by Faye Sonja
He sighed and then laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’ve never done anything like this before.”
June came to stop on the opposite side of the fire. “What do you mean?”
“Heart Arrangements doesn’t work like this. I never meet the women. I never had to help them... hunt for a husband.”
June frowned. “Let’s not call it a ‘hunt’, please.”
Orlando sighed. “Very well.” He placed his head against the wall and stared at her with eyes that looked like they belonged to some foreign cat in a jungle.
June looked down at the fire and took a step back. She was feeling too warm. “I know you hadn’t planned to spend Christmas like this, but are you not enjoying your trip?”
When Orlando didn’t answer, she looked back up to find his expression sober.
Orlando gracefully pushed himself off the wall and began a slow journey across the wooden floor towards her. Each step caused June’s heart to jump. She lifted her head as he drew near. He was a foot away when he stopped. June swallowed. Orlando’s hand came up and touched her hair, bringing some of it back over her shoulder.
June sighed. “What are you doing?”
He ran his fingers through the ends of her hair. His gaze left her hair to look in her eyes. “This will do.”
June frowned. “What will do?”
“The hair. I like it. You should wear it down more often.”
June was sure her face was about to match her red hair. “Thank you.”
Orlando’s hand left her hair. He was still looking into her eyes. “Are you ready?”
“For what?”
He frowned. “To see if one of the men in this inn is your future husband?”
June narrowed her eyes. “I’m not ready to look yet. Can’t we discuss this once this crisis is over?” She smiled. “Let’s wait until we get to Arizona.”
“Who said I’m going to Arizona?”
She shrugged. “You’ll go one of these days, right?”
Orlando looked away as he thought on that. “Perhaps. Maybe in the summer.”
June clapped. “Perfect.” She walked across the room and took a seat in front of a chess board.
Orlando sat across from her. He looked down at the chess board. “Ladies first.”
June smiled and made a move.
Orlando made a move. “I’d have to make many more stops before I’d ever reach Arizona.”
June moved. “Like where?”
“Washington, California, Oregon.” He moved.
June smiled. “You’re going to lose.” She moved.
Orlando frowned at the board and looked up at her. “How are you so sure? The game has just begun.”
“Has it?”
Orlando narrowed his eyes. He looked down at the board, thought, and then made another move. “It has. After all, we both started the game at the same time.”
June made a move without pause. “Did we?”
Orlando’s brows drew together. “Are we talking about chess?”
June blinked a few times. “Are we?”
Orlando smiled. “If we’re not, then I must warn you that I’m pretty sure that I’ve been playing any other game much longer than you, June.”
June stared at him. “It’s your move.”
Orlando looked at the board and picked up a piece.
June said, “I may not have been playing this game as long as you, but I believe I’m just as good at it.”
Orlando made it move. “Are you sure?”
June moved. “Oh, yes.”
Orlando sighed and looked at the board. He moved.
June moved.
Orlando’s eyes went wide. He looked at June and narrowed his eyes. “What game are we playing, June?”
“It’s your move.”
Orlando moved.
June moved.
Orlando sighed. “Is the game we’re playing dangerous?”
“The best games are. Your move.”
Orlando moved. “What happens if you win?”
June moved and looked up at him. “If I win, you win.”
Orlando narrowed his eyes. “Not if I’m playing on the other side.”
“It’s your move.”
Orlando moved without looking at the board.
June looked down. She went for a piece, but then stopped. She went for another piece, but then stopped again. She looked up to find Orlando staring at her. She leaned back in her chair and let out a breath. “Stalemate.”
“Exactly.”
“Are you happy?” she asked.
Orlando looked down at the board. He shook his head. “No.”
“You’d be happy if you let me win.”
He laughed and looked up at her. “You think so?”
June nodded her head.
Orlando smiled and then let his face slide into a more neutral look. “I may not be happy, but I’m safe.”
“What about my safety?”
Orlando lifted a shoulder. “Have I failed you?”
June frowned. “No, not yet.”
“Not yet?” Orlando shook his head. “What are we talking about, June?”
June shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“I think you are.” He lifted a brow.
June looked away. She didn’t know how to tell him that the game was more hearts than chess. June wanted a life with Orlando. She didn’t want any other man in the inn. She wanted him. One the other hand, what she really wanted to do was make him happy. June couldn’t stop picturing that young boy who’d grown up without a father. The boy who still seemed to be running from the pain. Love could heal that pain, but Orlando didn’t want her, he was making that plain by how hard he seemed to be trying to get her away from him. So that meant that she just wasn’t the one for him. It didn’t mean that there wasn’t someone else out there.
A bell in the distance rang. Mary’s voice shouted further signaling that breakfast was ready. The sounds of people migrating towards the dining room travelled towards the back of the house.
“June.”
“Hmmm?” She turned to look at him.
Orlando stood and reached his hand out to hers. “I want you to try and see if one of the men is to your liking.”
June took his hand and stood. “Okay. I’ll try, because trying is the right thing to do.” She smiled.
Orlando frowned and dropped her hand. “After you.”
June walked ahead of Orlando towards the dining room and tried to wrap her mind around the plans that were developing in her head.
* * *
7
Chapter SEVEN
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“ We’ll marry New Year’s morning.”
.
“You ever been to Mississippi, Orlando?” Teresa asked.
Orlando smiled politely at the woman. She was pretty, but she was distracting him from his goals. He didn’t understand why June had invited her to the table, but ever since Teresa sat down, her lips hadn’t stopped moving. She was leaning around June to talk, cutting off any and everyone else’s words.
Orlando was sitting on the end of one long table. June was to his left. Teresa was one seat down from her. On his right sat Austin and Clarence. Orlando sighed through his smile. “I have.” He quickly turned to Peter. “How’s life in the mountains?”
Peter shrugged over his meal. “Quiet.” The annoyance plain in his voice. Teresa needing to over talk everyone else seemed to be getting on their nerves.
“I like the mountains,” Teresa chimed. “That’s where I’m headed, but in Washington. You ever been to Washington, Orlando?”
June giggled underneath her napkin.
Orlando’s eyes went wide. He’d never heard her giggle before.
Mary came over. “Teresa, why don’t you help me in the kitchen?”
Teresa frowned. “But ain’t we e
ating breakfast? What could you possibly need help with?”
“Cleaning?”
“But I’m a guest.”
“Yes, but not a paying one. Now, come on,” Mary left without giving Teresa the chance to respond. “Bring your plate with you.”
Teresa gasped. “The nerve.” She picked herself up, grabbed her plate, and said to the table, “If you’ll excuse me.” She followed Mary through the kitchen door.
Austin said, “Thank God.”
June’s eyes went wide. “Shhhh. Her friends are sitting at the other end of the table,” she whispered.
Austin peaked down. The women were staring at him. Smiles on their faces. One girl, a short haired blonde got up and made her way over. Austin’s eyes went wide. “I’m not going to sit through another one of these girls who never stop talking. I think I’m done.” He got up and left.
A different woman sat down, blocking the blonde woman who’d been making her way to their end of the table. The blond frowned. The newcomer smiled up at her. It was Bridgette, the woman who’d taken Austin’s room. “I’m sorry, were you going to sit here?”
Orlando’s eyes went wide.
June put a hand on Bridgette’s arm. “No, you’re fine.”
Bridgette smiled. “Thanks.” She looked at Orlando. “Thanks for the room again. I hope I didn’t ruin your stay.”
Orlando smiled. “You’re welcome. How’s your sister doing?”
“Better. She should be up by tomorrow.”
“Where’s Birdie?” June asked.
Bridgette smiled and tucked her short brunette hair behind her ear. “Reading to her aunt. She’s getting really good.”
“How old is she?” June asked.
“Six, and she can read almost anything you give her.”
“Did you teach her?”
“Yes.”
“You must be a great mother.”
Bridgette blushed. “It’s hard work, but I work at it every day.”
“I hear it’s easier if you wait for a husband,” Peter grumbled.
June and Orlando’s eyes went wide.
Bridgette stared across at the lumberjack. All the signs of shyness gone. “Excuse me?”
“I mean,” Peter said. “You wouldn’t have to work so hard if you didn’t have a kid.” He shrugged.
Bridgette narrowed her eyes. “You must not spend much time with people on that mountain of yours.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re mother never taught you that it’s impolite to judge?”
“I ain’t judging,” Peter said after a bite. “Just making an observation.”
Bridgette smiled. “Oh, like you observed that my husband died of pneumonia last year?”
Peter’s fork paused.
Bridgette continued. “Oh, wait. You couldn’t have observed that, because you don’t know me.” She stood. “You don’t know a thing about me.” She picked up her plate and looked at June and Orlando. “If you’ll excuse me.” She left.
Peter sighed and put his fork down. “Excuse me,” he grumbled before getting his things and leaving. June and Orlando were left alone on their end of the table.
Orlando said, “What was that?”
June frowned. “I’m not sure.”
Orlando sighed. “I don’t think Peter is your type.”
June stared blankly at Orlando. “I like him.”
Orlando frowned. “What?”
June nodded. “He’s very honest. That’s shows good character.”
Orlando narrowed his eyes. “You’re playing with me.”
June gasped. Her hand went over her heart. “But Orlando, isn’t this what you wanted? Didn’t you want to pass me off to the first man willing to take me.”
Yes, Orlando thought. He had. He really had, though he never would have seen Peter’s bad attitude coming. He would never leave June with a man like that. “Where’s Clarence?”
June narrowed her eyes. “Seriously?” She sighed and reached for her water. “I’m beginning to feel like I bother you, Orlando.”
You do, he thought again. She bothered him, just not the way she thought she did. June was a mystery, which Orlando didn’t think was saying much, since most women were, but still… There was something about June.
He watched as she drank from her glass and thought he’d never seen anyone more beautiful. Everything she did was like a work of art. If he were a painter, he’d have asked her to hold still, with her small lips poised over the edge of the glass, her dainty pink finger stretched towards the sky. He shook his head. It was more than a want to get rid of June. Now, it was a need. There was a part of him that wanted to draw her near and never let her go, but the part of him that had made him the success that he was cautioned against doing something so… risky. He needed to think more like himself. He needed to think more like the CEO of Heart Arrangements.
“What do you want in a man?”
June’s eyes widened. “What?” She put her glass down. “Oh, now you want to know?”
Orlando sighed. “I should have asked before. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you ask before?”
Because I didn’t want to not make the cut. “Because, most women want the same thing, but I’ve the feeling that you’re not like most women.”
June put a hand over the one that Orlando had on the arm of his chair. “Orlando, I’m definitely not like most women.”
He flipped his hand over and wrapped her small fingers in his. “Well then, what is it that you want?”
June looked down at her their hands and then back at him.
Orlando looked at their joined hands. From their place in the room, no one could see that they were touching. Her fingers fit perfectly in his. He rubbed his thumb over her skin. He heard June suck in air. His own heart rate sped up. Orlando slowly looked up to meet June’s glittering green eyes.
He swallowed, sighed, and took his hand from hers. “What is it that you want in a man?” He folded his hands together, still feeling the warmth of her touch.
June took her hand away from his chair and placed it under the table and out of his sight. He wondered if she was doing the same thing as he. He wondered if she was rubbing her hands together, remembering his warmth. Orlando closed his eyes and shook his head. He needed to get a handle on himself. He opened his eyes and found June frowning.
She said in a quiet voice. “You want me talk to Clarence?”
Orlando wasn’t ready to speak, but he nodded.
June gave him a sad smile and then said, “Okay.”
That one word made Orlando feel like he’d just lost everything. He stared into June’s face. It was relaxed. Peaceful. Accepting. It reminded Orlando of their chess game. Was this a stalemate or was he about to lose?
* * *
8
Chapter EIGHT
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“ We’ll marry New Year’s morning.”
.
June walked out of her room that night just as a woman from the room on the other side of the hall came out. She held up her lantern. It was Bridgette. The women moved closer to the stairs. June spoke first. “I’m sorry that Peter was so rude.”
Bridgette waved June off. “It’s alright. I’m not worried about that ogre.” She smiled at June. “But, I didn’t get the chance to thank your husband’s friend for the room again.
June closed her eyes and sighed. “He’s not my husband.” She opened her eyes. “He’s just... someone I know.”
The woman turned red. Her blue eyes darkened. “Oh. I’m sorry. I just thought… Well, you seemed so… Oh, never mind.”
June shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
Bridgette smiled and June realized that though she was a widow, she was a young widow. Bridgette tucked a lock of her short brown hair behind her ear. A gesture that June believed she did when she was embarrassed. “Alright.”
“Will your sister be out for Christmas tomorrow?”
Bridgette brightened. “Oh, Glorious? She’s up now, but still in the room. She’ll be down by tomorrow.”
“And how is Birdie?”
Bridgette frowned. “We had to keep Carrot, her dog, down in the barn. She’s afraid he may freeze to death.”
June’s eyes went wide. “Will he?”
Bridgette shook her head. “No, but… “ She got closer to June. “Joseph did mention that feeding Carrot wouldn’t be a priority for him. Humans first, he said. He’s not sure if there will be enough food here for everyone, unless of course someone is willing to go to the next town over for dog food.” She shook her head.
June frowned. “That’s awful.”
Bridgette shook her head. Tears started to fall. “No, it was only a matter of time. My mother wasn’t going to allow Birdie to keep the dog once we got to Utah anyway. Utah is where we’re going, my sister and I.” Bridgette let out a breath. “Everything has been so hard since Jerry…”
“Died?”
Bridgette frowned. “No, not since he died. Jerry had been driving me crazy long before then. He lost his job at a factory and then drank the rest of our money away. Then, he had the audacity to give Birdie that dog right before he died.” Bridgette shook her head. “I do love the dog, but at the time, it had just been another burden. Now, Carrot is like family.” Bridgette looked up. Her eyes went wide. “I’m so sorry. I’m telling you my life story and you never asked for it.” She shook her head.
June grabbed her arm. “It’s alright.” She dropped her arm. “Maybe there’s something that can be done.” June would do about anything to get rid of the pain that was growing in her own heart. Orlando had rejected her for the last time. June had only known him for two weeks, but she already knew that she was in love with him. Still, June wouldn’t beg for a man’s love. If Orlando wanted to get rid of her, then June wouldn’t stick around.
Bridgette sighed. “I ran out of hope when the train stopped. Life is just so hard.”
June agreed, but started for the stairs. No one should have to be sad on Christmas Eve, but if she couldn’t solve her own problem, she’d solve someone else’s. “Well, we’ll see about making life a little easier.”