A Noble Groom (Michigan Brides #2)(32)

Annalisa breathed in the heavy but comfortable scent of woodsmoke that clouded the air around the cabin amidst the same cold drizzle that had been falling all morning.

As the wagon bumped through the ruts and drew nearer to the cabin, she could see the lithe straight form of her sister, Idette, driving the team. Several of the children she’d gained in marriage to Leonard sat in the wagon bed, their heads bobbing up and down with each lurch of the wheels.

“Guten tag,” Annalisa called. It had been too long since she’d seen her sister. “You missed Sunday services last week.”

Idette tugged on the reins, and the wagon came to a creaking stop next to Annalisa. Idette didn’t return her smile. Instead she looked straight ahead, letting her scarf cover one side of her face.

The three children in the wagon peered over the wooden slats with tired, sullen eyes.

“Leonard wants me to drive to town today to the general store for supplies he needs,” Idette said in an overly sharp voice.

Annalisa glanced to the sky, to the ominous clouds. If they didn’t get snow before the day’s end, they would get freezing rain. It would coat everything in ice, making the ride even slower and more dangerous.

“Can you wait until tomorrow?” Annalisa asked. “Leonard doesn’t need the supplies today, does he?”



Idette’s expression turned as sullen as those of her children’s. “I came to see if you have anything to sell.”

“Ja.” Annalisa knew she was overdue for her own trip into Forestville. She had eggs and butter and maple syrup to sell. But since Carl had needed Old Red for the plowing, she’d had to delay her weekly trek.

“I have room in the crates.” Idette tilted her head toward the wooden boxes in the back of the wagon, where she’d packed straw around her goods to protect them during the jolting ride.

The door of the cabin swung open, and Carl stepped out.

Annalisa bit off her reply. It would be safer if Carl didn’t know her business, if she kept her earnings private. That way, her meager savings would stay secure.

“Feels good out here,” he said. Without his coat and hat, he dragged in a breath of the cold air. “I don’t know how you can stand being in front of that boiling sap hour after hour.”

Idette’s gaze darted to him sideways, but she still didn’t move.

Even so, Annalisa could see the flicker of interest that sparked in her sister’s face. Idette hadn’t met Carl yet, since Leonard didn’t allow her to go visiting, but she’d no doubt heard plenty about Carl. In their small immigrant community, news traveled quickly.

“So who’s our visitor?” Carl asked, laying his hand on Gretchen’s head. “She sure looks like family to your mama and you.”

“Tante Idette.” Gretchen peered up at Idette with the admiration she’d always shown her aunt.

But Idette didn’t acknowledge Gretchen. In fact, over the past months, Idette had seemed to forget that Gretchen even existed. And she seemed to have forgotten how to smile too.

Annalisa knew Idette’s marriage to Leonard had forced her to grow up too soon. And over the past six months it had become increasingly clear that Idette wasn’t happy with her new husband, and that he didn’t like her either.

But that was the nature of marriage, wasn’t it? The union was a practical partnership, a coming together for survival and for having children. Love, mutual affection, even attraction—those emotions were reserved for stories, not real life.

In fact, Annalisa had learned that not even happiness was a guarantee. Misery, frustration, anger—those had been her constant companions. And apparently they’d become Idette’s as well.

“Well, Tante Idette,” said Carl, offering her a smile, “I must applaud anyone who dares to drive a wagon on the miserable stretches of land you all call roads.”

For the briefest instant a smile hovered over Idette’s lips. But then it disappeared like a ghost in a mist.

“I need to go.” Idette lifted the reins. “Do you want me to take anything for you or not?”

Annalisa glanced sideways at Carl. Did she dare give anything to Idette now, with him looking on?

“Come inside for a little while,” Annalisa said, wishing they could talk together like they had in the days before they’d become burdened with marriage. “The weather’s too fickle. Leonard can wait until tomorrow for you to go.”

The muscles in Idette’s thin cheek flexed. Then slowly she turned her head and pushed the scarf back, revealing the side of her face.

Annalisa sucked in a breath. “What happened?”

An egg-sized purplish bruise surrounded Idette’s eye. And an angry red gash cut a jagged path across her temple.

“What happened?” Idette repeated through clenched teeth. “I’ll tell you what happened.” Humiliation and anger welled up in her sister’s eyes.



And even before she said anything more, Annalisa knew what Idette would tell her.

“I told him I didn’t want to go today, that the roads were horrible and the weather awful.” Idette spat each bitter word. “And this was his answer.”

Next to her, Carl uttered an oath under his breath. He gently pulled Gretchen against him, shielding her from Idette’s battered face.

Pain ripped at Annalisa’s heart, tearing it with such force that she couldn’t breathe for a moment. She could only stare and try to understand how such a thing could happen to a girl as sweet and funny and beautiful as Idette.