Before he allowed any more thoughts of her to enter his mind, he reined them in like he would a runaway horse and anchored his gaze onto the porch. She’s here as a friend, Jake. To help you choose a wife. Forgetting that again might be the death of him.
Side by side they climbed the steps. Leah stopped at the top of them and turned around, her dress swishing at her ankles. “Abbs, do you want to join us?”
“No. If Jake doesn’t mind, I’d like to go down to the barn and see Meanie.”
“That’s fine. Just don’t let her out of the corral. She’s a tricky one.”
“I’ll be careful.” With those words Abby scurried toward the barn with Banjo prancing at her side.
“Sure sweet of Abby to accompany you here every time.”
“It sure is. She says she does it because she likes your company, but I think it’s the animals’ company she likes most.”
“Think you’re right.” They chuckled.
He gave a yank of his head toward the door. “Wanna go inside or sit here on the porch?”
“Out here would be great. It’s too nice a day to be cooped up inside.”
“I agree. Let me just grab us something to drink and the letters and I’ll be right out.” He disappeared into the house and peeked back to make sure Leah couldn’t see him before he swiped his sweaty palms down the front of his jeans. What was with him today? Emotions he couldn’t decipher were whirling through his brain like a destructive dust bowl.
Jake hurried to get everything he needed. When he stepped outside, Leah was sitting in the chair with her reticule resting in her lap, rocking, staring out into the trees, looking every bit like she belonged there. But she didn’t. And never would. Not because he didn’t want her to, but because she didn’t want to be here. Her rejection still stung. But, no sense dwelling on that now— It was a well-traveled road that went nowhere.
“Here you go.” He handed her the letters, set their drinks on the stand between the two rockers and sat down.
Leah took a long drink of her water.
“Must’ve been thirsty.”
“I sure was. It’s so dry that on the way over here I think I swallowed a bucket of road dust.” She took another drink, then set the glass down.
“Jabber-jawed that much, huh?”
“Hey.” She reached over and whacked his arm with the backs of her fingers.
He chuckled at the smile twinkling in her beautiful blue eyes.
“Oh, before I forget, I have something for you.” She opened her reticule and pulled out three brand-new handkerchiefs and extended them toward him.
He glanced down at them and then his attention trailed to her face. “It ain’t my birthday today.”
“So.” She shrugged with a grin. Then she grabbed his hand, laid the handkerchiefs in his palm, folded his fingers over them and pushed his hand back.
Jake slowly opened his hand.
The initials J.L. stared up at him. “Um-hm.” He cleared his throat to choke back the rising emotion. He’d never had anything so nice before. He ran his fingers over the raised letters and was deeply touched not only by the detail, but also by the amount of time it must have taken her to make these. But how could he accept such a gift? He looked over at her. “I can’t accep—”
“You have to take them, Jake.” Leah stopped him. “There’s no giving them back. It’s your initials that are on them, so they belong to you. Besides, I don’t know any other J.L.’s to give them to. Sorry, mister,” she said, “but you’re stuck with them.” With a dramatic sigh that would rank right up there with one of Abby’s, she sat back and crossed her arms over her chest, looking playfully smug.
Truth was, he really didn’t want to give them back. He’d treasure them forever. There was only one problem with them— They were too nice to use.
“All joking aside...” Leah sat forward. “Please accept my gift and use them until they look as worn as your old ones.”
His gaze flew to hers. Had she read his mind? “Not sure I can. Don’t want to ruin them.”
Leah wrinkled her nose. “Huh? But that’s what I made them for, for you to use. It would mean a lot to me if you did, Jake. It isn’t much, but it’s my way of showing you how special you are to me. I’ve never had a friend as wonderful as you before. Now—” she shook her finger at him “—if you don’t use them, I’m not going to help you with your letters. So, are you going to use them or not?”
Mischievousness snaked through Jake. Keeping his eye on her, with a quick snap of his wrist, he unfolded one of them, raised the kerchief to his nose and using his voice only, he pretended to blow into it. He folded it up, not so neatly either, then flashed her a smug smile. “Feel better?”
Leah tossed her head back and laughed. “I sure do,” she said when she stopped laughing. “Thank you, Jake.”
“No. Thank you, Leah.” The humor had gone from his voice, replaced with gratitude.
“You’re welcome.”
They stared at each other for a few seconds, then Jake broke the connection. “Oh, how’d the talk with your mother go?” He picked up his glass and took a drink before setting it back down, being extra careful not to spill it.
Her dimples disappeared, and lines formed around her eyes.
“That bad, huh? Wanna talk about it?”
She nodded, then looked away, off down the road. “I felt so bad for Mother. I honestly didn’t think it would affect her the way it had. I thought she was going to faint.” She paused and drew in a deep breath. “I think Mother was mostly hurt that I didn’t say anything. But, when I told her he was coming here, she seemed to feel better about it, although she doesn’t understand how I could want to leave her or the rest of the family.”
He heard the melancholy in her voice and dipped his head to get a better look at her face. “That bother you, Leah? Leaving your family?”
“Yes. But not nearly as much as the idea of staying here bothers me.” She turned her attention back on him. “Know what Mother told me and Abby?”
He shook his head.
“That she likes Mr. Barker a lot and is in fact hoping for more than a friendship with him.”
“As in marriage?”
“Yes. Seeing her with Mr. Barker has been hard enough. But to actually hear her say she wants to marry him. Well...” Her fingers fiddled with the strings on her reticule. “I know we talked about this the other night... And maybe you were able to handle your mother getting married, but I’m not sure I can. I’m trying. Honest I am. But—but...” She slammed her eyes closed and frustration ripped across her face. “Aaaccck! I can’t stand this! I’m so tired of feeling this way. Tired of feeling guilty because of my emotions.” She uncrossed her legs.
His heart softened for her pain and the confusion she was feeling. He’d been there once, too, and it wasn’t a fun place to be. “It’s a normal reaction, Leah. But I promise you, it does get easier.”
She shrugged as if she had her doubts, which she probably did. All he could do was pray for her and be a friend for her. As long as he could, anyway.
“I’m just glad I won’t be here when and if she does marry Mr. Barker.”
Again he was reminded of her leaving, and it was like a gunslinger’s bullet to his chest. “Does your mother know how you feel?”
“No, and I would never tell her, either.”
“How come? Maybe it would help to talk to her about it.”
“No. No, it wouldn’t.” She shook her head. “Nothing would help me feel better about this. Nothing.” She raked in a breath and let it go. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s just too upsetting. Now.” She picked up one of the envelopes, slid her finger under the seal and pulled the paper out. “Let’s find you a wife. I’ll feel much better about leaving if I know my dearest friend is happily married.” The smile she gave him was a forced one because no dimples showed up.
At that moment, Jake silently sent up a prayer that God would give Leah grace and mercy to help her to deal wit
h whatever decision her mother made regarding Mr. Barker. Jake’s attention shifted back to Leah when she started to read.
Dear Mr. Lure,
Your ad said, “When you write, tell me about yourself.” Well, my name is Blossom Pearson. I’m twenty-five years old, five foot nine and weigh 145 lbs. My hair is brown and my eyes are green. You didn’t say nothing about a picture, but I thought I’d send you one.
Leah stopped reading and peered into the envelope. “Sorry, Jake, I didn’t even see this.” She handed him a small picture without looking at it.
Jake’s eyes trained in on the woman in the photo. He had to admit she was a beauty. Stocky, too. Looked like she could handle just about anything. Something about the softness in her eyes drew him. He’d like to hear more about her. “What else she say?”
“That pretty, huh?”
Jake snapped his attention over to Leah. “That doesn’t matter.”
“Sure it doesn’t. If you say so.” She giggled. The dimples were back.
If she wasn’t a female, he’d smack her on the arm like she had done to him earlier. But she was definitely a woman. With all the right curves in all the right places. “Just keep reading, woman.”
She giggled again. “Okay. Let’s see.”
I was born and raised on a farm, so I’m used to hard work. And I’m strong as an ox. I can manage a plow, milk cows, garden, do canning, cook and do just about any kind of farm work that needs done. I’m real good with animals. Especially horses. Broke a few myself. Well, that ain’t exactly true. I think it was more like they broke me. Or maybe we broke each other.
Jake laughed. The woman had a sense of humor. That was good.
Well, don’t know what else to say except hope to hear from you soon.
God bless you through Christ our Lord.
Blossom
P.S. Yes, Blossom is my real name. If you want to know why, you’ll have to send for me to find out.
Leah folded the letter. “Jake, she sounds perfect for you.”
“Think so?” He searched her face for any kind of doubt.
“Yes, I do. I think you should write her right away.” A seriousness permeated her voice that hadn’t been there before.
“You do?” He had hoped she would at least show some sign of disappointment at the idea of his getting married. After all, once he did, their friendship would have to end. Neither of their spouses would allow them to continue on like they had been. Jake wondered if Leah had ever considered that, and if she had, how did she feel about that?
“Did you want to me to read the rest of these?”
He flipped his mind back to the task of finding a wife. None of the posts he’d gotten so far intrigued him like Blossom’s had. One thing was for certain—after hearing her letter, he knew he wouldn’t write to Raquel. He wasn’t even sure he’d write Blossom back, either. Or any other woman, for that matter. What he really wanted to do was to wait and see what happened between Leah and that Barrington fellow. Call him a fool, but somewhere deep inside of him, he still hoped for a chance for him and Leah to marry.
Not that it would ever happen, but he would hold on to that hope a little while longer. After all, Leah wasn’t married yet. In the meantime, he’d concentrate on finding someone else just in case things didn’t work out as he hoped they would.
Time and again, Jake had seen men and women marry for convenience, and somehow it had worked out. All he had to do was look at Michael and Haydon, who were both happily married. And although Jake would rather marry Leah, someone he knew and respected, rather than a total stranger, he knew better than anyone else that probably would never happen, so he needed to stop dwelling on it. Brooding on it would only lead to more heartache.
“Well, Jake,” Leah said after four more letters that he really hadn’t heard, “I’ve been here over an hour. I’d better go get Abby and be getting home. I need to get things ready for Mr. Barrington’s arrival.”
He nodded and they stood.
Leah picked up her reticule from the table, and side by side they walked down the steps and headed to the corral.
“Abby, are you ready to go?” Leah called.
Nothing. The barnyard was quiet.
“That’s odd. Where could she be?” Leah asked.
“Don’t know.” Jake hiked a shoulder.
“Abby!” Leah hollered.
“Over here.” Abby’s voice came from the direction of the woods.
They headed that way. Abby met them halfway. Banjo followed close behind with her mouth wide open and her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth, panting.
“Have you seen Meanie?” Abby asked, puffing.
“Meanie?” Jake crossed his arms over his chest. “That ornery old goat escape again?”
“Yes. I’m really sorry, Jake,” Abby said between gasps. “When I stepped out of the pen, I held the gate close to me so she wouldn’t get out. But she rammed into my legs and knocked me down and took off running into the woods. I haven’t been able to find her anywhere.”
“It’s okay, Abby. Told you she was tricky. I’ll find her.”
“We’ll help. Then we really do need to go home,” Leah said.
Abby went one way, Leah went another and Jake another.
Within minutes he heard Leah hollering, “Give me back my reticule, you ornery brat.”
Jake glanced at the sky and rolled his eyes. “Oh, no.” He bolted toward the sound of Leah’s voice. When he got there, he saw Leah in an all-out tug-of-war with Meanie over her purse. Leah’s hair was dancing around her head as curls came scrambling out of their holdings.
“Meanie!” Jake hustled to her.
Leah’s attention flew to Jake and in the process she lost her grip on her bag. Meanie took off running with it as Leah landed on her backside in the dust. Jake darted after the goat as Leah scrambled to her feet and followed close behind them.
“Get back here!” he yelled, dodging and ducking through the trees. Suddenly, with no warning at all, his foot caught a tree root, and he tumbled to the ground. Only a half step back, Leah didn’t have time to change course and with a thud she landed right on top of him.
Their faces were mere inches from each other.
They were so close their breaths mingled.
Neither moved.
Leah’s wide eyes stared into his. She looked so cute, so disheveled and surprised. Even her lips were parted in shock.
The desire to kiss those lips barreled over him.
As if she’d read his mind, she blinked, yanking his senses back to where they belonged.
“You okay?” He shifted her off of him, careful not to hurt her.
“I’m...I’m fine.” She brushed the tousled hair from her face and the dirt from her dress. “I look like a mess, but I’m all right.”
Jake stood and helped her up. Then he brushed the pine needles out of his hair and off his arms and legs while Leah brushed them off of herself.
Her cheeks were flushed. He wondered if his were, too. For sure they would have been if he had followed through with his desire to kiss her. Thank goodness he hadn’t. Not because he didn’t want to. Leah’s outward and inward beauty, her love for the Lord and her fun, sweet, generous nature would be a temptation for any man. Including him. No, especially for him. But kissing her would have been a huge mistake.
* * *
Heat once again rose up Leah’s neck and into her cheeks at the certainty that Jake had been about to kiss her. She tried to steer her thoughts a different way as she turned the carriage for home, but they clung to her mind and her heart.
“Why’s your face so red?” Abby asked her in the carriage.
She wanted to lie but found she could not. “I’m not sure, but I think Jake was going to kiss me back there in the forest.”
“What? Are you serious?” Abby shrieked.
“Like I said, I’m not sure—but I think so.” Leah took her eyes off the horse clomping down the hard-packed road from Jake’s place and looked over
at his flourishing wheat field.
“Why? What did he do?”
“Well, when I fell on top of him, our—”
“You fell on top of Jake?” Abby interrupted with a gust of surprise in her voice.
“Yes, I—”
“When? How?”
“Abby, if you’d stop interrupting me, I’d tell you.” No frustration came through, only a slight reprimand. For a brief moment, Leah’s attention went to a pair of gray partridge birds flying above them before her focus returned to Abby.
“Sorry.” Her sister didn’t look one bit sorry. That was okay— Leah knew she was excited to hear the story. And Leah was glad she could share these things with her sister. Seven years separated them, but they’d grown close over the past year.
“Okay, so, I spotted Meanie near the cottonwood trees on Jake’s property. You know the ones I’m talking about, don’t you?”
Abby nodded, blinking, waiting expectantly.
Leah held her chuckle inside at seeing her sister like that.
“And?” Abby dragged the word out.
“Well, as soon as I reached for her halter, she snatched my reticule from me. I yelled at her to give it back. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me.”
“How could I? I was the opposite direction from you. Who cares about that, anyway? Keep going.”
“Well, Jake heard me. He came right away. Meanie took off running. Jake ran after her, and I ran after Jake. He tripped on something. I think a tree root, or something, I’m not sure. Anyway, doesn’t matter what he tripped on. Whatever it was, he fell and I landed on top of him.” The memory burned through her like wind whipping embers into a blaze. “It was so weird. His face was so close, Abbs, and he had this look on his face….”
“Ooooh. How romantic. Then what happened?” Her sparkling blue eyes stared expectantly at Leah.
Leah jerked her head from side to side. “You’ve been reading too many romance novels. Jake and I, we’re not like that.”
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