“Well, that didn’t take long, miss. Looks like your family chose a real pretty spot, too.”
“We like it.” She smiled as the first glimpse of Laurelwood came into view.
“Charming house,” he responded. “Those orchards?”
She nodded again. “Apple. My grandfather planted them when he first built the house. Then my father took over. He’s ill at the moment.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that. I’ll pray for him this evening.”
“Thank you. And thank you for the ride home, Mr. Malone. It was very kind of you.”
“No trouble at all. Helped fill an otherwise empty day, actually.”
Leah picked up on the lament in his tone. Despite herself, she turned to him. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in staying for dinner. My mother is an excellent cook.”
He brightened considerably, and those appealing dimples emerged again with his smile. “Say, that sounds delightful. Anything beats hotel food.” Halting the horse, he hopped out and helped Leah alight.
His hand was cool beneath the fingers she’d withdrawn from her muff. But there was nothing at all cool about his gaze. Leah shivered deliciously as they strolled side by side up the path to the house. No doubt her family would be surprised at the unexpected visitor, but after all, she was merely repaying a young man for his kindness.
Or so she told herself as she smiled into those friendly blue eyes.
Chapter 3
More than a little pleased at the turn of events, Blake went inside with the willowy, fetching accompanist. His stomach growled when enticing aromas met them at the door—a combination of roast beef, potatoes and gravy, perhaps flaky biscuits. He didn’t care which vegetable they served—he liked them all. But charming company or no, he had no intention of overstaying his welcome.
“May I take your coat?” Leah asked, slipping hers off and draping it over a peg. Her wide-set doe eyes peered up at him through lashes as thick and dark as the intricately curled sable hair framing her exquisite, oval face.
“Thanks.” Complying with her request, he removed his hat and shrugged out of his wrap, handing them both to her. His gaze rested on her tapered fingers as she saw to the task. They matched the rest of her in grace and beauty. How was it that someone so downright captivating had no flock of stammering, drooling young bucks stampeding to her door? It didn’t take a genius to recognize a treasure when he saw one. Why, if he were inclined to tying himself down at the moment, this little gal would be worth pursuing. But he’d shelved thoughts of marriage when he and Matt took up residence in the Wisconsin bush. At least until their business was well established, a life that rough was definitely not one for a gently bred young woman. He’d better keep himself well in check.
Her melodious voice cut across his musings. “Sounds like they’re already at the table. Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Leading the way, she took him through the hall to the dining room. “We’ll be needing another place, everyone,” she said as they entered the cheery room with its bounty of delectable food all but covering the entire tabletop. “I’ve brought a guest.”
“Oh. How nice.” Her mother sprang up to get an extra place setting. Small and slight as her lovely daughter, she possessed many of the same features as well. And something about her manner reminded Blake of his own late mother. He immediately warmed to the homey family atmosphere as he glanced around at the tasteful furnishings with their definite feminine touches.
“This is Blake Malone,” Leah supplied, then gestured to each person in turn. “My brother, Willis, his fiancée, Martha Sands, and my mother.”
“Pastor Burgess already introduced him to Marty and me after church,” Willis said, standing with outstretched hand. “Good to see you again.”
“Same here,” Blake answered, shaking the proffered hand. He then nodded to Leah’s mother. “Very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Somerville. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion. Your daughter was kind enough to take pity on a weary traveler.”
“Malone. Why, you must be Hiram’s grandson,” she said graciously, moving Leah’s plate to make room for another beside it. “It’s our pleasure. Do sit down. I’m afraid you’ll have to say your own grace. We had no idea when Leah would return from service.”
“That was a lovely solo, Mr. Malone,” Marty said airily. “We aren’t often blessed with special music at our little church.
Willis smirked. “Mostly ’cause there’s so many tin ears in the congregation.”
Blake caught the ever so subtle sisterly glower as he seated Leah, then took the chair next to her. “Nevertheless, I thank you for the compliment.” He grinned at Martha across the expanse of the crisp tablecloth as she handed him the platter of sliced beef.
“Do you often sing solos at your church?” she asked.
“I’m afraid I don’t get out regularly to services just yet. This time of the year we’re snowed in more than not, and we’re out a bit from the town of Eau Claire.”
“Oh, what a shame,” Mrs. Somerville said, holding the bowl of mashed potatoes out to him. “My husband and I were fortunate enough to sit under the fine teaching of your late grandfather for the last few years. We were truly sorry to hear of his sudden passing. It left such a hole at church.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“We rarely missed an opportunity to worship, in fact,” she continued, “until Graham suffered a stroke some weeks ago. With him confined to bed, I haven’t wanted to leave him alone for any length of time.”
“I do understand.”
“But Mr. Malone will be attending our church while he’s here,” Leah said, helping herself to glazed carrots before passing them. “Pastor Burgess asked him to do another special number next week. And I’ll be accompanying him.”
“And I’d rather you all call me Blake,” he assured them with a grin. “Mr. Malone makes me feel as old as my grandpa.”
A chuckle made the rounds.
“How long do you expect to remain in the area, Blake?” Martha asked, her green eyes alight.
“I’m not exactly sure,” he replied. “I have to dispose of my grandfather’s holdings before I can return to Wisconsin. Could take a week or two. Maybe a month or so.”
“A month! If you were here next month, we’d be thrilled to have you sing at our wedding, wouldn’t we, sweetheart?” She turned her delighted gaze to her fiancé.
“We shouldn’t impose on the man,” Willis mumbled, shoveling in a healthy chunk of meat.
“Tell you what, miss,” Blake said evenly. “In appreciation for the kind hospitality extended to me today, I’d be honored to provide a solo for your happy event.”
Martha’s fair features radiated her joy. “Marvelous! Perfectly marvelous!”
Thinking of all the extra practices her friend’s suggestion would entail, Leah swallowed a bit too quickly and almost choked. She grabbed her glass of water and took several sips, just managing to stave off a fit of coughs. It was one thing to entertain someone as magnetizing as Blake Malone for a day or a week. But she was only human. It would take a woman of superior resistance to be near him for an extended period without succumbing to those charms of his. After all, he was hardly making a secret of his intention to leave Pennsylvania the first chance he got, and then where would she be? One heartbreak had been more than enough for her.
“Don’t you think so, Miss Somerville?” she heard him ask.
“I’m sorry, I’m afraid my thoughts were elsewhere.” Noticing she’d suddenly become the center of attention, she squelched a rising blush and set her glass down.
“I was commenting on the mild weather,” he said. “And how unusual it seems for this time of year. I left a lot of snow behind in Wisconsin, and I remember quite a few March blizzards as a kid growing up around here.”
“Oh. There did seem to be a hint of spring in the air the other day. And some of the trees look about to bud.”
“Well, I, for one, won’t miss winter this time,” her mother supplied. “I th
ink warmer weather will benefit your father more than anything. Perhaps we can fix up a chair out on the porch where he can soak up some fresh air and sunshine while he reads the newspaper.”
“Ha!” Willis cut in. “Bad news isn’t what he needs right now. It appears John Brown’s hanging for treason and conspiracy to incite insurrection only added fuel to the fire in South Carolina. They may secede yet.”
“You could be right,” Blake said. “Too bad Lincoln was defeated in the Senate race. We could have used his moderate views to help hold the country together.”
“In any event,” Mother challenged in her take-charge tone, “a man likes to keep abreast of what’s happening in the world, good or bad. It’s of little benefit to be shut off from everything.” She stood. “Now, who would care for some apple cobbler? Leah, help clear the table, dear.”
When at last their guest took his leave, Leah felt as if he’d been a friend of her family forever. He seemed knowledgeable on just about every subject brought up, and his fresh, well-thought-out perspectives seemed far more settled than her younger brother’s rash opinions. In fact, by the time Blake finished making his points, Willis ended up viewing the man in almost herolike awe.
“Quite the enjoyable afternoon,” Marty gushed as she and Leah washed the dishes. “What a pity he isn’t the marrying kind. He’d be perfect for you.”
“You’re not serious!” Leah exclaimed, tucking her chin down. “He lives in the backwoods. Can you envision me in some faraway outpost of civilization?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Rinsing the soap from one of the serving bowls, the honey blond turned it upside down on a towel to drain. “Who would care what was outside, if a gal had somebody like him coming home to her every night?”
Leah had to giggle. “He is a sight, isn’t he?” With a silent sigh, she leaned against the sideboard, the towel dangling from her fingers. “Ah, but there’s no sense daydreaming about impossibilities now, is there?”
“Who’s to say things are impossible? What if he decided to stay? There is the small matter of his grandfather’s place, isn’t there? Just sitting empty, and all.”
“Still…”
“And he did spend an inordinate amount of time stealing glances at you, you know.”
This time Leah did blush. She’d noticed a few of those instances. Only with the greatest effort had she managed to pretend she hadn’t.
“Well?” Martha prompted, her smile knowing and slightly suggestive.
“What are you saying?”
“Somebody’s going to snag that man eventually, right?”
Leah tipped her head in thought. “You know I’ve never been that sort, Marty.”
“What sort, for pity’s sake?” her friend scoffed. “All you have to be is yourself, silly. And let God take care of the rest. What’s the worst that could happen?”
The worst, Leah knew, would be to grow to love someone she could never have. Someone who would pick up and leave in a few weeks and never come back. She met Marty’s sparkly eyes and smiled.
Blake filled his lungs and turned onto the road heading toward the lake. That’s what he’d been missing in the thirteen years since his parents died—a sense of family. It had been too long since he’d experienced the warmth, caring, bantering, and easy chatter of a group of relatives around a table. Even when he and Matt had lived with Gramps, it had been only the three of them with just talk of crops and weather and God. But being at the Somervilles’ these past couple hours stirred yearnings inside him he thought he’d safely banked away for some indefinite time in the future, if ever.
With very little effort he could recall the swish of feminine skirts, the soft musical quality of the women’s voices—particularly Leah’s. His every sense tuned to her words even when there was more than one person speaking. Did she have the slightest inkling how those pleasant tones of hers caressed a man’s ear? How her most minute movement drew one’s eye? A fellow could get used to having someone with her gracious, thoughtful qualities around.
Whoa! Jolted by his unwonted mental ramblings, Blake expelled a silent whistle. Had he been shut up in the woods so long he was easy prey for the first bat of an eyelash? Better remember the primary reason he’d come to Pennsylvania and see to business as quickly as possible so he could get out of here. There were plenty of good reasons he’d chosen a solitary existence at this time in his life, and most of them had practicality and hardship emblazoned across them. It would be a few more years before he could provide a decent home for a wife and perhaps a family. What was the point of entertaining delusions that his present situation could be different?
Then, entirely unbidden, an enticing vision floated across his consciousness. Leah, with her shiny dark curls and chocolate-brown eyes, soft curves accented by ruffles and lace, a smile that made a heart yearn to gaze upon it permanently. What if—
“Forget it, idiot,” he said flatly. The horse’s ears flicked to the side, then turned forward again. “Just what you need, huh, boy? A fool who talks to himself.” But even as he smiled grimly to himself, things didn’t seem so amusing after all.
Right where he was, he lowered his eyes. I didn’t know I was so weak, Lord. I thought I had everything figured out regarding life and my future. It didn’t bother me when Matt decided to get married. Julie already knew what she’d be getting into. But some other woman… Leah Somerville, for example. She’d be in over her head. Way over. It’s stupid for me to be thinking such things. I guess I’m just asking for Your help. Get me through the solos the pastor asked for—and even that wedding, if I’m stuck here that long. But beyond that, Father, just help me to be strong. To remember I’ll be out of this place for good the minute Gramps’s place sells. Then help me to go away… alone. Even I know that’s best.
After that, maybe I can afford a few harmless daydreams. No, better not chance it. She’s from this kind of setting and deserves afar better life than I could ever offer—as if she’d even be open to the suggestion! We’ve only barely met. I’m acting like a wet-nosed schoolboy who’s just fallen for the new teacher—and she’s sure to have a string of other more suitable fellows dangling at her fingertips. Surely they can’t all be blind.
He paused, unable to express the emotions warring inside. And he made no further attempts to do so.
Chapter 4
Should we go over it again?” Leah asked, purposely not glancing in Blake’s direction.
“Good idea. Strange, I never muddle words like that. I’d better get a book and follow along this time.” Exiting the platform, he plucked a hymnal from the front row and retook his place, turning to the proper number.
Leah had rarely fumbled on the keys either. And there was no reason for her fingers to tremble merely because Blake Malone was near, she lectured herself. She’d just have to pay closer attention to the written notes. She played the introduction, reveling once more in the sound of that glorious baritone when he joined in:
“Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high….”
Had ever lovelier thoughts been set on paper? She stole a glance at his classic profile as he continued through the verse. Or did they merely sound that way because of the quality of his voice? Regardless, the congregation was in for a treat this morning.
“Sounds splendid,” Pastor Burgess remarked, giving the sanctuary his customary check to make sure the hymn books were spread around evenly.
Blake nodded, but didn’t miss a beat:
“Other refuge have I none; hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort be—”
“Me,” he amended, shaking his head.
Stifling a giggle, Leah drew her lips inward and kept playing, inadvertently hitting a sharp rather than a flat in the last line. She made a quick correction and went on to the third verse. Maybe they shouldn’t have allowed an entire week to go by without practicing.
; Her thoughts drifted back over the last few days, to the activities she’d concocted to keep too busy to dwell on Hiram Malone’s aesthetic grandson. But whether she was helping Marty with the beading on her gown, doing mundane chores like laundry, or trying to find time to work on her painting, thoughts of him waltzed through her mind like a constant refrain that would not go away. A melody alternately wild with adventure, then gentle as a mountain stream. A song of nature, of outdoors.
Her preoccupation with the man made no sense whatsoever. Granted, he was dashing and gallant and pleasant to be with, and he had the voice of an angel. But her brave intentions to snag him with feminine wiles had died a swift death. He was not in the market for a wife. And she certainly was not interested in going off to some scantily settled part of Wisconsin, either. How had he put it? Out a bit from the nearest settlement. What sort of life would that be?
Better to inquire about a position next time she went into town.
“Uh… that was the last verse,” Blake said, his face puzzled as he turned to look at her.
“Sorry. I… sorry.” Thoroughly embarrassed, Leah swallowed and composed her features.
The minister strode over to them. “I was going to ask you two to prepare a song for next week, but I see we’re out of time. Might I impose on you to stay after the service again?”
“Sure thing,” Blake said, answering for them both.
All Leah could think of was that she’d be spending another sustained period in close company with this visitor. Which, of course, would necessitate another invitation to Sunday dinner if he happened to drive her home. Oh well, she reasoned. There were far worse ways for one to spend a Sabbath. That was the problem. If there was one thing she didn’t need, it was to get used to being around Blake so often. It would make his departure all that much harder to endure.
Glancing toward the sanctuary, she noticed church members beginning to trickle in. She put the hymnal she’d be using aside and took out her more involved arrangements of preludes to worship. And told herself to settle down.
Where the Heart Is Romance Collection Page 3