“Amen,” Clarence Gracin chimed from the other end of the table.
Frances and Michael sat again, and Tariana served the pie that Jamie had cut. When Jamie took his seat, she reached out a hand and squeezed his.
“Now if I may have your attention a moment longer,” Tariana began. “Since my schooling is finished and I am not yet ready to take a husband, I have decided to go to work.”
“That’s unnecessary,” her father said. “We manage fine.”
“But I want to learn a skill,” Tariana argued. “What if I end up a spinster and need to support myself? I must be ready for all possibilities.”
Evelyn chuckled. “You must admit, it might happen with her, Father. What man could put up with her boyish ways?”
“That’s not true,” their mother said. “Look at the splendid meal she has prepared, and she’s been the perfect hostess. I think you misjudge your sister.”
“Short-term success. Marriage lasts longer. It will be difficult to keep up the charade all day, every day, till death do us part.” Evelyn was displaying her catty nature, which she usually hid so well.
“Evelyn Gracin,” Father said. “You apologize to your sister, right now.”
“I will not! She is so wrapped up in her own world, she doesn’t even see the man at her side wilting with agony at her rejection.” Evelyn focused on Jamie, and then grew suddenly shy. “I may be young, but I’m more ready to love than Tariana.”
The atmosphere in the room grew awkward. Tariana struggled to smooth it over. “We all have growing to do, little sister, and that is why I am taking a job. Miss Freedman from The New Northwest has hired me to help at the newspaper. She is willing to bring on an apprentice, and will instruct me tomorrow as to my duties and hours.”
“A newspaper woman?” Cherise said. “I am so jealous.”
“Thank you, sister. I am excited about the adventure. It has become too big a job for one lady to handle alone, and she thinks I will be a good fit.”
“What will you do, dear?” her mother asked.
“Proofread, for sure, and hopefully, learn how to set the type for print.”
“Who knows – you might even be able to submit articles,” Samantha said. “Put that imagination of yours to good use.”
“A newspaper writes the truth, not what my imagination can dish out.”
Everyone laughed.
Tariana looked toward Jamie to see his reaction. “What do you think, dear friend? Shall I make it good in the newspaper industry?”
He grinned. “You can do anything you put your mind to.”
“And what happens when the beaus start calling?” Mother said. “Will they be pleased to marry a woman with a career?”
“One step at a time, Mother,” Tariana said. “I have months to decide what I want most.”
“I want grandchildren, if my opinion counts for anything,” Ada Gracin said.
Everyone at the table roared.
Frances piped in, “I think I can help you in that department, Mother. Michael and I want lots of babies.”
Tariana focused on her father, who had become quiet during this latest revelation. “Father, are you all right with this? I would like your blessing.”
Clarence Gracin motioned for her to follow him into his office, withdrew a small box from a shelf on the far wall, and passed it to her. “It appears the newspaper occupation is a family trait,” he said. “I was sent some of my father’s things when he passed, and this certificate of excellence was in it. Apparently, he was a fine reporter back in his day, when gathering news was a risky, new undertaking.”
“I remember the small press in the back shed he called The Gracin News. All us kids helped by selling that one sheet of print. Folks liked to hear about events and what mischief old Mrs. Chilton was up to.”
Tariana stared at the award in the box. “You never told us what Grandfather did for a living. I just assumed he was a preacher, too.”
“No, he preached a different tune. Folks respected him because he held to the truth and made his words flow with kindness,” her father said. “Do you think you can do that?”
“I want to try,” Tariana said.
He took her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Then go with my blessing. If you stay true to your heart and your upbringing, all will go well for you.”
“You do realize I am a bit of a rebel, right? Miss Freedman is strong for women’s rights, and we both know that not all men treat their wives as they should.”
“We do, and if that subject presents itself as news in the future, you would do well to tread carefully and let wisdom reign, not unrighteous rebellion.”
“I shall try my best, Father. I’m not even sure what I’ll be doing. She may care less about my creative input and just assign me the grunt jobs.”
They laughed. “We all start at the bottom, daughter. Now, I think I should like another piece of that pie. Some young man will be blessed to have such a well-balanced woman and a speaker for his community in his kitchen. Be sure not to settle for anything less in life.”
Chapter 12
Jamie, Michael, and Clarence Gracin went to the office after dinner while the girls stayed to help clean up.
“Thank you for making this a special dinner,” Frances said. “I appreciate it and do hope you will take Michael up on his invitation to visit our home anytime.”
“I will. I’m glad the tension is gone between us.” Tariana laughed. “Who knows – we might grow to really like each other.”
Frances slapped her with the loose end of the drying towel. “You say the silliest things. I knew you’d grow up someday. We’re sisters forever, and I’m proud that you’re setting out in the working world. I hope it is everything you expect.”
“If not,” Mother said, “she can come home and get serious about shopping for a husband.”
Evelyn groaned.
Tariana questioned her, “Whatever were you on about with Jamie? You know we’ve been friends our entire lives.”
Evelyn clucked her tongue with exasperation. “Sometimes, I wonder about love. Is it totally blind?”
“You imagine that I love Jamie, or he loves me?” Tariana asked.
“If I have to tell you, it takes all the fun out of watching you squirm,” Evelyn said, hanging her cloth on the hook to dry. “I’m done, Mother. Can I go to my room? I’m dying to read the last chapter of my book.” She leveled a mocking gaze in Tariana’s direction. “It’s a romance novel.”
“Yes, be off with you.” Ada looked at the remaining four girls. “Shall we take our tea in the parlor? I want to hear all about the changes the seamstress made to your dress, Frances.”
Tea cups in hand, the girls gathered to whisper appropriate oohs and ahs as Frances described every detail of the gown. Tariana would be much easier to please, as none of the fancy lace and satin interested her. If she married, she would dress in a simple, elegant, white dress with pearl buttons and a short train to flow behind her as she walked the church’s blue carpet before saying her vows. She would wear delicate, snow-colored flowers in her hair and a small veil to cover her face. When her man removed it and feasted his eyes on her, she would be the happiest woman alive.
“What are you thinking about?” Frances asked. “You look starry-eyed and a million miles away.”
Tariana blushed. “I was thinking of my wedding dress, and how different our tastes are. Yours will take away the breath of every person who sees you, whereas mine will be designed to take my husband’s breath away.”
“Now, she wants to get married,” Samantha said. “Our sister can’t seem to make up her mind.”
“Well, she has time until her eighteenth birthday before casting her line to the many eligible men in Oregon City.” Ada patted her daughter’s knee and smiled.
Jamie knocked on the door and popped his head into the room. “Mrs. Gracin, I was wondering if I could take Tariana for a short walk?”
Everyone looked at Tariana, who frown
ed. “What are you all staring at? I’ve walked with Jamie before.”
Ada Gracin bit her lip to hold back the grin. “Certainly. You two run along. Keep to the streets, Tariana, and stay clear of the meadows with your pretty dress on.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Although she and Jamie had snuck out for years to play in the woods or down by the river, the twinkle in her mother’s eyes suggested it had never truly been a secret, but merely turning a blind eye to her daughter indulging in boyish activities.
Tariana stood, walked to the door and offered Jamie her arm. “Shall we go, Jamie?”
Along the boardwalk they chatted casually about church, neighbors, and life in general – anything that did not steer close to the subject on both of their minds.
“So, Jamie, my sister says I have to choose between a career and a man. Do men talk about such things amongst themselves?”
“They’re all different. Just like women, no two are alike. It only stands to reason that each would be looking for a wide range of characteristics in their wives.”
“So, you believe there is a man for every woman?”
“If they aren’t too stubborn to admit it,” he said with a touch of sarcasm.
“Are you insinuating I am stubborn?”
“I don’t think that’s a secret,” he said. “And it now appears that neither have the years of sneaking out to fish and hunt. Your folks knew about us all along.”
“Suppose it was their way of letting me go without acknowledging it as unladylike behavior.”
“Takes a lot of patience being a parent, don’t you think?” Jamie asked.
“I suppose it does, especially raising five girls.” Tariana studied Jamie. “Do you want children someday?”
“Sure. Need to leave a legacy of Sackertons around the countryside.”
“My father has no son to carry on his name. That’s sad,” Tariana said. “I hope you have many boys.”
Jamie stopped and faced Tariana. They’d worked their way down a side street and were standing under an oak tree in the commons.
“What did you think of Evelyn’s remark?”
“My sister speaks out of turn. I hope you were not offended.”
“Not at all, but what about the man at your side who wilts with agony at your rejection?”
“Evelyn is dramatic.” Tariana noted his eyebrows raise and the hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “You, Jamie? But I thought you had your eye set on Angelica?”
“I told you I wasn’t interested, but you weren’t listening,” Jamie said. “It appears you prefer your version.” He became earnest and grasped her hands in his while holding her captive her with his eyes. “Tariana, it’s always been you. Sure, when we were kids, it was all about fun and competition, but a while back, my feelings got all complicated. Of course, by then, you were dead set on Michael, and just when he is out of the picture, I have a career to contend with. I never seem to get you in between passions.”
“Are you one of those bigots who wants his woman tied to the kitchen?”
“I think you know differently. I love that we fish, hunt, pick berries, play-fight in the grass together, and don’t see that any job needs to be labeled man or woman. I see marriage as a team effort.”
“That’s very modern thinking, sir.” Tariana was beginning to relax. “So, if you and I hooked up, would you mind me working part-time? It might not even be an issue – I might hate the newspaper business.”
“I doubt that. Besides, if it’s not the newspaper business, it would be something else.” She started to object, but he placed a finger over her lips. “Unpredictable means we’ll never be bored. I can live with that.”
“You want to live with me?” she asked.
“You are making this very difficult.” He pushed her gently against the trunk of the tree and stopped his approach within inches of her face. “May I kiss you, Tariana?”
She gasped. Yes, she wanted him to kiss her. Her heart pounded so hard she felt certain he was standing close enough to count the beats. Her eyes transferred to his lips, and he took that as his answer. It was slow and tender, and before long, she surrendered to the kiss.
When they pulled away, he was grinning. “That did not feel like I was kissing my best friend.”
“Do couples not consider themselves friends?” Tariana asked. “My mother is old-school and says not necessarily. It would thrill me to share my heart openly with you for the rest of our lives.”
“We will build our home the way we want it because I surely want to continue our friendship, but moreover, I will love and cherish you as a wife. I see it as a double victory for both of us.”
“I never expected this to happen,” Tariana said. “I kind of hoped it might, but friends to lovers just seemed awkward.”
“Until now.”
“Yes, until now.”
Jamie whistled at work the entire morning, and at lunch, he decided to drop by The New Northwest and see how the apprentice was getting along on her first day of work.
A few doors down from the paper’s office, voices were raised in argument.
“Who do you think you are? I didn’t ask you here.” It was Angelica.
“You are promised to me, yet I hear rumors of another man all around town. I think I showed up just in time.” His voice dripped with accusation.
Her next words took Jamie totally by surprise. “There is another man. He treats me kind and does not try to control me.”
“What’s his name? I’ll blow his head off before taking you back to civilization.”
“You will do no such thing,” Angelica said, her voice shaking with fear. She turned her gaze from the man and locked eyes with Jamie. The man next to her, followed suit and laughed aloud.
“Is that the bloke? He doesn’t look like your type at all.” He turned and focused on Jamie. “Well you heard the woman – two men cannot own her, so we will do the honorable thing.” He walked over to him, removed his glove, and used it to slap Jamie on the cheek. “One o’clock sharp on the main street here. Bring your weapon,” he said.
“You’re crazy. I will not be there. You can have the woman.”
“Too late. The challenge has been given,” the man said.
“And you say you come from civilization?” Jamie asked. “Folks around here tend to talk out their problems before resorting to gunning each other down.”
“Gentlemen demand honor and restitution.”
“Gentlemen?”
“Yes! Stop echoing me. One o’clock, in the street.”
“Best bring a parasol – it gets hot standing in the sun alone.”
Jamie turned to Angelica. “Deal with this,” he said.
Instead of the flamboyant girl he’d grown to know, she cowered at his side. “Oh, James – save me from a fate worse than death.”
“Marriage? You will have to take that up with your father. Might be a good time to go home.”
“Home? That would only seal my doom. What of our plans to marry? I want to stay here,” she cried aloud. Everyone in close proximity could plainly hear and see the desperate woman’s plea.
She grabbed his arm, and faced the tyrant with new strength. “Go home, Clifford. We don’t want you here.”
From where he stood, Jamie heard the gasp, and saw Tariana outside the door of The New Northwest’s office building. Her hand clutched the collar of her dress as she stared at Angelica, sidled up beside Jamie. Was she doubting the promises they’d spoken the night before?
He needed to do something fast, but the choice was taken from him when the man moved to the center of the street. “I changed my mind,” he said. “Let’s get this over with now.”
Tariana took off running, and Jamie noticed that she was headed for the Sheriff’s office. All he had to do was waste a bit of time, let the lawman do his job, and the crisis would be over before anyone got hurt.
The thought had barely taken root, when, in two giant steps, Clifford reached over to snatch Angelica fr
om Jamie’s arms and put the barrel of the gun to her head. “Maybe your chicken heart would prefer me to rid us both of our problem. No one will miss Miss Snooty-Pants. I will tell her father we married in Oregon, and after I scoop up the money he promised as a wedding gift, I will inform the family that their daughter was ruthlessly gunned down by a jealous nobody in Oregon City.”
The man seemed smug as he unfolded his plan. “You’d best watch your back, boy – because he will seek vengeance.” Clifford roared with laughter as he tightened his grip on Angelica. “Yes, this idea is sounding better all the time. She is one tigress I won’t have to beat into submission.”
How could a man spit such vile venom? Jamie had never met the likes of anyone like him before, and he realized he’d lived a sheltered life.
He inhaled and put up his hand. “Leave the girl alone. We’ve a date with fate at one, right?”
Clifford pushed Angelica to the ground. “That’s more like it. I heard frontier men were tough – now’s your time to prove it.”
“Not on my watch, mister,” the Sheriff said, aiming his gun at the stranger’s head. “No one comes into my town to stir up problems. The way I see it, you have two choices: either leave town immediately or go to jail and let the judge decide what to do with you. Threatening our citizens is a serious offence, depending on how the circuit judge feels that day.”
“He’s not partial to outsiders,” someone from the crowd yelled. “Go home and take the woman with you.”
“I was attempting that very thing when she declared her wish to stay and marry a member of your community,” Clifford yelled.
“I don’t care where the woman goes,” the lawman shouted. “I only care about you.”
At that moment, Angelica wrapped her arms around Jamie. “I’m staying here and marrying a man who will treat me with respect.” The way she clung to Jamie made them look every bit authentic as a couple. He glanced around to see the horror on Tariana’s face as she turned, went back inside the building, and closed the door securely behind her.
Obsessed in Oregon (Yours Truly: The Lovelorn Book 8) Page 9