Page 24 of A Joyful Ring
“Thank you,” he said, returning to his seat.
She remained close to him and leaned her head on his shoulder, as though she was too weary to hold it up on her own. “Tell me what you think would be the wisest thing to do. Please?”
“I’ll be seeing Mrs. Franklin tomorrow. If you wrote a letter inviting her to join you on Sunday for a picnic so the two of you could meet, I’d be happy to deliver it. She could write a response, and I can bring it back when I return on Saturday.”
“That’s brilliant, and exactly what I’ll do. Write a letter.” Risa noisily smacked his cheek with a quick chaste kiss. She hopped up and took a few running steps before she stopped and came back to him.
Gunder tipped his head back and studied the way the sun framed her so beautifully, wishing with all his heart she could someday be his, but it would never be. Lars was determined she would marry someone other than a mine employee, and Gunder agreed.
Risa deserved to live in comfort with a man who could provide every luxury for her. Gunder couldn’t even afford to build a roof over her head at this point, although he did make a good wage from the mine. He sent part of his earnings to his family, despite his father’s protests. However, he had opened a bank account in Baker City, where he deposited a portion of his earnings. He figured if anyone ever found the hidey hole in his tent and decided to steal the money in his box, he wouldn’t be completely destitute.
While he had the box out, he decided it would be wise to take the jewelry box to the bank so no one could steal the brooch and bell. The pieces were valuable, but the true value to him was in the sentiment they held and the ties to his family.
“Gunder?” Risa asked, pulling him from histhoughts and back to her enchanting face.
“Hmm?” he asked, dropping his gaze before he lost the hold on his quickly unraveling control and kissed her as he’d dreamed of doing for months, ever since they’d met on Independence Day. It seemed most appropriate he’d met Risa that day because he couldn’t think of a single female as independent or stubborn as she could be.
“If Mrs. Franklin agrees to meet, will you please go with us? It would make it seem less … strange, if you were there.”
“I’d be happy to go anywhere with you, Risa. Run home and write your letter, and I’ll be sure it gets delivered tomorrow.”
“Thank you!” Risa grinned, then turned and picked up her skirts, racing back to her house.
Gunder watched her go, then returned to pumping the bellows until the fire burned so hot that he couldn’t stand to sit there any longer.
He stood and moved back, waiting as the blaze dropped below the rock rim of the pit he’d built. Assured it wouldn’t burst back to roaring flames and catch anything on fire, he returned his box to the hiding spot beneath his cot, washed up at the pump by the cookshack, and joined the other mine employees for Jed’s supper of ham, potatoes, and soggy green beans. For dessert, they had slabs of apple cake that were actually tasty, and not a crumb of it remained when the meal was finished.
Gunder hurried back to his tent, full and content. Although the sun had set, there was still enough light remaining in the sky for him to see. When he scooted the coals off the pot in his pit andlifted the lid, he saw that the silver had melted.
It had finally melted!
“Hurrah!” Gunder shouted and raised both hands to the sky in victory.
“What happened?” Risa asked, suddenly appearing at his side. Her presence was so welcome, he didn’t bother to wonder why she was there.
“It melted! My silver finally melted!” he said, swinging her into his arms and dancing her in a lively jig around the fire pit until she was laughing so much she could hardly stand upright. Her hair slipped from her pins, and the shawl she wore was askew, but he thought she looked utterly enticing. He’d never seen her hair down, not that it all was now, but the strands that had escaped looked like shimmering ribbons of silk. His hands itched to reach out and finger one of the waves.
“Congratulations, Gunder.” She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek, then stepped back and looked at the silver that was already beginning to harden back into a solid form. “You can melt it again, can’t you?”
“I certainly can. I’m going to need more oak wood, though.”
“If you want, I could let the other ladies in town know you do jewelry repair. Mrs. Baldwin mentioned a few weeks ago the clasp on her favorite brooch was broken. It might generate additional funds you could use to purchase the wood. Also, you might mention it to Mr. Goodwin. Some of the men might need watch repairs. I don’t think that is a service Mr. Evans provides at the livery.”
“No, Silas doesn’t work in small pieces like that. I’d be happy to fix the clasp for Mrs. Baldwin.” Gunder kept his hands on Risa’s arms, wishing he could kiss her, but just having her there at a moment that seemed vitally important to him was enough. “Did you write your letter?”
“I did.” Risa handed him the envelope she’d carried. It was now a little wrinkled, but he knew Mrs. Franklin wouldn’t care.
Gunder stepped into his tent and tucked the envelope in the pack he always took with him, then hurried back out and held his arm out to Risa. “I’ll walk you home, Ree. You shouldn’t be out alone in the dark.”
“I know, but I just had to get the letter to you. I’ll be anxiously awaiting your return Saturday with a response.”
“How do you think your father will react to the news you’re taking such an interest in his budding romance?”
Risa’s shoulders slumped. “Do you think he’ll see it as interfering? Perhaps I should stay out of this. Papa might be terribly upset if I meddle.”
“Or he might be relieved to have you and Mrs. Franklin meet. Has he ever talked about her to you?”
“Not really, other than to mention how kind she is to him.” Risa glanced at Gunder, then looked into the distance. “It’s not what he says about her but the way he speaks of her that conveys his feelings for the woman. I truly think it would be best if she and I could meet.”
