A Great Catch (18 page)

He had to take a step back and look at this relationship. What if she wasn’t the right one for him? And what about her walk with the Lord? Her close friends were concerned too, which confirmed his fears Emily might be in trouble in that area. He wasn’t marrying anyone who couldn’t love God and put Him first.

Marrying?

The thought sucked the air from his lungs. Is that what he wanted? They needed to slow down. They’d been moving awfully fast, and he didn’t want to risk hurting her when he wasn’t sure what he wanted. Maybe some distance would do them both good.

But was Ducky right? Would he let Emily slip away because he couldn’t make up his mind?

He rolled his shoulders to release the tension. The tightrope walker reached the pole’s platform, and the crowd cheered.

Ducky inserted his fingers in his mouth and released a shrill whistle. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

Carter nodded.

“And a little crazy.”

“We risk takers are all a little crazy.” Laughing, Carter knocked Ducky’s hat off his head. Ducky lunged for it and caught it before it sailed into the water beneath them.

Ducky slapped the cap back in place. “You’re more than a little crazy, Stockton.”

The tightrope walker waved and started back across the wire, and the crowd again grew quiet. When he reached the midpoint, this time he squatted, bent his head, and somersaulted on the rope. In a fluid motion, he rose to his feet but lost his balance in the process.

Carter leaned forward on the rail as if he could help the man regain his footing. In horror, he watched as the Great Lorenzo teetered far to the right, and one foot lifted from the wire. The long pole dipped quickly to the left, and the bearded man managed to secure his footing once again. He stood still on the wire for several seconds before continuing his journey.

Cheers and applause exploded around Carter, and he joined in. The tightrope walker safely arrived at the platform, and the crowd continued to show its appreciation. The man waved and bowed deeply.

Carter understood the strange combination of feelings that must have been pulsating through the tightrope walker—both success and relief. Those same feelings filled his veins after pitching a winning game.

Only taking risks on sure things? Ducky didn’t know what he was talking about. Every pitch was a risk. Standing up to Nathan was a risk. And courting Emily?

The biggest risk of all.

Even in Cottage Grove, the picnic area at Lake Manawa, the temperature seemed unbearable. Emily lugged two tables over and positioned them end to end for the meeting with her suffrage ladies. She adjusted her papers and rolled up her sleeves. She hadn’t been this hot since—

Her face burned at the thought. Not since Carter’s kiss yesterday. Fanning her cheeks with a tablet, she attempted to force her thoughts away from it. It wasn’t proper to dwell on such things, but oh, it had been sweet—and moving. What a strange sensation it had been. The corners of her lips curled.

“And what’s got you grinning like a schoolgirl with a crush?” Lilly sauntered up and bounced Levi on her hip. “Is it a crush on a certain baseball player?”

“Lilly, I’ve got work to do. I have to get ready for the meeting.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You might as well tell me what’s going on, because I’ll get it out of you eventually, and the others will be here any minute.”

“I guess I have to talk to someone.” She sat down at the table, and Lilly scooted in on the bench seat across from her, setting Levi on her lap. “Things with Carter have been going so well.”

“And?”

“And I’m surprised by the feelings he, uh—”

“Stirs in you? Been kissing, huh?”

Cheeks aflame again, Emily waved the tablet harder.

“And now you don’t know what to do with the feelings?”

“It’s all happening so fast.”

“Talk to him.”

“I couldn’t do that!”

“Emily, you’re scared and thrilled all at the same time.” Levi fussed, and Lilly handed him a dark purple rubber teething ring. The tot immediately stuck it in his mouth. “It’s normal.”

“But it’s all so strange, Lilly. Should it be this . . . this exciting?”

“Falling in love is a funny thing, my mama always said. If you fall in it, you’re bound to hit bottom, but if you slowly grow in it, as you both move closer to God, you’ll move closer to each other.”

Her pulse picked up speed. But what if only one of them was moving toward God? It wasn’t like she didn’t believe in Him. She simply didn’t have time to spend on her relationship with Him right now.

And truthfully, she didn’t have time to spend on a relationship with Carter either.

“I’d better finish up. I see some of the ladies coming.” Emily stood and tickled Levi’s chin. “You’ve got a wise mama too, little man.”

The ladies went straight to work. Each committee had matters to attend to, and Emily flitted from one group to another.

Olivia arrived late, waving a telegram in the air. “I have urgent matters to discuss with this group.”

Emily set down the schedule of activities in her hand. “What is it now, Olivia?”

“Where were you yesterday when the delivery boy tried to bring you this telegram?”

“When? What telegram? Who came?”

“The Pearson boy. He rode his bicycle all the way out here to the lake, and no one was at your cottage.” She scanned the ladies and seemed to delight in their undivided attention. “But we all know where you were because we saw you leave with Carter Stockton. You were off courting instead of being available for important society business.”

Emily reached for the telegram. “Give that to me.”

Olivia waved it with a flourish out of Emily’s reach. “Thankfully, I happened upon the telegraph office as the boy was relaying his sad tale and offered to deliver this myself.” Finally, she relinquished her hold on the paper. “As you can see, the Bloomer Girls will be arriving a day earlier now, so we have to redo all our plans. That certainly would have been nice to know yesterday, wouldn’t it, ladies?”

Emily’s heart sank. She hadn’t been available. And while this wasn’t crucial to the cause, the next time it might be.

The ladies mumbled around her. Lilly passed Levi to the lady beside her and stood up. “Olivia, don’t be so overdramatic. Emily has a right to a ride in the country as much as anyone else. In fact, I encouraged her to do so.”

“But this will mean we’ll have to move the whole parade up a day,” Mrs. O’Neil whined.

Emily stepped forward. “Yes, Gertrude, it does, and it means we’ll have to be extra vigilant in getting everything arranged in the coming days. We’ll need to see to accommodations for them. Perhaps some entertainment too. We are the hostesses, and I promise you I will be available from now on.”

“What about your personal life?” Olivia lifted her eyebrows.

“This work comes first. No matter what.” She sighed. Besides, she and Carter could use some time to cool off.

The walleye’s eye stared back at Emily. Lying on her plate beside the roasted potatoes and slivers of carrots, the grilled fish should have been appetizing. After all, she hadn’t eaten all day, but the constant throbbing in her head and the horrendous temperature now robbed her of an appetite.

She glanced at Carter and noticed he didn’t seem to be having trouble consuming the catch of the day, nor did any of the other patrons at the country club. After two days of putting him off because of her preparations, she had finally acquiesced and agreed to spend some time with him tonight.

Above them, electric fans stirred the humid, hundred-degree air. She glanced at the electric lights the Fish and Game Club sported, and winced. The pounding behind her eyes intensified, and she pinched the bridge of her nose.

Carter set down his fork and appeared to study her. He frowned. “How much sleep did you get last night?”

“Please, let’s not start on that.” Emily pushed a roasted potato to the other side of her plate. Maybe she should have skipped staying up half the night to read the new report from the National Woman Suffrage Association.

“Okay, then, what did you have for lunch?”

“I wasn’t hungry.”

“And now? That potato’s doing more dancing than the folks in the next room.”

“I have a bit of a headache.” She cut a small bite from a carrot, eased it between her lips, and forced it down. “At least I’m here.”

He folded his napkin and set it beside his plate. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”

“No. Let’s finish our dinner.” She touched his hand. “Please.”

Sighing, he replaced his napkin. “Is your stomach bothering you? I can order you some soup.”

She shook her head and broke off a piece of roll, buttered it, and nibbled the corner. “Did you see the Carnival Company’s acts?”

“I caught the high wire the other day. You?”

“I saw the trick bicyclist. He was really something, and you could tell he loved what he was doing—like you and baseball.” She speared another carrot. “Carter, why didn’t you pursue your baseball career?”

He shrugged. “Funny you should ask. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.”

“And?”

“And . . .” He took a swig of water. “I’ve been praying about it.”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“But you’d have to agree, it is a good place to start.”

“I suppose so.” Her queasy stomach flopped. She turned her attention to the staring walleye. Why didn’t they cut the heads off these things? “Carter, what would you do if you didn’t think God wanted you to open that door?”

He sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. “If God didn’t want me to do it, then I wouldn’t.”

“Even if you wanted it more than anything?”

“Yes. I’m not saying it would be easy, but if God closed a door to me, I would trust He had other plans.”

“Why?” It was a simple question and one she’d asked her grandmother more than once. How did people know God had other plans? Better plans?

“Because He’s God.” He flaked a piece of the fish with his fork. “What’s this about? Are you questioning your suffrage work?”

“No. Not really. I was just thinking.”

“If you’re having doubts, God might be trying to tell you something. Maybe you should take a step back and reevaluate your priorities.”

She stiffened in her chair.

“Relax, Emily. I’m trying to tell you I think you’re working too hard, and it has to stop.”

“Carter . . .”

Waving his fork in the air, he silenced her. “First it was the suffrage speeches and the articles, and now it’s the Bloomer Girls’ game. Look at you. You’ve made yourself sick. It’s too much.”

“It’s a headache, Carter. I won’t die from it.” Her voice softened at the concern in his eyes. “Sometimes it does feel like I’m running in circles, but it will be over soon.”

His gaze fell to his water glass. He wrapped his fingers around it and squeezed until his nails turned white. “I hate seeing you like this, and it’s getting worse, not better. I should have offered before, but do you want to pray together about what you should do?”

“No.” The word came out too quickly, and she wished it back. “I mean, I will—when I’m alone.”

He seemed to study her face, and then a sadness stole the light from his eyes. “Broken cisterns.”

“What?”

“Look it up.”

“Where?”

“The Bible.” He chuckled. “You still have one, don’t you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Carter laid his napkin on the table. “Let’s go before I get myself in more trouble.”

She rose on wobbly legs, and Carter took her elbow, concern filling his eyes again. Once she was in his phaeton, the horse’s pounding hooves only added to her agony. A thousand unrelenting hammers beat inside her head. She tugged the pins free holding her hat in place and set it on her lap. By the time they reached the cabin, she could scarcely keep the tears at bay.

Carter lifted her to the ground. “You okay?”

She nodded and he released her. The world tilted at an awkward angle. She swayed.

“Emily?” Carter’s voice seemed far away.

Then he was gone and blackness swallowed her.

“What happened?”

“She fainted.” Carter shifted Emily in his arms, pushed past Aunt Ethel, and hurried toward the cottage. “What room is hers?”

“You can’t go into her bedroom!” Aunt Ethel’s voice shook. “What will people say?”

“Good grief, Ethel.” Aunt Millie pulled the screen door open. “This way, Carter.”

He followed Aunt Millie as she teetered down the short hallway.

“Her bed is on the right. Was it the heat? Should I send for the doctor?”

“She had a horrible headache. The heat didn’t help, and she’s hardly eaten.”

Emily moaned as he placed her onto the crisp, white sheets.

He positioned her head on the pillow and patted her cheek. “Emily?”

Aunt Millie handed him a damp cloth. “I’ll get some fresh water for her to drink.”

Carter pulled a chair closer to the side of the bed, then laid the cloth on her forehead. “Emily? Come on. Time to open your beautiful green eyes.”

Emily’s eyelids fluttered, lacy lashes dark against her pale cheek. “Carter?”

“Easy. You fainted.”

Her gaze circled the room and her eyes widened. “You’re in my bedroom?”

“Against your aunt Ethel’s wishes.” He took her hand in his own. “I’m sorry I upset you. Headache any better?”

“A bit.”

“You scared me to death—again.” He removed the cloth, dipped it in the nearby washbasin, and wrung it.

“Sorry.”

“I’m getting used to it.” He sat back down and replaced the cloth on her forehead. “I’d better get out of here before Aunt Ethel comes in and shoots me. On second thought, maybe I should let her, because then I’d have to sleep on that bed and I could keep an eye on you.” He motioned to the empty one on the other side of the tiny room.

Emily smirked, but her voice came out weak. “You’d have to share with Aunt Millie.”

Carter made a face and squeezed her hand. “You—rest. Sleep in tomorrow. Understand?”

Kate rapped on the door frame. “We’ll take care of her.”

Carter hopped to his feet. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t see you earlier.”

“I was down by the lake praying. Ethel summoned me.” She placed a hand on his arm. “Thank you for taking such good care of her. She hasn’t been doing a very good job of that herself.”

“Grandma.”

Glancing at Emily, Carter smiled. “That’s going to change. Right, Emily?”

“Broken cisterns?”

A sense of accomplishment shot through him and surfaced in a grin. He’d made his point, and Emily obviously saw she needed to take a good long look at her life.