Down Jasper Lane (Amherst Island Trilogy)

“Da,” she said. “I have something for you.”

The leaves were drifting from the trees in lazy scarlet circles when Ellen walked up Jasper Lane in early October. She’d left her valise at the ferry, as she hadn’t sent word of her arrival. The walk was a long one but she didn’t mind. The sky was hazy and blue, the breeze warm, and she wanted to be alone. She wanted to think through everything that had happened, and finally, firmly decide the first steps towards her future.

It had been good to see Da, Ellen had come to realize, because in a strange way it had set her free. She loved him and she knew he loved her. That would have to be enough, because she knew now they would have no life together. They’d changed too much, grown too far apart as they pursued separate destinies, and it would continue to be so.

After leaving Santa Fe, she’d stopped at Seaton and stayed for a few weeks, to see Uncle Hamish. He was coping well, the townspeople surrounding and supporting him.

“What will you do?” Ellen had asked one evening, and Hamish smiled.

“Stay here. I don’t know what else I’m good for, really. I know the world is changing, and the days of the general store might be nearing an end, what with the catalogue store right on Main Street. Sears Roebuck, it’s called, and it sells more than I ever could.” He sighed. “But I’m still making a living, at any rate.” He paused, his eyes bright. “And speaking of that, Ellen, there’s something I want to tell you. I told you I had some put by, and besides that it turns out your aunt left you something, a legacy I’d call it, although that might be too grand a word. It’s not much, enough to see you through a few years perhaps, with whatever you want to do. The details are with the bank. I didn’t know about it myself till she passed on, but she wanted it for you. She put a bit aside for you, every month.” He paused, his voice choking with emotion. “She did love you, Ellen.”

“I know,” Ellen said quietly. “And I loved her.”

They’d just both had strange ways of showing it.

Now as Ellen saw the McCafferty farmhouse in the distance, heard Pat’s barking and a faint trill of laughter, she smiled. No matter where she went, this was home.

Ellen squinted and saw a figure in the distance down the lane. For one moment she thought it was Lucas, but then she remembered he would be in Kingston by now, at Queen’s. The figure came closer, and Ellen saw it was Jed. He was leading a pig by a rope.

“Ellen!” He smiled with some of the old ease and affection they had lost. “World traveler that you are. You’ve been to New Mexico and back! How is your father?”

“He’s well.” Ellen pointed to the pig. “You’re not leading that poor old sow to the slaughterhouse, I hope?”

“Not yet. She needs some fattening up. No, she’s wandered into our garden and I’m bringing her back to yours. Pa would be right cross about it if our pig wasn’t doing the same.”

She fell into step with Jed, the pig trailing reluctantly behind them, with Jed giving the beast a tug forward every now and then. “How have things been here? Any news?”

“The old Togg farmhouse burned down, and most said it was a blessing. And the McClellands are bringing a motorcar to the island—they’re going to drive it over on the ice when the lake freezes over.”

“I expect everyone on the island will have a motorcar, sooner or later,” Ellen said and Jed shook his head in disbelief.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about. I’ll stick to horses, thanks very much.”

“And what about Lucas and Peter?” Ellen asked. “They’re off to Kingston?”

“Yes, they went last week. Half the island saw them off, as usual.”

Ellen smiled, picturing it. “Good.”

Jed cleared his throat. “Louisa took the same ferry. She travelled back to Vermont.”

Ellen nodded, her eyes on the ground and her measured steps. “You had a good visit?”

“Yes.” Jed was silent, and Ellen waited, knowing there was something more to be said. “There’s a bit more news,” he finally said. “The thing is... Louisa and I are engaged.”

Ellen nodded, silent for a moment. She’d expected no less. Yet she found the news didn’t hurt as much as she’d thought it would. It still hurt, there was no denying that, but not with the crippling pain she’d felt a few months ago. She looked up, meeting his gaze, and smiled. “I wish you happy then, Jed.”

Jed jerked his head in a nod. “She’s going to move up here next month,” he continued, “and stay with the McCaffertys until the wedding. We’ll be married in December. She says she doesn’t mind being a farmer’s wife.”

“And so she shouldn’t.”

Jed looked down at the ground, one worn boot scuffing the dirt. “It seems odd, the way it’s all happened. I never expected...” He trailed off, still gazing at the dirt.

“She loves you,” Ellen said gently. “I know that. And you love her?”

He glanced up at her, and she saw so much raw and pained emotion in his gray eyes. “Love is a funny thing,” he finally said, and Ellen nodded.

“It is, at that.”