Yesterday's Roses
Page 41
“That’s all in the past now,” Jake said. “It’s over.”
Cyrus took out a grubby cloth and wiped his eyes. “Yes. Over,” he repeated, giving his head a rueful shake. “When I think of how I’ve wasted the last few years … hating you … making Serena hate you as well.” He let his gaze drift to the preacher’s body. “Perhaps if I hadn’t poisoned her against you, she wouldn’t have fallen prey to DeYoung’s evil. Perhaps—”
“Perhaps,” Jake interjected gently, “it’s time to start your life anew. I have.” He nodded meaningfully down at Hallie, who was busy frowning at his wounded shoulder.
“But how? My whole purpose in life was to take care of Serena. After she died, that purpose shifted to killing you. There’s nothing left for me.” “There’s your granddaughter. She’s very like Serena.” “Yes. I’ve seen her.” Cyrus’s eyes took on a faraway look. “She’s beautiful. How I’ve longed to dandle her on my knee.” “Then why don’t you?” Cyrus’s mouth dropped open. “You’d let me?” “Ariel is quite the little glutton when it comes to attention.” Jake chuckled. “I’m sure she’d love having a doting grandfather. And if you’ll let me, I’d like to help you start your life over again. I think we owe it to Serena’s memory, and to your granddaughter—ouch!”
Hallie momentarily ceased prodding at her husband’s wound to meet his resentful stare. “I know it hurts, darling,” she scolded in her no-nonsense doctor’s voice. “But the wound is nasty and it needs tending. It should be cleaned and stit—”
But before she could finish uttering the dreaded word, Jake clamped his lips over hers and kissed her, effectively banishing all thoughts of medicine from her mind.
Epilogue
“I’m going to miss her.” Hallie nodded toward Penelope, who stood surrounded by a bevy of admirers. As she had predicted, Madame de Sonennes had been enchanted by the girl and had given her the ingénue’s role in Gold Rush Nell. The theatrical troupe was leaving San Francisco at the end of the week, and a ball was being held in Penelope’s honor.
“It seems as if you’re not alone in that sentiment,” Seth replied, staring moodily at Jake’s little sister. “The girl’s leaving half the pups in San Francisco brokenhearted.”
“And how’s your heart doing?” Hallie inquired gently. She hadn’t missed the way Seth had taken to lingering around the Parrish house, anxiously trying to catch a glimpse of Penelope, nor had she failed to note the way his face lit up when the girl finally appeared.
Her observation startled Seth’s gaze away from Penelope. Grinning sheepishly, he asked, “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to those who care to notice.” She laughed, giving his arm a gentle pinch. “Have you told her of your feelings yet?”
“No. It wouldn’t be fair to burden her so, especially since she’s leaving in a few days.” He paused to scowl at a youth who had seized the laughing Penelope’s hand and was playfully kissing her palm. It took all his willpower not to grab the young fool by the scruff of his neck and drag him outside to teach him a much-needed lesson in manners.
When had he become so possessive toward Jake’s sister? he wondered. For the first time in his life, Seth Tyler felt jealousy over a woman, and he didn’t like the feeling one bit.
“I’ll speak to her when she returns home,” he promised, more to himself than to Hallie.
If she returns home, Hallie added silently. If Madame Sonennes could be believed, Penelope had a bright future on the stage. Depending on the success of her first tour, it could be months, or even years, before the girl returned to San Francisco.
Seth and Hallie stood in companionable silence for a few minutes watching the colorful swirl of dancers glide by, both deep in thought. He, wondering if Penelope’s lips tasted as sweet as they looked; she, looking forward to sitting at Jake’s feet while he gently brushed her hair; both beginning to feel the fatigue from the long evening. It was past midnight, and thankfully the ball was drawing to an end.
“Wonderful party, my dear,” boomed Davinia, moving to stand between Hallie and Seth. Looping her arms through theirs, she nodded at Penelope. “Going to miss that girl. She’s become quite popular at the Mission House, you know.” She slanted a knowing look up at Seth. “Bet I’m not the only one who’s going to miss her, eh, Seth?”
Seth groaned. “Is there anyone who hasn’t noticed?”
Davinia screwed up her face in an expression of fierce concentration as she considered the question. “Well. I doubt if old Elias Winthrop has noticed. Of course, he is blind and deaf.”
Seth groaned again as he flushed a brilliant shade of crimson. Focusing his gaze on the floor, he mumbled something about needing a drink and wandered off in the general direction of the buffet table.
“Good-looking fellow, that Seth,” mused Davinia, letting her gaze slide down Seth’s retreating back to stare at his hindquarters. Damn those tailcoats anyways! They concealed far too much of a man’s finest physical attribute.
Sighing her disappointment, Davinia turned her attention back to Hallie. “Not as handsome as that husband of yours, mind you, but then, it wouldn’t be fair to compare any man with him.”
Hallie glanced at Jake, who was talking to several of his business associates on the other side of the room. Davinia was right, he was impossibly handsome. So much so that she often felt drab in comparison—rather like a peahen next to a peacock.
Yes. But he’s my peacock, she told herself, grinning wickedly as she eyed his expensive suit. And she was looking forward to plucking those fine feathers off his magnificent body!
As if he had sensed his wife’s naughty thoughts, Jake looked up. For a moment, their eyes met, his smoldering gaze full of sensual promise. Very slowly, his lips curved into a smile, and even across the distance she could feel the impact of his magnetism.
What he did to her! Her heart was turning crazy flip-flops in her chest, and just looking at him filled her mind full of unladylike notions. Hallie snapped open her fan and began to fan herself frantically. Had the room suddenly grown warm?
Hope no one lights a match. Davinia chuckled to herself. Not with the way the sparks were flying between the Parrishes. There was enough heat in their gazes to catch a flame and burn the house to a cinder.
Clearing her throat to draw Hallie’s attention, Davinia commented, “The new preacher for the Ascension Tabernacle is supposed to arrive next week. Bringing a wife and nine children with him. Solid sort of man.”
“Um … yes.” Hallie reluctantly drew her gaze away from her husband to glance at Davinia. “Uh—I hear his background is impeccable. He spent seven years …”
But her friend no longer appeared interested in discussing the new preacher. She was staring at something across the room, her eyes bulging slightly beneath her glasses, her expression dreamy. Curiously, Hallie followed her gaze. One of the gentlemen had bent over to retrieve a lady’s glove, thus presenting a good view of his well-rounded, wool-clad buttocks.
“Durn fine backside,” Davinia mumbled to herself. From the posterior view, the man reminded her of her dear departed husband, John. How she missed him!
As the man straightened up, and presented the woman with her glove, Hallie saw that it was Cyrus King. “You remember Serena’s father, don’t you?” she asked, grinning at her friend’s besotted expression.
“That’s Cyrus King?” exclaimed Davinia so loudly that several people turned to stare. “Hell and damnation! I never would’ve guessed that the man would clean up so well.”
Hallie nodded her agreement. “He’s working for Jake now. Jake says he’s got a wonderful head for the shipping business.” Neatly dressed in evening attire, Cyrus did look quite distinguished.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go reacquaint myself with Mr. King.”
And as Davinia moved toward Cyrus, who was standing awkwardly against the far wall, Hallie could have sworn she hea
rd her friend mumble something about being able to judge the nobility of a man’s character by the shape of his backside.
Perhaps there is some truth to that, she thought wickedly. After all, Jake did have a particularly nice backside and his character was noble. Smiling to herself, Hallie looked back to where her husband had been standing.
He was gone. She scanned the crowds, looking for him, but he was nowhere in sight. The orchestra was beginning to play the last dance of the evening, a waltz, and Hallie sighed when she heard the selection.
“Invitation to the Dance.”
“Mrs. Parrish?” It was Teddy Carruthers. “May I have this dance?”
Hallie nodded and presented him with her hand.
“Excuse me.” Jake sketched an elegant bow and took his wife’s hand from Teddy’s. “I believe this last dance is mine.”
Teddy bowed and moved away, smiling.
“Are you sure, darling?” Hallie whispered, anxiously staring up into her husband’s handsome face.
“Never surer,” he replied, leading her out to the dance floor. As he placed one hand on his wife’s waist and then took her hand in his other one, Jake forced himself to take a deep breath. It was now or never.
His first steps were stiff, self-conscious, and to his frustration, he stumbled twice. Then he felt Hallie give his hand a reassuring squeeze. Reluctantly, he forced his gaze away from his feet to look into her eyes. She was looking at him with such pride, such admiration, that his self-consciousness melted away.
“You’re doing wonderfully,” she said, bringing the hand holding hers up to her lips and kissing it. True, he wasn’t the most graceful partner she’d ever had. Yet she couldn’t remember ever enjoying a dance quite as much as she was enjoying this one. She gladly would have waltzed with her Jake forever.
Relaxed now, and moving automatically to the music, Jake whispered, “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“Only about a hundred times.”
“Then consider this one hundred and one,” he murmured, drawing her nearer.
Hallie slanted him a seductive look from beneath her lashes. “You’re holding me much too close, Mr. Parrish,” she purred. “We must look terribly scandalous.”
“Not nearly as scandalous as we’ll look when I get you alone.” Jake missed a couple of steps as he gave her a kiss, the pause almost sending the following dancers hurling into them.
“Wicked man!” Hallie giggled, returning his kiss fervently.
“I’ve got to get in my wickedness while I can.”
“Whatever do you mean by that?”
“Well. Between your medical practice and the managing of your mines, I doubt if you’ll have much time left for me.”
“My mines?” Hallie stopped in midstep. “You got my mines for me?”
He nodded.
With a squeal of delight, she threw herself into his arms and proceeded to cover his face with kisses. “I do love you, Mr. Parrish!”
“Something which can’t be said for your father.” He laughed, tossing the couples behind them an apologetic look. Their abrupt stop had sent several of the dancers colliding into one another, leaving one couple lying in a tangled heap of petticoats and dark coattails. “He and his solicitor put up quite a fight.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Giggling, Hallie fell into step as he resumed dancing. “I can’t imagine how he’ll be able to support all his mistresses without the profits from the mines.”
“I guess he’ll have to settle for just one. I could tell him from experience that it’s wonderfully satisfying to devote oneself to one very special woman.”
“And this particular woman will always have time for your wickedness, mines or no mines,” she whispered, warmed by the sincerity of his words.
In silence, they took several more turns around the room, each contemplating their good fortune in finding the other.
“What?” Jake laughed, seeing Hallie studying him intently.
“Oh. I was just wondering something.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes,” she murmured, furrowing her brow in mock puzzlement. “I was wondering if the baby I’m carrying will be a boy to inherit his father’s pretty face, or a girl to inherit Sinclair Mines.”
That stopped Jake in his tracks, and for the first time in his life, he was struck speechless.
“You mean …?” He finally managed to croak. His voice drifted off as he stepped back and stared at his wife’s still trim waistline, oblivious to the fact that they had again caused chaos among the other dancers.
“I mean you’re going to be a papa.”
“A-are you s-sure?”
“I’m a doctor, aren’t I?”
Jake let out a loud whoop as he drew Hallie into his arms. Spinning her around he shouted, “We’re going to have a baby!”
All around them, there were cheers and applause.
“When?” he whispered, hugging her close.
“December. Around Christmas, I think.”
A Christmas baby. The child from his loins.
Jake threw back his head, howling his victory. And like yesterday’s roses, the last of his doubts withered and crumbled, blowing away like petals on the autumn wind.
She had given him her love, and now their child. With a sob, Jake lifted his wife into his arms, cradling her close. As his lips claimed hers, contentment such as he had never known before bloomed in his heart, unfurling like the eternal, life-affirming buds of spring.
His Hallie had given him the most precious gifts of all.
The Young Midas’s touch was truly golden at last.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1995 by Heather Cullman
Cover design by Angela Goddard
978-1-5040-1000-9
This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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