by Linda Ellen
Loosening his arms, he leaned back enough to peer down at his bride’s beautiful face; the tears that had welled in her eyes having slipped down her cheeks, she gazed up at him.
He couldn’t resist. Reaching around, he allowed a finger to gently caress her cheek and smooth one damp track away as he whispered, “I’m so glad you’re here, Beth Ann. And I give you my solemn word right here and now—that as long as I have breath in my body, neither that man, nor anyone else, will ever harm you again.”
He watched as a myriad of emotions seemed to run through her mind, and he wished he could hear her thoughts. She seemed to be searching his eyes for something... Would she let him kiss her? He let his eyes focus on her lips and they seemed to be parted and waiting. A dozen quick heartbeats went by as he stood in quandary, cautioning himself not to rush things. The invitation in her eyes, however, drew him in like a bee to nectar.
Then, just as he was leaning down...Finn appeared at the door.
Beth Ann broke away instantly, as if she had been caught with her hand in a cookie jar, and turned so that her back was to the door. With a slight tremble, she raised a hand to smooth the back of her hair, her eyes steadfastly averted from his. Sam let out a frustrated huff and scowled at his brother as he busied himself with making sure her trunk was centered at the end of the bed.
Finn quickly assessed the situation, cleared his throat, and then said, “Uh, Sam...excuse me, but can you come look at the window in Zeb’s room...he said he likes a little fresh air at night. It’s stuck and I can’t get it to open...”
Silently grousing that his brother always did have lousy timing, Sam grunted an answer, tipped his head toward Beth Ann, and angled past her to get out the door.
Tomorrow...tomorrow I’m gonna jump into this courting’ thing with both feet. The lovely Beth Ann Maynard won’t be able to say no!
At least...I hope she won’t.
After Sam said his goodnights and left to go to his lodgings, the rest of the evening had been occupied with touring the downstairs of the building. Beth gratefully took a much appreciated, refreshing bath in the amazingly large, claw foot tub in the bathing room, and then spent some time putting away her clothing in the chest of drawers.
Now, she lay on her bed in the spare room of Finn and Charise’s charming apartment, staring at, but not really seeing, the elongated shards of moonlight glowing on the ceiling.
He almost kissed me. I know he was thinking of kissing me! Why didn’t he? He’s obviously attracted to me...
Beth couldn’t get Sam’s almost kiss out of her mind. As the two of them stood together while he was comforting her, and then lingered looking into one another’s eyes, kissing her husband had quickly become the thing she wanted to do more than anything else in the world. The feeling of safety—and dare she think it...home—she had felt while cradled in Sam’s arms was nothing short of amazingly wonderful. And then, as he had caressed her cheek and stared into her eyes, she’d nearly stretched up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. But...shouldn’t a couple’s first kiss be initiated by the man? She’d held back because she was afraid to act too boldly and chase him away. Sam was such a stalwart man. She surely didn’t want him thinking his new wife was some kind of a strumpet or...hussy.
But, then Finn had interrupted and Sam had fled the room—leaving her feeling confused by his mixed signals that left her thinking that maybe she had imagined the fire in his eyes and maybe she had only wished to think he wanted to kiss her.
Ah, but, confirmation of the truth had come before she had retired for the night! As Charise was giving her a hug and telling her once again that she was glad she was here, her friend had whispered, “Sam is very glad you are here as well. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but...he wants to court you.”
Then, with a glimmer of something hopeful in her eyes, she had given a little wave and linked arms with her husband for the stroll down the hallway to their room. Papa Hinkle had already bid them goodnight long before and closed his door.
Thinking of the sweet, older man, Beth Ann felt a rush of affection sweep over her and she unconsciously shifted her gaze to the wall that separated their rooms. The man who was once just a friend and neighbor had now become so very important in her life. It felt marvelous to have an older, male friend willing to take the place of a father and grandfather that she had never known. She hoped the trip hadn’t been too much for him, and made a mental note to ask him in the morning if he was faring all right. He’d been the perfect travel partner, and—except for the cost of her tickets, which she had found out had been paid for by Sam and not Finn—Zebulon had paid for everything else all along the way. He had known, of course, that she had been prevented from retrieving her savings, and insisted that his only concern was to get her comfortably and safely to Nebraska and her husband.
That thought brought her ponderings back around to the burley, bearded man to whom she was wed. He wants to court you. Remembering those words once again brought a tingle of anticipation that washed over her and she couldn’t help but smile into the darkness and snuggle down into the softness of the feather bed and snug covers. She wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by him...to run her fingers over that scruffy beard. Was it soft and warm...or coarse? Would it tickle?
Court me, hmm? This is turning out better than I had dared to dream. I’m married to a wonderful man to whom I am very attracted, and dare I say, I think I could fall in love, and he seems taken with me as well. Perhaps the troubles back home are truly a thing of the past and I won’t have to worry about them anymore.
Closing her eyes, she whispered a short prayer that things would work out the way God wished, that all would be well...and that she would make Sam the kind of wife he expects and wants.
“Lord, teach me! I know I have a lot to learn,” she added, before closing the prayer and finally allowing her body to relax enough to fall asleep—only to dream about running hand in hand through a field of flowers with a big, brawny man with wavy brown hair, warm brown eyes, a smooth deep voice, and a wonderfully wooly beard and mustache.
Chapter 8
“A nd this table used to be one of the saloon tables, or actually poker tables, downstairs. Remember I wrote you about that?” Charise mentioned as she and Beth Ann put breakfast on said table the next morning.
Beth Ann peeked under the flowered tablecloth at the green felt underneath and giggled. “Yes, you did. I think it’s a marvelous idea. You can seat six people comfortably.”
Charise turned from taking the biscuits out of the oven and pursed her lips as she eyed the space. “Yes, although we’ve not had that many at one time yet. I had Finn bring up two extra chairs from the storage area downstairs yesterday.”
Beth looked around at the large, homey room. “Charise, your kitchen is wonderful...and so big,” she laughed. “Nothing at all like our little corner back at the apartment...our one-burner stove, table for two, and a shelf above the small sink to keep a few dishes.”
“Oh, I know,” Charise agreed, sweeping her gaze around her new home with pride. “I love it and it’s one of my favorite rooms in the apartment now,” she paused and gave a chuckle. “It was rather stark and bare when I first saw it, so I asked Finn to rearrange some things for me, add those shelves there,” she pointed near the stove, “and I sewed those curtains for the windows and door. When I first arrived, Finn didn’t have one curtain up to any of the windows!” she giggled. “This was a typical bachelor residence.”
The girls worked happily together for the next few minutes, preparing a hearty breakfast, while discussing the improvements Charise had made to her and Finn’s home.
When Finn entered the kitchen later, followed closely by Mr. Hinkle, the older man looked, to Beth Ann’s relief, as if he’d had a much needed, refreshing sleep.
“Mmm, something smells mighty good in here, darlin’,” Finn commented as he stepped close and gave his wife a kiss.
“Yes, it surely does,” Zebulon agreed
as he took a place at the table.
Finn murmured something in her ear, and gave her a suggestive wink.
“Phineas! Hush, someone will hear you!” Charise whispered, blushing a pretty pink at his antics and his accompanying risqué laughter. Nevertheless, she leaned against him and pressed a warm kiss to his lips. Beth couldn’t help but hear their quiet murmurings of love as they peered into one another’s eyes, and she watched as Charise lovingly caressed Finn’s cheek before turning back to take up the scrambled eggs.
Beth Ann smiled at the pair, secretly dreaming and hoping that she and Sam would be that much in love one day...and that familiar with each other.
“Well, good people, I must say I slept like the dead last night. It’s so quiet here after dark. I hadn’t realized just how much city noise I put up with all those years back in Louisville. Yes,” he added, with a decisive nod, “I think I can get used to Brownville without much trouble at all.”
“I know what you mean about the quiet. Although it took me about a week to not think I had lost my hearing during the night,” Charise agreed jokingly as she set the last item, a plate of perfectly cooked sausage and crisp bacon, on the table, before taking her seat as Finn rose half way up to put a hand on her chair in a gentlemanly fashion. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she murmured as her eyes met his.
“What, you mean you miss hearing the fire alarm bells clanging at three o’clock in the morning followed by the shouts of the firemen in the firehouse three doors down, the jangle of the horse’s chains, and the belching and hissing of the steam pumper as they raced off to parts unknown?” Beth Ann teased, prompting Charise and Zeb to simultaneously holler, “NO!” followed by laughter around the table.
Settling in her chair with a happy smile for each person around her table, Charise reached out to Finn and to Beth as they all joined hands, commenting, “Shall we say grace?”
The others immediately complied and Finn offered up a heartfelt prayer thanking God for Beth Ann and Zebulon’s safe journey, for no complications in the future, and of course, thanking the Provider for the wonderful food and the hands that prepared it.
“Amen,” chorused four voices just as a quick knock sounded at the back door.
“Come in!” Finn called out and the door opened. Beth Ann’s heart rate sped up three-fold and she wasn’t one bit surprised at the identity of their early visitor as a familiar face peeked in the open doorway.
“Good morning everyone,” Sam greeted with a wide, friendly grin, sending nods to those around the table before finally locking gazes with Beth Ann. Unable to help the smile that overtook her face as she watched him walk across the floor, her eyes greedily took note of how handsome he looked dressed in browns, wearing a pair of brown slacks, a brown plaid shirt with suspenders, and brown leather boots with fringe on the sides. His beard seemed a bit shorter, as if he had just trimmed it that morning, and his hair was combed slick. Her eyes gleamed as the phrase, He’s come a’callin’ came to mind.
“Hey, proxy wife, you got enough for me, too?” he asked Charise with a teasing grin, and everyone laughed as she gave him a nod and spread out a hand to indicate the full bowls she and Beth had just put on the table.
“I kind of anticipated we would see you this morning,” she answered, flicking a look Beth Ann’s way, causing her friend to blush.
Sam tipped back his head and laughed heartily as he took his place—between Beth Ann and Zeb—and plopped a napkin on his lap. “Did I miss the blessing?”
“Just,” Finn answered.
“Well, I’m sure you covered everything, brother. So then...good bread, good meat—good gosh, let’s eat!” Sam quipped as he reached for the large bowl of scrambled eggs.
The others chuckled as they tucked into their own food.
“I do like your scrambled eggs as well as your biscuits, sister-in-law,” Sam commented before forking a large bite into his mouth. Swallowing, he winked at Charise and added, “But my favorite breakfast you make is your French toast.” Glancing at Beth Ann with a sparkle in his eyes, he asked, “Can you cook as good as Charise?”
Beth looked aside at her long-time roommate and both girls beamed from ear to ear.
“Matter of fact—I made the biscuits this morning,” Beth informed him.
Then, Charise looked back at Sam and raised one eyebrow. “Who do you think taught me how to cook, huh, brother-in-law?”
Sam raised his brows. He obviously hadn’t expected that.
“Especially that recipe for French toast. That came from Beth Ann’s grandmother.”
Sam thought for a moment, reaching back to what they had told him before. “Grandmother? I thought you’d been raised in an orphanage...” he directed at Beth.
That subject never sat well in Beth’s stomach and she felt a bit embarrassed as she thought back on those long-ago days, living in abject poverty with a cantankerous old woman. Although the orphanage had been strict, it had been world’s better than what she’d known before. All of the children had warm clothes to wear, plenty of food, their own beds, fair discipline, and structure in their lives. Now, she put on her practiced brave smile and met Sam’s eyes.
“Yes, I lived at the orphanage from age ten; before that, with my grandmother. And yes, French toast was, for some reason, the dish she made the best. Although admittedly, she didn’t make it often.” Because we rarely had the ingredients to do it, she added silently. “At the orphanage, all of the kids had to help with the chores, and I loved helping in the kitchen best, so I used to spend as much of my time in there whenever I could. The head cook, Miss Cynthia...Heavens to Betsy, that woman could cook up a polecat and make it taste good. She was so kind to me, and taught me so many things. I still miss her,” she added softly, averting her eyes briefly as those pleasant memories came floating back.
The others at the table remained silent as she gathered herself again and looked back at them. Sam, especially, seemed a bit regretful, perhaps about his earlier teasing. Then, turning toward Charise, she asked in mock horror, “You didn’t give away the secret in the recipe, did you?”
Her long-time friend shot right back, “And forfeit my life? Not a chance!”
They all laughed merrily at that, and the carefree atmosphere was restored. As she took another bite, Beth Ann let her eyes rest fondly on Charise, and then one by one at the others seated around the table. How blessed she was to have such good friends, a cherished papa, and now, hopefully forever...a wonderful, thoughtful husband.
Time would tell!
Sam stayed at the table chatting with Zeb as the girls washed the dishes, their bright banter making them laugh in the familiar way that only best friends do. He couldn’t seem to stop his attention from gravitating back to the lovely redhead...his wife...to stare at her, watching every little move she made. This morning, she was dressed much like his sister-in-law, in what he believed women called a day dress of soft green and blue plaid, with her hair fixed in the same style as the day before, loosely braided and corralled at the back of her head. He wondered how long it was and if she ever wore it down...
Finn had already gone downstairs to start his day of barbering, and once the breakfast dishes were finished and put away, Sam suggested a walk around town to acquaint the newcomers with their new home. Beth Ann seemed especially happy with the idea.
“Well...I don’t know...” Zebulon answered, a frown shadowing his face.
Sam looked at the old man. “Something wrong, Zeb?”
Zebulon looked first at Beth Ann and then askance at Sam, before making a show of yawning and stretching. “I seem to still be a bit fatigued from all that traveling. I can see the town tomorrow. You two run along—don’t worry about me.”
Beth Ann immediately became concerned. She dropped the dish towel onto the table and quickly rounded the surface to grasp the old man’s hand. “Papa? Are you not feeling well?” She put a hand up and felt his forehead. “Should we get a doctor? I couldn’t bear it if—” she paused as Zeb raised h
is other hand to stop her words.
“No, honey. Just tired, that’s all. You ran me ragged over the past week,” he added with a chuckle, but the obvious affection and teasing twinkle in his eye proved he wasn’t complaining.
Beth Ann obviously wasn’t convinced, and Sam could see she cared a great deal for the elderly gentleman. He reached out and clapped a hand on the old man’s shoulder. “You sure, Zeb?”
Zebulon nodded as he rose to his feet. “Yes, I’m sure. Now you young folks run along and let an old man set his own pace. Go on, get,” he added, turning his back to Beth and giving Sam a sly wink.
Ahh, I thought so. He’s letting Beth and me be alone. Hmm...I was going to ask Charise if she wanted to tag along. I wonder...
He nodded back and then turned his head, looking questioningly at Charise. “All right, are you coming, Charise?” He held his breath as she seemed to take some time to decide.
In the end and much to his relief, her eyes fairly sparkling with mischief, she shook her head. “I’ve got too much work to do around here. You two go,” she flicked her hand forward as if sweeping them out the door, “and have a good time,” she added with a grin, before reaching for the broom in the corner and commenced with sweeping the floor.
Beth watched Papa Hinkle lightly limp toward the door before disappearing into the hall, and then she turned to meet Sam’s gaze.
“Well...I guess we’re going to see the town. Let me get my wrap,” she added as she turned and left the room.
Sam watched her go and then turned and faced his sister-in-law’s knowing perusal again. She said nothing, though her grin widened and she began to hum a spritely tune as she worked.
Soon, Beth Ann returned, a warm shawl around her shoulders as she sent him a bright smile.
“I’m ready.”
He grinned from ear to ear and indicated she precede him out the back door.
“Have fun,” Charise called before he closed the door behind him. Her happy giggle followed them out.