Page 38 of A Joyful Ring
“I won’t say anything, for now. I hope you know what you’re doing, Girlie.”
“Me, too, Papa. I love you.” She smiled and blew him a kiss.
Her father grinned and pretended to catch the kiss and tuck it in his pocket, as he’d done ever since she was a little girl. “Stanton. I trust you totake my daughter safely to Mrs. Franklin’s boardinghouse.”
“Of course, sir. We were just talking about the different businesses in town.”
“That’s good. I passed Gunder a couple hours ago. He made good time coming in today and might even beat you to the boardinghouse, so good luck avoiding him.”
Thoughts of Gunder, and more specifically, kissing him, made Risa’s cheeks heat. She hoped her father didn’t notice, or attributed it to the cold.
“Be safe, Papa. It doesn’t look like you have a bad load today.”
Lars looked behind him at two spools of cable and a stack of timbers. “Just a heavy one that makes the going slow. Bye, Girlie. Have fun.”
“Bye, Papa!” She waved at him again, then tucked her hands back beneath the robe, glad Mr. Stanton had warned her not to get out. As it was, the robe that encircled her had held in the heat of the bricks remarkably well.
Her father snapped the lines, and the mules leaned into the harness, plodding onward. Mr. Stanton waited until the freight wagon was fully past them before he guided the horses back onto the road, and they resumed their brisk journey. Risa loved listening to the bells jingling as the team moved at a fast pace and the sleigh glided so seamlessly over the snow. It seemed as though only moments had passed before they arrived in Baker City.
Risa wanted to gape at everything, but instead tried to behave with decorum and only turned herhead slightly to glance at the buildings they passed on their way to the boardinghouse. There would be time enough for exploring later.
When they arrived, Mr. Stanton hopped out and offered Risa his hand. She stepped down and felt the cold seep into her. She was grateful again to have had the warm robe and bricks that had kept her from freezing on the trip into town.
Now that she was here, Risa hesitated to just march right up the steps of the imposing three-story home. Had it been erroneous to assume Gloria would welcome her?
Before she could worry herself sick, the front door swung open and Gloria rushed outside, arms wide and a welcoming smile on her face.
“Risa, darling! You’ve come! You’ve actually come!” Gloria called, hurrying down the steps.
Risa rushed forward, and the two women shared a warm embrace before Gloria pulled back, looked into Risa’s face, then settled an arm around her waist. “Come in out of the cold. I just fixed a pot of tea.”
Mr. Stanton held the crate and Risa’s bag. Gloria smiled at him. “Thank you, Mr. Stanton. If you wouldn’t mind setting those inside the door, I’d be most appreciative.”
He nodded and followed them inside, setting the bag and crate down where Gloria indicated.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Risa said, digging into the crate and pulling out a quart jar of wild berry jam. She held it out to Mr. Stanton. “Thank you.”
He smiled widely and took the jar. “Thank you, Miss Hoffman. If you find yourself in need of a rideto Lovely, let me know. Have a nice visit, ladies,” he said, then tipped his hat and left, pulling the door shut behind him.
“You are probably half frozen, Risa. Come into the sitting room and warm up while I bring the tea.” Gloria motioned to a room to the side of the entry.
Risa removed her coat and left it on the coat rack by the door, along with her scarf. After tucking the mittens into her coat pockets, she picked up the crate. “I didn’t want to come empty-handed, so I brought cream and eggs. I packed the eggs in straw in hopes they wouldn’t freeze.”
“How thoughtful of you. Cream and eggs are two things I can always use.” Gloria led the way down the polished walnut floor of the hallway to the kitchen.
Risa thought the house was elegant and tasteful, yet seemed so homey. She could see why her father and Gunder both enjoyed staying here so much. Then again, Gloria had such a warm, friendly spirit, how could anyone not feel welcome in her home?
“Your home is glorious,” Risa said as they walked into a kitchen with plenty of windows to let in the morning sun, as well as a big stove and sink, a round table covered in a lovely lace cloth, and a yeasty fragrance of baking bread along with an aroma of roasting meat scenting the air.
“Thank you, Risa. I received a telegram from Mrs. Baldwin about fifteen minutes before you arrived. I could hardly believe the news, but here you are!” Gloria gave her a hug around her shoulders, then took the crate from Risa and set iton the counter.
Risa tried not to gape at the large well-appointed kitchen.
“I am delighted more than you can know to have you here, and you are welcome to stay as long as you like, but might I ask what prompted the sudden visit?” Gloria asked as she placed the cream and eggs into a huge icebox. It was twice the size of the one Mrs. Baldwin had, and Risa found herself quite fascinated with it.
“Well, I … um … you see, it’s …” Risa sighed. She saw no way to explain why she was there other than the truth. “I love Gunder, and I think he loves me, but I promised myself a long time ago I would marry a man who could provide well for me, not someone who lives in a tent and has a dangerous job that could get him killed at any moment. After last night, Mrs. Baldwin suggested some time away would help me figure out what I really want and the choices I need to make for my future.”
“I see.” Gloria studied her as she washed her hands at the sink, then dried them on a thick towel. “Did Gunder say or do something that upset you? What caused this sudden need to run away from home?”
