Year of Jubilee (14 page)

Several tables had been set up outside and
filled with baskets and small boxes. Jubilee caught her breath when
she realized they were all for her and Rafe. Pastor drew everyone
around, commenting on the large turnout to welcome the new couple,
but mentioned his regret that Grandma Lou and Jennie were not able
to attend. He prayed over the two of them, wishing them great
happiness and many children, and asked God’s blessing on the
food.

Rafe and Jubilee, whose face now flamed,
were invited to go through the food line first as the guests of
honor. They were escorted, with their plates of food, to a new navy
and yellow double-ring wedding quilt the ladies of the church had
pieced together. Jubilee swallowed as she sat down on her patchwork
pedestal. All this for a business arrangement. If they only
knew.

She had settled her nerves by the time
everyone else exited the food line. The whole congregation seated
themselves on blankets and quilts around the churchyard. Between
her and Rafe, dead silence filled the air. Finally, she ventured a
quiet question.

“Don’t you think we’re misleading them?”

Rafe looked at her then scanned the crowd.
“Not at all. We’re married. We’re not telling everyone we are and
we aren’t.”

His eyes flicked to her face, and she
glanced away. He moved closer to her, facing one way while she the
opposite. She found breathing a little more difficult with him so
near. He continued with his voice low.

“These are really good people. Most of them
have known me since I was a baby. They just want to help us out.
Someday, we’ll return the favor.”

He’s so close
. His breath brushed her
ear, and she trembled.

“I can understand how this gathering seems
odd to you, but this is what our church has always done. They
arranged one for all my brothers and sisters as well.”

Her throat grew dry when he laid his big,
rough hand on her arm. She looked into those beautiful hazel eyes
that couldn’t decide which color to be, contrasting sharply against
his tanned skin. “They’re very kind.”

“Enjoy it and be thankful.” His gaze moved
slowly down her face to her mouth then back up to her eyes.

Jubilee’s breath caught in her throat and
she jumped up. Her breathing came like she’d run a mile. “I need
more…lemonade.” She didn’t wait for an answer but sped off to the
refreshment table.

Thorns and briars. I’m behaving like an
idiot.
Finding excuse after excuse, she avoided going back to
the blanket. The rest of the afternoon, Jubilee watched Rafe
through her lashes. She glanced away any time his gaze swiveled
towards her. Several conversations floated about her during the
day, but she remembered very little. What she did recall was the
way Rafe moved so fluidly, guiding his big, lithe body through the
crowd, shaking hands with the men, dwarfing all of them, even his
brothers, and throwing his head back to laugh during his
conversations.

* * *

Rafe chuckled at a story Pete Miller told.
He’d been an old fishing buddy of his from grade school. He missed
spending time at the river, and Pete relayed a story of how his
nephew had slapped him in the back of the head with a wet worm
while they’d fished together a few weeks back. Rosemary walked by
then, her brows drawn and her face an irritated mask, with Dale a
half step behind, evidently the receiver of her tirade. They were
too far away to catch their conversation, but from their body
language it didn’t look like an enjoyable discussion.

“You heard Dale’s building the finest house
round these parts.” Pete motioned to the couple with his hand
gripped around his lemonade cup.

“No, I hadn’t.”

Pete smiled. “Yeah, I guess everything is
coming in special order. I don’t know how Dale will be able to pay
for it.” Pete grimaced. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t be telling you
this ’cause, well, you know, your relationship with her and
all.”

“Naw, no big deal.” Rafe smiled. “Marrying
her wasn’t meant to be.”

Rafe realized what he’d said rang true. He
focused on Rosemary a moment, but looked away in case anyone should
misinterpret his glance.

She was beautiful, yes, no one could doubt
that. Yet, looking back on his pursuit of her, he realized that
perhaps he’d pursued her for the wrong reasons. She’d been a much
sought-after prize. He’d ignored obvious signs indicating her
difficult personality, so nearly impossible to please.

Pete cut into his thoughts. “Well, good.
Everyone knows she’s making Dale miserable with this house. Maybe
that’s what he gets for sneaking around behind your back with her,
huh?”

Rafe’s jaw went tight. Yes, he’d grown weary
of all the gossip. Remembering the deception still put him on edge.
He glanced at Jubilee. She was opening the boxes and baskets at the
table, her face wreathed in delight as she wiped moisture from her
eyes. Everything delighted her. His lips quirked. Even his naked
chest had caught her attention.

Jubilee appeared delicate among the women
flitting about the table, so graceful. But he recognized her
strength. He’d learned what she’d endured, and he’d personally
experienced the fight in her. Her body appeared much healthier now,
and curvier. Her cheeks had a healthy glow that tinged pink when he
teased her. He stood there and let his eyes take her in.

Pete slapped Rafe on the back.

“Well, all I gotta say is congratulations. I
had my doubts after the rumor mill claimed you’d married so quickly
after Rosemary. But even an idiot can see you’re gone over your
wife. You’re one lucky man.”

Pete walked off to the dessert table, and
Rafe froze. Gone over Jubilee? Well, here he constantly stared at
her. Surely he wasn’t…he couldn’t…no. It was just being home, and
feeling responsible for her and such. He cleared his throat and
caught her glance toward him. Her eyes darted away. He pulled his
thoughts from Jubilee and strode to grab a piece of pie.

* * *

Grandma Lou had shown improvement by the
time the Tanners arrived home in the early evening, but was abed
and asleep. Sarah took great delight in helping Jubilee show Jennie
the beautiful gifts from the folks of the congregation. Jubilee’s
eyes still misted over as they brought out the lovely navy and
yellow quilt to show everyone. Rafe’s mother vowed she hadn’t a
clue they’d planned the beautiful gift, and remarked over the tiny
stitches holding the pieces together.

After they all chatted a bit, Jubilee
yawned. She finally excused herself and went to her room to dress
for bed before Rafe entered. It’d taken what seemed like an eon to
fall asleep last night, with her nerves on edge. Tonight would
surely be a repeat. Her eyes flicked to the small chaise lounge.
Poor Rafe. He hadn’t even complained over what had surely been an
uncomfortable night.

Footsteps padded up the stairs, and she all
but leaped into her bed to pull up the quilt. A gentle knock
sounded at the door, and Jubilee gave a hushed ‘okay’ for him to
enter. He entered without a sound, and Jubilee covered her head
when his shadow moved toward the chaise.

The sounds of clothing being removed
indicated his state of undress. Her face heated as she remembered
the scene of his naked torso with startling clarity. Had that only
been this morning? Finally, the chaise groaned, taking on Rafe’s
weight, and he moved around to get comfortable. She’d laid the
extra pillow on the chaise for him earlier and heard him punch it a
couple of times to adjust it against his back. Finally he seemed
settled.

“Busy day, huh?” his voice soothed in a low
murmur.

“Yes.” Her answer came like a breath,
thrilled he’d spoken.

“I guess you liked the quilt.”

She nodded into the night, and then realized
he couldn’t discern her silent answer in the dark.

“Oh, yes. The most beautiful one I’ve ever
seen.” She let a silence settle between them. So many questions
about Rosemary swarmed in her head. Well, any subject would do,
except her interruption this morning. “I supposed you enjoyed being
back at your home church?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Do you wish you could come back?”

He took a long breath as if he might be
thinking. Several minutes ticked by before he spoke. Jubilee grew
tense, fearful of what he’d say.

“No,” he said. “I miss my family, and yes,
my church. But I enjoy the quietness of our place. The
ruggedness.”

Jubilee gave a small smile.
Our
place.

He continued. “It’s more like Rafe Tanner’s
place, not just Will Tanner’s place. A farm where I make the
decisions and take the consequences of those choices.”

“Was it…difficult to see Rosemary?” There,
it was out. She closed her eyes to harden herself as he
answered.

“Actually, not really. It was much easier
than I ever would’ve thought. I guess I have you to thank for
that.”

She caught her breath. “What do you
mean?’

He stirred a bit. “Well, if I’d have come
back alone, people would still be thinking I hadn’t gotten over
her. But I brought you, so everyone assumed I’d moved on and that
helped a lot.”

A trifle disappointed with his answer, she
swallowed. “She is very beautiful.”
Now why did I go and say
that?

“Uh huh. Yeah, but I realize maybe that was
what it was all about.”

Jubilee blinked and her eyebrows drew
together. “Huh?’

“Well, when she moved to this area, I’d
turned fourteen. All of us boys fawned over her. She’d come from
the east and had high-faulting manners and ways, and she sure led a
boy on. We yammered around about having a girl like her. Dale and I
spent many a day fishing and discussing our interest in Rosemary. I
think anyone of us could’ve had her because it became a matter of
who was willing to work the hardest for her affections.”

Something akin to hope flared inside of her.
She smiled again at the ceiling.

“I’d just turned a blind eye to her faults.
I know it makes me sound a bit shallow that I could be so gone on a
woman and six months later be counting my lucky stars I didn’t
marry her, but that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

It was quiet for a spell and Jubilee
listened to his breathing even out into sleep. She’d never talked
with a man the way she’d spoken with Rafe the last two nights. It
seemed like they were almost a…real couple. A man and wife who
shared their thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams.

Jubilee woke up in the middle of the night
bathed in sweat. Her hair had escaped its braid and was crammed
around her neck.
Oh, I’m burning up.
The quilt was wrapped
about her and, with the twisted gown, she felt like she’d fallen
into a pot of hot water.

She threw the blanket off, pulled the damp
hair from her neck, and waited to cool down. Her sleep-deprived
brain realized she’d forgotten to open the window before getting
into bed, and realized Rafe hadn’t either.

She sat up and slid her feet to the floor.
Tiptoeing to the glass, she hoped to slide the sash up and let a
puff of cool air waft across her face. She glanced at Rafe. He
hadn’t moved. The moonlight danced through the curtains as she
swiped them away to grip the wooden frame and give a gentle tug.
The pane didn’t budge. Setting her tongue in the corner of her
mouth, she squeezed the wooden frame and shoved with more force.
Nothing.

Now how could this be happening? She’d
easily flung this silly window open the night before. Shaking her
head, she heaved again. Suddenly two strong arms reached on either
side of her and slid the sash up without a bit of struggle. She
took a shaky breath as she turned around, his arms still resting on
the sill behind her. She looked up, up, even farther up, in her
bare feet, and in the silvery moonlight, there stood a sleepy-faced
Rafe with a gentle smile.

“Sorry, I was having trouble,” she
whispered.

“I can see that.” His lazy grin grew.

He reached and drew out a lock of shiny,
dark hair, spiraled from the braid, reaching to her waist.

“Your hair is long.” His voice sounded
husky. “I’ve never seen it down.”

She could hardly breathe.

“I haven’t ever cut it,” she murmured.

“It’s beautiful,” he said.

He brought his hand out to the lock’s full
length and let it slip between his fingers.

They stood for a long moment, blinking at
one another before he spoke again. “I guess we oughta get back to
the business of sleeping.”

“Uh, huh.” She could barely speak.

He motioned with his left hand, indicating
she should go first. Jubilee was very conscious of the thin
nightgown which, before Rafe’s help, had seemed so heavy. She
climbed into the bed, thankful for the cooling breeze blowing into
the room. Rafe settled on the chaise and all became quiet.

“Goodnight, Jubilee.”

“Goodnight.”

As the crickets chirruped outside, Jubilee
listened as Rafe’s breathing slowed and evened, indicating he’d
drifted off to sleep. Her head turned to take in his long form
stretched across the chaise. Her brain lulled over the term,
‘business.’ She was beginning to not like that word.

The next day, Jubilee saw Rafe occasionally
as he helped his father and brothers harvest the wheat. She enjoyed
getting better acquainted with all of Rafe’s nieces and nephews,
but enjoyed cradling the babies in her arms most of all. Jubilee
helped cook, garden, clean and feed children, then laughed with the
rest of the ladies as they sewed and drank cold tea on the porch.
What an enjoyable time experiencing a real family.

* * *

That night Rafe stretched out on the chaise.
The odd piece of furniture wasn’t impossible to sleep on, but he
did wish it extended a couple of feet longer. His knees ached from
curling his legs.

Jubilee stirred in her bed and thoughts of
her opening the window last night flitted across his mind. The
moonlight had spun her dark locks to crystal. Hard on his
self-control not to bury his hands in the heaviness of her hair. He
could’ve easily drowned in her dark beauty and the deepness of her
eyes. But he wouldn’t. He had to remember how fragile she was. Not
to mention they were just ‘partners.’