Year of Jubilee (11 page)

He rose and dressed. No sense in making
Jubilee wait. He steeled his innards against the inevitable meeting
with the Harpers. Jubilee’s innocent eyes came to his mind. He knew
Rosemary could eat Jubilee in one gulp. He had to protect her and
himself. His best defense was his marriage.

Jubilee seemed subdued as they made their
way to the Salon for breakfast. The rumor circulated that they’d be
docking around ten o’clock. Rafe took a deep breath. The sooner the
better.

They were seated without encountering hide
nor hair of the Harpers, and Rafe relaxed a bit. He smiled at
Jubilee, taking note of the fullness in her cheeks now. His gaze
flicked to her dark hair, which shone like crystal. Never had he
seen anyone with such shiny locks.

Many people frowned at her sun-darkened skin
and sun-splashed hair, but he thought it gave her a healthy look.
Her best feature, though, were those dark eyes, now looking quite
puzzled as they gazed back at him. She differed so much from…his
heart skipped a beat when he realized he was thinking of
Rosemary.

“Is everything all right?” Jubilee’s brows
drew together, and her lips pursed.

“Right as rain.”

Breakfast arrived with greasy gravy slung
over hard biscuits, but they managed to polish off most of the meal
and left the Salon in record pace. Rafe led Jubilee to the
hurricane deck, hoping she wouldn’t mind the sun, given the early
hour. They were the only ones on the top. He escorted her to a
bench that would afford a wonderful panorama of New Albany once
they came abreast of the curve.

“You’ll love the view from here,” Rafe said,
almost convincing himself they weren’t simply hiding. It went down
his gullet easier.

* * *

Jubilee opened her eyes and rubbed them with
her fingers, taking a slow breath of air to awaken herself. She
raised her head and realized they were still on the hurricane deck
on the same bench. The sun’s rays shone bright, and her face grew
warm. As she stretched her neck, something dawned on her. She’d
been lying against his shoulder—asleep. Her eyes grew wide, and she
covered her mouth with her hands. Glancing at him, she found him
smiling and the sunlight caught the green in his hazel eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Rafe grinned. “Didn’t inconvenience me none.
Look.”

He motioned ahead of them, and she noticed
the steamer had slowed. Shielding her eyes with her hand, she saw
the docks and scanned the houses and businesses along the
banks.

“We’d better collect our satchels and get
below.” He rose and assisted her. “The horn will soon go off and we
don’t wanna be here when it does.”

They took the stairway and collected their
baggage from their quarters. Rafe carried both of them in his right
hand while she gripped his left, maneuvering through the crowd. The
whistle blasted and Jubilee cringed, thankful not to be on the
hurricane deck.

The captain skillfully slowed the huge ship
to ease into the slope at the bank of the river, where several
other steamers were beached. Excited chatter twittered all around
and the throng pressed in from every side. By now, the heat had
become oppressive. It took time to disembark on the dirt bank and
climb to the wooden walk. Rafe hailed someone Jubilee couldn’t see
and a shiver of apprehension shot through her.

A few moments later, the crowd parted and
they were surrounded by a puddle of family, all talking, smiling,
and hugging. Jubilee blinked and caught her breath, still not
entirely awake. There were so many. Rafe pulled her toward two
older people, the lady wiping her eyes and grinning at her
already.

“This is my mother and father, Jennie and
William Tanner.” Rafe introduced them. “And this is my wife,
Jubilee.”

She smiled and was pulled into a hug by
Rafe’s mother. “Oh, what a beautiful girl you are.”

Jubilee blinked
. Beautiful?
Then
Rafe’s father embraced her, his height an obvious clue as to where
Rafe had inherited his stature. Then the names began to fly,
Everett, his wife Addie, with way too many kids, Forrest and
Mollie, more kid names, then Anna and Amos, Phoebe, Isaac,
Benjamin, Evanga-something and so many children running, jumping,
and being held that Jubilee grew dizzy.

Then grandparents, Henry and Blanche Tanner,
and Grandma Louisa, Jennie’s mother, leaning heavily on a cane.
Jubilee moved to the edge of the crowd, her hand gripped in her
skirt. Rafe pulled himself free from his father’s embrace and
stepped to her, wrapping his arm around her back while he continued
to talk. She hated to admit it, but his presence added a measure of
security.

“We’ve brought our luggage, so maybe it’s
best if we head to the house. I’m sure meeting everyone is a bit
overwhelming for Jubilee.” Rafe chuckled.

“Oh, of course, dear. We are a bit much, I
suppose. We’re so sorry.” Rafe’s mother wrapped her in another
hug.

Jubilee breathed a sigh of relief as they
moved off the busy platform. Horse-drawn buggies crisscrossed
everywhere, but the Tanners wove confidently through the crowd,
laughing and jostling the children.

She clung to Rafe, marveling at the easy
atmosphere of the family. Grandpa Will swung one of the many
smaller girls up in his big arms, thundering a laugh at her pouty
expression.

“Never gonna get cherry pie with a face like
that!” he teased before tickling the little girl. She burst into
giggles and wiggles. Rafe seemed engrossed in full conversation on
the state of his new farm with the eldest brother…Everett? Jubilee
wasn’t totally sure. Sarah skipped to Jubilee’s left, eyes alight
at every word Rafe spoke, punching in questions about his new place
when she could. Jubilee swung her gaze around and noticed how tall
the men were, and that most of the women were taller than she. Even
Sarah towered half a head above her, and Jubilee remembered she was
only sixteen.

Reaching the wagons, Jubilee learned they’d
brought four. She and Rafe ended up in the driver’s seat of his mom
and dad’s wagon, while they occupied the backseat. Sarah and a
couple of the older children got in the back on a colorful quilt
and made themselves comfortable, chatting and singing.

Rafe took a hold of the reins and gave a
gentle slap on the backs of two fine black horses and they began
rolling north. The road was busy with the docking of the steamer,
and she surveyed the businesses that lined the main street while
the Tanners talked.

Jubilee glanced at her husband, and he
flashed an encouraging smile. Rafe’s father, Will, seemed abuzz
about his son’s new farm, and Rafe’s eyes sparkled as he told him
of the improvements he’d made since his arrival.

“The barn is one amazing building. You
should see it, Dad. It’s one of the biggest I’ve seen. And it’s
well built, all pegged together. I’ll have no problems getting the
hay and feed stored for the winter. I’ll be able to house the cows
and the young livestock on the coldest of days.”

Rafe continued talking about crops with his
father for several minutes until his mother interrupted. “Now all
this farm talk can wait, Rafe. I want to hear all about your sweet
wife. Why, she’s hardly spoken a word, poor dear. Don’t you ever
give her a chance to speak?” Jennie chuckled.

Jubilee turned wide eyes on him and he,
taking pity on her, smiled and answered. “Well, Mom, she was just
thrown in with about thirty strangers all loaded with questions and
such, so I’m thinking she needs some time to warm up.”

“You must’ve had a whirlwind courtship,
being as you were only gone from home a few months, Rafe. You left
here so besotted with Rosemary, and the next thing we know you’re
married.”

Rafe’s body stiffened. Ah, Rosemary. That
explained a lot.

“Now, Jennie,” Will began, “no need stirring
the pot before we even get them home. They’ll tell us when they’re
ready.”

“Oh, Jubilee, don’t think I’m not thankful
you’re here. I’m pleased as punch. Why that ole’ Rosemary…”

“Jennie,” Will’s voice rumbled.

This, however, did not put the woman off one
bit. She leaned forward and patted Jubilee on the back.

“Oh, I’m sure it’s this way when you go
home, Jubilee. We’re just all full of curiosity. I bet your folks
are as curious about Rafe as we are about you.”

Rafe cleared his throat to speak, but in cut
Jubilee’s quiet voice.

“Actually, I grew up in an orphanage in
Pennsylvania. I don’t really know who my parents were.”

The silence thickened. Then Jennie answered
softly. “Oh, I wasn’t aware. I’m truly sorry for butting in. Please
forgive me.” She paused before continuing, “Well, I want you to
know you’ve got a family now. If you ever need anything, you just
ask.”

Jubilee’s hand buried itself in her skirt
and began a nervous circle. This was going to be harder than she’d
thought. Her mind rolled around as the rest of them conversed. They
left the busy city behind as farmland surrounded them on both sides
of the wagon. When they finally pulled into a long driveway,
Jubilee noted a modest white house with a large porch, shutters at
the windows and a nice-sized barn to the left, painted red.

They unloaded and everyone went their
separate ways while Jennie chatted. She led them upstairs to a
doorway on the right side of the hall.

“Now this was Rafe’s old room…well, the
boys’ old room,” she amended. “You two can freshen up. We’ve got a
big meal planned under the maples in the side yard. I guess I
better get down there and help. We’ll give you both a couple of
minutes.” She started for the door and suddenly stopped. “Oh. And a
few people from the church may be stopping by toward evening. They
all know you’re coming, so I thought I’d let you know.” She turned
to them, gave a big smile, and dabbed her eyes. “I’m so pleased
you’re here.”

She stepped from the room and snapped the
door shut. Jubilee turned startled eyes on her business partner.
Rafe seemed much larger in the confines of a small room. His face
puckered in thoughtfulness.

“Well,” he brushed a big hand down his
slightly bristled jaw. “I guess I didn’t think all this
through.”

She glanced around the room. The bed to the
left was large, with a trunk at the foot. Straight in front of them
stood a dresser under the open window. A bedside table and a new
chaise lounge to the right completed the furniture in the room.
Jubilee froze.
Good gracious, what now?

* * *

Rafe was all too aware Jubilee had become
like a statue. His face grew warm. What must Jubilee be thinking?
She couldn’t possibly think he’d planned this.

“I’m sorry, Jubilee. I honestly never gave
much thought on the accommodations. I’d really rather not reveal
the true state of our marriage if possible. That leaves us with
sharing this room. I…” He picked up the satchels and set them on
the settee and slid his hands into his pockets.

Glory, what to do now? What to say? “I’ll
a…let you get ready and I’ll…” he cleared his throat, “do something
else. Uh, I’m sorry.”

He strode to the door, stepped into the
hallway and closed it with a click. Oh, lands, what a mess
.
Here he’d been congratulating himself for escaping Rosemary this
morning. He’d gone from the pan to plop into the fire. Well, he
supposed the chaise would be his bed for the duration. Short of
telling his family about the arrangement, there was no other
option.

He rubbed the back of his neck and took the
stairs two at a time to join everyone, hoping Jubilee didn’t decide
to rat him out. Not only would that stir up major complications and
a flurry of pointed questions, but it’d get back to Rosemary and
his former best friend, Dale. He’d already been made a fool once.
He’d like to escape another round of that.

* * *

Jubilee inhaled a shaky breath and lowered
herself to the chaise. The odd piece of furniture had only a back
on one end and a long armrest along the backside. But Jubilee’s
mind wasn’t on that so much as it was the sleeping situation. How
was this going to work? Would she survive two weeks sharing this
room with Rafe?

Telling his parents wouldn’t be an option.
She had no desire to divulge the details of their marriage and its
actual state. She gave a shuddering sigh and placed her hand on her
throat. They’d have to share the room. Perhaps he could…. She
glanced at the chaise. It was very small. Rafe was very large. She
swallowed.
Oh, dear.

Jubilee rose, pulled her brush from her
satchel, and walked to the dresser where an oval looking-glass hung
on the wall. Pulling her thick hair out of the braid, she brushed
it through and studied herself in the glass.

A mirror was a luxury Jubilee wasn’t used
to. She stared long and hard at her face. Jennie had said she was
beautiful.
Beautiful?
She sighed. No, definitely not. What
had Esther said on her wedding day? Oh, yes, pretty as a spring
day.
Had she spoken of the flowers I held or me?
She leaned
forward toward the reflection. It seemed important all of a sudden
that she was, at least, attractive. Her eyes appeared too big. Her
skin tanned too dark. Her hair too thick. Her body too thin. She
quickly re-braided her hair and turned from the mirror.
I am who
I am.

She brushed the lint from her blue dress.
Such a plain garment, but well made with her own hands. It would
have to do.
She
would have to do. Her chin tilted up. No use
putting off the inevitable. She opened the door and ambled
downstairs.

A head popped around the corner.

“Oh, there you are,” Sarah exclaimed. “I
wondered if I’d missed you coming down. Everything’s ready.”

She grabbed Jubilee’s hand and pulled her
through the kitchen, to the left, and out the back door to the
right side of the house. Everyone congregated near makeshift tables
under two red maples. More food covered the surface than Jubilee
had ever seen. And a whole lot of people stood about, smiling.