“Are you staying to eat with us?” he asked, glancing past Ingrid as Joshua walked into the parlor.
“Yes, we’d be pleased if you’d join us. Inez just told me everything’s almost ready. Davy, why don’t you go wash your face and hands and call Emily in from the backyard.”
Davy nodded and rose from the chair next to Ingrid’s to maneuver quite expertly with his crutches, while she sat there stiffly, not knowing quite what to do.
Riding alongside Joshua in the buckboard had been awkward enough, but thankfully Emily had chattered the whole way to the Logan house so that Ingrid hadn’t felt the need to say much of anything. She glanced out the front window, trying to ignore his gaze as the mantel clock chimed four o’clock.
“It’s early for supper, I know,” he added, “but I’ll have to return to my office within an hour or so to check on things, so I can drive you home then—”
“No, I don’t wish to stay!” she blurted, jumping up when she sensed him drawing closer. She twisted around, reaching for her basket on the table, but wedged her foot suddenly against the leg of the chair. She cried out, losing her balance, only to find herself not falling at all but looking straight into Joshua’s eyes after he caught her.
Caught her and pulled her close…as close as he’d held her in the hotel, though she stiffened at once and tried to push herself away.
“Ingrid, don’t fight me, please. If you’ll just listen. I’m sorry I spoke to you so harshly last night, but I’ve had a lot of time to think since then—”
“So have I!” she countered, still trying to wrest herself free, balling her fists against his chest. “I’ve never felt so horrid, so foolish! Let me go, Joshua. I understand why you don’t want me—why you don’t want any woman in your life! Isn’t that enough?”
“No, it’s not enough, not anymore. I know that now, Ingrid. If you’ll give me another chance and let me show you that it’s you I want in my life…need in my life…”
She froze in his arms, so stunned by what he’d said that she could but stare up at him as he lowered his head to kiss her. She drew in her breath, her hands no longer balled into fists when his mouth touched hers…but splayed against his chest as he drew her closer, his strong arms tightening around her.
“Ingrid, sweet Ingrid, I love you…”
His whispered endearment like a taste of heaven on her lips, his mouth moving slowly over hers, Ingrid felt all hurt and confusion melt away and she wound her arms around his neck—
“Papa, Miss Hagen, supper’s ready!”
They had already jumped apart by the time Emily skipped into the parlor, Ingrid flush-faced and nearly tripping again only to have Joshua catch her arm. Her trembling hand flew to her hair to pat any loose strands back into place while Emily giggled.
“Were you kissing?”
Chapter 9
“I’m so happy for you, Ingrid! I knew you and Joshua were meant for each other, I just knew it! Anita, doesn’t she look beautiful?”
Anita nodded and smiled as she circled Ingrid, both of her sisters oohing and aahing over the silk wedding dress that the town’s premier seamstress, Mrs. Margaret McMaster, had fashioned for her. It seemed the three women were swirling around her for all their smoothing, tucking, and admiring, Ingrid’s head beginning to spin.
Or perhaps she just felt giddy with happiness, a smile constantly on her face for the past twelve days.
From the moment Joshua had said he loved her, he had done everything he could to show her how much he wanted her in his life.
Starting with a marriage proposal that very day in front of Emily and David, who had been delighted when Ingrid accepted, their smiling faces a blur because of her joyful tears.
Joshua hadn’t stopped there, but had spoken to Andreas as soon as he’d taken Ingrid home that day. Her brother had looked bemused at first, given how she and Joshua had acted toward each other the night before, but then had shrugged his broad shoulders and laughed and given them a hearty blessing.
Ingrid hadn’t wanted Joshua to leave, though he was anxious to ask for Caleb’s blessing as well before the day was done. It was only right since he’d become like a father to their entire family, Ingrid making a wish as Joshua drove away in the buckboard that the days until they became husband and wife would fly by.
So they had, but there had been more of them than she’d imagined, Kari wanting her and Joshua to have as lovely a wedding as she and Seth. Ingrid was more than grateful for all the exciting preparations and Caleb’s generosity in offering to pay for everything, but she could have married Joshua in a simple ceremony the night he proposed!
“Look at her blushing!” Anita clapped her hands together, glancing from Ingrid to Kari. “Aren’t weddings wonderful? I can’t wait for mine—”
“You’ll need a groom first,” Kari broke in, smiling indulgently at Anita. “And you’re barely turned eighteen and an aspiring actress to boot, determined to conquer the world.”
“I can have a groomandmy career, though I’ll probably wait until I’m a bit older and start touring the country. That’s how it works, you know, according to my acting teacher, Mrs. Rose. She met her late husband in Baltimore when she was starring in a musical revue. Who knows where I might meet mine?”
“Oh, Anita, why are you so anxious to leave us?” Ingrid said as Mrs. McMaster ushered her behind a screen and began to help her out of the dress. “You could be happy in Walker Creek, too. There’s the playhouse and I’m sure any performers coming to town would make room in their programs for you to sing a song or to recite a monologue from a play. I’ve seen the posters about that famous actress traveling all the way from San Francisco to perform here next Saturday night.”
“Lily Talbot! I know, isn’t it exciting?” Anita exclaimed, but then she rushed forward to peek around the screen. “Forgive me, Ingrid, nothing’s as exciting as your wedding tomorrow, truly. It’s just so curious for you to bring all of that up today. When I was walking from the playhouse to meet you and Kari, an older lady no taller than my chin stopped me to say there was nothing wrong with being a big fish in a little pond!”
