Minding Benji (Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs Book 5)

by Sandra E Sinclair

  “Oh, my, Mr. Austin, this house is the most beautiful house I’ve ever been in. Jacob tells me you said we can live here, with you and Miss Fairchild, until ours is finished being built. I believe I’ll be afraid to touch anything in case it breaks.”

  “Don’t worry so much, Winnie. If you break something, we’ll just replace it or throw it out, depending on what it is. But I’d like to think you’re not moving into my home with the intention to destroy it.”

  Winnie giggled. “Oh, no, Mr. Austin. I’m sure to be mighty careful around your breakables.”

  Before leaving the house to join Jacob, Austin went into the parlor and grabbed two bottles of wine. They sat on their blankets, eating and talking. The time was enjoyable and relaxing. When daylight started to fade, Jacob lit the two lanterns he’d brought from the unfinished property. Feeling heady from the wine and good company, Austin asked Prudence to walk with him. Leaving Benji in Winnie and Jacob’s care, they set off, Austin carrying one of the lanterns with him.

  He took Pru to the swings out back. “Sit, I’ll push you.” Prudence did as he asked, fluffing out her skirt as she sat and waited. Being out here with her was heartwarming. This would be his life after they were married, so far it wasn’t bad. She was good company, pleasant to look at, and stirred something deep within him. He began to gently push her forward.

  “I got my scar from riding on this swing. I must have been around three or four years old, Jeffrey wanted me to conquer my fear of being on it. He made me sit on it and started to push. When I began crying to get off, he pushed me higher. I was so scared I jumped off while the swing was still in the air and landed on my face, my chin hit a rock that got stuck in there. Poor Jeffrey has been trying to make up for it ever since. I think it really scared him.”

  Austin stop pushing the swing and came around to kneel in front of her. “I won’t lie to you. The thought of having to get married used to terrify me. But the more time I spend with you, the more I’m warming to the idea. It may not have been what I wanted, but I will always be good to you, and do all in my power to make our home a happy one.”

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  Her hand cupping his cheek was his undoing. He leaned into her palm, then cupped her face in both of his, easing her face toward him. Their lips met. It was a sweet, unassuming kiss, which deepened into something more that pulled at his heart and contracted his stomach. He wanted her like he’d never wanted a woman before.

  He stood, bringing her with him. His arms curled around her waist as he tightened his hold on her when she responded. He needed her as much as he needed air to breathe.

  She fitted him like a well-made jacket. “Stay with me.” He groaned, against her lips, then again into her neck.

  She pulled away from him and took a step back, eyes glaring. Her nostrils flared in an unmistakable act of feminine hostility. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?”

  “Yes, I am.” He took a step forward in confusion, she took one back, and he stopped moving. They were having a moment, what went wrong? “Stay with me.” He pleaded again. “The Dunnes can take Benji back with them. I can take you back in the morning. Stay with me.”

  Color rose to her cheeks, her chest thrust forward, and her eyes sparked with disbelief. “I will do no such thing. I think it’s best we leave now.”

  “Why? Why won’t you stay with me?” He shoved his hands in his pants pockets and leaned heavily on his left leg.

  “We’re not married,” she said in surprise.

  She wasn’t the only one surprised. He furrowed his brow. “We’ll be married by this time tomorrow. You’ve done it before, you weren’t married then.”

  He watched as her face swelled and changed color, she looked fit to be tied. “I most certainly have not.” Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him as if he’d robbed her at gunpoint.

  His chest felt tight. He’d hurt her feelings, and he couldn’t understand why. What was he missing?

  “What about Benji?” he asked, searching for clarification.

  She wiped her eyes with the heel of her palm. “If you weren’t so full of your own self-importance and had allowed me to speak the other night, I’d have told you that Benji is not my son. I’ve known him a month longer than I’ve know you.”

  “But…but, he has your eyes,” he whispered, more talking to himself than her. He straightened. “Are you sure he isn’t yours?” He rubbed the back of his neck and then scratched his head.

  Her eyes widened and she seemed to be choking on her words. She kind of wriggled in place, her hands clenched stiffly at her sides.

  “Are you crazy? Of course, I’m sure! He has my eyes, because my brother and I have the same eyes. Benji is my nephew.” She gave a short scream and stomped off.

  Chapter 19

  Although she hadn’t seen Austin all day, she was still stomping mad that he should think so lowly of her. Even if he had thought her an unmarried mother, he couldn’t wait twelve more hours before making his lewd suggestions? As his fiancée, didn’t she deserve some modicum of respect? Or were all men like Mr. Langton? No, not all men, her father would never treat a woman the way Mr. Langton had treated her.

  There was a knock on the door, and before she could respond, Minna’s head popped in.

  “It’s only me. Should we start getting you ready? Jeffrey has been marrying people all day.”

  “I’m not sure if I’ll ever be ready to marry Austin.” She exhaled.

  “Nonsense, anyone with eyes can see he’s taken with you. In fact, I’ve never seen my brother-in-law taken with anyone before. Other than Jeffrey and Johnny B, he accepts most others on sufferance and out of respect for his brother’s standing in the community. Austin Alwin is not the friendliest man in Jubilee Springs. Nowhere near. Although he can be heart-stoppingly charming when he has a mind to be.”

  Minna shook her head, walking over to Prudence’s closet, taking out her wedding dress.

  Prudence glanced at the letter she was finishing off to Maddy. Although she was still angry with Austin, she only spoke of him favorably in the letter. She told of the four long, white pillars at the front of the eight-bedroomed house. The walls of magnolia and the crisp dark wood throughout the property.

  Which also had a few modern amenities. Nothing like she’d expected. She described Austin as warm, kind, and gentle, yet dark and mysterious, romantic and most of all he was handsome. All the reasons why he was perfect for her.

  So why was she hesitating? Prudence blotted the ink on the page and placed it into an envelope with her return address as Highbourne scribbled on the back of it. She stood, ready to say yes to the man she loved. The anger from earlier disappearing as she read through her letter.

  Minna helped Prudence to dress, and Winnie appeared just as they’d nearly finished.

  “Why, Miss Fairchild, you look beautiful. Mr. Austin is a lucky man,” Winnie said, holding a freshly-scrubbed Benji in his little pink and white frock with marine collar and booties. Prudence was speechless as she stared at her reflection. She looked like a bride in love even if the groom wasn’t aware of it.

  The woman staring back at her look determined and strong, showing no signs of the butterflies fluttering around inside her.

  Her dress was white, simple, and elegant with a high ruffle collar, sitting over the top of a silk underskirt. The silk sleeve tapered to her arms just past her elbows with lace ruffle trimmings and a silk bustle with bows at intervals ran down its length, leading into a train. Minna added the finishing touch by placing the full-length veil on the intricate updo she’d given Prudence, sweeping the hair from her face.

  “Oh my, Winnie is right, you do look beautiful, my dear.”

  “Thank you both, you both look lovely too,” Prudence said, not looking at the other women. She felt as if she was outside her body watching this happening to someone else. Swallowing, she smiled at herself in the mirror. This was it. In a matter of minutes, she would be Mrs. Austin Alwin. Striped
of her old life and title. Moving forward to a different chapter, avenues anew, not yet explored.

  The prospects were thrilling as well as frightening. Her legs refused to move as the others went toward the bedroom door. Minna had to come back and guide Prudence out of the room, and down the stairs to the waiting buggy. She gathered up Prudence’s train and helped her in, before getting in behind with Winnie and Benji. Jacob drove the buggy the few feet to the church and stopped.

  Prudence could hear her heart thudding in her ears and watched as her chest heaved at a fast rate. She slipped on short white gloves over clammy fingers before taking Jacob’s hand as he helped her down. In seconds Minna was at her side fussing over her dress, train, and veil while Prudence laced and unlaced her finger, before Minna handed her the bouquet.

  Once she was satisfied Prudence was perfect, she said, “I have to go and set up the piano to play you in. When you hear the music, take Jacob’s arm, step forward, and he’ll lead you down the aisle and hand you over to Austin.”

  Prudence nodded.

  “All right, I must go and get ready.”

  As instructed, the second Prudence heard the music begin to play, Jacob took her elbow and she stepped forward, one foot after the after, even when her legs threatened to fail her as she walked down the aisle. Then Austin turned to look at her and something shone from his eyes and strengthened her. His smile told her she was doing the right thing; they promised loved. Her heart danced in her chest.

  She may have been a mail order bride but she wouldn’t change her groom for all the money in the world. Together they’d be a family and raise Benji like he was their own, alongside any children they may have from their union.

  He looked so debonair in his long-tailed suit, his hair neatly slicked back and held in place with a slip of leather bowed at the back reminding her of a dashing nautical captain. She snuck a peek around the church to see some of the seats were filled with strangers smiling, some of them crying.

  Her gaze shifted back to Austin and although he was smiling, he had tears in his eyes, and her own welled in response.

  ~o0o0o~

  Austin had stood at the front of the church with his best friend Johnny B at his side. They were wearing matching tailored suits ordered a few days before he’d gone to the bridal agency. Johnny had said if he didn’t have a suit, he would keep putting it off. He’d been right. It was knowing the suit was being made that had given him the courage to knock on Mrs. Millard’s door. He was happy he had.

  Uncle Ed may have been the one to force his hand. But God was the one who lent him one of his angels to keep him company for the rest of his life.

  The music had begun to play a few seconds later, and Johnny B jabbed him in the ribs. He’d been afraid to turn around after the way they’d left things last night. He’d stayed at the ranch, and told Jacob to take the women back on his own. He could stay overnight as they’d need the buggy to carry Pru to the church.

  He was just thankful she’d turned up. He’d disrespected her with his lecherous ways, born from spending too many nights at the saloon wasting his time with painted women. Back then, he wouldn’t have known a good woman if she’d fallen out of a tree and landed on his head.

  He’d been beside himself with worry. He knew if he’d looked at her then and seen condemnation and resentment in her beautiful eyes, he would have been done for. Austin hadn’t wanted that to be the memory he’d have of the day he took a bride. Even if the love was one-sided, he’d wanted it to be a day he would remember with fondness, not regret.

  The last poke Johnny B had given him was painful. He’d swiped at his hand, not wanting to end up tackling him to the ground and rolling around fighting on the church floor on his wedding day. It wouldn’t have been a good look and Jeffrey would have been mad, and probably never would have forgiven him. He’d pushed Johnny B’s hand away when he’d raised it to stab at him again, sucked in a breath, pulled himself to his full length, and turned to look at her.

  His breath had caught in his throat, and his breathing had stopped. His welling eyes made his vision hazy. She was more beautiful than any woman had a right to be. Her eyes sparkled and her smile left him weak. It took sheer willpower to stay where he was and not rush to meet her. He imagined swinging her in the air, crushing her in his arms, with Jeffrey marrying them as he ran alongside to keep up as he carried his bride home to the ranch.

  This was the memory he craved, what he needed. He’d never felt so happy in his life to see another person. She wasn’t moving fast enough. Everything and everyone around her dissolved into nothingness, as she became all he could hear and see.

  Crazy to think a few days ago he had told Jeffrey to send her back. Now he wasn’t sure if he could live without her. She was as essential to him as water. When her hand was placed in his, he felt warmer than the midday sun on his back. She lit up his life as the fireworks for the night celebration would light up the sky.

  Jeffrey’s mouth was moving, and Austin must have been making the right noises and movements. The only words he could recall were, “You may kiss the bride.”

  He licked his lips and lifted the veil covering her face, keeping her from him. Her nervous smile made his stomach flip-flop. He kissed her like a drowning man gulping for air, and he never ever wanted to stop kissing her.

  In an instant, she was up in his arms, and he was twirling her around to the cheers of the onlookers. He raised her ring finger to inspect it and smiled. “Have I told you you're beautiful today, Mrs. Alwin.”

  She slipped her arms around his neck. “I don’t believe you have, Mr. Alwin, but rest assured you have my permission to say it today and every day.”

  “Well, Mrs. Alwin, I do believe that’s a commitment I can agree to.”

  “Put her down. The marriage isn’t legal until we finish the paperwork. You and your witness better follow me,” Jeffrey said, and walked away. He ignored Jeffrey’s request to put his wife down and followed behind him carrying her in his arms. He wasn’t sure if he could ever put her down again.

  Once Jeffrey was finished with all the weddings, they went to his house to change and get ready for the fourth of July celebration.

  “Well, little brother, how does it feel to be a married man, not so bad is it?”

  Austin gave his brother a cheeky grin. “Ask me again tomorrow, once I make it official.”

  “It is official…you…ooh.” Jeffrey blushed.

  “I must hand it to Uncle Ed, I’m sorry I doubted his wisdom,” Austin said.

  “He was a wise old owl, wasn’t he? I’m not ashamed to say I miss him.”

  “Me too.”

  Jeffrey slapped Austin on the back. “Tell the others I’ve gone back to church. I have one last ceremony to perform before the fireworks display.”

  “We may stick around for the start of it, but I’d like to take my bride home. Would you keep Winnie and Benji overnight? I’ll come back for them in the morning.”

  “I believe I can do that.”

  Chapter 20

  Six months had passed and Prudence was just as happy as she had been on the day she’d married. Austin had kept his promise and she couldn’t want for anything more. Benji had grown and was pulling himself upright using the furniture and trying to walk.

  Prudence looked out the kitchen window. Winnie was in the distance hanging out washing, and heavy with child. The other woman still fed Benji, but this happened once a day before his bedtime. He was on solid food, and sitting in his highchair, throwing it across the room. Prudence smiled.

  She and Winnie had become close, but she hesitated to say they were friends in the true sense of the word. They had reached an understanding. Winnie didn’t see herself as Prudence’s equal, but she had also stopped thinking of her as an employer too. They were simply two married women doing what they had to do to get by.

  Strong arms snaked around her waist, as her husband pulled her back against his broad chest, nuzzling her neck.

  “Morning,
beautiful.” His warm breath caressed her skin, tickling her ear.

  She squealed and pressed her head to his cheek, then tilted it the other way to give him more access, and smiled. She loved the feel of his overnight growth against her skin, it was soft and silky. This morning she’d left him in bed asleep, as he’d been up all night with Benji, who had been grizzling due to teething pains.

  He’d taken over so she could get some sleep, shoving her out of the nursery, but he hadn’t closed the bedroom door fully. She’d stayed for a while, listening at the door crack to rescue him if Benji wouldn’t settle.

  Much to her surprise, she heard him say, “I haven’t done much of this baby watching before, but I know a rock-a-bye song my grand-aunt used to sing me. How about we try it on you? I’ll understand you need me to shut up when your hollering gets louder. What do you say, a song for some peace and quiet, do we have a deal, little man?”

  Benji’s cries had turned into whimpers as he appeared to be responding to Austin’s words. She’d slid down the wall and rested her back against it as she listened. She’d never heard him sing, not even in church. He’d stand looking at the hymn sheet, reading the words to himself, tight-lipped. For that reason, she couldn’t tear herself away, even though she’d been dead on her feet.

  “Hush, little baby, don’t say a word. Papa’s gonna buy…” He had a good singing voice, a sweet pitch, perfect tenor. “Now, young man, this singing thing will be our little secret. Were just two men bonding. You, my friend, will never have to worry about anything. You have a great ma, in your aunt Pru. Your life won’t be anything like my life. I’ll do what I have to do to make sure you grow up to have a good life; nobody’s going to hurt you. You’ll always have my love, because no one matters to me like you and Pru. So be a good boy and go to sleep now.”