Shining Water 01 - The Icecutter's Daughter Page 26

  Merrill put her hand up to tuck in the flyaway curls. Rurik stilled her attempts, however. “I like it that way, Granny. It looks all wild and free—kind of like Merrill herself.”

  The older woman nodded. “That it does. I guess Merrill will always be that kind of a woman. I tried to tame her for a while, but I can see she’s better off this way. Not everyone can carry her kind of strength with such beauty and grace. I guess I’m just starting to realize that. Merrill Jean, I’m sorry I ever tried to change you.”

  “That’s all right, Granny. I know you were just trying to help. Besides,” Merrill added, “it got me this lovely gown. I’ve had quite a few compliments on this blue-and-green plaid.”

  “It suits your complexion, Merrill, but you would be just as lovely in your brother’s cast-off trousers.”

  The woman’s words touched Merrill deeply. Granny had been the only mother she’d had the last ten years, and Merrill was a better woman for her love. “I’ve always understood your desires to help,” she said, giving Granny a kiss on the cheek.

  “Well, no more of that kind of help.”

  Merrill frowned. “Does this mean you won’t help make me a lacy wedding dress?”

  Granny laughed. “We’ll make whatever kind of dress you desire. If you want to wear trousers under it, I’ll make you a pair in white satin.”

  “I just might take you up on it,” Merrill laughed. “Especially if the weather is chilly or the biting flies are bad.”

  They all three chuckled, and Rurik looped his arm through Merrill’s. “Why don’t I walk you home, Miss Krause.”

  “Not yet—I need to help clean up.”

  “Nonsense,” Granny told her with a pointed finger. “This is a party in your honor. You go on now. Let that young man of yours walk you home and have a few moments to steal a kiss in the dark.” She shuffled away, calling for Corabeth.

  Merrill looked at the gifts she’d been given. “But what about these gifts? My schrank and the table and chairs?”

  Rurik shrugged. “How about I deliver them up to our house tomorrow? You can visit them there and save us a trip hauling them out to the farm and then back into town after we wed. After all, we’ll be married in a little over a month.”

  “I think that’s a wonderful idea.” She looked at the schrank. “You know, my mother told me about having one of these. Does this one break apart into smaller sections?”

  “It does. I followed your father’s carefully drawn instructions. I think, in fact, we might want to design something similar for sale. Maybe not quite so intricate or large.”

  “I could see that being a popular piece. Especially if you offered it in a variety of sizes and pieces. People could almost design their own that way. Oh, and I had another thought: Lars was talking about burning designs on wood. He can make patterns in wood by carefully burning them in. Don’t you think that might be something I could learn to do along with the painting?”

  “Merrill Jean, that’s a great idea. But no more talk of work tonight. The moon is up and the stars are out, and I think Granny had a wonderful idea.”

  “A wonderful idea?”

  “About stealing kisses in the dark. Now, come along and let me escort you back to the Lassiters. Your brothers are already hard at work helping Granny clean up.”

  “Since when do they clean anything?” she said in disbelief.

  Rurik leaned close to whisper. “Since Granny told them to.”

  Rurik put his arm around her waist and guided Merrill outside. The night air was heavy with the scent of rain. “Looks like the clouds moved in while we were enjoying ourselves,” he said as they walked down the street. “It’ll no doubt be raining by morning.”

  Merrill sighed and leaned closer to his tall, muscular frame. “Nothing could have made this evening less than perfect. I’ve never had such a grand party in my honor.”

  “Well, if I have anything to say about it,” Rurik replied, kissing her temple, “it will only be the first of many.”

  Chapter 28

  With the new contract signed and supplies ordered for the expansion, Rurik had never seen his uncle happier. It was the culmination of a lifetime’s hard, diligent work, and perhaps that was why the older man quietly slipped through heaven’s gates two weeks after Merrill’s party. Rurik found him in bed with a peaceful look on his face, and he immediately realized his uncle was gone. Merrill came to prepare breakfast shortly after the discovery, and together they had shared tears over the loss.

  Carl was buried on the fourth of May with most of Waseca in attendance to remember the man who had been a friend to all. Rurik found the loss created a huge void in his life. It was no longer proper for Merrill to visit the house, although she and Granny stopped by from time to time with items of food. They were also good to invite him for supper each evening.

  Evenings were when Rurik missed his uncle the most. They’d often reminisced about the past, sharing stories and recalling childhood events. Rurik valued the old family lore and committed them to memory, determined to one day share them with his children. Our children, he thought to himself.

  The wedding plans kept him occupied, even though he had very little to actually do. Merrill, in true German fashion, had decided it would make good sense financially to share her wedding day with her brother Leo and his bride-to-be. Although Sally Myers had been married once before, she’d never had a real wedding. Her first union had come about from an elopement, and Merrill wanted this occasion to be special.

  Merrill told Rurik that sharing the day with Sally would afford her the wedding she’d never had. Rurik thought her more generous than any woman he’d ever known.

  He had asked Merrill if she wanted to take a wedding trip to Minneapolis, like her brother was planning as a surprise for Sally. Merrill had turned down the idea, however, telling Rurik in her practical way that they had much too much work to attend to and couldn’t be off gallivanting all over the state. “I’ll be wanting to settle things into our new home, Rurik,” she told him.

  A week after Uncle Carl was buried, the framework for the expansion went up. Rurik had been surprised when his soon-to-be father-in-law showed up with his sons to help in the building. But that was nothing compared to the shock of seeing half the townsfolk arrive with food and drink and additional workers. It was like a barn-raising, and by evening Rurik was delighted to find the walls and roof completed. There was still much to do on the inside, but plenty of time to manage it.

  “We thought,” the police chief told him as the day concluded, “that we owed you this much. You’re an important part of our community now, son.”

  Rurik had been touched by his comment, along with similar statements from the townsfolk. Merrill had been more than pleased at the communal gift of help, and she assured Rurik that this was affirmation of his acceptance.

  “You’re truly a part of Waseca now,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “And not just because you’re marrying a Krause.”

  With her wedding day finally here, Merrill couldn’t help but feel a sense of nervous excitement. She tried to survey her gown with the small mirror Corabeth had brought, but it was difficult to get the full view.

  “Does the back lay properly?” she asked Granny.

  “It’s perfect.” Granny inspected the bodice once more and adjusted the lace that decorated the high neckline. “Just perfect.” She went to a small table and took up Merrill’s wedding slippers. “Now for your shoes.”

  Merrill raised the skirt of her gown and stood ready to receive the dainty white slippers. First, however, Granny sprinkled dill and salt into each shoe, then placed a gold coin in one. “Your groom tells me this is a Swedish tradition that assures you will never do without. Gold in one shoe—usually given by the mother.” She then produced a silver coin. “And usually the father gives silver. I promised Rurik I would see to the tradition, so I hope you don’t mind that I have taken that job.”

  “Not at all, Granny. I’m blessed to have you h
ere.” Merrill slipped into the shoes and felt the cold metal of the coins.

  “Are you ready, Merrill Jean?” her father asked, entering the small room. “There’s a church full of folks waiting on you.”

  Merrill nodded. “I’m ready. Granny just put the dill and salt in my shoe for luck.” She smiled at the old woman. “And Swedish coins for prosperity.”

  Granny stepped forward and kissed Merrill’s cheek. “Now that you’re all proper, I’ll go take my seat. You make a mighty pretty bride, Merrill Jean.”

  “Thanks to you and Corabeth.” She touched the ring of flowers and ribbons in her carefully pinned curls. “I think my hair might actually stay in place.”

  Granny nodded. “It will,” she said, then left Merrill and her father to themselves.

  Merrill looked up at her father and couldn’t help but notice the tears in his eyes. Reaching up with her bridal handkerchief, she touched the drop of moisture, then drew the cloth to her lips.

  He looked at her in surprise. “Your mother did that once.”

  “I know,” Merrill said, her own smile a little wobbly. “She said she’d only ever seen you cry once, and that was when Berwyn died. She said she reached up and touched the tear to her handkerchief and then to her lips. She said it was her way of taking a part of your heart into hers.”

  “She had my whole heart.” His voice was husky. “Just as I know Rurik has yours.” He took her arm. “Come. It’s time.”

  They walked together to the front of the church where Rurik, Nils, and Corabeth waited with the preacher. On the right side of the church, Rurik’s brother Aron sat beside his family. She wished his other brothers and sisters could have attended, but it was far too expensive. Then, too, they were farmers—and June in Kansas was a very busy time.

  Glancing to her left, Merrill found her family and friends. Their smiling faces reassured her of her actions. Not that she needed much encouragement. Marrying Rurik was absolutely the best choice she’d ever made and no one would ever convince her otherwise.

  The ceremony itself was rather short, and once she and Rurik had said their vows and exchanged rings, they took a seat to allow Leo and Sally to have their moment. Afterward, the two couples joined together with the congregation to celebrate the nuptials.

  To Merrill’s surprise, her father first led the two couples outside to the back of the church, where two sawhorses stood holding large logs.

  “The Baumstamm Sägen,” she whispered to Rurik. He looked at her oddly, and she explained. “We have to saw the log together to show our ability to work as one.”

  “Really?” He looked at her in surprise but without hesitation grabbed the saw her father handed him. Gripping one handle, he extended the other to Merrill. Together they stepped forward and began the task. Leo and Sally did likewise. The wedding goers called out words of encouragement, and it only took a moment to turn the sawing into a race. With barely a second to spare, Rurik and Merrill gave a final push and pull and severed the log in two. Leo and Sally finished right on their heels. Cheers went up from the crowd for both couples and laughter filled the air.

  Well-wishes and blessings were given to both couples, and the church was soon filled with a party spirit. It was everything Merrill had dreamed her wedding might be. Simple, personal, and filled with loving family and friends.

  Leo and Sally quickly departed for the train to Minneapolis. Merrill had hoped they might share in the reception, but Sally had wanted it this way. Leo assured his sister that he was just as satisfied to miss the revelry. She embraced Sally and kissed her on the cheek.

  “I’m so glad to have a sister, and I’m blessed that you shared this day with Rurik and me.”

  Sally returned the kiss. “It was so kind of you to include me. Your family is truly wonderful, Merrill.”

  “We’re your family now, you know.”

  Nodding, Sally smiled. “I promise we shall always be close.”

  Merrill noted Leo’s firm hold on his wife and nodded. “It looks like your husband is ready to depart.”

  “If we don’t hurry,” he said, “we won’t get to the train in time.”

  Rurik leaned close to Leo. “You’d probably do well to slip out the side door. I overheard your brothers talking of some mischief.”

  Leo’s eyes narrowed. “They wouldn’t dare.” He glanced over his shoulder, then looked back to Merrill and Rurik. “But just to be safe, I think I’ll heed your warning.”

  With Leo and Sally safely on their way, Merrill and Rurik enjoyed dinner, wedding cake, and games. Merrill’s father offered a cider toast and blessing to the couple. A few other German traditions were kept, ending with the reis werfen, throwing the rice. As they prepared to walk to their carriage across fir boughs that signified hope, luck, and fertility, Granny couldn’t help but tease Merrill.

  “You do know that tradition says that however many pieces of rice stay in your hair is how many children you’ll have. With that curly mass of yours, you’ll probably wind up with more grains than you can count.”

  Rurik guffawed, causing several heads to turn and Merrill to duck her face in embarrassment. “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  The rain of rice came upon them, and Merrill shook her head a bit to avoid too many pieces finding a home in her hair.

  “Oh dear,” Merrill said, trying to brush the rice from her curls with little success.

  Rurik laughed heartily. “Guess we’ll need a bigger house,” he whispered in her ear.

  Without warning, Merrill was pulled from his grasp and swept away in arms and hands that turned her in circles until Merrill’s head began to spin. She heard Rurik’s roar of protest and turned just in time to see her brother Tobe throw a gunnysack over her groom’s head. Flynn and Zadoc wrestled him into the back of the wagon, then climbed in while Tobe jumped into the driver’s seat. In a flash they were headed down the road in a flurry of dust and rice.

  “Father!” Merrill pushed away from her captors and rushed to his side, holding her wedding skirts up with her hands. “You told me they would behave themselves.”

  He laughed. “They are behaving. I told them they could take him out for only an hour, but after that they had to deliver him to the house.” He gently brushed some rice from her hair. “You mustn’t be angry with them, Merrill Jean. They’ve waited your whole life to do this.”

  She shook her head in mock disgust, but a grin curved her lips. “Wait until they see what I arrange for their weddings.”

  Her father put his arm around her. “I’m sure you’ll make it all up to them.”

  Rurik was sore and dust-covered by the time his brothers-in-law brought him to the house. He should have known to expect such horseplay from them. When they dumped him unceremoniously on the front lawn, it was dark, but the house was lit brightly. Apparently Merrill had found her way home without him.

  Making his way up to the porch, Rurik attempted to stretch his neck and shoulders. It seemed like he’d spent an eternity bound up in the back of that wagon. Flynn had assured him this was just a little family tradition, and Rurik had promised—well, threatened—to carry it out when he married.

  He opened the door to the house and listened for the sound of his bride. “Merrill?”

  She appeared at the top of the steps still clad in her wedding finery. He smiled and forgot about his soreness. He barely remembered to close the door behind him before taking the stairs two at a time to reach her.

  “I wondered if I’d ever see you again,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

  Merrill melted against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Father promised me that the boys wouldn’t keep you long. In turn, I promised Father that I would have my revenge when they married.”

  “Funny, I’ve promised your brothers the same thing.”

  She laughed and kissed him. “Then we’re in one accord, just as we’re supposed to be.”

  Rurik lifted her into his arms. “It isn’t at all difficult to be in o
ne accord with the woman who has clearly stolen your heart.”

  Merrill shook her head. “I didn’t steal it, Rurik. You gave it to me. I’m just safekeeping it for you.”

  He nuzzled kisses against her neck. “The icecutter’s daughter holds my heart.”

  “And the furniture maker holds mine.” She touched her cheek to his. “And he always will.”

  Chapter 1

  ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA

  APRIL 1886

  Seventeen-year-old Emmalyne Knox tried to suck in air but found it impossible to breathe. Her throat constricted, and air couldn’t seem to get past her mouth and into her lungs. Blackness edged her vision.

  She reached out and gripped Tavin MacLachlan’s hand, not caring if anyone thought it inappropriate. They were, after all, engaged to be married in less than two months. His presence strengthened her, and at last she found she could draw in a shuddering breath.

  “Let us pray,” Reverend Campbell announced in sober tones. “Father, we commit these bodies to the ground and these spirits to you. May your comfort be upon those who have suffered these losses. Amen.”

  “Amen,” Emmalyne whispered along with the rest. She looked up to meet Tavin’s sorrowful expression.

  “Are you all right?” he asked softly.

  “As well as I can be.” She looked to her left where her mother, clad in black, stood pale-faced and rigid. Rowena Knox’s eyes were dry at the moment but swollen from long hours of weeping. Emmalyne’s young brother, Alpin, stood on the other side of their mother. Barely twelve years old, he favored his mother in appearance with his dark brown hair and smoky blue eyes. The woman’s Scottish and Welsh ancestry made her a handsome, albeit petite woman, while Alpin already stood inches taller than Emmalyne. He would no doubt surpass even his father.

  Luthias Knox might have been short of stature, but there was no doubt that he was a man of strength. Even now, Emmalyne’s father showed no emotion. His ancestry, beginning with his origins in the Highlands of Scotland, was proven in his red hair and fierce blue eyes. His brogue and hesitancy to spare a coin for anything even remotely frivolous left no doubt.