Other Brother by Dooley Lena Nelson

Author:Dooley, Lena Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Twelve

When Gustaf stopped the wagon in front of the mercantile, Marja and Sophia Braxton hurried out the front door. They must have been as eager as Gerda and Olina, since they had been watching for them.

“Mrs. Braxton.” Gustaf doffed his cap. “Should I take the girls to the hotel? Their bags are in the wagon.”

“What a wonderful idea.” Marja clapped her hands. “Sophia and I’ll walk over right now.”

“I’m sorry I can’t offer you a ride.” Gustaf gave a rueful smile. “The wagon seat is full. If you want to wait, I can come back for you.”

“It’s not far, and the walk will do us good.” Sophia waved them off.

Gerda’s eyes sparkled as she looked around. “I’m so excited. I didn’t think Father would let us do this.”

Gustaf chuckled. “You’re a grown woman, Gerda. Father wants the best for you. He’s just careful because sometimes there are rough men in town.”

“I know.” Gerda put her hands around his powerful arm and looked up into his face. “We’ll be careful.” She turned to look at her friend. “Right, Olina?”

“Of course.” Olina made the mistake of looking at Gustaf. His gaze was fastened on her, and when she looked at him, she was drawn to those blue eyes. Sometimes, they could look so icy, but now they held the warmth of a sunshiny day. That warmth reached all the way to her toes. She couldn’t look away, even if she had wanted to. But she didn’t want to. That warmth was melting something deep inside her, as the sunshine melted ice in the fjords back home.

Home? Where was home? Was it in Sweden? Or was it right here in Minnesota with people who accepted her for who she was. People who didn’t try to change her. Yes, it was starting to feel like home. With a tremulous smile, Olina finally looked away from Gustaf’s mesmerizing eyes. Today was a new day. Minnesota was her new home. Olina was going to make the best of it.

Child, let Me help you.

Olina almost heeded the quiet voice. Almost, but not quite.

❧

When Olina smiled, Gustaf could feel it touch his heart. It felt like the wings of a butterfly as it flitted across the flowers Gerda planted around the front porch. Soft, gentle, but a smile nonetheless. Olina needed to smile more. Maybe this was the start of something in her life. She looked as if she had made a discovery. . .or a resolution. Gustaf didn’t know which. But whichever it was, it would have far-reaching consequences in her life. He hoped those consequences would include him. Please, Gud.

❧

Adolph Braxton was waiting in the hotel lobby for them. He took them up to the third floor, the top floor. “We wanted to be away from the noise in the street.”

He opened the door to a large room that was at the back corner of the hotel. Windows on adjoining walls bathed the interior with sunlight.

Olina walked over to check the view. Since the hotel was taller than the building next door, she could look across the rooftops.

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