The Romancing of Evangeline Ipswich (9 page)

Evangeline looked to Hutch and then back to Jennie. Jennie still wore a smile of amusement stretching from ear to ear, at her brother’s expense.

“So am I to understand you’re not courting her?” Evangeline asked Hutch.

“Oh, hell no!” Hutch growled, frowning.

“I told you not to swear in front of Evangeline, Hutch,” Jennie playfully scolded.

Calvin chuckled, adding, “Heather Griffiths is after Hutch as serious as a hound dog chasing a rabbit! She pretty much makes his life miserable at least four days a week. Isn’t that right, Hutch?”

It was obvious Hutch was uncomfortable—uncomfortable with Heather Griffiths’s pursuit of him, as well as being the topic of conversation in the room. Evangeline tried not to smile—tried not to be amused by his discomfort—but she couldn’t help it, and she smiled at him when he glared at her.

“Hey,” Calvin exclaimed, snapping his fingers, “I’ve got it!” He turned to Evangeline and said, “Why don’t you just take Hutchner here as your lover, Evangeline? Then Jennie and I can spread some mild gossip about it, and Heather Griffiths will run for the hills where Hutch is concerned.”

“What?” Evangeline exclaimed in an astonished whisper.

“Yes, that’s a wonderful idea, Calvin!” Jennie agreed with enthusiasm. “That would work just fine!”

“I do hope you all are teasing!” Evangeline scolded, blushing to the tips of her toes.

“Why?” Hutch asked her. “Don’t you think I’d make a good lover?”

Evangeline shook her head and said, “Now you all are just being plain ridiculous with your teasing!” Almost roughly Evangeline began to straighten the curtains in Jennie’s bedroom. “Why, I’ve never heard of such a thing! Starting terrible gossip and ruining my reputation just to keep Hutchner from being bothered by an admirer.”

She gasped, however, when Hutch took hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I’d be a good lover for you, Evie,” he said. His voice was low and shamelessly seductive. “And I’ll be gentle and—”

“Hutch!” Evangeline exclaimed—though she found she was simultaneously chagrined and delighted. “Stop that this minute!”

Hutch smiled triumphantly and released Evangeline.

“Now, don’t think I’m naive to the way married people tease others. I’ve got married sisters of my own.” She looked to Calvin, grinned, and winked. “And a couple of very mischievous brothers-in-law to boot. Furthermore, I know you are all just having your jollies at my expense…but really! To tease about such a thing!”

Hutch’s handsome brow furrowed a little. “I bet Heather Griffiths would be glad to have me for a lover. What makes you think I wouldn’t be good enough for
you
?”

Jennie and Calvin burst into laughter, and when Hutch smiled and winked at her, Evangeline realized the entire scene had been played out simply to make Jennie feel better. Therefore, she thought she’d forgive Hutch his taunting.

“Oh, I’m sure you would be, Mr. LaMontagne,” Evangeline told him then. “But I’ve got supper to tend to.”

Evangeline hurried to the bed, kissed Jennie on one cheek, and said, “I’m so glad you’re feeling better, Jen. I’ll make sure supper is something that won’t be too much for your stomach, all right?” She stood then, glancing from Calvin to Hutch and back. “Meanwhile, you two little devils go on about your mischief. Just keep an eye on our Jennie while you do.”

Evangeline hurried to the kitchen, anxious to escape any more teasing, for her stomach was in a tangle of mixed emotions. The thought of Hutch—of having an intimate relationship with him—had not only caused her to blush and feel flustered but also caused her heart to soar! It was obvious he was as thoroughly woven into her dreams and desires as ever he had been when they were in Boston—more so! And that realization was frightening.

Evangeline knew she would be leaving in a few weeks. After Jennie had the baby and had recovered well enough, Evangeline would return to Meadowlark Lake—to her life of being the spinster older Ipswich sister, fodder for Floyd Longfellow’s attentions. It wasn’t as if Hutch were going to suddenly find himself in love with her the way Calvin had Jennie. It wasn’t as if he were going to suddenly drop to one knee and ask her to marry him. No. He would go about his life in Red Peak, and she would return to hers in Meadowlark Lake.

And so Evangeline went about preparing supper for Jennie and the men. She tried to think only of Jennie—of her need for something soothing and not too hard on her stomach. Soup was always a good choice for anyone who wasn’t feeling quite up to snuff. And so Evangeline decided a nice, hearty vegetable soup of potatoes, carrots, dried basil, and any other vegetables on hand would do.

“Sorry about that all that in there,” Hutch said from behind her suddenly. “But it did cheer Jennie up, you know.”

“Oh, I know,” Evangeline said, trying to make her voice sound as normal and unaffected as possible.

She heard a chair slide away from the table—heard Hutch let out a heavy sigh as he sat down.

“She worries me so much,” he confessed. “When the doc told Calvin Jennie would have to stay in bed until the baby came, I’ll be honest with you, Evie—it put me in mind of your mother. And that frightens me.”

At once Evangeline’s embarrassment evaporated into empathy. She turned and offered a reassuring smile to Hutch. “I know. I thought of the same thing when her letter arrived telling me what Doctor Swayze’s orders were,” she confessed. “She mentioned to me that she also thought of my mother.” She looked away a moment. “It actually took quite a bit of courage for me to come here to be with her, because I was afraid that something might happen to Jennie or the baby…or both.” She looked back to him, again offering a comforting smile. “And today’s events didn’t do anything to strengthen my backbone.”

Hutch shook his head and agreed, “Mine either.” His expression brightened, however, and he added, “She seems pretty perked up now though, doesn’t she?”

“She does. Maybe she was just overly tired,” Evangeline agreed. “We’ll get some warm soup in her and make sure she goes to sleep early. Rest is the best thing for her.”

“I sure am glad you’re here, Evangeline,” Hutch sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “Calvin and I…well, we may have appeared like we were handling everything all right, but the truth is, both of us were about one more day away from having to be put in the insanity asylum, you know?”

“You both did wonders, and you are
still
doing wonders,” Evangeline assured him. “I’m just happy I can help.”

“I am still offended, however, though,” Hutch said then.

“Offended about what?” Evangeline asked as she pumped water into the sink to rinse some carrots for the soup.

“That you don’t want to take me for your lover,” Hutch answered.

He chuckled, and Evangeline couldn’t help but giggle as well. Turning around, she playfully flung a carrot at him, saying, “You stop talking about such things, Hutch!”

The carrot hit Hutch in the chest, and he caught it as it began to tumble to the floor. Drying the wet vegetable off on his shirt, he bit the end off and started chewing. “Mmm!” he sighed. “I love a good carrot.” He continued eating the carrot for a few moments, and Evangeline returned to her task.

Nevertheless, when Hutch had finished the carrot, he said, “But I don’t understand it. Jennie once told me that you were sweet on me when you were a girl. How come the idea of taking me as your lover horrifies you so much now?”

Evangeline’s cheeks turned as red as red as roses. Whirling around to face Hutch, she shrieked in a whisper, “She told you? Jennie told you that I…that I used to…that I…”

“Oh, it was a year or so back,” Hutch began to explain, “before you two took to exchanging letters and such. I’m guessing she thought the two of you would never see one another again.” He shrugged. “It was right after her and Calvin moved out here. We were talking about Boston and the things we missed, and Jennie said how much she missed you. I told her I always thought you were the prettiest little thing in the city, and she told me that you had eyes for me once.” He exhaled a heavy sigh, leaned back in the chair, and added, “I guess I didn’t grow up pretty enough for your liking, hmm?”

“I already told you I think you’re handsome,” Evangeline confessed, blushing a deeper shade of scarlet and turning back to her vegetables. “I told you when you met me at the train station and we were on our way here.”

Hutch grinned. “No, you didn’t. You told me I was taller than you remembered, not that I was handsome.”

Evangeline had to be careful not to cut herself with the paring knife she was using to coin up the carrots. Her hands were trembling so from the conversation Hutch was driving.

“Fine then,” she said. “You’re very handsome.”

“But not handsome enough to be your lover?” he baited.

Shaking her head and continuing to coin carrots, Evangeline said, “Well, your teasing manner has certainly gotten worse over the years.” She paused, mumbling, “And I can’t believe Jennie told you that I was sweet on you when I was a girl.”

“Oh, don’t be angry with her,” he chuckled. “It’s all in fun.”

“I’m not angry with her,” Evangeline admitted. She smiled. “I could never be angry with Jennie.”

“I still don’t see why you won’t help me out where that Heather Griffiths is concerned though,” Hutch continued to tease. “She’s like a burr under my saddle.”

Evangeline exhaled a heavy sigh, choosing to ignore Hutch’s baiting this time.

There was silence between them for a time, and then Hutch said, “After supper, let’s take a deck of cards in and play rummy with Jennie on her bed, all right? I mean, if you won’t agree to take me as your lover, the least you can do is play cards with me.”

“All right,” Evangeline giggled.

Hutch smiled, amused by how easy it was to ruffle Evangeline Ipswich’s feathers. He watched her as she continued to cut up vegetables for the soup she was preparing for supper. Land sakes, she was a good cook! Hutch truly could not remember eating food as delicious as the food and meals Evangeline had been preparing since she’d arrived.

And the food she prepared wasn’t the only thing delicious about her. Though he’d never forgotten the Ipswich family—especially the eldest and prettiest of the daughters—he’d been nearly knocked off his feet by the ethereal beauty he’d met at the train station. The moment Evangeline had turned and looked up at him, Hutch had been smitten—mesmerized—bewitched. And it wasn’t just because Evangeline Ipswich was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen either—though she certainly was. It was something about her smile, the sparkle to her emerald eyes when she looked at him, something about her very soul that drew him in—as if he’d been mucking around in the mud all his life, and then suddenly…the mud was gone and only the beautiful quench of a fresh summer stream remained.

The truth was, if it hadn’t been for the fact that Evangeline was in Red Peak to spend time with Jennie—well then, Hutchner would make a grab for her heart. But with Jennie so tired and feeling so poorly—with Calvin and Jennie both needing Evangeline’s care—it wouldn’t be right to let himself act so selfishly.

Nonetheless, once the baby had arrived safely, Jennie had recovered, and all was well, Hutch was determined to try to win Evangeline Ipswich for himself. And he figured there wasn’t any harm in laying a little groundwork by teasing her here and there, having some good conversations over suppers and things.

He watched as she tucked a stray strand of raven hair behind her ear and thought how much he would enjoy it if he truly were her lover.

*

“You play rummy better than any old granny I ever knew!” Calvin exclaimed to his wife.

Jennie laughed. “And I don’t cheat,” she assured him. Glaring at her brother, she added, “Not like
some
people in the room used to.”

“Hey, I don’t cheat!” Hutch defended himself.

He was sitting on a chair next to Jennie’s bed. Bending over and studying his cards a moment, he reached out, laying three aces on the bed. “I just win,” he playfully gloated.

“Oh, come on, Hutchner!” Calvin moaned. “Give another fellow a chance, will you?”

Evangeline giggled from her position at the foot of Jennie’s bed. “The game’s not over yet, Calvin. Don’t lose heart,” she encouraged.

“But he’s already won three hands,” Calvin reminded. “And Jennie won the two before that.”

“Evangeline let me win those two,” Jennie said, winking at Evangeline.

“I did not,” Evangeline fibbed.

“Well, I think it’s adorable that Evie let Jennie win,” Hutch said, drawing a card. “I never met anybody in all my life who cheated for other people to win a game.”

Evangeline sighed with a moment of pure contentment. It was a lovely evening—a lovely moment. The fire in the bedroom’s small hearth had died down to just embers now—beautiful, glowing embers that kept the room just the right kind of warm. Friends were gathered around enjoying an entertaining game of cards, and everyone’s stomachs were warm and full of soothing, nourishing soup.

Jennie, specifically, had looked much better after having eaten her first bowl of soup. Evangeline was so glad that the soup seemed to revive her friend, for it had been a worrisome day. But now Jennie seemed full of vim and vigor and was laughing wholeheartedly at the playful comments Hutch and Calvin were ever exchanging.