Love Finds You in Groom, Texas (16 page)

“Well, Amaryllis, of course.” Cody let go of his end of the track, and it fell to the pile of rubble below. “Isn’t that who you…” He crossed his arms at his chest and stared at Jake. “Oh, I see how it is. My fiancée brings you a beautiful distraction from the East, but you’ve been waylaid by a pretty distraction from the West. That how it goes?”

Jake didn’t want to admit it, but how could he deny it now? So he muttered a quiet “yeah” and hoped his best friend would drop the matter altogether.

No such luck. Cody brushed the dust from his gloves and gave him a crooked grin. He slapped Jake on the back. “Can’t say I blame you. But let’s don’t tell Virginia just yet, shall we? We want to keep her—and Amaryllis—happy for a few more days.”

“If I were you, I’d start thinking of ways to keep Virginia happy for a few more years, not days.” Jake gulped, realizing how his words might be taken. “I mean…well, you know…”

“Yes, I do, and I plan to make her the happiest bride in Carson County for years to come. But let’s go back to talking about Anne. She’s caught your eye, eh?”

Off in the distance several other men took a break to eat lunch. Jake and Cody joined them, but Jake couldn’t seem to stop the thoughts from tumbling around as he bit into his sandwich.

“Doesn’t make a lick of sense to let my mind go there,” he said after a couple of minutes. “She’s leaving in a few days—as soon as we get this track fixed. Then what would happen? We’d both be miserable. If she were to like me back, I mean.”

“Hmm.” Cody grinned and waggled his brows. “What say we come back to the track in the wee hours of the night and undo all the work we do today?”

Jake chuckled. “I don’t want to manipulate God’s plan. If this is God’s plan, I mean. Could be she’s just a lovely distraction from the West, as you said. And we know she’s only stopping through on her way to someplace else. But I can’t help but wonder…”

“If that train landed her on your doorstep for a reason?” Cody gave him a pensive look.

“Yes. I don’t really believe in coincidence, but this is pretty unusual. Of all the places she could land…”

“She tumbles into the one place in Carson County with the only single fella in town. Is that what you were going to say?” Cody slapped his knee and started laughing. Several of the other men followed suit, and before long, Jake was again the brunt of several jokes.

Wonderful. Just what he needed.

Still, as the laughter rang out around him, Jake’s thoughts gravitated to the one thing—er, person—who could make all of the teasing worthwhile.

Hmm. Maybe he
should
come back tonight and pull the track to pieces. Then, perhaps, she could stay on until his heart and mind came into alignment. In the meantime, he’d just go on daydreaming about the possibilities. Even if it meant being ribbed by the fellas.

Chapter Twelve

The Texas Panhandle was once the place for shoot-outs and cattle rustling. These days, Panhandle residents tend to be kinder and more even-keeled. Likely this is due to the influx of so many local churches and the message they offer. We are known as the Wild West no more. Folks now tip their hats at one another and offer a gracious “God bless you” when you pass by. “Turn the other cheek” is the motto of the day. If your neighbor gets you riled up, forgive him. If your brother knocks you upside the head, turn and let him smack you on the other side. I must confess, this is a new idea to me, but I’m workin’ on it. My wife tells me I should. —
“Tex” Morgan, reporting for the
Panhandle Primer

Anne walked out onto the front porch and smiled when she saw Maggie seated on the swing, snapping beans.

“Need some help?”

“Of course. Come and sit by me, honey.”

Anne took a spot on the swing and grabbed a handful of the string beans. As she snapped, she pushed back a memory of helping her mother with this very chore as a little girl.

“I’ve noticed your cross, Anne,” Maggie said. “It’s so pretty.”

“Ah.” She paused and took hold of it. “It was my mother’s. She wore it every day.”

“Well, it’s a lovely piece,” Maggie said. “And I’m sure you’re thrilled to have it.”

Anne wanted to tell her how hard it had been to hide it from the debt collectors when they showed up at the house to confiscate her father’s belongings, but she didn’t mention it. Instead, she rubbed it between her fingers, as always. Almost immediately, her heart rate returned to normal.

“I’ve never been the sort to wear a lot of jewelry,” Maggie said. “Mainly because I’m always working in the kitchen. It’s hard to knead bread dough when your hands are covered with diamonds.” She chuckled. “Though I might like to try it someday, just to make sure.”

Anne laughed. “I don’t really aspire to have fine things. I’ve tasted of that life and have to believe that there’s more to our existence than finery.”

“You are a wise girl, and a beautiful one too. And your dedication to your little sisters is so admirable.” Maggie gave her a wink before going back to work.

“Speaking of Emily and Kate, I do hope Milly is able to handle them. It was awfully nice of her to invite them over to play with her children.”

“Oh, she’s great with children. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I think you have wonderful grandchildren, Maggie.” Anne snapped the end off one of the beans. “They’re adorable.”

“Kate seems to fit right in with the little ones, doesn’t she?” Maggie smiled and reached inside the bowl for another handful.

“I’m sure she and Emily are having the time of their lives here.” Anne wanted to add, “I honestly don’t know how I’m going to pull them away,” but didn’t. There would be so many issues to deal with when it was time to leave. But she couldn’t focus on that right now. It would spoil the moment.

“Kate is the sweetest little thing.” Maggie wrinkled her nose. “Oh, it does my heart good to have such a precious little girl around. After all those years of raising boys…” She chuckled. “There’s a world of difference between raising boys and caring for girls.”

Anne rested against the back of the swing. “Emily might as well be a boy, the way she acts. I don’t mind admitting, I’m so worried about her.”

“Ah. You heard about the fight she and Willy had yesterday at the church social?”

“Yes. She can be quite a little hooligan. I’m so sorry.”

Maggie laughed. “I’ve been saying this almost from the day William came into the world: he’s got entirely too much spunk. Someone needs to knock it out of him.”

“Even if it’s a girl?”

Maggie laughed. “Well, I don’t usually abide fighting, and the Bible does say to turn the other cheek.”

“Yes, I hear he did that and she whacked him on the other side.” Anne paused and chuckled. “What do I do with her, Maggie? She knows nothing about manners or etiquette or decorum. And without a mother…”

Maggie released her hold on the beans and reached to touch Anne’s arm. “You’ve done a fine job with her, honey. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“How did you know it was really myself I was beating up?”

“I can tell. You take on a lot of responsibility where those sisters of yours are concerned.”

“Of course I do. I have no choice. But even if the situation were different, I’d still be just as dedicated.”

“Of course. That’s what love does. It devotes itself to great causes. And your sisters are the best cause in the world.” Maggie paused and reached inside the bowl again. “Now, let’s get busy snapping the ends off these beans. And while we’re at it, tell me a little more about this wedding we’re planning. Sounds like you’ve been coming up with more ideas.”

“Oh, I have.” Anne smiled as the ideas flooded over her once more. “I was up till one in the morning coming up with plans. Once the ideas start, they just flow like a river.”

“Well, that’s quite a gift you’ve got, my dear. Creativity isn’t as easy for most folks. I, for one, would never lose sleep due to my creative thoughts.”

Anne laughed. “Sometimes it does feel like a curse, especially when it keeps me up till all hours of the night.”

“Fill me in,” Maggie said. “I want to hear absolutely everything. Don’t leave out a word.”

Jake arrived home from a long day of heavy lifting and lugging, ready to put the cares of the world behind him. As always, he headed to the barn to feed Frances. Though others might find it odd, he took comfort in visiting with her every evening before heading to the house. No one seemed to understand his troubles like Frances did.

Jake had no sooner entered the barn than someone lunged at him from the shadows, grabbed him, and covered his head with a feed sack. He fought to free himself but could not. Seconds later, several familiar voices surrounded him with laughter. His brothers.

“What in the world are you—?” He never had a chance to finish the sentence before one of them—sounded like Joseph, based on the voice—picked him up and slung him over his shoulder.

Anger coursed through him, and he began to fight against Joseph’s hold. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“We’re gonna take you to the reverend’s house and get you hitched so you won’t bring shame on the family.” This time it was John’s voice.

“W–what?” He wrestled to get free, but to no avail.

“Sure. If you beat Cody to the altar, the joke will be on him. Then he’ll be the last single fella in town, not you.”

“I don’t really mind that I’m—”

“We’ve got a couple of real purty options.” This time it was Jedediah’s voice. “That Amaryllis is something special.”

“And this new gal from Denver is mighty nice too,” Jeremiah threw in.

“’Course, we could just round up Cassie Martin and have her meet you at the reverend’s house. She’s probably already got her wedding gown sewn and the cake baked.” John’s booming voice echoed across the barn. “How would you feel about that?”

Jake squirmed, and Joseph apparently lost his grip. Jake went tumbling to the ground, landing with a hard thump—but his pride was really more wounded than his backside.

His brothers all had a good laugh at his expense. He fussed and fumed until they untied the feed sack and pulled it over his head. Jake wiped bits of grain out of his hair and off his face. He even picked a couple out of his ear. He mumbled a scripture about patience a couple of times before standing aright to face them headon. Finally he felt ready.

“Look, fellas, enough is enough.”

“What do you mean?” John leaned against the barn wall and stuck a piece of straw in his mouth.

“I’ve been the brunt of your jokes for years now, and it’s got to stop.”

Joseph’s face fell. “Why?”

“Why?” Jake paced the barn and kicked some straw. “Because it’s wearing on me. I’m tired of it. You need to pick on someone else for a change.”

Jeremiah shook his head, as if he couldn’t comprehend the idea. “But…we like pickin’ on you. It’s what we’ve always done.”

“Besides, we can’t pick on the ladies. They’re…ladies.” Jedediah shrugged. “So who else is there?”

“Here’s a novel idea.” Jake turned to face them. “How about… no one.”

“No one?” They spoke in unison.

“How does that work?” John asked. “Never heard of it.”

“It works like this. You just treat everyone the way you would want to be treated.”

The wrinkle between John’s brows grew more pronounced. “Hmm.”

“But I enjoy kidding around. And I don’t mind when people make fun of me,” Jedediah said.

“You don’t?” Joseph slapped him on the back. “Well, then. It looks like we have a volunteer.”

“Really?” Jedediah put up his fists, as if ready to box. “You’re ready to mess with me like we always mess with Jake?”

“You’ve got it, little brother.” Joseph took a few swings at Jedediah, and before long they were on the ground in a playful fistfight. Well, playful until Jedediah socked Joseph upside the head. Then things turned ugly.

Jake peered down at them. “I guess you fellas just don’t get it. The idea here was to keep you from making fun of anyone. Doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen.”

“Just don’t understand why it’s necessary,” Jeremiah said with a shrug. “But as long as you’re happy, we’re happy.”

“Yeah, we’re happy.” Joseph rose, rubbing the side of his head.