Groom Wanted

by Debra Ullrick

“Father?” Leah swung one direction and then another, searching frantically for her father.

  “I love you, princess.”

  “Where you are, Father? I can’t find you.”

  “I’m right here.”

  “Where?”

  “Here.”

  A single beam of light pierced through the darkness.

  Leah shook her head. “No. No. I’m sorry, Father. I’m so sorry.”

  * * *

  Leah’s eyes bolted open, blinking, searching, trying to get her bearings through the morning twilight. When she realized she was in her bedroom and that the whole thing had been yet another nightmare, tears soaked her face as the fresh pain of losing her father assaulted her all over again.

  Dear Lord, will these nightmares ever end? I can’t take even one more of them. Please, won’t You make them stop? She’d prayed the same prayer a million times over the years. Even though the nightmares hadn’t ceased, she refused to stop praying. God was her only hope. And now she needed Him to deliver her even more than ever. Her future depended on it.

  At first, she truly believed Fitzwilliam was God’s answer for her and that once they were married and moved to New York the nightmares would end and she would be free from the place that had robbed her of her precious father. That might very well be true, but it wouldn’t solve the problem of being in love with Jake or having him for a brother-in-law.

  Jake? A brother-in-law? She tossed her coverlet off, stormed over to the washbasin and splashed cool water on her burning face.

  Despite Fitzwilliam’s certain disapproval, which she no longer cared about, when Leah completed her toiletries she dressed in a simple lavender dress—the one she always wore when church was held at their home.

  Downstairs, she headed into the kitchen. Veronique had the day off, so Leah put a pot of coffee on the stove, cooked up a batch of Swedish pancakes and fried thick slices of ham. She’d just set them in the warmer when she heard the padding of slippers on the floor.

  “Good morning, Leah.” Mother entered the kitchen wearing her nightgown and robe. “I’m surprised to see you up and dressed so early this morning. I figured as late as it was when we got home last night, you’d sleep in this morning.”

  “Couldn’t sleep. I thought I’d make breakfast so I could help get things set up for church today.” Leah went to the window and pulled back the curtain. “At least it’s another nice day today.” The sky was covered with its usual large fluffy clouds sprinkled throughout the blue vastness. She let the curtain fall and headed to the stove. “You ready to eat?”

  “No. Not yet. A cup of coffee sounds nice.”

  “I’ll get it. You stay seated, Mother.”

  Mother nodded, placed her elbow on the table, rested her chin in her hand and sighed. “Why don’t you sit down and have a cup with me?”

  Leah nodded, poured them each a cup of the hot brew and sat down.

  “Did you enjoy the opera?” Mother cupped her hands around the beverage.

  Leah considered lying but realized she didn’t have the energy to fake being happy. “Not really. I didn’t understand a word they said. Some of the women’s voices were so high they hurt my ears.” Those high, shrill voices came from the very ladies who had snubbed her. “Did you enjoy it?” Leah blew into her coffee.

  “It was all right. Not something I’d like to hear very often.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. It wasn’t my type of music at all.”

  “Why’d you go then?”

  “Because Charles asked me to.”

  “Does he host those kind of parties often?”

  “No. He only did it because the man was his friend. Truth is, Charles doesn’t care for them at all, and he couldn’t understand a word they were saying, either.”

  That shocked Leah. Fitzwilliam had made her feel like there was something wrong with her and as if she were the only one who didn’t understand. Well, she and Jake, that was.

  “How are you and Fitzwilliam getting along? Do you think he’s the one?”

  “He asked me to marry him.”

  Mother set her cup on the table and leaned forward. “What did you say?” Was that concern on her face?

  “I didn’t. He said I could think on it and tell him today.”

  “Have you decided whether or not you’re going to accept his proposal?”

  “Whose proposal?” Abby stepped in the kitchen with her hair all rumpled, tying the string on her robe. She flopped into a kitchen chair. “Jake’s?”

  “Jake’s?” Mother sat up straighter, eager eyes blinking in Abby’s direction. “Why would you think Jake would propose to Leah?”

  Abby straightened, and her gaze flew to Leah’s and locked there, screaming, I’m sorry.

  Leah sent her a brief warning glare to make an excuse and drop it.

  Abby shrugged. “Just wishful thinking, I guess. I really like Jake, and if Lee-Lee married him, then she wouldn’t leave.”

  “I understand that one,” Mother said under her breath, but Leah heard her nonetheless.

  If they only knew how that could never be. She sighed. Tired from all the tug and pull on her heart, Leah rose and gathered the food out of the warmer. Both Abby and Mother wanted her to marry Jake. She wouldn’t mind it herself now. Except she was probably too late. As much as she wanted it to be so, marrying Jake wouldn’t solve her nightmare problem, or seeing Mother with a man other than her father, or her hatred for the place that killed her father, or her desire to go back to where times were better.

  Torn between her love for Jake and her desire to leave, Leah struggled to find a solution that would give her all of her heart’s desires. Was that even possible? She wasn’t sure. One thing she was sure of— She had to risk talking to Jake and telling him everything. If it wasn’t too late, perhaps they could come up with a solution together. After all, he’d helped her so many times in the past.

  Breakfast flew by with Abby regaling in her dramatic flair about the evening at Mr. Barker’s and how fabulous it was. Leah wished she could say the same, but the whole thing had been torture. When they finished breakfast, each went to their bedrooms to get ready for church.

  Leah loved when church was held out on the ranch. So did the rest of the town. Though they had an almost-new church building in town, everyone still wanted to gather at the Bowens’ ranch at least once a month during the summer season, and Pastor James had readily agreed.

  An hour and half later, the parishioners’ wagons started rolling in, and Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth were among them. She didn’t know what to tell the man because she hadn’t had a chance to talk to Jake yet.

  Fitzwilliam stepped down from the buggy and offered his sister a helping hand.

  Leah drew in a deep breath and headed toward them, knowing she could not be rude.

  “Good morning, my dear.” Fitzwilliam kissed her hand. “You look—” His brown eyes took in her attire. He leaned close to her. “Is that what you’re wearing to church?” Fitzwilliam straightened and looked around with a smile as phony as a three-headed animal.

  Enough was enough. Leah refused to let him belittle her or criticize her anymore. She raised her chin. “Yes. This is what I’m wearing.”

  His countenance immediately changed to one of disapproval. “We’ll discuss this later, my dear.” Haughtiness tinged his voice.

  “There’s nothing to discuss.”

  “Brother, please.” Elizabeth put her hand on his arm.

  Leah turned to Elizabeth, whose big brown eyes were pleading with her brother once again.

  “Good morning, Elizabeth.” The warmth in Leah’s voice was no act, even though the woman was a threat to her happiness.

  “Good morning, Leah. I fear I must apologize for my brother.”

  Someone needed to. He sure didn’t offer an apology for himself. “How are you this morning?” Leah asked. She

  really wanted to know. Elizabeth was a sweet lady.

  “Very well, thank you
.” She looked around. “Is Jake coming?”

  Guilt pricked Leah’s conscious at the thought of hurting someone as sweet as Elizabeth. But then again, what if she and Elizabeth were wrong and Jake didn’t love Elizabeth? Then what? The only way to find out was to talk to him. If Jake was indeed in love with Elizabeth and planned on marrying her, then as much as it would kill her, Leah would forget her plans about talking to him about everything. She would take that as God’s answer to her prayer about the whole situation.

  “Yes. He should be here pretty soon. Would you two like to go ahead and be seated?” She pointed to the side of the house where the chairs were set up in the shade.

  “We’re sitting outside?” Fitzwilliam’s eyes widened in horror.

  Leah wanted to yell, “Brother, please,” but she didn’t. “Yes. We are.” She let out a long sigh, hoping he’d get the hint.

  He emitted a disapproving breath. “Well, one time shan’t matter, I suppose. But things will be different once we’re married.”

  Leah mashed her teeth together. Now was not the time to say what was on her mind. Not before church. But the time was coming and it was coming quickly. Not quick enough, though.

  “Shall we all be seated?” Pastor James said from the wooden podium.

  Everyone flocked to their seats.

  Leah sat in the last bench, purposely saving the end spot for Jake.

  Jake. Where was he?

  * * *

  Jake had spent the past hour chasing down his goat. Meanie had escaped once again. He still hadn’t found her, but he didn’t want to be late for church, so he finally abandoned the search for his runaway goat, hoping and praying she hadn’t gone to Mabel’s again.

  With a tuck to his horse’s side, he galloped to the Bowens’ and arrived just as everyone had gotten seated. Voices rose in worship to the Lord. He tied his horse to one of the hitching posts near the barn, pulled his Bible out of his saddlebag and strode to the side of the house.

  Spotting an empty place on the end, and knowing Leah had saved it for him, brought a smile to his face. He slipped in beside her.

  She looked up and her dimples made their appearance. Her smile was different. Warm. Inviting, even. Yet shy at the same time.

  Leah turned her face toward the front and continued singing in a low, sweet tone. Jake wished she’d sing louder. She had a beautiful voice. One that kissed the soul of a man.

  Minutes later, the worship ended, and Pastor James said, “Please be seated, folks.” Everyone did. “If you have your Bibles, please open them to Matthew 6:33.”

  Pages rustled as Jake and several other folks searched for the scripture.

  Pastor James glanced down at the makeshift podium. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He raised his head and leaned his arm on the podium. “Is He first in your life and are you second? Or are you first and He’s second?”

  Pastor walked around to the front of the podium. “Let me tell you, folks. When we put God first in every area of life and read the Word daily and pray over every situation and decision, our lives will be blessed. I challenge you today to ask yourselves if there is something you’re holding on to—an area in your life where you haven’t put Him first. Perhaps it’s money. Or your time. Or a relationship.”

  Jake glanced at Leah. Had he put God first in that area?

  Pastor James continued, but Jake didn’t hear what he was saying. He was busy repenting for putting himself first and God second. As hard as it was, Jake prayed for God’s will and not his concerning Leah. He would accept God’s answer because he no longer wanted to be first in his life. From now on, he was second.

  Leah leaned close to him and whispered, “So, did you really cancel the ad?”

  Huh? Why was she asking him about that now? He nodded.

  “Why?”

  “’Cause my heart just wasn’t in it anymore.”

  “How come?”

  Tell her the truth. That still small voice spoke to Jake’s spirit.

  “’Cause I’ve fallen in love with someone.” Now was not the time to tell her with whom. He’d tell her later.

  “Please stand, folks,” Pastor James said.

  Church ended with a song, then everyone scattered to their wagons. Men handed baskets of food down to their womenfolk. Jake jumped in and helped move the tables and benches.

  Fitzwilliam stood at the edge of the crowd, watching, the only man not helping.

  Jake shook his head, then turned and hoisted another bench.

  “I say, stop that. Get away from me.”

  Jake swung around with the bench still in his hands.

  Meanie had the tail of Barrington’s suit in her mouth, and she was yanking him to and fro as he fought to disengage her.

  For once, Jake could just kiss that old goat. That wasn’t very charitable, but he couldn’t help enjoying the scene just a little.

  Fitzwilliam managed to swat the goat on the nose, which seemed to have the intended reaction of her letting go. “Stupid animal.” Fitzwilliam tsked as he examined his attire.

  Meanie backed up and dropped her head.

  Uh-oh.

  Meanie lunged toward the man and rammed her head into Fitzwilliam’s backside, sending him flying forward. He landed on his hands and knees, and his top hat bounced on the hard ground, rolling a few feet in front of him.

  “Why you!” He jumped up just as the goat headed for him again.

  Kitty stood in the background with her ears flapping and her nose jerking high in the air as if she were cheering Meanie on, as if saying “Hit him, hit him again.”

  The scene was hilarious. Jake wanted to laugh. But as much as he enjoyed seeing the man get what he deserved, Jake needed to stop his goat before she decided to do it again.

  He set the bench down and strode toward Meanie, who was in hot pursuit of the gray trousers.

  “Someone do something!” Fitzwilliam screamed like a little girl.

  As Jake headed across the yard, his goat stopped and backed up.

  Oh, no. Not again. “Meanie!” Jake picked up his pace, but he arrived too late.

  Meanie rammed her head into Barrington again. This time he landed sprawled out on the ground.

  Several men headed his way to help.

  Meanie’s focus darted to them, but only for a brief second. Mouth barred open, she chomped her teeth into Fitzwilliam’s hat and shook it vehemently.

  Jake caught her by the collar and tugged on the hat. “Bad goat. Bad Meanie. Give it back.”

  Meanie shook her head hard. Jake tugged even harder. So did the goat. But she wouldn’t let go.

  Rriipp.

  Uh-oh. Jake glanced over at Fitzwilliam to see if he’d heard the noise.

  Haydon, Michael and Jesse stood above Fitzwilliam, offering him a hand up.

  “I can do it.” He brushed them away, huffing as he stood.

  They stepped back, holding up their hands in surrender.

  A look of understanding passed between Jake and the three of them. Right then, Jake knew there was no way Leah would be marrying this man. Not if the four of them had anything to say about it, anyway.

  In control of the now-shredded hat, Jake walked over and handed what was left of it to him. “Sorry about your hat.”

  Fitzwilliam snatched it from Jake’s hands. Holding on to the brim, he mashed it onto his head. The whole brim tore off and the ring landed around his neck like a collar. Barrington closed his eyes, and his chest expanded. He brushed himself off, pressed his shoulders back and stormed away, mumbling something about being nothing but a bunch of hooligans.

  Jake turned his attention back to Leah’s brothers. He fought not to laugh, but when he saw Haydon with his head dipped, his hand over his face and nose and his peering eyes upward; Jess biting his quivering lip and looking everywhere but at him; and Michael with his flared nose, pursed mouth and chin twitching, Jake couldn’t help it. Laughter rolled out of him, and the ot
her three men joined him.

  “Can you believe that guy?” Jesse shook his head, still chortling a bit.

  “You’d think he’d at least try to impress us. But the man doesn’t even try,” Michael added.

  “I don’t much care for that pompous jerk. I can’t figure out what Leah sees in him. Whatever it is...” Haydon rubbed his chin. “I know one thing. I’m not letting that man marry our sister.”

  “I agree. There has to be a way to stop her. But how?” Jess asked.

  “I have an idea.” The brothers turned their attention to Jake.

  “Let’s hear it.”

  Making sure no one could hear him, Jake shared his plan with them. “Do I have your permission?”

  Haydon placed his large hand on Jake’s shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. “You sure do. Doesn’t he, boys?”

  The other two nodded their assent.

  “Now, we’d better get back over there or they’re going to eat without us.”

  Prayers were said over the food, so everyone fixed their plates. Jake, Elizabeth, Leah and Fitzwilliam sat at one of the smaller tables. Selina and Michael wheeled the prams over to their table.

  “Mind iffen we join y’all?” Selina asked.

  “No. We’d love to have you.” Leah motioned for them to sit.

  Jake noticed the scowl on Fitzwilliam’s face when he had to move over to allow Selina and Michael to sit on the end of the bench across from each other.

  What a jerk the man was.

  “How you feeling, Selina?” Jake asked.

  “Gettin’ stronger than a bull every day.”

  “And ornerier, too.” Michael jerked back in pain. “Ouch! Stop that.” If his grin was an indicator, Michael didn’t look one bit affronted by whatever just happened.

  “Woulda never kicked ya iffen you’d behaved yourself.” Selina wrinkled her nose at Michael and blew him a kiss.

  “I say. Must you bicker at the table? You’re acting like children and it is quite vexing.”

  Everyone’s gaze slid to Fitzwilliam. Didn’t he know they were teasing each other? It was all in fun. What an overstuffed shirt the man was.

  “They aren’t bickering, Mr. Barrington. They’re having fun. You should try it sometime.” The last five words were added under Leah’s breath, but Jake heard them. He was certain a few others had, too, if their dipped heads and grins were any indication.