“I’m hungry. How about you?”
“Yes. I am quite famished.”
“Jake. Elizabeth,” Leah hollered and tugged herself away from Fitzwilliam’s grasp. “Time to eat.” She headed to her saddle and untied the food sack. Jake grabbed the blanket he’d brought and spread it out in a clearing near the spring.
Making sure Leah and Elizabeth were seated, the men sat down. Fitzwilliam sat so close their legs touched. Uncomfortable with the intimacy of that, Leah grabbed the food out of the sack and, as indiscreetly as possible, positioned her body closer to Jake, without touching him.
Leah placed roasted pork sandwiches, cheese slices and the Swedish rye crackers she’d made onto four napkins. She pulled a butter knife from the bag and set it on the blanket, then reached inside the sack and pulled out the small jar of lingonberry jam. Grasping the preserve jar lid, Leah twisted the lid hard but it wouldn’t budge.
“Allow me.” Fitzwilliam took the jar from her. He strained to open it but again it wouldn’t open, so he discreetly set it down on the blanket.
Jake picked it up, and opened it with one try.
Leah smiled at him. Pride oozed from her.
“Aren’t you glad we loosened it for you, my man?” Fitzwilliam said.
Leah curved her face toward Jake. Making sure no one could see her, she rolled her eyes.
Jake’s eyes twinkled in acknowledgment. “Couldn’t of done it without you, Fitzwilliam,” he said, and Leah hid her grin.
With all the food out and settled, Leah gazed at them. “Shall we pray?” Fitzwilliam frowned, then nodded. “Jake, would you do us the honors?”
“I can.” Fitzwilliam chimed in.
“Oh. Uh. How about next time since I’ve already asked Jake? After all, it would be rude, would it not, to tell him I’ve changed my mind?” she asked as if Jake wasn’t right there to hear. Which he was, and she knew he’d get exactly what she was doing.
“Oh. Yes. How rude of me. Go ahead, Jake,” Fitzwilliam said it as if it were his idea.
“Thank you, Fitzwilliam.” A knowing look passed between Leah and Jake.
One thing was for sure—Jake could pray. His prayers were short, sweet and filled with gratitude. The man loved Jesus. Did Fitzwilliam? She had never thought to ask him about his faith. That should have been her first question. She’d been so desperate to leave she hadn’t even thought about that. Shame swept over her heart. Everyone started to eat, so Leah made a mental note to ask him later.
Four gray-and-white camp robber birds swooped down from the trees, begging for food. Leah, Jake and Elizabeth tossed morsels of the crackers to the birds, but Fitzwilliam sat watching, his face scrunched. Where was the man who said he loved adventure?
All through their meal, Fitzwilliam talked nonstop. Jake tried to interrupt him several times and had even managed to get a few words in. No longer able to bear his prattling, Leah blurted, “Are you nervous again?”
Fitzwilliam stopped and looked at her, eyes blinking.
Jake chuckled.
Fitzwilliam shot a glaring look Jake’s way.
“I’m sorry,” Leah said. “I must be getting tired. Forgive my bluntness.” Truth was, she was neither sorry nor tired. She was just ready to get this day behind her.
* * *
Jake had enjoyed every minute of their outing, mostly because Leah was getting a glimpse of the pompous Mr. Magpie. At the rate the man was going, with any luck at all Leah would send him packing before sundown. Even then, it wouldn’t be soon enough for Jake.
“Hate to break up the party, but if we’re going to get you home in time for George to pick you up, we’d best head on back now.”
“Oh, yes,” Leah chimed in. “I forgot about that. Thank you, Jake.” Her gratitude sparkled through her eyes. Eyes he’d come to read very well.
Jake stood and offered her a hand.
Fitzwilliam was on his feet faster than it took to pull the trigger on a gun and snatched Leah’s hand before it ever reached Jake’s. Jake wanted to yank his hand off of Leah’s, but he had to remember that he wasn’t the one courting her. He was there to be a chaperone. A chaperone with a motive.
They rode into the yard and tethered their horses to the hitching post.
George was already there.
“I’ll take care of the horses, Leah.”
“Thank you.” For Jake’s ears only, she said, “When you get done, come up to the house, okay?”
He gave her a short nod.
Elizabeth strolled toward him, looking as fresh as when she’d first arrived. “Thank you, Jake. I don’t remember when I’ve had a more lovely time.”
“Didn’t do anything.”
“Yes. Yes, you did. You allowed me to be myself. I didn’t have to perform.” She looped her arm through his and led him away from everyone. “If my brother heard me say this, he would have a fit of apoplexy, but I cannot bear being around the people in our society any longer. Every move you make is watched and recorded. Everything is judged by who your family is and how much money they make.
“And of course you must marry someone of good breeding and of good fortune. I care not one whit about those things.” She glanced around, and peace settled in the depths of her eyes. “I love it here. It’s so peaceful. There’s no one you have to impress. Well—” she giggled “—unless you consider my brother. But him, I can manage.” She smiled.
Jake nodded, wondering why she was telling him all of this.
“Elizabeth, come. We must away,” Fitzwilliam said from across the other side of the buggy.
“‘Must away’? What does that mean?” Jake asked Elizabeth.
“We must take our leave now.”
“Oh. Evening, George. See you made it back with plenty of time to spare.” He glanced at Fitzwilliam, who once again glared at him. If Fitzwilliam knew how much Jake enjoyed annoying him, the man wouldn’t glower at Jake so much. The old heckler in Jake wanted to rise up, but he worked hard at keeping that part of him controlled and refused to stoop to the slimy snake’s low level.
Like the gentleman he’d been raised to be, Jake helped Elizabeth into the buggy. She pulled her skirt in and gazed at him. “My brother is inviting Leah to come to the hotel for a spot of tea tomorrow afternoon. Please say you will come as well?”
“I’ll come,” he agreed. Anything to keep his eye on Leah and to keep that man from bamboozling her.
Seeing Elizabeth’s eyes brighten, Jake hoped she wasn’t getting the wrong idea about the two of them. There was no “them.”
“Thank you. I am in need of a good friend right now.”
Friend? The word yanked his smile down. Why did women only want to be his friend? What was wrong with him that they couldn’t get past a friendship? Not that he was interested in anything more than friendship with Elizabeth, but she didn’t know that.
“Capital. I shall see you on the morrow then. I am indeed looking forward to it.”
Jake looked over at Fitzwilliam. The man beamed, but Leah didn’t. Jake knew her well enough to see that she wasn’t at all pleased. He hid his grin. With any luck at all, Fitzwilliam would soon be history.
Leah stood next to Jake and watched the buggy pull out of the yard. When it was safely out of earshot, she let out a long breath. “Am I ever glad that’s over.”
Jake chuckled.
“What? Aren’t you?” Leah asked.
“Yep. Sure am.”
Leah’s relieved laughter surrounded him.
“Hey, I have an idea. You want to stay for supper? Don’t know what we’re having yet, and it’ll be just me and Abby this evening, but I would love it if you would join us.”
Jake wouldn’t miss it. It was more time spent with Leah. Something he needed to take advantage of while he still had the chance. “Sounds good.”
“Great.” Her face brightened all the way. That brought a smile to Jake’s heart and melted his insides like wax in the hot sun.
“I’ll take care of the horses and see
you inside.”
“Okay. See you in a few minutes.” She took a few steps and stopped. “Hurry up, okay?”
“Yep.” He sure would.
Chapter Fourteen
“Abby, I’m home.” Leah dashed into the house. “Abbers,” she hollered as she went about checking the house for her sister only to find she was nowhere around. Knowing she would be home soon, Leah donned her apron and scrounged around for something to fix. Inside the warmer was a tin plate with a browned pie crust. She pulled it out and took a whiff. Swedish meat pie. One of her favorites. She shoved it back in the warmer and set the table with three place settings.
Heavy footsteps sounded on the porch.
Jake.
Her heart skipped a few beats. Leah ran to meet him at the door.
“Look what I found down at the barn.”
Abby peeked around him and flashed a cheeky grin her way.
Leah shook her head. “You, Abbynormal, are a nut.”
“I know.” Her sister brushed past Jake. “Sorry I wasn’t here to help with supper. I just got back from Phoebe’s.”
Jake stepped inside.
“How is Phoebe? And how does she like married life?”
“She loves it.” Abby sighed. “I can’t wait until I marry.”
“You? You won’t be eighteen for three more months.”
“So? I still can’t wait.”
Leah sighed. “If I didn’t want to leave here so badly, I wouldn’t bother getting married.”
“I don’t understand you, Lee-Lee. Why do you want to move to the city when you have everything you need here? Including love.” Abby yanked her head toward Jake.
“Abigail!” Leah gasped. Heat rushed up her neck and into her face. She swung her attention to Jake, standing near the table and wearing his lazy grin. He seemed nonplussed by Abby’s comment. Leah spun around. “Er, um. I need to get dinner.” She scurried to the stove.
Leah had no idea how to react to Abby’s implication that Jake loved her. Oh sure, she knew he loved her as a friend, but the man wasn’t in love with her. He couldn’t be. She wouldn’t let him. She was leaving. And love would get in the way of her plans to escape the nightmares that were almost a nightly occurrence now and to flee the place that took her father’s life. She had to stay focused on her mission—to marry someone from New York. Mr. Barrington, to be precise.
Leah brought the pie to the table and set it down. “What would you like to drink, Jake? Milk? Tea? Coffee?”
“Milk sounds good. I can get it.”
“No. No. You are a guest. Sit down and I’ll get it.” Leah returned with a pitcher of milk and some cheese.
Jake rose from the table, pulled out her chair and waited until she was seated before he sat down again.
While Abby was busy slicing the pie into five pieces, Leah filled their glasses with milk and set the pitcher on the table, then reached for Jake’s plate.
“Two pieces, Abbs.”
“Hungry, are we?”
“No. This is Jake’s plate.”
“I know that.” Abby scooped out two large pieces.
With everyone’s plates filled, Leah looked over at Jake. “Would you mind praying, Jake?”
“Nope. Not at all.”
They bowed their heads.
“Father, thank You for this food. For the hands that prepared it. For great friends. And for Leah.”
Leah frowned. Wasn’t she a great friend?
“Bless this food. Amen.”
“Amen.” Abby picked up her fork and dived into the ground meat pie. “I’m so hungry I could eat a whole pig,” she said around the food in her mouth, but Leah barely heard her. She was still wondering about Jake’s prayer.
Jake took three bites and a drink of milk. “This is good. Did you make it?”
“Huh?” Leah glanced at Jake.
“I asked if you made this.”
“No. Mother or Veronique did.”
“Don’t you cook?”
“She sure does. She’s a great cook, too,” Abby answered for her sister.
“That right?”
“Yes. She does all kind of things really well. She can cook, clean, sew, crochet, knit. Just about anything a person would need to make a good wife.”
“Abby!” Leah nearly came out of her chair. “What is wrong with you this evening? You’re making our guest uncomfortable.”
Abby looked over at Jake. “He doesn’t look uncomfortable to me. And he isn’t a guest. He’s family. Or hopefully he will be very soon.”
“That’s enough!” Leah shot her sister a you’d-better-stop-it-now glare before turning to face Jake. “I’m sorry, Jake. You’ll have to excuse my sister. I don’t know what’s come over her.”
“Doesn’t bother me.” His shoulder hiked. He cut off a chunk of his pie and put it in his mouth as if nothing had been said.
Leah didn’t know what to think or say. Nothing he said or did tonight made any sense.
“So, how did your day go with Fitzwilliam?” Without waiting for Leah’s answer, Abby asked, “You aren’t serious about that man, are you, Lee-Lee?” Abby wrinkled her nose in disgust before taking a bite of cheese.
“I’m not serious about anyone, Abbs. I’m just trying to get to know Fitzwilliam to see if we can make a marriage work. That’s all.”
“Whatever you say, Lee-Lee.” Abby turned to Jake. “What do you think of Elizabeth, Jake? She doesn’t seem anything like her brother. She’s nice.”
“Fitzwilliam is nice,” Leah jumped in quickly, but her voice didn’t sound too convincing even to her own ears.
“I was asking Jake, Leah.”
“She’s nice enough. Must admit. She isn’t anything like I thought she’d be.”
“What do you mean?” Leah tilted her head in Jake’s direction.
“She hates the city. Wants to be a farmer’s wife. To cook and clean and raise animals.”
“Probably yours, no doubt,” Abby mumbled, but Leah heard her nonetheless and was certain Jake had, too.
“Does she know how hard farm life can be?” Leah picked up her glass and took a drink of her milk.
“Don’t know. She didn’t say. Only said she loved it out here and preferred it over her lifestyle.”
Leah pondered Jake’s words. Surely she must attend balls and dinner parties all the time. The woman got to travel all over the world to exotic places meeting people from all sorts of cultures. Something Leah only dreamed about doing. How could Elizabeth prefer this lifestyle to her perfect one?
“There’s more to life than parties and balls, Lee-Lee.” Abby’s voice popped Leah’s thoughts.
“I know that, Abbs.” She allowed her hot annoyance to drift through her voice. “But you’ve never been to them. You don’t know how fun they are. Or how special it was to have Father whirl you around the dance floor.” Leah closed her eyes. Her heart ached afresh at the memory of her father dancing with her.
The backs of her eyes stung.
Unable to keep the tears from coming, she scraped her chair back and bolted out of the house. Dodging willow bushes, syringa shrubs, cottonwood trees and pines, she fled deep into the forest. She came upon a felled log amid a batch of ferns, where she plopped down, placed her face in her hands and sobbed.
Minutes later, the log moved, and without looking, she knew it was Jake.
* * *
Jake sat on the log and slipped his arm around Leah. “Come here.”
Tear-soaked eyes gazed up at him. Seeing her like this, so sad and so shaken, broke his heart. He wished he could take her pain onto himself. Gently, he pressed her head into his chest. “It’s okay.”
“It hurts so badly. I miss him so much.”
“I know. I still miss my papa, too.”
“You—you do?” She pulled back, her eyes questioning him.
“Yep.”
“But you said...”
“Know what I said about the papa I have now, and I meant it. It did get easier seeing my ma
ma with him, but I never said I didn’t miss my flesh-and-blood papa.”
“What do you miss about him?” Tears shimmered on her lashes.
Jake brushed them away with his thumb and wiped them on his pant leg. “Everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yep. When he first died, I thought the pain would never end. Felt about as alone and lost as a wayward sheep.” He tucked his finger under her chin. “Leah, we all need someone who understands how we feel. Someone that’ll listen to us. You know I’m here for you, right? That I understand what you’re going through.”
Leah’s chest heaved in choppy breaths and the floodwaters came gushing out again.
He pushed himself off the log and pulled her into his arms. His heart wept with her.
“It hurts so badly.” She’d already said that.
“I know.”
“I miss him.” She’d already said that, too. But it was okay. All of it.
“I know. Believe me, I know.”
Moments later her tears let up again and, with a sigh, she backed out of the circle of his arms. They now felt empty without her. Alone even. He wanted to pull her back to him, but didn’t. “Tell me. What are some of the things you miss about your father?”
“Father always made me laugh. I miss that. I miss our talks. I miss how he used to tuck me into bed every night and pray with me. He made me feel so special. Treasured, even. Like a real princess. That’s what he used to call me, you know.”
“That’s important to you? Feeling like a princess?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her shrug was a lazy, off-handed one. “Mostly because it reminds me of my father. It makes me feel like he’s still here with me. And I need that. Especially when—” Suddenly she sat straight up and shook her head. “Oh. Um. Listen. I’d better get back to the house. Abby’s probably worried sick about me.” She scurried ahead of him through the trees, her feet and skirt whooshing and crackling as she did.
“Leah, wait!” It took ten steps before Jake caught up to her and stopped her, turning her toward him. “What were you going to say, Leah?”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore, okay? It hurts too badly.” That was the third time she’d said that.
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