Jessie

by Lori Wick

  The woman at the counter could not be termed anything but beautiful. Jessie got down to the store in time to watch Seth filling the woman's order, a woman Jessie had never seen before. Jessie was able to stand unnoticed by the folks at the front counter, but she didn't miss a thing. The woman openly flirted a few times, but Seth didn't even smile. He was the most businesslike Jessie had ever seen him.

  "Is there anything else?" Seth asked.

  "Well," the woman began, drawing the word out, her eyes on his face.

  "I'm glad you're all set," Seth said quickly. "Thank you."

  This said, Seth came around the counter, not even offering to help her carry the order. It was small, but he typically made the offer to most female customers.

  Jessie turned away just in time to avoid getting caught watching. She felt Seth come up beside her and turned to him with myriad conflicting emotions.

  "How's Hannah?" Seth asked the moment he got to Jessie's side. "Still warm, but resting."

  "Are you getting sick?" Seth asked, thinking she looked tired. "No, I'm fine," Jessie said, a bit more sharply than she planned. Seth nodded, wondering what he'd done wrong.

  "Hannah wants to see you," Jessie said, making herself say what she'd come to say.

  183"Do you want me to go now?" Seth asked, trying to read her.

  Jessie nodded, but it bothered her that he felt he had to ask. For the first time in her life, she didn't like being in charge. She didn't like Seth always asking permission. Unwilling to examine where all of this was coming from, Jessie went to the front counter and set to work.

  "How are you?" Seth asked the warm child in his bed, her little face flushed.

  "Mama says I have a fever."

  "I think she's right," Seth said, his hand going to her face.

  "Here, Hannah." Clancy came through the door just then with a

  glass of water. "Hi, Seth," she added when she spotted him.

  "Hi, Clancy. It looks like you're taking good care of your sister." "Mama said I could come down and be with you in the store, but I

  knewHannah needed me here."

  "I think you made the right decision," Seth said, watching her climb onto the bed and look at her sister.

  "Did you miss us?" Hannah asked, her voice wispy.

  "I did. It wasn't very busy this morning, and I missed talking to you."

  "I should be better soon," Hannah told him, her small face sincere.

  "I hope so. I've been praying for you."

  "To God?" Clancy asked, moving closer to him and frowning in concentration.

  "Yes."

  "Did He hear you?"

  "I believe He did, Clancy. It's important to agree with God about the things He wants when we pray, and that's the way I prayed." "What did you say?" Hannah asked.

  "Well, I asked Him to heal you if that was His will, but I also asked Him to help you in other ways," Seth said, not wanting to elaborate. He

  184thought it might be fine with Jessie that the girls go to church, but he wanted to be careful as to when he should tell the girls about what he believed. Thankfully Clancy and Hannah let the topic drop, moving on with amazing speed to the subject of school.

  "We go in just a few weeks," Clancy said. "What will I wear?" "Mama will get us new dresses."

  "Does she always get you new dresses?" their father asked. "Every year," Hannah said.

  "Do you get to pick them out, or does she?"

  "We get to pick out the color we want," Clancy told him.

  "I get blue," Hannah said, and for the first time Seth noticed she was looking very tired.

  "I like blue too. Clancy," Seth said to that little girl, "I think we need , to let Hannah rest a bit."

  "Are you leaving?" Hannah said.

  "Aren't you tired?" Seth asked.

  Hannah nodded with a head that felt weighted. She was tired, but she was also enjoying hearing Seth talk to her and thinking about school.

  "Here you go," Seth stood, bending over her to settle the covers around her. "Sleep for a little while." He kissed her forehead before straightening.

  Hannah nodded, and Seth could see she had no choice. Her eyes were already closing, and with a finger to his lips, he ushered Clancy out into the living room. He sat in one of the chairs and brought Clancy close to him. She needed no other invitation. She climbed into his lap.

  "Do you want to go down to the store or stay here in case Hannah needs something?"

  "I'd better stay until Mama comes."

  "That sounds like a good idea. I'll head down so she can come up."

  Clancy nodded but made no move to get off his lap. Seth did not want to leave Jessie in the store too long, but he thought that sitting here with Clancy, the smell of dinner filling the room, could be comfortable for a long time.

  185I love you, Clancy,his heart said. He thought it might be all right to tell her that but feared it was too soon. He looked down at her small head, seeing how content she was to sit with him and hoping she would not grow ill with her sister.

  "I'd better get downstairs," he made himself say.

  Clancy looked up at him, and Seth tried to read her thoughts. For once she didn't say exactly what she was thinking. Kissing her forehead, much as he had Hannah's, he made himself stand and leave the apartment.

  He was on the stairs when Clancy changed her mind and came down with him.

  "How is Jeb?" Jessie asked Patience when she came in. She had just seen Becky off, and before her was Bret Toben from the saloon across the street.

  "He's doing well. He's not putting weight on the ankle yet, but he's definitely doing better."

  "Hannah is sick right now, but we'll be over as soon as she's feeling better."

  "Is it what Seth had?"

  "It might be. She hasn't complained of a headache."

  "I would have thought that Seth would watch things for you so you could be with her," Patience said, voicing her thoughts.

  "I just came down here. Hannah wanted to see him."

  Patience was impressed, and she could see that Jessie was pleased. For the first time, she began to wonder if Jessie might be willing to give her marriage another try She didn't dare say this but planned to discuss it with Jeb. Jeb could get away with asking, and she hoped he would.

  Jessie, completely unaware of Patience's thoughts, helped her with her order, loaded her basket, and sent her on her way. Not until she was done did she begin to wonder what had happened to Seth. He had been gone a long time, and she was ready to check on Hannah.

  186She had decided to give him a few more minutes when he came down. Clancy was leading the way, and of course she entered the room talking.

  "When do I get my new school dress?"

  "How is Hannah?" Jessie asked, ignoring the question.

  "She's sleeping," the little girl replied.

  Jessie looked to Seth, who nodded.

  "How was she doing?"

  "She was still pretty warm but wanting to talk. Did you want to head back up?"

  "I think I will. I'll come back in a bit so you can have dinner." "It smelled good," Seth told her.

  "Chicken and dumplings."

  Seth's eyes went to Jessie's, but she would not look at him. On his part, Seth could not look away. Was there a slight softening in his wife? Was she a little less formal and strained with him? In light of her questions from the night before, this made no sense, but he was seeing something different

  "Chicken and dumplings?" Clancy could not help but hear. "The wet ones?"

  "You will try them," Jessie said in a voice that meant business, but Clancy's face told them she was not thrilled.

  Jessie went on her way, Clancy at her heels, talking all the while about dumplings and school dresses. Seth had to laugh. If that little girl had anything to do with it, she would find a way to get out of eating those dumplings. Seth knew one thing, however: Clancy was strong, but Jessie was stronger. It would be interesting to see how the meal ended.

  187

 
BRI STOOD AT THEedge of the livery and watched her husband work. He hadn't seen her yet, and since a livery could be very unsafe for a woman in a long skirt, she kept her distance until he noticed.

  When he did, it was worth it. Rylan Jaryik froze at the unexpected sight of his wife and stared. Moving deliberately, he set his tools down and wiped his hands. Not willing to rush, the big man walked slowly to the other end of the livery, his eyes on her all the while. Bri was blushing by the time he stopped in front of her, causing him to smile.

  "Well, now," he said softly. "This is a nice surprise."

  "Heather said she needed to get out of the house and came to watch Danny."

  "I'll have to thank her."

  Bri smiled up at him, looking as pleased as she felt. Rylan bent to kiss her, careful not to touch her with anything but his lips.

  "What are you up to?" Rylan asked, having already read the situation.

  "Well, since I suddenly have a bit of time, I thought I might walk down to Willow Street and see if I know anyone."

  "No," Rylan said without hesitation and with no heat.

  "Just for a few minutes," Bri tried again.

  188Rylan shook his head in denial and also chagrin. Willow Street was the area where Token Creek's most disreputable citizens lived. When she first moved to Token Creek, Bri had not been able to find an apartment and lived on Willow Street. It was not without some serious mishaps, but it had led to three different women turning their lives over to Jesus Christ, all of whom left lifestyles of prostitution. Two of them had left town to start over or return to family. The other was working for the foundry office, met with Bri each week, and never missed a Sunday morning with the church family.

  "I haven't been down there for months," Bri tried this time. "And you're working."

  "Why don't we go this evening when I'm done," Rylan said, not able to flat-out deny her.

  "Heather won't be with Danny then."

  "We'll take Danny up to Jeanette's. You know one of them will be free to look after him, and even if they're all busy, Becky will want him."

  Bri smiled in pleasure, and Rylan leaned to kiss her again.

  "What am I going to do with you?" he said, remembering well her desire to help others while taking little thought to her own needs and safety.

  "I don't know." Bri gave her standard answer, her tone always saying something else.

  They kissed goodbye, and Rylan stepped outside long enough to watch her walk on her way. Her condition was beginning to be obvious, but other than her waist expanding, she looked very much like she had the day he'd first seen her. Rylan smiled with the memory.

  ezvlozrs,

  Heather had not forgotten her conversation with Nate, but when he arrived at the shop within an hour of its opening on Wednesday, she was surprised. She was also pleased. She had thought about him a good deal the last few days and realized how kind he had been on Sunday.

  189"Good morning," Jeanette greeted the town's sheriff, noticing a shirt in his hands.

  "Good morning, ladies. Can one of you look at this shirt and tell me if it can be fixed?"

  "Certainly," Jeanette said, working not to hand it directly to Heather. That woman had stayed at the sewing machine but turned to see Nate. She was not looking strained, but she didn't seem to be full of words either.

  Nate waited only for Jeanette to take the shirt before he turned to address Heather.

  "How are you today?"

  "I'm doing well. How are you?"

  "I'm fine. I can tell that August is over. It feels like fall out there this morning."

  "I wore a sweater," Heather said in agreement.

  "This one?" Nate asked, pointing to the one on the back of her chair.

  "Oh, yes. I forgot I hung it there."

  "Did you make it?"

  Heather nodded and smiled. "A neighbor taught me how to knit when I was still in my teens."

  Nate could not imagine making something like that with his own hands, so for a moment he ran out of words.

  "I think I can fix this, Nate," Jeanette spoke up. "Are you in a hurry?"

  "No. I can't even remember when I did that, but it's not a very old shirt, and I thought it might be worth fixing."

  Jeanette had handed it to Heather, who inspected the tear.

  "The fabric is like new," Heather agreed. "I think if we take the pocket off and then fix the hole, we can shift the pocket and hide just about all the seams underneath."

  Nate had taken that opportunity to move a little closer. Heather looked up and smiled at him.

  "I would appreciate it," he said quietly, looking back at Heather and wondering how anyone could be so sweet.

  190"We'll let you know as soon as it's done."

  "Thank you. Heather," Nate made himself add, "if I came by after supper on Friday night, would you have time to go on a walk with me?"

  "I would have time, yes," Heather said.

  "Is six-thirty too early?"

  "No."

  "I'll see you then."

  Heather nodded, and Nate bid the ladies goodbye. The shop was quiet on his exit. Heather didn't say anything. She sat and stared at the wall in front of the sewing machine, and Jeanette stared at her.

  "Are you all right?" Jeanette asked after a long silence.

  "I think so."

  "Are you a little afraid?"

  "A little. A man's never asked me on a walk."

  "Never, Heather?"

  Heather shook her head no.

  "You've never been out alone with a man?" Jeanette had to ask it another way.

  "Never," Heather said simply. "I told you, Jeanette. I'm not the type of woman that men fall for."

  "Until now."

  Heather laughed at her tone and the way Jeanette's eyebrows rose so high. She went back to sewing with her mind only half on the job.

  As the week moved on and Seth went through the daily routine, he found a letter from his brother in the mail. He had kept the last letter he received in this mercantile a secret from his wife. He did not plan to make that mistake again. He slipped it into his pocket. Over supper that evening or in plain view in the living room, he would bring it out and read it. He was still working on the post when Rylan walked in.

  "Hello, stranger," the bigger man greeted.

  191"Hello, yourself. It's good to see you."

  "I was hoping you'd feel that way," Rylan said.

  Seth laughed before asking why.

  "It's occurred to me that with you living at my house, we had plenty of time to talk. I think we need to keep meeting together."

  Seth felt relief flood through him. He had so many questions, and much as he enjoyed being with Jessie and the girls, he missed Rylan's calm presence each evening. It had never once occurred to him to ask Rylan if they could meet together.

  With all these thoughts running through his mind, Seth simply said, "I would like that"

  "Should we try to pick a time or just take each week as it comes?" Rylan asked.

  "I think I'd prefer a set time."

  "I can manage Monday nights or just about any morning."

  Seth had to think about this. He would not have considered a morning meeting had Rylan not mentioned it. They bandied about the time and day, and before Rylan left, the two men had a plan.

  When the store was busy, Seth and Jessie were rarely in the same place at the same time, but this Thursday things were a bit quiet. Jessie said she was behind on her orders and spent most of her time at the table in the storeroom poring over catalogs. Seth was not very busy out front, which led him to the storeroom off and on all day. It was for this reason that he knew the exact moment something was wrong. He heard a gasp and then a shuffle and went toward the table.

  "Jessie?" Seth said, finding her kneeling on the worktable.

  "I think there was a mouse," she whispered, her eyes on the spot.

  "Where?" Seth asked, having been through this many years before. His remarkably independent, confident wife was afraid of mice.r />
  "Right there by the rice sacks."

  Seth went that way and began to dislodge things. Not only did he

  192not find a mouse, he found no signs of one. He knew it was still too warm for them to be indoors but didn't mention that. He moved and checked everything in the area, Jessie watching him all the while.

  "Nothing, Jess," Seth said, going back to her. In the past he might have teased her a little, but not today.

  "You're sure?"

  "I checked," he stated calmly, his eyes watching her.

  It took Jessie a moment to become convinced, and when she looked away from the spot, she found Seth's eyes on hers. It took some seconds to read his look, and then Jessie remembered with him. He used to sit on this table, effectively dropping the difference in their heights, and hold her in his arms and kiss her. It was in the early days, before fights and before Hannah, and the memory was sweet.

  Seth made himself look away from Jessie, but much to his chagrin he spotted a box of women's undergarments. His mind didn't need much prompting. His gaze swung back to his wife.

  "Do you still wear camisoles?" he asked quietly.

  "Yes," Jessie whispered.

  "With ribbons?"

  Jessie could only nod, and Seth's eyes closed. He took a moment to compose himself and then spoke without looking at her.

  "Are you all right about mice now?"

  "Yes," Jessie said, even going so far as to get off the table and sit down again, watching her husband all the while. This was the reason she knew he did little more than nod before taking himself back out front to the store.

  "What's that?" Clancy asked that evening when she found Seth in the living room with the letter. Hannah had been invited to Deena Rothman's house, and she was still not home.

  "This is a letter from my brother."

  "You have a brother?"

  193"Yes. His name is Eliot. He lives in Texas."

  Jessie, who had just claimed one of the living room chairs, was all ears, but Seth didn't look at her.

  "What does he say?"

  "Shall I read it to you?" Seth offered.

  Clancy nodded and Seth began.

  Dear Seth,

  I thought of you today and knew it was time to write. I think of you most days, but as you know, I rarely put ink to paper. Nate and I were tlking today, and he was trying to figure out how God could be forever. Do you remember our discussions about that when we were still in Hollywood? I remember how amazed you were. Your mind couldn't take it in. Nate was the same way today, and for the first time I felt the same thing. It was special. I'm glad it hadn't happened now. Knowing what I know about the cross and forgiveness makes it even more amazing.