Shining Water 01 - The Icecutter's Daughter (20 page)

I do hope that’s the last I hear of courtship with Nils Olsson.

Merrill quickly put away the contents of the basket at the house, then returned to the sleigh and made her way to the mercantile.

When she entered the store, the man behind the counter smiled. “Miss Krause, what can I do for you today?”

“I need flour, salt, sugar, coffee, potatoes, beans, cornmeal.” She paused and looked up from the list. “I have the sleigh out front and hope you might be willing to load those larger items while I continued to shop.”

He nodded. “Just tell me the amount you want of each, and I’ll get right to it.”

Merrill handed him her list. “This should help.”

She smiled and thanked him before turning back to collect
a variety of other needed articles. She had just rounded the corner of the fabrics and notions when she spied Svea Olsson fingering some white satin. She wanted to say something to the young woman—something kind, possibly helpful—but for the life of her, Merrill couldn’t find the words.

Svea glanced up and smiled in her pretty way. “Oh, Miss Krause. Good morning.”

“Yes, and good morning to you. How are you today?”

The younger woman returned her gaze to the material. “I’m shopping for some wedding satin. I’m hoping Rurik and I will soon be wed.”

Merrill looked at the woman and shook her head. “Rurik has told me that you two are no longer engaged.” Svea’s head snapped around as if she’d been struck. “I’m sorry,” Merrill continued. “I’m sure this whole matter is difficult to discuss. And please know that it isn’t my desire to cause you additional pain. Rurik explained how things were between you, and . . . well . . . I also know about your more pressing matter.”

“What did you say?” Svea stared angrily into Merrill’s face.

Merrill frowned. “I believe you heard me.” She took a step closer to ensure their privacy. “I don’t wish to make you feel bad, Miss Olsson. I only wanted to offer my friendship. Maybe even some help. Rurik has confided in me about your . . . condition. I know you must feel quite frightened.”

“He had no right to discuss it with you,” Svea shot back. “This is something that is between the two of us.” She whirled back to the material. “I’ll trust you to keep your mouth closed on the matter. Rurik and I will soon be married, and then no one need be the wiser.”

“Rurik told me he has no intention of marrying you,” Merrill said quietly. “He said he has made that clear to you, as well.”

“He has a responsibility,” Svea said, her tone low but unmistakable in its passion.

“Rurik told me he had nothing to do with your condition.”

Svea’s mouth dropped open, but she said nothing. The silence didn’t last, however. Her face red, Svea began to speak quite loudly. “You have no right to speak to me in such a way. Rurik and I will marry. We must. He has a responsibility to me, whether he admits it or not.”

Merrill’s good intentions seemed to be fading quickly toward an unavoidable public argument. “He said the betrothal was broken by you prior to him coming to Minnesota,” she told Svea. “Why should you try to force marriage upon a man who clearly has no interest in marrying you? Especially when you were the one to end the engagement?”

“I was angry and hurt that he was leaving,” Svea countered. “However, I came here to make amends, and given my condition—well—he must marry me.”

Merrill lowered her voice. “But your baby isn’t his.”

“The baby is Rurik’s!” Svea almost shouted.

Heads lifted and a half-dozen gazes fixed on the two women. Merrill wanted to crawl in a hole. She heard the hushed whispers of the others and knew without a doubt that gossip would spread around town almost before she got out the door. She looked at Svea, but she was smiling again in a satisfied manner. “Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she said, “I think I’ll go look at one of the other stores for
wedding satin.” Heart pounding, Merrill watched Svea sway gracefully toward the door, nodding as she passed the other customers.

Merrill’s heart plummeted. This would not bode well for any of them.

Rurik and Carl had barely finished supper when a knock sounded on the front door. Rurik found the pastor waiting on the porch.

“Come on in,” he encouraged. “We just finished supper, but there are cookies and coffee if you’re of a mind to eat.”

The man looked a bit sheepish. “No. I mean . . . that is to say . . . well, there’s a matter I need to discuss with you. May we talk in private?”

Rurik looked at the man’s serious expression and nodded. “Have a seat here in the living room. Just let me tell Uncle Carl of your arrival.”

When Rurik returned, he couldn’t help but wonder at the man’s obvious nervousness. Apparently, whatever he had to discuss had made the poor pastor most uncomfortable.

“I’ve had it brought to my attention that you were once betrothed to Miss Svea Olsson,” he began.

Rurik had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He nodded. “I was. Our fathers arranged it when we were very young.”

“And this engagement was recently broken?”

“Yes, prior to my coming here to Waseca,” Rurik said evenly. “Miss Olsson ended it, in fact.”

“She tells me that she made a mistake, however,” the pastor countered.

“Perhaps she thinks that now,” Rurik said, “but I don’t believe that to be the case. We were never well suited to each other.” He looked at the pastor for a moment, then asked, “Did Svea send you here?”

“No. Not at all.” The pastor looked at his hands. “I was made aware of . . . of something else, and . . . well . . . I went to speak to Miss Olsson about the matter. You understand it was done in the strictest confidence.”

“And she told you that she’s with child?”

“Yes.” The pastor let out a long breath.

“The child is not mine,” Rurik said, trying his best not to let his anger show.

“But Miss Olsson says otherwise. Since you were engaged to marry, it seems to me . . .” His words trailed off.

Rurik stood and shook his head. “Pastor, I am not the father. I have never been intimate with any woman—and certainly not Svea. She has been like a sister to me since we were youngsters. I have never loved her in any other manner.”

The pastor stood also. He was some inches shorter than Rurik but seemed more at ease on his feet. “You said your fathers arranged your betrothal. Perhaps . . . well, since the young woman is willing, you should honor both your fathers’ wishes and marry.”

“I cannot marry a woman I do not love. And I will not be railroaded into it, particularly when it would be based on a lie.”

The reverend must have bought Svea’s story hook, line,
and sinker. He said, “Even so, mistakes can be made and temptations can overcome us. What’s important is that we repent of sin and make restitution before God.” His tone was almost pleading.

“And does God expect me to lie?” Rurik asked.

“Of course not,” the pastor assured Rurik. “He hates lies.”

“Besides her lies about me, marrying Svea Olsson would be a lie all by itself. You are asking me to pledge my life and love to a woman for whom I do not feel that kind of devotion. You would have me swear before God to love her and honor her, when I cannot.” He was sure this was not the time to tell the man his heart had been captured by another.

“But she will suffer great dishonor if you do not. Would you put that upon her?”

“I am not putting anything upon her,” Rurik said, his anger and frustration getting the better of him. “I will not marry her.” He took a deep breath and continued more calmly. “I have offered to help her return to Kansas and hopefully to the father of her child. I have offered her nothing but my care and understanding, but I will not be coerced into a marriage under these circumstances. I’m sorry for this waste of your time, Pastor, but this is my final word on the matter.”

The man looked up at Rurik for a moment, then nodded. He walked to the front door and paused. “I will, of course, have to take up the matter with the elders of the church.”

“To what purpose?” Rurik asked, stunned by the idea.

The pastor shrugged. “To decide if you should be put out of our fellowship.”

“Rurik! This is a pleasant surprise.” Merrill opened the door wider to admit him into the kitchen. “Come on in.” But then she noted his expression. “What’s wrong?”

“I had a visit from the pastor,” Rurik began slowly. “Apparently I’m the talk of the town.” He shook his head in disgust. “It would seem folks have heard about Svea’s condition.”

Merrill bit her lower lip and nodded. “I can well imagine. I was in the mercantile, and . . . and Svea declared loudly to me that her baby was yours. I’m . . . I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to warn you.” Should she tell him the whole thing probably was her fault? If only she had left well enough alone. . . .

“It’s all right,” Rurik was saying. “Anyway, the pastor is convinced I should marry Svea. He intends to discuss the matter with the church leaders and determine if I can even continue to attend services if I refuse to marry her.”

Merrill stared at him in disbelief. “You told him the situation was not of your doing, didn’t you?”

“I did. But Svea had assured him otherwise. I spoke to Nils
about it, and he told me he agreed with the pastor and that I better do the right thing.”

Merrill wiped trembling hands on her apron and tried to get her whirling thoughts around the matter. “I suppose they both are afraid of what the future holds. To tell you the truth, Rurik, I tried to reach out to Svea in friendship, maybe even help, but all she wanted to do was lie about you two getting married soon. I’m afraid my good intentions quickly got tangled up in my emotions, and I . . . well, I wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her—make her face the truth.”

“Maybe you should have,” Rurik said with a crooked grin. He shook his head, and the smile faded. “I don’t know what to do about this, Merrill. I don’t want Uncle Carl’s health threatened by a scandal. And I sure don’t want you to be tarnished in any way. . . .” He put his hand to his forehead and massaged the space over his eyes. “This is quickly getting out of control.”

“Why don’t you sit down and have some coffee? Maybe if we talk this through, something will come to mind.” She moved to get Rurik a mug, but he caught her shoulders and turned her back to face him.

“Merrill, I can’t marry her. I don’t want her to be shamed, but I cannot—will not—pledge my love to Svea.” He looked straight into her eyes. “I wish I could tell you this at a more appropriate time than during this difficult conversation. But I have to say this now. I love you.”

Merrill’s heart leaped like it would come right out of her chest. She stared back at Rurik and tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t form.

Rurik seemed not to notice and continued. “I lost my heart to you almost from the start, Merrill. I need you to know that I never once felt that way about Svea.” He continued to keep a firm hold on her shoulders. “You may not feel the same depth of emotion for me, Merrill Jean Krause, but I will wait until you do. You are the woman I want to spend my life with.”

Merrill felt her heart skip a beat and then race madly. She reached up to touch Rurik’s cheek and shook her head. “I may appear calm, Rurik, but don’t let that be a judge of my emotions right now.”

“Are you saying what I think I’m hearing?”

“Only that I have cared about you for some time now. In fact, I . . . I love you, too.”

He pulled Merrill into his arms and kissed her with a passion she’d never experienced. She lost herself in the moment. Rurik’s embrace was a confirmation of all she had longed for. She held him tight, as if she’d never let go.

And then Rurik was ripped away from her arms. To Merrill’s shock and horror, her brother Tobe had knocked her beloved backward.

“Get out of here and leave my sister alone!” he shouted, imprisoning Rurik against the wall. “We know all about you, you scum, and we won’t have you dallying with Merrill.”

Leo now stepped forward as if from thin air. “You heard him.” Leo looked at Merrill. “He’s a womanizer of the worst sort. You’ll be glad we did this when you hear the truth.”

“I know the truth!” Merrill was nearly beside herself. “You’re wrong—very wrong.”

Rurik straightened and held up his hands. “I’ll go, but I’ve done nothing to merit this. In time, the truth will come out.”

Tobe had dropped his hold, but he shoved Rurik toward the door. “I don’t want to hear anything more from you. You’d best leave before our father gets in here and finishes you off once and for all.”

Rurik looked to Merrill. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be,” she assured, stepping toward him. “I promise you I will make certain they know the full story.”

Rurik left the house, and Merrill narrowed her gaze at Tobe and Leo. “Find the others,” she said through gritted teeth. “Find them now. I want to talk to you all.”

Merrill had never felt so angry in her life. Especially not at her own family. Sitting across from them at the dining room table, Merrill listened to what they had heard. Her father was on the church board and had already been notified by the pastor about the problem brewing in their little community.

“First of all, you may think you know the truth, but you don’t,” she began when they had reported the rumors concerning statements made by Svea and Nils.

“Isn’t it possible that you’re the one who doesn’t know the truth?” Father asked, sounding rather stern. “I know you care a great deal about this young man, so it’s easy to believe him instead of—”

“I didn’t believe him at first,” Merrill put in. “I overheard things and jumped to the same conclusion you did. But I misjudged the matter completely.”

Leo shook his head. “I think you’re just hoping you did.”

“The pastor wouldn’t lie,” Tobe added.

Merrill looked at the five men across from her, and she knew she would have a difficult time convincing them. They cared so much about her, they were nearly as stubborn as goats. “When I first heard the rumors,” she said with a sigh, “I went to Granny, and her first words to me really made me think. Why was I so eager to believe what a stranger had to say, over listening to a man I’d come to know? Rurik has done nothing but be generous and kind to this family, and yet you are more than willing to take someone else’s viewpoint over his.”

“These things are . . . well . . .” Her father appeared to be searching for the right words. “They are delicate. It’s never easy when young people fall into this kind of situation, but we can’t deny that it happens and must be dealt with as quickly and calmly as possible.”

“Shouldn’t it be dealt with in truth?” she asked.

Her father nodded. His expression took on a look of compassion. “I know you care for him, Merrill Jean. But it is clouding your judgment. A young woman’s life and reputation hangs in the balance, as well as that of an unborn child.”

“But Rurik told me that he was never intimate with her, and I believe him.” Merrill tried to keep the quiver from her voice. “I don’t know what happened to Svea Olsson. I don’t know if she brought it on herself or someone took advantage of her, but it was not Rurik, I’m absolutely sure. He doesn’t love her. He loves me.” She hadn’t meant to just blurt it out like that, but now that the words were said, Merrill couldn’t take them back.

“That’s exactly why you aren’t able to judge this matter,” Zadoc interjected. “You women get your feelings all stirred up, and that’s all you can think about.”

Merrill clenched her hands into fists and tried her best to stay calm. “This isn’t about my feelings.”

“I think Zadoc is right,” Flynn said, looking to their father. “That’s just the way women get.”

“What would you all know about women?” Merrill demanded of her brothers. She turned to her father. “You always taught me to believe the best about a person. You taught that to all of us. Now, without even speaking to Rurik, you are judging him because of something someone else has said. How is that right? That can’t be of the Lord. Shouldn’t you sit down with Rurik and listen to what he has to say?”

“I intend to do that,” her father agreed. “It’s true that I can’t judge the situation without hearing both sides of the story. The pastor intends for us to hear Rurik out, as well as Miss Olsson. Our intent is to get to the truth and see it resolved in the best way for everyone. However, you forget that while we are perhaps poor judges of a woman’s emotions and feelings, you, daughter, are maybe less knowledgeable of a man’s thoughts and heart.”

Merrill’s burst of laughter was sharp. She looked around the table. “I have been raised in a houseful of men,” she said. “I’ve known little but your thoughts and feelings—yes, your hearts—over the last ten years. Even when Mother was still alive it was difficult to hear any kind of discussion besides that of men. More times than I can count, I’ve been accused of being unable to think or feel as a normal woman because of
such an upbringing. Father, you said yourself that you felt you had wronged me in allowing me to work like my brothers.”

“True, but that doesn’t mean your heart isn’t that of a woman,” her father replied mildly.

“Given what’s going on,” Leo interjected, “I think you ought to stay away from Rurik Jorgenson until this can be settled. You don’t want to risk your own reputation by getting in the middle of this.”

Her father nodded his agreement. “It would probably be best if you were to forego working at the shop for the time being,” he added.

Merrill had taken just about all she was going to stand for. Getting to her feet, she planted her hands on her hips and looked at each of her brothers and then at her father. “I can hardly believe my ears,” she said, forcing herself to remain calm. “Father, you and Mr. Jorgenson have been friends for a very long time. Before judging his nephew, why not speak to him on the matter?”

“How I plan to handle this is my business, Merrill Jean. I will be talking to Rurik himself, if you want to know the truth, and most likely I will speak to Carl, as well. For now, however, I want you to stay out of it. I don’t want you caught in the middle.”

“Maybe the time has come for me to get out of this situation,” she said, waving her arm over her brothers and father. “I’ve given you all my love, my devotion . . . my strength and time.” She paused to get her emotions under control. “Maybe it’s time for me to strike out on my own. It’s nearly the nineteen hundreds, and young women are doing more and more
for themselves. I have a good job, and Granny has offered for me to stay with them. I hadn’t really considered it until now, but maybe that’s exactly what I should do.”

She turned to leave, but her father said, “Merrill, stay here. Please. Boys, I’d like you to give me some privacy with your sister.”

Without a word, her brothers scuffed their chairs back and got to their feet, looking almost embarrassed. Merrill didn’t know for sure, however, if it was embarrassment for her outburst or for her calling them on their own judgmental attitudes.

“Please sit down.”

Merrill did so and folded her hands together. She said nothing, refusing to look her father in the eye. She didn’t want to dishonor him, and she didn’t like dealing with him in anger. But that feeling raced through her like a wildfire.

“I know you’re angry, and you think me unfair.”

She bit her lip, keeping her gaze on her hands. It hit her like a blast of winter air that her concern for Rurik outweighed a lifetime of devotion to her family. How could that have happened in such a short time? Merrill couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty. Her family had always been the most important thing in her life.

“Merrill, I am only trying to guard your reputation. The entire town is talking about this matter. I know you were the one talking with Miss Olsson when she declared Rurik to be the father of her child. I heard all about the encounter.”

“No doubt. People love to gossip.” She finally looked at him and could see the worry in his eyes. “Which, of course, is also a sin.”

“There are those who do indeed gossip, and you are right—it is a sin. But that really isn’t the point right now. We need to handle this situation in a fair manner. I’m seeking God’s direction on this, Merrill Jean—as are the rest of the church leaders.”

“Rurik is being falsely accused, Father. It’s not just my emotions that are stating this—it’s my belief after many prayers and contemplation. I sought wise counsel as you have always taught me to do.”