The Engagement Charade. Karen Kirst

like that.”

      While not large, the house boasted a separate kitchen and pantry, main living room and two bedrooms. The room Ellie would reside in had two windows, both with views of the rear property, pretty rural scenes. Blue-and-white-checked curtains echoed a blue, white and rose quilt covering the bed. An oversize wardrobe dominated one corner. A slim table carved from pine held a kerosene lamp and pitcher and bowl for morning ablutions.

      Mrs. Trentham tapped the cedar chest at the foot of the bed. “I store extra mattress covers and blankets in here, but I could clear it out for your things. What do you think? Will it suit you?”

      Ellie turned from the window. “I like it very much. But there’s something you should know.” She sucked in a breath and took the plunge. “I’m expecting a baby. Come March, you’d have not one but two boarders.”

      Her face lit up. Clapping her hands together, she enthused, “How wonderful for you! A child to remember your husband by. I wouldn’t have placed that ad if I hadn’t craved company. A baby in this house would bring it back to life.”

      “A baby fussing in the middle of the night won’t bother you, Mrs. Trentham?”

      “Please, call me June.” Her expression became reminiscent of bygone times. “My husband used to say I slept like the dead. My sleep is rarely disturbed.”

      Ellie pushed aside her lingering concern. They’d adjust once the time came. She couldn’t let this opportunity pass her by.

      “Then it’s settled. I’ll take it.”

      * * *

      Alexander was perfectly aware he was behaving like an adolescent. His younger brother would tease him unmercifully for hiding out in his office and waiting for Ellie to leave before making his escape. Shifting on the fallen tree that served as his seat, he watched as one by one the stars popped out in the post-sunset sky. His fishing string bobbed in the water. His lamp cast golden light on the bank but did little to disperse the shadows. Night blanketed the countryside in complete darkness.

      He smothered a yawn and considered going home. Ellie had asked for fish, however, and it felt wrong leaving empty-handed again.

      In his peripheral vision, a second man-made light registered. Balancing his pole against the log, he stood to his feet and studied the figure traversing the field. He was about to have company.

      “Hello there,” he called.

      The light stilled. He could make out the figure of a woman. “Mr. Copeland?”

      Shock washed over him. “Ellie? What are you doing out here on your own? I thought you’d gone home.”

      Her steps were slow. “I did.”

      The brush of tall grass against her boots joined the frogs’ chirruping and occasional hoot owl. When she reached him, the evidence of tears made his mouth go dry. Curious emotion locked his chest in a vise. Aside from her periodic bouts of testiness related to hunger, the young widow was consistent in her sugarcoated optimism. Ellie Jameson looked at life through rose-colored glasses. Seeing her in such a despairing state was so unusual he wondered briefly if he’d nodded off and was engaged in a rare dream.

      Circumventing him, she set her lamp down, spread a quilt on the bank and lowered herself to the ground, using the tree trunk as a support for her back. Her head fell against the trunk, and a deep, shuddering sigh escaped her. Alexander returned to his spot and resumed his seat.

      “Did something happen?” Bewilderment tightened his voice.

      “I informed my in-laws of my decision to move.” Staring straight ahead, she spoke in a monotone. “They didn’t take it well.”

      Dismay flooded him. “You’re leaving Gatlinburg?”

      She turned her head, her brown eyes appearing coal black. Her ponytail had long since lost its starch. The ribbon was close to coming undone and tendrils of hair had escaped to tease her ears and cheeks. She looked young and vulnerable...and alone, like him.

      “No. I don’t have the resources to return to Kentucky. Even if I did, there’s no one left there to return to.”

      Her words eased the tension in his body. “That’s a relief.” When she regarded him quizzically, he rushed to add, “I won’t have the tedious task of searching for someone to replace you.”

      “I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you,” she muttered.

      He winced. “Where are your new accommodations?”

      “I’ll be staying with a widow named June Trentham. She lives near the church.”

      “That will save you some time.”

      “Yes.”

      Her gaze dropping to the quilt beneath her, she traced patterns with her fingertips. She seemed troubled.

      Since leaving Texas, Alexander had determined not to get involved with anyone’s problems. He’d learned in the worst possible way that doing so led to disaster. Up to this point, he’d stuck to that decision. The wisest course of action would be to gather his things and bid her good-night. Ellie Jameson was a grown woman capable of seeing to her own affairs.

      But what true gentleman would leave her in this isolated spot?

      “Why are you here, Ellie?” he said at last.

      “The river is peaceful, don’t you agree? It’s a good place to come when you have troubles weighing on your mind.”

      “It’s not safe for you to be wandering these mountains alone.”

      She paused in her efforts to tighten her hair ribbon. “What do you think I’ve been doing every night?”

      “Until yesterday, I had no idea where you lived. Which begs the question—why don’t you make use of one of those horses I saw on your property?”

      “The Jamesons don’t approve of my working. I suppose denying me a horse was their way of trying to dissuade me.”

      Alexander shot to his feet and began to pace along the water’s edge. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been angry on someone else’s behalf. Granted, the situation smacked of bullying, something he hadn’t ever been able to abide.

      “You aren’t leaving that cove simply to save yourself travel time, are you?”

      “No.” She lowered her hands wearily to her lap. “My relationship with my husband’s family has never been easy. Things got worse after his death. Gladys and Nadine blame me for Nolan’s accident.”

      “I thought you said you weren’t there.”

      “I wasn’t. They accused me of rushing him to complete our cabin. They think he was in too much of a hurry to take proper precautions.”

      He admitted that he’d judged Ellie for her lack of obvious grief. She hadn’t fit his idea of a grieving widow. Truth was, he didn’t know much of anything about her or her circumstances.

      “Your husband’s death was a tragedy. Blaming you for what happened is ridiculous and small-minded.”

      “They made up their minds about me a long time ago, I’m afraid.”

      Knowing Ellie’s personality, things must’ve gotten untenable for her to decide to leave.

      “I’m assuming you had an argument tonight. Are you comfortable that things have calmed down enough to return?”

      “They kicked me out.” She lifted a shoulder. “I can’t go back.”

      The familiar burning sensation spread through his midsection. “What were you planning to do? Pass the night on the riverbank?” His outrage at her in-laws sharpened his tone.

      She jutted her chin. “It’s still technically summer. The temperatures are pleasant. I have my grandmother’s quilt to protect my