She retrieved two and handed one to him. "The eggs broke, so I scrambled them."
“I love scrambled eggs. I hope you slept well.” Jacob raked his fingers through his hair, like he was frustrated. “I mean…everything here is new to you.”
“I slept very well, thank you. You have a very nice home.” She put a plate of food in front of him.
“My father built this house for my mother,” Jacob said with a bit of sadness in his voice, while sitting down at the table. “I have made only a few alterations and repaired the windows.”
“Is this your family?” Abigail asked, pointing at the biggest picture on the wall. In it a young man and woman were holding a baby dressed in a white gown.
“Yes, a friend of my parents painted it shortly after my christening.” He accepted the cup of coffee she extended to him. “Thank you for breakfast.”
“I like cooking. I hope it’s to your taste.” Abigail said shyly and sat down on the opposite side of the table.
Jacob said grace and they both ate their breakfast in comfortable silence, broken only by appreciative murmurs from Jacob as he ate hungrily. The sausages were delightfully spicy and rich. They went perfectly with the eggs. And the fresh-baked bread with jam and butter was heavenly. Washing it all down with strong, sweet coffee, Abigail felt good. Content. Like maybe today was going to be all right.
Jacob cleared his throat. "I haven't been attentive to you in the way that a wife expects a husband to be, and I'm sorry for that."
Abigail's cheeks heated up--she was sure she looked beet red. "I understand."
"I appreciate your patience, but it wasn't my intent to abandon you the moment you became my wife."
Abigail flushed harder. "You're keeping Salvation safe for everyone, including me. It's not my place to stand in the way of that."
But it pleased her that he'd apologized.
"I'm probably going to be out all day," he continued. "Don't wait up for me."
Is this what being a sheriff's wife was like? Lots of long, sleepless nights alone? It wasn't what she'd imagined when they were corresponding. But how unreasonable would it sound if she objected to him staying out to do his job? Petty, that's how. So she wasn't going to dwell on it.
Plus, thinking about him staying out late made her think about Sara.
Better to change the subject. "You said you caught one of the thieves?"
"He's been stewing in the jail cell for hours. I'll have a chat with him before I head out, just in case he wants to tell me where his friends are hiding."
"Is he likely to tell?"
"You ask a lot of questions, sometimes a villain slips up and reveals something they didn't intend."
"Catch him in a lie, you mean."
"Exactly." He swallowed the last bit of bread and stood. "If there's anything you need at the general store, as Hank to put it on my tab."
"Thank you." Abigail hesitated. "Is there anything you need from me?"
"Just get yourself settled in. This'll be over soon."
Then what? Abigail wondered. But she nodded and cleared the dishes from the table while Jacob donned his hat and headed toward the door. She followed him, intending to walk him out, and at the door, he leaned down to kiss her goodbye. She once again felt that strangely new and intimate touch of his lips upon hers, over too soon.
After a stunned moment, staring at the door Jacob had just closed, she hurried back to the kitchen to take care of the morning dishes. Standing at the wash basin gave her a view of the west side of town. She watched Jacob walk calmly toward the jail. Her heart hitched as he approached the swinging doors of the saloon. He was just walking past to the jail, she told herself.
Please Lord, take this jealousy away from me. I don't want it to poison my marriage.
But still, she couldn't help but hold her breath until Jacob passed the saloon doors without stopping.
She grinned foolishly. She'd been worried for nothing.
As she reached for the dishrag, a flash of scarlet caught her eye. Sara emerged through the saloon doors and scurried after Jacob.
A gasp left Abigail’s lips at the sight of the woman. When she saw Jacob glance in the direction of the house, as if worried that she might see him talking to the saloon girl, something cold got hold of her heart. The conversation between Jacob and Sarah was a brief one, but very animated, at least on Sarah’s part. Jacob had his back to her, so she couldn’t see the expression on his face.
Sarah reached for Jacob’s hand, but he took a step back and walked away. Sarah called after him, but did not follow. On the contrary, the young and beautiful woman turned back and looked right at Jacob’s house, smiling victoriously as if she’d know that Abigail was watching.
Abigail felt horribly jealous again, almost forgetting about the sweet moments they had had together over breakfast. Sarah obviously had some special plans for Jacob, and Abigail was in her way.
“God, help me to overcome my jealousy,” she prayed, still looking out of the window. “And give to Jacob and me the chance to be happy with each other.”
After cleaning the kitchen and making the bed, Abigail decided that she needed to do something besides waiting for Jacob to come home. She walked to Helen’s house with a plate of biscuits in her hands covered in a red-checkered tea towel she found in the kitchen cupboard.
“Good morning!” Helen invited her in and motioned her into the kitchen, where a pot of tea was brew. “My Lawrence says there’s a good chance they’ll find the robbers today.”
“Jacob said the same,” Abigail responded and cleared her throat before continuing. “I hope I’m not imposing. I couldn’t bear sitting home waiting for him to return. I wanted to ask your advice—I was thinking of asking around about jobs.”
“Wait till you have a few children to take care of. Then you’ll pray for some free time.” Helen laughed, pointing at her two year old son, who was sitting on the floor playing with a wooden boat and carved wooden animals. Abigail smiled when she realized it was a toy Noah’s Ark.
Helen set out some cakes to go with the tea, and offered Abigail a cup. “So, what can you do?”
“Aunt Cecilia was a seamstress, and I was her apprentice.”
“Really!” Helen exclaimed. “Then you should pay a visit to the local tailor, Charles Thomson. He is a very good man. I am sure that he will have something for you to do, at least from time to time.”
Abigail thanked Helen for her advice and after they spent a little more time talking about the future, took her leave. The walk to the tailor’s shop should have been a short one. Everyone she passed smiled at her, and a few stopped to welcome her again. Everyone she talked to spoke highly of Jacob.
Mr. Thomson turned out to be a middle age man with white hair and big glasses. “I’m delighted to learn that there is finally someone like you in our town.” He said, once she had finished her explanation. “I am behind on orders and really could use your help, Mrs. Anderson.”
“Thank you very much.” Abigail decided that she liked being addressed as Jacob’s wife. “I would be very happy to work with you, whenever you need something done.”
“Here are a few little things you can do now, so that I can see how you work.” The tailor gave her a jacket to mend and a pair of trousers to adjust at the hem. “If I like your work, there will be more for you.”
Abigail took the seat he offered her. When she was finished with both tasks, he examined her work carefully.
“You’re a very good seamstress, Mrs. Anderson. I’ve got an order for shirts and a traveling dress that I’m behind on. Would you like to work on one of them?”
Abigail offered to make the traveling dress, then they discussed her pay. Although, the pay was not much, it made her happy to have some honest work. Abigail decided that it would be good to have some money of her own, just in case.
Chapter Six
That afternoon, Helen came to remind her that about the Ladies’ Social Circle meeting. The ladies met in the same pl
ace where Abigail’s reception had been held. They did a lot of charity work and organized multiple events. Their latest effort was raising money for the new church bell.
“This meeting is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know most of the local women and even find a few friends among them. I know how hard it can be, coming to a new place and not knowing anyone.” Helen said.
Abigail was glad that someone understood her position and was on her side. “I’m looking forward to making new friends.”
“Personally, I like everyone,” Helen laughed. “But, according to Mrs. Smith, that’s because I refuse to see the negative sides of the people.”
“Yours is an excellent quality.” Abigail smiled back at her, while her new friend laughed.
“Some will not agree with you. But, in any event, do you need anything? Did Mr. Thomson accept your help? How is your first day in Salvation so far?”
“One question at a time, please.”
“Sorry, I am just glad that you’re here.”
“Thank you, Helen,” Abigail felt real gratitude towards the other woman for all that she had already done for her. The two last days would have been much harder on her without Helen’s joyous and supportive presence.
“My pleasure, Abigail. Now, I have to leave you, but we will see each other at the meeting, right? I will not be able to go there with you, because I have to be there early to set up, but I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”
Jacob was still away when it was time to go to the meeting. She had no idea when he would be back, so Abigail prepared a supper that would be good hot or cold and left it in the cupboard with a note on the table so Jacob would be able to find it. She didn’t like the idea that she’d be away when he came back, tired and hungry, but she also couldn’t spend every waking moment waiting for him to come home.
She washed up and donned on one of her three Sunday-best dresses, the light blue one with the embroidered roses at the collar. Minutes later, she was on her way.
She’d just passed the saloon when Sarah emerged through the swinging doors. Today her dress was the same shiny blue found in a peacock’s tail, and her face was painted even more heavily than before.
“Good day, Miss Abby.” Sarah hurried to block her way. “I heard your wedding yesterday ended a bit in a hurry.”
“I am sure you also heard about the saloon robbery,” Abigail answered calmly. “My husband was called to keep the order in the town.”
“I’m sure Jacob was relieved to end that farce as quickly as possible,” said Sarah. “You should know that there are strong feelings between Jacob and me, so enjoy him now that you can. It won’t be long before he starts spending his evenings at the saloon with me.”
“What are you saying?” Abigail asked, not wanting to believe that Jacob would be unfaithful.
“You heard me,” Sarah laughed at her obvious confusion and pain. “Jacob is mine. Oh, he’s interested in playing at being the respectable husband for now, but it’s not going to last. He is going to get tired of it—and you—in no time”
Before Abigail could answer her, Mr. Jones peered over the top of the saloon door. “Sarah, stop bothering Mrs. Anderson and get back to work.”
Sarah followed Mr. Jones back through the saloon doors, not looking at all chastened, and making sure to send a final smile in Abigail’s direction.
Abigail walked stiffly away, furious at Sarah, but trying to hold her temper. She continued to replay the words of the other woman all the way to the meeting hall, feeling the pain of the betrayal deep in her heart. She still wanted to believe that Jacob wasn’t capable of such deception, but she couldn’t banish the agonizing jealousy eating away at her heart.
Was Sarah speaking the truth? What if Jacob did love the saloon girl, but felt he needed to marry a respectable woman? He wouldn’t be the first to do so. What was she going to do if she found out that he loved Sarah?
Chapter Seven
Although Abigail arrived at the parish hall in a state of utter distress, she took a deep breath before opening the door to go inside.
Helen and the other women welcomed her with open arms. She felt immediately at home among them. Today’s meeting was mostly for them to get to know her. Therefore, Abigail found herself to be the center of attention.
Abigail spent most of the evening playing cards and drinking tea, while listening to stories and learning the history of Salvation. Helen was very attentive towards her, making sure Abigail was never alone or left out. By the end of the evening, Abigail asked Helen to come and sit with her near the window and finally asked the question that had been eating at her from the moment she first saw Sarah.
“Helen, I already think of you as my best friend. I have to ask you about Sarah.” She spoke quietly, wanting to keep the conversation private. “The girl that works at the saloon.”
“I know who Sarah is,” Helen answered seriously. “What do you want to know?”
“On the way here today, I ran into her,” Abigail explained. “And she told me that there is something between her and Jacob…did they…does he…”
Her words trailed off as her throat got tight.
Helen took Abigail’s hands in her own and looked her straight in the eyes.
“Abigail you have nothing to worry about, Jacob is a good man who will never cheat on you.”
A few tears fell down Abigail’s cheeks, but her smile showed the relief she felt from Helen’s words. She had been trying to believe that Jacob was an honorable and honest man, but the problem was that she knew too little about him. Helen had known him for much longer, and her reassurance was a huge relief.
“Sarah is a delusional girl,” Helen continued. “She’s convinced that she and Jacob are meant to be together. Every time she sees another woman speak to him she acts like a jealous wife. Some folks around here think there really is something going on between them, but I myself have heard Jacob trying to tell her that there is nothing between them. The fact that she won’t hear it doesn’t mean that Jacob loves her.”
Abigail reflected upon this. “I almost feel sorry for her.”
“Me too,” Helen agreed with her. “In any case, you must not let jealousy dictate your actions, because it is the worst thing for a marriage. I have seen many couples destroy their lives, because one of them does not trust the other. You must trust Jacob to do the right thing.”
“In my mind, I know that you are right, but I still fear what could happen in the future.” Abigail confessed her doubts. “Sarah is attractive and… available. Even if Jacob isn’t interested now, maybe she will find a way…”
“Your future is going to be what you both make out of it.” Helen tried to calm her down. “Pray and let God show you the right path. You must slay the demon of jealous before it poisons your soul.”
“I prayed this morning,” Abigail told the other woman. “But Sarah was waiting for me in front of the saloon this evening.”
“I am sorry to hear that, but you should not let her ruin your marriage before it even starts. That is exactly what she is trying to do, make you suspicious and jealous. If you start to act like that for no good reason, it will drive a wedge between you and Jacob.”
“I know that you are right and I trust God to protect me,” Abigail explained herself. “But, it feels like the jealousy is stronger than I am.”
“When I first came here, I was a lot like you,” Helen said. “I had no family or friends to support and advise me. My husband, I had seen just once before the wedding and we were strangers to each other.”
“You were a mail order bride?” Abigail asked, surprised by the revelation.
“No,” Helen smiled at her surprise. “Tom, my husband, came to my home town for some business with my father and asked my hand in marriage. I liked him and my father thought highly of him, but the truth is I knew nothing about what kind of man he was.”
“I recognize that feeling,” Abigail said with a new sadnes
s in her voice.
“But,” Helen continued cheerfully. “I gave him a chance and now we are a happy couple with a beautiful child and a wonderful future in front of us.”
“I am so happy for you and, I confess, a little jealous that you have all that.” With those words, Abigail was surprise to feel something like hope filling her heart. “How long before you two managed to reach that point? How long does it take?”
“Oh, my dear, you cannot measure love with time.” Helen hugged Abigail. “You will see, in good time you two will be able to build a happy home together. Sarah and the others like her would never be able to destroy it then. But, you need to be strong now and let Jacob prove his faith to you.”
After the meeting, Abigail and Helen walked home. Abigail was feeling much better after their talk and when they walked past the saloon she didn’t even feel the need to look inside through its open doors.
Chapter Eight
When Jacob came home for dinner that evening, Abigail was relieved to see him well. He washed the dirt of the day from his hands and face while Abigail set the table and heated the food she had prepared earlier. During dinner they sat at first in comfortable silence. It was Jacob who started the conversation. Abigail was beginning to like this about him—he did a lot to make her feel at home.
“How did you spend your day?” he asked her, half way through the meal. “I hope you didn’t miss Boston too much.”
“Not once.” It was true—Salvation already felt like home to her. “Every was very kind at the Ladies’ Social Circle meeting. And Mr. Thomson has offered me some work to do when he has extra.”
“You don’t have to work, if you don’t want to,” Jacob said. “But, I’m not against it. If it makes you happy, I’m happy too.”
“I’m not used to being idle. I like being useful.”
“You are a very good cook.” Jacob leaned back in his chair. “Now it turns out you can sew like a tailor. I wonder what other talents you’re hiding from me.”
Winning The Deputy's Heart (Mail-Order Brides of Salvation 1) Page 3
