When she was safely on the wagon seat, Jacob stepped back and touched a finger to the brim of his hat in salute, the corners of his mouth quirking into a grin. A shiver ran through her as Mr. O’Brien urged the team into a walk. This was going to be a wonderful day.
When they arrived at the picnic area, the men spread out on blankets in the grass. Plates in front of them were heaped high with their favorite delicacies, which soon disappeared. Anna sat on the corner of the blanket next to Aunt Lola, enjoying the light breeze on her face. This mismatched collection of Irishmen and Mexicans from the Double Rocking B truly seemed to be her family now.
Edward ended a story, and Manuel burst into laughter and gave the boy a playful slap on the back. Edward’s shoulders had filled out some, and he had lost most of his gangly, boyish look. My goodness, he’s starting to look more like a man than a boy. Anna gulped at the sobering thought.
“Care to take a walk?” Anna glanced up to Jacob’s outstretched hand. “I hear the pie judging is getting ready to start. And you should be on hand to accept your ribbon.” His face and voice were matter of fact, but the wink he flashed conveyed his teasing.
Heat flushed her cheeks, adding to the swelter of the sun. “I can’t imagine my simple little blackberry pie would win a ribbon with so many accomplished women here. But I would love to stretch my legs a bit.” She placed her hand in Jacob’s and allowed him to assist her to her feet.
They strolled toward the schoolhouse yard where a row of tables under a large pecan tree had been covered with numerous pie dishes. Three men sidestepped down the row, tasting each dessert and making notes on pieces of paper.
Anna recognized the salt-and-pepper beard and lean figure of Reverend Wallace. Jacob pointed out the other two men as Sheriff B.A. Brown and Sam Wright, the county clerk. Several clusters of onlookers stood in groups a little distance away from the judges. When Anna and Jacob approached, Mrs. Wallace waltzed over and gave Anna a welcoming hug.
“It looks to be a tough competition this year,” the matronly woman explained, turning back toward the men. “They’ve already sampled the pies once and are making a second round now.”
“If they need a tie-breaker, I’ll be happy to step in.” Anna turned toward the voice and received a sheepish grin from a stocky man, one hand on his suspender strap and the other patting his already-full mid-section.
“You know the rules, G.W.,” Mrs. Wallace chided in a lightly scolding tone. “The wives of the judges aren’t allowed to enter a pie in the competition. And since your Emmaline has won the last two years, there’s not much chance you’ll ever get to be a judge.”
G.W.’s smile widened as he draped an arm around the plump woman beside him. “My gal sure can cook, can’t she?” His ‘gal’ rewarded the comment by smiling at him as if he were a knight who had just rescued her from a fire-breathing dragon.
Anna smiled at the pair. How sweet to watch two people in love. She sneaked a glance at Jacob and caught his gaze on her. Heat crept into her face, so she turned her focus back to the pies.
The three judges huddled together and discussed the paper in Reverend Wallace’s hand. They finally separated, and the Reverend spoke in the deep voice he used for his sermons.
“Ladies and Gentleman, after much deliberation, we have selected the winners of the pie competition. With so many delectable entries this year, we’ve chosen to award the top five pies.” He cleared his throat and glanced down at the paper in his hand. “First place goes to the rhubarb pie made by Mrs. Emmaline Strait.”
“I knew it.” G.W. slid an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“And second place goes to the blackberry pie made by Miss Anna Stewart.”
Anna squealed before she could stop herself then slapped a hand over her mouth. At a touch on her elbow, she turned to a broad smile on Jacob’s face and a twinkle flashing in his clear blue eyes. He leaned forward and whispered, “I never had a doubt, did you? I’m only surprised you didn’t take first.”
Jacob stayed by her side for most of the afternoon. He introduced her to so many people, the names and faces soon blurred in her mind.
“I had no idea you were so well-known in this town,” she teased as they headed for a shade tree to escape the blistering sun.
Jacob shrugged. “That’s what happens when you grow up in a place, I guess. When I was little, Seguin only had a couple of roads. Now it’s a great big town and it’s the county seat for Guadalupe County.” He sighed, leaning against the tree with his hands in his pockets. He cut a handsome form, from his wavy brown hair playing in the slight breeze, to his dark green cotton shirt, to his snug fitting brown pants and heeled cowboy boots. “I guess change comes whether we want it to or not. I kind of miss the old days, though. Things were wilder back then but simpler, too.”
Anna’s eyes wandered toward the houses and cement buildings comprising the town of Seguin. Her mind brought back images of the busy streets of Columbia, with its constant flow of wagons, peddlers, and other traffic.
“I lived in Columbia my entire life before the fire. It was always busy, never a quiet little town like Seguin. On Saturdays, Papa would take us on rides through the countryside.” Her tone grew wistful. “I used to envy the people who lived in the grand plantation homes. Things seemed so much calmer there. I’ve never known a place as peaceful as the ranch, though.”
“Do you miss Columbia?”
“No.” Her voice softened. “I miss Papa, but I don’t miss the city.”
Jacob’s reply was cut off by an announcer calling from the direction of the hill to introduce the start of the shooting match. He straightened and offered his arm. “May I escort you, ma’am?” He winked.
Monty placed second in the shooting match, losing to Sheriff Brown. As the onlookers applauded, excitement rose in Anna’s stomach, threatening to bubble over.
“I can’t be letting anyone outshoot the lawman in the county, now can I?” The Sheriff shrugged and accepted the new spur straps offered as the prize.
The horse race was held in a large open area near the river, and at the sound of a pistol signaling the start, Anna cheered with the rest of the crowd. The riders were to circle the area twice, and as they neared the finish line a pack of three horses pulled away from the rest of the animals. Manuel’s red shirt appeared in the group that crossed the line first, but she couldn’t tell who had been ahead.
The announcer’s voice boomed above the murmurs of the crowd. “And the first place rider is Manuel Jinjosa from the Double Rocking B.” The spectators roared, with a few hoots mixed in, probably from their own cowboys.
As the announcer continued broadcasting where the contestants placed, Anna shouted with the rest of the group. The excitement was contagious and drowned out the announcer’s voice. Then her breath caught at an unmistakable name.
“…Edward Stewart from the Double Rocking B.”
Was that sixth place he’d just announced? A surge of pride welled in Anna’s chest, and even as she continued to cheer, she couldn’t hold back the tear that rolled down her cheek. An arm rested on her shoulders, and she spun to find a gentle smile curve across Jacob’s face. With people still cheering around them, he didn’t say a word, just wiped away the tear. In that moment, words weren’t needed between them. The look in his eyes showed he understood.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The women of the town had put together a chili supper for all in attendance, and Anna was thankful, for once, to not be responsible for the cooking. After the meal, she sat on her corner of the picnic blanket with both her real and adopted families scattered around. Uncle Walter and Aunt Laura joined them for the evening meal, adding extra flavor to the conversation. The sky was beginning to show deep oranges and purples in preparation for sunset. The day had been more fun than Anna imagined, but she was almost worn out.
Mr. O’Brien seemed to read her thoughts as he set down his bowl, wiped his mouth, and said, “Well, I hope ya’ll aren’t too tuckered out yet. There�
�s still a whole night of dancin’ ahead of us.”
“I’m ready,” Bo piped up, earning a playful shove from Juan.
As if on cue, the strains of the fiddle drifted from the open area in front of the schoolhouse. “I guess that’s our sign,” Mr. O’Brien announced, rising to his feet. He approached Aunt Lola and, with a bow, offered his hand to help her rise. “Might I escort ye, bonnie lass?” He broke into the Irish brogue so easily, it was obvious it came naturally to him.
He winked at Anna and leaned closer as if sharing a secret. “I should be so lucky to escort the two loveliest ladies to the dance, but I’m afraid with all these strapping young men around, I would be hung and quartered if I did. So, to save my own life, I’ll step aside and give the others a chance.”
Warmth rose up Anna’s neck, and she dropped her gaze down to the blanket. Within seconds, a pair of worn brown boots stepped into the edge of her vision. Anna slowly raised her eyes, expecting Jacob. Instead, Monty stood before her with a sheepish grin. “May I have the honor of the first dance, Miss Stewart?”
Anna’s heart warmed at the boyish hopefulness on his leathery cowboy face. Placing her gloved hand in his, she turned on her southern charm. “Why, I would be honored, Mr. Dominguez.”
He seemed to grow three inches taller as he tucked her hand into his elbow and they strolled toward the sound of the music.
While they ambled, Monty chuckled. “Imagine me getting the first dance with the prettiest Senorita in town. The boys are gonna hold this one against me. Of course, I knew if I didn’t jump on it, I’d not get another chance.”
* * *
Jacob leaned against the pecan tree while the swirling skirts on the dance floor spun and turned to the caller’s direction. He usually enjoyed a good square dance. He wasn’t a great dancer, but he’d had a bit of practice, and it was always fun to grab a girl and dive into the fray. Tonight, though, he didn’t feel much like dancing. The girl he had planned to step out with was twirling and spinning with Miguel. She’d already danced with every other cowboy from the Double Rocking R and three from the Lazy T, too. Why, some of them hadn’t even gotten a full dance in before an interloper would butt in and take over. She was like a prize bull being passed around from one ranch to another.
Jacob had tried all night to be a gentleman, but every time he’d started to get close enough to ask for a dance, ten men stood in line in front of him.
“You plan to stand here and brood all night or you gonna dance with that gal?”
He turned to see a familiar head of salty red hair and blue eyes that were shooting sparks at him.
“It’s nice to see you, too, Aunt Lola.” He responded with as much of a grin as he could muster then turned back, pretending to watch the dancers. Maybe if he ignored the question, she’d give up and leave him be.
She gave a “Hmphh” and scooted next to him, studying the dancers. Finally, she broke the silence. “Well?”
He let out a long sigh. “She’s got a long line of partners, just waitin’ to jump at the chance. She’s certainly not waitin’ around for me. And I’d just as soon stay here anyhow.”
“Well, I’ll be.” Aunt Lola spun around to face him, hands fisted on her hips. “Jacob O’Brien, you know as well as I do you’d rather be dancin’ with that little gal than breathin’. And if I don’t miss my guess, she feels exactly the same. Now you better get up the courage God gave ya and quit skulkin’ in the bushes. Just go out there and git her!” With that, she grabbed Jacob’s arm with a bony hand and gave him a little push.
The speech caught Jacob a bit off guard, and he stood there staring at Aunt Lola for a moment. How should he respond? It wasn’t courage he lacked but opportunity. But maybe courage really was his problem. He glanced toward the dance floor where Anna promenaded down the row in a lively Virginia reel. She was stunning in that yellow dress, and he’d never seen her look as happy as she did today. A twinge of jealousy struck Jacob as he turned his attention toward the lanky cowboy who twirled her around. Time to put an end to this. Squaring his shoulders, he pushed away from the tree and headed toward the lady in the yellow dress.
Jacob reached Anna just as she and her partner were preparing for another promenade. He grabbed her elbow and she glanced up at him, wide-eyed.
He tipped his hat to Anna then turned to face the blustering cowboy across from her. “Mind if I break in?”
“As a matter of fact—”
Jacob didn’t wait to hear the end of it but grabbed Anna’s elbow and steered her toward the edge of the dance floor. When they reached the line of onlookers, Anna turned to face him with a weak smile.
Jacob shot her a grin. “You’re an awfully hard person to catch, Miss Stewart.”
“I was wondering where you’ve been hiding all night,” she retorted, matching his smile.
The music changed and the square dance caller stepped back to the front of the dance floor. Jacob offered his elbow. “May I have the honor of a dance?”
Anna hesitated, a look of indecision on her face. Jacob’s gut tightened. She’ll dance with any roughneck that can stand upright but not with me?
“I was kind of hoping we could sit one out?” Uncertainty mixed with hope in her expression. “My feet are killing me.”
Jacob’s heart sank a bit, but he tried to play it off. Raising an eyebrow, he teased, “Wore you out did they? C’mon, let’s get a drink of lemonade, then we’ll find an empty bench.”
She looked at him with such gratitude, as if he’d just saved her from a charging bear.
After stopping at the refreshment table, Jacob steered Anna toward open seats in the far corner of the dance area. She sank down with an exhausted sigh, which sent a stab of guilt to his conscience. The poor thing was worn out, and he was whining about not getting to dance with her.
They were sitting close to the band, so the music was too loud for conversation. He enjoyed the silence with her, though. That’s the way it always was with Anna. Over the months they’d spent sharing coffee in the mornings, they’d developed an understanding on a deeper level. Many times she would finish his thought, even if he hadn’t actually stated it out loud. It was uncanny but part of what made it so comfortable to be in her presence.
The fiddles finally slowed on the last bars of “Rose of Alabamy,” and the caller announced the final song of the night, “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” Jacob raised an eyebrow at Anna. Her shy smile made his heart flip.
He led her to the center of the floor then pulled her into a waltz as they moved with the music. He’d never been particularly good at the slower dances and usually avoided them, but moving around the floor with his arm around this woman was the most natural thing in the world. In that moment, Jacob knew the truth. God had placed her in his life for a reason. She was exactly what he needed, and he was tired of fighting God’s will in favor of his own futile plans. It was time to do something about it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Anna shuffled into the kitchen the next morning and yawned. They’d arrived home late the night before, but Monty had already given the boys fair warning he expected them back in the saddle at the usual time, no excuses accepted. And that meant Anna had to have breakfast on the table at the usual time. She groaned as she stoked the coals in the stove. After more than the usual amount of kindling, blowing, and coaxing, the wood finally caught fire, and she poured water into the coffee pots.
As she reached for the pots, her hand froze in mid-air. A yellow rose lay in front of the containers, and underneath it was a small slip of paper. Her exhaustion miraculously cleared. The words were written in a large, even script: For the sweetest Rose in Texas. It wasn’t signed, but there was no question the note was from Jacob. The waltz they’d shared the night before, the feel of his arm around her waist, guiding her with the music, it had seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
Anna sighed. This was torture, being so close to Jacob day in and day out and him not returning her love. She glanced down at
the rose on the stove then at the note in her hands. Was he starting to feel something for her? It had sure seemed like it last night. Maybe yesterday was the prodding he’d needed.
A whistled tune echoed from outside. Anna jumped into action. She hadn’t even started the coffee yet, and she was already late this morning. The door opened behind her and boots strode across the floor as she filled the metal containers with water. A clunk echoed in the quiet room as Jacob heaved the heavy milk bucket onto the counter.
“G’morning,” she called, but kept preparing the coffee with her back turned away from him. How was she supposed to thank him for the rose and the note? Should she just come out and say she loved it? Or wait for him to bring it up?
When the coffee was prepared, she placed the pots on the front of the stove and turned around, clutching the rose behind her back. Jacob stood next to the counter, studying her. His face was unreadable.
“I’m sorry I don’t have the coffee made yet, but it’ll be ready soon.” A playful tone crept into her voice. “I got a little side tracked when I reached for the coffee pots.”
He quirked a brow. “Really? If I’d thought it would interfere with my coffee, I might have held off on the present.”
She cocked her head with a smile and pulled the rose from behind her back, holding it to her nose. “Thank you. This is one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever received.”
He shrugged and looked down at the floor. His boot scraped against the wood. He resembled a nervous schoolboy, and Anna couldn’t resist the impulse. Three steps brought her in front of him and she stood on her tip toes to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. Jacob’s head popped up and his brows arched, then his blue eyes darkened.
“If you’re going to thank me, Anna, you might as well do it right.” The words were husky, and he wrapped his arms around her waist then gently covered her lips with his own. His kiss was sweet, tender, and only lasted for a few moments. He separated from her, only to rest his forehead against hers. His hand cupped her face, thumb stroking her cheek with a tenderness that made her chest ache. Anna couldn’t think with him so close, couldn’t breathe. Surely he could hear her heart beating like a drum. He was so close.
The Rancher Takes a Cook Page 15