Year of Jubilee (16 page)

The ladies laughed and grimaced.

“I don’t know where these boys get their
ideas.” Jennie laughed. “But, thankfully, he grew outa that stage.
Everett used to grab the hens by both legs and spin them round like
a pitcher’s windup. Gracious, those hens were dizzy. Poor, pitiful
chickens. All my boys earned their whippings, that’s for sure.”

Jubilee smiled, visualizing a mischievous
blond boy with snapping green eyes. A shadow crossed her heart,
realizing she’d never have an opportunity to raise a child. Her
hands stilled at the thought.

“All right, I think it’s time, don’t you,
Anna?” Phoebe stood and brushed her skirt off.

Anna gave a grin. “Most certainly.”

“Jubilee?”

Coming out of her sad reverie, Jubilee
looked up, surprised to see seven smug smiles on the ladies’ faces
around the rack. “What?”

Anna rose and motioned her to follow. “Come
on. We’ve got a surprise for you.”

“We’ll slave away out here on this project,
you girls don’t worry none,” Jennie joked as Anna and Phoebe pulled
Jubilee into the house.

“I hope you aren’t angry with us,” Anna
began, “but we thought you’d enjoy an evening alone with Rafe.”

“Just the two of you,” Phoebe chimed in as
they guided her to Anna’s bedroom.

Jubilee’s heart fluttered. What were they
talking about? “I…no, really, it’s not necessary, I mean…”

Anna laughed. “Oh, Jubilee, you’re so sweet.
I understand exactly why my little brother fell for you. You two
have been hard at work all week, and deserve some time
together.”

Jubilee compressed her lips. Oh, gracious.
Now what?

Anna pulled a white skirt and matching
shirtwaist from a peg and held the outfit up. “What do you
think?”

Jubilee’s eyes swept the garments. “They’re
lovely.”

Anna smiled and Phoebe clasped her hands
against her lips as her eyes danced.

“They’re yours,” Phoebe blurted.

A full twenty seconds ticked by as Jubilee
stared at the glorious creation. Anna’s face lost its smile, and
she folded the skirt and blouse over her arm. “Don’t you like
it?”

“Oh, yes, I do. You’ve already given me so
much.” Jubilee wavered, her gaze taking in the crisp new outfit
with delicate lace and layers of ruffles.

Anna looked at Phoebe. “Well, at least let
us tell you our plan. And if you don’t want to follow through, it’s
your choice.”

Jubilee blinked at them and settled on the
edge of the bed. “All right.”

“We’ve planned a picnic outing for you and
Rafe this evening, complete with a handsome carriage—borrowed, of
course, but it’s new.” Anna’s face began to reflect her original
enthusiasm.

“Isaac and I rented it a few weekends ago.
Wait until you sit in the green velvet seats,” Phoebe chimed
in.

“Oh, my.” Jubilee brought her hands up to
her cheeks. The room seemed terribly warm. She cleared her throat.
“You see, it’s like this. Um, well, I mean, Rafe…”

Both sisters’ brows came down.
My, I’m
making a mess of this.

“If you’re worried about Rafe, don’t. Our
mother will take care of him.” Anna’s voice was firm.

“The problem is this.” Jubilee searched for
something to say, anything to convince these ladies to cancel the
picnic without casting blame upon Rafe. After gnawing her lip, she
burst out in a rush, “I don’t think Rafe will want to take time
away from helping in the fields.”

Pickle juice. That was lame.

Both ladies relaxed and tipped their heads
back in relief.

Anna fanned herself and laid the dress on
her bed with care. “My stars, if you’re worried about Rafe missing
a little work, don’t. We have plenty of hands around to finish
pulling and burning a few stumps in the new field. Shoo. You scared
me for a minute. I thought you didn’t want to go.”

Jubilee gave a tremulous smile. This wasn’t
good. No, not good at all. The sisters began measuring her and
chatting about the wonderful location of the picnic on the banks of
the Ohio. Phoebe assured her she’d love a night drive in the
carriage, lit by the light of the stars.

Jubilee swallowed as they fitted the dress
to her body. She and Rafe. Alone. On a romantic picnic. She blinked
to keep her eyes from filling with tears, extending her arms while
the ladies measured. Rafe wasn’t going to understand this and most
likely wouldn’t like the forced outing one bit.

I’m just his business partner
. She’d
have her first picnic as someone’s business associate and not as a
cherished wife. A shiver went through her as she pictured herself
with Rafe under a starry sky. And, for a brief moment, she imagined
endearing love burning in his eyes as he leaned toward her.

“Ow,” Jubilee cried.

Phoebe’s covered her mouth with her hand.
“Oh Jubilee, I’m so sorry I poked you with a straight pin. Are you
all right?”

“Yes,” she said over the lump in her throat.
That’s my payment for dreaming about something I can’t have.

* * *

“What?” Rafe pulled one last time on the
chain, trying to get enough slack to unhook it.

They had a double team of draft horses
connected to the stubborn tree trunk, but thus far had managed to
yank only one free from the ground. Several more stumps waited to
be pulled. Rafe’s dad and the younger boys were some fifty feet
south, burning small branches.

“You’re supposed to go to the house.”

Rafe glared at Everett. “It’s not near on
dinner time yet. I thought you wanted this field done.”

“Mom wants you back up home.”

Rafe looped his gloved fingers into his
pocket and struck a relaxed pose to take a breather. “What
for?”

Everett shrugged and attempted to look
innocent, and Rafe narrowed his eyes.

“How do I know? Head home and you’ll soon
find out.”

Rafe bent to work the huge hook loose once
more. Failing, he stood. “Who else is supposed to go? Does she have
a job to be done?”

Everett shouted a command at the big horses,
and they backed up. He unfastened the chain and pitched the heavy
links into a pile, the lead falling with loud clunks. Then his
eldest brother leaned over to grab the axe from Rafe’s hand. “I
don’t know. Just git.”

Rafe grunted. If it weren’t for the fact he
needed Everett to keep his mouth shut about the true state of his
marriage, he’d unload a bit of his frustration on his oldest and
bossiest
brother.

“Fine.” His voice clipped as he spun on his
heel and strode to the house.

No one questioned him as he walked away, and
Rafe found that odd. By the time he reached the yard, he’d decided
it was just as well. He could use a good drink of water and another
axe from the barn. First though, he’d better check with his mother
and find out what in the Sam Hill was going on.

His boots echoed on the wooden back porch.
He pulled the door open and, without stepping in, hollered for his
mother.

“Come in, Rafe.”

He sighed. “I can’t, Mom. I’m filthy.”

“I’m in the pantry.”

“Mom.” He tried again with a little more
volume. “I’ve got soot all over me.”

“I know. Come in.”

He glanced down at his blackened shirt.
Seriously? Never in his born days had he been allowed to walk
across the clean kitchen floor in such a state. With a groan, he
reached down and removed his boots.
This had better be
important.
His socks weren’t much cleaner, so he tugged them
off, too. He tiptoed barefoot through the kitchen, trying to keep
his body from touching any surface.

His mother backed out of the pantry backside
first. “Oh, there you are. Right on time.”

Rafe stopped. “Right on time? For what?”

“Your bath.”

Rafe coughed. “My what?”

“Bath? You do recall the word?” Her eyes
flicked up and down him as she grinned.

Rafe shook his head. “Mom, what do you need
done? I gotta get back to the fields. I’m not taking a bath now.
I’ve got more work to do.”

Jennie laughed. “No, son. You don’t. I’ve
got your clean clothes here and your new boots under the chair.
Here’s the soap and towel. You need to be ready to roll at
six.”

Rafe’s mouth slid open. He scanned the large
pantry, filled with the sink-to-your-neck tub, full of water. His
clothes lay in an orderly pile on a ladder-back chair. “What’s
going on?”

“I thought I was perfectly clear.”

Rafe closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Mom, out with it.”

Jennie huffed. “Fine. You’re not any fun,
you know that? We’ve got a carriage rented for you and Jubilee to
take an evening picnic. Anna and Phoebe are busy getting her ready.
There. Sure would’ve been more enjoyable if you’d have just gone
along.”

“What?”

“Honey, you’re being a little dense. A
pic–nic.” She stretched out the last two words as if explaining to
a small child.

“Mom, there’s not going to be a picnic.
Jubilee understands I need to get some work done while I’m
here.”

Rafe held in a groan when a flash of iron
entered his mother’s eyes. He was more than familiar with
that
look.

“Now you listen, Rafe Tanner.” Jennie seemed
to grow two inches. “You won’t disappoint that endearing girl. I’ve
never seen a person with such a sweet, gentle spirit, and she’s
happily jumped in and assisted in all chores around this household
since she arrived. You’ll not only go on this picnic, my youngest
son, you’ll be charming, romantic, and loving. And if Jubilee so
much as mentions you failed in any of these areas, I’ll personally
haunt you for the rest of your stay. Am I clear?”

A smile tugged at Rafe’s lips.

Jennie pointed her finger in his face and
squinted her eyes, now lit with humor. “I’m serious, Rafe.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Yes,
mother.”

“Now, get in that tub.” She started to shut
the pantry door, and then whipped it open again. “And don’t splash
all over the floor.”

Rafe eyed the carriage, brand spankin’ new,
black as night with a green velvet seat, and then turned his eyes
upon the audience of his entire family.

“Go ahead, Rafe. Propose to her. Just like
you did when you asked her to marry you.” Jennie smiled and
clenched her hands together in anticipation.

Rafe cleared his throat and fumbled with the
ring in his pocket, which his mother had presented to him directly
after his bath.
This has gotten out of hand.

“Now, Mom. This is embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing?” His mother’s tone chided
him. “Rafe, I missed everything, including the wedding. The least
you can do is re-enact the proposal.”

Rafe eyed his family members one by one,
hating the knowing grins. He flicked his eyes to Jubilee, who stood
immobile like a beautiful porcelain doll. Even Rafe’s dad had an
expectant grin on his face as he gestured with his head to go
ahead. To repeat the actual event, if memory served correctly, he’d
mutter some gibberish about a ‘business arrangement,’ and how
marrying would save both of their reputations.
My family ought
to love that.

He turned to Jubilee with a deep breath, his
Adam’s apple jumping.

“Get on one knee, Rafe,” Anna’s voice chimed
in. “Surely you did that. I think we’ve got him all flustered.”

Rafe stretched his neck a bit with unease.
Flustered was right. He bent down, and grabbed Jubilee’s left hand.
Her dark eyes grew huge and reflected her nervousness.

“Jubilee, will you marry me?” Rafe pulled
the ring from his pants pocket and returned his gaze to hers,
waiting.

A long silence ensued as she searched his
face. And, for a moment, the world seemed to contain only him and
her. A rush of emotion thickened his throat, and he found himself
almost wishing it were real. Her cheeks flushed, haloed by ringlets
of hair carefully coifed by his sisters. The darkness of her
complexion contrasted against the white creation she wore, giving
her an exotic look. Her mouth slightly parted in surprise and her
eyes drew him in as they always did. Never had he witnessed a woman
so lovely.

“Well, answer him, girl.” Rafe’s father
chuckled.

“She’s so in love she can’t speak, poor
child.” Jennie laughed.

At that statement, Jubilee blinked and
raised her head, as if realizing where she was. Glancing back to
him, she answered without hesitation.

“Yes.”

The family clapped around them as Rafe slid
the ring onto her third finger. The fine sapphire had belonged to
Jennie’s aunt, reset in a band of silver. He stood as Jubilee
fingered the new piece of jewelry, a look of awe on her face.

“Now, kiss her,” Phoebe squealed.

Rafe put up his hands. “I think you all have
seen enough.”

“Come on, ya big baby,” Everett said, his
eyebrows dancing. “Lay one on her.”

“That’s a private matter, not something we
do in public,” Rafe replied firmly.
That’s not something we do
at all.

“This is not in public, Rafe. This is
family.” Jennie was almost pleading.

“Come on. Kiss her.”

That dadblasted Everett.

Soon everyone echoed the mantra and clapped
to the beat. “Kiss, her. Kiss her.”

Before he could change his mind, he grasped
Jubilee’s waist and brought her against him and pressed his lips to
hers. Her body stiffened and she resisted his arms, but he held her
as his mouth moved over her soft lips. Just as he sensed her begin
to relax, she whimpered. The memory of her past rushed upon him and
he abruptly released her, grabbing her as she stumbled back.

He searched her face, and he couldn’t help
but direct his attention to her swollen lips. As he brought his
gaze to hers, he froze. Was it fear in those beautiful brown eyes?
He clenched his jaw. Why had he allowed himself to be goaded into
kissing her? And what was worse, he’d enjoyed every second.
I’m
nothing but swine.