After an eternity of jostling and fretting, a dark dot appeared on the horizon.
“Garvey’s place.” Reverend Cummings unbent himself enough to speak.
Jane studied her hands and tried to quell the fluttering in her chest. The dot resolved itself into black squares that eventually turned into buildings. The vast wooden barn and corrals were easy to see. It was the smaller structures Jane couldn’t identify.
“What is that?” Emmeline asked, disregarding her manners and pointing between Jane and Reverend Cummings.
“Soddy.”
“Pardon?” Jane asked.
“Sod house.”
She swallowed. “The house is made out of dirt?”
“Yes.” He drew out the s sound in annoyance.
She ignored his rudeness by focusing on the notion that she was supposed to live in the dirt like a gopher or a mole. A prayer made it as far as her lips.
“Oh, Jane. I’m so sorry.” Emmeline squeezed her arm.
They pulled to a stop, and from the wagon seat Jane could look directly onto the low roof. Grass grew on the roof of her house? Her knees trembled.
A short, bald-headed man came around the corner. He was so bowlegged, he couldn’t have stopped a pig in a lane, and he limped badly. His mouth split in a grin that showed several gapped teeth, and his eyes looked like raisins tucked into a sourcream pie. He couldn’t possibly be her groom. Twenty-eight had come and gone for this man a few decades ago.
“Welcome, welcome. I’m Lem Barton. Which one of you lovely ladies is Harrison’s bride?” His smile and welcome eased the knot under Jane’s breastbone. His gaze passed from one Gerhard girl to the next and settled on Jane. The grin widened, and he dropped one eyelid in a quick wink. She sensed she and this wizened old man would be friends.
“Barton, no time for palavering. Where’s Harrison?” Cummings clambered to the ground. “Bags?”
While Emmeline and Gwendolyn sorted out the luggage, Jane accepted Lem’s help alighting.
Lem didn’t seem affronted by the reverend’s gruff manner. “Now, now, parson, you’ve surely got time to introduce me to the young ladies. Harrison’s working the kinks out of a new horse.” He poked his gnarled thumb over his shoulder. “You’ll see him yonder. He’s anxious to be getting on with the work, but he’s had to hang about here waiting for his lady to arrive.”
All eyes turned to the hill on the far side of the wagon. A horse and rider stood atop the rise, silhouetted against the early afternoon sunshine. Jane swallowed, and her heart sounded much like the hoofbeats thudding the earth when the rider started down the slope.
When he reached the house, he pulled up in a swirl of dust and swung easily out of the saddle. Lem came forward to take the reins of the snorting, skittering horse. “What’s the verdict?”
“He’s coming along.” Harrison tugged off his gloves while Jane tried to regain her composure. At the sight of her soon-to-be husband, her heart had taken a dive. Broad shoulders, well-muscled arms, long, straight legs, and a confident air. He swept off his hat to reveal coffee-colored hair and eyes to match. He was one of the best-looking men she’d ever seen.
What a shame.
He shook hands with the preacher and tucked his gloves into his belt before turning to Jane and her sisters. He studied each one briefly, and Jane braced herself for the disappointment she knew would come when he realized he was stuck with her instead of one of her beautiful sisters.
His attention focused on her, and a hollow place opened in the pit of her stomach. Stop staring and shilly-shallying. She offered her hand. “Mr. Garvey, I’m Jane. I’m very pleased to meet you.”
Would he mind the calluses on her hands? Would he think her ill-bred and unladylike? She needn’t have worried, for he only touched her hand for an instant. A jolt shot up her arm and scurried through her veins. He blinked, and something flashed in his dark eyes. Had he felt it, too? Surely these flighty flutterings would subside in a moment, and she would return to her normal, practical self.
He didn’t return her smile. “Ma’am.” His eyes flicked between her sisters and herself, and her heart sank. She lowered her gaze to keep from seeing his disappointment and busied herself with straightening the fringe on her shawl.
Her trunk landed with a thud in the dirt. “I’m in a hurry, Harrison. Let’s get this done.” Cummings reached under the wagon seat for his Bible.
No music, no flowers, no friends, and only her younger sisters to support her. At least she had a little idea of what to expect, for the ceremony mirrored Evelyn’s only hours before. Trembles raced down Jane’s legs and made her knees wobbly. Her wedding looked nothing like the beautiful ceremony she’d dreamed of in that twilight time between waking and sleep when her handsome knight would ride out of the mist, declare his undying love, and carry her away with him to his castle.
You’re going to be practical about this, Jane Gerhard. Pull yourself together and be sensible.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. In a steady voice, she promised to love, honor, and obey Harrison Garvey. When it came time for Harrison’s vows, she swallowed and dared a look at him. He had a straight nose and firm chin with just a hint of shadow showing. His dark hair had a bit of a wave and curled at his collar. Her eyes went to his mouth. Straight, not too full, and with a determined set. Everything about him seemed so … solid. Other than her father, she’d not spent much time in a man’s company, and this man she was in the process of marrying exuded masculinity and strength.
Yet the clasp of his hand was warm and gentle, and his thumb moved disconcertingly across the back of her knuckles in a gesture that comforted her out of all proportion.
Before she was ready, the reverend closed his Bible and pronounced them husband and wife. “I forgot at the last ceremony, but if you want to, you can kiss the bride.”
Jane’s gaze collided with Harrison’s, and his eyes darkened, but he made no move. Did he want to kiss her? Did he not want to?
Lem nudged his arm. “Go ahead, boss.”
Harrison’s hands came up to cup her shoulders, and he brushed a quick kiss across her cheek. He pulled back, blinked slowly, and bent his head again, this time kissing her lips.
So this is what kissing is like. It’s very nice.
She was just getting the hang of it when Lem cleared his throat. Harrison broke away, and the older man grinned. “My turn, boss.”
Jane registered the rasp of the old man’s stubbly whiskers as he pecked her cheek.
“We’re awfully glad you’ve come, ma’am.” He clasped both her hands between his. “You’ll be the saving of the place, I wager.”
She struggled to find her voice, still affected by Harrison’s kiss. “Please, call me Jane.” What did he mean? How could she be the saving of the place?
Reverend Cummings stuffed his Bible into his pocket. “Time to go.” He made a herding motion toward Gwendolyn and Emmeline. “Daylight’s burning.” He leaped aboard the wagon, stopped, and dug in his inside coat pocket. “Almost forgot. Letter for you.” He passed a thick envelope to Harrison, who scanned the return address, scowled, and tucked it into his back pocket.
“We’ll just be a minute saying our good-byes.” Emmeline’s voice sounded as if she was damping down tears, and linking her arms with Jane’s and Gwendolyn’s, she drew them a few paces away. The hard lump in Jane’s throat almost choked her.
“I feel like we’ll never see each other again.” Emmeline squeezed Jane’s hand. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way.” She whispered the last sentence.
“I know, but there’s no help for it.”
“How are we supposed to manage all alone?” Gwendolyn asked.
“We’re not alone. God is with us, and we will see each other. We’re not that far apart. We are neighbors, after all.” Jane hoped her voice sounded more certain than she felt, because as the older sister, it was her duty to set the example. If she acted bravely, they would, too. She hoped. If they started crying, she would surely follow su
it.
“How can you sound so calm? We might be neighbors, but the neighborhood we live in is bigger than the state of Massachusetts.” Gwendolyn’s hands flew out in a wide arc. “We might as well be living in different countries.”
“Stop it. There’s nothing we can do about it now. Evelyn’s married”—Jane swallowed—“I’m married, and you two will be married before the day is out. We have to make the best of things. I’m sure we’ll be able to visit one another from time to time.”
Emmeline hugged Jane. “Your husband is very handsome, like Evelyn’s.”
He was. So handsome, he must’ve been expecting someone more his caliber than Plain Jane.
Gwendolyn embraced Jane, too, hugging her neck so hard it hurt.
Jane swallowed against the lump in her throat. “I’m going to be fine, and so are you two. Remember, God has led us this far. He’ll be our refuge and strength.”
As the wagon rumbled out of sight, she repeated that truth to herself.
Harrison rubbed the back of his neck. He’d expected some of the tension to bleed away once he said his vows, but his muscles remained taut. His bride wasn’t at all what he’d expected—though he didn’t know exactly what he had expected. In truth, he hadn’t spent much time thinking about it. Once her acceptance of his proposal had arrived, he’d known a sense of relief and shelved the issue. The ranch begged all his time and attention, and he didn’t have time to waste speculating about what his bride might be like. Time enough to cross that bridge when he got to it.
Now his new wife stood only a few paces away saying good-bye to her sisters. One thing was for certain, he hadn’t expected to be so attracted to her. Her intelligent eyes—green-brown like forest moss—drew his attention, and though she was a bit on the short side, she had a figure that would turn any man’s head. He could still feel her hand in his, small and yet strong. Her cheek had been so smooth when he’d given her that chaste peck after the ceremony, he hadn’t been able to resist following it up with a kiss on the lips. He wasn’t sure who was more surprised, his bride or himself. And he had to admit, it was a very nice kiss.
“I think you got yourself a good one, boss.” Lem eased onto the bench beside the front door and stretched his bad leg out.
“Time will tell.”
“Hope she settles in.”
Harrison couldn’t take his eyes off her, not even when Cummings started grumbling about time-wasting. The girls embraced. As an only child, Harrison couldn’t imagine what they must be feeling, but he didn’t like the sadness on Jane’s face. He’d known her less than half an hour, so why did he want to put his arms around her and tell her everything would be all right?
He rubbed the back of his neck again. He’d been out in the wilds of Wyoming Territory for far too long. Cut off from all feminine company and influence. That’s all it was. Any woman would elicit such a response from him.
And yet the other two hadn’t. They looked too fragile, and he’d never been drawn to pale hair and eyes. Pretty enough, but it was clear Jane was the pick of the litter.
He stuck his hands in his back pockets, and his fingers brushed the envelope. A thrust of satisfaction shot through him. At last he’d have something to report, something his father would hardly expect.
As always, the sense of sand running through his hourglass seized him. Shifting from boot to boot, he went through the chores he still hoped to accomplish today.
Lem rubbed his leg and scratched his chin. “She’ll add a bit of brightness about the place. Wonder what your father will say. With the deadline coming, I bet he figured you’d be admitting defeat and heading home soon. This will catch him sideways.”
Jane held her sisters’ hands after they boarded the wagon, and she walked beside them a few paces as they rolled away, still clinging to their fingers. When she halted, she hugged her arms at her waist and stared after them until they disappeared.
Harrison hardened his jaw. “Father should know better. I’m no quitter.”
Lem pushed himself upright. “Hope she isn’t too lonely out here. I’m thinking those girls expected to live a tad closer to one another. By the time the last one is delivered, they’ll be spread out more than thirty miles.”
“That’s not far out here.” Harrison ignored the tickle of unease scampering across his skin. Should he have been more forthright about the distances involved? Would she settle in? What if she didn’t?
“No,” Lem agreed, “but considering where she’s from, it’s a fair stretch of the legs. She’s a city girl.”
When she brushed tears from her cheeks, the tickle of unease became a poke. What he didn’t know about dealing with women would fill several books.
She walked toward the house, and he looked over to Lem for guidance, but his friend and employee was headed around the corner of the soddy like his hair was on fire.
Harrison glanced up at the sun, calculated the length of his chore list, and was surprised to realize he didn’t want to leave her in spite of all he needed to do today. “Would you like to see the house?”
An uncertain light came into her eyes as she considered the soddy, but she swiped at her cheeks once more and squared her shoulders. “Yes, please.”
Relieved that she seemed to be getting ahold of herself, he nodded. He guessed he could spare a few minutes to show her around.
Chapter 2
Jane sniffed back the tears and swallowed against the hard lump in her throat. It was all well and good telling her sisters that everything would be fine, that God was with them, but it was another thing altogether to act accordingly after being stranded in the middle of nowhere with complete strangers—one of whom she was now married to.
Harrison carried her trunk as if it weighed nothing, his muscles stretching his faded chambray shirt. “This way.”
She lifted her two valises and followed him as he ducked under the lintel. Her first impression of the interior of the soddy was that it was dark. Her second was that it was dank. An unmistakable musty smell came from the walls. For Jane, who prided herself on her housekeeping abilities, the task of keeping anything clean in a house made of dirt staggered her mind.
“It isn’t much. I’m sure it’s not what you’re accustomed to at all, but you’ll get used to it. It’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer.” He let her trunk come to rest on the hard-packed dirt floor beside a plank table. “There’s just the one room, but we’re outside most of the time anyway.”
Jane tugged the grosgrain ribbon on her bonnet and slid the hat from her hair. The entire house couldn’t be much more than twelve by twenty, with a low ceiling of poles and grass matting with sod overlaying the whole. A stove, the table with four chairs, a metal bed, and a chest of drawers took up most of the space. Crates, barrels, and boxes lined the walls.
“Those are what’s left of the winter stores. We don’t get to town too often, so we stock up.” He motioned to the rear door. “Water comes from the creek out back, and there’s a lean-to for fuel.” Scrubbing his cheek, he shrugged. “We mostly burn cow chips.”
Cow chips? Manure? Faintness crept over her, and the already close walls seemed to crowd in around her.
“If you’re not too tired from your trip, I can show you the rest of the place.”
She almost beat him to the door. Breathing deeply of the cool spring air, she tried to quell the panic sloshing in her chest. Harrison strode toward the immense barn, and she hurried to catch up.
“Have you lived out here long?” Perhaps the soddy was a temporary structure until he could build a house. That was it. Building a real house must be part of his summer plans. Surely she could camp out in the soddy for a few weeks until a proper house could be erected.
“Two and a half years.”
Her heart landed hard against her stomach. He’d spent two long winters in that dirt mound?
“Lem came west with me, and before that we both worked for my father’s company in Ohio. Reed, the other ranch hand, has been here about a y
ear. He’ll be riding in tomorrow, most likely. I sent him over to the fort with a few head of cattle.”
They reached the barn, and he pulled wide the door. He breathed deeply, his eyes lighting with what she thought must be pride. What an odd thing to be proud of, a great cavernous barn.
“Biggest in the territory.” He pointed right then left. “Milk cow over there, stalls for horses on the other side. Hay storage for winter here in the middle.” A few wisps of hay littered the floor, while the barn roof soared overhead. “We have to do quite a bit of haying and feeding out in the winter. I learned that the hard way my first year. Getting cows through a winter out here takes quite a bit of feed, and I lost so many it set me back quite a ways. Last summer we cut and stacked hay and piled this barn to the top, but the herd survived.”
Jane’s feet crunched on the graveled floor. Sweet dry-grass smells mingled with dust, grain, and animal, and a stiff breeze swirled through the open doorway, stirring her skirts and ruffling her hair.
“Over here is Butterscotch.” Harrison leaned against a partition and reached over to scratch the rump of a cow the exact color of her name. She turned her head, blinking huge, liquid black eyes fringed with long lashes. Her jaw ground contentedly.
“Probably the only Jersey cow in the Territory. She’s a grand little milker, though she’s dry at the moment. Due to calve any day now. I’ll double my milking herd soon if she has a heifer.”
Jane tentatively touched the warm hide. Butterscotch shifted her weight and swished her tail.
“After she calves, she’ll need milking twice a day. I have to say, I’m glad you’re here to take over the chore. Lem doesn’t complain, but with his bum leg, getting up and down off the milking stool is pure torture.”
Milk a cow? Her? Jane stepped away from the animal, clenching her hands. Still, how hard could it be? She gave Butterscotch one last look and hurried out after Harrison.
They stopped beside a small, square sod structure. Netting strung on posts created an enclosure on one side, and within, nearly a dozen rusty-brown hens clucked and scratched. In their midst, a rooster strutted, his head tilted, regarding them with one beady eye. His magnificent tail, iridescent green, plumed higher than his red-combed head.
Love Is Patient Romance Collection Page 8
