“And you don’t, I suppose?”
“Of course not. I inherited the nagging quality of Aunt May.” Katie smoothed a neatly folded green gown.
“You’ll get no argument from me.”
“I’ll not try to persuade you any more to stay. I realize now your mind is made up. Besides, I knew what Maggie was doing. I discovered her journal.”
“Why didn’t you stop her?” You couldn’t say no to Maggie, could you?
“Perhaps I hoped something good would come out of it.”
“Like Dexter becoming jealous enough to propose to your daughter, no doubt.” Evangeline added another book to her growing pile of leave-behinds.
“Yes, but on some level I was hopeful for you as well,” she quipped. “At least let me throw out those ugly clothes. That rancher will take one look at those hideous things and run for the hills.”
“There you go … nagging again.”
“I promised I would not nag you anymore about going. Your clothes are another matter.”
Evangeline took the pillow from the bed and heaved it at her sister, hitting her square in the face. Katie gave her a feigned look of shock and wrapped Evangeline in a strong embrace.
“I’ll miss you so much, my little Evie.”
“I’ll miss you too, my Katie.”
CHAPTER 4
Double M Ranch
April 6, 1873
Jake could depend on Traveler more than on any man. The tall, gray stallion knew the pace needed to approach the cattle.
Scanning the area, Jake could see his foreman, Kent Walters, and Manny herding some strays on the east slope. They were moving the cattle near the branding area. As his eyes moved along the ridge westward, he spotted a cow grazing with her calf. Taking out his lariat, Jake directed Traveler toward the two. He swung his rope, lassoing the calf before the cow realized it. Methodically, he pressed the horse forward, drawing the calf toward the fire while his mind rehearsed his greeting to Evangeline.
Nice to meet you, ma’am.
Too dull.
I’ve been lookin’ forward to meetin’ you.
Traveler whinnied and reared up, moving out of the way of the bawling cow, her horn inches from impaling Jake’s leg. He gripped the reins as his whole body maneuvered in the saddle, trying to avoid a meeting with the ground. Tony Sanchez and Duke Arnold quickly lassoed the mother.
“That momma cow don’t want you takin’ her baby.” Artie Weaver’s youthful laughter started the banter.
“Amor has you distracted, Jefe.” Tony leaned on the saddle horn and winked.
Jake reeled in his lariat and tried to ignore them.
Duke joined in. “Maybe you need to go back to the ranch and find somethin’ safer to do. Don’t want you to lose a leg before you see your lady love.”
“That’s enough.” Walters approached with another calf. “You fellas are just jealous.”
Jake took the good-natured teasing as he headed out to find another calf, but also wondered if they were right. What was I thinkin’? This is the busiest time of the year. In two months we’ll have these cattle on the trail to Abilene. I shoulda told her to wait until after. Well, what’s done is done.
His throat constricted. Next week he’d be a married man. How would things change when she came? Jake didn’t have time to formulate an answer. Traveler whinnied, drawing Jake’s attention back to the grazing cattle.
“Boy, what would I do without you?” he said to the stallion. The next few days would be intense, and he couldn’t afford to lose focus. Quit actin’ like a schoolboy. You’ve been around women before. But being around them and knowing how to talk to them was …
No matter how determined he was to stay single-minded, Jake couldn’t push the nervousness of their upcoming meeting out of his mind.
***
Hardyville, Texas
April 15, 1873
Jake stood on the train platform, hands on his hips, staring eastward at the empty tracks. Heat waves appeared, reminding him of the train’s later-than-desired arrival. The sunlight distorted his vision and its heat matched the burning in his stomach. He removed his hat and mopped his brow with his suit sleeve. Store-bought suits never fit right. He unbuttoned the front and tugged the jacket in a futile attempt to make it more comfortable.
His boots made heavy strides as he walked across the platform, remembering the disasters of the previous week. The branding had taken longer than planned, partly due to Artie’s and Duke’s constant bickering. The two had almost come to blows. Jake left instructions with his foreman to give them their walking papers if it happened again. That’s all he needed, to lose two more men. Actually, a man and a half. Artie was still wet behind the ears, but a quick study.
He recalled the events that carved a full morning out of a branding day. Bo’s horse had stepped into a hole and broke his leg. The horse had to be put down. Bart was almost too willing to do the deed. Bo, crying like a baby, stormed toward Bart, fists flying, only to catch his foot in the same hole. It took time to dispose of the horse carcass. Not to mention, Bo’s injury left Jake one man short. Another reason to confirm his timing was bad.
Jake’s late departure resulted in driving through a rainstorm for a day and a half. He’d led the horse and wagon through the swollen river. Then the wagon stuck in mud. By the time he arrived in Hardyville this morning, the sun had dried his clothes and baked mud into every seam. Jake had just enough time to secure rooms, bathe, and don the suit. He’d have to buy a new set of clothes for the return trip with money he hadn’t planned on spending. Glancing down at his boots caused a groan as he saw mud still clinging in the crevices.
The shrill train whistle brought his mind back to the present. He wished he had thought to get flowers, something to keep his hands still. Jake took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from the inside of his Stetson again. Realizing he’d done this not five minutes ago irritated him. Nothing he could recall had ever set his nerves on edge like meeting his soon-to-be wife. As he placed the handkerchief back in his pocket, he rubbed his boots on the back of his pants, hoping she wouldn’t notice the mud. It took a bit of time to properly clean it off. Unfortunately, time had run out. He walked with measured steps toward the slowing train.
CHAPTER 5
Hardyville, Texas
April 15, 1873
Evangeline gazed at her reflection in the train window, noting the perspiration trickling down her cheek as she adjusted the limp feather on her hat. The heavy petticoat under the velvet frock hid her dowry and absorbed the heat. Her equally limp lace hankie served to dab the moisture from her neck and brow. Gathering her carpetbag, satchel, and valise, she rolled her shoulders and exhaled a slow, even breath before heading toward the door.
Their eyes met at the same moment. A tall man with a nervous look came toward her. She had no picture of Jake, but she could have picked him out anywhere. His tanned complexion and determined gait told of hours spent in the saddle. The well-worn Stetson contrasted with his suit. Obviously, the suit was meant to impress.
She took in his features. Despite the scar across his cheek, she thought him handsome. She returned his nervous smile with one of her own. The sparkle in his blue eyes caused her face to warm. How she wished he were homely.
He removed his hat, revealing neatly cut, jet-black hair.
Embarrassed at her own inability to take control of the awkward situation with some appropriate greeting, Evangeline stared.
The man gave a slight nod and fidgeted with his hat as he spoke. “Miss Evangeline?” His baritone voice suited him.
“You must be Jacob.” She placed her carpetbag and valise at her feet and extended her hand. Jake’s firm grip caused her to wince. He dropped her hand and hid his momentarily behind his back.
“Jake’s fine, ma’am.”
“Very well … Jake.”
“Can I take your bags?” He took them before she could object.
Being accustomed to carrying her own things, she felt strange holding
only her handbag. “Thank you.”
“I’ll take these to the hotel, and you can get settled in while I come back to the station for your trunk.” Jake’s long stride put distance between them.
“Trunks,” Evangeline corrected, hurrying after him.
He stopped to stare at her, giving her time to catch up. “Trunks?”
“And boxes.” Her voice softened. “I hope you don’t mind. My sister Katie insisted I come prepared. She will ship more if I need them.”
“More?” He adjusted his grip on her bags.
“I’m sorry if it’s too much.” Evangeline felt the warmth rising again. “You said in your letters some things are difficult to get out here. My sister found an article about others who have come west with a list of what to bring. You described your house as large.”
“Don’t fret, we can make room.” Jake looked amused. “Whatever makes you comfortable.”
Evangeline stopped walking. No one had ever suggested making her comfortable before. Her guard went up. Was he sincere? After all, she had only his letters to judge his character.
Jake turned back to her. “Is somethin’ wrong?”
“No, not at all, just taking in the scenery.” Evangeline hated her constant blushing at his boyish smile.
“Yes, ma’am, take your time.” He turned toward the hotel and waited.
“Let us continue.” She motioned with her hand, keeping her tone even. “I really need to freshen up. I must be a sight.”
“You look real fine to me.” His remark caused her to focus on the storefronts and narrow walkways rather than his grin.
“I’m sure you’re tired from your trip. I got us both rooms for the night. You can wash up before we have dinner in the dinin’ room. Hear the food’s pretty good. Thought you might want to rest a spell too.” Jake shifted the bags to one hand and opened the door with the other.
***
Three hours later, Jake paced the lobby. He’d secured her things on his wagon in the livery. Once that was done, he had headed out to buy some traveling clothes—a simple task turned complicated. Evangeline looked like a sophisticated lady when she’d stepped off the train. Feeling like a country bumpkin in her presence, he found himself debating between a pair of brown trousers or blue work pants. Then between a blue shirt or a red plaid. Once he’d made his choice, he bought a new white shirt for the wedding. Never before had Jake taken this kind of interest in his appearance.
The trunks and boxes both encouraged and disturbed him. Did she think he couldn’t provide for her? Or was she really that practical? Her letters didn’t come anywhere close to describing the lady who was about to become his Mrs.
Evangeline seemed well above his class. Yet she didn’t appear to put on airs. Trying to rest in his room while resisting the temptation to knock on her door had made the last hour agonizing.
Seeing her at the top of the stairs caused his chest to constrict. Her still-damp burgundy hair was coiled in a braid on the top of her head. Her blue gown complemented her curves, and a small handbag hung from her wrist. She lifted her skirt as she maneuvered the staircase, revealing a bit of ankle.
Jake took off his hat, circling it between his fingers. The schoolboy jitters he had been fighting since receiving the telegram came back in a rush.
As she descended the stairs, her eyes seemed focused on his boots. Good thing he’d taken the time to clean them before dinner. His broad shoulders wanted to flee the confines of his store-bought suit. “Ma’am, don’t you look fine.”
Evangeline bit her bottom lip before she answered. “You are very kind.”
“Only speakin’ the truth.”
Her brows formed a frown. Did I say somethin’ wrong? Jake wondered. “Are you hungry?”
He offered his elbow and escorted her to the dining room where the waiter showed them to a corner table and pulled out Evangeline’s chair. Jake felt foolish not holding her chair himself. He placed his hat in one of the empty chairs and sat opposite her.
The mustached waiter handed them menus. His satin vest had seen better days, and his trousers wore a patch on the left knee. “May I recommend our specials? The roast beef melts in your mouth and the fried chicken is the best this far west of the Mississippi.” He held his order pad with pencil poised.
Jake ordered for both of them. “We’ll have the roast beef and some coffee.”
“Very good, sir. That is served with potatoes, green beans, and fresh bread.”
“Sounds fine.”
Evangeline fidgeted in her seat and patted her hair.
“You alright, ma’am?” Jake studied her face. She seemed to be catching her breath.
Evangeline fanned her face with her hands before answering. “I’m fine. Just a little warm is all.”
“I could open the window. Might be a breeze.” Jake started to rise.
“Please, let’s just wait for the waiter to return.”
Jake sat back, feeling like a rube. A gentleman would ask the waiter to do it, but it seemed rather silly when he was perfectly able to do it himself. The sooner they were on their way to the ranch, the better he’d feel.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to imply …” Her eyes traveled around the room, and her hands pulled the linen napkin into her lap. “What a lovely restaurant. The waiter seems nice.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Have you been here before?”
“No, ma’am.”
The awkwardness grew heavy. Being a man of few words wasn’t serving the situation. And staring at this beautiful woman made words stick to his tongue.
Evangeline laced her fingers together and placed her hands on the table. “Jacob, there are a few things I must say, and I need to say them now.” She sounded very formal.
“Go ahead.” He hoped his face appeared calm. “And it’s Jake, ma’am.” His voice came out stern, not at all what he wanted.
“Very well. Then I would appreciate it if you stopped calling me ma’am. I have read your letters over and over again … Jake. In them, I saw an honest and good man.” Again, she looked down at her hands before gazing into his eyes.
A nervous tic began in his jaw as he waited for her to continue. There was something in her voice that was setting off alarms.
“There are a few things I hope you will understand.”
He motioned for her to go on. He brought his chair closer to the table, an action which caused her to sit straighter.
She withdrew an envelope from her handbag as her words rushed out. “Here is the money you sent for the ticket. I prefer to pay my own way. I came by choice. Even though it is customary for the prospective husband to pay, I would rather not take your money.” She slid the envelope across the table.
Jake shifted in his chair and stared at the envelope, searching his mind for an appropriate response. He made no attempt to retrieve the envelope.
Evangeline fingered the cameo pinned on the collar of her dress, straightening the already upright brooch. “I would like to explain some untruths about the letters you received.”
Jake’s nerves tingled as he focused on her rosy lips. His hands steadied the table as he waited. Her cleansing breath was audible. His mouth went dry as the moments ticked by.
“The first thing I must tell you is … I did not write those letters. I knew nothing about them until six weeks ago.”
Jake gripped the table even harder. “Pardon me, ma’am, did you say six weeks?” His mind raced to find an explanation. She certainly wasn’t after his money, not that he had any. He was “cash poor and land rich,” to quote Cookie. He thought of Juliet’s tearstreaked face if Evangeline changed her mind. Lord, what’s your plan in all this?
“Yes, six weeks. For an entire year, my niece Maggie has been writing you as if she were me.” She paused and took another breath. “Maggie is not a wicked girl. She had two reasons for writing those letters as me. The first was to make her gentleman friend jealous enough to propose, and the other to find me a husband.”
> “Were you lookin’ for a husband?”
Evangeline held his gaze. “Truthfully, no.”
Jake fixed her with the look he used when questioning his men after they’d done something stupid. “Then why did you come?”
Evangeline looked away. When she refocused on Jake, her green eyes held a determined glint. “Your proposal seemed more in regard to being a mother to your niece than a wife to you. I was impressed with the devotion you have for her. Every letter was filled with references to Juliet and how much she needs to learn more feminine ways. You told stories of her tomboy antics. Not to mention your references to her need for more education.”
Can’t argue with her logic. You certainly don’t know how to court.
“I liked what I read in your letters, which says a lot.” Her voice quavered. “I certainly don’t impress easily.”
He placed his elbows on the table. “I reckon my proposal did sound that way.”
“Maggie copied her correspondence to you in a journal. When I read it, I realized she wrote based on her observations and left out details she thought would not appeal to you.”
“What details?” Jake straightened up as the waiter came with their food. “Would you mind opening the window? The lady’s a mite warm.”
“Certainly, sir.” The moments it took for the task to be completed grated on Jake’s nerves. The waiter bowed his head slightly toward Evangeline before leaving. Her eyes followed his exit before they rested once again on him.
“Maggie wrote about all the social functions we attended together. I rarely do those things. When I’m not working, I prefer to relax at home with a book or sewing. Honestly, I don’t care much for parties.”
Jake was relieved. “You stay busy nursin’ people?”
“That’s another falsehood. I’m not a nurse. Maggie thought that sounded more palatable to the male ego than the truth.”
Oh, God, please don’t let her be a—
“I am a doctor.”
“A real, honest-to-goodness doctor?” Watching her eyes flash at his question made him wish he’d held his tongue.
“Is there any other kind?” Her words were prickly. “Your response is quite typical.” An angry edge seeped into her words. “I studied medicine under my brother-in-law.” She shifted to a professional tone. “It took a while to find a medical school willing to accept a female student. By the time I entered Hastings Medical Institute, I had learned so much from Shamus it was easy to stay at the top of my class.” Her eyes and body language challenged Jake to say more. Her voice had risen a bit with each declaration. Patrons at neighboring tables turned their way.
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