Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee

by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

  “We were in town at the store. They had us all go down into the root cellar.” She waved her hand at the front of Heaven’s home. “It looks like it hit you.”

  “It did, but we’re okay, and we’ll get it back together. Although I don’t know that you’ll want to stay with us. There’s not much to eat unless you like green beans. We do have plenty of those. And sleeping conditions might be a bit cold tonight, what with the windows, door, and part of the house out in the yard.”

  Angel charged forward with her hands out. She reached Annabelle and touched her skirt. “It is you!” She threw her arms around Annabelle.

  Heaven understood that need. Annabelle represented home and all of its memories. Her eyes burned from salty tears, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand.

  “Angel, I know how much you like Cook’s jam, so I brought you some. I’m glad you didn’t change your mind about liking it.”

  Angel let go. “Never. It’s the best, and all we’ve been eatin’ is green beans.”

  Annabelle grinned, but her eyebrows twisted in confusion.

  “Angel!” Heaven wanted to yank those words out of the air before Annabelle understood the truth behind them.

  “Did you come alone? Without your husband?”

  Annabelle’s toothy grin slid to the ground. “No, I’ll explain later. But I did bring you a surprise.”

  “You shouldn’t have. Having you here for a visit is surprise enough.”

  “I think you’ll love this one, better than seeing me.” Annabelle pointed at the driver.

  Heaven looked away from Annabelle’s smiling face. “A surprise?” She went cold all over. Her eyes were deceiving her, not once but twice today. Jake is dead. He’s not coming back. That is not him. “The driver looks like Jake, but that can’t be.”

  The man walked closer. “It is me, Heaven.”

  Heaven’s good leg gave away. Her eyes strained, almost popping out of her head. She swayed. Annabelle steadied her.

  “It’s a shock, I know. That is why I made him bring me along. When he showed up in Nashville looking for you, I didn’t believe it either.”

  Jake and his mother stood in front of her. “I am so sorry, Heaven. I know they told you I was dead. I was captured and put in prison up North. I was so sick I did not even know who I was. I guess someone saw me go down and wrote home to tell everyone I was dead.”

  Heaven reached with her fingertips and stroked his cheek. “Jake.”

  He reached his arms out and pulled her into them. “Heaven, I have missed you so much. Thinking about you got me through the terrible times. I could not wait to get home to you.”

  “Hi, Jake. ‘Member me?” Angel tugged on his sleeve.

  He let go of Heaven and turned to her sister. “This can’t be little Angel. You’re all growed up. I bet you got beaus lining up at the socials out here.”

  “No, Heaven says I’m too young.” Angel spoke as if he were standing a further distance from Heaven instead of right next to her.

  Jake quirked an eyebrow. “Something wrong with her?” “Jake!” his mother warned.

  “I’m right here. I can hear you; I just can’t see you.” Angel stomped her foot. “Why do people think that?” She went back toward the barn.

  “Sorry, Heaven, I didn’t know she was so sensitive.”

  “Annabelle, why didn’t you write me and tell me Jake was alive and you were coming to see me?”

  “Heaven, I’ve been wanting to come since your letter came saying your papa had left for Chicago. Then Jake turned up in town, and I couldn’t’ wait for letters to be written and sent. Jake wanted to come out right away.” Annabelle smiled at Jake. “He’s a hero. Did you know that?” Her face glowed.

  “A hero?” The pain on Jake’s face hurt Heaven. All this time, she’d thought he was dead. Thought about marrying another man, even kissed one. That wasn’t her fault though, not when she thought he was dead. But why didn’t he write her himself?

  “I am not a hero. Far from it.” Jake dropped his gaze to the ground. “Sometimes you just do things without thinking, and the ending turns out for the good. I don’t like to talk about it, but since you want to know, I was supposed to be on guard duty, but I had a cramp in my leg and was moving slow. If I hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have seen the band of blue coats. I sounded the alarm, and there was a lot of shooting, but most of my unit survived. Then later that day, we ran into another band. When I woke up, I was in a transport to a Yankee hospital. I didn’t know my name, only that I was a rebel, because I had on a gray uniform.”

  Annabelle reached over and patted his arm. “It’s okay, Jake.”

  “How about a kiss for a returning soldier?” Mrs. Miles tweaked Heaven’s cheek. “I’ve been waiting to watch this reunion.”

  This was too much for Heaven. Jake was alive, a hero, and now his mother was demanding kisses for him just when she was thinking about Travis and how she wanted him to kiss her.

  “Mother, it might be too soon.” Jake raked his eyes over Heaven. “Then again, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a kiss from this pretty woman.”

  Before she could stop him, he pulled her into his arms and smashed his lips into hers.

  That man was kissing Heaven. Resentments from the past clouded Travis’s judgment as he remembered another woman, another man, and another kiss. He captured his anger, caging it until it proved useful. He stepped quietly next to her ear and whispered, “You okay, Miss Wharton?”

  Heaven stumbled back, lost her balance, and landed in Travis’s arms.

  “Nothing wrong here, mister. Just getting my welcome home kiss from my intended,” Jake said.

  Intended? Travis did not like the sound of that. Nor did he like the way Jake held on to his woman. Not until he saw Heaven being held by another man was he positive he would fight for her.

  “So, Heaven, who is this? You should be resting that foot. Here, let me help you inside, and you can rest while I get our guests some refreshments.” He snaked his arm through hers.

  Jake stepped back, confusion on his face. “Jake Miles.” He stuck out his hand. “Heaven’s intended, unless …” He looked at Heaven. “Unless you got married.” Heaven shook her head no.

  Travis took Jake’s hand in his and gave it a good pump. “Travis Logan. No, she is not married to me—not yet. She proposed. I just haven’t answered—yet.”

  Heaven gasped. Her eyes widened as she stared at him as if a wild animal had walked across her path.

  “Well, you did ask me the night you sprained your ankle.” Angel hung out the door, “Yes you did, Heaven. You said you loved him and asked him to marry you soon.”

  Travis scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get the weight off that foot and get inside where it’s warmer.” “Put me down, Dr. Logan.”

  He noticed the lack of the friendly address of Travis and the return of the proper Dr. Logan. “I will in just a moment. You’ll be snug as a bug in your rocking chair. Then you can introduce me to these beautiful women who came with Mr. Miles.”

  “My rocker is gone; the tornado took it. Mrs. Miles is Jake’s mother. And Annabelle is my best friend.”

  Heaven didn’t put up a fight about him carrying her. He considered that a good sign. “If you all will kindly follow me to the cabin, I’ll see what I can do about righting the place so you can talk.”

  Travis led the group to the house. With the door blown off by the tornado, the cabin stood exposed. He’d need to do a bit of work before he’d feel comfortable about Angel and Heaven sleeping in here tonight.

  He stepped inside.

  Heaven screamed.

  He almost dropped her. Then he saw why she was upset. Mrs. Jackson had decided the most beautiful rug in the world, according to Heaven, was the perfect place to drop her kid. He didn’t know whether to laugh or offer thanks to God. He decided to offer thanks, silently.

  There was nothing in her mother’s book that could have ever prepared her for the mortifying moment Heave
n was now living. Mrs. Jackson, her all-white goat, had given birth on Heaven’s rug. No, not just a rug, but the one her great-grandmother had treasured and passed down.

  As if the tornado wasn’t enough, God? He brought Jake back alive, and that was good, but why did he have to arrive with his etiquette expert mother when that goat had tromped up the front steps into her cabin and given birth on her carpet? She let her head rest against Travis’s chest. If only she could stay here in his arms and sleep—make it all go away. She was so tired.

  “Heaven?” Travis’s breath whispered across her head. “Are you going to be okay?”

  She tipped her head back and tried to say something.

  “Too much today? You’re white as a sheet.” He squeezed her more tightly against him. “Cold, too.”

  “Why’d you stop, Dr. Logan?” Angel pushed against his back. “Why’d Heaven scream? What’s in there?”

  “Step back, child.” Jake jerked her away.

  “Ow.” Angel pulled her arm out of Jake’s grasp and rubbed it.

  “There’s no need to be rough with her,” Travis growled.

  Heaven was grateful he’d stepped in to correct Jake.

  Angel wiggled past Travis. “What is it, sissie?”

  Her sister hadn’t called her that since their Ma had died. “Set me down, please, Travis.”

  He did, but he took his time about it and didn’t let go of her completely, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

  “Angel, Mrs. Jackson had her kid.” Heaven swallowed. “On Great-Grandma’s rug.”

  “That’s the problem? There’s a goat in the cabin?” Jake stepped past Travis and Heaven. “Let’s get it out of here and clean up this mess.” He strode over to the rug and looked back, his lips curled. “Good thing this was old; it will have to be burned.”

  “But it belonged to …” Angel stepped forward. Travis grabbed her with his other hand.

  “Don’t move, Little Miss. It’s still a mess. Nothing is the same as before the tornado. It wouldn’t be a good thing to get hurt.” Travis squeezed Heaven’s shoulder.

  He was looking out for Angel, smoothing Heaven’s protective side, giving her a measure of peace.

  Mrs. Miles and Annabelle piled into the cabin.

  “There really is a goat in here. And a baby one. It’s so sweet.” Annabelle inspected the ruined rug. “It’s bad, Heaven. I don’t know if it we can get it clean.”

  Mrs. Miles nodded. “Time to get a new one and start passing it down. Although you won’t need to get one, not once you and Jake get married.”

  Angel stomped a foot. “She ain’t marrying Jake.”

  “Angel, now is not the time. There’ a lot of discussing to be done with Jake and Travis,” Heaven admonished. Her home was in shambles. What the tornado hadn’t accomplished, the goat managed to take care of. Muddy hoofprints decorated the upside-down table, and even her apron had been snacked on. “As you can see, it would be best if the three of you returned to town tonight. If you could come back tomorrow for a visit, then Angel and I will have taken care of this mess and we’d be happy to serve you a nice lunch.” She’d found her voice, but it sounded thread thin in her ears.

  “Nonsense, child. We’re going to get this place back together right now.” Mrs. Miles glanced around the room. “It won’t take long.”

  “No, no thank you!” Had she shouted those words? It didn’t matter. She didn’t want Mrs. Miles putting her home together piece by piece and commenting on how her life would be with Jake. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Miles. I do appreciate your offer, but I can see that the trip has tired you. Why don’t you allow Jake to take you back into town? I’m sure there will be room at the hotel.”

  “We’ve already taken care of that. We acquired rooms before we came this way.” Mrs. Miles searched for a place to sit. “I don’t mind getting my hands dirty, Heaven, but I can see this has been a bit too much for you already. We’ll head back into Friendship. Are you sure you won’t come and stay with us, where it’s warm and the critters can’t come in?”

  Angel squared her shoulders. “She said we will be staying in our home tonight. We’ll be just fine.”

  “Heaven, will you at least let me stay? I’d like to help. It’s been so long since we’ve talked.” Annabelle’s sincerity spoke to Heaven’s heart.

  “It’s going to be cold, and we’ll have to sleep on the floor.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “Say yes, Heaven. Please,” Angel pleaded.

  She found it harder than ever to say no to her sister. “It will almost be like old times.”

  “Except you never let me stay with you and Annabelle. This time you will though, right?” Angel’s face shone with eagerness.

  Heaven smiled, and her shoulders relaxed. It would be good to share stories with her best friend in front of the fire. “This time you can stay.”

  “Guess that means you don’t want me to stay either?” Jake wore a stormy look. “It looks like most of the work is women’s work anyway. Where does he sleep?”

  “In the barn.” Travis answered before Heaven could. “You’re welcome to come back after you drop off Mrs. Miles and sleep there with me. I’m not one for gabbin’ before bedtime though.”

  “I’ll stay at the hotel with Mother. That way I’ll be able to bring her back earlier.” Jake stepped over to Heaven. “I’ll bid you goodnight.” He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips.

  Her glance shot across the room and locked on Travis stoking the fire. Compared to Jake, he’d been kind and concerned for her. Jake had changed from the man she remembered.

  “Perhaps we’ll get a chance to speak alone tomorrow?”

  Heaven shivered, and not from desire. What was wrong with her? She should be overjoyed to spend time with Jake. Maybe Annabelle could help her make sense of it all.

  Travis’s fingers curled into his palms. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Let me walk you to the door.”

  Angel snorted. “You said there isn’t a door.”

  “He’s being polite, dear. That’s how things are done.” Mrs. Miles picked up the hem of her silk dress and stepped over a shattered tea cup.

  “Something else you’ve forgotten, Angel.” Heaven frowned, one more thing for Mrs. Miles to take note of—her inability to teach her sister how to behave.

  As soon as the buggy noise quieted, signaling the departure of Jake and his mother, Heaven breathed. Not that she’d been holding her breath, but it seemed to be such hard work to make the air go in and out of her lungs.

  “Heaven, I know this is a mess in here, but if you can wait for me, I’ll take care of dragging out the rug.” Travis stood in front of her.

  Why wasn’t it hard to breathe around him?

  “Angel and I will get Mrs. Jackson and her kid settled in the barn. That is, Angel, if you don’t mind helping me.”

  “Yes sir.” Angel made her way to the door and stepped out onto the porch. “You shoo them this way.”

  “Will do in a minute. That’s a great idea. Wait there.” He started to turn the kitchen table over.

  “Stop, Travis. First, I need to wash off those muddy footprints. It will be easier if the table is upside down.”

  “Don’t move anything heavy. Once I get the goats bedded down, I want to get the canvas over these openings. Then I’ll be back in to help you get your home back together.”

  Heaven hunted in the kitchen for two clean aprons. She handed one to Annabelle. “At least Mrs. Jackson didn’t get to these.”

  Chapter 23

  The buggy rocked and swayed down the drive. Jake mulled over his feelings about Heaven and that Dr. Logan who seemed to have claimed her. She’d even called him Travis and hadn’t bothered to blush. Funny—wasn’t that what he had been hoping for? That Heaven wouldn’t care, and she would release him from his promise to her?

  “I don’t like that man staying on Heaven’s farm. Jake, you should go back after you drop me off. She’s your fiancée.” Mrs. Miles wrap
ped her cloak tighter around her chin. “I would have thought you’d feel a need to stay and protect her, if not from the elements, then from the good doctor.”

  Jake flicked the reins. The sooner he got his mother back to the hotel the sooner he could find a place to dull his senses. His mother thought all was right with her world, now that her son was living. He supposed it was—for her.

  Holding Heaven in his arms almost made him feel whole again. The quick kiss on those soft lips reminded him of who he used to be. Could he still let her go? He hadn’t liked leaving Heaven with Dr. Logan sleeping in the barn either.

  Maybe he couldn’t let her go without making sure she would be all right. Or was it more than that? Could she heal him, fix his hidden injuries? Could they still marry and have that life they’d talked about before he’d left for the war and become a coward? The question crawled into his mind and tangled itself around his emotions.

  He’d puzzle it out tonight. He would reconsider letting her go. She was worth fighting for, and he knew that doctor would challenge him for her. It wouldn’t be hard to knock Dr. Logan out of the competition. Jake knew her better, knew her secrets. He also knew winning her meant returning to Nashville with her on his arm. Could he do that? Could he face those who called him a hero? No, he’d have to convince her to head west and start a new life.

  Jake Miles irritated Travis worse than an infected blister on his foot. He’d wanted to help Jake on his way the moment he’d commented about Angel. Then when the man kissed Heaven, Travis would have volunteered to stick him in a cannon and shoot him back to where he’d come from. But his mother had raised him to keep such instincts under control.

  What had Heaven seen in Jake to make her fall in love with the man? Did she still see it? This was a woman he professed to love, and he was ready to ride off and leave her without a door and her belongings scattered about? Something wasn’t right.

  He closed the gate to the goats’ pen and shook it to make sure it held.