LUNCH WITH ALICE
Alice leaned down and gave Marie a kiss on each cheek as greeting. “Hello, my dear. How are you?”
“I’m well. And you?” Marie answered as Alice took the seat opposite of her.
Alice looked around. “There is no one in the café today. How strange.”
“I noticed that, too. I don’t know. I guess everyone is busy today.”
Alice grinned. “I am never too busy for a visit with my friend at the café. So tell me all the news you feel comfortable telling me. No more, no less.”
Marie laughed softly. “There’s not much to tell, really. Since the last time we argued, Jake has been calm, helpful and he’s not drinking or going to the saloon as much. He’s been so nice to me. But I never know what’s going on, so I kind of live my own life, you know? I went in to work at the church for a while yesterday. I haven’t done that in some time.”
“You do need to concentrate on yourself, Marie. It’s not typical for a young lady in this area to be alone, but you are different from most people around here. It’s like you are supposed to be here, alone but not really alone.”
“Well, I think we started our conversation out on a very serious note,” Marie laughed.
Alice shrugged. “Sometimes the important things need to be talked about right away. So do you think Jake is changing his behavior? Do you think it’s because he’s falling for you?”
“I don’t think Jake is falling in love with me. I think he’s getting himself together so that he can live independently if he needs to, without falling into a ditch somewhere or getting beaten up by men at the saloon. He says he’s finished with that life.”
“Does he?” Alice smiled. “And he’s not drinking as much?”
“I believe he’s getting everything under control. I really do.”
“I am so happy to hear that. Since you seem so sure, I want you to do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to reunite Jake and Adam. They are family; they are related to each other. I think it’s time they started acting like it again.”
Marie chuckled. “I had been thinking the same thing, but didn’t want to ask. I’m the odd woman out here, after all. They are related and you are Adam’s wife, so I am an outsider.”
Alice shook her head. “You know better than to say something like that, Marie. We may not be blood, but we are still your family. Everyone in this town considers you family. You should hear the things they say about Jake, though.”
Marie’s breath caught in her throat. “What? What are they saying? I haven’t heard anything.”
“No one talks about him around you, honey. They know how you feel about him. Don’t look at me like that; they can see it on your face. It’s not because I’m wandering around spreading your personal business to everyone in Wickenburg. I’m not. It’s obvious and you can’t deny it.”
Marie looked down, frowning slightly, her good mood vanishing in an instant.
Alice noticed and leaned forward, lowering her voice. “It’s not all bad, Marie. Everyone that Jake has worked for has complimented him on his work. He works hard and they like that. They just don’t know why you are still allowing him to live in your house when he clearly is looking out for himself and is not interested in claiming you right now.”
“I feel so exposed,” Marie said. “I feel like everyone is looking at me wherever I go.”
“Word gets around and you have an excellent reputation in this town. They may be talking about you, but they aren’t saying anything bad about you. No one does. No one.”
Alice’s words made Marie feel a bit better, but she was still upset that she and Jake were the talk of the town and she didn’t even realize it. She would have to hole up in the house for a few days to ride out the shame of it.
Alice patted her hand. “Now, now, don’t get upset. Everything that happens is just a temporary thing and then you move on to something else. You’ve done it before, you can do it again. You are always strong that way. I’ve seen you with other men and women you’ve helped. Even the ones with babies. You are always loving and sweet. It’s just who you are. People like you are few and far between. Those of us who see that are blessed to have known you. You’ve helped us all out in one way or another.”
“Not everyone.”
“You know I think I can safely say that yes, it is everyone. You know why?”
Marie shook her head, staring at Alice, who looked very deep in thought. “It’s because you do something for someone and it causes other things to happen. Let me explain. If you do something nice for someone who is having a bad day, that person’s bad day turns good. Then they go and do something for someone else that they wouldn’t have done if they were still in a bad mood. And you always put people in a good mood.”
Marie laughed. “I do?”
“Yes, of course you do.” Alice grinned at her, waving one hand as if to shoo away even the thought of Marie being any different. “Oh you know you do.”
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s nice to know.”
“I always think of you when I am not happy and want to think about something happy, did you know that?”
Marie looked shocked. “Surely not. Why would thinking of me help?”
“Because you are always so positive and encouraging. You listen to people and you don’t judge them based on their money or looks or anything. You accept everyone for exactly who they are.”
“I’m just living my life, Alice. Hoping that everyone else is living theirs the way they want.”
“It’s hard to live the way you want to without a lot of hard work.”
“I agree with that.”
“And you tend to help the people who don’t want to do that hard work to get where they need to go. It can’t be easy to trust those people.”
“I do it without thinking about it. I always think they will appreciate it enough to treat me well. So far, I haven’t had much trouble. Only the one time I needed to call the sheriff to get that young man out of my house, you remember him. Anthony?”
“Yes, I remember him. He always wanted everyone to call him Ol’ Tony, but no one liked him enough to give him a nickname. You didn’t have him in your home for very long.”
“No, it was only a week or two. I think he realized how unliked he was and left. He never said goodbye to me and I didn’t say goodbye to him. I will never forget how relieved I felt when I opened the door to that room and he was gone. All his stuff gone. He didn’t take anything of value from the house and I thank God for that every day.”
“Yes, he was quite a scoundrel. I’m glad he’s gone.”
Marie nodded. “So you see, my generosity does have its limits.”
Alice grinned. “If you think about it, Marie, you didn’t kick him out either. He left voluntarily. So it doesn’t really have to do with your limits, does it? Apparently, he’d reached his and figured out that he wasn’t welcome here in Wickenburg.”
“You are the smartest woman I know, Alice,” Marie said laughingly. “And I think we should talk about something else.”
“All right. How about you relay the invitation to come over to my house for dinner on Sunday night?”
“The day after tomorrow,” Marie said. “I don’t know if Jake will come. I don’t know if he’s still angry with Adam or not. He probably thinks Adam is still angry with him. He was sure that Adam had convinced me to kick him out.”
“That was weeks ago. You said things are different now. That Jake is not the same anymore. He’s a better person now. Don’t you believe that’s true?”
“I do, yes.”
“Then ask Jake if he wants to come. Insist on it, if you have to. But let’s get these men back together. They need each other. We don’t need tension in our family. Do you agree?”
Marie nodded. “All right, Alice, I’ll ask him. But I can’t guarantee he will want to come.”
Alice sat back with a look of satisfaction on her face. “I’m so
glad. I know we can get them talking. If Jake is sober, it would be the best conversation the two of them have ever had. I don’t think Adam has ever spoken to him when he isn’t drinking.”
“That didn’t happen very often. And he’s still doing it. He’s just not going to the saloon and gambling or bringing home big bottles of liquor every night.”
“I am excited now, Marie.” Alice looked energized. Her eyes were wide and the smile on her face stretched from ear to ear.
“I can see that. Why are you so anxious?”
“I think this is one of the best things that can happen to Adam. He is always concerned about his family. His brothers are spread across the countryside, his parents don’t live here, and he corresponds with many of them regularly. So, when one comes to Wickenburg, no matter the relation, Adam wants them to feel comfortable and wanted. This thing with Jake has hurt him to the core.”
“Really?” Marie tried to picture anything penetrating the hard armor she thought Adam wore. Adam was one of the strongest, most noble men she knew.
“Yes. He can be very sensitive about some things.”
Marie grunted in appreciation. It was something she hadn’t expected to hear. “He doesn’t seem like he is like that.”
Alice smile. “I’m his wife. You can trust me. And it’s nice that he’s got a heart. I’m glad it’s mine. I feel blessed.”
“You are blessed,” Marie said. “And I’m completely envious of you for it.” She gave her friend a smile.
“You’ll find it, Marie. A wonderful girl like you? You’ll find your love. It’s a guarantee.”
Marie giggled, not responding. Instead, she took a drink from her coffee and thought, I wish it was guaranteed. I really do.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MORNING SERVICE AT CHURCH
MORNING SERVICE AT CHURCH
As Marie rode along the dirt road, she thought about what Alice had said. She always enjoyed her conversations with Alice. She was a smart woman. Marie liked to trade advice with her on different things. She respected Alice’s opinions and thoughts.
She wanted to have the dinner party at the Collins’ home as much as Alice did. Jake needed to have a fatherly figure to look up to now more than ever. Adam would make an excellent mentor. He was only about 10 years older than Jake, but the respect would be there.
She snapped the reins so that the horses would move a little faster. The clouds above her head were signaling the approach of rain and she didn’t want to be riding in the storm. She was close to home and if the horses would pick up the pace, she would get there before the water came pelting down on her head.
She couldn’t stand to be caught out in the rain. She wasn’t the kind of girl who liked to run around in the rain and enjoy it. She liked to be warm and dry inside her house.
She jumped down from the wagon, throwing the reins over the hitching post and running to the front porch. She was under the small roof just as the first drops began to fall. She pulled the door open and went through, closing it behind her.
“Jake?” she called out. “Are you here?”
“I’m in the kitchen!” she heard him call out.
She poked her head through the kitchen door and smiled at him. “Hello. No outside work today?”
“I think I’ll go out later and work,” he replied. “After the rain. I’ve been waiting for it to come. I didn’t want to be stuck in it trying to get a job done. I don’t like to be out in the rain.”
“It’s not my favorite pastime either, Jake,” she shook her head, stepping into the kitchen. “I would rather be safe and warm inside.”
“Me too. Come sit down and talk to me.” He lifted one hand and waved her over. “There’s coffee.”
She shook her head. “I’ve had too many cups of coffee at the café. Another one might send me running around the house a few times.”
He laughed. “So you’ve just come from the café. You had lunch there?”
“Yes, with Alice. She said she wants us to come over there for dinner on Sunday.”
He gave her a sharp look. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Has she asked Adam about that? I don’t think he’d want me over there.”
Marie shook her head. “He doesn’t hate you, if that’s what you’re thinking. He was worried about you, too.”
Jake leaned forward. Marie noticed one of his hands was gripping his coffee cup so hard his knuckles were white. “You tell me then. Has he ever said anything good about me?” he hissed.
Marie pulled back and gave him a worried look. “Jake! He’s said a lot of good things about you. Why do you think he hates you?”
“He’s supposed to be my family, but he turned his back on me.”
Marie didn’t know what to say. Jake knew why Adam had told him to leave. He had turned the whole thing around and was blaming Adam.
“He tried to help you, Jake. He did. He said he didn’t have much faith because of the things your family has said, but he wanted to help you.”
“It took a stranger helping me before my family can see what they do to me,” Jake grumbled.
Marie sighed quietly. “Jake, you are not thinking about this from anyone else’s point of view. Think about it. You told me just the other day that you would have thrown yourself out long ago if you’d been me. No one is trying to hurt you. Their help just didn’t seem to do any good. You had to do it yourself.”
Jake pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly through his nose. He was looking at the table as if something was written there he didn’t understand. He didn’t say anything right away, so she stayed silent until he was ready to speak again.
“I don’t think he wants me to be there. She probably never told him about it. I don’t want to be there as a surprise. He won’t like that.”
“I don’t think she would do that. I’m sure she told him about it already. If I make sure she told him and that he wants you there, will you go?”
He frowned. “I don’t want to.”
“Please, Jake. It will be good for you in the end.”
“How do you know that? I don’t want to be ambushed.”
Marie stifled a laugh. It came out as a snort. She covered her mouth as her cheeks reddened. He gave her a dark look. “I don’t mean to laugh, Jake, but do you really think I would take you into an ambush? That Adam would even do such a thing? Come now, surely you don’t seriously think that?”
Marie was glad to see Jake’s lips twitching as if he wanted to smile but wouldn’t let himself.
“Come on,” Marie prompted gently. “I’ll confirm that Adam knows and then you will go, right?”
He looked uncomfortable, but in a way that made Marie giggle. “I suppose I will.”
Marie thought he looked like a child being told to wait for a cookie. It made her smile. “I’m so glad.” She almost added, “Let me get you a cookie.” The thought made her break into uncontrollable giggles.
He finally smiled, looking at her sideways. “What are you laughing about?”
“Nothing,” she replied. “I’m just happy you want to go.”
“Why are you so excited?” he asked. “It’s my family we’re talking about here.”
“I know. I’m just happy for you.”
He shook his head. “You are a strange woman.”
“How am I strange?”
“I meet a lot of people… I’ve met a lot of people from going from one place to another all the time. I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re like some kind of… angel or something.”
“I’m not an angel,” Marie shook her head. “I’m a flesh and blood human being. I have feelings and desires and needs just like everyone else.”
He nodded, his smile remaining. “I know. But it’s just strange to never hear anything bad about a person. Everyone I’ve talked to in Wickenburg likes you. You have no enemies.”
“I am sure there are some people in Wickenburg that don’t like me,” Marie didn’t know how to defend herself in the conversation.
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“Not that I’ve met.”
“Have you met everyone in Wickenburg?” She raised the pitch of her voice, asking the question as if it would be an amazing feat if he had.”
“There aren’t that many people here, Marie,” he chuckled. “And everyone seems to know you somehow. If they don’t know you, they know about you.”
After her conversation with Alice that morning, Marie was beginning to feel like some kind of spectacle. She felt even more exposed than she had when she’d talked to Alice. From the time her parents died and then her husband, Marie had been doing what she thought was best to live her life giving to others. She hadn’t known that everything she did was observed by others. She hadn’t noticed anyone watching her, had never heard anything said about herself in passing, and never even thought about the notion.
Now, in one day, she realized that everything she did was observed and noted by the people of Wickenburg. Her good deeds had not gone unnoticed.
She made a small sound of appreciation, making Jake raise his eyebrows at her. “What are you thinking about? You have a very pleasant look on your pretty face.”
She looked out the window, letting the first compliment he’d ever given her wash over her like warm water. “I’m just thinking how glad I am I don’t have any regrets, any hurtful thing in my past that might have changed the minds of the people in my town.”
“You don’t have a mean bone in your body,” Jake said quietly.
She chuckled. “I don’t think you’d say that if we were arguing.”
He laughed, too. “Probably not. But you really aren’t mean when we argue. You’re just determined. That’s how I look at it, anyway.”
“Yes, determined to make you think about it my way, whatever it is.”
He nodded. “Of course. And I’m trying to make you look at it my way. I’m glad we don’t argue too often.”
“We should never argue.”
“As long as I’m living here with you, we’ll argue. It’s the price you pay for the luxury of the company. And I have good company. You are a good companion. I’m glad to be here. I want you to know how appreciated and loved you are. You didn’t have to do what you’ve done for me. It gave me the courage to get back on my feet.”
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