by Annie Boone
***
He took care of the horses, and readied them for an afternoon ride. It was cold, but not overbearing, almost balmy for December. They dressed in layers and Jackson led her on a beginner’s trail to see how she would do. When she kicked the horse, sending it into a gallop and passed him he realized he had underestimated this woman.
Laughing, he gave his horse a kick and galloped beside her. Her bonnet flew back from the wind, allowing her long blonde locks to pick up in the wind. She was radiant. So full of life. If this was her after the fire, he couldn’t even imagine what type of woman she was before tragedy changed her life.
“So you do know how to ride,” Jackson stated the obvious when he rode up beside her.
“Did you doubt it?” she retorted.
“Maybe a little,” he smiled. “You’re not a Westerner.”
“I plan to become a true Westerner, Jackson.” She tossed her head and trotted away from him laughing.
Even he could tell that she was flirting with him. He liked that.
They rode for a few hours, bantering back and forth like they’d known each other more than just in letters. Although Naomi insisted that she wasn’t cold, he felt it was time to return to the stables in case she was just trying to seem tough when she wasn’t. It would be dark soon and he would not put her health at risk.
He was used to cooking for himself, so until she was settled in, Jackson told her he would make supper. Naomi was overjoyed to hear this, and took a bath to wash the smell of horse off of her before supper.
He prepared a simple soup of chicken and vegetables and served it with rolls he had bought from the baker earlier that morning. It was nice to set the table for someone else. He had lived in this house all alone for far too long. He wasn’t sure he liked it that he was getting soft.
When Naomi returned, she was in a simple dress with long sleeves. Her hair was twisted into a neat bun with a few tendrils of curls escaping. Even dressed as plainly as she was, he thought she was radiant.
Jackson pulled out a chair for her at the table and she slipped smoothly into the offered chair. She was pleased at his gallant gesture. There was a gentleman in there most of the time.
“Would you mind saying the blessing? It’s usually just me at this table and I often forget. When I do remember, I normally say a quick sentence in my head and dig in,” he smiled sheepishly.
“Of course, Jackson.” She reached her hand out to him so they could clasp hands during the prayer.
He was taken by surprise by this gesture. He’d never done this during the blessing, even when he was with his parents. He looked her in the eyes a little unsteadily and took her outstretched hand.
He noticed that there was a scar on the side of her hand just below her wrist. It looked like the scar stretched up her arm inside the long sleeves of her dress. He guessed that this came from the fire almost a year ago. He would ask her about it some day, but not today.
She smiled at him, bowed her head, and began her prayer. “Lord, we thank you for this beautiful day. What a lovely ride we had in the middle of this amazing world you made for us. I especially want to thank you for keeping your hand on me during my journey here. I believe I’m here for a purpose – your purpose, Lord. Please show me, show us, what it is. Oh, and thank you for this meal that smells delicious and also for the man who prepared it. Amen.”
Their first prayer together was special to Jackson and he had not expected that, either. The sweet spirit that came through in her prayer, was enticing. More unexpected and unintended results of his search for a business-like marriage.
After a bit of an awkward silence when they started eating, Naomi jumped in to fill the gap with chatter. If she was aware that he had noticed her scars, she didn’t let on. He listened intently as she told stories about her family between bites.
“So my Aunt Beth is the youngest of my mom’s siblings. She’s a great mother to my cousins. They’re still all under 10 years old. That’s a big responsibility, raising kids. Don’t you think?”
“Yes, of course,” Jackson replied.
“Uncle Richard does a good job running the farm. It’s a cattle farm. Nothing like a ranch, mind you, but it’s a good living where I’m from. People run much smaller farms there. I supposed my uncle is considered to be one of the most successful in Massachusetts, but it’s tiny compared to your ranch.” She smiled at him and took another bite of her soup.
“Well, it sounds like your aunt and uncle do good things,” he replied.
“You must have close relationships here. Tell me about the people close to you.” She smiled at him and he believed she really wanted to know about the people in his life.
“Well, the ones most important to me are the ones who help me here, I suppose. They make this place run. I couldn’t make it without them. There’s Joe Stamper, I guess he’s my right hand man and probably my best friend. He handles many of the skirmishes that come up with the cowhands.”
“So that leaves you time to handle more of the business?”
“It does. There are always decisions to be made and accounts to settle. Running the ranch means less time on a horse for me, but I’ve gotten used to it,” he replied.
Naomi stifled a yawn and stood to clear the table. She was glad that dinner had been modest so there wasn’t much to clean up.
They cleaned the kitchen together and got the job done quickly working together.
When the last dish was dried and put away, Naomi sat down wearily in a chair by the fire. The fire was warm and watching the flickering flames was mesmerizing. She was ready to nod off as she got comfortable and cozy.
“I can see you’re tired, Naomi. It has been a long day for us both. I think I’m going to turn in,” Jackson said as he came into the room carrying a heavy blanket.
He took a lantern from the mantle and turned back to her. She had stood up and was walking toward him. She stopped about a foot away from him and smiled shyly up at him. He was about to step around her to go to the stables, when she reached up and put her hand on his cheek.
He was taken by surprise at what he thought to be a very bold move. He looked down into her beautiful face and felt fear. He had gotten far more than he had wanted when he’d chosen her.
“Thank you for the day, Jackson. The ride was lovely and the supper you prepared was delicious. I feel so blessed to have you come into my life,” she said.
The emotion in her voice was unmistakable. He was humbled, but so overwhelmed with uncertainty that he froze. Finally, after what seemed like ages, he nodded his head, smiled briefly, and started toward the door.
“Please help yourself to anything you need. Sleep well,” he said over his shoulder as he opened the door. The door closed behind him and then she was alone in his big house.
From the stables he could see the gas lights go out around the house as she made her way to the bedroom. It warmed his heart to think of her walking through the rooms his house. It would soon be their home.
He knew he had ended the evening abruptly and he’d probably hurt her feelings. He had much to learn about dealing with a woman. This woman in particular was giving him a run for his money already.
He also wondered if he had approached this marriage the wrong way. After all, she had lost so much in her young life. Wasn’t it appropriate that she have a happy life from here forward? Could he give that to her?
He thought about her gift of the angel ornament. She had no idea how difficult it was for him to accept the very sort of ornament that his mother had loved. He recalled how disappointed she was to discover there was no tree in his home to hang it on. Could he give in on his vow to never celebrate Christmas again since it was important to her?
There were many questions in his mind and he knew he needed to find answers fast. He also needed to figure out a way to make this business arrangement work. His thoughts kept going back to the unexpected feelings she was evoking in him. He couldn’t ignore
them.
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Naomi came to the kitchen to cook breakfast. Jackson was already there when she entered the room. She smelled bacon and eggs and felt her stomach growl with hunger.
“Good morning, Naomi,” he said. “It’s already looking like a splendid day out there!”
“Good morning, Jackson,” she replied, much less enthusiastically than she had planned. She was feeling a little hurt this morning after his abrupt departure last night. The fact that he brushed away her attempt to bridge the gap between them bothered her a good bit of the night. She woke several times wondering if she had made a mistake.
“I’m sorry we don’t have any kitchen help right now. I gave the staff some time off so you could settle in without having anyone else to worry about,” he explained. He shook his head as he cracked eggs into the skillet with the bacon already cooking. “I’m starting to regret that decision.”
She smiled in spite of her annoyance at him.
“So I’ve been thinking that I can spare another day to be off work. I need to check with Joe this morning and make sure everything’s running. After I do that, we can take another ride. Um, that is, if you want to,” he said uncertainly.
“It’s Christmas Eve. Do you always work on holidays?” she asked.
“Not all of them. I just have a few things to cover with Joe. He and his men will head off for their family happenings after lunch or so. They will get to have time with their people.”
She didn’t exactly get the answer she wanted, but she let it go. If this marriage ended up happening, she felt sure there would be many other opportunities to argue about holiday work schedules.
“A ride after lunch would be nice, I suppose,” she responded. “I know there’s snow. Will we be able to get through it?”
“There’s a trail we can take that will make it easy. Don’t worry, the men use it all the time and they’ve got it cleared well.”
“All right, then. I guess we have a plan. I’ll see you for lunch, then?” she asked.
“Yes, oh yes. We do have a plan,” he smiled. “I’ll be home around lunch time.”
Naomi nodded and watched as he pulled on his coat, grabbed his hat, and waved as he went out the door. She was disappointed that he didn’t apologize or even mention how short he had been with her the night before. He must not even realize he’d hurt her feelings. His mood this morning was definitely better than it was the night before.
She needed to lower her expectations. He had told her he thinks she’s pretty, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to fall in love with her. She should probably set her sights on a relationship that is respectful and supportive. She could be happy with that. At least she hoped she could.
She knew she needed to have a conversation with him about their business arrangement. While she would find a way to make peace about a marriage not built on love, she still expected to be treated much less abruptly. She would make that clear and then all would be well. Yes. She was certain everything was going to work out.
She finished cleaning up the breakfast dishes and did a little more tidying up. Though she was hopeful that Jackson would be willing to grant her requests, her heart was heavy as she finished in the kitchen.
She went back to her room to read for a while. The morning dragged on. It was Christmas Eve. There was no anticipation in the air. She missed that very much.
This was turning out to be a difficult day for her. She was dealing with the worry about her impending wedding. But she was also reminded over and over that this was the anniversary of the loss of her family. It had only been a year. So much had changed for her. She was feeling the loss deeply today.
***
“Have you warmed more to the thought of marrying me?” he asked. She bit her bottom lip, a nervous habit she had that he was starting to adore.
“I only arrived yesterday morning. It’s a little too early for me to tell if I’m ready to take that step yet. I have some thoughts on the subject, but I don’t think we need to talk about that right now. Let’s just enjoy the ride,” Naomi said. Her response was more stern than she had meant it to be.
The two rode in silence for a while as they explored even more of the property than they had before. He noticed that Naomi was quieter today, he would even go as far as to say she was sad. He imagined that she was mourning the loss of her family today. He hadn’t made things easier for her by being so aloof last night and then personable today. She had no way of knowing that he’d had a change of heart. She would know soon enough. In the meantime, he needed to get her to talk about what was on her mind.
“What troubles you, Naomi?”
She looked at him with wide blue eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. Jackson. I don’t mean to seem distant. Today is a difficult day for me. I was just thinking about my family. It’s Christmas Eve, and I wish I could have been home to lay some flowers down at their graves.”
It was a simple wish, and yet, one he could not grant. “If you like, in the spring when the snow clears, we can make a memorial garden for your family. A place to go and pray.”
Naomi seemed stunned by his offer. “You would do that for me?”
“But of course. You’re going to be my wife, I would do most anything for you.”
“Thank you, Jackson. That means more to me than you could ever know.”
“Losing your family is actually what brought you here. I want you to be sure that I realize the gravity of that fact.”
“Thank you for making this difficult day easier for me. So let’s change the subject and talk a little about this business arrangement we’re considering.”
“Well, if you’re ready for that, then I am. What’s on your mind regarding our marriage?”
“I understand your desire to keep the marriage on a businesslike basis. The way you’ve treated me today regarding my sadness about this anniversary has been very caring and I appreciate it. But I need you to know that I’m not willing to be in a marriage where there are inconsistencies. Last night was disappointing for me. You were very abrupt and I didn’t know what brought that on. Can you tell me now what that was about?”
“Um, Naomi, I’m really sorry about that. I was hoping it wasn’t so noticeable to you, but clearly I was wrong. You noticed.”
“So, why did you behave that way? I really do want to know.”
“Honestly, I realized that things are turning out differently than I’d planned. I’m not used to that. I’m always in control. I always get my way. Not that I expected to be a bully in this relationship, but I just didn’t expect you to balk at anything I suggested.”
She nodded and gestured for him to continue.
“When you said you weren’t sure about marrying me and that you needed some time, I was thrown. I didn’t expect that. And then when I realized that you’re so beautiful, strong, and kind. Well, that wasn’t in the plan, either. I think I didn’t consider the emotional side to this arrangement.”
“Emotional? What do you mean by that?”
“Feelings. Attraction. Happiness. More than a business relationship.”
“You’re attracted to me?”
“Yes, very much. I should have been smart enough to know this would happen. Your letters did mean so much to me. I looked forward to every one of them. I enjoyed answering them. I don’t know why I thought that I could bring you here and not care for you.”
“This is a problem? Do you want me to go?”
“Oh, no! I don’t mean it like that. I’d be very unhappy if you left. It’s not a bad thing, just different than I’d planned. Look, it’s getting late. Let’s head back and have some supper.”
Chapter Eight
When they returned to the house after putting the horses up for the night, it was dark. Jackson went inside and turned the gaslights on. When Naomi came in behind him and saw how the main room looked, she gasped in surprise.
“Oh Jackson! This is beautiful! But who did
it? You were with me!”
“It was inspired by the angel ornament you gave me. See?” He pointed to the archway that was now adorned with fresh greenery and strings of berries. In the center was the angel she had given him. “Well, and also your desire to feel the Christmas spirit in this house.”
He showed her around the house, and she breathed in deeply to fill her lunch with the heavenly scent of fresh pine. “This is all so wonderful. And thoughtful,” she said with every new thing he showed her.
“It’s nice to have a festive feeling here. I like it,” he said.
“How did you do it?” she asked. Determined to get an answer, she didn’t move any further on his tour until he told her.
“It’s what I went to talk to Joe about this morning. I gave him a list of things to do. He got the men on his crew to help and Nettie and Charlie came to decorate the tree.”
“Who are Nettie and Charlie?”
“Oh, I thought I mentioned them. Maybe not. Charlie manages the stables and Nettie is his wife. She’s also my housekeeper and cook.”
Satisfied that she was able to verify that it hadn’t been elves who decorated the house, the tour of the decorated house continued.
Finally he led her to the fireplace, where there were stockings now hung. He reached into one, and pulled out a small box. Then he dropped to one knee.
She stood looking down at him with one hand covering her open mouth. She was more than surprised at the changes and what was happening now right before her eyes.
Jackson took her free hand in his and spoke quietly with feeling. “Naomi, I know we only just met in person, but since you arrived I’m a changed man. I see the world differently because of you. I used to live a life of practicality. But now I see that I wasn’t living. There’s so much more to this world than abiding by a schedule. I wouldn’t have known that had I not met you. You changed me, for the better. Would you do me the honor of accepting this ring and becoming my bride?”