CHAPTER 8
Jake
Jake chuckled aloud as he thought of the conversation with the schoolboys earlier in the day. It had been intensely embarrassing as they’d questioned him over his intentions toward their beloved Miss Williams, but it had also been highly amusing. It was interesting to hear what gossip the town rumor mill had been concocting.
And it wasn’t a bad idea. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he became aware of the feelings that had grown toward Rowena. She was in his thoughts constantly and he found himself looking forward to seeing her each day at the beginning and end of school. He was secretly grateful for the recent snowstorm; it meant that he was able to continue driving her in the sleigh for a little longer. Once the snow melted, she would return to walking to school and he would be so busy with spring planting that he would have little time to spend with her for a few months. The thought made him feel melancholy.
A noise on the porch caught his attention and he glanced toward the window over the kitchen bench, expecting to see nothing but the reflection of the lantern on the table.
But to his shock, he caught a glimpse of a face peering in the window. For a moment, he thought it was Charlie; he thought he saw a long gray beard and Charlie’s gray fur cap. He blinked, and when he looked again, it was gone.
Leaping to his feet, he ran to the front door and opened it.
“Charlie! What are you doing out there?” he called into the night. “Just knock on the door like a civilized person would!”
But there was no answer, and Jake began to wonder if he was seeing things. There was no way to tell if the footprints in the snow were fresh; he’d been tramping up and down the steps all afternoon and the snow was churned up. He stood for a moment peering into the darkness as the lamplight spilled through the window onto the snow, but there was no indication that anyone else had ever been there. The wind sighed softly through the trees on the hill, but otherwise, it was silent. Puzzled, he frowned, then returned to the warmth of the cabin.
The following morning, Jake rose early. It was still dark as he dressed and headed for the barn. He wanted the chores done earlier than usual so he could help with Zach’s barn chores before he had to take Rowena to school.
He made his way to the barn without thinking, his mind going over the day’s activities. He wasn’t expecting to find the barn door ajar slightly, and it took him a moment to register that someone else must have opened it. He was particular about closing doors in the winter because an open door could mean death to smaller animals such as chickens and sheep if the temperature inside dropped too low.
Cautiously, he entered without touching the door, his eyes peering beyond the circle of light cast by his lantern for anything amiss. He wished he’d brought his gun with him, belatedly recalling Rowena’s experience from the previous day. Had the same intruder found his barn?
A sudden noise just above him in the hayloft caught his attention, and a moment later, a dishevelled man with hay in his hair tumbled down the ladder, landing right at Jake’s feet. He scrambled off the floor and attempted to flee, but Jake grabbed hold of his coat and spun him around. They stood staring at one another face-to-face as Jake gasped in shock.
“Charlie! Why are you in my barn?” he demanded. “What kind of crazy prank is this?”
The familiar face looked blank.
“Well, answer me!” Jake said, giving his friend a little shake. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you at home?”
“I’m not Charlie,” the man said at last.
It was true that he didn’t sound the same as Charlie. And why did he look thinner and older than Charlie?”
“Well, if you’re not Charlie, then who are you?” Jake demanded. “And why are you sneakin’ around in my barn?”
The man held up his hands. “I’ll tell you.” He coughed. “But could I warm up a little? It’s been such a cold night.”
Jake noticed that he was shivering. “All right,” he said reluctantly. “But no funny business.”
They returned to the cabin and Jake poured the man a cup of hot coffee. He held it gratefully in age-gnarled hands as he sat at Jake’s table.
“So, what’s going on here?” Jake asked once the man had taken a sip.
The stranger sighed and placed the mug on the table. “I’m Robert,” he said. “Charlie’s twin brother.”
Jake gaped at him in astonishment. “Twin brother? I had no idea Charlie was a twin!”
“We parted ways a long time ago,” Robert said sadly. “We both said unkind things, and I’ve regretted it every day since then.”
“Then why don’t you just go to Charlie’s place and make up?” Jake asked.
Robert sighed again. “I don’t know if he would agree to see me,” he admitted. “And I don’t even know exactly where he lives. I just know it’s somewhere around here.”
“He’s my neighbor,” Jake replied. “So why are you sneaking around instead of going to see him?”
“Because I’m not quite ready.” Robert’s face looked haggard in the flickering lamplight. “I led a bad life, Mr. ?”
Jake realized he hadn’t introduced himself in the confusion. “I’m Jake Brooks,” he said. “Just call me Jake.”
“Right. Jake.” Robert seemed to be distracted for a moment. “As I was saying, I did bad things and let everyone down. Everyone who was important to me. Do you know how that makes you feel, Jake?”
Jake nodded. “I do. I have a past too, you know. Many people out here do.”
“Well, I have to gather up every last bit of courage to face Charlie,” Robert said. “I don’t know what he’ll do. He might even get his gun and run me out of town.”
Jake couldn’t imagine Charlie doing any such thing. “I don’t think so,” he said.
“You weren’t there when we parted.” Robert gave an involuntary shiver. “It was bad.”
“I know Charlie very well,” Jake said. “I’ve never seen even the faintest hint of violence in his nature. The story you’re telling me is most surprising.”
Robert looked at him in surprise. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Charlie has been so good to me over the years. I know what I’m talking about.”
Robert’s expression became hopeful for a fleeting moment. “I hope you’re right,” he murmured. “But even if you’re not, I’m not going to live much longer anyway.” He coughed again. “I want to make things right before I leave this earth.”
Jake suddenly felt sympathy for the man. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said quietly. “But the only way you can see Charlie again is to face your fears and just do it.”
“I know,” Robert replied. “But surviving out here has taken so much effort that I haven’t been able to gather up the courage yet.”
“How did you get here?” Jake asked.
“I got a ride on one of the supply wagons that came in after the snow melted,” Robert said. “But then it snowed again, and I had no idea it would be so cold.”
“You’re lucky you survived,” Jake said, his voice grim. “It’s a foolish thing you did at this time of year. Never tempt the weather because it will kill you before you can blink.”
“I thought it would be safe enough now,” Robert said. “The wagons got in, didn’t they?”
“Yes, but the drivers and teams had proper lodgings and food to go to,” Jake reminded him. “What was your plan, by the way?”
“I didn’t really have one.” Robert hung his head. “I just know I need to see Charlie, and so I asked where his farm was and started walking. Only it snowed before I arrived, and then I had to find shelter. By then, I didn’t know which farm was his.”
“Was that you looking through my window last night?” Jake asked.
Robert nodded. “I wanted to see if I’d found Charlie’s place. When I saw you, I hightailed it out of there.”
Jake felt sympathy for a man who should be spending the final years of his life in comfort instead of hiding in barns like a fugitive.
“Are you in trouble with the law?” he asked.
Robert shook his head. “I did my time. My debt to society is paid.”
Jake thought for a moment. “Well, you certainly can’t go on sleeping in barns,” he said. “You can sleep in the lean-to until you figure out how you’re going to approach Charlie.
Robert’s tired blue-gray eyes lit up. “Thank you, Jake. I appreciate your offer. I won’t impose on your hospitality for long. You have my word.”
“Just turn your attention to the reasons you came here,” Jake replied. “Trying to survive shouldn’t be your first thought.”
Robert’s shoulders sagged in relief. “You’re a good man, Jake.” He coughed. “You’ve given me the courage to face my past.”
Jake clapped him on the shoulder and rose from the table. “I wish you well, my friend. I think you’ll find Charlie to be fair and reasonable.” He glanced out the window. “I must go now. I have barn chores to do and then I have to help my neighbor do his. He’s feeling poorly.”
A short time later, Jake was feeding the animals while Rowena milked the cow. She’d recently learned how to do it thanks to Lucy’s diligent instruction. She was so proud of herself that she had insisted on doing it every morning since. Zach was on the mend and would soon be ready to do the barn chores again himself, although since Lucy had proven her usefulness, it was likely that she would continue to help.
Jake turned to Rowena before he headed into the hay loft. He wanted her advice. “So, now that we know who our intruder is, how do we help him?” he asked.
She looked up at him, her gray eyes a bright spot in the shadows of the barn. Jake thought about kissing her, then instantly scolded himself for the thought. He didn’t want to alarm her or take advantage of her, but each time he saw her, his feelings for her seemed to grow. He was on the path of no return and he didn’t even care. He just wanted to see her and hear her voice, and nothing could distract him from that desire.
“You’ve already helped him,” she pointed out. “Sometimes, the best thing we can do is stand aside and allow a person to make up their own mind about how they’ll do things.”
He tugged on his cap, a frustrated expression on his face. “But I want to actually do something. You know?” He paused. “Charlie is a special man in my life. I had no idea he had a twin; I guess there are some things he’s never shared with me. But now that I know, I want this story to end the way it should.”
“I know,” Rowena agreed. “But providing Robert with food and shelter while he addresses the huge rift in his life is doing something. You’re enabling him to concentrate on his purpose for being here rather than trying to survive.”
Jake looked at her as tenderness flooded his heart. “How did you get to be so wise?” he asked with a smile.
She returned his smile as he thought how pretty she looked this morning with wisps of auburn hair trailing around her face. “Wise? Not really. Just observant.”
“Well, you can share your observations more often,” Jake replied. “I like them.”
He noticed that she ducked her head and blushed. He felt his own cheeks grow warm as he scampered up the ladder before she realized the effect she had on him. Some things were better kept to himself.