Rise and Shine (Shine On Series, Book 2)

by Jewell, Allison J.

  Bo grinned, “I might have paid pretty good attention to what you were putting in those pots… Did you forget at how good I was at remembering stuff in school, Em?”

  “You stole my recipe?” Emmie laughed with genuine surprise.

  “No, I didn’t steal it. I’m not gonna sell it or anything. Just needed to finish this out for our friend,” he said with his arms up in the air.

  “Well, you should have called me I’m sure I could have rested on that cot as good as I did here.” The words caught in her throat. That cot… she never wanted to see that cot again. She pushed the thought away and forced a smile.

  “Oh no, your Yankee made it pretty clear the job was to be finished and you were not to be bothered. He even sent Trick out to check on us a time or two,” Bo said.

  It didn’t escape Emmie’s notice that he looked at Millie when he said Trick’s name. Something was definitely up there. She’d have to ask Trick about it. Millie was in a new dress, no doubt and had her lips glossed. Emmie guessed she was not that dressed up for her or Spotty but it was not a conversation for today. She turned back to Bo.

  “So, will we make enough to clear your expenses and help Walter?”

  “And then some. I think I can justify giving Ole Maizy back to Walter,” Bo said.

  Emmie covered her mouth as she smiled. “Wonderful. I didn’t think we’d made enough to do all that.”

  She jumped a little as an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her backward. As soon as she felt his hands and the hard warmth of his chest pressing against her back, she knew it was Silas. He laughed in her ear.

  “You always seem to forget who’s paying for your apple pie, Mo chuisle,” he said from behind her, his breath warm on her ear.

  “Silas, did you overpay for it? You know Walter doesn’t want to be in any kind of unfair debt to you.”

  “Nope. It’s my policy to always pay double for any apple pie made by my beautiful woman.” He grinned and kissed her temple.

  She felt a hot blush creep up her neck. “Well, then you should have only paid double for half because Bo finished the rest without me.”

  She heard Trick laugh. She hadn’t realized he was standing next to her. He looked at Millie. “Nah, a beauty helped with the other half. I think we did alright paying more for the other batch too.”

  Millie’s skin went from milky white to deep pink at his words. Bo looked at her and frowned at Trick. “I don’t think I like that you said that about my sister.”

  Trick smiled, “That’s good because I didn’t say it to impress you. It was more for her.”

  “Go get in the car, Millie,” Bo said.

  She rolled her eyes and laughed, “Bye, y’all.”

  Emmie thanked her for her help and bent down to give Spotty a final pat. Millie called him and he gave Emmie a brief look but followed the other girl. He was going to be okay. She’d be back before he knew it.

  “You sure you want to go up there with this crew?” Bo asked, nodding at the McDowell brothers.

  Emmie nodded. “Yeah. I want to see Ava too. She’s got that big wedding in less than a month.”

  “She’s getting hitched in less than a month?” Bo asked. “That’s awful fast, ain’t it? Last I saw her she wasn’t even promised?”

  Emmie shrugged. “Yep, you know Emmie though. She’s probably just eager for another party.”

  Bo rubbed his shadow of a beard, “Either that or someone’s got a shotgun to Gabe’s back.”

  “You should watch your words, boy. Gabe hears you say that and that little graze on your arm isn’t going to be your only claim to fame,” Silas warned.

  His face looked so serious. Emmie paused and tried to collect her thoughts. Why did he take that so serious? Silas had never been defensive over Ava before. Could that be the truth? Had someone caught on that Gabe and Ava had taken things further than was proper. No, surely not. Ava would have called her. She swallowed hard and rubbed her temple. Emmie was pulled from her thoughts as something flew past her cheek.

  Bo had pulled the pint jar out of his pocket and tossed it to Silas. He caught it with the gentle ease that he seemed to have with everything in life.

  “Your test jar.”

  “I’ll have James settle up with you,” Silas said.

  Bo nodded. “I’ll take good care of your dog. I can check on your house every now and then too, if you want.”

  Emmie walked over to him and gave him a quick hug. “Thanks Bo. I know Max wouldn’t have gone to that doctor without you. Thanks for watching Spotty and everything else.”

  Bo patted her back and pulled away. “See ya soon, Emmie. Try not to come back talking like one of them.”

  Emmie laughed. “I’ll do my best.”

  Silas wrapped an arm around her shoulder and they waved goodbye. She turned to Silas.

  “Thanks for finding a way to give Walter money.” She looked up at him.

  “Just business.” He shrugged.

  “No, it’s not. Also… thanks for making them finish it without me. I am not sure I could have gone back to…” She couldn’t finish the sentence. There was no way she could have gone back to that cabin this week and that moonshine needed to be finished. Silas had done the right thing.

  “Even if you could have… I wouldn’t have let you. Never again, are we clear on that? Never again.” He said seriously.

  She rubbed her eyes and nodded. Never again.

  Chapter Fifty-four

  Emmie put her knitting needles down and frowned at Silas as the train pulled to a slow stop. There was no way they were in Chicago. They’d only been traveling a few hours. She leaned over their small dining table and looked out the window. Wait. She knew this place. They were in Louisville. Silas stood and stretched out his hand to help her up from the chair. She arched her brow in question.

  “We have a couple of hours until we catch the train home,” he answered her unspoken question.

  “Oh, right. I’d just assumed this one would go straight through. It’ll be nice to stretch our legs.” She put her knitting back in her bag and threw it over her shoulder.

  He pulled her bag off her shoulder and gave her a crooked grin. He called over one of the workers and gave him money and the bag. The boy nodded and headed to another car.

  “Why did you give him my bag?”

  “He’s going to transfer it for us with our other bags.” Silas led her out of the train with his hand on the small of her back.

  “If we’re gonna be killing time, I might like my knitting.”

  “I need to make a delivery,” he said cryptically.

  They stood outside of the train station. Emmie was surprised to see a black car and driver were waiting for them. Entering the car she noticed a box wrapped in bright blue and red paper with a yellow ribbon.

  “Silas, what kind of delivery are we making?” She frowned at the package.

  He gave her a wink and turned to look out the window. Emmie watched the office buildings turn into houses then the driver turned into a narrow driveway. The house was smaller than the ones that surrounded it but charming and well kept. It wasn’t that much larger than her home. Emmie squinted as someone ran out onto the steps and waved. She gasped and turned to look at Silas.

  “Surprise, Sweetheart.”

  “You brought me to see Max and his family,” she squealed. Leaning forward she put her hands on each side of his cheek, closed her eyes and planted a kiss right on his lips. “You are amazing. I don’t deserve you.”

  “Don’t say that.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You’re family to me.” The car pulled to a stop. Her heart swelled. There was nothing kinder he could have said.

  Emmie paused for a moment, her head close to his then said, “Let’s go.”

  She bounded out the car leaving him in her dust. Max met her halfway and wrapped his small arms around her waist. She scuffed his hair and made over how well he was walking. He showed off a new brace that w
ent to his knee and showed her how he could run up and down the stairs. He still limped but she thought it seemed to be a little better than when he was home. The best thing was how happy he was. Mae met them on the porch and hugged her.

  “He’s met friends that are like him. He’s happy, not self-conscious about his braces because his friends have them too.” Mae smiled. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did.”

  “No, don’t thank me. Thank the Johnsons and Silas. They got everything all settled.” From the corner of her eye she saw Walter come out of the house. Silas shook his hand and passed the large box off to Max.

  “You got it started though. Walter said you’re going to Chicago for a visit?” Mae asked curiously. It didn’t escape Emmie’s notice that the older woman frowned as she said the words.

  Emmie nodded. “Yeah. Going to visit Silas’s family and see Ava’s too. I miss them.”

  “Just be careful up there in that city. It’s dangerous, ain’t like home,” she warned.

  Emmie just smiled. She didn’t tell the old woman that their home wasn’t exactly the safest place either. “I’ll be careful.”

  Mae winked. “I suppose you will with that one looking out for ya. He’s a looker.”

  Emmie snorted. She couldn’t believe Mae had just said that to her. Mae grinned and wrinkles settled around her eyes. “I’ve got something for ya, follow me.”

  Silas watched Emmie go to the kitchen with Mae. He turned his attention to Max who had shredded the paper. His mouth fell open as he pulled out the intricately carved wooden boat. “It’ll float too. I thought since you were up near the river you might like Walter to take you to see the boats sometime. When I was boy I loved to watch them.”

  “Thank you Mr. McDowell. This is the nicest toy boat I’ve ever seen.” Max smiled.

  Silas turned to Walter. “There’s an envelope in that box for you. It’s for your part of the apple pie.”

  Walter hooked his thumbs under his overalls. “Thank you for letting her help us. I know you probably couldn’t have stopped her.”

  Silas laughed, “I’m not sure I could have.” His face grew serious, “But, she’s done now. Forever. No questions. If you need help from today on, you come to me.”

  Walter nodded and chewed his pipe. “I don’t see no ring on her finger. I thought we said sooner rather than later being that you’re playing with her reputation.”

  “It’s not that simple.” He shook his head.

  “What do you mean it ain’t that simple?” Walter raised his voice a little more than he meant to. “You been shacked up at her place for nearly a month now, she’s traveling alone with a man all the way to Chicago. You better be making it right real soon, son. I ain’t got much patience for this game you’re playing at.”

  “Gabe and Trick are meeting us back at the station, so she’s not traveling alone with me. Not that I need to explain myself to you.” Silas leveled with him.

  “Oh, so that’s supposed to make it better she’s traveling unmarried alone with three men of no relation? That don’t make it better boy.” Walter argued.

  “Technically one is relation,” Silas thought aloud.

  “What did you say?” Walter asked.

  “Gabe’s her brother,” Silas said.

  Walter paused without so much as a word. He went back years in his mind to a young unmarried woman with a small dark-haired girl that moved into the farm next to him. He took his pipe out of his mouth and looked cold at Silas.

  “You’re friends and family put her mama in a bad situation because there was no wedding back then. Don’t you do the same thing to my girl,” Walter said with venom.

  Silas rubbed his jaw and nodded. “Walter, it’s not that simple. If I make her mine now, I’m gonna take something away from her.”

  “What are you playing at boy?” Walter answered.

  “Have you ever read a teacher contract? I looked one up after talking to Pop a few days ago. They fire you if you get married. If she marries me, all that she wanted is gone.”

  “Too late to think about that, boy.”

  Silas sighed and nodded just to end this argument. He was done with this conversation. This wasn’t for he and Walt to discuss. This was for him to figure out. Emmie came back outside and Walter walked over and patted her head like she was a kid.

  “I’m real proud of you Emmie. You’re a brave girl for helping my family.”

  Emmie’s heart picked up speed. Had Silas told him about the cabin? She glanced over at Silas. As if reading her thoughts he answered the question that he found in her eyes, shaking his head no quickly. Emmie exhaled. She didn’t want Walter to know the trouble and ugliness she’d seen. He was worried enough about Max, she didn’t need to add anything to his plate.

  “I’d do anything for y’all.” She shrugged. “Like I said though, it’s really Bo and Silas you owe. They planned it, I just cooked some apples.” She left Millie out of the conversation. That would make for too many questions.

  “Emmie, we need to get back to the station,” Silas said, pulling out his pocket watch.

  The four of them hugged and kissed, wished each other goodbye and safe travels. Emmie carried a small basket of fresh baked bread and a small jar of jam that Mae had packed for them.

  Before Silas got in the car she heard Walter yell at Silas, “Remember what I said boy. Sooner rather than later.”

  Emmie frowned, “What’s he talking about?”

  Silas grinned, “He’s just a crazy old man, his money maybe? Who knows?”

  He pulled out the jar of jam. “Why are we always traveling with something in a mason jar?”

  She laughed and laid her head on his shoulder. “Thanks for taking me to see them. It’s good to see them all so happy. Did you see Max’s brace? Mae said he had made new friends and everything already.”

  Emmie filled Silas in on everything she’d learned from Mae about the doctor. She talked and he tried to listen but really his mind was still on the conversation with Walter. He and Emmie had a lot to talk about. The Cabin. His Job. Teaching. Her family. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and breathed in the warm smoke and attempted to relax as they headed back to the station.

  Chapter Fifty-five

  Silas shifted his body and stretched his legs across the aisle of the small passenger car. He literally went from one side of the room to the other. At least with Gabe and Trick out in the dining car he had a little more room. This was the only private car he could get on such short notice. He should have known with the holidays beginning next week that he wouldn’t have been able to get one of the decent privates this train had to offer. He glanced over at Emmie working feverishly with two knitting needles. Was there anything she couldn’t do?

  The size of the car hadn’t bothered her. She’d gone on about fifteen minutes how nice the train was and ran her hands over every inch of fabric and surface the small space had to offer. He tried to adjust his legs again but this space was just too small to stretch out. Silas sighed and leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes.

  Emmie leaned over him to get a better look out the tiny window. Her knee jabbed into his thigh. He opened an eye to look at her. She either didn’t notice or care that she was half sprawled across him. She turned to see the tracks ahead.

  “I have never ever in my whole entire life seen land so flat. I mean I swear Silas you could see for miles and miles… I bet the stars shine beautiful out here at night.” She looked at the setting sun. Her face was pressed against the glass like a child.

  “Ah huh,” he mumbled, closing his eyes.

  “I mean, wow. Is it flat like this at your home?” she asked, turning to look at him.

  “I guess.” He shrugged never opening his eyes.

  “Hey, groucho” She smacked his arm. “You’re not even paying attention to me.”

  A laugh bubbled up from his chest and he smiled. His arms pulled her all the way down on his lap. She shrieked as she fell on him.

 
He opened his eyes, turned her around so she faced him, and his smile turned to a devious grin. “You’ve got my attention now.” Leaning forward he kissed her neck.

  “Silas.” Emmie let out a sigh and leaned forward and put her head on his chest. A comfortable silence passed between them. He ran his hands up and down her back.

  “You never answered my question.”

  “Which one?” He pulled back to look at her face.

  “About the hills.” She smiled trying to get under his skin.

  “I don’t give a damn about the hills and I sure don’t want to talk about them when you are perched on my lap.” He gave a lopsided grin.

  She giggled. She actually giggled. That was not a sound she did often but Silas had a way of making her. “What do you want to talk about then?” She laughed.

  Silas shook his head. He was going to hell. Walter was right. He shouldn’t be playing this game with her until he’d made some sort of promise. But that promise was going to take away opportunities for her and he couldn’t do that. She raised her eyebrows clearly waiting for an answer. He watched her bite her lip in anticipation of his next move.

  He ran his hand down her temple and cheek. It was almost his undoing the way she leaned into his touch with such trust. “I don’t really want to talk right now,” he finally answered. Leaning forward he kissed her once, twice, a twenty times, maybe? Finally he pulled away and pressed his forehead against hers. Forever. That’s what he wanted with her. There had to be a way to make her his forever without taking away what she wanted most. He’d find a way to make it work. He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head. He just needed some time to think this through.

  **********

  She couldn’t say how many miles had passed since their last words but she loved being here with him. Miles away from the hills. Miles away from the stills. Miles away from his work. Miles away from everything and everyone. She took a deep breath as she laid her head on his shoulder. Silas mindlessly stared out the window. The stars came out and shined, just as beautiful as she thought they would. It was like the stars came right down and met the earth on the tracks in front of them.