The Homesteader's Sweetheart

by Lacy Williams

  “You all right up there? Not afraid of heights or anything?”

  Penny’s teasing tone drew his gaze downward. She was holding the ladder for Ricky, looking up at him with her face open and radiating happiness. Something inside him tightened like a fist, and then loosened and took flight.

  “Jonas?”

  He swallowed hard, fighting against the emotions swamping him. “Yep, we’re all right. You and Breanna okay?”

  “Mmm. Making friends. I’m going to try to secure a place under the tree for our lunch blanket.”

  He couldn’t help the way his heart jumped when she said our blanket, as if they were all one family. He kept his face impassive, afraid she could still see his feelings in his eyes.

  “All right.” Was that his voice, that husky, grating sound?

  “Be careful.”

  Careful. How could he tell his heart to be careful when it seemed determined to reach out for her?

  Wanting Penny in his life, in the children’s, was impossible. But it hadn’t seemed so impossible this morning as they’d rode up to the gathering, with her sitting close next to him on the wagon bench.

  And it didn’t seem so impossible when she said things like be careful, as if concerned about his safety.

  He found it hard to concentrate for the rest of the morning, slipping once but catching his balance. Then he whacked the side of his thumb with his hammer and had to hold back a shout. Concentrate! he told himself, but still found his attention following the vibrant auburn head from his high vantage point.

  He’d never been so relieved to hear the dinner bell before.

  Instead of going straight to Penny like a lovestruck boy, he forced himself to follow the other men to the water trough and rinse some of the dust and sweat off his face and hands before joining his family at the blanket that Penny had located in the shade from a large oak on the hill.

  Penny handed out tin plates to the jostling boys, who then made their way toward the groaning makeshift tables laden with food.

  “Pa, can I eat with Sissy Peterson? Her ma said it was okay and—”

  Jonas gave in with a nod and Breanna ran off to join her friend. Leaving Jonas and Penny alone.

  Penny fell into step beside him, their shoulders brushing. She handed him his plate and gasped when she caught sight of his purpling finger. “Jonas—”

  She grasped his wrist and pulled him to a halt, still far enough away from the crowds that their conversation wouldn’t be overheard. “What did you do? Are you all right?”

  “Just banged it a little. It doesn’t hurt.” Much.

  Her head bent close to his chest as she examined his thumb, and his heart beat painfully against the inside of his ribs. He hoped she couldn’t hear it.

  “Are you sure? It looks painful.” Then her blue eyes rested on his face, questioning, worry emanating from their depths.

  He wasn’t sure anyone had ever looked at him that way before. It erased the distance he’d spent the past week and a half trying to put between them. Made him want to be what he couldn’t: someone who had enough to give Penny everything she wanted. Someone she wouldn’t want to leave.

  Her concerned gaze also made him want to kiss her. His eyes flicked down to her slightly parted lips and he wanted—

  “You two had better get to the food ’fore it’s all gone,” someone called out to them, breaking the connection and bringing Jonas to his senses. Heat filled his face and he ducked his head, hoping his hat would hide his embarrassment from anyone who might be looking—and from Penny—and moved away. How long had he stood there, stunned by her? The crowd around the food tables was much thinner now. Most folks were already back at their blankets or sitting in the grass, eating.

  But Penny slid her hand into the crook of his elbow, not allowing him to outdistance her, keeping him by her side.

  His heart thundered like a stampeding herd, crashing loud in his ears. Did she really want to be with him? He couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

  Penny clung to his elbow right up until she had to start filling her plate. She greeted the women still helping serve and when they responded, their welcome included him. Something else he’d never experienced before, not from most of these women; he’d never spoken to many of them.

  A young woman served pie near the end of the tables, and Penny stopped to speak to her in a low voice, leaving Jonas standing awkwardly alone. This he was used to. Should he wait for Penny? Retreat to the quilt under the tree?

  Then Penny returned to his side, this time with the girl’s arm tucked in hers and wearing a beaming smile. “I’ve been getting to know Emily all morning and she’s agreed to join me for the meal so we can speak some more.”

  It took Jonas a moment to recognize the girl as the same one Maxwell had spoken to Penny about, then he realized that Penny must have something in mind. He knew Maxwell was eating on the blanket with the other boys. And now Penny was bringing the object of his son’s affections right to him.

  He couldn’t do anything but follow along, an unwitting accomplice.

  * * *

  Penny hadn’t planned to invite Emily to eat with the family until she’d seen her serving pie. With most of the folks already finished filling their plates, the girl would be free to sit down and eat herself…

  And it was true that Penny had been conversing with her all morning, whenever they would pass each other. She could see why Maxwell was smitten. Emily had a sweet disposition and a gentle, ready smile.

  Now if only Maxwell could overcome his extreme shyness and manage to speak to her himself.

  The boys were eating and talking when she, Jonas and Emily approached. So far she still hadn’t been able to force manners on most of them. She didn’t want the girl to be scared off without even speaking to Maxwell.

  Penny cleared her throat and the boys looked up. Ricky and Davy with mouths hanging open. Maxwell choked, coughing. Penny pretended not to notice and Seb thumped his older brother on the back. Sam glanced curiously from Emily to Maxwell.

  “Boys, I’ve been making friends with Miss Emily and she’s going to sit with me for lunch. I know you can all be polite since there are ladies present.” She hoped. “Here, why don’t you scoot over?”

  Maxwell finally got his breath, his cheeks pink. When Penny nudged him with her foot, he turned cherry red, but he obediently shifted to one side, allowing room for Emily to settle beside him with Penny on her other side.

  With the extra body on their blanket, Penny was forced close to Jonas, her knee pressing into his leg. He, too, looked a little pink, and Penny patted his hand, hoping he didn’t think her actions were too forward. Maxwell had asked for her help.

  The usually boisterous boys had gone unnaturally silent, some of them staring at the new young lady in their midst. The only sounds were the clinking of their forks and the soft rustle of the breeze in the leaves above them. Emily politely kept her gaze on her food.

  “I’m sure some of you know Miss Emily from school. Is that right?” Penny asked, trying to get the conversation started. She tried to catch Maxwell’s eye to encourage him to say “hello”, but he kept his face turned down. Both his hands were clenched on his plate, so hard his knuckles were white.

  “Mm-hmm,” someone replied, and Penny found herself grateful that Matty hadn’t spoken with his mouth full.

  “And we get supplies at her pa’s store,” Seb supplied helpfully. He seemed to be the only one unaware of the tension surrounding those on the blanket. Hopefully Emily wasn’t aware of it, either.

  Maxwell continued to stare down, jaw locked. A soft snicker from one of his brothers made a muscle jump in his cheek.

  “That’s right.” Emily brightened, smiling at the faces around her. “I happen to know that Seb likes caramels the best. Ricky, Davy and…is it Oscar? You all like the black licorice.” The girl’s nose scrunched up, making it obvious that it was not a liking she shared. “Matty and Edgar prefer the taffy, and Breanna and Mr. White like to share a
bag of Turkish delights.”

  Emily paused, and everyone on the blanket seemed to hold their breath, aware that she hadn’t mentioned Maxwell. The teen sat so still Penny couldn’t tell if he was breathing. Emily turned to address him directly, “But Maxwell asks for something different every time. What is your favorite candy?”

  “I dunno,” he said, almost too quietly to hear. “I like them all, I guess.”

  “Oh, but surely you’ve got a favorite,” Emily prodded. “Everyone has something they like better than all the others.”

  “Maxwell always gets sumpin to share.” Seb’s helpful remark made Penny reach out and pat the boy’s foot.

  Ricky, Matty and Edgar lost interest in the conversation and began their own, thankfully in lowered voices.

  Maxwell dared to glance up from his plate, although he quickly looked back down when he saw Emily watching him, waiting for an answer. Penny saw his chest rise and fall before he spoke, again in that soft tone. “Ain’t had much candy before Pa took me in. Guess I wanted to try the different kinds to see what they were like.”

  His words pinched Penny’s heart. She knew from what Jonas had told her that Maxwell had had a hard life, but this confirmation stung. She rushed to fill the awkward silence that threatened, not wanting to give Emily a chance to say something that might hurt the boy.

  “Miss Emily’s been telling me she has plans to visit her aunt in Texas next summer.”

  “That’s right. Marjorie—my sister—” Emily directed this to Penny, “will be old enough to tend the counter next year. At least that’s what Pa says. Ma isn’t so sure, but they’ve agreed to let me spend some time with my aunt in Austin and I’m so excited!”

  The thrill in her voice must’ve drawn Maxwell’s gaze up, because his eyes fixed on her face. Behind him, Ricky and Matty were now mimicking her excited hand gestures.

  Emily didn’t seem to notice. “I love to read and my aunt has a well-stocked library. We’ve been corresponding about it.”

  “You like to read?” asked Seb.

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “Oh, Miss Emily! Miss Penny’s been teaching Maxwell to read cause he didn’t get to go to school when he was younger.” Seb proclaimed the news proudly, happy to help his brother.

  Maxwell turned desperate, pained eyes to Penny as Ricky and Matty dissolved into laughter, while Davy pretended a high-pitched rendition of a girl’s voice, “Oh, Maxwell, won’t you read to me?” before collapsing off the blanket in laughter himself.

  “Boys,” Jonas barked and the three troublemakers scattered, running off and leaving behind their empty plates and utensils, callous laughter ringing behind them.

  “I’ll deal with them later,” Jonas murmured, but Emily was already rising.

  “I’m supposed to help with cleanin’ up,” the girl said.

  “Oh, but—” Penny’s protest came too late. Emily was already scurrying toward the food tables.

  Maxwell’s shoulders hunched, head lowering nearly to his chest, face scarlet. Oscar sat beside him, stoic, then reached one hand up to rest on his brother’s shoulder, showing his support. Sam sat silent and wide-eyed, watchful.

  Seb looked to Penny, eyes wide. “Did I say somethin’ wrong? Miss Penny?”

  She started to shake her head, trying to form words to explain that Maxwell hadn’t wanted Emily to know he couldn’t read.

  What a mess!

  “Miss Penny, I spilled on my new dress!” Breanna’s wail interrupted anything Penny might’ve said, either to comfort Maxwell or explain things to Seb. The young girl threw herself on the blanket at Penny’s knee, sobbing.

  She met Jonas’s eyes as he rose. She desperately wanted to ask how he dealt with all these children on his own—because she wasn’t doing a good job at all! Look at the trouble she’d caused.

  * * *

  Working alongside Maxwell and Sam during the afternoon, Jonas wanted to say something to comfort his son after the disastrous ending to lunch. But he didn’t know what.

  He had such limited experience with women and none with the proper way to court one. And part of him still had trouble believing that someone like Penny could be interested in someone like him.

  How could he encourage Maxwell to pursue the grocer’s daughter with the disparity of their circumstances?

  Surprisingly, it was Sam who broached the subject as they took a break around the water bucket.

  Jonas didn’t catch all of the teen’s statement as he dumped a dipper of water over his head to cool off, but heard, “…if she doesn’t come around, there are other girls out there, ya know.”

  Maxwell frowned, but nodded silently, crinkled eyes telling more than his stoic expression did.

  “Plus, I’m sure my sister isn’t done trying to interfere on your behalf,” Sam said with a slap on Maxwell’s shoulder.

  At that, Maxwell gave a half smile. “She doesn’t give up easy, does she?”

  “No. And if that still doesn’t work, you can impress Emily with your riding in the Round Up.”

  Jonas shook his head as both boys laughed and Maxwell’s spirits seemed restored.

  What did Penny’s stubbornness mean for Jonas?

  * * *

  Shoulders aching from toting dishes to the stream and helping wash them, a task Penny felt comfortable she wouldn’t mess up, she couldn’t wait for the waning sun to finish its descent behind the mountains in the distance.

  She was exhausted, both from the work and from worrying over Maxwell. Lunching with Emily and the other boys hadn’t turned out well at all. The girl continued to speak kindly to Penny when they passed each other, but Penny sensed that the young woman was now holding back.

  However, even with all that going on, Penny had never felt so content in all her life. She’d been a part of helping the Smith family getting settled, and Penny had felt a part of Jonas’s family.

  She sincerely hoped she hadn’t ruined Maxwell’s chances with Emily. She was a sweet girl. Then again, it would take someone with a strong backbone to survive around the White boys and their propensity for mischievousness. And yet, Penny felt right at home among them.

  And Breanna’s crying jag kept Penny alert. She was concerned the girl’s out-of-control emotions might trigger a seizure, although nothing had happened yet. Penny had reassured the girl that the stain could be removed—she hoped—and if not, that she would sew the girl a new frock. She’d also made Breanna lie down on the quilt beneath their unhitched wagon and take a nap, hoping the rest would restore the girl’s cheerful spirits.

  Finally, the men seemed to be wrapping things up. Penny watched with a hand shading her eyes as Jonas and Oscar climbed down from the barn roof, relieved when they set foot on the ground again. She’d been a little worried about them being so high up all day.

  She set about rounding up the younger boys and Breanna, most of whom appeared exhausted but whined that they wanted to play for a little while longer. She took a stern tone with them and received a grudging acquiescence.

  She was saying goodbye to the new acquaintances she’d made when a hard grip on her elbow jerked her head up in time to see the one face she did not want to see.

  “Hello, darling. I’m surprised to see you at a gathering like this.”

  “Mr. Abbott.” She hated the way her voice wavered and worked to steady it. “What are you doing here?”

  She allowed him to pull her away from the curious stares of the remaining women. She suspected he might make a scene and she didn’t want anyone to see it if he did.

  “The question is, what are you doing here? This common event certainly doesn’t seem your style.”

  “I’m visiting my grandfather,” she said with a raise of her chin, trying to disengage her arm from his hold. “I’m surprised my father didn’t tell you.”

  “Where is your grandfather? I’d love to meet him and say hello.”

  “He isn’t here, actually. He’s been a bit under the weather, which is why Sam and I traveled to be with
him and help out at his homestead.”

  Mr. Abbott’s intense eyes narrowed and she regretted her impulsive comment. She’d made it sound as if she was here on her own, without anyone watching over her.

  Where was Jonas or one of the other boys?

  “It is time for pretenses to end,” Mr. Abbott said. “I want you to return to Calvin with me so that our courtship can proceed. I’m sure your brother can help your grandfather with whatever he needs.”

  “I have responsibilities that I won’t shirk.” Penny tried again to disengage her arm from his hold. “I’ll return to Grandfather’s homestead until he doesn’t need me anymore.” And she had no intention of courting with Mr. Abbott in any case.

  “While your independence is admirable, my dear, it is unnecessary. Your father has agreed to the match, and you’ll soon bend to my will.”

  She struggled against his hold. “Your highhandedness does not put you in my good graces.”

  He chuckled, a sinister sound that had her glancing around for any source of help. Why had she moved away from the crowd? It would have been better to be embarrassed than to be alone with Mr. Abbott. She was certain her father had never seen this side of the man, a calculating, controlling side.

  How could she escape his attentions?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jonas’s continued awareness of Penny all afternoon kept him from his very best work, but the Smiths’ barn would be water tight, at least. From his high perch, he continued to catch glimpses of her fluttering around the gathering, washing dishes in the stream and chattering with the women.

  She and Ricky brought water a few more times, Penny always gifting Jonas with a beautiful, warm smile he couldn’t fully interpret. Was she…glad to be here with him?

  To his relief, she didn’t seem to hold Ricky and the other boys’ behavior against them, though he felt sure she was going to give Jonas an earful later. He couldn’t say how he knew it, but he did. But she treated the boys as always, often ruffling their hair or giving impromptu hugs.