Chapter 14
“L ogging,” Lincoln said when his brothers arrived at the mill conference room and took their seats just before noon. He figured he didn’t have to expand on his statement and knew he was right when Nate, Carter and Gage nodded. Hudson didn’t respond.
“I went through those applications,” Gage said. “Interviewed a bunch of people. I’ve got most of the positions filled for September.”
Lincoln turned to Hudson. “What’s it going to be? Are you going to work with the loggers or stay at the mill?”
For one split second Hudson’s features twisted with pain, but a moment later, he’d mastered himself, his expression unreadable. “I’ll stay at the mill.”
“You want to tell us why?”
“No.” Hudson folded his arms over his chest. Even though Lincoln tried to wait him out, he kept quiet.
“Guess it’s up to you,” Lincoln said to Gage.
At least the changeover from temporary mill workers to full-time ones was complete. Most of the new men had settled in the bunkhouse for now, a few had taken on rental houses and two were working through the escrow process to buy homes in the subdivision. Megan was working hard to persuade more of them to buy houses.
“I can help with the logging. Work is work, right?” Nate said.
There was a pause. They all knew Nate’s heart wasn’t in the mill or the logging operation, but he had never been a slacker.
“You’ve been busy in Grandpa’s workshop in the evenings. Are you building something new?” Lincoln finally asked to break the silence.
“Yep. Don’t bother asking me what, though. That’s a surprise. Word on the street is there’s a wedding coming up.”
Lincoln suppressed a smile. “You don’t say.”
“Seems like we’re finally getting somewhere,” Carter said. “We’ve got contracts for the mill, we’re getting the logging operation up and running, we’re selling some houses. I heard from Sid today. He’s making a full recovery. Soon he’s going to be able to move on to his next position in North Dakota.”
“That’s good to hear. Even Veronica and Anne seem to be getting along better these days,” Nate said.
“We’ll see how long that lasts,” Lincoln hedged, but Nate was right. Veronica had changed tactics. She and her crew had begun to produce content that promoted the game Anne’s crew was coding, along with the programmers themselves. The programmers, meanwhile, must have been slipping beta versions of the game to the influencers, because lately there’d been posts showing the women in various haute couture outfits in locations he recognized from around the Ridge, playing the game on their phones with shrieks of excitement.
Since they were promoting Elliott Ridge along with Anne’s game and their own endeavors, word was getting out about the place and Carter had told them he’d begun to field calls from people wanting to know if they could come check it out. As soon as the wedding was over, they were planning to host open houses during which people could tour the community, view the homes available for sale and speak with Lincoln and his brothers about job opportunities.
“Wouldn’t be surprised if there were more weddings coming our way,” Nate said. “Veronica and Cal seem pretty tight these days, and her friends and the programmers are inseparable.”
“Anne would never allow her programmers to marry,” Hudson said darkly. Lincoln knew he was frustrated that he’d made no progress with any of the women himself.
“That’s not our problem,” Carter said. “For once our problems seem under control.”
“Don’t get too complacent,” Gage warned him. “There’s a lot that could go wrong between now and next June.”
“After all, it’s a Calamity Year,” Nate intoned.
Lincoln shook his head and stood up. “I’m pretty sure it’ll be smooth sailing from here on in.”
“I’m not so sure,” Carter said, standing as well. “We might have handled Ivan Gasparyn, but Blake Warrington is still sniffing around.”
“At least he hasn’t tried to kill anyone,” Nate said.
“Yet,” Gage said darkly. “Warrington’s no saint.”
“He’s no outlaw, either,” Lincoln said, refusing to let anyone rain on his parade. With Charlotte by his side, he could handle anything.
“A few more steps,” Nate directed. “A couple more, keep going… there.”
Charlotte stopped walking. Lincoln, following close behind, bumped into her but managed to keep his hands covering her eyes.
“What’s the big surprise?” she asked, laughing. The men had corralled her near the town hall and insisted she see Nate’s wedding present. Lincoln had already seen it because he’d helped carry it into their house.
“Three, two, one… ta-da!” Lincoln said and removed his hands from her eyes. Charlotte found herself standing in their renovated dining room area. In front of her was a beautiful long farm-style table and chair set that went perfectly with their new decor.
“Oh my goodness. It’s beautiful,” Charlotte exclaimed, taking it in. “You made this?” she asked Nate.
“That’s right.”
“I can’t believe it. You’re an artist.” She ran a hand over the solid wood. It was built to last generations, and she could picture her future family seated around it. They’d make so many happy memories here.
“I’m no artist,” Nate said.
“Tell him,” Charlotte prompted Lincoln.
“You are an artist. You should be doing this for a living.”
Nate just shrugged and pulled out his phone. “There’s no money in it. I have to get going.”
“Thank you,” Charlotte said. “I mean it, Nate—I love what you made for us.”
He shrugged again and slipped away, uncomfortable with the praise, Charlotte thought.
She checked her phone, too. “Unfortunately I have to run as well. It’s knitting club time. Sure you don’t want to come?”
“I’m sure.” Lincoln dropped a kiss on her nose. “See you later.”
“Definitely.” She touched the back of a chair. “This is really becoming a home,” she said.
“Yes, it is.”
Ten minutes later Charlotte was on her way to meet Amanda at the chapel when her phone rang. She was pleased to see Steven’s name on the screen. She’d filled him in on everything that had happened when she’d come home from the hospital. While he’d been relieved to know Ivan couldn’t come after her again, he’d been upset that the man had found her in the first place.
“Steven,” Charlotte said when she answered the call. “How are you?”
“I’m great. I got your wedding invitation. Congratulations! ”
“I understand it’s probably too far for you to come.”
“Are you kidding? Wouldn’t miss it for the world. My wife and I will be proud to share your special day.”
“It never would have happened if not for you,” Charlotte said. “You’re my guardian angel, you know that?”
“No one’s ever called me that before,” Steven said gruffly. She thought he was touched.
“It’s true. I never would have gotten away from Ivan without your help, and if I hadn’t come to Montana, I’d never have met the love of my life.”
“You sound happy,” Steven said.
“I am.”
“Can’t wait to see you walk down that aisle. By the way, check your bank account. I deposited your inheritance this morning. It should show up soon.”
“Thank you.” A twinge of pain cut through the joy she’d been feeling all day. She didn’t want her grandmother’s money; she wanted her grandmother to be here to share in her happiness.
“Your grandmother would be very proud of you, Charlotte, and she’d be thrilled to know you’ve found a worthy partner.”
“I miss her.”
“I know.”
When she was finished with the call, Charlotte checked her bank account and found it had swelled significantly. Lincoln had been pitching in to pay for renovations to the house despite her protests, but she knew the Elliotts needed all the money they could get to pay their debts. Now she could help.
Amanda was waiting for her at the door to the chapel. “Want to see my decoy project?” Amanda asked.
“Decoy project?” They’d put up a sign on the bulletin board in the town hall foyer announcing knitting club was happening this evening. They’d decided to keep one night a week just for hanging out with Megan but to get together a second time with anyone else interested in knitting.
“I can’t very well knit a baby sweater when you know any influencers who join us are going to take photographs.” She pulled out skeins of blue yarn. “I’m going to make a scarf instead.”
“Still no luck with getting pregnant?” Charlotte asked.
“Not yet,” Amanda answered cheerfully. “Which means we get to keep trying.”
“I guess that’s true. Look! Veronica is coming,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte had figured Sasha would join them, but she was a little surprised to see Veronica.
“Looks like she brought friends.” A line of women came into view. To Charlotte’s surprise, all the influencers were joining them.
“And there’s Carolyn,” Amanda said.
The older woman approached cheerfully, a large canvas bag over her shoulder.
“Can’t get enough knitting time,” she said in explanation. “I try to donate at least ten throw blankets to the hospital charity bazaar every year.”
“That’s a lot,” Charlotte said.
Carolyn waved that off and kept going.
“Oops, I think Gareth is lost,” Amanda said.
“Maybe he just wants to stay close to Sasha.” It was no secret now those two were dating. “There’s Mark, too. And Gregory.” It looked like all the programmers were coming.
“There’s Anne,” Amanda said in awe. “And she doesn’t even look angry.”
“It looks like she has something with her.” Charlotte turned to Amanda. “Do you think she’s come to knit, too?”
“She seems a lot more relaxed now she doesn’t have to drive her programmers into town every day to work.” Their internet provider had finally upgraded service to the Ridge, and everyone was happier now they had a snappy connection to the online world.
“I think we’d better set up in the chapel,” Amanda said. “We won’t all fit in the rotunda.”
“The rotunda is for women only, anyway,” Charlotte said in an undertone. “We can save it for our nights.”
“Sounds good.”
Megan joined them a moment later. “You’ll never guess who called me today.”
“Gage?” Charlotte asked hopefully.
Megan shook her head. “Blake Warrington. He asked me out on a date. Can you believe that?”
“What did you say?” Amanda asked.
“I turned him down, of course. He just laughed and said he’ll try again next week.” Megan rolled her eyes. “How are all these people going to fit in the rotunda?”
Charlotte explained their new plan, and they got to work. Amanda greeted each person as they arrived, and Charlotte ushered them into the chapel. It turned out the pews weren’t stuck in place, so she and Megan moved several to form a circle, shifting the podium to one side.
Charlotte hoped they weren’t being sacrilegious, but she thought gathering to knit was close to a holy experience. Besides, there hadn’t been a service here in years.
“Have you knitted before?” she asked Mark as he helped her shift a pew.
He shook his head. “Edie says it’s like coding with yarn. Sounds easy enough.”
Charlotte bit back a smile and went to transfer the refreshments she and Amanda had brought from the rotunda to the chapel. She set them up on a side table. The influencers had brought a variety of balls of yarn and knitting needles with them. They passed them out to the men and helped cast on stitches. Amanda walked among them, helping.
Charlotte took her seat and drew out her own project, a gossamer shawl with difficult directions. She let the murmur of voices swirl around her as she got to work. She’d always found knitting to be soothing, but now she considered it from Mark’s point of view. She was coding a piece of clothing .
That was new.
“Have you found a wedding dress?” Sasha asked her, drawing near. She’d been photographing the proceedings until Amanda gently took her phone out of her hands and placed her knitting in them.
“I have. I’m going for my fitting tomorrow.”
“Can I come? I’d love to see it!”
“I want to come!” Veronica said.
“Me, too,” Edie said. All the other women chimed in, as well.
“I don’t know if you’ll all fit into the bridal shop!” She’d found her gown at Caitlyn Warren’s store in town.
“We need photos. After all, this is the Marryingest Town in the USA. It’s our brand,” Veronica said. “We have to document everything about your wedding.”
“How can it be the Marryingest Town when ours will be only the second wedding?” Charlotte protested.
“Fake it till you make it,” Veronica said with a smile.
When Lincoln let himself into house number37 at the end of the day, he’d expected to find Charlotte waiting for him, ready to go to dinner. Instead the first floor was empty.
“Charlotte?” he called.
“Up here!”
He took the stairs to the second floor, but she wasn’t in the bedroom changing.
“Charlotte?” he asked again.
“In here.”
Her voice led him to the bathroom, where he found the door partially open. Pushing it wider, he spotted Charlotte in the refinished claw-foot tub, surrounded by bubbles.
“Join me,” she said. “I’m letting it all sink in.”
“Letting what sink in?”
“Get in here and I’ll tell you.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him coyly.
Lincoln didn’t waste time questioning this new, flirtatious fiancée he’d come home to. He stripped down and climbed into the tub with her, groaning in pleasure as the water eased his sore muscles.
They relaxed at opposite ends of the tub, their legs tangled together. Charlotte reached over the side and handed him a glass.
“Champagne? Are we celebrating?”
She shook her head. “Not celebrating. Honoring… my grandmother, Steven, you, your family…”
He took a sip and sputtered. “This isn’t champagne.”
“I didn’t have any kicking around,” she said with a laugh. “It’s sparkling water, but at least it has bubbles. I’m doing my best.”
He took another sip. It was flavored with some kind of berries and wasn’t terrible… for sparkling water.
“I think you need to start at the beginning. What’s going on?”
“Steven called today to say congratulations—and to let me know he’d deposited my inheritance in my bank account. It got me thinking about how much has changed in such a short time. I lost the last member of my family this year, but I’ve also gained a whole new family. I lost my job—and got a new, much better one. I gained the courage to leave a bad relationship—and now I’m marrying the man I love.” She toasted him with her glass and took a sip. “So I’m letting it all sink in.” She smiled at him. “I know what I’m going to do with my inheritance.”
“Oh yeah? What?”
“Buy this house. For real. For exactly what it’s worth.” She put a hand up to stop him as he sat up, protests spilling from his lips. “You lured me in with a free house—an almost-free house. And it worked—here I am making a life on Elliott Ridge. This is my home now. But I’m going to lose it if your family can’t pay its debts. You can’t just give houses away.”
Guilt swept over Lincoln that he hadn’t been wholly truthful about selling the house for a dollar. It must have shown, because Charlotte sat up straight, too.
“What?” she demanded. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I already bought it,” he admitted, unwilling to lie to the woman he was going to marry. He braced himself for her reaction.
“What do you mean?”
“I paid the market rate for this house to my family. I’m the one who sold it to you for a dollar.”
“Lincoln Elliott!” A parade of emotions passed over her face. “You did that… for me? Before you even knew me?”
“I knew the minute I saw you that you were the one for me,” he said simply. “I can’t explain it. It’s supposed to be a family thing, actually. All the Elliott men know they’ve found the woman they’re going to marry the minute they lay eyes on them. I always thought it was a cheesy story, but the day we met at the airport, I knew it was true.”
“That’s…” She trailed off. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Say you love me as much as I love you.”
“You know I do.” Her expression clouded. “But I still want to help your family.”
He shook his head. “You are helping, just by being here. You’re showing people this is a community that’s worth taking a chance on. You’re bringing a valuable service to everyone in Chance Creek. Now you have a nest egg, so your life here is that much more secured.”
“ We have a nest egg,” she corrected him. “We’re either in this together or we aren’t.”
“We are definitely in this together.” He leaned forward and kissed her, gathering her to his end of the tub so she rested in his arms. The water sloshed around and settled again.
“Do you have any more secrets I should know about?” Charlotte asked when they finally broke their kiss.
He was about to say no when he realized he did. “So… remember that day Amanda yelled at Hudson and you didn’t know what was going on?” he began.
Charlotte nodded, tracing a hand over his shoulder and arm, distracting him. He struggled to keep his thoughts in line.
“My brothers and I have a secret language.”
Charlotte stopped. “Secret language?”
“Secret sign language. And Hudson and I have one, too, that’s just for us.”
She closed her eyes. “Of course you do.”