* * *
Barbara stretched and looked at the clock on the nightstand. Seven o’clock? She’d slept in. The entire family must be at the table. She dashed from the cozy bed, hurried to wash and dress. Patting her hair into place, as much as she could control the loosely permed curls, she took a parting glance in the mirror. Not good, but not bad for being in such a rush. She slipped down the stairs and peeked into the dining room. Mr. and Mrs. Judge stared her direction.
Uh-oh. Mrs. Judge’s face had an odd expression. Could she be upset Barbara was late?
Jackson’s back was to her. “Good morning, Barbara.”
Goose bumps covered her. How did he do that? “Good morning, everyone. Sorry I overslept. You should have gone ahead without me.”
Mrs. Judge nodded. “We did, dear.”
Barbara smelled the cinnamon and recognized the gooey sticky buns of which she was so fond. “Mmm. I think my nose carried me down here just in time. Wouldn’t want to miss out on a sticky bun.”
Mrs. Judge smiled.
As Barbara pulled out her chair, she said, “I think I’ve figured out your secret.”
Mrs. Judge looked shocked, and Jackson stunned.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“You crack the nuts fresh when you make the buns. Am I right?”
A nervous laugh danced through her lips. “Oh, right. Yes, my mother taught me that. And we all know what a great cook Mrs. Delaney was.”
“She was that. Could you pass one of the rolls?” They all gave her an odd once-over.
Jackson turned, offered a stern look, then returned to the food on his plate. What was wrong with him this morning? Maybe he was embarrassed he’d confided in her.
He rose from the table. “When you finish eating, we need to talk.”
“A-all right.” Did she see a smile crease Mrs. Judge’s face? No. Must be a scowl.
* * *
His heart had been working overtime lately, tripping constantly. And now proved no different. He shook all over. As he plopped his dish in the sink, he looked at his hands and couldn’t believe how they trembled, like some little kid’s.
What if she said no?
Stop second-guessing. Just wait to see what she decides.
Jackson entered the dining room and winked at his mother. “Are you finished with breakfast?”
Barbara swiped a napkin over her face. She nodded to his parents. “If you’ll excuse me.” When her eyes met Jack’s, the look was so questioning. “Let me grab my sweater in case it’s cool out.”
Once she returned from her room, he helped her into the sweater and they stepped off the porch in sync. His hand brushed her arm lightly, steering her away from the house.
She had to stretch to keep up with his strides, but he continued at the nervous, frenzied pace.
Out of the corner of his eye, he examined her, searching for one inkling of what she might say. The rest of his life depended on that answer.
* * *
“What did you want to discuss, Jack?” Her eyes focused on the sidewalk, careful to stay out of the mud. For some reason she didn’t feel her usual confident self. And he seemed upset. Maybe bringing up the past last night had caused the terrible nightmares to return.
Once they reached the end of the road, they headed toward higher ground. When they hit an open field, high above the town, he stopped and dropped the blanket he had tucked under his arm.
Barbara’s stomach flopped over and over like the seats of a giant, tumbling Ferris wheel. “Jack, what is it?”
“Please. Sit down.” He indicated the brown wool blanket.
He looked so serious. “What’s happened? Are you all right?”
“I have to ask you something and I’m not sure how well this will sit with you.”
“Ask. Please.” She wouldn’t tell anyone about what he had shared with her. He should know that without asking. “Is something wrong?”
He caught the edge of his lip between his teeth and the frown dipped deeper than before.
“It’ll only be wrong if you say no.”
What? Her voice quivered. “Then ask.”
Jackson took a deep breath and held it as he slipped to one knee next to her. She knew from the strained look on his face the effort came at a cost. Dropping his hand into his pocket, he drew out an exquisite gold ring, on closer inspection, a circle of tiny pearls outlining a rather large diamond. “Well, I’m not sure you know it, but the Arts Society in Chattanooga is discussing an opera house. Dad told me the church choir director mentioned it to him.”
“You brought me out here to tell me about Chattanooga?”
“No. Yes. Well, sort of. Listen, Barbara. I know I’m no prize at the carnival, but you’ve made me believe I’m not the circus freak show anymore, either. I’m honest with myself about how I appear to other people, but for whatever reason, you choose to see a different man than who I see in the mirror. You could do a lot better, much better, ten times better, but here I am, on bended knee. This was my grandmother’s ring. What I’m trying to say is, Barbara Richardson, will you honor me?”
She blinked. “Honor you?”
“Marry me. I promise to wake up every morning and thank God you were brought into my life. And I’ll fall asleep each night with you in my arms, thanking God he delivered me so I’m able to appreciate your love. And I’ll never try to rob you of your dreams. Never. If you don’t mind keeping your career in Tennessee, that is.”
Barbara blinked, finding herself tongue-tied. She opened her mouth to say yes, but nothing came out. No yes. No squawk. No squeak. No sarcasm. Nothing. She shifted on the blanket to give herself time to recover her thoughts. Swallowing hard over a lump so dry she nearly choked, she fought to catch her breath. Say something. Anything. Don’t just sit here staring at him. This is what you’ve wanted.
Jackson looked over at her, his eyes imploring her to answer, but she remained mute. He stood to his feet, Barbara unable to speak or move. He leaned and cupped her chin in his hand. “Does that mean yes or no? ’Cause I’m really doubting myself here.”
She licked her lips. Any second now her tongue would free up.
He smiled. “Well, this is surely a first. Barbara Richardson with nothing to say.” He made a noise with his tongue and cheek.
Taking her hand, he lifted her to her feet, slipped the ring on her finger, and his eyebrow rose. “You know. In most cultured societies, it’s customary for the girl to give the man an answer. Preferably yes, but anything at this point would move us along.”
Barbara wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. If the words wouldn’t come, she’d find some way to say yes. Her face warmed as she buried her cheek against his chest.
He laid a gentle hand against her head, pressing her closer until she could hear the strumming of his heart—the gallop. It was beating as fast as she was sure hers did. Finally, she looked up, eyes full of tears, and said, “Yes, Jack, you big tease. I’ll marry you. I’ll marry you good.”
As he dipped his head slowly, he looked directly into her eyes with so much compassion she nearly lifted off the ground. Instead, she stood quietly subdued while he kissed her. Once, twice, softly, gently, then with a strength that worked its way straight to her heart.
“How soon?” He whispered the words against her lips as his hands ran the length of her arms.
She laughed. “How soon what?”
“Well, even after the storm, the gazebo is standing. Hate to waste all that hard work. And Mom’s garden is almost in full bloom.” He leaned down and kissed her again and again, until all the world faded away. There were only the two of them in the entire universe with New Hope providing the perfect backdrop. “And you did tell me once that you planned to be married this summer.”
Even though she’d loved him for so long, her heart made room for knowing he loved her back.
Barbara opened her eyes in time to catch that smug look reappearing on his face as if he knew from the day she had arrived she�
��d say yes.
“Jackson Judge. You sure do think you’re something, don’t you?”
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460310809
Copyright © 2013 by Linda S. Glaz
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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With Eyes of Love (Heartsong Presents) Page 16