Beneath the Heavens

by Barlow, Lindsey;

  Will’s eyes narrowed and he stepped closer, his large frame towering over Abby. “Do whatever you wish, huh? Not if it means flirting outrageously with other men.”

  Abby laughed sarcastically. “You mean being kind? If you want to see me flirt then let’s go back and I will show just how outrageous I can be,” Abby snapped. She was so mad she could punch Will. What right did he have telling her what to do?

  Will’s jaw clenched.

  “So help me, I will not allow you to flirt with any man,” he growled.

  This time Abby stepped forward. “And just what are you going to do about it?” she challenged him. Will made a guttural sound, a mix between a groan and a growl. Then with a speed Abby didn’t know was possible, Will grabbed her by the shoulders and pressed his lips to hers.

  Abby’s feet were lifted off the ground as Will’s kiss deepened, his smooth lips moving against her own trembling ones. She should pull away. Yes, she should, but she couldn’t. She found herself responding. Abby wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. His kiss was deep and hungry. She’d never been kissed like this before. He was all consuming.

  The sound of a bell calling for a gathering brought Abby back to her senses.

  She pushed against Will who, with a reluctant moan, set her down. As soon as she was stable she looked at the cocky smirk on his face and then slapped him smartly across the cheek.

  “Of all the arrogant and conceited nerve!” she hissed. “Calling me improper and then stealing a passionate kiss. What were you trying to do? Brand me like cattle?”

  Will grinned. Her slap had barely left a mark on his strong jaw. “Spoken like a rancher’s daughter,” he chuckled. “Branding you, huh? I like the sound of that.”

  Abby gasped and raised her hand to slap him again, but Will caught her wrist. “Now, Miss Abby, if I really did offend you, then I will never kiss you again, but it seemed to me that you rather enjoyed it.”

  Abby glared. “Why did you kiss me? Did you just want to make me feel like a fool?”

  Will frowned, confused that she still did not know. “I kissed you because I am in love you with.”

  Abby blinked once and then twice. The bell sounded again as the Mayor called for the picnic basket auction, but Abby did not hear him. All she could hear was the beating of her own heart. Will loved her!

  He loves me as I love him.

  Will felt a surge of panic as Abby’s face stared at him blankly. Had he spoken too soon? He was desperate and had responded to instinct. What if she did not love him or even care for him? Had he just made a fool of himself?

  “Listen, Abby, I am sorry. I did not mean to offend you or—” his words were cut off as Abby attacked him with a kiss of her own, knocking him back against a wagon. The auction would have to wait.

  /

  Esther sat next to several women doing her best to keep from glancing at Joseph and Michael who stood laughing with one another. She needed to stay away from Joseph—far away. Luckily tomorrow was Saturday and she would not be seeing him. Sunday she would find a way to evade him, and when she dropped Michael off at school, she would need to do it fast before Joseph could reach her. Abby had said that he would leave after Thanksgiving. That was only a few weeks away. Then he would be gone, and she could go back to normal—just her and Michael, happy and content. She was content, right? She didn’t want anything more than what she had, and yet why after one dance did she feel such a hunger inside her?

  The Mayor stood up on one of the hay bales. “Folks, it is time for the auction, which will be led by our very own Lucinda Hampton.”

  Lucinda walked to the front, her cheeks flushing as everyone applauded. Esther smiled. Lucinda was a good woman. And Esther suddenly realized there were many like her in Tall Pine, people full of good works and pure intentions. The town would do fine if she ever left. Family and neighbors would continue to help each other, and Esther could go find a new life, new people to help, new people to encourage. This place no longer needed her, and she did not even know what she needed.

  “Good evening folks! Is everyone having a swell time?” Lucinda’s voice was strong as she took hold of everyone’s attention.

  Whoops and hoorays lit up like fireworks over the crowd.

  “Wonderful, wonderful—well, we will go back to eating and more dancing, but first we are raising money for a bigger clinic. After, of course, the new chapel is built.” She looked over at the Mayor. “Right, Mayor?” Laughter arose as the Mayor bowed submissively to Lucinda.

  “This spring we start the construction!” he shouted.

  Lucinda nodded with approval. “Very well folks, let us begin the auction.” One of the Sheriff’s daughters handed the first basket to her mother.

  “Alright, here we have Miss Rachel Baker’s basket, and you all know how Miss Rachel cooks. So sinfully delicious.”

  Esther looked around for Will. He was the one who brought Rachel. She scanned through the thicket of people. No Will. No Abby either now that she noticed. Esther wondered where they were. Suddenly it dawned on her. Two young, beautiful people were missing. Esther smiled smugly. She did not doubt Will or Abby in their virtue, but she also did not doubt that those two were enjoying each other’s company very much at the moment.

  “Ten cents? Ten cents folks—that can’t be too much.”

  Spencer stepped forward, “I’ll give you ten cents,” he announced proudly.

  Rachel, standing among her friends, burst into giggles.

  “Ten cents, well now, someone set the stakes high.” Lucinda laughed, obviously enjoying the role of auctioneer. “Do I hear fifteen cents?”

  Rachel’s father stepped up beside Spencer placing his hand on the young man’s shoulder playfully. “I’ll give you fifteen cents for my daughter’s basket.” He raised his eyebrows at Spencer, daring him with good humor.

  “Twenty cents!” Spencer called out before turning to Mr. Baker, “With respect Sir, all I brought was twenty cents; I didn’t expect to bid at all,” he said loudly.

  Mr. Baker laughed as well as a few others. “Alright Mrs. Hampton, I think this boy deserves that basket.”

  Lucinda grinned. “Twenty cents going once, twice, and sold.”

  Rachel was as red as a rose. She rushed over to Spencer and linked arms with him as he took her basket. Esther guessed that she would no longer be going after Will.

  Basket after basket was auctioned off. Periodically Esther tried to catch Michael’s eye. She wanted him to come sit by her, but he and Joseph seemed to be conspiring some plan as they whispered and laughed under their breath. Part of her wondered if she should go stand by them, but rumors had been spread enough, and she didn’t wanted to add to them, and she certainly did not want to be standing by Joseph.

  “And now we have Miss Esther’s basket—you all know what kind of food she makes.” Sheryl held up the beautiful basket decorated with a large velvet ribbon. Everyone began whispering to each other. They knew that at any kind of auction they had for raising money, it was Michael who bid for his mother. Any dance, festival, wedding, it was only Michael who accompanied Esther. Tonight, however, people wondered if it would be the Texas Ranger who would be taking her on a picnic.

  “Do I hear fifteen cents?”

  One man raised his hand. “I’ll do twenty cents.”

  Esther looked at Michael who gave her an innocent smile but said nothing.

  “Twenty-five?” asked Lucinda.

  The bookkeeper raised his hand, “Twenty-five cents.”

  Esther looked at Michael again, narrowing her gaze. She had given him ample money to bid for her. Still he just smiled and stood next to—

  Esther looked around. Where was Joseph? From the corner of her eye she saw Will and Abby appear looking a bit ruffled, but where was Joseph? She did not have to look long. The now familiar deep voice rose up over the sea of whispers.

  “Forty cents,” he announced.

  Esther’s heart did a somersault.

&
nbsp; “Fifty cents?”

  The bookkeeper again raised his hand. “Fifty cents.”

  Lucinda smiled like the cat who’d just ate the cream. “Fifty-five?”

  “Sixty cents.” Joseph crossed his arms, eyeing the small bookkeeper with a determined set in his jaw. The bookkeeper raised his hands in surrender and took a step back in the crowd.

  Michael now skipped ahead and stood next to Joseph. He looked up adoringly at the tall man. “Sixty-five,” Michael said.

  The crowd laughed. It was obvious the two had planned the auction battle between them. Esther felt herself calming down. No doubt Joseph had agreed to go against him in order to put on a good show.

  “Seventy!”

  “Eighty.”

  “One dollar.”

  Esther felt her pulse quicken. Two dollars was all Michael had. She hadn’t thought anyone would go over one dollar out of sheer politeness. Surely Joseph would not go over one dollar unless—

  Esther gulped down the warm air. Maybe they were putting on a good show and Michael was allowing Joseph to win, wanting him to win.

  “One and fifty!” Joseph shouted.

  Lucinda looked hesitantly. She glanced at Esther who stared back dumbfounded. “One and seventy-five?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Two dollars!” Michael exclaimed in a high squeak from the excitement of having everyone’s attention.

  Esther put her head in her hands. What a night! What was Joseph thinking? Two dollars was a lot of money for a basket, although she knew it was not the basket. Tradition said you were expected to go on a picnic with the man who won the basket. She would not go out with Joseph. She simply would not.

  “Two dollars and fifty cents?” Lucinda asked, wide-eyed.

  Joseph raised his hand, “Two and fifty.”

  Michael grinned and shook his head. “I give up!” he giggled. A ripple of laughter softly went through the crowd, although Esther missed it for the buzzing in her ears. She felt—pleased? Angry? Desired? Worried? She had no idea what she was feeling.

  Lucinda pounded the pulpit. “Two dollars and fifty cents going once, twice, and sold to Joseph Silver, our guest in Tall Pine.” Lucinda began to applaud and was joined by everyone else.

  Esther wanted to flee. She wanted to grab Michael, hitch up their little wagon and go, but that would be much too obvious. If there was one thing Esther never did, it was parading her emotions. So putting on a good show, she smiled and stood up to go find Joseph and Michael.

  “Wasn’t that great, Mom?” Michael was filling up his plate with sweet pork, beans, and a buttered role. “Did you like how I bid?”

  “I loved it, Michael. You were amazing!” She pulled him in tight against her. “You were the best bidder I have ever seen.”

  Joseph offered her a plate, but she shook her head. Her stomach felt like a million butterflies were trapped inside, and she doubted pork with beans would be a good fix.

  “So I guess that means you will be going on a picnic with me, huh?” Joseph winked.

  Michael lifted himself on his tiptoes as he always did when asking a question. “Can I come, too?”

  “Of course!” Esther exclaimed. She definitely wanted Michael to be there. She did not want to be alone.

  “When would be a good day?” Joseph asked.

  Esther shrugged. It was useless trying to put off Joseph. He was relentless. All she could do was wait until he left. “Thursday? I am hoping that Mary has her baby in the next few days. Before Thursday with a little luck.”

  “Thursday it is,” Joseph nodded. “You are seeing Mary tomorrow, right?”

  Esther nodded. “Yes, but please do not feel that you need to go with me. You accompanied me all last week. I can handle this week alone. And, there are a few more women I need to visit, even up in the mining community.”

  Joseph looked at her as if she had said something ridiculous. “Of course I am coming with you. I’m enjoying the time with you. Besides, you need to be safe.”

  Esther knew she should not feel offended, but she did. Just because this man could fix a wagon and throw Toby out the door did not mean she needed his help or protection.

  “Joseph, really, I know these parts and these people better than you. I carry a pistol with me that I know how to shoot, and I know what places to avoid. As you can see, I have managed to keep myself and my son safe.”

  Joseph’s face went still. He looked steadily at her. “You think you don’t need a man to protect you?”

  Esther stared equally back. “I know that I don’t.”

  Joseph nodded, looking away for a few seconds at the lanterns. “You know Esther, my mother used to say it was arrogant of a man to assume he did not need a wife. A woman completes a man. She gives him purpose and direction. He has a reason to be a good man because of her. She feeds him, creates a home for him, gives him a family. Men are idiots if they don’t want that.” He stepped closer. “My mother is a fine woman. She did not need to re-marry in order to give me a good life, but she knew that with a good man at her side, she could give me a better life and a safer life. She proved that to me one night when our home caught fire. My mother was able to get Abby out, but we would have lost everything had my stepfather not saved the animals, the corn, grain, and everything else so we didn’t starve. He still has burn scars on his hands from that night, but it wasn’t from saving the cattle or the barns that he got those burns. They came from him carrying me out so my mother could carry my newborn sister. Things would have been different had it just been my mom.”

  Esther did not respond. Joseph gave her a polite nod and took his plate to go talk to Will and Sheriff Ben.

  “Can I go with Joseph, Momma?” Michael asked.

  “Not right now,” Esther sighed, feeling a headache forming.

  /

  Abby could not believe it—Will was driving her home. Never mind that they had swapped kisses, several of which had left her breathless and wanting more. It was finally Will who pulled away. “Abigail,” he had said, “if I steal one more kiss I won’t be able to call myself a good pastor.”

  Now, he was silent, pensive, and stern looking. Not the romantic ride home she had thought it would be. No doubt he was worrying that she would now want a marriage proposal and public acknowledgement of his affection for her.

  Unable to endure the silence any longer, Abby sighed: “Will, what’s the matter? Are you upset thinking that I am planning my wedding dress and thinking of my bridesmaids already? Let me assure you, I am not.” Abby laughed wryly, hoping to relieve the stress that she was sure he felt.

  Truth was, Abby had spent weeks thinking of wedding dresses, bridesmaids, cake, decorations, and whether the wedding should be in Tall Pine or Texas. However, there was absolutely no way she would scare off Will. She did not want to coerce him into marriage. She wanted him to want it.

  Will laughed nervously. Abby had responded to his kiss, and favorably too. After smacking him of course. Did she truly like him or did she simply like kissing him? Abby did not seem that type. He had wondered if he should propose to her right then and there, but he had no ring and no great savings. He still had to expand his farm. How could he propose with nothing to offer? And now she had said she was not even thinking about marriage. Was she trying to hint to him that she did not want to marry him? Maybe she simply wanted a fun romance with nothing serious, or maybe she was playing some female game that pretty girls were so good at. Yet, Abby didn’t seem like that type either.

  She knew he liked her, loved her, but did she reciprocate those feelings? Will frowned as realization dawned on him: Abigail had not said that she loved him. She’d merely returned his kisses without expressing a thing.

  /

  After the festivities, Esther allowed Joseph to follow her and Michael home. Uncle Tim and Aunt Lily had gone home earlier and Joseph wanted to make sure Esther and Michael arrived safely. When they reached their home, Esther sent Michael in to get ready for bed while she and Joseph unhitched the horse
and put him in the barn.

  “Thank you, Joseph. I really am grateful for all that you’ve done.” She looked away from his smoldering eyes. “For the kindness you have shown.”

  Joseph grunted. Esther sighed. She had hurt him: when she had not shown enthusiasm for him winning her lunch, when she had told him that she did not need his protection, and when she had also insisted he no longer come with her on her midwifery rounds. Now that she replayed the evening, she realized she had been a right shrew. Unkindness was never justified no matter what issues it revolved around. She saw his hand calming Lancelot. A strong hand that seemed capable of such gentleness. He had touched her hands many times. She had held it dancing—surely she could take it now.

  Joseph was surprised when Esther took his hand. He looked at her face. Her expression was sincere and smiling, and she was so alluring in that red dress. He had struggled all night not to kiss her, but now as they stood in a dark barn, with the smell of fresh hay around them and the autumn moonlight peeking through the rafters, the urge to hold her was overwhelming. He looked away, fighting the temptation. Esther must have thought this as a rejection of her touch because she stepped closer, taking his other hand in hers.

  “Joseph, please, I am truly sorry about how I behaved tonight. It has just been so long since I’ve danced with a man, let alone go on a picnic with him, or even ride in a wagon with him as I have done this past week. I fear my actions have been very awkward.”

  Joseph looked down at her. The smell of sugar cookies overtook him. Her lips were rosy and moist with berry stain. Would they taste like berries? He longed to try, but something told him not to. Instinct? The Spirit? He did not know what. Surprised at his own will power Joseph smiled and pulled away from her hands. Her face fell, and for a moment he wondered if she was going to cry, but she didn’t. Was Esther capable of crying?

  “They have been confusing.” He put on his hat, motioning for them to walk outside. He needed to get out of the barn. “I simply hope that you tell me what you feel before I leave.”