Page 48 of A Joyful Ring
“I’m being serious, Risa. Gunder loves you, and he’s hurt that you disappeared without even giving him a proper goodbye or explanation. If I were your age and had a man who looked like him eager to marry me, I certainly wouldn’t run off like a coward and hide. I’d ask him what time he wanted to meet at the church for the wedding.”
“You would do no such thing,” Risa said, rising from the window seat where she’d been looking outside, watching it snow.
By all rights, she should be excited andanticipating Christmas. Never in her life had she lived in such a beautiful, warm, comfortable home or had so many good things to eat. Her father had brought a tree when he’d been there earlier in the week, and she and Gloria had spent a wonderful afternoon decorating it after Lars had set it up in the bay window of the sitting room. There were garlands along the mantel and wreaths on the doors, and bayberry candles that mingled with the scent of the tree, filling the house with a fantastic holiday fragrance.
Instead, Risa felt as if part of herself were missing. She longed to go to Gunder, apologize for running away from him, and confess how much she loved him. The time spent in Baker City had given her clarity, which is what she’d needed—to realize Mrs. Baldwin and Gloria were right. Love mattered more than finding a man of means to provide for her. The banker who lived at the boardinghouse had taken an immediate interest in her, but when compared to Gunder, he seemed small and weak and terribly dull. She hadn’t encouraged him at all, even though she was polite in his presence.
Although Risa still heard the little voice in her thoughts whisperingwait, she wanted to rush into Gunder’s arms and confess what was in her heart. Only she wouldn’t. Not when that voice kept speaking that one little word.
Wait.
Risa was starting to detest that word in a way she never would have before, but if that was what she needed to do, she would.
While she waited, she couldn’t think ofanywhere better to do it than with Gloria. The two of them had grown as close as a mother and daughter could be in the time since Risa had arrived in Baker City. They’d laughed and cried, shared from the heart, baked and decorated side by side, and built the foundation for a lasting friendship.
She glanced outside again before she turned her focus on Gloria. The woman offered her a cheeky smile. “I most certainly would be bold when it comes to the man I love. I would tell him to meet me at the church or suffer the consequences.”
“You’re right. You would.” Risa laughed when Gloria swatted her with the dish towel in her hand.
“If you’re going to sit and mope, you might as well come help me in the kitchen. The candy I’m making goes better with four hands involved instead of two. Also, I thought about having taffy ready to pull after supper. What do you think? Would everyone enjoy it?”
“Oh, what a grand idea, Gloria. I think they would love it. I could hardly stand not joining you last night when everyone gathered around the piano and sang carols. Doesn’t Gunder have a lovely voice?”
“He does. It’s rich and deep. One more point in his favor.” Gloria waggled an eyebrow at her. “How many will it take before you confess the truth to him?”
Risa shrugged as she tied on an apron and washed her hands when they returned to the kitchen. “I hope things work out before Christmas, Gloria. I truly do. Not that I haven’t enjoyed every moment here with you, but I want to be withGunder and go home. Even so, I can’t bring myself to think about living in a tent all winter.”
“You won’t be. I can promise you that.” Gloria’s face reddened, and she spun away and began measuring ingredients into a large pan.
“Gloria, if you know something, you must tell me. Please?” Risa would get on her knees and beg if it would help her reunite with Gunder.
“Your father mentioned Gunder expressed an interest in making his intentions known to you, but Lars made it clear he won’t allow you to marry until Gunder has a house for you to live in and can provide for you.”
If Risa’s father had been there, she would have marched up to him and let him know what she thought about his meddling. She was twenty-one years old, far past the age of needing her father to decide when she would wed, or do anything else for that matter.
Indignant and irritated, Risa felt the most unreasonable urge to kick something.
“Before you explode, please try to see things from your father’s perspective. You are his only living child, and he wants the best for you. He is fond of Gunder, thinks he’s one of the finest young men he’s ever met, and he knows Gunder loves you. But he isn’t wrong in expecting you to have a decent place to live. After Maybelle’s fit of terror in Gunder’s tent, it’s in even worse shape than most.”
“She’s supposed to replace everything, isn’t she?” Risa asked, feeling sorry for Gunder all over again. He had so little, and it wasn’t fair for Maybelle to ruin his meager belongings because shedidn’t like the fact that Gunder hadn’t paid her any mind.
“Yes, your father said Mrs. Dutton insisted Maybelle earn the money herself and forced her to take a job at the livery, cleaning out stalls.”
“Poor Silas Evans. He and the horses are probably suffering.” Risa couldn’t help it when a laugh burst out of her, picturing Maybelle with straw in her fat sausage curls and manure coating the hem of her skirts.
Gloria grinned. “I’ve never met the girl, but it seems a fitting job considering what she did.”
Risa studied Gloria, wishing there was something—anything—she could do to convince her father that Gloria would marry him in a moment if he’d only ask her. Risa still couldn’t understand his hesitation. Every time she tried to discuss it with him, he’d tell her it wasn’t her business and change the subject.
Perhaps it was time to make it her business. “Gloria, if Papa asked you right this minute to become his bride, what would you say?”
“Yes, then grab his hand and run to the church before he could change his mind.”
Risa laughed. “That’s what I thought. You really and truly love him, don’t you?”
“With all my heart.”
“Then maybe it’s time for Papa to stop running from his heart and do what is right.”
