by Lori Wick
“I ate lunch with Paddy today,” Milly told her brother. They had gone into the barn, but cold as it was Milly seemed in no hurry to rush inside. She stood holding her books in front of her, her hat and mittens still in place.
“I saw you.” Clayton stared at her over the back of the horse.
“He said something about Jackie.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. He wondered if the two of you might be seeing each other. He said she watched you the whole morning.”
Clayton nodded. He’d been more than aware of her gaze.
“I don’t think she hates you anymore, Tag,” Milly continued. “I don’t think she hates anyone anymore.”
Clayton came out from the stall, patting the roan-colored rump as he passed. He stopped before Milly.
“Maybe she’s growing up a little.”
“Maybe. She still doesn’t have many friends, though,” Milly said sadly.
“It takes time for a person to live down a bad reputation. Sometimes it never goes away.”
“But you’ve never been angry back or hated her, have you Tag?”
“Well, not for long. Where Jackie and I are concerned, I brought some of her feelings on myself. I pushed in and teased her, and hurt her in the process. I know better now.”
Milly suddenly had to hug her brother. “You’re going to make a wonderful teacher, Tag. I know that with all my heart.”
Clayton gladly hugged her in return. Nothing else she could have said would have warmed his heart more.
“Jacqueline, you will go to the back now with Mr. Taggart. Please explain the Upper Form mathematics. Go over what we’ve been learning and be certain to take your book.”
“Yes, Miss Bradley.” Jackie’s voice was subdued, but she obeyed. Her legs shook just a little as she rose and turned to the back. Jackie sat in the last seat so she didn’t have far to go to the table and two chairs that had been set up at the back. Clayton was waiting for her, ready to hold her chair. Jackie thanked him in a soft voice and waited until he sat opposite her. She thought they would get right down to business, but Clayton surprised her.
“Why do you suppose Miss Bradley chose you to tell me about this?”
“Oh.” Jackie faltered for a moment and made her hands lie still on the table. “Well, I think maybe because I’m good in this subject.”
“Is it your favorite?”
Jackie looked into his eyes and then down, feeling very self–conscious.
“No, but I like it all right.”
“What is your favorite?”
“World history.”
Clayton smiled.
“Mine too.”
Jackie bit her lip, but her smile stretched through. She forced herself to ask, “Did you want to hear about math now?”
“Sure,” Clayton answered easily, and Jackie felt herself relaxing. She knew, however, that Clayton would have been just as content to sit and talk with her about something other than math. She opened the book, and Clayton leaned forward intently.
Jackie was very good at explaining things, and everything was familiar to Clayton, who was also good in math. He couldn’t have said exactly when she lost him, but at some point the young man stopped listening to math and started listening more to the young woman.
The sound of Jackie’s voice and the way her slim–fingered hands moved captivated him. The deep blue of her eyes was nearly hypnotic, and Clayton wondered when his feelings for her had moved from concern to something deeper. He was still concerned for her and cared more than he could tell her, but there was another feeling sinking deeply into his heart.
The funny part was that Clayton didn’t know why. Jackie was not sweet and gentle like Eddie, or sensitive and kind like Danny, but she was Jackie—just Jackie. She was a girl in whom Clayton had seen serious faults, but he still cared. And although she tried her hardest not to disclose herself, he also saw a vulnerability in her that tore his heart nearly in two. Maybe she was like the students he hoped to teach one day. He simply ached to “take her on” and help her to be all she could be.
Clayton now forced his mind back to the book Jackie was holding. He was going to have to go slowly here, and well he knew it. His emotions could easily take him out of control. He knew this because as much as he wanted to teach students of all shapes and sizes, he didn’t have the desire to kiss any of them the way he did Jackie Fontaine.
“Did that make sense?”
“Yes.” Clayton swiftly gathered his thoughts. “Yes, it did. Now will you be through with this book before the year ends?”
“I don’t think so. We have some more difficult steps coming up.” Jackie swiftly turned to the back of the book. “See? Right here. Miss Bradley says we’ll be taking extra time on these.”
Clayton studied the pages. Very involved fractions. This too was familiar. He then thanked Jackie and asked her if she would want a ride home.
“I’m not going home today,” she told him. “It’s my day to work at the store, but thank you.”
“I can swing you by,” Clayton offered and watched Jackie’s cheeks flush.
“You don’t have to,” she told him and closed the book.
“Well, it’s up to you. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”
There was something in his tone and the way he said the words that made Jackie think he was talking about far more than a ride in the wagon. She stood swiftly and pushed her chair in. Clayton rose also.
“I’d appreciate a ride,” she nearly whispered, her eyes not readable. “Thank you, Clayton.” With that she slipped away to her seat, and Clayton was left to wonder just what he had said.
12
The following Saturday morning Jackie was sitting quietly in a kitchen chair while Eddie trimmed her bangs. She kept her eyes closed but had a tendency to wrinkle her brow, and Eddie kept telling her to hold still. Indeed, Eddie really scolded her when Clayton’s voice was heard coming through the house. He was talking as he walked, and it was clear that he had come in the front door and was heading their way.
“Just put them on the table, Clay,” Addy instructed as she entered, the young man behind her. “I’ll run upstairs and get those things for your mother.”
“Well, now,” Clayton spoke when his hostess had left, his smile huge. “Can I be next?”
“No,” Eddie told him without hesitation. “Jackie is the third one since 6:30 this morning, and I’m at my limit.”
“My loss,” Clayton announced and sat down to watch. “I think you’re missing some on this side.”
Eddie smiled, her eyes still on her work, but Jackie couldn’t see that.
“Oh, no!” Clayton exclaimed. “Look at that big mistake. And right in the front too!”
Jackie wiggled a little, a smile on her face as well, and Eddie told her to hold still again.
“Watch it, Eddie. Don’t make it any worse,” Clayton continued to tease as Sammy came to see the commotion.
“Hi, Tag. What are you doing?”
Clayton opened his mouth to answer, but Jackie suddenly said, “Making a pest of himself.”
Clayton’s mouth remained open, but this time with incredulity. Both Eddie and Sammy were laughing, but he was sputtering like a boiling teakettle.
“A pest! She called me a pest!”
Jackie took a peek at him, her eyes brimming with laughter.
“Hold still, Jackie.”
“Are you nearly finished?”
“Yes.”
“She called me a pest,” Jackie heard Clayton say again. “Well, that’s the last time I help you get a haircut, Jackie Fontaine!”
Jackie only smiled, glad that she could keep her eyes closed.
“All right, Clay,” Addy said as she returned, “these are for your mother. Tell her I’ll get the baskets back to her right after the wedding.”
“Will do,” Clayton told her. “Is there anything else, Addy?”
“Are you headed into town or home?”
“To tow
n.”
“Can you run the girls to the store? They’re already late.”
“Sure.”
“Great.” Addy thanked him with that one word and went to the stairs to call Lexa and Danny. They tumbled down a moment later, glad to be getting a ride, but Jackie, who was now finished at the table, hung back. She had enjoyed teasing with Clayton when she couldn’t see him, but now she felt foolish. The others had gone to bundle into warm things, so Jackie found herself alone with Clayton.
“Did you want a ride?” he asked.
“No,” she said without looking at him. “I have to clean up, so I’ll just walk.”
“The snow’s pretty deep; I’d be glad to wait.”
Jackie finally looked at him.
“Whatever you want,” he added.
Jackie looked at him for a moment more. “I’ll hurry,” she said, feeling oddly breathless and dashing for the stairs.
Clayton stood quite still, his heart beating like a trip-hammer in his chest. Had he really seen something there, or had he just wanted to see something? Only time would tell.
A week and a half later Clayton was in the general store with a special gift in mind. Mitch was on hand to help him, but the older man seemed strangely preoccupied.
“Maybe I should get Jackie from the back,” Mitch finally suggested.
“Oh, is she here? Why don’t you? Tell her the pest is here.”
Mitch smiled and moved away. A few minutes later Jackie emerged from the back, trying very hard not to smile herself. She knew her face was flushed, but Clayton looked and sounded very normal.
“Hello, Jackie.”
“Hello, Clay. Uncle Mitch said you needed some help.”
“Yes. I’m looking for something for Robert and Eddie. My mother bought them a gift from the whole family, but I’d like to get a little something myself.”
“Oh, that’s a nice idea. Let’s see.” Jackie turned slowly and tried to think, her mind dealing with the facts. It was still unbelievable that Clayton was offering kindness to her. And she was finding that when he was close, concentration was difficult. She felt as though she’d been rescued when she thought to look in the household goods.
“Actually, you have many choices,” she said as she moved toward that counter. “If you want something practical, these cutglass salt and pepper shakers are five cents each; if you’re after a little more decorative item, this vase is 38 cents.”
Clayton studied all of them. “I wish I’d thought to ask Eddie.”
Jackie shook her head. “It wouldn’t have done any good. I don’t know what all women are like who plan to be married in ten days’ time, but Eddie’s feet are not even on the ground.”
Clayton chuckled. “She told me Robert comes Friday.”
“Yes, and she’s praying every day that the snow will begin to melt a little. She said she doesn’t care if he and Travis get snowed in, she just doesn’t want them snowed out.”
Clayton was smiling, but as he watched Jackie his look was very intent. It rather unnerved her. Beginning to feel flustered, Jackie grabbed the closest thing and held it in the air.
“Potato masher.” She waved the metal object in the air. “You could give her that.”
Clayton laughed. “Oh, I don’t know. I was thinking maybe a combination rat-and-mouse trap.”
Jackie really laughed at that, but then turned serious. “I do know something she and Robert would enjoy.” Jackie reached beneath the counter and brought out a small box. “These are from England, so they’re not as large as American ones. They’re teaspoons, and Eddie loves to make tea. She would probably use them all the time. The only problem is the cost. I can’t break up the set, and they’re twelve cents each.” She sounded apologetic.
“How many are there?”
“Eight. Would you like to see them?”
Ninety-six cents. Clayton’s brain was calculating fast. If he looked at them and liked what he saw, he’d have a hard time saying no, but a dollar was a lot of money out of his pocket right now.
“I’ll look at them,” he said after a moment, and just as he suspected, they were beautiful. He was putting aside literally every penny for his schooling in the fall, but Eddie and Robert were very special to him.
“I’ll take them,” he said at last, and Jackie offered to wrap the box.
Well satisfied with his purchase, Clayton left the store just a few minutes later, his mind still on Jackie. She had definitely changed toward him, but he could tell she wanted to keep things lighthearted. She called him a pest when he thanked her for the help and had swiftly turned away to busy herself with the shelves behind the counter. Clayton wondered if he would ever really know where he stood with that girl.
Old Doc Edwardson stared across the room at his patient, knowing it had to be the other man’s decision but not agreeing with it.
“What if it were Morgan? Wouldn’t you want to know, Mitch?”
“Yes, but then my daughter’s not getting married in a few days. I won’t do anything to spoil that joy.”
The old doctor nodded. He could hardly argue with that.
“Well, take it easy. Maybe that old ticker of yours will give us more time than we think.”
“I’m already taking it easy,” Mitch told him calmly. “Have been ever since Morgan and Addy came.”
The doctor pursed his lips, his eyes thoughtful. “I wish I could do something for you.”
“Thanks, Ed, but I’m not worried. I’ve something better waiting on the other side.”
Doc Edwardson smiled. He too believed in life after death for those who understood and believed in the work done on the cross.
“I can give you something for the pain. Are you interested?”
“How bad is it going to get?”
“It might get very bad, or you might just drop down dead,” came the doctor’s blunt reply.
Mitch thought a moment. “I’ll take the bottle, Ed. I don’t want anyone to know until after the wedding, and I was pretty uncomfortable last night.”
Doc Edwardson rose and filled a small bottle from his sideboard dispensary. He handed it to Mitch and then waited while the other man stood. They shook hands, and Mitch took his leave. He walked out into the cold, glad that the snow was starting again. It was early in the day, and had the weather been better, more folks would have been out and he might have been questioned. Eddie’s wedding was a week from Saturday. Mitch wasn’t ready to talk about his need to see the doctor until sometime after that day, if ever.
Eddie’s heart thundered in her chest as the knock sounded at the door. She put a shaky hand to the lace at her throat. It might not be Robert and Travis, but Eddie was certain that it must be. She walked with unsteady steps to the front door, and her heart melted within her as she saw him standing there.
“Hello, Eddie.” His soft, deep voice came to her ears, and Eddie couldn’t help herself. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him with all her might.
“I didn’t think you’d ever get here,” she whispered close to his ear as he bent to hold her.
“It felt like years, but not now. Now I can hold you and take you home with me.”
Eddie moved slightly away from him so she could see his face. He was smiling at her.
“We’re heating the out-of-doors.”
“Oh! Right! Come in and get warm.”
Not until Robert was inside did Eddie notice he was alone.
“Where’s Travis?”
“We stopped at the store to leave our gear at Uncle Mitch’s. Travis said he’d come home with your father this evening. He had some idea that I might want to see you alone.”
Eddie smiled. “And did you?”
“Yes.”
Eddie bit her lip. “Mother’s in the living room. Would you like to come in and see her?”
“Not yet,” Robert told her, and the smile fell from Eddie’s face. Robert was taking her in his arms again and kissing her in a way that made her forget she had a mother. When E
ddie came up for air, she could only stand and look into Robert’s eyes. She had prayed that he would arrive safely, and God had seen to the task.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
“As am I. How are you?”
“Fine. Ready to be your wife.”
“No last minute plans to chase after?”
“No. Everything is ready, so we can enjoy my family this week. We have only to see Pastor Munroe at some point and work at keeping my nerves at bay.”
Robert smiled and kissed her again.
“Eddie,” her mother now called from the next room. “Bring Robert in so I can say hello.”
“All right, Mother,” she answered and turned to her fiancé.
“Lead the way,” he offered, and Eddie thought he was such a gentleman. She’d have laughed if she’d known he did it for himself; Eddie was as delightful from the back as she was from the front.
“Welcome, Robert.” Addy stood and offered her cheek as they came into the room. Robert gave her a warm hug as well, and they sat down to reacquaint themselves. Addy told of how she received a letter from Robert’s family and had already answered in return. Robert seemed very pleased. There was so much to share. They talked for nearly an hour before Addy rose to get them some refreshment.
“I’m looking forward to meeting Travis,” Eddie told him. “I hope Father comes soon after the girls get home.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be ready by then,” Robert commented, but he was smiling.
Eddie cocked her head to one side. “Now, what did that mean, Mr. Langley?”
“Only that you feared I would fall for one of your sisters, and now I think I just might lose you to Travis.”
Eddie laughed and Robert joined her.
“Well,” she said primly, still smiling at the man she loved. “That is not going to happen.”
“Are you sure?” He was still teasing.
“Yes. Aren’t you?”
“You haven’t seen him, Eddie.”
“Good-looking?” Eddie’s brows rose with feigned interest, but this time Robert didn’t answer. He smiled at her, however, and picked up her hand. Eddie knew it had all been in fun; nothing could change her feelings for Robert, but she did wonder what the other man looked like.