Year of Jubilee (5 page)

“You like roast beef?” At her nod he told
the waitress to bring another plate of roast beef.

Jubilee scanned the interior uneasily,
feeling totally out of her element.

“Have you ever eaten in a restaurant
before?” He gentled his voice.

She shook her head and saw the pity in his
eyes. She glanced away.

“Pastor Barnett said they have good
food.”

Her tense muscles wouldn’t relax. She was to
be married in a little less than an hour. Again. Her nerves quaked,
and she took short breaths. Her hands knotted in her lap.

“I don’t remember thanking you for the
fabric. I’ve never had so much.” Her voice came out as a whisper.
Oh dear, that made her seem even more stupid, if that were
possible. Any moment now he’d stand and announce she was too much
of a dunce to marry. But he just nodded and leaned back in his
chair. He smiled good-naturedly.

“Reckon it just means work for you.”

He probably thought her a simpleton. She
glanced away. Her voice was hoarse when she spoke. “Oh, no, I’ll be
glad to get started. I haven’t done sewing in a while.”

It grew quiet at their table, and Jubilee
scanned the room. The people seated seemed like regular folk. It
must not be uncommon for most people to eat at these
establishments. A fancy-dressed couple sat at the corner table, he
with his long black coat and vest, complete with his top hat
resting in the chair beside him, and she with an enormous amount of
ruffles and a large, strange-looking gathering of fabric at the
backside of her dress.

The lady wore a crazy-tall feathered hat
covered with ribbons, and tied beneath her chin, that looked plain
uncomfortable. Surrounding another table, a group of older men in
casual clothes told yarns to each other and slapped their legs with
glee. Three ladies dressed for tea, pinkies up, sat nearby, deep in
conversation.

Rafe shifted in his seat and she flinched.
She’d almost forgotten him. It could’ve been enjoyable to sit and
study the people as they came in and out, if it weren’t for the
fact she accompanied a virtual stranger whom she’d agreed to marry.
She lifted her eyes. He stared out the window, watching a horse and
buggy. She patted the brown paper package of fabric in her lap.
He’d been very kind to purchase the fabric. Was it a ruse to get
her to marry him? Her stomach clenched. Jubilee wasn’t sure if it
was from hunger or from wedding anxiety.

The waitress arrived and plopped the plates
onto the table and scurried away. Jubilee eyed the huge portions
covering her plate. This was enough food for two days.

“Do you mind if I pray?” Rafe asked
quietly.

Her eyes flew to his. Was he a preacher?

What a silly question. The man farmed. She
muddled this thought in her head, thankful she hadn’t blurted her
thoughts aloud, and barely acknowledged his simple prayer. He tore
into his food and she did likewise, wondering how she managed to
eat. But experience had taught her to take meals when they became
available.

She was struggling to eat a mere half of the
roast beef, potatoes and gravy, when he pushed his plate back
clean. She stared at the rest of the food on her plate.

“You know you don’t have to finish every
bite.” A trace of humor lit his voice.

She swallowed. “What will happen to the
scraps?”

He shrugged. “Probably get added to a big
slop bucket and hauled out to the pigs.”

She gasped and looked down. They threw good
food out to the hogs? Positively unthinkable. Even cold Mrs.
Galston had sent the leftovers home with Mrs. Perkins.

She’d endured weeks with relatively nothing
to eat. Her eyes went to him in astonishment. “Really?”

He laughed. “Yes. Don’t worry about the
leftovers. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Suddenly, her belly sank, as if filled with
a thousand lead marbles. The wedding. Oh, dear heavens. She pushed
her plate back. It didn’t appear so appetizing anymore.

* * *

As he held the door for Jubilee, his mind
lit on his family. It was true, Rafe supposed, that their marriage
wasn’t a real wedding of sorts. Still, they ought to be standing
with him. Especially Sarah. They were going to be crushed when he
wrote and told them. He sighed. Nothing to do now. It was a deal
he’d see through.

At the wagon, Rafe came around to gently
lift his bride-to-be. As he set her in her seat, his eyes caught
that dress. Real marriage or not, he hated for folks to view his
fiancée in such a get-up. She looked positively…well, like a
starving orphan. Something twisted in his gut. That was exactly
what she was.

Inside the church, four people puttered
around, putting out fresh flowers, sweeping, and arranging books.
They all stopped in their duties when they came in. An aging
gentleman with white hair, and a small woman with equally white
hair, stepped towards them.

“Pastor Barnett.” Rafe greeted him as they
shook hands.

“Ah, Rafe. All ready?” The older man smiled,
his face wreathed in wrinkles. “My wife, Esther.”

The tiny woman approached with a big
smile.

Rafe nodded before turning to Jubilee. “This
is Jubilee.”

Esther stepped forward and put both hands on
Jubilee’s cheeks. “Why, you are practically the spitting image of
my daughter, Fanny Nell.”

Jubilee’s eyes opened wide.

“Oh, I’m sorry, dear. I certainly didn’t
mean to startle you.” The woman took her by her hand and patted it.
“Why don’t you and I step next door and let these men tend to the
details?”

* * *

Jubilee turned, eyes on Rafe, fully engaged
in conversation with Pastor Barnett, then mutely followed the
strange woman.

“We don’t have too many weddings here, so
this is a real treat. That’s why I had my sister and her husband
come in and get the church ready. I thought some nice fresh flowers
would dress the church up on your special day.”

Jubilee said nothing, aware she was being
pulled into the residence next to the church. It must be the
Barnett’s home. Esther guided her through the house, not stopping
until they reached a back bedroom. Jubilee’s eyes swept the
immaculate room, coming to rest on the silver-backed hairbrush set
lying on the dressing table.

“Now, you sit here,” the woman urged,
patting a quilt-covered bed, and Jubilee seated herself on the
edge.

The woman swept over to a large armoire and
swung the doors open. To Jubilee’s surprise, the closet overflowed
with dresses. After pulling a stool over to climb up, Esther
searched a moment before bringing down a frilly peach one.

“Now I realize this is a bit out of fashion,
but I believe this outfit is a near-perfect fit.”

What? Did this woman intended to give her a
dress? She swallowed as she studied the gorgeous fabric. Never had
she even been close to such a creation, let alone worn one. She
started to speak, but Esther was quicker.

“Fanny Nell’s Aunt Ruby, who lived in New
York, delighted in sending her the newest dresses. Why, Fanny never
even wore this one.” The woman stroked the fabric and removed an
imaginary speck of lint before snapping her attention back to
Jubilee. “Here, let me help you.”

Jubilee stood with her hands up. “Oh, ma’am,
I can’t wear your daughter’s clothing.”

The woman’s face grew puzzled. “Whyever
not?”

Jubilee could only shake her head and stare
at the peach creation.

Esther fluffed the ruffles. “You don’t like
this one? Why, there’s several more. You can have your choice.”

“Oh, no, nothing like that. That’s the
prettiest dress I’ve ever seen.”

The woman smiled. “Well, I do believe it
complements your coloring. Your dark eyes and golden skin will look
absolutely glowing in peach.”

Jubilee dared to touch the fabric
.
Oh, the material was heavenly
.
She stepped away. “I just
couldn’t.”

Esther laid the garment across the bed and
approached Jubilee. She placed one hand on Jubilee’s cheek and her
weathered blue eyes searched hers.

“Now, why deny this old woman’s desire? Look
at all these dresses.” She swept her arm to the armoire. “I can’t
wear a one of them. Wouldn’t want to if I could. They were Fanny
Nell’s, and she’s been gone near thirty years now. You’d do me and
Fanny an honor by taking one.”

Jubilee stared at the woman. Never had
anyone been so kind. Finally, she gave a small nod, and Esther
squealed in glee, unfastening the tiny buttons on the beautiful
dress as she chattered like a magpie.

“Now, this one has a matching bonnet and
bag, which is handy for going about town. It can easily be worn to
church, if you so desire. We’d love to have you both in morning
service. Can’t tell you what a blessing it is to meet a new couple.
Does this old heart good, and I know Raymond prays for it all the
time. Young folks are the growth of the church.”

Before Jubilee could think, the gorgeous
garment settled on her shoulders. The coolness of the silk gave her
a shiver. Esther directed her to the oval, full-length mirror in
the corner. Jubilee stared at her reflection. It hung around her
waist a bit, but the garment had transformed her from a ragamuffin
to a lady. Esther buzzed about her, pinning the skirt before
directing her to remove the garment again.

“It’ll take a few moments to tuck these in,
dear.” Esther pulled a needle and thread from a basket near the
bed.

Jubilee stood in her threadbare chemise
while Esther sewed.

“Now if you get in that trunk at the end of
the bed, you’ll find a fresh crinoline to hold this dress out. I
believe one will fit you.” She licked the thread and attempted to
insert it into the eye of the needle.

Instead of going to the trunk, Jubilee
walked to her, pulled the needle and thread from her hand, and in
one deft motion threaded the needle.

“Why, thank you. You’re a wonder. My old
eyes can hardly thread it through anymore.”

Esther’s hand drew out a long stitch. “Don’t
forget the trunk.”

Jubilee sighed, tired of fighting the
inevitable. A plethora of white, lacy underclothes popped out when
the lid lifted. How did one come to own so many fine things?

“See, you’re really doing me a favor.” The
woman laughed softly. “My oldest son has harped on me for years to
get rid of all this.” She sighed, and her gaze grew sad. “I just
can’t.”

Jubilee ran a hand over the soft material.
“When you said Fanny Nell was, gone, did you mean she’s
passed?”

Esther’s eyes deepened with sorrow when she
glanced up. Her busy hands rested in her lap. She nodded.

“Yes,” she said. “She got the pox at
seventeen. Never had been strong, and it took her quick. Plumb
broke my heart.”

For a minute she sat, looking far back over
the years, before sighing and getting back to work.

“She’s with the Lord now and there ain’t a
better place.” A sad smile crossed her face. “I know she’d be as
happy as I am to share a few things with you. Go ahead. Pick any
one you want.”

Jubilee watched her stitch, her mind on a
young girl dying before she’d even lived. Then she dipped her head
and began digging through the beautiful things. How would she
choose? In the end, Esther whisked one of the stiff crinolines from
the chest and helped Jubilee dress. With Esther’s skilled hands,
the garment fit her like a glove, the puckers adding volume to her
thin waist. Jubilee fingered the silky ruffles of the skirt and
stared at herself in the mirror.

“Well, now, let’s work a little magic with
your hair.” Esther guided Jubilee to a chair. Meekly, she
obeyed.

Esther continued to chat as she combed,
braided, and tucked. A surreal feeling captured Jubilee, like a
lovely dream. When she’d finished, Esther led her to the mirror and
Jubilee squinted at herself. Her hair had been brushed to a shine
and wrapped to the back of her head, where the locks hung in
vibrant waves. She caught her breath and touched her coifed hair.
I’m a stranger.

After grabbing a brown ribbon from her
sewing basket, Esther whisked her to the back door once again.
Pausing outside, the older woman picked white tulips from her
flower bed. The older woman’s stories never paused as she wrapped a
brown ribbon around the fragrant flowers’ stems.

“Every bride should have a bouquet. Yes, oh
yes. Pretty as a spring day.” She presented them to Jubilee’s
trembling hands and looked her over. “Now, I suspect your groom
awaits, so we must hurry. We’ve kept them long enough.”

Jubilee swayed as the church door swung
open, trying to adjust to the dim interior. A large, firm hand
caught her arm. Rafe. Gracious, the man was tall
.
Her eyes
searched his for a moment, and his gaze swept over her hair and
dress. A frown settled between his brows, and he released her. She
took a shaky breath and stepped away. He hadn’t approved. Well, it
wasn’t as if they married for love. Rubbing her arm where he had
touched her, she wasn’t sure why his disapproval shook her.

Biting her lip and dabbing at the moisture
in her eyes, she stepped toward Pastor Barnett. The contents of her
stomach rocked, and she had a horrible feeling the roast beef might
make a reappearance. A hot wave washed over her and she swallowed.
She was only vaguely aware Rafe had stepped next to her. Pastor
Barnett held his Bible aloft. Jubilee closed her eyes as her
stomach rolled again. Rafe mumbled something, and she opened her
eyes. Pastor Barnett looked at her expectantly, leaning slightly
forward with a small smile pinned to his face. Bile gathered in her
throat.

“I do.” She fought the nausea for a few
moments more before hearing, ‘…the power vested in me.’

Her stomach lurched, and she took flight
toward the side door, her hand firmly clamped over her mouth.
Around the back of the church she sailed, before throwing herself,
and the contents of her stomach, all over the grass. When the
heaving stopped, she rolled over and lay on her side, covering her
face with her hands.
Please don’t let them find me.
The
thought had barely run through her mind when a large hand touched
her arm. “Please, leave me.”