Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel (27 page)

Granny winked at him, making Jess smile. “Supper was great as usual, Granny.”

“It sure was,” Caleb added, smacking his lips. “I’d do any extra chores you have in my free time just to get to sit at your table.”

“Well, thank you both. Caleb, I might be able to accommodate you. I’ve been wanting to paint my porch for some time now.”

“I could probably get that done in two weekends.” Caleb leaned back in his chair and covered a belch with his napkin.

“I might let you leave around four on Saturday, but you’d have to go to church on Sunday. You could paint after lunch,” Jess remarked.

“Think you can handle the job, Caleb? I’ll buy the supplies,” Granny said.

“I know I can,” Caleb bragged.

“Then, young man, you’ve got yourself an extra job and supper anytime you’re hungry!” Granny rose and started clearing the table, and Greta made a move to help.

Granny tapped Greta on the shoulder. “Oh no you don’t. You just rest that foot. Jess, why don’t you and Greta enjoy the porch swing before I have to take it down when the porch is painted? The weather’s mighty nice now.”

Greta gave the older woman a brief hug as she stood. “I told Jess you are going to spoil me rotten.” She caught Caleb’s eye. “Do you think you could wash the dishes for Granny?”

Caleb swallowed. “Wash dishes?”

“Don’t you worry none,” Granny said. “I’ll wash, you dry. Fair deal?”

Caleb cocked his head at her. “You wouldn’t have something sweet to nibble on, would you? Jess works me pretty hard,” he answered with a grin.

Granny paused with the plates stacked in her hands. “You and I are going to get along just fine. I’ve been known to have a sweet tooth all my life,” she answered with a laugh.

Jess tucked Greta’s arm under his. “I think we can leave them alone to battle it out, don’t you?” Greta nodded. He couldn’t wait to be alone with her again before he and Caleb headed back to Central City. He guessed Zach had come home after he and Greta left and fixed his own supper or went to Mabel’s again. At least he wouldn’t have to complain about Jess’s cooking tonight.

“Granny’s right. It’s a beautiful night and all the stars are out,” Greta commented once they were settled on the swing at the end of the porch.

Jess pushed his foot against the floor to set the swing in motion, and it creaked against the rope. “I can tell that the evenings are beginning to get just a little cooler than before. But fall is my favorite time of year, and I enjoy being here on Granny’s porch with you next to me. How’s your foot feeling? Better, I hope?”

She looked at him, her eyes wide in the darkness with only the moon’s glow for light. “It really is much better. I want to get back to the store, but Granny and I need to finish up the dress for Agnes, so could you plan on having Caleb pick me up Friday morning?”

Jess rested his arm on her shoulders. “I’ll do even better than that. I’ll come get you myself.”

“Jess, until you talk to Zach, it’d be best to let Caleb come for me, don’t you think?”

Her nearness made it hard for him to think about anything else. “I guess you’re right.” How in the world could he have been so against having a mail-order bride? Greta was so lovely with the moonlight bouncing off her hair, making it appear almost silvery against the pale skin of her shoulders. He lifted her hands and kissed her palms, noting her neatly filed nails. She scooted closer to lean her head against his shoulder, releasing a breathy sigh.

“Happy?” he asked.

“Contented at the moment. The motion of the swing makes my eyes heavy. Guess I’m as bad as a baby in a cradle,” she said.

“Then that calls for a good-night kiss for
my
baby,” he said.

She lifted her head to meet his kiss, and hers was warm, sweet, and inviting. Jess lingered there, nibbling at her lips. He could never get enough of them, and he felt his blood turn to water with every kiss she returned. At long last, he released her and closed his eyes. He leaned back against the porch swing with one arm still about her shoulders, caressing her silky hair.

She began to trace the outline of his brow, then his eyes, and continued on to touch his lips, ending with a kiss on his neck just above his collar. “And your baby thanks you.”

Once Greta was ensconced in the four-poster bed under a light chenille coverlet, she finally opened Catharine’s letter.

Dearest Greta,

Everyone here is doing well, and the twins are growing up fast. They keep me very busy, as you recall, so this will be a quick letter. The wheat crop looks promising for harvest soon, and Peter sends his love. Anna is doing well living with Clara, and it seems that Clara is happier having Anna as a companion.

I can’t wait to hear from you about your marriage. Will you be living above the mercantile store? I hope you’ve made a new friend. Being away from family can be so hard.

I know this was a difficult choice for you to make after losing Bryan, but I’m glad you’re ready to look forward to your future and not at what could have been. Write me all about Central City. I look forward to reading once the children are in bed.

In closing, I wanted to share some exciting news—I’m pregnant again! We are ecstatic and happy to be filling our home with children. Our blessings overflow. God has given us back the years the locusts have eaten—and I’m not speaking about the wheat crop. I can almost see the smile on your face as you read this.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sending you my prayers and blessings on your new life.

Love,
Catharine

Greta was lonely for her family but filled with joy for Catharine. Setting the letter aside, she made a mental note to write Catharine tomorrow. She lay back on her pillow, pulling the cover up to her chin, glad that she’d gone to see Jess when she did. Funny how they both shared grief over the same person, but until a few days ago, they hadn’t known each other’s pain. God worked in mysterious ways, Granny had told her when they were sewing. Greta had to agree.

Lying in the dark, she dreamily thought of her evening with Jess. The conversation at his place about his brother made it clear to her that they had connected on a deeper level than ever before. Her thoughts drifted to his lingering kisses and his hand holding hers as they cuddled. It was a nice way to end the day with the one you love. Which only made her wonder what it would be like to be his wife and be held in his arms every night. She blushed at the thought and wondered if Jess was in his bed right this minute thinking of her too.

26

Greta turned sideways in her seat to wave once again to Granny, who stood in the yard as she and Caleb drove away in the early morning light. Granny had treated her like her own daughter while Greta allowed her foot to heal for a few days. Today she had neatly wrapped it so Greta was able to get her foot back into her shoe, and although it felt snug, it felt much better. And the dress was done—with the two of them sewing, it wasn’t long before they’d whipped up the dress for Agnes. Greta felt proud of the creation, which gave rein to a whole host of other possible designs in her head.

While she enjoyed her respite with Granny and her delicious meals, she realized just how much she’d missed Cora. Their friendship was special, considering how they’d met, and being outsiders automatically gave them a closer link. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, their lives were being neatly pieced together with the two Gifford brothers, Granny, and their unique friendship.

“We’ve missed you at the store,” Caleb declared, loosely holding the reins while giving Stomper his way. “Jess can’t seem to get a thing straight or keep track of stuff.”

Greta laughed. “I’m so glad to be missed, even if it was more for my work performance than for my amicable personality.”

Caleb’s face reddened. “Aw, you know what I mean.”

“
Ja
, I do, Caleb. I was only teasing.” Greta smiled. “What a fine morning we have. Cold in the morning, then warm by noon. I really love living in America.”

“It’s especially nice to be up before Black Hawk and Central City wake up and everyone gets to hustling through the streets. Kinda nice and quiet right now, just the birds and the breeze blowing the leaves around,” Caleb remarked.

Greta breathed in the fresh morning air. Not much space separated the two towns, Greta thought as she took note of the brick buildings and a few weathered clapboard ones. Granny told her that most of Central City had burned in a fire back in 1874.

A movement from Caleb’s left jolted her to the present, and Caleb jerked the reins, bringing the buckboard to a standstill. A horse and rider had come from behind a boulder that edged the dusty road and stopped a few feet away from them. The rider had a black kerchief around his face and nose and leaned against the saddle horn with a penetrating gaze.

“
Ach!
What’s the meaning of this?” Greta exclaimed.

“Well now, you’re right purty, little lady. My, my, if it ain’t my cohort, Caleb. Who’s your new lady friend?” The rider snickered. “Isn’t she a bit outta your league?”

How did he know Caleb’s name? Greta’s heart began to pound against her ribs
.
He didn’t seem to be much of a threat . . . but then again, why did he ride with a mask over his face?

“Not that it’s any of your business, but she’s not my lady friend! I’m not your cohort in crime either. I’ve left that old life behind me.” Caleb stiffened. “What do you want, Jack?”

Jack’s dark eyes narrowed at them. “I won’t go pulling my gun on you since we’re friends, but the purty lady there can toss me her reticule and her nice ear bobs I see dangling.”

“I will not!” Greta blurted out, folding her arms and holding the reticule tighter. She didn’t have much money, but she sure wasn’t going to let him get his dirty paws on it.

“What’s that you say?” Jack smirked, pulling down his kerchief. He looked only a year or two older than Caleb, ruggedly handsome, but in bad need of a shave.

Without warning, Jack slid off his horse’s back and in two strides had made his way to Greta. He reached out to grab her arm, but Caleb was quicker. He lunged at Jack from the wagon and landed on top of him, forcing them both to the ground in a heap of flying arms and legs, their hats flinging in different directions.

Jack’s surprise almost made Greta giggle, but this was no laughing matter. She tensed, standing up to watch the fight. Lifting bags of grain and flour and eating three square meals a day seemed to give Caleb the advantage.

Dust flew upward, choking Greta. She covered her mouth and watched as the men struggled to their feet.

“Don’t let him get the best of you, Caleb!” Greta cheered him on. When Jack’s fist found Caleb’s side, she gasped and held her breath. And though he landed a punch in Caleb’s midsection, Caleb came back with a punch to his stomach. While he was doubled over, Caleb landed another right hook to Jack’s chin, knocking him to his knees. Jack wiped the blood from his jaw and lip and stared up at Caleb, swearing under his breath.

“I suggest you get back on your horse and hightail it outta here before I have to knock some more sense into you.” Caleb was breathing hard, his hair hanging down in his face. He bent over to knock the dust off his hat, then slammed it back on his head, jaw clenched in a hard line. “Or maybe I should haul you off to see the sheriff.”

Jack swaggered to his feet, a bright blotch of red oozing where his lip was split. “I gotta give it to you, kid, you’ve gotten stronger in more ways than one.” He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and reached for his hat. “Sure you’re happy living with that feisty blonde-haired beauty?” he asked, climbing back on his horse.

Greta could no longer keep silent. “I can guarantee he’s a whole lot happier than you, so why don’t you get on out of here while you still have some dignity in that bashed-in face of yours?”

Jack sneered at them. “That’s too bad, honey. Me and you could’ve made some sweet music.” He jabbed his horse’s side and tore off down the road, leaving a wake of dust.

Caleb climbed back into the wagon, and Greta gasped when she saw his rapidly swelling black eye. “Caleb, you want to turn back to Granny’s and let her doctor your eye?”

Caleb winced when she touched his brow. “Naw, I’ll be okay. It’s not the first one, and I reckon it won’t be the last one either.” He picked up the reins and said “giddyap” to Stomper, and they continued on their way.

She laid her hand over his. “Thanks for protecting me that way. You could’ve been hurt—or shot.”

“Jack may be notorious, but at one time he
was
my friend when I was on the road. I knew he wouldn’t really hurt us.”

Greta was still reeling from the entire incident, but she smiled inwardly that Caleb seemed to have matured and changed his ways since Jess took him in.

By the time they reached the store, everyone was busy with morning customers. Cora paused from wrapping her patron’s package and gasped when Caleb and Greta entered the store. “My goodness, what happened to you?”