Bending Toward the Sun by Mona Hodgson Page A

hands. “I like Emilie Heinrich.”
    A smirk brightened his brother’s green eyes. “If that’s the part I’m supposed to keep secret, I’m afraid you’ve already spilled those beans.”
    Quaid nodded. “I told Mr. Heinrich me and Emilie are merely friends.”
    “’Tis true?”
    “I thought it was.”
    Brady’s expression grew serious. “What’d he say?”
    “That Emilie is trying to complete her education and I shouldn’t encourage her affections. He asked me to stay away from her, to avoid her.”
    “And you’re tryin’ to oblige him.”
    “May be a lost cause.”
    “And Emilie? Does she see you as a mere friend?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. She seems to enjoy my company as much as I enjoy hers.” And she wasn’t one to put on pretense like an overcoat. Her childlike openness was intoxicating. “I’d hoped to see you here today.” Her easy laughter. Her glee when she saw the dollhouse. She was comfortable around him. But that could also be the behavior of a good friend, and nothing more.
    Regardless of the depth of her feelings for him, he didn’t wish to stir trouble between Emilie and her father.

    Emilie signed the delivery receipt and handed it to Mr. McFarland.
    “Thank you, Miss Emilie. Greet your father for me, will you?”
    “Yes sir. I’ll do that.”
    He quirked a bushy eyebrow. “And I’ll pass your greetings on to me son.”
    “Thank you.”
    When the McFarland Freight Company wagon rolled away from the store, she closed the door behind her and climbed the stairs to the home she shared with PaPa. He still hadn’t come down. He may not appreciate her checking on him, but it wasn’t like him to spend time upstairs during store hours. Especially on a day she was here and Quaid may have come with a delivery.
    He wasn’t in the living area, and the door to his bedchamber was closed. When she didn’t hear any hint of movement, she tapped on his door. “PaPa?”
    A snort. Then a stomp, where he’d apparently stepped out of bed, followed by footfalls on the wooden floor. The door swung open and PaPa stood before her, shielding a yawn with his hand. “I didn’t hear the broomstick. You need me?”
    “The order arrived.”
    “Ah. Then we have a lot of work to do, don’t we?” He put his shoes on at the sofa.
    “The senior Mr. McFarland asked me to pass his warm greetings on to you.”
    “I regret missing him today. He’s a kind man.”
    So is Quaid . “They are a good and kind family.”
    PaPa nodded, then closed the door behind them on the way out.
    She yearned to ask if he’d said something to Quaid to make him stay away, but she followed him down the stairs in silence. If PaPa wasn’t feeling well today, it was best to wait for the answer. Besides, she’d know the next time she saw Quaid’s father making a delivery to the college or to the store that PaPa had interfered.
    Unless the newness of seeing her again had worn off and Quaid had simply moved on.

Nine
    A t the quilting circle late Thursday morning, Emilie pushed her needle into the flower petal appliqué and pulled the thread through. A few more petals to stitch and she’d have her quilt top finished. She liked the cheery pattern of the flower baskets. She’d also liked the new pattern she’d seen taking shape in her life—the one in which she was friends with Quaid and was seeing him fairly regularly. Until that day in the storeroom. She pushed the needle into the design, butting it against the metal thimble protecting her fingertip.
    “My brother, Charles, has been spending a lot of time at The Western House Inn.” Hattie removed the feathered crown from her head. “He’s attending the meetings with Rutherford’s friend Mr. Cowlishaw, the leader of the wagon train.”
    Garrett Cowlishaw was also the capable handyman who had mended Jewell’s wagon and later come into the store asking about Caroline’s husband. He’d said he wanted to help her find the answer to Colonel Milburn’s fate, but