and no one is the wiser. There’s no way to prove a man’s fatherhood. Even if a child grew up to look somewhat like the man in question, folks could say what they like about coincidence and happenstance.

  “Now don’t misunderstand me,” Granny continued. “The sin is upon both parties in most cases. But what if the situation isn’t what we think? What if Miss Olsson was accosted?”

  “You mean forced?” Merrill asked. “I’d never thought of that possibility.”

  “We can judge her, or we can extend a hand in Christian love.”

  Merrill felt shame wrap around her guilt. “I never once considered that she might be a victim in all of this. I haven’t acted in a very Christian manner, have I?”

  Granny shrugged. “You took the road most folks would travel, but now that you have an idea that her situation could be something else, maybe you can make it right.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “I’d start with apologizing to Mr. Jorgenson. You can find a way to let Rurik know your feelings for him. The matter is in part his responsibility, just as you said. He should have made the truth known. But you can apologize for rushing to judgment. You can let him know that you care about him, and that you take responsibility for acting poorly.”

  Merrill nodded. “You’re right, of course. I don’t know whatever possessed me to act in such a manner. I know better. I suppose I was just concerned with what people would think.” She shook her head and got to her feet. “Granny, as always you are the voice of truth and reason.”

  Shortly after Sunday service, Merrill swallowed her pride and made her way to where Rurik stood not far from his uncle. Seeing her father step forward to speak to Carl, Merrill took the opportunity to motion Rurik aside.

  “I know you probably hate me, but I want to apologize.”

  Rurik appeared apprehensive and weary. He studied her in silence, and Merrill grew uncomfortable.

  “I was wrong to judge you and wrong to act as I did.”

  Still Rurik said nothing, but his expression told Merrill that he was listening. She continued. “I don’t usually just jump to conclusions like that. You were right to chide me for eavesdropping. It was wrong, and I should have made my presence known in both situations.”

  “True.” His single-word statement was almost more frustrating to Merrill than had he given her a long tirade.

  She drew a deep breath and glanced around, hoping no one else was overhearing her confession. “I’m afraid my emotions got the better of me.” She thought about telling him how she had come to care for him, but decided against it. “I hope you’ll forgive me.”

  Rurik opened his mouth to speak, but just then Merrill’s father moved closer and drew him into the conversation with Carl.

  “I was just telling your uncle what a natural you have been with the ice. It’s almost like you were born to it.”

  Rurik looked back at Merrill for just a moment before smiling at the men. “I can’t say I would want to spend a lifetime in such work. It’s more physically demanding than furniture building. I honestly don’t think I could expend that kind of energy day in and day out.”

  “Well, that’s probably for the best,” Merrill’s father declared. “They already have electrical machines that can make ice, and as I hear tell they are becoming more and more popular. It won’t be long before the ice will remain on the lake.” Bogart Krause shook his head. “What I’d like to know is how a man is supposed to make a living if his very livelihood is taken from him.”

  Merrill took hold of his arm. “Father, you have a great many skills. Just look at the Belgians. Folks will need horses for a long, long time. Especially ones that can pull.”

  “For now that might be true, but the horseless carriage is sure to gain popularity. They formed that Duryea Motor Car Company just last year. Not only that, but the railroads crisscross the country and make transport easier and easier. Mark my word, they won’t need horses for that much longer.” He shook his head. “I guess when that happens, it’ll be time for me to retire anyway.”

&n
bsp; Carl patted him on the shoulder. “Won’t happen in our lifetime, Bogart. We’ll leave it to the children to worry over.”

  Merrill smiled at her father. “Maybe if it does come sooner, you can spend more time fishing. After all, people will still need to eat, and fish will need to be caught.”

  Her father smiled. “So if the lake can’t provide one way, we’ll let it provide in another, eh?”

  “Exactly. Besides, you know as well as anyone that horseless carriages aren’t going to be able to traverse the snows around here. If a person doesn’t have a sleigh and a strong team, they won’t be able to get far at all. So for now, I seriously doubt we have much to worry about.”

  “The turn of the century seems rather daunting,” Rurik declared, his first comment in the discussion. “I’ve heard more than one person comment on it. Back in Kansas, preachers have been talking up a storm about the end of all time coming with the nineteen hundreds. Personally, I don’t figure it will be that bad, but you know how folks worry.”

  Merrill nodded. “Sometimes people get all worked up over nothing but rumors.” She didn’t bother to look at Rurik, but Merrill could feel his gaze on her. Hopefully he would accept her apology and realize how sincere she was. She had pondered Granny’s comments ever since their talk. Why was she so quick to believe the worst about a person, especially a person like Rurik, who had treated her and her family with such kindness?

  Carl nodded. “Ja, that’s the way of it. I don’t see any reason to worry until there’s something to actually worry about.” He reached to take hold of the pew. “Right now I need to rest, so I’ll go home.”

  Rurik kept thinking of Merrill and her contrite words days after the Sunday encounter. He had wanted to accept her apology and tell her that he forgave her, but then his uncle and Merrill’s father had included him in their conversation. When Uncle Carl had needed to get home, there simply hadn’t been an adequate opportunity.