Groom Wanted

by Debra Ullrick

  Leah sank further into herself, trying to come up with a suitable response. What would this lady think if she knew she really did live with pigs? She felt like a fly caught in a spider’s web with an eight-legged beast heading directly toward her with one mission—to devour her.

  That’s what these women were doing—devouring her spirit. She needed to escape them. But she had no idea how to do that without being as rude as they were.

  “Excuse me, ladies.” Jake stepped next to Leah and looped her arm through his. “But I feel you have had the pleasure of my friend’s company long enough. As much as I’m sure it will sadden you all to see her leave, I’m going to have to steal her away.”

  The women nodded. Their faces lit up with smiles. Jake’s massive tall frame and extremely good looks would impress any woman. Even this group of snobby women. Several stared at Jake with dreamy eyes as if he were a prince of some kind. In a way he was. He was Leah’s Prince Charming, rescuing her from the dragon ladies. Leah had never loved him so much as she did at that very moment.

  They pressed their gloved hands against their lips, dipped their heads and blinked their eyes like schoolgirls with a crush. Not a single one of them could form a coherent sentence. They sounded like blathering idiots.

  How did they like feeling the way they’d made her feel?

  Leah raised her chin. “If you will excuse me, ladies.”

  Their heads bobbed jerkily as if someone were shaking them hard by the shoulders.

  Jake led her away to a corner on the opposite side of the room.

  Finally, Leah could breathe—well, kind of, with the infernal corset hemming her in and the tears of humiliation shimmering just behind her eyelashes.

  They lowered themselves onto a white Chippendale bench seat. “How did you know I needed rescuing?”

  He shrugged. “Just knew.”

  “Thank you, Jake.” She sent him a shy smile. She’d never felt shy around Jake before.

  “Told you I’d be here for you.”

  “Yes, you did. You’re always there for me.” Leah had to force her true feelings not to show when she fixed her eyes on him. She didn’t want Jake to know she was in love with him.

  Her gaze traveled around the room, and she leaned as close to him as possible without causing speculation about them, and for his ears only she said, “Are you doing okay in here?”

  Jake skimmed the room. “Not too bad. There are several doors and it’s not crowded. So far, so good. Should be fine.”

  “Oh, good. I’m so glad. When I came in here and saw all the space and doors, I had a feeling you would be.” She smiled at him.

  “You look really nice. I like the dress. It brings out the blue in your eyes.”

  A tear pooled in each eye.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Concern drifted across his face.

  “No. No.” She held up her hand. “On the contrary.”

  “What are the tears for, then?” He brushed each one with his thumb from her cheek as they slid down.

  She wanted to clutch his hand, press it into her heart and hold it there forever. But it wasn’t hers to do with as she pleased. Her heart and soul heaved a heavy sigh before she answered him. “Since I arrived here, you’re the first person to say something nice to me.”

  “What do you mean? People here been mean to you?” Jake’s forehead furrowed.

  She gave a long blink and nodded. “Those ladies that were so nice to you, well, they weren’t to me. You should have seen the disgust on their faces when they eyed me up and down. Made me feel lower than dirt. Then they started talking politics. Things I knew nothing about nor care to, and some opera house in some place I’ve never even heard of before. I’ve never felt so stupid in my entire life. I wanted the floor to open and swallow me up.”

  The muscle in his jaw jumped. Leah could tell he was working to compose himself. “I wouldn’t worry about what they think. You outshine every last one of them both in beauty and attire.”

  “Oh, you’re just saying that to be nice. But thanks.” She gave him a half smile.

  “No. I’m not. I meant every word.” Seriousness dotted each syllable he spoke.

  Leah studied his beautiful gray eyes for the truth. She didn’t see any falseness in them. Her heart warmed. She pressed her shoulders back, feeling taller and better than she had since she’d walked through the doors of this place. And she owed her renewed confidence in herself to Jake, who never once made her feel the way those ladies just had. Ever. In fact, she’d always seen the two of them as equals. “Thank you, Jake. I really needed to hear something nice. You look pretty fabulous yourself.” Boy, did he ever.

  * * *

  Jake appreciated Leah’s compliment. Her opinion was the only one there that mattered.

  Leah played with her fingertips, rubbing and tugging at them. It crushed him to hear how cruel those ladies had been to her. He wanted to storm over there and give every one of them a good tongue-lashing. But he would not cause a scene and risk embarrassing Leah or Mrs. Bowen.

  A quick glance at his outfit, and he couldn’t understand why they’d been so nice to him. He was the most underdressed man in the place. He’d taken money out of his winter supply fund to buy a new pair of pants but the rest of his attire was his Sunday church clothes. If people didn’t like the way he was dressed, well, that was their problem. He wasn’t out to impress anyone. He was who he was and if no one liked it, then they didn’t have to associate with him.

  “Where’s Elizabeth?”

  “Don’t know. I told her I needed to talk to you.” He scanned the room but didn’t see her.

  “Does she correct your faux pas?” She tugged at her bottom lip and her head tilted at a slight angle.

  “My what?”

  “Faux pas. You know, social blunders?” She hiked a shoulder.

  “Nope. Not once.”

  “You’re fortunate.” She glanced at him then down at her lap. “Fitzwilliam took me aside and rebuked me. He told me he couldn’t believe I hadn’t dressed properly this evening.”

  The muscle in Jake’s jaw jumped as he bore down on his teeth.

  “How was I supposed to know how to dress for an opera? I’ve never been to one before. Not even back in New York. They were always held late in the evenings and we were in our bedrooms by then.” She turned her face away from him.

  “Leah.” He tugged on her chin until she faced him. “Any man who cares about outward appearances instead of what’s on the inside where it really counts isn’t worth caring about. It’s like all those people in Pride and Prejudice. All they cared about was outward appearances and how much wealth and power a person had. That ain’t right.”

  “You’ve read Pride and Prejudice?”

  Jake clamped his jaw shut. He couldn’t believe he’d mentioned that book. No avoiding her question. “Yep.”

  “When?”

  “Finished it the other night.”

  “What made you read it?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  “Yep.”

  “How come?”

  Jake ran his hand across the back of his neck. “If you must know, it’s because you kept talking about how you wanted a man like Mr. Darcy. I was curious what kind of man he was. Have to admit, I’m surprised you want someone like him. Even though he did turn out to be a nice fellow in the end.”

  “I keep hoping that’s what will happen with Mr. Barrington. He’s only trying to help me correct my social faux pas. I’m certain once I learn those things he’ll be different, too.”

  “Leah.” Jake locked his gaze on hers. Using his sternest tone he said, “Fitzwilliam isn’t some hero in a fictional romance novel.”

  “I know that.”

  “Do you? Mr. Darcy isn’t a real person, Leah. Life isn’t like a storybook, either. Fitzwilliam may or may not change. This may be the way he really is. You need to ask yourself if you’re willing to take that chance.”

  She said nothing in reply.
Only stared at him.

  He’d frustrated her. But what kind of friend would he be if he didn’t speak the truth to her? He had something else he needed to talk to her about, too. But now was not the time or the place.

  “Oh, Jake. There you are.” Elizabeth glided toward them, her dress swaying side to side like a ringing bell.

  Jake rose. He turned to Leah and quickly said, “I have something important I need to tell you. Later, okay?”

  Leah nodded.

  Elizabeth curtsied at Leah and her smile appeared genuine. “Good evening, Leah. You look lovely this evening.”

  Jake sent Leah a see-I-told-you-so look.

  “Thank you, Elizabeth. You do, too.”

  It was sweet of Elizabeth to compliment Leah. She would make someone a great wife. Not him, but someone. Elizabeth, too, was out of his league. Plus, Jake couldn’t imagine having Fitzwilliam for a brother-in-law. He felt sorry for Elizabeth having a brother like him. And he would feel even sorrier for Leah if she ended up marrying the guy.

  The thought of Leah marrying that phony fellow was terrifying. Jake couldn’t let that happen. If nothing else, he had to at least talk her into finding someone else. He loved her too much to watch her marry a man like that. He started when he realized the thought that had just gone through his head. He loved her. More than that, he was in love with her.

  “Time to be seated, everyone.” Mr. Barker spoke loudly from the front of the room, stopping Jake’s musings.

  Fitzwilliam walked up and claimed Leah’s arm, and Elizabeth claimed his. Not wanting to lead her on, yet refusing to be rude, he allowed her to, and the four of them made their way to the chairs.

  Jake sat in the chair directly across from the open doors and only feet away. Elizabeth sat next to him, then Fitzwilliam and then Leah.

  Shortly after everyone was seated, a rotund man started singing. The man had a nice enough voice, but Jake couldn’t understand a word he said. For the next hour, two other men and three other ladies joined him. The songs got longer and harder to endure. When the singing finally ended, to avoid getting trapped in the crowd, Jake got up immediately and went to stand next to the open doors. Elizabeth, Leah and Fitzwilliam joined him.

  “Wasn’t that a fine display of talent?” Fitzwilliam asked Leah.

  “He sang beautifully, but I couldn’t understand a word he said.”

  “You didn’t? How very odd.” Pomposity oozed from the man.

  What did Leah see in this jerk?

  “Nothing odd about it. I didn’t understand a word, either,” Jake said with no apology whatsoever.

  “That doesn’t surprise me—a country bumpkin such as yourself.”

  “Hey, don’t talk about Jake that way,” Leah blasted Fitzwilliam and disengaged her arm from his.

  “Brother, please.” Elizabeth bowed her head in embarrassment. “It was in Italian, after all.”

  Fitzwilliam turned his attention to his sister. The man was a pill, but he sure loved his sister. You could see it in his eyes.

  “Very true, sister.” He turned back to them. “My apologies to you both. I don’t know where my manners are lately.” He gazed down at Leah. “I fear jealousy is causing me to act in a manner most unbecoming.”

  “Jealousy?” She tilted her head.

  “Yes. I must admit, I’m quite jealous of the relationship you have with Mr. Lure here. However, I’m sure I have no need to be alarmed on that account. For very soon, if I have my way, you and I shall be heading back to New York.” His smile was fake at best. “In fact, what better time than the present to make my feelings on the matter known? Leah, my darling, please say you will be my wife.”

  Like a sucker punch to his middle, the wind whooshed out of Jake’s lungs. Marry? His attention flew to Leah. Surely she wouldn’t say yes. No, Leah. Say no.

  She stared at the man with wide, blinking eyes and an open mouth.

  Fitzwilliam fingered her mouth shut, shifted to the other foot, glanced around and then smiled. “Of course, you do not have to answer me straightaway, my dear. I shall give you this evening to consider my proposal. On the morrow you can give me your answer. I shall come by early in the morning if that is agreeable with you.”

  “Um. Oh. Um. Ye-yes. Th-that will be—be just fine.”

  A dagger ripped at Jake’s heart, shredding it to pieces.

  The day had come.

  Leah would be leaving.

  No! No! He refused to let that happen. He’d rather move to the city than live without her. How he would survive it he didn’t know, but if that’s what it took... His heart raced, and his palms turned damp just thinking about it. He swallowed hard, hoping the panic would go away.

  Somehow.

  Somehow he’d figure it out.

  He had to.

  Before she gave Fitzwilliam her answer, he had to talk to Leah, to see how she felt about him, about them. In the next breath, he hoped and prayed she wouldn’t reject him this time. For this time, with his heart on the table, her rejection would surely kill him.

  * * *

  Leah watched as Fitzwilliam gave Jake a smug grin, then he excused himself and headed to the group of prominent men he’d been visiting with most of the evening.

  She shook her head, unable to get over how Fitzwilliam had asked her to marry him in front of everyone. More importantly, in front of Jake.

  Jake.

  She couldn’t wait to find out what it was he wanted to talk to her about. But wait she must.

  “It sure is warm in here.”

  Leah turned her attention to Elizabeth. Miss Barrington splayed her fan and waved it in front of her face. “Jake, would you be a dear and get me something to drink, please?”

  He turned his attention to Leah. “Would you like something to drink, Leah?”

  “Please.”

  He nodded, and Leah’s gaze followed him as he headed toward the refreshment table.

  “Isn’t he the most agreeable man ever?”

  Leah yanked her attention toward Elizabeth. “Isn’t who the most agreeable man?”

  “Jake.” Elizabeth hooked arms with her. She glanced around the room and then she leaned closer to Leah. “He’s been so attentive to me. So much so that I think he’s in love with me.”

  Shocked to the very core of her being by Elizabeth’s statement, Leah wondered if what she said was true. Was Jake in love with Elizabeth? Leah’s thoughts trailed back to how attentive he had been to the woman.

  How he held Elizabeth longer than necessary whenever he helped her down.

  How he saw to her comforts.

  How the two of them laughed and joked.

  How he’d gazed at her and had given her his undivided attention.

  How willing he was to go every time Leah had invited him along. It had all been for Elizabeth, not for her.

  Is that what he wanted to talk to her about? To tell her that he had fallen in love with Elizabeth and that he wanted to marry the woman?

  What had she done? She’d driven the man she loved into another woman’s arms.

  Her mind scrambled to find a solution, but there was not one. If only God would have shown her a way to deal with the loss of her father. But He hadn’t. And now she was about to lose the only man she’d ever loved. It was a no-win situation. If she married Fitzwilliam, Jake would be her brother-in-law. If she stayed, the nightmares and the loss of her father would continue to torment her. Earlier, she’d already made up her mind not to marry Fitzwilliam, and now that decision was cemented. There was no way she would marry Fitzwilliam and have to watch Elizabeth and Jake together all the time.

  Jake married to another. That idea ate at her heart like a deadly cancer.

  Lord, show me a way to make this work. I can’t lose him. I can’t. I know You have an answer. I’m asking You to reveal it to me. And soon. Before it’s too late.

  “Here you go, ladies.” Jake’s voice pulled her out of the heart-wrenching pit her thoughts had taken her to.

  He hand
ed them each a glass.

  Elizabeth threaded her arms through his. Jake looked down at her. Never taking her eyes off of Jake, Elizabeth took a small sip. “Thank you, Jake. That was very sweet of you.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “Yes. Thank you, Jake.” Leah forced a smile onto her lips. Even that was hard when her heart was breaking.

  “Jake.” His attention went back to Elizabeth. “I was wondering if you removed your advertisement yet. You said you were no longer in need of it.”

  Remove his ad? He hadn’t told Leah he was going to do that.

  “Yep. No need for it anymore.” He looked at Leah, then back at Elizabeth.

  He no longer needed it?

  Elizabeth smiled at Leah and gave her a look that said, See what I mean? He is in love with me. He’s even stopped his ad as proof.

  Realization pummeled Leah’s soul. Jake had said he needed to talk to her. Is that what he was going to tell her? That he’d removed his ad and that he no longer needed it because he was going to marry Elizabeth? Or that he’d finally decided to respond to one of the other women who’d answered his advertisement? Either way, it was too late for her and Jake. Or was it? Surely there had to be a way to work this whole thing out. She couldn’t lose Jake. She just couldn’t.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Leah skipped through the ranch yard and up into the trees singing, “Father. Father. Where are you?” She repeated it over and over as her eyes searched for him. Farther and farther into the forest she went. The foliage thickened as did the trees. Sweet syringa scents swirled around her. She stopped, raised her nose in the air and drew in deeply, then frowned as something awful went up her nose. She looked around, trying to figure out where the stench was coming from.

  She watched as a tree fell in slow motion and landed with a crunch.

  Leah walked over to the fallen tree and stepped on top of it. Her focus drifted to her feet.

  Her eyes widened.

  A man was trapped underneath the tree. She couldn’t see his face.

  With one hop, she leaped off the massive trunk.

  “Don’t be scared, princess.”