by Leah Atwood
Stunned at her reflection, Faith’s hand went to her throat in disbelief. Her red hair, which she’d always disparaged of, was partially pulled back into an elegant knot with tendrils of loose curls framing her face. The modest neckline of the gown emphasized her slim neck, and Josie was correct—the coloring of the dress darkened her eyes to a vibrant shade.
“You are breathtaking.” Sally placed the looking glass at various angles.
Ellen patted down a stray strand of Faith’s hair. “Jesse won’t be able to tear his eyes from you.”
“Did I hear my name?” someone asked from the hallway.
Sally, Ellen and Josie all rushed to form a barrier around Faith, blocking her from Jesse’s line of vision. Bursting into a fit of unladylike giggles, Faith had never felt so mature, yet young and carefree.
“You can’t see her yet,” Josie insisted.
“How am I to get ready then?” Jesse queried.
“Hmm.” Josie's eyes turned upward and cheeks puckered when she concentrated, formulating a plan.
Sally snapped her fingers. “She can wait in the guest room with me. Mark has no reason to come back upstairs and will be outside with the other men.”
“Close your eyes, Jesse,” Josie ordered.
“I’m glad my wife isn’t bossy like you,” Jesse whined good-naturedly.
“She hasn’t learned the art yet,” Josie retorted while flashing a wink toward Faith.
Faith was ushered out of the room before she could offer a protest against being commandeered away from her husband. She didn’t understand why Jesse couldn’t see her yet, but went along with everyone else. For now, she would bask in a newfound confidence she felt in her appearance, all vanity aside. Tonight, she would be on the arm of her husband and wanted to make him proud.
By late afternoon, guests were arriving. Faith was instructed to wait upstairs until she was formally introduced. Anxiety was beginning to overshadow her earlier delight, and she fought to turn it away. A soft knock had sounded against the door before Ellen stepped in.
“Come on downstairs. Jesse is waiting to take you outside.” Ellen grabbed her hand and prodded her toward the staircase. “Your bride is ready,” she called down to her brother before discreetly stepping aside.
Faith stood transfixed to the top stair. Her eyes locked with Jesse’s in an intimate gaze. Now she understood—this was the moment for which she and her husband were kept separated. The moment when he first saw her and looked at her as a bride coming to her groom.
“Ahem,” someone coughed from downstairs, alerting the couple their presence was requested.
Slowly, Faith descended the stairs, never losing eye contact with Jesse. The slippers encasing her feet barely made a sound as each step brought her closer to her husband. Jesse’s hand extended to hers as she reached the bottom steps. His calloused fingers wove with her slender, gloved ones.
“You are beautiful,” he leaned over and whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
“Thank you,” she responded, or at least she thought she did. Her senses were overwhelmed with an elated pleasure.
Together they walked to the verandah where they were presented to their friends and neighbors. Folks from all surrounding areas came to offer well-wishes for the married couple, still considered newlyweds. Some people, Faith had already met through church, but many of them were new faces. With the introduction of each person, she tried to tuck the name away in her memory.
The afternoon passed in a blur. Amid all the introductions, congratulations and well-intentioned good advice, Jesse remained attentive to her, keeping his hand in hers or at the small of her back. When it was time to eat, he skillfully maneuvered her to a table and brought her a plate. For the first time in a long time someone was taking care of her, looking out for her.
Late afternoon turned into evening, bringing with it a new wave of festivities. Lanterns were lit and a band of men joined playing their fiddles and harmonicas. Couples and friends danced, enjoying a break from their normal routines of hard work. Faith found herself torn from Jesse as everyone desired a dance with the guests of honors. She missed having Jesse at her side, but she was enjoying the party.
Breathless from exertion and laughter, Faith insisted on sitting out the next dance.
“Care for a drink?” Looking up, she saw Jesse offering her a glass of punch.
“Thank you.” Accepting the glass, she brought it to her mouth and took a dainty sip. And then another. Parched as she was, she longed to gulp the entire contents at once.
“Congratulations.” A woman wearing a pale pink gown with a bodice that bordered on immodest swept in front of Jesse and Faith.
“Thank you, Elsie,” Jesse replied, his voice strained.
Elsie continued as though she didn’t notice the tension. “This has been a beautiful party. It’s good to be on Circle W land. There are so many fond memories here—I was truly surprised when I’d learned you’d married. Father had hoped we would be joined in matrimony.”
Her innuendos were obvious, and Faith reeled with irritation. She’d made it a habit not to heed rumors, but in this case she could see they were correct. Refusing to be ignored in a congratulatory conversation about her own nuptials, she chimed in with all the dignity and grace she could muster. “Thank you for attending, Elsie. Jesse and I look forward to making many memories of our own.”
Dismissed, Elsie stuck out her bottom lip in a pout and turned away.
“I’m sorry about her,” Jesse apologized. “She hasn’t been on Circle W land since we were young children. Josie and she were friends at one time, but since the dissolution of that friendship, Elsie has never stepped foot here. At least not that I am aware of.”
“Some people are just lost souls looking for a place to belong.” Her own annoyance with Elsie faded as quickly as it had arrived.
“And what about you, Faith. Were you one of those lost souls?” Jesse’s voice lowered and his palm went to her cheek. He released her, but not before trailing a finger down the line of her jaw.
“I was,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“This has been a night I won’t soon forget.”
Faith looked at her husband. His tone was meaningful, with hidden depths. She wished she could see the entirety of his face, but even with the lanterns, there were only shadows in his expression. Tonight, she sensed they’d reached another turning point in their relationship. From the time she’d stood at the top of the stairs, there had been a new energy between them—more shared glances and smiles, a greater connection. “It’s been a night I will cherish forever. The graciousness your family has shown me is overwhelming, but fully appreciated.”
“They are fond of you as am I.”
Her heart rate quickened. His words were not a declaration of love, but had merits of their own, especially when he took her hand again. This time, the contact was not out of chivalry or propriety, but possession. She was his wife, and he her husband.
Chapter 8
All the guests had returned to their own residences hours ago, except for Sally and Mark, who were upstairs in the guest room. Unable to sleep, Jesse sat on the front porch using his heels to push the rocking chair backward then forward. The soothing motion gave chase to a clear mind—the only thing more freeing to his thoughts would have been a ride on Blaze.
A noise to his left drew his attention away from his pondering. “Who’s there?” he asked, automatically recognizing the sound of the door opening from inside.
“Jesse? Is that you?”
“It’s me. What are you doing out here at this time of night?”
“I could ask you the same thing, brother.”
“Fair enough,” Jesse answered with amusement. “Have a seat.”
Sally sat in a rocker beside the one he occupied. “Tonight was a success. The entire community loved Faith.”
“They did, didn’t they?” The question didn’t need a reply. He’d seen Faith wrapped in the proverbial arms of t
he town. They’d embraced her wholeheartedly, and Jesse was pleased. It hadn’t occurred to him until just then, except when he’d had the initial idea to send for a bride that their opinion of his wife could bolster and restore his good reputation—his thoughts had been solely on Faith and her acceptance.
“She’s changed you,” Sally stated.
“How do you reckon?” He didn’t try to deny the claim because he knew it to be true, but was curious what his sister saw.
“You’ve calmed down and lost the edge that’s always burdened you. Before, you were always looking for a fight, a reason to release your anger toward Pa.”
“I’m not angry toward Pa.” The moon shone perfectly on Sally’s face, giving him a clear view of her raised eyebrow, calling him on his bluff. He flattened his feet to the wooden planks of the porch to cease his rocking. “I was alone after Ma died. He should have been there for us.”
“You were never alone, Jes. Just because you were the oldest and only boy didn’t make you any less a part of the family.”
“Maybe not in a physical sense, but I had no one there for me. At least you, Ellen and Josie had the nurses. Pa was too lost in his grief, and the nurses weren’t trained to deal with a rascal like me.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh, remembering all the times he was sent outdoors, simply because the nursemaids had no idea on how to deal with him.
“Everyone deals with their sorrows differently. As children, we couldn’t understand Pa’s withdrawal from us when Ma passed, but as adults we are able to view it from a different vantage point. I would say that’s how Faith has changed you. As your feelings for her grow, you’re able to comprehend the depth of grief Pa felt and the measure of love for someone else’s life against your own.”
Leaning back, Jesse thought about Sally’s words. She was right, and he wasn’t too proud to admit it. At some point over the last two months he’d fallen in love with Faith. He was fond of the Faith he’d first met—the sweet, timid and uncertain lady who had met him at the train station, but he loved the woman she’d blossomed into. Maybe that’s whom she’d always been but needed encouragement to bloom. She was hard-working, Godly, pure, giving and beautiful. He couldn’t imagine life without her, nor did he want to imagine such a life. If he felt this way after only two weeks, how would he feel years from now?
“When did you become so wise?”
Sally laughed. “Life is a great teacher.”
“Can I ask a question?”
“What is it?”
“How do I make Faith love me?”
“What do you mean?”
Jesse sighed. He wasn’t good at speaking like this, but he was in too deep. “I love her and I know she cares for me, but until tonight, her affections were those of a dear friend. How do I make her see me as more than that?”
“Anyone with eyes tonight could see that she loves you.”
“But tonight could have been an illusion. Anyone could feign love under ideal conditions.”
“Don’t be so dense, dear brother. Have you told her how you feel?”
“No.”
“Have you courted her?”
“We’re already married.”
“Jesse, Jesse, Jesse. Show her that you love her. Just because you are married, doesn’t mean you can’t court her. That’s a special time of a relationship and due to your unusual circumstances, the two of you didn’t get to experience it. Shower her with love and sweep her off her feet. If you want her to see you as more than a friend, treat her as more than a friend.”
“Like picnics and gifts?” This was new territory for him.
“Yes, among other things. Do what you can to make her feel cherished.”
“Thank you.”
Sally stood to return to her room, pulling her shawl snugger. “For what it’s worth, I know she already loves you.”
“I hope you are correct.”
“I usually am,” she retorted with a teasing tone.
“Say, you never did tell me why you came out here at this hour?” Jesse stood and moved to the railing where Sally now stood, staring out into the darkness.
“Having a party and being in my old room brought back a lot of memories. So many things have changed in our lives, but these old rockers remain constant. I thought coming down here for a while and sitting on one would clear my mind.”
“Is everything okay,” he asked his sister, concerned.
“Nothing but the silly sentimentality of a woman expecting her first child.”
“You also?” he exclaimed.
“Yes, but we haven’t shared the information with anyone yet.”
Jesse smiled, touched that his sister entrusted him with the information. By Christmas, he’d have two new nieces or nephews. “I’ll be… Congratulations.” He gave Sally a quick, brotherly embrace then released her.
“I’m glad I came down tonight.”
“Me too.” The conversation had been revealing for him and had restored a neglected bond with his sister.
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Sally.”
“Good night, Jesse.”
After Sally had gone back inside, Jesse remained on the porch for another few minutes. Concentrating hard, he formed a plan to sweep Faith off her feet as Sally instructed. His plan would have to wait a few days—he didn’t want to take precious social time away from Faith. Out here, visits from other women were scarce, and he knew the women cherished the camaraderie.
And there would be work to catch up on after Sally and her husband left. As it was, he’d done the bare minimum the last few days during preparations for the party, allowing the ranch hands to cover the bulk of it. However, he wasn’t comfortable shirking his share. He estimated toward the end of next week he should be able to take off an entire day to which he’d devote to Faith. Until then, he would do everything he could to show his love in smaller ways.
Chapter 9
June arrived with on a beautiful day with clear blue skies and moderate temperatures. Faith planned to wash all the linens after cleaning up from breakfast. When the last dish was dried, she went and drew all the drapes and opened the windows—the day was too unspoiled to keep it outside. Fragrant scents from the outdoors filtered in, filling the large house with a lively, optimistic atmosphere.
Walking into her bedroom, she noticed a vase of fresh wildflowers sitting on the nightstand. She cocked her head, not remembering it being there this morning. Odd, she thought. Who would have brought them in? Something came flying through her window opening. Hurrying over, she heard more objects hitting the wooden exterior of the home.
“What in tarnation?” She looked out the window to see Jesse with arm midair, about to toss another pebble. A rakish grin spread across his face. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to gain your attention,” he answered casually, as if this was not an unusual occurrence.
“Why didn’t you just come in the house?” She was puzzled by Jesse’s behavior.
“Where is the excitement in that?” He winked at her, and Faith realized he was flirting. Flustered and unaccustomed to the behavior, she didn’t know how to respond. “Did you see your flowers?”
“You put them there?”
“I snuck in while you were finishing the dishes.”
“They are lovely and brighten the room considerably. Thank you.”
“Now that we have that settled are you going to come outside and join your husband or will I have to come kidnap you.”
Faith giggled falling captive to his charm. “I’ll be right down.”
She scrambled down the stairs and ran out the door, barreling into Jesse’s chest. The collision set her off balance, and Jesse slipped steadying hands under her arms. Face flushing in embarrassment, she looked down at the floor.
Jesse tipped her chin up, so she was facing him. “I wanted to sweep you off your feet but not like that,” he jested.
His words flustered her further. “Oh… you... you…” she st
ammered before giving up and laughing. “You must think me quite clumsy.”
“On the contrary, I think you are graceful and beautiful.”
Again she was left speechless, but smiling. Since the night of the party, Jesse had been acting differently toward her. She’d been complimented more in the past week than she’d had in her entire life. Three nights ago, he’d presented her with a pearl necklace that belonged to his mother. This morning he’d even prepared an entire breakfast meal before she’d risen at an early hour. He’d tried to do the dishes also, but she insisted she’d feel like a sluggard if she did not do them, especially since he cooked a meal.
Jesse slipped his arm around her waist, leading her away from the house. “Your chariot awaits Madam.”
Outside the barn, Mollie and Blaze waited, saddled and ready for a ride. Faith loved the dear, old mare. When she’d first arrived, Mollie hadn’t been doing too well, but in the last several weeks had shown a remarkable improvement. Enough so that Jesse and Pa West had taught Faith how to ride using the docile mare. Faith had her reservations at first, having never ridden a horse before, but when she found each West child learned to ride on Mollie, her fears were allayed. She wasn’t an expert rider by any means—she wasn’t even sure she’d feel comfortable on any mount except Mollie, but she had no qualms about taking Mollie to wherever Jesse had planned.
“Where are we going?” Her curiosity was rampant, her heart wanting.
“We haven’t been able to spend much time alone away from chores. Today I’m going to take you to the canyon on the north end of Circle W that I told you about when you first arrived.”
“Won’t that take all day?” A day alone with her husband sounded like a marvelous idea, but she ran through the checklist of tasks she’d planned for the day. She could only afford an hour, possibly, and still accomplish everything.
“By leaving now, we will get there right around noon. We’ll have a few hours to spend before we’ll have to head back.”
“I don’t know. A whole day away? There’s so much to do.”