Jessie

by Lori Wick

  December 1873

  Seth and Jessie Redding took to married life and running the store with the ease of breathing. Neither one minded rising early, and they genuinely enjoyed their customers, but come Sunday, they did little but enjoy each other's company.

  They had taken a short trip after the wedding and had to come back way before they were ready, but neither one minded overly much. They had their evenings to themselves and all day Sunday. And the in-between times as well. Seth was always ready for a hug and kiss, and more than one morning the store opened late because he was still teasing his wife by chasing her around the living room furniture.

  "Look at the time!" Jessie said to him when they had been married for more than four months and Christmas was just a few weeks away. "I have to get downstairs."

  "Jessica," Seth said in a coaxing voice as she darted around the sofa, stalking her very slowly. "Come and kiss your husband one more time."

  "No, Seth. You dislodge the pins from my hair."

  Seth pulled to a stop and put his hands in the air. Very deliberately, Jessie watching him all the while, he put them behind his back, causing his wife to smile.

  "No hands," he promised.

  "Just one kiss?"

  "Yes."

  "No hands?"

  "Yes."

  38Seth grinned wickedly as Jessie came near, but he was good at his word. They were about five minutes late getting the store opened, but no one was waiting.

  "I'm going to have to take the time to check the front walk from an upstairs window," Seth commented as he began to straighten the counter.

  "Why is that?"

  "Well, if we can see that no one is waiting, we can steal a little more time alone."

  Jessie smiled and went up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Seth looked down at her, asking himself why it had taken so long to find her. She was 21 and he was 23. They weren't old by anyone's estimation, but it felt as though too much time had been wasted not knowing and having each other.

  "Good morning," Pastor English greeted the couple as he came into the store. "How are Mr. and Mrs. Redding today?"

  "Doing well," Seth answered. "You certainly picked a cold day to be out."

  "Yes, I did, but I have a list of things I need, and it won't wait." "What can I help you with?" Jessie offered.

  "I need to order some paper," the pastor said, all the while praying that the couple would show some hunger for more than each other. His mind went back to the night they'd come to him. Yes, he'd agreed to marry them, but not before telling them that whether or not they wanted to hear it, a life lived without God was no life at all. They had listened patiently, with every sign of politeness, but he could tell he'd not gotten through.

  Looking at Seth now, as he stayed close and watched Jessie find the item in the catalog and start the order process, he realized he'd not been surprised when they had fallen for each other. He had seen in Seth that Jessie was special to him. He also saw signs of selfishness, but he was not without conscience. He could see that Jessie's settledness in the apartment and the mercantile was appealing to him. The wise pastor also knew that it didn't hurt Seth's feelings

  39that Jessie was a beauty. She was also kind. He knew she was not perfect, but there was much to like about Jessie. Seth had made a good match.

  "Now, don't forget," the pastor said when he'd thanked them for their help, determining also to say what was on his mind, "I continue to pray for the both of you, and you know where I live."

  "Thank you, Pastor," Jessie said, much as her father had over the years.

  Neither Redding spoke further of it after the man pulled his coat collar high and went on his way. Indeed they would have said there was nothing to talk about. Pastor English was peddling God, and Token Creek's newest married couple was simply not interested.

  March 1874

  "What do you mean you moved the tobacco?" Jessie asked, her face showing how completely she disapproved.

  "I think if it's near the pipes, we'll sell more pipes. That's how men think."

  "I want it on the front counter," Jessie said, a note of finality to her voice. Seth ignored it.

  "Let's try it here and see what happens."

  "No," Jessie said, and this time Seth grew angry.

  "Why can't I try anything? Why must nothing be changed in this store?"

  "Because it works," Jessie said, turning to walk away.

  Seth looked after her, frustration filling him, and decided he'd had enough. He had started by asking her if he could make changes, but she always said no. Then he'd gone to changing what he wanted but always switching it back when she noticed and grew upset. This time he dug his heels in. The change was a good one. If she wanted it changed back she could do it herself.

  40"I thought I told you to put the tobacco back," Jessie said an hour later, finding Seth working the storeroom.

  He faced her, speaking quietly. "I'm not your employee anymore, Jessie."

  "I didn't say you were," Jessie replied, not catching on at all.

  "But that's the way I'm treated. You order me around as though I work for you."

  "I wouldn't have to do that if you would leave things as they are."

  Seth stared at her and saw that she meant what she said with all her heart. No matter what he said, she was not going to change. When he spoke, his voice sounded sad, but inside there was more resentment than sadness.

  "I can see that you don't really need me out front. I'll just go back to keeping the storeroom in order and getting the orders from the train station."

  Jessie looked as stunned as she felt, but Seth didn't comment. He collected his hat and coat and walked through the store, heading out the front door. Jessie didn't see him until minutes before it was time to close for the day. He came in without a word to her and headed to the storeroom to hang up his coat. Jessie followed, hurt by his actions but much calmer than she had been earlier.

  "Where have you been?"

  "Just out," he said, not mentioning the saloon he'd sat in all afternoon. "There was nothing at the train station, and I knew the storeroom was in order."

  Jessie asked herself how this could happen. They had been doing so well. What was wrong with the way she had the store?

  "What's happening to us, Seth?"

  Seth had been ready to head up the stairs, cold and hungry, but he made himself stop.

  "I want to be more than your servant, Jessie. I'm a man with a brain, not some mindless idiot. If I have an idea, I want to try it."

  41"But my father," Jessie began, but Seth had heard this before and put his hand up.

  "I don't want to hear about your father. He's dead."

  This would normally have made Jessie mad, but this time she was only surprised and hurt.

  "I just don't want him to be disappointed in me," she admitted for the first time.

  "Jessie," Seth said, calming some but not about to agree with her. "You don't even believe in heaven. Where is it you think your father is sitting and being disappointed in you? You have a flesh-and-blood husband in front of you, but you care more about your dead father!"

  Jessie's hand came to her mouth in horror. It was true. Her father was gone, but she was more worried about his feelings than Seth's.

  "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean it that way."

  Seth looked at her face and saw that he had her attention on this matter for the first time. He didn't want to fight with his wife. He loved her and loved the life they had started together. Moving slowly, even giving her time to pull away, Seth walked toward her. He put his arms around her and was surprised when she clung to him. Seth held back no more. He crushed her in his arms and hushed her when she continued to apologize.

  "We'll work this out," he said quietly, fully believing they would do just that. What he hadn't planned on was Jessie getting pregnant that spring, and that driving the workings of the store completely from his mind.

  August 1874

  "None of my clothes fit," Jessie said
in late summer. It was Sunday, and she was sitting on the side of their bed in her shift.

  Seth lay against the pillows watching her and trying not to smile. He was delighted about this baby. Jessie was losing her waist, but it was

  42not unattractive. Indeed she was growing fuller all over, and Seth was not put off in the least.

  "Are you smiling about this?" Jessie turned to see his face. "No," he lied shamelessly. "It's very serious."

  Jessie rolled her eyes at him, giving Seth permission to chuckle. "Why is this funny?"

  "I don't know, but it is. You're only four months along, which makes me wonder how it's going to be in a few more months."

  "I'll be even more tired and grumpy."

  Seth didn't laugh then. She was very irritable at times, and that was not his idea of a good time.

  "Well," he said before his silence got him into trouble, "Patience is feeding us when they get home from church, and that's always nice."

  "Oh, that's right. How much time do we have?"

  "More than an hour."

  Jessie looked as though she wanted to lie down again. They had slept late, but Seth thought it might be good for her to sleep a little longer. He also knew, however, that she would want the time to get ready. He offered to heat water for her bath, and her pleasure over the offer was good for his heart.

  "How are you, dear?" Patience asked after the women had hugged.

  "I feel fat and clumsy."

  "You don't look the least fat," Patience argued with her. "Does Seth say you're fat?"

  "No, but he thinks my not fitting into my clothing is funny."

  "You never know what's going to amuse a man. Oh, that bread smells done. Check that, will you, Jessie?"

  While the women put the meal together, the men talked in the living room.

  43"How is she feeling?" Jeb asked Seth, having experienced a cross Jessie more than once in the past few months.

  "Most days, fine. Some days she's not so easy."

  "How are you holding up?"

  "My favorite time of year is the fall, but this year I could skip right to Christmas and New Year's."

  "When is Jessie due?"

  "The doctor thinks the sixth of January."

  "Maybe the baby will come early."

  "A Christmas baby would be fun."

  The temptation for Jeb to mention a certain baby at Christmas was very strong, but Seth was like Jessie, showing no interest in anything spiritual.

  "Well, Seth," Jeb said kindl) still praying for the younger man, "if it's like most things in life, the time will fly by and that baby will be here before you know it."

  Seth had to agree. He had been stranded in Token Creek 14 months ago and had been married for 12 of those. In hindsight it seemed like yesterday. In all honesty, he couldn't say where the time had gone.

  44

  January 1875

  "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"Seth asked, coming in to find Jessie with a feather duster in her hand.

  "Just a little cleaning."

  "You cleaned yesterday and again all morning. You were going to take it easy this afternoon."

  "But I feel good."

  Seth leaned on the counter and watched her. The baby was two days late, and Jessie looked as though she'd never had more energy. Seth didn't think her middle could expand any further. And Jeb had been right, overall the time had flown by, but since the due date, time had seemed to crawl.

  "Oh," Jessie said, bending a little as though in discomfort. "What's the matter?"

  "Nothing. I just thought I felt a little something."

  Seth came toward her and took the duster.

  "Be done," he said firmly.

  "But I'm almost finished," she argued.

  "It will wait," he said.

  "What am I supposed to do?"

  45"Go upstairs and lie down. Read a book or take a nap."

  "I'm not tired."

  Seth looked at the frown she was giving him and decided it was no use. He handed the duster back to her, got the broom, and went out front to sweep. Jessie watched him, knowing what he was thinking without his having to say the words. Seth had told her many months ago that she argued with everything he said, and she'd argued even about that. For the first time, she saw that it was true and was again reminded how much she was like her father Her mother used to accuse him of the same thing.

  Jessie did finish the dusting, but she also went upstairs as Seth suggested. She wasn't at all tired and had no desire to read. She made a very nice meal for the two of them.

  The conversation from downstairs did not come up again, and that was fine with Seth. He would rather they didn't fight as often as they did. He would take peace wherever he could get it. He was weary of the conflicts and his wife's moods since becoming pregnant and just wanted the baby to come.

  It took another three days, but he got his wish. Mrs. Seth Redding presented her husband with a small baby girl. They named her Hannah.

  "What are you doing awake?" Seth asked the baby in the crib. Hannah, now eight months old, smiled up at him in delight. Seth lifted her into his arms and held her close, his heart burgeoning with emotion. Jessie was still asleep in the other bedroom, so he walked with Hannah to the living room and got comfortable on the sofa. He didn't have all morning-the store needed to be opened in about an hour-but for right now he just wanted this time with his daughter.

  "Did you sleep well?" he whispered to her, smiling when she grinned

  46at him in delight. "I can see that you did. You're such a good girl to sleep all night."

  Having said this Seth realized it might not be true. Jessie could have been up while he slept through it. However, more smiles and some laughter told Seth he'd said the right thing, and this was the way Jessie found them.

  "Good morning," Jessie said from the doorway, her voice still holding that early morning rumble.

  "Good morning," Seth replied, smiling at her disheveled hair and sleepy eyes. "Look who's here, Hannah. Mama's awake."

  Jessie snuggled closed to Seth's side, and he leaned to kiss her. "Has she been awake long?"

  "I found her awake when I got up."

  "When was that?"

  Seth looked at the clock on the wall and realized 30 minutes had passed. He had to get shaved and dressed for work.

  "Do you have time to make me some eggs?" he asked as he handed off the baby.

  "Sure," Jessie agreed, and with her normal, quiet efficiency she cooked Seth's breakfast, holding Hannah on her hip through most of the process.

  Seth was downstairs on time, greeting the first customer just moments after he opened the door. Jessie and Hannah eventually joined him, but only for about an hour. Hannah was crawling, so Jessie ended up in the storeroom working at the table over the account books. Seth had barricaded a corner that Hannah could call her own, and that little girl was content to play as long as she could see her mother.

  "What's this?" Jessie asked Seth some time later. He had come to the storeroom looking for a larger sack of brown sugar.

  "Let's see."

  Seth bent over the book and looked where Jessie pointed. "That's the order from the Brown Company"

  "It doesn't go there."

  47Seth had a customer, or he would have argued with her. He was certain he was keeping the books the way she liked, and now she was complaining. He turned from the table, found the sugar, and left.

  Jessie assumed that his silence meant he agreed with her and started back to work, but that lasted only until Hannah made a noise. Jessie looked at her, realizing that Seth hadn't so much as glanced at their daughter. That was not normal. She was ready to search him out and confront him, but Jeb had stepped in the door and called her name.

  "Back here," Jessie called right back. "What's up?" she asked when her cousin came into view.

  "Patience wants to see this baby," Jeb said, going to the play area and leaning down to talk to the child.

  "Come evening we're pretty weary, Jeb."

  "Come
for supper," Jeb invited. "We'll feed you, and you can put your feet up."

  Jessie heard the entreaty in his voice and gave in.

  "I've got a pot of stew on, but we'll come as soon as we're done." Jeb had Hannah in his arms now, holding her close and kissing her. He didn't answer, but she could see in his eyes that he was pleased.

  "I should have sent a warning with Jeb," Jessie said when the three Reddings visited at the Doms' that evening. "She cries a lot in the evening."

  "She does?" Patience asked, bouncing and walking Hannah to no avail. "I wonder what that could be."

  "We wonder too," Seth said dryly, but if the truth be told, it made the evenings very long.

  Jessie heard his tone and shot him a look, but Seth only stared at her. This was yet another issue they fought about. Jessie felt she could . settle Hannah better than Seth could, but she got mad at him if he wanted to get out of the apartment and away from the noise. Not that he blamed her for not wanting to be left on her own. Hannah started to be unhappy each afternoon, and little could settle her outside of

  48sleep. Thankfully she usually slept through the night, but not until her parents were exhausted and snapping at each other.

  When they had first arrived, Jeb and Seth had been talking about Pastor English leaving Token Creek-his health was failing him-and the new, younger man, Rylan Jarvik, who had come to pastor the church. Seth had seemed genuinely interested, and Jeb had wanted to stay on this topic, but the older man could not ignore the exchange he'd just witnessed.

  "So how is this affecting the two of you?" Jeb asked as Patience wandered off, bouncing Hannah all the while.

  "We're fine," Jessie said, ignoring the stare she felt Seth giving her. "Is that what you would call it, Seth?" Jeb asked the younger man, even risking Jessie's ire.

  "I think we're ready to move past this part of Hannah's life. It's hard not knowing how long it will go on."

  Jessie heard his weary answer and realized she could have admitted the same thing. Jeb was asking only out of concern, and she knew she had been too ready to defend her job as a mother.

  "I'm tired," Jessie felt free to say. "I love my daughter, but she wears me out."

  "I told you I can take care of the store," Seth put in, his voice compassionate. "You need to nap when Hannah does."