We may need your help to verify the story of Julia’s amnesia.”
“I’m sorry,” Billy said. “I’ll gladly confirm her story. You could even take her to a doctor.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Miles said. “But I will tell you one thing, I won’t part with Violet over this. If I have to choose, it will be her over you, Julia. I’m sorry.”
“She’s that upset?” Julia asked. “I don’t even know who she is. Why would she be so upset with me?”
“She is practically related to Caleb,” Miles explained. “Her family and the Armstrong’s are extremely close, they’re like one big family. He was hurt—and that is putting it mildly. She doesn’t want anything to do with anyone who hurt Caleb.”
“Miles, you’ve known me all my life. Have I ever intentionally hurt anyone?” Julia asked.
“Not that I know of, but you did form the plan to get to know Caleb romantically to then ask him for the money. He fell for you like a ton of bricks. He gave you the money out of the goodness of his heart. You agreed to marry him! He even bought the train tickets. He waited for your return. You never came—and that’s when I rode out to his place and told him everything.”
“You put your job on the line?” she asked.
“Yes, because I knew if I didn’t I’d never ever get Violet back,” he said.
“Just who is this Violet?” she asked.
“Violet Jeffries, our minister’s daughter. I love her more than anything in the world, even you two, and you know how much I love you both.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Julia said. “I don’t remember Caleb. I’m trying, but I can’t see his face. How did he get a limp? Is it temporary like Geoffrey’s?”
“It’s permanent, I’m afraid,” Miles said. He stood. “Do you remember this house?”
Julia shook her head.
“Then I’ll show you both to your rooms,” Miles said. “I’m in need of some sleep.”
Julia looked around the room when Miles and Billy had left her. She opened the chifforobe and viewed women’s clothing. She picked up one hanger; the dress appeared her size. She held it up and glanced in the mirror. These must be hers, yet she had no recall of any of them. She opened the drawers, nothing looked familiar. She felt like she was peering into someone else’s things.
She took a nightgown from one of the drawers, undressed and slipped it on. She was exhausted from traveling. She got into the bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
When Julia awoke, she put on one of the strange dresses, and went out to find the kitchen or dining room. She found Billy sitting in the dining room drinking coffee.
“You made coffee?” she asked.
“No. Miles made it before he left for work.” Billy took a final drink and pushed his empty cup aside. “So what do we do first?”
“I want to find this Caleb, and apologize. It could only have been my fear of losing you that caused me to come up with such a terrible scheme to get the money. I feel ashamed. I don’t blame Miles for being upset. And I won’t let Miles lose his Violet.”
“Since I don’t know either, do you mind if I stay here? I want to write a letter to Lida. She’ll wonder what happened to me.”
“Sure. Did Miles say Caleb’s last name was Armstrong?”
“I think so.”
“I’ll find him. I have to set things right.”
Caleb sat behind the counter in the store transferring numbers into a large book. He took care of all the orders and bookkeeping, while his father managed the mill part of the lumber business.
It started out as a normal weekday with the sound of loud saws and other machinery, the scent of sawdust from freshly cut lumber. He had a stack of orders that would take him hours to log into the accounting ledger.
With the loud noises in the back, and his concentration on the numbers, he didn’t hear the door open, but a breeze
“I’m sorry,” Billy said. “I’ll gladly confirm her story. You could even take her to a doctor.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Miles said. “But I will tell you one thing, I won’t part with Violet over this. If I have to choose, it will be her over you, Julia. I’m sorry.”
“She’s that upset?” Julia asked. “I don’t even know who she is. Why would she be so upset with me?”
“She is practically related to Caleb,” Miles explained. “Her family and the Armstrong’s are extremely close, they’re like one big family. He was hurt—and that is putting it mildly. She doesn’t want anything to do with anyone who hurt Caleb.”
“Miles, you’ve known me all my life. Have I ever intentionally hurt anyone?” Julia asked.
“Not that I know of, but you did form the plan to get to know Caleb romantically to then ask him for the money. He fell for you like a ton of bricks. He gave you the money out of the goodness of his heart. You agreed to marry him! He even bought the train tickets. He waited for your return. You never came—and that’s when I rode out to his place and told him everything.”
“You put your job on the line?” she asked.
“Yes, because I knew if I didn’t I’d never ever get Violet back,” he said.
“Just who is this Violet?” she asked.
“Violet Jeffries, our minister’s daughter. I love her more than anything in the world, even you two, and you know how much I love you both.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Julia said. “I don’t remember Caleb. I’m trying, but I can’t see his face. How did he get a limp? Is it temporary like Geoffrey’s?”
“It’s permanent, I’m afraid,” Miles said. He stood. “Do you remember this house?”
Julia shook her head.
“Then I’ll show you both to your rooms,” Miles said. “I’m in need of some sleep.”
Julia looked around the room when Miles and Billy had left her. She opened the chifforobe and viewed women’s clothing. She picked up one hanger; the dress appeared her size. She held it up and glanced in the mirror. These must be hers, yet she had no recall of any of them. She opened the drawers, nothing looked familiar. She felt like she was peering into someone else’s things.
She took a nightgown from one of the drawers, undressed and slipped it on. She was exhausted from traveling. She got into the bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
When Julia awoke, she put on one of the strange dresses, and went out to find the kitchen or dining room. She found Billy sitting in the dining room drinking coffee.
“You made coffee?” she asked.
“No. Miles made it before he left for work.” Billy took a final drink and pushed his empty cup aside. “So what do we do first?”
“I want to find this Caleb, and apologize. It could only have been my fear of losing you that caused me to come up with such a terrible scheme to get the money. I feel ashamed. I don’t blame Miles for being upset. And I won’t let Miles lose his Violet.”
“Since I don’t know either, do you mind if I stay here? I want to write a letter to Lida. She’ll wonder what happened to me.”
“Sure. Did Miles say Caleb’s last name was Armstrong?”
“I think so.”
“I’ll find him. I have to set things right.”
Caleb sat behind the counter in the store transferring numbers into a large book. He took care of all the orders and bookkeeping, while his father managed the mill part of the lumber business.
It started out as a normal weekday with the sound of loud saws and other machinery, the scent of sawdust from freshly cut lumber. He had a stack of orders that would take him hours to log into the accounting ledger.
With the loud noises in the back, and his concentration on the numbers, he didn’t hear the door open, but a breeze
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