by Faith Blum
Sidney chuckled. “Please, call me Sidney. I am also well.”
Mrs. Poler cleared her throat. “Shall we sit down?”
Jessa clung to Sidney’s arm and he maneuvered them to seats close enough together that they could incidentally touch one another throughout the meal.
Sidney looked around the table. “Is Jason joining us?”
Jessa grimaced. “No, he’s dining with his sweetheart, Claire.”
“Claire Hopkins?” Sidney exclaimed.
“Yes,” Jessa replied. “Do you know her?”
Sidney shrugged. “Only by sight. She seems nice enough, but not the type I would want to court.”
Jessa snickered. “That’s Jason for you.”
Mrs. Poler gave her daughter a look and Jessa ignored it. She knew she shouldn’t slander her own brother, but why not? Jason had no taste in fashion, clearly didn’t care about looks in either him or his future wife, and made very poor choices for his future. After all, why would he want to work odd jobs all around town instead of getting something steady?
The conversation turned after Sidney mentioned his father’s desire for him to become a politician. Mr. Poler had many questions and Sidney did his best to answer them. Jessa felt sorry for him when her father asked too many pointed questions, but Sidney handled them perfectly. Just like she knew he could.
The meal went by too quickly, and soon Jessa and Sidney sat in the parlor again.
“Is there something you’d like to do?” Sidney questioned.
“How are you at checkers?”
Sidney laughed. “I’m the best in my family.”
Jessa narrowed her eyes. “So you are better than your parents?”
“Correct.”
“Me, too, but I’m also better than Jason, who has bested all the experts at the general store.”
Sidney raised his eyebrows. “That sounds like a challenge, Miss Poler.”
She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “It is, Mr. DeBois. Think you can beat me?”
“I think I’d like to try.”
Jessa hopped up and pulled out the checkerboard and pieces. She chose the black and gave him the red. No point in him claiming she cheated by choosing the slightly easier route of starting first.
They played for a half hour, both winning a game, and decided to do one more to break the tie before Sidney needed to head home.
The talking was kept to a minimum as they stared at their pieces and concentrated on their strategies. After a twenty-minute game, Jessa put the nail in Sidney’s coffin as she jumped his final piece.
Sidney groaned. “Beaten by a girl twice in one night. Not a very impressive first night of courtship.”
Jessa giggled. “You could always claim you let me win so I would feel special.”
Sidney grinned. “True. I could.” He glanced at the clock. “I really should go. I don’t want to, though.”
Jessa stood up and took his arm. “I’ll walk you to the door. Thank you for coming. I had a very enjoyable night.”
“So did I. Can I come again next Wednesday?”
“Of course. I’ll talk to Mother and maybe you could come for Sunday dinner as well.”
Sidney nodded. “I think that would be fine. Let me know.”
“I will. Goodnight, Sidney.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and brushed the back of it. “Goodnight, Jessamine.”
Jessa watched him walk away until he blended in with the dark shadows. She sighed in contented bliss and wandered back inside.
“How did it go?” Mrs. Poler asked.
“Wonderful.”
“How so?”
Jessa leaned against the doorframe. “He was so sweet, we got along perfectly, and I just really like him, Mother. Do you believe in love at first sight?”
“No.”
Jessa rolled her eyes. “Well I do, and I believe I caught it.”
Mrs. Poler patted her arm. “If you say so. It’s late and you should get to bed.”
“Yes, Mother. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, dear.”
Jessa practically floated up the stairs. Despite her mother’s pessimism, Jessa truly believed all she had said. Sidney was perfect for her, and no one else could be. He was rich, handsome, ambitious, and needed a beautiful wife. What more did they need?
7. Work
Jason loved his work. He could do it all at his own pace and on his own schedule as well as help people along the way. He did odd jobs wherever he was needed, sometimes for money, sometimes for a meal, sometimes in barter for a jar of preserves or a live chicken.
Mostly, he loved working with his hands, doing physical labor, and helping people. As his courtship progressed, he spent many hours thinking and praying about how he could help people and support a family at the same time.
One evening, he brought it up to Claire.
“Jason,” she said, “God says in His Word to not worry about tomorrow what we shall eat or drink. If your handyman work is what you believe to be God’s will for now, that is what you should do. God will provide for you, and if we get married, for us.”
“God also tells us to care for widows and orphans, and I do that often, too.”
“Exactly.”
He leaned back and tapped his fingers on his legs. “But I don’t want to cause you concern or worry, either.”
Claire laughed. “I’m not one to worry a lot about that. If you were out spending all your money on frivolous things, then maybe, but not if you are out helping people in your own way. God will provide, and I am content with that.”
Jason leaned back and let out a long, shallow breath. “I don’t think I could have picked a more perfect response.”
“Really?”
He shook his head.
“That’s not what men usually say.”
“It isn’t?”
“No.”
“What do they usually say?”
Claire chewed her lower lip and picked at her skirt. “They ridicule me for thinking too illogically and not worrying about them as much as I should.”
Jason’s eyes grew wide. “Why would they do that?”
“I suppose they want someone to worry about them because they feel like that person actually cares for them? I’m not sure.”
“You can show your caring and loving without worrying.”
“Good.” Claire looked over at him with a smile. “Because that’s the way it would be with me.”
“Excellent.” He paused. “Would you like to take a walk?”
Claire smiled. “I’d love to.”
Jason stood and held out his arm for her. Claire hooked her arm in his and they walked out of the house and down the street. The moon shone brightly. Neither of them spoke until they were halfway through town.
Claire tilted her head to the side. “I noticed the guitar case in the parlor at your house when I was there last. Who plays it?”
Jason cleared his throat. “I do. Not very well, though. I picked it up while on one of the trail rides. Mitchell, one of the cowboys, played and I asked him to teach me. He’s a lot better than I’ll ever be. He taught me a lot more than just how to play guitar.”
Claire cocked her head. “What kinds of things?”
Jason swallowed. “Well, when I left here, I was full of pride. I thought following all of God’s laws would help me win extra favor with God. He told me that playing guitar was like living the Christian life. You have to make sure all the strings are in tune with each other or the chord won’t sound right. You also need to make sure all your fingers are in the right place for the same reason. In life, you need to make sure your heart is right and that you aren’t trying to do things your own way, or nothing will work out in your life.”
Claire’s eyes shone in the moonlight. “That is a beautiful analogy. Mitchell sounds like a wise man.”
“He is.”
They were quiet for a while.
Claire broke the silence with a question, “When we get back, would you play for me?”
Jason wrinkled his nose. “If you really want me to.”
“Do you know ‘I Will Sing the Wondrous Story’?”
“I know how to sing it, but I don’t know how to play it. I can do ‘Amazing Grace.’”
“That would be fine, too. Do you mind?”
He shrugged. “It’s all right.”
“Meaning the song or playing in general?”
“Playing in general.”
Claire let out a relieved breath. “Good. I was afraid you didn’t like ‘Amazing Grace.’”
Jason laughed. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t, including some non-Christians.”
“Like the cowboys you rode with?”
“Exactly. Mitchell started me off with that song.”
“I’m glad he did. It’s one of my favorites.”
They turned around at the edge of town. “I guess we’d better get to my house and get my guitar.”
“I guess so. Will we disturb Jessamine and Mr. DeBois?”
Jason grunted. “A little maybe, but it will be fine.”
“Either way, I’ll stay in the entryway while you get the guitar if that’s all right.”
“It’s fine with me as long as you stay inside the house, but is there a reason you don’t want to see Jessa or Sidney?”
“Jessa is fine even if she doesn’t like me much, but Mr. DeBois? He’s the one I would rather avoid.”
Jason gazed at her face trying to decipher her expression. “What happened?”
Claire started. “Huh? Oh, nothing, he just... He’s not very nice.”
“To you or to everyone?”
“I don’t know about anyone else, so I can’t say.”
Jason sighed. “Perhaps I should talk to Father about him.”
“No, please don’t. If he isn’t hurting Jessa, there isn’t any reason to worry. I don’t think.”
Jason chewed his lip. “If you’re sure.”
“I think I am.”
Jason left the topic there. He wanted to know more, but Claire’s rigid grip on him spoke more than her words could. She really didn’t want to talk right now.
They arrived at Jason’s house and went inside. Jason left Claire behind and strode into the parlor. He tried to avoid looking at Jessa and Sidney, but it was impossible. Sidney and Jessa sat next to each other on the settee gazing into each other’s eyes. Sidney spoke something too quiet for Jason to hear and stroked her cheek. Jessa leaned into his hand subtly and sighed.
Jason cleared his throat and they both jerked away from each other. “Excuse me, I just came for my guitar. Though while I’m here, I’ll give a little word of warning. Sidney DeBois, Jessa is my sister, and I’m not afraid to defend her honor if needed.”
Sidney looked him up and down and gulped. “Warning taken.”
“Jason!” Jessa exclaimed. “Don’t scare the poor man. He’s been a perfect gentleman. No need to get overdramatic.”
Jason worked his jaw and clenched his teeth. His sister was too naïve. Hopefully she wouldn’t learn the hard way. He grabbed his guitar and hurried back to where Claire waited for him.
8. Trouble in Paradise
One Wednesday, three months after he started calling, Sidney missed his regular visit.
Jessa waited and waited that night, but he never came. Jason returned home from Claire’s house and still she waited in the parlor, hoping against hope Sidney would show up. At ten o’clock, Mrs. Poler gently persuaded Jessa to go to bed and worry about it in the morning.
The next morning, she went to Sidney’s house only to find out he was indisposed. Whatever that meant. She knew what women often meant by the phrase, but not men. She wandered around town, hoping to find him somewhere, but didn’t. That night, she went to bed with an aching heart. Sidney hadn’t come. Not even after she’d left a note. Maybe he was out of town and hadn’t told her?
When she arrived at home, she spoke to her mother in a halting tone. “Can... Can you make Sidney a little treat of some sort, please? I... I want to try to help him feel better.”
Mrs. Poler’s eyes narrowed. “Feel better?”
“He was indisposed when I went over there.”
“Oh, I see. Yes, I’ll make him some cookies.”
“Thank you.”
Later that afternoon, Jessa knocked on the large white mansion door again. Mrs. DeBois stood at the door this time. “Good afternoon, Mrs. DeBois,” Jessa said with a half-curtsy. “I brought these cookies to help Sidney feel better.”
Mrs. DeBois stared at her with a blank face. “Feel better? Is he not feeling well?”
Jessa bit her lip. “This morning, the butler told me he was indisposed.”
“I see.” She took the plate with a smile. “I’ll be sure these get to Sidney when he returns. Thank you, dear.”
Jessa watched as the door swung shut with a definite click. Returns? Returns from where?
She wandered home in a daze, unsure what to think or do.
***
The week passed by slowly. Then another. The worst and most agonizing weeks Jessa had ever experienced. The dance that evening suddenly had no appeal. How could she go and put on a happy face if the love of her life had disappeared?
Mrs. Poler came in to her room after lunch. “I think the dance will cheer you up. If nothing else, you can talk to your friends there. Come, let’s find you a dress to wear.”
Jessa buried her head in her pillow. “No. I’m not going.”
Mrs. Poler sighed. “I can’t force you to go, but you also can’t mope around all the time. I know he hurt you by not saying anything, but it’s high time you put it behind you and moved on.”
Jessa sat up. “It’s been just over two weeks! How can you say that? I love him, Mother. I love him like I’ve never loved anyone before. I can’t ‘move on’ that easily.”
Mrs. Poler sat next to her. “All right. Maybe you can’t move on that easily, but you could at least distract yourself from it a little by going to the dance with your father and me.”
“Not Jason?”
“I don’t know if he’s going or not.”
“If he does, do you think he’d dance with me so I have at least one partner for one dance?”
Mrs. Poler smiled and patted her back. “Yes, and so would your father.”
Jessa chewed her lip. “All right. I’ll try it.”
***
Jessa watched as Jason approached her cautiously.
“Are you free for this dance?” he asked.
She nodded, glad he had agreed to come to the dance for her. “Why are you so hesitant?”
“I haven’t danced in a while.”
“Ah. I see. I can coach you while we dance if you need.”
He smiled. “Thanks.” The music started and he took her hand and led her to the dance floor.
“I’m sorry about Sidney. I know how much you liked him.”
“You do?”
Jason nodded. “I could see it in your eyes. If he shows his face around here again, I’ll have to give him a good talking-to about playing with girls’ hearts.”
“Why?”
Jason licked his lips. “You aren’t the first.”
Jessa’s mouth gaped open. “I asked if he had ever courted anyone else and he said no.”
“I don’t think he’s been entirely truthful about anything to anyone.”
Jessa pursed her lips. “Can we talk about something else? Is Claire here?”
“No, she had to help her father tonight. She doesn’t really like dancing, anyway.”
“Do you?”
He shrugged. “Not particularly, but I came to support you and make sure you danced at least a few times. I also have a friend who came to town today, and I invited him to come, so I’m introducing him to a few people.”
Jessa squeezed his hand harder and looked up. “Including me?”
Jason laughed. “If you want.”
“Yes, please.”
“Very well. As soon as the dance i
s over, I’ll introduce you two. I’ll warn you, though, I don’t think you’ll like him.”
“Why?”
“He’s a Christian, a cowboy, and a little rough around the edges.”
Jessa wrinkled her nose. “Oh. Well, I’d like to meet him anyway since he’s your friend.”
The dance ended a minute later and Jason glanced around the room. “Ah, there he is.” He kept a tight hold on Jessa’s hand as he wove through the crowd.
“Mitchell!”
A rough-looking man in a broadcloth suit grinned. “Jason! Is this the lovely little sister you’ve told me about?”
Jessa’s smile faltered and then grew to normal.
Jason let go of her hand and motioned to the large man. “Jessa, this is Mitchell Young. Mitchell, my sister, Jessamine Poler.”
Mitchell took her hand and kissed it. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Poler.”
“A pleasure, Mr. Young.”
Someone tapped on Jessa’s shoulder and she turned to find Ewell Pare standing behind her. “May I have this dance, Miss Poler?”
Jessa swallowed hard. “I’d be honored.” She turned back to Mitchell. “Excuse me, please. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you.”
Ewell gripped her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. “I hear Sidney has abandoned you for another. Does this mean you are free again?”
Jessa blinked rapidly. “For another? What do you mean?”
Ewell raised his eyebrows. “You haven’t heard?”
She shook her head. “I’m not sure I want to hear.”
“Have you heard about the new family in town? The Clarks?” Ewell said, spinning her under his arm. “They have a daughter a couple years older than you who has an extensive dowry.”
Jessa shivered. “And he’s gone after her?”
“Yes. I’m sorry I have to be the bearer of bad news. I thought you knew about it.”
“Sidney told me nothing. I’ve...” She paused. “I’ve stayed home since he stopped coming.”
Ewell nodded. “That is understandable. You don’t hate me for telling you this, do you?”
“No. How could I?”
“Because I had to be the one to tell you.”
“You aren’t the one who left me to go after a woman who is richer. Is she at least pretty?”
