by Jillian Hart
Love and sadness shone in Mindy's eyes, and it was impossible not to feel for her. Jada knew what it was like to dream of love, happiness and marriage.
The front door chose that moment to swing open. Damp, cool air blew into the toasty shop. The next-door neighbor stood in the doorway, eager-eyed and bald.
"I spotted something left for you on the boardwalk, Jada." Joel, always nosy in the most amiable way, zeroed in on the gift still unopened in her hand. "Why don't you open it? I want to be an eye-witness so I have the whole story right when I tell folks about you and the cowboy."
Jada really liked Joel, even if he was all prepared to gossip about her suddenly exciting love life. "This can't be from Frisco. I bet he's not the romancing sort at all."
"Oh pshaw! You're already wearing the pin he gave you. Don't make assumptions. He could be very romantic, you don't know that he isn't." Joel grinned. "I did see him amble by a few minutes ago. Do you know that puts him at the scene of the crime?"
"Now that's highly suspicious." Stella gave the red ribbon bow on the little package a tug to untie it. "I can't take the anticipation any more. If you won't open it, than I will."
"Fine, I don't think my heart can take it." Jada managed an airy tone, but her heart beat like a train speeding down a mountain grade. Down deep, it was a little thrilling to have an admirer, and her entire being gave a crackle of heat and sexual thrill she didn't want to admit to, but wasn't that nice? "Joel, when you tell people this story, please be sure and say that Stella opened the package, not me."
"Sure thing. I only report the truth as I see it," Joel said good-naturedly.
"Look, there's Frisco!" Mindy nodded toward the front window.
So did she. There he was, standing tall in all his broad-shouldered glory. Jada couldn't hold in the little sigh at the man across the street. Look at how handsome he is. He wore a black duster, and his Stetson was tilted at a charming angle to shadow his angular, strong face. As if he could sense her, he looked up. A grin lit him up. He raised a hand in greeting.
Her fingers waggled at him in response before she could stop them.
"Yep, we've found the culprit," Joel announced most joyfully.
Jada's heart lurched. Was it silly to hope like this? Yet, no matter how she tried, she couldn't hold back the ardent attraction for him.
With a wink, Frisco moseyed on, strolling out of sight, but she couldn’t make her eyes look away from the last spot where he'd stood. Her poor brain had gone rogue, refusing to obey her.
"Oh, it's lovely!" Stella's words were faint, as if coming from a great distance.
"Let me get a real good look," Joel moved in, adjusting his spectacles so he could see everything clearly. "Yep, that's a serious courting gift. Watch out, you're spoken for."
Jada felt hope all the way to her soul. She tried to smile, tried to pretend that what Joel said didn't matter to her, but she felt frozen, paralyzed. Too good to be true. Could this really be happening? Mindy leaned in to admire the gold locket, Stella offered Joel the cookie tray resting on top of the displace case (he took two). As he chewed, Stella tied on her apron, preparing for the customer coming through the door, announced by the bell's jingle. Even then, Jada couldn't move.
"Good morning, Gerald," Stella greeted their newly returning customer.
Mindy leaned in closer to Jada, lowering her voice. "This is exciting. I think Frisco is pretty sweet on you. I wonder if he's been wanting to do this for a long time."
"Poor Frisco," Jada joked, surprised that she sounded so natural and light, making Mindy laugh. "With me, he's bound for disappointment."
"I highly doubt that." Joel winked, held the door for another incoming customer and stepped outside.
The door shut and she was left with Frisco's gift in her hand. She blinked, overwhelmed by the heart-shaped gold locket, etched with tiny rosebuds and leaves, so beautiful. How could she risk her heart loving again? But when she thought of Frisco, so good and capable and stalwart, how could she not?
The locket shining up from its little box was unmistakable proof. She glanced across the street but saw no sign of him. He was gone.
She stared down at the locket for a long while. She'd had so little hope having to move here to Montana Territory with Pa. This gold rush boom town, more dust than anything else, was pure disappointment when they'd arrived. Who would guessed that here, in Alder Creek, she just might have the fresh start of her dreams?
"Jada, we have customers waiting." Mindy came up to her, excited, and pointed to the glass front door. "Look at the children."
Sure enough, a duo of school-aged boys were heading their way, talking and laughing and hanging on the boardwalk rails and hitching posts. A woman with a laughing face and brown curls accompanied them and two other boys.
"Stella wanted to give out free samples to kids today." Mindy scampered behind the counter. "It's the last day of school. Jada, come help me."
Stella, busy with two other customers, looked up when the door jangled open to greet their little customers with a smile. "Come in. And get some cookies."
"Cookies are my favorite." Aiden informed them, a little on the muddy side, followed by his equally muddy twin. The Hayden boys tromped across the floor, and Jada barely had time to hold out the sample plate before they were reaching. They each snatched a cookie and stepped aside for their friends and the mother of the other boys to take their pick.
"Thank you, Jada," they said in unison.
"You're welcome. You have good manners," she told them, breathless as they bit into their cookies.
"We know," Aiden answered for his twin.
All of those little boy eyes lit up with delight as they took another bite, grinning wide.
Excellent. Happy customers.
Mindy brought out a plate for the children, too. The boys' little hands politely grabbed for the fun horse-shaped cookies. Every sweet young customer seemed thrilled with the frosted decorated treats. The horses had black noses and brown eyes, pricked ears and a big horsey grin. Each horse was frosted in different colors: white, black, bay, dun, chocolate, palomino, roan and dapple gray.
"Wow, Jada!" Austin went up on tiptoe to smile up at her. "These are great!"
"So, you like horses, do you? You've surprised me."
"I know! I got one the same color as Chester." Aiden hopped up to chime in.
"Ooh, they're too wonderful to eat." The other two boys' ma smiled over at her. She was as comely as could be, prim and proper and so likable. Just the kind of lady Jada wanted as a customer here, or simply as a friend. The warm glitter of her blue eyes made her irresistible. "Hmm. I don't know which one I should choose. Boys, can you decide for me?"
"Take the palomino," her oldest boy decided for her and grabbed one. "It's the prettiest and good enough for my ma."
"Jada," Aiden broke in, tiny cookie crumbs clinging to his mouth. "You were really nice to give us so many cookies that day we messed up your shop. I really loved them. We ate 'em all up."
"I'm glad you liked them." Jada was rather fond of the boys, after all.
"And the pie was tasty, too," Austin chimed in. "Grandmama loved it. She got all happy and everything."
"I'm very glad to hear that. Is today her day off from watching you?"
"She says she needs a break from us. We're a lot to handle." Aiden nibbled the cookie horses's front hoof.
"How are things going with Chester?"
"He loves us." Austin wiggled his mouth around as he studied the horse cookie, deciding on where to bite next. "Pa's not happy we took him out on a joy ride, that's what he called it."
"Why? What happened?"
"It was the very happiest few minutes of my life." Austin confessed. He looked too cute with his dark hair, a slash of mud on his cheek and across the front of his shirt and knees of his denims. "Then he jumped a log next to the alley, Aiden doesn't know how to steer real well, and I slid right off the back and hit the ground. Well, then Aiden turned around to see what happene
d and our great Chester got scared and ran beneath an apple tree. The lowest branches knocked Aiden right off."
"I nearly got a black eye with that one! It was really great." Aiden's eyes lit up with delight.
"It sounds like an adventure." Jada looked up to realize she'd been so absorbed by the sweet boys that she hadn't realized more customers had come, and who must be the twins' aunt had walked over to the counter and Stella was boxing up horse cookies for her.
"Our pa gave you that pin and that necklace you're holding in your hand." Austin broke into her thoughts.
"Yes, it was very kind and thoughtful of him." Jada's heart gave a vulnerable and painful twist. How could she ever let herself walk this path again? "Your father has been very nice to me."
"That ruby pin looks very pretty on you." Aiden tromped off, leaving the importance of his words lingering in mid-air.
"It was nice to meet you," Frisco's sister smiled at her on her way to the door, bakery box in hand. "Have a good day."
"You, too!"
Mindy sidled over as the door closed, the little boys and the lovely lady were gone, and an elbow bumped her, all smiles. "See? I told you this would work out. This place is almost crowded."
"It's good to be popular," Jada joked. "Did you overhear what the boys said to me?"
"Yes, and don't say I didn't tell you so."
"I won't. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to make some rye bread. I can see we're running low." Privacy, that's what she needed. Jada skirted the customers standing in line with the beautiful locket, Frisco's gift, still tucked tightly in her hand.
* * *
Frisco didn't mind the rain or the wind cutting through his duster as he hauled the barn doors closed. Now that his horses were fed and bedded down for the evening, he could think about a relaxing spell spent in front of the fire with his sons.
His boots felt light as he tromped through the backyard puddles. He was halfway to the porch steps before he realized he was whistling. Whistling. He hadn't done that in ages. Unusual that he felt so chipper on this fine, damp evening. He swung open the mudroom door and shook off his rain and his outerwear.
"Pa!" Aiden dashed into view, swinging a wooden sword. "Whatever you do, stay there! They're everywhere! Don't worry. I'll defend you."
"Where did you get that sword?" He hung up his hat and duster. "Don't poke your brother with that."
"Don't worry, I won't! We made 'em!" Aiden charged back into the kitchen, swinging his weapon.
"Frisco?" Ma's voice rang out from the kitchen. "Is that finally you?"
Frisco laughed softly, shaking his head. Home was always his favorite place. "Yes, I'm finally back. My mares about ready to foal aren't quite ready yet, so I have a bit of a break. Thought I'd come in and warm up. That stew smells good."
"It should be. I had no idea what those boys were up to hammering and banging away in their room until I saw what they'd done. Those swords are trouble!"
"I, for one, agree." He strolled into the kitchen, warm and fragrant and filled with some of his favorite people.
Smack! One sword hit the other. He shook his head at the boys play-righting near the table. Clump! Bang!
"See the noise and fun you get to escape when you're in the barn?" His mother's eyes twinkled at him. "You boys knock that off and put down those swords. I have supper ready. Now get in here and wash your hands."
"Yes, Grandmama." Aiden leaned his wooden sword against the wall. Austin did the same and scampered to the sink.
Frisco stepped over to the table and dragged out his chair. He folded his big frame into it. "Ma, you look like you've had a fun day."
"Oh, I spent it shopping. I know the boys need to spend time with their cousins, but I can't help but miss them. Whatever will I do when you finally find yourself a wife? She'd better be good to you." She grabbed a ladle and a bowl and began to dish up.
He leaned back in his chair. "Don't go mentioning a wife. Did I tell you that supper smells good?"
"Yes, you did." Ma filled another bowl and padded through the kitchen to the table. Thunk, the bowls went down on the blue gingham cloth. "It sounds like you need to go back and keep a close eye on your expecting mares?"
"It may be all night in the barn." He grabbed his knife and dug it into the butter bowl and reached for a slice of fresh, warm-from-the-oven bread. "I can drop the boys off at their cousin's for the night. I don't intend to inconvenience you."
"Oh, I can stay over, you warned me this morning you have mares about to foal." Ma ambled back to the stove, dishing up two more big bowls. "Do you know what you need? A pretty wife who likes horses."
Stupid move, Frisco. He never should have ever let anyone know anything, especially about his visit to the jewelry store (his pa had caught sight of him through the Grange window and put two and two together. No wonder he'd been asking advice on jewelry for a gift).
"Are you talking about that pretty lady who bakes?" Pa ambled in from the parlor, ignoring the twins dashing around him to hop into their chairs at the table. While Ma answered Pa from the stove, Frisco's mind drifted to the pretty lady mentioned.
Jada. He'd seen the flash of surprise, delight and joy on her face when she'd looked out at him through the window. So, she still must like him. That was a good sign, right?
He took a bite of bread, realizing he had to stop whistling to do so. Okay, he was man enough to admit the truth. Just thinking of Jada lit him up and put fire in his veins. She had a sweet, hot little body, a dear face and a personality that made him want to grab her, haul her into his arms and see what her kisses would be like. Heaven, no doubt.
It had taken a long time to get over his former wife's abandonment and the heartbreak she'd given him. Boy, had that hurt. Time had healed the wound, but the trepidation lingered. He was leery of giving his heart a second time. There was something about Jada that kicked his heart into overdrive, made him want to take her into his bed and to love her tenderly, love her right, in every good way he could think of for a good long life.
She was a dream. Honest and gentle, funny and kind, and good. So very good. He adored everything about her, he had from first sight, and he wanted her here in his life. More than he'd ever wanted anything for a long, long while.
"Everybody eat up," Ma announced, setting down the last two bowls. "Boys, stop fidgeting. Aiden, get your elbows off the table. Austin, slow down, smaller bites!"
Frisco laughed and spooned up a hot, flavorful mouthful. He thought of Jada, of how much he wanted her, and hoped he was improving his chances to win her. Only time would tell.
* * *
Their rooms above the shop echoed with the sounds of the rain and wind. Jada stirred honey into her tea and carried the cup from the kitchen. Mindy glanced up from her book, and Stella from her knitting. They were here because of Frisco, and the locket and pin she wore was a reminder of him. No man had ever done so much for her. Her heart squeezed with something far more than gratitude and admiration, and her body gave a fiery sizzle, something she'd never felt before. She desired him. She was attracted to him. What was she going to do about that?
She settled into her chair by the potbelly stove and took a sip of her hot, soothing very sweet tea. The fire in the stove popped and whirred, a comforting sound warding off the chill and storm outside. Rain tapped against the window glass and wind gusted against the siding.
Did she risk her heart? She needed to be strong and not give in to fear. Frisco and his courting, well, he was a chance of a lifetime.
Decision made, she set her cup on the coaster on the lamp table and picked up the book she'd been reading. She vowed no more fear. She opened the pages, settling in to read, but not even a good book could stop the wish growing in her heart.
14
The morning was dark and still as Jada opened the delivery door and glanced down the street to assess the state of things. All looked quiet and normal. A cat scampered ahead of the man delivering milk. At least the rain had stopped, but fog hovered, g
iving a shrouded, forgotten feeling to the street. Of course, it was too early for business yet and the shops stood dark, but a few shopkeepers were up, judging by the new flare of a lantern leaping to life across the street.
She breathed in the happy scents of bread, and muffins and cinnamon rolls, in love with her life. The pin at her collar and the locket at her neck made it a little extra special. Business was good, and they had that newspaper article to thank, that and Frisco. Oh, Frisco. Her heart squeezed and a kick of fire charged through her, real desire.
Amazed by that, she knelt to grab up the delivered milk bottles on the ground. A light flashed into the alley way from the shop across the way. Bernard stood on the doorway nodding in greeting to her.
"Good morning, Jada." He made a fine figure as he stood backlight by the lamplight.
She stood up straight and tucked two cold bottles into the crook of her arm and leaned back against the open door. "Good morning, Mr. Stroud. You're up early!"
"I've got a good long day's work ahead of me, and I noticed your door swing open. It reminded me of my milk delivery." Bernard gave a genteel nod. "I hope you have a good day."
"Thank you." She couldn't help but smile. Bernard was a good man and neighbor. "You have a good day, too."
Suddenly too shy, she snatched the other two bottles, holding them all carefully, stepped back into the vestibule and gave the door a foot-shove to close it with a soft click. She went to set the bottles on the nearest counter top.
A knock on the door startled her. She jumped a bit, unprepared. Then she rolled her eyes at herself. She knew who was on the other side of the door when she opened it. "Ronald! Right on time? How is your morning going?"
"Perfect. I have to say word in the diner is that you can out-bake them easily when it comes to sweets and cakes." Ronald handed over possession of the big crate of fresh farm eggs. "I like to think my family's egg products have something to do with that."