"She's a fine woman, that Hannah Grace." A hand came up and gave him a vigorous slap on the shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts. Had he really been watching Hannah so close as to draw attention to himself? Ed Bowers grinned from one big ear to the other, looking all cocky, as if he were privy to some secret. "Yep, she's quality all the way, that one," he said, leaning close and whispering, `A far cry from that lady you nearly betrothed yourself to back in June."
Gabe tossed back his head and frowned. "What do you know about that?"
Ed laughed his usual hearty chuckle and his silver beard waggled. "Word gets around, my friend. Have you forgotten I went down for your folks' anniversary celebration in May? She was a beauty, all right, but you know what they say- looks'll go skin deep, but character drives clear to the soul."
"Is that what they say?" Gabe asked, suddenly irritated with his old family friend for knowing so much. As if on cue, Hannah's light laughter drifted in from the porch. He couldn't help but take a gander at her, and, when he did, it rankled him to see the doctor's arm around her shoulder-in plain view, even. Was he imagining things, or had she purposely put space between herself and the doctor when she sidestepped to allow a clear passageway for Isabella Peterson, owner of the hat shop, who wore a flowery concoction big enough for an eagle's perch atop her head to advertise her business?
"Fine Christian she is, too," Ed continued. "Won't find a more virtuous woman anywhere. Takes after her grandmother, she does."
His heart's desire, when he did go looking for a wife, was to marry someone who shared his Christian principles-who put Christ before all else and didn't look at possessions as more important than a person's heart. He'd watched Hannah with Jesse and found her selfless and kind. Just not with him. And, now that he thought about this, it irritated him plenty.
"Now, if I were you, I'd make my move, yes, I would."
"Ed."
The judge raised a hand to hush him. "Here's my opinion, for what it's worth. She's settling for that Van Huff character. He's not a bad person, mind you, but he lacks passion for the things that truly matter in life. I can't say I've ever carried on a conversation with him that didn't center on that practice of his. And then, there's the matter of his walk with God."
As little as Gabe wanted to discuss Hannah Grace's infatuation with Ralston Van Huff, Ed had managed to reel him in. "How do you mean?"
"Just something I overheard him say to Clyde Perkins a couple months back when I was sitting in another room waiting to get my ticker checked. He alluded that going to church wasn't really his cup of tea, but he did it for Hannah's sake. Just struck me that he lacks conviction, that's all."
Gabe winced inwardly but refused to show it externally. What Hannah Grace chose to do with her life mattered little. At least, that's what he told himself.
Ed was studying him, Gabe knew, looking for a clue that what he'd said had struck some chord.
Gabe avoided Ed's gaze and glanced down at Jesse. Still stuck to him like a duckling to its ma, Jesse showed no interest in wandering, save for the ogle he gave the triple-layered chocolate cake on the buffet table across the room, which Helena and Maggie Rose were even now cutting into servingsized pieces and sliding onto elegant crystal plates.
Apparently, Ed noticed. "That cake looks mighty scrumptious, young man," he said to Jesse. "I bet Maggie would serve you a piece if you asked real politely."
Jesse's eyes sought Gabe's permission. He nodded and urged him forward with a gentle nudge. To his surprise, Jesse left his side to weave through the crowded room.
"You making any progress with that boy?" Ed asked, watching with Gabe as Maggie Rose smiled at Jesse and bent down to whisper something in his ear. The boy's face lit up, and he eagerly accepted a piece of cake. No "thank you" came from his lips, however. Gabe sighed, glad for the shift in topics.
"Not much." He gave a light chuckle. "Unless you consider the fact that he now finds me safe enough to share a bed with, sometimes even hogging it. That kid kicks and fusses in his sleep like nobody's business, and I've got bruises in the middle of my back to prove it,"
"Nightmares?"
"Most likely. I wish he'd talk to me,"
"He will when he's ready. You have any leads on that McCurdy gang?"
"Not a one. I was hoping you might." He'd gone straight to the judge's office the morning after Jesse had seen Rufus's photograph, eager to talk to someone about it. He figured telling Hannah about the incident would only cause her to fret. No point in enlightening her until he had something firm to go on.
"I did hear one thing."
Gabe straightened, raising his eyebrows.
"Someone reportedly saw the four of them in a St. Joseph Saloon a week or so back," Ed informed him. "The one called Roy, I believe he's the oldest son, asked a patron if he'd seen a little stray boy with black hair. Claimed it was his sister's youngest, and that he'd run off, worrying his sister sick. The fellow knew right off it was a McCurdy, because he'd seen a `Wanted' poster nailed to the outside of the bank that very afternoon. He tried to act real casual, but apparently, they all picked up on his bad case of nerves and left the place ahead of him. By the time he reached the police station to file a report, the gang had skipped town,"
Gabe listened intently, stuck on the part about the stray boy. "You don't think it's possible, do you? That Jesse is Roy McCurdy's nephew?"
"Roy McCurdy doesn't have a sister," Ed said. "Don't know how Jesse could be related. Far as I know, it's just the three boys, and none of them is married. Old Rufus raised them all after their ma passed on. Did a rotten job of it, too."
Something troubled Gabe, chewing a hole in his side. "So, why would Roy be asking about a runaway boy? You think there's any connection to Jesse?"
Ed shook his head. "Might be, but I don't know what it'd be."
The two ruminated for the next several moments, sipping punch and nodding at various guests.
"You move into that house yet?" Ed asked.
"Still waiting for a couple of loose ends to come together. I expect to sign the final paperwork in a couple of days. It's taken longer than projected, since the owners live in Lansing. Phone service isn't always dependable, and the post office is slower than a tortoise with its shoelaces strung together."
A slow chuckle came from Ed's chest. `All in good time, son. I would imagine you have furniture and such waiting to be shipped?"
"Some, but, fortunately, a lot of pieces came with the house." Gabe glanced across the room at Jesse, who was gazing up at Maggie Rose while she spoke in soft tones to the wordless boy. He appreciated the way folks accepted Jesse despite his issues. So far, the citizens of Sandy Shores had more than exceeded Gabe's expectations when it came to affability, the Kane family rising above the rest. Even though Hannah kept a safe emotional distance from him, she certainly lavished plenty of affection on Jesse Gant.
Someone made a clinking sound against a crystal goblet, silencing the guests. All heads, including those of Ed and Gabe, turned in the direction from whence it came. In the doorway separating the porch from the parlor room, Ralston Van Huff held a silver spoon in one hand and a goblet in the other. He smiled at the roomful of curious onlookers. "If I may have your attention, folks, I have an announcement I'd like to make." He looked down at Hannah with a wide smile.
An uneasy sensation coiled in Gabe's stomach, while across the room, a whispered hush fell like a misty cloud. Gabe's eyes sought Hannah's, but she stood next to Ralston, stiff as a frozen fence post, her face gone pale as a fish as she fixed her blue-gray gaze on the floor.
"Well, I'll be," murmured Ed out of the side of his mouth, giving Gabe a strong poke with his elbow. "Looks like he's beatin' you to the punch."
id you see Papa's face when Huffy made the marriage proposal?" Abbie Ann paced back and forth in the upstairs bedroom until Hannah was sure she would carve a permanent path into the pine planks. "What on earth did Papa say to you afterward, Hannah? We're sisters, after all, and we keep no sec
rets, so you must tell us." Hands tightly clasped at her tiny waist, she heaved a dramatic breath. "Was he quite angry? Why, everyone present knew good and well Huffy bamboozled him. You're not truly going to marry that man, are you, Han? He doesn't bring out the best in you. Goodness, I'm not even sure he encourages you in your Christian walk. Does he, Hannah?" Abbie's pace quickened, her pretty face gone into a dark frown, her hands now wringing in worry. "And if you tell me he's perfect for you, why, I'll-I'll fry up my dirty stockings for breakfast,"
"Oh, for goodness' sake, Abbie Ann, what kind of remark is that? And slow down, would you? You're turning me into a nervous Nellie,"
"Well, good! You should be nervous. Huffy's proposal is nothing short of ridiculous. You've nothing in common with him,"
Hannah lay sprawled across her bed, staring at her wiggling toes peeking out from the hem of her gown. "I read in Ladies' Home Journal that when searching for a mate, it's best to find one whose interests vary from your own. Otherwise, things tend to get boring. There was a similar article in Vogue," she replied.
"Hannah Grace, you should hear yourself," Abbie wailed. "I feel more grown up than you right now."
At that, Hannah sat up, ire rising faster than the price of milk. "Well, you're not, young lady, and don't forget it. You haven't even been on your first outing with a boy."
"And I'm glad for it. Unlike you, I don't need a man to make my life complete and fulfilling. God is all I need, and you should say the same. Why, just last Sunday, the Reverend Cooper spoke on the virtues of seeking God's divine guidance when making important decisions. Imagine seeking answers for your future in some silly magazine. What do those writers know about anything, anyway? You should be reading your Bible instead,"
"What? I'll have you know I read my Bible every day, sister dear, and I have not run across one thing that has warned me against marrying Ralston. And another thing. I don't need a man to make my life complete, but that doesn't mean I'm longing for spinsterhood, either."
"Stop it, both of you." Maggie's stern tone from her perch by the vanity drew both girls to a halt. She was still dressed like a queen in her blue brocade gown, and her freshly brushed hair curved gently about her shapely shoulders. Ever the practical one, Maggie cleared her throat and swiveled on the seat until she faced her sisters. "Hannah's right; your pacing isn't helping matters," she said to Abbie. "Nor is your incessant squealing. You best settle down and allow Hannah to make her own decisions-with the Lord's guidance, of course."
Properly put in her place, Abbie sighed and crossed the room. Turning away from her sisters, she pulled back the lace curtain and gazed out the window, granting them a moment of pleasant silence. Hannah lay back down and sucked in several calming breaths.
"I think remaining single would be highly advantageous," Abbie said.
"Perhaps," Maggie agreed. "But only if God willed it."
"In fact, I'm seriously considering it. Katrina is simply not the same since she and Micah Sterling married, and neither will you be, Hannah Grace. We used to share so many secrets, Katrina and I, but since she married Micah, she seems so-so old. Oh, we still see each other often, but it's not the same. Micah forever hangs on her, or she on him. We can't even have a decent conversation most times."
"Why, Abigail Kane, you're jealous." Maggie turned back around to the vanity mirror and resumed her nightly hundred strokes to her glorious, gold mane with her horsehair brush, leaning forward to study her flawless complexion in the mirror. "Micah Sterling stole your best friend, and you're just plain mad as a hornet over that."
Abbie spun around, black locks bouncing, dark eyes snapping with newfound spark. "I most certainly am not. The last thing I want is a man to have to cater to and pick up after." Then, to Hannah, she added, "Which is exactly what you'll be doing if you marry Huffy. Lots of catering. Doctors like to have their social gatherings, you know. You'll be forever hosting some function or another."
Hannah draped a weary arm across her forehead and peered at a spider's web just overhead. Abbie's banter fueled her exhaustion, making changing into her nightclothes seem like an impossible chore.
Ralston's proposal of marriage was rather shocking, she mulled. Why, he hadn't even kissed her yet, unless one counted a peck on the cheek, and even those came at rare intervals. Moreover, his failure to seek her father's blessing beforehand troubled her. Why ever had he thought it necessary to announce his wishes to marry her in a public setting? Had he expected immediate elation from everyone present, thinking she couldn't possibly turn him down in the presence of others? She winced as she recalled Papa's face-his look of surprise, then confusion and disapproval, and perhaps a hint of anger, albeit appropriately contained and controlled. To be certain, uncomfortable didn't come close to describing the general feeling in the room, particularly when she delicately withheld an answer.
After the party, Hannah and her sisters straightened up the house, washed every last dish and crystal goblet, shook out rugs and linen tablecloths, and folded and put things in their proper places, all with Grandmother's hasty orders and strict supervision. Papa stifled any talk of the wedding proposal the second Abbie brought it up, saying, "Hannah and I shall discuss this issue in private." His brusque tone had everyone scurrying about the house, Helena included. Within an hour, one would not have known a flurry of guests had filled every room. Without ado, everyone but Hannah and Papa escaped to her room, and Papa ushered Hannah to the library, pressing her gently into the settee.
"Now then, do you love this man?" he asked, wasting no time in getting to the point, dropping down beside her with a sigh and crossing one leg over the other. When he turned to look at her, his eyes penetrated deep into her core, and yet they held a tenderness that made her want to weep.
"Papa, I-I don't know for sure. He's a very fine man, and he has high aspirations. He would be a good provider, of that I am certain."
Papa nodded, raising his eyebrows a mere notch. He stole her hand from her lap and sandwiched it between his own. `And so you would marry him for these reasons?"
"No...well, I understand that love must play a big part."
`A big part?" Jacob gave her fingers a gentle squeeze and smiled. "My dear, it must play the biggest part of all-love, and a deep conviction within yourself that God has led you to this pivotal point."
In that moment, she felt the tiniest tweak in her conscience. What part, if any, had the Lord played in bringing Ralston and her together-or was that something she would sense with time? A tumble of confused thoughts scurried through her head, and she sucked in a jagged breath.
Her father must have sensed her inner turmoil, for he patted her hand. "I must confess, I haven't made much of an effort to know Ralston better, but what I've seen of him, I like. It's just that I had no idea your relationship had risen to such a level; I certainly had no idea of his intentions to propose marriage."
"If it's any consolation to you, Papa, I had no idea of Ralston's plans, either, and in the presence of so many guests. If you'll recall, I gave him no formal answer."
He exhaled a long sigh, accompanied by the first hint of a twinkle in his eye. "For which I am most grateful. I have never once doubted your sensible side, Hannah Grace. I know you will make this a matter of diligent prayer." Again, that needling sensation pricked at her soul.
Lord, forgive me for neglecting to seek Your wisdom.
Suddenly, Jacob leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead, then clasped her shoulders and studied her face. "It's hard to believe you've grown up so rapidly. When did this happen?"
She smiled and picked a piece of lint from his shirtfront. "Oh, Papa, I can't stay a child forever."
"Humph, I suppose you are nearing a marriageable age."
"Grandmother said anyone past twenty can't be too picky."
"Don't bring me into this," Helena suddenly chimed from the living room. When had she sneaked back downstairs? "I said no such thing-not in those exact words, anyway."
"Mother Kane, how long h
ave you been lurking?" Jacob asked.
"I'm not lurking at all. I just came down to retrieve a book." Helena walked grandly into the library, her silken housecoat flowing behind her, and took down a volume from a shelf directly behind her son's mahogany twin-pedestal desk.
Jacob raised his eyebrows. "So, if you didn't say it in so many words, how did you say it?"
"What? Oh, well, I suppose I mentioned something at one point about the importance of finding a proper husband before, say, the age of twenty-five. After all, the older a woman gets, the narrower her chances,"
"Ah." He combed his long, slender fingers through his thick beard. "It is all in God's hands whether one finds a lifelong mate, and a matter for much prayer and seeking God's Word for direction. I would hope you added that as an afterthought."
The normally intact, highly controlled woman grew pink with embarrassment, if not indignation. She drew back her shoulders. "I have always taught your daughters the truth of God's Holy Word, Jacob Stewart Kane."
It was one of the few times Hannah had heard Grandmother address her grown son with such sternness, and, for a split second, Hannah had to hold back a telling smile. What Grandmother said was true. Rarely had Helena Kane dismissed an opportunity to make a Sunday school lesson out of the minutest misdemeanor. Hannah's head filled with childhood recollections.
"Well, I wasn't questioning your Christian training, Mother, just your-oh, good grief, I don't know. I feel out of my element. This is something new to me, discussing matters of marriage with my eldest daughter." He suddenly rose to his feet, so Hannah jumped to hers, as well.
"If you don't mind, Papa, I'd like to go to bed,"
He leaned forward to kiss her forehead and give her a warm hug. "It has been an eventful evening, hasn't it? We'll let the matter of the proposal rest until we're all a bit more clearheaded,"
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