Beside Still Waters

by Tracey V. Bateman

  Andy Riley eyed him evenly. “I hope you have a good reason for making a spectacle of my daughter, not to mention the rest of us.”

  “I tried to make less of a spectacle by bringing Billy along to take over for you.”

  It would have gone smoothly, too, if Eva weren’t so mule-headed. But there was no sense in antagonizing Mr. Riley by being critical of his daughter. Especially now. Even if it was a fact, not to mention common knowledge for anyone who knew her.

  “I guess you have a point there,” Mr. Riley acknowledged. “Let’s get out of everyone’s way before they tar and feather us.”

  When the two men had made it safely through the maze of dancers and found a quiet spot next to a wagon, Mr. Riley faced Jonesy. “Now what do you want that couldn’t wait until I was finished dancing with my daughter? Dancing with her for the fourth time, I might add, because it appears all the eligible young men who might have asked her to dance believe you are courting her, and they don’t want to move in on another man’s girl.” Andy folded his arms across his barrel chest. “Suppose you start by telling me why you allowed my daughter to come to a dance alone for the first time since she was thirteen.”

  Jonesy rubbed his jaw and cleared his throat. “That was purely an oversight, sir. I would have asked her, but I didn’t think about it. I just figured we’d show up with our parents like we do for church and then spend the rest of the dance together.” He raked his fingers through his newly shorn hair. “I guess I am a baboon, like Eva said.”

  Laughter rumbled through Andy’s chest. “Well, at least the two of you agree on that point. But that’s not why you interrupted our dance.”

  “No, sir.” Jonesy shifted from one foot to the other. This was ridiculous. He had no reason to be nervous. He was a grown man, not a boy. Eva was a grown woman and pretty well past the age when most women married anyway. “I intend to ask for Eva’s hand in marriage,” he blurted out.

  Mr. Riley stared and said … absolutely nothing.

  Jonesy swallowed hard and went on with nervous energy. “I want you to know that I love her and I’ll do right by her, if she agrees to marry me.”

  “Are you saying you plan to stay on and farm after all? Or will you try to build a ranch around here?”

  “Well, neither … I …”

  “I see.” Mr. Riley’s voice dropped. “You want to take my daughter away.”

  “If she’ll have me, then yes, sir. I already own a hundred acres in Texas and have money saved to start my herd. Even have a cabin and a barn, and a small bunkhouse for the cowhands I’ll need to hire. I can’t up and leave it for good. Any more than I could leave Eva without at least asking her to come with me as my wife.”

  The hulking man’s shoulders slumped. “I see you have your mind made up. I can’t say I blame you. As a matter of fact, it shows right good sense and stability on your part.” He drew a short breath and nodded. “If my daughter will have a baboon like you, then you have my blessing.”

  Joy leaped into Jonesy’s heart, and he felt like shouting. He grabbed Mr. Riley’s hand and pumped it. “Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.”

  Mr. Riley chuckled. “No need to thank me. Eva will make up her own mind. But I warn you, she’s come close to the altar more than once and hasn’t gone through with the ‘I do’ yet.”

  Jonesy grinned at Mr. Riley. “She will with me.”

  “We’ll see. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to go ask my wife to dance. She’s starting to look like a wallflower, and if I don’t do something about that, I won’t get a decent meal for a week.”

  Jonesy watched him walk away. Hope Riley, Eva’s ma, turned as though sensing her husband was coming. Her face, illuminated by the lantern light, brightened even further at the sight of him.

  What would Eva be like in twenty-five years? Loving him. Growing old with him. She was aggravated with him at the moment, but by the end of the evening, she would be his bride-to-be.

  Eva stiffened as Jonesy approached her at the refreshment table. It was his fault she was forced to get her own drink in the first place. She sipped her punch and deliberately turned her back to him.

  “Eva,” he said, in that scolding tone he used when she was being “stubborn,” as he called it.

  “I’m not speaking to you, Mr. Jones.”

  He gave an exasperated huff. “Yes, you are.” Taking her by the arm, he led her away from the table.

  “How dare you manhandle me?” Eva demanded, but she didn’t pull away from him. It was rather thrilling for him to be acting this way. Like more than just a friend. “I’ve half a mind to tell my pa and just see what he does to you.”

  “Tell him. He’s dancing with your ma.”

  “Well, what do you want? I don’t want to leave the dance, although no one is dancing with me but my family.”

  “Listen, Eva.” He stopped short and spun her around to face him. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you to the dance. I just didn’t think about it.”

  Eva sniffed. “You and all your romantic poetry. Hasn’t it taught you anything?”

  Heat crawled across her cheeks. She hid her embarrassment behind what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug. “So why did you drag me out here? To apologize? Well, apology accepted. Now can we go back to the dance? You can make it up to me by letting the other men know they’re safe to ask me to dance.”

  As she stepped away, he caught hold of her arm. Drawing her back, he looked down at her with a deep level of some emotion. What was it?

  “Jonesy? What’s wrong?”

  Was he leaving sooner than he’d planned? She’d been counting on two more weeks with him.

  He took her hands in his. Eva shivered.

  “I’ve been thinking, Eva. We’ve been trying to be friends. But it just isn’t working out.”

  Tears sprang to Eva’s eyes. “I thought it was. I’m sorry if you don’t want to be my friend.”

  “Eva.” He let out a short laugh. “The reason it isn’t working out is because I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  He pulled her closer and touched his forehead to hers. “I’m so in love with you I can’t stand the thought of leaving you.”

  Giddy relief filled Eva. “Oh, Jonesy. Finally.”

  “Finally?” he whispered.

  “I’ve loved you since the moment I met you. I thought you were going to go away and I’d never see you again.”

  Jonesy straightened up and lifted her hands to his lips, pressing a kiss on one and then the other. “Will you marry me?”

  A smile spread across Eva’s lips. “With all my heart, Jonesy.”

  Then he did what Eva had dreamed of since the day they’d met. He gently released her hands and gathered her around the waist. His fingers spanned her back as he pulled her closer. His head lowered.

  At the first touch of his warm lips on hers, Eva’s eyes closed, and she sank against him, accepting his tender kiss and responding with all the love she had to offer him. Her knees weakened as he deepened the kiss.

  Disappointment flooded her when he pulled away. “Let’s go back and tell our folks.” His voice was husky and a bit breathless.

  Eva nodded and grabbed his hand. “Ma is going to be so happy that I’m finally settling down. Only I can’t imagine what all the old dowagers in town will have to talk about now. But just think. I can join their little Ladies’ Aid Society.” She pinched her nose and spoke in a high tone, mimicking Mrs. Barker, the prim and proper owner of the town boardinghouse: “Because don’t you know, only married women are allowed because they often discuss childbirth and other subjects unsuitable for delicate, unmarried women.” Eva squeezed his hand. “But now they’ll have to let me in.”

  She’d expected him to laugh, but he didn’t. As a matter of fact, when she studied his face in the light of the bright moon, his expression appeared downright sickened. “I don’t have to join the ladies’ society. But I’ll have to come up with a good reason to give Ma; otherwise she’ll insist, and I’ll give in.”
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  “Eva, honey, stop talking for a second.”

  Heat rose to her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Jonesy. I thought you were just as happy and excited as I am.”

  “Excited? I’m ecstatic. My joy has no bounds at the thought that you love me and want to become my wife.”

  “Then …”

  He gathered a shaky breath. “Eva, I still plan to move back to Texas in two weeks.”

  Eva’s ire rose, sudden and hot. She jerked her hand from his. “Then what was all this, Jonesy? A game?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Well, what sort of marriage do you suppose we could have if you’re all the way in Texas and I’m—” She halted in midsentence as clarity struck her hard, like a tall tree crashing on top of her. “Do you mean to tell me you want me to come with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh.” All of her strength sifted from her. It hadn’t been that long ago that she’d believed if only he’d ask her, she would follow Jonesy anywhere. But faced with the wretched reality of leaving her family, how could she possibly make such a choice? “I—I don’t know, Jonesy. How can I leave? My grammy and grandpa came west in the early days when wagon trains first brought settlers to Oregon. My pa is the only one who has ever left, and he came back. All my cousins and aunts and uncles live no farther than Oregon City, which is just a day’s ride from here.”

  “Don’t you see? This is your chance to build a life with me. You’ll love Texas, Eva. There’s no place on earth like it. Wild, open country.”

  “Apaches,” Eva said flatly.

  Jonesy smiled. “Not where we’d live.”

  “Oh, Jonesy,” Eva moaned. “Isn’t there any chance you might stay in Oregon? We could build a nice life here. Ranch if you want to. Or we could grow an apple orchard or even farm the way your pa does. I’ve heard you made a good crop. Do you know how unusual it is to bring in a good harvest the first year? You must have a knack for it.”

  “The land was already primed and ready for us when we got here. Mr. Winston was preparing to spend another planting and harvest season just in case the place didn’t sell.”

  “Still … won’t you consider it? I mean, really, what is the difference between me leaving Oregon and you deciding to stay here? Either you sacrifice or I do. Why does it have to be me?” Eva knew she sounded like a petulant child, but disappointment brought out the puerile attitude. She wanted to marry Jonesy, but she didn’t want to move away.

  Jonesy held her hand and pressed it against his chest. Eva could feel the beat of his heart against the back of her hand. He spoke softly. “I’ve dreamed of building my own ranch since I was old enough to pull on my first pair of boots. Ranching is in my blood. Texas is in my blood. I know how to make a good living for a family there. Our family, honey. Ever since I arrived here to help Pa and Ma settle, I’ve counted every day, every hour almost, waiting for harvest to be over so I can go home. The only thing that has kept me from going stir-crazy has been my relationship with you. I love you, Eva. Come build a life with me in Texas. I promise you’ll never regret it.”

  “How can you promise something like that, Jonesy?”

  He stared into her eyes. “Because I’ll spend every day for the rest of our lives seeing to it.” He drew her close and held her.

  Eva could feel his tension. “Let’s go back to the dance. I need time to think.”

  He nodded. “I won’t say anything to our parents just yet.”

  When they reached the edge of the crowd around the dance floor, Eva hung back. “I’m not ready to face people. W–would you mind getting me a cup of punch? I must have left mine back at the refreshment table.”

  A sad smile lifted the corners of his lips. “I’ll be back.”

  Eva’s insides churned as nervous energy danced through every vessel in her body. She needed to think, to pace, to move. She glanced up and saw the line of horses next to the water troughs and hitching posts. Patches stood near the end of the row, pawing the dirt as if eager to be on the move.

  She’d missed her morning runs with him. Pa had forbidden them since the incident with the thieves on the road. But right now, that’s just what she needed. Determination and a need to dust off some energy overrode her desire to obey her pa.

  Besides, she’d be safe. The man who had almost killed her was in jail along with one of the others. They were awaiting trial, which wouldn’t happen until the circuit judge came through in three months. The third man had most likely joined the rest of the horse thieves. They were probably all halfway to Mexico by now.

  She was tired of being afraid. Tired of staying close to home. She and Patches needed to run. In a flash of decision, she hurried to her beloved pony and mounted him. She whipped around and left the dance.

  She waited until she was out of town before she gave Patches his head. Joyous laughter exploded from her as the wind caught her hair.

  By the light of the moon, there was no mistaking horse and rider. He had almost given up. But there she was. This must be a sign that she belonged to him after all. He took careful aim with his pistol.

  five

  When Jonesy returned to the tree where he’d left Eva, she was nowhere in sight. Assuming she’d simply gone to take care of nature’s call, he stood there sipping a glass of punch, holding another glass for Eva. But after fifteen minutes, his glass was empty, and he was growing concerned.

  He enlisted Mrs. Riley’s help, then came back to the spot beside the pine and waited for a report.

  Mrs. Riley returned moments later, shaking her head. “No one’s seen her.” Her troubled gaze scanned the yard and the street, where the wagons and horses had thinned out quite a bit as people left for home. She touched his arm. “Jonesy! Patches is gone.”

  “Eva rode to the dance?”

  Hope nodded. “Alongside the wagon. She was so upset about having to go alone, I didn’t have the heart to forbid it. Didn’t you say the two of you worked all that out?”

  “Yes, ma’am. But I upset her in another way.”

  A smile touched her lips. “By asking her to marry you?”

  “Mr. Riley told you?”

  “Of course. We tell each other everything. Did she accept your proposal?”

  “She was very excited, chattering on the way she does. We were headed back to the dance to tell you and Mr. Riley and my folks when we realized we didn’t have the same location in mind to build our life together.”

  “She assumed you’d stay in Oregon.”

  He nodded. “And I figured she’d know I wanted her to come with me to Texas.”

  “Eva loves you.” She said it so softly, he had to lean forward to hear it. When she spoke again, Jonesy recognized the pain in her voice. “She’ll go with you. A woman in love will follow her man to the ends of the earth.”

  Faith that Eva might actually say yes surged through him. “Well, she might be all the way at the ends of the earth by now the way she rides that horse of hers. Let me walk you back to the party, then I’ll go after her.”

  Mrs. Riley took his proffered arm, and they hurried back to the dance floor. “I wish she wouldn’t go off alone on that wild horse of hers. But that’s her pa’s blood in her.”

  He chuckled. “Maybe I ought to put her to work around the ranch. I bet she could run down and rope a steer better than most cowhands.”

  “You just let her cook your meals and wash your shirts. Leave the rough riding to your men.”

  Jonesy grinned and tipped his hat. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And when you catch up to Eva, will you take her home? Andy and I will be leaving in the next few minutes, so there’s no need to bring her back here.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  It hadn’t occurred to him that Eva might have come to the dance on Patches. Why hadn’t he noticed the pony hitched up somewhere? His stomach churned as he mounted Lady Anne.

  He dug his heels into the mare’s flanks and urged her faster as he followed the road out of town. If he knew Eva, she’
d take the road as far as her uncle Michael’s property, which extended for several miles, then she’d cut across the field where she could really run Patches.

  He’d definitely have to have a discussion with her about her taking off like that. Running a horse at night, even a good horse like Patches, was dangerous. She should know better.

  After trotting for a few miles, Lady Anne suddenly pulled back and whinnied. A shadowy form in the road blocked their path.

  Bitter panic threatened to choke Jonesy. “Eva?” he called. As he drew closer, he realized the form was too large to be a human. It looked more like … a horse.

  Oh, Lord, is it Patches? He pulled Lady Anne to a halt and drew his pistol, then moved cautiously toward the horse.

  As he came close, the light from the moon confirmed his fear. He knelt beside the pony. Patches lifted his neck, then lowered it back to the ground.

  Jonesy scanned the area. Eva was nowhere to be seen. She never would have left Patches alone. She knew folks would be coming this way after the dance. If the horse had stumbled and fallen in the dark, she would have waited for someone to happen by.

  Acidic fear burned in his stomach. “Eva!” He looked closely around the horse for any sign of which way Eva had gone. A smear in the dust around Patches made him bend for a closer look. Eva hadn’t walked away. Someone—or something—had dragged her into the woods.

  Operating on instinct, he gripped his pistol and entered the woods in the direction of the drag marks on the road. Even during the daylight hours, the woods could be dark and foreboding. Able to hide anything that didn’t want to be found. How on earth was he going to find a woman who was most likely hurt and had been dragged away against her will?

  Lord, he prayed, I know You have Your eyes on Eva right now. Please lead me to her.

  “Eva!” he called out. “Eva, it’s Jonesy. Where are you?” He pushed a branch away from his face. “Eva! Make some noise so I can find you, honey.”