“You aren’t fooling me.” Jonas startled her as he slipped his arms around her from behind. “I know how much you still miss her. I see your face as you run for the barn and then realize she isn’t here.”
She turned in his arms and mustered a smile. “I still get to see you. That makes me happy.”
“I’m glad I can bring some happiness to you.” The smile on his face didn’t quite reach his eyes. Cait feared she’d hurt him. Maybe he thought she loved a horse more than she loved him.
“You do make me happy, Jonas. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“Without me, you wouldn’t have to do all that sewing.” He hugged her.
“That’s true.” She tapped a finger on her chin. “Maybe I should call off the wedding and quit on that dress.”
“Martha would finish it for you, then. She wants to see you married off.” Jonas tugged on her arm. “Come on in the barn. I have something to show you.”
The scent of horses and hay filled the barn. Jonas lit a lantern, and her eyes adjusted to the dim light as they walked past empty stalls. In the far stall at the end, Cait heard a noise. Her heart raced. She glanced at Jonas but couldn’t make out his expression.
They peered together over the door of the stall. A newborn foal stood on wobbly legs nursing from her mother. “I thought you would like to see the newest baby.” Jonas slipped his arm around her waist.
She fought to keep her disappointment from showing. Jonas tried so hard to make her happy. She didn’t want him to know she’d hoped to see Poppy and her baby. The dream slipped away.
“Cait, you in here?” Her father called from the doorway to the barn. “I have letters from Keira. One is for you.” Jonas released her and she hurried to her father. She wanted to read this letter in private. Tonight before bedtime when she’d be alone. To see what Keira said about Jonas. To see if she’d chosen the right man to trust.
Dearest Sister. Cait skimmed the opening news of all that was happening to Keira. She would reread that part later. Reread it many times over the next weeks.
Cait, I can’t tell you how sorry I am that Jonas and I deceived you.
Cait’s pulse sped up. They both deceived her?
Jonas was so crazy about you, but you thought he should like me. He wanted to try to make you jealous and came to me to ask for my help. I should have realized you would rather see me happy at the cost of your own happiness. When I realized our ruse was not working, and that Stuart wanted me to marry him, I told Jonas we couldn’t continue the deception…
… I know you thought I was crying because I wanted Jonas, but that isn’t the truth. I was crying because we had deceived you, and I gave my word I wouldn’t tell. I heard from Jonas a few months ago. He gave me permission to tell you this if you asked….
Cait finished reading. She closed her eyes and prayed for understanding, for the bitter hurt to be gone. Sweet peace flowed over her. Now she understood why Keira kept saying she was sorry. Cait had misjudged Jonas. He hadn’t hurt her sister. Keira didn’t marry Stuart on the rebound. All along Jonas cared only for Cait. He may have tried to win her the wrong way, but she wasn’t an easy person to win.
She let the letter flutter to the floor and raced from the house. She had to see Jonas. To let him know she understood. To tell him she would love him forever.
He didn’t answer his door, but the heavy wood swung inward. Cait lifted the lantern she’d grabbed and peered into the room. Empty. “Jonas?” She stepped inside. No Jonas. No clothes. Nothing. He’d left her the same way he left her sister.
Chapter 10
Cait didn’t want to get out of bed the next morning. Her battered heart couldn’t take any more. She’d tossed and turned all night long. Where had Jonas gone? Why did he leave? Question after question raced through her head, but there were no answers.
She dragged herself from beneath the covers, made the bed, and splashed water on her face. Brushing out her hair and redoing the braid went faster than she wanted. Perhaps she could make up work to do in her room. If Martha hadn’t finished the dress, Cait could offer to work on the sewing. She sighed. Her father and Martha would both think she’d lost her mind if she offered to sew. Maybe writing letters would be the excuse she needed.
Thoughts of her father sent her scurrying for the door. She heard the low rumble of her father’s voice coming from the kitchen. Cait nearly tripped over the rug as she raced down the hall and stumbled into the room. Both her father and Martha stared at her as she caught her balance and stopped.
“Papa, did you send Jonas off somewhere?” She’d had the thought during the night and prayed this would be the answer.
“I haven’t seen Jonas since supper last night. I rode into town last night.” Angus furrowed his brow as he studied her. “What’s happened to you, Caitie? You look like you’ve been out all night.”
“Have you seen Jonas this morning?” Cait tried to keep the impatience from her voice. She truly did.
“No, I haven’t seen him, but he must be in his room. Where else would he be?” Angus scraped the chair against the floor as he stood. “What is going on here, Caitie? What’s got you upset?”
“He’s gone.” Cait fought despair, wanting to stay calm. She didn’t think it worked from the expression on her father’s face.
“Gone where?” Angus asked.
“I hoped you would know.” Cait pulled out a chair and sank down. She refused to cry. Refused.
“What makes you think he’s gone?” Angus sat down beside her and took her hand.
“Because I needed to see him last night. To tell him something.” Cait hadn’t realized until just now how inappropriate her actions the previous night had been. She could see on her father’s face that he hadn’t missed the implications.
“He wasn’t in the room. All his belongings are gone, too.” She swallowed hard and picked at a loose thread in her skirt. “I thought maybe you sent him away for some reason.”
“Ah, Caitie dear.” Angus’s work-roughened hand encompassed hers. “Jonas loves you. You need to trust him to be here. Understood?” He squeezed her hand when she nodded, then he stood and strode out of the house.
Cait blinked away the excess moisture in her eyes. She’d been trying to trust God. How could she trust Jonas when for so long she’d believed him untrustworthy. God, I want to believe in his love for me, but I can’t. Cait sniffed. If God wanted to give her richly all things to enjoy, then she would trust Him to bring Jonas back. Maybe she couldn’t place her trust in Jonas alone, but she could trust God.
With only a few days left until her wedding, Cait knew she had to work hard to keep from settling into despair. She helped Martha work on the dress, finishing the garment in plenty of time. She’d never been one for caring about clothes, but the touch of the silky dress made her feel pretty. What would Jonas say when he saw her on their wedding day. Sadness threatened to descend, and she pushed it away. He would be here. He would.
At the corral, the foal leaped around her mother. Cait couldn’t help laughing as the filly shook her stubby tail. “She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?” Her father, just back from some errand in town, leaned against the railing beside her. “Maybe you could have this one for yours. This mama and her baby are like peas in a pod.”
The mother and foal were both dapple gray, a color Cait loved. “We’ll see. Give the filly some time to grow.” She didn’t want to tell her father she couldn’t bear to try to replace Poppy just yet.
“Have you heard anything from Jonas?” Angus angled his head to look at her.
“No.” Cait lost her interest in the foal’s antics. Every day her father asked her if she’d heard from Jonas. She wanted to give up. She wanted to admit he’d never come back to her. She wanted to go to bed and never get up again. “I found that bit of paper in the pasture with my name, but the horses had trampled it so much I couldn’t read the words.”
“Keep hoping, Caitie. He loves you.” Her father said
the same words to her every day. Words that meant less each time she heard them.
“I do have a bit of a surprise for you.” Angus paused until Cait looked up at him. He motioned over his shoulder with his chin.
Cait glanced around, and her heart nearly stopped. “Keira.” She whirled around and ran to her sister. Keira hugged her tight, and nothing had felt so good all week. Cait couldn’t stop the tears this time.
“I’m here for you,” Keira whispered against Cait’s hair. “I’m here. Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
Exhaustion made Jonas sway in the saddle. Almost home. Home. He smiled. Thinking of Cait and her dad’s ranch as home warmed him on the inside. He couldn’t wait to see her.
When he’d left, he’d intended to return before today, their wedding day. He’d ridden most of the night to get here, but circumstances had slowed his progress. “Lord, help Cait forgive me for being late.” His arms ached to hold her. After today, she would be all his. His wife. His partner. His lover.
He kneed his horse to try to hurry a bit more. The morning sun climbed toward its peak. A few clouds scudded across the blue sky. In the distance, darker clouds banded together. Jonas prayed that meant rain for this thirsty land. They sure needed a good drenching.
His horse started to turn toward the road that would lead to the Sullivan ranch. Jonas reined him the other direction. He didn’t want to ride right up to the house. He needed to go around behind the barn and come up. Cait would probably be happy to see him no matter how much dirt covered him or how bad he smelled, but Angus might not look so kindly on his new son-in-law showing up for his wedding like this.
The barn was empty. Even the gray and her new foal were outside in a corral. Jonas hurried to put up his mount and latch the barn doors. He had to hurry. Outside, he could hear the people waiting for the wedding to begin. He worked hard and in silence, chafing that the trip home had taken so long.
He finished in record time. Jonas took a deep breath, preparing to step outside. He’d finally gotten to the water without anyone noticing and gotten enough to get a decent, if cold, bath. His new duds were stiff as boards, but he didn’t care. The anticipation of seeing Cait overcame any discomfort.
A crowd had gathered around the porch. Jonas made it to the outskirts of the group and eased his way around. He bit back a grin, excitement making him feel like a boy sneaking out of church to go swim in the pond.
“I’m sorry folks.” Angus’s deep voice quieted the crowd. “I’m afraid there isn’t going to be any wedding today.”
What! Jonas halted in his tracks. Had Cait given up on him? He’d left the note. He’d even sent the telegram.
“Papa. No.” The door closed with a loud crash. “There will be a wedding.”
Jonas worked around until he could see his bride-to-be in a beautiful pale blue dress with tiny beads sewn in a swirling pattern. He drank in the sight of her.
“Cait, Jonas isn’t here. He isn’t coming.” Angus reached out to his daughter.
“He’s coming, Papa. He’ll be here.” Cait’s chin lifted, her determination showing.
“Cait.” Angus looked lost as to how to convince his daughter.
“He’s right, Cait.” Keira stepped outside next to Cait. Jonas smiled. What a wonderful gift for his bride—to see her sister. Angus had told him there would be a surprise coming. He must have been talking about Keira.
“No. You’re wrong.” Cait backed away a step to face Angus and Keira, her hands on her hips. “Jonas will be here. We have to trust God to bring him.”
The whole crowd stood mesmerized by the drama playing out before them. No one noticed as Jonas sidled around until he could almost reach out and touch the hem of Cait’s gown. He wasn’t sure any of them would know him all cleaned up like this anyway.
“Cait, you have to forget him.” Angus stretched out his hand again.
“Cait.” Jonas spoke so low the people next to him didn’t even turn to look. Cait heard. She swung around, her eyes searching the faces below her. Jonas stepped to the side.
“Jonas.” She whispered his name, and nothing ever sounded so good. She grinned. Delight made her glow. He held out his arms. She ran to the edge of the porch and leaped into his embrace.
“Jonas, where were you.” Cait snuggled close.
“I left you a note. Stuck in the door.” Jonas drew back to look down at her. “Didn’t you see it?”
“No.” Cait’s lips pursed, and he had to fight the desire to kiss her. “I went to see you that evening. The note must have blown away. I found some ruined paper.”
“You believed I would come back when you didn’t even see my note?” Jonas thanked God that Cait had believed in him. His heart was so full.
“Where did you go?” Cait pushed away from him, her green eyes darkening a bit.
“I had an errand to run. Took me a bit longer than I expected. I sent a telegram.” Jonas touched her cheek.
“Dewey, at the telegraph office, has been sick. No one else has been able to do the telegrams.” Cait shrugged. “Thank you for trying.” She covered his hand with hers. The crowd seemed to fade away. Jonas felt his breath hitch. He loved this woman so much.
“I have something to show you.” Jonas captured her hand in his. “The reason for my errand.”
“These people are waiting to see the wedding.” Cait gestured at those gathered around.
“This won’t take long.” Jonas kissed her fingers. “Please.” He gave her a wink.
“Okay, but if I get this dress dirty, Keira and Martha will have my hide… and yours.” Cait grinned.
Jonas led her to the barn. Behind them he heard Angus telling the people to wait. Jonas figured Angus and Keira would be right behind them. Maybe half the town, too.
They stepped into the barn, and a horse nickered. Cait gasped. Her mouth fell open. She looked at Jonas, picked up her skirts, and flew down the aisle to the biggest stall. She stopped, her hands over her mouth. Jonas caught up in time to see tears welling in her eyes.
“Poppy.” Poppy stuck her head out, ribbons trailing down her mane. Cait laughed and threw her arms around the mare.
“Jonas. How?” Cait turned to throw her arms around him. Angus and Keira stopped beside them. “How?” Cait asked again.
“I told you I had a little nest egg saved up to buy some stock someday.” Jonas couldn’t help kissing Cait on the forehead. “Turns out Poppy didn’t like Lawson any more than we do. She gave him all kinds of trouble, and he didn’t argue much about parting with her.”
“You did this for me?” Cait cupped his face in her palms.
“Of course.” Jonas gave her a light kiss. “Cait, I’m crazy about you.” He grinned. “Now, let’s go get married.”
Nancy J. Farrier is an award-winning author who lives in Southern California in the Mojave Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. Nancy and her husband have five children and two grandsons. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needle craft, play with her cats, and spend time with her family. Nancy is represented by Karen Ball of The Steve Laube Literary Agency. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.
LOVE’S SWEET STORM
By Miralee Ferrell
Chapter 1
January 1888
Southern Border of Colorado
Addie Patrick stared out the window of the train as it passed mile after mile of flat prairie land, heading for Clayton, in the southern part of Colorado, not far from the Texas border. This was nothing like the lush green farmland she’d come to love in the Iowa valley where she’d lived most of her life. She sighed. This part of Colorado certainly wasn’t what she’d expected.
Had she made a mistake accepting a proposal of marriage from Sam Tolliver after only a handful of letters? She’d answered his ad for a wife—stating she must be a plain, decent woman with common sense and high morals—and she certainly qualified in all respects. Mr. Tolliver seemed nice en
ough—a God-fearing man who owned a store in the frontier town of Mt. Dora, a good three hours’ wagon ride from Clayton—but she still couldn’t help being anxious about entering into a marriage without love. If only her parents hadn’t died. She missed her mother dreadfully, and Papa had always cared for them.
The kind people of her church had taken her in for several months, but she wasn’t trained for anything useful. Her father raised her like the son he’d never had, teaching her to shoot, ride astride, hunt, and fish, which hadn’t helped her land a husband or find a job in her tiny community. She could have cooked or cleaned, but there was little call for it, as money was scarce and women typically did their own work.
Her musings came to a halt as the train whistle blew a long, screeching blast, and the brakes whined as they slowed the engine and cars. Addie peered out the window as they passed a smattering of houses, a church with a real spire, and stores lined with a covered boardwalk. If only Mr. Tolliver lived in this town or could have sent someone to fetch her. Misgivings ate at her once again, as she fingered the coins in her reticule looped over her wrist. She had very little remaining from the money her church had donated—what if he didn’t want her, after all, and this was a cruel joke? But the local pastor in Mt. Dora vouched for the man—her pastor had made sure of that before agreeing to put her on the train.
She reached for her bag in the overhead rack, straining with the weight as she pulled it down.
“Here, miss. Allow me.” A white-haired gentleman sporting a handlebar mustache and wearing a frock coat easily lowered the carpetbag with one hand. “Michael Allen, at your service. I’ll carry it for you and give it to whoever is meeting you.”
Warmth rose in Addie’s cheeks. “Thank you, sir. But I’m traveling by wagon to Mt. Dora, if I can find someone to take me today.”
He shook his head. “I heard a storm might be coming. Did you see the sprinkling of snow when we came through the northern part of the state?”
The Cowboy’s Bride Collection: 9 Historical Romances Form on Old West Ranches Page 19