Imaginary Brightness by Sheila Myers

Author:Sheila Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sheila Myers

19

Pine Knot Summer 1878

Ella and William gazed out at the horizon from the boat, lost in their own thoughts as the rising sun cast a mirrored reflection of trees on the water. They were on their way to see cousin Frederick. Ike left them off at the mouth of the Marion River. From there they had a short walk over the rapids to meet the new steamboat, part of the Durant transportation system, waiting to take them to Blue Mountain Lake and Frederick’s Prospect House Hotel.

“What is all of this steam business costing?” Ella turned her attention away from the horizon to William.

William shrugged. “The company lawyers, Mr. Sutphen and Mr. Barbour deal in numbers. I just assist in the logistics. I’m adding another steamboat to our line to carry passengers onto Raquette Lake. No more guideboats.”

“And what will we gain from it?”

“We shall see more people coming to the area and investing in our land once we make it easier for them to travel. Now that father has lost his chance at the 20,000 acres around here, our last hope may be this steamboat line and the land holdings we can sell.”

“I wonder if we’ll ever see England again,” Ella sighed, “or are we destined to remain in this wild place?” She reached for a maple leaf hanging from a branch above her on the path.

“I used to wonder that as well,” William said.

“Our friends in England would like the hunting here though, wouldn’t they?” she said. “Do you think my lady friends would enjoy these views?”

William stopped her. “You do realize that even if you ever do make it back to England, our friends, your friends, will be married off and settled into their affairs. The days of masked balls and dances are behind us.”

Ella smacked the leaf playfully across his face. “My goodness, you sound like an old man. You’re only twenty-eight. Most men your age are only starting to think about marriage.”

William scuffed a twig with his foot and contemplated what Ella said, then reached down to pick it up.

“Not true. Bill Napier was married this year after all. It is about time for me as well I think.”

“You can’t be serious! Who would you marry?” Ella was incredulous, as far as she knew William was not courting anyone in New York, so who then was he talking about? Could it be Louise? She shook off the notion knowing what William already did —their parents would never allow it.

“I used to think about returning to England all the time,” he said, continuing to walk while twirling the twig between his thumb and pointer finger. “But I’ve come to realize that our life in America is all that we have to look forward to now.” He tossed the twig in the air ahead of them. “Maybe though it was all meant to be this way,” William looked around him. “Although it’s not the Isle of Wight, these woods aren’t such a bad place to spend idle time.”

“Dear brother, you may enjoy being a gadabout in the woods, but I do not.

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