Threads of Faith Page 18

  Daniel replied with a polite grin. Except for his sister’s earlier outburst, things had gone well. At the dinner table he watched Julianna with surreptitious glances and noted her demure manner. He wanted to chuckle. If the Dunbars only knew how spry she really was . . .

  “Beautiful evening.”

  “Especially pleasant.” The wind had turned, and now an easterly breeze wafted off Lake Michigan, cooling the summer air and tugging on Daniel’s shirtsleeves.

  “Miss Wayland seems like a nice young lady. Good of you to sponsor her, Captain Sundberg.”

  “She deserves a chance at a good and decent life here in America.” He meant it sincerely. “As you heard her say during dinner, her former employer was quite oppressive.”

  “I heard.” Jed dipped his head slowly. “And how fortunate for her that you offered a means of escape.” His tone softened. “But I believe it was no coincidence. God orchestrated all of it.”

  Daniel found it hard to believe that God had anything to do with it.

  “And no family there in England . . . ” Jed gave a wag of his head. “Well, between your family and mine, we’ll see she is surrounded by people who care about her welfare.”

  “I’m sure she will appreciate that.” Daniel sensed the man’s earnestness.

  “My wife and I share your desire to offer people second chances— or even first chances.” Jed turned from gazing into the starry darkness to facing Daniel. “As you’re aware, Mark thinks Miss Wayland may enjoy working in our hotel.”

  “He mentioned the possibility yesterday.” In fact, Daniel had used it as a means to procure tonight’s dinner invitation. He’d told Mark that as Julianna’s sponsor, Daniel needed to be kept abreast of any and all employment opportunities.

  “But do you think she is too . . . too . . . ”

  “Yes?” Plenty of adjectives filled Daniel’s mind.

  “Shy.”

  “What?” Daniel couldn’t suppress a chortle. “Shy? Heavens, no! She’s quite determined, actually.”

  “I must have misread her personality.”

  Daniel thought over the past couple of hours. “I believe Julianna is purposely being reserved. She wants to make a good impression on all of you.”

  “Of course. That makes perfect sense.” A smile pervaded his tone. “I’d gotten concerned because in the hotel business, you’ve got to win customers without letting them run roughshod over you.”

  “I suppose you’re right at that.” Daniel shifted his stance. He could see how the misunderstanding took place. During their dinner conversation, Julianna only spoke when spoken to and gave fragmented truths about her personal history. When asked how she’d come to select Manitowoc as her destination, Julianna had balked. Daniel jumped in, stating that since she had no relatives in America, he’d persuaded her to come to Manitowoc and help his mother and sister on the farm—except, to his surprise, there wasn’t a farm to come home to.

  That, of course, inspired more harsh remarks from Adeline. But Daniel had weathered them, aware that none of the Dunbars even subtly reprimanded her. It was then he figured he might deserve Adeline’s hostility, given how hurt she’d been because of his absence. Daniel had never guessed it mattered much, thinking that he’d never be missed. After leaving Wisconsin, he’d gone on with his life and assumed his family members had gone on with theirs too.

  But apparently they hadn’t, and Daniel wasn’t so hard of a man that he didn’t feel remorse over it. He did. But what nagged at him was the fact he’d never received even one of his sister’s letters. One could assume that in seven years a few missives at the very least would have found their way to the Ramseys’ residency. Not a single one did.

  Which meant George must have kept them from me . . .

  “So, Captain, tell me about your adventures afar.”

  Shaking himself from his muse, Daniel turned his attention to Jed, who sat perched on the white rail encompassing the balcony area.

  “Anything in particular you’d like to know, Jed?”

  Before he could answer, Will strode from the house. Lamplight glowed in his wake and cast a long shadow. “Mind if I join you both?”

  “You’re just in time,” Jed said.

  Daniel saw the man smile at his eldest son and noted that Mark hadn’t come outside with him. “We’re about to hear of the captain’s exploits.”

  “Ah, good.” Will pulled over a chair and sat.

  “Where would you like me to begin?” Daniel leaned against the nearby pillar. “I’m sure you’ve both known ship captains. There are plenty in Manitowoc.”

  “None we’re related to.” Will grinned and relaxed back in his chair.

  “That’s right.” Jed rubbed a hand along his clean-shaven jaw. “You know, the last time I saw you it was years ago. You were in church with your family and the Ramseys. Little did I know back then that our families would someday be united through marriage.”

  “You met the Ramseys?” Daniel couldn’t recall.

  “Yes, and we’ve been praying for them—and you—ever since.”

  “Please . . . ” Daniel held up a forestalling hand. “No prayers needed. I’m good and fine. So are the Ramseys.”

  “Maybe that just means our prayers have been answered,” Will said.

  Daniel chafed, although he held his tongue. The discussion of prayers and answers to them was just another form of manipulation as far as he was concerned.

  He decided to call it a night. “Perhaps I should check in with Miss Wayland. She may want to go home now.”

  “I can save you the trip inside.” Will’s smile looked broad and confident. “She wants to stay. I’m afraid she’s succumbed to the Dunbar charm and good looks.”

  Daniel narrowed his gaze. “You’re referring to your brother, Mark?”

  Will hooted. “No, my son!”

  Laughter broke out from the two men, and Daniel grinned in spite of the chagrin working its way into his face.

  “But I suppose it’s no secret that Mark is taken with Miss Wayland.” An amused lilt still sounded in Will’s tone. “I’m sure he’d like to get better acquainted with her . . . if only she’d stop fussing over Jacob.” He chuckled all over again. “She’s been holding that baby since we finished dessert.”

  Daniel even laughed inwardly, picturing the whole thing in his mind. “Well,” he drawled, “a bit of competition is good for a man.”

  Just as he’d finished the last word, Mark exited the house and walked out onto the terrace.

  “We were just talking about you, brother—wondering how you were doing in there with the women.”

  “Just fine, actually.” Mark clasped his hands behind his back and eyed Daniel. “I came out to ask the captain’s permission to walk Julianna home.”

  Julianna, is it? Daniel narrowed his gaze in thought. This is what he wanted—he wanted her interest to shift from him to someone else. Why the prickling of jealousy, then? “Miss Wayland is free to make her own choices. My permission is not required.”

  “But I would hate to . . . to tread on another man’s territory, so to speak.”

  “No, no . . . you’re not treading.” He launched each word from his tongue. He rubbed the back of his neck to ease the sudden tension he felt.

  “Very good. We’ll leave shortly.” After a nod and a smile, he made for the house, but paused after a few steps. “Oh, and Will? I’m supposed to tell you that Adeline is putting Jacob to bed.”

  “That’s good news for you, I expect.” Will snorted another laugh.

  “Exceedingly good news.” He sent his brother an annoyed glance. “Bad enough I had to compete with you for the ladies’ attention before you married Adeline, but now I have to compete with your infant son.”

  Will looked peacock-proud, and Daniel grinned. But the fact that Mark joked about such a thing proved he wasn’t an insecure young man.

  Mark returned to the house, and Jed picked up the conversation where they’d left off before Will had joined them.r />
  “Captain Sundberg—”

  “It’s Daniel, please.”

  “Daniel . . . ” Jed gave a nod. “Please tell us of your exciting feats.” Leaning forward, he dipped one eye. “And perhaps we’ll talk of some business while we’re at it.”

  “My favorite subject.” A grin tugged at his mouth. “Let’s see, where shall I begin . . . ?”

  “You have a beautiful baby.” Julianna set the little one into his mother’s waiting arms.

  “Thank you.” Adeline gave her a warm smile. “I can tell he likes you.”

  “You think so?”

  “He wouldn’t have fallen so soundly asleep otherwise.” Mrs. Dunbar looked up briefly from her needlepoint and smiled.

  Julianna adored baby Jacob. “May I hold him again sometime?”

  “Of course.” Adeline’s smile broadened. “Will and I are staying overnight, and we’ll be in church tomorrow morning. Perhaps you can hold him then. But if we don’t meet up by then, there’s tomorrow afternoon. Will and I eat Sunday dinner with my family, and we usually stay the afternoon.”

  Julianna saw the sadness creep into Adeline’s gaze and suspected that she thought of her poor, bedridden father. “I’ll look forward to tomorrow then.”

  “It helps me quite a lot when others take a turn and hold Jacob for a while.” Adeline tucked the blanket around the baby’s feet. “As much as I love my son, I’m grateful for the respite.”

  “If I had a baby like yours, I don’t think I’d ever set him down.”

  “I remember having that same idea too.” Smiling, Mrs. Dunbar glanced above her spectacles. “But I changed my mind after Will came along and my housework needed to get done.”

  Julianna tipped her head. “You didn’t have a maid or other hired help?” Hours ago she’d noticed the absence of hovering servants.

  “No, I’ve always done my own cooking and cleaning.” She looked at her needlework again. “At least for now.”

  Mark reentered the sitting room. “Julianna, we’ve been given the go-ahead. I’ll get your things and walk you home.”

  “All right.” He certainly seemed eager for her to leave. She stood from the blue velvet settee and smiled at Mrs. Dunbar. “Thank you for dinner. I had a lovely evening.”

  “You’re welcome in our home anytime, my dear.”

  Stunned, Julianna gaped at the older woman. No one had ever said that to her before. She was welcome here? Anytime?

  She forced her gaze to Adeline. “So nice to meet you—and all of the Dunbars.”

  “Likewise.” She glanced at her sleeping baby, then looked at Julianna again. “Any woman who abides my older brother is a saint in my opinion.”

  Julianna attempted to contain a laugh but failed. “He’s not so terrible, really.” Not at all, in fact. “And I meant what I said before— I know your brother wouldn’t have intentionally hurt you or your parents. Not ever. His dreams of adventure just got in the way.”

  “Not to mention George Ramsey’s money and influence.” There was no mistaking the cynicism in Adeline’s tone.

  “You might be correct about that, I’m afraid.”

  “You seem to understand my brother so well.” Curiosity glimmered in Adeline’s blue eyes.

  “I suppose I do.” Julianna looked down at the carpet so she wouldn’t guess how much she loved him.

  “Here we are.” Mark strode to Julianna and set her shawl about her shoulders.

  His touched weighed heavy with unbearable discomfort, and she stepped out of his reach. Still, she gave him a polite grin as she accepted her hat and gloves.

  “Tell Momma hello for me and that Will and I will see her tomorrow as usual.”

  “All right.”

  “And tell her to kiss Poppa for me.”

  Julianna inclined her head. “I’ll do that.”

  Mrs. Dunbar stood and walked her to the front door. Mark followed at a close distance. They said their farewells as Mark shrugged into his jacket.

  Outside the air had cooled. Julianna lifted her skirts ever so slightly and made her way down the steps to the stone walkway.

  Mark took her gloved hand and curved it around his elbow. “A lovely evening for a stroll.”

  “A bit on the warm side.”

  “We’ll walk slowly so we don’t become overheated.”

  Julianna wanted to groan. So much for marching home quickly. She slowed her pace to match his.

  “Did you enjoy our little dinner party tonight?”

  “I did indeed, although . . . ”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, I hope your father thinks I’ll make a good employee at the hotel.” The topic hadn’t ever come up, and Julianna wondered all night whether she’d met Mr. Dunbar’s standards.

  “I’m sure he does.”

  Mark set his hand over Julianna’s. Instincts hold her to pull free, but she overcame them since he’d been very courteous and respectful thus far. A bit overeager, perhaps, but pleasant just the same.

  “I’m the one who makes the decisions at the hotel. I hope to own it one day.”

  “And why not? You’re personable. I should think you’ll make a fine innkeeper.”

  He turned, and she caught his amused expression. “I enjoy listening to your British accent.”

  “That’s good. I’m still adjusting to hearing Yankees everywhere I go.”

  Mark replied with a good-natured laugh.

  At the bottom of the hill they rounded the corner. Mrs. Sundberg’s shop was just a block away. They crossed the nearly empty street. But as they neared their destination, raucous laughter reached Julianna’s ears. It grew louder as she and Mark stepped closer to the shop.

  Then, all at once, a group of laughing, cursing, brawling sailors filled the walk. Julianna stopped short.

  “It’s all right. Those men are probably headed for the hotel.” Mark sighed. “But my assistant, Mr. Gibbons, is very capable.”

  “I think we should turn back.” She stepped behind Mark so the rowdy sailors wouldn’t see her. Filling her memory was the Grisly Devil’s groping and pounding. If these men were like him, Mark wouldn’t be able to defend himself, let alone protect her.

  “It’s all right, Miss Wayland, really.”

  But the men didn’t seem in a hurry to move off the corner in front of Mrs. Sundberg’s store. Julianna’s senses soared to a heightened alert. “We should go back.”

  Mark tugged on her arm.

  “No.” She pulled free.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Sailors come into port at all hours of the day. They’re usually honest, hard-working men.”

  Julianna hadn’t known many of those kind of sailors. “Why have they stopped?”

  Mark sighed. “They’re probably looking for the nearest tavern.”

  “Hey, mister!” one of men called to Mark.

  Julianna felt her blood turn icy cold.

  “What can I do for you?”

  Julianna backed away, realizing the muscle-bound man was headed toward her and Mark. She saw his fists, clenched at his side. Did he mean to start a brawl?

  “Don’t speak to him, Mark.”

  “There is nothing to be afraid of. I’m sure he’s merely in need of directions. It happens all the time. You’ll see.”

  She wasn’t about to wait and find out if he was right. Spinning on her heel, Julianna took off and ran for her life!

  CHAPTER 18

  B ENEATH THE LIGHT in Jed Dunbar’s library Daniel glanced at the clock above the mantel. Mark should have returned by now. However, neither his father nor Will seemed concerned, so Daniel told himself not to worry.

  But worried he was. Julianna could be spirited at times. Mild-mannered Mark Dunbar wouldn’t stand a chance if a situation arose.

  What situation? Mark was a polite fellow. Besides, Daniel told himself, he had no cause to fret over Julianna. He was nothing more to her than her sponsor. Not her husband or fiancé—or for-loveden, as his family would say in Norwegian. Ju
lianna had a new life to live. He’d made it clear that he had his own plans for the future. She understood, despite her delusions of love.

  Even so, he didn’t think he would ever forget her kisses that night in his quarters or the way she’d stared up at him with both eagerness and innocence shining from her eyes. A lesser man would have taken full advantage of the situation, although Daniel couldn’t say he was above seriously considering it.

  Would Mark be so bold? Daniel doubted it. Still, he couldn’t help wondering if she’d look at another man in the same way she’d looked at him, given the right circumstances.

  “Captain, did you hear me?”

  Daniel jerked from his troubling thoughts and looked across the way at Jed. “My apologies. My mind was elsewhere.” He rubbed his stubbly jaw, another sign the night wore on. He glanced at the two men. How could he say that the foreboding inside of him matched his disquiet before a tempest?

  And yet he had no right to feel this way.

  “I asked what you thought of the situation involving some of the local shipping companies.” Jed sat near the bookshelves, which occupied an entire wall. “They’ve proved most undependable.”

  Will added to his father’s statement from the leather chair in which he sat. “With Chicago still in the throes of rebuilding much of the city and Milwaukee expanding, I have to get my lumber shipped on schedule. And then there’s our manufacturing plant. We have customers all over the Great Lakes region.”

  “Hmm . . . well, I’d say—”

  Mark burst into the room. He leaned against the doorframe and panted.

  Daniel immediately pushed to his feet.

  “Good heavens!” Jed stood as well.

  Mark peeled off his hat. Perspiration had matted his hair.

  “Where’s Julianna?” Fingers of apprehension climbed Daniel’s spine.

  “I don’t know.” Mark’s chest rose and fell in quick succession. “I’ve searched everywhere.”

  “What happened?” Daniel moved forward.

  “We had almost reached your mother’s shop when a group of sailors came walking up from the direction of the harbor. I suspected they’d been drinking, but I didn’t sense any danger.”