Flustered by his intense gaze, she touched her chignon to make sure it was in place then glanced down to confirm she hadn’t spilled something on her dress during breakfast.
“What are your plans for the day?” she asked, brushing at non-existent crumbs on the table. Tipton had made sure none remained when he carried out the breakfast tray.
“I thought I’d take care of some paperwork that needs my attention before we arrive in New York and then probably go see what news I missed while I made a fool of myself in here.”
“A fool of yourself? From being sick?” Jemma walked over to where he sat by the window and shook her head. “You’ve made a fool of yourself any number of times since we met, but not because you were ill. That just let me know you are indeed human and fallible.”
Before he could respond, Jemma turned and disappeared inside their bedroom. Taken aback by her words, he sat for a few minutes lost in his thoughts before retrieving a leather satchel with all the legal papers from Weston. Pulling out a folder and a few sheets of writing paper, he spread them out on the table and began jotting notes.
Jemma carried a book out to the settee and sat down on one end, looking as relaxed as he’d seen her since they left Bolton.
Companionable silence filled the room until the door bounced open and Jack rushed inside followed by Tipton as he carried a crying Lily. The little girl reached out to Thane and buried her face in his neck, clinging to him as if she’d never let go.
Thane rubbed a gentle hand along Lily’s back and gave Tipton a questioning glance. “What happened?”
“They were helping Mr. Johnson give Rigsly another stroll around the deck when they spotted a whale. They watched it a few moments then suddenly Miss Lily burst into tears and wouldn’t stop crying. No one knows what, exactly, is the matter, sir.”
“Thank you, Tipton. We appreciate your assistance and care.” Once the steward tipped his hat and departed, Jemma started to take Lily from Thane, but he maintained his hold on the child and sat down on a chair.
Jack stood nearby, looking frightened and alarmed.
“Do you know what made her cry, Jack?” Jemma asked, putting an arm around the boy and drawing him to her side.
Slowly shaking his head, Jack continued staring at his sister.
“Lily. You have to tell me what’s wrong, honey. Why are you crying?” Thane gently pushed her back but she lunged forward, trying to keep her face buried against his neck. “What upset you?”
“The big fishie!” Lily shrieked. “The big fishie will eat us just like Jonah. I don’t want to be in the fishie’s tummy. Don’t let it eat me!”
Chuckles threatened to rumble out of his mouth, so Thane let Lily grab him around the neck again while he rocked her back and forth and ran his hand soothingly along her back.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. The whale won’t eat you, or Jack, or anybody on the ship. I promise.”
Lily’s sobs calmed to whimpers then sniffles. Finally, she sat back and stared at her uncle. “You won’t let the fishie get me?”
“No. I won’t let it get you. You’re safe with us. Your aunt and I will always, always take good care of you.”
Lily leaned her head against his shoulder and sniffled, brushing her runny nose on his jacket before kissing his cheek and jumping down. “Love you, Uncle Thane.”
“I love you, too.”
After she skipped into her bedroom, they could hear her singing one of her made-up songs as she played with some of her toys.
Jack took the chair next to Thane’s and sighed. “I’m sorry, Uncle Thane.”
“For what, Jack?” Thane bent his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward, so his gaze met his nephew’s.
“I’m the one who reminded her of Jonah’s story while we were watching the whale.”
“Not to worry, Jack. You didn’t know she’d think it would swallow her. It’s not your fault.” Thane patted the boy on his knee and smiled at him. “Did you enjoy seeing the whale? Was it as all-fired enormous as they seem in the picture books?”
“Yes, Uncle Thane. It was huge! And it rose up out of the water and then…” Jack smacked the palms of his hands together. “Splash! He sent water everywhere. That’s when Lily started to cry. Mr. Johnson didn’t know what to do, so I asked if he could call Mr. Tipton.”
“That was smart thinking on your part, son. You’re a very clever boy.”
Jack’s chest puffed out at Thane’s praise.
“I’ve never seen a whale myself. How about we go back out to the deck and try to spy another one?”
“Yes, sir!” Jack jumped to his feet and ran for the door. Thane hurried to remove his jacket. Jemma handed him a clean one, along with his Stetson before he and Jack went to watch for whales.
“Are you sure we didn’t leave anything behind?” Jemma nervously glanced around her at their pile of luggage.
Thane insisted they be on the deck as they approached New York so she and the children could see the Statue of Liberty. She hurried to gather the last of their things and finish packing the trunks. Tipton made sure their belongings followed them up to the deck, ready to disembark at the White Star Line piers.
Due to her marriage to Thane, she was considered an American citizen so they could bypass the immigration lines at Castle Garden.
“As meticulous as you are, I’m certain nothing was left behind.” Thane raised an eyebrow at her then turned his attention to the impressive gift France bestowed on America. The official dedication of the Statue of Liberty occurred just four years prior.
“She’s breathtaking.” Jemma’s voice held a note of awe as she beheld Lady Liberty. “‘Give me your tired, your poor…” She went on to recite the remainder of the sonnet.
Thane looked at her in admiration and gave her a respectful nod.
Aware of his gaze, she smiled. “It’s a beautiful poem, don’t you think?”
“Yes, it is.” The woman reciting the poem was quite beautiful, too, but Thane kept that thought to himself. Surprised by the knowledge contained in his wife’s lovely head, he sometimes wondered if she didn’t know more about his home country than he did.
Lily raised her hand above her head, mimicking the pose of the statue, making them laugh. “Look at me! Look at me!”
Thane kissed her cheek as he handed her to Jemma and picked up Jack, settling the boy on his shoulder so he could get a better view. The solemn child’s face almost split with his broad grin.
“We’ll be in port soon. I’ll help you with the luggage and see to unloading your trunks from the hold,” Tipton said as he walked up behind them.
Thane shook his hand and pulled an envelope from his coat pocket, handing it to their faithful room steward. “I appreciate your loyal service, Tipton. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Thank you, sir. Sailing isn’t your favorite adventure, but I do hope if you have reason to cross the ocean again, you’ll sail with us.”
Jemma gave the steward a favorable smile when he turned to her. “You’re most kind, Tipton, and much appreciated. As my husband stated, we value your generous and loyal service. Thank you.”
Tipton bowed to them then went back to get Rigsly from his kennel.
When Thane had his new family on solid ground with their luggage around them, he looked around for a wagon or coach to take them to the train depot. “I’ll see about securing a few wagons to take us to the depot. We should be able to catch a train heading west and get started on the last part of our journey.”
He took only a step before Jemma grasped his arm, pulling him to a stop. “You don’t mean to stick us on a train yet today?”
“I most certainly do. Time’s wastin’ and I need to get back to the ranch. Now, wait here with the children and I’ll hire a couple of wagons.”
“No, sir, I won’t. I refuse to budge an inch unless it’s to venture to a hotel and rest for a day or so before we take the train to Oregon.” Defiantly, Jemma lifted her chin and glared at him with fire snapping in he
r eyes.
“This isn’t the time for you to get stubborn on me, Lady Jemma. I’ve got to get back to the ranch.” Thane watched as her lips compressed into a thin line and she glanced from Jack and Lily back to him.
Annoyed, he removed his hat and raked a hand through his hair then settled the Stetson back on his dark blond head. In an attempt to figure out her objection to going home, he narrowed his gaze and studied her. “What? Why won’t you get on the train?”
Jemma set Lily down, maintaining a hold on her hand and motioned for Thane to bend down so she could whisper in his ear. The combination of her heady scent and the warm of her breath on his neck made heat zing through his veins, but he ignored it.
“The children, Thane. They’ve been so restless the last few days. They need a day or two to run and play, to relax where they aren’t confined to the space of a stateroom or the deck of the ship. They won’t have anywhere to exert their playful energy on the train. Please, for their sakes, can’t we stay a day or two?”
Astounded by the rational sense of her words, Thane knew she was correct. It would make the journey west better for them all if they had a day or two before the long train trip. In his haste to get back to the ranch, he hadn’t stopped to consider the needs of the children or Jemma. He knew she was tired from tending him and trying to keep the children entertained.
“Fine. We’ll stay for a day, but then no arguments.”
Jemma nodded in agreement.
Thane glanced down at the children then back at her. “You’ll have to come with me to the depot because I’m not letting the horses or your precious treasures out of my sight until they’re on a train headed west. After that, we’ll find a hotel.”
Overcome with relief at having a day of rest, Jemma threw her arms around Thane’s neck and gave him a hug.
Of their own volition, his arms slipped around her and he held her close for a rapturous moment before stepping back and giving her a roguish wink. “If you can contain yourself, Lady Jemma, I’ll see about getting those wagons.” After tipping his hat to her, he walked off in the direction of the street where lines of wagons and buggies waited to provide transportation for a fee.
Tipton arrived with a cart bearing the first of their many trunks. Thane wanted to load them first then lead out the horses last. Rigsly barked at the foreign sights and sounds as Jack held tightly to his leash. Thane returned followed by three wagons and an open carriage. He assisted Jemma and the children into the carriage and made Rigsly sit at their feet before he went with Tipton to bring up the horses.
Jael and Shadow put on quite a show as they pranced down the gangplank to the pier. Jemma noted many people stopped to watch as Thane expertly handled the big stallion while three men led the other horses.
After locating the trunk containing tack, Thane hurried to saddle Shadow while the other horses were tied to the back of the waiting wagons. Jemma wished she could go to Jael and offer her a calming hand but she feared leaving the children alone for even a moment.
Their entourage of a carriage followed by three wagons, each trailing a high-strung horse, created quite a spectacle. Jemma’s cheeks burned with heat as Lily bounced on her lap and Jack sat beside her. Rigsly sat on the floor beside the boy, anxiously watching the passing scenery. Thane rode beside them on Shadow. The horse wanted to stretch his legs and run, but Thane kept him under control as they made their way through the busy city traffic to the train station.
Once all their trunks and the horses were loaded, Thane made Jemma and the children say goodbye to Rigsly and stuck him in a kennel on the train as well.
Lily melted into an inconsolable tantrum. “I want my doggie! I want Rigsly! Don’t send him away!” She cried until she fell asleep, but even in slumber the snuffling continued.
Thane disappeared inside the station for several long minutes, finally returning to their waiting carriage. Since there wasn’t room for all of them on the seat, he settled Jack on his thigh and asked the driver to take them to the nearest respectable hotel.
The driver stopped the carriage several blocks away in front of an impressive brick building faced with white marble.
“Will this suffice, sir?” the driver asked as he turned around to look at Thane.
“This is fine. Thank you.” Thane set Jack down and stepped out of the conveyance, walking around to take Lily from Jemma then offering his wife a hand. The driver motioned to the porter to take the luggage from the back of the carriage and he quickly loaded it onto a cart and rolled it in the door behind the tired travelers.
Jemma took Lily from Thane while he spoke with a bespectacled man at the front desk and accepted a room key from him. The porter led them down the hall to an elevator, something none of them had been on before, and escorted them up to a fifth floor suite.
The porter took the key from Thane, unlocked the door, and motioned them inside the luxurious space that put their elegant room aboard the ship to shame. Along with a fireplace and a large private bath, the room boasted a selection of seating as well as two bedrooms, one with two single beds and a second with a massive walnut bed.
Thane directed where the bags should go while Jemma walked to a window and looked down at the busy street below.
She felt Jack lean against her side and slipped an arm around him, giving him a hug, while Lily continued to sleep.
Worry creased the boy’s forehead as he looked at her with concern. “Will Sir Rigsly be well, Auntie Jemma? He doesn’t know anyone where we’re going and he’ll be scared without us there.”
“He’ll be fine, love. Your uncle wired his friend to meet the train and see to the care of Rigsly and the horses until we arrive. I’m sure he’ll take grand care of our dog.”
“I hope so.” Jack didn’t sound any more convinced than Jemma felt. She knew the dog was an unnecessary burden Thane had graciously accepted, but the way he abruptly loaded him on the train left her as upset as the children. The poor dog whined and cried as Thane led him away and it broke her heart to tell him goodbye, even if it was for only a few days.
“Do you want a rest, some food, or to go for a walk?” Thane asked after he tipped the porter and stood behind them as they stared out the window.
Jemma smiled at Jack as he gazed up at her. “Why don’t you and your uncle go exploring while Lily and I rest? Upon your return, we can eat an early dinner, since you Americans don’t have teatime.”
Thane nodded his head. “Do you need help with Lily?”
“No. Go on and enjoy yourselves.”
Thane and Jack took her words to heart, returning with tales of going to a big hardware and implement store where Thane ordered several things for the ranch.
The next morning, Thane directed them out to a waiting carriage that took them to Central Park.
As Lily and Jack ran around on the grassy expanse before them, laughing and enjoying the beautiful autumn day, Jemma strolled along with her hand looped around Thane’s strong arm. “Thank you for giving them some fresh air and an opportunity to run to their heart’s content.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t think about them needing a break from all the travel. Will they be ready to go in the morning?”
“Yes. We’ll just have to wear them out today.”
Thane took them to the Central Park Menagerie where they saw exotic animals like camels and lions, as well as bears and elephants. Swans, sheep and an assortment of other exhibits rounded out the collection. They rode the carousel, admired Belvedere Castle, and watched little boys send their sailboats across the lake.
As they took a carriage back to the hotel to change for dinner, Thane glanced at his wife and smirked as she brushed at a speck of dust on the rich navy fabric of her skirt.
“Is it a custom in England for a lady to change her dress multiple times in a day? You started out this morning in an elaborate pink gown then changed into this navy dress. You switched back to the pink when we ate lunch, then to the navy this afternoon. I’ve not yet figured out how you m
anaged to pack an entire outfit into your reticule since we’ve not been back to the hotel when we left shortly after breakfast.”
Jemma smiled at his teasing. “Indeed, Thane Jordan. I’m astonished you noticed what I was wearing. You can set your mind at ease, though. I’ve not changed my dress once today. It’s called a surprise dress. Worn as I have it now, it serves as a perfectly respectable walking dress. If I unbutton the front placket and hook the skirt on the sides, it turns into a much more elaborate gown.”
“Clever and practical.” Thane reached down and lifted the hem to see the pink underskirt beneath the outer layer. Jemma batted at his hands so he lifted the hem higher before dropping it back into place with a wicked grin. “No matter how you wear it, you look quite lovely, although I think I’m partial to the pink.”
Furiously blushing, Jemma nodded her head and turned her gaze to watch the passing scenery. Lily sat on Thane’s lap, trying to doze, but he kept bouncing his legs to keep her awake. They wanted her so worn out, she’d sleep through the night and be ready for a few naps the following day.
Jack leaned against Jemma and fought to keep his eyes open.
“Did you have a fun day, Jack?”
“Yes, Auntie Jemma. It was wonderful.” Jack turned to look at her with a contented smile.
“What was your favorite exhibit at the menagerie?”
Jack thought a moment before answering. “I think the camels. It would be fun to ride them, like they do in the desert. I liked the lion, too. What was your favorite?”
“The swans were most lovely,” Jemma smiled at her nephew. “And I liked watching the bear. He appeared quite ferocious.”
Thane glanced at Jemma then winked at Jack. “Bears can be ferocious, especially if you disturb them when they prefer to be left alone.”
“Have you ever seen a bear up close, Uncle Thane?” Jack asked gazing at the man who was quickly becoming his hero.
Crumpets & Cowpies: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 1) Page 13
