“Oh, you’re not asking. I’m offering. Like I said, times are difficult, and I want to help you. Your business means a great deal to this town.” He knew because he’d been maneuvering sales away from the mercantile for several months now. Oh, he’d done it quietly––and with customers who knew how to keep their mouths shut if they knew what was good for them.
“I don’t understand why sales are down. There are more people than ever. Our prices are good, and I haven’t done anything different.”
Judas put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Maybe once spring arrives things will pick up. We’ll put a hold on the payment until then. That way, you can focus on the business.”
The man let out a long sigh. Relief covered his face. “Thank you. I’m so grateful for your kindness. May the Lord bless you for it.” He put his hat back on his head and walked out of the office.
Judas went back to his desk and sat in his chair. Beaufort would fail, and then he’d have to sign over the entire store. The once-thriving business would boom again with Judas at the helm.
Yet another piece of Nome he would own.
Picking up his pen, another thought hit him square betweenhis eyes. Martin was Daniel Beaufort’s father. Daniel was married to Madysen, Whitney’s sister. Judas would have to time the acquisition of the mercantile with the deftness of an experienced hunter. In a way that ensured Whitney and her sisters believed thathewas in the right.
Then again, if he played it smart, he could show compassion over and over again—in a public manner, where the Powell women would see—and then Martin would have no other choice but togivehis mercantile to Judas. His gracious extensions and loans had kept the man afloat the past year.
Hmmm.There were several avenues he could take to get what he wanted. Which one was in his best interests, now that Whitney was in the picture?
Tapping the pen on the desk, he grinned.
With Peter in the sled basket in front of her, Whitney urged the dogs into full speed. They were through town and out in the wide-open spaces of Alaska. Amka drove the sled behind her with Dad as passenger.
The expression on his face when she told him he wouldn’t be riding withherwas one she hadn’t expected: disappointment. She seldom considered that he would get his feelings hurt concerning her. But then again, she hadn’t given him a chance to be a part of her life, had she?
Not that there had been a lot of time for that. Her priorities and attention had been elsewhere. Surely he understood.
She shook her head of the thoughts. Relax. This was where she belonged. Out on the trail. With her dogs. With the peace and quiet of nature around her.
People were simply too much trouble.
She cringed at such a thought, but she couldn’t help it.People hurt her. Took advantage of her. Crushed her when they left.
At least Peter seemed content to be quiet. For the first mile, he’d attempted to read in a medical book. But it must have been too hard to focus with the swaying and shifting because he’d tucked the book back into his satchel.
He’d seemed antsy to get to the village. And quite serious. What the village was facing must be worse than any of them realized.
She appreciated his dedication to his work and the fact that he didn’t need to break up the silence with conversation. As long as she’d known him, he’d been that way. Several times, he came to check on her after her head injury, and he’d often sit there, content to watch and listen. That was the kind of man she imagined as the perfect husband. Someone she could talk to when there were problems, of course, but also someone she could sit in silence with and feel perfectly content. She could imagine it being that way with Peter. He was different from most men she knew. That was probably why she thought of him as a friend. Trusted him.
Friend. She didn’t have many of those. Then the earlier conversation with Judas came flooding back to her mind. Her skin warmed. Judas and Peter were around the same age, weren’t they? Late thirties?
There was an age difference between her and Judas—at least ten years—but that wasn’t bad. The look in his eyes as he spoke to her had sent a little shiver up her spine. She and her sisters had often remarked about the striking color of his eyes, but only because it was fascinating. Not because any of them had ever thought of him as a potential suitor.
Couldshethink of him that way?
It would be easier than being courted by a man she hardly knew. She’d known Judas for close to thirteen years now. A lot had happened in that time. And they’d spent a lot of time together at functions. Done business together on more occasions than she could count. Granddad had trusted him too. That said something.
The shock of him wanting to court her still hadn’t worn off. The idea was worth thinking through. After all, she wasn’t getting any younger. A fact that never bothered her until both of her younger sisters marriedbeforeher. Then the comments started from well-meaning people at church and at the mercantile. Comments that they should have kept to themselves.
Maybe sheshouldgive Judas a chance. She’d never have to worry about anything ever again. The man practically ran Nome. He was kind, generous, wealthy, powerful, and if she laid down her ground rules from the beginning, he would most likely let her do whatever she wanted. Which meant she could keep raising and training her dogs. Run them whenever she wanted. And she’d never have to feel alone.
Ever again.
That thought was the one that resonated the most. Not that she needed a man, but without Mama and Granddad ... she was alone. Oh, she loved her independence, but she had to admit that her heart ached to be loved and cherished. Her family had always done that. Her sisters and brothers-in-law did that still. But love from family was different.
Maybe she should make a list of all the pros and cons to courting Judas Reynolds. That way, she could analyze it and make a good decision before she returned home.
Judas was wealthy and kind. Pro.
He cared for her family. Pro.
