Reverie (Hollow Hearts Book 1) (17 page)

Hetty’s hands were raw from scrubbing so many pieces of clothing on the old washboard. The scalding water had ruined her hands, and she winced from the pain as they returned to the water.

“Jessica, can you please fetch me more soap. I don’t think I’m going to have enough.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the girl said before rushing inside.

Working on the porch was not ideal for such cold weather, but Hetty barely felt the chill. She’d been working on the laundry since early this morning. Her back ached and the task kept her moving enough that she didn’t even notice the temperature dropping. As she wrung out a pair of boys’ pants she noticed someone walking toward her. The steam from her wash basin made it nearly impossible to make out the figure until she heard the voice.

“There’s my girl!”

“Sol?” she squinted her eyes and sure enough, her dear friend made his way up the steps. “Sol, it is you!” Hetty rushed toward him and threw herself in his arms. “Oh, I’ve missed you!”

“Oh, my sweet Hetty! Look at you! I’ve missed you, too.” Sol placed his hand on her cheeks and gently kissed her forehead.

“Please come in. I’m sure you’re freezing. That coat could use a good mending,” Hetty said.

“This coat had kept Old Sol warm for many years, child. Perhaps I can be swayed by a cup of tea rather than your sewing skills.” He winked.

Hetty ushered Sol into the kitchen where things were quiet. Lunch had passed and it wasn’t quite time to prepare dinner. They might be able to squeeze in a short visit before the chaos of the next meal began. “If you’ll give me just a moment I’ll let Catherine know I’ll be taking a break. I’m sure Jessica can keep the wash going for a few minutes.”

She returned quickly and made Sol a cup of tea. She wished she had something sweet, cookies or cake perhaps, to offer him, but here at the orphanage every little bit needed to stretch as far as possible.

“Sit down, child. You’re gonna make Old Sol nervous with all that moving about.”

Pouring her own cup of tea she took a seat beside him at the table. “What are you doing back here? I thought you’d be in Philadelphia for a while.”

“Before I tell you my story, why don’t you tell me yours? When I left you were headed to work at the Wheeler ranch and now I find you scrubbing laundry at the orphanage.”

Hetty filled Sol in on all of the details. She told him about working on the ranch, Elizabeth’s health improving, Joshua, the fight between Isaac and Elias, and how leaving was the best choice given the circumstance and her feelings for Isaac. She couldn’t hide anything from him even if she wanted to. Sol was her rock, her most trusted friend. If anyone would understand her struggles, she knew it would be him. She admitted that she loved Isaac but worried that working there would make it seem like she was taking advantage of the family.

“I miss him, Sol. Every day,” Hetty said.

“I’ve told you before that things have a way of working themselves out. You need to have faith, child. The Lord knows what he’s doing. And I’m not sure He could find a better match for you even if He wanted to. Isaac is a good man. And maybe this isn’t about you joining his family. Maybe he needs to join yours.” Sol patted her hand.

“I’m not sure I understand.” Hetty furrowed her brow.

“You will, child. Now, I have some news of my own I must share. I’m afraid I’ve come back to Hollow under sad circumstances. Mrs. Alma has passed away.”

“Oh, no.” Tears stung Hetty’s eyes. “What happened?”

“The doctor thinks a heart attack. She slipped away in her sleep, so she felt no pain.”

“I don’t know what to say. It must have been sudden.” Hetty wiped her eyes.

“Indeed. She’d just finished handling her sister’s affairs and had decided to stay in Philadelphia until next fall. She’d been reading her Bible in the sitting room, took herself to bed, and just didn’t wake up the next morning. She was going to send for you, you know. She was lonely for your company after her sister passed.”

“I’m so sorry, Sol. I know how much you cared for her.”

“I did. Very much. But I’ve returned to see that she is buried next to her dear Samuel just as she wished.”

“Please let me know when the arrangements are made. I’d like to be there. She was one of the few people in this world that didn’t let the fact that I’m an orphan bother her.”

“She may not have shown it, child, but she cared for you as if you were her own flesh and blood.”

“I’m just shocked. I received a letter from her not long ago. I think I’ll miss her more than I realized,” Hetty whispered. “She was always good to me.”

The town glowed with the colors of Christmas. Every business from the mercantile to the dressmaker to the Hollow Montana Bank had bright red bows adorning its doors. Several homes were decorated with greenery and wreaths that filled the crisp winter air with the scents of a forest wonderland. And tiny, delicate flakes of snow danced near each lamppost, making the whole town look as near a photograph as Hetty had ever seen, and she paused to breath it all in.
What a magical time of year
, she thought.

Several children ran through the street enjoying their school vacation. Hetty watched snowballs miss their targets and appreciated the laughter coming from a small group working on a snowman in the churchyard. She picked up their scarf that had blown away and brought it back to where they worked. The children thanked her and even allowed her to put the carrot nose in its place. 

It was a shame the children at the orphanage couldn’t escape for a day of fun in the snow. There were too many chores to be done. There was always work to be done. At least this year she’d convinced Catherine to use a bit of the funds to purchase a few sweet treats for the children. Each of the children had made stockings out of paper to hang in the library, and Hetty knew they were so excited to see if any surprises would appear Christmas morning.

Hetty had made plans and worked late into the night to create little gifts for the children. She’d knitted many pairs of mittens from her own yarn supplies. She’d made scarves for the older boys and girls and even a blanket for the one baby in their care. At least each child would have something this year. Folks in town often made clothing donations around the holidays, so she knew the children would at least sort through the bags for something new to wear. Occasionally there was a book or old toy dropped off and Catherine tended to save those to bring out Christmas morning. It wasn’t much, but Hetty was determined to make this Christmas wonderful for the children. Giving her time and attention to those in need helped to remind her that, despite her loneliness, things could be much worse.

The bell above Mr. Davis’s mercantile rang as she entered the warm store. The scent of cinnamon filled her nose, and the heat from the stove made her appreciate getting out of the cold. The shelves were stocked full of a variety of supplies. She detected the hint of coffee and brown sugar, no doubt what was in the barrels near the counter. Behind the glass case were several dolls and wooden toys.
I wonder if Isaac made any of those
, she thought. She saw a few ornate jewelry boxes and bottles of perfume; Mr. Davis tried to offer as much selection as possible no matter the time of year. Hetty was sure those beautiful gifts would be under someone’s tree by Christmas morning.

“Hello, Mr. Davis.” Hetty said.

Mr. Davis turned from scooping sugar into small bags. “Hello, Miss Hetty. Quite cold out there I’d say.”

“Indeed it is.” Hetty removed her scarf from around her neck and tucked her gloves in her pocket. “I need to see about getting some sweets today. Some lemon drops and penny candy, please.”

“Is this for the children?”

“Yes, sir. Just a little something for their stockings Christmas morning.”

“Well, let me get that bagged up for you. It’ll take me a couple minutes, so feel free to look around.”

Hetty moved to where Mr. Davis kept the bolts of fabric. He had quite a lovely selection. She ran her hand over a warm navy wool, thinking it would be perfect for a coat for Sol. Hetty opened her purse and took a quick count of her money.
Do I have enough?
she thought.
I’ll need buttons, too.
She turned to ask Mr. Davis for help with the fabric when she slammed into something...
someone
hard. She looked up and her eyes met Isaac.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Wheeler,” she said, quickly trying to move past his firm frame.

“Hetty...” he whispered.

She caught his scent, earthy and warm, and felt her stomach tie in knots. He looked so handsome, maybe in need of a shave, but the gruff look just made him that much more attractive.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I’m fine, thank you. And you?”

“I miss you...” he whispered, running his thumb along her cheek.

Hetty closed her eyes and savored his sweet touch. It was just a quick touch, but oh how it made her knees weak. “Isaac...please...”

He leaned toward her ear and whispered, “You’ll be pleased to know that Elias is home safe and we’ve managed to work things out.”

Hetty forced herself to back away. She couldn’t maintain control if he was so close. “I think that is wonderful. I’m sure Lottie is thrilled he’s home for the holidays.”

“She is. She misses you, too. We all do.” He smiled.

“I really need to finish my shopping. I have other things I must tend to,” Hetty said, trying for any excuse for their encounter to end.

“Meeting Joshua?” Isaac asked.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. I’m meeting Sol at the solicitor’s office,” she said firmly.

“How is Joshua?”

“Fine.” Hetty hesitated. “I assume he’s fine.”

Hetty watched Isaac’s face as he picked up on the undertone of her words. She and Joshua were not together.
I turned him down, she thought
.
I turned him down because he isn’t the one who has my heart.
Hetty didn’t want to be promised to someone else. Despite Joshua offering her all the things she wanted, she’d refused his offer. She was doing her best to survive each day, burying her feeling for Isaac  with each floor she scrubbed and each window she shined.

“Well, I really need to be going. It was nice to see you. Please give your family my best.” Hetty turned back toward Mr. Davis, quickly added her other supplies to her list, and told him she’d be back in an hour to pick everything up. It seemed a little dramatic to rush out of the mercantile, but Hetty needed as much distance as possible from Isaac. Any more time in his presence and all self-control would be lost.

She hurried across the street, careful to avoid the mud and ice, and met Sol outside of the solicitor’s office. She was thankful she’d decided to purchase the wool to make him a new coat; this one didn’t look like it was keeping out much of the wind.

“Are you ready, child?” Sol asked, a strange smile on his face.

“I think so, though I still don’t know why Mr. Daniels requested this meeting with both of us.”

They walked into the simple office and were greeted by a woman not much older than Hetty. They stated they were here for an appointment with Mr. Daniels and were told to have a seat until he was ready. Sol patted Hetty’s hand as she looked around the plain office. There were no holiday decorations, no bows or festive touches adorning the walls. This place was all business.

An older man with a belly taking up most of his midsection opened an office door. His suit looked near ready to burst, but his cheerful smile was a stark contrast to his plain office.

“Welcome, friends. I’m Mr. Daniels.” He extended his hand to both Hetty and Sol. They greeted him respectfully and were escorted to his office. Taking the two chairs across from his massive desk, Hetty and Sol sat down and waited for Mr. Daniels to begin.

“First, Miss Hoffman, let me extend my sincere condolences at the passing of your former employer. I’ve been her lawyer for many years, and I was terribly sad to hear she’d passed on.”

“Thank you, Mr. Daniels,” Hetty said.

“Unfortunately, we must get on with business. I’m closing a bit early today since my wife and I are leaving to visit family in Billings for the holidays. I met with Sol earlier this week, but requested that he join us today as I explain a few things.”

“Of course. I understand.” Hetty stared at the man, concentrating on his words.

“Now, as you know Mrs. Alma Calhoun was a rather wealthy woman. Her husband, Samuel, invested in a railroad company many years ago, and they both enjoyed some hefty profits. In fact, it was Samuel’s work that brought the railroad to Billings just last year. My, how that city is growing. Anyway, Mrs. Calhoun left a sizable fortune behind when she passed, but she had very specific wishes on what was to become of her estate. Most of it is to be donated to charity, including a sizable portion to the orphanage here in town.”

“That’s wonderful, Mr. Daniels. The children have so much need and every little bit helps.” Hetty turned to Sol. “Catherine will be so pleased!”

“Yes, I’m sure she will,” Mr. Daniels interrupted. “But that isn’t why I called you here today.”

Hetty furrowed her brow. “Oh, I thought maybe you got my name because I worked there before working for Mrs. Calhoun. I’d be happy to provide a list of what the orphanage needs.”

“No, no. Mrs. Calhoun has taken care of all of that. A large chunk will be used to upgrade the beds and linens, and there is a hefty amount to purchase a new stove, start a credit account at the mercantile for any necessary goods, and she even reserved some for each child to receive new clothing, including shoes and undergarments. She also wanted some of the funds to be used to purchase a set of school books for each child.”

Hetty beamed. What a difference this would make for the children! Finally they’d have everything they needed. This was truly a holiday blessing.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, Miss Hoffman, but Mrs. Calhoun was an orphan herself.”

Hetty looked at Sol with complete surprise. He nodded his head acknowledging the truth of said news. “I had no idea.”

“Yes, she and her sister were both orphaned in Philadelphia. Their parents adopted them when they were quite young. Unfortunately, by the time the orphanage opened here, she and Mr. Calhoun felt they were a bit too old to be parents. She always tried to help the orphanage though, donating her time and money.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Daniels, but then what does this have to do with me?”

“Well, Miss Hoffman, it appears that what was left of her estate after the charitable donations was left to you.” Mr. Daniels smiled.

“Me? I don’t understand.”

Sol looked at Mr. Daniels. “May I tell her, sir?”

Mr. Daniels nodded and Sol proceeded. “My girl, Mrs. Alma left you her property, including the large house and a smaller home she owned down the street where she and Mr. Calhoun lived when they first moved here.” 

Hetty sat there shocked. There were no words for what she was feeling. All this time she’d thought she was alone, nothing more than an employee in Mrs. Calhoun’s eyes. It turned out that the old woman cared greatly for Hetty, providing for her future and giving her a place she could call home.

“But what about you, Sol? You deserve all of this. You took care of her for years.” She turned to Mr. Daniels. “Surely this should all go to Sol.”

“Mrs. Alma took care of Old Sol. Don’t you worry, girl,” he said contentedly.

“Now, there is quite a bit of paperwork we need to complete so Mrs. Calhoun’s wishes are legal and filed properly. Can you spare a bit more time to go over them, Miss Hoffman?”

With no words left, Hetty nodded.

Isaac watched Elias finish the last of the day’s chores before they headed inside to decorate the tree. Despite his strange encounter with Hetty in the mercantile, it had been a very good day. He and Elias were reconnecting, returning to the playful banter he’d grown to love about their relationship. There was no ill will, no harboring of anger or guilt. They’d managed to repair their relationship and had grown closer because of their personal confessions.

“Tell me what’s going on with you and Hetty, brother,” Elias said.

“Nothing. I wish there were, but she seems to have moved on.”

“With Joshua?”

“No. I ran into her yesterday at the mercantile and I got the distinct impression there wasn’t anything going on there,” Isaac said, moving out of the way so Elias could finish hanging up Silver’s tack.

“What do you think that means?”

“I’m not sure. I know she feels something for me. I mean, I can feel it in my bones. But something is holding her back. It can’t be because she doesn’t want me to think she’s taking advantage of our family. She doesn’t work here anymore.”

“What happened when you kissed her? Did she kiss you back?”

Isaac thought back to that perfect moment when their lips had met, when he’d gotten that first sweet taste of her. Yes, she’d kissed him back. He’d felt her give in to him before she’d pulled away. She’d let him in. Even for just a brief moment...she had been his. What he wouldn’t give to feel that closeness with her again. To touch her, to feel her weight relax within the strength of his arms. And it wasn’t purely physical. He ached to laugh with her, to sip coffee together in the early hours of the morning, to watch her smile.