Love's Sporting Chance: Volume 2: 5 Romantic Sporting Novellas

by Cynthia Hickey

  He rolled his eyes, but then met her gaze straight on. “Ruby, I need you.”

  “Yes, you do. Can you imagine the mess the office would be without me?” She tried to tug her hand away, but he held it firm, pressed it against his chest.

  “Not just in the office. I want to marry you.”

  At that, she did jerk her hand away.

  “You’re joking, right?”

  He frowned. “No.”

  Ruby pressed the backs of her hands to her forehead and paced the room. “You barely know anything about me, and what you do know you disapprove of.”

  “Not true.”

  She whirled on him. “It is true. I’m not going to change what I like to do, or how I wear my hair, or anything else just to be someone’s wife. Even yours.”

  “I don’t want you to change.”

  She stopped pacing. “Of course you do.”

  “Do you want me to change?”

  “No. Why would you need to change?”

  “Because you disapprove of my habits, my quirks, the way I dress, and the fact I don’t ski and probably never will, at least not by choice.”

  It was Ruby’s turn to frown. “But none of those things change the way I feel about you.”

  He raised one brow. “Exactly.”

  She gaped at him. “But…”

  “But nothing. Ruby St. John, will you marry me? Will you be my partner in medicine, in life, in love?”

  Tears filled her eyes. “You’re serious.”

  “I am.”

  At that, she launched herself against him and kissed him. When they were both flustered, she pulled back and framed his face with her hands. “When did you know?”

  “When I watched you take that jump.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  She kissed him again, mindful of his injured arm. “When do you want to do this?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “Winter Carnival is six weeks away. Just enough time for me to have two good arms again.”

  “I’d marry you with only one.”

  “Good to know, though I plan to keep them both as long as I can.”

  She curled up beside him on the bed and rested her head against his good shoulder. “Warren?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can I ski jump into our wedding?”

  He laughed so hard he almost pulled them both off the bed. When he finally stopped laughing, she was on her feet with her arms crossed over her chest, looking perturbed. “I’m serious.”

  “Ruby, my love, I can’t think of any better way to start our life together,” he said, reaching out for her. “But don’t ask me to tandem jump with you.”

  She laughed. “I wouldn’t think of it.”

  <<<<>>>>

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  AUTHOR’S NOTE:

  When it comes to Olympic events, I tend to think it’s one of the few places where gender equality actually exists: women run, bike, deadlift, dive, skate, luge, etc. It mirrors the message I grew up with in the 1970s and 1980s: Girls can do anything boys can do, and sometimes do them better.

  Sometime between the age of five and eight I received the Barbie ski jump set for Christmas. Barbie and Ken, in their skin-tight red polyester outfits, could shoot down a 6-foot long plastic ramp on their skis and jump into the living room. It was advertised as Barbie’s “Olympic Ski Village” in 1974. I never knew my Barbie wouldn’t have been allowed to ski jump in the Olympics until I started research for this story.

  Women were not allowed to compete in Olympic ski jumping until 2014. You read that right, 2014. And even then, only on the “normal” jumps.

  Women have, of course, been ski jumping for years. The first recorded women’s jump took place in the 1800s, and as skiing gained popularity, so did ski jumping. Steamboat Springs, Colorado, was incredibly open to women skiing and ski jumping very early on (perhaps one of the reasons so many of our female Olympic skiers claim Steamboat as home base or as their primary training ground).

  I hope that when the next winter Olympics rolls around, you’ll take time to watch the women’s ski jumping competition. May it serve as a reminder that women around the world are still fighting for basic human rights to live in safety, to obtain an education, to marry for love, to receive equal pay for equal work, or just to exist without fear for their lives.

  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:28 KJV

  About the Author:

  Niki Turner is a novelist, journalist, blogger, and the production manager for the Rio Blanco Herald Times weekly newspaper. Her first completed manuscript earned second place in the Touched By Love 2009 contemporary category romance contest. She writes for local newspapers, and won second place for best agriculture story at the 2013 Colorado Press Association annual convention. She also blogs at www.nikiturner.net and is a co-blogger at www.inkwellinspirations.com.

  Niki is the current president of the ACFW Colorado Western Slope chapter, and serves as the ACFW Colorado Coordinator.

  She is a Colorado native who grew up in Glenwood Springs and married her high school sweetheart 25 years ago. They have four children and three grandchildren, with one more on the way. Their two West Highland White Terriers make sure Niki leaves her desk and goes outside at least a few times a week.

  In 2015, She self-published “Sadie’s Gift” as one of the Christmas Traditions novella collection with seven other published authors. Her next project, “Santiago Sol,” will be published by Pelican Book Ventures, LLC, in October 2015, as part of the Passport to Romance novella collection.

  Lured by Love

  (A Love’s Sporting Chance Novella)

  Debby Mayne

  Copyright ©Deborah Tisdale Mayne 2014

  Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, with the exception of brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Chapter 1

  Mississippi 1926

  Rose Magee sighed as she sank down onto the porch swing. For the past hour, she’d walked outside at least a dozen times, hoping to see him again. Daddy waited out in the barn, and she knew he was probably hopping mad. He hated when people were late, and even though this was the first time in more than a year Joseph Thompson wasn’t on time or early, her dad wouldn’t give him a chance to explain without a lecture and the threat of using someone else.

  She closed her eyes momentarily and said a prayer for the safety of this man who promised her father that he’d pick up the fish to take to market. When she opened her eyes, she saw a cloud of dust coming toward her on the road.

  After a quick prayer of thanks, she darted back inside the house. She didn’t want him to think she was watching for him.

  Within minutes, she heard the male voices, letting her know that Joseph had found Daddy, and they were walking around the side of the house toward the back. Right when she pulled back the curtains and leaned over to take a peek, Joseph glanced up, smiled, and lifted his hand in a wave.

  She quickly let the curtain fall into place as her cheeks flamed. As much as she was attracted to him, she knew she must never let anyone know. Not only would he think she was too aggressive, Daddy would never approve. He’d always said he wanted her to meet a more sophisticated man … someone from the city, not anyone who spent most of his time out in the country. Although Joseph lived in Bay Springs, Daddy didn’t think he was good enough for her. In fact, he’d been even more specific and said if she could find a banker or doctor, she could live the life he’d always wanted her to have.

  Unfortunately, he didn’t understand the life she wanted. Mama had always taken her to church, while Daddy chose
to stay home on Sundays. No one discussed it with her, but she suspected that at some point in his life, he’d lost his faith. His father had been a preacher, but Daddy never even mentioned his experiences in church, which led her to believe something had gone wrong.

  She heard the back door leading into the kitchen slam and then the sound of the men’s voices once again. At least Daddy didn’t sound angry.

  “Rose! Come join us in the kitchen!”

  As embarrassed as she was for being caught looking, Rose still jumped at the chance to be in the same room with Joseph. Last time they exchanged words, she noticed a twinkle in his eye, and she didn’t think she imagined it.

  She entered the kitchen with her cheeks still flaming. Daddy didn’t seem to notice as he pointed to the icebox. “Pour some tea for Mr. Thompson and me, Rose. And if you’d like to join us, you may.”

  After a brief hesitation, she pulled three glasses from the cupboard and did as Daddy said. The tea had already been sweetened, so the only other thing she needed to get was the bowl of lemons. She carried Daddy and Joseph’s tea to the table and then went back for hers. As she sat down, she could feel both men’s gaze bearing down on her.

  “Are you not feeling well, Rose?” Daddy asked.

  “N-no, I’m fine. Why?” She self-consciously reached up and brushed a few errant strands of hair from her face.

  “Your cheeks are rather flushed.” He turned to Joseph. “My daughter used to get fevers quite easily, but she seems to have become healthier over the past couple of years.”

  “Yes, she looks perfectly healthy to me.” The lilt in Joseph’s voice compelled her to look at him, and that was when she saw the teasing gleam in his eyes.

  She smiled and quickly cast her gaze downward. “I’m feeling quite well.” As she took a sip of her tea, her hand shook, so she put it back on the table.

  “Maybe it’s all the hard work.” Daddy sounded concerned. “Why don’t you try to rest some this afternoon?”

  “I have an idea,” Joseph said. “Since I’m going into town immediately after I leave here, perhaps I can take Rose with me …” He glanced at her and then at her father. “That is, if she wants to go.”

  “Who will bring her back?”

  “I will, of course.” Thomas grinned at her.

  “I wouldn’t want you to go to all that trouble. I’m sure she’ll be fine. We have that big oak tree in the backyard. She can relax beneath it.”

  Rose had heard enough. “Daddy, I would like to go into town. It’s been nearly a month since—”

  “But we wouldn’t want to put Mr. Thompson to so much trouble.” Her father’s voice cut into her argument.

  “Honestly, Mr. Magee, it is no trouble at all. In fact, it would be my pleasure.”

  Daddy’s eyes narrowed as he glanced back and forth between Rose and Joseph. “I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.”

  “Please, Daddy, this would be perfect for me. I’m ready for a change of scenery, and you always said you wanted me to be a city girl.” She dared a glimpse in Joseph’s direction and caught him biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Then she looked back at her father. “Besides, I could use some more bath salts, and my hairbrush is getting very worn.”

  Finally, her father sighed. “Oh, all right. You may go, but only under one condition.” Now he lifted his eyebrows as he held Joseph’s gaze. “She must be home at least an hour before supper so she can help her mama.”

  “And what time is that, sir?”

  Once again, Rose wanted to be in on the conversation. “We eat at 5:30, so I have to be home by 4:30.”

  Joseph pushed his chair back and stood. “In that case, I need to get the fish on ice and put them in the back of my automobile.” He chuckled. “I hope you don’t mind the smell of fish.”

  Rose hopped up and carried the glasses to the sink. “I’m used to it. Let me go get my bag.”

  “You’d better get the big one since you’re going to town,” Daddy said. “Here’s some money.” He pulled some bills out of his pocket and handed them to her. “Bring me back my change … if there is any.”

  She stuffed the money into her bag without looking at it. “I’ll be wise with it.”

  “Yes, you always are.” Her father sighed. “Maybe you should splurge a bit. At any rate, pay attention to the time.”

  “I have my pocket watch,” Joseph said. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

  ~

  Joseph waited until they were a few minutes away from the house before he finally spoke. “Is your father always this protective?”

  “Aren’t all fathers?”

  He shrugged and tried to act unfazed. “Some are, some aren’t.”

  “Is yours?”

  Joseph swallowed hard as he kept his eyes on the road ahead. “He might have been, but he died before I was born.”

  “I am so sorry. I had no idea.”

  He glanced over at her and grinned. “That’s quite all right, Rose.” He paused. “You don’t mind if I call you by your given name, do you?”

  “What else would you call me? Of course not.” She looked around before settling her gaze back on Joseph. “Do you remember anything about your father?”

  “Not much. Everything I know about him came from my mother who probably only remembered the good things about him.”

  “I’d love to hear them,” she said. “What was he like … according to your mother, that is?”

  “He was handsome and strong.” Joseph grinned at her and then focused his attention on his driving. “And very smart. Apparently, he could outsmart anyone, which was why someone shot him.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her hand fly to her mouth. “Oh no! That must have been awful for your mother.”

  “I’m sure it was. Fortunately for her, he had a nice bank account, so she wasn’t forced to take handouts from anyone.”

  “So did she raise you alone?”

  “No, in fact, she let my uncle move in with us. He was the one who was supposed to teach me how to be a man.” Joseph waited a few seconds. “But, unfortunately, it was sometimes the other way around. He had a problem with whiskey.”

  “It sounds like your upbringing was more interesting than mine.” She smoothed her dress around her. “I was born and raised in the same old house with the same old parents. There has never been any excitement in my life.”

  “Excitement is terribly overrated.”

  “You don’t understand. All I do is clean house, cook meals, go to church, fish with Daddy, and occasionally entertain.”

  “Sounds like a good life to me. In fact, I’ve been talking to your father about buying some land with a couple of ponds and stocking it with some fish.”

  “That’s exactly what Daddy did.” She scrunched her nose and shuddered. “I can’t imagine why that appeals to anyone.”

  “I think I must be a fisherman at heart. One of my biggest pleasures is going out to the fishing farms and talking to the fishermen.”

  “Have you ever done it?” she asked. “Fishing, I mean.”

  He lifted one shoulder and let it drop. “Only a little. I’ve done some deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with one of my friends.”

  “That’s quite a bit different from making it your vocation.” She glanced over her shoulder and then at him. “What, exactly, do you do? All I know is that you visit the farm every few weeks and buy fish from Daddy.”

  He leaned back and belted out a hearty laugh. “You’re not the only person who has asked me that.”

  “Well?” She stared at him, clearly expecting a clear answer. The only problem was that he didn’t have one.

  “It’s hard to explain what I do.”

  “Try.”

  “Okay, let me see. I buy things from one person and sell them to another. I suppose you could call me a wheeler-dealer.”

  “That is an odd profession.”

  “Yes, I know. And it’s not exactly my life’s dream.” They’
d reached the edge of Bay Springs, Mississippi, where wood structures were nestled between brick buildings. There were a few cars, but some people still rode horses and buggies, and all of the ladies were dressed in silk suits, stunning hats, and gloves.

  Joseph noticed as Rose glanced down at her cotton dress and began to fidget. He smiled outwardly, but he could see that she was self-conscious.

  “I need to make a delivery to the fish market, and then we can go anywhere your heart desires.”

  She swallowed hard and nodded. Her eyes darted around at the people walking in and out of the businesses, and then she looked at him. “I’m not so sure this was a good idea—coming to town, I mean.”

  “I think it was a splendid idea.” He pulled up in front of one of the smaller wooden buildings with a hand-painted sign that read Al’s Fish Market, stopped the automobile, reached for her hand, and squeezed it. “You may come inside with me if you like, but I must warn you. The place reeks of fish.”

  “I’m used to smells,” she said. “Remember, I live on a farm.”

  “True.” He got out, ran around to her side of the automobile, and helped her out. “Wait right here while I go inside and get the wagon.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  Before he had a chance to warn her, she went straight to the front door and opened it. He tried his best to get in front of her, but Al Bethune’s dog didn’t miss a single second before pouncing on her, knocking her to the wooden floor.

  Chapter 2

  Between the dog and two men trying to pull the dog off of her, Rose felt as though she couldn’t breathe. When the older man whom she assumed was Al finally managed to have his dog under control, she sat up and looked around.

  “So, this is what a fish market looks like.”

  Joseph gave her his hand and pulled her to her feet while Al took his dog to the back to tie him up. “That’s why I asked you to wait outside.”

  “And miss all of this?” She grimaced and shook her head. “You obviously don’t know me very well.”

  “I obviously don’t, but I would like to.”

  She felt an odd sensation as a rush of blood traveled through her body and straight up to her cheeks. She rubbed her hands down the sides of her dress and then checked her hat that didn’t come close to being as stylish as she thought it was when she first put it on.