Chapter Ten

"You're doing that exactly right," Ilsa said, looking over Luna's shoulder as she sewed a curved seam on a sewing machine in Ilsa's shop.

"Thank you. I'm glad I'm not making a mess of this beautiful fabric."

"You've made such progress, Luna." Ilsa smiled at her, then took a drink from a glass of water she'd set on her front counter.

Luna was glad she'd come to the shop to help Ilsa today. Since the restaurant was closed on Mondays, she had nothing else that required her attention. Tony had taken Laila with him to deliver ice on the nearby Umatilla Indian Reservation. They planned to eat lunch with Rebecca Williams, who often beaded bags and trim for Ilsa, before they returned to Pendleton to make more ice deliveries.

When Ilsa had suggested she and Luna eat lunch at Gideon McBride's establishment, Luna had readily agreed. They'd worked hard all morning, enjoyed a tasty cold chicken salad for lunch followed by slices of chilled lemon cake, then returned to the shop.

While Luna worked on the basic seams of a lilac-hued dress, Ilsa added the finishing touches to a summer silk gown dripping with airy lace that would be shipped to a client in California.

In the weeks since Luna had been helping Ilsa, she'd picked up several tips and tricks for sewing apparel. Ilsa had been more than generous in teaching her, as well as giving her clothing in trade for her work when Luna refused the money Ilsa had offered. Just last week, Ilsa had presented her with a beautiful shirtwaist Luna had been admiring ever since she'd arrived in town. It was airy and light and lovely. She could hardly wait to wear it, although she hadn't yet decided if it was best to save it for church or some other occasion when she wanted to look her best.

"When you finish that seam, go ahead and start on the hem where I've marked it. By the time you do that, we'll be ready to wrap things up for the day."

"That sounds good to me," Luna said, then blushed as her stomach growled.

Ilsa laughed and resumed the seat she'd occupied most of the day, positioned to catch the natural light streaming in the front windows. At first, Luna had wondered why Ilsa had a sewing machine in the front of the shop as well as three in the back, but she'd quickly learned Ilsa loved the sunlight, and it was much brighter in the front of her store than the back.

"Perhaps we should head home sooner rather than later for dinner," Ilsa remarked as her needle flashed in the sunlight while she quickly added additional trim to the gown in her lap. "Tony said he'd take care of the evening meal."

"I won't argue against that," Luna said with a grin, then returned to her work. She'd just finished and clipped the threads when the screen door creaked, and the bell above the door jangled as Marnie Thorsen sailed inside with a newspaper clutched in her hand.

"Did you hear the terrible news?" she asked, looking from Ilsa to Luna.

"No. What happened?" Ilsa asked, setting aside the dress in her hands and rising from her chair. Luna stood from her seat at the sewing machine and walked over to the counter, where Marnie smoothed out the newspaper, pointing to the bold headline. "Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. They were assassinated yesterday."

"Oh, gracious!" Ilsa said, placing a hand on her throat. "Wasn't he the heir to a throne?"

Marnie nodded. "Yes. That's what the article states. It seems they were in Sarajevo for an official visit. Someone threw a bomb at the royal auto, and they escaped, only to be shot by a nineteen-year-old student. The newspaper says the authorities think it might be part of a larger plot." Marnie tapped a smaller article. "It says there are concerns the emperor may die from the shock brought about from news of the assassination."

"It's all so terrible," Ilsa said as she scanned the article. "I wonder what this will mean? If there will be retaliation for their deaths?"

Luna stood behind Ilsa and read over her shoulder, shocked that someone would shoot the royal couple, and do it in broad daylight. It took her mind back to the day she and Matteo were shot. She still had no idea why the gunmen had started shooting or who had been their intended target. Matteo hadn't been the only one to die that day. It was all so senseless, needless, and tragic.

The darkness that brought waves of fear and anxiety began to settle over Luna. She moved back until her legs bumped against a chair, and she sank onto the cushioned seat.

"Put your head down, sugar," Marnie said, lightly pressing on Luna's back. "It'll help."

Luna did as Marnie suggested, dropping her head below her knees. Eyes closed, she drew in several breaths, holding them a moment before she blew them out. She felt a gentle hand rubbing her back and another holding onto her hands, offering strength and support.

When the blackness receded, Luna opened her eyes to find both women looking at her with concern and care.

"Better?" Marnie asked, and Luna nodded her head.

Ilsa handed her a glass of water, which Luna drank in a few long swallows. She straightened in the chair and expelled one more long breath before she felt like herself again.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"I do. That article. It had to bring harsh memories to mind," Ilsa said, squeezing Luna's hand.

"I'm sorry, Luna. I should have thought …" Marnie paused and patted her on the back. "I'm truly sorry."

"Don't apologize, Marnie. You didn't do anything wrong. It was just reading about such a cruel event that made me recall my own terrifying experience. You couldn't have known. Obviously, I had no idea I'd react so strongly to the article."

"But you handled it well, Luna." Ilsa offered her a soft smile. "We'll have to remember to have you drop your head down the next time you have a problem."

"I heartily wish there would never be a next time, but considering I used to have these episodes daily, I feel that I am making progress."

"Well, of course you are." Ilsa squeezed her hand again, then motioned to the newspaper. "It is such a tragedy. I can't help but wonder what repercussions will come of it."

"Nothing good, I'm sure," Marnie said, folding up the paper and glancing at the clock. "I left Alek with Lars while I ran a few errands. I'd better catch up with them before that boy decides to lock Kade and Lars in a jail cell and loses the keys."

Luna grinned at the image created in her mind. Ilsa laughed as she walked Marnie to the door.

"See you tomorrow?" Ilsa asked as Marnie stepped outside. Marnie helped Ilsa in the shop several days a week. When Ilsa was overrun with orders, she also hired a few women in town to work for her on a part-time basis. It worked well for all parties involved.

"I'll be here." Marnie waved at Luna, then strode down the sidewalk in the direction of the sheriff's office.

"I do believe we should call it a day." Ilsa pushed the door shut and locked it, turned the open sign to closed, and motioned to Luna. "Let's go home and eat our dinner out on the back porch in the shade. It's so much cooler there than in the house this time of day."

Luna listened to Ilsa's chatter while they tidied the store and then left for home. They'd just reached the corner, waiting to cross Main Street, when a blur raced by, startling them both. Luna realized it was Hunter Douglas on a big bay horse as it thundered up the street.

Unable to pull her gaze from him as he rode with both skill and grace, like he was an extension of the horse, Luna marveled at the fine form of Hunter.

Ilsa laughed and tugged her hand. "You can ogle Hunter later. It's far too hot out to stand here baking like a biscuit on the corner."

Luna felt her cheeks warm, not from the hot summer day but embarrassment at being caught watching Hunter. Then again, she supposed the only one she was even slightly fooling about her interest in the handsome, engaging man was herself.