Page 47 of A Joyful Ring
He took it from her and clutched it tightly in his hand, then gave the child a gentle hug. She kissed his cheek and moved back, smiling. “I think Miss Risa is the prettiest lady in town, and the nicest.”
“I heartily agree,” Gunder said, playfully tweaking her nose as he rose to his feet.
Mr. and Mrs. Dutton appeared with Maybelle between them, her gaze directed toward her feet instead of the four men awaiting an explanation or apology.
“Maybelle, you will speak now, succinctly and sincerely,” Mrs. Dutton commanded, looking first at her husband and then her daughter, daring either of them to argue.
Gunder wanted to cheer the woman for finally finding her backbone, but remained silent.
“I took an interest in Mr. Birke, and when he failed to return my affections, it made me angry at him and Miss Hoffman. I stole his things, destroyed his belongings, and lied about it. I’m sorry for the distress and destruction I’ve caused, and I will pay for anything that needs to be replaced. It was wrong of me to behave in such a manner.” It wasn’t until Maybelle had finished speaking that she looked up at Gunder.
He could see in her eyes she didn’t mean a word of it, but didn’t point that out. “I accept the apology, Miss Dutton, and hope you have learned a valuable lesson. I’ll make a list of what was broken, which Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Goodwin can confirm if that is necessary, and deliver it to your parents.”
“Thank you for being so understanding, Mr. Birke,” Mrs. Dutton said, taking a step forward and clasping his hand between hers. “I am deeply and truly sorry Maybelle did something so despicable, but I’m glad we could at least return what she stole from you.” The woman turned and glowered at Maybelle. “You may all rest assured this willnothappen again.”
Gunder nodded, then glanced at Mr. Goodwin and Pastor Thomas. By silent agreement, they all moved toward the door.
“Take good care of your girls, Mr. Dutton,particularly one who was brave enough to do what was right,” the pastor said, smiling at Dinah before they walked outside.
Only when the four men stood on the porch outside the boardinghouse did they stop.
“After all that, I admit I want a better gander at that ring, Gunder,” Mr. Goodwin said, pointing to the hand Gunder still held carefully to his side.
“I’m curious as well,” Pastor Thomas said.
Lars nodded, and the three of them circled around Gunder as he opened his hand and they each, in turn, picked up the ring and studied the intricate, feminine design.
With a soft whistle, Lars handed it back to him. “You made that from the mineral dust you scooped out of the dirt where the wagons are loaded?”
“Yes, sir.” Gunder opened the box that held the bell and showed it to the men, explaining about his heritage and the bell, which had been made by his family as a gift for Risa.
“She’s a lucky woman, Gunder,” Mr. Goodwin said, then thumped him on the shoulder before hustling down the steps. “I’ll see you at work in the morning.”
The pastor reached for the doorknob. “I’m sure, circumstances considered, Mrs. Baldwin would be most pleased if both of you would join us for lunch.”
“Thank you,” Lars said, speaking to the pastor, but looking at Gunder in a studying way that the young man had no hope of interpreting.
He’d worry about what Lars was thinking later.
Right now, all that mattered was he once againhad Risa’s ring in his possession, and his heart as well as his head filled with hope.
Chapter Twelve
“Risa? Risa!” Gloria waved her hand in front of Risa’s face, startling her and drawing her from her musings about Gunder. He’d been all she could think about since her father had come to Gloria’s boardinghouse earlier in the week and told her about what Maybelle had done, stealing Gunder’s things, then destroying his belongings in his tent.
Gunder had been so careful with each purchase he’d made, trying to spend the least money for the best quality he could afford. She felt terrible about what the lying strumpet had done. Well, maybe Maybelle wasn’t a strumpet, but she was most definitely a liar. And a horrible person.
Risa felt sorry for Mrs. Dutton and dear little Dinah. It sounded like Mr. Dutton had taken a firm hand with Maybelle, though. It was far past time, but then who was Risa to judge?
How could she point fingers at anyone when she’d spent the past ten days hiding from the man she loved under the very roof where he stayed a few nights a week? It had been tricky to stay out of sight, and the other boarders thought she went home with her father on the days he was there so that there wasn’t any chance of them asking for her whereabouts when Gunder was present. Gloria had managed to keep the topics off her presence during dinner and breakfast conversations when Gunder was at the house, although it hadn’t been easy.
“Risa Hoffman, what on earth has gotten into you?” Gloria asked, fisting her hands at her waist and staring at her.
“I don’t know, Gloria. I’m just …”
“Lovesick. Missing that handsome, wonderful man who loves you more than anything on this earth.” Gloria’s expression softened. “You are every bit as stubborn as your father.”
Risa scowled. “There is no need to be insulting,” she said, lifting her nose in a haughty gesture that caused Gloria to laugh.
