by Jenna Brandt
She nodded and walked with Jake over to the potluck table full of various meats, salads, and rice dishes on one end. On the other end sat all of the desserts including pies, cakes and tarts.
His eyes glanced around the table, searching for Rebecca’s peach pie. He located the tin her pie had been in, but all that was left were crumbs. A large frown crossed his face as his heart dropped with disappointment. “I was looking forward to trying your pie.”
“I’m so sorry, Jake,” Rebecca soothed. “I can make another one, just for you.”
He turned his head towards her and stated, “It’s kind of you to offer, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I want to,” she insisted.
“It must have been a tasty pie for it to go so quick. All the rest of the food has hardly been touched.”
Rebecca shook her head. “I should have known to bring two pies. One is never enough.”
“That’s because you’re the best pie maker in all of Taylor County,” a tall, brawny man with brown hair and grey eyes praised as he approached them.
Rebecca and Jake turned to face the other man. Her normally smiling face turned downward and her demeanor shifted to wary. “Andy Wilson, don’t you know it’s impolite to listen in on other people’s conversations.”
“Don’t get all contrary, Miss Rebecca. I simply overheard your last comment and wanted to pay you a compliment.” Andy leaned towards her and added with a flirtatious smile, “Besides, your cooking is only outmatched by your beauty.”
A flash of red moved over her body as she averted her eyes, crossing her arms.
“What’s the matter; you don’t appreciate my admiration?” Andy asked with a tinge of hurt.
She pulled Jake over by the arm, laced her hands through the crook, and stated, “Mr. Wilson, may I introduce you to Deputy Sheriff Jake Bolton? He’s an invited guest of our family. Jake, this is Andy Wilson, one of the town’s local ranchers.”
Andy’s eyes narrowed with resentment at the familiar address, but quickly he tried to mask it as he said, “Good afternoon, Deputy.”
Jake reached out his hand to the other man, who reluctantly shook it firmly. He seemed to be scrutinizing Jake, as if determining if he was a rival for Rebecca’s affections.
“How long do you think you’ll be staying in our little town?” Andy Wilson inquired with caution.
“Until Monday,” Jake answered, “when I can get a horse from the livery and continue my search for the Grimes brothers.”
The other man whistled as his eyes grew wide with surprise. “Well I’ll be, I’ve heard of them brothers. They’ve robbed several general stores all over northern Texas.”
Jake nodded his head. “A stagecoach driver saw them outside Woody a day ago and I was dispatched from Abilene to follow up on the report.”
“Then by all means, enjoy yourself for the time being, short-lived as it is.” Looking at Rebecca, Andy added as an afterthought, “But not too much.”
Rebecca’s brows came together in a furrow as she shot Andy a disapproving look. A wry smile crossed the rancher’s face before he turned around and left Jake and Rebecca standing by themselves.
Jake didn’t pull away from Rebecca, allowing her hand to stay in the crook of his arm, but he turned his head to ask in curiosity, “What was all of that about?”
“Mr. Wilson has shown interest in courting me since his wife passed away several months ago.”
“Is it mutual?” Jake probed with veiled concern.
“Is what mutual?” Rebecca asked in confusion.
“The interest,” Jake clarified. “Are you inclined to allow that man to pursue you?”
Rebecca’s eyes flickered up to Jake’s as her eyelashes rapidly fluttered, shuttering her reaction to his telling question. Her eyes filled with hope as she gave him a tentative smile. “Would you care if I was influenced to do so?”
It was a good question. Did Jake care if she returned the rancher’s affection? Part of him didn’t want to admit it, but there was indeed a piece of him that disliked the idea of Rebecca being with anyone else. Did that mean he wanted to be with her? He had told her father he wasn’t sure if he was ready to open his heart again, yet as he looked at Rebecca, he felt his heart doing it despite his best attempts to keep it from happening.
Despite his newfound realization, Jake wasn’t ready to disclose his feelings. Avoiding the question, he stated, “I think we should get our food and join your family.”
Rebecca’s sanguine smile faded and her eyes dropped to the ground. She nodded and followed him over to the table and placed random food on her plate without looking up.
Guilt pulled on Jake’s heart knowing his lack of response upset Rebecca. He wanted to wipe away her hurt and replace it with joy. He knew if he could just find a way to tell her the truth, it would do the job. Just as he started to speak to tell her he didn’t want her to be with anyone else, Lydia bounced up and sandwiched herself between them.
“Are you two ever going to finish getting food and come eat? We don’t want to be late for the puppet show.”
Rebecca glanced at her sister and mustered a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “We will be over shortly. It won’t take long for us to eat.”
After Rebecca spooned on the last scoop of a rice dish, she turned around to head over to the table. Jake reached out to stop her. “I didn’t get to say what I wanted to earlier.”
He moved closer to her, just within proper proximity. As he stared down at her and felt his heart thud, he wanted to kiss her, but knowing they were not courting, he settled for placing his hand under her arm. The skin-to-skin contact radiated warmth up his arm and he felt an intense connection. Jake knew he needed to just come out and state what he was thinking. “I don’t want you to be wooed by anyone else, Rebecca.”
She swallowed several times, then licked her lips before whispering, “Good. I don’t want to be wooed by anyone else.”
Knowing there was a high probability one or more townsfolk were watching them, Jake reluctantly dropped his hand and broke eye contact. A small smirk crossed his face as he declared, “Well, now that we’ve got that settled, I think we should go join your family before your sister unravels over our tardiness.”
Rebecca giggled and nodded as they walked together to the table. They quickly ate their meal, not wanting to disappoint Lydia. A half hour later, they found themselves sitting on the grass in front of the puppet theater. They spent the rest of the afternoon listening to townsfolk acting out funny stories about cowboys, small towns, and family.
Eight
The day slipped into night, ushering in the twinkling stars and majestic moon in the cloudless night sky. The town square was illuminated by gas lamps which cast just enough light to make the evening perfect.
The families with small children returned home, leaving behind the men and women who were free to spend the night dancing. A large area of the town square had been cleared to make room for a makeshift stage and dance area and was lined with hay bales.
Two banjo players and a fiddler stood on the stage playing melodic songs and enticing everyone to grab their dance partner and move to the rhythm.
Jake reached out and placed his hand on Rebecca’s back, guiding her onto the edge of the dance area. He wrapped his left arm around her waist, then took her hand in his.
As they began to sway to the music, Rebecca felt her heart race. The intensity of her feelings evoked by being held in his arms made her giddy. She had danced with other men, but she had never been in the arms of a man with whom she shared an attraction.
“How are you enjoying the evening?” Jake asked.
Rebecca’s eyes drew up to meet Jake’s. “It’s wonderful. Of course, the company I’m keeping is mostly responsible for that.”
With a charming smile, Jake pulled her in even closer and tightened his grip. The closeness made Rebecca lightheaded from affection. What was this man doing to her? She wasn’t the type to fawn all over a man, but
in short order Jake had captivated her.
Several dances passed by including a double shuffle, western-swing, and reels. By the end of the fifth dance, Rebecca needed a break. Trying to catch her breath, she asked, “Can we take a rest during the next song?”
“Of course. Are you parched?” Jake asked as he escorted her over to a hay bale to sit down.
“I wouldn’t mind a cup of sweet tea.”
“One sweet tea coming right up, ma’am,” Jake said in a light-hearted tone.
A few feet away, raised voices carried over the music. Rebecca and Jake’s attention was drawn towards two men arguing. The first man was squatty and pale-faced; the other man was of medium build and hairy. The attire of both men—from their trousers to their gingham shirts to their hat and boots—made it clear they were cowboys.
“Get your hands off of Tilly Mae right now, Frank. I’m warning you,” the balding man yelled.
“You don’t have any claim to her,” the other man countered.
“Not yet I don’t, but I’m gonna change that as soon as I make my next cattle run for Mr. Wilson. I finally have enough money to make her my wife.”
Standing between the two men was a buxom brunette who seemed to be enjoying the dispute over her.
“You say that every time, Phillip, but you always spend all your money before it happens.”
“You take that back, Frank, or I’m going to make you take that back,” the other man threatened as he raised his hands, ready for a fight.
Jake briskly walked over to where the men were arguing, but didn’t arrive in time to stop the brawl. Phillip swung out and hit Frank across the face, barely missing Tilly Mae in the process. Frank fell backwards, but quickly steadied himself and then took a swing of his own.
When Jake got close enough, he pulled Tilly Mae out of the way and set her behind him. Next, he reached out and grabbed Phillip by the shirtfront while holding Frank back with his other hand.
“Listen here, the both of you. This is supposed to be a nice night and you’re ruining it. I would advise you to stop or I’m going to have to take both of you over to the jail behind the saloon.”
Both men instantly stopping moving. They’re eyes grew wide with apprehension. Apparently, the jail must be pretty awful because it had the instant effect of getting people to comply.
Jake let go of Phillip and dropped his hand from the chest of Frank. “I suggest both of you head on home before I change my mind.”
“Yes, Deputy,” Frank said with a resigned voice.
Phillip agreed. “We’ll do as you say.”
“Go on, get out of here,” Jake commanded.
Rebecca made her way over to Jake’s side.
Once the two men left the celebration, the music resumed and everyone started to socialize again.
Jake turned his attention to Tilly Mae. “Are you alright, ma’am?”
“Thank you, Deputy,” Tilly Mae cooed as she placed her hand on his upper arm. “However will I repay you?”
Rebecca immediately could tell Tilly Mae was pouring on the honey. As the town’s biggest flirt, it was no surprise the woman was setting her sights on Jake with the other two men absent.
“Just doing my duty, ma’am. No need for thanks.”
“But I want to, Deputy. When someone rescues you, the least you can do is thank them properly.”
Rebecca was done watching the other woman flirt with Jake. Briskly, she came over to his side and grabbed his arm. With an annoyed tone, she stated, “You promised to get me a cup of sweet tea.”
Jake’s attention focused squarely on Rebecca. A knowing smile crossed his face. He must have recognized her jealousy for what it was. “You’re quite right.” Glancing at Tilly Mae, he tipped his hat and said, “Excuse me, ma’am, but I’ve a previous commitment.”
Rebecca and Jake made their way over to a large table surrounded by two hay bales. The table had pitchers of sweet tea and lemonade as well as a punch bowl. There were also a variety of desserts left over from the potluck sitting on it.
Jake took two tin cups and filled them with sweet tea, handing one to Rebecca.
“It was commendable of you to intervene like that,” Rebecca observed as she took a sip of her tea.
With a shrug, Jake explained, “It’s just habit. I can’t let unlawful behavior go on in front of me without doing something about it.”
“Well, you should know, you’ll probably end up intervening often if you stay around Rockwood Springs for very long.”
With a wry grin, he stated, “I’ve noticed this town has a significant amount of troublemakers for such a small place.”
“You have no idea,” Rebecca attested.
A waltz began to play and Jake asked, “Do you care to dance again?”
“That sounds splendid.”
Jake led her onto the floor and gathered her into his arms. Rebecca’s heart was racing at the closeness this song generated. All the other songs had been faster-paced songs and often the dance partners danced separated as much as together; but this dance was slow and romantic in nature.
As Rebecca swayed between Jake’s arms, she felt herself melt into his embrace. She let the music take over and the world around them vanished. Spinning and twirling, Rebecca felt herself become dizzy in the most wonderful way. She leaned her head against his chest and his strong presence steadied her. The night was perfect and she wished she could stay in the moment forever.
“You’re a wonderful dancer,” Jake whispered. “I hope I’m performing well enough for you.”
Looking up at him, she nodded. “Unquestionably the best partner with whom I’ve had the pleasure of dancing.”
An irresistible smile formed on Jake’s mouth causing Rebecca to wonder what it would feel like to have his mouth claim hers as his own. The thought of it sent a cascade of heat coursing through her veins. She started to shake, pondering the possibility. Was she finally ready for a man?
“Good,” Jake affirmed. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint.”
“Not sure if you could ever do that,” Rebecca murmured, not caring how revealing her words were. She wanted him to know how she felt.
Pulling her closer into his frame, he whispered, “I’m glad to hear it.”
Their faces were mere inches apart; she could feel his breath tickle the skin of her forehead, sending prickles up and down her spine. His nearness tantalized her, making her wish he would close the small gap and kiss her.
Before her wish could be granted, the song ended and the magic of the moment disappeared. Jake released her and casually stepped back. The loss of his warmth made her shiver.
Jake must have noticed because he removed his coat and placed it around her shoulders. “I don’t want you catching your death.”
Rubbing her arms under the coat, she didn’t argue it had nothing to do with the weather and all to do with his lack of proximity.
“Can I walk you home, Rebecca?” Jake inquired.
“Thank you, Jake. I would like that.”
As they left the celebration, Jake took Rebecca’s hand in his own. The simple gesture made her heart skip a beat.
“I had a wonderful time tonight,” she admitted.
“As did I,” Jake agreed. “I’m glad Lydia invited me.”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go to church with the family tomorrow?” Rebecca inhaled sharply, holding her breath as she waited for his response. She knew that no matter how much she liked Jake, if he was opposed to going to church, it would end any chance for them to be together. Her relationship with God was paramount to who she was and she refused to be unequally yoked.
“Any excuse to spend more time with you,” Jake answered.
She wasn’t sure if the ambiguous reply was the answer she wanted, but he hadn’t said ‘no.’ She would leave it in God’s hands to reveal what type of relationship Jake had with Him.
They reached her house and Jake walked her onto the porch. “Good evening, Rebecca. I’ll see you in the mor
ning.”
“Goodnight, Jake. Looking forward to it.”
As she watched him walk down the steps and down the road towards the saloon, Rebecca sent up a silent prayer for God to make it clear if she was meant to be with Jake.
Nine
Jake stood outside the Caldwell’s house and raised his shoulders, trying to prepare himself for the morning to come. The idea of going to church didn’t set well with him. He hadn’t stepped foot in one since his wife and son’s funeral.
Last night, he could tell his response to Rebecca’s invitation hadn’t gone over well. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in God, but ever since his wife and son were taken from him, a piece of him questioned why God let it happen.
He prided himself on being strong, but losing them nearly broke him. If he hadn’t had his job to fall back on, he wasn’t sure he would have survived the loss.
Bracing himself, Jake raised his hand and knocked on the door. He heard feet scurrying towards the door before it flung open to expose Lydia standing on the other side.
“Howdy, Jake. We’re almost ready. Come on in,” she said, stepping forward and holding the screen door open for him.
As he entered, he looked around for the rest of the family. Georgie and Mr. Caldwell were sitting in the living room. Rebecca and Mrs. Caldwell were nowhere to be seen.
There was a woman’s scream from the back of the house along with sound of glass crashing against a wall. There was muffled shouting between two people—both female—but Jake was unable to determine about what they were fighting.
A few minutes later, Rebecca emerged from the hallway. She had a frazzled look on her face and a red mark flared across her normally pale skin.
Jake rushed to her side—trying to not be distracted by how beautiful she looked in her brown silk skirt and cream top. He gently took her face in his hand, inspecting the rapidly forming bruise on her cheek. “What happened?” he asked protectively.
Flinching away from his touch, she replied defensively, “Nothing. We need to get going or we’re going to be late for church.”