The Alaska Brides Collection Part 13

Chapter 14.

Days are growing shorter." Ian watched the shadows lengthen at an astonishing rate.

Tucker picked up the pheasant he'd shot. As he straightened, he gave the twine on Ian's shoulder a meaningful look. "Long enough for you to take care of Thanksgiving."

"Buckshot's bound to bring down more than a rifle sh.e.l.l." Three pheasants dangled from the twine. "And face it: Clemment and Abrams will each eat a whole bird. Nothing much to eat except the legs on these, anyway. We needed that one you got."

"I'm not so sure Clemment will eat pheasant." Tucker headed back toward the cabins.

"I've noticed he likes birds. Talks about them every time I see him." Ian didn't mention how he'd seen Clemment biting berries straight off the bramble or how he'd stuffed fists full of twigs into the pockets of his overalls. It didn't seem right, finding amus.e.m.e.nt in someone else's oddity.

"He's getting mighty peculiar."

Concern shot through Ian. "So it's not just my imagination. Do you think it's safe to have him around Merry?"

"He's harmless. Up here the long winter's night bends some men's minds. Last year he came visiting a few times. Merry adores him, and he fancies she's like his daughter. Wasn't 'til the very last of winter that he showed signs of cabin fever. Him already getting bizarre, that's not good."

They paused at the tree line and dressed the birds. As he worked around the sharp spur on the back of a pheasant's leg, Ian cleared his throat. "Tucker, if I've done something to upset Merry, you need to tell me."

"She's fine. Why?"

"I knew she liked that pink material, but she's had it for almost two weeks and hasn't done anything with it." Feeling ridiculous for having blurted out his thoughts, he concentrated on dressing the second pheasant.

Tucker grabbed the last one and worked on it. "You haven't done anything. Well, in a way, you did. You went beyond the agreement we made. Merry would cook on your stove, and we'd have Thanksgiving at your place. Giving her the material-"

Ian snorted. "You got it wrong. She's cooking breakfast in exchange for using my stove. Anyway, I saw straight through that whole act. You and Merry already had made up your minds to strike that deal with me before you left your cabin that morning."

"You sound awful sure of yourself."

"And you're evading the issue. I'm not faulting you, Tucker. If anything, I'm trying to convince you that you're bargaining with the wrong party. You and I need to team up. We're already business partners. We need to figure out ways to help our Merry."

"Our Merry?" Tucker stared at him.

Ian didn't hesitate. "Aye, our Merry. Like it or not, I have feelings for the la.s.s. Strong feelings."

"Merry has me."

"I expected you'd say as much. I'd not ever question the fact that the two of you are as close as can be. I don't even challenge that bond. But Merry has a bottomless heart. If I have my way, she'll find room in her heart for me."

"Every single man up here wants Sis as his wife."

"I've seen that firsthand. It riles me. Those men don't think past what they want. Merry deserves a husband who cherishes her."

Tucker picked up his rifle. "We're losing our light. We need to go back."

"I aim to court her."

"You might get everything you aim a gun at, but you don't win a woman just because you want her." Tucker dumped a pheasant on the ground and kept walking.

"I agree." Ian refused to waste the bird. A hunter didn't kill just for fun. He scooped it up and lengthened his stride so he walked abreast of Tucker. "What Meredith wants is more important than what you or I want. If she wants nothing more than my friendship, I'll settle for that. If G.o.d blesses me by opening her heart to me, then I'll count myself the luckiest man alive."

Tucker shook his head. "This isn't going to work."

"And why not?"

"Just because you and Sis are thrown together for the winter and bored, you'll mistake companionship for romance. Any little thing she does, you'll interpret as a sign of her affec- tion. You're putting her in an untenable position. Just accept her friendship and be satisfied."

"It's her decision to make, Tucker. Merry is easygoing and adjusts with a cheerful heart. That doesn't cancel out the fact that she's a strong woman with hopes and dreams."

Tucker stopped. "No one knows her better than I do. Yes, she's strong-but Meredith is also fragile. I won't let you break her heart."

"That's the last thing I'd ever want. You and I are in full accord over that. But that's as far as what we want matters. I'm not going to pressure her, and I trust that you won't, either. The decision she ought to make is whether I'm the man G.o.d wants her to marry. Don't make this a situation where she has to choose between the twin she adores and the man she loves."

"You're taking a lot for granted."

"No, I'm living in hope." Ian shoved a pheasant at Tucker. "You dropped this. Your sister has grand plans for setting an abundant table. We don't want her disappointed."

"Just because you're my partner, I don't have to like you."

Ian threw back his head and belted out a laugh. "Ah, but you do, Tucker. In spite of yourself, you do."

Merry sat down and shook her head at the mess on the table. "I was afraid Mr. Clemment and Mr. Abrams were going to come to blows over the last of the stuffing."

"For once, I'm siding with Abrams." Outrage rang in her brother's voice. "Clemment crammed half of the rice into his pockets."

"Now, now. He did offer to put it back in the bowl." Ian's eyes twinkled. "And his hands were clean, thanks to Merry."

"Probably the first time either of those old men used soap in a month of Sundays." Tucker headed toward the other room. "Speaking of which, I'll dump the tub."

"I'll do that. Go on over and stoke up the fire in your fireplace."

As the men saw to those tasks, Merry started to stack the plates. She didn't have to sc.r.a.pe them-not a single morsel remained. To her surprise, Tucker came back first.

"Ian's dunking the tub in the river. Don't know if it'll ever come clean."

"The river's starting to freeze over. Go make sure he doesn't fall in."

"I'm going-not because I'll have to fish him out. Because we need more water." He grabbed a pair of buckets and sauntered out.

They returned with the tub half full of water and set the huge thing directly atop the stove.

"You can't do that. I need to dip water out of the reservoir to do dishes."

"River's probably going to freeze over in the next day or two." Ian looked around. He took a large pot and the pitcher to his washbasin. "Tucker and I decided to go ahead and put by a fair supply of water in advance."

"That's smart, but-" The door shut before she finished.

Though she'd need hot water to wash the dishes, cool water would work well enough to rinse them. Meredith dipped the rinse basin into the galvanized tub and pulled it out. Next she dipped the dish basin in and filled just the bottom. When the men returned, she insisted, "I need you to move that tub. Even a little."

"What's the rush?" Tucker motioned for her to sit down. "We want to fill the buckets from our place, too."

"You'll be glad we did. You know how cranky your brother gets if he has to go without his coffee."

Deciding that she'd have to solve the problem herself, Meredith poured water into two loaf pans and put them in the oven. While waiting for them to heat up, she fiddled about the "kitchen" and straightened the food on the shelves, set the spices back in order, and swept the floor.

Ian and Tucker returned. Ian scowled at the tub. "Where's all the water?"

"I dipped some out so I can do dishes."

He dangled his fingers in the water and wiggled them. "Water's warm. How long 'til it's hot?"

"Not long. She drained half of it." Tucker shot her a disgruntled look.

"We can add the water from the reservoir." Ian scanned the room.

Merry asked, "What do you want?"

"A pot. You've used all of them, haven't you?"

"Thanksgiving dinner takes a lot of dishes." She gestured toward the table.

Tucker poured the water from the pitcher into the washbasin. "Here." He shoved the pitcher at Ian.

"Tucker, tell your sister our bargain."

"Okay. Sis, I wash and he dries."

"What kind of deal is that?"

"A smart one." Ian elbowed Tucker in the ribs. "If he puts the dishes away, you'll never find anything again."

"I-"

"You're getting your birthday present from me two days early." Tucker grinned. "Here." He pulled something from his pocket and handed it to her.

She held the item a little closer to the lamp. "Victoria's English cottage rose glycerin soap. Tucker!" She lifted the beautifully wrapped bar and inhaled deeply. "The fragrance is wonderful. How did you get this?"

"When Wily was here, I asked him to tell Socks to order it."

"Thank you." She wound her arms around her brother. "I love it!"

He squeezed her. "While we do the dishes, you're going to shampoo and soak."

Merry laughed for joy. "That's what the water is all about!"

"We thought to mix water from the reservoir with the buckets so you could rinse your hair." Ian motioned for her to move away from the door to the other room. "It'll take time to heat up more dish water, so you're to soak to your heart's content."

"I put water in loaf pans in the oven to use for the dishes."

"That'll work, but it still doesn't mean you have to rush. Tucker, grab a few candles so she'll have some light."

Ian carried the tub, and Tucker grabbed a pair of candles. Meredith followed them into the room. Tucker pulled a towel from beneath his shirt. "Happy birthday."

Meredith emerged a long while later. The men had done the dishes and were drinking coffee. "I feel utterly spoiled."

Tucker sniffed. "You smell girly."

"Thanks to my brother." She smiled at him. "This was the best birthday present you could have dreamed up. Why don't you go use the water?"

Tucker looked horrified. "And smell like roses?"

"You can use my Ivory." Ian motioned him toward the stove. "Fill a pitcher from the reservoir and heat up the tub."

While Tucker bathed, Ian scooted a stool over toward the oven. "Sit here and sip some coffee. I'll rub your hair dry."

Reaching up and touching the towel wrapped around her head, Meredith hesitated. "I'll wait 'til I get home."

"It's too cold out for that. Here." He patted the stool. "I didn't mean to offend you. If you feel it's improper for me to help you, then please still take care of yourself. Would you like to borrow my comb?"

"If you don't mind."

He handed her his comb. "Whatever I have, you need only ask."

"You're too generous."

"Nay, la.s.s. Our heavenly Father has faithfully provided for me. 'Tis His generosity I extend whenever I share. Today's Thanksgiving-a day to count our blessings. I've my family who loves me, and I've you and Tucker as my new friends. 'Tisn't just my belly that's full. My heart overflows."

"Mine does, too." Afraid she'd been too forward, Meredith hastened to tack on, "Tucker's, too. This year we have so much for which to be thankful."

Chapter 15.

Happy birthday!" Ian shoved his door shut and helped Meredith remove her cape. "Thank you."

For a fleeting second, Ian allowed himself to brush a spiraled tendril of her hair from her nape. It felt baby soft, a realization that made him smile, seeing as it was her birthday.

"I'm the older one. Sis, scoot over. I'm dying for a cup of coffee."