Groom by Arrangement

by Rhonda Gibson

  “You are getting married?” Julia asked with a wide, knowing grin on her face.

  Eliza nodded. She felt heat fill her cheeks as Julia made a point of shifting her gaze to Mrs. Walker.

  Sincerity filled her voice as she exclaimed, “How wonderful! Congratulations, Eliza.” Julia gave her a one-armed hug. “Anytime you want Peter to come play with George, just let me know. I’m so happy for you.”

  Julia linked her arm in Eliza’s and pulled her away from Mrs. Walker’s hearing. “I really am happy for you,” she whispered. “Am I to assume you are marrying our new blacksmith?”

  “Yes, he asked me a few days ago.”

  They stepped out into the sunshine. Mr. Harper stood by their wagon. He waved to Julia. “I better go. Thanks for letting Peter come. I’m sure he and George will have a fun time.”

  “Thank you for inviting him.” Eliza knelt down in front of Peter. “You be a good boy for Mr. and Mrs. Harper. I’ll come get you in a few hours.”

  “I will, Ma.”

  George grabbed Peter’s hand and the two boys took off running down the slight hill toward the Harpers’ wagon. Peter’s laughter floated back to her. Julia followed the boys. Anna Harper and her best friend, Grace Miller, hurried to join the Harper family.

  Eliza stood back and watched as they all climbed aboard the wagon. The children were laughing and shoving for what they considered the best spot. Julia and Richard exchanged warm expressions.

  What would it feel like to be a part of a real family? She wasn’t fooling herself into believing that Jackson was marrying her out of love. No, he was doing it to protect her reputation, and she felt sure he was doing it for Peter also.

  As if he sensed her thinking about him, Peter turned around and waved. She waved back. In truth, Peter was part of the reason why she planned to marry Jackson. The boy needed a home. A real home. And, without Jackson’s help, neither she nor Peter would have a real home.

  “Since the boy isn’t going to be with us this afternoon, how would you like to go on a little outing with me?”

  Eliza turned around to see Jackson leaning against a big cottonwood tree. His ankles were crossed and he held a basket in his large hand. He grinned at her and tilted his head. It was a look that she couldn’t resist. “I’d like that.”

  “Good, I parked the wagon over there.” He pointed toward a buckboard. It looked like the same one they’d arrived in Cottonwood Springs in a week ago today.

  How had he known they wouldn’t have Peter this afternoon? Normally on Sunday afternoons she visited with Rebecca while the children were napping. This would be the third Sunday in a row that she’d missed spending the afternoon with her friend.

  Eliza looked about for Rebecca and her family. She saw Seth escorting them home. Rebecca turned and waved to her. A smile graced her pretty face. “I need to tell Rebecca I won’t be coming by for lunch.”

  Jackson shook his head. “She knows.”

  She turned her attention to him. “You told her?” A light pink filled his neck and worked its way into his tanned cheeks.

  “Yep.” He started walking to their wagon.

  Eliza followed. Had Rebecca helped him plan this outing? She watched as he put the basket in the bed behind the seat and then turned to face her. Eliza allowed him to help her up.

  Once seated, she asked the burning question that was troubling her. “Did Rebecca help you plan this afternoon?”

  He nodded, picked up the reins and turned the horses around.

  Eliza looked up into the clear sky. “Did she have something to do with Julia Harper taking Peter for the afternoon, too?”

  Jackson sighed. “I asked her to help me. We have things to talk about and I didn’t think you’d want the boy to hear.”

  Mixed emotions attacked Eliza at once. She wanted to be happy to be alone with Jackson. After all, they were going to get married. But she also felt angry at her friend for keeping her in the dark about their plans. Hannah had kept the secret of Miles Thatcher from her and look where that had gotten her.

  * * *

  Jackson didn’t have a clue what Eliza was thinking. For the first time since he’d met her, she seemed content to keep her thoughts to herself. He hoped she liked the surprises he had in store for her today.

  The horses carried them to the spot he’d found a few days before. It opened up into a small meadow beside a sloping hill. Trees and scrubs were scattered about, but it was the green against the hillside that he wanted to spread their blanket beside. His heart beat a little faster at the thought of what she was going to see. He prayed she enjoyed it as much as he’d thought she would; now Jackson was beginning to have doubts. The frown on her face didn’t offer much encouragement.

  “Have you ever been here?” he asked to break the silence.

  Eliza shook her head. “Honestly, I don’t get out of town much.” She looked about the area and smiled. It seemed she’d made the decision to be happy again. “Is this where we are stopping?”

  “We’re close. I want to get a little closer to the hill.” He directed the horses forward and searched the slope of the hillside for just the right location. When he saw it, Jackson pulled the horses to a stop and jumped down.

  After helping Eliza down, he pulled the basket from the wagon. “I thought this would be a nice spot,” he needlessly said as she looked about.

  Little brown birds chirped to one another and a light breeze lifted the hair on her forehead. She wore a soft blue dress with tiny yellow flowers. He grinned as she touched the hat upon her head. It was straw with a blue velvet lining and small blue flowers covered its top. Rebecca had told him how Eliza had worked all night to have it ready for attending Sunday services.

  “It’s beautiful, Jackson.”

  He returned to the wagon and pulled a small quilt from under the seat. “Can I ask you a question?” Jackson returned to where she stood and spread out the blanket.

  “I suppose.” She grabbed one corner and helped him smooth it over the grass.

  “I noticed you enjoy wearing hats. Do you make them or buy them?” Jackson knew she had made the one she wore now, but his thoughts went to the bird hat she’d been wearing in Durango and he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d made it, as well.

  “Oh, that’s an easy enough question. I make most of them. But every so often I’ll go into Sally’s in Durango and buy one. Why do you ask?” She knelt on the cover and looked at the basket.

  Jackson opened the basket and grinned. “I’ve never known a woman who wore a hat everywhere she went. You must really enjoy wearing them.”

  “I do. I think they are fun.”

  He felt a smile pull at his lips. Her brown eyes drew him in and made him think of coffee. “I have a couple of surprises for you.”

  “You do? I love surprises.” Her eyes took on a sparkle of excitement.

  “It’s small but here is the first surprise.” Jackson looked down into the basket and pulled out a teapot wrapped in a red-and-white-checkered cozy.

  Eliza gasped. “You brought tea. Oh, Jackson, how sweet.” She took the pot from him and began removing the cozy.

  He’d felt silly packing the teapot, but he’d wanted her to feel special. Now he was glad he’d done so. “Here is a cup.” He handed her a white teacup that matched the pot.

  “You are so sweet to remember I enjoy tea with my meals.” She poured a cup of the tea and inhaled its fragrance. “Thank you.”

  Jackson nodded, then began to unpack the sugar, cream, a dish of finger sandwiches and another of sugar cookies. He added two plates and a mason jar of black coffee for himself. “I’m glad you like it.”

  Her finger traced the soft blue rose pattern along the side of the pot. “This is very pretty.”

  He grinned at her. “When I saw it in Mrs. Miller’s sto
re, I thought you would like it.”

  “You bought it for me?” Awe filled her voice.

  Jackson grinned. “Call it a prewedding present.”

  “Oh, thank you, Jackson. I love it. Mine burned up in the house. I’ll put Sally’s away when we get home.” Eliza took over; she placed food on each plate and added sugar and cream to her tea. Once more words poured from her lips much like the tea she served from the pot. “I’m glad you decided to do this. I need to talk to someone about my sister but can’t talk to Rebecca because she’s married to Seth. Since he’s a lawman, I can’t tell her that Eve thinks she killed her husband back in the Oklahoma territory. She also took all his money and valuables when she ran. Eve is rich now. But the fact that the law might think she killed him for the money kind of has her in a pickle. She didn’t, of course. She hit him because he was drunk and had confessed he was already married.”

  He almost choked on the sugar cookie he’d just inserted into his mouth. “I see.” Was all he could think of to say.

  “I know. This is bad, but what can I do? I can’t turn my sister over to the law and I can’t run away with her, either. She doesn’t know what to do and neither do I. What do you think she should do?” Eliza finally looked at him. Concern laced her pretty features.

  Jackson cleared his throat. He stalled for time by saying, “You have had a lot dumped on you this week, haven’t you?”

  The hat bobbed as she nodded. “I’m scared for her.”

  He saw the fear in her eyes and knew she was stating the truth, but still, she had to know that they had to tell Seth. Would she hate him when he suggested it? Was fear a big enough motivator to send her into hiding with Eve?

  Jackson swallowed hard. This was not turning into the outing he’d planned.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The surprised look on his face was just what she’d feared. What did he think? Why wasn’t he saying something? Anything? She felt hot and decided to remove her hat. Not because it would help, but because it would give her hands something to do.

  She placed the hat on the quilt and waited and he still didn’t say anything. Eliza started to squirm. It had been a bad idea telling him.

  He swallowed the cookie and then cleared his throat. “You aren’t going to like what I’m about to say, Eliza. But, I think it’s the best thing to do.” Jackson stared at her. His jaw worked but no more words came forth.

  Eliza felt her throat close but she managed to get out the one word that wanted to be screamed. “What?”

  “We have to tell Seth Billings. It’s the only answer.” He said the words so fast she thought he’d bite his tongue.

  “We?” He’d said we. Was he going to go with her?

  Jackson reached out and took her hand. “Yes, we. I’ll go with you and maybe I can talk him into not arresting Eve for murder.”

  “You think he’ll listen to you?” Hope filled her at the thought that maybe her sister could be saved from a life in jail or worse, the gallows.

  Jackson pulled his hand away from hers. “From what I’ve learned about Seth, he’s a fair man. I don’t think he’d condemn her immediately.” He unscrewed the top to his mason jar and took a long drink.

  Eliza watched his Adam’s apple bob with each gulp. Jackson Hart was willing to stand up for her family. She felt warm and fuzzy inside thinking about it. Eliza picked up a finger sandwich and took a small bite. Chicken salad and cheese coated her taste buds.

  “I’ll suggest that he do some investigating first.” He picked up one of the sandwiches and popped it into his mouth.

  She grinned as he reached for another. Jackson Hart could take care of himself and those he cared about. She liked that in a man. “Thank you, Jackson. I feel better about Eve’s situation now. I’m still scared as to what can happen to her, but knowing you are here to help us both, well, it’s just comforting.”

  “I’m happy I could help.” Jackson looked at the hill behind her.

  She stared into her teacup. Once more Jackson Hart was stepping in and saving the day. Eliza hoped she wasn’t coming to depend on him too much. After all, he hadn’t said he’d changed his mind about going to Silverton, so she couldn’t put her full trust in him.

  Eliza decided to enjoy the day and worry about him leaving when the time came. She finished her sandwich and reached for a sugar cookie. The birds sang around them and the sound of a bee buzzing close by helped her to relax and enjoy a bit of quiet with him. She nibbled on the cookie and leaned back on her elbows.

  His blue gaze focused on her once more. “Have you given any more thought about the wedding?”

  How could she not have thought more about the wedding? “Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Miller are bringing me material for my dress. I’m hoping to have it made up by the end of next week. That’s if I don’t get a big order from someone else.” She closed her eyes, imagining the dress.

  He broke into her daydream. “So we can get married a week from today?”

  “Oh!” Eliza sat straight up. “I wasn’t insinuating I wanted to get married by next weekend. I was just saying I might be able to get the dress finished by then.” A lock of brown hair fell into her eyes and she pushed it back.

  Jackson grinned. For the first time she noticed thin white lines within the sea of deep blue in his eyes. “We need to get married as soon as possible, Eliza.”

  She sighed. Eliza knew what he said was true. The ladies had been coming by and hinting they weren’t buying a single dress from her until she was married proper. To her way of thinking they were just being silly. She’d made dresses for all of them in the past and hadn’t been married then. “I know.”

  He reassured her. “I’ll not ask you for more in the marriage of convenience than we’ve already agreed upon.”

  “I know, and I appreciate that. It just doesn’t seem fair that a group of women can control our lives like this.” She picked up her hat and began pinning it back into place. Eliza glanced in his direction.

  For a brief moment, an alarmed look crossed his features. “It’s not your fault.”

  “No, and it’s not yours, either.” She began wrapping the teapot back up in the cozy. “Jackson, I’ve been thinking. If we do get married, I don’t want an annulment. If you do, maybe we should just forget the whole thing.” Eliza studied the cozy, not wanting to meet his gaze.

  “Good, I don’t want an annulment, either. I only said that because I thought you might.”

  Her gaze came up and collided with his. She saw warmth in the depths of his eyes. Eliza’s breath caught in her throat. “I still can’t be a true wife, Jackson. Not in the biblical sense.” She dropped her gaze once more and pulled at a loose string.

  “My original offer still stands. I want to marry you and if in time we should fall in love, then we’ll discuss the other further. Is that all right?” he asked.

  Eliza felt her cheeks burst into flames at the topic of their discussion. She knew they would never truly be man and wife because she wouldn’t allow it. Jackson wanted children and she couldn’t give them to him. But maybe they could adopt more and he’d never have to know that she wasn’t a real woman. Bitterness laced her throat and she looked away from him.

  “What will your wedding dress look like?” Jackson asked quickly.

  He cared what her dress looked like? She noticed he looked behind her again at the wall and then up at the sun. Eliza looked at the wall behind her. She couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. She answered, “Oh, I’m thinking I want to keep it simple. I asked Mrs. Miller to bring back a light lavender silk material and I think I might put some tiny beads about the neck and sleeves. Oh, the sleeves will be short cap sleeves. Like I said, nothing too fancy.”

  Jackson nodded. “Sounds right nice.”

  “You really think so?”

  Again he nodded. She watch
ed as he stretched out on the blanket and folded his hands behind his head. His blue shirt stretched across his chest. She wondered what he’d wear to their wedding.

  “I think we should announce that the wedding is next Saturday. Do you think your dress will be ready by then?”

  Eliza swallowed. Did she want to get married in less than a week? She did and she didn’t. “It will depend on if the Millers come home from Durango today or tomorrow.”

  He turned to look at her. “One day makes a difference?”

  “Dresses don’t sew themselves, Jackson. I’ll need time to sew it up and then to actually plan the wedding.” She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words.

  Jackson frowned. “What’s to plan?”

  She laughed. “People will expect us to have a reception. So I’ll need to have a cake made, punch made, entertainment arranged and a place to do all this needs to be found. Putting together a wedding is no simple thing to do.”

  He grunted. “I thought we’d stand before Reverend Griffin, say I do and go home.”

  “We can do that, too.”

  Disappointment must have clung to her words because he sat up and took her hands in his. “If you want a big wedding, we’ll have us a big wedding.”

  “I don’t want a big wedding, but I know that there are people in our community who will expect certain things.” She sighed. “If it were up to me we’d have a simple wedding, with Peter, Rebecca and Seth in attendance, Mr. and Mrs. Miller and maybe the Harpers.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do. Who says we have to invite the whole town?” He squeezed her hands and then pulled her up.

  Eliza looked deeply into his eyes. “What about the gossips?”

  “Oh, we’ll make sure they know we are getting married and Rebecca and the other two ladies can fill them in on the details.” He leaned his forehead against hers.

  “All right.” She felt as if the air had been sucked out of the world. All she could think about was the big man who held her hands so tight and looked deeply into her eyes.