Shelter in Seattle (5 page)

“Welcome to your new home.” His warm voice pulled her from the confusion of her heart.

He handed her the baby. “I’ll put the horses and wagon away. Maggie will have my head if I let them come to harm.” Caleb took the baby’s things and her bag from the wagon and handed them to her.

“Thank you.” She put the things on the ground and tucked the blanket more securely around the baby. Satisfied he was safe from the cool breeze, she reached down and retrieved her things. When she had everything under control, Julianne looked back at Caleb. A smile greeted her.

Caleb touched the baby’s head. “I hope you will be happy here, Julianne.”

Julianne searched his face. What did he expect from her? Whatever it was, she hoped she could supply it. “I’ll try to be.”

His hand dropped from the baby’s head, and she turned toward the cabin. Why had she said that? It was true, but she could have said it kinder. She mentally scolded herself.

She looked over her shoulder as she set the extra things by the door. Caleb was leading the horse to the barn.

Julianne opened the cabin door and stepped inside. Cleanliness greeted her. A large table sat in the center of the room to her left. Toward the back wall was the kitchen area. From what she could see of the dishes, everything was wooden, bowls, plates, even forks and spoons. Had her new husband made all this even down to the dishes?

To her right was a bed covered with a Star of David quilt. A beautifully crafted cradle stood at the end of the bed. Small butterflies and flowers decorated the baby’s new bed.

She moved to the cradle and laid the baby inside. His sleeping face pouted for a moment before he sighed and stuck his thumb in his mouth. Assured he was comfortable, she went back outside to the porch.

Her gaze moved to the barn, and she wondered how long it would be before Caleb would come inside. She picked up her bag and the baby’s things and stepped back inside the house.

Putting them on the bed, Julianne’s gaze moved to the stairs. She wondered if they led to another bedroom or if it was for storage.

The sound of Caleb’s boots on the porch alerted her he was coming inside. Julianne knew the time had come. Her gaze moved to the baby. His steady breathing told her he was deep in sleep.

****

“Anyone home?” Caleb called as he entered the room. He felt out of place in his own home.

She stepped out of the bedroom. “I’m here.”

Caleb came further into the room. He pulled out a chair. “I think you and I should talk. Really talk.”

He watched her inch into the room. “Okay.”

She sat down in the chair he had pulled out.

“For starters, we really don’t know one another, and we need to. Maybe we should have had this conversation earlier, but since we didn’t, I think now would be a good time. Don’t you?” He sat down across from her.

Julianne nodded.

When she didn’t say anything, Caleb began to doubt he’d done the right thing. He smiled over at her. “I’ll start.”

Again she nodded.

“I’m from New York. I moved here in sixty-two. My sister and her husband had just gotten married, and I decided I needed to start a life of my own.” Caleb paused.

“Please go on.” Julianne moved forward in her chair.

Caleb crossed his arms on the table. “So I hired on with Maxwell here at the logging camp.” He stopped and took a deep breath.

“My sister wrote and told me her husband had been killed in the war-between-the-states. So I sent the fare for her to come here and live with me. She was supposed to arrive four days ago.” His voice broke with huskiness and his eyes stung. “Instead, the captain met me with the news that my sister had died in childbirth aboard his ship.”

“I’m so sorry, Caleb.” Her hand covered his, and then he watched the shock of discovery hit her full force. “Jonathan?”

“Is her son.”

Her lip trembled and she closed her eyes for a brief moment. Caleb felt helpless, and for the first time in his life, he was speechless. When she looked at him again, her expression filled with compassion and something he couldn’t quite define. She brushed the back of his hand in a soothing motion. Had she seen the pain of his sister’s death in his face? Why had he started this?

“My parents died quite a long time ago, so I know what it’s like to grow up without a loving father and mother.”

Caleb witnessed her own sorrow deep in the depths of her eyes. He turned his hand so that hers rested in his palm. The action seemed to bring her back from the past.

“I’m sorry your sister died but I’m glad she left you, Jonathan.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s a great responsibility to raise someone else’s child. If you have even a small inkling that you can’t provide the nurturing and constant attention and love Jonathan needs, then you should place him with a family that can give this type of support.”

Her words were an affront to his character, but Caleb suspected she spoke from experience rather than a desire to insult him. He purposefully loaded his answer with double meaning.

“Jonathan is all the family I have left. I already love him and I will protect him with my life. I only want people around him that have his best interest at heart. Less than that is unacceptable.” He watched for a change in her composure. Better she should know now what he expected of her.

She smiled. “I better get you something to eat.”

Surprised again by this unpredictable woman, Caleb tightened his grip on her hand. “I’d rather talk than eat.”

Julianne stood to her feet still clutching his hand. “We can do both.” She reached out and caught his other hand, pulling him to his feet.

 “How about pancakes? I have all the fixings.” Reluctantly, he let her go and they both walked to the kitchen.

“Sure, show me where things are, and I’ll whip up a batch.” She pulled a skillet off one of the hooks that hung over the wood cook stove.

Flour, baking powder, one egg and a jar of cold milk were soon gathered on the table. “Do you have any sugar?” Julianne found a large wooden bowl and began mixing the ingredients together.

Caleb got the sugar and set it beside the milk. He wondered what she planned on doing with it, but didn’t ask.

Jonathan woke up with a cry.

“I’ll get him.” Caleb picked up the little fellow. He took the baby back into the kitchen where Julianne worked.

“There’s a bottle in his bag.” She offered pouring pancake batter into a hot skillet. “Be careful, that nipple isn’t going to last much longer.”

The smell of batter cooking filled the house with a sense of warmth. Jonathan sucked noisily on the bottle. Caleb almost believed they were a real family.

Almost.

He still didn’t know enough about his new wife to trust her. Had she taken Sloan’s money? And what was she running from?

She interrupted his thoughts. “Here, give me the baby, and you eat while it’s hot.”

Caleb did as she said. He watched her sink into a chair and cuddle the baby close. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“As soon as Jonathan finishes.” She rocked back and forth with the baby.

He picked up the honey and started to pour it. Her voice stopped him. “Don’t you want to try them first?” She brought the baby to her shoulder and gently patted his back.

Caleb tore a bite size piece of the pancake off. He used his fingers and put it in his mouth. Sweetness teased his taste buds. “It’s sweet.”

“Do you like it?”

Jonathan’s burp filled the room and Julianne smiled at the baby. “Good boy.”

Caleb wondered if Julianne knew of his love for sweets. “It’s very good.” He continued to eat and watch Julianne play with the baby.

After a few minutes, Jonathan yawned. Caleb stood and reached for the baby. “Here, I’ll put him to bed.” He noticed the pink fill Julianne’s cheeks.

“I can do it.”

“I’m sure you can, but you need to eat, and I don’t mind.” Caleb gently took the baby from her. He carried him to his cradle and slowly rocked it back and forth until Jonathan fell asleep.

When he returned to the kitchen, Julianne had already cleaned up. She stood by the window looking out into the darkness.

Caleb stopped a few inches from her and looked over her head into the night. If Julianne felt his presence, she didn’t show it. The night was black; no light from the moon or the stars could be seen.

“It’s late.” Her soft whisper surprised him.

Now was the time to bring up the subject he knew both of them had avoided all day. Would she be pleased by his thoughts on the subject? He took a deep breath and blurted.

 “It’s time for bed, Julianne.”

Chapter 6

Julianne spun around and sputtered. “I beg your pardon?”

“That didn’t come out right.” She watched Caleb’s face and neck turn beet red.

“I should say not.” New fear enveloped her. Julianne pushed her back as close to the window as she could.

They were married, and he had every right to expect her to sleep with him, but surely there was a better way of saying it. What kind of man had she married? Just when she thought he was kind and understanding, he blurts out ‘it’s time for bed’ as if he could demand it.

Caleb took a step away from her. She flinched when he brought one hand up. She expected him to grab her at any moment and drag her to bed.

He combed his fingers through his hair looking even more embarrassed. “Look, I only meant it is time for us to get some sleep. You can take the bed down here, and I’ll take the one upstairs.”

Her gaze followed his finger that pointed upwards. “It was to be my room anyway until I could build on extra rooms.”

He didn’t mean to sleep with her? To make her perform her wifely duties? She studied him for several long moments. Could he be believed?

“Look, you and I don’t know each other well enough to share that kind of intimacy. I want my wife to be in love before we are man and wife in more than just name. I believe that is the way God would want it to be, also.” He dropped his hands. “I moved my stuff up there a few days ago.”

Julianne wanted to believe him. Even as he climbed the stairs, she still wasn’t sure of his intentions.

For several long minutes she heard him moving around above. The creak of a mattress told her he’d lain down. “Goodnight, Julianne.”

She moved to her own bed and sat down. “Goodnight, Caleb.”

A little later, his soft snores filled the house. Julianne checked on the baby, and then prepared for bed. She lay on the soft feather mattress listening to her new husband sleep above her.

The baby woke her restless sleep several times during the night, needing to be changed and fed one more time. She took care of his needs and prayed he wouldn’t wake the man upstairs.

When morning came, Julianne was exhausted. Long before the sun rose in the sky, she heard Caleb get up and move around. His soft footsteps came down the stairs and moved about the kitchen.

She peaked from under the covers to see what he was doing. Julianne sighed, glad he’d found the pancakes she’d left out for his breakfast.

Then, he turned in her direction. Julianne closed her eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep. She felt his warm lips on her forehead and heard his soft whisper.

“Have a good day, Julianne. Be sure and bolt the door when I leave. Don’t go into the woods today, we have a lot to go over before you leave the yard.” He kissed her forehead once more and left.

As soon as the door shut, Julianne bolted from the bed and locked the door. She heard his soft chuckle on the other side. Mortified he hadn’t left; she raced back to the bed and dived under the covers.

Then, she giggled.

He’d cared enough to make sure she had bolted the door. It was sneaky and sweet at the same time. Her heart warmed towards her new husband.

In a matter of minutes, she was sound asleep.

Jonathan woke her up several hours later. Julianne quickly replaced his wet diaper and fed him. Then, she ate a pancake from the night before. Next, she prepared a pot of stew and placed it on the stove to cook.

She straightened the little cabin and put Jonathan down for a nap. Her gaze moved to the room upstairs. Should she go up and clean it?

Julianne made sure the front door was bolted, and then climbed the stairs. A bed took up most of the floor. She noted it hadn’t been made, and wondered if she should make it. But if she did, he would know she had been in his room, and she wasn’t sure she wanted him to know she’d been snooping.

The sound of knocking made her decision for her. Julianne raced down the stairs as fast as her feet would let her without slipping. She raced to the door and demanded.

“Who’s there?”

“Maggie.”

Julianne unbolted the door. “Come on in.” She pulled the door open to its fullest.