The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection

by AlLee, Jennifer L. ; Breidenbach, Angela; Franklin, Darlene

  The pink dress she wore fluttered around her knees as he escorted her inside, drawing the attention of several men lounging in the foyer. He glared at them, putting his hand protectively on the small of her back, catching a whiff of rose-scented toilet water. He prayed it didn’t take her long to make up her mind. For the first time, the idea of her choosing someone else threatened his peace of mind. If she decided that staying on the farm wasn’t something she wanted after all, she might accept courtship from others. If she did, what could a hog farmer have to offer that the others couldn’t? He eyed the men’s suits then his brown woolen pants, and rushed Annie Mae to their seats.

  “Would you like some popcorn? Candy? A soda?” He mentally counted the coins in his pocket.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  He sat next to her, wanting to put his arm around and pull her close. Instead, he kept his hands in his lap.

  “I haven’t been to the movies in a long time,” she said, smiling. “Thank you. This is a real treat.”

  “There’s no one else I wanted to bring.” He stretched his legs under the seat in front of him then drew them back up. He needed something to do with his hands. “I think I will get some popcorn.” He bolted to his feet and up the aisle.

  What was wrong with him? He’d known Annie Mae for most of his life. Why was he acting like a nervous schoolboy?

  “Who’s the looker you came in with?” One of the men from the foyer, a college student from the looks of him, leaned against the refreshment stand. “I haven’t seen her around here before.”

  “She isn’t from around here.”

  “Where’s she from?”

  “I’d rather not say.” Jonathan placed his order, paid the cashier, and turned to leave.

  The man smirked. “Is she your girl?”

  “Not yet, but she’s going to be.”

  “So, she’s fair game for now.”

  Jonathan gritted his teeth. “I suppose.” He marched back to his seat, offering the popcorn to Annie Mae.

  She took a few pieces and popped them in her mouth as the lights dimmed and the curtain rose. Seconds later, her soft laughter warmed his heart as she enjoyed the short cartoon preceding the show. The fact that he could take her away from her worries, even if only for a few hours, filled him with immense joy. He wanted to ease her cares for the rest of his life.

  Raucous laughter exploded behind them, followed by rude comments. Annie Mae started to turn until Jonathan put a hand on her arm, stopping her. “Ignore them.”

  She scowled. “They’re making it difficult.”

  “They want your attention.”

  “For heaven’s sake, why?”

  “One of them likes you.”

  “They’re acting like children.” She stiffened and focused her attention on the screen as the main attraction started.

  “Pretty lady, come sit with me.” The man behind them leaned over the seat.

  “No, thank you.”

  “You heard her. She’s not interested.” Jonathan put his arm around Annie Mae. Maybe not the way he’d wanted to get closer to her, but if he could get the man to leave her alone, he’d find another way to make a tender gesture that had nothing to do with an arrogant jerk.

  “Please stop kicking my seat.” Annie Mae turned to glare.

  The man leered at her. “I will if you sit next to me.”

  “You’ve been drinking! Jonathan, can you smell the whiskey? Let me have your soda, please.”

  He handed it over.

  Annie Mae stood and promptly upended the drink on the fool’s head. “Oops. My apologies. I guess you’ll need to leave now.”

  The man said a few choice words and stormed from the theater.

  Annie Mae laughed and resumed her seat, handing Jonathan the empty cup. “That felt wonderful. Let’s watch the show.”

  That was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen her do. For the first time in a long time, he’d caught a glimpse of the Annie Mae not weighed down by the responsibility she heaped on herself. This time, he put his arm around her and pulled her close out of admiration and affection.

  After the rest of the movie passed without incident, Jonathan stood and offered his hand to help Annie Mae from her seat. Keeping her hand in his, and a wary eye out for a lurking man covered with soda, he led her to the truck.

  On the drive home, Annie Mae opened the box of chocolates and offered him one. “The movie was wonderful.”

  He opened his mouth and she popped the candy in.

  “I enjoyed it. Thank you for coming with me. You were amazing, by the way.”

  “You mean the jerk behind us? Marcus taught me how to take care of myself. He said if a man didn’t treat me like a lady, then I shouldn’t treat him like a gentleman. Sorry about your soda.”

  “From the grin on your face, I don’t think you’re very sorry at all.”

  “It was the best thing I could think of.” She sighed. “Do you think this is how the city folks live? Going to the theater on a regular basis? I could go every night.”

  “Then it wouldn’t be as special.”

  When they arrived at her house, he was relieved that none of the children were waiting on the porch. He helped Annie Mae from the truck then put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “I hope you won’t slap me, but I’m betting it would be worth it.”

  “I won’t slap you,” she whispered.

  He lowered his head, kissing her with all the tenderness in his heart, before pulling back. “Now, I’m going to respect your wishes and give you time. Good night, Annie Mae.” He climbed into the truck and drove away, praying he hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of his life.

  Chapter 8

  Two weeks had passed since the night of the movies. Pa was home, minus his finger, and back to work. It took all of Annie Mae’s willpower not to step in and try to take some of his load. Why did he keep refusing her offer to help him? After being told that a man wasn’t less of a man because he’d lost his pinkie finger, she steered clear of the fields and hog pens. Except for Daisy. To her, she spilled all of the pain she felt because Jonathan hadn’t come by once. In church, he avoided her gaze and didn’t linger after the service as he used to. He’d even managed to pick up his boar while she was at the store.

  “I fear I may have ruined everything this time, Daisy.” She folded her arms on the top rail of the pen. “I’ve pushed him away too many times. Maybe it was my aggressive behavior at the movies, but he said he was impressed that I stood up to that bully.” She sighed. “I’m confused and don’t have a clue what to do now.”

  She shouldn’t have competed in the hog show at the fair after knowing Jonathan had entered. She’d never had a chance to win against his Belle. All that had accomplished was sore feelings and her acting like a child. She turned and braced her back against the pen, one foot propped on a rail. Glancing heavenward, she thought of all the wasted time spent worrying about one silly thing or another.

  Mama and Pa both had told her the family was doing just fine. After receiving her prize money, Annie Mae had added it to the money jar, surprised to see Mama had stashed away at least a month’s worth of funds. With Annie Mae’s winnings, they were even further ahead. God provided. He didn’t need a worrisome girl to keep reminding Him of what needed doing.

  While she missed her brother desperately, she now realized there was nothing she, or anyone, could have done to prevent the accident, short of Marcus staying home. For whatever reason, God had chosen to take him.

  “Whatcha doin’?” Lulu climbed onto the fence.

  “Thinking about life.”

  “What about it?” Her sister’s eyes widened.

  “How fleeting it is and how hard.”

  “It isn’t hard to me. I do my chores, go to school and church, and play. What more is there?” She shrugged. “I always find time to have fun.”

  From the mouth of babes. Annie Mae tugged o
n her sister’s ponytail. “What else, indeed. Someday, when you’re older, you can add men to that list. That’s when things get confusing.”

  “I’m going to marry Pa.” Lulu scampered down and dashed to the rope swing hanging from a tree.

  Annie Mae laughed. Maybe she needed to be more like Lulu and find the fun in life. “Mama, I’m going for a walk.”

  Her mother turned from where she was hanging the laundry. “Good. Oh, wait. There’s a loaf of bread on the counter for the Mercers and a slab of fresh butter. Would you mind dropping those off on your walk? Don’t be long. It looks like rain. If it does, stay at the Mercers’ until it stops.”

  “All right, Mama.” Maybe she could get Jonathan to notice her and stop pretending she was transparent. She knew what he was doing, letting her miss him and change her mind about marriage and love, but he was going about it all wrong! She wanted him to court her, to shower her with words of affection, to kiss her again.

  She collected the bread and butter, placed them in a basket, and set off down the road. She continued thinking of her feelings for Jonathan. Her steps faltered then stopped, and she sat on a fallen tree as the realization hit her that she loved him. From the first time he’d come to visit her brother, she’d loved him. The startling blue eyes that sparkled with zeal, the dark hair that caught the sun’s rays, the dimples in his cheeks when he smiled. Those were his physical qualities. His inner ones were more beautiful than she’d imagined. She’d witnessed his kindness and strength time and time again. How could she have been such a blinded fool?

  Well, no more. She got to her feet. She intended to declare her love the second she laid eyes on him.

  An automobile roared behind her. With a shriek, she dove into the ditch on the side of the road, twisting her ankle and spilling the basket. Tears of pain and outrage sprang to her eyes as the vehicle continued past, not stopping to see whether she was injured.

  Standing on her good foot, she peered over the edge of the road, now at chin level. If she didn’t find a way out, she might never be found. Gray clouds scurrying overhead announced rain at any moment.

  What a predicament. She grabbed at a small bush and tried to pull herself out of the ditch. Instead, she did nothing more than dislodge the bush and shower dirt upon her head. A crash of thunder, and the heavens opened wide.

  The other side of the ditch was no better. Annie Mae was stuck, in a ditch, on the side of the road, in the pouring rain. No one would look for her for hours. She groaned and settled the best she could on a boulder, wrapped her arms around herself, and prepared to wait.

  By the time the rain stopped, she was shivering. She had no idea how long it had been since her fall, but from the amount of water running off the road, she wouldn’t be getting out easily. Leaving the basket behind, she plastered her body against the muddy wall of the ditch, grasped the edge with her fingertips, and fought for a foothold. Inch by tiring inch, she clawed her way out then lay panting on the side of the road. By that time, she didn’t care if she got run over by a truck.

  Jonathan drove slowly, taking care not to let the truck slide on the muddy surface. He turned a corner and slammed on his brakes. What in the world? He peered through his windshield at what looked like a woman lying there. When the form moved, he shoved open his door and rushed to her side.

  “Annie Mae?” He helped her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her as she sagged against him.

  “The one and only.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Your bread and butter is down there.” She collapsed in a fit of giggles.

  While he’d waited a long time to hear her laugh with such abandon, the circumstances did anything but fill him with joy. Instead, he worried about her mental state. “Are you injured?”

  “I appear to have twisted my ankle, and I’m covered with mud.” Her laughter continued.

  “Stop it.” He gave her a shake. “You’re scaring me.”

  “I’m … so–rry. Do you mind carrying me to your truck?”

  He wanted nothing more. He scooped her into his arms, unmindful of the mud now smearing his shirt, and deposited her on the passenger seat. Once her giggles had stopped and he no longer feared she was losing her mind, he raced to the driver’s seat and climbed in. “What happened?”

  She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I went for a walk with the intention of delivering bread and butter Mama had for your family. I jumped out of the way of a speeding automobile and landed in the ditch. I couldn’t get out, and it started to rain. It took me a long time to get out. Then, you almost ran me over.” She swept her hair out of her face. “I want to go home, please.”

  “Right away.” He turned the truck around.

  Mr. and Mrs. Thompkins sat on the front porch. When Jonathan again took Annie Mae into his arms, they bolted from their rocking chairs. “What happened?” Mrs. Thompkins rushed toward them, her husband on her heels.

  “I found her lying in the road, laughing hysterically,” he said.

  “Correction.” Annie Mae lifted a finger. “I didn’t laugh until I saw the shock on your face after you almost ran over me.”

  “Mercy.” Mrs. Thompkins put a hand to her chest. “Let’s get her inside.”

  “I never made it to his house, Mama. I’m afraid I’ve lost the basket and its contents.” Annie Mae rested her head on Jonathan’s chest.

  Nothing felt more right to him and he could have stayed like that forever, but she needed to get dry before she caught a chill. He carried her to the kitchen and sat her in a chair across from her wide-eyed siblings.

  “Stay for coffee, Jonathan,” Mr. Thompkins said. “Annie Mae will need some once her mother is finished getting her cleaned up.” It was his turn to carry the muddy girl, and they headed up the stairs.

  “I’ll heat some water.” Jonathan grabbed the teapot and set it on the stove. “Robby, could you carry the tub to … wherever they took your sister?”

  “Yep.” He thundered outside, returning moments later with a large metal tub. He tugged it behind him. “I don’t think I can carry it up there, though.”

  “Watch the water.” Jonathan hefted the tub and followed the sound of worried voices. “I’m coming up!”

  “Set the tub outside the door,” Mrs. Thompkins called. “She isn’t decent.”

  Heat rose up Jonathan’s neck and into his face at the implication of her words. “I’ll, uh, set the hot water out here once it’s ready.”

  “We’ll need cold water, too.”

  “All right.” He hurried back to the kitchen.

  After a frenzied hour, Annie Mae was cleaned up and sitting across from Jonathan at the kitchen table. He slid a mug of coffee toward her.

  “I don’t care for coffee.” She wrinkled her nose.

  “Drink it,” Mrs. Thompkins ordered. “It’ll warm you from the inside out.”

  Jonathan grinned at the disgusted look on Annie Mae’s face as she took a sip of her drink. “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry I lost control. I was cold and hurting. Then, the look on your face was my undoing.” Her lips twitched.

  “And how did I look, exactly?”

  “Like you saw a creature from the swamp.” She giggled again, cutting it off when he narrowed his eyes.

  “I’m beginning to think I did see some type of creature. One with yellow hair.” He winked.

  She shrugged and took another sip of the coffee, grimacing. “Mama sent Pa for the doctor to look at my ankle. I told her it’s only sprained, but … well, she worries about me.”

  “So, that’s where you get it.”

  “Get what?”

  “Worrying.”

  “I’ve decided not to anymore.” She squared her shoulders. “Lulu has convinced me that life should be more about fun. That it isn’t at all hard.”

  Jonathan scratched his head. “Are you sure you’re all right? You’re not acting like yourself.”

  “I’m acting like the new me.” She grinned. “Do you like her?”

  �
�I’m not sure.” He studied the woman in front of him. The wet hair, normally the color of corn silk but darkened now to ripe wheat, and the hazel eyes that turned from green to blue depending on her mood. The flush of pink in her cheeks at his scrutiny. “I don’t think you could do anything, or change in any way, that would affect how I feel about you.”

  “Wonderful, because I have something I want to tell you. Something I planned to say when I got to your house.” Her gaze settled on his with such intensity his heart beat erratically.

  “What’s that?” He lifted his cup for another sip.

  “I’ve made up my mind. I love you and want to marry you.”

  He spewed coffee across the table and across the bodice of her clean dress.

  Chapter 9

  Time for bed, children.” Mama ushered Robby and Lulu out of the room as if they were under siege.

  Annie Mae kept her gaze glued to Jonathan’s as she dabbed at her dress with a napkin. “Well? Don’t you have anything to say?”

  “Did you hit your head when you fell in the ditch?”

  Was he serious? Her smile faded. For weeks, he’d been after her to decide whether to stay with her parents or pursue a different future for herself. Now that she’d made her choice, he ridiculed her. “Did you change your mind?” She willed the tears away.

  “No, but this is going about it all wrong.” He ran his hands through his hair.

  “Wasn’t this your plan? To keep your distance and make me miss you so much that I would come calling on you?” Had she misjudged him? “I’ve spent time in prayer searching my heart, and I’ve come to a place of healing. I know what I want now, Jonathan. Am I too late?”

  He shook his head and came to her side of the table. He knelt and took her hands in his. “It’s never too late. But I haven’t proposed or asked for your father’s blessing. None of the things a man does.”

  “I understand.” Not only had he not been able to do those things, he hadn’t said he loved her. He’d had the opportunity after her foolish declaration. She pulled her hands free. “I need to clean up the coffee.”