Shining Water 01 - The Icecutter's Daughter Read Free Page A

Not here in the middle of town with her brother Nils standing beside her.
    “I shouldn’t be gone too long,” Rurik said. “Maybe just a few months. It will give you time . . .” He let the words trail off. He’d very nearly spoken of her immaturity, suggesting she needed time to grow up. “Besides,” he beganagain, “I need to learn all I can before Nils and I open our own furniture business. I know a great deal about making furniture, but very little about keeping the books and dealing with customers.”
    “I have plenty of experience in that area,” Nils offered quickly. “You forget I keep the books for my father’s dairy. I can teach you all you need to know. There’s no need for you to go—”
    “The need is Carl’s.” Rurik shook his head. “He hasn’t been well, and he has specifically asked me to come. I don’t feel I can say no.”
    “You just want to get away from our engagement,” Svea said, folding her gloved hands together. “And after all that our fathers did to work out this arrangement.”
    “That’s . . . partly the problem,” Rurik said. “Our fathers decided it would be good for us to marry. You and I have had very little to say about it. I think the time apart will do us good.”
    “See?” Svea said, her eyes tearing up. She turned to Nils. “He wants to put an end to our engagement.”
    “That’s not what I said,” Rurik protested. He looked at Nils. “I don’t think this is the best time and place to discuss the matter.”
    “Why not?” Svea said, her voice rising. She waved her hands in both directions. “Why not let all of Lindsborg, Kansas, know that you no longer care for me.”
    “Because that isn’t true,” Rurik countered. “I didn’t say I was breaking our betrothal. I only think it would do us good to have some time apart to think on it.”
    “But I don’t want time apart.” This time she truly did sound like a little girl.
    Rurik looked to his best friend, hoping for support. “Nils, would you please help her to understand I’m not deserting her? I’m merely going to help my uncle, and in turn it will help us.”
    Nils fixed Rurik with a hard gaze. “I think she’s right. You two should marry, and we should start up our own business—just like we’ve always planned. Svea’s a woman full grown, and there doesn’t need to be any delay in you two marrying. Your uncle can hire someone to help him. Doesn’t he already have a group of men who work for him?”
    “He does, but—”
    “But nothing. There’s the answer. Those men know what he needs—after all, they’ve been working with him all this time. He and your grandfather might have taught you to build furniture, but you don’t know anything about the business he’s running now. Besides, Minnesota is a really cold place to go.”
    “What does the cold have to do with it?” Rurik asked. “It’s cold in Kansas, too.” He was starting to think that neither of the Olsson siblings had any sense at all. If they did, they certainly weren’t allowing it to guide their reasoning.
    Nils shook his head. “You wouldn’t be doing this if your father were still alive.”
    “Look, why don’t I come out to the farm, and we can sit and talk about this away from all these folks.” He motioned toward a number of the local gossips coming their way. The last thing he wanted to do was create a scene. “I’ll even explain it to your mother and father.”
    “This shouldn’t be that big of a problem,” Nils argued. “You know as well as I do that the betrothal should be honored. Our plans should be honored, as well. I’ve been counting on it.”
    “Rurik doesn’t care about honoring promises,” Svea said with a toss of her head. “I’m going to the dressmaker. You try to talk sense into him.” She turned on her heel and headed off down the boardwalk, plowing right through the gaggle of women. Several gasped their astonishment, but Svea didn’t appear to care. She scowled at the