by Annie Boone
She sighed quietly and walked away.
Chapter 33
The sun shone brightly and his mood was just as bright. With a quick glance out the window, Zeke found himself grinning and shook his head. It really was a perfect day, and things were going well. Beside him on the wagon, June nudged him. They were beyond happy.
“You look very satisfied with yourself,” she informed him with a smile of her own. As he glanced at her, it struck him again how much he liked seeing her spunky smile. She had come out of her shell and now held nothing back.
Nodding, he turned back to the reins. “I am satisfied. What’s wrong with that?” He laughed and she punched him playfully in the arm.
Part of his new life felt strange. Several yards ahead, his mother and her new husband were kicking up dust on the way back to the house. Along with their family friends, the two had said their vows in a small ceremony in the little red chapel. Now everyone was heading over to their house for a small celebration.
“Good. You’re rather handsome when you look so confident,” she grinned.
“Are you saying I’m not handsome when I’m just sitting around?”
“How would I know if I’m not there?” She winked at him as they arrived and halted.
“Well, then, I suppose I’ll have to keep you around,” Zeke declared. “You make me both confident and happy. I’d like to stay handsome, if that’s all right by you.”
The words were very blunt, and the two of them turned red. They were more comfortable together than when they first started courting, but every now and then some truth would slip out to help things move forward.
Helping her down, his hands wrapped around her small waist as she’d put her hands on his shoulders, a soft firm weight that sent a shiver down his spine.
Together, the young couple entered the house. June had joined him earlier that morning to decorate the place with Nancy, bringing her own flowers as they set up decorations. Adele was clapping her hands at the surprise and went around hugging everyone.
“That is too kind of you,” she remarked with bright, teary eyes. “Why, I don’t know what to say.”
John shook his head with a grin. “It’s quite the welcome. Thank you kindly.”
Everyone cheered as the new bride and groom shared another kiss. Zeke followed June into the kitchen and listened as she told him what to take to the table. They worked together until the table was set and everyone was seated.
“It was a lovely occasion,” she told him when they went out for some air on the porch after dessert. Sitting on the settee, he took one of her hands and stroked her palm. “Your mother is such a beauty, and I’ve never seen Mr. Prater so happy.”
Chuckling, Zeke agreed. “Growing up, I could never have envisioned this happening, but now I’m glad it did.” He met her gaze. “More than anything, I’m glad to be here right now.”
“The sunset is breathtaking. I don’t recall seeing one this beautiful in a while. You?” She nudged her head towards their view, watching the sun slowly slip away.
Clouds drifted by colored bright pink and orange. It was lovely, he granted, but something else was on his mind. Zeke’s throat closed up and he tried to take a deep breath. It only caused a raspy sound in the back of his throat, just loud enough for June to hear.
She looked at him, and he knew there was no turning back. Zeke leaned forward. “Listen, I know we’ve only been courting for a short while, but June, I have never been surer about anything in my life. I don’t want to keep courting you, not when I can marry you and really start our lives together. Would you consider, um, could you possibly imagine a life with me?”
He’d practiced his words the evening before, after telling his mother his intentions. The woman, on the eve of her wedding, had pulled her son into the tightest hug and had been nearly speechless with joy. The same emotions had been brimming in his heart all day, nearly to bursting. He couldn’t wait any longer.
Just as he was afraid June was leaning back, her hands pulled him close and she took a deep breath. Their foreheads pressed together and he closed his eyes. And in that moment, he could feel her beginning to smile. “I would give anything in the world to be your wife, Zeke Miller.”
He covered her hands with his and grinned. “Anything?” He peeked an eye open and she did the same, smiling impishly. With his heart thudding right out of his rib cage, Zeke’s gaze trailed down from her beautiful blue eyes all the way to those soft pink lips.
They sealed their promise with a kiss and watched the sunset before returning inside.
Holding her hand, Zeke pulled June with him to his mother and John. “I asked her and she said yes.”
June blushed, smiled, laughed, and melted into Adele’s embrace. “I’m so happy for you two!” Adele exclaimed.
“Great news!” said John.
“Now wish us luck, we’re heading over to the mayor’s house now.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that old blowhard,” John chuckled, then realized his mistake. “Sorry, June. I didn’t mean that about your father.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Mr. Prater. He is a blowhard, for sure. Apparently, you know him almost as well as I do.”
The tension eased and the two made their way to the wagon for the short trip across town. Zeke was nervous. While he had brought this up to her grandfather the other week, the old man had granted his blessing on behalf of the entire family. Now, Zeke wasn’t so sure. It had been inappropriate for him to ask the elder Pershing before he talked to June’s father. It was too late to change that now, so it would go like it would go.
“They don’t hate you,” June reminded him as she tugged on his arm when he paused before the front door. It was a grand house, a fact that he hadn’t really considered until lately. And then he saw June. It hit him hard that she’d lived quite a comfortable life as the mayor’s daughter. The home was one of the largest in Cutter’s Creek, with a white fence and a cobblestone path. He could only think about how much June deserved, and suddenly wondered if he was capable of providing that for her.
“Zeke, I want to marry you,” she whispered as if reading his mind. “More than anything. They’ll be happy for us, I’m sure of it. You’re not afraid, are you?”
Blinking, he turned back to her. “Afraid? No, of course not.” His voice cracked, but he forged on and held out his arm for her as they went inside.
Chapter 34
As much as Zeke believed he could hide his thoughts, June saw them so plainly across that handsome face. He was worried about her parents, and while she knew he wasn’t completely wrong, she had the utmost faith that it would be all right.
Of course, her parents thought they were moving too quickly. But they were adults, and they wanted to be together. She stopped by the haberdashery for lunch daily and often found time to take a walk in the afternoon after which he would walk her home in the evenings.
While her parents had more or less accepted him, June could understand his uncertainty. They rarely started conversations with him and they couldn’t exactly be considered friendly. Even though her father had agreed to the courtship, he hadn’t said much after that.
But there was no need to stall. She pulled him inside. “It’s me,” June called out, certain she heard glasses clinking in the kitchen. “Zeke’s with me.”
“Do come in,” her mother called. “We were just sitting down for dessert. Are you two hungry?”
Obediently they followed after, letting go of each other’s hands as they entered the bright room. June’s parents sat together at the round white table, sharing with a few cookies and glasses of milk.
June shook her head, pulling her bonnet off. “No, thank you, Mother. We’ve eaten.”
“Ah yes,” her father nodded voraciously. “The wedding. How was it? Zeke, please send my congratulations to your mother and John.”
The young man nodded cautiously. “I will, thank you. It was a nice ceremony and the celebration supper was very good. Thank you for the offer of
dessert, Mrs. Pershing,” he added courteously.
Zeke Miller was a good man, and June grinned at him. She could hardly believe it. Just a few months ago, there was no way she would have believed this could happen for her. As she looked at him, she realized all eyes were on them. Her heart thudded and she suddenly didn’t care.
“We’re getting married,” she announced. Surely, they would need to find some joy in this, she told herself, raising her chin proudly.
Zeke looked at her with shock. This wasn’t how they’d talked about making the announcement. He’d been so nervous and June had taken charge. He was guiltily relieved he didn’t have to have that conversation with her father now.
For a minute, everything was quiet. Then it was Mrs. Pershing who was squealing and clapping her hands as she stood. It was so quick, she knocked her chair over as she hurried over for a hug.
June was nearly knocked over with the hug and looked at Zeke in surprise. June had expected something much more subdued. Possibly even a warning that this was a bad idea. After everything negative her parents had said about Zeke, her mother’s reaction was a welcome response to their news.
When her mother freed her, Zeke shook hands with her father. It was a strange sight, but June smiled as they began to pester him with questions. They would marry next month, and John had offered to sell them his house for a fair price. He was officially a partner for Prater’s Haberdashery, and tomorrow they would tell Pastor Latsch.
She could hardly believe their good fortune and beamed as she led Zeke out the door. It was getting late, but they lingered on the porch, standing with their fingers entwined. June bit her lip, glancing up to Zeke who was still wearing a silly smile.
Then the door opened, and that’s when Mary stepped through. The moment vanished and June could feel the blood draining from her face. Her sister hadn’t said a word, and June had been so surprised about her parents’ reactions that her sister was forgotten.
Mary stepped forward, out of the shadows. She was frowning with her arms crossed, but her words shocked them. “I want to apologize. To you both.” She looked at the couple for a long minute before dropping her arms to her side and sighing. “I’m dreadfully sorry for my behavior. I’ve been childish, and neither of you deserved it. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Stunned, June stood there for a good moment before flinging her arms around her sister. “Thank you,” she whispered and stepped back. “I’d have a hard time if I didn’t have your blessing, as well. And of course I forgive you!”
The woman shrugged. “You’ll do fine. You always do. I’m proud of you.” She shared one last smile and returned inside, leaving the couple in shock. June turned to Zeke and shared a surprised look.
“That was unexpected,” she admitted, returning to his outstretched hands.
He nodded. “But I’m glad. I’ve hated the rift between you two. You know that, don’t you?” Zeke furrowed his brow and pushed a stray golden curl from her face.
The way he looked at her changed something inside of June, though she couldn’t quite place it. “I know,” she nodded.
Shaking his head, Zeke led her to the corner where they leaned against the pillar and she raised her eyebrow. The loving look in his eyes turned intense, and she waited. “I don’t want you to give up on your dreams.”
Cocking her head, she shrugged. “What do you mean, Zeke?”
“You’re bright and clever and I want you to follow your dreams, June. You want to be a lawyer, don’t you? Then I want to help you. We don’t have to stay here and we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
She looked at him in surprise, her heart hammering. Did he mean what she thought he was saying? Thinking back on all of their conversations, the talk of her becoming a lawyer had faded as they focused on things that included the two of them. “I don’t understand.”
Zeke cleared his throat. “If you want to go to school, then that’s what you’ll do. Or you can even do it here and study. At your family’s firm. Your uncle was hard to get through to, but your grandfather has paved the way.”
“What?” The words came out loud and she clamped a hand over her mouth.
But he laughed. “And I’ve talked to your father,” he confessed. “He had found your books and was returning them to your uncle. I had stopped by and told them everything.” She gaped at him, but he kept smiling. “They know how smart you are. Your uncle isn’t happy about it, but he’ll get used to it. They said you could start helping with the clerical work to see how you like it. And if you do, then we can do whatever you want, or go wherever you like. Chicago, anywhere.”
June searched his face for a lie but found none. Her hands clung to him as though desperately trying to make sure he was still there, still tangible. Could this be true? She couldn’t help it as her mouth dropped open in amazement.
“Do you really mean it? You’re really supportive of it?” she asked him in a hushed tone, as though if she spoke any louder, the dream would disappear.
“Yes. I want you to be happy in all areas of your life. I did talk to them all, after all. I think that says loud and clear that I support this idea.”
He kissed her nose. “It took some convincing, but I wanted to make sure you had the opportunities that you deserve. The time is right for this. I truly believe that earlier would have been too soon.”
“You’re probably right about that. Now is perfect timing. For everything.”
“And until you decide on the next steps, well, we’ll still be here in Cutter’s Creek. Good citizens of Cutter’s Creek. In our place, knowing our role,” he corrected himself with a sheepish grin.
She mirrored it herself, thinking of her father. He did have his ways, but she knew this was something the two of them could definitely live with. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him close. “I like the sound of that,” she murmured softly with another kiss.
Because June knew, as she was certain Zeke did as well, that no matter what happened in the future, they would still have one another. It made her heart skip a beat at the prospect, and she could hardly wait for what this perfect timing would bring next.
Thank you for reading Perfect Timing in the Cutter’s Creek Series. These stories make the sweet town of Cutter’s Creek come alive for us as we create the characters and fabric that make the town quirky, fun, and authentic. Even though our town is a fictional place, there were many towns in that time that truly made the west grow to what it is today. We hope you love Cutter’s Creek, too!
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