by Linda Ford
She moved closer until their clasped hands were pressed to both their chests. “I would never make you miserable. Don’t you know that?” She looked up at him with such pure sweetness that he forgot every word of warning about trust that he’d ever scolded himself with, every painful lesson about believing promises, everything but the look on her face.
“I guess I know it.”
“Guess is not a very strong word.” She lifted her head and planted a kiss full on his surprised lips then withdrew before he could think. His reaction came quickly and swiftly, though. He lowered their clasped hands to their sides, closed the few inches separating them and claimed her lips. Found them warm and willing. He lingered over the kiss a moment before he broke away, his joy going clear down to his boots. He turned her toward the cupboard and gave her a little push. “Is that picnic ready to go?”
Then, remembering that he had finished packing it, he grabbed the basket, hung it from his arm, took her hand and they stepped out into the sunshine. He led her in the opposite direction of the town square. They passed several houses and he lifted his fingers in greeting when he saw people in their yards enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon.
He had plans to do the same.
“Are we almost there?” she asked, looking about, trying to guess where they were going.
“Soon.” They went two more blocks.
“We’re almost out of town.”
“Not quite.” He stopped. “We’re here.”
She took in the house before them, standing alone at the end of the block. “This is where we’re going?”
“Yup.” He opened the front gate for her.
“It looks empty.”
“It is. It’s one of Grandfather Marshall’s houses that he rents out. The latest residents left a short time ago.” He explained about the woman’s illness and the need to be closer to medical care. “Grandfather asked if I would check on it. It has a pretty backyard that I thought would make a nice place for us to have our lunch.”
“Oh, fun. I like exploring. Do we get to see inside the house?”
He lifted a key. “We do.” He opened the front door and they walked into the living room, where all the furniture was gone except for a large bookcase.
The house appeared to be much the same design as Gram’s, except there were two small rooms to the side of the living room. They entered the first. She circled it and opened the closet door. Inside, an object lay on the floor. “It’s baby sweater. They must have dropped it in their packing.”
“Did they have children?”
“No. How strange.”
“Who knows? Perhaps they planned one and prepared for one and her illness prevented it. How sad.”
“Indeed.”
“So they must have planned to use this room for the nursery.” They moved to the next one. A desk had been left behind. “This they must have used for the main bedroom or an office. What did the man do?”
“He was an accountant.”
“Well, there you go. He likely worked from home some of the time.”
The kitchen was empty, the cupboards bare. A small pantry held a crock and several empty jars.
“Can we go upstairs?”
“It would be remiss of me not to check on the whole house.” He checked the windows in the four bedrooms upstairs and closed a closet door.
They returned downstairs and she hurried to the back door. “I’m anxious to see the garden.” She waited while he unlocked the door and then stepped aside to let her out.
She clasped her hands in front of her. “A gazebo and a swing and look—” She hurried off the step toward the overgrown garden. “Roses.” She bent over to sniff one. “It’s a lovely yard.”
He brought the picnic basket and they went to the gazebo. Benches built along the inside perimeter provided them seating. He swept the bench clean and waved his hand to indicate she should sit. “My lady,” he said in his most formal tone.
“Thank you, kind sir.” She curtseyed then swirled her skirts and sat down. The pleasure in her eyes was unmistakable as she took in the neglected flowers growing in wild profusion. “What a shame that they had to leave. It’s just right for a young family.” Her gaze went to the swing. “I can see Mikey—” She stopped abruptly and her shoulders heaved as she sighed.
Not wanting any regrets to mar the afternoon, he lifted the cloth from the picnic basket, spread it on the bench between them with a flourish and set out the lunch.
He dropped his hat to the floor, reached for her hands and bowed his head. His heart was so full of gratitude, worries and unspoken wishes that he had difficulty thinking where to start. “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your many blessings, for food, for this beautiful picnic spot and for love. Grant, I ask, protection and safety for Emily. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” The words did not begin to express the fullness of his heart.
“Amen,” Emily echoed. “I’m hungry.” She took a sandwich. He did the same.
They ate a leisurely lunch then explored the yard more fully. They lingered for hours. It appeared she was no more anxious to return to the reality of their lives than was he. He couldn’t have asked for a better, sweeter, more promising afternoon.
A wagon rumbled by but didn’t stop. They had walked, so no one would even suspect they were in the backyard.
She returned to admiring the roses. He stood back a few feet, enjoying her. After a few minutes, he took out his knife and cut three stems. He was jabbed by thorns but ignored the minor pain as he handed her the flowers.
“Thank you. I need to get home and put them in water.”
“We’ll put them in water right here.” He’d pumped water from the well for drinking, pleased at how sweet it was. He hurried into the house, found a jar he deemed to be the right size, filled it with water and let her arrange the roses in it.
She saw the blood on his thumb. “You’re bleeding.” She dampened her hankie with water and dabbed his thumb clean.
He didn’t know which felt better. The cold water on his puncture wound or her warm touch to his hand.
Thudding horse hooves sounded from the street. The animal slowed as it came abreast of the house.
His heart stalled. Had someone discovered their location? He patted his vest pocket. The little gun wouldn’t stop much. He should have strapped on his gun belt, even if it was Sunday.
He strained toward the sound and let his breath ease out when the horse passed. “We need to get home.”
She nodded, her eyes wide. She, too, had heard the horse slow in front of the house.
He pulled her to his chest and rubbed her back. “I’ll find those men and lock them up. I promise.”
“I wish you could also promise to give me back my memory.”
He couldn’t do that. A part of him didn’t even wish it. He didn’t want to be forgotten by her.
Chapter Fourteen
Emily made a point of running errands at various places of business over the next few days, always with Jesse watching from his office or from a nearby post. She made several trips to Marshall’s Mercantile, had tea with Annie at Miss Daisy’s Eatery and took Mickey to play at the school yard. She went for daily walks, always toward the main street. But no one appeared she didn’t know.
She explained her frustration to Jesse. “I need to go away from the heart of town. No one in their right mind is going to do anything in view of so many people.”
“I don’t like it. It’s too dangerous.”
“I refuse to live in constant fear.” It was unsettling to always wonder if she would encounter danger. The passing horse on Sunday had marred an otherwise perfect day spent in Jesse’s company. It was not how she intended to live her life.
Jesse hemmed and hawed a little, then said, “If you let me know where you’re going ahead of time, I will position myself where I can see everyone coming and going.”
“Fine. Today I am going to visit Sadie.”
But days later, after several visits to Sadie, several to se
e Annie and a walk to the house where they had shared Sunday afternoon, still nothing…or perhaps it would be more correct to say, no one appeared.
“I’m going to the river. What better place to invite trouble.”
“Exactly. Why must you invite trouble?”
“I didn’t invite it but I’m stuck with it, and I simply refuse to let it control me.”
Again, he argued against it but finally gave in—on the condition she give him enough warning so he could be in a place where he could watch her.
The next day she wandered to the river. It was quiet. Eerily quiet except for the sound of water running over rocks and the birds overhead. She didn’t know where Jesse was, but she knew he would be nearby should she need him.
If not for the threat hanging over her head she would bask in the cool air coming from the water and the pleasure of watching the ripples on the river.
Crashing came from her right and she suddenly regretted this whole idea. She looked about for Jesse but didn’t see him. Had he forgotten? Or worse, had he been discovered by the bad men and tied up, thus leaving her alone? Her knees turned rubbery. She ordered them to stay strong so she could run. A glance over her shoulder showed she had wandered a distance from the path leading back to town, and she edged that way, never taking her gaze from the direction of the sound.
A boy of about ten broke into the open. “Hi,” he called. “Didn’t `spect to see anyone.” He turned and raced away.
Her knees folded and she sank to the ground.
Jesse appeared at her side and he sat down to hold her. “You’re not doing this again. My heart won’t stand the strain.”
“Nor mine.” It was several minutes before she had the strength to stand. When she thought she could walk, he took her hand and held it until he had her safely home.
It was two days before she was brave enough to venture out on her own again.
Jesse spent more time at home than she knew he normally did, but she didn’t mention it. After her scare at the river, she was only too glad to have him nearby.
And there were other reasons she didn’t mind his company. He played with Mikey. The boy adored him. Even that wasn’t the main reason she enjoyed his presence.
Her greatest source of pleasure was when Jesse took her for walks throughout the day, always staying close to home, always keeping her at his side, making her feel safe and protected and valued.
Was being valued something she sought? Needed? She searched her thoughts, willed remembrance, but nothing came. She didn’t know if she needed to feel important to someone or not. Of course she didn’t, she thought with some disgust. Besides, Mikey thought she was important, running to her often for a hug or a word of praise. Gram appreciated her help with the sewing and meal preparation.
And Jesse? Was she more than a responsibility to him? She harbored a secret hope for it, but until she knew who or what she had been before she ended up in Bella Creek—well, she simply didn’t feel like she was worthy of someone like Jesse.
Which, to her disgust, answered her question as to whether or not she needed to be valued.
Would she ever learn who she was?
Did it matter anymore? She wished she could say it didn’t, but something nagged at her from the shadows of her past, and until she knew what it was she could never be free of it. Every day she asked Jesse if a letter had arrived from Alliance. But no help came from that direction.
No amount of praying or poring over her Bible seeking clues provided a key to her past. Nothing she saw in her walks did, either.
Jesse had gone to check if any new letters had arrived. She understood that Clarence had taken on many of Jesse’s responsibilities so he could spend his time guarding her. It should make her feel guilty but it didn’t. She could hardly breathe when he was gone as fear clutched at her lungs.
Between worrying about someone who might wish her harm and wanting to know who she was, Emily found it difficult to sit still and help Gram with the sewing.
Gram noticed her restlessness. “You won’t be able to settle until you see if Jesse has any news. Why don’t you go see if he has anything to report?”
Emily hesitated. “I feel like I should be doing more to help you.” Besides, Jesse had made it clear he didn’t want her leaving the house unescorted.
“Nonsense. Your life is like an unfinished seam at the moment. It makes it a little hard to put your mind to something as mundane as sewing on a button. Run along.”
Emily made up her mind. She would be safe enough going to Jesse’s office, and it was impossible to relax until she knew if he’d received any message concerning her.
And if going out on her own made one of those horrible men show his face, she considered it well worth it so she folded away the shirtwaist she’d been working on.
“Thank you for being so understanding. I’ll take Mikey.” At least she could do that much. For several days, she’d left him in Gram’s care as she tried to draw out whoever left her shirtwaist on the doorstep. She wasn’t ready to think of it as anything but a threat. But it seemed less and less likely that’s what it meant. Perhaps it had been left for some other reason, though she could think of none.
Mikey gladly came with her. “See Yesse?” he asked.
“Yes, we’ll go to his office. You can play in the jail.” They’d visited before, and Mikey had been fascinated by the room with bars for walls.
They reached the little building with the Sheriff sign above the door. Before she reached the handle, Jesse pulled the door open. “Is something wrong? Has someone—” He glanced past her as if expecting to see one of those men pursuing her.
Somewhere deep in her heart a pleasant feeling blossomed. It was nice to know he cared about her safety, though he had done so from the beginning. She was growing to like it more every day. “We’re fine. Everything’s fine. I just wondered if you’d had any messages today.” Even if the mail hadn’t arrived, Jesse often got letters hand delivered to him.
He drew her inside, looked up and down the street and closed the door. He caught her arms and pulled her close. “I don’t like you wandering about the streets by yourself.”
“I expect half a dozen people saw me and would come rushing to my rescue, if need be.”
“Maybe so, but until I find whoever is responsible—”
She knew he meant responsible for so many things, not just the ruined shirtwaist. “I’ll feel better once you find them, as well, and until you do, I will be cautious. But I won’t be a prisoner. Now, to the reason I came. Any messages that I’d be interested in?”
He went to the desk, sat on the corner and picked up two letters. “Neither of these is from Alliance. Sorry.”
She plunked down onto the chair in front of the desk, but before she could voice her frustration and disappointment, the sound of pounding horses’ hooves drew them both to their feet.
The horses thundered up to the office. “Sheriff. Sheriff.”
“Stay here and stay out of sight,” Jesse ordered as he bolted for the door and opened it. “What’s wrong?”
“They need you at Wolf Hollow. Three ruffians robbed the store. They shot and killed the storekeeper then shot their way out of town.”
Emily’s heart dropped to her heels. Her eyes felt too wide as she stared at Jesse.
“Give me a few minutes.” He closed the door, caught her hand and drew her to the back of the office.
“Is it them?” she whispered.
“I don’t know and won’t until I ask a few questions. But I have to go. I’ll let George know at the store and leave Clarence in charge, but please promise me you won’t go out in public.”
She shivered. “I will be very careful.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“I know you want me to barricade myself in the house.”
“You’re not going to do that, are you?” His voice deepened with resignation.
“At the moment I’m strongly considering it, but no, I’m not going t
o be locked up in the house.” She pressed her fingers to his lips as he started to protest. “You are in more danger going after them then I am staying here.”
He caught her hand and squeezed it. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He drew her close and kissed her so briefly she didn’t have time to think or respond. It was his job to care what happened to her. But, she smiled at the notion, it wasn’t his job to kiss her.
“Mikey and I will go home and let you do your job.”
“I’ll see you home.”
“There are two men out there waiting for you. I’ll be fine.” She took Mikey’s hand and opened the door. Talking about being safe was easy, but her neck tensed and she gave her surroundings hard study before she left the shadow of the office and stepped into the sunlit street.
She glanced over her shoulder. Jesse stood in the open door.
“I’ll watch you until you’re out of sight. I’ll ride by the house on my way out of town.”
She gave a little wave and hurried homeward.
Please, God, let him find those men and bring him back safely.
*
Two days later, Jesse had not returned and she repeated her prayer over and over. Her nerves twitched with every sound outside the house. She rushed often to the window, hoping to see Jesse and praying she wouldn’t see a man with dark, staring eyes.
She picked up the shirtwaist that she seemed unable to finish but pricked her finger with the needle and set the work aside in disgust.
“I’m going for a walk.”
“But Jesse said—”
“He said to be careful and I will, but I haven’t been out of the house in two days and I need to. I think Mikey needs to get out more, too.” He’d been confined to the backyard because of her limited movements, though he seemed happy enough. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
“Please do so. If something happens to you I will have to answer to Jesse.”
Emily chuckled at Gram’s sorrowful tone then took Mikey’s hand as they left the house. She sucked in a deep breath. The air was heavy with heat from the hot summer sun, but it felt good to be outside and able to stretch her legs. Not that she would do anything foolish. She made her way to the town center. She’d stay within eyesight of those instructed to watch her, and she waved at Clarence at the sheriff’s office.